Chapter 85
Chapter 85
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Translator: Mod7
Chapter: 85
Chapter Title: Chapter 8 - The Altar
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The desert women offered me their garments, and I donned the smooth, soft robe without a word.
It was clearly of high quality, but it felt old. The weight of time seemed to cling to its silken threads.
Aaptukemen lacked modern amenities. Their most prized possessions were ancient relics, treasures passed down through generations.
Even if they shared everything, it wouldn't be enough to ensure their survival, yet the people of Aaptukemen clung to their outdated customs and hierarchies.
But nothing could be more archaic than the ritual I was about to participate in.
The desert women, upon encountering a male, treated him as a communal resource, a tribute. I wasn't sure if this was truly the sun’s will, or simply a remnant of a forgotten past.
But based on my experiences,
I knew that the sun, like the moon, wasn't a benevolent entity.
Aaptukemen, Nefer’s priesthood,
And this prima nocta ritual.
I didn't like any of it.
The desert dwellers seemed to worship males, yet they exploited and oppressed them.
Nefer and I walked through a sandstone corridor, its walls adorned with ancient carvings and paintings, religious iconography.
We were followed by a large entourage. At least eight women, and with the servants and guards, perhaps twenty in total.
“Elder, I apologize.”
Nefer, leading the procession, suddenly apologized.
I wasn't sure why she felt the need to apologize now, but her gaze was so earnest, so sincere, that I couldn't interrupt her.
“I did not intend to involve you in this… but it could not be avoided.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
Or perhaps she was embarrassed.
We continued our ascent, a ramp of stone and sand, our conversation a mixture of unspoken emotions, until we reached a large, open space.
Nefer’s gaze, especially, was complex, difficult to decipher. It mirrored my own confusion, my own conflicting emotions.
This too could be considered a betrayal. I had left Aria and Arachne behind in the forest, and forming a connection with another female felt wrong.
But it seemed that not only Nefer and the other women here, but even the desert males I had briefly encountered, were encouraging this.
The desires I had suppressed in my struggle for survival resurfaced. I tried to ignore them, to push them away, but it was no use.
“It’s… beneficial, actually. A spectacle like this will draw a crowd.”
I wanted to change this place.
I felt a pang of sympathy for the women gathered here, eager to witness a male’s first night, and for the other males, dragged here against their will.
We reached a stone platform, a raised dais that resembled a sacrificial altar.
But the words didn't frighten me. Tribute, sacrifice…
They only angered me. While fear and anger were often intertwined, in this desert, the anger, the frustration, the resentment, always came first.
“Quite a crowd.”
A large number of residents had gathered, drawn by the promise of a rare spectacle.
Their faces, a mixture of excitement and a strange shyness, hinted at the significance of this event.
But even this large gathering was small, considering the size and scale of the city.
The heart of the desert was dying. Even I, an outsider, could see that its future was bleak.
In this slowly decaying ancient city, the women hid their faces, seeking refuge from the scorching sun,
And the males, gathered here against their will, their bodies prostrate on the ground, lived lives of subservience and fear.
“Nefer, what happens to you if I cause trouble here?”
“I will be banished, along with you, Elder.”
Even as we spoke, Nefer meticulously folded her clothes, her movements precise and deliberate.
The folds were sharp, the silk smooth and unwrinkled.
Having finished her preparations, she approached me and began removing my robe,
And the soft brush of her fingernails against my skin drew the attention of the other women.
–Ahh…
Gasps and whispers rippled through the crowd.
The robe slipped from my shoulders, revealing my naked body. I wasn't sure if I was blushing from the heat of the torches, or from the intensity of their gazes.
After this brief moment in the spotlight, four women approached, carrying small jars filled with oil. A warm, fragrant oil.
“Elder, allow me to apply this. Please bear with it, even if it tickles.”
Nefer dipped her hands into the oil, coating them with the fragrant liquid, then gently massaged it into my skin.
Meanwhile, Homunculus and His Majesty walked towards the front of the altar.
One of them had to recite something before the ceremony began.
His Majesty, bowing his head subserviently, gestured towards Homunculus, offering her the honor,
And Homunculus, smiling, stepped forward and addressed the crowd.
“People of Aaptukemen, hear me! An outsider has arrived, one who will approach the sun, and the long drought will finally end.”
Her words were grand and solemn, but the nobles, gathered near the altar in their finery, giggled and whispered amongst themselves.
For them, this was simply entertainment, a chance to mock and ogle Nefer and me.
“Outsider.”
But His Majesty, surprisingly, spoke, his voice serious. He stepped in front of me, blocking their view, and whispered,
“D-don’t… don’t do anything foolish, just… go along with it. It’s just a momentary… humiliation. You understand- ahem, ahem-!”
But the other nobles glared at him, their disapproval silencing him mid-sentence.
He couldn't help me, nor could he openly oppose them.
While he was undoubtedly pleased that I wasn't replacing him, he seemed uncomfortable with my impending humiliation, my sacrifice.
Most of them felt the same way. Survival took precedence over personal beliefs.
I, too, had made compromises,
And so had His Majesty, and the other males.
“…”
But instead of following his advice, prostrating myself before them,
I descended the steps of the altar, so that the women below could get a better view.
“Elder-”
Nefer’s voice was filled with concern,
But I ignored her, continuing my descent,
Until the guards and nobles blocked my path.
“Do not attempt anything foolish.”
Even Homunculus, who had been addressing the crowd, stopped, her arm raised, barring my way.
“Even if you throw yourself from the altar, Nefer cannot follow. Are you willing to condemn her to a life of suffering and punishment, to bear the burden of your actions?”
Homunculus seemed to think I was contemplating suicide. I wouldn't be surprised if other males had resorted to such desperate measures.
“You flatter yourself.”
I chuckled, then cleared my throat.
I spoke loudly,
My voice echoing through the open space, reaching every corner of the sandstone structure.
“People of Aaptukemen, hear me!”
I borrowed Homunculus’s opening phrase, then continued.
“I will give you a spectacle. If you’re so eager to witness my first night with Nefer, then watch closely. All of you.”
I snatched a torch from one of the guards and raised it high above my head,
Then pounded my fist against my chest.
“You’re all dying, so you might as well enjoy this, right? This is all you have left, isn’t it? This place, with all its grand structures and precious jewels… you’re no different from the creatures in the wild. Perhaps even more repulsive!”
“How dare you-!”
Several nobles cried out in protest,
But Homunculus silenced them, her lips curled into a mocking smile.
“An interesting male, indeed.”
“Enjoy the show. Until Amy and Jenny arrive.”
“…Who are they?”
But her amusement didn’t last long.
Homunculus’s smile faltered as she heard my words, the names I had uttered.
I ignored her and the other nobles, returning to the altar, to Nefer’s side, and asked her,
“Nefer! What happens if I am the prophesied one?!”
“You will become the true savior of Aaptukemen- no, the new sun, the leader of all.”
Nefer’s faith in me seemed to have grown stronger after witnessing my outburst.
And looking at her faint smile,
I declared,
“…Alright. I’ll be your savior. Let’s do this.”