Chapter 146: The Witch of the Dark Star 5
Do you know the feeling when time stops?
There’s a story that when athletes reach a state where adrenaline, tension, and excitement mix, their opponent’s movements appear extremely slow, and time seems to accelerate.
Of course, for hunters and awakeners, whose bodies have transcended human limits due to mana, such an experience isn’t all that extraordinary—it’s almost a daily occurrence.
Even Shia’s mother, Yoonjung, who is physically still young and only a D-rank hunter, possessed enough athletic ability to easily defeat a former triathlon champion.
This alone shows just how different awakeners are from regular humans.
However, even hunters experience moments when they encounter heightened awareness, almost like an awakening.
Since every awakener has, at least once, faced life-threatening experiences in battles with monsters, special gimmicks, or extreme dungeon environments, there are moments when they feel like time has either stopped or slowed down, a phenomenon known as “bullet time” at hunter academies.
It’s not caused by adrenaline or hormones but by mana taking over that function, and mastering this phenomenon is said to be the key to breaking through as a hunter.
In simple terms, no matter how strong one’s abilities, the limit is generally B-rank. Only those who experience bullet time can truly break through the wall to A-rank, a belief widely accepted among hunters.
Even though Shia, now the Saintess of the Dead, hadn’t been in such extreme situations often, she had also experienced bullet time.
Given that her physical abilities, including speed and strength, had already surpassed most human races, it was to be expected, but Shia had indeed been in situations of intense tension a few times.
The first was during her battle with the Demon King.
The second was about three years after defeating the Demon King, when she mistook Teresa’s clothes for her own and heard a rip in her waistband just as their eyes met.
Another was when, after a long time, she went on a trip with Menelapie to a place with beautiful scenery and good vibes during the day, but ended up spending the entire day in a restaurant, eating something similar to a stew made from meat crystals, leading to Menelapie’s patience running out.
And today.
Shia experienced bullet time once again.
Crunch, crunch.
What is that?
Why are you eating that?
Wait, what the hell…
“Hey!! You crazy… you insane woman!!!”
Shia’s sudden outburst contained such force that her voice, imbued with holy power, shook the entire area with a powerful sonic wave.
“Ugh, my ears. Did you put holy power in your voice?”
“That’s not the point! Why are you eating that?!?!”
Indeed, Shia had accidentally infused her voice with holy power, unleashing something akin to a supersonic scream.
As a result, Lirisia’s eardrums were momentarily ruptured and healed again, and Menelapie, who was nearby, had her hair blown about by the sound wave and had to fix her hair again.
“Hey! Why are you eating that?!”
“Did you ever tell me not to eat it?”
“…”
Shia, momentarily dizzy from the absurdity, slapped her forehead with a loud smack.
“…Ugh, what are you thinking, eating someone else’s food without permission?! Even if it’s not the same now, weren’t you once a saintess too?!”
“Does that not apply in this world?”
“Of course it does!”
“Did you pay for everything you ate in your previous world?”
“Of cour…”
Shia stopped herself from finishing the sentence, mindful of the principle that “a saintess cannot tell lies.”
Because in truth, Shia had never paid for food even once in the previous world.
Everything had either been given to her by Menelapie or Teresa, or people would refuse to charge her, grateful for being saved by the saintess.
And even if they hadn’t done so, no one would dare ask the Saintess of the Dead, Shia, who had saved humanity and vanquished the Demon King, for payment. Not even the rulers of the largest nation in the human empire had dared to request food payments from her.
“…..”
“See? You haven’t either, right?”
Lirisia, like Shia, had also been revered to the point where no one would charge her for food in the previous world.
Though she had ultimately become the Witch of the Dark Star instead of a saintess, it didn’t change the fact that she had shared that experience.
“Anyway, this world is different from Earth! You should still remember something like that, right?!”
“Yeah, crunch. I’ll be careful next time, munch munch, gulp.”
“A-Anyway…. Hey!!”
Shia snatched the cabbage Lirisia was about to put in her mouth.
“What now?”
“What do you mean what? I’m lecturing you as a saintess not to covet others’ belongings!”
“Oh, so strict. Try it yourself.”
“Try what…!”
“It’s seriously delicious, though.”
“…”
She knew.
Shia knew better than anyone how delicious dungeon cabbage was.
Although unintentional, Shia had once stolen Yeonseo’s dungeon cabbage, and after much back and forth, had managed to get a few cabbages from her, which she enjoyed immensely.
Though her attempt to fry dungeon cabbage in oil with buttered pork belly had ended in failure, the taste of dungeon cabbage still made her salivate—it was a heavenly food.
It was packed with mana and cultivated in the optimal conditions of a high-altitude dungeon farm. In the outside world, a single head of this cabbage was sold at a premium price.
It was a rare delicacy that you couldn’t buy even if you had the money. Even though Shia had finished off the dungeon cabbage she had received, after learning from the internet how valuable it was, she couldn’t bring herself to ask Yeonseo for more.
It wasn’t about the money.
Yeonseo’s dungeon cabbage production was already limited, and Shia couldn’t shamelessly ask for more.
Despite having eaten all the delicious dungeon cabbage, Shia couldn’t ask for more.
That delicious, crunchy texture, subtle sweetness, and the refreshing moisture filled with mana, capable of complementing any dish in the world…
Drip… drip… drip…
“Sluuurp…”
“Hah, look at you drooling.”
“Hah…!?”
Before Shia realized it, the dungeon cabbage in her hand had already reached her lips.
No, the cabbage hadn’t come to her.
Shia had subconsciously brought it to her mouth.
‘What am I doing…?!’
“Appetite is the most basic desire.”
“What are you talking about all of a sudden…”
“But you… no, we must consume malevolent energy. Yet, admirably, instead of taking it from sentient beings, you’ve chosen the path of self-denial.”
Shia stopped in her tracks as Lirisia whispered into her ear like a soft ASMR voice.
Even her usual casual tone had shifted to a more elegant, saintess-like cadence.
“You try not to sacrifice anyone. You always remain the Saintess of the Dead, and your heart and virtue are worthy of praise.”
“……”
“So what’s the harm in eating a single cabbage?”
“……!”
Thump, thump, thump.
What was this sound?
Was it my heartbeat growing louder, enchanted by the scent of the dungeon cabbage?
Lirisia’s smile deepened as she sensed Shia’s heartbeat.
The wicked smile on her face was so seductive and decadent that it perfectly fit her title as the Witch of the Dark Star.
The touch of malevolent energy, like an evil hand, slowly caressed Shia’s cheek.
“Shia, remember this. You are the Saintess of the Dead, praised by all. No one criticizes you, no one doubts your purity, and your sacrifice as a saintess will be lauded by everyone. It’s no different here. So eat. Indulge.”
“………….”
“Are you hesitating? Then, there’s no choice. Give it to me. I’ll eat it all and leave none for anyone else—”
Snatch.
“?”
“Chomp!”
Crunch!
Unable to let go of the dungeon cabbage that was slipping away from her hand, Shia, before she knew it, had taken a big bite.
The saintess had succumbed to temptation.
Crunch, chew, chew.
Gulp…
“……”
“How is it? Delicious, right?”
“…It’s…delicious….”
Delicious.
So damn delicious.
Seriously, so delicious.
Even now, it’s incredibly tasty.
As a smile spread across Shia’s face, Lirisia chuckled at the sight.
Good. Another accomplice confirmed.
“Hah, Shia…”
“Ah….!”
That’s right.
Menelapie is here.
“Shia, what do you want to do?”
“I, I…”
“Before you say anything, wipe the drool off your mouth.”
“Ahem, I was asking Shia. Be quiet, fake Shia.”
No matter how much I fall, how much I stray, how much I fail to uphold my duties as a saintess, there’s always someone watching over and guiding me.
“I… I want to eat…”
“Is that so?”
“…But I’m a saintess… Is this really okay…?”
Menelapie.
As long as Menelapie is here, I won’t fall for such sweet talk, and even if I do, Menelapie will surely bring me back to the right path.
In the previous world, it was always Teresa who encouraged Shia’s deviations and mischief, but Menelapie was like a stern parent, always guiding Shia firmly back to the right path.
Though Shia often dozed
off, it was Menelapie who had taught her court etiquette, language, and laws in the imperial palace, and it was Menelapie who helped Shia strengthen her resolve when she wavered.
She didn’t always push Shia hard.
As a companion, a comrade, and a family member, Menelapie was always there to support her, hold her hand, and lead her forward.
Yes, even if I make the wrong choice, Menelapie…
“Hah, Shia.”
Of course, Menelapie will stop me…
Crunch.
“It’s delicious.”
“…Huh?”
“…What the hell.”
Before she knew it, Menelapie had pulled out a cabbage from the ground and taken a big bite, chewing it with delight. Shia’s eyes widened, and even Lirisia’s pupils dilated.
What the…?
Why are you eating that…?
No, seriously, what?
“Mmm, it’s indeed delicious. Chew, chew. None of the crops grown in the imperial farm back in the day could compare to this.”
“…….”
“…….”
“Hmm? Why are you looking at me like that?”
“A, no… Why are you eating…”
“Why am I eating it? Didn’t you want to eat it, Shia?”
“No, that’s true, but…!”
That’s right!
I gave in to temptation! I wanted to eat the dungeon cabbage!
And yes, I wanted to eat it right now!
But aren’t you supposed to stop me?!
“Hah, Shia. You seem to be mistaken.”
“…Mistaken?”
“In the previous world, I was strict with you only because I was the emperor standing at the top.”
“Emperor…?”
In the previous world, though Shia had been granted considerable freedom as long as she maintained a minimum of dignity, Menelapie had always displayed the iron-fisted, ruthless side of a thorough ruler.
“Leading countless people. Their lives and destinies weighed on my shoulders, so I had no choice but to set an example for everyone. Inevitably, as my right hand and companion, you also had to be an example for others.”
“…….”
“I still have dreams about how harshly I treated you. But I am no longer the emperor, am I?”
Huh…
“I’m not the emperor anymore. I’m your hero. So, Shia, if you want, I’ll gladly jump into the flames of hell with you.”
“A, no…”
“You didn’t want to eat the cabbage? If that’s the case, give it to me, Shia. I’ll bear all the consequences. I won’t let my saintess be labeled a cabbage thief over just one bite.”
What Menelapie was saying was simple.
I’m not keeping up appearances anymore.
I’m going to play around with you, Shia.
Being a cabbage thief sounds fun as hell.
I couldn’t really have fun as the emperor, but here? We can mess around as much as we want! Awesome.
The emperor turned hero as a cabbage thief… lol, that’s hilarious.
Reading the playful expression on Menelapie’s face, so unlike her usual self, Shia found herself dazed. Meanwhile, Lirisia, observing from the side, tilted her head in confusion.
‘This is… a hero…?’
No, when we first met, she was a majestic emperor…
She was so noble and dignified…
What is this?
But the conclusion was clear.
Crunch, crunch.
Soon, the sound of something crunchy and delicious being eaten echoed from the dungeon cabbage field that was so valuable it couldn’t even have a price tag.
○○○○○○
Yeonseo had been incredibly busy lately.
Not that she wasn’t already busy after retiring as a hunter, but now she was running around dealing with the Mountain Guild in China and fragments of the Demon King.
Since the first Great Rift, Yeonseo had an old grudge with the Mountain Guild, and things that had been simmering for a while had exploded because of Shia and her reincarnated mother, Yoonjung.
‘Those foolish ones probably thought they could handle me by dealing with the Demon King’s fragment.’
Of course, it could just be paranoia, but for the Mountain Guild and its leader, Cheon Dana, Yeonseo and the Korean hunter community had always been clear enemies. Whether sooner or later, there was bound to be a conflict.
Thanks to Shia, the timing of that conflict had been accelerated before everything was prepared, allowing Yeonseo to strike first, destroying a few unofficial branches and labs of the Mountain Guild and even acquiring some of the Demon King’s fragments in the process.
‘It wouldn’t have taken so long if that was all…’
The problem was that there seemed to be informants or spies from the Mountain Guild within the Korean hunter community itself, leading to frequent leaks about Yeonseo’s movements and attempts to obstruct her.
It was laughable when idiots paid off by China tried to interfere. In about a week, those people would be removed from their positions in politics and business.
But the real issue lay elsewhere.
Countries like the U.S., Czech Republic, Sweden, and even Morocco, which had nothing to do with her, sometimes tried to interfere.
Under normal circumstances, Yeonseo would have just brushed it off or dealt with it without a second thought.
But she couldn’t understand why these unknown troublemakers or the Mountain Guild’s spies were in these places or what their purpose was.
Moreover, on top of all that, the massive dungeon erosion that had occurred in Seoul’s Mapo District had led to the upper echelons summoning Yeonseo for her assistance and testimony, leaving her with barely any time to breathe.
‘Shia said the Demon King’s fragments can invade and tempt human minds…’
In the previous world, Shia and Menelapie, having fought a great war against the Demon King, would surely know exactly what those fragments were.
There’s still not enough information.
‘Ugh, I really want to snap someone’s neck right now…’
Should I just do it?
No, hold on. Calm down, rebellious self…
Simply cutting off annoying heads was a tactic from the time of the first Great Rift. Doing that now would bring about chaos that would be difficult to manage.
Even if they’re annoying, they’re still workers.
Even though this is the hunter era, it’s the politicians’ job to take care of the everyday lives of civilians. As powerful and great a hunter as Yeonseo was, if she went around killing everyone like a mad tyrant, the vacuum left behind by those workers would throw the country into chaos.
Actually, maybe it wouldn’t be that bad… There are plenty of people willing to work after all…
Slap!
Anyway, after wrapping up her work and arriving at her private dungeon estate…
Chew, chew…
Gulp…
“………….?”
Yeonseo was greeted by the sight of three cows munching contentedly on dungeon cabbage.
One cow, two… three…
A white cow… a black cow… a yellow cow…
What is this, some kind of golden axe, silver axe situation…?
What’s this, fairy? I didn’t lose any cows…
No, seriously, what is this?
“Shia…?”
“…Huh…”
Am I dreaming?
These days, even cows talk.
Maybe I’ve been too busy, and now I’m dreaming strange things.
Yeonseo lost consciousness.