Chapter 12: At Least for This Moment, We Live in This World
Clatter.
The golden b*llet fell from the mid-air and was caught by Rast.
Hiltina gazed at Rast for a long time, while he played with the b*llet, returning her a clear, innocent look.
Hiltina initially thought this was another one of Rast’s cruel jokes. After all, it was clearly not a time for eating or sleeping. This bl**d-stained mansion was far from being a suitable restaurant or hotel.
Until she saw the boy leave the secret chamber and truly begin selecting ingredients in the mansion’s kitchen.
“I don’t know if your chariots can do without food once they reach a certain rank… but due to the reset, my current physical condition is no different from an ordinary person.”
“We haven’t eaten anything since last night. I don’t know if you’re hungry, but I definitely am. Besides, using the ‘Lamp Bearer’ ability twice earlier has greatly drained my mental energy; only complete sleep can restore it.”
Rast found some cold rice, half a matsutake mushroom, milk, and eggs in the kitchen.
He cracked an egg and picked out a bad one: “You can indeed overcome many things with willpower, but the human body has its limits.”
“Using the ‘Night Blade’ must also consume your mental energy. Whether you admit it or not, you are certainly not in your best state right now.”
“What we are about to face is far from the likes of cultists.”
“In your current state… it could be fatal.”
Rast’s voice didn’t sound like persuasion; it was more of a statement.
“Five hours.”
“Because of your involvement, we’ve saved five hours in this phase of the mansion compared to previous cycles.”
“In this five hours, eat enough and drink enough. Even if you can’t sleep, it’s fine to close your eyes and rest… adjust your mental and physical state to the best.”
“Only then do we qualify to strive for that unique chance of victory.”
Hiltina let out a sigh and found a sofa to sit down.
Rast was right; she certainly wasn’t in her best condition at the moment. Whether it’s the ‘Chariot’ sequence or the Night Blade, both provide combat power while consuming a great deal of physical strength and mental energy as a cost.
“Your eloquence is quite good.”
“Thank you for the compliment; it’s something I’ve practiced. Sometimes I play the role of a poor but idealistic speaker at the entrance of the parliament, which is the quickest route to get to know that lady member of parliament.”
In the kitchen, Rast cracked raw eggs into a bowl, added some salt and chopped green onions, and stirred them together with a spoon.
He found some carrots, ham, and shiitake mushrooms in the cupboard, washed them with water, and diced them for later.
Based on Hiltina’s previous understanding of Rast, she thought he would display dazzling cooking skills like he did with mixing drinks. Even if his skills rivaled those of royal chefs in reality, she wouldn’t be surprised.
But the preparation laid out before Hiltina could only be described as simple and home-cooked.
“Actually, I have never studied cooking. Appetite, as the easiest desire to satisfy, is also the first thing that makes me feel sick,” Rast rolled up his sleeves and ignited the stove, “I can only make fried rice; Xiao Ai taught me how to make fried rice.”
“At first, I didn’t want to learn, but Xiao Ai said that boys must learn to cook for themselves when they are out alone, or else they’ll starve, and then she forced me to remember every step.”
Hiltina’s eyes flickered.
This was the first time Rast had voluntarily mentioned an outsider, a person named Xiao Ai.
Who is this? A native projection from Deep Blue Harbor? But previously, whether it was talking about the dance troupe leader or the lady member of parliament, Rast had never shown the attitude he had now.
Or is it someone Rast knew before entering the Night World and being trapped in the historical echoes of Deep Blue Harbor?
But since Rast did not elaborate, Hiltina did not ask.
In less than twenty minutes, the fried rice had been served on two trays and was placed in front of her.
Looking at the steaming fried rice, with distinct grains.
Hiltina glanced at the energy bar in her hand but ultimately couldn’t utter the words, “Thank you, but I’ve prepared food myself.”
She sighed, “I didn’t expect you to still have the inclination to cook in this situation.”
“If we don’t cook, what are we going to eat? Your compressed biscuits?” Rast sat down across the table and poured each of them a cup of hot milk.
“Though the nutritional value might not be much different, the dining experience and the spiritual value it provides are worlds apart.”
Rast said, “In Deep Blue Harbor, maintaining a complete and full mental state is far more important than the energy provided by food.”
“It seems you don’t really desire to leave Deep Blue Harbor?” Hiltina asked, “If it were me, I would probably just want to quickly pass through this Night World and not want to stay for even a second longer.”
“No, I yearn to leave even more than you can imagine.”
Rast took a spoonful of fried rice and put it in his mouth: “In the first cycle, I was also impatiently searching for a way out, just as you have said.”
“And then, with the constant failures, from hope to despair, until I became hysterical, self-destructive, and even developed tendencies toward self-destruction…”
“During that time, I jumped from high buildings again and again or repeatedly jumped into the steel factory’s furnace, feeling my body gradually burned to ashes by the molten iron.”
“Until someone spoke to me and stopped me.”
“What did they say?” Hiltina instinctively inquired.
“If I continued to self-destruct like this, even if one day I truly ended the hopeless cycle of Deep Blue Harbor, I would never be able to live normally in human society.”
Rast smiled slightly.
“After that, I began trying to blend in as a resident of this city, even if this simple life lasted less than a day. Something brief can also have its advantages; it allows me to experience the lives of different people in various ways.”
“After trying this for a while, I felt like I had come back to life… instead of being a trapped soul wandering in Deep Blue Harbor unable to break free.”
He looked out at the slightly pale sky.
“No matter how the outside world is, how this port city will end…”
“At least for this moment, we live in Deep Blue Harbor.”
“We live in this world.”
(End of chapter)
