Chapter 329
Chapter 329
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 329
Chapter Title: Those Bare-Handed Bastards
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"Kieeeek—!!!!!!!!!!!"
A scream erupted from fury so intense it felt like my brains were on fire. My heart pounded wildly. My breath came in ragged gasps. Was this... was this really happening?
This wasn't some bullshit about shaking down a kid for snot-stained coins.
"This Heavenly Demon, Kim Katt, gave her that condolence money—and they took it."
It was a grave matter.
In other words, it was a direct challenge to me. The same as those bastards swiping my 5 silver behind my back. Like getting clocked in the skull while happily napping.
And by slum rat thugs, no less.
The thought of them taking my money ignited a mad rage, turning me into something inhuman. This... this cruelty was reality?
This had to be a lie.
No.
—It had to be a lie.
"You motherfucking little shits!!!!!! Kim Katt's 5 silver—you stole it from me!!!!!!!!!!!"
So I'd just turn that fact into a lie.
To make the theft a lie, I'd take the money back. And this whole mess would become a lie.
Touching my money was the gravest sin of all.
Don't think you can smack the sleeping Heavenly Demon in the back of the head with a sledgehammer and live to breathe another breath, you trash.
—Goooo...
Fueled by raging hatred, the mana seeped into every fiber of my body and began whirling furiously. Calmer and more rational than ever, all I could think was that I had to reclaim my property now.
—These motherfucking bastards.
—Behind my back.
—Stole my money?
"Gaaahhhhh—!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
—Shing!
As if answering my roar, savage flames burst from the sheath's mouth. The blade whipped out in an instant, slashing the empty air to ribbons.
—Whoosh!
—Slash slash slash!
—Whirr whirr!
To quell my fury even a little, I unleashed the Instantaneous Sword Dance on the spot.
Sharper and more violent than ever, the blade conjured phantom foes and carved them apart. This was about my money. Stolen by worthless fucking scum.
No forgiveness. No understanding.
Utterly unreal.
So the rage pouring out was unreal too.
—Time for a bloodbath.
Just getting the 5 silver back wouldn't cut it—wouldn't satisfy, wouldn't balance the books. Even if I had to sell every last one of their mothers to a whorehouse, I'd make up for this loss.
"N-no, bro... It was my money they took..."
"It was my condolence money, you fucks!!!!!!"
Steal from a poor girl who buried her grandma alone because she had nothing left? My condolence money? Unacceptable.
This was wrong. Flat-out wrong. A perversion.
As a disciple of the sword, I couldn't just laugh it off.
—Shing.
I halted the sword dance and sheathed the blade.
—Mirror-Still Waters.
The rage transcending limits plunged my mind into extreme calm instead. I felt like I'd sunk alone into crystalline ocean depths.
My honed senses sharpened my killing intent.
Taking deep breaths to steady myself, I asked Lina.
"...Lina. What the hell were they? Who the fuck took the money I gave you?"
"B-bro, calm down. It was like..."
Pale-faced Lina hemmed and hawed, dodging the question.
"Spit it out."
Was she thinking of shielding criminals?
Even Lina wouldn't get a pass for that.
"Don't make me not forgive you too. You planning to cover for crooks?"
"Bro, it's not like that..."
"Lina... don't make me think you're in league with them!"
—Kyaaak!!!
My shout finally made her clutch her head in guard position and blurt it out hysterically.
"Eek!!! I'll tell you! I'll tell you, bro!! Just calm down a bit! I'm scared...!"
Her reaction suggested she wasn't in on it.
"Wasn't trying to scare you, so relax. I was just that fucking pissed."
"Hoo, hoo... B-bro, I... I'm a little scared of loud voices..."
"Yeah, sorry. Anyway, let's talk."
Hmm.
But this didn't seem like a conversation for this place.
—...
—...
The presences had vanished with my roar long ago, but through window cracks, plastered against walls, and lurking in shadows, assholes were eavesdropping on us.
I'd love to tell them eavesdropping was a shitty habit.
"Lina. Not the place for this—let's move."
"Y-yes? Where to?"
"Follow me."
I snatched her wrist.
"W-wait, bro...!"
Striding out of the slums, beggars everywhere stared at me weirdly. What? Those disgusted looks like I was some child predator?
These fucking bums!
"Eyes down!"
"Eek!"
My yell sent them scattering like roaches. Lina ducked low too. Why was she so jumpy now?
"Wait, Lina. Why are you flinching?"
"I-I'm scared of loud..."
"Right, I did that. Sorry."
"..."
"Let's get outside first. Can't talk here, right? Relax, kid. You think I'm kidnapping you? We're comrades, comrades. Remember killing that giant?"
"O-okay."
We escaped the slums soon enough. Where to talk? —Grumble. Suddenly, my stomach growled like mad.
Right.
Nothing beats talking over food.
"Let's grab a bite."
"Food...?"
I dragged her to a nearby joint. Meat stew and bread would do.
"B-bro, I don't have money for food right now..."
"I'll cover it, you punk. Shut up and come."
I'm not the type to starve a kid. This was basically business expenses.
"O-okay."
Inside, seated, Lina nervously scanned around. I ordered a big 3-copper stew and 1-copper bread. Plenty for two.
"Alright, Lina. Truth. Who were the fuckers?"
4 coppers invested to hear this.
Better spill right.
"Well..."
Eyeing me warily, she spoke cautiously.
"Your typical... slum gang. So, that day you gave me the money..."
"The day I gave you money?"
"Ran into them... they took it all. I-I always got shaken down whenever they saw me. Tried hiding it, but couldn't..."
"Fucking hell."
So they took all 5 silver in one go.
Recap: While we slayed the evil heretic giant, offered the win to the gods, amid the festival vibes, Lina lost her grandma and her entire fortune.
In other words.
The reward for us risking our lives stealing heretic relics.
Snatched in one shot.
By faceless fucking scum.
—Throb throb.
...Barely resisted smashing the table.
This insulted my friendship with Elise, scorned our efforts, trashed our heroic deeds in the garbage.
Worse: It mocked Order God Aizelmart that Elise believes in, Buddha, King David. Even Emperor Hwanung.
...A atrocity rivaling world wars gutting humanity's joy.
What? A challenge to me?
This was beyond that.
Just me.
—Kill or be killed.
—Only one survives.
—Life-or-death absolute blood feud.
—A brutal, filthy war.
That's the duel they sent me.
Whoever it was, ballsy.
Guts spilling out? Nah. Guts so huge they pulled this shit.
Then I'd carve 'em out raw.
"Heh, heh heh... heh, heh heh heh..."
So shocking, only laughter came.
"B-bro? D-did I say something funny...?"
"Nah."
Funny story... could see it that way.
This mocked humanity's core, no cap. Dig through Earth history, few crimes this heinous.
"Lina."
I met her eyes.
She flinched, shoulders trembling, looking up.
"That true?"
"..."
"I hate lies most in this world... If it's true, I'll war with them to the death."
I almost wished it was a lie. Better if Lina had fooled me.
Anyway, verify.
Can't 100% trust Lina.
"Not planning to lie and get revenge on my behalf, right?"
She went quiet.
—Gulp.
I waited.
"N-never... I don't lie to you, bro... I know what kind of guy you are..."
"Okay..."
Hard to believe.
Her tale shattered my common sense—something unimaginable in reality. Maybe the thieves were heretics.
That weird hunch... felt dead certain.
Lots to think about.
Wish Elise was here—hurts deep.
—Thud.
Mid-serious pondering, food arrived. Big stew, dipping bread. Ordered to fill up quick, but smelled better than expected.
"B-bro..."
"Hm? What?"
Grabbing spoon, she called. Eyes sparkling, drooling.
Starving bad?
"C-can I... eat this? For real? Y-you're not gonna go berserk suddenly, right?"
"Why would I?"
"Really okay for me? You're buying?"
"Punk... eat already. How long you been starving?"
"S-sob... Thanks, bro!"
My okay, she shoveled stew like mad. Broke probably—no cash for food. Maybe first time eating this.
...Steal from a kid like this.
Watching, I dunked bread in stew, shoved meat in.
Not bad.
Ate moderately, eyed her.
"Really... bro, thank you so much...!"
"Slow down, kid. Choke and you'll puke it all up."
"Yes. Got it."
—Munch munch.
She ate heartily—good call buying. No wonder adults like kids who eat well.
"Tsk tsk tsk, poor kid. Eat up and live strong."
I paced myself so she could finish. She polished off the big stew solo, flashing a happy smile.
"S-so full..."
Paired with her cute face, pretty refreshing.
A few things to protect in this world—one's kids' smiles.
Back on Earth, I donated—sponsors, offerings.
Love Fruit or rice bowl piggy banks, yeah.
UNICEF too.
Didn't know then my cash went to foundation staff salaries, not poor kids.
Half-wasted.
Bittersweet betrayal.
Stopped donating after realizing.
"Still..."
Watching Lina devour it, felt good about those donations back then.