The tent had little inside except for a few beds and a couple of shelves holding clothing. There were also several large pillows scattered on the ground, so I took a seat on one.
Elder Lily and her two followers were already sitting across from me, and Renna sat down right by my side. The air inside smelled faintly of fresh flowers, though I couldn't pinpoint the exact bloom.
"So, you appeared in the forest with no memory of how you arrived, correct?" Elder Lily asked.
"That's right. I don't even know my own name," I replied, then leaned forward. "Before you ask me anything else, I have a question. What does the word Man mean to you? Everyone here keeps calling me a woman, but I'm not."
The Elder gave me a bewildered look. "Man? What is this word? Is that your race? If you are a man while we are women, does that make you an inferior version of us?"
I leveled my gaze at her. "Do I look inferior to you?"
The Elder shrugged lightly. "While you are clearly strong, we have encountered other powerful races that aren't considered superior in most aspects. I agree that you look unusual, and your breasts are vastly different."
"It's true!" Renna interjected from beside me, nodding eagerly. "I've touched them! They feel like solid rock, but they still have a rounded shape despite being flat. And there's something else—she has a strange growth between her legs!"
I groaned, burying my face in my hands.
"What?!" Lily gasped, standing up with a speed that belied her age. "I hate to be so forward, but I feel this is something I must examine immediately!"
Great. Now I'm a museum exhibit.
Still, I was the one who asked to talk, and I should have anticipated a reaction like this. Sighing, I stood up and shed my clothes, standing before them in the nude with my hands resting on my hips. I might not have had my memories, but I was going to make sure these women got an impression they wouldn't forget anytime soon.
"What a magnificent body," Lily murmured, walking a slow circle around me while eyeing my groin with intense curiosity. "I have never seen anything quite like this. That small growth between your legs is particularly unusual."
"It was much bigger earlier!" Renna piped up. "How do you make it grow like that? And what is that lower pouch holding? It almost looks like your body was turned inside out!"
Lily and her two followers nodded in agreement, making me slap a hand over my face in sheer frustration.
"This is a penis," I explained as the knowledge surfaced naturally in my mind. "It expands and hardens when I'm aroused. This organ—along with a different skeletal frame and higher muscle capacity—is what makes me a man instead of a woman."
Lily nodded thoughtfully. "Fascinating. I must admit, this is the very first time I've ever encountered your kind. I spent a portion of my youth traveling beyond this continent, yet I've never seen anything like you."
"Just as I suspected," I said, nodding. "Everything felt off, but it's starting to make sense now. What still doesn't make sense is why I'm here. How did I end up in this world? Do I have a purpose?"
I tried probing deeper into my mind, but there was nothing—just a blank slate without a name in a realm known only to women.
I needed to focus on the silver linings while remaining cautious. If a world like this had darker corners, there were bound to be people who would love to lock me in a cage or put me on an operating table for research.
"Maybe you were sent here as a gift?" Renna suggested softly.
I looked down at her with a raised eyebrow. "A gift? I'm not so sure about that. But if you allow me to stay in the village, I'll gladly share my skills and help out. In return, I just ask for a place to stay until I can build a home of my own."
Lily nodded without hesitation. "Agreed. Though I will also want to have many more discussions with you regarding this 'penis' of yours. I wish to understand its exact function."
I couldn't help but admire how casually everyone treated nudity here. In a strange way, it felt remarkably comfortable, almost like talking with a group of guys back in a locker room.
"I can agree to those terms," I said, pulling my shirt and pants back on. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to find Cindy."
"You are wasting your time with her," Elder Lily warned. "That girl refuses to listen to anyone."
I shrugged. "Maybe. Or maybe she just needs to hear it from someone like me. I'll never know unless I try, and I feel partially responsible for driving her off. Quick question: are there any monsters or beasts out there I should be worried about?"
"Nothing a person of your strength can't handle," Lily replied. She then turned her gaze to Renna. "Renna, if you care about Cindy's well-being, I suggest you let our new friend handle this alone."
Renna nodded obediently.
I turned and pulled back the tent flap for her. This time, she didn't hesitate or freeze up—she simply smiled and walked through, making me grin in return.
"She likely ran back toward the area where I first found you," Renna said as we stepped back outside under the watchful eyes of the villagers. "Be careful out there. The forest has beasts, even if most aren't overly dangerous."
"I'll be fine," I assured her, reaching out to pat her head gently. "My memories might be gone, but my body clearly remembers how to fight. I promise I'll bring Cindy back."
Renna beamed up at me, and with a final nod, I broke into a run toward the forest tree line.
Moving at full speed felt completely natural, as if my body was built for high-performance physical effort. A good run to get the blood pumping was just what I needed—but as I pushed deeper into the woods, a realization hit me that I had somehow completely overlooked until now.