Chapter 118
Chapter 118
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 118
Chapter Title: The City of Pleasure, Sodomora, and the Goddess's Holy Knight #2
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Venus.
The goddess of beauty and love.
And also the goddess who governs lust and carnal desire.
One famous anecdote about her was probably the one in encyclopedias where she cheats on her husband with the war god Mars.
A woman symbolizing beauty and love, paired with a man who was the warrior among warriors. If they suited each other, they really did make a good match.
Perhaps because of that, relations between the Mars Guild and the Venus Temple were quite amicable.
If you had to name the temples with the most exchanges with the Mars Guild, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say first was Pluto's Temple (the underground labyrinth) and second was Venus's Temple.
"Sometimes, when you take on a request from the Mars Guild, you get one of these Venus Temple vouchers instead of pay."
Hearing Malco's story, I could guess how he'd gotten his hands on a Venus Temple voucher.
If the Minerva Guild had top-notch company cafeterias to look after their members' welfare, then the Mars Guild realized theirs in this kind of way.
....
Come to think of it, it did seem like it would ignite the hot-blooded adventurers' motivation.
"Ahem, anyway, I'm just going to observe. Just sightseeing."
"Yeah, yeah. No one's saying otherwise."
After some casual day drinking, we headed out to the streets and made our way toward the central boulevard where the Venus Temple stood.
"What the hell, those fucking bastards."
"Barbarian, elf, and a fucking huge goblin to boot."
"That's not a goblin, it's like a human. Look, he's got some stringed instrument on his back."
"Who cares, don't make eye contact with the shits. Don't wanna pick a fight for no reason."
The trio of a hulking Samaritan, a bald elf, and a ridiculously clownish bard had a way of drawing people's stares.
Honestly, it was a bit uncomfortable, but with booze in my system and this weird excitement bubbling in my chest that I couldn't suppress, I had no time to worry about the looks.
Venus's Temple, of all places.
Even back when I was rolling as a slave in these parts, I'd heard bits and pieces about the place. But I'd never known exactly what it was like.
As I'd mentioned before, it seemed they carefully selected the worshippers allowed entry.
I'd wondered what it was like, and now I had the chance to check it out myself. With things feeling dull lately, could there be anything more fun?
Of course, I wasn't planning to do anything there—just observe. Sightseeing, learning by seeing. A very wholesome, scholarly activity.
"Kuhuhu, second time for me, but it still gives me the shivers every time."
After walking for a good twenty or thirty minutes, we arrived at the temple district in the city center, at the building dedicated to serving the goddess Venus.
A steeply pitched isosceles triangular roof atop marble columns.
Looking at the fountain in the garden and the beautiful flowers, it really hit home that this was a divine domain.
Even I felt my pounding heart settle into something more solemn amid the grand, majestic sight and the butterflies flitting about.
"Shit, why are there swans flying around in the garden?"
I couldn't shut my mouth at the sight of the swans preening in the small pond carved into the garden.
It felt like a spot where Luna and I could take a nice stroll.
Sure enough, pairs of men and women were wandering about, chatting happily—probably a popular date spot.
Who would ever guess from the outside that this was a place for that sort of activity?
"Swans are a symbol of the goddess Venus. More than that, brother, I can tell what you're thinking. The building's too opulent, got you intimidated, huh?"
Malco's voice from beside me snapped me out of my reverie with a start.
"Shit, you asshole, can you read minds or something?"
"What spell? What's that? Anyway, this Venus Temple in Sodomora is on a whole other level compared to those in other cities. It's all thanks to their patron, Baron Fleur, who's a die-hard Venus devotee."
Baron Fleur?
I'd heard the name Baron Fleur before.
Wasn't he one of the nobles who asked the Nymph Wing Inn's owner how Echo's breasts got so big?
And he was the guy I had to meet in secret in a few days. Hearing his name here of all places left me pretty dumbfounded.
"Brothers, no more dawdling. How about we head inside?"
"Yeah, sounds good. Come on, brother, let's go in."
Prodded by the bald elf and the big-nosed bard, I shuffled my way into the temple.
The interior of the Venus Temple gleamed with polished marble floors that mirrored everything, and red carpets scattered here and there gave the feel of stepping into a palace.
Having a top-tier noble as a sponsor in the city wasn't just talk, apparently.
As I got lost staring at the chandeliers you'd see at a party and the painted porcelain,
"Over there, that reception desk is free. Brothers, let's go that way."
Turning at Malco's words, I spotted a woman in a pink robe seated at what looked just like a guild counter.
With her long, flowing blonde hair and pale skin, you could really feel the high standards even for the staff at the temple of the goddess of beauty.
Of course, Luna was prettier.
Anyway, us three guys approached the empty counter. The blue-blonde woman looked up at us.
"Oh my, what handsome gentlemen. A bald-eared elf, a hulking barbarian, and a nose-only monster! What brings you to our temple?"
The woman greeted us brightly with words that could be praise or insults—I couldn't tell which.
It sure felt like we'd been insulted, but she said it with such cheer that the mood was weird, and I missed my chance to snap back.
As I stood there quietly, Malco and the monk Kalidur started elbowing each other and exchanging some kind of signals.
Tap, tap tap.
For a second, I wondered if these guys were gay. Was this place secretly fucked up, a place I shouldn't have come to? I was seriously getting scared when
"Ahem, hem, sister. My brothers have come to worship the goddess Venus. Hem, uh-hem, cough, ahem, hem."
Malco finally spoke up, coughing excessively like he had a throat cold. Looked like they'd just been too embarrassed to speak first.
"Then let's check your voucher first."
"Here it is."
The counter staff took the scroll ticket from Malco.
"Loving Lovers course, one hour each, for three gentlemen. Loving Lovers, huh. Are you virgins, by any chance?"
Malco shuddered like he'd been caught off guard at the staffer's question.
"Th-that's a secret."
"Hehe. Everyone says that. Then, just quickly confirm if there's any reason you can't have a partner, and head into the worship room with your sister. Next!"
* * *
The spot the counter woman pointed to with her finger had setups like airport security—furniture and structures just like that.
There, women armed in heavy armor utterly unsuited to the goddess of love checked men's and women's belongings, batons at their waists.
"Hey, Malco. What the hell is that?"
Malco peered around with half-lidded eyes under his conical hat at my question.
"Ah, that. Sometimes worshippers get rowdy mid-service, so they've restricted belongings at entry for the past few years."
Fair enough, they had their procedures.
Me, Malco, and the bald Kalidur lined up at the checkpoint, waiting our turn.
Kalidur and Malco kept clearing their throats nervously. I couldn't stop gawking at the unfamiliar, bizarre scene.
So this was Venus's Temple.
What would happen after the inspection? My mind swelled with anticipation just as
Clank.
I locked eyes with a woman in armor sitting in the corner.
In that instant, chills raced up the back of my neck, and I nearly let out a little scream.
The only reason I didn't scream was that my self-control was superhuman, practically.
Fuck, what is that?
First thing I noticed was the white plate armor bristling with sharp blades. The armor itself could be called a weapon, right?
If you body-slammed into that razor-sharp thing, you'd end up not just bruised but shredded.
But what really shocked my eyes was the face more than the armor.
Pale blonde curls framed a face topped not with a helmet but a crown of thorny rose vines, and a long bit gag inhumanely sealed her mouth shut.
Her bulging eyes glaring at me were gold, like her hair.
Golden eyes—like a beast. Scary as hell.
"Hey, Malco, who the fuck is that...?"
I had to ask Malco about the freakishly dressed woman. He seemed to have some experience with this Venus Temple.
Malco, who'd been tensely fake-coughing, followed my gaze with narrowed eyes and went, "Ahh—."
"That sister? She's a Venus Holy Warrior. The top force guarding this Venus Temple in Sodomora."
Venus Holy Warrior, huh.
I'd heard of Holy Warriors before. Ones who'd received curses from gods and become slaves bearing sins, right?
Yeah, the bit gag in her mouth, the thorny crown on her head. Even in armor, she felt more like a prisoner than a warrior.
"Fucking terrifying."
"Ho, as expected of a brother who's cut down men in the wilds—you've got sharp instincts. They say even that famous Hippolyte or Actaeon would yield a step to that Rose Berserker."
"For real? That's legit?"
The strongest warriors I knew, Hippolyte and the loincloth-wearing veteran Actaeon, yielding to her?
Just hearing that gave me a solid sense of how strong this freakishly dressed woman was.
"Of course, nobody's actually seen her fight. She just sits there for show."
Like nuclear deterrence, holding the line. Speaking of Holy Warriors, it reminded me of Pluto's Holy Warrior, the black greatsword-wielder Skizo. He wore heavy plate too.
Maybe that razor armor was like unremovable shackles?
I'd glossed over it with Skizo, but seeing this made me wonder—how do you take a dump or bathe without taking off the armor?
Swish.
Right then, the Venus Holy Warrior who'd been eyeing me stood from her seat. And then clank, clank—she started walking straight toward me?
I thought maybe she had business elsewhere. But with those golden eyes fixed right on me, no doubt she was coming for me.
Shit, did I piss her off by staring?
"Hey, isn't she coming for us?"
"Brother, it's your imagination. The only ones turned away from Venus's Temple are Pluto's death cultists."
"Fuck."
Dunno why, but a curse slipped out. I'd seen the ironclad woman draw a chained spiked mace from her belt.
Clank. Clang.
"Hrrrr...."
The Venus Holy Warrior growled like a beast from her bit-gagged mouth, face twisted. Then whoosh—the mace swung up.
Rrrattle.
And it came crashing down straight at me.
Boom—!
"Fuck, shit!"
I'd expected the attack, so dodging was no issue.
"You bitch!"
But that blow had cratered the beautiful marble floor like a forklift smash. If it'd hit me, I'd be pulp.
"Eek!"
"R-run away!"
Panicked screams erupted as people fled every which way.
"Grurrr...."
Groaning under her bit, the Holy Warrior scooped up the fallen mace and reloaded for another swing. It flew at me again, fast.
Whiiiiiir—!
Fuck, can't dodge this one. Too late to draw my club. Guess I'd have to sacrifice an arm—could the clinic heal bones pulverized by a mace?
Shit, trying to sneak some bad deeds behind Luna's back, and now punishment.
I'd raised one arm, bracing myself, when
Flash—.
Kalidur, who'd been at my side, twisted his waist and snapped a kick that deflected the armored arm.
Thwack—!
"Grk—?"
Her golden eyes widened in shock at me. Probably never dreamed her attack would be blocked.
"Hoo—."
Sighing, Kalidur rolled his shoulders, spread his palms like a martial artist, and assumed a stance.
"An unprovoked attack like that—. I requested the Loving Lovers course. Where in the world do you see lovers treated like this?"
Like some esteemed monk master. Kinda reassuring.
Staring at Kalidur's back boldly planted between me and the berserker, I yelled.
"Shit, Kalidur!"
"Brothers, leave this to me. Kalidur the Flash of Alfheim. Never thought I'd have to show my skills here—."
"Your leg's broken! Fuck! It's bent all fucked up!"
"Haha. My body of minor enlightenment, tempered by ascetic mana and tattoos, is indestructible as diamond. The armor's tough, but blocking a hit like that wouldn't break it...."
Kalidur glanced down at his foot and trailed off. Probably couldn't continue seeing his right leg grotesquely twisted backward.
"....Ate too much meat, maybe."
Thud.
With that, he collapsed.
"Shit, baldy—!"
Fuck, took down the formidable Kalidur in one hit. Now nothing stood between me and the berserker.
"Grraaah—!"
Anyway, it was do-or-die for sure. Shit, what now? Start a brawl here? As I thought that and reached for my club,
"Brother! Shout that your lover has come to the Holy Warrior! Say your beloved lover has arrived!"
Malco, cowering and trembling in the corner, yelled out.
"Hurry! You have to trust Malco completely!"
Lover? Has Malco lost it? That thought lasted a moment. Staring at the mace whirling like merciless helicopter blades, I figured anything was worth a shot.
Clenching my fist, figuring it beat dying, I bellowed.
"Y-your beloved lover has arrived! Shit, stop!"
As my weird shout burst out, gasps rose from the cowering, shaking people in the corner.
"He said it! He's insane...!"
"Brave bastard! Don't barbarians fear anything!?"
"But who else would stop her? Why'd she snap out of nowhere?"
What the hell was going on? But the Venus Holy Warrior jolted at my words.
"Hmm...."
Rrrattle.
Her glare softened, she dropped the mace, approached me, and hugged me with all her strength.
An embrace from a woman, passionate!
"Hrrrr—."
Crunch.
"Gaaahk—!"
But hugged by blade-studded armor, I screamed like I was dying.
Just the hug shredded my fancy clothes and cut my skin! Like being bear-hugged by a bear covered in blades!
Rub rub.
She shoved her thorn-vine crown at me and rubbed her face against mine—pure agony.
Shit, fucking hurts!
What the hell is this!
"Enough, Psyche."