vol. 1 chapter 24 - If you want to go back~, but you have to take me a~
To be honest, Aeria was very confused about everything that had happened over the past couple of days.
The Evil Gods, the source of disaster, the mobile natural disasters that devoured all life. Over the past few thousand years, how many people had died because of the calamities brought on by the Evil Gods? Human civilization had even been on the brink of extinction because of them.
Yet such a monster had inexplicably transformed into her mother’s form, and kept clinging to herself and her sisters, acting as though it wanted to get closer.
And now, it even actively admitted to wanting to breastfeed her?! Though, she did feel a bit hungry...
Hm?
No, wait!!
Ugh!
What nonsense am I thinking?!
Aeria bit her lip hard, and strong feelings of resistance and disgust surged up from deep inside her.
“Stop messing with me! What do you actually want to do?!” Aeria hopped up a few steps, angrily demanding once again.
Perhaps because the Earth Evil God had shown no deterrent power in the past, Aeria had grown bolder.
This sharp questioning,
Made Bai Lianyue, holding her chest, suddenly freeze. For a moment, her scattered thoughts seemed to reconnect with her body.
Realizing what she had just said, Bai Lianyue immediately turned embarrassed, hurriedly using the blanket to cover her exposed chest, and a faint blush colored her face.
Ugh... what... what am I saying? ε(┬┬﹏┬┬)3
Although she felt much clearer now, she still seemed to do some baffling things from time to time.
Breastfeeding the little one?
How... why...
Could it be because I swallowed Liana’s body? Is the body... affecting me with some of its instincts?
So strange...
Bai Lianyue covered her face and shook her head, troubled.
But the Earth Evil God didn’t dwell on it for long. To ease the awkward atmosphere, Bai Lianyue tried to change the subject.
If you are reading this translation anywhere other than .net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.
“Uh, well... I was actually just joking with you... don’t mind it, okay~... Heh, hehe... But seriously, how about some food? You haven’t eaten since entering the Enigmatic Abyss, right?”
“I’m not hungry! I’m asking you something, stop changing the topic!” Aeria frowned, quickly shaking her head.
She had just asked seriously, but now the Evil God had dismissed it with a joke, even using this topic to mock her...
For a moment, Aeria felt a surge of frustration.
However,
Though she said “not hungry,” Aeria’s body was clearly being more honest. The moment she denied it, strange "gurgling" sounds could be heard coming from her stomach.
Because the surroundings were so quiet, the sounds of her stomach growling were extremely clear.
In an instant, the atmosphere became even more awkward.
Aeria’s confidence completely crumbled, her face turning red as she lowered her head and clutched her little belly.
Ugh... what the hell is going on...
Why did this have to happen now... I’m so embarrassed...
The shy little one blushed instantly, like a deflated balloon, losing her composure and standing there, at a complete loss.
Seeing this,
Bai Lianyue had no intention of mocking her. Instead, she raised her hand and gently tapped her face, tentatively suggesting:
“Um... how about we have some food? I actually have a few things I’d like to discuss with you. We can eat and talk, right?”
...
A moment later,
In the open area outside the cave,
Looking at the various opened cans on the stone table, Aeria froze. Though she had no idea where the Earth Evil God got these cans from, the heated cans were emitting a tempting aroma.
As Liana’s daughter, Aeria had always had good meals growing up. Normally, she would have turned up her nose at such food.
However, after not eating for two full days,
Her stomach was growling, and with the lack of replenishment from the pure divine power, Aeria was at her limit.
Now, facing this food,
Aeria no longer cared where it came from.
Although reason told her she shouldn’t just eat whatever the Earth Evil God had prepared, her hunger took over. Without thinking, she instinctively reached for a biscuit from the can.
“Delicious...”
That biscuit seemed to open Pandora’s box.
The next moment,
After confirming that the food seemed fine, little Aeria began to wolf down the food, stuffing it into her mouth as if she hadn’t eaten in ages. In a way, when she was hungry, Aeria just couldn’t control herself—this was one of her bad habits.
As she ate,
She didn’t notice Bai Lianyue had slowly sat down across from her.
Watching Aeria eat, Bai Lianyue couldn’t help but smile slightly.
This girl,
Was acting all elegant just a moment ago, but now?
She’s eating like that?
Heh,
Pretty cute, huh... Her way of eating really reminds me of Xing Wu when she was little...
As Bai Lianyue recalled a certain black-haired girl who always ate like a hamster, a rare trace of affection appeared in her emerald eyes. She even placed a cup of water in front of little Aeria.
“Slow down, no one’s going to steal it from you.”
...
So, little Aeria became an “eating show” guest, while Bai Lianyue was her only viewer.
The atmosphere became less tense and more relaxed.
But unfortunately,
This peaceful atmosphere didn’t last long,
Because as Aeria’s hunger was somewhat alleviated, her eyes suddenly narrowed...
Reason returned.
Little Aeria soon noticed Bai Lianyue’s strange gaze.
Suddenly realizing she had been wolfing down food in front of the Earth Evil God, little Aeria immediately put down her fork, straightened up, and quickly wiped her mouth with her sleeve, seemingly trying to hide her earlier embarrassing behavior.
Then, little Aeria glared at Bai Lianyue, who was sitting across from her, with a strange look on her face.
“What’s the matter?!”
“Are you full now? If not, there’s plenty more.”
“Guess I’m full...”
She patted her stomach, and Aeria muttered softly. Although regular food couldn’t meet her needs, it at least replenished some energy and relieved her hunger.
“Thank you.”
As a polite good child, Aeria instinctively expressed her gratitude.
However,
Realizing she had just thanked the Evil God, little Aeria immediately shook her head as if trying to clear her mind, then took a deep breath and put on an expression she thought looked fierce, glaring at Bai Lianyue with what she considered an intimidating look.
“You’ve been clinging to me, and now you’re feeding me... What do you really want to do?!” Now that she was full, Aeria didn’t waste any time and jumped straight to the point.
“Hmm, just concerned about you?”
“Nonsense.”
Aeria responded bluntly, her pink eyes filled with the words “I don’t believe you.”
A monster that almost wiped out humanity would care about humans? Impossible!
This monster must have other intentions!
On the other side,
Watching the little girl, full of hostility and acting like a hedgehog, Bai Lianyue tilted her head in amusement.
Considering her reputation over the past millennium probably wasn’t great...
And considering her confused state had led her to kill Aeria’s mother and let her master bleed to death, Aeria’s wariness and hostility were fully expected.
However,
The Earth Evil God didn’t care about that, nor did she intend to explain her past actions.
Let her hate me.
In fact, the more this child hates me, the more pleased I am.
So,
After taking a deep breath, Bai Lianyue narrowed her eyes slightly, and the kindness she had shown earlier was instantly replaced by a chilling, sinister air, mixed with a soul-crushing pressure that spread out from her like a wave.
“Nonsense? Actually, not really. I truly do want to care for you.”
“Wh-what…”
“Yeah, it’s true. After all, if little Aeria freezes or starves to death... how could you make a wish then?”
“Make a wish, as expected…”
Hearing this, Aeria clenched her little fists.
She didn’t doubt the words at all. After all, they aligned perfectly with her suspicions. This monster, obsessed with wishes, wouldn’t allow anything to happen to her until her wish was granted.
That was why it was taking care of her, even trying to deceive her by taking on her mother’s form...
All to force her to make a wish,
To force her to sell her soul. The despicable, disgusting monster.
Aeria muttered disdainfully in her heart.
“So, this time, are you here to make me wish again?”
“Yep, so little one, have you decided what to wish for yet?”
“No.”
Aeria shook her head decisively.
“I told you, I have no idea... I need to go home and discuss it with my family before I decide what kind of wish to make.”
“Oh? Discuss with your family?”
“Yeah, this is such an important matter. How could a little kid like me decide it on my own?”
Aeria explained dismissively.
“You won’t let me go back, so how am I supposed to know what to wish for?”
“I see. Well, that’s easy. You can go back~”
?!!
“Huh? What, what?”
Upon hearing Bai Lianyue’s words, Aeria froze, almost unable to believe her ears. Yesterday, when she suggested returning, this monster became gloomy, and now? She was saying she could go back?
“You’re not lying to me?”
“Of course not. But…”
Saying this, Bai Lianyue tilted her head, propping her face with one hand, speaking in a meaningful tone:
“There’s a condition.”
“What?”
“Let me go with you~”