Blood 18 Status Effect: Drunkard

I am currently facing an extreme crisis.

"Just a little, just the tip—please!"

Before me stands the worst possible enemy.

Ariel and Melazofis are both unconscious.

"I'll fix it right away! Right? So it's okay, isn't it?"

To be clear—this is a life-threatening situation.

"Feed me!"

If this continues, I will be eaten?

Time rewinds slightly.

Upon arriving at the inn, we split into two groups.

My group—waiting with Melazofis.

Ariel and Shiro’s group—shopping.

After entering the room, the shopping group exited immediately.

At that time, Shiro summoned three white spiders and left them behind.

Size: roughly the palm of an adult hand—Earth equivalents being tarantulas or similarly large spiders.

In this world, there are monsters resembling giant beasts that easily surpass humans in size, so these spiders seem relatively moderate in scale and appearance.

Still, I don’t find it reassuring to have such spiders in the same room. I’m not fond of them at all.

In fact, I find them repulsive and dislike them intensely.

They’re probably meant as guards, but they unsettle me.

The鉴定 result showed ‘鉴定不能’—a chilling and frightening display.

The鉴定 skill is frankly unusable, yet I’ve developed a habit of using it on things that intrigue me.

Mostly, it reveals nothing, regardless.

But even though I’ve had the skill for a considerable time, its level hasn’t increased.

It might become more useful at higher levels, but the distance to that point feels too far to motivate effort.

Avoiding the spider that crept about slowly and at will, she climbed onto the bed.

The room Ariel had taken was a large chamber occupying the entire top floor of the inn.

Six beds were present, arranged so they could be partitioned off from one another.

Surprisingly, it included a private bath and toilet.

In this world, there was no plumbing like in Japan.

Commoners typically used well water or river water. Nobles and a few wealthy households used magic items that generated water.

Our household used low-grade magic items.

That meant this inn was likely a high-ranking establishment.

The presence of a bath implied the existence of a fire magic item capable of heating water—something that would be worth a fortune to commoners.

Magic items were refined through the use of two specialized skills: skill infusion and spell infusion.

Both skills required significant effort to acquire, and few individuals possessed them.

Even among those who did, very few engaged in crafting magical artifacts.

The process of infusion demanded enormous time and labor.

For this reason, even low-grade magical items commanded a high price.

This room cost more than a typical noble’s residence.

In such a lavish chamber, I indulged in a soft bed after a long time—only to fall asleep without noticing.

Tired from the journey, and overwhelmed by the mental exhaustion of losing my homeland, the relief finally set in.

What will happen from here?

A vague unease.

I will follow Ariel to the border between the Human Dominion and the Demon Dominion.

Until then, I could continue as I am—without clear direction.

But beyond this point, a decision must be made.

Whether to remain in the Human Dominion with Melazofis alone, without aid, and continue fleeing— or to follow Ariel directly into the unknown Demon Dominion.

Without reaching a conclusion, my consciousness faded into drowsiness.

I awoke to the scent tickling my nasal passages.

Sitting up, I found a variety of dishes arranged tightly across a large table.

“Ah, awake? I was just about to wake you. Dinner time.”

Under Ariel’s command, everyone took their seats.

As they did, I noticed Shiro handing Melazofis a new bottle containing red liquid.

“Then, I’m eating.”

“““I’m eating.”””

“Today’s meal is properly toxin-free. Feel free to eat without worry—Sophia, you’re still a child, so don’t force yourself.”

Ariel’s advice is appreciated, but telling me not to eat this—this is excessive.

It’s been ages since I last ate a meal free of poison.

And it’s made with proper ingredients—likely by a top-tier chef, judging by the quality.

One bite and my cheeks involuntarily relax.

When I was at home, I only ate baby food. This is the first proper meal I’ve eaten since rebirth.

Delicious!

Wait—why are you crying, Shiro?

It’s delicious, yes—but crying over it?

And you’re eating while crying.

Ah… such a beautiful woman, ruined by this.

The meal vanished in an instant.

Most of it disappeared into Shiro’s stomach, yet her belly shows no sign of swelling.

What kind of otherworldly stomach do you have?

Normally, eating this much would cause physical expansion.

No need to apply beauty bias even in places like this.

My stomach, screaming inside, swells with every thought.

Painful.

Yet, happy.

Perhaps because I savored it, the level of my sensory enhancement skill has increased.

Syrilis seems to have improved slightly in complexion.

Good.

That was my thought until now.

"Aa... happy..."

At first, I didn't recognize who spoke.

The voice was too soft, too distant—unlike the usual tone of that person.

Looking at the source, Shiro’s face fit the word "two-headed" perfectly.

Eyes open.

Multiple pupils within each eye—unnerving.

And the focus was off, pupils spinning slowly in circles.

Shiro drains the contents of the glass in one gulp.

Exhales.

Ah, smells like alcohol.

Huh? Alcohol?

You mean the drink I had during dinner... wasn't juice?

I thought I was drinking regular fruit juice.

Could it be... I'm drunk?

The contrast with my usual state is extreme. Judging by this dazed condition, that must be it.

Drinking alcohol at your age, really.

"Maou—refill."

"Shiro, stop right there."

"Nooo! I still want more!"

"Even so, there's no more alcohol to buy. That's all we have."

"What?!"

Giro.

Multiple eyes focus simultaneously on Ariel.

Scary.

This feels like a dream.

"Go buy some."

"Eh? Seriously? That’s too much trouble. Let’s just end it here, okay?"

Ariel’s face, soft and coaxing, is pierced by a chop.

Not metaphorically. Literally. Half of Shiro’s hand is embedded in her face.

Ariel collapses, chair and all.

Shiro bursts into laughter, inexplicably amused by the sight.

Huh? Is Ariel okay?

"Fine, fine. Won't die, won't die. Sorry if I kill you, okay?"

She really is fine, isn't she!?

She's twitching—spasming uncontrollably!

"HP auto-recovery is capped. Perfectly fine. This body's a monster, even by this world's standards."

Shiro speaks unusually verbose.

"Seriously, how much have your skills grown?"

"Huh?"

"Skills, skill-reee! You can't function without identification. You have it, right? It's the Identification Saint, you must respect it. If you don't have it, get it now. If you do, use it anytime, anywhere. You have it?"

"Y-Yes, I have it."

"Yay! Then always identify. It becomes essential when leveling up."

"Y-Yes, sir."

Who is this 'push, push' person?

Not White Weaving, as I know her.

"Next up, status upgrades. That one's dangerous. Vedanta, truly. You should boost your skills whenever possible? This world is survival of the fittest. Power is everything. What a fine era we live in. That's why you need strength to defeat perverted freaks like that, understand?"

"Yes, sir."

"Be weak, and you die. Be strong, and still get killed by someone stronger. Then there's no choice but to become as strong as possible."

For some reason, that statement carried a weight that couldn't be dismissed as drunken rambling.

"Seriously, being weak means you get eaten. No joke. Better to eat than be eaten, right? Oh, wait—reminds me. Babies are soft and squishy. Looks tasty, don't they?"

And then, hell began.

Sophia advanced without humor. Melazophis stood firm in response.

Dismissed with a single finger tap.

Fled.

Fled with all speed.

Yet caught effortlessly.

Is this weakness?

"Then, I shall begin."

Eiya!?

Huh!?

Arm?

Present.

A dream?

Ah, frightening.

Nightmare of having an arm eaten.

Do not feel like I slept at all. Will nap again.

Good night.