Delicious!
Pastel stuffed the meat pudding into her mouth without thinking. It was shaped like a wolf, but it separated like jelly when pulled apart.
The black pudding was crushed in her mouth. Sweetness burst. Her taste buds tingled.
The world sparkled.
An unprecedented sense of overwhelm came.
Her consciousness faded and her soul awakened.
A black-hued dream.
A pink-hued illusion.
Could a top-tier chef’s cooking be like this? Even that wouldn’t soothe the soul.
Pastel lay sprawled on the ground, having stuffed two corpses into her belly. The corners of her mouth curled up into a grin.
Is this food from another world?
It was almost a shame she had never tasted it before. What had she lived for all this time?
She craved more.
Was there none left?
The coldness of the corridor tickled her back. She shook her head slightly to clear her mind and hurriedly got up.
“Ugh.”
She dusted off her winter dress. Rubbing her arms, she looked around the corridor.
There were only stairs leading down against the blocked wall.
Was this some kind of attic storage? Since it was a mansion, the attic must be more than just a room, but a whole area.
Why was she left in the attic? Is it acceptable for the clan leader to be abandoned in such a cold attic?
Before going down, she rummaged through the two new rooms. There was nothing worth looking for. They were completely empty.
Not even a single speck of sawdust?
Her teeth gnashed at the pitiful state of her family’s assets.
“Father…!”
You ate it all up!
She stabbed the air with the table leg.
Just wait. I will make you cough up your wealth.
From today on, my life’s goal is to commit filial impiety. No one can stop me.
Before that, I need to deal with the servants who left the clan leader in the attic. What do they think of the clan leader that the hierarchy has become this way?
Could it be that they all quit? The clan leader turned into a fool while the son-in-law turned into a marriage scammer and they can’t even provide money anymore?
That’s too plausible a speculation. What loyalty could a clan unable to take care of their livelihood command? Her heart ached.
“Those who have no god…!”
The table leg stabbed the air again. She understood but didn’t want to accept it as the person involved.
She looked fondly at the sturdy circular tabletop and table leg. You are all I have to rely on. I’m sorry for thinking you were trash when I first saw you.
Embracing her only companion tightly, she headed towards the stairs.
She glanced at the bottom of the stairs. Was there something right in front of her? She wasn’t sure.
She carefully descended the stairs.
As she turned, a long corridor unfolded.
Suddenly, a strong smell of blood wafted in the air.
Pastel stared blankly at the scene.
Sunlight poured in through a wall that had been destroyed by an explosion. Clear claw marks from a gigantic beast were vivid. The marks were mixed with bits of flesh, turning red.
Her trembling hand touched the dried bloodstains on the floor.
Red footprints, red handprints.
Several people moving as if to block the stairs.
An ill-prepared resistance left behind the red marks. No corpses remained. Struggles were eaten and chewed away completely.
The last red footprint ran past the beast to the broken wall. Hesitating, it left a footprint before leaping down to the ground. The beast followed as if in pursuit.
A piece of torn fabric fluttered against the broken wall. It was a fine material used in the maid’s attire.
Maid Emma?
Didn’t you teach me to read? Even when everyone else gave up.
Thanks to you, I can read now. You have no idea how relieved I am.
Her trembling hand grasped the piece of fabric.
I wasn’t abandoned after all.
Her throat tightened.
I was protected.
Those with a god had perished. Only the clan leader remained here, weeping.
Tears fell with the wind.
Passing through the upper floors to the ground, to the garden.
Monsters of black form howled.
The large magic circle in the center of the garden exuded a black aura.
A moist gaze stared down at the garden.
Who.
Who made that thing in my mansion?
Who killed my loyal retainers at will?
Her face hardened.
She wiped her tears with her sleeve.
She stuffed the bloodstained cloth into her pocket.
She gripped a flimsy spear and shield in her hands.
A god in her heart, a dagger in her mind.
No matter how long it takes, as a dignified clan leader.
As an essence worthy of being protected.
The girl turned her steps as usual.
She opened the door and surveyed the new room.
One by one, methodically.
Pastel looked at her reflection in the wall mirror with a sulky expression.
After rummaging through four places, is this really it?
It wasn’t even furniture; it was just a mirror aligned with the wall. The pink winter dress girl reflected back at her. She looked disheveled.
The girl in the mirror paused as she lifted the table leg. The table leg swung and struck the mirror. A sharp noise rang out.
The pink form shattered, sending fragments spilling.
She picked up a suitable piece of triangular glass.
Oh yeah, I got a mirror shard.
Pastel walked cheerfully to the door, holding the triangular mirror out. Adjusting the angle to look through, she saw the corridor reflected.
“Oh, much safer.”
It’s a million times better than peering around.
After practicing a few times, Pastel took the mirror with her as she stepped into the corridor. She glanced back at the stairs and the bloody scene, then quietly turned her head to see a new path.
At the end of the path, a wide space unfolded, blocked on both sides. She couldn’t see left or right due to the angle. There seemed to be a corridor there.
There didn’t seem to be any danger.
But the blind spot made her uneasy.
If a wolf was hiding there, she would accidentally bump into it and get bitten.
“Ho ho.”
Pastel proudly raised the triangular mirror. It sparkled.
A new companion!
I’ll leave the scouting to you!
She trusted the mirror and carefully walked forward.
As she approached the wide space, she extended the mirror to glance at the left and right.
A square space devoid of furniture.
Nothing there.
She walked a bit and then glanced again.
Nothing?
Well, it’s not like this is some dungeon trap.
She walked and checked one side again.
Hmm, definitely nothing.
Then she looked at the opposite side.
A black shape reflected in the triangular mirror.
It was a bull the size of Pastel.
The bull tilted its head while looking at the mirror.
The mirror shrank back.
Pastel swiftly stepped backward. She distanced herself from the area as if nothing were happening.
Silently, she tucked the mirror into her embrace.
And then, belatedly, she gasped in shock.
What’s a bull doing in the blind spot?
That’s a situation that could lead to calamity if she saw it.
Oh, friend, ugh! Quack!
She looked down at the flimsy circular tabletop and table leg in her hands. The image of a bull the size of her came to mind.
Ah, but maybe it’s not.
But she couldn’t starve either.
Pastel focused her mind and filled her brain with courage. Come on, brain, start tasting!
That’s a meat pudding the size of a bull, a meat pudding.
Fresh and very sweet.
Her salivary glands tingled.
Her vision blurred.
Ooh.
She wiped flowing saliva with her sleeve.
Like a gambling addict, courage surged within her.
She felt she could achieve anything!
After all, if she jabbed a bull with the table leg, wouldn’t it fall over with a moo~!
The table leg stabbed the air.
Good, simulation complete.
Commencing operation.
Pastel gripped the flimsy circular tabletop and table leg tightly.
“Charge…!”
She ran like a drunken soldier.
An open space unfolded before her.
The black bull snorted as it saw her. Its front hooves scratched the ground. The bull lowered its head and charged. The impact rattled the ground.
Pastel jumped to the side. The black shape tore through the air. Her skin tingled.
She gripped the wooden spear tightly. She thrust it towards the passing bull. The spear plowed into the black leather.
She felt the tough hide and solid muscle. The spear bounced off. Pastel staggered from the recoil.
Ah, damn it.
Regaining her balance, she turned to look at the bull. The black bull pivoted and scraped the ground with its front hooves. The bull lowered its head.
Pastel ran towards the wall with all her might. The moment she reached the wall, she turned her body. The bull was just inches away.
Leaning the wooden spear against the wall, she positioned it horizontally. The spear tip aimed for the bull’s head.
Come on!
The bull’s head came to the spear’s tip. The spear aimed for the bull’s eye. The bull twisted its head and collided with the spear.
In the slow passage of time, she felt a strong impact in the hand gripping the spear. The wooden spear was crushed against the bull’s head and exploded. Wooden shards scattered.
Pastel quickly let go of the spear. She threw herself to the ground. Moments later, the bull’s head slammed against the wall. A tremendous sound echoed.
She pushed against the ground to rise. The bull howled. The black shape raised its front hooves. A shadow loomed over her.
She rolled her body. The front hooves slammed down beside her. The shock shattered the stone floor. A tremendous noise erupted, and stone shards scattered.
It’s not over yet…!
Pastel dropped the shield. She snatched a flying stone shard with her hand. The sharp sensation stung her palm.
Quickly touching the ground, she pressed down powerfully. As she jumped up, her body floated into the air.
She charged towards the bull, which was raising its front hooves. Leaping lightly onto its back, the bull hesitated and stopped in surprise.
Pastel looked down at the startled bull.
Labored breaths escaped from her.
“Do you like bullfighting?”
I don’t like it.
She drove the stone shard sharply into the bull’s neck. The leather scraped, and the bull howled. The black shape tossed its body violently.
The rock was truly effective…!
Pastel clung on with all her strength. With one hand, she tossed away the stone and rummaged through her pockets.
The triangular mirror was retrieved.
The shard of glass gleamed sharply.
She drew in a breath and plunged it forcefully into the bull’s neck. The leather tore apart, and a black aura erupted like blood.
The bull howled. The black body thrashed back and forth. The front and hind hooves pounded the ground in succession. A tremendous sound rang out.
Pastel tightly gripped the shard of glass embedded in the bull. Holding her breath, she pushed with all her might. Hyaa! The leather tore, and flesh split. The black aura exploded forth.
The bull roared. As it bucked violently, a weakened Pastel was flung off. She collided with the rough ground. Ugh!
She forced herself to rise.
The bull staggered. It wobbled and then fell heavily to the ground. A dull noise followed.
Pastel exhaled sharply.
Her body ached.
“Hoo, hoo.”
Did I catch it?
I did catch it?
The corners of her mouth curled up subtly.
She steadied her slightly wobbly body. She brushed her messy pink hair back into order.
She glanced at the bull’s corpse.
“Just a little thing acting all tough.”
With a poke, it mooed~! and died.
“Moo~!”
Ahaha!
Pastel, who was laughing to herself, froze at the sweet scent.
Ah! Meat pudding!
She rushed over and buried her face in the corpse.
The enormous body returned into her soul.
A while later, Pastel lay back with her mouth hanging open.
Wow.
If I could keep eating meat pudding, maybe this life wouldn’t be so bad. In fact, am I not happy?
Grrr.
Ah, no, that’s not it.
I need to rummage through the kitchen for something. I can’t just pour potions into an empty stomach; what is this?
She gathered the triangular mirror and shield.
She offered a prayer for the broken wooden spear.
“Thanks to you, I was able to catch the wolf. Thank you.”
Then she ended up laughing to herself.
What was she doing, talking to something that wasn’t even human?
Oh, what if there hadn’t been any dessert? Meat pudding relieved her stress. She needed to eat more.
Nodding her head, she stretched.
Her body felt energized.
She walked confidently into the new corridor.
A long corridor unfolded. There were stairs in the middle. A large space that seemed to lead down to the foyer was visible in the distance. Beyond the foyer, another new corridor continued.
As Pastel looked around, she spotted a glimmering silver on the floor of the corridor. Her eyes widened.
Huh? Huh?
What’s that?!
A long, sharp iron.
“Lo, lo, lo, lo!”
A longsword…!
Pastel ran over and picked up the longsword.
The weight of the heavy iron.
Though it had lost a few inches, it was definitely a longsword.
Wow!
Finally, a proper weapon!
Like a hero, she lifted the sword.
The sunlight through the window reflected off the blade.
“Longsword!”
My friend!
