Chapter 557
Chapter 557
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 557
Chapter Title: The Little Match Girl
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Devil's sigil.
Whatever it was, it was clear there was some connection between these bastards.
Heretics, Sasquatch, and devils... and then the Ice Giant that the Cardia Saintess mentioned? I didn't know much about those little shits, so detailed reasoning was impossible.
Anyway, I figured I should take the part with this sigil as evidence.
Honestly, just bringing this back would satisfy the Saintess.
"Let's call it a day and head back."
"Yes!"
For now, I needed to take some of the Sasquatch's internal organs and its head.
"By the way, it's got a seriously huge build."
"Yeah, tell me about it."
The Sasquatch stood about 2.3 meters tall, with thick forearms, broad shoulders, giving off a total tank vibe. And inside that massive frame, it was packed solid with tough muscle.
A ferocious monster to match its overflowing muscles.
This was a genuinely dangerous beast.
Tougher than a troll.
I drew the dagger Karin had given me and sliced open its belly. The heart was a must, and I figured I'd take the gallbladder too.
—Squelch.
As I peeled back the hide, pitch-black innards were revealed.
"Whoa. Fuck, why are the guts so goddamn black?"
Its innards weren't pink or red—they were overall dark and murky.
"Looks like the devils' power has seeped into the organs too."
"Hmm... So that's why it was extra strong?"
"Could be. Its vitality was insane to begin with. It kept rampaging even after being stabbed, so yeah."
Seemed like it had been enhanced by the devil's power. So normal Sasquatch were probably weaker than this one.
I took off my gauntlet and shoved my hand into its gut, skillfully pulling out the innards.
—Sizzle.
As I set the extracted innards down on the snow, black steam rose up immediately, and they started melting into a gooey mess. No, fuck!
"What the hell is this?!"
I hurriedly carved out the heart, but this was black too, and the moment I pulled it out, it melted away like a dog's balls on a hot summer day.
"Hey, Hilde! What the fuck is going on?!"
"I-I don't know? Probably because it's lost its life... Even I don't know the details."
"Fuck my life!"
If I can't bring back the heart, Risha's gonna be disappointed!
"Fuck these goddamn devil bastards! Stealing my heart?!"
Argh, fuck. Pissed off.
Anger boiled up for no reason. With all the innards melted, there was nothing to take. I'd checked at the Adventurer's Guild, and some parts were worth a decent amount, but now they were all ruined.
Is this for real...!
Anyway, I swallowed my frustration, decapitated it, and skinned it. I was used to it now, and with my increased strength and skill, it wasn't hard.
Slide the blade between flesh and hide to make a gap, then pull—rip, off it came.
After about 30 minutes of diligent butchering, I carved out the part with the devil's sigil and set it aside.
"Hilde, grab my backpack over there."
"Yes!"
What I'd collected: the Sasquatch head, hide, palms, and soles. The limbs were fucking huge, so they'd go in the pack, hide slung over my back, and head carried by hand.
Whatever, I'd fake a report when I got back.
It sucked balls, but I finally had some gains. Felt a bit relieved. At least I'd found a trace digging through the snow mountains.
"Let's go."
"Yes!"
"Gonna move fast."
The moment we finished, I picked up speed and retraced our path.
The Sasquatch was a monster through and through.
As Hilde said, these guys probably didn't borrow power directly from devils.
Devils loved the blood of intelligent beings.
More reasonable to think the heretics made some deal with devils and granted that power to the Sasquatch.
So then.
What the hell for? What's a Sasquatch good for? Well, strong monster, so useful somehow... Questions just piled up.
Especially with no clues, no real leads to think on.
What I'd pieced together was just speculation. And heretics pulling shit wasn't new.
Might just be a hobby.
"Mr. Katt, isn't that heavy? Let me carry it."
The Sasquatch head was pretty big and awkward to tote. But it wasn't heavy, so I just gripped the horns and slung it over my shoulder.
"Nah, not really."
"I just wanna help. Give me the head. I'll carry it."
"Appreciate it, but no need. Hey, think we can head back now?"
Nothing more today.
"No way! You call me out here and now suddenly head back?!"
"What'm I supposed to do, go home? I'll call you next time."
"Ugh... Fine, at least till we reach the city gates. I just wanna stay by your side, Mr. Katt."
Poor girl.
"Heh heh, hey, hey. Even so, you're a devil and I'm human."
"I wanna change that. Or why not from the start?"
"'Cause I'm a married man."
"You have five wives already. Five or six is the same. Marry me too, please? I know I'd be great. At night, and everything else."
Devils are tricky.
"Mentally, a devil's too much."
"But you get excited looking at my body. Means you wanna put it in, right? Creampie signal."
"Fuck, that's just physiology."
"Hiiing."
Felt bad using a girl who kept throwing herself at me.
"Still, thanks a ton for the help."
"Hearing that makes me happy. I'll settle for that now."
I chatted idly with Hilde like that while hustling along. As we neared the city, I sensed people, so I had her shapeshift to human a few times.
Sunset hit, and Isvant’s walls came into view.
"Well, Mr. Katt. Take care going in."
"You too."
"Yes. Call anytime. I'll always wait for your summons. Woo hoo, bye then!"
Hilde vanished in pink smoke.
"Ah."
Forgot to take the cape back. No wonder she bolted—wanted to keep it. Eh, fine, she can have it. I dashed to the gates.
"U-Uwaaah! What the hell is that?!"
The guard freaked at the sight of me.
"Sasquatch head. Caught it today."
"S-Sasquatch... Impressive skills. Taking down a monster like that solo..."
"Heh heh, yeah."
This fucker looked seriously vicious.
Even after passing the gates, eyes locked on me.
"W-What's that..."
"Monster...!"
"He hunted that?!"
Everyone gawked at the head. From experience, even a group of average joes couldn't take it.
One hit from that reckless charge, and the party's done. Who'd fight a muscle beast that pulps humans in seconds?
Sasquatch needed at least three seasoned C-rank adventurers, fully prepped, ready to risk death.
By dusk, I made it home.
"Darkie home... W-What, you caught that?!"
Winia gasped as I opened the door.
"Yeah! Got it myself!"
I unloaded while stripping gear. Sun was down, so Karin and Risha were back. I gave them a quick rundown.
"Fucking ugly mug. First time seeing one."
"Hmm... Like a troll?"
Karin and Cloudie grabbed the head, appraising it. Both satisfied.
"Heh heh heh, Katt. You took this down alone? How?"
"Shoved a knife in its chest, drew dagger, slit the throat. Didn't die easy. Beat it a few more times, down."
I gestured wildly, reenacting for Cloudie. She loves these tales.
Risha helped me undress.
"Oh, Risha. Tried for the heart, but no dice. Devil power melted all the guts. This is the sigil."
I pulled the marked hide scrap from my pouch.
"Hmm... A shame. But you braved the cold for me—heart doesn't matter."
"Heh heh, good then."
If Risha's cool, whatever. Still wanna hunt a clean one... Feels like they're all devil-tainted.
"That's the devil sigil? Something's up, like the Saintess said."
Winia eyed the scrap.
"Yeah, seems legit."
"Hmm... Useful then. But more importantly, that Hilde girl."
"Hilde? Why?"
"She's handy."
Demon radar, super useful.
"Right? Knows her shit."
"Don't like her, but thanks for helping. Resting tomorrow?"
"Of course."
Day off. I summed up the day for the wives, then scribbled a report. Jot it down now, clean up after bath.
"Katt, selling the hide?"
"Yeah. Check market soon."
Big and rare—dozens of silvers easy. Beast like that.
"Hmm... Make clothes?"
"Heh, wanna make something?"
"Maybe?"
Good for winter wear.
Wait, need more hide then. Enough for wives and me. Note for later.
"These palms and soles look usable too."
"Oh, yeah?"
Risha eyed the limbs.
We hauled byproducts downstairs. Time to wash up.
* * *
After a day off, next day: me, Cloudie, Winia, and Hilde—dream team—hit the snow mountains hard.
Target: Sasquatch and heretics. But four of us? Limits. Days of searching, nada.
Place is fucking vast.
Even with Hilde's radar, covering this ourselves? Impossible.
Not even in "nearby" range. Real hunt means going far from city.
"Darkie, far means camping in snow. No way, even for me. Freeze to death."
Winia wanted to quit, stay home.
Fair—going higher needs camping. Snow daily now; camping's torture.
Even geared up, night in those mountains sucks.
But Cardia Saintess's request. Wanna investigate till satisfied. Gotta go deep somehow.
"If you go solo, darkie, I dunno what to do."
"That bad? Week trip?"
"Week? You'll die freezing!"
"Heh, Winia worried?"
"Duh?"
No forcing her. Wanna solo while she rests. Winter travel's rough anyway.
I get the worry.
"Katt. Love watching you work hard. Always exciting. That drive... Mama's thrilled."
Cloudie clung, saying.
"But too cold... If you want, can't stop you. You'll do fine. Week trip ok."
"Heh, not coming?"
"Too cold. Dark elves weak to it."
Half-elf shares traits. Racial thing.
"Yeah. Paladin offer anyway—no need. Sis says week's tough for her!"
"But he wants to go so bad. Risky, but better let him?"
Karin and Risha split. What now?