Chapter 95
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 95
Chapter Title: Zombie Parade
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I was in such a great mood.
The joy never left me the entire time I followed the girl. She was like a bluebird of happiness. I was so elated that I sang the whole way. And if you ask what song, I can confidently say it was Teacher Seolwoondo's Compass.
"Just tell me the direction, and I'll carry you."
I straight-up scooped the girl up in a princess carry. I don't know if it was because she hadn't eaten properly growing up, but she was so light. She said she'd give me 10 silver—there's nothing I wouldn't do for that. She was my employer now, after all.
The fact that she'd stolen my money, or that she'd hidden behind those thugs and told them to kill me—all that was worthless in the face of 10 silver. Money made the world go round.
She'd stolen the money, but she was paying it back double.
She'd said to kill me, but she hadn't actually done it herself.
So, the girl had done nothing wrong.
Seeing such a pretty little thing struggling so hard to survive naturally stirred good feelings in me as an adult. I wanted to help her, support her. That's why I could forgive her.
"Doesn't it suck living in a place like this?"
I asked as we walked.
"O-Onii-chan. You don't have to do this... Um, over there. Could you put me down...? I won't run away..."
"Come to think of it, what's your name? A fake one's fine. I don't know what to call you. Hey."
"Huh? P-Put me down..."
"Man, you're super light. What are you, a feather?"
"A-Are you even listening to me?"
"Still, seeing a kid like you toughing it out is really admirable. Us barbarian types have it rough just surviving. You're doing better than me."
"O-Onii-chan, p-please just say something...? You're not gonna kill me, right? H-Here's all your money..."
"Kids these days are so rotten. No gratitude, no apologies. Compared to them, you're a really good kid."
"...O-Onii-chan?"
"Damn right. The world's all about helping each other. Like how I helped you, now you help me."
"...Hic, sob."
"Ten silver, ten-ten-ten silver! Ten! Sil! Ver! Rawr!"
Unable to contain my joyful impulse, I kicked off the ground and dashed forward. A shout of elation burst out. I wanted to reach the spot where she'd hidden the money even a little faster.
Come to think of it, wasn't Cloudy shivering alone in the room, starving? I'd wasted so much time. As I ran, we arrived at the place she'd indicated.
"This about the spot to put you down?"
I set the girl down. For some reason, she was trembling violently. She looked like she'd seen something terrifying, utterly petrified with fear. What the hell? As far as I remembered, I'd only complimented her.
Oh, right.
She must've been scared from watching me slice those guys up earlier.
I'd unintentionally terrified her. Sorry about that.
"H-Hoo... Hoo..."
"You okay? Can you walk?"
She was shaking so much I got worried and gently asked, placing a hand on her forehead to check for fever. Of course, that wasn't going to measure anything. My hand wasn't a thermometer or anything.
I had no idea what was wrong.
"I-I'll show you... Follow me..."
"Alright!"
The place the girl led me to was a box-like shack crammed in the corner of the slums. It looked like it'd soak through completely in the rain. Barely better than sleeping rough.
"Come in..."
The girl went in first and said.
I rested my hand on my sword hilt, staying alert as I entered.
—Creak.
The inside was dusty, no ventilation.
I was thinking of coughing when,
—Cough, cough!
Someone beat me to it.
There was an old lady lying there.
"...Lina? Cough, cough! Lina, who's that?"
"G-Grandma, be quiet for a sec!"
The girl pushed the old lady, who was trying to sit up, back down. Were these two living here together? I couldn't survive in a shithole like this with my grandma, even if I died and came back.
"Your grandma?"
"...Yeah."
The grandma was coughing nonstop. She had an eyepatch on, looked sickly—on her last legs, basically.
I suddenly got curious and asked.
"No way... You're supporting her?"
"...Yeah."
"By yourself?"
"...Yeah."
The girl called Lina forced a broken smile as she said it.
The kind of fake smile only someone ground down by abject poverty could make.
I see.
That's how it was.
"Sorry, Onii-chan. I stole the money for Grandma's medicine. I'll give it all back, and everything I've saved too... C-Can you forgive me just this once...?"
The girl had been living alone here, risking everything for her grandma, dragging her young body through all sorts of work.
"Is Grandma really sick?"
"...She's gonna pass soon. Probably... But she's the one who raised me, so I couldn't give up on her."
Pickpocketing, whoring herself out sometimes. All for a grandma who could go any day. She'd staked her life on earning money.
"No matter what... I wanted to save her."
The girl said.
"If I die, Grandma... No, forget it. Onii-chan. I was wrong. I shouldn't have..."
"..."
"You're a good person, Onii-chan. I'm glad."
My heart felt like it was shattering.
Ever since coming to this world, I'd lived forgetting what it meant to be human. But this girl, in similar straits, hadn't forgotten.
"I get it."
It was a profoundly important value.
"Where's the money?"
Anyway, I needed the cash, so I got antsy.
If she was bullshitting me now, I'd kill her and the grandma, consequences be damned. I really didn't want to see that. Who'd want to kill a pitiful kid and a sick old lady? I'd never sleep again.
"..."
The girl fetched a small box from the corner.
"Here."
Inside were copper coins and silver ones.
I counted them slowly. Exactly 10 silver and 9 copper.
"Heh, heh heh heh..."
Seeing the money lifted my spirits instantly.
"Alright, alright, you're forgiven! Live right from now on!"
She'd promised all her money, so I pocketed the whole 10 silver 9 copper. The heavy pouch made my heart race. In high spirits, I ruffled the girl's hair.
"Hey, kid, you're so pretty—pickpocketing? Even if we're barbarian mutts, there's always a way out. Your grandma wouldn't want you earning like that, guaranteed."
"..."
"Advice from me: avoid scary-looking guys. Nah, just avoid everyone but me. Always be careful. And 'I'll trade'—don't say cheap shit like that. Fuck, you think that's okay? Value your body more."
Feeling good with the money, I gave the girl some well-wishes. She seemed moved, listening silently, body trembling with emotion.
"Take care."
Staying here would rot my lungs, so I headed out.
The outside air was refreshing.
Maybe because I'd done a good deed—the world felt welcoming.
Doing good like today wasn't so bad.
By showing mercy, the girl supporting her sick grandma could live on.
The 10 silver was just a bonus.
I'd been on the verge of losing 5 silver and going insane, but doing good had netted me 5 extra instead.
It was straight out of a fairy tale—virtue rewarded, evil punished.
"Ahh. This is too good. For real. Heh, heh heh heh..."
I couldn't stop grinning.
I hadn't even come out to earn, but in a few hours, 5 silver 14 copper in hand. I felt like I could fly.
I'd gotten blood on my hands... Eh, whatever.
This was irreplaceable—the price of human blood.
With light steps, I left the slums.
Shithole neighborhood. Never coming back.
"Oh, right."
I remembered I needed to buy food before heading to the inn. I'd made money—time for a little luxury.
Whistling, I bought provisions. To celebrate, skipped beer for wine. Cloudy loves booze. Bought enough for till morning and returned.
—...! ...!
At the door, faint sounds. Good thing the building was soundproof. I opened it.
"Haaaang, haeut, aaang! K-Katt! Why... why so late...! Kuuuht!"
"What the hell."
Cloudy had soaked the bed, rolling naked on it. Had she been going solo the whole time? For hours?
Shocked, I dropped the basket and froze.
"Haaauu... Katt? That blood...?"
"Blood? Oh."
My casual clothes were blood-soaked. From killing the thugs. I'd wandered around like this. Needed a wash first...
"Haa... haa..."
Suddenly, Cloudy's eyes gleamed as she approached. Her hair shimmered like amethyst waves.
Right, fuck! This sis is into that!
"Strip."
"Uwaaaak!!"
My clothes were off in a flash, and I was thrown onto the bed. She mounted me like a beast and drained my soul. Vision went black.
After the intense romp, it was already dark outside. Lying beside me, Cloudy traced the scars on my chest with her finger.
"So, what happened?"
"Went out for food, met a pickpocket."
"And?"
"Killed 'em all, made 5 silver."
"Heh heh heh, good job, good job."
Unlike Cloudy, who kissed my cheek repeatedly praising me, I felt strangely unsettled. I told her exactly what I felt.
"...Lately, killing people... I dunno how to put it. No hesitation anymore... Just went with the flow and killed impulsively, but no disgust... Can't explain it well. But definitely not feeling great."
The true owners of America, the brutal primordial natives—the Indians—believed there's a triangle of conscience in the heart.
Every time you act against it, the triangle spins, stabbing your heart in pain. But it wears down with each spin.
Eventually, when it's worn smooth into a circle, you become a true monster, feeling no guilt.
A bloodless, tearless monster becomes the tribe's fiercest warrior, reigning as a slaughterer on the battlefield.
Maybe I'd become that.
Rolling in this world, killing monsters and men—had my triangle worn away completely?
"Hmm... What should I say... So, how'd it feel killing?"
Cloudy said calmly.
"Honestly... it felt kinda good. Crazy, I know, but stabbing in gave this satisfaction? Achievement? It welled up. Felt great then, but looking back, it's insane. So, yeah."
"I see. That's what's bothering you."
Cloudy, lying beside me, turned my head to face her.
Her expression was firm.
"Katt, if you liked it, that's all that matters."
"It... does?"
"Yeah. Who cares about anyone else? When you gotta kill, you gotta. Same for them. Humans can't live without killing something."
"Is that so?"
"Yep. So no need to agonize over killing. Hell-Khan said murder is the warrior's fate. Useless worries."
She pulled me into her chest like she wanted to swallow me.
I dunno, but it was soft.
"Killing's never bad. Don't sweat it. Now sleep easy?"
Lately, Cloudy's nonsense started sounding right.
Exhausted, I passed out.