Chapter 375
Chapter 375
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 375
Chapter Title: Troll's Song
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"Eek! W-what the hell is that thing?!"
The guard who'd spotted Coolcool recoiled in horror and leveled his spear at it.
Usually, he waved people through without a second glance, but it seemed they did pay some attention to security after all.
—Kkwiieeeek...!
Coolcool, that little shit who'd been wailing the entire way to Isvant, was clearly exhausted now, its cries weak and feeble. I yanked on the rope around its neck and called out to the guard.
"It's a troll. Figured I'd bring it along since I captured it alive—might sell it at the arena."
"A tr-troll? Do trolls normally look like that? You didn't catch a baby one, did you? The mother might come looking, and that'd be trouble..."
"Not a baby. As you can see, it's just a deformed one. Notice that twisted leg? And trolls don't care for their young anyway, so no worries about the mother."
"I-is that so?"
He still eyed us suspiciously, so I quickly pulled out my tag and pointed to Winia standing behind me.
"I'm a D-rank adventurer. And that's an officially certified mage from the Magic Tower. We vouch for it."
"Hmm..."
The guard stroked his chin as he examined my tag and Winia.
"D-rank adventurer Katt, eh... Your identity checks out. Fine, you can pass, but if this causes any issues, I'll report it right away. You're selling it at the arena, right?"
A D-rank adventurer tag really came in handy. Official guild certification made the guard back off.
"Heh heh heh, of course. What else would you do with a freak like this?"
"Fair enough. Still, cover it with a sack or something. People might see it and complain."
"Got it. I'll do just as you say, guard. Problem is, I don't have a sack right now—mind if I wrap it in this cloak instead?"
"Go ahead. Rare to meet an adventurer who actually listens."
Claudy took off my cloak and wrapped it around Coolcool. The exhausted creature didn't even resist.
A runt troll like this—with no proper legs to speak of—couldn't do jack shit anyway.
"Hmm, but will anyone buy something like this? Don't arenas usually use proper monsters?"
"It can't fight right now, but it'll make a good sideshow. Should sell."
Claudy had her doubts, but a rare deformed troll like this? They'd take it. We passed through the gates and headed for the arena.
Worst case, if it didn't sell, I'd butcher it for blood and sell that to the Alchemist's Guild. A troll was a troll—bound to fetch a price.
We arrived at the arena.
I told the staffer at the entrance right away that I had a live-captured monster for sale.
"Live-captured monster? What'd you bring?"
"Ear over here."
He leaned in, interested. I whispered,
"A troll."
"A t-troll?! No way! Where's the big bastard?!"
"Not a full-grown one—just a small one. Anyway, who do I talk to about pricing?"
"I'll fetch someone! Stay right there!"
He bolted without even checking it out. Come to think of it, I'd never seen a troll in the arena before.
Always just low-level trash mobs.
"Damn, Coolcool's already a celebrity."
"Heh heh. Yeah? Luckier than I thought."
—Kyuuuung...!
Wrapped up like a kimbap roll in my cloak, Coolcool let out a dying groan.
This creepy little fucker...!
I wanted to bash its head in right then.
Seeing its ugly mug reignited my rage, but then an old man appeared—dressed sharply, monocle over one eye—so I held back.
"You? The barbarian warrior from the opening match?"
He stared at me, eyes widening.
"You remember me?"
"Hard to forget someone that memorable... That Brutal Angel bout? Decent show. Anyway, a troll? You really captured one alive?"
"Not the kind you're imagining. Take a look. Claudy, cloak off."
Claudy unwrapped it, revealing Coolcool dangling like a summer slug sack.
"Y-yes...! Definitely a troll! Juvenile specimen? But the legs?"
The old man adjusted his monocle and inspected the bound Coolcool. Arena vet, alright—he recognized it on sight.
"Yeah. As you see, it's got some deformities. That's how I caught it."
"Remarkable it's survived this long. So, you're here to sell it?"
Yeah, in the wild, something like this wouldn't last a day.
"That's right. Interested in buying?"
"Hmm... But it's so small, and those legs..."
"If not, I'll take it to the Alchemist's Guild."
"Hold on. Let me think."
He wanted it, I could tell. Good call bringing it, like Winia said. I sweetened the deal with some helpful details.
"Still, it's a troll. A deformed one, even. Good for spectacle. Or raise it for executions. Didn't that Bulverza die by my hand? Got an executioner these days?"
"True. Since Bulverza, we've just hired a guy. Alright, what's your price? Make an offer."
Whoa, an offer. Music to my ears.
"Winia, what's a fair price for this?"
I deferred to the expert.
"Hmm. Blood value plus bits and pieces? Around 10 silver. Alchemist's Guild might lowball it a bit less. It's alive, so pricier, but small size balances it out."
Holy shit, 10 silver for this thing?
Never saw that coming.
Trolls weren't common, and they had tons of uses. Live capture paid off big.
"Boss, you heard. 10 silver."
"Come on, kid. Cut me a deal?"
"Can't skimp here. When else you gonna get a live gimpy troll?"
"Fair point... Fine. But it looks malnourished. Knock off 1 silver? Gotta give me that much."
"You're right. 9 silver it is."
Truth was, it did look half-starved, so 1 silver off was fair.
Cheered by the save, the grinning old man pulled out his wallet, counted out nine silver coins, and handed them over. I passed him Coolcool's leash.
—Kkwiieeeeeeeek!!!
"What lungs! Hey, you! Grab it and follow me!"
"Right away!"
A nearby arena staffer snatched the leash.
"Take care, barbarian."
"You too, boss. Oh, know a staffer named Durban?"
"Durban? Who's that?"
"Works here."
"Don't know all the staff names. No idea."
"Gotcha."
And so, Coolcool sold for a sweet 9 silver.
The village would handle the hunchback issue themselves. Forgiveness or punishment, whatever.
As a paid adventurer, I'd done my job.
Personally, I'd vote for punishment, but people see things differently.
If it were my problem, I'd follow Fusion Confucianism doctrine. But the hunchback and victims were Oros villagers.
And Oros had the chops to judge and handle it on their own.
Not my business.
They'd sort it.
I'd slain the troll, revealed the truth, earned my 20 silver daily. Adventurer duty fulfilled. Village had its order—I wouldn't infringe.
"Katt, guild first? Or sell the loot?"
"Alchemist's Guild is closer. Winia, can you keep carrying? Or gimme it."
"I'm strong too, y'know."
Truth be told, mage or not, Winia had better stamina and strength than most normals. All because she was damn good.
"Strong woman... twisted... anyway, thanks."
We hit the nearby Alchemist's Guild to sell the troll blood, heart, and bone shards we'd collected. Winia handled negotiations, as usual.
Waiting inside, Winia returned from the counter with her pouch, backpack slung over her shoulder.
"Darkie, sis got 15 silver for it. Brought containers, so we got a good haul of blood. No troll blood on market lately."
"That's insane!"
"But 5 silver went for potions for your darkie ass. Here."
Winia handed me a red potion.
"Bone-mender. Drink after monastery healing."
"Tears, for real."
"Hurry up and heal, you gimpy-armed darkie shit."
"Will do."
I handed her the empty backpack. She pinched my cheeks.
Who else looks out for me like this? Pure gratitude.
"Hee hee hee, taking care of Katt like that? I'm happy."
"Wouldn't I take care of my darkie hubby? Let's hit the guild. Wanna crash."
"Cried."
Off to the guild we went.
We'd left Oros at dawn, so still some time left. En route, I gave Winia the village chief's request form. Her quest, after all.
"Sis and darkie, sit tight."
Inside the guild, Claudy and I grabbed seats. Winia headed to the counter with the form.
"Ugh, all-nighter's hitting. Fuck that troll."
Couldn't sleep in the cart thanks to Coolcool's shrieking. Chair hit, fatigue crashed. Head on table.
"Good work, Katt. Seriously, facing that monster and pushing that far? Impressive."
"Heh heh heh, I think so too."
I calmly reviewed the troll fight.
Its strength, agility. Those long arms seizing early advantage—solid tactics. And near-immune to bleeding.
Formidable all around.
Bigger than me—absolute disadvantage. Power to smash even mana-trained me like paper, agility to swap offense-defense freely.
Even at full strength, 1v1? Honestly, didn't feel like a win.
Maybe 2 or 3 out of 10, with heavy losses.
But I'd fought it once.
"Yeah, next time, train to take a troll 1v1. That fucker."
Experience mattered. I'd mulled trolls nonstop in the cart. Today's lesson saves tomorrow's me.
"Exactly, Katt. Warrior's drive to improve. Love that about you."
Claudy smiled, took my hand.
Blissed-out words—got me hard instantly.
"Heh heh heh, what else?"
"Unyielding will and warrior spirit?"
"More... more!"
"Hot body, handsome?"
"More! More!"
"Wild hair!"
"Tell me more, Mama!!"
"Always striving! Listens to Mama! Always so manly!"
"Kieeeek!!! Mama!!!"
Had to bury my face in Claudy's chest. This is why I live as a warrior, fuck!
"And... Katt."
I listened, still nuzzled.
"You act on your beliefs without doubt, judge without hesitation. True warriors don't need good-evil hangups. What you believe is justice; your sword is righteousness."
"I see..."
Makes sense.
She whispered,
"No hesitation is good. Why overthink problems? Most solve with a blade. What Katt deems wrong is evil."
Good and evil were fuzzy, like Claudy said.
Obvious to some, outrage to others.
In this messy world, I tread the path of Fusion Confucianism toward its end.
That is the Heavenly Demon, Kim Katt.