Taylor and Clementine were suffocating from the chemical smoke that smothered their lungs.
Just a few minutes earlier, the two were arguing over whether the output quantity or the directional factor in the application of the mana flame was more important.
After a quick debate, they compromised and modified the breadth of the mana flame to cover a larger area. Unfortunately for them, the problem lay in neither of their arguments.
The hardware that Clementine, Kuvie, and Reazue had painstakingly retrieved from the Layers Beneath was... flawed.
There was a leak that the two could not find.
At least, that was before the explosions—when their supposed improvements only made things worse.
Now, Taylor was busying himself, looking around the rubber tubes and crystal implements for the damned leak that ruined his lab and probably doubled his debt.
"Bloody Rabbits!"
When he finally found the problem, he wasn’t relieved. His curse rang throughout the destroyed lab in annoyance.
...Rabbits were just a taboo in Walvaskaz as they were said to be terrifying beasts capable of rapid mutation. They were a breed of beasts who never acknowledged anything—even a <Dragon’s> pride.
Taylor always heard about several slanderous legends that Ancient Rabbits dined on arrogant draconic corpses.
Nowadays, rabbits were more of a myth, appearing only in rumors and stories.
Clementine looked over, exhaustion obvious in the bags under her eyes. When she saw Taylor fiddling with a few tubes before retrieving a faulty gasket from one of the junctions, her eyes flickered in surprise.
"...Huh,"
A particular memory came to mind. One she could not help but bury in the next instant.
’Grandmother had always complained about gaskets...’
To think that she would encounter something along those lines today...
A hint of nostalgia crept into her chest, warming her heart at such bittersweet memories of the past.
Clementine was turning 322 this year. Though she was quite young for a Snakespawn, she was well into adulthood. Her parents had all fallen into their twilight years, filled with slumber, making one last attempt at Evolution.
If they failed, well, their slumber would extend into eternity.
Attempting to evolve was usually done earlier in life after meeting the necessary conditions to advance... But many usually failed in their attempts. After all, refining one’s own genes without natural selection was only possible in a world with mana.
Thus, the Snakespawn treated their final molt as one last attempt to climb the evolutionary ladder. If they failed, well, their lifespan was already at its end.
There was nothing to lose.
Now...
If they succeeded?
They would have another millennium to live.
Clementine hoped that her parents would be one of those lucky enough to evolve.
"Heeeyyyy,"
A hand was waving in front of her face, trying to draw her attention.
"Miss Clementine, you spaced out for a bit." Taylor’s concerned tone rang in her ears.
The Snakespawn had to pull herself out of her stupor. A wry smile appeared on her face.
"Sorry... In the end, the memories I wanted to push down came rushing to the surface."
Taylor chuckled, "I’ve heard that long-lived species have experiences that are all vast beyond my comprehension. Were you looking back on your childhood?"
"Heh," Clementine mirrored his laugh. "Can the Snakespawn even be considered a long-lived race? Our lifespans don’t even make it to a thousand..."
A belated realization fell upon the Snakespawn just then.
Looking at Taylor, she paused. "...How long do humans live for, again?"
The human in question sighed, "Barely a hundred. We are already considered old if we make it to sixty."
"Mm..."
Suddenly, Clementine did not know what to say. Humans were a rarity in Walvaskaz. She only knew Taylor.
’Is it because they die out so quickly?’
Clementine hummed.
’Ah, I’m getting distracted.’
Thinking of her earlier words, she then continued her previous train of thought.
"Anyways, I get what you mean when you call us a long-lived race. I can’t imagine what it’s like to be old and decrepit at 60... I was basically a child at that age, going on random wild adventures."
Clementine took the problematic gasket out of Taylor’s hands and placed the damaged tubes in a bag.
"As for your question, well... Yes. I was, in a way, reminiscing about my younger years. My grandmother used to complain about gaskets all the time."
Taylor shook his head and chuckled, "I guess there was a reason why she complained so much then. Do you know anyone who can get those fixed?"
"Yes. I’ll leave these with them for the time being. Is it alright if I leave you to clean up?"
"Sure thing. Please tell me how much the repairs will be. I’ll pitch in."
Clementine laughed, "You? No. You’re already badly in debt. Just manage the lab properly and figure out how to get everything working by the time we get back. Otherwise, you won’t get supper."
"...Yes, ma’am."
Taylor had nothing to retort. He could only watch the blue-green cascade of hair disappear down the stairs, dazed by the echoes of the Snakespawn’s laughter.
"...Damned rabbits."
** *
When I saw how dazed Taylor was when he watched Clementine leave, I already knew that this man was beyond saving.
He was crushing.
Hard.
"Hopefully, he can also evolve to become a High Human and extend his lifespan to about 500 years," I muttered, turning around to continue on my way to breakfast.
If Taylor could also become an <Archmagus> like Daimyuon, his lifespan could also be extended to match Clementine’s.
Otherwise, he would be nothing but a summer fling to the Snakespawn.
It was unfortunate, but that was also the reason why humans could barely be found in Walvaskaz.
Nothing here ever happened ’annually’ because the races all had much greater lifespans. Of course, there were exceptions seen in the insectoid races... but they could inherit memories.
They were also special in their own way.
The timescale here in the Walvaskaz Empire was always measured in decades. Years were simply treated as seasons.
Humans would already begin deteriorating into old age after only three decennial banquets.
They couldn’t even participate in those tournaments held every four decades if they missed the opportunity in their prime.
They would either be too young or too old.
What more, trying to marry these long-lived species? Perhaps when some species finally became adolescents, their human peers would have already died long ago.
To some, Walvaskaz’s romance was the most difficult endeavor of all.
I could only wish Taylor good luck.
As one such human with only a few decades of lifespan, I suddenly felt the temptation to become an undead calling out to me.
—[ Yessssss! Join usssss! ]
—[ One of us! One of us! ]
—[ One of us! ]
—[ ONE OF US! ]
The voices in my head seemed to have sensed my emotions, extending their offers once more.
’All of you... shut up, or I’ll dig out your embarrassing histories for the others to hear.’
—[ .... ]
Finally, a threat that worked.
It was so hard to threaten immortal, undying beings trapped in a crystal staff. There wasn’t much else they valued after being reduced to such a state.
’Good.’
It was finally time to see what Hau’goth made for today’s breakfast.
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