Chapter 78
Chapter 78
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Translator: Mod7
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: Chapter 8 - Sweat Drops
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Even though I had never learned this language, I understood her words perfectly.
“Please follow me. I apologize for the delay. Due to unforeseen circumstances, you were transported to an incorrect location.”
Her unique attire and her calm, formal speech,
Suggested a refined, cultured individual. She was unlike any of the other females I had encountered.
And that meant…
“Allow me to introduce myself. I am Nefer-Tir, the 26th descendant of the Lamia clan, bestowed with the honorable duty of serving the Sun God-”
Civilization.
“You may address me by my given name. I am commonly known as Nefer.”
This was different from the tribal societies of the mermaids and spiders.
Intelligent beings, raised in a civilized society with established social structures and education, exhibited a distinct behavioral pattern.
We called it [etiquette],
Or, to be more precise, [internalized social norms].
“Oh, my apologies. You do not yet speak our language.”
Nefer bowed her head apologetically, then,
Lifted my belongings, which I had been dragging behind me.
“Allow me. Please, follow me.”
Before I could protest,
She had already taken my belongings and gestured towards a specific direction.
“This way. You were heading in the right direction, so I did not interrupt you.”
Her face, half-hidden behind a black veil, added to her mystique and composure.
It wasn't a simple piece of silk, but an intricately crafted veil, adorned with shimmering metallic patterns. They looked like constellations…
And beneath the veil, I could see the faint outline of her lips, curved into a smile. It was strangely alluring.
I stared at her veil, captivated, then,
Snapping out of it, I quickly retrieved my belongings from Nefer and walked ahead.
There were no males on this planet. And I doubted the desert would be any different, relying on attracting males from space to sustain their population.
Which meant, Nefer was also a potential… partner.
I couldn't let my guard down. I already had Arachne, Aria, and Alraune. I couldn't afford any more entanglements.
“There is no need to rush. We are quite far from the central hub. It will take at least three days to reach our destination. Conserve your energy and maintain a steady pace.”
…Three days?
Three more days,
Walking through this scorching desert?
“Perhaps… it would be more efficient if I carried your belongings?”
…I decided to let her carry my things.
She was sent by the fingers,
So she wouldn't attack or betray me.
It wasn't because I was tired.
It was a strategic decision.
Really.
***
Crossing the desert was an arduous and exhausting experience.
Even at a slow, steady pace,
Walking on the shifting sand drained my energy.
“Just a little further, and we will reach a hill where we can rest.”
But Nefer seemed tireless. She wasn't even sweating.
She moved effortlessly, her long tail gliding across the sand.
To be precise, she wasn't moving in a straight line. Her path was slightly diagonal.
She kept glancing at me, her body slightly turned,
While maintaining a steady course.
“Whew, w-wait a minute…”
But unlike her efficient movements,
I, with my human body, had to stop frequently.
Sweat dripped from my brow, the heat and dryness sucking the moisture from my body.
“Are you tired?”
Even without a shared language,
We could communicate on a basic level.
“If you are too exhausted, I can carry you. I will take you to the hill.”
Nefer approached me, offering me a piggyback ride. Her back, exposed by her sleeveless top, was toned and muscular.
“No, there’s no need…”
I almost refused,
But then, seeing the sweat dripping from my forehead, disappearing into the sand, I changed my mind.
“…Th-thank you.”
I would rest at the hill.
This wasn’t the time for pride. I was a stranger in a strange land, and I needed her help to survive.
“…Mmm-”
As I climbed onto her back,
Nefer let out a soft gasp.
“Th-then let us proceed…”
I was worried, wondering if I was too heavy,
But Nefer quickly regained her composure and started walking, her pace faster now.
She had been matching my slow pace before.
Now, carrying both me and my belongings,
She moved swiftly across the sand.
***
We reached the hill, a rocky outcrop rising from the desert floor.
I understood why Nefer had suggested resting here. The rocks provided shade from the scorching sun.
“Let us rest here for a while.”
Nefer, after walking several kilometers at a brisk pace, finally began to sweat. The few beads of sweat on her forehead were a testament to her exertion.
But she didn’t complain.
She simply set down our belongings, which had been tied to her tail, and began setting up a small camp.
She was surprisingly efficient. She spread a large rug, like a blanket, and even built a small fire to prepare a meal.
“…Thank you.”
I didn’t have to do anything. Nefer treated me like a honored guest, taking care of everything.
I sat on the rug, admiring the intricate patterns and the beautiful desert sunset. Thanks to Nefer, I could finally relax, stretching my legs, enjoying the unexpected comfort.
“Sigh-…”
As I rested, cooling down,
Nefer, glancing at me, pulled out a strange-looking bottle.
I had been looking up at the sky, and now, curious about her actions, I turned my attention towards her.
“Ah, I apologize if I have startled you. I am collecting sweat.”
Nefer carefully wiped the few beads of sweat from her forehead with her fingers and deposited them into the bottle.
It was a strange ritual,
But she performed it with a serious, almost reverent expression.
“Ah, um… okay…”
Seeing this, I thought of all the sweat I had lost,
And I finally understood why she had looked at me so strangely,
Why she had gasped when she had carried me.
She placed the bottle against her navel, the sweat dripping into it. Her toned abdomen, neither too muscular nor too soft, was both firm and supple.
Nefer’s brown eyes remained fixed on the bottle, unblinking, until
She closed the lid, then slowly blinked.
“If you do not object,”
She said, reaching for a blue bottle attached to her other hip,
“May I collect yours as well?”
Her gaze was so earnest, so sincere,
That I couldn't refuse.
***
Nefer carefully collected the sweat from the contours of my body, using her fingers to reach the areas where the bottle wouldn't fit. Her touch sent shivers down my spine.
“Did… the fingers send you? Is that right?”
I asked, trying to break the awkward silence, forcing myself to speak her language.
While my pronunciation was still clumsy, I could understand her,
And forming a few simple sentences wasn't difficult.
I had spent my entire life studying. Memorization and application were second nature to me.
“Pfft…”
Nefer covered her mouth with her hand, a soft giggle escaping her lips. My pronunciation and phrasing must have amused her.
“Oh, my apologies. I beg your forgiveness. That expression is unfamiliar to me.”
But she took my question seriously.
Even as she meticulously collected my sweat,
Her voice remained calm and gentle.
“The fingers… did indeed send me. While I do not serve them directly, we have a… mutually beneficial relationship. They offer valuable guidance.”
I felt a strange tingling sensation as her fingers touched my skin,
And I shifted uncomfortably, then,
“…Ah, a-anyway, they told me to come to the desert. What am I supposed to do now?”
I asked the most important question.
And Nefer’s fingers,
Paused, hovering over the sensitive skin below my navel.
She removed her hand, respecting my boundaries,
But my question seemed to have touched a nerve.
“You will prove yourself.”
She finally answered.
“Prove myself?”
“You will prove whether you are truly the one foretold in the prophecy.”
I pressed further, wanting to know more,
Taking her hand in mine.
“What prophecy?”
Her lips hesitated.
I saw the subtle movement beneath her veil.
“…The prophecy of salvation.”
“Salvation?”
Nefer leaned closer, her veiled face almost touching my ear, her voice a whisper.
“Let us discuss this no further. Night is falling.”
The desert night was cold.
As the air grew chilly,
I looked at Nefer.
“It is the moon’s time, Elder.”
The fire she had built crackled and popped, sending sparks into the air.
A deep, blue darkness descended upon us,
And the air grew cold.