Chapter 203
Chapter 203
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 203
Chapter Title: For Elise
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The clamor of noise jolted me awake. It was a habit ingrained from years back—any sound, and I'm instantly up. The time felt like it was right on the cusp of dawn breaking. As I sat up, I spotted Winia slipping into her robe.
"Blackie awake?"
Winia, adjusting the fabric over her chest, glanced at me and spoke.
"...Yeah, uh. What's up? Going somewhere?"
"Magic Tower. Got some business."
The Magic Tower?
I rubbed my eyes.
"Late night?"
The exhaustion from brawling with those Mutuga thugs the day before hung heavy. That alone would've been fine, but chasing it with what they called a "celebration party" and downing booze had hit harder than expected.
The guild folks had lost their minds over my feat of thrashing the Mutuga crew. Rekindling ties with them felt like a solid opportunity.
"Mm, might be a bit late. Why? Want your blackie back quick?"
"Yeah. Hurry back. What's the errand?"
"Nothing big. I'll tell you later. Sis still sleeping?"
Claudie was clinging to my waist in her sleep. As I gently stroked her ear, Winia sauntered over. "Blackie smooch," she teased, planting a barrage of kisses on my face—maybe twenty or so—before heading straight to the shoe rack.
"Be a good boy today too, blackie?"
What am I, a dog?
"Have a safe trip."
"If you sneak around with sis while I'm gone, you're dead."
"No way, I'm not some dog in heat..."
"You are though."
"Am I?"
"Yeah. See ya."
With that, Winia left, and her flurry of affection had chased away any remnants of sleep. Maybe because I'd crashed early last night. My tent was pitching quite the stand now. But no way was I waking a sleeping Claudie for that, so I got up to wash instead.
Traces of shower use meant Winia had risen earlier than I'd thought. What was this "business"? I'd ask when she got back tonight.
Anyway, time to start work today.
Yesterday, I'd gotten a request from Lisha to investigate suspicious cult activity in the slums. For now, I'd wash up rough, head out, and poke around a bit. After cleaning up and dressing, Claudie rubbed her eyes awake.
"Yawn... Katt. Up early? Where's Winia?"
"Sleep well? She beat me to it and headed out."
"Yeah, slept great... You heading out too? Weren't the guild lessons done?"
"Ah, different thing. You know that black mage? Picked up a job on the way to return the circlet."
"Oh, that..."
Claudie had mixed feelings about the black mage; her expression said it all. To cheer her up before her mood soured, I approached.
"Just handling that quick."
"...Want company?"
"Nah, I'm good. Solo today."
"...Got it. Be safe."
We shared a fierce kiss, then I stepped out. Things were heating up toward the main event, but Winia said no, so no it was. I wasn't keen on getting caught... Lately, the nights were frequent enough that she'd sniff out anything extra. Scary stuff.
But how exactly does one "investigate"?
I headed straight for the Adventurer's Guild on impulse.
Truth be told, I had no plan, and I couldn't picture myself milling around the slums interrogating folks. Worst case, I'd grill some bum, lose my temper, start swinging, and end up hauling off bodies again.
"Where even is it?"
The guild was buzzing despite the early hour. Parties snagging jobs, others glued to the bulletin board scanning postings.
I scanned for familiar faces (mostly Kobson), but none in sight... Go solo? Not a big deal.
Then a flash of genius hit.
Lina.
My little-sister-like Lina. Having grown up in the slums, she'd know the lay of the land, and as an adventurer now, she could help. A few coppers for a guide? Piece of cake. But finding people wasn't easy. No Lina either.
I made for the slums anyway.
I wasn't half-assing this, but day one rarely yields results. I'd scout solo today, dig deeper if something popped.
Compared to the lively morning streets, the slums were eerily quiet. Makes sense. Listless kids with no drive or energy—why would they hustle? Just laze and fuck. Only steel-willed heroes like me escape that purgatory.
No macho vibes with burning hearts here. The few moving were rough-looking thugs.
I plunged into the alleys without hesitation.
Deep in, familiar sights unfolded.
A barren, ochre slum. Mud huts on the brink of collapse, rickety shacks, hasty tents everywhere. I'd been here once—festival time? When I beat down Lina and the bandits.
...
...
...
Soul-less eyes tracked me from the crowds.
Come to think of it, my getup was too flashy. Full gear on, naturally eye-catching. Hmm... Change for investigations? Hate going unequipped though.
"Hey, you there. Yeah, you staring."
Better to try something.
I singled out a pale young guy gawking.
"...Me?"
"Yeah."
"What?"
I closed in with Heavenly Demon Supremacy aura; the crowd scattered, sensing threat—all but him. I clapped a hand on his shoulder.
"Ever thought about religion? I know a good one."
You, interested in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult?
"..."
"You look like a good soul. We'd love you at our gatherings."
Channeling Earth memories and my F-rank adventurer days, I aped a cult recruiter. If shady groups nested here, prodding like this might shake something loose.
"Things rough lately? Hard times, failed ventures, broke as hell. Hometown boy, eh? Let's chat over there. Miss this, no turning back. You've got bad luck clinging."
His eyes trembled violently.
Something there?
"...No interest in Eternal Life Path."
—Gulp!
"Whoa! Hey, hold up!"
He bolted down the alley like a spooked rat.
...Guilty conscience?
And Eternal Life Path?
"Hmm..."
Didn't ring a bell, but the name screamed suspicious. I racked my brain—no religions with "eternal life" matched.
Definite first-hear.
Wish Elise were here; she'd help. Shame she was in Krasheim. Anyway, gather more clues. Probe a few more—if Eternal Life Path kept cropping up, chase it.
Keyword secured—better than blind charges.
I roamed the slums, mixing queries: Where's Eternal Life Path meeting? Interested? Religion chats, slum woes, tragic love tales, imperial cruelties—all to fish info.
Next, a plump old lady hawking withered apples.
"Know today's meeting spot?"
"What're you on about?"
"Eternal Life Path gathering."
"...Dunno. Not buying? Scram."
Playing dumb.
"Fuck, who buys that rotten shit?"
Then an elder.
"Fine weather, gramps."
"...Weather?"
"Today's gathering—you know."
"N-Nothing to discuss with you."
Wary.
"..."
By noon, repeating this yielded fruit. Most claimed ignorance, but too many dodged or feigned clueless—enough to suspect.
Blatant red flags.
Something real brewing?
Lisha said as much, but the evasive, repelled vibes were odd.
Caution.
That's what it felt like.
Part of me wanted to beat answers out or bribe, but my antics already screamed shady. Push further, risk countermeasures.
...
...
...
See those sharper stares? Hollow-eyed beggars glaring. I lunged at a few, but they scattered like startled rats with rocks.
Tch. Call it here?
My looks drew too much heat.
More bullshit, and I'd be marked.
Withdraw for today.
I escaped the ominous sprawl.
"Thanks for such diligent work on day one."
Lisha's place nearby, so I swung by for a report. She lounged in her sheer black negligee, familiar now. I recounted the weirdness.
She nodded through it all.
"Eh, day one—no big wins. That's the gist."
Not sure if this cut it.
Needed her eval.
"No, this helps plenty. Keep that momentum. Investigations start like this... And yeah, Eternal Life Path..."
"Know it?"
"Sadly, no clue."
Lisha crossed her legs. Faking ignorance, but savoring my interest.
"Starting right after asking—such a dutiful boy."
Least grow those tits if you're gonna say that.
"...I'll drop reports like this. But if it dead-ends or gets dicey, might bail. Don't overhype."
"Heh, doubt you'd quit first."
Kim Katt, icon of trust. Still, first time at this—shaky confidence. I'd push, though.
"I'll try, but honestly, no feel for it yet..."
"Have faith. Nailed a lead day one."
"True."
Her smile beamed genuine pleasure.
Setting her teacup down, she stroked her chest.
"Well... grow these like you imagined?"
In that shadowed blink, Lisha's breasts ballooned to at least H-cups. Lust surging, I bolted like a sprinter.
Dream powers.
Resize tits at will.
Wanna learn that.
Time left, but slums felt iffy, so I hit main streets. Lunch: 2-copper sandwich. Back to dorms? Claudie'd be out too—no point. Hit the library for a religion book.
Hunted Eternal Life Path—nada.
Grabbed one, devoured on-site. Literacy no issue. Borrow's 1 copper/day; read here free. Dusk fell; I'd gleaned this world's religious structure. Headed home.
"Blackie home?"
"Huh? You're back first?"
Door open: Winia, using sleeping Claudie's thigh as pillow, reading a magic tome. She closed it, waved.
"What was the Magic Tower trip?"
"...Picking up new spells."
"New spells?"
"Yeah. Blackie's grinding hard; gotta match. Watching you sparked it."
Heh, Winia grinned.
Good for her.
But Claudie—how's she sleep so much?
Wake her like that, she'll cling all night saying she can't sleep.