Chapter 242: Chapter 242

The island they had claimed was relatively tame, a rare plateau of stability in a realm built on collapse. No twisted trees grew from its soil, no bleeding stones cracked beneath their feet. The last Nightmare Creature had died screaming hours ago.

A small fire crackled within a circle of shattered bone. The sky above shimmered with a false aurora, as though the Dream Realm was pretending to be peaceful for once.

White sparks danced at Sunny’s side, swirling in lazy spirals before coalescing into a single object. The Covetous Coffer appeared with a quiet click. Small, spindly legs unfurled. It’s wooden lid peeled open in a yawn, revealing rows of jagged teeth.

Accepting the chest’s peace offering, Sunny’s arm seemed to magically sink into it’s maw as he reached into the spacious insides. Having learned from last time, he didn’t bring folding chairs so that he could save space. Instead, he passed around sleeping bags.

Moments later, skewers were turning over the fire — fat sizzling as a thick, fragrant smoke filled the air. Sunny crouched beside the flames, rotating one of the makeshift spits with the same focus he reserved for murder.

March leaned in with a glimmer in her eyes.

"Is that... real meat?"

Sunny hummed as he pulled out some seasoning from the Coffer.

"Nightmare Creature meat is real meat too, you know?"

She furrowed her brow.

Dan Heng, who had been silent until now, glanced up from his book.

March crossed her arms, puffing her cheeks slightly.

"Because it’s gross."

Sunny turned a skewer and tapped the wood with a fingertip, testing its heat.

"You didn’t say that the last time you were eating it like it owed you money."

"That was survival! Totally different!"

Seele shifted on her sleeping bag and gave March a skeptical look.

"You devoured that thing like it was gourmet steak. You even asked for seconds."

"I was hungry! Besides, no one told me it was made from a six-eyed wolf-beetle hybrid!"

Sunny sprinkled some cracked red seasoning onto the meat.

"Sounds like you’re just being picky."

Dan Heng looked up again, deadpan.

"You once tried to eat a rock because you thought it was Dream Realm candy."

March flailed an arm.

"Because it glowed! Glowy things are supposed to be edible here!"

Sunny arched an eyebrow.

"Really? What logic is that based on?"

March pointed at the fire.

"This place runs on dream logic! Things don’t make sense!"

Seele chimed in, sounding half amused and half exhausted.

"So your excuse is that you’re too logical for actual logic?"

There was a pause. Sunny turned the skewers again.

"Anyway, this meat is actual meat. From a cow. Or something cow-adjacent."

March leaned forward, sniffing eagerly.

"Wait, wait, how long has it been in there?"

"Who knows? Time works differently in there, I think."

Dan Heng closed his book.

March recoiled slightly.

"You’re feeding us temporal meat?"

Sunny poked a skewer with his finger.

"Better than corrupted flesh from soul-warped beasts that feed on suffering."

"It’s also vacuum-sealed. I think."

Dan Heng raised a brow.

"I didn’t read the back."

March looked like she was on the verge of either throwing up or crying.

"You’re literally guessing. We could die."

Sunny looked at her with a flat expression.

"Out of all the things that could kill us, this is the last thing I’m worried about. I think our bodies would just take it like a champ..."

"That’s not the point!"

"Just eat the meat, March." For original chapters go to n0velfire.net

"Are you all trying to kill me?"

Dan Heng sipped from a tin mug that Sunny had also pulled from the Coffer.

"No. But if we were, it wouldn’t be with overcooked mystery meat."

Sunny tilted his head thoughtfully.

"Speak for yourself."

March threw her hands into the air.

"I’m surrounded by lunatics!"

"You’re surrounded by highly adaptive survivalists. There’s a difference."

"Highly adaptive survivalists don’t eat meat pulled out of a murder-chest that might predate recorded history!"

"Exactly. We eat it without complaining. Also, I didn’t know you knew such big words. I’m almost proud of you."

Seele plucked a skewer from the fire and blew on it.

"You’re still going to eat it."

March stared at her. Then stared at the meat. Then at Sunny.

Dan Heng closed his book again and reached for a skewer.

"You will. After pretending not to."

March pointed at him, wounded.

"I know you once licked a Nightmare Creature because you ’wanted to know if it tasted like chicken.’"

"Well, it did taste like chicken. You should have killed it first, though. Your screams are annoying."

"It tried. And my point still stands."

Dan Heng stared into the fire.

"This might be the dumbest argument I’ve ever heard."

March folded her arms.

"Don’t act like you’re not part of it."

"I’m not. I’m eating."

Sunny tossed him a second skewer.

March stared at both of them.

"...Fine. I’ll eat it. But if I die—"

March took the meat, chewed it suspiciously, and then went eerily quiet.

Sunny narrowed his eyes.

"...Okay. That’s insanely good."

Seele rolled her eyes.

"It’s me, after all."

"I take it all back."

March looked at the fire, then at the Covetous Coffer.

"...Does it have dessert?"

March leaned forward, her eyes gleaming with dangerous intent.

"What kind of dessert?"

Sunny slowly reached back toward the Coffer.

"...Something glowing. You like glowing, right?"

March’s expression turned suspicious.

"Wait. Define glowing."

Dan Heng spoke without looking up.

Sunny pulled out a shimmering blue cube.

"...Is it, though? Look closely..."

Seele bit into her skewer.

"At least it’s better than the beetle stew."

Sunny poked the fire.

"You never said that before."

"I was trying not to cry."

"Hey, next time, can we try cooking up one of those flying things? The ones that scream like babies?"

Everyone went silent.

Dan Heng slowly looked up.

"I’m confiscating your skewers."

Sunny began to ponder the taste of those flying things that screamed like babies.

Above them, the false aurora shimmered gently.

The island was quiet.