“Whoosh—”
Finally, she was back in ‘her own’ room!
Leya’s legs moved like the wind; with a swift turn, she launched herself into a bear hug, diving onto the super-sized bed that was all her own.
“Ugh… how touching! I never thought I’d experience such a luxurious day!”
Yes, that’s right! Occupying the most luxurious room in the [Thunder Tavern], a premium suite costing 5 silver coins a day (100 copper coins equals one silver, 10 silver coins equals one gold), it was utterly flawless. From its decorative design to its comfort, everything was simply impeccable!
Just look at this incredibly soft, silk-like bed; behold this resilient yet yielding, seemingly genuine leather sofa; and gaze upon this dazzling, golden chandelier that almost blinded her divine eyes…
[Ding-dong—Host, would you like to use your current leisure time to begin cultivating magic?]
“…………”
‘Damn it, there’s always some villain trying to ruin my divine rest!’
Still, in truth, Leya couldn’t argue. Without the system, she wouldn’t dare claim she could survive the coming days unscathed. Moreover, thinking about it, the system was absolutely right; it was barely mid-morning, and being too lazy certainly wasn’t a good thing.
“Alright, System, pick out one of those hundred classic magic books, an introductory one.”
“Understood, Host.”
Immediately, a flash of light erupted. On a table not far from Leya, a book appeared, its cover exquisitely ornate. Even from a distance, the magical aura emanating from it was palpable, causing her heart to stir.
“Complete Illustrated Guide to Wind Magic?”
‘Interesting. A whole encyclopedia!’
Looking out the window at the bustling streets, the crowds, and the warm, gentle autumn sunlight, Leya promptly pulled over a heavy, high-backed armchair. She set down a dish of fruit, then retrieved a full bottle of a low-alcohol, wine-like beverage. With the book in hand, she lay back, a look of pure enjoyment on her face.
“Let’s see, let’s see… The invisible one of the world, only the wind. To travel with the wind, to move by relying on the wind, to master the Great Dao of Wind, one must………………”
Leaning against the sofa, a book in her left hand, a glass of ‘wine’ in her right. Occasionally, she would pair it with a piece of fruit. Such enjoyment was something she wouldn’t trade, even if it meant serving a god!
‘Wait… I’m already a goddess, hehehehe!’
An hour passed.
Three hours passed.
Five hours passed.
“Whoopee… this is amazing…”
“Don’t run… stop… my steak…”
“Ah… steak… so painful… choked…”
“Host, a reminder: if you don’t get up soon, you are truly at high risk of food poisoning…”
“So hard… damn it, why can’t I bite through it…”
System: “…………”
‘You idiot, that’s a book! And it’s made from the world’s finest magical puppet wood; your teeth will fall out before it gets damaged!’
[RIIIIIIIIING!!!—]
“Ack!—Oh no, I’m going to be late!”
System: “…………”
“I’m definitely going to have my pay docked again this time… What do I do, what do I do…”
“Host, please calm down. This is no longer your original world. Please grasp the current situation!”
“…………”
Quietly, Leya set the book down. She paused for a moment, as if regaining her composure, then suddenly spoke with a peculiar expression:
“This book really doesn’t taste very good.”
System: “…………”
“Is it truly this late?” Leya stood up and stretched her limbs, then gazed out the window. Night had fully fallen, and the entire city was enveloped in a kaleidoscope of lights—the beautiful and spectacular nightscape of Valantis. Suddenly, she felt a sense of disorientation.
‘Lights? Does this world have electric lamps too?’
‘No, I can clearly feel the faint magical aura they emit. It seems they must be magic-driven.’
“Awoo… after that nap, I suddenly feel even stickier.”
Yawning, Leya slowly shuffled into the bathroom, hoping a quick rinse would help her feel more refreshed.
‘But seriously, how many days has it been since I last showered? Ten days? Half a month?’
‘Thinking about it, ever since I arrived in this world, I haven’t had a single peaceful day…’
‘Oh! My God! Wh-wh-wh-who… who is that!?’
Suddenly, Leya froze the moment she stepped into the bathroom!
“Is… is this a dream, or am I still not fully awake?”
Indeed, Leya was genuinely startled by her own reflection.
Having had no mirrors in the forest before, and never having truly observed her own appearance, this was, in fact, the first time Leya had seen her current face. It was indescribably beautiful, charming beyond words, and utterly captivating…
‘Surprised? Yes, she was, but that was no longer important.’
‘Joy? That was harder to say. At the very least, Leya didn’t seem particularly excited; instead, she kept muttering something under her breath…’
“Sigh… just a little too young…”
Hesitating for a moment, Leya’s face flushed crimson, as if it might drip blood. She extended a slender, jade-like hand to lightly pinch her chest, which was not yet prominent, only just beginning to develop. Immediately, an exquisitely tingling sensation, like a current of electricity, coursed through her entire body.
‘What a strange sensation. It felt as if, if she couldn’t resist, she would fall into depravity and end up as a certain hentai protagonist. Truly terrifying…’
‘She was already losing control at such a young age. What if she grew older…’
‘It seems my future is already set. Being devoured by myself is no longer just a beautiful fantasy. Self-cest… how interesting.’
‘Tsk tsk, Leya could even foresee a possibility: she would retreat from the world, never again concerning herself with worldly affairs, living out her days embracing a mirror…’
‘The more she thought, the more terrifying it became. It was better to bathe and rest early. Begone, evil spirits! Yin and Yang return to their places! Form is emptiness! Amitabha, bless us! Allah above, please God, protect me from ever walking such a depraved path in the future…’
“Host, as a kind reminder, given our current situation, it would be unwise to draw too much attention to ourselves. Therefore…”
“Ah… alright, System, don’t say any more.”
Leya paused, naturally understanding why the System had spoken those words. Thinking back to the s*ave market, she realized it was likely concerned she would act on impulse, recklessly attempting to save Erica.
“Host…”
“I said don’t say any more!” Leya retorted with a hint of impatience.
“Hey, System, do I really look like a good person, kind and righteous?”
“At least from the System’s perspective, you have consistently been doing things entirely unrelated to the final mission.”
“Oh? So you admit I’m a good person then? Hehehe. Well, I must make a declaration!”
With that, Leya stepped out of the bathroom, her eyes glowing with a vibrant red light. Her face was radiant with a spring breeze smile, harmless as an angel, as she chuckled.
“After all, this divine being is the one and only Goddess between heaven and earth. And a Goddess should have her own way of doing things. Even if it means destroying the world, it must be done in a divine manner, not like those demonic beasts and monsters who spend their days acting like mere buffoons, causing chaos, and selling their lives for nothing…”