Chapter 143
Chapter 143
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 143
Chapter Title: Hassan and the Long-Standing Grudge
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I decided to part ways with Hippolyte right there in the barn.
She seemed emotionally overwhelmed for some reason, so I figured she needed time to calm down on her own. Stroking her back took a while.
“Samaritan. What happened today should stay a secret between just the two of us.”
“…Yeah, that’s probably best.”
“I think… I must’ve lost my mind. Like some kind of illness. Yeah, that’s it. Don’t pay any attention to what I said.”
Hippolyte was rambling excuses. Had the post-panic clarity hit her now that her meltdown had passed? Her once-loose speech had tightened up again, like she’d donned her armor.
“Anyway, whew, I’ve got business to attend to. I’ll head out first. Before that, though, Samaritan. Um…”
Hippolyte hesitated.
“Is there something else you wanted to say…?”
“Before, you asked if I liked you.”
Her words brought back what happened earlier. What had I even said? My face burned with embarrassment.
“It was just a casual question, but…”
“Then what about you?”
“Huh?”
“Do you like me?”
“Uh, well…”
“No—I’ll hear the answer like this.”
Smoothly.
Hippolyte placed her palm on my left chest.
Her hand felt hot, like a branding iron. But the hut was cool enough that it wasn’t unpleasant.
“Uh, what’s this…?”
I had no idea what she was doing. Then she let out a sudden sigh.
“Whew… I see. So that’s how it is. Life really is full of surprises. There’s still so much to learn. My skills can grow even higher.”
“I see.”
“Lately, it’s been nothing but new experiences. But I’ve confirmed something else, too. I’m competitive through and through. If there’s even a sliver of a chance at victory, I can’t let it go.”
Suddenly, I couldn’t follow what she was getting at. I chalked it up to the early dawn making her sentimental and let it slide.
“…But this time, the odds look pretty good. I heard your answer loud and clear. Ahem. See you tomorrow. Come to the guild. Ahem, hmm. Heh.”
With that, Hippolyte bolted out of the hut.
What was that? Had the panic not fully worn off?
Anyway, once she left, the hut felt empty. The idea that I’d done it with a woman everyone admired, right here—it still didn’t feel real. Like a dream.
Was it really a dream?
As I gathered my thoughts and stepped outside, the two moons hanging high in the sky were starting to set. The public bathhouse that opened at the crack of dawn was probably firing up by now.
Saaah—.
I headed to my usual bathhouse and scrubbed myself silly, splashing water everywhere. I didn’t forget to rub every nook and cranny with a sponge-like sea sponge.
After a quick, thorough shower, I stepped out into the hazy warmth of a summer dawn brushing against my refreshed skin.
Summer was really here—the night faded fast.
Without AC or even a fan, this world’s summers were hellish. I was already dreading it.
“Hey, look. It’s Samaritan. That’s the guy, right?”
“…But why’s he only in his underwear…?”
On my way back to Luna’s hut, someone spotted me and started whispering.
Like the saying about early birds catching worms, the slum dwellers rose before dawn, skimping on sleep to hustle for coin.
I growled to give these busy little birds a life lesson.
“What’re you staring at, punk? I’ll skin you alive and wear you. Hand over everything you’ve got.”
“Eek! The rumors are true! Psycho barbarian…!”
“Run! He’ll peel your skin off!”
My threat worked—they scattered like rats with their tails on fire. Good, less unwanted attention.
Was my intimidation finally respectable?
They had a point—I was in nothing but underwear, drawing eyes.
If asked why, I’d have to say I gave my clothes to Hippolyte. That’s what happened. The ragged blanket we’d used as a sheet? She took that, too.
All I had left were short pants like panties and the perfume made from thunder mandarin duck feathers.
Whew.
I took a deep breath to steady my chest, churning with excitement, thrill, tension, and fear. Luna’s hut was coming into view soon.
She’d be waking up around now.
Once Luna’s out, she sleeps like the dead—no one could carry her off without her noticing—but she had almost no morning grogginess and always beat me up.
What do I do?
My heart pounded harder than when I’d sneak coins from Mom’s wallet as a kid. What I’d done today was way more secretive.
“Hoo—.”
Sighs kept escaping, my heart hammering—I was going mad.
Luna had a sharp nose. She might smell it.
What do I do?
As her hut came into sight, full panic set in. Was I the type who couldn’t live with guilt?
Pop.
I uncorked the thunder mandarin duck perfume vial. Last time at the Venus temple, I’d been too distracted to try it.
Today, I wouldn’t forget—I had to use it right.
No use if I didn’t.
Slosh, slosh—.
The red liquid swirled in the small bottle. I dipped my pinky in and sniffed.
No scent? Weirder than expected. Isn’t it perfume? Does scentless perfume exist?
How do you even use this?
No sprayer, so I guessed I had to rub it on.
Like oil… spread it over my body?
No clue on amount. Eh, screw it—I slathered the whole thing on generously.
Better too much than too little. No other day to use it. From head to toe, I smeared it thick.
Slippier than thought—probably could’ve done with less. Now I looked like I’d fallen into a sea of slime.
Anyway, perfume done.
“Whew—.”
Now, just sneak in quietly.
Deep breaths to calm my racing heart. Once ready, I activated the grace.
“Lady Nox, lend me your strength…”
Inhale—.
Text appeared as I held my breath.
『Grace: Cloak of Night activates.』
『Consumes Karma Value to reduce detection chance for stealthy actions.』
『Current Karma Value: 92.』
91.
90—.
Good, working fine.
Cloak of Night—one of my graces—helps avoid detection during sneaky stuff, just like the text says. Doesn’t make me invisible.
It muffles footsteps more than expected, that kind of thing.
We tested it on a day off—hides my unique mana signature, too.
Perfect for covert entry.
I’m a natural-born thief.
Hassan, the assassin who strikes from the shadows.
Hyping myself up, I grabbed the doorknob.
And pulled…
Creeeak.
The wooden door groaned louder than expected. My jaw clenched hard.
Was Luna awake?
Had she woken, noticed me and Hippolyte gone at night, and started suspecting?
Every wild thought raced through my head as I eased it open.
Wide enough for me.
Slipping inside, I saw the first floor was as quietly still as a usual morning.
Dust motes floating in the air.
The wooden Nox statue that made me feel guilty just looking at it.
Jars big and small everywhere.
Woof! Woof!
And the wolf spider inside!
It barked happily at my return, crawling atop a jar. Dog-like in so many ways. Like a dog.
Shit, a rainbow-colored spider the size of a palm! Horrifying beyond words.
Woof woof!
Its bark was louder than I thought—might wake Luna. Scarier still. I extended my palm like calming an excited pup.
“Shh, q-quiet.”
『Grace: Cloak of Night deactivates.』
『Remaining Karma Value: 79.』
Hioong—.
It let out a weird growl and climbed onto my palm. Fuck, a spider with front fangs like nails on my hand!
I wanted to scream and faint just from that. Couldn’t. Spiders—shit, terrifying.
Why suffer this? Punishment? I’m being punished.
Grr, grr.
“Hoo—.”
It settled, at least. But my sanity plummeted—I felt foam at my mouth.
“Huuuuh—.”
Why so arachnophobic? I knew, but hated recalling. Goosebumps everywhere, stomach churning—what now?
Rustle, rustle.
This kyungkyung wolf spider wouldn’t leave my palm. Shit!
“Hey, g-get down now…”
Grrowl.
“No…?”
Grrowl….
Talking to a spider? Insane. But I got what it wanted.
Luna often petted it on her palm with her other hand. It wanted the same from me!
Pet a spider? Die first. But no choice.
Slowly, I moved a finger toward the spider on my palm.
Raised my index, inching toward its body… slowly… slowly…. Fuck, what if it bites?
“Hassan, you’re up early!”
“Whoa, shit, you scared me!”
Grrowl!
Luna’s sudden voice jolted me—I flung the spider off my palm like trash.
It flew—thwack!—into the wall, then snarled like a beast and dove into a jar.
Hey, sorry, not on purpose.
Heart pounding so hard it hurt.
“Huuuuh.”
“Hassan playing with kyungkyung first thing in the morning! Unexpected! What’s the occasion? You’re scared of spiders! Where’d the courage come from?”
“D-Don’t know…”
Freshly awake, Luna brimmed with impossible morning energy. She glanced around.
“But Hassan, haven’t seen Hippolyte? She left her armor upstairs, but no sign of her. Slept next to me.”
“…Uh, well, dunno. Busy adventurer stuff, probably. Gold-tier and all.”
“Huh. But I never got those 3 silvers from her. Couldn’t pitch the potion promo either. Next time, I’ll give her an earful.”
“I see. Whew—.”
“But Hassan, you look awful. Bad dream? Fever?”
Smoothly.
Luna reached out her palm. I nearly dodged.
Dodging would raise flags, drag me into mess—so I let it happen.
Her cool fingers on my forehead felt nice. Made my chest twinge.
“You’ve got a fever, Hassan…?”
“Fever? Me?”
“Yeah. Little cold vibe, too. Face is red.”
Me, a cold? Never had one. Unbelievable.
“Naked’ll do that. More like, what’s all over you…?”
Luna pressed her palm to my body. Sticky liquid stretched thin between us.
“Hassan, what’s this?”
“Huh? What’s what?”
“What is this stuff?”
Luna had no clue. She leaned in, sniffing.
“Like oil. Hassan, you a toad? Why oil from your skin…?”
My mind went black—not white, pure blackout panic.
Did the Venus temple’s thunder mandarin duck perfume work?
Trembling tensely.
“Hassan, hit the baths?”
“Y-Yeah, just now. Woke up, went. This was there, tried it. Good for skin.”
She asked about baths—I blurted.
“They had this at the baths? But your scent’s gone. Weird. Can a person’s smell just vanish?”
Luna kept sniffing, fascinated. No bust on the Hippolyte thing, at least.
Real deal from Venus’s saintess.
Worth the hype. Even Luna’d never seen it. Dodged death.
Relief flooded back—legs went weak.
“Whew—.”
“You look beat, Hassan. Rest today? We planned underground market, but maybe skip.”
Her words reminded me of today’s to-do.
Black market gold from the Venus quest. Meeting Malko at the tavern to spend it—today.
“First time spending gold. Wonder what black market buys…!”
Clink.
Luna grabbed the X-marked gold from the corner, cheering.
Gold.
My eight shiny coins suddenly lifted my mood. Black money for black markets, sure—but gold’s gold.
Gold.
Yellow metal.
Gold in English.
Au on periodic table or whatever—precious everywhere.
Modern life? Gold in jewels, electronics essential or something.
21st-century normie me never dealt with it—but apparently, I loved shiny gold bars.
“Heh.”
“Hassan likes spending too! Thought of anything to buy?”
“Nope! We’ll see there! Let’s go!”
So Luna and I headed to the Nymph Wing Inn—our usual meetup spot. Spend one gold on her. Nah, two.
Aiming for a table for breakfast and waiting on Malko, we ran into total surprises.
“Those the noisy ‘White Silver Rose’ or whatever from the fortress?”
“Weird, all women. Don’t look that strong.”
“But all Silver-tier adventurers, they say. Cousin in Calcuta told me—they’re famed there.”
“What brings them to Sodomora?”
Whispers among the crowd.
Women adventurers ringed a round table.
Shit—the silver-white-haired, pointy-eared elf I least wanted to see, right in the middle.
Her presence was magnetic—spotted her instantly.