Chapter 103
Chapter 103
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 103
Chapter Title: Nymph Cultist and Pluto's Underground Labyrinth #1
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Truth be told, I wasn't close with books or writing.
From my school cafeteria days to my university meal plan days, my grades were always middling at best—just scraping by somehow.
It wasn't like I never tried to push higher, but whenever I cracked open a book, this overwhelming drowsiness hit me. It was pure torture.
Then, when I learned I'd have to take over my father's health center, I focused more on hands-on practice than theory. Moving my body suited me better than reading anyway.
So why am I suddenly bringing this up?
Rustle, rustle.
It was because this book I'd opened after so long just wasn't sinking in. The densely packed text blurred together; I couldn't even grasp what it was saying, let alone retain it.
After dozing on and off for about two hours like that, the librarian Eremanthos called out to me from across the library.
"You've searched the whole library? Unexpected. With the guild hall in ruins, are you thinking of switching professions while you have the chance?"
His gruff voice snapped me half-awake. I wiped the drool from my mouth and fixed my gaze back on the book.
『Chaos—A primal rift that persisted before the world's creation. After the Giant War, as the faith of the Twelve Gods became dominant, Chaos worship declined and faded, leaving scant records.』
"Hmm..."
"Something not clicking? Haven't heard a page turn in a while."
The gaunt librarian Eremanthos sidled up beside me.
I didn't like how he invaded my personal space without warning, but complaining would probably get me kicked out, so I kept my mouth shut.
The librarian skimmed the passage I was reading, then snorted. "Hmph."
"I wondered what you were looking at. Utter nonsense. Debating chaos is pointless. That's chaos for you—it's not meant to be understood."
"Is that so?"
"Still, I don't hate those who try to learn. Take this."
Rustle, rustle.
Eremanthos rummaged inside his ash-gray robe and handed me something broad and flat. Another book? Was he recommending a better study guide?
I cracked it open curiously, but the worn pages were filled with nothing but blank sheets. Shit, Hassan gets duped again today.
"What's this?"
"A blank book. The primordial chaos is just like this. It's yours now. What you fill it with is up to you."
"Oh."
Who knew this stern-looking librarian would gift me a notebook? In a world where paper and books were luxury items, a notebook was quite valuable.
It had dozens of pages too. Easily worth over one silver. And he's giving it to me for free? What's Shit's angle?
I knew better than anyone that no favors came free in this world, so suspicion was inevitable.
"Got some task for me?"
"Not yet. But having ties with the famous Samaritan in the city can't hurt. Samaritans make excellent mercenaries."
"I see."
"Anyway, don't dig too deep into chaos. Those blessed by it, peering into the abyss, all lose their minds. Pluto's cultists are a prime example."
With that, Eremanthos headed off with his slave Aesop to organize the shelves. Don't dig too deep into chaos, huh.
Forbidden knowledge? Like seditious texts or something.
Anyway, I'd come to study, and scoring a notebook was a huge win.
I'd been debating whether to buy one myself. It felt like a splurge, so I'd been leaning toward skipping it.
* * *
Stepping outside, the sun still blazed brightly. Felt like I'd been cooped up in the library all day, but less time had passed than I thought.
I'd told Luna I'd study till evening. Ending early felt lame; no bragging rights now.
Still, cramming even a little knowledge into my head made the day feel productive.
So, what now? Hit up a PC bang?
Luna had insisted I not come home before dinner—she had important secret ingredients to make.
No PC bangs here, though. Wondering what else could kill time, I headed to the guild hall.
How much progress had they made on the ruined Mars temple?
"You bastard, move it!"
"What the hell, you!"
At the guild site, rough-looking dwarves worked shirtless, clearing debris and erecting pillars.
As I blankly watched them mix water, gravel, sand, and mortar to spread over the flattened ground—
"Ah, Mr. Hassan! You're here!"
Someone called out brightly. Few around the guild hall would greet me like that.
"Ms. Daphne?"
"Yes! I was just looking for you. Perfect timing."
Turning, I saw Daphne with a cloth wrapped around her head, wearing dirt-streaked work clothes.
A basket of stones at her waist—she was pitching in on the reconstruction too.
Looking for me? Don't tell me she wants me to join this boring grunt work. Tension rising.
As I hesitated between hearing her out or bolting—
"The underground nymph was asking for you."
Underground nymph? Tension eased into confusion.
Underground nymph?
What?
Maybe my brain was overloaded from actual thinking today, but it lagged for a second.
Then I remembered: the crimson-haired cultist locked in the Mars guild's basement cell—Paranoya.
From what Hippolyte said, captured cultists get shipped to Prison City or whatever. Was Paranoya still down there?
"Why's she calling for me?"
"No idea. Won't talk to us. Won't touch the food we bring either. Even a nymph can't starve for days without issue."
Daphne clucked her tongue, pitying the stubborn woman. I exchanged brief goodbyes and descended into the basement cell.
Expected it cool underground.
But the scorching sun above had heated the earth; the cell was stuffy and hot, unpleasantly humid. Reeked like a beast cage too.
Step, step.
My footsteps echoed in the dimness.
Soon, I stood before the sole prisoner: the nymph cultist Paranoya.
"You the one who called for me?"
"Mmph! Mmph!"
Sensing me, the nymph—chained, gagged, restrained, slumped—reacted.
Like a machine powering on after years idle. How many days had she been like this?
Clank.
I unlocked her cell with the key outside and stepped in.
From last time, I knew she couldn't harm me even inside.
Removing her gag, she spat out a long string of saliva and gasped.
"Hah... ha, finally. C-Comrade! Good to see you! Been busy?"
She mistook me for an ally. Probably the Pluto's pupil necklace.
I'd thought the cultists' misconceptions cleared after Somnia and Skizo, but this first basement captive hadn't caught on.
"Just been busy."
"How's the plan? We were gonna smash the Minerva guild with fog! Declare war...! Days passed. What about the Minerva temple? Did that lofty goddess statue crumble?"
Paranoya whispered urgently. I pictured the Minerva guild Luna and I visited—its proud statue still standing tall.
"Plan failed."
"Damn, because I got caught... Couldn't make fog without my mana. Somnia and Anxius are mana-dry anchovies. S-So, what about the other comrades?"
Other comrades—I recalled the cultists gathered underground that day.
"All captured. Somnia and Skizo headed to Prison City."
"W-What? No way! Those two? B-By who?!"
Paranoya shrieked in disbelief. She'd trusted their strength that much?
They were tough enough to evade most adventurers or soldiers.
"Doesn't matter. Nothing else? I'm out."
"W-Wait, comrade! One more favor..."
"Favor?"
A cultist asking me for a favor? What scheme now? Wondered if she'd beg release or claim urgent business again. Braced myself.
"What favor? Another 'urgent errand'?"
"N-No. Even I wouldn't ask that twice. I've refused the Mars dogs' food and water on purpose."
I glanced around the cell. Sure enough, untouched meals crawled with flies.
That must be the source of the stench. Too proud to eat enemy slop? Stubborn for a fanatic.
"Then what?"
"J-Just... stay a bit. Too dark and quiet here..."
"Hmm."
Lonesome type? Makes sense in this barren cell.
Her status even listed "Loneliness》" or something.
To ease her loneliness and farm some karma points, I touched her wrist.
"W-What?"
"Just a bug."
"B-Bug!? Not a spider!?"
She freaked at her own word. Right—she hated spiders.
"Sp-Spider! Hate spiders!"
But faking one and watching her spiral into hysteria was annoying. Why was I down here for this idiot?
For kicks, I pinched the soft flesh inside her thigh.
Pinch.
"Eek! S-Spider bit me!"
She thought it was a bite.
"Spider! It bit me!! Poison! Oh gods! Tarantula bite! B-Breathing... hard!!"
Her reaction was overboard. Blindfolded, her imagined terror overwhelmed her.
"Hic, heeek!"
She thrashed like truly envenomed. I got spooked too.
Didn't care if she rotted here, but dying before my eyes? Bad luck.
"Hey, it's fine. No spider. Not a—"
"P-Poison spider! Spreading through me!"
Her mind fixated solely on the bite; frenzy worsened. Her starved body flailing pitifully.
"C-Comrade! S-Suck out the poison! Q-Quick!! D-Don't wanna die!!"
"W-What?"
"H-Hurry! Thigh! Hate spiders..."
Exhausted, she slumped.
"S-Styx River. That boat Charon's? N-No copper to pay. Don't wanna die..."
Hallucinating behind the blindfold. Starvation does that.
"Sigh—"
No choice. I shoved my face between her thighs, lips to the red pinch mark, and sucked.
Slurp, slurp.
Her skin pulled into my mouth, round and salty with sweat. No poison, just grime.
Shit, what am I doing?
Ptooey.
I spat our mingled saliva on the floor casually.
"Done. Poison's out. You're good."
"R-Really?"
"Yeah, won't die now."
"C-Comrade, life-saver!"
Fuck. Talking to her dumbs me down to chimp level.
Guilt and sadistic urge to pinch again warred as I hesitated.
Rustle.
She spread her fixed ankles slightly. Her tattered rags parted, exposing her groin.
"W-What?"
"O-Only way I can repay you—"
Huh?