Chapter 392
Chapter 392
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 392
Chapter Title: Colors from Space
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From midway on, a well-maintained road appeared, making it easy to find the village. But locating a decent place to stay proved quite challenging.
People who had come from all over searching for meteorites had arrived first and pretty much occupied every inn.
The village was swarming with meteorite hunters.
Just as expected, crowds always bring inconvenience.
This modestly sized village seemed to be raking in a windfall from the unexpected boom. They were jacking up prices like crazy—the small, shabby inn room for one night cost a whopping 20 coppers.
Even the stable fee for Quetes came to 4 coppers.
Fucking ridiculous, but with a meteorite already in hand, we couldn't exactly pitch a tent outside and lose face. Plus, staying in an inn like this meant no need for night watches.
"At least they've got showers."
Behind the inn was a communal shower area divided for men and women. Thank goodness for that—we were able to wash up refreshingly and hit the bed.
We huddled together on the small bed.
"Winia."
"What."
"How many more meteorites are we hunting?"
"Dunno? One more and we could head out. We've already got one."
"Yeah. Let's snag exactly one more and go home. Starting to miss our beds."
"Me too."
Finding one meteorite brought relief, but it also stirred an urge to head back. I missed Karin and Lisha already. And I wanted to get this thing appraised ASAP.
—Crash! Bang!
—Gaaah!
—You fucking bastard!
Just as I was closing my eyes, the noise started up.
"What the shit."
No soundproofing at all, and these assholes were drowning their meteorite-hunting frustrations in booze. The inn's first floor had been a total shitshow from the start—out-of-towners and locals clashing, yelling, brawling in groups.
"Katt... too noisy. Plug my ears quick."
Cloudy rubbed her face against my chest and whined. I immediately stroked her ears and plugged them with my fingers.
"Ahh~."
She let out a pleased moan and started grinding her thigh against my crotch. The firm, hot friction got me rock hard in no time.
"Ah, Cloudy. No. No soundproofing here."
"Huh? Can't hear anything."
With that, Cloudy ramped up the thigh action fiercely. Was she seriously trying to make me cum like this? No way—that'd be a disaster. I'd blow a massive load for sure.
"This sis acts like she can't hear when she damn well can? Get off already."
"Eek!"
Winia, lying right beside us, jabbed Cloudy's side, making her jolt dramatically.
Such a sensitive big sis.
"Being mean to your sis?"
"What mean? Abstinence outside, abstinence."
Yeah, that's right.
Winia was the most level-headed after all.
Anyway, time to sleep. I closed my eyes again, but the racket continued. These pathetic losers couldn't find a meteorite, so they vented like idiots.
What a bunch of pitiful fucks.
"Mmm, blackie's body is so warm... feels nice."
"Yeah... Katt's embrace is the comfiest."
They snuggled into my arms, resting their heads on my shoulders. I stretched out my arms, stroking their waists and hips.
"Night."
* * *
"Fuck this. Nothing here."
We'd scoured for meteorites since morning, but all that stuck to the magnet board was iron filings and scrap metal.
Just brute-forcing it wasn't cutting it, as expected.
We based ourselves in the village for searches. Two days passed like that, but aside from beating down a few guys and shaking them for cash, no real gains.
"The promising spots are all mobbed, and the empty ones have been picked over by those crowds. No wonder nothing's left."
Even Winia grumbled as she scanned the area.
The fun meteorite hunt we'd imagined was impossible from the get-go. It was still morning, but we'd already run into three groups staking claims.
Lucky no fights broke out, or we'd have spilled blood bright and early.
"Shall we push deeper?"
Cloudy suggested, eyeing the map.
This area was dotted with cities and villages anyway—no real "deep" spots. Going too far out meant leaving the main meteorite fall zone, pointless.
The whole region was crawling with people.
New hunter parties poured in daily from afar. Things were getting saturated fast.
"No real deep spots, sis. Same everywhere."
"Hmm, too bad."
"Eh. Guess our luck ran out after that one."
True enough. Snagging even one was a win.
I'd believed another stroke of fortune would hit, but nope.
"Can't be helped. Let's hunt till tomorrow then head back. One's plenty good. We already fleeced a village on the way here—more than enough payoff for the trip."
I told them.
No regrets. We'd made good coin en route. Paid off the hassle of coming this far.
"Yeah, sounds good."
"Sure. Had plenty of fun anyway."
"Then we leave the day after tomorrow."
On the way back, we'd take the outer road skirting the Mist Plains—easier route.
We searched till night, but zilch again. Just minor run-ins with easy marks.
I gazed at the darkening sky.
Stars twinkled, but no meteorites—or even shooting stars.
All fallen already?
More people every day, but no new drops. Felt like the spark for tragedy brewing.
Next day: nada.
Tragic.
Finally, the last day.
"Let's head home."
"Yeah."
No new meteorite, but thoughts of returning lightened our moods. We rose early, packed, loaded Quetes, and set off.
—Creak.
This beast's rental fee must've been steep. Scary to tally. Anyway, we pierced the cool morning mist and left the village.
"Alright, blackie and sis, listen up. We're looping wide around the Mist Plains outskirts on this road. My bad on going into the plains—judgment error. This way's faster. Probably."
Map said so, roughly. No fucking way back through those goddamn plains.
"How many days?"
Cloudy asked, chin on Winia's shoulder.
"Week tops, even slow. Villages midway too. Won't be rough."
Weekish was fine.
Return journey underway. No more rushing off on every meteorite rumor.
Didn't expect crowds staking turf like this.
Well, figured crowds, but not this bad.
"Heh heh heh. Still made bank though. Nice haul, unexpected as it was."
"Heh, yeah. But Winia—anywhere to appraise the meteorite back home?"
The one swiped from adventurers.
Winia said it was definitely one, but for precise info, appraisal needed.
Only then the real value.
But that means commissioning someone. Who to trust?
No experts among us—have to rely fully on appraisers. No way to verify if they lie.
"Magic Tower should do it."
"Trustworthy?"
"Mages never scam other mages."
"What? Why? Wait, so they can scam non-mages?"
"Their fault for getting caught."
Winia said matter-of-factly.
Figures. Mages are like that.
"Mages don't scam each other. Cultural thing... Our kind have that vibe, y'know? Magic Tower's the mages' rights group—if they scam, who trusts it?"
"Still could happen."
"Never has, far as I know. Can't imagine the Tower scamming its own without collapsing."
"Eh... dunno."
"Blackie ain't a mage—no need to know."
"Fine."
Anyway, Magic Tower seemed reliable to mages. Or rather, they'd shun it if not.
Mage culture's a mystery.
"This is our turf."
No sooner said than claim-jumpers popped up. Routine now—I brushed 'em off casually.
"Not interested. Just passing through."
The guy eyed us hollowly, top to bottom.
Like some checkpoint. What is this, DMZ?
"...Got it."
We passed silently. By noon, tons more like him.
Not just that—battle scenes like we'd seen before everywhere.
"Fuck!"
"Die!"
"You bastard!"
These idiots beating each other with fists and kicks. Mild compared to the sword-slaying mobs, like kids playing, but they took it seriously.
"What're you lot?!"
But couldn't just dismiss as play.
They were blocking the damn road mid-fight. World full of fight spots—why here?
Blocking paths is serious crime.
"Mind clearing the road? Wanna pass."
"Fuck off! Move or die!"
I'd asked politely, but the bare-knuckle brawlers glared and snarled. Ragged clothes, no gear.
Beggars or slum trash gathering?
"Blackie. Just kill a few? Annoying—slice some, make 'em scatter."
"No, Winia. What kinda talk is that?"
"Huh?"
"Why so scary, talking murder."
"Blackie, bullshit?"
"Wait here."
About twenty beggar-fighters. I strode up to them.
"Kids. Clear the road. Can't pass if blocked. Don't wanna see blood."
"Bullshit!"
Negotiations tanked instantly. They took my approach as provocation, yelling fearless shit.
"Heavenly Demon's Sky-Cleaving Palm."
So I fed 'em the Heavenly Demon's Sky-Cleaving Palm.
The ultimate palm strike shot out, slamming into the front guy's gut. Felt the lethal mana-force clash with his resisting abdomen.
"—Huh?"
Of course, no defense possible. The ultimate palm obliterated his muscles and organs, blasting through.
—Boom!
Explosion rang out.
And simultaneously.
"Gaaaaaaaah!!!!!!!"
He rocketed like a missile, smashing into the guys behind. Momentum toppled them like bowling pins, screams everywhere.
"Gaaaaah!!!"
"Kuhiii!!!"
"What is thiiiis!!"
A Arhat Formation unfolded in seconds.
"This is Heavenly Demon Kim Katt."
Screams filled the air; those who clocked my power slunk away. The blocked road cleared perfectly. All with one palm.
"Let's go."
Glanced back—Cloudy and Winia grinning. Fun show, apparently. We pressed on through the opened path.
"Heh, no sword needed now?"
"Heavenly Demon Divine Art is the sword."
Thus we hustled homeward. Dodged fights where possible, used force only when needed to clear paths. Just wanted back quick.
Up to here, only turf-claimers.
Trouble hit on the second day of travel.
"Hey, pal. Hand over everything nice-like. Unless you wanna die... heh heh heh."
...But of course.
Not just normies hunting meteorites.
Local bandits, brigands, criminals, robbers—all drawn by rumors. Natural.
Find your own? Nah, stealing easier.
"Heh heh, deaf?"
"Guh...!"
I butchered the sudden bandit gang in seconds, pinned their boss, and demanded they empty their pockets.
Real violence wouldn't stop anytime soon.