"How are you able to farm in this condition?" Mike inquired. "You guys need water, sunlight, and air, right?"
"Cat mentioned earlier that we don't rely on the star's energy like your planet does. Instead, our crops receive energy from the fire river beneath us." She paused, maintaining eye contact with Mike. "As for omi, we spray our crops with it periodically to ensure their growth and nourishment."
Miram dropped her food and turned to Garo, her expression inquisitive. "And what about air?" she asked.
"The gastral shield protecting us plays a significant role in supplying us with adequate air," Garo replied. "Do you still recall how you arrived here?"
Mike nodded, his mind replaying the events of their arrival. "We were pulled in by the shield's force," he replied slowly.
Garo let out a shallow sigh, a look of satisfaction washing over her face. "Exactly! That's how the shield sucks in sufficient air for us every moment," she said. "As a result of the gastral shield, the air coming in becomes potent, possessing the ability to permeate every corner of this village regardless of how sealed or contained the space may be."
Mike's eyes narrowed at Garo in amazement. He stared at Garo for a moment and smiled. He couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for the girl's intelligence and knowledge.
Despite appearing to be around the same age as Miram, Garo's understanding of the village's ecosystem and mechanics was impressive.
As he gazed at her, he noticed the gentle features of her face, accentuated by her brown, long hair tied back in a ponytail. Her long, pointed ears, a distinctive characteristic of the Anthropters, added to her otherworldly appearance.
Garo was a bit taller than Miram, her beauty subtly veiled beneath her rough, unkempt hair, likely a result of her recent awakening. However, whenever she smiled, her white teeth sparkled, captivating Mike's attention.
As Mike gazed deeper into her eyes, he felt an unusual sense of responsibility wash over him. This feeling was distinct from love or hatred; it was a sensation that was both intriguing and unsettling.
Mike couldn't help but wonder about Garo's past, speculating that she must have her own unique history.
Now that the mysteries of the underground village had been clarified, he smiled warmly at her again.
"Garo, you're incredibly intelligent," he said. "I wouldn't have understood all this without your help and explanations. Thank you so much."
Garo's face flushed with a delicate blush as she covered her eyes with both hands. "You don't have to thank me, my Jyuran," she cooed, her voice playful and endearing.
Miram shot her a contemptuous glower, her expression screaming, 'DON'T YOU DARE FLIRT WITH MY MAN!' However, Garo seemed entirely undaunted, choosing instead to avert her face and gaze adoringly at Mike, who was now engrossed in his meal.
Mike's eyes shut in pure bliss as he shook his head and savored the flavors. "Wow, this is somehow... delicious!" he exclaimed, a soft moan escaping his lips. "I would've denied it if someone had told me I'd eat something this delicious in Perebia."
He opened his eyes and glanced at Garo in curiosity. "What's this soup made of?" he asked, dropping the handmade wooden spoon he was holding.
Garo's expression turned evasive, and she attempted to deflect Mike's question. "I think you would be better off not knowing it, my Jyuran. You wouldn't understand even if I told you," she replied.
"What's there to not know? It's not like there's poop in it," Mike said, his lips parting in a silent smirk. He gulped down the rest of the liquid in the bowl and another soft moan escaped his lips as he savored the flavors.
However, his comment was met with an uncomfortable silence. He turned to Garo and noticed her exchanging skeptical glances with Miram.
"Don't tell me... there's actually poop in the soup, is there?" he inquired, his tone pleading for a negative reply.
Garo exhaled relentingly, her face falling to the ground as if in defeat. Mike's eyes bulged out in dismay, and his mind began to reel in panic.
No! No! No! No! No! Please tell me I'm wrong! Please! Please!! Please!!! He silently pleaded within himself, desperately hoping to be proved wrong.
Garo's face turned pale. "Only two animals... poop," she said slowly, raising two fingers.
Mike's anger boiled over as his face contorted in disgust. "What do you mean by 'only two'?" he grumbled. "Even if it's a little, a poop is a poop, you goddamn bitch!"
He recoiled, his hand instinctively flying to his throat as if to induce vomiting.
"I knew it! You bat people are after my life!"
***
A few minutes later, Mike, Miram, and Garo emerged from Cat's house, heading in a direction that seemed to avoid the prying eyes of the villagers. The trio walked in silence, the only sound being the soft rustling of their footsteps.
Miram glanced at Mike, her eyes scanning his face. "How are you feeling now, my Jyuran?" she asked.
"Like I ate poop," Mike replied, drawing saliva from his throat and spitting it out in disgust.
Garo attempted to reason with Mike, her voice soft and placating. "Some certain animals' poop has a great role in our food. They are nutritious, clean, and—"
However, her words trailed off as she saw Mike's eyes flashing with annoyance. His expression was a clear warning sign that he was on the verge of exploding.
"Can you just keep quiet, please?" Mike snapped, irritation in his voice. "The fact that I ate poop for the first time in my entire life is haunting me. Hearing you try to convince me that poop is a good food is driving me insane!"
Garo's face fell in disappointment. Her attempt to convince Mike had not only backfired but had also seemed to infuriate him further. She looked at Miram, seeking guidance, but Miram simply shook her head, indicating that it was best to let him calm down on his own.
Mike noticed Garo's sadness, but his own discomfort and disgust took precedence. The thought of consuming something he had never eaten before continued to gnaw at him, making his stomach churn with the urge to vomit again and again.
The trio continued in silence, passing through the quiet path between the villagers' houses. Finally, they arrived at a large, imposing building that seemed to stretch up to the ceiling of the cavernous village.
The building's wooden door was guarded by two muscular Anthropters. Their eyes fixed intently on Mike and Miriam, probably because they'd never met them before.
Unlike the other houses Mike had seen in the village, this building stood out for its unique architecture. Its height was difficult to approximate, as it seemed to be built into the ground itself, yet still reached the overall ceiling of the village.
The exterior walls were adorned with otherworldly paint that seemed to blend three or more colors together, making it challenging to determine if the building was constructed from mud like the others.
Mike scanned over the building's exterior and he noticed another peculiar feature – the complete absence of windows. Not a single opening marred the surface of the walls, leaving Mike to ponder if Garo's claim about the air being able to travel anywhere in the village was indeed true.
Meanwhile, Garo approached the two guards and whispered something into their ears. The guards stared at Mike for a moment, their expressions unreadable, before opening the large wooden door and gesturing for them to enter.
The trio stepped through the doorway, and Mike gasped, his mouth wide open in awe as he saw the breathtaking sight before him. A series of crystal and gemstone stairs spiraled downward, leading to the floor below.
"Wow… wow!" Miram muttered under her breath, her voice barely audible over the sound of her own heartbeat. "What is this place?"
"Welcome to Palor, my Jyuran," Garo said, ignoring Miram. "Follow me, I'll lead you to the room where you'll be staying for the day." She gestured for Mike and Miram to follow her.
Mike thought for a moment at Garo's phrase, "for the day." He knew that correcting her would be fruitless, given that she had likely lived in this underground world her entire life and had adapted to its unique system of the day and night being Interswitch.
Without commenting further, he followed Garo down the spiraling stairs; his footsteps muffled by the stairs' density.
Miram walked beside him; her racing heart could be heard by Mike super hearing as they descended. She seemed to be more surprised than he was. Mike smiled but said nothing.