Chapter 245
Chapter 245
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 245
Chapter Title: One Empire, Three Legends (4)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
****
In Professor's human life, luck simply meant scraping by with his life in crises and misfortunes that no one could possibly endure. If he had to compare, it was the difference between "Oh, I'm feeling lucky today!" and "Fuck, thank you God! It's shit, but thanks for letting me live!"
"Wh-what the hell is all this...."
To him, the current situation felt utterly alien and awkward.
Things were going smoothly. No, not just smoothly—stuff kept falling right into his lap.
He'd smashed a massive tree to build a cart—
Crash!
'This.... These are Dunus tree fruits. A rare tree only found in areas thick with mana. The tree itself is scarce, but it only bears fruit for three days a year. Back in my hometown of Kaneran, we'd offer prayers of thanks to the forest whenever we found Dunus fruits. And not in a Blueline zone, but in some ordinary forest? How bizarre.'
Precious fruits used only in elven coming-of-age rites came tumbling down.
He built a small altar from three branches, left Yggdrasil praying behind him, and split the wood—
Flutter!
'H-Hero! Catch that thing!'
'Professor! That bug! It's a Gold Beetle, the one alchemists and black mages rumor they can't buy no matter the price! They call it a living Philosopher's Stone! How's a creature that only lives in deserts doing in a forest!'
A fist-sized stag beetle, worth the same volume in gold, was swarming around.
'Uh.... I have no idea where to go from here—'
'Hmm? Traveler? If you're heading to Haunuman, just keep going straight, then turn right at the split rock, and the path will appear.'
'That's right. And Haunuman's in festival season now, so watch out for rough types and pickpockets!'
Just as he was about to get lost, two bundle merchants appeared out of nowhere and even warned him about shortcuts!
It truly felt like the world was spinning around him. Like the world was saying, "This is grace way beyond what a guy like you deserves, but go on—feel what it's like to be the protagonist for once."
So, dragging the cart the whole way, his gut burned with anxiety.
"Lu-Lucilla. You said it's four days to the capital from here, right? If I sprint like a madman.... I could make it before sunset?"
It was going so well that it almost hurt. With this absurd Luck Lv. 7 buff, but stuck traveling, dumping it all on junk items!
[It's not junk. Half our trade goods got wrecked in the crash, but that golden stag beetle means no money worries. Even selling at a loss, we can outfit like a high noble.]
'Exactly! This luck is solving the problems right in front of me! Feels like I could smash through the palace gates yelling [Let's go to war!] and the empire would go [Uh.... Sure?]. Wasting that kind of shot chopping wood in a forest!'
[If it timed the place and moment perfectly, that'd be Luck Lv. 15. Be satisfied with what you've got.]
Unlike the frantic Professor, Hyde's voice was utterly relaxed. Hearing it calmed Professor down too.
"Yeah.... Plenty of time left. Still chances to milk this high."
Professor steeled himself before the gravel walls of Haunuman, arriving far earlier than expected.
The long line at the gates, the buzz of voices. The wild scent of leather, bone, stone, and earth wafting from the walls.
The city of the great plains warrior Kuhn Tagiz, who once unified the empire's western plains barbarians. Now a vassal state of the empire.
Haunuman.
****
Unlike my urge to bolt straight in, the cart carrying the party and luggage had to stop well short of the gates.
A snake-like line of all races snaked toward the city entrance.
"Whoa. That line's longer than the empire capital's inspection post. Is Haunuman always this strict?"
Ottoman sighed at the masses stretching out ahead. Fortunately, the surprisingly well-made "amateur" cart even had a triangular roof of wild boar hide, so everyone except Professor driving, and the size-mismatched Notum and Borca, lounged inside, sightseeing Haunuman's sights and people.
"Dunno.... I heard it's way looser than other cities."
"Probably the festival those merchants mentioned. We passed tons loaded with bundles or merchant flags on carts."
"If the Hero hadn't rushed, we could've chatted more with those traders. See? Just a few words from random merchants we passed shaved a full day off what I thought was a twenty-four-hour trek to Haunuman. Nice, friendly folks—could've heard local gossip."
"Indeed. One was about to show me something good for mages when we blew past. Some emergency in Haunuman?"
'Of course. Something big. Don't know what, but way better than street vendor flash sales.'
No point saying that—they'd call him crazy. Professor mumbled he just wanted to see the barbarian festival. No time for other distractions now.
He had to hit every Haunuman landmark and NPC in minimal time and distance before the luck wore off.
"You there! Merchants with guild flags, step out of line to the big gate! Guilds use the big gate during festival!"
The guard orc's shout snapped Professor from his thoughts. He bowed low, hoisted the entire cart overhead.
"Uwaaak! Wh-what?!"
"Guild carts up front! Late, and we'll twiddle thumbs while they inspect those guys!"
"So why rush like that?!"
"F-Festival! Greenskins and empire minorities partying! W-Waa! Can't hold back, gotta see!"
No sooner did he feel time short than a merchants' gate opened. Felt like luck prodding him—heart raced faster. Before the sturdy orcs barking orders, a heavily reinforced shield-like gate swung open.
Thud!
Lucilla and the mages screamed from the abruptly dropped cart.
"Grab the biggest inn and wait. Got it? Back soon!"
Ignoring the party's gripes and curses, Professor dove into the exotic city's crowds.
"....Left a lover here or something?"
"Agh.... Looks like it. Gotta brace ourselves."
"Yeah. He'll probably stir up a storm, so scout escape routes outside the main gate first."
"Sounds good. Oh, Yggdrasil! Call if trouble!"
Lucilla yelled at Yggdrasil's back as she bolted after Professor.
The party could only pray he'd cause trouble they could handle.
****
=========
Haunuman.
Hometown of the great plains warrior Kuhn Tagiz, and the borderlands where more blood spilled between the empire and nomadic tribes than anywhere.
Now a vassal paying tribute for limited autonomy, yet still simmering with anti-empire sentiment.
That rebel spirit draws outcasts: beastkin, criminals, would-be rebels—leavings of the empire's expansion wars.
The sole survivor of Storm Hill, [Wind's Lewdness] who targeted only Storm Hill from the start, set Haunuman next. Probably fell for the mages' free spirits here. Those embodying freedom, and those fighting for it—what beauty divides them?
This journey would be rough, but self-proclaimed Chromatic Heavenly Demon can't bend. Especially after sharing all with wind-followers—must've learned something? Today's record: bonds forged in the rough wild city, Haunuman....
=========
"Goddamn it! Hey! Who sent this crap!"
Ding!
Professor scowled at the info popping up mid-sprint.
---------
- Take a Look: lol jk. But among quality info, that's the most famous.
- Professor: Quality my ass, it's all women! No famous buildings, legend events, not even local specialties!
- Take a Look: Drop those prejudiced eyes, punk! Dude hit on every famous female NPC in town! Covers half the city's NPCs—攻略 guide!
- Professor: Fuck that, events! Stuff to max 200% luck! No time!
- Jokasss: Dunno. Haunuman famous for leather and greenskins, anything else?
- Number Three: Badass warriors and loyalty.
- Holy: Leather....? Heard their leather clothes are pretty.
- Take a Look: Few users roam to empire in 3worlds, let alone deep vassal events. Just trader rumors on what's good.
- Deer Drug Please: Chromatic Heavenly Demon pulls it off.
- Gunpowder and Blood: That's talent waste as art.
- Take a Look: Yas grandpa is legend....
---------
'Useless when I need 'em!'
Community chatting up shady info, bickering. Danna absent, busy elsewhere.
Professor dashed around, eyes devouring every sight.
Hyde helped: scanned what I glimpsed, sorted it. I just picked gems from ore. Twice the solo speed.
[Lemme see.... Crowded entrance spot's Endtail Post Office in records. Haunuman wasn't empire land 90 years ago—letter magic reaches just there. Mail to Haunuman goes via staff delivery?]
[Ooh, neat. That 'favor-farm gift shop' Chromatic Heavenly Demon mentioned? Looks like it. Sells locals' faves cheap. Animal hides, hard cheese—local specialties?]
[A! That poster we passed!! Mithril mine next to Haunuman hiring urgently—festival emptied workers! Anyone comes gets 10% mined haul? We could wreck that mine in hours?]
'No, not that! Real stuff! Once-in-lifetime, now-or-never!'
GG vibe fun after long absence—Hyde chipper. But Professor urgent. No time wasting on mithril, specialties, tourist spots. City secrets, legend items, imperial throne stuff...!
[Now-or-never, huh.... This?]
Kaboombust!
"Keeek!"
"Fight! Chaos!"
"Big human smashed road!"
Before I asked, Hyde's ankle claws braked me like calipers. Dust swirled; goblins fled in panic.
'Hey! Protesting to city guards to arrest me?!'
[Heh heh. You seemed rushed. This. Proof Anniversary Gladiator Tournament. Festival, right? Main event? Festival's for this.]
'Glad....tournament? Arena? Tourney?'
Knew zilch of Haunuman, but vibe screamed combat city.
Exotic buildings of bone, leather, wood pillars, mud walls.
Locals all carried man-sized swords or sharp axes—two each—regardless of gender.
Obvious fighter town hosting huge festival-scale glads....
Intuition hit. This is it!
Professor slowly read the parchment Hyde halted him before.
"Great warrior who unified plains nomads, orc transcending racial limits, Kuhn Tagiz's last axe swing anniversary festival.... All races visiting Haunuman eligible. Final victor chooses any one thing in city?!"
This is it!!! Intuition to certainty!
[Uh? Signup till first full moon night this month? Yesterday was full. Late?]
"Nah. City's festive but mild. Tournament underway? Not this quiet. Moon was slight crescent short. Signup today—still time!"
If picking one luck chance: this.
Crashed after good run, right outside festival city one day out.
Merchants shaved arrival to now, catching near-deadline glads news.
"Flow.... This is flow! Luck divined it! Arena's the way!"
Certain, Professor approached goblin vendor nearby.
Goblin who'd seen road-smash halt eyed warily, dragged stall closer.
"K-Kigek?!"
"Whoa whoa. No scare. Ask a question."
"Kiek! T-To merchant.... Manners!"
Stammering fear, but spread stall wide—like buy to ask.
Professor paid for bone crystal junk; goblin grinned, opened up.
"Ask anything!"
"Bandit types.... That arena signup 'Umni Claw Tribe'—where?"
"Kigigik! Ooo.... Arena! You're fighter too! Kiek.... Time short. Desperate tribe warriors piled in—over capacity!"
"So spit it out! Where! Umni Claw!"
"Keeee...."
Grimy grin at urgency; one hand circled, palm out other.
"Kehehihi.... Fighter clueless on tribe spot can't prove warrior! Time tight! Pricey info! Lotsa silver! Good deal! Kehehihi!"
Beady eyes greedily eyed silver pouch; wiggled fingers. Shitty wares in low-traffic alley....
'Bastard camped that poster on purpose.'
[How? Gulp whole—no trace.]
'No junk food.'
Professor calmly drew pouch, pulled three silvers—30 sil.
Goblin's fish-scale eyes dimmed disappointment.
"Kigik. Not enough. No haggle."
"Yeah? Looks plenty to me."
Professor balanced one silver on thumb, snapped hard with knuckle.
Pew—
Crack!
Silver bullet-pinged crotch-embedded.
"Ke.... Keruk?"
"One~"
Pew—!
Crunch!
"Two~"
Next silver shredded thin pants, lodged ass-cheek below; goblin backed, grasping fate.
"Kihiiik! O-Outsider human attacks honest goblin merchant! You, you're in deep! Tribe's fearsome fighters will you, you...."
"Thre—"
Goblin merchant Tekanu felt sincerity. Backpedaling, thumb aimed groin precise, last silver rolled to nail—no hesitation.
'But.... three sparkles too few. Three too few. Three.... Keeik!'
Racial greed thrashed; huge human grinned, tensioned finger. Fine, three enough. Young goblin—son, daughter home. Festival-hyped wife eyed family growth.
Three too few. Tekanu wanted rich for more wives, twenty kids. Three kids too few to end line for one silver.
So he spoke before three.
"Ch-Cheap! Two enough! Tell! Tell!!!"
"Yeah?"
.
.
.
.
.
"Uh.... Three."
Bang!
"Kweeeeeeh!!!!"
Goblin eyes drowned despair 'why?', but silver streak skimmed hands clutching crotch—nailed below.
Three silvers lined wall; goblin pants soaked dark.
"Kek, kehek! Kehuhuhu, kiik, keeeeeek...."
"Thought it over—you're right. Valuable info deserves pay. Right?"
"Kehuhuhu.... East, east, evil human fighter.... Umni Claw Tribe biggest red tent east...."
"Ah, think I passed it. Thanks. Prosper."
Professor patted shoulder of goblin soaking stall too, strode off relieved.
"Kehek, kuhuk, kehuhuhu...."
Sobbing Tekanu yanked wall silvers, scrubbed furious, unwound turban, pulled paper.
=========
[Haunuman Warrior's Proof Entry List]
『Three Fingers Tribe』
- 1. Bear beastkin Pagurs: Wields huge two-hand mace with bear power. Killed fire boar barehanded.
- 2. Third Finger Ishtum: Three Fingers Tribe third head. Fights well. Wins lots.
- 3. Human Gorgonil: Origin unknown. Chains on body.
.
.
.
『Open Ribcage Tribe』
- 1. Blue Mane Tusan: Arena affiliated. Strong. Wins lots. Low odds.
- 2. Dumb Omon: Arena affiliated. Big. Tough. Low odds.
- 3. Blue Mane Marka: Arena affiliated. Strong. Wins smart. Badly hurt last match month ago.
.
.
.
『Umni Claw Tribe』
.
.
.
=========
"Kehuhu... Ke... Kehehihi.... Human fighter.... I still make coin...."
Tekanu pocketed dented silvers tenderly, scrawled kid-scribble on paper.
=========
『Umni Claw Tribe』
- 1. Empire swordsman Romäus Demianus: Idiot. Fake face. Dies. High odds.
- 2. Strong Chikityanu: Strong. Dunno else. Stole my money, bad guy!
.
.
.
- 4. Huge human, baggy white clothes black claws: Outsider. Evil, no scruples. Scary. Targets groin. Flicks fingers to nail coins in wall. Strong. New human. Low odds.
=========
"Kihihihi.... Guards know names. Fighters can't know rivals' info.... Sell high! Gobos always win last laugh! Kehihihi!"
Tekanu cackled, forgetting piss pants, dreaming festival haul.
Slim pale hand snuck to his nape.
****
Moments later, Yggdrasil pocketed the pissy paper.
'Lucilla said watch—no accidents.'
She was human too. Storm Hill once enough; suspicious goblin plenty "accident" spark.
Learned Professor's silver shots effective—okay go hard sometimes.
Erased bound goblin's hollow eyes; chased Professor again. Grandmatron would've wailed regret.
****