Chapter 244
Chapter 244
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 244
Chapter Title: Beach Slaughterer
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I had no idea how long I'd slept, but when I woke up, Cloudy was gone from beside me. Winia was out cold, breathing softly and deeply. Even kneading her breasts didn't wake her, so she must've really been exhausted.
—Rustle.
After kneading and sucking on Winia's breasts for a good while as she slept, I sat up and peeked through the curtains. Outside was dim and murky.
It was dawn.
What the...? We'd come back in the afternoon, so I'd probably slept over twelve hours straight. No wonder—with all the fatigue and the Heavenly Demon's power I'd unleashed, I'd crashed hard.
I felt incredibly refreshed.
Sleep is something you gotta indulge in properly.
"Cloudy."
I called out for her, but there wasn't a sound anywhere.
Her clothes were gone too, so she'd probably just stepped out for a bit.
Went to grab some food, maybe?
—Fwoosh fwoosh!
I did a quick stretching routine with the Extension Fist Technique, then headed into the shower.
Careful not to wake Winia, I washed up, dried off, and changed into fresh clothes.
Today was the day the holy knights returned.
I needed to say hi to Elise.
I headed straight outside.
The city, still shrouded in predawn darkness, was starting to stir back to life. Sword-bearing folks hurried about, and merchants from the shops lining the streets swept their front yards.
—Step step.
I strolled slowly toward the gates.
Had the holy knights not arrived yet?
I wandered among the old ladies setting up their street stalls, waiting for the holy knights to show. They should be here soon. I plopped down casually to kill time.
Looking up at the sky, it was perfectly clear.
No clouds—a beautiful day.
The temperature felt a bit warm, too.
Leaves were starting to fall, basically autumn, but the heat was unusual. Judging by the weather, winter was still a ways off.
—Rumble rumble.
As I spaced out, the sound of carriages approached. Not just one or two, so jackpot—they were finally here. The holy knights returning.
I stood and watched the gates intently.
Finding my Radiant Cross Society buddies was easy. The first guy in was wearing nothing but his underwear.
Arkyo.
No matter how you slice it, that dude's lost his mind.
"Arkyo!"
"Oh, Saint of the Cathedral!"
He waved back when I did.
"You must've had it rough!"
"You too, Arkyo! Rough times!"
I decided not to ask about the fertilizer or flowerpots. As we chatted idly, bragging about our faith and deeds, Elise approached.
"Saint. You must be weary from your labors."
"Oh, you're back. You had it rough too! Heh, but through our hardships, we've made this world a slightly better place!"
I grinned broadly as I said it.
Elise replied with evident joy.
"Wise words indeed. It was a grueling journey, but its value was beyond measure."
Arkyo headed back to his group.
From what I heard, the Radiant Cross Society was staying in town one more day before heading back to Krasheim. Elise would leave tomorrow too.
Who knew when I'd see her again.
We'd been together so much lately; parting felt regrettable.
"So you're off tomorrow? Damn, that's a shame."
"Yes... I share your regret. But surely our paths will cross again, as they always have."
Elise smiled faintly.
"Yeah. Definitely. Next time I'm in Krasheim for work, I'll swing by the church for sure."
"Hee hee. I'll be waiting."
No hesitation since they were staying another day anyway. Stomach growling, I took Elise to a restaurant for a bite. She insisted on paying, but I talked her out of it and treated her.
"Oh, right—Elise. That heretic giant we took down last time."
"What about it?"
"We reported it at the Brass Celestial Society church. They said they'd reward us. Let's go check it out."
"Hm... Very well. Let's pay them a visit."
I reported the tunnel too, and the giant's corpse. The priest who'd given me holy water before promised compensation later, so now was the time.
The church was abuzz with the holy knights' return.
Yeah—these folks were based here. Some had been dispatched from Krasheim, but they'd all come back to this outpost.
I grabbed a priest and said I was the reporter from the slum heretic incident. He went inside, and while Elise and I waited blankly, the priest rushed out.
"Oh, we've been expecting you. And this is... a nun from the Radiant Cross Society?"
Elise made the sign of the cross and bowed her head.
The priest returned the gesture.
"Yeah, pretty much the two of us who handled it."
"Oho, really? A true follower of the Order God."
The priest led us to a reception room.
Sitting across from us, he said,
"After your report, we checked the heretic beast and the underground chamber in the ruins. Plenty of ominous signs. But with Ezath's uprising pulling our best holy knights into the crusade army, we couldn't investigate thoroughly. Forgive us for not having updates on the case."
I don't give a damn.
What big secrets could those commie bastards have anyway?
Probably plotting an infiltration via the tunnel.
He rummaged in his sleeve and pulled out a bottle of holy water.
"This is the promised reward—our order's pride, holy water. You've received some before, yes?"
"Yeah, used it to great effect against that beast. Super helpful."
"Glad to hear it. But I only brought one... Hold on a moment. I'll fetch another for the nun."
"I don't really need—"
"Elise, shh."
He came right back with a higher-grade bottle.
And just like that, we scored two bottles of holy water from the priest. Seeing how well they took care of us, eternal life must be big business for them. We thanked his beaming face and stepped out.
"Elise, got the holy water."
"Mm... I don't need it much. Here, Saint—take it. You got the heart last time too."
Elise tried to refuse.
"I've told you a million times, no need. Just keep it. Might come in handy sometime."
Even so, she tried handing it over.
"It's my way of thanking you. Please accept."
"If it's from the heart, how can I refuse?"
Couldn't turn that down.
It'd come in clutch someday. Didn't that corrupted kobold queen get wrecked by this stuff? Gotta work on monsters or corruptions of that level.
I carefully stowed the holy water in my pouch.
We took a short walk, chatting idly.
All sorts of topics.
Mostly jokes about killing heretics in the crusade or praising justice. Midway, we found a park bench and sat.
Elise laughed at my cheeky murder jokes.
"Hee hee. You have a real talent for spinning amusing tales, Saint."
"Nah, you're just easy to amuse. Keep smiling like that—brings good fortune. Where I'm from, that's how it was. Smile and blessings come; everyone lived smiling."
"Is that so... Sounds like a fine place."
Elise looked up at the sky.
I tilted my head back too.
South Korea was decent in its own way.
A twisted Teletubby hill where the sneers never stopped.
"...Saint."
"Yeah?"
Elise called me as we sat there.
I turned, and our eyes met.
"..."
I waited patiently for her words.
Elise stared silently, then looked away and spoke.
"...Never mind."
"Hm? What? Spill it."
"It's nothing. My brothers and sisters are probably waiting. I'd best head back."
"Already? C'mon, I'll walk you."
"No need... Alright, if you insist."
She might not know the way, so I'd guide her.
"Where to anyway?"
"With permission from the Salvation Celestial Kingdom Society members, we're staying at their place tonight."
"Church folks through and through."
I escorted Elise to the Salvation Celestial Kingdom Society church. It was around noon... As we parted, reluctance hit hard.
"Saint, until we meet again. Stay well till then."
"You too. Take care—live long and kill more heretics."
"Quite right. Farewell."
Elise waved with a smile.
I returned the goodbye, waving both arms dramatically like rowing.
"Ah."
We'll meet again.
Sucks not having a phone.
Bored, I figured I'd check on Kobson and headed to the Adventurer's Guild. As usual, no sign of him. Just crowds. I skimmed the board and left.
Nothing new.
Guess I'll sell some accessories today.
Oh yeah, Lisha still owes me the rest of the payment.
Back to the inn first.
"I'm back."
Mistook it for the old place for a sec, then climbed to the third floor. Door open—Winia and Cloudy eating. Cloudy must've gone out early for breakfast.
"Katt, out and about?"
"Went to say bye to Elise. You up early? When'd you wake?"
"Starving. Right before dawn?"
About thirty minutes before me, huh.
She's a light sleeper usually, but Cloudy's stealthy by nature.
Me too now, hungry. Kicked off shoes, washed hands. Cloudy got soft-looking bread and bacon. I snatched some bacon.
"Went to see that nun early? The black-haired girl's been sus lately."
"Sus how? Elise is like my little sister, jeez."
Winia glared from her chair. Why's she got beef with Elise? The kid's way younger than her.
"Blackie, don't hang with other girls too much. Makes me wanna kill from jealousy."
"Appreciate the sentiment. I won't... Anyway, yesterday okay?"
"Dunno, asshole."
"Shit, sorry."
"...Sorry? Then do it again next time."
"Got it."
Bombshell.
If Winia wants it, anytime.
Heavenly Demon Kim Katt delivers.
"Oh, Cloudy. Yesterday... I went too hard. Sorry. Didn't hurt, right?"
I apologized to Cloudy too.
"Ugh... No. Felt good. Really good... but a bit much? Doing it while she's listening... Yeah. Kinda lethal."
"Gotta go slower next time."
Anyway, kept eating. Bacon sandwich—Winia, chin on hand, stared at me the whole time, then spoke.
"And Blackie. I stayed still 'cause I was curious how far you'd go, but you did all sorts to my tits. Who said you could grope?"
"Huh?"
What?
"Stayed put to test limits, but damn, you went wild. Permission much?"
"No way, what? You dreaming?"
"Bull. Admit it?"
"Sorry... Couldn't resist."
"Doesn't mean you can do whatever."
So she caught me red-handed this morning. Stayed quiet, got forgiveness. Thanks, Winia.
After eating, lounged a bit, then all three went to sell accessories.
Jewelers, gem shops, trinket stores—hit 'em all, made decent profit. Winia handled sales, got full value.
Lisha's tomorrow.
Toured the city's shops—got late.
What now back home?
Usual routine. Went easy after yesterday's frenzy. Done, flopped on bed. Three of us side by side, staring at ceiling.
"Katt."
Cloudy beside me grabbed my hand.
"Yeah."
"I wanna see the sea."
The sea?
"The sea?"
"Yeah. The sea. Always wanted to go."
Cloudy shared stories from her wandering days, how she dreamed of the sea. About to say sure, let's go—
"Oh my. Oh my."
Winia on my left started her oh-mys.
"Sea? Sis finally says something smart. Blackie, we're going. We made bank."
She ramped up, shaking me excitedly. Sea fan? Cloudy shook me too.
"Blackieblackieblackie seaseaseasea."
"Kaaatt. Wanna go. Pleeease?"
I yelled back frantically.
"Sh-shit! We made a killing—time to spend! Sea it is!"
"Kyaa!"
Beach trip decided on the spot.
Is there one nearby? Wait, what's the sea like here? Winia's reaction says tourist spot.
That's what the money's for!
Off to play!
What could go wrong? It's the beach!