Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: Mod7
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Chapter 4 - Thirst
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Fleeing certain despair,
I ran towards uncertain terror.
The forest mocked me as I stumbled through the undergrowth.
The birdsong, the rustling leaves, the whispering wind…
“Gasp… pant…”
The entire planet seemed to be laughing at me, at the foolish stubbornness of humanity.
My body trembled, weakened by the intense stress.
I was alone,
Surrounded by threats.
“A-Amy…!”
The anxiety bubbling within me escalated into a full-blown panic attack.
The physiological needs, the thirst and hunger, intensified my distress. Precious fluids leaked from my eyes as tears and sweat.
“Amy! Deactivate power-saving mode!”
I couldn't bear the loneliness. I desperately tried to wake Amy, but she wouldn't reactivate without my fingerprint.
Whoosh-
I threw rocks and branches at the branch she was impaled on, trying to dislodge her.
But after dozens of attempts, I still couldn't reach her. My weakened state betrayed me.
It was too high. I couldn't climb, and I couldn't knock her down.
“Sob… gasp…”
I realized how foolish I had been, yelling like that.
I clamped my hand over my mouth, stifling my sobs.
Retrieving Amy was impossible. I needed to find another way to hydrate myself. And more importantly, I needed to find food.
“Pant… gasp…”
I forced myself to calm down and started walking again.
The willpower that drove humans forward…
It was as essential as food and water.
A realization that came too late.
I should have,
Taken a moment to compose myself.
***
I walked, and walked.
The further I got from Aria, the calmer I felt.
But my mind was still filled with longing for those I had lost,
With emptiness, loneliness, and grief.
“It’s okay. It’s okay-”
Muttering reassurances helped, even though it felt a little embarrassing. It was a small comfort in my isolation.
“I’m just thirsty. It’s okay. Once I find food and water, everything will be alright.”
Even then, I kept my voice low, afraid of attracting the attention of other [females].
I chuckled humorlessly.
My mind must have been playing tricks on me.
I smelled something sweet, something impossible in this environment.
Death was sweet. In my blurred vision, I saw a sweet release…
“…”
…Wait.
This wasn't a hallucination.
A sweet fragrance wafted on the breeze, growing stronger, beckoning, as if trying to lure every creature in the forest.
My mind cleared. My exhausted body, invigorated by the scent, urged me forward.
I didn't hesitate. I followed the scent, drawn towards its source.
The irresistible fragrance promised sweet nectar, a source of much-needed hydration.
The forest opened into a clearing,
The trees giving way to grass.
And there, in the center of the clearing, was a strange, flower-like bud, slightly taller than me.
Despite my burning thirst, I couldn't help but appreciate the beauty of this small meadow.
I remembered the captain's first words.
Like a paradise brimming with blessings.
The tightly closed bud slowly unfurled, and my gaze was fixed on the strange, woman-like figure emerging from within.
She stretched gracefully, like a sunflower turning towards the sun,
Then lowered her hand, beckoning me forward.
She wasn't threatening. She seemed gentle, almost serene, as if embodying all the kindness and goodness in the world.
Her eyes were closed, as if in a peaceful slumber,
And a faint smile played on her lips, as if she were dreaming a sweet dream.
Gulp-
I swallowed, my throat dry, and slowly approached her.
Honey dripped from her outstretched fingertips, flowing down her graceful curves.
My rational mind sent a final warning.
[No. You don’t know what that is. Be careful.]
But my instincts screamed.
[Eat it. Are you going to die of thirst? You need to hydrate.]
Honey typically contained 15-20% water. That was the general composition of what we considered [honey].
But the honey produced by this flower-woman seemed more diluted, suggesting a higher water content.
“Ah, mmm…”
As I hesitated, I had already closed the distance between us. Now, I couldn't just focus on the honey on her fingertips. My gaze was drawn to her entire body, glistening with moisture.
There was no point in hesitating any longer.
Hesitation was a luxury I couldn't afford.
“Slurp…! Ahh…”
I grasped her fingertips and eagerly licked the honey.
It was heavenly.
The sweet nectar soothed my parched throat.
But it wasn’t enough.
My gaze moved downwards, towards the source of the honey.
I wanted to gulp it down, to fill my empty stomach.
My soul, teetering on the brink of death, couldn't resist the sweet temptation.
I,
Pressed my face against the flower’s center.
I drank the honey that pooled between her human-like thighs and pelvis. My arms wrapped around her waist, holding her close.
“Ah-”
A soft sigh,
Or a moan.
The flower-woman placed her hand on my head. Perhaps she intended to push me away, but faced with the desperate thirst of a weary traveler, she yielded, offering her sweet nectar.
The honey thinned. The concentrated sweetness diminished, replaced by a more watery consistency, infused with her scent.
I drank until I could drink no more, then lifted my head, my stomach full. I felt like I might be sick.
I patted my chest, trying to swallow the remaining honey,
And the flower-woman gently stroked my hair.
Her face was flushed, as red as her petals. Her eyes were still closed, but her smile seemed brighter now.
But despite her gentle touch, I instinctively pulled away.
I had been in this situation twice before. I couldn't be fooled by kindness.
This was the wild, and no creature offered something for nothing.
“Mmm.”
But,
She let me go without protest.
She even waved goodbye. The gesture was so unexpected, it felt like a blow to the head.
“…”
A mixture of emotions washed over me.
One of them was shame.
While caution towards strangers was natural,
It was rare for the strong to show kindness to the weak.
Was it compassion,
Or simply a biological imperative for this flower-like being?
“Th-thank you.”
I didn't know. But I felt a sudden surge of shame and thanked her.
It was strange.
Did bees thank the flowers they took nectar from?
No.
But I bowed my head, feeling inexplicably grateful,
And, my strength renewed, I headed towards Amy.
Perhaps,
Not all creatures on this planet were hostile.
Perhaps,
I had just been unlucky.
“Amy, deactivate power-saving mode.”
“-Dr. Juho, it’s been a while.”
The familiar greeting was a welcome sound.
Amy’s eyes opened.
“It has. You’ve had a difficult time.”
“…Did you see anything, you useless bucket of bolts?”
“My apologies.”
I had quenched my thirst,
And I had retrieved Amy. I felt a sense of relief.
“I’m just kidding. Let’s go.”
It was time to find a new shelter.
Perhaps near the flower, where I could easily access the honey.