Chapter 4: Interluding the Days

I need to pee. This is the thought and sensation I woke up with. It was a familiar feeling, only a little bit higher up. Pulling back my covers, I found that the campfire was burning dimly like a night light...though some might purport that it actually was a kind of night light. My brain is kind of fuzzy right now, ok? Zock was sitting by the night-fireside, engrossed in a thin volume that was doing its best to catch scraps of the firelight. Turning a page, he had a faint smile on his face. Beside me were Arge and Oroko, both sound asleep. Oroko was mostly blocking my view of Arge, even when I poked my head up, so I had to remind myself that I had been responsible for arranging the beds.

And for the record, Oroko is indeed ugly when he's sleeping.

Ah, my bladder was seriously urging me on. I think you feel better when you move slowly after waking up, but some things must come before others. Taking care to get up quietly, I put on my black shoes (wouldn't want to dirty my socks) and moved lightly through the camp. I told Zock what I was doing and he waved me off with a soft smile, unworrying. This dungeon couldn't be more dangerous.

Slipping out of the cave, I achily hurried through the pitch-black tunnel.

Peeing was still a little awkward in this body–I had less, uh, articulation as a girl and it didn't help that there were no toilets in the dungeon. But I was getting accustomed to it nonetheless. It wasn't that different. While the dirt in previous parts of the labyrinths had absorbed fluids pretty well, the floor here was stone, so I had to sort of squat down and..,this is getting too weird. The point is, I was squatting in a pitch-black tunnel peeing and feeling pretty embarrassed and sore. Ahh, now I feel better.

On the way to the bathroom I had rushed through the tunnel, reigniting the pains of the day before, but now that the situation wasn't urgent I took the return very slowly. In fact, my movement was to the point that I was feeling a bit like a grandmother. Still, I was happy to have a stunted physical ability if it came with Kami-chan's body! I imagine she just sits in her throne all day and orders servants around, so of course she wouldn't develop muscle. And if she really needed to move, she could probably just use her godly powers. Ah, Kami-chan has a wonderful lifestyle. Now that I have her body, I'll have to order around servants too.

Making my way back half-asleep, this got me thinking: if Kami-chan is incredibly powerful and I've been reincarnated with her body...the specifics of the reincarnation are a little blurry, but wouldn't it be likely for me to have her godly powers? Yawning, I tried this conclusion out on myself, just to get a feel for it. "I'm a–." Woops, nice catch. Just think it quietly–what would happen if Zock or Arge heard me? Hmm, just how does one go about calling oneself a goddess politely?

I'm a goddess!

Ahhh, yes. That's what I am. A goddess. Fufufu, that feels good. B-but wait! Wouldn't that make me Kami Imouto-chan (or Kamimouto-chan)!? That's not the kind of relationship I want with Kami-chan! Hold up, I don't want to be a goddess anymore! Cancel order, cancel order! My imminent ascendance to godhood was posing some serious existential questions: If I was a girl, could I have a healthy relationship with Kami-chan? Even if we have identical bodies? Would I consider turning back into Hiroshi Kimoto then? What was my final opinion on incest?

Stop, stop stop. "Stop." I yawned. I think saying that one out loud was ok. I wasn't sure why I was accidentally saying these things though. Maybe cute girls just like to vocalize. An interesting side effect of reincarnation. Oh, what if I talked in my sleep too? That could be seriously bad. I hadn't had any dreams since being reincarnated though (Napping Cave was prophetic vision), so maybe it's ok? Dreaming is connected to talking in your sleep, right? Cut me some slack! I'm not a psychoanalytical dream brain surgeon psychologist. I'm just a cute goddess~.

Putting the Kami-chan conundrum out of mind, I made a mental note to prioritize looking into the religion and magic of this world. Those two subjects seemed the most likely to help me activate any latent goddess powers. Hehe, I wasn't going to be a boring healer or mage in this world–not even a mere Hero. No, I was part of the super-exclusive ultra-powerful goddess class! Fufufu, the world was going to worship me! I sure hope I don't talk in my sleep about this.

Still hobbling along, I fantasized about what my goddess powers might be (everything) and further pondered my relationship with Kami-chan (it was a difficult subject to stay away from, alright?) (married, by the way). As I did, my hand traced the tunnel wall to help me keep my direction in the dark. Oddly enough, I noticed that the texture of the wall kept changing. It was like each stone had struck out on its own and refused to be similar to the others. The wall felt pleasant though and the temperatures was nice and cool, so even if it was a strange sensation, I couldn't say I minded. It was a sampling plate of rock surfaces.

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Had it really been this far to the cave? I felt like I'd been walking for quite some time. I had moved pretty quickly earlier, so it's possible I'm just underestimating the distance I covered. The complete darkness doesn't exactly help me estimate, either. Maybe I actually am pretty strong then...

You know, in spite of being a dungeon, the labyrinth seemed quite benign. I hadn't seen any goblins or path-changing, and I think Oroko makes a lot of things up. Perhaps the labyrinth was simply misunderstood. Contrary to what I've been told, the labyrinth is probably a very good place–the very tunnel I walk the site of an award-winning tragedy of misunderstanding. Ah, if only one were to strip back the harsh judgement of society they would find the Royal Labyrinth a loving place. Within its misunderstood depths, they might even find Napping Cave! That's right, I haven't given up on you Napping Cave. I'm your number one supporter! Napping Cave can never die because Napping Cave isn't just a place, Napping Cave is in my heart! Oh, but it is a place too? Whatever the case, I'm cheering for you! There's no doubt in my mind that you'll win nationals because I know how hard you've worked! Ganbatte!

That was a lot of twists, but once I started thinking about Napping Cave I couldn't stop. Haaah, on the subject of Napping Cave wouldn't it be nice if Arge and I could live together in it?

Eh, why did I just think about that? I mean, who would want to live in something dumb like a cave, r-right?

"Ah!" I squealed, suddenly tripping over myself. "Unf..." In an instant I went from pleasantly sleepy and lost in thought to painfully awake. This stone ground didn't do any favors to my achy body. Eek, it hurt all over...maybe I could just fall asleep here?

With all the resolve I could muster I winced myself into a sitting position, when abruptly I heard my name. "Nanashi!"

"Haah?" I looked around, confused. The sound echoed in silence. Then, the faint crunch of footsteps.

"Are you alright? Here." A light abruptly appears, withering the darkness away into rough stone walls and between them, a man standing over me. His features were defined but relaxed and his body muscular. He extends his hand to me.

I take it tentatively. "Th-thank you Zock." He had come out of nowhere.

He pulls me up with a yank. I don't think he meant to, but still. Ouch! Aching more than ever, I cautiously try to brush myself off, not wanting to exacerbate the pain.

"Aww..." My clothes had stains all over.

"Are you alright? What happened?"

"I j-just tripped. I'm fine."

"I'd suggest that we get back to camp so you can rest and get cleaned up. Can you walk?" Zock looked at me seriously.

"S-sure."

"It's no trouble to carry you if you're hurt."

"I think I can walk." Geez, lay off me.

"Alright. We're very close." Gesturing, Zock leads me in the direction I had just come from. It seems I had missed the entrance. Tenderly, I move after him. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I just fell."

"I see."

True to Zock's word, the cave entrance was very close. I felt a bit frustrated that I had missed it.

"...I guess I got a bit lost. Thanks for helping me."

"My pleasure." He parted the curtain at the entrance for me and I limped inside.

We settled by the fire and he handed me a wet cloth. "Thanks." I scrubbed at the stains with mixed results and in weariness, soon handed it back to him.

I sat listless and yet awake, next to Zock by the fire. Earlier, the shadowy silhouettes had lulled me to sleep, but now the fire itself drew me in–crackling like some deep fiery essence. It flickered like tendrils of reality, a thousand fantasies and reincarnations rolling to and fro. The narratives coalesce and journeys depart, and so I stood listless on a mountain of ancient heroes and fears.

What the hell was I doing here? What was I going to do with my life?

"What am I going to do?" I ask myself. Then Zock clears his throat.

So close to the flames do I draw before my scrap of understanding dims, I glaze into hypnosis. I'm chilled by the abrupt change of tone within myself.

The ruminant giant turns toward me with his gentle eyes. "Nanashi, let me tell you something about myself."

"S-sure."

He sits frozen for a moment. Then.

"Truth be told, I–." Zock begins. Never mind, he ends.

"I apologize Nanashi, it's simply not a proper time to talk of such things." The stone giant then turns away.

"The fire changes how both of us feel, huh?" I smile.

"Do you think you have a family out there, in this world?"

"...Now I'm really curious what you were going to say. But no. By blood, no, I don't think I have a family out there."

"..."

Then Zock speaks. "It is not rational to say this, but perhaps we need think by intuition some of the time: prince Desali has taken to you and most likely, I think, you to him. You've known each other too little to know, but if you are as kind as him, he might help you make something of yourself. Sandcastles do not last the ages, however, so solely take these words for their worth."

"..." I was speechless and didn't know what to take his words for at all. Instead, I reply. "Zock, I think that's the most I've ever heard you talk."

He smiled mildly. "I think so too. The fire is as you say."

"I'm not joking about becoming stronger though. I really want to be a reliable person." I reaffirm intently. The flames were frigid to my mind now.

Zock gave a faraway, mournful look. I looked too, but all I could see was the cavern wall.

"Goodnight," my tongue falters, and I quietly make way to my bed. I feel as though I've been on a high since reincarnation and now, for the first time, it's simmered down. I lie for a long time before slipping into rest.