Chapter 24: Midnight Snack Hunt
In a hazy half-sleep, I felt a chill creeping in.
My mind was still fuzzy, but my body unwittingly squirmed into the corner of the sofa, curling up like a shrimp… still a bit cold, though.
I shivered, slowly reopened my eyes, blinked in confusion, and sat up while hugging my shoulders.
It was eerily quiet around me.
Faintly, I could hear the pitter-patter of light rain outside and the distant chirping of insects, but other than that, absolute tranquility reigned.
On the tea table in front of me, a messy empty plate and half a cup of water sat there like sad reminders of a long-lost bedtime snack. The dim candlelight flickered on the pale blue wall in the distance, casting a warm reddish hue. I stretched lazily, rubbing my eyes.
It felt like I had been sleeping for ages… and I think I had a dream.
What kind of dream was it?
I tilted my head, pondering, but the details escaped me like a slippery fish. The only fragments I could muster were a few odd images.
Beneath a sky as blue as the ocean, strange creatures were battling above the lush jungle. They looked somewhat human, but with glowing wings and horns, unleashing dazzlingly powerful attacks, reminiscent of divine battles in some ancient movie.
Far on the horizon, scarlet flames and blinding golden light erupted simultaneously, startling birds flying miles away.
A faceless woman stood atop an unknown mountain, her lips moving as she commanded the chaos below. Her fiery red hair whipped in the fierce winds like a warrior’s banner.
She seemed to have said something, but I just couldn’t recall.
Just those snippets.
What a strange dream…
I glanced down at my pale little feet, whimsically lifting my big toe only to let it drop again, repeating the motion until I felt another chill creep in.
“Hiss~”
As I took a deep breath, reality hit me harder than a failed magic spell.
What’s happening? Why am I so cold…
I reached for my cheek, the warmth in my palm reminding me that I might just be running a fever.
…Again?
What’s going on here…
Slowly sliding off the sofa, I put on my leather shoes and stood up, glancing out the window.
It was pitch black outside.
The lawn in the courtyard glowed faintly under the moonlight, while the distant royal city sparkled with vibrant lights.
….!!!
It’s dark out!?
No way! Have I really been asleep for so long?
And I haven’t eaten anything!
“Grrr~”
As if on cue, my stomach let out a loud rumble in response to my thoughts.
I was so hungry.
I felt like I might just wither away from hunger.
I had to eat something…
I hurriedly walked past the tea table to the door, but suddenly a wave of dizziness hit me, and fatigue loomed over me like a dark cloud. I stumbled and barely managed to steady myself against the wall.
What’s wrong with me…
I was perfectly fine during the day… Is my body pulling another prank on me?
Panic set in.
I really wanted to go back to sleep… but no! I had to find food. If I didn’t eat soon, I didn’t know what might happen.
After that tussle with the monsters in the royal city, I learned one critical lesson: no matter what happens, I absolutely could not let myself go hungry. Otherwise, I might be consumed by that primal urge, turning into a monstrous version of myself…
Like a true abyss.
I can’t let that happen again…
Grinding my teeth to summon my energy, I grabbed a shawl hanging from the rack and wrapped it around me. I pushed open the door and stepped into the courtyard, briskly walking forward while taking deep breaths to keep me awake, then looked up at the sky.
The sky was sprinkled with stars. The two crescent moons hung like mirrors against the dark backdrop, casting their silvery light on distant houses and the green grass below.
The night was deep now.
I wondered if there were still any shops open…
I stepped out of the mansion, crossed Longdoll Street, and walked to the market which was two alleys away, only to find it had long closed for the night. The street lay empty, with the wooden stalls on either side standing lifelessly without a soul in sight.
I rubbed my stomach, sensing its discomfort.
So hungry…
But this hunger was more than just “not having eaten.”
Sure, I felt empty, but compared to normal hunger, my mind was filled with an overwhelming desire to “eat something.” Images of all sorts of delicious foods swirled in my head, begging to be devoured in one go. This craving was the most torturous of all.
It wasn’t even that intense, but it scratched at my insides like a cat with claws, gnawing at my willpower.
Let me take a look further ahead…
With that thought, I continued toward the nearby street.
I remembered there was a night market in that direction… surely they’d have food to munch on?
However, as I walked, the fatigue intensified. My vision blurred slightly, and before I knew it, I was nodding off, one step at a time, leading my path astray until I bumped hard into a lamp post with a resounding “thud.”
“Ah!”
Ouch, that hurt!
I rubbed my forehead, staring at the towering lamp post, clarity slowly creeping back to my hazy mind.
Shaking my head to clear the cobwebs, I tried to suppress my irritation and trudged forward, feeling a mix of emotions churn inside me.
Why am I so tired… I just woke up!
But I was really sleepy. If it weren’t for the insistent hollering of my stomach, I would’ve gladly collapsed right there and taken a snooze.
Curiously, while my mind felt utterly spent, my body was buzzing with energy, almost like it had more strength than usual. Even in my fatigue, I had these fleeting impulses to punch the wall next to me.
This contradiction was becoming increasingly torturous over time.
If I had known it would be like this, I should’ve just visited Victoria earlier to scrounge up some food, fill my belly, and sleep peacefully… Why was I being so stubborn?
Now that I’m already out here… I just needed to gather my spirits and keep walking.
I crossed another street and started to see shadows of people. The ambiance brightened, with buildings on either side flickering with lights.
I’ve made it…
I slowed my pace, scanning my surroundings for something edible… and soon enough, I spotted an open tavern.
From the outside, the tavern seemed rather shabby, the walls slightly worn, but the sounds of rowdy men arguing and singing wafted out from inside.
Surely they have food here.
I pushed the wooden door open.
Instant chaos assaulted my senses—the noise amplified around me, a cacophony of laughter and rough voices mixed with the yeasty aroma of malted beer. My face scrunched up, and I waved a hand in front of my nose, and instantly, I felt more awake.
Inside the tavern, most patrons were rugged-looking men. A few huddled around tables, some gambling with cards, while others belted out off-key songs, their faces flushed from laughter and large mugs of beer.
Women were a rare sight in such places. The tavern was one of those spots that ordinary ladies couldn’t afford, and noblewomen wouldn’t be caught dead in. The only female present was a plump matron behind the bar.
That seems to be the place that serves food…
I swallowed hard and hurried to the bar, head down.
