Chapter 51
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: The Black Witch's Request
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"It's a bit of a shame that the crystal is shattered."
She fiddled with the staff for a while before finally opening her mouth, her emotions evident. The prolonged silence up until then had felt like sitting on pins and needles.
"Ah, about that..."
It was already broken from the start. Not my fault.
For some reason, it felt like she was blaming me, and my body instinctively shrank back.
"Hehehe, are you scared? No need for that. I'm not interrogating you."
"Ah, yes."
As if my worries were unfounded, she spoke with a gentle smile. Her manner and tone were incredibly archaic, making it impossible for me to relax. Just from her speech, she sounded twice my age—what was she, anyway?
Pointed ears meant elf, right? Elves could supposedly live up to three hundred years, so if she was one, it wouldn't be strange for her to be older than me. Rumor had it they only started aging when they had about fifty years left.
Hmm, probably an elf. No human could possess such otherworldly beauty. Her allure carried the bewitching quality unique to those enthralled by dark magic—likely the result of elf plus black mage.
"My name is Lisha Leongreen. Won't you tell me yours?"
Introducing herself as Lisha, the witch asked for my name.
...My name? What was my name? No, before that—could I even tell her? According to legends, witches could curse someone just by knowing their name.
Of course, that was just adventurer gossip. The kind of nonsense ignorant folk who blindly believed folk tales took as fact. No credibility, but it still made me uneasy.
"Ah, my name is Kim Geuntae... no, Katt."
I'd meant to give a fake name on the spot, but my true name slipped out instead. Kim Geuntae. My dad named me that, hoping I'd become a man like a massive axe. I had no idea what it meant—it was some mysterious, unintelligible name.
Dad had the worst naming sense imaginable... Ah, damn. Thinking of him suddenly made tears well up... But what was that just now? My mouth had opened completely against my will...
"I see, Katt. Then, Katt, tell me the circumstances of how you obtained this item."
"Well..."
I explained everything she asked, holding nothing back: going into the dungeon, taking down the skeletons, and bringing it back.
"That's quite intriguing."
"Is it?"
"Now, how much should I buy it for?"
The only thing I cared about was the price of this staff.
"The crystal's condition isn't great, but it holds decent mana..."
Gulp.
I swallowed hard, staring at her face with eyes full of equal parts anticipation and fear. If she lowballed me here too, I'd just have to sit down and cry.
She flashed a grin and held out her palm.
"Five silver coins sound good?"
"That's an incredibly fair price! Beautiful Witch Lady!"
I shot up from my seat like a coiled spring. They say beautiful people have beautiful hearts, and she fit the bill perfectly. I'd misunderstood her this whole time because of my prejudices. It seemed like I'd been no better than a racist scum. I'd been through that discrimination myself, yet here I was, subtly judging others by it.
Regret washed over me naturally.
"Of course, I welcome it! No, I'm actually grateful that you're buying my staff for such a large sum! It's like a huge... huge... y'know, that thing. Anyway, truly, thank you!"
I was seized by the urge to jump up and dance for joy.
Five silver!
That brought my dungeon haul to eight silver and sixteen copper total! With that much, I could buy a new sword, some gauntlets, or even take it to Karin for better skills—and I'd still have money left over. Life was finally turning around!
"That makes you so happy? Hehe... It's a fair price, but you're a bright kid."
"Kuhuhu. Your grace has made me this bright. Come to think of it, is calling you 'Witch Lady' uncomfortable by any chance?"
"No, it's fine. Call me whatever you like."
"How can your heart be so beautiful too!"
Looking at her closely, Lisha was a fatally alluring beauty. Snow-white skin, crimson eyes. And that silver hair above all! The long ears made her look a bit inhuman, but even accounting for her girlish appearance, she possessed transcendent beauty.
"And perhaps..."
I grinned ear to ear as I reverently accepted the five freshly appeared silver coins and tucked them into my pouch.
"...you could do me a favor?"
"A favor?"
Lisha made the request. I had no idea what it was, but it couldn't hurt to help someone so generous.
"Yes, a simple one. There aren't any decent kids around here lately... It's been hard procuring materials."
"Really? You mean magic ingredients or the like are hard to come by?"
"Exactly. It's not difficult, so if you bring me what I request, I'll reward you... Care to try?"
Simple magic material gathering? I could manage that. Back in my F-rank days, I'd roamed forests collecting mana grass, herbs, magic mushrooms, you name it. I had the knowledge.
"Ah, but while I hate to refuse a witch lady's request, I'm not that capable... I'm afraid I'd disappoint you..."
I responded more deferentially than intended. My enthusiasm was high, but failing and letting her down felt ominous.
"Oh my. No need to be so humble."
"It's not really humility..."
"You've killed five people."
Pardon?
"Isn't that decent skill? A warrior's prowess is measured by the number they've slain. That's trustworthy enough."
Pardon?
Five?
Wait, hold on.
One, two. Three.
Then four, and finally five.
Five.
How did she...?
"Surprised? Ah, it's nothing. You said you know Karin? Then we can be acquaintances too. Won't you grant this witch's request?"
Pushing aside the chilling question, I nodded as if entranced. In hindsight, I might have been under some kind of spell. It felt like a dream, but the five new silver coins in my pouch were undeniable reality.
When I came to, I was in the alley outside the black magic shop.
"What the hell..."
In my hand was a paper listing magic materials, written in ornate script.
At this point, refusing seemed impossible. Oh, and I'd forgotten to pass on Karin's regards. Best to gather the materials and head back.
"Well, she said she'd pay properly, so no issue."
A bit disorienting, but a new gig meant I should move fast. It wasn't a guild quest, so no record for my resume, but money mattered more than that crap. I was a man confident I could rank up to D anytime.
I started to leave the alley. Casually folding the paper into my pocket and about to summon Teacher Seolun's compass—
"Hey! Bros, it's that black-haired bastard! Right there!"
"What the fuck now."
A shirtless guy with a familiar face pointed at me and yelled. Hold on, who was I again?
"Ah. The prick I lost my knife to earlier."
Two more shirtless guys followed behind him. Looked like this motherfucker held a grudge and called his friends. I calmly sized them up. One had a short club, the other a hand axe.
"So... you brought friends?"
My tension peaked. Two armed meant a life-or-death duel possibly. I glanced back—no one there, so not surrounded.
Bolt out the back? I didn't know the alley layout. And they might have more pals... Better to break through.
"You stole our little bro's money, huh?"
"Ah, that? The fucker picked a fight outta nowhere, so I took it as reconciliation."
The club guy spoke with shoulders tensed.
"Sorry for starting shit first... You know extortion's illegal, right? If picking fights let you rob people, why have laws or city guards? We'll forgive you, so hand it over."
The guy had stand-up comedian talent, spouting unfunny lines proudly.
"Plus compensation."
From their vibe, classic thugs who'd done this extortion a million times. Didn't they see my gear? Brainless or had backup...?
Probably just idiots.
Idiots surviving like this. Kinda like me.
"Won't return? Guess we use force."
They gripped their tools. Thought two could take me?
As I always say, one can't beat numbers. But that's equal arms. Unlike these shirtless short-weapon losers, I wore armor and wielded a proper sword. Fights hinge on individual power and gear too, not just headcount.
And since I hadn't left the alley, even if both rushed, no encirclement. Terrain matters in battle.
I drew my sword.
Above all, get looked down on once in this world, and you're done for.
"You back-alley thug fucks... ever seen a real swordsman?"
Adventurers turned murder bandits were tough. Guys who'd roamed beyond walls hunting monsters realized human blood was priceless and became true raiders.
But not these. Scared of monsters, they never left walls. Avoided real fights, so no risking necks. Just swarmed alleys, bullying poor for pocket change.
Guys like that could never beat me.
"To me, you ain't even F-rank, let alone E. When I say nice, drop your shit and scram. Fuck around, you all die here."