Chapter 4: Lily and Her Encounter with the Girl

In an endless wasteland, the venomous sun reigned supreme in the sky, and the earth continuously radiated waves of heat under its glare.

No one would want to walk under such a scorching sun.

Unless he was an idiot.

Hmm? My apologies, there really is an idiot walking under this scorching sun.

It’s me.

I was wearing a poncho and a straw hat, walking slowly across this wasteland.

My height is about 50 kilograms, my weight is 112 minutes, and my IQ is 1 meter 70.

Apologies, it’s too hot; I’ve already lost my mind.

The venomous sun seemed unable to halt Yuren Xing’s steps in the slightest.

Although very slow, Yuren Xing was indeed moving forward slowly.

And the scorching weather didn’t seem to be causing Yuren Xing any trouble at all.

Hmm?… I take that back… this idiot looks like he’s at his limit.

“Help me.”

I groaned weakly.

“Is anyone there? Give this poor, lost soul a sip of water, I’m so thirsty!”

I’ve been feeling very unlucky lately.

A storm yesterday caused an ordinary person like me to get lost in this wilderness.

What’s worse is that the storm blew away all my equipment, including my food and water.

I’ve been walking in this wasteland for almost a day, hunger and exhaustion constantly surrounding me.

Right now, all I want is to have a big feast and then get some sleep.

Even if the world were to end, it couldn’t stop my weary heart.

Of course, there couldn’t possibly be anyone in a desolate place like this.

I knew it was useless to call out, but if you don’t cry for help in a crisis, how can you create a sense of tension?

Since I didn’t know the direction, I could only keep walking forward.

Thanks to the scorching sun, I’ve started to hallucinate.

My life’s experiences began to flash before my eyes: after parting with Aisilis, I spent a month recuperating outside the city with the gold coins Miss Komia gave me.

Afterwards, I felt I couldn’t continue being idle like this. I wanted to find out the reason I came here.

So I decided to start traveling.

But in retrospect, it was less like traveling and more like an adventure.

And it was as if I had been possessed by the Goddess of Misfortune.

I encountered bad luck every single day. The day before yesterday, I was hung upside down in a hunter’s rope trap for a whole day.

The day before that, I was robbed by bandits and tied to a tree for a whole day.

The day before the day before that, a demonic beast attack forced me to hide in a tree for a whole day.

The day before the day before the day before that…

There were even times when I got water stuck in my teeth. Just like right now.

No matter where I went, I basically ended up tied to a tree.

What happened to spreading the love? It was just me, always me, being tied up.

I’ve become so traumatized that I now detour whenever I see a tree.

But even though I’ve encountered so many dangers like this, I’ve managed to pull through with fortitude.

And I’ve honed myself through one crisis after another, although it was all forced.

But now, my physique is much more robust.

I’m no longer that childhood-form, five-power-level-trash Yuren Xing.

I’ve now evolved into the complete form of Yuren Xing (mistake).

I believe that in the future, I will definitely evolve into the ultimate form of Yuren Xing (mistake), and the future fusion ultimate form (mistake).

But, that’s on the premise that I can get out of this wasteland alive.

As the hallucinations flashed before my eyes, my mind began to grow hazy.

“Ah, is this the revolving lantern of life before death? I finally get to see it today. I must be nearing the Sanzu River of my life. I think I see my parents, whom I’ve never met, waving at me…”

Then, under the glare of the scorching sun, I lost consciousness…

I don’t know how long passed, but with a jolt from beneath me, I slowly began to regain consciousness…

“Ngh…?”

Finally, I woke up.

Opening my eyes, I saw a canopy.

A jolting sensation came from beneath me, reminding me that I was lying in a horse-drawn carriage.

It seems I’ve been rescued.

Sure enough, just as I thought that, a surprised voice came from beside me.

“Ah! You’re awake.”

I turned my head to look.

A young girl dressed in linen clothes was sitting next to me.

“Hello… may… may I ask, who… who are you?”

Suddenly facing a young girl left me a little at a loss.

Because both in the past and now, I haven’t spoken to girls very often.

Hmm? Aisilis doesn’t count.

I never thought of her as a woman… just as a little sister… yes, just a little sister! That’s all!…

“Sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Lily, and you?”

Lily said with a smile.

“Ah, um… I… my name is Yuren Xing…”

“Yuren Xing? That’s a strange name.”

‘Ah~ what a sweet smile. I feel completely healed.’

Thinking this, I took a closer look at Lily.

Lily looked to be about my age, with wheat-colored skin that made her look very healthy.

Her bright eyes radiated a youthful glow, and especially when she smiled, the little canine teeth that showed at the corners of her mouth… mhm… she was a very cute girl.

“By the way, you’ve been unconscious for a day. I just casually made some food. If you don’t mind, have some to fill your stomach first.”

As if remembering something, after saying this, Lily brought out the food she had casually made…

For someone who hasn’t eaten in two days, there’s nothing more blissful than eating right now.

Ah! This… this is… so blinding.

What’s going on with this light?

The food is actually emitting a golden glow.

“Why is there suddenly a certain culinary anime’s visual effect? Isn’t this supposed to be an adventure novel?”

Ignoring my complaints, the food continued to emit a golden light.

Finally, after a brief period of golden dizziness, I was able to see the food Lily had made clearly.

“Hiss~”

After seeing the food clearly, I couldn’t help but gasp.

“This, this is casually made food?”

In front of me… was a gooey liquid with black bubbles rising from it, and unidentifiable objects floating on the surface…

“This… is… is really… casually made food. Hehe… hehe…”

‘Are you kidding me? For food like this, what the hell are you glowing gold for? Give me back my anticipation from just now…’

“Here, try some. This is a new dish I’ve recently developed. You’re the very first person to taste it, you know (＾Ｕ＾)ノ~.”

Looking at Lily’s expectant expression, I felt a lot of pressure.

‘I can’t refuse… and besides, Lily is my savior. But… but… eating this thing… will kill me, right? It will definitely kill me.’

“Well… then I’ll dig in.”

With trembling hands, I slowly took a bite.

Ah… in this moment, I saw an angel…

Lord Angel, have you come to welcome me…

Behind Lord Angel… is the paradise known as Eden…

(Xзゝ∠) Yuren Xing… faceplants…

“Hey, Uncle Boumk, where are you all heading?”

I’ve been here for two days now, and apart from Lily’s food, I’ve gotten used to everything else.

I also learned that Lily and her group are a commercial transport team, traveling between various cities to transport goods.

And the muscular, broad-shouldered, tall, and sturdy uncle in front of me, who could probably knock me out with one punch, is the leader of this caravan, and also Lily’s father.

I also heard from the others in the caravan that the uncle is a swordsman.

“Yo, young man, we’re heading to Erisburg for this year’s Swordsman Festival.”

“Swordsman Festival?”

“That’s right, the Swordsman Festival is a celebration held once a year by the Swordsman Academy. It’s a ceremony for swordsmen who have come of age to venture out on adventures. This year’s Swordsman Festival is going to be very lively. I heard there’s a genius girl who has reached the 13th-rank of Grand Swordmaster at the mere age of 16. Let me tell you… when I was young…”

“Is 13th-rank very impressive?”

“Of course!”

I interrupted Uncle Boumk, but he wasn’t angry at all and explained it to me.

“Swordsmen are divided into 14 ranks. It takes several years, or even decades, to advance one rank. But this girl is only 16 years old… what does that mean? It means this girl is very likely to reach the 14th rank in the future, or even surpass the 14th rank and become a legendary God-rank.”

“Oh, I’m suddenly interested. What about mages?”

Uncle Boumk looked at me as if I were an idiot.

Under his gaze, I lowered my head in shame.

I’ve been traveling and adventuring every day for the past few years, so I know very little about swordsmen and mages.

It’s rare to have someone explain it to me now, so I asked this idiotic question.

But these things were supposed to be common knowledge, things even a 3 or 4-year-old child would know.

But Uncle Boumk continued to explain to me:

“Mages are, of course, also divided into 14 ranks. Similarly, above the 14th rank, there is also the God-rank. It’s as difficult to cultivate as a swordsman, but there are some geniuses who become 13th-rank Grand Mages at a young age. Let me tell you… when I was young…”

Uncle Boumk was still chattering on about his youthful adventures, but I was no longer in the mood to listen.

For some reason, I suddenly thought of Aisilis… that cute and stubborn little girl.

Speaking of which, it’s been 8 years since I parted with Aisilis, and she’s also 16 this year.

I shook my head helplessly.

Even if this swordsman was her, it had nothing to do with me anymore.

We were already people from two different worlds, and there would be no more connection between us.

After listening to Uncle Boumk’s endless chatter, I returned to my own carriage… a room filled with cargo, with only a small bed.

But I felt quite content.

At least it’s better than being roasted to a crisp by the sun in the wilderness.

After a two-day journey, we finally arrived at Erisburg.

I parted ways with Uncle Boumk and the others outside the city gate and came to the city’s square…

It’s worth mentioning that when I parted with Uncle Boumk, Lily and he kept inviting me to their inn, saying that Lily had recently invented a new dish and hoped I would be her judge…

After my righteous refusal, they left sadly.

As they left, I thought I saw tears welling up in the uncle’s eyes.

Sigh, being a father isn’t easy…

Sayonara, Uncle Boumk.

If… if we can meet again…