Chapter 14 Approaching a Year
“Grandpa said to give you food…”
The little girl stammered, her hair somewhat messy as if she had been running. Her face was half-covered by a gauze, and she was slightly out of breath while holding a large tray on her head with both arms. She walked over unsteadily, stopping a few steps away from me, too scared to come closer.
I looked at her, my mind still a bit foggy, lost in various complex emotions. I recalled the contents of the notes I had just read, taking a few seconds to realize that since waking up, I hadn’t eaten anything.
There’s food…
“Quickly take it… Nai.”
I put down the book and waved at the little girl.
She slowly approached, placing the tray on the table and pushing it towards me, her head bowed in silence.
The flickering firelight illuminated a gray clay-like plate. The steam from the food rose, making my mouth water. I reached for a spoon, but as soon as I saw what was on the plate, I froze.
“…What is this?”
Large chunks of meat, charred black and dripping with purple juices and fat, were placed on the plate. Next to it were a few… what were those things? Bugs? Beetles?!
Oh my god…
I felt a chill run down my spine.
“Um… meal…”
The little girl lowered her head, her hands behind her back, barely whispering.
“…What?”
I didn’t understand.
“Um… meal…” The little girl’s voice was even softer. She took a nervous step back, still not daring to look at me, “In town, to entertain distinguished guests… Raniye giant lizard meat… and red beetles… they’re very hard to catch… but delicious… before eating, women dance to liven up the mood… I’ll show you, I’ll dance for you…”
As she spoke, she pulled off her veil, revealing her face. In my dazed state, she untied the strange tambourine at her waist and started beating it rhythmically. The clear and pleasant sound of the drum accompanied her body movements, like a snake’s, her ears peeking out from her hair, reddened.
“…”
Oh! Her waist movement was quite good. Are all girls here good dancers?
No, this isn’t the point…
“Wait!”
I stopped her, standing up from my chair as she looked up in panic. I grabbed her arm, pulling her to the table. The young girl was frightened, her body stiffening. The tambourine fell to the ground with a clatter, and she let out a soft cry, tears welling up in her eyes, trembling like a little rabbit: “Don’t eat me… please don’t eat me… sob…”
“…Who would want to eat you!”
Ugh…
I just wanted you to try a bite first. What if someone in town has ulterior motives, trying to trick me into eating something strange, or if you plan to poison me?
I picked up the soup spoon from the tray, ignoring her teary eyes, and forcefully placed it in her hand. Pointing at the food on the plate, I ordered, “Eat, one bite.”
“Sob…”
The girl held the spoon, too scared to move.
“I can’t… I’m afraid… Grandpa will beat me…”
“Eat.”
I frowned, impatiently urging her.
“Sob…”
Finally, she cried and dipped the spoon into the tray, taking a piece of meat and chewing it. The firelight reflected on her tear-streaked face, but she dared not wipe her tears.
Hmm…
It does seem edible.
“Why are you afraid of me?”
I sat down comfortably, taking back the spoon she handed me, bringing the tray close to me. As I asked her, I hesitated internally, looking at the soup that seemed to be poisoned, finding it difficult to swallow.
Should I really eat this?
“You are… the inheritor of the divine body… the great existence of Lady Diana…”
“What do you mean?”
Forget it…
I might as well eat it. I’m really hungry…
I looked at the spoon in my hand, thought about it, then threw it aside. I grabbed a piece of
Meat, held up to my nose and given a light sniff… It smelled pretty good, not particularly fragrant, just ordinary roasted meat, but it looked too terrifying — lizard meat?
…
Let me try a bite!
“Gulp.”
I opened my mouth wide and bit down hard.
“Miss Elina said that you are… She said you have integrated the divine body of the goddess sealed in West Continent…” The little girl stood beside me, answering timidly, “You possess divine power… Your blood flows with the purest divine blood, the blood of Lady Diana…”
… Integrated with a divine body?
I was momentarily stunned, my cheeks bulging as I chewed quickly.
So… In that earth-shattering explosion, after I lost consciousness, did something else happen… For instance, did I unconsciously devour the fragmented flesh and blood of the divine body? Elina must have seen it… So, what exactly have I become now? Could the reason I can’t use my powers be this? Oh! This lizard meat… tastes quite good.
Even though it looks like very dark food, it turns out to be surprisingly chewy, like jelly, with a hint of sweetness. Taking a bite made my appetite surge instantly.
Delicious, delicious…
“When you were first brought here, you looked… somewhat frightening… like a red demon, bleeding… jumping inside the coffin… I saw it, and Miss Elina told Grandpa that you’ve been trying to integrate with the divine body for the past six months… Only recently did you recover your current appearance…”
…?
A red demon?
Six months!?
I was startled, taking large bites of the lizard meat, turning to look at the little girl with wide eyes.
I turned into a red demon?
And jumping around?
I couldn’t imagine any such scene… So, was I put in a coffin by Elina and then brought to East Continent? Is that right??
I slept for half a year before waking up?!
The little girl was so tense from my stare that her tear-streaked face was filled with terror, looking like she wanted to run away but couldn’t muster the courage. I ignored her emotions, swallowing the meat in my mouth with a “gulping” sound, and asked loudly, “What time is it now?”
“Eh!”
The girl trembled violently, clenching her hands on her chest, and answered shakily, “In late July…”
“… July! Last year, July?”
“1188…”
July 1188?
1188…
So it’s almost a year already!? I slept for nearly a whole year!!
I stared at the little girl, unable to speak for a long while. Seeing my expression, the little girl didn’t dare to make a sound either, lowering her head again. After a long time, I opened my mouth wide and tore off a large piece of meat forcefully.
Damn…
I need to calm down…
“You…”
I swallowed the meat after only a few bites, my eyes fixed on the remaining food in the plate. Tilting my head, I spun my greasy fingers in the air, thinking for a moment, then pointed at the little girl and said, “Go, bring… ten portions of this meat.”
This dish isn’t enough for me…
“Ten… ten portions…”
The little girl looked extremely anxious.
“Hurry up.”
I waved at her, no longer paying attention to her, struggling with the meat in my hand. My mind was muddled, thoughts slowly piecing together.
Time has passed so much…
No wonder I felt stiff when I woke up; I had lain there for nearly a year… No, it wasn’t just lying there for a year. The little girl said I was trying to integrate with the divine body, and my appearance resembled a demon… What kind of demon?
Am I still my original self?
It feels…
Like I’m not anymore…
When I woke up, I actually felt that my body didn’t feel like mine… This feeling persists even now…
Heir…
What the hell am I now…
I don’t understand…
Once that woman returns, I’ll ask her clearly…
But this lizard meat, although a bit disgusting-looking, tastes really good…
Soon, the wooden door of the cellar closed, and the little girl left.