Chapter: 29
When traveling through the wasteland, the most critical factor was securing water. This was even more vital in regions roamed by Variants, as they left behind a nasty slime that contaminated the environment.
The third puddle discovered by Elaine and her party was a prime example. It was a shallow pool formed by rainwater behind a rock, with a murky black slime drifting ominously across its surface.
It had already been half a day since their supply of drinking water had run dry. While it had been sufficient for Pero to make it out of the wasteland, the addition of a stunningly beautiful lady in a red dress meant they were now short on supplies.
That’s why the two slumped down, gazing longingly at the puddle with sad eyes.
“Can we drink it?”
“If you’re asking whether it’s safe to drink… even after filtering, it’ll usually lead to stomach aches. I’ve also heard that sometimes it can cause hallucinations or fevers.”
“…Can we drink it?”
“If you’re wondering about the taste… survivors joke that they’d rather eat sardine pie than drink Variant slime.”
“I heard this world is desolate, but can you even make pie?”
“Well, it might lack sugar, salt, sweet strawberry jam, and rich butter, but yes, you can make it.”
“You wouldn’t call that pie…”
Elaine groaned, covering her scar-ridden face with her hands. It was uncertain whether they would find another water source, and she was parched. Even someone strong enough to subdue an ogre couldn’t survive without food and drink.
For the sake of survival, a stomachache was preferable to dehydration, so… this meant she had to drink the murky water topped with sloshy slime.
“…”
Even knowing it was necessary, it was something she desperately wished to avoid.
Thoughts on escape fluttered around Elaine’s mind—wondering if it was truly worth sullying her noble palate, accustomed to exquisite feasts, or considering whether she could use Pero as a human water filter…
Pero, determined, scooped the water, trying to remove as much slime as possible, then filled his canteen with the relatively cleaner section. Bracing himself, he took a sip.
Gulp.
“…Ugh, uhh…”
Pero’s complexion turned pale, and tears welled in his eyes. The taste and texture were horrifying. However, the rules of disgusting food dictate that it first assaults you with its taste and then follows up with the unpleasant smell.
Following this, the aftershock arrived—a smell reminiscent of frogs being boiled alive hit Pero’s nostrils, making his face twist as if he were about to vomit at any moment.
Just moments ago, they had roasted a desert rabbit to replenish their precious protein. Since the digestion process wasn’t complete, throwing it all up now would be disastrous. From a survival standpoint, that would be a significant loss.
At that moment, the imperial princess stepped in.
Elaine, for the sake of both of them—she didn’t want to see him vomit, and Pero was at risk of losing vital nutrients—hugged him from behind and firmly covered his mouth with her palm.
“…!!”
Just let me puke!
Pero’s tearful, pleading eyes begged her, but Elaine didn’t loosen her grip. It wasn’t just her discomfort at stake; she rationally believed it was the right call. Thus, she forced the foul, mushy liquid down his throat.
Three minutes later, Pero lay sprawled out, his expression blank. He had consumed water and retained the protein, but it seemed his soul might have been lost in the process…
Elaine quietly observed him and then spoke in a tone as if nothing had happened over the past few minutes.
“…I’m not really that thirsty.”
“T-That’s a l-lie!”
“Lost my memory, so I’m not really sure.”
“That doesn’t have anything to do with your memory loss… What a mean trick, Elaine!”
Pero pouted angrily, puffing his cheeks. Spreading his arms wide, he blocked a 160 cm wide space and declared:
“Elaine, you can’t pass until you drink this too!”
“Must we really do this, Pero? Do you have to be satisfied only when you make me consume something sticky and smelly?”
“D-Don’t say it like that!”
Over the past two days traversing the wasteland together, every time Elaine guided their banter in a lewd direction, Pero would wave the white flag and make a run for it. But…
Was it because of the disgust from the vile slime, or had he finally acclimatized? This time he didn’t back down, even as his face flushed bright red. Truly, it was a momentous step.
However, Elaine understood an eternal truth.
The only thing better than firepower is more firepower.
If lewdness failed, then the answer was more lewdness.
Elaine spread her arms wide, about to unleash her ultimate signature move—Hugging Tightly and Spinning Around—which she had reserved since using it with Irid.
Then it happened.
Plip, plop.
“Oh.”
“My, oh my.”
It began to rain.
===============================================================
They entered a small cave and lit a campfire.
Finding a small cave in the wasteland was incredibly straightforward. First, one would need a strong individual who could carve out rock with their bare hands. Then… by gently stroking a suitably large boulder, poof! A small cave would appear as if by magic.
Amazed by this miraculous revelation, Pero’s eyes widened in wonder as he applauded.
Warmth lulled them into drowsiness, refreshing rain resonated like music, and their small space, illuminated by the fire’s glow, took on warm hues; Elaine found herself humming a tune unconsciously.
Pero nodded his head in rhythm with her humming, gazing out of the cave before speaking.
“I’m glad it’s raining. We have plenty of water now… And once the rain stops, the sand will settle, and the sky will be clear. It’ll be easier to find our way!”
“That’s true, Pero. It’s fortunate that it started to rain just in time…”
After all, she didn’t have to taste the unpleasant Variant slime or feel its texture anymore.
As Elaine was wholly focused on teasing the young boy, she genuinely had no intention of enduring without drinking water. It was undoubtedly something she would dislike, but survival would always take precedence. So ultimately, she likely would have drunk it.
Whether it was chewing the foul-smelling Variant wolf meat or braving the wasteland in search of paradise, it was all for the sake of survival.
In the First Princess’s world, personal preferences took a backseat to survival.
Thus, all her decisions boiled down to what to relinquish. Acknowledgment, expectations, trust, and…
“—Elaine, Elaine?”
“…?”
At some point, Pero’s face had drawn incredibly close. He pressed his forehead against Elaine’s, gauging her temperature. This audacious physical contact temporarily halted her thoughts.
“You don’t seem to have a fever… Are you feeling unwell? I called you, but you didn’t respond.”
“No, not really. I’m perfectly fine.”
“Your face is a bit red.”
“It’s just the light from the campfire.”
“Really? If you’re sick, don’t hide it! I can go look for herbs!”
“You’re not saying this while fully aware, right?”
“…?”
Pero tilted his head in confusion. Elaine hesitated momentarily, then quietly created some distance. This could be deemed a tactical retreat. The distance from Pero: about 1 meter.
The overly considerate boy interpreted Elaine’s actions as a signal that she wanted to be alone and moved to the opposite side of the campfire. The distance between Elaine and him: about 3 meters.
Perhaps this bothered her slightly, as Elaine pretended to get closer to the campfire while secretly aiming to close the gap between them. The distance from Pero: about 2 meters.
Then, both parties halted their movements. Both Pero and Elaine felt that a 2-meter distance was just right. It was neither too far nor too close. They could see each other but still manage to mask each other’s scents.
And so, the two waited until the rain subsided.
===============================================================
Dawn broke.
The fierce sandstorm that had obscured their view and scratched their skin had soaked up so much water that it finally calmed down. Although the ground remained desolate and smeared with dreadful slime in places, the sky was strikingly blue and clear.
They took a deep breath for the first time in ages. The refreshing air filled their lungs, coursing through them and flowing out with each exhale. They could feel the reality of being alive resonating within every fiber of their being.
Pero took Elaine’s hand to signal her and pointed towards the horizon.
“We must have walked farther than we thought!”
“Oh my… the ground is a refreshing green, isn’t it? It’s sparse, but still.”
Green grass? It absolutely felt like an eternity since she had seen such a sight.
Since falling into this desolate world, the only flora she had encountered were meager, withered trees, offensively sprouted mushroom clusters in the corners, or tumbleweed. Pero couldn’t conceal his delight and allowed it to resonate through his voice.
“We’ve made it out of the wasteland! Ahead is the Plains of Meeting. I had no idea we were close to an exit because of the sandstorm… Hehe.”
“The Plains of Meeting, you say? Is there a reason for that name?”
“It’s relatively safe since there are fewer Variants roaming. Survivors nearby often route through the Plains of Meeting when planning journeys. So, it’s a great place to encounter many people!”
“Don’t people settle there? If it’s such a nice place to live, wouldn’t it be ideal as a base?”
“Ah, about that… because it’s a plain, it lacks hiding spots or cover…”
Pero hesitated for a moment, then with a faint smile, added:
“Anyone who tried to make this locale their base ended up dead.”
“Ahhhh…”
Elaine observed the Plains of Meeting with an understanding gaze. Good encounters inevitably invite bad ones as well. She remembered anew that meeting people wasn’t always a beneficial experience.
Then, a thought struck her.
Pero had said that those who tried to make this place a base had died—almost as if he were speaking from firsthand experience. Perhaps Pero was among those who endeavored to claim the Plains of Meeting as their base.
With limited combat abilities, possessing only essential survival skills, it might be worth pondering how Pero had managed to stay alive.
A tiny seed of suspicion sprouted beneath Elaine’s lids.
===============================================================
Distance remaining to Paradise.
Approximately 320 km.
My site has received a lot of DMCA notices, lol. From now on, I will update the MTL on https://darkmtl.com/.
The site is fast and lightweight because there are no ads yet. However, the theme is different from Cybor-TL, so take some time to familiarize yourself.
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.