Broadcasting Live From Inside An Eldritch Horror Game

Chapter 73: To The Royal Capital We Go! Part-3.

While the people in the comment channel created massive chaos, Zephyr made a full meal with the available ingredients, and Xinran’s gem-like eyes lit up just from the amazing scent of the food.

Once the food was served, she couldn’t wait to devour it all with a happy smile on her face.

’I have never seen someone enjoy my cooking so much before... does it really taste that good? To me it seems barely of average quality...’

’But then again, she’s been wandering this devastated barren desert for decades with no cooking skills at all; perhaps it’s been decades she has even managed to eat a decent meal...’

’As they say, even badly cooked food tastes extra good when you are starving... an empty stomach can drive people insane...’

The desire for food and shelter was the most basic necessity that every organism in the universe had; despite being a powerful vampire, Xinran also had these basic desires.

Moreover, at the peak of its existence, the Empire of Jauregia boasted powerful technological and industrial capabilities; it likely had modern food, cafés, and restaurants!

This is likely the first time Xinran has gotten to eat food that seems identical to that long-gone era of prosperity!

"Sigh, you are such a good cook that I might actually end up falling head over heels for you because of this heavenly cooking ability..."

"Hey, how about you become my little servant, Zephy? Cook me three meals a day and I promise to keep you safe in this dangerous world..."

"Wait... this sounds more like I am proposing for a marriage... oh well, whatever, I don’t mind taking you as my wife, Little Zephy, hehe~"

Ignoring Xinran’s words, Zephyr ate his own portion of food and asked in his usual calm voice,

"Layla said you were going to leave for the Royal Capital? What’s the capital like? Is it far from here?"

Hearing Zephyr’s question, Xinran pouted unhappily and glared at him for changing the topic.

"Tch, you are no fun! I am genuinely surprised how you are able to easily shrug off my flirtatious words; it kind of makes me doubt my womanly charm..."

"Are you sure you are fine in ’that’ aspect? How come you never get swayed no matter what I say?"

Zephyr’s eyes narrowed as he sensed that Xinran had deliberately avoided the topic of the ’Royal Capital’ by showing annoyance at something completely irrelevant to the current matter.

’How cunning; she’s quite good at hiding her real intentions behind her absurd flirtatious and seduction abilities. I must not fall for her traps...’

"I am completely fine in every physical aspect, and yes, I am interested in women just as much as any other man would be..."

"But I have more important things to do in life than play the game of ’Love’ with someone right now..."

Zephyr looked straight into Xinran’s eyes and declared,

"You are taking ’Love’ too lightly, and I can easily see that none of your flirtatious words are sincere at all."

"Although I personally have never been in a relationship myself, Even I know what true love looks like... It’s pointless to be trying to sway me with empty talk and a fake seduction tactic."

Zephyr spoke such grand words that Xinran’s eyes widened in shock, but truthfully speaking, he was just trying to bluff in front of her.

As a lonely otaku who had never been with a woman before, Zephyr had no experience in this matter, and he didn’t even know if he should even be using such lofty terms to define love.

All Zephyr wanted right now was to keep Xinran in check and not let her affect his mind.

"You... you are more intelligent than I expected you to be... ’Do Not Take Love Lightly’... heh, that has a nice sound to it..."

Although Zephyr didn’t know it, Xinran was aware of how much power the ’Law’ of ’Love and Protection’ held in this world and how powerful its influence was in all aspects of life.

Hearing Zephyr’s words almost made Xinran feel like she had broken through some kind of barrier in her understanding and had learned a lot from this simple exchange of words.

As if she reached a decision in her mind, a look of seriousness appeared on her face, completely removing the usual expression of carelessness from it as she asked in a solemn voice,

"Zephyr Reid, Would you like to accompany me to the royal capital of the Jauregia Empire?"

Hearing that question, Zephyr was taken aback for a second and thought that Xinran was pulling another prank on him.

But after seeing that serious look on her face, he realized that she was not joking and was serious about this question.

"For me to make a decision, you would have to tell me about the current situation of the royal capital first and explain to me why you want me to accompany you."

Zephyr had already decided to make it his goal to travel across the world and find the mysteries of this ’game.’

Moreover, right now, aside from this secluded town located who knows where, Zephyr had no other places to go.

He didn’t even have a basic map of this empire; once he left this town, finding another town or city will be a daunting task in the dangerous sea of ash.

But Zephyr could not just sit still in this town either, as he had to search for the ’truth’ of the existence of this ’Game’ world somehow.

Thus, he was bound to head towards the royal capital of the empire in search of truth sooner or later.

Xinran’s invitation came timely, and he was inclined to accept it as long as Xinran showed some sincerity.

"Sigh... You are right, I should do the explanation first before trying to pull you to my side."

Xinran took a deep breath, stared at the dark red flames burning in the bonfire lighting up the darkness of the night around them, and spoke in a calm voice.

"The royal capital of the Jauregia Empire is located approximately 500 kilometers northeast of this small town."

"Situated on the banks of a now-dried river, the royal capital, ’Velmoira,’ was once home to a population of 5 million people from various different races and origins."

"Its name, ’Velmoira,’ originated from a unique type of gem called ’Velmoira’ that was frequently found in the mines beneath the city in ancient times..."

Talking about that city, a visible trace of sadness appeared on Xinran’s beautiful face as she continued speaking.

"Velmoira used to be a small mining town in ancient times, but as the mines ran dry after hundreds of years of mining,"

"Times changed and the city became a trade center from where a massive amount of trade passed through via merchant caravans or other methods..."

"Centuries went by, and the population of the city swelled to millions due to frequent migrations of people from all corners of the world to the prosperous trade center of the continent.

"Eventually, my ancestors founded the nation of Jauregia and established ’Velmoira’ as the capital city of the nation after a hundred-year-long war of conquest."

For hundreds of years, the people of the Jauregia Empire lived in prosperity and flourished under the wise rule of the royal family blessed with the powers of the strongest vampire bloodline on the continent!

In that age, there was no nation or organization that could compare to the Jauregia Empire in influence, wealth, might, or any other aspect.

Jauregia was a ’utopia’ created with the help of careful planning of several generations, and although it was not ’perfect’ in all aspects, it was a place that many referred to as the ’City of Dreams’!

"But as they say, no dynasty lasts eternally, and if there’s a beginning to something, there is always an end too."

"Due to a ’certain’ disaster, the once prosperous Empire of Jauregia has fallen into a state of death and devastation that is beyond salvageable.

"The royal capital, Velmoira, still exists, but unlike before, it’s nothing but a broken and destroyed husk of its former glorious self."

"Even weeds do not grow in that land due to how corrupted the land has become; the biggest river of the continent that used to be filled with endless water all year has now run completely dry..."

Xinran’s eyes carried a faint look of pain as she explained the current situation of the royal capital.

"Miasmic filth rains in that city all day, every day, in that cursed city of death and horror now, and whatever is left of the broken ruins gets corroded with miasma deeper and deeper every moment..."

"Just taking a breath of the air in that place can instantly corrode your body from the inside out and make you lose your mind instantly..."

"The entire place reeks of death, dread, and horror that is beyond the comprehension of normal creatures..."

Xinran looked straight into Zephyr’s eyes and spoke solemnly,

"That place is equivalent to ’Hell’ on Earth!"