Chapter 121
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 121
Chapter Title: Soul Promotion Battle
-----------------------------------------------------------------
That fucking bullshit I went through, and no loot?
I could smell the money on it from a mile away, so I went all out with the ultimate flame sword enchantment that chewed through durability, and I got nothing?
I couldn't believe this reality.
If I lost my mind here, it felt like Buddha from my heart would show up with the Teletubbies.
I rummaged through the ground, thinking maybe some fairy essence or something valuable like that dropped. There had to be something. Definitely something worth money. I pushed aside the charred leaves and dug up the dirt.
And there was jack shit.
"No, fuck, this is gonna cost even more in repairs!"
The excitement of battle and thrill of victory morphed into rage. Pissed off like I hadn't been in ages, I punched and kicked innocent bushes and wildflowers to calm myself down.
"Uwaaaaaah!!!!"
Well, it's not like I got absolutely nothing.
In my entire life, this was the first time I'd fought a 1-on-1 against such a powerful opponent.
Until now, for my own safety, I'd only fought weaker enemies or in situations favorable to me, so I couldn't gauge my objective strength.
But I'd soloed the 'Dryad'—that [vicious, evil, destructive, violent serial killer, no different from a top-class criminal, the absolute worst fairy mega-beast, the Beast of the Apocalypse itself].
That meant my combat power was at least higher than the Dryad's.
Is this the power of a D-rank adventurer?
Figuring out my objective strength was harvest enough.
If I ran into another Dryad someday, I could use this experience to take it down even easier.
I didn't get items, but I racked up experience and proficiency like crazy.
All of it turned into blood and flesh—real gains.
"Alright then."
Time to wrap up this promotion battle.
I looked around.
"Groooan..."
Serka lay sprawled on the ground, covered in blood, while Custo, seeming to have regained consciousness, was casting self-heal on himself. Roel, that bitch who'd sucked the most honey, was just making a fuss next to Custo.
From start to finish, I did everything myself, fuck.
I beat the shit out of this insane party and dragged them kicking and screaming to victory by the scruff of their necks.
Those motherfucking useless shits were goddamn worthless, seriously.
I was pissed, but at the same time, some inexplicable satisfaction welled up. I'd led these idiots to victory. With 100% my own power. Kim Katt had grown. Mentally mature, physically grown. Watching my own growth was pretty enjoyable. This brutal experience today would make me a better person.
"Hey, Serka! You gonna get up or what?!"
"Ugh... m-my wounds..."
Serka tried to lift her head at my call but flopped back down.
Exhaustion, huh.
She'd avoided fatal wounds, but her body was shredded by those sharp claws. Massive scars all over. Fine for a guy—kinda badass—but for a woman? Scars everywhere? Kinda kinky.
"Custo!"
"Y-Yes... sir!"
"Hurry up and heal Serka! No, wait—me first."
"U-Understood..."
Custo, finished with his self-heal, approached me with Roel's support.
He glanced at the fallen Serka, but healing me first was the natural order. With a small prayer, pale green light poured out. The heal scanned my body like a diagnostic, mending wounds and infusing vitality.
"D-Done..."
"Good. Now heal Serka."
I stretched and plopped down a bit away. It was getting dark. We needed to recover stamina as much as possible and get out of the forest. Oh, and grab the Conpeito first.
Tough, but night march confirmed.
I wasn't about to camp with these bitches. Once out of the forest, it was just open plains to the city, and on a clear night like today, moonlight alone would light the way fine.
"Custo... thanks."
"N-No... problem... Y-You okay...?"
"Thanks to you. Alright then."
Serka's treatment seemed done. She stood, rolling her shoulders. I got up too, rested. Party's stamina was still meh overall, but work was work.
"Guys. Time to grab the Conpeito."
"...Got it."
We climbed the hill. Singed weeds everywhere. Would the Conpeito tree be intact? If the boss was down and the fruits were all burned to hell—praise the fire god—I'd kill them all and then myself, for real.
The Conpeito tree was charred too.
Looking up anxiously, luckily only the lowest fruits were singed; the rest looked fine. Easily ten or more.
"Custo. Roel. Serka. Now it's your time to shine. You were born for this moment. Go pick those fruits."
The tree was tall.
Too tired, so I delegated to the kids. I soloed the Dryad anyway—they could handle this. Quests are for team effort, not one guy eating shit alone.
"Too high. How the hell...?"
Roel complained, staring up.
"Three of you together? Piece of cake. Believe in the power of friendship."
I said that and trudged off to sit my ass down. From afar, they huddled, then Serka started climbing—and "Kyaa!" crashed down. Dumb bitch.
Funny though, so forgiven.
The three idiots put heads together again. Now with a plan: Custo gave Roel a piggyback. She poked at branches with her staff but couldn't reach. Serka tried climbing on Roel—fail. Human tower toppled, three rolling.
Wondering when they'd succeed, I lay flat.
Watching supine, they figured it: Roel and Custo on bottom, Serka on top, jump and grab branch.
Then Serka swung like on a bar, picking fruits. Melon-sized Conpeito tossed down to Roel and Custo. Precarious, but harvest continued.
About 20 minutes later, 15 Conpeito secured.
The trio might be wiped, but my stamina was full. Up close, I sorted them. 2 burst a bit, 2 singed small spots. No merchant value.
Only 11 perfect.
"Hey, Roel. Can you eat these Conpeito raw?"
"...Processed, yeah. Raw's iffy."
"Got it."
I carefully packed the Conpeito into the sack, leaves for cushioning. Wrapped to prevent damage, tied it, handed to Serka.
"You carry this, Serka."
"..."
"Problem?"
"None. I'll take it."
Sack was heavy. No way I trusted myself with it.
Serka hugged it.
"Break even one fruit, I kill you."
"D-Don't worry."
Time to head back. Marked the way coming, remembered enough—no issue.
—Crunch crunch.
We trudged out of the forest.
Sun was setting. Sky still orange-tinged, but the shadowy forest of bushes and weird plants was pitch dark. Speed up a bit?
"Faster."
One word, and pace quickened automatically. Convenient.
Dragons supposedly use Dragon Tongue, mystical power to wield supernatural force with words alone. Not sure details, but mine felt similar. Like command or threat—basically coercion.
That momentum got us out before full dark. Dragon Tongue power, indeed. Stepping onto plains, starlight and moons opened visibility better than forest depths.
Moons bright tonight.
They lit the vast plains perfectly.
Shadows stretched long as we walked.
"Huff, huff..."
Serka panted, staggering. She'd burned stamina too. Battered and lugging that—tough for a woman's endurance.
"Serka, you okay?"
"...Fine. Not tired."
"Thought so."
"..."
If not, then not. I was good from rest.
Sent Serka ahead, took rear guard, scanning around.
What nocturnal monsters nearby?
Just a few hours from city—no strong ones. Forest Dryad was exception. Rare chance something, but no worry.
—Thud.
Endless walking, then Serka collapsed.
I dashed, snatching the sack before it hit.
Luckily intact.
"What the? What's with this bitch? Hey, Custo."
Checked sack inside while calling Custo.
No damaged Conpeito.
Phew.
"E-Exhaustion... R-rest a bit..."
"No, you idiots walked till collapse? Fine, rest then go."
About two hours to Isvant.
Left nursing to Custo, sat and rested.
Wanna get back to inn ASAP.
City gates closed anyway. Even early arrival, wait till dawn. So 6-8 hours outdoors minimum.
Morning: guild for Conpeito handover, D-rank promotion. Blacksmith for sword, buy grub and booze, inn.
Miss Claudy's face.
One day with these crazies taught me: hang with lunatics, you catch it. Need good influence—ditch them ASAP.
Truly repulsive scum, sickening to associate with.
Bandits better. Kill without question—demons off human path. Treat as pests, chop on sight. Convenient.
But Roel and Serka? Live in society, deepen class divides, split humanity—real cancer lumps.
Pretend human, attack from shadows. Worse than bandits. Can't kill easily. Except Serka, maybe.
Humans have instinct to fight outsiders. They amplify it. Why KKK? Why Hitler terrorizing humanity?
All Roel and Serka's fault.
So had to be harsh.
Suddenly pissed again, fuck.
Goddamn Nazi shits!
"Hey! Up! Let's go!"
"B-But Serka's still out..."
"Carry her then. One takes sack, one carries Serka."
Restarted, but exhausted kids couldn't keep up. Collapsed again. Fuck. Nothing goes right. Claudy... miss you. Kobson that fucker too, Elise, Meria. Winia... what the fuck Winia.
Doze off till morning in that mood. Sun rose. Somewhat recovered, Serka, Roel, Custo moved without complaint.
Isvant's walls visible ahead.
"You look like hell."
"Ran into monsters suddenly."
"Good work. Enter."
Passed gates at breakfast time. Guards lax as always. Lazy happy lives—no grumpiness.
Straight to Adventurer's Guild. Heart pounding closer.
Finally, Kim Katt promoting to D-rank after ~3 years isekai life. True soul promotion battle. Poured my all into it. Body and mind wrecked, but steps light.
Time for reward.