Chapter 127
Chapter 127
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 127
Chapter Title: Whose Hand Do the Gods of War Raise?
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War Boom
- is a term that exists.
It seems that when war breaks out or there's even a hint of it, the market noticeably livens up and buzzes with activity.
Soldiers heading to war need food, medicine, and all sorts of supplies, which sell like hotcakes. Hoarding of emergency rations and such becomes rampant too.
Indeed, the market Luna and I visited was chaotic, filled with people shouting and bustling about everywhere.
Of course, Sodomora's market was always a rowdy mess without any trace of dignity even on normal days, but today it was especially intense.
“Hey, you bastard, I grabbed it first!”
“What are you talking about, fuck? Can't you see my mark here? I reserved this sword ages ago!”
When a huge crisis looms, people's rationality crumbles easily.
Once rationality collapses, they turn more selfish and greedy than usual, sweeping up every last item without leaving anything behind.
Luna and I stopped by a general store to buy dry biscuits, jerky, and the like—things we could boil with water or eat as is.
But even after checking every store, the shelves were already emptying out fast.
“Hassan, there's still tons of Mente Chonkeri Pie left here!”
Mente Chonkeri Pie, of all things.
Even with people's rationality gone, it seems no one wants that horrific food.
But since it was the only food left, Luna and I had no choice but to buy the Mente Chonkeri Pie and dried steamed Cacao Chonkeri that no one else would touch.
“Hehe, we're lucky. We still got something tasty.”
“Luna, what do you think tastes bad?”
“Sand! And ants too. Of course, some ants are tasty. But ants are generally not.”
I was curious how she knew ants tasted bad, but I decided not to ask. Lovers need some secrets to keep the relationship beautiful.
Truth be told, I'd eaten ants multiple times because of my father. Shit, not a memory I care to dwell on.
Anyway, we managed to stock up on some food for the war.
Luna, whose tongue has always been a bit off, seemed satisfied with these tasteless rations, but I couldn't help worrying.
“We should've come out earlier.”
“Even if we had, it would've been the same. Hassan, don't you need more armor or weapons?”
At Luna's words, I glanced at the armor shops scattered around the street. They were just as crowded and noisy as everywhere else.
“I don't think so.”
The breastplate on my chest, arm guards, and shin protectors should be enough. Adding more would just mean extra heavy baggage for me now.
A helmet for head protection might be nice, though. But wandering the market with crowds tripping over my feet everywhere had worn me out too much.
With departure tomorrow, better to head back to the hut and recharge than waste energy here.
So I decided to go home with Luna.
“Hassan, you sure you don't need anything else? I'll buy it for you!”
“I'm good.”
Luna seemed tense and excited about me going to war.
She was fidgeting more than me, the one actually heading out. Probably worried.
If Luna were going to war, I'd probably load her up with way more stuff too.
Back at the hut, Luna started bustling around, saying she'd make potions for me, crashing into things here and there.
She tossed in the herbs and earthworms we'd barely scavenged from the market after half a day, even plucking a few strands of her own hair to add.
“Luna, why are you putting hair in it too?”
Could you even call something made like that a potion?
If there were food hygiene laws, this would be way outside the strike zone—a dead ball smacking the umpire in the face.
But Luna shouted proudly, unconcerned.
“Luck Potion! It'll boost your luck! Arrows will miss you!”
A Luck Potion? First I'd heard of such a thing. But since Luna was working so hard on it, I decided not to question further.
Truth was, I was so tense I wanted to cling to even this dubious potion, not knowing what to do.
War.
War.
The time had come for me, Hassan, to head into real war, swinging blades and bludgeons with the resolve not to die.
“Phew-.”
I leaned against the wall, eyes closed, listening to Luna's busy breathing as she darted around barefoot, slapping the floor, and the grinding noises from the small bowl.
Human history is full of countless wars. Surely there were plenty of ordinary folks like me forced into unwanted participation.
Countless Hassans.
Did they feel the same as I do now…?
Of course, I can't know what they thought. I don't even know what I'm thinking right now.
My consciousness drifts like dust in the air, flickering with occasional glints of light. My heart pounds relentlessly, aching.
I turned my mind from tangled thoughts, simply watching Luna bustle back and forth in front of me.
Her pink twintails, tied in two, sway delightfully.
Pink hair, of all colors.
Even now, it seems so absurd I wonder if I'm dreaming.
To feel reality, I grabbed Luna's slender wrist as she moved about and pulled gently.
Such a thin, delicate wrist. Women's bodies really are so slender and soft.
“Eek-.”
Luna stumbled, off-balance. I caught her slim body and buried my nose in her nape.
Sniff sniff.
“H-Hassan…?”
Luna's body had a faintly salty-sweet sweat scent. And the usual cool mint oil aroma tickled my nose.
Small shoulders.
Trembling breaths.
She tensed and squirmed in surprise at first, then relaxed her waist. Soon, she wrapped her arms around my chest as I sat, hugging me.
The soft, warm, womanly feel calmed me a bit.
Luna and I held each other silently like that for a while. Maybe words weren't needed from the start.
Just knowing we were here together was enough.
How much time passed?
“Hassan, you're a ferocious Samaritan, after all. You'll be fine even in the noisy, chaotic war.”
“Yeah?”
“Definitely. I would've said that back then. When I first saw you, you looked like a barbarian straight out of hell. All pitch black.”
“That's a bit exaggerated.”
“But, but Hassan, you're actually an idiot. Not that strong either.”
“Hey, idiot? That's too harsh.”
I wanted to say that, but Luna's words left me speechless.
Because she started sobbing.
Hot tears flowed from her eyes, buried in my chest, soaking my collar.
I'd said it before, but a woman's tears are a powerful weapon.
All my swirling thoughts vanished the moment she started crying.
The upcoming war, the fear of death—everything went blank. All I could think was how to stop this little girl's tears.
So, like when soothing her sulky moods, I stroked her back with my hand.
Swoosh, swoosh.
Wish I could say something cool, but my tongue's too clumsy. If I had a gift for words instead of hands, maybe I'd manage.
“Don't cry.”
After agonizing, I finally uttered those three words. Luna replied softly.
“…I'm not. In Ideophe, sending men off with tears is bad luck.”
“I see. Ideophe has all sorts of tales.”
“I'm Luna, daughter of Ideophe. And Ideophe women wait better than anyone. So, I really hate this. Just this once, really just this once, I'm letting you go. Hassan.”
“Yeah.”
Her sobs were fading, so I felt a bit relieved. She must've just gotten emotional from the war looming.
“I really hate it. Really, really hate it, but no choice, so I'm sending you off, Hassan.”
“Got it.”
She kept whining cutely, though I knew the situation was serious. My dick was getting hard despite it all.
Holding a girl's body like this, it'd be weirder if my lower half didn't react. Regretfully stroking her back as much as I could, Luna spoke.
“So, just this once, go to the Mars temple. That's all I can do. I'm not a demigod…. I can't even pray for blessings….”
“Temple?”
“…Yeah, receive the War God's blessing. In return, just this once, I'll wait. I hate you getting badly hurt or dying in the war even more.”
Rustle.
With that, Luna stood up. She opened the second-floor window and gazed at the darkening street under the moonlight.
Come to think of it, Hippolyte had said she'd grant a blessing, so come see her tonight.
By now, most of the crowds that had swarmed noisily would've gone home to prepare for tomorrow's war.
“Go.”
Luna said it without looking at me, just staring at the night sky. I'd thought she'd come along. Seems she plans to stay in the hut.
Awkwardly, I stood too.
“Not coming with?”
“I told you. I'll wait. Just this once. Go before my resolve breaks.”
Her voice was resolute. I couldn't see her face, just her back, but she was probably frowning hard.
“Hurry!”
She even yelled like chasing me out, leaving me baffled as I backed away.
“Alright, I'll be back.”
She probably needs alone time too. We've been stuck together lately, so some solitude for reflection and clearing the head is good.
I left Luna behind and stepped onto the stairs to the first floor. One, two, three-.
As the steps descended, I placed my hand on the door to open it.
Thud thud, crash!
A loud noise and huge presence approached. It was Luna, face flushed beyond description, fidgeting.
“I can't just let you go like this!”
She buried her face in my chest like a starving lion. Hugging?
Crunchhh-.
“Gaaah!”
She bit down hard on my chest, and an uncontrollable scream escaped.
“Now go!”
She shoved me outside and slammed the door. What the hell?
I swallowed tears, staring at the clear bite mark through my clothes.
War drives people this mad, apparently.
Stunned, I scratched my head and headed out.
The streets buzzed with soldiers marching noisily, tense and anxious for tomorrow's departure.
I got stopped for an armed patrol check along the way—a minor hassle—but made it safely to the Mars compound.
I'd thought the crowds might thin at evening.
But as a place for Mars, god of war and strife, even now with the sun set and moon up, bonfires blazed everywhere, filled with priests' chants.
Where's Hippolyte?
I scanned the throng of priestesses for a familiar face. Then, tap tap—someone patted my back.
Only Hippolyte could sneak up without a sound like this.
“Lady Hippolyte?”
“Yeah. Y-You actually came as promised. Honestly, I didn't think that Noxdoty would let you.”
Turning, I saw Hippolyte, skin redder than usual, perhaps from the firelight.
Her hair neatly tied back, not in armor or priestess robes but a tight red dress—quite novel.
A short tube dress clinging snugly, exposing her thighs. Plain in design, but on her exceptional body, it was eye-searing.
Men everywhere stole glances at her. Some stared openly.
A popular woman's dress.
She looked like a glamorous athlete at a celebrity gala. Now I noticed sparkling makeup on her face too.
Hippolyte doing makeup?
It suited her, but I'd thought her far from dolling up, so it surprised me.
I'd brainwashed myself that no woman was prettier than Luna, but my mind blanked for a moment.
“…W-Why stare like that? Weird?”
“No, just… you put in a lot more effort than usual…”
“Ahem, so not weird, then.”
“Thought you were someone else.”
“Someone else. Interesting perspective.”
My nerves weren't thick enough to casually compliment a woman. As I pondered a fitting praise,
Hippolyte spoke first.
“I'm the priestess of war, after all. Days like today require proper attire. Anyway, I was waiting. Come over there.”