Chapter 457
Chapter 457
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 457
Chapter Title: Kim Katt and the Ghost House
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"Heh heh heh, you dumb barbarian fuck. You push on a door and it doesn't open? You gotta pull it, moron. Typical savage."
"Fuck off. The map said push, asshole. Heh heh heh."
Thinking about it, we'd pushed our way in, so yeah, we had to pull to get out. Meria burst out laughing at our stupid mistake.
"What kind of idiots are you?"
We hadn't looted shit, but at least we were laughing now.
We chuckled like idiots and grabbed the doorknob again.
"Alright, let's pull it this time."
"Got it."
-Tug.
.
-Tug tug.
-Tug tug tug.
.
-Tug tug tug tug.
But the door wouldn't budge.
"Hey, fuck, it's still not opening!"
"Hmm? You think it's locked?"
"Who the hell would lock it?"
No one had come by, so it couldn't be locked.
"Oppa? The door won't open?"
"Hold on. Maybe it's old and stuck."
The inside could be rusted, jamming the latch or something.
-Tug tug tug.
I grabbed the knob with Kobson and yanked, even shoved it sideways to try opening it. But no matter what we did, the door stayed shut.
It didn't even twitch.
"What, you guys can't even pull with that muscle?"
Meria couldn't stand it and stepped up to heave, but even with her pretty thick arms for a girl, she couldn't budge it. Kobson watched the whole thing and yelled in shock.
"Th-the mansion's curse! We're trapped, barbarian!"
"Kyaa! Oppa! Open it quick!!!"
"What curse, you crazy bastards. Calm down."
Like they'd do shit if it really wouldn't open.
My body's enhanced with mana anyway.
No shitty old door's stopping me.
"Can't get out if the door won't open? Fuck off, let me try."
"Ooh! Gonna save us from the mansion's curse with your savage power?"
"More barbarian power! Hoorah!!!"
Fired up, I channeled mana through my body and yanked the knob. My muscles bulged, superhuman strength surging out. Mana fused with my trained muscles was unbreakable!
"Take thiiiis!!!!!"
No shitty door's stopping me!
-...
"O-oppa? You are pulling, right?"
"...Fuck, it really won't open?"
The door stayed shut.
Even with all that force?
"Ha."
Daring to defy Heavenly Demon Kim Katt? Foolish.
I backed up a bit from the door.
-Whoosh!
Then charged and—
"—Kim Katt Dropkiiiick!!!!"
-Boom!
Empowered by mana and leg strength, the dropkick's power was on another level. No way a mere door withstands me. The Heavenly Demon's name ain't a joke.
-Whirr.
But the door held firm.
"Fuck? Even that didn't work?"
"Hmm... Looks like the lock's jammed from age. Don't waste energy—let's find another exit before it gets darker."
"Wait. Hold up."
I flipped my sword backward and hammered the knob with the pommel like a battering ram. No way a shitty old door takes this.
-Boom!
-Boom!
But the door was fine.
No, fuck? How's this door so tough? We opened it smooth as hell coming in. No reason it shouldn't open now.
I got a little rattled.
Even full-force hits felt like punching rock. The door felt like an iron wall.
Fuck, it's not like I'm trying to open a jam jar with limp morning hands. Even if the lock's jammed from rust, this durability doesn't make sense.
"Guess it won't work. Let's find another exit before it gets dark."
As I pounded the door, Meria put her hand on my shoulder.
"...Was there another exit?"
"Yeah, right? Kobson, did you see any other doors on the way in?"
"D-don't think so..."
No windows facing outside on the first floor.
No other exits that I remembered... But earlier, circling the mansion outside, upper floors had outward-facing windows.
Worst case, smash one and bail.
This ain't a prison.
"O-oppa, this feels kinda ominous... I'm a little scared..."
Lina stuck to my side again.
"What's scary? Let's find a way out first. Pretty sure there were windows on the second or third floor. Worst case, smash one."
Can't break the door, but glass windows? Easy.
"But barbarian, if the door won't open, why not just crash here?"
"You were screaming curse earlier—what's this now?"
"Heh heh heh, that was a joke. Door seems solidly fixed. No windows on the first floor, so staying inside might be safer?"
Change of perspective?
If the door's sealed tight, maybe safer inside than out. Duck into a room we searched earlier—warmer, flat floor for sleeping.
"Hmm... That might work. Nothing weird in the mansion anyway. Right?"
Meria chimed in as I pondered.
We only searched the first floor, but nothing suspicious so far. Still, other vagrants could be hiding upstairs.
"What if randos are upstairs? Place is big—wouldn't notice."
"You'd hear 'em, barbarian. If worried, find a room with a window, barricade the door with furniture. Easy."
"Yeah, Kobson's right. Look, sun's almost down. It'll be pitch black soon."
Meria pointed to an inner window.
-Faint red light seeped in.
The mansion was a hollow square 'ㅁ' shape, courtyard in the middle.
Now an eyesore, but probably beautiful in its prime.
Sunset would fade soon—night coming.
"Alright, let's head up."
We headed for the second-floor stairs we'd noted. By the time we moved, night had fully fallen—outside pitch black.
"Totally dark now. Barbarian, hand over the spirit necklace."
"Yeah, one sec."
The world plunged into darkness.
Couldn't see shit inches away.
Creepy in the gloom. It's a ruin, after all. But with armed warriors, not too bad.
Three of us could take a troll.
"No moonlight tonight? Super dark."
Meria glanced at the window. Cloudy maybe, but pitch. I pulled out the necklace.
"Wait, oppa... th-there...!"
"What?"
Lina clung to my side, pointing ahead.
-Shiver shiver shiver.
Lina was trembling for some reason.
Did she spot something?
"See something?"
"..."
Lighting up would give us away, so I peered where she pointed in the dark.
-...
The hall drowned in black.
Too dark to see jack. Like the building sank into ink. Darkness hit fast after sunset.
So that white thing ahead? Had to be my eyes playing tricks.
"..."
Ahead.
Way ahead.
Something white stood there.
"..."
Silence fell.
"B-barbarian."
Kobson broke it. His voice small in the dark.
"...What."
"Please. I got a favor to ask."
"Fuck, what favor."
-Thump thump.
Heart racing for some reason.
In the tense air, Kobson said it.
"Look behind me instead. Please."
Look behind?
Horror dawned.
That thing ahead... a ghost? Turn around and one appears behind? Did this fucker know and chicken out on me?
"...Lina, time to work."
I grabbed her shoulder.
"N-no! Scary! Oppa! What is that! Evil spirit! It's an evil spirit!!"
"Hey, don't freak, kid. Evil spirit? No such th—"
-Rustle.
The white thing moved as I brushed it off.
Then slowly approached us.
"Oh, fuck."
I scare easy with ghosts.
Once in the army, saw one—thought I'd lose my mind. But I'm not that guy anymore. Battle-hardened killer Heavenly Demon Kim Katt ain't scared of ghosts.
But this world's ghosts? Different story.
-Shing.
I drew my sword and activated Latras's necklace. Bright light revealed a grotesque white female ghost hurtling at us inhumanly, mouth agape in a scream.
-Kiyaaaaaaaah!!!!!!!!!!
"Waaaaaah!!!"
"Kyaaaaah!!!"
"Oppa!!!"
"Teeeeeeng!"
Fuck, ghosts!!!!!!
All four of us screamed and bolted back!!
"O-oppaaa!! Behind! There's one back there toooo!!"
"Barbariaaaaan!!!! Evil spirits, I teeeell yoooou!!!!!!"
-Rustle.
White ghost at the hall's end too!
It lunged at us too!
-Kiyaaaaaaaah!!!!!
"Fuck!! Evil spirits! Evil spirits!!!"
"Kyaaaaaaaah!!!!!!!!"
"Oppa!!! Come with me, pleeeease!!!"
What the fuck!!!!
"Hey, turn at the corner up ahead!!!"
We hauled ass and rounded the corner before the ghosts reached us.
Ghosts!
Untouchable by normal attacks without Holy Enchant—unreal killers! D-rank adventurer tags mean shit against 'em!
Monsters swords can't cut are deadly by existing!
"Evil spirits' mansion! See, barbarian? Cursed mansion!!!!"
"Kyaaaaah!!! Run! Get caught by evil spirits and you become one!"
"Oppa pleeeease match my speed pleeeease!!!!!!!!"
"Fuck!!! Lina, here! Grab my hand!"
We yapped about evil spirits while fleeing. Mansion had something after all! No issues daytime 'cause it's the cursed mansion!
-Dash dash dash!
Ghosts waking up now? Spotted more standing still as we ran.
We zigzagged the maze-like interior.
"Exit! Barbarian! Where's the exit!"
"Fuck if I know!!!"
"Oppa! Feels like the halls keep looping!!!"
Lina was right—halls repeating since earlier. If she felt it too... jungle迷路 spell?
"What?! Meria! For real?!"
"I-I don't know!"
I glanced back while running.
Horde of ghosts chasing!
Got two vials of holy water.
Could repel 'em. But small vials—not enough for all.
Can't waste on unknowns—more might spawn!
Still!
-Rustle rustle.
I carefully pulled a vial, raised it high, and bellowed like thunder.
"Fuck you ghost bastards, even worse than your dead parents! Bow before the holy!!!!"
-Fwoosh!
-Kiyaaaaaaaah!!!!!!!!
Holy water glowed—ghosts shrieked eerie wails, scattering into the mansion's nooks.
"Haa... Fuck. Thought my soul left my body. Hey, Kobson. Huh?"
But.
"Huh?"
No one around.
"Hey! Where'd you fuckers go!!!!!"