Chapter 357
Chapter 357
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 357
Chapter Title: Kim Katt and the 40 Bandits
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After trudging along leisurely through the night, we finally arrived in Isvant as morning broke. Thick fatigue weighed on me, but the lessons and insights the bandits had imparted still burned hot in my chest.
My steps felt light.
In a way, those bandits were like forest sprites.
"Heh, grateful bastards anyway."
The warm feeling they'd given me was something I'd never forget. With those thoughts in mind, I passed through the city gates and before I knew it, I was standing in front of the Adventurer's Guild.
"We'll hand over the reward money shortly, so please wait a moment."
The inside of the guild was quieter than I'd expected. A merchant glanced our way, told us to hold on, and headed to the counter.
"Ugh, I'm beat."
"Still, we made a decent haul."
"Seventy per head... Better than most quests."
The adventurers who'd overheard found seats and settled in. A few were already ordering booze and snacks, gearing up for a drinking session.
We took a spot in the corner too.
Coming here hadn't felt so bad, but now that we were here, the exhaustion hit all at once.
Man, I'm seriously sleepy.
"Hey, darky, I'm wiped out."
"I'm fatigued as well. It's only natural after such a rewarding ordeal."
"Same here. Ugh, I'm sleeping all day today."
Having burned through a ton of mana and marched through the night, Winia was utterly drained—her chest had gone completely limp as she leaned her head on my shoulder.
Winia's fatigue level was easy to gauge by the state of her breasts.
Elise had dark circles under her eyes too.
"Still, we can't rest until we've sold off all the gear."
We wouldn't be done until we'd offloaded every last item we'd brought back. Half-dozing with Winia's breathing in my ear, I propped my chin and watched the merchant.
He chatted with a staff member, then headed upstairs. He'd left his money with the guild, and there'd be explanations needed about the casualties too.
Normally, if there were deaths on a guild-issued quest, everyone in the party got slapped with a penalty, no questions asked.
It was called a penalty, but it basically meant no more jobs. Your name went up on the board, rumors spread, and other adventurers started avoiding you.
Taking guild quests became a real hassle.
Sure, the guild did investigate deaths, but it was all for show—superficial at best. They lacked the will, manpower, or budget to dig deep. Whether killed by monsters, accidents, or murder, the guild didn't care much.
Just slap on the penalty publicly and call it a day—no need for complications.
There were always plenty of people lining up for work. No reason to waste time and effort on E- or F-ranks.
That's why serious adventurers aiming to settle in the city pushed through the crap, grinding quests flawlessly to claw their way to D-rank.
Of course, those types eventually hit D-rank, becoming the guild's core strength and helping fatten its coffers.
No incidents, no screw-ups, reliable and responsible. That's what D-rank meant—you could trust them.
Once you reached D-rank with solid jobs, fair treatment, and city status perks, why would you ever want to leave?
They settled down in the city.
From the guild's perspective, it was a huge win.
Basically, the Adventurer's Guild churned through lower ranks to unearth those D-rank core players. Adventurers were a dime a dozen anyway.
But this time was different—the merchant had hired us personally for revenge, not through the guild.
No guild rules applied.
Still, with adventurers dead, explanations were in order.
Hey, we'd wiped out a massive bandit gang, and casualties happened. No one could complain. They were all E-ranks anyway. No one to blame, and clearing the bandits was a win in itself.
"Ah, the merchant's coming down."
After a short wait, the merchant descended with a pouch of coin, approaching the adventurers with a blank expression.
"As recorded in the ledger, here's your reward. You all did well. Thanks to you, I got my revenge."
"We did it for the pay, no need to worry about it."
One adventurer replied to the merchant.
Exactly. Sure, he'd gotten his vengeance through us, but it was all for the money. No thanks required.
"Fair enough. Here's the reward anyway."
The adventurers took their shares one by one. Seventy copper per bandit, plus ten copper per day per E-rank adventurer. Those who got paid grabbed their stuff and headed out.
We waited till last.
"Mage lady, nun, and Mirkeshan warrior. You have my thanks. There were more bandits than expected. Without you, we couldn't have done it."
"Heh heh, maybe. Hope nothing like this happens again, but if you need a blade, ask for D-rank adventurer Kim Katt at the guild."
"Haha, will do."
Winia and I had taken out fifteen, Elise seven. We collected our quest pay and daily wages in turn.
"Take care."
The merchant bowed after settling up and left. I waved him off. He'd lost everything, but pulled off sweet revenge. With that grit, he'd succeed at anything.
"Darky, we made bank though."
"Yeah. Worth the grind."
Quick tally: From yesterday morning to this one, Winia and I earned 10 silver 50 copper from the bandit quest, 1 silver 80 copper for three days' wages. Plus cash looted from the bandits—total around 14 silver.
Great hourly rate.
Selling the loot should net another 5 silver. So Winia and I cleared about 19 silver together.
"Elise, let's go sell this stuff first."
"Got it."
The three of us headed to the commercial district to offload the gear. Only then would we be done.
Elise seemed fine, but Winia with her sagging chest was beat. Better drop her at the inn first.
"Winia, you okay? Want to head back ahead?"
"Nah... Tired, but I'll tag along."
"Sure?"
"Yeah."
Then we'd better hustle.
The haul was bandit clothes, weapons, and piled-up gear. Used and beat-up, but volume made up for it.
Sell it all dirt cheap.
"Selling all this at once—you buy?"
"This much? Where'd you get it?"
"Bandit wipeout."
"Oh yeah, heard something about that."
At the smithy as usual, I dumped the metal junk on the suspicious owner for peanuts. Then clothes at the general store, cheap necklaces and rings at the accessory shop.
Right on cue—5 silver.
Elise pocketed about 3 silver from her share.
"Ugh, finally sold. Still before lunch?"
All done around 11 a.m.
Out of the shop, I hoisted the dead-asleep Winia on my back. Her usually perky chest should've pressed firm against me, but now it just squished flat.
"A bit till noon."
"Normally I'd say grab food, but I'm wrecked today. Gotta head back. Winia's out cold."
"She worked hard, so it's expected. Still, a shame."
Elise sounded disappointed.
I was too, but opportunities weren't one-offs.
"No biggie. Catch you next time. Not heading straight back to Krasheim, right?"
"I'm human too—I need to recover stamina. Planning rest today and tomorrow before leaving."
Figures she'd be too diligent to ditch.
If I were her, I'd milk a few lazy days post-job before reporting back.
We'd made good money too.
"See you tomorrow then. Gotta meet before you go."
"Tomorrow?"
"Yeah. I'll swing by your dorm when I'm free."
"Hee hee, understood. I'll wait eagerly. Rest well then."
"You too. Splurge on dinner with your earnings."
We parted with Elise, and I carried Winia back to the inn. She was dead to the world, breathing evenly.
"Sleeping like this—who's gonna carry you?"
Straight to my place it was.
I walked slow to not wake her. Took an hour to reach home. Awkwardly knocking, the door creaked open—Claudy let me in.
"Katt, back early? Whoa, blood on your clothes."
"Wrapped up quicker than thought. Heh, wanna hear about it?"
"Been waiting. Winia's asleep?"
"Used a ton of energy. Intense fight."
Inside, voices must've stirred her—she lifted her head. Awake? I set her down gently.
"Sleepy... Darky, wash me."
"Sure. Claudy, gonna clean Winia up first."
"Okay."
Stashed gear on the balcony, stripped quick. Winia shed her clothes in a daze, revealing her uncharacteristically limp chest.
Damn it...!
How hard had I pushed Winia!?
Those firm, bouncy huge tits reduced to that!!!!!
Killing rage surged for the bandits. But they were already dead. Where did this nowhere-to-go fury turn?
Swallowing it, we headed to the bath.
Splash.
Wanted hot water, but with Winia like this, no dice. Apologizing, I poured lukewarm over her slowly.
"Ack, freezing."
"Awake now?"
"Nah, still sleepy. Wanted hot water though... Sigh."
Anyway, I washed her thoroughly.
After all that work, clean sleep was key. Midway, I washed too—skin on skin warmed us up naturally.
Got seriously aroused, but held back.
Dried her off, and she stumbled to bed, collapsing. Pulled up the blanket—she was already out.
"Katt."
Claudy hugged me from behind.
"Ah, Claudy... You met Risha already?"
"Yeah, talked at the black magic shop."
Like she said, while I hunted bandits, she'd checked it out. What'd Claudy think?
"Her identity's a bit suspicious, but she's head over heels for you already? Seriously, how much did you poke her with that naughty stick to turn a girl like that?"
"Whoa, Claudy mama, easy on the master touch..."
Grabbing me like coaxing a kid, Claudy cooed.
"Good boy, Katt. Chatted her up—yep, perfect. Our Katt needs to make more girls like that."
After two days pent up, I was ready to burst. Claudy's hand was too soft. Her technique nailed my needs perfectly.
"Hee hee hee, Katt's got endless potential. A true warrior claims that many women."
"Claudy mama... But no girls left now."
"You'll meet more living life. Anyway, bandit story? Any achievements?"
Achievements...