Chapter 65
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: [Side Story] F-rank Adventurer Kim Katt
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It's already been half a year since I came to this otherworld.
"Over there, Winia! Kill it!"
Come to think of it, it's been a whole week since I last washed up. The pickled grime and sweat were seriously grossing me out, but now I couldn't even be bothered anymore. Back in my original world, this would've been unthinkable, but what can you do when I don't even have the coin to hit the bathhouse?
Ke-rack!
Winia's Fire Bolt slammed home. Sure, it was the most basic 1-circle spell, but mages weren't high-class pros for nothing. The fleeing goblin took a direct hit from the flames and turned into a charred roast on the spot.
Sizzle...
The stench of burnt flesh started wafting up. All that was left was a pitch-black, scorched corpse. It had thrashed around desperately just to stay alive, but in the end, it got slaughtered anyway.
No pity stirred in me. The body was just disgusting. It couldn't evoke anything else from me anymore.
Goblins looked like pint-sized green-skinned freaks with noses and ears like an old man's, draped in wrinkly hides. The reason we were killing them? Bounties, plain and simple.
Bounty? What's that mean? As that thought crossed my mind, something flew at me and smashed into my head.
Thwack!
"Gah!"
"What're you spacing out for?"
The red-haired swordswoman... Lena had lopped off the dead goblin's head and chucked it at me. Damn bitch... Anyway, to continue the explanation, this head right here. The goblins had been left to multiply and were stealing crops, so the guild slapped a 2-copper bounty on each goblin head.
That's why we were out hunting.
"Ah..."
I touched my head—holy shit. There's a lump. My body's my lifeline! That cunt whose mom's pussy exploded didn't have to hurl it at me like that. I wanted to rage at her, but I couldn't, not in my situation.
I was an F-rank adventurer, after all.
Lena and Winia were E-rank adventurers.
"You looking down on us? Hah... seriously. We were nice enough to let you tag along with our party...!"
This world had even worse power trips than hellish Korea. I panicked at the sight of Lena about to blow up—she'd already beaten the crap out of me earlier with her sword sheath. My body was already imprinted with terror of her.
"N-no, not at all! I was just so blown away by your magic that I lost my mind staring! A country bumpkin like me—when else am I gonna see maaagic? Haha! It's just so amazing!"
"...Shut up."
I babbled frantically, and Winia grumbled. What the hell, this pint-sized bitch bitches even when I compliment her? This otherworld's full of psychos anyway. These assholes treat me like a total F-rank loser geek, like their pet mutt.
No human rights here.
It was an era where a poor bastard's life was worth less than a loaf of bread.
And I was one of the poor bastards.
"You zoned out, huh. Better grab the goods properly, you porter."
"Y-yes, ma'am."
Lena said it with her arms crossed.
Anyway, back to the power-tripping. Living here so far, I'd realized even these cheap-ass adventurers strictly enforced rank hierarchies. To these E-rank bitches, a powerless F-rank like me stuck at the bottom was just easy prey.
"Lemme see, one, two..."
Still, they needed the work to get paid, so I stuffed the severed goblin heads into the sack. Bring 'em all back to the guild, they count 'em up and pay out. Plenty of adventurers scraped by like this.
Fuckin' hell, I joined the party all excited like "lalala time to work hard~," but from morning I'd gotten my ass kicked raw and endured every kind of abuse.
They were top-tier criminals, the type who vented stress by bullying the weak.
"Fuck, this is heavy as shit..."
The full sack was seriously heavy now. Hunting was done for the day. We had to get back inside the walls before sundown. I hoisted the sack. Un-fucking-believably heavy, and now I gotta lug it all the way to the city...
"Can't you move any faster? 'Cause you're a slow-ass worm, right?"
"Y-yes! I'll hurry! Lena-sama's word is absolute!"
"Why's your mouth running so long? You mocking me?"
She cracked her neck menacingly. I yelled in panic. I'd blurted out something stupid in my frustration.
"No! Not at all! Don't hit me! I messed up!"
"Puhahaha! Winia, isn't this porter way too desperate?"
Lena burst out laughing and turned to Winia. Winia was trembling, holding back giggles. Getting this kind of humiliation from these bitches...! My crushed pride was driving me insane.
Unfortunately, this was the otherworld.
Swordsman Lena was several times stronger than me, and Winia could roast me to a crisp with a flick of her wrist.
I couldn't complain about the unfair treatment or mouth off.
Weakness was a sin.
Strength was a right.
The weak just followed whatever the strong demanded.
"Slowpoke! Your steps are too damn slow! Run!"
"Hahk...! Hak! Hak! Y-yes, running!"
"Faster! Put some effort into it, wormy...!"
Lena, jeering from the side, nailed a full-power kick right into my ass as I huffed and puffed with the sack.
Thud!
"Argh!"
I faceplanted. It was so bullshit tears welled up. Mom, I miss you. Dad, I miss you too. What the fuck did I do wrong to get treated like a dog in this hellhole?
Rumble!
"No!"
I went down, and the sack spilled goblin heads everywhere. Gotta scoop 'em back up...
"Pick 'em up right now!"
I reached for the heads scattered on the ground, but Lena acted like I was slacking on purpose and swung her sheath at me in fury.
Thwack!
"Gaaah! Grahk! S-stop! It hurts so much! You just hit my joint!"
Thump!
"Hahaha! Worm! You're a worm! Hurry up and pack 'em! We're short on time, you savage worm!"
"Sorry! I'm sorry! Please stop! Lena-sama, please...! I'll die...!"
"Less yapping, more hands! You trying to ruin my outfit and kill me or what?! Huh?!"
Tears and snot streaming, I hugged Lena's ankle and begged. But if words worked on her, she'd be human. Lena wasn't human. She was a monster in human skin, hating me for being human and unleashing random violence.
And just like that, I ended up pounded like ground meat.
Fuck, she tenderized me so good, I'd make a perfect hamburger steak.
"Hah... hah... tiring. Seriously, sucking the life right out of a person...!"
The beating stopped only when Lena got tired.
"Whew! Feels great, though! All that built-up stress just melts away! Winia, wanna give it a shot? Heh heh... it's pretty fun."
"..."
I made the most pitiful face and looked to Winia. Please, please stop... any more and I'm fucked, you bitches!
I'll do anything if you don't hit me. I'll strip naked and bust a dog-leg dance right now, even throw in a compass spin from that PE teacher!
"Hee hee."
Winia smirked meaningfully and approached. She jabbed the pointy tip of her staff at me. What're you gonna do with that...?
"W-Winia-sama? What...?"
The staff tip headed straight for my Adam's apple—
"Gack, guh! Cough cough!"
And stabbed deep into my throat. Choking pain and the agony of my neck crushing surged through me as I groaned. Winia relentlessly poked my throat with the staff, like she was drilling a hole.
"A-air! Gack! Can't... breathe! Please! Stop!"
Guh!
In agony, I puked up stomach acid. Only then did the violence stop. I looked up at her face.
"Heh heh heh..."
She wore an ugly grin. Total sadist deluxe. Why are all adventurers so violent and barbaric? Maybe when they point fingers calling me a savage, they're projecting.
"Let's head out now. Sun's setting soon. Winia, wanna grab a drink after we get back?"
"Sure. Where to?"
"Dunno..."
Body wrecked, I swallowed tears and shoved the goblin heads back into the sack. Once packed, we set off again.
My throat was killing me. Plus my joints ached, and the bruises throbbed.
These assholes should've been wiped out from hunting, but they walked at a brutal pace like it was nothing. Please slow down... the spots you hit hurt so much... The words rose to my throat, but fear of another smack made me swallow them meekly.
Sweating bullets, I chased after them.
One thing's for sure—if they don't pay up, I'm screwed... Got a bad feeling about today.
"Here, your pay for today. Not bad for a worm. Good job."
We finally reached the city as the sun set and darkness fell. For some reason, Lena smiled at me and handed over a single copper coin as my day's wage.
One.
One?
Too dark? Looks like five but it's one?
"Um, Lena-sama? Wasn't the wage five coppers...?"
"Shut it. Didn't we feed you today? Don't be shameless—be grateful."
"Huh?"
"Hah? Got a problem?"
"..."
"Then scram. See ya next time. Puhahaha!"
I exploded at this unbelievable rainbow-colored dreamscape.
Of course, only inside.
"...!"
That fucking bitch stole my wage too! I took the beatings like a dog for that cash, you cunts! No wonder F-ranks wanna die! I'm fucked! One copper won't even buy a proper meal! Telling me to work without eating?
"Hee hee hee."
Winia covered her mouth, snickering. You pint-sized cunt! I remember you stabbing my throat with that staff!
That's why I gotta hit E-rank ASAP, but shockingly, I'm too damn weak! One-on-one with a goblin, even I don't know if I'd win—you assholes don't either! Newbies don't deserve this shit, you bitches!
That's why!!!!!!!!!! The stress!!!!!!!!!! Is making my hair!!!!!!!!!! Fall out!!!!!!!!!!
"Agh, my shitty fate!"
I wanted to curse at Lena and Winia, already giggling and walking off, but it'd be bad if they heard, so I held it in. Just send me home, please. I wanna soak in hot water, crash in bed, scroll my phone, and pass out!
Fuck this otherworld, you cock-sucking bastards!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!