Chapter 3: Judgement of Shamash, It Really Isn't Suitable for Cooking
Crackle—
The flames danced merrily on the firewood, occasionally letting out a "cheer."
The crackling and popping of the burning wood awakened Pozëmka from her slumber.
She opened her bleary eyes. Sleep had done a good job of alleviating her mental fatigue, but the physical aches and hunger became increasingly apparent as her mind cleared.
So warm...
That was her first thought upon waking.
What met her eyes was the white-haired man she had last seen before losing consciousness.
He was by the fire, poking at the firewood. The warmth she felt came from that fire.
Though awake, she warily closed her eyes again.
Having escaped pursuit until now, the once naive noble young lady had grown a lot.
No one helps others for no reason. They either covet her family's wealth or her body...
"Your acting isn't very good."
Pozëmka's heart jolted, afraid the man before her was trying to trick her.
"No need for that. If I wanted to do something, the best opportunity would have been while you were still unconscious."
His flat tone shattered the last shred of hope in her heart.
Pozëmka opened her eyes as if resigned to her fate, only to see the man still poking at the firewood, not even sparing half a glance in her direction.
"...Sorry, I..."
Whatever his motives, it was true that he had saved her.
At the very least, she shouldn't treat her savior with such suspicion. Pozëmka wanted to explain, but was interrupted by the man again.
"
Being wary of strangers is understandable."
Pozëmka felt even more guilty now.
"I have some things I need to ask you."
Kevin's gaze finally left the fire and looked directly at her.
Even though it was just a calm look, it still gave her immense pressure.
It felt even more imposing than her father... no, even more than that Emperor she had seen as a child.
"...Okay."
Pozëmka replied timidly, her ear tips slightly drooping.
She wasn't in a position to negotiate terms, especially since the other party was powerful enough to wipe out those military police with a single strike.
Moving her body slightly, she settled herself by the fire. Her agile wolf ears drooped, making her look like a little Caprinae awaiting slaughter.
Surprisingly, the other party didn't ask about things like family treasures or similar topics. Instead, they were all common-sense questions.
...
"...My questions are finished. Thank you."
Through Pozëmka's account, he had gained a preliminary understanding of this world's situation.
The information provided by the system was ultimately too superficial and fragmented.
"No, no! I should be thanking Mr. Kevin for stopping my pursuers."
After some rest, Pozëmka's mental state had improved significantly compared to before.
Her face was as exquisite as an elf's. Her worn-out clothes couldn't hide her cultured air. Her elegant manners all highlighted her good upbringing.
She also had a general impression of Kevin now.
A gentleman with a somewhat cold personality but actually a good heart. As for his race, he should be Aegir, right?
"Mhm. So, do you want to live?"
"Huh? Huh?!"
The topic changed so quickly she couldn't react at all for a moment.
Under Pozëmka's astonished gaze, Kevin slowly stood up.
Then he left without the slightest hesitation. The back of that Fire Moth trench coat looked so heartless.
"This isn't an order, just a choice. If you want to live, then follow."
Watching him walk into the wind and snow, Pozëmka couldn't help but glance at that cluster of fire. Her heart was tangled in conflict.
——
"Kevin, can you really bear to leave such a pretty girl there?"
The system teased in a playful tone.
"I hope that, as deadweight, she can show me something different: whether she stays by the fire slowly waiting for death to come, or places her hopes on a complete stranger and gambles."
"As for the stakes: if someone who is deadweight still possesses decisiveness and perseverance, then I don't mind taking them along during this brief period."
Yes, deadweight. That was Pozëmka's position in his mind.
Kevin could take along deadweight, but not deadweight unwilling to leave even a temporary comfort zone, lacking even half a measure of decisiveness and perseverance.
Without even the courage to live on, how could they be worthy of his aid?
"Tsk tsk tsk, what a cold-blooded and nasty way of thinking."
The system clicked its tongue in wonder, teasing.
"I've never denied that point. But the mercy I can offer ends here."
Without a doubt, Kevin's perspective was lofty. He himself understood this as well.
But as a newborn person, he needed more samples to help him understand the human race, rather than relying solely on [Kevin]'s memories for a one-sided understanding.
Swish swish swish—
With a small piece of dry, hard Ursus black bread in her mouth, she took another reluctant look at the fire, then her eyes became resolute.
Tightening the worn cloak around her, she headed in the direction Kevin had left.
For some reason, Pozëmka had an intuition: the man ahead was more trustworthy than that noble distant uncle of hers.
It was as if he had a convincing aura about him.
And if she wasn't mistaken...
...
The dawn's early light gradually turned into the blazing sun, then into the crimson evening glow, followed by pitch-black night...
Pozëmka's eyes were bloodshot, her lips chapped. The Lupo's excellent night vision allowed her to barely keep up with the man ahead even at night.
For an entire day, Kevin hadn't stopped for a single step. Neither had she.
Tired... so tired...
Countless times she wanted to give up, but there was no turning back now. She was running purely on willpower alone.
Suddenly, everything went black before her eyes. She fell face-first into the snow.
——
It's the aroma of food!
Pozëmka's delicate nose twitched slightly in her sleep, and she woke instantly.
Her hand suddenly grabbed something fluffy—it was a blanket!
She raised her head and realized the ceiling wasn't the azure sky but a dome woven from cloth. She was sleeping in a tent!
The exquisite blanket was even more comfortable than the specially customized one she had at home. A peculiarly styled small heater provided rare warmth in this snowy land.
Everything felt so unreal it seemed like a dream to Pozëmka, as if she had returned home again.
She tightened the blanket around herself and carefully lifted the tent flap.
"Awake?"
On a tray beside Kevin were several pieces of Splitbeast meat sizzling as they roasted.
"Mr. Kevin, I..."
"
You earned my respect with your own willpower. That's all. I won't stay here long. You can leave anytime. If you want to follow, suit yourself. As long as you can keep up."
Kevin seemed to feel this explanation wasn't complete and pondered for a moment longer.
"In exchange, when necessary, I'll need you to answer some questions."
"Mhm!"
Pozëmka suppressed her excitement and nodded eagerly with her little head.
She knew her intuition had once again led her to make the right choice.
She... had survived!
"Eat first."
The roasted meat had already been sliced. Kevin placed the tray in front of her.
The hunger in her belly wouldn't allow forreserve anymore and also left no time to ponder where food and a tray came from in this icy wilderness. She somewhat eagerly accepted the knife and fork Kevin handed over.
"Thank you!"
Even though only in her teens, the young lady still displayed good upbringing.
After thanking him, she forked a piece of sizzling roasted meat dripping with oil and put it in her mouth.
But soon enough, her little face couldn't help but scrunch up like a bitter melon.
A bit salty! The surface is burnt too!
But at least... it's better than Ursus black bread frozen hard as stone.
"As expected... it still tastes bad?"
Noticing Pozëmka's expression, although Kevin's face remained unchanged, the background behind him seemed to turn entirely gray.
A spontaneous sense of defeat rose from his heart. Judgement of Shamash... it really isn't suitable for cooking...
"Huh?! No! Not at all, Mr. Kevin!"
The flustered young lady hurriedly took several more bites, her little mouth puffed out full like a hamster's cheeks.
As if trying to boost Kevin's confidence in this cute way.
"Mhm..."
A hint of a non-existent curve seemed to appear at the corner of Kevin's mouth—so subtle even the system doubted if it saw correctly.
Collectible:
[Slightly Burnt Roasted Meat]
Effect: All allied units' HP +20%. Can designate one Operator to suppress their rejection reaction and increase their own ATK by +15%. (Can be stored after acquisition and used at any time.)
Description: Due to the cooking tool used, this piece of meat is clearly "overcooked." But for some people, it is their hope and symbol of escaping hardship and moving towards the light.