Chapter 193 : Roasted Lamb Leg

This ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍road was probably meant for exiling prisoners.

Lilia ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍lowered her head and glanced at her leather boots, now completely coated in dust.

“This ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍life is impossible to live.”

Ever ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍since leaving the capital, she hadn’t stopped for a full forty-eight hours.

What ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍annoyed her most was that she didn’t even feel tired.

Even ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍though mentally she already felt like a useless wreck who just wanted to lie flat on the ground like a salted fish, this body of hers was terrifyingly honest.

Was this the ultimate nightmare of a corporate slave?

Wanting to slack off, yet the body kept shouting, “I can still work for another five hundred years.”

Depressed, Lilia kicked away a black stone fragment blocking her path. The rock rolled far away, hitting a dead, twisted old tree with a sharp *bang*, which sounded especially harsh in the silent wasteland.

“Hey.”

Lilia finally couldn’t take it anymore. She quickened her pace to catch up, reaching out to pat that stiff shoulder.

“The one in front, should we stop for a bit—”

Before she could finish, Bulara’s head suddenly rotated one hundred and eighty degrees backward.

“Stop?”

“I want to rest.”

Bulara expressionlessly reported a string of data. “You do not have a physiological need for rest.”

“I have psychological needs!”

Lilia pointed at her forehead righteously. “I’m tired. I need to stop, enjoy the scenery, breathe some fresh air, and reflect on the meaning of life.”

Bulara fell silent for two seconds.

Then, with a *click*, her head rotated back.

“His Majesty said that if Senior delays the journey…”

While continuing to walk forward at that damned constant speed, Bulara spoke in a flat tone, “I am permitted to take compulsory measures.”

Lilia’s jaw tightened. “What kind of compulsory measures?”

Bulara didn’t answer. She simply raised her right hand. That pale, withered palm instantly mutated—her five fingers transforming into five sharp surgical blades gleaming with cold light. They scraped against each other in the air, producing a chilling metallic sound.

A threat.

This was outright workplace bullying!

“Fine. You win.”

Lilia ground her teeth, suppressing the urge to dismantle Bulara into scrap metal, and hurried after her. “Walk it is. Who’s afraid of who?”

Another dull and tedious three hours passed.

Lilia felt like she was about to grow mold.

Even though her body wasn’t hungry, her mouth felt so empty it could grow weeds. That urge to chew something felt like hundreds of ants crawling on her tongue.

She stared at Bulara’s stiff back, her eyes rolling.

If force didn’t work, then she’d try something softer.

“Hey, listen.”

This time, Lilia didn’t reach out. Instead, she slowly moved closer beside Bulara, deliberately lowering her voice into something deep and enticing. “You really aren’t hungry at all?”

Bulara looked straight ahead. “I do not require food.”

“That’s where you’re shallow.”

Like a kidnapper luring a child, Lilia pulled out an oil-paper-wrapped package from her system space.

Even through several layers of oil paper, the domineering aroma of cumin and chili mixed with roasted fragrance instantly exploded into the air.

It was a roasted lamb leg she had made earlier.

The outer skin was golden and crispy, still sizzling with oil, while the meat inside was so tender it could drip juice.

Bulara’s perfectly mechanical pace showed a nearly imperceptible stutter.

Though it lasted only 0.1 seconds, but who was Lilia?

There was an opening!

The smile on Lilia’s face widened. She even deliberately tore open a small gap in the oil paper.

“Hiss—so fragrant.”

She exaggeratedly sniffed, letting out a satisfied sigh. “Firm yet springy texture. One bite, and the fat bursts in your mouth… tsk tsk tsk.”

As she spoke, she kept watching Bulara out of the corner of her eye.

Bulara’s throat seemed to move slightly.

But she still kept that deadpan face, her voice cold. “Food increases body load and reduces travel efficiency.”

“Efficiency my ass.”

Lilia directly waved the lamb leg under Bulara’s nose. “We’ve been walking for two days. Look at this place—no villages ahead, no inns behind, not even a ghost in sight. His Majesty is far away. If you don’t say it and I don’t say it, who’s going to know we stopped to eat?”

She leaned close to Bulara’s pale ear, like a devil whispering.

“Besides, even if you’re a puppet, your core still needs magic replenishment, right? One bite of this lamb leg should be enough to recharge you!”

This was a complete lie.

The lamb leg was just an ordinary lamb leg. At most it could put on a couple pounds, what did it have to do with magic replenishment?

But Lilia was betting that this bumpkin puppet had never tasted proper food.

Bulara stopped.

“This really…” Bulara’s voice showed a slight fluctuation, no longer as mechanical as before, “can replenish magic?”

“I’m His Majesty’s personal maid, and also the Demon Realm’s chief… nutritionist.” Lilia added a title for herself without blinking. “Would I lie to you?”

She pushed the lamb leg forward, even tearing off a strip of meat. That enticing aroma was practically a dimensionality-reduction attack on the sense of smell.

“Here, take a bite.”

Lilia smiled brightly. “Just one bite. If it’s not good, it’s free.”

Bulara’s neck moved stiffly, as if engaged in an intense internal struggle.

Just as Lilia thought she was about to succeed and was ready to find a rock to sit down and feast—

Bulara suddenly raised her hand.

Swish!

A flash of silver light passed.

Lilia suddenly felt her hand lighten.

That glossy, fragrant lamb leg—along with the oil paper—vanished instantly.

The next second—

Bulara’s mouth, which had only been a narrow slit, suddenly opened like a snake’s, stretching all the way to her ears, revealing dense, shark-like sharp teeth inside.

*Gulp—*

The lamb leg, as thick as a forearm, was swallowed in one bite. Even the bone was not spat out.

Lilia’s hand remained in the position of offering the food as she stood there, completely petrified.

Devoured in a flash.

Truly devoured in a flash.

Bulara’s throat moved as the lamb leg slid down her esophagus with a dull *gulp*. Then she closed her mouth, returning to that standard fake smile showing eight sharp teeth, even taking out a handkerchief to wipe the corners of her mouth—though there was no grease at all.

“Energy replenishment complete.”

Bulara resumed walking, her speed even increasing by ten percent. “Thank you for Senior’s offering. In order not to waste this extra meal, we will accelerate from here on.”

Lilia: “……”

Lilia looked at that figure already darting far ahead, feeling like her chest had been punched hard.

Not only did she fail to get a rest.

She even lost a treasured lamb leg.

And worst of all—they had to speed up?!

“Bulara!”

A shrill roar echoed across the wasteland, startling a flock of vultures feeding on carrion. “Spit it out! That was mine!!”

The wind across the wasteland grew stronger, sweeping up clouds of yellow sand.

One figure sprinted ahead, kicking up a trail of dust.

Another chased behind, grinding her teeth furiously.