29 – S1.5. The Thousand-Li Escape -2
When traveling through the wasteland, the most important thing to pay attention to was the procurement of water. This was even more crucial in a wasteland prowled by mutants, as they left behind vile mucus in their living areas, contaminating nature.
The third waterhole that Elaine’s party discovered was a typical example. Tucked behind some rocks, rainwater had collected into a puddle, but the surface was coated with a floating layer of murky black mucus.
Their canteens had run dry half a day ago. It would have been enough water for Pero until he escaped the wasteland, but it wasn’t sufficient now that a beautiful woman in nothing but a red dress had joined the party.
The two sat crouched with gloomy expressions, sadly gazing at the puddle.
“Is it drinkable?”
“If you’re asking whether it’s safe to drink… even if we filter it, it usually causes stomach upset. I’ve heard sometimes it can lead to hallucinations or make the body overheat.”
“…Can we… drink it?”
“If you’re asking about the taste… Survivors joke around saying they’d rather eat a sardine pie than drink mutant mucus.”
“I heard it was a desolate world. Can you really make and eat pies?”
“Sugar and salt, sweet strawberry jam, savory butter might be missing, but it can be made.”
“That doesn’t deserve to be called a pie…”
Elaine covered her face with her battle-scarred hands and let out a pained groan. It was uncertain whether another source would be found, and she was parched. Even a mighty warrior, capable of easily subduing ogres, could not survive without food and drink and sleep.
For survival’s sake, since it was better to suffer an upset stomach than dehydration, she had to drink the murky water topped with a somewhat slimy mucus.
“……”
There are things you know you need to do, despite wishing you didn’t have to.
Elaine’s head was filled with thoughts of escape: Couldn’t there be another way? Was it acceptable to foul such a noble palate that had only known delicious feasts with this? Maybe using Ferro as a human water filter?
As these thoughts circulated in Elaine’s brain, Ferro swirled the muddy water with his hand, skimming off as much mucus as possible before filling his canteen with the cleaner looking portion. Then, with eyes tightly shut, he took a sip.
Gulp.
“…ugh, ack…”
Ferro’s face turned deathly pale, and tears welled up in his eyes. The taste and texture were truly horrible. But that’s how grotesque food works: it stabs you once with the taste, and again with the fragrance.
When the lingering stench—reminiscent of boiling frogs in a pot—assaulted Ferro’s nostrils, he looked as if he would vomit at any moment.
Just moments ago, the group had roasted a desert rabbit, replenishing their precious protein intake. It was awful timing to vomit now when digestion hadn’t yet completed, for that would be a massive loss from the survivor’s point of view.
That’s when the princess stepped in.
Elaine, for their mutual benefit—she didn’t want to see someone vomit, and Ferro was in danger of losing vital nutrients—hugged the boy from behind and covered his mouth with a firm hand.
“……!!”
I’d rather you let me vomit.
Ferro, crying profusely, gave her pleading looks, but Elaine didn’t loosen her hold. It wasn’t her problem, and, rationally, it was the correct decision. Thus, Elaine forced the vile, squishy liquid down Ferro’s throat.
Three minutes later, Ferro lay there with a vacant look on his face. He had ingested water and retained protein, but it seemed his spirit hadn’t been protected…
Elaine watched him silently for a while before speaking delicately.
“…I’m not that thirsty, actually.”
“…That’s, that’s a lie…”
“I can’t remember well, having lost my memory.”
“Losing your memory has nothing to do with it… Elaine, you’re mean!”
Ferro, infuriated, puffed up his cheeks. Then he spread his arms wide, blocking a space of about 160cm across, declaring:
“Elaine, you can’t pass without drinking it too!”
“Do you really have to do that, Ferro? Do you need to feed me something sticky and foul-smelling to be satisfied?”
“Don’t phrase it like that!”
For the past two days crossing the wasteland together, whenever Elaine would steer the conversation into risqué territory, Ferro would raise the white flag and flee.
Was the anger from the tasteless mucus so great, or had he finally adapted? This time, even though his face was flushed red, he did not back down. It was, undeniably, a remarkable step forward.
However, Elaine knew an immutable truth.
The only thing better than firepower was more firepower.
If demure charm didn’t work, what needed to be brought out was even more charm.
As Elaine spread her arms, preparing to show a rebellious young boy the spiciness of adulthood with a move she hadn’t used since Irid── the sealed deadly technique, “Tight Hug with Twirls”—when:
Plunk, crackle.
“…Ah.”
“Oh my.”
It began to rain.
————-
Entering a small cave, we lit a fire.
The method to find a small cave in the wasteland was simple. First, you prepare a strongman capable of gouging stone with bare hands. Then, if you lovingly stroke a suitably large rock, miraculously, a small cave would appear.
That astonishing sense of exploration earned standing ovation from Pero, eyes wide with amazement.
The warmth that made one drowsy, the refreshing sound of pouring rain, the two people’s little space painted by the light of the fire, imbued with warm colors – Elaine hummed a tune without realizing.
Pero, swaying his head to the rhythm of the hum, looked outside the cave and said,
“It’s a relief that it’s raining; we have plenty of water to drink… Once the rain stops, the sand will settle down and the sky will clear. It will be easier to find our way!”
“You’re right, Pero. How fortunate that it’s started to rain…”
Because it meant not having to taste the repugnant mutated slime.
Elaine had been earnest in teasing the boy, but it wasn’t like she planned to go without drinking water. It was certainly unpleasant, but in the face of survival, everything else lost its luster. She would have ended up drinking it after all.
Just as she had chewed on the fetid mutated wolf meat and led the boy through the wasteland in search of paradise, all for the sake of survival.
In the world of the First Princess, personal preferences and tastes ranked far below survival.
Thus, all her choices came down to ‘what to abandon.’ Abandon compassion, abandon expectations, abandon faith, and so on…
“──Elaine, Elaine?”
“…?”
Before she knew it, Pero’s face was close to hers. He pressed his forehead to Elaine’s, gauging her temperature. His bold skinship caused Elaine’s thoughts to freeze for a moment.
“You don’t seem to have a fever… Do you have any discomfort? You didn’t respond when I called.”
“No, not really. I’m perfectly fine.”
“Your face is a bit red.”
“…It’s the light from the fire.”
“Really? You shouldn’t hide it if you’re in pain. I could go look for some herbs!”
“You’re not saying that because you suspect something, are you?”
“…?”
Fero tilted his head. Eileen pursed her lips for a moment, then widened the gap between them without a word. It could be seen as strategic retreat. The distance between Fero and her was about 1 meter.
The considerate boy, as if interpreting Eileen’s initiative as a sign of wanting to be alone, moved to the opposite side of the campfire. Their distance now stood at 3 meters.
Irked by the new gap, Eileen reduced the distance under the pretext of wanting to be nearer the campfire. The distance from Fero was about 2 meters now.
And then both ceased to move. Fero and Eileen both considered the 2-meter gap to be quite suitable. It was neither too far, nor too close. Close enough to see each other, yet far enough to hide each other’s scent.
So there they waited, until the rain ceased.
————-
The day broke.
The fierce sandstorm, which had obscured their view and incidentally scratched their skin, receded after having its fill of water. The land was still desolate, covered here and there with ghastly slime, but the sky was clear and blue.
They took a deep breath for the first time in a while. Refreshing air filled their lungs and breathed out with a pleasant sigh. They could feel their animate existence throughout their bodies.
Fero signaled Eileen by holding her hand, pointing towards the horizon.
“We’ve walked farther than I thought!”
“…..The land has a refreshing green hue in patches.”
Green grass it was. It felt like they hadn’t seen it in ages.
Upon their arrival in this barren world, the only vegetation they had ever seen was either withered old trees, or clusters of disgusting mushrooms that sprouted in corners, or perhaps tumbleweeds. Fero revealed his joy outright, letting it radiate through his voice.
“We’ve finally made it through the wasteland. Ahead is the ‘Field of Encounter’. We were closer to the exit than we knew!… hehehe.”
“‘Field of Encounter’?…Why is it named so?”
“It’s relatively safer owing to the scarcity of mutants. Survivors in this area chart their paths via this field. Hence, one can encounter many people here!”
“Don’t people choose to settle down? If it is such a lovely place, it seems suitable to establish a base.”
“Well, that’s because…It’s a plain, there are not many hiding places, or cover…”
Fero stuttered for a moment. Then, chuckled lightly and blurted out,
“Everyone who tried to establish a base here…Died.”
“Oh…”
Eileen looked at the ‘Field of Encounter’ with eyes full of realization. If there are good encounters, there can be bad ones too. The notion that encountering people isn’t always positive dawned upon her.
Then, a thought struck her.
Fero hadn’t merely heard that those who tried to establish a base here died. He stated they died. As if he witnessed it first-hand. Perhaps, Fero tried to make a base here among them.
Fero, who possesses lower combat abilities, surviving solely on his survival skills. It would be worth pondering how he survived.
A small doubt bloomed beneath Eileen’s eyelids.
————-
The remaining distance to paradise.
Approximately 320km.