Chapter 242
Chapter 242
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 242
Chapter Title: Crusader Army
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I carried Winia in my arms like a princess as I explored the village. No, it wasn't even a village anymore. It was nothing but ruins. Every building had been smashed to pieces, and even the stone-paved ground was torn up.
The shattered fountain was particularly striking.
"Winia. I'm tired."
"What?"
"Can you get down now?"
"No."
Anyway, the soldiers and adventurers were rummaging through the place, picking up anything of value. There were no signs of life... And even the flesh towers I had been worried about were nowhere to be seen. The village was completely empty.
I decided not to dwell on what might have happened to the people who used to live here.
Even so, the holy knights were still scanning around as if searching for any survivors.
Hats off to their efforts.
"Winia, I'm at my limit."
"You idiot. Get down quick."
"Whew."
My strength had finally reached its breaking point.
Everything else aside, Winia's two mounds were just too damn heavy. When I set her down with my trembling arms, she smacked my side with her head and said,
"Am I heavy? Huh? Am I too much for you?"
"No, it's not that. My body's kinda filthy right now. It'd suck if I got your clothes dirty. They're so pretty."
"You sure know how to talk smooth."
But all those black guys had been naked except for their weapons, so where the hell did their clothes go? At the very least, whatever cash they had or the valuables they'd looted from the village had to be stashed somewhere.
Unless that apostle guy had grabbed everything and bolted.
"F-Found it!"
"No way! Where?!"
"Goddamn it!"
The adventurers digging through a collapsed building shouted in joy—they'd found something valuable. Their reactions made it clear there was something good.
Wham!
Claudy kicked a pile of fallen timber, sending the massive logs crashing aside. What insane leg strength and durability. I cleared away charred pillars by hand as I searched the ruins.
"Hm..."
I found some busted household items and a bit of cash.
Nothing of real value.
"Tch. Keep looking, and we'll find more."
And so we wandered the ruins. Whenever we spotted a promising spot, we'd clear the debris and rummage inside. With Claudy around, the work was a breeze. Soon enough, we uncovered cash and jewelry.
Rumble rumble.
Eventually, we reached the village center, where a crowd had gathered. Curious, I went to check it out, and there was Elise up on something.
...What the hell is she doing?
"The wicked heretics who worship the vile Ezath have been defeated! Victory for light and justice! Long live the God of Order! Long live justice!"
"Long live!"
"Long live!"
Elise was standing atop a pitch-black stone slab, shouting like she was giving a speech. The slab bore the familiar emblem of Ezath.
As always, no pharmacy is complete without licorice.
When you think heretics, it's gotta be one of these evil stones, right?
With her mace raised high, Elise looked just like the Statue of Liberty.
Because the spiked head of her mace was blazing with holy light from a holy enchantment.
Boom!
She smashed the mace down, shattering the top of the stone. Cracks spiderwebbed out as dust rained down... Elise shouted again.
"We must share this glory! Destroy this stone slab now!"
Elise hopped down from the slab. Then the humans swarmed it like starving maggots craving food, hacking and scraping at it with their blades. Elise watched for a moment.
She looked pretty pleased.
What an amazing sensibility.
"You're safe, Elise."
"Ah, Saint. You're safe too."
Joy lit up Elise's face.
She's so expressionless that even tiny changes stand out.
"You did great. But we couldn't catch the apostle."
"...Yes. We dealt with the heretical monsters and the fanatics blessed with unnatural power, but the apostle got away."
"He probably wrecked the place and bailed early. No way he'd stick around knowing a subjugation force was coming—he'd be toast."
If he had any brains, he'd know a full-on subjugation force was unbeatable. They had a decent number of monsters prepared, but the holy knights cut them down anyway.
Even those black guys couldn't beat determined soldiers. The initial defeat of Baron Dodens' army was the real glitch. If they'd stayed vigilant and handled it properly, none of this would've happened.
"That's not good. If the apostle escaped, the heretics will rise again someday. Villains who love looting and killing are everywhere."
"A grim future. But we'll overcome it, just like always."
"Well said."
"So, Elise. I'm gonna poke around the ruins some more. What about you?"
"I'll search for any possible survivors."
"Yeah, hope you find some. Take care."
"You too, Saint. Rest up."
Elise joined some nearby nuns and vanished somewhere.
"Katt, what happened?"
"Ah, looks like they couldn't find Ezath's apostle after all. Thought he might be hiding, but he probably just ran."
"Apostle?"
"Yeah. Apostle."
"Hmm... What if that guy wasn't the apostle?"
That guy?
"The swordsman I fought."
"Oh."
I recalled the heretic swordsman Claudy had sliced up.
Him being the apostle?
"No way."
"Yeah, he didn't have the presence for it."
"Anyway, doesn't matter to us now. Claudy, clear that pillar."
"Sure."
We searched until nearly sunset and made a decent haul. Jewelry, cash, some fancy decorative item I couldn't identify. Clothes and weapons too.
Altogether, I'd estimate we'd earned close to 1 gold for the whole trip. The weight of the jewelry-filled bag lifted my spirits.
"Ugh, this sucks. Gotta sleep like this again?"
"No choice."
Most of the infrastructure was destroyed, so we pitched a small, cramped tent using our camping gear in one corner of the ruins.
Everyone else did the same. Soldiers and holy knights set up big tents, while adventurers just sprawled out or threw together makeshift shelters from charred wood and cloaks.
"Gotta sleep if we wanna move tomorrow."
"Haa..."
We crawled into the tent and lay down. Three in such a tight space was suffocating. And this was just to get back to Isvant. What a nightmare.
How many days of this crap?
I'm gonna lose my mind.
Anyway, the crusader army's campaign seemed over. It was long, but we made good money. And gains beyond cash too. All in all, a hugely helpful journey for a guy named Kim Katt.
Especially Claudy's words—they lit a fire in me.
Kim Katt will grow even stronger.
"Claudy. Keep your hands out of there."
As I tried to sleep, Claudy slyly slipped her hand into my pants, groping until she grabbed hold of me.
Felt just like home!
"Ah, sorry. Habit."
A habit I didn't mind fixing, but she could hold off outside.
"...Sister, control yourself."
Smack. Winia slapped Claudy's wrist. Claudy pulled back, but my erection wasn't going anywhere.
...A tough day came to an end.
I was so exhausted, sleep hit me like a wave.
***
The day after the battle.
People bustled around from morning, but no survivors turned up, and no new loot either. We'd already stripped everything worthwhile the day before.
Still, everyone looked satisfied—they'd all made a solid profit like us.
The mood was a bit off since we missed the apostle, but the holy war ended as a righteous victory.
Long live the God of Order.
"Elise. When are you heading back?"
"Soon. The heretics are wiped out, and this is Baron Dodens' territory—his army's garrisoned here now. No need for more aid."
"Yeah, let's go together then. We're heading to Isvant too."
"...Right. Understood. We can travel together until then."
Better to go in a group on the long road.
Hitch a ride with the holy knights. Grab a carriage at the villages along the way.
Everyone started prepping to leave.
The soldiers would stay, but the rest were heading back. As the holy knights moved out, adventurers flocked to join.
About three days on foot to the previous village.
Rest a day, then two more days to the one before, rest again, then three days by carriage to finally reach Isvant.
Ten days of travel? For real?
We made bank, but it took that much time. Split three ways with Claudy and Winia, about 30 silver each.
Thus began the hellish return journey.
Where's my car and subway? Fuck this.
"Katt, you okay?"
We set off right after lunch.
The procession stretched on forever.
Hitching along in a daze, Claudy put her hand on my shoulder.
"Nah. Not tired at all. A future great warrior can't be worn out by this."
As Claudy said, I'd decided today to become a warrior surpassing her. I clenched my fist and face dramatically, and she blushed, looking away.
"Yeah... It sounded good when I said it, but seeing you like this is kinda embarrassing. Did I overhype your confidence?"
I yelled out wildly.
"Claudy!!! I love youuu!!!"
"Kyaa! Shut up!"
She clamped her hand over my mouth.
That's what makes Claudy so cute.
"Goddamn black bitch is full of shit."
"Winiaaaa!!! I love you!!!!!!!"
"Sh-Shut up!"
Why provoke me then!
A brief commotion ensued.
Winia, who'd been shaking me by the neck, sighed.
"Sigh, sis. I'm way more beat than the black bitch. Carry me."
"Wanna ride piggyback?"
"Nah. Just saying."
"Come here."
"I said no."
Claudy grabbed the half-protesting Winia, and the bizarre sight of Claudy carrying her unfolded. Unbelievable. Their relationship had gotten way too close.
And so we walked for three days like that.
I thought I was gonna die.
Clap clap clap clap clap!
Clap clap clap clap clap!
Clap clap clap clap clap!
Back in the mad village twisted by flesh towers and heretic stew, the villagers and soldiers cheered and clapped like Romans welcoming a triumphant general.
Well, as a saint, time for some good words.
"The heretic horde has been utterly annihilated!"
"Woooaaah!!"
"Saint! Saint!"
I waved, and the villagers went nuts.
"Hahaha! This is all thanks to your piety!"
All I'd done was egg them on to make heretic stew, but it seemed to vent everyone's rage.
In other words, salvation achieved.
A valuable lesson: sometimes violence and madness soothe the human heart. Anyway, we'd made it back in three days, so let's rest one.
Not just us—the whole procession decided to take a break.
"Ahh, feels fresh. Black bitch, arm pillow."
Winia, finally able to wash up, seemed in high spirits. I extended my arm as requested, and she promptly pillowed her head on it, closing her eyes.
Exhausted, she fell asleep right away.
"...Out like a light?"
"Yeah."
Wet-haired Claudy lay beside me and spoke. I'd been hoping a bit, but Winia conked out from fatigue.
"..."
...Better not move or I'd wake Winia.
Decision made, Claudy pressed close and whispered,
"Katt."
"Hm?"
"Want me to stroke it?"
"Cl-Claudy mama...!"
The bed was soft.
Claudy naturally gripped me and slowly pumped up and down, giving me a handjob.
Slap slap slap slap.
Her movements melted away the past few days' exhaustion.
The slapping was practically a lullaby.
I closed my eyes too.
Another day done.