Chapter 48: Rest and Recuperation
The final scene was of the two heroines, after defeating a powerful, scimitar-wielding man, charging towards the monstrous creature.
The vision ended, and Leona’s perspective returned to the flickering stars. The two goddesses, still embracing, looked at her.
“That was the story of our Champions. Have you seen the value of our power, Master?”
“We are ready to bestow our power upon you, Master, whenever you need it, and to withdraw it when you no longer require it.”
“We only wish to survive, to end our endless journey.”
“Our world is gone. We have lost our purpose as gods. We are content to be your servants.”
Leona listened to their pleas, nodding slowly. They were right. With their world destroyed, their purpose as gods had vanished. According to Abyss, the gods of each world were created by the Creator God to manage and protect their respective realms. But when a world was destroyed, their purpose ceased to exist. Their only remaining goal was survival. This applied to both these otherworldly deities, who had somehow regained their memories, and the Outer Gods, who had forgotten their past. Their sole motivation was to continue existing.
Perhaps an Outer God like the Lord of Nightmares had other aspirations, but even those were based on the primal need to “consume.”
After careful consideration, Leona finally made her decision. She nodded at the two wandering goddesses. “Alright, teach me your language. But I might not use it.”
“We do not demand anything from you, Master. Just protect yourself.”
“We awakened through your connection. Without you, we will slumber once more, returning to our endless journey.”
“Our power is merely a tool for you, Master. We do not benefit directly from its use.”
“Since you have agreed to receive our knowledge, Master, we will teach you our language. Please listen carefully…”
…
Abyss lay in bed beside Leona, having helped her fall asleep. He relaxed, enjoying a night of peaceful slumber.
He woke up to a gentle nudge, a small hand pushing him awake.
“Stupid ABC! Wake up!” Leona’s voice, a mix of embarrassment and anger, reached his ears.
Abyss, his mind still foggy from a night of restful sleep, rubbed his eyes, looking at Leona, confused.
“What’s wrong, Leona?”
“How dare you ask!” Leona exclaimed, her cheeks flushed, her emerald eyes glaring at him. “Why… Why am I in your bed! What did you do to me last night while I was drunk! Tell me everything!”
“I didn’t do anything. We just held hands and slept,” Abyss said, sitting up and scratching his head, looking at Leona, who was wearing a bathrobe, her legs pressed together, her silver hair messy from sleeping with it wet.
“We just slept? What kind of sleeping? Adult sleeping or child sleeping?”
“I’m sixteen… So I guess it was child sleeping,” Abyss said, confused. “Why are you asking?”
“Hmph… I see…” Leona calmed down slightly, but her expression remained sullen. “I… I was drunk last night. I don’t remember anything. Don’t laugh if I said or did anything stupid…”
“It’s alright, I remember everything. I can tell you if you want,” Abyss said, gently combing her hair with his fingers.
“No! Don’t tell me! I’ll bite you if you do!”
“You’re already biting me,” Abyss said, pointing with his left hand to his right hand, three fingers of which were now in Leona’s mouth.
It was the morning Rebecca and Lannis had agreed to meet. They left their rooms, met up in the lobby, enjoyed a luxurious breakfast at the inn, then stepped outside, refreshed and revitalized, their clothes freshly laundered and dried by the inn’s staff.
“Ah, it’s been over forty years since I last ate a proper meal. It feels different,” Rebecca said, taking a deep breath of the cool, albeit slightly polluted, air. “I thought my stomach would be useless after forty years of inactivity, but it seems to be functioning perfectly. I didn’t even throw up—Abyss, I remember ordinary undead can’t eat normal food, right? Doesn’t it upset their stomachs?”
Abyss nodded. “Yes, it’s best for them to consume rotten flesh. It’s more suitable for their undead bodies. Ordinary food, with its spices and cooking methods, is difficult for their unique digestive systems to process. But you’re different. My necromancy is modified. You can eat anything. Your bodies won’t absorb the nutrients, but they’ll be converted into gas and expelled through your breath—and don’t worry, it’s odorless.”
“Even though we can’t absorb the nutrients, we can still enjoy the taste,” Flora said with a smile. She was content with her ability to savor various delicacies, a luxury she hadn’t enjoyed as a living Saint.
“If you want to absorb nutrients, I can get you some rotten flesh…”
“That won’t be necessary,” Rebecca said, cutting him off.
“Umm…” Leona, seeing that they were alone, raised her hand timidly. “I dreamed about something last night… I think you should hear this.”
This meek demeanor was unusual for the usually boisterous princess. They knew it must be something important. They stopped chatting and listened intently as Leona recounted her dream.
They were all surprised to learn that the Lord of Submergence had manifested as two goddesses in Leona’s dream. And she revealed the language they had taught her, the language to command their power.
Leona had initially intended to keep this a secret, aware of the power’s heavy price. But she had been preoccupied with these thoughts all morning, unable to even enjoy her breakfast. She had finally decided to trust her companions, sharing her experience with them.
Flora placed a hand on Leona’s shoulder, her voice gentle but firm. “The price of this power is too high for you. Don’t use it unless absolutely necessary.”
“I know,” Leona said, nodding solemnly.
“This method of accessing power… It gives me a rather bold idea,” Abyss said thoughtfully. “Leona, you must prioritize your safety. Don’t use this power recklessly. I’ll find a solution for you eventually.”
He patted Leona’s head, then turned to Rebecca.
Rebecca didn’t say anything, but her eyes narrowed, a mischievous smile playing on her lips, as if she understood Abyss’s unspoken thoughts.
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