Chapter 237

Chapter 24 Midnight Foraging

I felt somewhat cold.

My consciousness was still hazy, but my body unconsciously wriggled towards the corner of the sofa, curling up into a ball… It still felt a bit cold.

I shivered and slowly opened my eyes, blinking dazedly as I sat up, hugging my shoulders.

The surroundings were completely silent.

I could faintly hear light rain pattering outside, and the distant, weak chirping of insects. Apart from that, everything was still.

There was an unfinished empty plate and half a glass of water on the tea table in front of me. The dim candlelight cast a reddish glow on the distant pale green wall. I stretched lazily, rubbing my eyes.

It felt like I had slept for quite some time… And it seemed I had just had a dream.

What kind of dream was it?

I tilted my head and thought about it, realizing I couldn’t remember much. All I could recall were fragmented scenes.

Under a sky as blue as the sea, above a lush forest, there were many strange creatures fighting each other. They looked human-like, but had glowing wings on their backs, and some even had horns. They could unleash dazzling and powerful attacks at will, making the scene look like the gods’ war from a movie from my previous life.

On the horizon, scarlet flames and brilliant gold lights burst forth simultaneously, causing a massive disturbance that startled birds flying miles away.

A woman with long fiery hair that almost touched the ground stood atop an unknown mountaintop, her face indistinct. Her mouth moved continuously, directing the entire battle. Her fiery hair fluttered in the fierce gusts.

She seemed to have said something, but I couldn’t remember what.

That’s all I could recall.

A bizarre dream…

I lowered my head, looking at my smooth little toes, unconsciously lifting and dropping my big toe several times. After a few repetitions, I shivered again.

“Sss~”

Taking a deep breath, I finally came back to my senses.

Why do I feel cold…

Reaching out to touch my cheek, warmth spread from my palm.

…Am I running a fever again?

What’s going on…

I slowly got up from the sofa, put on my leather shoes, and stood up, looking out the window.

Outside it was pitch black.

The lawn in the courtyard glowed faintly under the moonlight, while further away, the city lights of the castle were bustling.

!!

It’s dark!?

No way! Have I really been asleep this long?

I haven’t eaten anything yet!

“Gurgle~”

As if in response to my thoughts, my stomach growled loudly.

I’m so hungry.

I feel like I might collapse from hunger.

I need to eat something…

Quickly walking around the tea table to the door, as I was about to push it open, I suddenly felt dizzy, feeling incredibly exhausted. My foot stumbled, and I hurriedly steadied myself by grabbing the wall.

What’s wrong… What’s happening to me…

I was fine during the day… Is my body experiencing new issues?

I started to feel scared.

I really want to keep sleeping… But I can’t. I need to eat something. If I don’t eat soon, I don’t know what might happen.

After the battle between the city and the monsters, I realized that no matter what happens, I must never let myself go hungry. Otherwise, I would be overwhelmed by that extreme experience, becoming someone driven solely by inner desires… a terrifying person.

Just like the true abyss.

I absolutely don’t want to become that again…

Gritting my teeth, I forced myself to gather my strength, wrapped a small shawl around me, and pushed the door open to step into the courtyard. I walked briskly forward, taking a few deep breaths to stay alert, then looked up at the sky.

The sky was dotted with stars.

The crescent moons reflected like mirrors hanging against the dark sky, spilling clear light like flowing water through the misty clouds onto the distant houses and the green grass below.

It was already very late at night.

I wonder if there are still shops open…

After leaving the mansion and walking down Londale Street, I reached the market two alleys away, only to find that it was well past closing time. The entire street was empty, with no one around the wooden stalls on either side.

I rubbed my stomach, feeling somewhat uncomfortable.

I’m so hungry…

This hunger wasn’t just from an empty stomach.

Of course, there was the sensation of emptiness, but compared to normal hunger, all I could think about was eating something. Various delicious foods kept swirling in my mind, and I felt like I could devour them all in one go. This desire was the most unbearable part.

It wasn’t particularly intense, but it scratched at my heart like a cat, tormenting my will bit by bit.

Maybe I should look further…

With this thought, I continued walking down the street.

I remember there being a night market in this direction… There should be plenty of food there.

But as I walked, the fatigue grew stronger. My vision blurred slightly, and I couldn’t help but doze off while walking, nodding my head uncontrollably. My path slowly veered off, and I bumped into a lamppost with a thud.

“Ouch!”

That hurt.

I held my forehead and looked up at the towering lamppost, my dazed eyes becoming clearer.

Shaking my head to avoid the lamppost, I didn’t even have the energy to curse. With mixed feelings, I continued forward.

Why am I so tired… I just woke up.

But I’m really exhausted. If not for the need to eat something, I would have collapsed and slept right here.

Oddly enough, though I felt mentally drained, my body felt full of energy, as if I were stronger than usual. Even though I was so tired, I occasionally had the urge to punch the wall beside me.

This contradiction became increasingly torturous over time.

If I had known, I should have gone to Victoria earlier to grab some food, then sleep… What does it matter about pride at a time like this! I really…

Since I’ve come this far… I might as well muster up the energy and keep going.

Crossing another street, I began to see people. The streets brightened, and I saw buildings with lit windows.

I’m here…

I slowed down and scanned the surroundings, looking for somewhere to eat. Soon, I spotted a tavern with its door open.

From the outside, the tavern looked quite old, with peeling walls. The sound of men’s laughter and singing could be heard from the entrance.

There must be food here.

Pushing open the wooden door, I entered.

The clamor intensified, and the smell of sweat mixed with the aroma of malt beer filled my nose. I frowned and waved my hand in front of my nose, instantly becoming more alert.

Most of the patrons were rugged-looking men. Three or five gathered around a table, some playing cards and betting, others singing off-key songs loudly, their faces flushed red as they laughed heartily and drank large cups of beer.

Women rarely appeared in such places. Taverns were too expensive for ordinary women, and noble ladies wouldn’t be caught dead in such a place. Glancing around, the only woman present was a plump matron behind the bar.

That seems to be where you order food…

Swallowing hard, I lowered my head and quickly walked towards the bar.