A Glimmer of Hope in Hell

After enduring countless hardships, the master and servant finally glimpsed living humans. Yet, at this moment, joy eluded them completely.

For those living people were steadily becoming corpses.

Tang Wenxu watched, his face ashen, as a gruesome feast of human flesh unfolded before his eyes.

In that very instant, a small squad of soldiers was being unilaterally slaughtered by a monster. Their weapons proved utterly useless against the creature’s thick hide and formidable bulk.

The monster resembled a three-meter-tall carrion giant, reeking of decay. It was composed of fragmented body parts, with a horrifying maw gaping from its belly.

Wielding a blood-soaked hook, it continuously reeled soldiers into its massive mouth. Its sharp teeth gnashed open and closed, spraying blood like squeezed ketchup.

That sound sent shivers down the spines of the remaining soldiers. Those with weaker resolve immediately turned to flee, but escape was futile; every soldier who turned their back was prioritized and hooked.

As for the soldiers who faced it, the monster seemed to be saving the most delicious for last.

‘There’s no escape.’

Once this thought consumed their minds, they stood no chance against the monster. With each human devoured, the creature grew visibly larger at an alarming rate.

This was hell on earth. Whether they fought to the death or surrendered, only demise awaited the soldiers.

Within mere minutes, only one soldier remained. He cast aside his sword, knelt, clasped his hands together, and mumbled incessantly, seemingly in prayer.

But the monster was no devout worshipper. It cruelly hooked him and dragged him into its maw.

Had the feast of human flesh concluded? Not at all. The monster was ravenous; how could it forsake its after-dinner dessert?

The creature turned its gaze toward the bushes where Tang Wenxu and Kuroki Nao were hiding, letting out a sound that seemed like a sneer, and began to approach.

“Damn it, the town was just ahead!”

To drown after seeing the coastline—that would truly be doubly tragic.

Having witnessed the battle, Tang Wenxu knew they couldn’t escape. Despite his fear, he gritted his teeth and leaped out. He shouted to Kuroki Nao behind him, “Nao! Don’t mind me, run! I’ll hold it off!”

He closed his eyes and charged forward, perhaps unwilling to witness his own gruesome demise. His legs trembled, yet he pressed on courageously.

‘Nao, live for my sake too.’
‘Mother, I died like a man.’

Was this heaven? He seemed to hear the playful voices of children. Had angels come to greet him?

Tang Wenxu opened his eyes, utterly bewildered. He saw wooden beams above him. As he gazed around in confusion, he realized this was not heaven, nor was there any God. It was merely a dimly lit, somewhat rudimentary small room.

Kuroki Nao was curled up by his bedside, fast asleep like a kitten.

“I’m not dead?” Tang Wenxu murmured to himself. A dull ache lingered around his ears and neck; it seemed he was still alive, for the dead feel no sensation.

He noticed that his tattered nightclothes were gone, replaced by coarse cloth attire, reminiscent of a nameless villager’s.

He wore a bewildered expression, as if he hadn’t yet recovered from the horrifying events.

Perhaps due to his movements, Kuroki Nao also awoke. When she looked up and saw a conscious Tang Wenxu, she couldn’t contain her excitement and gave the still-dazed young man a fierce hug.

“Ugh… that hurts.” The girl’s touch and scent brought Tang Wenxu a true sense of having survived a catastrophe. He smiled, teasing as usual, “I just woke up. Are you already trying to discuss philosophy with me?”

Seemingly realizing her impropriety, Kuroki Nao finally released the young man from her embrace and said with some agitation, “Master, you’re finally awake! You’ve been unconscious for two whole days. Nao was so worried!”

“Two days? I’m sorry, Nao.” Tang Wenxu lowered his head, then asked, “By the way, where is this?”

“This is Nao and Master’s temporary home.”

“So, we can stay here for now, right?”

“Yes. We’ve reached the town, and the people here are very kind.”

“That’s good.” Looking out the window, he saw a group of young boys and girls. The sound that had stirred him from his unconsciousness was their laughter. Watching them play, Tang Wenxu couldn’t help but smile.

“Who are they?”

“They’re our children,” Nao said shyly.

“What? What happened while I was unconscious? This is too much information…”

Although his grandmother was Eastern Slavic, giving him a quarter of that heritage and making him somewhat accepting of the blond and black-haired children, even with Eastern Slavic blood, it was impossible to produce a blue-haired child. Not just him, but no Earthling should possess such a gene. Clearly, this was one of Nao’s little jokes, but even knowing it was a joke, his heart pounded faster after imagining the scenario. If he had a mirror, his face would surely be as red as a monkey’s backside right now.

“Master, your blushing face is so cute. I’m not teasing you anymore. These children are orphans adopted by the church.”

“So, we’re in a church now.”

“Yes. Father Kant promised us that we could stay here until we recovered our strength.”

“Does that mean you’ve already learned the language of this world?”

“Of course, the language of this world is exceptionally simple, and…” Kuroki Nao gave a mysterious smile, “Master knows it too.”

“I do?”

She began to explain the world’s language. The language used by the people of this world was extremely similar to English on Earth. Although the alphabet and grammar had subtle differences, it could entirely be treated as English.

Upon learning this, Tang Wenxu breathed a sigh of relief. He had always been proficient in English since childhood—at least enough to communicate fluently.

As the master and servant conversed, a knock came at the door.

Opening the door revealed a seventeen- or eighteen-year-old blonde girl with a refined demeanor. She had just heard the commotion in the room and, upon realizing the unconscious young man had awoken, had cooked a bowl of porridge and brought it over.

She said nothing, only smiled.

Tang Wenxu thanked her, and she merely nodded in acknowledgment, still silent.

Kuroki Nao took the porridge. “Master, this is Mia.”

“Hello, Mia.”

Mia still said nothing, only watched him with a gentle smile.

‘Hey, this Mia is too aloof,’ Tang Wenxu thought.

Seemingly discerning Tang Wenxu’s thoughts, Kuroki Nao quickly explained, “Master, she’s mute and cannot speak.”

Tang Wenxu looked at her with a slightly sympathetic gaze. She shook her head, as if to say, ‘Don’t mind it.’

Her eyes were the windows to her soul, as pure as Tang Wenxu’s. If there was any difference, it was that Tang Wenxu’s eyes would slightly avert when meeting someone’s gaze, as if a defensive wall had been erected to prevent further hurt. Mia’s gaze, however, was gentle towards everyone—so gentle it seemed she would weep for a fallen leaf. She never intended to harm others, nor did she imagine others would harm her.

“Eat quickly, this is Mia’s kind gesture.”

Seeing Tang Wenxu eat the porridge, Mia, content, went to clean the courtyard.

“Mia is a good girl, you know.”

“Mm.” Tang Wenxu nodded.

“Father said that this poor town originally had no church. It was Mia who privately funded it, providing a home for those homeless children.”

“She’s a wealthy young lady?”

“No, she was once an orphan herself, and now she’s a piano virtuoso.”

Looking at the slender figure sweeping fallen leaves in the courtyard, Tang Wenxu immediately felt a profound respect for this girl, who was his own age.