17 The Suspension Digestion Effect

Inside this Wormhole's seemingly spacious stomach, both Ceri and I, fortunately, hadn't lost any limbs.

The problem was the terrible stench inside here and the purple fluid just below and the green liquid dripping down from every meaty wall and ceiling.

The purple fluid on the floor(?) had a slightly hot sensation but other than that, there was not much of a problem, or is it made in the way to numb our feeling?

We had no idea wherever is up and down but we had no problem standing up. Doing so, I blocked the green liquid falling to Ceri with my hand.

'Fuck! That's so fucking hot!' trembling my entire body, I swung my arm almighty to shake off the liquid that stuck like a lava. Seeing the state of my hand, it was melting pink.

"We're eaten, aren't we." suppressing my pain, I struck up a conversation with Ceri.

"Uhh..." perhaps because Ceri wasn't looking at me, she hadn't noticed my action.

Upon nodding, Ceri finally caught up to the situation, panic appeared clear as she desperately knock for the nearby wall, hoping for a miracle to happen.

A few more green acid-like things (?) drop onto her but I caught every drop of it.

Having enough of it, I finally said to her. "Seems like we're swallowed by this thing called Wormhole. And it's a pretty high-leveled too."

I was unusually calm in this situation perhaps due to getting used to the life-death or the tension of staying all alone with Ceri and the nervousness of dying was cancelling each other or it was because another person was panicking that it made me calm.

Regardless of the reasons, I had no way of understanding this strange calm inside me nor had the intention to understand it. I was too busy enduring this damn pain.

"Please open! I can't die here! I am my father's last hope! I have to live as he said!" with a fist tarnished from punching the acidic wall, Ceri cries.

She probably hasn't felt any pain from her fist due to the adrenaline from wanting no... 'needing' to live.

'She isn't all that different to me... But to me, wanting to live is nothing but being afraid of dying while to her, wanting to live is fulfilling the wish of her father.'

I empathized with her and be ashamed of my weak self.

"Stop it already. No matter how much you punch, no matter how much you break your hand, that meat wall will never open up." I caught Ceri's wrist, stopping her ever-progressing hand.

"Even so, I have to try! For my father's dying wish, I have to survive here and retake his kingdom!" despite the difference in power, Ceri tried to push forward her arm.

"Is that something what you want to do?" with a shaking hand, I faked my cool as I stuck close behind her.

"I..." Ceri wavered.

"I will repeat my question. Is retaking the kingdom your father once ruled and leading it again your wish? Do you have the capability?" I continued.

"Do you, who tends to do something alone, without trying to call for help, can rule a kingdom?" Seriously, what kind of buffer remains at the battlefield without protection?

"Do you an ordinary girl, who likes Double Cheeseburgers even want to rule a kingdom?"

"I... I don't want to! But I have no choice from the beginning. Being born as the princess, it's my destiny to-." I stopped her.

"Say no more. All I want is to hear your opinion," smiling to her with the gentlest smile I had, I patted her head with my slightly disfigured hand.

"Hn♡" upon my touch, Ceri let out a small moan.

"??? A-anyway, when we get out of here, tell me about you more," I started getting nervous for no reason.

What was that moan from earlier? By any chance, are Grid's Dexterity dwelling in my hand now that I've learned [Dwarf's Dexterity]?

I didn't sound too creepy when I said I asked her to tell me more about her, right?

"Un... Um, who?" Ceri finally looked at me.

I took off my mask and wore it to Ceri to protect her face.

"Hm? What's the matter?"

"You were Rein-san? I thought you ran away..."

"Well something happened. Anyway, the purple fluid began melting your feet. Ho-hop in," I stuttered a bit, because I've never took advantage of a girl using facts.

"But... I don't want to trouble you..." Ceri said unwell.

"I consider it reward, though?" there wasn't delicacy in my attitude. What kind of shit can delicacy bring better to you than a girl's breast touching your back?

"???," feeling bad, Ceri finally rode my back in the end.

In my final attempt, I tried to make myself look reliable but my melted hair made me look even miserable.

Noticing my messy head and disfigured hand supporting her back, Ceri silently stared at my back.

'This doesn't feel good my, hands are so dry. Is this what Shigaraki from MHA felt? I'm amazed how he keeps those seemingly rough hands around his face.'

Before piggybacking Ceri, I've already thrown my backpack containing all the explosive arrow. Although I had no assurance if this much explosive arrow can open a hole in level 41 monster.

"Rein-san... I know you're a friend of Tilda-san but, why are you doing all this much for me?" behind me, I've heard Ceri's high-pitched voice.

I wish I could use my eyes to look at her and understand her expression but I couldn't do right now. But the emotion contained in her voice wasn't anger so for now I sighed in relief.

"Hmm simply saying, it's because you look similar to someone I really liked in the past. Your look, personality, your favorite food, everything is identical that it's surprising."

"But, she doesn't exist anymore, I couldn't do anything for her the day she disappeared. Looking at the current you, you seemed like a flare about to disappear anytime so I want to place a Netherrack under it."

'How selfish'

For some reason, Ceri deeply resonated with my story even if the final sentence didn't make sense to a normal person who hadn't played Minecraft.

"Of course, I have no ill intention so you can trust me... Well it's for you to judge. Anywah, I'm detonating the Explosive Arrow so brace for the impact."I feel Ceri's hug tighten behind me as the pressure of two bre...

*BOM* *BOM* *BOOOM*

At the same time in the outside world, Tilda was triggered.

Hiding under that beautiful clown smile of her was a disturbed unstoppable rage. "Sorry Mr. Wormhole but, I can't let my Fate Breaking Prince die here! Who knows if he die, I will start seeing lifespan again!"

[Clown's Playtime]

<Playtime's Over>

White mask with happy and unhappy expression in it appeared in her palm. Wearing it and spreading her hand afterward, a colossal phantom sword appeared in her hand.

She swung it as if it weighed nothing and then, the blade swiftly cut the Wormhole below the ground, splitting the earth whilst at it.

*Boom*

The mask disappeared as Tilda quickly approached two figures.

"*cough* *cough* my plan almost didn't work." I coughed, swallowing a few explosion smokes.

I saw Tilda coming this way but find out that her attention wasn't toward mine but on Ceri.

Tilda smiled happily to see the progression in our relationship(?)

Tilda teased Ceri, "Ceri-chan, Ceri-chan, did you know wearing a mask someone wore is considered an indirect kiss? Ah~♡ you were hiding such a 'female' face under that mask. Hahaha!"

'Ceri wearing a mask I wonder is considered as an indirect kiss? How come I didn't notice that? I shouls have her return that mask later.

'Ceri is making a face of 'female' right now? I'm curious, I wanna see it! I wanna see it! I wanna see-... huh?'

The adrenaline and the tough-acting have been dissolved, and the consciousness I barely maintained by using my willpower was broken as I unconsciously judged this place safe enough.

My body refused to put in more power as my eyelids became heavier and heavier. The last thought I had were falling forward as I slept at the spot.

It was at that time, the sky turned dark, the clouds had hidden the sun and the thunder began rumbling.