Chapter 136
Chapter 136
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 136
Chapter Title: Sun, Moon, and Sword
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Delphina the Swiftblade.
It was a name that felt vaguely familiar, yet also completely new.
The names in this world all had this greasy, oily spaghetti vibe—heavy and similar enough that they were hard to remember.
Delphina the Swiftblade.
There might’ve been a Silver Tier adventurer by that name in Calcuta.
As I racked my brain trying to recall, a blonde woman with a sharp bob haircut, clad in light armor that left her midriff bare, leaped onto the platform.
“Ta-da, entrance!”
She spun through the air a few times like a rhythmic gymnast before landing with flair.
I wondered why she had to make such a show of it, but adventurers from Calcuta had this habit of being as flashy and over-the-top as up-and-coming YouTubers.
“That one’s from Calcuta, huh. Pretty strong.”
Hippolyte, who’d been watching with her arms crossed, offered her assessment. If Hippolyte said someone was strong, then their skills as an adventurer were undoubtedly top-notch.
Calcuta was like an upper-level dungeon swarming with veterans, after all. A Silver Tier rolling around there had to be tough, naturally.
Delphina, with her blue eyes, shouted confidently at the crowd.
“Citizens of Sodomora! I’m adventurer Delphina from Calcuta! Now that Sodomora and Calcuta are building ties, you’ll be seeing a lot more of me. I’ll show you the skills of a true pro, nothing like your incompetent local adventurers! Love and support for the Silver Roses!”
It felt like watching a freshly debuted idol group. Adventurer parties often gave off similar vibes to idols, though.
Both lived off fame to land gigs. They had to nail their self-PR. This was probably her way of drawing even more aggro at the party.
But straight-up calling Sodomora’s adventurers incompetent? I was dying to know what Hippolyte thought of that.
As I glanced her way to check,
“Who’re you calling the most incompetent? I won’t stand for some drifter from a backwater like Calcuta.”
A sharp, biting male voice cut through the murmur of the crowd.
All eyes instantly turned to the corner of the party hall.
There stood a man clutching a massive nodachi as tall as he was. His silver hair was tied back long, his build lean and sharp—almost feminine at first glance.
But those eagle-like eyes and the scar slashing from forehead to cheek across his left eye screamed wild beast of a man.
“Altair.”
“Altair from the Minerva Guild.”
Someone explained.
Altair.
I’d heard the name before. Whenever top adventurers from Minerva Guild were listed, Silver Tier Altair was always mentioned.
First time seeing him in person, though, and he wasn’t the hulking brute I’d imagined. Slight letdown.
If I’d pictured a Hulk dual-wielding axes, this guy looked more like a swordsman in a conical hat and raincoat.
Still, he had that unmistakable serial-killer aura—like he’d slice me to ribbons in an instant.
“Who might you be—?”
Delphina tilted her head with a bright smile at the provocation, but her lips curved up while her eyes stayed cold. Chilling.
The man spoke.
“You don’t know my name? I’m Altair the Bladeflash. If you’re operating in Sodomora, shouldn’t you know your fellow adventurers, country bumpkin?”
“Bladeflash Altair, huh? First time hearing it. You’re not that famous, are you?”
“What?”
“And ‘fellow adventurers’? Sodomora must be pretty soft if it’s that considerate of others. Lucky you. In this business, you’re either in a party or the enemy. Frog in a well who doesn’t know how vast the ocean is.”
“I can’t let that slide. I won’t tolerate further insults to my honor.”
“It’s the truth. All you Sodomora adventurers are useless. That’s why you can’t even wipe out the thieves’ guild entrenched deep in the city.”
“...”
Thieves’ guild.
At the words, Altair fell silent.
The murmuring crowd around him exchanged glances, not daring to chime in.
Delphina, standing tall on the platform, seized the moment.
“Our Silver Roses confirmed that supplies from the Valdez mountain stronghold—and siege weapons like catapults—were provided to Sodomora’s thieves’ guild. Funny, right? The real enemy’s inside. Sodomora’s foes aren’t the cultists camped outside, but the thieves within.”
I had no idea what was going on, but this Calcuta adventurer Delphina was riding high.
No one reining her in? Everyone just looked awkward, listening.
“But I get it. Even healers can’t treat their own illnesses. They can’t slice open their own guts for surgery. They rely on others.”
“You’re saying you’ll play healer? Good luck. Thieves hole up tight. Poke at them with your puny blades, and they just burrow deeper, sharpening their teeth.”
“I know. But rats always come scurrying out when you light a fire. And we’ve got one hell of a blaze. Sit tight—it’ll burn everything down.”
“Anyone can talk a big game.”
Altair, Silver Tier from Minerva Guild, had more patience than expected.
With that murderer’s face, I’d braced for drawn steel, but he was surprisingly refined.
Of course, from my view, people drawing swords over dislike were the problem...
Then Delphina spoke.
“So here’s a bet. Will Sodomora’s adventurers claim the Hydra’s head first? Or us from Calcuta? What do you say?”
“As if I’d fall for some childish taunt.”
Altair snorted and waved it off—just then, applause clapped from somewhere.
“That sounds fun.”
It was Count Hawkins Sardici, the golden-bearded dwarf who’d been quietly listening. Hawkins chuckled, shoulders shaking.
“Very amusing. Bets need an overseer. I’ll be the witness. Viscount Clementor from Calcuta, what say you?”
“W-well... Sorry, our city’s adventurers are so free-spirited...”
“That’s the fun of life—nothing goes as planned. What’s the wager?”
The golden-bearded count asked the bold Silver Tier woman adventurer. She drew her sword, pointing at our table.
“The gold necklace, obviously. There’s a Gold Tier promotion today, right? If we take down the thieves’ guild boss first, grant our team the right to duel for that Gold Tier spot.”
“Intriguing. But that’s beyond my authority. Ask the woman herself.”
Eyes turned to our table. Luna and I clutched hands, trembling. Hippolyte, arms still crossed, spoke.
“Fine. I’ll humor you. Looks like you’ve underestimated me plenty. Think you can take this body by ganging up as a team?”
“I’ve never heard of Altair, but Hippolyte? Your name rings bells. Demigod awakened to divinity. Mars’s earthly proxy. Topple you, and our team’s fame spreads continent-wide?”
“You’ll just be forgotten among the hordes I’ve beaten. Fine—then I’ll join the thieves’ purge too. Was itching with nothing to do against the cultists. No, wait—misspeak. Let me correct.”
Hippolyte declared a correction, then continued.
“Not I, but we’ll join. Our party includes here Samaria’s Hassan and Lu—Luna Noxdoty.”
Samaria’s Hassan.
Samaritan.
Familiar mutters rippled at Hippolyte’s words.
Spotlights finally converged on my black hair, leaving me dizzy.
* * *
The merit banquet dragged with side chatter, ending anticlimactically late.
Damn, the formal event derailed into irrelevant tangents and timed out.
Reminded me how this world’s bureaucracy worked. For real?
I’d been hyped for my reward—got a tiny lightning-shaped badge.
Badge. Like a brooch for the chest.
Hoped it was some rare artifact? No pop-up text, no Karma gain. Disappointing.
What even is this?
Did someone skim off the top? Not like a broke nation stiffing veterans with this crap?
Staring at it on the way home, Hippolyte, walking with us, spoke up.
“Traveler’s Mark. Nice haul. Nothing better for you. Even I’d covet it a bit.”
“Traveler’s Mark? What’s that?”
“Gods sometimes wander the world in human guise. The Sardici family of Sodomora spotted Jupiter incognito long ago, hosted him well, earned blessings, and rose.”
Gods walking as humans? Baffling.
“Why would gods do that?”
“No idea. Mingling for fun? Or seeking mates on earth to bear children? Yeah, pairing off is pretty key.”
Hippolyte cleared her throat, then continued.
“Anyway, ‘Traveler’ status stems from that. Like gods at play, unbound by class—treated as honored guests. Mostly for off-continent nobles like you Samaritans.”
“So I’m a Traveler now?”
“Yeah.”
Thought it’d be citizenship.
Traveler? Like a visa, not full rights? Better than Hassan’s illegal stay, sure, but unsatisfying.
“Isn’t citizenship better?”
“Citizenship’s Sodomora-only. That badge works continent-wide. Any house, inn—show it, get a night’s room.”
“Oh.”
A badge forcing a free night’s stay? Suddenly felt weighty.
Tucked it safe in my pocket, lest I lose it.
Heard inside Sodomora, count’s influence makes it citizenship-equivalent too.
Odd passport acquired—satisfying enough. Anyway,
“More importantly, Hippolyte. You serious about partying with us to smash the thieves’ guild?”
“Yeah. We’re a party for now.”
Luna flinched at that.
“...Shit, partying with Hippolyte on equal footing? Hassan, we’re rising too fast! I must be super strong!”
Luna, who’d listened quietly, yelped in disbelief. Her voice echoed like a dog’s bark in the alley.
But Hippolyte corrected, as if there was an issue.
“‘Equal footing’? We’re strictly hierarchical. I command, you obey. Even if adventurer culture’s loosened, equating us is laughable.”
Pride? Couldn’t yield party lead. Luna’s brow furrowed.
Seeing it, Hippolyte rattled her armor in surprise.
“Ahem. But trends say low-rank parties are all equal and fair. I’ll graciously allow that much.”
“Yes!”
Tough warrior bantering nobles and adventurers fine.
But with Luna? Like Hassan facing a witch—powerless. Weird. Do others know?
Her loss to Luna? Locked down—no rumors even.
“By the way, Hippolyte.”
“W-what?”
“Give me my 3 silvers! You smashed that jar and bolted last time!”
Recalled Hippolyte’s visit to Luna’s shack.
Something steamy happened; she fled promising to pay for the broken jar.
3 silvers—big bucks. Luna never forgot.
“Tch, you don’t forget that? But I’m broke. Don’t carry a wallet.”
“You said that last time and stiffed me!”
“I’m not the type to welch on 3 silvers. Just slow to pay. Don’t you know the saying: Mars’s warrior women never stiff?”
“First time hearing it. Where’s that from?”
“Just made it—now it exists. Ahem, anyway, it’s late. Shack’s there.”
Hippolyte escorted us safely home.
Worried about night attacks? Surprisingly considerate high-rank adventurer.
“Since I’m here. You two living together?”
Blunt question at the door. First time so direct—awkward, unsure how to reply.
Luna’s officially a chastity vow priestess; rumors of shacking up with a man could tarnish her rep.
As Luna and I hemmed and hawed,
“Silence speaks volumes. I get it. As Maidenhead leader, I ask: you haven’t done anything distance-worthy, have you?”
Her sharp eyes scanned us. But post-Nox inspection, I’d built tolerance for playing dumb.
“Distance-worthy? W-what’s that?”
“What else—obviously... defiling chastity.”
“W-what’s that?”
Luna feigned total ignorance. Hippolyte’s brow twitched.
“Noxdoty, knew you were naive, but surely you know what that is?”
“Dunno! What is it?”
“...That’s a serious issue too. It’s when man and woman... share a blanket... What’re you making me say? Not falling for this trap.”
She was already in deep.
Hippolyte declared biothangely.
“Anyway, it exists. Ahem. Since it’s come to this, I’ll check if you’re upholding vows for a day. I’ll crash here tonight...!”
[Author's Note]
Feels like I’ve held my breath too long...
Can I take a quick break and hold it again...?
Anyway, might come soon...