Riko already knew the general outline of what happened afterward, but hearing it from Timidit's own mouth felt entirely different.
During their downward expedition, Timidit gradually grew close to a girl named Namiki. Since neither of them could bear children, and Timidit was older, they often referred to each other as mother and daughter.
In Namiki, Timidit seemed to see her former self, but Namiki was luckier than she had been...
At first, that was what Timidit believed. Namiki was one of the Abyss People, and the residents of Abyss Town were all kind. Though they still held some prejudice against those unable to bear children, that was understandable and not entirely unjustified. Thus, Namiki's early life had been far better than Timidit's.
But—
The abyss was the true hell.
Under the influence of the Heart of Dreams, Namiki became a machine for giving birth. Those children never lived past a day, and in the end, the children she bore even became food...
In a starving daze, Timidit had been fed clay pot rice made from Namiki's children by Dark. The taste—
"Even now, when I think back on it, it was still so delicious!"
As Timidit spoke, she covered her eyes, but she could not stop the tears from streaming down. "I actually thought my own grandchildren tasted delicious. It was too horrifying!"
After that...
A Soul Saint whom they had treated left the Heart of Dreams with them.
At Dark's suggestion, the captain gave the Heart of Dreams to Namiki, who had already become utterly inhuman, hoping she could return to her original state.
But it failed.
Namiki's body swelled once more. Unable to bear the fact that they had become Man-eating Monsters, the others entered Namiki's body with overwhelming guilt, hoping that Namiki would eat them.
Yet