PAID

"What is this?"

I absentmindedly felt the object in my hand. The torn, tough wrapper, the rectangular shape—these were familiar to me.

"…Why is this…?"

My mind was sluggish, not quite functioning properly, but I could at least recognize that what I held was a calorie bar. The very same snack my master always used as a meal substitute. It was a marvel of food engineering, designed to sustain someone for days with just one bar.

Rustle, rustle.

I quickly unwrapped it and brought it to my mouth.

Chew, chew.

I forced my stiff tongue and jaw to move, struggling to chew it. The texture was horrid, dry enough to soak up all the moisture in my mouth, making it difficult to swallow. The musty cheese flavor that lingered on my tongue was far from pleasant.@@novelbin@@

But right now, at this moment, nothing in the world could compare to it. It felt like fireworks were going off in my brain, a sensation of pure bliss.

Cough!

A sudden cough almost made me spit out the precious contents, but I quickly covered my mouth to prevent that disaster. Every piece was my lifeline.

Drip. Drip. Drip.

I opened my mouth wide, catching the droplets falling from the ceiling, and swallowed.

Gulp.

With the thirst and hunger somewhat alleviated, I felt my muddled thoughts gradually clearing.

"Sigh…"

Lying there with my eyes closed, I let out a long sigh of relief. I had truly believed I was going to die here.

"Did the Sword Sovereign… give me this?"