Chapter 198
Chapter 198
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 198
Chapter Title: Hassan's Business
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Talking with Antiope had made the time fly by.
By now, Luna was probably waiting for me in the yard, wondering why I hadn't come back.
Imagining her pacing barefoot out there tugged at my heartstrings on one hand, but on the other, it sent a jolt of fear through me.
Crap. What if she figures out I was getting frisky with Antiope?
So I shelled out five coppers at the paid well behind the north gate inn and scrubbed myself raw. A shower here just meant rubbing on some scented oil and dumping a bucket of water over your head, but still.
The difference between doing it and not doing it was night and day.
Only after washing my hands and body until they squeaked did I finally start to relax a bit.
Next time, maybe I should have Antiope snag me some Thunder Mandarin Duck oil.
She said it's hard to get, but she's got connections—a bottle shouldn't be a big deal for someone like her.
Impressed by my own cleverness, I headed back to the hut where Luna was waiting.
It was so late that the two moons shone brightly overhead, so I'd been brainstorming excuses for why I was running behind.
But surprisingly, no one was out in the yard.
Luna hadn't come out to greet me?
Half relieved, half disappointed.
I was reaching out to the door latch with that mixed feeling when—
"Stay still, I told you."
"It hurrrts...! Hngh, hiii, it hurrrts...!"
From inside came voices—Luna talking to Paranoya. I could sense their presence clearly just beyond the door.
Paranoya was still at the hut? Planning to crash here tonight? Or had they not finished brewing potions?
"Stay still, stay still, I said! If you keep squirming, it'll hurt more."
"Hngh.... Eeeek!!"
No clue what they were doing in there, but Paranoya's occasional cries made me uneasy.
I hemmed and hawed, not opening the door, then cleared my throat loudly enough for anyone to hear. "Ahem—."
"...Did you hear something outside?"
"Master Hassan, Master Hassan's here...!"
A sudden clatter from inside.
I waited a bit longer, and then Luna's clear voice rang out.
"Hassan? Is that you, Hassan?"
"Yeah, it's me. Can I come in if you're not in the middle of something urgent?"
"Just a sec! We're cleaning up! Time's gotten away from us!"
Rustling and splashing sounds followed, along with bare feet padding on the wooden floor, until the door finally swung open from the inside.
Click.
There stood Luna, beaming at me as always.
"You're late! Training till dinner again today?"
"Eh, more or less. Can I come in now? You busy?"
"Yeah! We're pretty much done for today!"
Stepping into the first-floor hut, I spotted two new jars sealed with leather and cord that I hadn't seen before.
A sharp, bitter smell wafted from them—whatever potion was inside, it had to taste nasty.
Luna circled around me, sniffing subtly, her face twisting in confusion.
Maybe the potion fumes were messing with her sense of smell? Lucky break.
"M-Master Hassan... you're back...."
Paranoya stood frozen in the corner nearby.
Her face was flushed bright red, eyes glistening like she was about to burst into tears—she'd clearly been crying just moments ago.
Why was she crying?
Did Luna bully her?
For a second, I pictured Luna pinching Paranoya's cheeks or poking her in the ribs when I wasn't looking.
Everyone harbors a secret urge to pick on someone weaker, so it wouldn't be weird if Luna was messing with her on the sly.
Paranoya, always quick to betray or snitch, might even need a good flick on the forehead to straighten up.
In that moment, I suddenly understood why this continent's native nymphs were dwindling compared to the foreign elves.
Nymphs just had that masochistic pull—they provoked bullying wherever they went, thinning their numbers.
As I mulled that over, Luna finished double-checking the jars' seals and pulled something from the corner.
It was a wooden stick coated in a yellowish solid—like amber hardened from tree sap.
Luna held it out to Paranoya.
"Here, Paranoya! Eat this! Your pay for today!"
"H-Honey candy. I'll savor it...!"
"Not just any honey. Bashkir honey. Super expensive—reward for a job well done."
"Mmm, tasty... Candy taste... Honey taste...."
Lick. Lick.
Paranoya snatched it up, her tear-streaked face lighting up like she'd never been sad, licking the yellow chunk happily.
So it was a honey candy.
She loved sweets so much she might get diabetes, so this clearly cheered her right up.
Easy to handle.
In that sense, Luna had a knack for managing her.
* * *
The next day after interrogating Antiope.
I got up early, gearing up to hit the streets for info.
"Luna, brewing potions again today?"
"Yeah! Alchemist Guild ordered five more jars!"
She was so swamped these days we barely had time to go out together.
Watching her score the finished jars with a dagger—scritch-scratch—I felt a twinge of regret, and she looked up from her weird drawing.
"What do you think? Looks like the sun and moon, right?"
She'd sketched a swirly sun and crescent moon, grinning ear to ear.
Since the workshop was Sun and Moon Potion Workshop, she wanted a signature mark.
That sun came from my name, she'd said? Thinking about it made my chest tickle.
"Cute."
"Right? But man, I'm swamped. Can't even take a day off."
She griped about the workload but looked thrilled—proud that others valued her work and paid well for it.
Shame we had less time together, but this busy streak would last until her new workshop solidified its rep.
My girlfriend beating me to a steady gig.
Was this what it felt like dating in college?
Guys delaying graduation with military service and all, while same-age girlfriends started jobs early, drifting into different worlds....
A bad thought hit me.
Stories of working girlfriends dumping college-boyfriend guys for smooth-talking senior colleagues.
Not that it applied to Luna, of course.
"Alchemist Guild's Vinas apothecary: three stamina potions.... Gotta label 'em clear. Vinas—."
She was linking up with the Alchemist Guild more lately, which made me uneasy.
Who's this Vinas apothecary? Sounded familiar from her chatter.
I asked casually.
"You been talking to that Vinas alchemist a lot lately?"
"Yeah! Wants to study my stamina potions! Already bought seven jars. That's over one gold! Must be loaded, being an apothecary."
"Loaded?"
"About our age, but he's out of apprenticeship with his own lab! Impressive, huh?"
"Yeah?"
Impressive, sure—but it soured my mood.
Luna praising another guy.
Couldn't very well whine, "Don't praise other guys in front of me!" like a loser, so I stewed inside.
What kind of punk buys seven jars? Flaunting cash? Seducing her with money?
No way he'd buy seven of her nasty-tasting potions otherwise—effects or not. Shady bastard for sure.
In my head, Vinas was already the sleazy type stealing another guy's girl.
Jerk.
As I fumed silently, Luna added:
"Said I remind him of his little sister back home! Wants to stay friends. Nice guy, right?"
"Damn."
I'd never been big on seduction, but that sounded like classic guy-flirting-with-girl lines.
Honestly, some faceless punk approaching Luna pissed me off.
How to bring it up without upsetting her?
Did every guy in love agonize like this? What did they say? Nothing came to mind.
"Luna, does that Vinas guy know you're under a chastity vow?"
"Why?"
"Just... y'know...."
Chastity vows carried real weight here.
Even the hottest girls saw suitors drop off once they knew.
"Of course! That's why he likes me more!"
Some creeps targeted vowed girls specifically—proof of purity for virgin-hunting players.
Stung my pride a bit, but I decided to be straight: keep her distance.
"Luna, I think maybe...."
Just as I started, she cut in.
"She's under a vow too!"
"She?"
"Vinas sis!"
A woman. Whew.
Mood lifted instantly.
"Nice person. Stay close—might become a regular."
"Right? Hassan, help me haul potion jars to the guild tomorrow?"
"Sure."
No big deal. I'd just been gripped by dread over her getting hit on.
Maybe my lack of confidence in my own charm.
I recalled cases where the guy dumped first in college boyfriend/working girlfriend breakups.
Watching your partner grow could make you feel small, like letting go was right.
Didn't get it back then.
Now I did.
Luna was skyrocketing.
I couldn't just sit idle.
So I vowed not to return until I'd locked in some fame and status today, then hit the streets.
Target: goblins popping up around Sodomora, threatening civilians' property and safety.
Hauling back the Goblin King's massive head would stun the city.
My name on the front page—Luna beaming, "Hassan, you're amazing!"
Even strict instructor Hippolyte might say, "Impressive, Samaritan," and give me a training day off.
"Heh heh—."
Couldn't help grinning.
No wonder dream-chasers brimmed with energy. Planning my own moves felt great.
So I headed to central Sodomora's underground—old Thieves' Guild ruins, the former black market.
Best spot for intel.