Chapter 110
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 110
Chapter Title: Cultists of the Underground Sewer
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Come on in.
I swallowed hard and slowly stepped inside. The interior was unlit, as dark as the depths of the sewer. Perhaps it was filled with an abyss-like blackness.
Was she sleeping after all? The thought had barely crossed my mind when the door suddenly slammed shut behind me.
Creak... Bang.
...It seemed to be an automatic door.
"H-Hello? Are you there?"
I called out softly to the shopkeeper, and with a pop, lights flickered on.
"Ah."
It was a crimson glow, matching her tastes. If I had to compare it to something familiar, it was like the ambiance of a seedy old jazz club. The sudden light made me squint. After a moment to adjust, I opened my eyes again—and there she was: Lisha.
"Welcome."
She sat on a scarlet sofa with her legs crossed. My eyes were drawn to her pale white thighs, but then I noticed she was wearing only a sheer black negligee, just like last time—see-through enough to reveal everything underneath.
...This was definitely her straight out of bed, no question.
Look at that tousled hair. What the hell was I thinking coming here? It was awkward to even know where to look, so I dropped my gaze and spoke in a trembling voice. I felt anxious, like I'd committed a grave offense.
"Ah... Witch. H-Have you been well? I-I'm sorry if showing up out of the blue at this hour has upset you or anything..."
"The time when the moon is up is my time. It's no imposition, so lift your head. It's fine."
She said it was fine, so I raised my head.
"...Huh?"
And was a little surprised.
I'd assumed she'd quickly changed like last time, but Lisha was still in that revealing outfit—not exactly ideal for showing to a strange man.
The negligee draped over her bare skin, translucent... Between her modest chest and crossed legs, I caught a glimpse of something pink that shouldn't be visible.
I averted my eyes appropriately.
One wrong look and I'd be crossing into criminal territory.
And despite saying it was fine, her expression looked utterly exhausted.
Her disheveled silver hair and fierce red eyes. I ended up as the bowed-down man once more.
"Is something wrong?"
"P-Pardon? N-No, nothing. No issues... I just feel bad about it..."
"Hehe, I said it's fine."
Lisha stretched her neck side to side like she was loosening up, then recrossed her legs the other way. For a split second, it looked like she wasn't wearing panties. The pose was so seductive that my flustered emotions surged right to the top of my head.
What the hell is this sex demon?
"Anyway... You've brought something interesting again. Come here and sit."
"Ah, yes."
I approached as instructed and sat on the sofa opposite her.
I'd always been served at the table out front—this was my first time venturing so deep into the shop. The sofa was plush. The luxurious material wrapped around my lower body like soft cushions, and drowsiness started to creep in.
"Here it is."
Hesitating a bit, I pulled the dagger from my pouch and placed it on the glass table. It was the dagger with eerie, striking patterns that I'd taken from what seemed to be the leader of the cultists.
The sharply honed blue blade suggested it wasn't just for decoration.
"Hmm... A ritual dagger. It doesn't hold mana, but it carries a unique aura that's quite pleasant... A fine piece. I like the embossed designs. Is this what you've come to sell?"
Lisha picked up the dagger and examined it slowly. It looked like she was 'reading' the writhing patterns on it.
"Yes... I came across it by chance, and it made me think of you, Witch. So despite the late hour, I took the liberty of visiting."
"Thinking of me? How thoughtful."
"Pardon?"
"Hehehe, just kidding... Well then."
She set the dagger down again, rested her arm on the sofa's armrest, propped her chin on her hand, and looked at me.
"Why don't you tell me its origins?"
"Its origins?"
"Yes. When, where, and how you got it. Explain in detail."
"Yes... Well then..."
As requested, I began embellishing the story as much as possible—much like I'd told the senior priest from the Brass Celestial Society earlier.
No matter who was in front of me, inflating the tale was necessary to boost the item's value. That's the true way of the adventurer. We're in the business of selling stories along with the goods. Before I knew it, all my gestures came alive as I chattered away, and my fear melted away.
I got into it. Lisha listened with rapt interest. After a few minutes, she sipped some red tea that had appeared out of nowhere and spoke.
"Hehehe, you're like a canary."
Lisha chuckled lowly and recrossed her legs—very slowly, in a gesture that felt blatantly seductive. Every movement of her legs put me in a tough spot.
"Haa... Anyway... Hmm?"
I wasn't some pervert with perverse tastes getting excited over that body type, nor did I feel anything but guilt at seeing an older woman's bare skin, so I dropped my gaze again. This plush sofa felt like a bed of nails.
"You've been avoiding my eyes, and it's bothering me."
"That's..."
"Look me in the eyes?"
Steeling myself, I lifted my head and met Lisha's gaze. Red eyes. I forced my wandering eyes to stay locked on hers.
"You're fidgeting so strangely. What are you so nervous about?"
"No, it's not... nervousness... I mean..."
"I mean?"
"Your outfit... There's nowhere to look without it being awkward. For me."
I voiced what had been nagging at me. My throat was parched, so I gulped down the red tea in front of me.
"My outfit?"
With a feigned look of surprise, she tugged at the neckline of her negligee and spoke. A sly smile played on her lips, revealing her true nature as a mischievous witch.
She might be enjoying my discomfort.
Sorry.
My bad.
"Hehe, worth not changing after all. Come on, tell me exactly what's bothering you."
I couldn't bring myself to say it. How could I tell an elder her see-through skin was embarrassing to face directly?
One thing I'd learned from Clody—no matter what, women like this hated being reminded of their age. As I hemmed and hawed, Lisha kept pressing.
"What's wrong? Just talk like you did before."
"S-Sorry, that skin..."
"You've gone all meek compared to moments ago. Hehe."
She cut me off.
"Anyway, enough teasing. The kids outside are your friends, right?"
"Yes. That's right."
"Hmm... One of them is..."
She closed her eyes as if deep in thought, forming hand seals—a gesture for casting magic.
"You can go now. Will this cover the dagger's price?"
Suddenly, silver coins were in my hand. The magic from just now? Counting them, it was 10 silvers. Enough for 2 silvers and 50 coppers each—a fortune. Joy surged through me, and I nearly jumped, but I held back.
Gauging Lisha's mood, I slowly stood.
She said to me,
"Will you come again next time?"
"Of course!"
I replied energetically. I'd have plenty of reasons to return.
"...Next time, come alone."
Lisha smiled, but her tone was insistent.
"Pardon? Alone?"
"Yes. Come alone, without fail. Goodbye."
As her mouth closed, I was outside the door. No idea why she insisted on alone, but there'd be another chance. No better place than Lisha's shop for magical dealings.
"Hey, assholes, I'm out. Got 10 silvers."
Snore... Phew...
Kobson, Meria—they were all leaning against the wall, fast asleep. Only Clody stood waiting rigidly. Spotting me, she approached.
"Took a while?"
"Yeah, a bit. You look exhausted. You okay?"
"Yeah. Still am. We're heading back anyway... But you didn't sell the wands?"
Clody said. My heart sank as I patted my waist. The two wands were still there.
Oh, shit.
Forgot.
"...Forgot."
"Idiot. Go back in now?"
"Nah, later."
Going back in now would be awkward.
I'd go again sometime.
Clap!
I clapped to wake Kobson and Meria. Rubbing their eyes as they stirred, they looked utterly carefree. Damn, while I was sweating bullets inside.
"Mm, dozed off for a bit."
"Yaaawn..."
"Up, assholes. Time for change. 2 silvers and 50 coppers each."
"Ho, nice haul."
"One dagger fetched that much?"
Good reactions.
Even without the wands, it was like 3 silvers a day each.
Profit-wise, felt like hitting D-rank adventurer status.
"Yeah, she liked it and paid top coin."
No clue on its real value, though.
She'd given all 10 in silvers, tricky for change, but luckily they carried coppers. After handing out shares, we left the alley.
"Split here."
"See you next time."
"Yeah, great seeing you all after so long. Catch you later."
Meria waved and vanished; Kobson headed the opposite way. Now just us two, Clody groaned and leaned into me.
"Huu, tired. Katt. Let's go back quick. Used too much mana today. Twenty golems out of nowhere? Can't handle that sane. Useless to kill anyway."
The kids barely gone, and she was chattering adorably. I gathered all my strength. With it, I suddenly scooped her up princess-style.
"Hyup!"
"Kyaa? Eek?!"
I lifted Clody just like that.
"You said you're tired, so no choice but to carry you."
"E-Eh? Ah... W-Wait a sec."
Ignoring her hiding her blushing face, I walked into the darkness. Planned to carry till my stamina gave out—which was already happening.
"Ahem, nice mood. Shall I sing a tune?"
"K-Katt?"
The rising moons were beautiful.
The dawn air was cold.
This must be the weight of earning a living through work. Humans can't help but get blood on their hands to survive. Living means accumulating karma, so under the moonlight, I decided to sing.
"Gonna go! To Jong-ro!"
Of course, it was Teacher Seol Wondo's Compass.
"I-It's night! Nighttime! Stop!"
"It's fine. Slum district. Scream all you want, no one cares."
"That's not the point!"
"Gonna go! To Myeong-dong!"
"Stooop!"
Clody's shrieks followed. So much piled-up stress in the slums, I sang louder on purpose. These shitheads didn't deserve sleep. Pure intentional racket. Party hard, loud party.
Standing at the corner of Eulji-ro.
Standing at the corner of Eulji-ro.
"Clody, can't take it anymore."
Only as we exited the slums did my song end.
Stamina fully drained, I set Clody down. Her face was flushed even in the dark. Grinning slyly, I wrapped an arm around her waist; she sighed helplessly, shook her head, and leaned into me.
By the time we reached the dorm, the sky was faintly brightening—a sign of morning.
This ain't some 24-hour New Ma-eul City shift.
Back in the room, washed up, and sunlight poured in. Today was for sleep. Wake up afternoon, hit the guild then. Quest rewards could wait. Utterly beat, Clody crashed beside me the moment she lay down.