Chapter 13: The Demon Returning from Hell
Listening to Rast’s narration, Hiltina scooped a mouthful of fried rice with her spoon and brought it to her lips.
Immediately, her light brown eyes widened slightly.
The fried rice was cooked to perfection, each grain of rice evenly coated in golden egg liquid, mixed with the aroma of black truffles.
However, this alone did not move Hiltina; she was not someone who had never seen the world, and compared to the dishes of a real palace chef, this fried rice had too many flaws in terms of ingredients and technique.
But for some reason, compared to the mysterious and hard-to-read Rast, who used incredibly elaborate skills to mix drinks in their previous life… the Rast cooking this fried rice at this moment felt much more familiar to Hiltina.
Gone was the subtle barrier and distance, replaced by a sense of humanity.
At that moment, the sun rose, illuminating the gray sky, with the light shining through the window, casting away the darkness and shadows from the desolate mansion.
The moist sea breeze came in through the window, brushing against Hiltina’s face, intertwining with the sunlight and bringing a faint warmth.
If she listened carefully, she could still hear the distant sound of waves from afar in the wind.
Hiltina suddenly felt that the air in this city wasn’t as suffocating as before. It was a good season, late summer and early autumn, with pleasant weather. Deep Blue Harbor was actually a beautiful coastal city with blue seas and skies, and abundant catches.
If this weren’t the Night World, and if the pollution known as the Evil God was not silently gestating in the city like a ticking time bomb, perhaps she could have spent a lovely vacation on the beach here.
For the next while, the two neither spoke nor communicated, simply eating quickly.
Fifteen minutes later, Hiltina set down her utensils.
She sat on the sofa, the tension in her heart gradually relaxing.
“It seems your mental state has improved quite well.”
Rast also finished his breakfast and was slowly sipping hot milk: “That’s good news. I wouldn’t want my teammate to suddenly lose all their spirit during a fight and then stab me in the back.”
“I actually have a question.”
Leaning back against the soft sofa, Hiltina felt fatigue wash over her like a tide: “Since you have the time to ponder mixology, sculpture, and such crafts, why not delve into more professional academic fields…”
“If you have enough, almost infinite, time, shouldn’t your knowledge surpass that of all past sages and wise men?”
Rast lazily reclined on another sofa: “I’ve indeed considered the approach you mentioned. For decades, every time I reincarnate, I wholeheartedly dedicate myself to academic pursuits.”
“After all, knowledge is power. If I could truly become an all-seeing sage, grasping the truths of the universe, perhaps I could unravel the infinite cycle of Deep Blue Harbor.”
“But unfortunately, that’s impossible.”
Rast smiled slightly.
“No matter how hard I try, I cannot surpass the era I am currently in.”
“I only have a lot of time to study what others have discovered; it is easy to walk the well-trodden paths of predecessors if one works hard enough. But to push the most cutting-edge research in any field forward, only the most outstanding in that field can accomplish that.”
“Surpassing an era and breaking the limitations of knowledge inheritance is a privilege that belongs solely to geniuses.”
Rast set down his empty milk cup and closed his eyes: “It’s like the recipes and culinary knowledge stored in Deep Blue Harbor; no matter how hard I strive, I cannot create that kind of dazzling, world-class dish that can make someone explode their clothes just by eating it.”
Silence returned to the mansion, with only the sound of the sea breeze brushing against the curtains.
The limitations of time and talent, huh…
Hiltina pondered Rast’s words, just about to ask more.
But then she heard the steady sound of breathing beside her—Rast had fallen asleep on the sofa.
Unlike Hiltina’s usual impression, Rast’s sleeping posture was surprisingly honest, curled up quietly in the corner of the sofa, like a cat sleeping snugly in its nest.
Only then did Hiltina realize that she might have overestimated Rast’s physical age.
Awake, Rast gave an impression of being elusive, as if everything was within his control, making one subconsciously overlook his appearance.
But when asleep, his youthful face appeared much more tender; the contours of his face were not sharp and defined, but rather softer, even describable as innocent… he looked no more than around Hiltina’s age.
In other words—
He was seventeen or eighteen years old, perhaps still underage, and due to some accident, had entered the historical echoes of the Night World, trapped in the endless cycle of Deep Blue Harbor for hundreds of years.
Hiltina gazed at Rast’s quiet, sleeping profile and felt that the mist surrounding him had not diminished; it had become even thicker.
Nearly a hundred thousand cycles, hundreds of years…
Such a long time was enough to wash away all passionate memories, losing all feelings of being human, leaving behind a numb void, like a soulless shell.
This was definitely not something that could merely be overcome by Rast’s words about self-entertainment like role-playing.
Infinite repetition, an unending same day—wasn’t that, for humans, like hell… and those who could return from hell were probably only demons driven by some obsession.
In the depths of his soul, there must be something deeper—like the core of a steam engine burning, supporting that already worn out body named Rast to keep moving forward, until he appeared right before her.
That flame seed, which had not extinguished for hundreds of years and still retained its warmth even in ashes… what could it be?
Could it be related to that person named Xiao Ai?
But even though she was curious, since Rast was unwilling to speak, no one would ever know.
It seemed that drowsiness could truly be contagious.
Watching Rast’s peaceful appearance while he slept, feeling the moist and warm sea breeze on her face, that warm drowsiness suddenly surged over Hiltina like a tide, gently enveloping her.
…
When Hiltina woke up, it was already bright outside, and it must have passed noon.
In the instant her senses cleared, she instinctively bolted upright, looking toward the direction of the mansion’s entrance.
Rast on the other side seemed to have woken up earlier; he was quietly sitting on the sofa, looking in the same direction as Hiltina, without speaking.
Time flowed slowly in silence.
Until the footsteps approaching from the mansion’s entrance grew closer and clearer, finally stopping outside the door.
Knock knock knock—
The sound of knocking echoed.
(End of Chapter)
