The ship drifted slowly across the sea, rocking slightly with an unsteady rhythm. A young child waved a pinwheel back and forth, its colorful blades spinning in the wind, much like Li Yue’s own cluttered thoughts fluttering in the breeze.
For some reason, she felt a trace of fear. Though she had fantasized in her dreams about a brief, beautiful life in the future, she was truly afraid... afraid of the happiness that Clo could give her.
It was as if, having tasted the agony of loss once before, she would rather forgo the beauty altogether than endure that unforgettable pain a second time.
Her consciousness spoke to her... and for the first time in a long while, she felt conflicted. Her divinity and humanity were at odds once again. Strangely, their disagreements usually flared up over trivial matters—things like her style of dress or her favorite foods. It was a level of internal friction that other Calamity Warlocks wouldn't even dare to imagine.
It felt as if she could stay on this journey forever, suspended between anticipation and anxiety. To simply lie in bed, thinking of nothing, and becoming a state of pure emptiness—that didn't seem so bad.
Her consciousness gradually drifted toward sleep. Her mental state was becoming increasingly unstable; whether it was due to the emotional turbulence or the influence of God's remains, she was growing weary of human interaction. Though flesh monsters were hideous to look at, once that complex layer of skin was peeled away, the beating heart and raw meat beneath felt far more substantial and sincere.
In the middle of the night, a heavy jolt shook the ship. The chaotic noise woke Li Yue from her long nap. Normally, she would only wake if she sensed true danger, but now she was being roused by mere noise.
Drowsy and still half-asleep, she got out of bed and threw on an overcoat to cover her pajamas. she felt a bit hungry and figured the restaurant would have some food prepared by now.
She opened her door to a cacophony of screams and desperate wails. She tilted her body slightly, dodging a flying cabinet that sailed past her. The heavy object struck a man behind her; the sound of his shoulder shattering was followed by a wretched scream that echoed through the hall.
Li Yue spared him a glance, and his injury healed instantly. He let out a few more cries before realizing with shock that his wound had already mended.
Li Yue continued forward, murmuring a soft "Excuse me." A masked magic user immediately stepped aside to let her through. She walked slowly down the corridor in her slippers, looking exhausted and yawning twice as she went.
She wandered into the restaurant, where a bit of food remained. Some of the severely injured were still struggling there. Li Yue stepped over a severed limb, picked up a small cake, and took a bite. It was slightly sweet, but since it had been overbaked, it carried a hint of bitterness.
She glanced at the humans struggling in the corner, her eyes filled with a touch of disdain. She lightly covered her eyes. This bit of blood was like a game of house—was this some kind of childish terrorist attack? It was truly boring.
Ah... ordinary people are so weak. People like this don't...
She clutched her head, preventing the rest of that thought from manifesting. After she left, the severed limbs in the room vanished, and even those on the brink of death regained their health. She returned the way she came, passing several masked magic users who stood frozen in terror. She stepped around them and went straight back to her room.
She had a few pieces of bread in her hand. Although they weren't particularly tasty, she wanted to eat, so she didn't complain. She was never a picky eater.
Blood splashed against the glass of her cabin door, but it vanished almost instantly. Everyone was shocked to find that no matter how much damage was inflicted, it would be repaired in an instant—unless it was a single, fatal blow.
Boom! Violent explosions erupted one after another. The ship’s hull began to crack, and water started seeping into the rooms. The cargo inside was tossed into a shambles, and various magical impacts scarred every part of the vessel.
Save those who can be saved, abandon those who are dead. Even if she hadn't been here, these people were fated to die. Through her small window, she saw lifeboats hurrying away across the sea. The massive ship was engulfed in flames, and though the screams started again, they failed to disturb her sleep this time. Several streaks of light flashed across the sky.
The cool seawater eventually submerged her body. She had no intention of sinking with the ship. With a casual flick of her hand, she sent out a blood line that sliced through the nearby walls and even carved through a massive section of the sea. She drifted off to sleep quietly. This time, she felt a profound sense of exhaustion. Was it because she had defied her divinity again?
These weaklings truly weren't worth saving... and yet... she felt she had to do something. After all, having witnessed someone discard their own life for the sake of a city full of weaklings, she could no longer remain entirely indifferent...
The struggles of the weak... she couldn't bring herself to agree with them...
She felt something lift her up, quickly pulling her out of the seawater and carrying her from the darkest depths to the lightness of the shore. It was a strange sensation, and she felt a bit weary of it.
"What do we do? What do we do? She won't wake up!"
"Maybe... try mouth-to-mouth?"
"But she's... so pretty... I'd be taking advantage of her."
What on earth... Li Yue had a dangerous premonition. If she didn't do something now, she might be in trouble when she faced Clo later. She snapped her eyes open and saw a face leaning closer and closer to her own. It was a young girl's face.
She reached out and pinched the girl's cheeks, pushing her aside with a look of disdain.
Seriously... is mouth-to-mouth really the first step of first aid for drowning?
Speechless, she opened her tired eyes and stood up, letting out a yawn. Many people were lying around her; their hearts were still beating, so they weren't dead. Streaks of light remained in the distant sky. Standing around the survivors were several young men and women in uniforms. The men wore suits, while the women wore shawls and long skirts—they looked decent enough.
However, these people all shared one characteristic: they were so weak they felt no different from ordinary mortals.
These auras... are they at the level of... apprentices? Or trainees? Which of those two ranks was the stronger one again? Dammit, I can't remember... Whatever... it doesn't matter. I'll have time to figure it out later.
Rate on N.U.
