Chapter 311
Chapter 311
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 311
Chapter Title: Lingering Fragrance of the Flower
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"Holy shit, we survived!"
"Never knew the city could look this goddamn magnificent!"
My body and mind were battered to hell and back, but gazing at Isvant's skyline bathed in sunset glow somehow eased my heart.
We'd finally made it home.
From now on, I should steer clear of heading into unknown realms with just a handful of people. We came this close to biting the dust. One wrong move, and instead of returning to the city, I'd have crossed the Northern Ridges and the River of Souls itself.
Fuck that jungle.
"Barbarian. Heading to the monastery? I can help you along."
"Nah, I'm good. Catch you later. Take the sack."
"All of it?"
"I just need the flower and the cash."
The sack was stuffed with all the gear those bandit assholes we ran into had on them, plus some plant materials they'd apparently gathered.
Since Kobson had already handed over the Alraune flower, a bit of pocket change from the loot was plenty for me. Might as well give him the rest. There were five swords alone—should fetch a nice price.
"Heh heh heh. True to form, a barbarian with honor. Fine, you take all the cash. Selling this haul alone will keep me set for next month."
Kobson grinned slyly as he hoisted the sack over his shoulder.
Time to head back, then.
"You sure you don't need help walking? You look like you're about to keel over."
"I'm fine, man. If I was gonna drop, it would've happened already."
My solar plexus throbbed like a bitch, but I could make it to the inn. Better to get back, let everyone know I'm alive, then get patched up proper.
If I delayed another day, who knows how much more worry I'd cause.
"Well... with that barbarian recovery power, I trust you'll manage. Take care. Hope to see you in one piece next time."
"Yeah, you too. Don't blow all your winnings gambling."
"What, you think I'm some kinda addict?"
"You are, you little shit."
"Heh heh heh, fair point. I'll be careful."
Kobson trudged off into the sunset without looking back, then waved over his shoulder. I waved back and turned toward the inn. My fatigue and pain were no joke right now.
"Urk, fuck...!"
Maybe because I'd relaxed from the relief, but the pain was hitting harder. Looked like no ordinary injury.
Even with treatment, I'd be laid up for a while... damn it all.
Still, with the Alraune flower secured, no worries about starving. Wonder how much it'll go for? And what kinda effects it has.
It just screamed expensive at first glance.
If I had to rank it, probably Unique tier.
Rare mana herbs fetch silver prices, so I figured at least a few dozen silvers easy.
—Thud.
"Guh...!"
I clutched my chest and staggered up to the inn. Shit, at this rate I really might croak. Pushing past limits like that always came with backlash.
No such thing as a free lunch in this world.
If toppling an Alraune only cost me this much damage, it was like profiting a hundredfold. I'd suck it up.
I caught my breath and reached for the door—
"—Katt?!"
Ran right into Claudia on the way in.
"Oh, Claudia?"
She looked stunned, eyes wide. Winia beside her stared in shock too.
Ah.
I'd missed them so much.
"Where the hell have you been?! We've been looking everywhere!"
"You black-haired bastard!!!!"
—Whoosh!
Claudia, blurting out whatever as she eyed me over, pounced like a leopard and hugged me tight with her whole body. Hey, I'm covered in dust... Winia came charging too, yelling.
"Gahk!"
Claudia's iron grip made my injuries scream. Yeah, they'd been searching for me. Feeling guilty for worrying them like this, I couldn't even lift my head.
But damn, she was squeezing too hard.
I could taste blood.
"You fucking black-haired idiot! Why show up now, why?! Thought you dropped dead somewhere, so your big sis and I scoured everywhere for your ass!!! Not some one-night thing—this is days!!!"
"S-sorry!"
Furious Winia bellowed at me. Tears welled in her eyes—she'd been seriously worried.
Damn it all! Fuck that jungle! You made my Winia cry!!
—Ring ring.
Her voice was so loud, my head was ringing.
I really was hurt bad.
Claudia's vise-like hug hurt like hell but felt great. Winia's yelling stung my ears but made me so happy.
"Kahk!"
The rush of joy must've done it—blood burst from my mouth.
"Kyaaaaah!!!!!!"
"Katt!!! What the hell!!"
Winia and Claudia gasped in unison.
Finally relaxing let all the tension go, unleashing the pent-up damage and pain in one go.
At this rate, I'm really gonna die.
As agony deepened and consciousness faded, sensing mortal danger, I yanked the rosary from my collar and shoved it at them.
"Sorry...! Something big came up...! I'll explain later... kahk?! For now, Brass Celestial Society...! Show 'em this, they'll treat me right away... uuurgh!"
Claudia caught my crumpling body.
"What the fuck happened to you, black-hair?!"
"Oh no!"
She hoisted me onto her back and bolted down the street. In my fading awareness, the wind tickling my skin and the warmth of her back felt pretty damn nice.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Fleeting bits of vague info swirled through my head, confusing me. Amid flickering memories, I recalled entering the Brass Celestial Society church.
"Ah."
Coming to, the bright surroundings suggested daytime. I lay in a pristine white bed. Religious patterns on the ceiling confirmed it: a church.
"Ah. Holy One. You're awake?"
"Holy... One?"
It didn't take long to realize that was my title here.
Before me stood a young woman in Brass Celestial Society nun robes, with dark teal twintails.
"...You treated me? Thank you. I'm feeling better now."
"No, our Abbess handled the treatment."
"I see."
Focusing inward, there was a faint ache but no serious pain. Abbess... sounded like a full-on healer type.
That explained the relief.
—Rustle.
Trying to sit up, my body felt leaden, like sleep paralysis. Heavy muscles, crushing weakness.
Overall lethargy.
Felt like I'd slept ages, yet still exhausted.
"Oh dear. Don't move. Your injuries were severe—no activity for now. You need rest."
"That bad?"
Her words stirred unease.
"You were a total wreck. Without treatment, you'd have joined Verde soon... oh, you're not one of our faithful?"
"No."
"My apologies."
She'd apparently been waiting to brief me on my condition. She launched into details.
"But thanks to the Abbess's efforts, you're out of danger. With enough rest, you'll bounce back to full strength soon. She said your body's tough as nails."
Listening on, no major side effects thankfully. Once recovered, perfect.
I mentally thanked the faceless Abbess and went limp.
—Thump.
Slightly recovered—mana stirred.
Could boost natural healing with that.
"Hmm... One more treatment from the other nuns, and you can be discharged. Even then, no strenuous activity for a bit, and eat well."
Yeah, business on hold for recovery.
Injuries were worse than thought. No hunting or booze till back to normal.
"Oh, don't worry about the fee. It's courtesy to the Holy One."
"Haha. Holy One, huh. Did you join the Crusade?"
"Yes. Saw your fervent speech judging the heretics too."
Good memories from heretic stew days. United in faith, we were true comrades.
"Kinda embarrassing."
"Ho ho ho. Nothing to be shy about—it was inspiring. Oh, your wife's waiting outside. Shall I fetch her? Rest well."
The cheerful nun smiled and grasped the doorknob.
"Yes, thank you. I'll avoid anything strenuous as advised. Take care."
"No worries then. I'll be off."
She left, silence settling.
Looking around, not a recovery ward but a private room for church folk. Special treatment.
Good deeds pay off.
—Creeak.
In came Claudia and Winia.
"...You're here?"
Both eyed me worriedly. Natural after seeing me puke blood. I smiled reassurance and apologized.
"Sorry. Meant to come back sooner, but things didn't go smooth."
They approached and perched lightly on the bed.
Winia on my left, Claudia on the right. They reached out wordlessly, caressing my face. Their warm touch made sleep beckon again.
"...Katt. You know you nearly died, right?"
"Yeah... sorry."
"So, what happened? Spill, or I'll get mad."
Her grip on my face tightened.
She was pissed.
Truly sorry to Claudia.
"Your body's okay, black-hair?"
Winia asked softly.
"Treated now. Sorry for worrying you."
"You fucking asshole... know how worried I was?"
"Sorry, really. So damn sorry."
"Sigh, really... thought you'd kicked it somewhere, couldn't sleep, searched nonstop with sis."
From now on, always tell 'em where I'm going.
"But you're back, that's what matters. Now talk. What the hell happened? What mess did you handle to come back wrecked and coughing blood?"
"Yeah, Katt. Tell us."
I gathered my thoughts, held their hands, and spoke.
"Went into that new jungle ahead... got lost right away."
"What?"
"Huh?"
Both women looked dumbfounded.
As Winia opened her mouth to curse, I continued.
"Nah, not 'cause I'm an idiot—the forest's magic did it. Was with Kobson... somehow ended up chased by dryads. Then... ran into an Alraune."
Yeah.
Alraune.
Source of all this shit.
"A-Alraune?!?!?!"
Winia shrieked like she'd snapped,
"Alraune? What's that?"
Claudia, clueless, gripped my hand tighter while glancing around.
I explained the monster in detail. Winia glared murderously and yelled.
"Y-you crazy black-haired bastard! Spouting near-death bullshit so casually! No, wait—Alraune?! You sure you didn't hallucinate? Why the hell would that be there?!"
Her reaction confirmed it: rare monster.
Claudia clutched my hand, excitedly asking how I beat such a beast.
"K-Katt? You took down that monster? How?!"
Both pressing, tricky to answer, but duty-bound, I recounted chronologically, calmly.
Encountering the Alraune.
Near-death crisis and illusion trap.
Dramatic reversal at the end.
Winia fidgeted anxiously listening; Claudia's face lit up with joy, trembling. She loved my adventure tales.