#alien boy

【qiluo route①】

※下記に、日本語版があります！

Deep in the forest where I had fled, I came across a young man dressed in red. I instinctively turned to run away, but just as I was about to flee, he called out to me.

qiluo: “Wait! Don’t be afraid. I won’t hurt you.”

I stopped and turned to face him. He didn’t try to approach me; instead, he smiled awkwardly.

…Can I really trust him? He’s a spider, just like the others. There’s no guarantee he won’t do something terrible, just like those twins…

I can’t… trust him…

qiluo: “Did something bad happen…? You look like you’re running away from something. If you’re comfortable, would you tell me what happened?”

You: “…Um… but…”

qiluo: “Haha… I know, but you must be scared, right? You don’t have to force yourself to come closer. …Actually, let’s talk from this distance. I swear I won’t cross this line.”

Saying that with a smile, he drew a line on the ground with his toe, then sat down at the far end of it.

I could only stand frozen in place, watching him.

qiluo: "I'm qiluo. I'm an…… alien. This forest is my territory. That's why no one else can come in."

The voice of the young man who called himself qiluo was gentle. I didn't feel any sense of intimidation from him.

qiluo: “…Have you gotten used to life here?”

I shook my head weakly. …There's no way I could get used to it… I realized firsthand just how little value I held on this planet. To them, I was no different from a tiny insect. Those terrifying twins who taught me that must still be searching for me right now.

qiluo: “…I suppose so. You were brought to this planet against your will. …I feel sorry for you. I’m sure you want to return to your home planet as soon as possible.”

He said that and looked up at the sky. I don’t know if his words were sincere, or if they were just meant to deceive me.

A gentle breeze was ruffling his red hair.

qiluo: “Hey, what’s Earth like to you?”

You: “…Huh?”

He looked at me and smiled, his eyes crinkling. …I couldn’t answer such an abstract question on the spot.

qiluo: “…This planet is like a small miniature garden with five kings. The greatest of those kings is Yakumo. Yes, that white spider who took you away. Basically, no one except him and the purple spider can go to Earth.

That’s why… I have a kind of longing for Earth.”

Saying that, he gently stroked the ground covered in grass. He traced the plants, wet with morning dew, gently with his fingers.

qiluo: “It’s just like Earth, isn’t it?”

You: “Yeah…”

qiluo: “But actually, this is all an illusion. The luxurious mansion, this entire forest— they’re all just ‘facades’ created from our ideal image of Earth. This beautiful greenery, the birdsong… it’s all just a product of my imagination. And… to protect you, to make you feel safe, I’ve made this part of the planet look very much like Earth.

In reality, it’s a rough, rocky planet filled with gases that are harmful to you… like a fortress… a planet with absolutely no charm.”

Somehow, his eyes seemed to be gazing into the distance. Unlike the other spiders, I thought he was the kind of person who described his own planet with a touch of self-deprecation.

qiluo: “That’s why I envy you, coming from Earth. …Ah, given your current situation, the word ‘envy’ isn’t really appropriate, is it? …I’m sorry if I’ve hurt you.”

Saying that, he lowered his eyebrows and smiled awkwardly. The atmosphere he gave off was calm and sincere, and for some reason, his words seemed to contain a sense of consideration for me… Suddenly, I felt a sense of reassurance.

I quietly approached him and sat down beside him.

You: “Um… I’m sorry. It’s just… you guys are scary.”

qiluo: “It’s okay. I understand how you feel. Being brought to a place like this must have been scary… I’ll apologize on their behalf. I’m really sorry…”

He said that and bowed his head.

Maybe… he isn’t a bad spider after all… Maybe I can ask him all sorts of things. ーWhy was I brought here? ーAnd how can I get back home?

You: “Um… why… was I brought here…? Was I just unlucky?”

Qiluo: “…It wasn’t luck. We targeted you.”

You: “…Huh!?”

They targeted me and kidnapped me…? As the situation became even more complicated and my mind struggled to process it, he continued.

Qiluo: “That’s right. He… no, we… know you well. You’ve been here before. You might not remember, but…”

You: “…!?”

I’ve been here before…? Here? I have… absolutely no memory of that. I feel like I’m about to panic even more.

You: “No! That can’t be true!”

qiluo: “… Still, I remember you. You were still small, so you might not remember.”

You: “That’s… impossible. I don’t have any memory of that… So… if what you’re saying is true, how was I able to get back earth!?”

qiluo: “….”

His words didn’t seem like he was lying. Rather, he stared intently at my expression, as if he were in pain.

…And then, with a serious expression, he asked me.

qiluo: “Do you want to go back to Earth…?”

You: “…I want to go back… Of course I want to go back!! I don’t know what’s going on anymore… I’m scared… I’m anxious every single day…!! …I’m scared… that I might never be able to go back… I… I want to go back to Earth…!”

I’m so confused, and my eyes start to well up. Faced with the fact that I was brought here specifically to be targeted, and the despair of not knowing what to do, I bite my lip hard.

…At that moment, his hand gently stroked my head. The touch was so gentle, as if he were comforting me… I couldn’t help but look up. He was looking down at me with a gentle, enveloping smile.

qiluo: “…It’s okay. I’ll send you home.”

He slowly removed his hand from me and smiled.

You: “…Huh…”

qiluo: “I was planning to get you off this planet eventually anyway. So leave it to me.”

You: “Why… How…?”

qiluo: “It’s us who are holding you captive. So we’re the only ones who can set you free.

Those guys have no intention of letting you go, do they? But… I have absolutely no intention of binding you. …In fact, I can’t bear to see you suffer.

So I’ll help you escape. I’ll protect you with all my strength.”

A refreshing breeze caressed our cheeks.

You: “Why…? They said they’d ‘never let you escape’… If what you’re saying is true, isn’t it because I’m… necessary to you guys?”

qiluo: “That’s right… We need you. But even so, I don’t want to take your freedom away from you.

……Because I love you. I always have.”

You: “…!!”

At his sudden confession, I could feel my face flushing with a mix of shock and excitement. His words were direct and sincere.

As he spoke, he too smiled, his cheeks turning slightly red.

qiluo: “You might not remember, but… you’ve given me so much. That’s exactly why I want to protect you with all my strength.”

You: “But I don’t remember you…”

qiluo: “…I remember you, so that’s enough.”

Saying that, he relaxed his expression with a happy look. No matter how I looked at it, he didn’t seem like he was trying to deceive me. If it’s him… maybe I can trust him…

Drawn in by his expression, I let a smile slip onto my lips too.

You: “…Thank you. Um… I… should I… do something… to thank you…?”

qiluo: “Huh?”

At my words, he looked completely bewildered.

You: “Um… I was just wondering if I should do something for you… to get you to let me go home… Since I’m a lower-class being here… Well… that’s what the twins said…”

He shook his head, looking surprised.

qiluo: “No need! I don’t want anything from you. You just need to use me.”

You: “But…”

qiluo: “I told you, didn’t I? I like you. So there’s no way I’d ask for anything in return.

You just need to worry about yourself.”

He said this with a serious expression, yet in a soft tone meant to reassure me. Ah, I can trust this person. I feel like I can believe his words.

It felt like I saw a faint light in the darkness before my eyes.

You: “Thank you, Qiluo…”

Qiluo: “…!”

How kind he is.

When I thanked him, he opened his eyes wide, and his face turned bright red as he said,

qiluo: “…I have to apologize for one thing. I said I wouldn’t get close to you just now, but I ended up touching you. I crossed the line… If you didn’t like it, I’m sorry.”

…He really is a serious person through and through.

I couldn’t help but burst out laughing. It had been a long time since I’d laughed so genuinely from the bottom of my heart.

※続きから、日本語版がございます！！↓

I made some martian characters for an upcoming fanfic with Martian Manhunter.

Rest in peace angel - 32.❤️‍🩹❤️