“What exactly is the meaning of life?”
Unlike the two seagulls at the dock who lived only to steal french fries, Bai Tang was genuinely contemplating the vastness of the universe, the distant and brilliant stars, and how humanity was nothing more than insignificant dust in comparison.
“If the universe’s essence is an endless cycle of birth and destruction, then the trajectory of life was already determined from the very beginning. Any so-called ‘change’ is merely part of that trajectory—numb, and never-ending.”
“So… is there really any meaning in struggling for an entire lifetime?”
An hour that had been both the most torturous and most pleasurable of her life had passed. Now that the intensity had faded into silence and her soul felt like it was floating lightly among the clouds, Bai Tang couldn’t help but sink into deep thought.
“Could it be… that the meaning of life is simply the pursuit of brief moments of pleasure?!”
“So this is the grand conclusion Bai Tang has reached after ‘hmm-ing and ah-ing’ for so long? Post-nut clarity?”
Claire was speechless.
“If you’re satisfied, hurry up and put your clothes on. I need to change the bedsheets.”
This was her room and her bed. Bai Tang might not mind the mess, but she certainly did. How was she supposed to sleep tonight if everything was soaked?
“Guh… my legs are weak…”
Bai Tang wanted to cry but had no tears. She tried to push herself up, only to tremble violently like someone doing push-ups with butterfly kicks. Her arms and legs gave out the moment she tried to straighten them.
“Then just move aside a little. I’ll pull the sheet out from under you.”
The girl wriggled like a boneless caterpillar, slowly shifting her body to cooperate as Claire pulled out the damp bedsheet and replaced it with a fresh one.
Seeing how difficult it was for her to move, Claire said, “Just rest properly for now. No need to rush changing. Remember to get up and make dinner later.”
“Okay~~”
After the Witch teacher left the room, only Bai Tang remained, lying limply on the bed with her lips slightly parted as she let out soft, warm breaths.
Now that she was alone, her rational mind told her that the ointment application was over. Normally, she should put her clothes back on—at the very least, her panties. She couldn’t just stay completely naked, could she?
But for some reason, perhaps because she was truly exhausted, even lifting her arms felt impossible. Bai Tang had no desire to get dressed. She simply wanted to burrow naked under the covers and sleep.
“Call… I’ll put them on after I wake up…”
She had already been thoroughly “dealt with” twice on this bed. Sleeping without clothes just once shouldn’t be a big deal. The Witch teacher probably wouldn’t mind.
As her nerves finally relaxed, both mental fatigue and physical exhaustion washed over her at once. Her eyelids were already fighting to stay open.
Sleepy~~
While she had been in sage mode earlier, Bai Tang had also sorted through many of her thoughts—particularly those concerning the human compatriot she had rescued.
Being treated like a monster was indeed hurtful.
But in the end, it didn’t really matter. There were all kinds of people in this world—men and women, adults and children, brave people and cowardly people. She couldn’t expect everyone to not be afraid of her, nor could she demand that everyone accept her.
She hadn’t risked her life to save that blonde girl because she wanted recognition from her fellow human. She had saved her simply because she wanted to.
Just as some human senior had once given her the means to survive in this world, Bai Tang also wanted to give hope to any unfortunate humans who might fall into this hell world after her.
Even if she had known in advance that she would be rejected, she still would have done it.
“Call…”
There was still a full day and night before the agreed meeting time with Theresa to send her compatriot back to Earth. There was no rush. For now, she should just sleep.
After such a dangerous battle, she was truly exhausted.
Zzzz….
At the same time, on the other side—
Goat Tavern.
It was around eight o’clock in the morning according to the clock. The hell world had no sun, nor anything resembling white clouds. During White Day, the entire sky remained a dull, overcast gray.
The bizarre creatures of Undead Street had long grown accustomed to such a sky.
Several creatures with nothing better to do had come to the tavern early, just like usual, to drink and gossip. Instead, they were greeted by a sight that made their jaws drop.
After just one night, the tavern that had still been operating normally was now in complete ruins. All the tables and chairs had been smashed to pieces, with debris scattered everywhere like garbage. The once-smooth walls were covered in craters and cracks from heavy impacts, some of which nearly pierced straight through.
Even the metal gate at the entrance was left with only half a door still hanging on its hinges, swaying precariously as if it would fall at any moment.
What on earth had happened here? An earthquake?
But the surrounding buildings were completely untouched. Nothing had changed at all!
A few bolder creatures stepped inside. The first thing they noticed was the large patch of pitch-black, rotten mud on the floor. Even from a distance, they could smell the pungent stench of decaying flesh.
On the wall nearby, a demon hunter bounty poster with the Barrel Butcher’s face circled in red had been firmly nailed in place by a short blade. Someone pulled the blade out, and the moment they held the poster, it suddenly burst into flames. The intense heat instantly reduced the parchment to ash, which scattered into the wind and disappeared without a trace.
This was a clear message: the target had already been killed by a demon hunter.
“C-Could it be…!”
A terrifying possibility occurred to them at the same time. Mr. Walter had actually been killed by that boastful demon hunter and human girl yesterday—right inside his own tavern!
But that was impossible!
Mr. Walter was a Blood Robe level existence!
Yet the evidence was right in front of them. They had no choice but to believe it.
“W-What do we do now?”
One of the creatures swallowed hard, his face full of fear.
“I went to that general store before… I thought she was just an ordinary human and gave her a hard time. She… she won’t come after me for revenge later, will she?!”
“She probably… won’t, right? I’ve met Miss Bai Tang before. She’s usually pretty… kind…” another creature tried to reassure him. “Still, I think you should find a chance to apologize.”
“Also, the day before yesterday that demon hunter girl asked me for protection money and I didn’t give it…”
Whoosh—
The creatures who had been standing together immediately backed away several steps, putting as much distance as possible between themselves and the unfortunate one who had managed to offend both girls. They looked at him as if he were already a dead man, their eyes filled with both horror and admiration.
“Damn it, how the hell have you managed to stay alive until now?!”
“You’re finished. If Mr. Walter from the tavern is dead today, you’ll probably be next tomorrow!”
At this point, even begging for mercy probably wouldn’t help. If even Mr. Walter—who had always stayed in his tavern, never actively harmed anyone, and sold them cheap beer—couldn’t escape death, then it was clear just how evil and ruthless those two girls were.
All they could do now was pray to whatever god might be listening.