Chapter 9
Chapter 9
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Milf Village of Beginnings
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It's cold.
I'm exhausted.
The small scratches sting subtly, adding to the fatigue.
My body reeks.
How many days have I been running? When did I last drink water?
I feel like I'm about to collapse any second.
By the time I barely reached the village, my condition was so wrecked that passing out on the spot wouldn't have been surprising.
Still, I'm alive.
Anger outweighed the exhaustion.
"Hey, what are you?! Stop right there!"
"Your pass... huh?"
These were the sentries I'd seen when I first arrived at Milf Village.
Their faces were a welcome sight like never before.
"Th...at..."
Words wouldn't come out properly.
Of course not.
I hadn't eaten properly, barely drunk water, and pushed my body beyond its limits.
I needed rest right now.
When I gestured desperately for help, I flinched.
The sentries' worried expressions had twisted into ones of disgust.
...Because of the stench? Or did they not recognize me?
No, from their reaction earlier, it seemed like they did recognize me... So why? Is there a rule against entering the village if you're filthy?
"Tch... You're still alive, huh."
"Lucky bastard. Your pass... no, that damned sentence is there. Get lost."
No, that's not it.
They clearly harbored malice toward me.
Why?
I entered while enduring their hostile glares.
Why are they looking at me like that? What happened?
...What about the subjugation squad? Are they here?
Damn that ice knight bitch. Yulis's face flashed in my mind. My teeth ground together involuntarily.
Really. It's strange.
In the past, a situation like this would've been nothing to me.
Those worlds.
Maybe because I'd spent so long in the beautiful worlds of games.
To have my teeth grind over something like this betrayal.
Maybe because receiving malice in return for goodwill felt so fresh after so long.
A hollow laugh escaped me, but the anger burned even fiercer.
I wanted to find Yulis right now and slaughter her. But not yet.
Going after her in this exhausted state would just get me killed instead.
I need rest. I need to be in top condition...
I craved a warm bath, a meal, and a bed. Money... none.
The pay from the subjugation squad was to be given after the job was done, so I was broke right now.
...Am I really an idiot?
There's the guild, right? They have free lodging services?
With excited steps, I headed to the Adventurer's Guild.
Maybe because I was so thrilled, I got there incredibly fast.
Creeeak. I pushed open the door and went in. It was the dead of night, but there were people. No, there were way more than when I'd come during the day.
...What time is it? Dawn?
If it's dawn, are these people here to pick up jobs?
"What the hell? Looks like you got fucked up bad somewhere. You okay?"
A warrior nearby approached, then froze. His face twisted like he'd bitten into a bug.
This was the second inexplicable look of disgust toward me.
I was certain now.
Some... wrong rumor about me had spread.
"What the hell is this guy? Isn't he that guy? He's still alive?"
"Hey, hey, why pick a fight with the poor exhausted dude... Oh."
A brawler? Anyway, a muscular woman saw my face, covered her mouth with her hand, and her expression turned fierce too.
Gazes poured in from all around.
All those gazes shifted to hostility.
Hostility. Hostility. Hostility.
...Fuck.
The world is such shit.
I ignored the damn stares as best I could and walked to the counter.
There... was the kind middle-aged staff member I'd seen before, staring at me.
"...Excuse me."
She smiled at me.
But while last time it felt human and warm, this time it was purely professional.
I couldn't blame her. She was the only one here not hostile toward me, maintaining fairness through a businesslike demeanor.
"Yes. What can I do for you, adventurer?"
Everyone was listening in. My voice trembled because of it. Partly from my weakened body, but mostly from anger.
"...Do you have any rooms left at the guild."
That instant.
Pfft.
Someone snorted, and laughter exploded throughout the guild.
What's so funny.
I just asked if there were any spare rooms.
Flip flip. The staff flipped through papers, checking something.
"I'm sorry, adventurer. There are no spare rooms right now."
"Got it."
I didn't verify if it was true. I just hoped it was and tried to leave this shithole.
"You bastard. Don't make me laugh."
The warrior who'd approached worriedly at first now blocked my path with a savage expression.
"After pulling that crap, you want a room? You nobody with no background, you did that shit? Huh?"
"What did I do."
He seemed older than me, but who cares.
My dry tone pissed him off more, and the warrior bellowed.
"What do you mean what! You're the zero-credit trash who betrayed your employer and comrades in a crisis and sided with the monsters!!"
"Yulis said that?"
It slipped out thoughtlessly, but was it spot on? The warrior let out an exasperated sigh.
"That lady was strong, so the squad barely survived. And your crimes came to light."
"Ha."
A scoff escaped me. Then my collar was grabbed.
"You little shit...!"
"Hey, hey, stop it, Ben. This guy's not worth beating."
I locked eyes briefly with the female brawler, who looked at me like I was filth, then spoke slowly but clearly.
"Let go of my collar."
"Make me."
"Wanna die? You fuck?"
It was pure, unyielding intent. For some reason, the guild's laughter cut off.
My condition didn't matter.
If they pissed me off more, I'd kill them all.
Silence.
The warrior released my collar with a flinch in his eyes. Then, feeling humiliated, his hand went to the sword on his back.
"Hey, hey! You trying to get more penalty points?!"
As the female brawler desperately held him back, I said once more.
"If you wanna die, come at me. You fucks."
It was dead silent.
Even the rowdy warrior looked intimidated somehow.
A sigh escaped me.
I was tired.
"Fuckin' cowards who can't even jump an injured guy..."
I passed them and headed for the door.
Only then did the warrior regain his nerve and shout.
"You dog! How much did Blan take care of you! Do you know what happened to Blan because of you?!"
Blan. Hearing the muscle bro's name, I stopped.
"Is he alive?"
At my question, the warrior yelled even louder in frustration.
"He's barely hanging on!"
"I see."
Alive is good enough.
And I left the guild.
...That thing where you get too angry and become calm. It's been ages.
Getting screwed over by a woman was the same back then too.
Yulis.
What grudge does that disgusting bitch have against me to do this?
She must've thought my survival was hopeless, so why spread these lies?
Just in case I survived?
Does she have no conscience?
My thoughts stalled. I'm tired. My body had reached its limit.
...Maybe check out the stables.
As the sentry had told me before, I followed the road.
Inns are expensive, a big burden for day-to-day laborers.
I needed at least a place to sleep, and I'd heard from the expedition that stables are free and perfect for crashing one night.
When I reached the street the sentry mentioned, there were horses resting here and there, and plenty of us vagrants too.
Is this the stable district or something? More than I expected.
It's early dawn now.
Motels or inns would be packed, but most adventurers seemed to be at the guild, so there should be space for one more like me.
But don't I need permission...? At this hour, the owners are probably asleep.
But the people of this world were as diligent as those from my old one—already up, feeding the horses.
I approached the owners.
And got told to fuck off.
After the seventh time, I felt nothing anymore.
Then I spotted a familiar face.
The elf from the inn I'd stayed at before... the innkeeper's husband who'd been seduced by her.
He saw my face and scowled as hard as he could.
"Just a filthy race, like always..."
He grumbled in a way that left no room for talk.
Of all the familiar faces so far, his reaction was the worst.
The innkeeper who'd seduced me would probably hurl abuse and disgust at me now too, right?
Thinking that, I looked for an empty corner with no people.
Seemed like even the stables were a no-go.
And then.
"Hey. Come here."
A big, bald guy with a bushy beard. Huge tattoos on both arms, and a fierce face.
Thug? From his tone, didn't seem like a friendly call.
Trouble.
Starting a fight now might lead to actual murder.
...Doesn't matter.
I felt like just committing it.
I ignored him and kept walking. He strode after me and blocked my path.
"What?"
"Sleep over there."
"What?"
His unexpected words made me ask again, and he scowled.
"Don't wander around looking half-dead. Sleep there. It's my place."
"......"
"Follow me."
The stable he led me to was fairly clean. He took me to the farthest corner spot.
"Don't show your face. Regular citizens might not know, but anyone connected to the Adventurer's Guild knows about you."
"......"
He left those words and walked away.
What if he comes back with a mob to lynch me? The thought crossed my mind, but right now, collapsing and sleeping was my only option.
I pulled hay over my body. My throat was parched. It hurt. Itched.
I wanted water.
But that's a luxury for me now. Sleep. Forget it in sleep.
Then the guy who'd left came back. With people? No, he held a pitcher.
"Don't wanna deal with hauling a corpse if you die in your sleep. At least drink some water."
He moved roughly like he was gonna throw the pitcher, but gently set it down just before and walked off.
Dazed, I picked it up and gulped it down. Poison? Probably not.
I'm a pro at reading people's character and emotions, and he had no malice toward me.
Only goodwill.
"Gah! *Cough cough*."
I choked and spat some out. Then drank it back up. Water is precious. Can't waste a drop.
The pitcher was big, but I was thirsty enough to drain it all.
...Good people exist.
The thought hit me after finishing the water.
Feeling a bit relieved, my body felt cold. I covered myself with hay and closed my eyes.
Sleep came. My mind grew hazy.
And I muttered the words I'd been holding back all this time.
"Fuck... This sucks..."
I felt like I was floating on water. Not in a pleasant way.
Astral projection-like sensation isn't fun.
Above all, it's cold. So cold. My body shivered uncontrollably.
Every gust of wind felt like a blade slicing my skin.
Curling up and burrowing into the hay didn't help; wind seeped in from somewhere.
The stench. Beastly stink pierced my nose.
The reek made my feverish head spin even more.
...Am I gonna die like this?
No, I can't die yet.
I have to pay them back.
I need to teach a lesson to those who wreaked havoc without dreaming they'd ever suffer the consequences.
Goodwill for goodwill, malice for malice.
I can't die.
Feverish.
Dream... no, unconsciousness?
I kept raging and hating nonstop.
Fuck. Fuck. This is too much.
Fine, Yulis that damn bitch, but the subjugation squad... You guys, if you think about it, I basically saved your asses, right? And not one defended me?
How can people do that?
Resentment poisons the heart.
I want to kill them all.
Chatter chatter. I endured my teeth clacking together.
A cold?
How much would medicine cost? Does this fantasy world even have cold meds?
If it does, how much?
So fucking cold.
If those guys were here right now, they'd at least get me meds... No, if they'd come to this world with me, they'd be in the same boat, no meds...
...Memories of the past.
Back then, I was so pissed I didn't feel the pain no matter how bad it hurt.
I was bedridden for a while after it all ended.
But back then... venting all those suppressed emotions was pure bliss.
Funny enough, even now on the brink of death, I felt a bit good.
Because once this body recovered, I could vent my emotions freely.
Yeah. I'll kill them.
Pain doesn't matter.
Yulis, everyone who turned their backs on me... all of them.
Live kindly.
......Ah, fuck.
Such bullshit.
Really fucking bullshit.
Why'd you have to leave words like that...
Swish.
Then someone pulled the hay off me. I tried to open my eyes, and something soft covered my face.
What is this.
The soft something soon covered my whole body, and a warm wet cloth was placed on my face.
...Who?
In my slightly opened eyes, I saw a small silhouette.
And I fell asleep again.
...How many hours later did I wake?
When I briefly opened my eyes earlier, it was bright; now it was dark again. Night? Dawn?
Whatever, seems I'm still alive.
I sat up, and the blanket on top slid off softly.
The wet cloth on my forehead... was gone. Probably taken back.
I folded the blanket and walked out of the stable. The street was full of people.
The sky was the same color as before I slept, but now it seemed like evening.
"Finally up, huh... Thought you croaked."
A voice from the side—I looked, and there was a man sitting on a chair reading a newspaper.
The stable owner.
"Um... thank you."
"...?"
He raised an eyebrow at my thanks, like it was weird.
Then he clicked his tongue and jerked his chin toward the outside.
"If you're grateful, get lost now."
"Yes. I'll repay the favor next time."
"....."
As I trudged away on weak legs, I heard him grumble "Ugh" in annoyance. He scratched his sparse hair, then suddenly stood up.
"Wait a sec!"
He went into the house attached to the stable and came back with two loaves of bread, handing them to me.
"Eat up!"
"...Thank you."
"You sure know your manners. A decent guy like you, why'd you do that shit? Tch."
The grumbling man pointed toward outside the village.
"Word's spread all over the village, so head to another one. After pulling that on the Hart Clan heir, it'll be hard to live anywhere but the boonies. Hiding out for a while's an option."
"Yes."
I can't do that. I suck at survival skills, so no way I could hide even if I tried.
I need to make money.
Gain experience, hone my skills.
For Yulis. To kill that bitch.
I bowed deeply in thanks and chomped on the tough bread.
The man had a strange look, then crossed his arms, snorted, and went back inside.
And I headed straight to the guild.
Creeeak...
I opened the door, and they were in the middle of after-work drinks. Noisy like a tavern.
But soon, all eyes were on me again. The smell?
Faces that first looked like "What's with the bum?" started filling with hostility.
I ignored them all and went to the counter. As I passed, nearby people pinched their noses and glared.
"Hello."
"Hello. Adventurer."
I gave a light greeting to the polite middle-aged staff and got straight to it.
"Any decent quests available now."
"I'm terribly sorry, adventurer. You can't take any requests."
"All requests taken? What time should I come to get one usually?"
She seemed at a loss for words briefly, then bowed her head again.
"Terribly sorry... but adventurer, you're currently in delinquency status. In this state, you can't take requests. If you want to earn money, your only option is selling monster corpses or items."
Delinquency status.
Not even in my rampage-filled old world did I have that.
"Is there a way to clear the delinquency?"
"If you rack up merits that outweigh the penalty points, it lifts. Merits include strong monster corpses, new discoveries like undiscovered dungeons, new safe routes to existing dungeons, etc."
I listened to the explanation for a while, then someone yelled from behind.
"We ain't got shit for you! Get out!"
Familiar voice—it was that warrior from yesterday.
“Shut the fuck up, asshole.”
"......"
I glared at him once more, said goodbye to the staff, and left the guild.
Since I only cursed and didn't respond otherwise, the warrior looked unsatisfied.
If he'd pushed more, I'd have decapitated him.
...Fine then.
First, sort out my living situation.
Whether it's arriving in this world, revenge on Yulis, or whatever that goddess bitch intends... thinking comes later.
A start in the starting village that could only be called the absolute worst.
No, maybe refreshingly so.
Real fun starts from rock bottom, after all.
Jet-black revenge burned fiercely within me.
This raw emotion I hadn't felt in ages was immensely enjoyable.