Hell and Daily Life
How long had I been asleep? A pleasant premonition that it was finally time to wake up slowly lifted my heavy eyelids.
I slowly scanned my body's condition.
‘Oh…… nice. No pain at all, and it feels way lighter than before?’
Every cell in my body seemed to be screaming in joyful rebirth. Not only was that vicious wound in my side gone, but my entire body felt cleansed of old grime, brimming with clear energy.
Next, my Sloth Force. The black sea inside me, which had shriveled to a small pond after scraping the bottom dry, now swirled softly through my body, denser and vaster than before.
‘Feels like it's even increased from before?’
Not just recovered—something more. Was it my imagination……? No, this definitely felt like the vessel itself had expanded.
Thinking back, I'd felt a similar sensation last time after squeezing my Sloth Force to the limit.
‘Does pushing to the limit increase the total amount? Or…… did I sleep way longer than I thought?’ Either way, not bad. Growth or rest—both were welcome for someone like me who aimed for sloth.
I slowly raised my heavy body.
“Up we go……”
Stretching both arms high above my head, I cracked my joints. The sensation of stiff muscles screaming then melting away deliciously swept through me. Twisting my neck side to side to loosen up brought a symphony of satisfying pops from my bones.
“Haa……”
Refreshing. The peak condition I'd craved for so long. I felt great. Even the dim Hell sky seemed brighter today, and the acrid wind blowing through the barrier felt like a gentle autumn breeze.
On days like this, everything would go right. No, baseless confidence bubbled up that anything I did would succeed.
Like building an even more perfect, cozy sleeping setup, for instance.
Fluff up yesterday's grass bed a bit more, tweak the dome's lighting for optimal non-glaring brightness. Add a subtle fragrance, and it'd be paradise.
Hm…… phytoncides. Why not plant a few trees around? For that forest-sleeping vibe.
Yeah, today I'll……
“Awake at last.”
“Gack……?!”
I nearly screamed. No, a short gasp caught in my throat, making me choke.
Still in that bizarre pose twisting my neck for the pop, my gaze snapped to the sofa opposite. There sat Hell's king—the one who'd shattered my barrier and pierced my side yesterday—Bael, looking perfectly at home.
Instead of yesterday's fierce crimson-black flames, she wore a simple yet elegant black dress. ……Was that yesterday? No idea how long I slept, but since I just woke up, let's call it yesterday.
She had something wrapped in cloth on her lap, gazing at me intently.
“??……Why are you here?”
To my baffled question, she just smiled faintly and began unwrapping the bundle instead of answering.
She glanced around, as if seeking a spot for a tea set. But the only things in sight were the bed I'd just risen from and the sofa. Realizing there was no table, her lips pursed ever so slightly.
It was subtle, barely noticeable unless you looked closely—a pout mixed with bewilderment.
With a light wave of her hand, an antique wooden table popped into existence from thin air.
‘Whoa?!’
I narrowed my eyes at the phenomenon. Like my Sloth Force using library blueprints to manifest particles into reality? But the texture felt different from my precise, modern-style crafting.
“Not the same manipulation as yours. Merely borrowing something from its rightful place in this space for a moment. Come, sit.”
She settled elegantly, as if it were her own home.
Still wary, I perched awkwardly on the sofa's edge.
But Bael ignored my attitude, focusing entirely on the tea set.
Steam rose from thin air, heating the water precisely. Her delicate hands measured the leaves with care, her serious gaze even calculating the pour angle.
I stole a glance at her. The queen who ruled Hell, biting her lip in concentration over tea temperature.
‘……Kinda cute.’
Hot! What crazy thought was that?!
I shook my head vigorously, trying to erase the insane notion.
“……Just a moment longer.”
Bael murmured softly. I nodded awkwardly, sliding off the sofa arm to sit properly facing her.
My mind was a mess. Was I overthinking? No, we'd been trying to kill each other not long ago—how could we sit here sipping tea? Was everyone in Hell this chill?
Unable to hide my discomfort, Bael spoke while arranging the cups.
“It seems time for conversation.”
“……Conversation? About what?”
She met my eyes directly.
“That battle was as Hell's king facing you. Today, I come merely as your neighbor. No need for such wariness.”
Neighbor. Did Hell even have that concept? But steam rose invitingly from the finished tea. She offered a cup with careful hands.
“……Here.”
I took it, still dubious.
Truth be told, I'd loved tea in my past life. Better than force-chugging caffeinated coffee to fight sleep—tea let me savor warmth and drift off peacefully.
One sip, and my eyes widened involuntarily.
‘What the—why is this so good?!’
Perfection beyond expectation. Stunned to taste such flavor in Hell, I looked at Bael. Her face was oddly stiff, like she was forcing composure.
A peek at her cup showed it slightly lower, as if she'd just sipped.
‘……Ah.’
I knew that look. Her trembling pupils and pursed lips said it all: Hell's queen was dying from the bitterness. I'd reacted the same my first time. Grandma had dragged me to a teahouse, and she'd probably felt just like I did now.
Now accustomed, I enjoyed it, but for a first-timer? Totally normal. Tea is bitter.
The queen's frozen face was hilarious; I stifled a laugh.
‘Heh, must be super bitter.’
All that talk of upholding Hell's order, yet flinching at tea's bite. Seeing my twitching lips, she mistook it for her mistake, hastily reaching to take the cup back, flustered.
“It seems I've erred. Let me try again……”
“No, it's perfect.”
I snatched it back, stopping her.
“Never dreamed you'd brew tea this flawlessly. So Hell had tea all along?”
My genuine admiration halted her hand midair. She stared, expression unreadable—bitterness lingering, or surprise at my reaction?
“……No need to humor me. I was shocked too upon tasting it.”
Her frank admission drew a chuckle from me.
“First time trying tea, right?”
She flinched, averting her gaze—pride wounded or embarrassed?—and nodded.
“Normal not to get it when it just tastes bitter, like boiled water. I was the same at first.”
Her eyes widened slightly.
“So……it wasn't my mistake?”
“Mistake? This is perfect.”
Leaning my elbow on the table, chin in hand, I traced the cup's smooth surface. Steam wafted up, and my face relaxed unwittingly. Long-forgotten ease, sharp wariness dissolving like mist.
“Been a while since I felt like this.”
Seeing my softened expression, Bael relaxed too, her gaze gentling as she watched me. Staring into the rippling tea, I continued.
“Tea isn't just for quenching thirst. It's about preparing it, steeping it, sharing it across the table—the time you savor.”
I inhaled deeply, eyes closing.
“A signal it's okay to pause in a rushing world. Time to do nothing, just surrender to the aroma and lounge—a brief rest.”
Hell's harsh winds and recent standoff felt distant.
“I've slept tons, but feeling 'respite' while awake? First time.”
“Thanks. You prepared this on purpose?”
She replied softly.
“Indeed…… During battle, countering your alien power, I glimpsed fragments from your mental world while threading causality's strands. A vast library of knowledge, if only fleetingly. Though I was expelled at the entrance.”
My heart sank inwardly, but I chuckled casually.
“My Sloth Force is prickly to others.”
“Sloth Force? Ah……the root power. Yes, Sloth Force…… A name fitting you.”
She nodded as if the name held profundity, sipping again. Still puzzled by the bitter brew, she tilted her head slightly.
Amused by the sight, I watched—until she dropped a heavy question.
“Yet, how do you possess such knowledge? I saw but little, yet the library brimmed with it.”
I closed my eyes naturally.
‘Knew this was coming. Almost screwed up big time.’
Without mental prep, I'd have spat tea in her face. Cold sweat trickled down my back, but I slowly opened my eyes.
Good. My expression was perfectly natural.
Feigning profundity, I gazed into my cup, choosing words carefully. Those red eyes missed nothing.
“Well, you see……”
I dragged it out, sipping again. Heart racing, but prep kept me steady. Close call. Nodding inwardly, I began crafting an answer to convince Bael.