Chapter 121
Chapter 121
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 121
Chapter Title: Samaritan of the Black Rock Mountain
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It took me quite a bit of effort to soothe Luna, who was thoroughly pissed off.
I had to keep stroking the back of Luna, who had pulled her cloak over her head, hiding every strand of her pink hair and curling up tight, while insisting on my innocence nonstop.
Stroke, stroke.
“It was just a quick stop for work. I even got a gold coin as an advance. This is real gold, Luna. Do you know what you could do with one gold coin?”
“...”
“With one gold coin, you could buy five hundred of those birds you like. That’s a thousand legs. A thousand wings. Wow!”
“...Hmph.”
“Luna, you just smiled, didn’t you?”
“...N-No, I didn’t! More importantly, your hand stopped, Hassan! Keep stroking properly!”
If my hand paused even for a second, Luna would throw a fit from under the cloak, so I had to keep moving it constantly.
Luna’s small body, bulging round under the cloak.
Because of the thick, rough fabric, I couldn’t feel her usual soft, warm plushness. A single cloak had created a wall between Luna and me.
It wasn’t just physical distance—the cloak seemed to have wedged a psychological gap between us too.
A gap that was thick if thick, thin if thin.
Some might think it was just one cloak, but still.
I’d never had a falling out with Luna before, so this was pretty disorienting. I thought we’d been getting closer lately, and things were going great—then this happens!
Do all those couples walking the streets go through fights and sulks like this out of our sight?
Some must argue for reasons like mine. So how do they make up? How do they patch things up?
I racked my brain through all the dramas and media I’d been forced to watch because of my little sister’s higher remote-control rank.
Would the endless rom-coms I’d endured there help me now?
But even digging through my memories, I couldn’t find any girl like Luna in my life. And I sure wasn’t some romantic male lead from those stories.
In the end, it meant I had to come up with and develop my own way, tailored just for Luna.
What would Luna do if I were the one sulking?
That thought sparked an idea right away. So, like a pianist curling his fingers, I spider-walked them across her back, scratching lightly.
Scratch, scratch.
Twitch, twitch.
As my pointed fingertips hit her back and sides, she squirmed under the cloak from the tickles.
“Heeheehee—.”
Luna couldn’t hold it in and burst into laughter.
But realizing she was supposed to be mad, she growled like an angry beast.
“...D-Don’t tickle! I’m not playing around. I’m really mad...!”
“It’s not me. It’s the puppy.”
“Liar. Hassan, you liar.”
“Wh-What did I lie about?”
“You said you were studying. But you went to the Venus Temple. I sent Paranoya ahead on purpose so we could go back together and stopped by the library.”
Luna thinking of me that much was touching, but it made my chest itch like I had a guilty conscience sprouting fur.
“Th-That’s... Nothing happened at the temple, really. It was for work.”
“Liar...! No guy leaves the Venus Temple without doing anything.”
“B-But it’s true. That’s really what happened!”
Rustle.
Luna threw off the hot cloak and sat up.
Her eyes were puffy and red, probably from crying under there, and it felt like my head was about to split open.
Luna cried!
Thinking it was because of me turned my mind blank—I had no idea what to do. I finally got why stories and media call a woman’s tears a weapon.
It really was one.
An overwhelming weapon that was hard to even call just a weapon.
My face stung like I’d been hit, and my chest burned with guilt like I’d committed some grave sin—I was at a loss.
But right now, I had to stand firm.
I could guess what suspicions were swirling in Luna’s head. But whatever she imagined didn’t happen.
All I did was get ambushed with a hug by some powerful woman. And I saw the shiny marble floor. That was it.
“Nothing happened, really.”
Gulp.
At my words, Luna’s swollen red eyes narrowed thin.
Stroke.
Then she slowly scooted toward me. I tensed, wondering what she was up to, but she just sniffed around me, glancing everywhere without sitting still.
“...Nothing happened, really?”
“Yeah, I told you! It was really for work. See, I even got this gold coin.”
I pulled a gold coin from my pocket and showed it to her.
Gold coin.
The first chunk of gold I’d ever earned with my own power. Normally, I’d treasure it like my life and never give it to anyone.
But for Luna, I made an exception, placing it in her hand. It was meant to show how much I trusted and valued her—but did the message get through?
“Wow, a real gold coin. It has Lord Jupiter’s face on it.”
Luna’s puffy red eyes sparkled as she gazed at the coin I handed her. Even she couldn’t resist gold’s allure.
“...But why are there teeth marks?”
“I bit it to check.”
“Oh my god, Hassan! What if you bite Lord Jupiter’s face? You might get struck by lightning from the heavens!”
“Tch, really?”
I’d just bitten it on a whim to celebrate getting gold. It felt unfair to get zapped for something meaningless like that.
Everyone would bite their first gold once, right?
No, biting a coin wouldn’t summon lightning. I almost fell for Luna’s pace but quickly steadied myself.
Anyway, Luna had come out from under the blanket, and her anger was easing bit by bit—that mattered more right now.
“I got 1 gold as an advance. Means more after the job’s done, right?”
I tried explaining.
But Luna was shaking with excitement over the gold coin like a kid who’d just gotten a monster-hunting watch toy, eyes glued to it.
“Wow, a real gold coin. First time touching one.”
“Really? Didn’t you say this land cost 3 gold?”
“We only dealt in loan papers, so I never saw the actual coins. Wow, it’s so shiny. Wow. A thousand legs on a bird—wow.”
She kept going “wow” who-knows-how-many times. I got it—I still felt dazed holding the gold myself.
After staring at it forever, Luna handed the gold coin back.
I’d worried a sulky Luna might demand it like “Fine, I’ll forgive you if you give me this.” But she wasn’t that unreasonable.
“Hassan, getting 1 gold as an advance doesn’t sound like ordinary work. You okay?”
Luna finally seemed curious about the job I’d taken. Did she decide to believe it was for work?
“They want me to fetch some black spring water.”
“Black spring water? They really said that?”
“Yeah.”
“That place is off-limits unless you’re a seasoned adventurer. I heard it’s guarded by weird sentries....”
* * *
The next morning.
Luna and I headed to the west gate, lugging a huge jar for the spring water.
Big enough for a kid to fit inside, it was pretty heavy already. Full of water, it’d be even heavier.
But with my strength at 9, I could handle it.
“...Chaos Eternal.”
Ding-.
『Name: Hassan Lv. 19
Strength: 9
Agility: 4
Vitality: 6
Karma: 282
Blessings: Blessing of Chaos | Shining Hand | Cloak of Night』
It might be a tough job, so I held onto my karma points just in case. Worst case, I’d burn 200 to beg the gods for help.
If unused, I could convert my spare totems back to points.
As I mulled my strategy, Luna, carrying her small jar, looked around.
“Hassan, looks like we’re first.”
Early morning, but the west gate buzzed with parties heading out on quests, as always.
Crowded as it was, spotting Malco in his ridiculous conical hat wasn’t hard.
“There he is.”
His getup might be meant to stand out, like performers in flashy outfits drawing eyes.
Anyway.
Malco spotted me too and waved his hand high in greeting.
“Kehehe, always so eye-catching. Hard to find anyone as bizarre as you, brother.”
“Fuck off, didn’t expect that from you. You alone? Where’s Kalidur?”
“Brother’s leg treatment isn’t done, so he couldn’t come. Just me.”
“Big nose, hi! Long time!”
Luna waved cheerfully at Malco, whom she hadn’t seen in ages. He tipped his goofy hat in return.
“I thought it was someone in a bone helm, but sister, long time. The helmet makes you look fierce. And who’s that next to you?”
Malco’s eyes locked on the crimson-tailed girl peeking around behind Luna.
“A rare nymph indeed. They say strings from nymph hair make the clearest tones.”
“Uh, h-hello.... I-I’m P-Paranoya.”
“Ah, the nymph who converted recently? I’m Malco, wandering bard. Servant of Lord Mercury.”
True to his alley-and-underground life, he’d heard the rumors. No explanation needed—Paranoya and Malco exchanged quick intros.
“Carriage is almost here. Final checks.”
We inspected all our tools and gear meticulously, then boarded the usual cart-pulled wagon.
“Off we go, then.”
Pihihihihing.
The wagon left the west gate, heading for Black Rock Mountain somewhere in the vast plains.
Bump, rattle. Bump.
The jury-rigged cargo wagon rode rough, as expected. I worried the jar might shatter once filled.
How much more did I need to earn for my own fancy carriage?
“Brother, new gear I haven’t seen. That breastplate looks sturdy.”
Amid the endless quiet jolts, Malco across from me spoke up.
He’d just noticed the iron plate over my chest. Or maybe he was bored and making conversation.
Either way, it reminded me of the heavy slab pressing my chest.
Bought during the break after Pluto’s Labyrinth—80 silver for this iron beast.
From my 40 silver savings, scrap sales like the iron sword from the maze, and Luna chipping in 20 silver. Third most valuable after my necklace and club.
No clue on performance, but it’d block a stray arrow or two, supposedly. Heavier than expected—adapting would take time.
“In that breastplate, you look like a proper warrior.”
“Yeah?”
Design was crude, but I was satisfied with it.
Upgrading gear felt like leveling myself up—progress. And thicker iron between me and death brought some relief.
Just felt bad taking 20 silver from Luna.
“Hassan, you fight so recklessly—protect yourself!” she’d urged, pushing me to buy it.
She’d worried I’d get hurt or die fighting strong monsters or swordmaster Skizo.
If this job paid well, I’d repay her, then get iron greaves and gauntlets for arms and legs.
Fuck, steel warrior Hassan.
I’d look badass for real.
Slum rats would scatter at the clank of my armor.
“Shit, I’ll crush those bastards.”
“Kehehe, itching for a fight already, brother? We’re almost there—action soon. I’m eager to test my new talent too.”
“New talent? What?”
“Expect good things. Anyway, there it is.”
Malco looked up at the horizon. Following his gaze, I straightened and stared at the distant black shape.
As the bumpy road carried the wagon on.
Far off, the rock mountain—packed with dark clouds and black shadows—drew closer to us.