Ch. 110

After spraying out what I’d just drunk, I wanted to crawl into a corner and cry with Rai.

Snake liquor!

[Anel is a savage!]

[Why are you freaking out! You’re not even a real snake! I’m the one who drank it!]

[If you spend ten years as a snake, it feels personal!]

[Get a grip, you spirit!]

The reason I staggered to my feet wasn’t because I was drunk.

It was the shock.

Anel… made me drink snake!

I trusted her!

She should have warned me before I drank it so eagerly!

“Are you okay, Geenie?”

“Sister! How could you make me drink snake?”

“…It’s good for your skin.”

I was on the verge of tears, but even as I approached forty, Anel still looked like she was in her twenties, so I gave her skin a thorough, careful inspection.

I was calm and quick to judge at least that much.

I sat back down quietly.

“The liquor tastes good.”

So that’s the secret behind maintaining that skin in the blazing jungle sun—snake liquor.

[Master!]

“What?”

[Boohoo! These savages!]

“Goat or snake, whatever.”

That was how I justified it to myself.

“Who are you talking to, Geenie?”

“It’s nothing.”

No matter what Rai whined about next to me, it was a thoroughly tipsy night. Turns out, I can really hold my liquor.

—

“No, I can’t.”

The next morning, I was writhing on the floor like a salted earthworm, suffering from a massive hangover.

My very first hangover in life.

[You sure drank a lot.]

“Ugh…”

The party had been more fun than expected, and I was so happy to be welcomed and so drunk on that sweet liquor that I just kept pouring it down.

I blacked out, and when I came to, I was in a strange house.

I knew who I was, but I had no idea where I was or why I was sleeping with drool on my face.

“Ugh, I’m dying…”

[That’s the curse of the snake!]

“You rotten spirit.”

I glared at Rai, who was still sulking.

He was acting like I was some kind of villain for drinking a little snake liquor.

When did he ever care so much about animals?

[Master, you’re terrible! How could you do that to a snake!]

“What? You’re the one who made me desecrate a snake corpse in the first place! That was your—ugh…”

Trying to scold Rai as usual, but the moment I raised my voice, pain pounded in my head like someone had hit me with a metal bell.

Not used to hangovers, I rolled around on the floor, and Rai just lost it laughing.

[Hya-hya-hya!]

I wanted to strangle him, but yelling only made my head ring even more.

I gritted my teeth and muttered weakly.

“Don’t laugh… you…!”

But even at my warning, Rai laughed harder, clutching his belly.

A wolf holding its belly laughing! How obnoxious! A spirit who enjoys his master’s pain.

Rai was always happiest when I was sick or out of commission.

Clearly, the only one I can trust is…

“Ugh… help me, Undine.”

[Master!]

“Water! I need water.”

[Oh, you called so desperately I thought something terrible had happened.]

I grabbed and gulped the water Undine created, scooping it up like picking fruit.

After drinking plenty, I felt a little more alive.

Luckily, a hangover was nothing compared to warp sickness.

“Thanks, Undine.”

[Don’t mention it! Anything else I can help with?]

“Yeah. Kill that wolf for me.”

[Ahaha!]

Undine just laughed, taking it as a joke.

She must have sensed how serious I was.

Anyway, once I caught my breath, I finally looked around the place.

It was a strange house, built from thin bamboo-like trees woven together.

The place was well-ventilated, and sunlight was pouring through the wooden walls.

It was probably Anel Anel’s house.

And the presence I sensed coming this way was her.

The presence soon opened the door and stepped inside.

“Are you awake, Geenie?”

Of course, it was Anel. I was getting pretty good at sensing presences now.

“The sun’s already high. Why don’t we go to the river for a bath to wake up?”

“Yes!”

A bath in the jungle! There’s no way I could say no—I’m a bath addict.

I leapt up with joy, only to regret it immediately when my head throbbed.

Better move slowly…

—

The river running through the jungle was a wondrous blend of blue and green.

The water was so clear you could see fish swimming everywhere but the deepest spots.

In the city, riverbanks are basically sewers from all the trash, but in the jungle, the water was so clean you could drink it right away.

I dipped my feet in with a small gasp of wonder.

“It’s beautiful.”

“Different from the city, isn’t it?”

It was a bright, sunny afternoon, and it wasn’t just Anel and I at the river.

Kids were playing ball in the shallow water, and adults were wading in to wash their hair or swim.

And of course, everyone was naked.

Jungle tribes weren’t much for formal clothes to begin with.

With only women around, I relaxed and undressed, too.

If any man tried peeping, I’d just take his head off.

“That’s a good spot to wash.”

Anel pointed to a cluster of big rocks at the river’s edge.

The current was gentler there, and water pooled calmly behind the rocks.

I followed her lead.

When we got near the rocks, I saw familiar faces—villagers who’d laughed and partied with me the night before.

I gave them a nod and washed my hair just like everyone else.

After a quick rinse and a swim, I climbed up onto a rock when the current proved stronger than I expected.

I squeezed out my hair and sunbathed, humming to myself.

Bathing always put me in a good mood.

Then I watched as one of the kids scrambled up a tall rock.

Without hesitation, she dove into the river.

Splash—water sprayed all the way to me and I laughed out loud.

“These kids even do diving?”

I turned to ask Anel, then froze in shock.

Everyone was staring at me—all the villagers’ eyes were on me.

Did I do something wrong? Why were they all so interested?

Following their gaze, I realized most were staring at my white hands, my chest, my shoulders.

It must be my skin. I was the only pale one here.

“Geenie.”

“Yes?”

“If you keep that up…”

Surely, it wasn’t the first time they’d seen pale skin.

Or maybe the first time seeing someone undressed?

“You look just like a goddess.”

“…Excuse me?”

What’s with the sudden flattery?

“You look just like a legendary goddess of light, descended to the river.”

“…No way! You’re just saying that because I’m pale and blonde, right?”

“No, really. Geenie, you’re dazzlingly beautiful. I have an excellent eye for these things.”

“Hahaha!”

“I’m sure everyone else thinks the same.”

Why is she… Oh! That’s what this is! I raised my guard and shouted.

“Forget it! No matter what you say, I’m not falling for it!”

“For what?”

“I’m not volunteering as healer today! Do you know how exhausting that is?”

She was definitely buttering me up.

If she thought a few compliments would make me cave, she was in for a surprise.

“Oh, I’m just honestly admiring your beauty. Look at yourself—shining golden hair, dazzling skin. If men saw you, they’d be blinded and walk into the sun!”

How does she say such embarrassing things with a straight face?

Sure, I had some admirers—Bright, for example.

But it’d been so long, it didn’t really affect me.

“I swear, your beauty is goddess-like. Even the gods wouldn’t think it’s blasphemy. Because it’s true.”

“Ugh…”

I can’t take this.

“Fine! I’ll do healing again today, okay?!”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“I’ll heal, so stop! Just stop!”

“You’re weak to compliments, Geenie.”

If a man had praised my looks, I’d just laugh it off, but coming from another woman, I had no idea how to react. My whole throat felt ticklish.