Chapter 242: "You're Here~~~"
Tiamat happily lowered her head, looking at the little person in front of her.
"Yes, I'm here," Xia Yu looked at her massive size and sighed. "Why don't you change into a smaller form?"
"I'm used to this..." Tiamat said aggrievedly, while her entire body rapidly shrank, not stopping until she was the same height as Xia Yu.
She jogged over to Xia Yu, looked at the top of her head, and then silently grew a few centimeters taller before nodding with satisfaction.
"But if you stayed that tall, the food I make wouldn't even be enough for a single bite of yours..." Xia Yu said as she constructed various tableware.
"Mhm, mhm, good child~~~" Tiamat directly pressed close, hugging Xia Yu and gently stroking the top of her head.
Well, she was being petted again.
But who told her to be Tiamat? Sigh, she could stroke her head whenever she wanted.
"What do you want to eat today?"
"I'll eat whatever you make!" Tiamat clearly loved this mode of interaction very much, narrowing her eyes as she fully released her maternal love.
"Alright," Xia Yu snapped her fingers upon hearing this, and the surrounding environment transformed into a cozy three-bedroom apartment.
"Come, help me wash these scallions," she started directing Tiamat without hesitation.
It wasn't that she lacked hands to wash the vegetables, but she mainly needed to find something for her to do, otherwise she really could cling to her the entire day.
"Okay!" Tiamat excitedly picked up the scallions and began scrubbing them nearby.
She was very willing to do anything for her child.
In truth, as a Beast holding the Principle of Regression, no matter how powerful Merlin's dreamscape was, it couldn't have kept her trapped for this long.
If she wanted to break free, Merlin wouldn't be able to stop her for long at all. His Servant body didn't even have a Grand Spirit Origin, so how could he possibly possess the ability to trap Tiamat in a dreamscape indefinitely?
But the cunning incubus had pierced through Tiamat's desires; he had woven a beautiful dream for the Genesis Mother Goddess of Mesopotamia.
A cozy dreamscape that she herself was unwilling to leave.
Tiamat was one of the creation gods in Mesopotamian mythology. The gods were all born from Abzu, who represented fresh water, and Tiamat, who represented salt water.
Afterward, the gods, who were her children, rebelled against their original father Abzu and gained dominance over the world. At that time, Tiamat gently tolerated her children's actions.
This fully proved that her love for her children exceeded her love for her husband.
However, the gods even began to rebel against Tiamat herself, their mother. Tiamat lamented and went mad, giving birth to the Eleven Demonic Beasts as her new children to duel with the gods.
At the end of the battle, Tiamat and the Eleven Demonic Beasts were defeated. The gods split her corpse in two to create heaven and earth.
Legend has it that this was the ritual of the creation of the Human Realm.
She was the maternal womb abandoned immediately after creation, utilized as the soil to nurture life. But once Earth's environment stabilized and the ecosystem was established, she was exiled to the imaginary world as a useless thing—not even a Parallel World, but the 'Mother of All' in the lifeless Imaginary Space... Since the ecosystem had already been established, she, who would randomly design life, was no longer needed. In the process of living organisms acquiring intelligence appropriate for this planet, she was viewed as an obstacle.
Afterward, Tiamat had been waiting in the imaginary world for an opportunity to return to the original Earth.
She wanted to settle the score for the betrayal and re-establish a new ecosystem, but at the same time, she contradictorily yearned for familial affection...
Tiamat returned to this side of the world through the collapse of the Foundation of Human Order and the power of the Holy Grail, but currently she was in a deep slumber. Later, due to Chaldea's attack, she awakened from her slumber, obeyed her instincts, and began to wipe out humanity.
Although this was based on her hatred, detestation, and sorrow over being ruthlessly abandoned, it was also an act of indulging in the 'joy' of returning as the Mother of All to alter Earth's ecosystem.
Based on the aforementioned nature, her Class was determined. Goddess of Creation was merely a hypocritical title; she was the great calamity rejected most by human history, abandoned by humanity.
Her name was Beast II.
One of the Seven Evils of Humanity, the Beast possessing the Principle of 'Regression'.
"I nurtured numerous lives and was once loved by all living things, but my children treated me as a stepping stone and left me behind. I want to love them forever, I want them to stay by my side for eternity. Could it be that my love... was all wrong?"
This was her confession.
How should one put it, the Mesopotamian Divine Spirit System really didn't do a single decent thing.
"I remember making dessert yesterday, right," Xia Yu pondered for two seconds. "Then today let's have some Sichuan cuisine!"
"Mhm, Mother is fine with anything," Tiamat didn't know what Sichuan cuisine was, but she still nodded dotingly.
"First, twice-cooked pork," ingredients continuously manifested in front of Xia Yu. "And Boiled Fish. Hmm, let's add a fish-flavored shredded pork."
"Mapo Tofu, Kung Pao chicken..."
As her words fell, each ingredient was continuously processed by invisible blades in the void. Various seasonings were materialized, and the entire kitchen became just like it was enchanted by sorcery in a fairy tale, with pots, pans, and even the ingredients beginning to perform their respective duties.
Since it was in a dream after all, Xia Yu could naturally be a bit more unrestrained.
Seeing this, Tiamat obediently handed over the scallions in her hand, looking at her expectantly.
"Thank you," seeing this, Xia Yu reached out to take them, but the scallions were firmly held in Tiamat's hand.
Hmm? She looked up and saw the latter looking at her expectantly.
Fine...
"Thank you, Mother," she gave a sweet smile toward Tiamat.
"Mhm, mhm, good child!" Tiamat's eyes lit up upon hearing the word Mother. The smile on her face grew increasingly brilliant, her eyes crinkling, and she finally let go of the scallions in her hand.
As if accepting her fate, Xia Yu started directing her again, "Mother, this is a rag. Go help me wipe down the dining table."
"Mhm, mhm," hearing this, Tiamat picked up the rag and walked outside.
Xia Yu continued to cook ten dishes simultaneously.
"All done~" Tiamat's movements were very fast.
"Then go help me wash some bowls," Xia Yu looked toward the cabinet on the side.
"Mhm, mhm, mhm," Tiamat reached out to roll up her sleeves, took out the bowls and chopsticks, and began scrubbing them in the sink.
After washing them, she even very considerately took them straight out and placed them on the dining table.
Then she returned to the kitchen, a hint of anticipation in her eyes as she looked at Xia Yu.
Sigh... Even though she calls me Mother, how come it feels like I'm the one babysitting...
Xia Yu said to her helplessly, "Alright, there's nothing else. Once I'm done cooking, we can eat!"
"Then..." Tiamat looked at the top of her head again.
"Go ahead," Xia Yu had already given up resisting.
After receiving permission, Tiamat directly came up and hugged her, once again gently stroking the top of Xia Yu's head.
Sigh, she had already accepted her fate.
Honestly, although her initial entry into this dreamscape was out of curiosity toward Tiamat, she had still been prepared for a battle.
But in that dreamscape, there was only the massive Goddess of Creation sitting on the beach with her knees pulled up, watching the constant evolution of civilization in the distance.
Her surroundings were entirely filled with loneliness.
Xia Yu's heart softened.
She walked to the side of the goddess who was as tall as a mountain, wanting to say something, but the goddess noticed her first.
Those eyes, which had been filled with loneliness, were instantly filled with radiance.
"A child? No... but..." She seemed to recognize Xia Yu's identity as an outsider and reached out wanting to touch her, but her finger ultimately stopped in mid-air.
She was hesitating.
Just like what was mentioned earlier, Xia Yu's heart softened.
She flew up into mid-air, stretched out her right hand, and the tip of her finger gently touched Tiamat's index finger.
"Good child!" At that moment, Tiamat's excited voice almost pierced through the entire dreamscape. Xia Yu seemed to see Merlin working hard to repair the dreamscape while spitting blood.
It had to be said, Merlin was really in a pathetic state~~~ It was just a pity she didn't record it, otherwise the Doctor would definitely be willing to pay a heavy price to buy it.
Afterward, Xia Yu would enter the dream every day to interact with Tiamat.
Feeling her warm embrace, Xia Yu sighed.
Really...
"It'll be ready very soon," she leaned back a bit, finding a comfortable position. "By the way, Mother can eat spicy food, right?"
"Mother is fine with anything!" Tiamat completely lost herself amidst the repeated calls of Mother.
Finally, the ten or so dishes cooked simultaneously were all prepared. In a highly ritualistic direction where Xia Yu constructed a wand to plate themselves onto the table, leaving behind only the process of making milk tea, Xia Yu led Tiamat to the dining table.
Logically speaking, if only two people were dining, they would basically sit face-to-face.
Xia Yu looked at Tiamat, who was pressing tightly against her side.
This couldn't be judged by common logic.
"Good child!" Tiamat picked up her chopsticks, pinched a piece of twice-cooked pork, and fed it into Xia Yu's mouth.
Seeing this, Xia Yu opened her mouth, accepting her fate.
She would get used to it. By the way, she was even the one who taught her how to use chopsticks; at the beginning, Tiamat had intended to just grab the food directly with her hands.
"Mother, try this," if she didn't want the entire meal to consist of being fed by someone else, she could only take the initiative to attack!
Xia Yu had long since found the corresponding coping method.
Tiamat would not refuse her requests.
Just like how she would obediently eat whatever dish Xia Yu picked up for her.
In this manner, the two silver-haired figures finished the meal while feeding each other.
After a hearty meal, the decorative wand was picked up by Xia Yu once again. With a wave of her fingers, the various tableware lined up on their own to wash themselves.
Meanwhile, the milk tea that had long been prepared flew over from out of nowhere and was gently caught by the two.
Having had her fill of food and drink, Xia Yu plopped down onto the sofa. Just as she was about to lie down, Tiamat sat on the other side, and Xia Yu directly leaned her head onto her lap.
"Good girl~~~" She reached out her hand again, gently stroking Xia Yu's hair.
"Such a good child~~~"
Mhm, although lying down directly after eating his fill was highly unhealthy, she was already a Herrscher, so why care about that.
Therefore, Xia Yu enjoyed the lap pillow of the Goddess of Creation with a clear conscience.
While sipping her milk tea, her fingers continuously wrapped Tiamat's silver-blue long hair in her hand, gently playing with it.
Tiamat also followed her example, enthusiastically playing with Xia Yu's moonlight-like silver-white long hair.
Although neither of them said a word, this cozy little nest was filled with a peaceful and comfortable atmosphere.
Sigh, if only her own pitch-black rented room was like this too...
"Mother, what do you want to eat tomorrow?" Xia Yu asked casually.
"Anything is fine!" Tiamat remained just as accommodating.
"Name a specific ingredient," Xia Yu gently shook her head and acted spoiled. "No matter what you want to eat, I can get it for you."
Anyway, Merlin would be footing the bill in the end. After all, this was a dreamscape, and he was an incubus.
"Hmm... eat fish?" Tiamat thought about it seriously before speaking up to ask.
"Alright, then we'll eat fish!" Xia Yu smiled and stroked her massive twin horns. "Okay, time is about up. I should go hunting... oh, wait, go fishing!"
"Wait for me to come back with the fish."
"Mhm!" Although Tiamat was nodding, the hand holding Xia Yu's hair unconsciously tightened.
"Don't worry, I'll come back," Xia Yu reached out to pat the back of her hand. "I already said I'll take care of you. This is a child's responsibility."
"Then you must come back early," Tiamat said expectantly.
"I will."
"Be careful, don't go near the deep sea. There are Demonic Beasts in the sea."
"Don't worry, I won't go near it."
"And don't enter the deep mountains either. There are also Demonic Beasts on the mountains."
"Okay, I know."
"How about we plant some things, then we won't have to risk danger to go out hunting every day."
"But I want to eat meat."
"Then we'll raise sheep..."
"Lambs have to be caught from outside too."
"Woo... is it that troublesome?"
"It's not troublesome. I am the super invincible Kiana. It's just catching a few sheep. Just wait, I'll bring them back together tomorrow."
"Mhm, then you be careful."
"Okay, Mother," Xia Yu looked up and flashed a brilliant smile toward her. "I'm heading out."
"Come back early," Tiamat said reluctantly.
Xia Yu nodded, opened the door, and walked out.
Only Tiamat was left alone inside the little apartment.
She walked to the edge of the balcony, looking at the Mesopotamian civilization that was like a background plate in the distance, just quietly gazing at it.
"Good child..."
Xia Yu opened her eyes and saw Ishtar staring intently at her.
"What's wrong?" She reached out to cup Ishtar's face, then moved it away.
"You went to Uruk again!" Ishtar felt as though she had been betrayed.
"Just went to catch up with a friend," Xia Yu sat up and stretched her waist. Her beautiful curves caused Ishtar to involuntarily glance down at her own chest, after which she began to throw a silent tantrum.
Why would she, a Goddess of Beauty, have such a flaw!
She couldn't accept it!
"Stop looking," Xia Yu knew what she was thinking with a single glance. "It's not your mistake."
She spoke up to comfort her, "It can't be helped. Your vessel is just this size. Unless you change vessels, otherwise there's no way for you to alter it."
"Do you really want me to change vessels?" Ishtar stared at Xia Yu and said.
"I don't," Xia Yu answered crisply. "If you changed vessels, you wouldn't be the Ishtar I know anymore."
"Hmph," hearing this, Ishtar let out a soft snort. "Consider yourself tactful."
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T/N: If you spot mistranslation, do tell me.
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