Departing on an new journey

Laughter and chatter soon drowned the whole room. Lilith gazed down at her cup, disappointment etched on her face like the shadows of a cloudy day. She had expected the drink to pack a powerful punch, to electrify her senses and leave her feeling dizzy with euphoria. But instead, it had left her feeling strangely unsatisfied, like a meal that needed more flavor or substance.

'Is it because of my resistance as a goddess?' Lilith gazed wistfully at the empty cup, her mind swirling with thoughts.

<<Yes, the poison resistance is canceling out effects of alcohol.>>

'Is that so... you know what? Is there a way to cancel the poison resistance effect?'

<<Yes, there is. I can personally lower it.>>

'Great! Then do it! I haven't drunk alcohol in a long time!' Lilith's face lit up, her eyes sparkling with a sense of delight.

<<I don't recommend such a thing as....>>

'Then can't you simply bring back the resistance later?' Lilith spoke with a smirk. 'Just hurry up and lower it.'

<<...Understood. Lowering the effects of poison resistance.>>

With a steady hand, Lilith poured herself another cup of alcohol, the liquid shimmering in the light like a pool of liquid gold. With a deep breath, she raised the cup to her lips, and the drink rushed down her throat like a tidal wave crashing against the shore. Then a sense of warmth began to spread throughout her body, suffusing her with a sense of contentment and bliss.

Her cheeks flushed with color, like a rose in full bloom, and a smile spread across her lips, lighting up her face like a ray of sunshine. It was as though the alcohol had unlocked a hidden part of her, a part that she had never known existed. With a twinkle in her eye and a sense of adventure in her heart, she set the cup down and embraced the night, ready to discover all that it had to offer.

"Are you weak with alcohol?" Suzuki spoke as Lilith's head nestled against her shoulder, the warmth of her body radiating through Lilith's skin like a comforting blanket. For a moment, Suzuki gazed down at Lilith, her eyes taking in the sight of her in all her silliness. 

"Have a Sashimi." With a gentle grace, Suzuki plucked a delicate piece of white rice adorned with succulent raw salmon from the plate before them. She dipped the morsel into a dish of soy sauce, the savory scent of the liquid mingling with the fresh scent of the fish. With a small smile, she brought the food to Lilith's lips, the scent of the food tickling her nostrils like a sweet fragrance.

Lilith's lips parted, like the petals of a blooming flower, as Suzuki placed the food into her mouth, the flavors exploding like a firework on her tongue. The soy sauce dripped down her chin like a stream of liquid gold as she chewed the food with relish, savoring every bite as though it were a precious gem.

"There's more..." With a playful gleam in her eye, Suzuki reached for a nearby plate piled high with an array of tantalizing foods. She playfully teased Lilith's lips with the food before slipping each piece into her mouth with a gentle touch.

...

Lilith awoke to the sound of birds chirping outside her window, their cheerful melody a stark contrast to the pounding ache in her head. She slowly opened her eyes and looked around the cozy Minka, her head spinning with a dizzying sensation. As she sat up in bed, the room swayed like a ship on rough seas, and she clutched her head with a groan. The sunlight streaming through the window felt harsh and bright, like a spotlight on her discomfort.

"Get rid of this hangover, Veda," Lilith ordered, and in the next moment, a wave of refreshing sensation washed over her, the pounding ache in her head began to subside, and nausea that had been twisting her stomach slowly dissipated.

Lilith closed her eyes and let out a contented sigh, feeling the tension and discomfort of the hangover melting away. But just as she was relishing the moment, a sudden realization dawned on her - a gut-wrenching feeling that she had carelessly left her three weapons behind.

Lilith turned her head to the left and let out a soft sigh of relief as her eyes landed on her beloved weapons, nestled safely beside her.

"Wait... but how did they bring the weapons over?" Lilith asked, as she was sure that nobody could touch her weapons without severely damaging their mind.

<<They are ego weapons with a thought of their own. To stay master, they had no other choice but to let someone else carry them.>>

"Oh good..." Lilith thought as she couldn't bring herself to think about what would happen if her weapons weren't as smart.

Lilith rose to her feet, the tatami mat beneath her bare toes cool and smooth. With a soft rustle of fabric, she slid open the paper door and stepped out into the crisp morning air. The wooden porch creaked softly under her weight as she slipped on her sandals.

As she stepped outside, the bustling sounds of the village greeted her ears, but amidst the chaos, Lilith heard a clamor not too far away. With a curious tilt of her head, she began to follow the noise.

"What is going on here...?" Lilith thought as she looked up front.

"Kato-sama is currently choosing participants to join the weakly journey to the Elven continent." Someone answered Lilith's question.

'Elven continent,'" Lilith thought, not surprised by the fact that there would be elves in this fantasy world.

"Why are you guys going to the Elven continent?" Lilith asked.

"For trades. We hunt monsters and supply the elves. In return, we receive things we can't get on the mountain.

Lilith's mind began to wander as the image of an elf captured her imagination, and she found herself lost in thought. "Is it alright if I tag along? I want to help?" Before she knew it, Lilith had asked.

"I don't have that kind of authority. "He chuckled. "You're going to have to ask Kato-sama."

"Got it, thanks." With a smile, Lilith nodded and thanked the kind stranger before striding toward the bustling crowd. There, she spotted Kato in the center, selecting participants by picking those who raised their hands the highest. The atmosphere was chaotic and energetic, as everyone seemed eager to embark on the hunting trip.

"Oi, pick me!" Lilith's voice chimed like a bell, cutting through the noisy crowd, and instantly captured Kato's attention. He lifted his head and caught sight of Lilith's beaming face, her eyes twinkling with eagerness. Lilith also noticed Kato's gaze and her smile grew wider.

"That young girl over there." Kato smiled and pointed at Lilith.

'Yes...!' Lilith celebrated a quiet victory.

The hand-picked hunters, with their weapons, slung over their shoulders, gathered by the towering wooden gate that creaked with each gust of wind. Lilith watched as they exchanged greetings.

"My name's Shota Nakajima, but you can call me Shota," Shota spoke as he shook Lilith's hand.

"You can call me Lilith." Lilith smiled, then asked. "So, is there a way down this mountain?"

"Well, there is one fast way," Shota spoke as he brought everyone together and got ready to leave the village.

"Just show me..." Lilith chuckled.

"Was thinking the same thing." Shota smiled, then looked back at the people who were waving them off.

"We're departing!" Shota shouted.

"Be careful."

"Come back safely."

As Lilith and the group made their way out of the village, the other villagers wished them a safe journey with smiles and waves. The sounds of their footsteps echoed on the dirt path as they moved further away from the safety of the walls.

As they trekked on, Lilith and her companions stumbled upon the same serene river she had discovered before. The crystal-clear water flowed gently. Following the river, they walked upstream, through the lush greenery of the forest, until the sound of crashing water filled their ears. They soon reached the foot of a towering waterfall, the water plummeting from great heights into the white clouds below. Lilith couldn't help but stare in awe at the magnificent sight before them.

The radiant morning sun, tinted in a soft yellow hue, emerged from behind the billowy, cotton-like clouds and cast a luminous glow over the water, making it glisten like liquid gold. Further beyond the cascading waterfall, the view was a serene expanse of fluffy clouds that were illuminated by the brilliant morning sunlight, creating an ethereal and enchanting landscape.

"We're going to jump down from here," Shota spoke, surprising Lilith. "Don't worry, there's a giant lake down there."

Shota's eyes sparkled mischievously as he took a step back, and without any hint of hesitation, he ran toward the edge of the mountain cliff. His body soared into the air, flipping forward with elegance as if he was performing a choreographed dance routine. Lilith watched in amazement as Shota plummeted towards the ground with a wide grin on his face.

With Shota leading the way, the others followed suit, leaping off the cliff and plummeting toward the ground below. One by one, they took the daring plunge, their bodies falling through the air like stones. As Lilith stood at the edge, one of them patted her on the shoulder, urging her to take the leap of faith as well.

Lilith stepped forward towards the edge of the cliff, feeling the cool breeze from the waterfall blowing past her hair. She could see the sparkling rays of the sun illuminating the horizon, painting it in a fiery orange hue. As she stood there, she took a deep breath, inhaling the fresh scent of nature. With half of her foot hanging over the edge, Lilith closed her eyes. She took one last breath before taking the plunge, her body falling forward into the vast expanse below.