Chapter 67
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: [Side Story] F-rank Adventurer Kim Katt
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That was my usual routine. I'd show up at the guild to rank up to E-rank adventurer, where they guaranteed some basic rights, squeeze into a party, and rack up achievements by doing jobs or quests. Or I'd pick up unrelated odd jobs to earn a daily wage.
When working guild jobs, I'd get bossed around plenty by the other adventurers, but it beat begging on the streets. My life was just one big struggle.
Today's job was sewer cleaning.
This was a side gig the guild outsourced because they couldn't get enough people. It came with a daily wage plus achievements toward E-rank promotion—solid conditions all around.
Krasheim had a pretty sizable underground waterway system.
Do you know how important aqueducts are? They bring relatively clean water into the city, boosting hygiene levels and making one of the biggest contributions to human survival. An incredibly vital infrastructure.
Without using stagnant filth, the city stays cleaner naturally, disease rates drop, people get healthier, mortality falls, and the population grows.
Anyway, facilities like that need regular cleaning. All sorts of trash and filth flow into the underground channels. Illegal dumping is routine, and even corpses show up. Monsters sneaking in from outside aren't uncommon either. It's that diverse.
"It's dark in here."
I descended underground with the other laborers. The only gear they gave us was a hooked pole shaped like an 'L'. The cleaning foreman instructed us to fish out the trash with it.
If the accumulated trash blocks the water flow, sewage backs up into the city. With that explanation, he demonstrated scooping up garbage.
—Splash.
A rotten wagon wheel or something came up.
"There, like that. Fish out the trash that way. Our goal today is to clear D Section. Finish early, and you're free to go—so work hard."
The promise of early dismissal if we hustled fired up the laborers. They shoved their poles into the water one after another. I followed suit. Poke the pole in, stir around, feel for something snagging. When you get a bite, pull it up.
The work itself was simple. Just dark and the murky air made it unpleasant.
The foreman didn't micromanage as long as we did the job right. No hassle from the crew, and early quit if we finished fast—decent conditions. Plus, they paid 3 coppers a day. No complaints there.
"...Hm?"
As I stirred the water, something hooked.
I hauled it up with force.
"Whoa."
The trash had a familiar shape. Curious, I leaned in close. A foul stench hit me. Wait... is this...?
"Gaaahhh!"
A scream burst from my mouth.
"It's a human corpse!!!"
It was a person's body, rotted to rags. Nausea surged. Puking would've cost me big—I fought it down desperately. I dropped the pole and collapsed.
"What happened?!"
The foreman rushed over. I yelled at him.
"Human corpse! I pulled up a body!"
"Hmmm... Can't tell if it's from a missing person report..."
My heart pounded. Second time seeing a corpse this close... The first one... Urk, nausea again. I held it back. Vomiting would've docked me 1 or 2 coppers. No way.
"Leave it here for now. I'll report it after work. Alright, no slacking—back to it."
We shoved the body to the corner and resumed. Spotting the corpse killed the initial vibe. I mechanically stirred the water again.
After that, it was monotonous repetition. The trash pile-up was thinning. Scooped junk formed a mountain on one side of the passage. Luckily, clearing it wasn't our job.
"Ho ho... You're flying through it today. I'm impressed."
—Clap, clap, clap.
The foreman clapped with a grin. It was late afternoon, not yet evening. Surveying us with satisfaction, he declared.
"Work's done! Follow me for your pay!"
"Yesss!"
"Woo!"
"Yesss!"
Cheers erupted. I joined in. Stepping outside felt refreshing. Fresh air after the stale underground, and unusually, I felt good. Getting 3 coppers boosted my mood further.
But at the same time, a bit down.
—I'd seen a corpse.
My chest thumped—not excitement, anxiety.
I'd killed a man.
Didn't know his name. No clue who he was. No idea what he did or how he'd lived. All I knew: he was a beggar like me.
I killed the guy who stole my bread.
Stealing bread from a beggar is murder. I killed him in self-defense to survive.
But no matter how justified, does that make murder okay?
My hands shook. Living after killing him terrified me. If I'd killed him so easily, I could die just as quick...
"Haa..."
To wash away the gloom, I headed to the bathhouse. Investing nearly a third of my wage—1 copper. Body dirty, mind needed scrubbing too. As a modern guy, baths held real value for me.
The bathhouse bustled. Folks fresh off work, wrapping up the day. Right around that time.
"Wash off your filth first, outsider."
"Of course."
The attendant said after eyeing me. Good thing no mirrors—I didn't want to see myself either.
In the bath, I scooped water to clean first. Pour from the ladle outside the tub, head to toe. Scrub thoroughly. Slowly wash the matted hair and grimy body. Take time, go slow.
No soap, shampoo, body wash—nothing. But in that moment, I was content.
Squeeze grease from the wild beard and shoulder-length hair untouched since isekai. Peel off layers of built-up grime. Scrub teeth and tongue with fingers, rinse.
Wash face. Splash water on the eye-gunk, blood, dust-caked mug. No lotion here, but scrub mercilessly.
And then,
Enter the bath.
"Ahhhh..."
Closing time soon, probably. Maximize the soak till then. Stench and filth gone. Here, I could relax a bit.
Eyes closed, hot water enveloping—thoughts drifted. Ones I lacked time or solitude for before. Chased by time, too broke even for solo reflection.
"..."
That day was utterly ordinary. No omens, signs, nothing. Just another day.
Weekend, for sure. Not a shift day. Woke around 2 PM after late night, starving naturally. Hungry means eat. No food home, so convenience store.
Grabbed black tracksuit pants, white tee, random baseball jacket. Wallet, phone—off to the store for bread and coffee milk. Chicken for dinner later.
Thinking that, slipped on sneakers. And
Opened the door.
Stepped out.
Closed the door.
And it was isekai.
Truly no cause, no reason. Just isekai.
Chaos. Madness. Wanted home.
Starved. Starved more. Lucky church bread for vagrants saved me. Ate crying. One bread was my lifeline. Started begging that day—first time ever.
Begging led to work somehow. Work led to learning about the Adventurer's Guild, registered, more work. Saw ugly shit. Dealt with crap. That's how I ended up here.
Work meant no starving. No starving meant home thoughts returned. Repressed crap resurfaced. Hated this world, pure shit.
"Home."
Hatred burned huge.
"Can I go back?"
Only worry: tomorrow.
Bath over.
Mood not much better.
Toweled off, dressed, exited.
Sun dipping. Twilight. At sunset, silver moon rises with purple and green satellites guarding her. Unreal sight. Moon goddess Mirtuna and daughters, they say.
This was isekai.
"Sleep under a roof tonight?"
Rent a stable stall maybe—thinking that, walking, when
Familiar face.
"Uh."
"..."
Winia. Big tits, bigger bitch. Unexpected encounter.
Her and Lena pocketing my money—burned grudge, unforgettable vendetta. She mocked me, then abused me.
"...What're you staring at."
Winia glared up—short, natural up-gaze.
"Uh? What? Uh... no, I mean."
Sudden question, stammered.
"Uh, so, like..."
Hey. Hold up.
No need to flinch here?
Lena the brute swordswoman, maybe. But Winia, this shitstain—couldn't I beat her like a chew toy?
Hatred fueled quick judgment.
Magic scary, lethal spells sure. But casting takes time. Before she chants, I could draw my rusty sword, give a massive stab. That thought ignited murderous impulse. Couldn't hold back.
My nemesis!
Perfect: just her around.
—Blood boiled.
She was alone. Alone!
I had that sword from last time.
Rusty, but a sword's a sword.
What's next?
Duel this fucker!
"Hey, Winia."
"...?"
"What’s with the dumbass look. Can't I say your name?"
Called her casual, like pals—her face twisted ugly. Still clueless, this bitch.
"...Such bad manners."
"Manners my ass, you fucks stole my money."
"...Heh. Heh heh."
"Huh? Laughing? You cunt."
Rotten Winia suddenly laughed. Recalling then, probably. Funny to you, asshole. You laughed; I starved fearing death.
Her laughing face fueled more hate. Decided. Kill her. Get my 4 coppers back.
Then Winia spoke.
"What, mad over that... acting tough 'cause I'm alone?"
Fuck, pissing me off. No sorry in her vocab? Time to end this.
"Stop laughing, you bitch. You remember, huh? That 4 copper you owe—pay up."
"Kinda... cute... Heh heh heh. Kinda funny. Ahh, love it. So good. Heh heh, ho ho ho...!"
Winia seemed way too chill.
Panicked suddenly.
W-why so confident?
Hidden ace? Or bad plan? Beat a mage? Me? No fuck that! Can't back down! Went aggressive.
"Cute my ass—fuck. Saying that to my face. Anyway, don't wanna die? Cough up 4 coppers now. See this sword? Says no interest today—wallet out, bitch."
"Ku. Ku-heh! Heh, ho ho! Ho... ha ha! Ah ha ha ha ha ha!!!"
Winia cracked up. Small giggles building to full-blown hysterics.
Mad laughter.
"Wha, whoa? S-scared? Did I say something hilarious? N-nope... why the fuck laughing... crazy bitch..."
Her laugh sparked anxiety. Extreme dread. Showed on my face...
"What? Scared now?"
Winia snapped her head.
Chills everywhere.
"N-no way. Ha ha ha... Letting you off today. N-next time, b-be good."
Sh-shaking. Bad idea? Goblin on fire overlapped in my head. Pent-up rage exploded... Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck! Why again!
"Excuse me, Miss Winia."
Ask.
"Y-yeah?"
"No magic, right?"
"Sudden polite? Not half-ass banmal like before?"
Escape ready.
"Well."
She started saying something—I spun fast. Chant? Was that a chant? Fleeting thought—
"Sorryyyy—!!! Fuuuuck!!!"
Ran like mad.
Fled.
Bolted. Cut and run. At my age, hanging my head—scared shitless by a younger-looking girl after picking a fight.
"Where! Where to run!"
No other thoughts. Opponent: mage. Almighty monster. Summons fire from air, roasts living things instant. Dodging that, I spared no stamina.
Ran like primordial giants. To escape, survive. Fled.
"Huff!"
Nightmare for sure. No, the nightmare itself. Can't be reality. If real, reality's wrong. I'm innocent.
"Fucking hell!"
Nothing goes right! Plan perfect! Grab 4 coppers grudgingly, scold, send off. Why twist again!
Ran far. Sweat soaked, bath wasted. This far enough. Body and mind wrecked, crawled into some dark corner, collapsed.
Exhausted.
"Hoo... hoo..."
Heart still racing.
Be more careful ahead. Avoid that Winia bitch. Embarrassing, sure—but gotta admit. Mage. Lasted this long against one? Good job, right?
Purple moon in sky. Far enough. No chase tonight. Relaxed then.
Yeah, sleep.
Tomorrow's work.
I drifted off.