62 Excrescent Chimera (1/2)
”But if you're gonna dine with them cannibals. Sooner or later, darling, you're gonna get eaten . . .”
-Nick Cave
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As we got a depiction of what the next steps would be, and the stratagem to obtain real-time combat, I and Shiro, with her newly obtained weapon 'Grendel' of high rarity began to opt-out of the warp gate, leaving the garrulous goddess Lacrimosa in her leisure.
Hence we were sent back to the same place from whence we entered.
The not-so-far view of the sea with the ephemeral sealed earthly city became vividly clear on our site as our feet slowly began to trend the verdant ground once again. I was sure that some humans could have still been around the place but to my surprise, none remained. It might be wishful thinking, but they probably have mustered some courage and are on their way to the city that Amadea advised us to go, which Lacrimosa said is a place not suitable for an individual without proper equipment. I don't know why, but her words made it seem that the denizens in that particular city are somewhat hostile and I'm getting these unorthodox images of demi-humans with sabertooth fangs and ugly facades. Well, it better not to be that way.
The time is around noon with the sun shining in its might, but with not much heat. It would be best to start the two-day journey now, to not spell any further delays. A delay would only mean the drawing closer of this Hades who likely overseers the deceased as described by the previous deities. But then, Shiro who is with me poked my shirt as a means of saying something...
”What is it?”
”I'm hungry Oni-chama.” Into the bowl of appetency, the girl found herself while tapping on her abdomen.
Well, I might as well kiss Hades at his butt-cheeks!
Good thing I bought some canned goods though. We still don't know how food works around these parts, so it's best to have some imported ones from the start, it's not just from any local country... it's from another world.
And then, as though conforming with the little girl's, my mid-gut began to brazenly growl.
Hmm. Weird, I never have had this blatant craving to eat such a ready-to-serve buffet. Maybe it's the 'Scarcity Error' at work, the fiasco in which the last cookie in the jar makes our mouth water to an unimaginable extent. I now applaud myself for reading Rolf Dobelli's ”Art of Thinking Clearly”. It's at times like this that I am able to unveil my inevitable and clandestine part as a thought-capable individual.
”Shall we eat then?”
”Wa-i!” (English: Yay!)
”Oni-chama let's eat under the tree over there!” She pointed her finger at a close-by tree situated in a little mound and in it, were peach-colored leaves. It's almost identical to cherry blossoms, but having more dense numbers of leaves and extending branches that can accommodate up to approximately 20 people under extreme heat and probably, rain. Why is this tree not on earth though? should have spelled more convenience...
”Ok sure,” I replied to the overly excited Shiro... Too bad, fried chickens are still in a long way from her. If chickens do exist, that is...
The little girl then ran taking shelter on the shade with a myriad of giggles escaping from her lips.
”Be careful now, you have a sharp weapon with you!” I said, as I fetched our things and patched the portable tent which was left on the field eventually. Good thing no one stole it. So they did keep a little of morality I guess. Well, wherever they should be now, I somehow hope that they'd be safe and that they should minimize the hypocrisy, not that I'm different.
” Oni-chama Hayaku!” (English: Oni-chama hurry up!) the girl ecstatically replied.
I then sat down with her and opened two canned spaghetti and two bottles of water.
”Itadakimasu.”
”Itadakimashu!!”
We then dug right in. I was quite surprised though... It's delicious and Shiro's face spelled the same expression. It was my first time eating canned food, given that my grandma has her weird preference of always a green diet. At least, now I know, how it tastes like... I wished I could have brought a little more with me after all that old man was very generous to give everything I needed for a hundred percent off.
(...)
After a few gulps of water, and some junky dessert of cheesy crackers from Shiro's picks, I am then becoming ready to begin the journey, but I think a little rest is a must. I, nor Shiro can't afford to have such stomach aches along the road, not to mention how unhealthy this is, but the taste is worth it.
From the comfy shades that the tree gave us, fresh 'globalization-unpolluted' winds came passing by, rejuvenating us to the core, while Shiro is also making herself fond of her weapon and while blue shiny slimes were basically bouncing and jiggling everywhere, and I found myself ullaged into a deep thought of what the basic structure of this surreal world could possibly be.
For us, it showcased a very nice first impression, but not with the other group who got to experience hell the moment the northern gates closed. They were attacked at a brutal state and from 300 thousand, we're now down to approximately 11k... I then checked my PI to have some update on the General Information Data...
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General Information
SCC: 9,999
Herrscher Count: 333/333
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