Chapter 119
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 119
Chapter Title: Hospitalization - 3
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In harsh living environments, humans tended to discriminate against the weak, and in that sense, Lugeron Village had been a brutal place for women.
To reduce the number of mouths to feed even slightly, the village men ruthlessly abandoned their wives once they reached an age too old for childbearing, and when monsters raided the village, they sent the women out as bait.
It was only natural that Colin, who hailed from such a village, despised it—and if it weren't for the money, she never would have come back.
"No interest in seeing your father?"
"None."
"Sigh... Colin, I get where you're coming from, but how long do you plan on freeloading off Sian's place?"
"What's the problem? I'm employed by my nephew. Even that cat over there eats well and lives comfortably."
"That woman's diligently doing the tasks Elsia assigned her. Meanwhile, you're just burning through our food supplies."
"Not food—booze and snacks."
"Same difference."
"No, it's not. Booze is essential for my vitality. Think of it as a necessary condition for fulfilling my nephew's orders."
"Did you at least learn how to make excuses in the city?"
"Nah, I picked this up from my master."
Nabira looked exasperated by Colin's attitude as she name-dropped Sian's adoptive father, Ian, and gave up trying to persuade her sister-in-law.
Watching Nabira leave, Colin took another swig of her drink.
The village booze was nothing compared to what she'd had in the city, and she grimaced at the mediocre taste.
"Fuck, did I come back for no reason?"
She'd returned to this village she loathed purely for the money, but regret was already creeping in.
She just couldn't adjust.
The village atmosphere felt completely opposite to what she remembered after so long away.
Unfamiliar buildings, strangely shaped objects.
Kids playing outside carefree, women chatting amiably as they headed off to do laundry.
Everything clashed with her memories.
Monsters could emerge from the forest at any moment—how could they be so relaxed?
Why were there more women than men in the village?
'If Master saw this, he'd keel over in shock.'
Looks like my nephew pulled some strings.
As Colin pondered the reasons behind the village's changes, her daughter Aida came looking for her.
Aida clutched a leather ball and asked,
"Mom, can I go play outside?"
"Sure, but stay out of the forest."
"Okay!"
Aida bolted off at her mother's permission.
Colin had worried at first that Aida's beastkin traits would make it hard for her to fit in, but against all odds, she was adapting just fine.
Amazing.
Lugeron Village had always shunned outsiders, especially other races.
'I really can't adjust to this.'
She was already drunk, but the transformed village was making her feel even more intoxicated.
So she drank harder.
If she got blackout wasted, maybe these unpleasant feelings would vanish.
"Colin, there you are."
"Sylvia, sis?"
"Ugh, the booze stench... How much have you had?"
"A fair bit. Why?"
"The village market's finally open after ages—come shopping with me."
In a village without proper markets, people traded goods among themselves whenever they needed something.
Every household had its specialties.
The Kan family would sell booze, Jace's family would offer clothes made by his wife Selnia, and the Ron family—who handled the village graveyard—would peddle mint toothpaste.
With such rare village events, Sylvia planned to stock up big time.
And she figured she'd drag along Colin, who was back after so long. But Colin was already sloshed in broad daylight.
"Hic, let's go."
"In that state?"
"I'm out of booze. Let's buy some."
"It's not about buying booze, sigh... Fine. But you have to listen to your big sis."
"'Course, hic!"
"..."
Sylvia felt uneasy seeing Colin barely able to hold herself up, but she trusted her enough to take her to the market anyway.
And sure enough.
"Whoa~ booze!"
Colin caused a scene.
She spotted Kan's booze, chugged it without permission, and even tore up clothes made by Selnia, whom she hadn't seen in ages.
And then.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?!"
"Whoa~ Dad's gotten so old?"
She started insulting the village chief—her own father.
"Apologize right now!"
"No way~ Why should I?"
"What?!"
"I'm stronger than everyone here combined anyway."
The law of the jungle—that was the truth Colin had learned growing up in Lugeron Village and making her way in the city.
The strong don't get ignored. The strong don't get abandoned. The strong don't get killed.
So the strong me gets to look down on you weaklings.
"If you've got a problem, abandon me like you did Mom."
"You're disgracing your father's face."
"Was there ever any face worth disgracing?"
Even drunk, Colin fired back sharply at her father, whom she'd resented for so long. Maybe this was what she'd wanted all along.
This shitty village deserved shitty treatment.
That's when.
"Huh?"
Colin caught a glimpse of golden eyes flashing by.
But it happened too fast to make out details. She might have reacted in time if sober, but she was too wasted, and she paid the price dearly.
Thwack!
"Bleurghhh!"
A sudden gut punch forced every drop of booze in her stomach back up.
Only then did Colin see the identity of those golden eyes.
'Whoa, my nephew...'
A fierce glare stared down at her, eyes promising to tear her apart any second. Colin trembled in fear.
'He's fucking terrifying when he's mad.'
Maybe she was a little scared sober?
...
Leaving Colin to collapse unconscious with a thud, I immediately apologized to the village chief.
No matter how much of a scene she'd caused, hitting his daughter in front of him was out of line.
As a father with daughters of my own, I wanted to empathize with the chief's feelings.
"Sorry for laying hands on your daughter."
"No need to apologize. That girl's no daughter of mine anymore."
"I see."
He was furious enough to disown her outright.
Does that mean I can beat her freely from now on?
'First, let's calm this mess down.'
We'd finally opened the market after so long, and I didn't want some crazy bitch ruining the mood.
That wouldn't do. In this place with crap weather and poor soil, all we had left was the village's unity—we couldn't lose that too.
To turn the atmosphere around, I bowed deeply in apology.
"Sorry for the trouble, everyone."
Then I pulled soap from the Holy Kingdom's knights out of my Inventory.
"As my apology, I'll distribute Tower of Wisdom soap to you all."
The mood flipped instantly.
Nothing a little money—or soap—can't fix!
"You sure it's okay to hand this stuff out like candy?"
Selnia took the soap boldly, then voiced concern for me.
At least say that before grabbing it.
"It's fine, don't worry."
"Hmm... then gimme more."
"Why?"
"Colin tore up the clothes I made! You brought her here and hired her, right? So you take responsibility."
"...Fine, here."
I couldn't deny her point, so I handed Selnia extra soap.
Colin, you're in for it later.
"Sian, sorry. I shouldn't have brought Colin to the market..."
"Sylvia, I'm fine. Don't blame yourself—it might give our kids the wrong idea."
Sylvia's face bloomed into a smile at "our kids," while Selnia scowled.
Hey, don't push your luck. I'm on edge right now.
"I'll head home first."
"Want me to come?"
"No. I need to rethink how to handle this bitch."
"Ah."
"So enjoy the market a bit longer, Sylvia."
"Got it. Anything you wanna eat? I'll grab it."
"Not hungry, but pick up some scented candles if you see any."
"Why?"
"I'm hurting a bit. Hoping the aroma helps with the pain."
Andrew's stab wound looked fine on the outside, but my insides were shredded like rags, and every movement sent agony surging through me.
It wasn't unbearable, but bad enough to keep me from sleeping, so until Helen could get the divine water, I needed pain relief.
"What?!"
Sylvia jumped in shock at hearing I was hurt.
Sylvia? You're not in the safe trimester yet—try not to startle like that.
"What?! Sian's hurt?!"
But Sylvia wasn't the only one freaking out.
Tom, who'd been off in the distance, suddenly charged over, fretting about my condition.
"You're hurt? What the hell happened?!"
"Oh, you know, this and that."
"Haven't I told you a million times? No matter how skilled you are, don't get cocky!"
"Tom? You never said that to me."
"Get home now! I'll carry you."
"No need."
"Sian, if you're unwell, don't push yourself."
"Not you too, Chief."
"Everyone, over here! We need to carry Sian home."
"Wait..."
At Tom's call, the village's sturdy young men gathered, and I was hauled home like cargo.
...
"Nyaa... Tough day again."
Pina—from the Catkit Merchant Company she'd fled—was getting crushed under Elsia's workload again today.
Of course, no matter how exhausting, she couldn't show it.
Her help was essential for a beastkin like her to live comfortably.
She had to slave away as an outsider.
"Nyaa?! Why's this crazy bitch passed out in the street next to her own puke?"
Pina recoiled in horror at the sight of Colin sprawled out beside her vomit.
"Oh, right—crazy bitches sleep like this."
With that profound realization, Pina ignored the mess on the roadside and went back to her tasks.