Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Date to Make a Baby with Luna #3
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Luna hemmed and hawed for a good while before mumbling in a tiny voice.
“Um, so… if it’s okay with you, how about we form a permanent party? Just until we both rank up to the same tier…”
She peeked at me with such anxious eyes that she looked downright pitiful. In that brief moment, I got a pretty good sense of what she was after.
She wasn’t skilled enough to make it on her own. Not that she had any major flaws or anything, but in this barbaric world, being average was as good as being useless.
“Hmm.”
Of course, I wasn’t some big shot who could afford to look after someone else. Fresh off the slave block, I was barely scraping by taking care of myself.
Forming a permanent party meant I’d be stuck tagging along with her a lot more from now on. That was a big deal, something I needed to think through carefully.
I wasn’t perverse enough to pick a cute pink Chikorita as my starter Pokémon just because it was pretty!
“Actually, that might be a bit—”
Too much. I opened my mouth to say as much.
But then my lower belly started gurgling like mad, twisting with pain like my guts were knotting up. I clamped my mouth shut and froze. No idea what was going on, but suddenly I desperately needed a bathroom.
What the hell? It eased up a little once I shut my mouth.
Did I eat something bad last night? It had been ages since I last drank.
Food in this world was made with unwashed hands by total savages, so food poisoning wouldn’t be surprising.
Still, it had been years since I’d felt acute stomach pain like this. Something wasn’t right. Shit.
As I squirmed in sudden discomfort from the abdominal cramps, Luna kept talking.
“You can’t? But you promised yesterday. We’d make a baby together and form a permanent party. You even swore on the River Styx. You don’t remember, so you’re asking again?”
“I swore on the Styx to form a party?”
“Yeah!”
I studied her face. She fidgeted like an abandoned puppy, but she didn’t seem to be lying.
Shit, of all the things.
I muttered a spell under my breath, too quiet for anyone to hear.
“Chaos Eternal.”
Ding.
『Name: Hassan Lv. 8 → 9
Strength: 3 → 4
Agility: 2
Vitality: 3
Karma: 247 → 147
Status: Oath of the Styx
Blessings: Blessing of Chaos, Amateur Handiwork』
I’d leveled up again thanks to the statue Luna made. After two years of stagnation, my growth had exploded this past week.
Anyway, what caught my eye wasn’t the level—it was that “Oath of the Styx” status.
I’d been puzzled that it hadn’t vanished even after I kept my promise to make that weird totem with her.
But an extra promise? Shit, even drunk, how could I casually agree to something as huge as forming a party?
Maybe this throbbing in my lower gut, making my sphincter quiver, was tied to the Oath of the Styx too.
I’d toughened up my stomach from my dad’s bizarre eating habits as a kid—I could eat brick-hard food without issue.
Even two years as a slave in this world, and I’d never had so much as a tummy ache. For my insides to flip like this, it had to be some kind of curse.
Fuck, but a promise was a promise, and even with this weird curse, was forming a permanent party something to decide so lightly?
Sizzle.
“Urghhh.”
It was a full-on life crisis.
I felt like I’d bolt for the toilet any second, but I didn’t trust my legs to stand.
“You promised, Hassan! Don’t tell me you’re backing out? Breaking it will bring something horrible!”
Luna’s voice cracked almost into sobs. I felt trapped, my vision blurring from the gut pain that left me dizzy.
Shit!
“Fine, fine! We’ll party up!”
“Really?”
“Yeah!”
I yelled reluctantly. The instant I did, the pain in my gut melted away like magic, leaving no trace. Whatever it was, fucking wild.
But I never wanted to feel that again. One wrong move, and I’d have shit my pants trying to stand for the toilet.
I could take barbarian or Samaritan as slurs, but “Shitty Hassan”? No way in hell.
Ding.
『Status: Oath of the Styx has been fulfilled.』
『Karma Value +10』
Looks like Karma piled up even without using Lay on Hands to cure the status. Knowledge I never wanted.
Guess I can’t make promises lightly. And fuck, no more drinking for me.
“Looking forward to partying with you, Hassan!”
Oblivious to my thoughts, Luna beamed innocently, flashing her neat white teeth. Cute and cheerful, sure, but…
I had zero confidence we could hack it through goblin hordes and monsters with her around.
She seemed to think I was some superhuman warrior, but like I said, I was just Hassan, ex-slave barely keeping himself fed.
*
We split the conger eel pie Luna ordered.
Meals in this world weren’t for savoring—they were chores to wolf down. So I just shoved food in without tasting it.
Sticking a whole fish in a pie and baking it? What a fresh kind of psycho.
Who the hell likes this enough to menu it? Sellers and buyers alike—barbaric cooking at its finest.
“So good, Hassan! Imagine eating this every day!”
“Uh, yeah. Eat up.”
“You’re such a great guy!”
With my go-ahead, Luna crammed the pie into her belly in seconds. Reminded me of the stray cats prowling my old house.
Strays stuff themselves silly ’cause they don’t know when the next meal’s coming.
Stray kittens have mama cats, but bottom-rung barbarians like us? No one’s watching our backs, so gorge when you can.
“Really that good?”
“Want the last bit?”
“Nah.”
That wrapped up our evening meal routine. As Luna sipped cheap barley booze instead of water, I said,
“So, that’s it for yesterday’s talk? Totem-making and partying?”
“Yeah. Oh, and I told you why I became an adventurer. Don’t remember that either?”
“Nope.”
“On Ideophe, everyone has to journey off the island after coming of age. That’s how you earn your place as a full islander.”
Like a rite of passage. Made sense. Reminded me of Mormons back home—leaving home for foreign missions to prove yourself. Suited-up foreigners proselytizing English lessons.
Lost in thought, I watched Luna chatter like a parrot, thrilled with her new party member and full belly.
“Ideophe’s cursed by the gods. Kids don’t come easy, crops won’t grow. That’s why we quest for Knox’s pomegranate seeds, somewhere in the underworld labyrinth. With them, our island could thrive!”
“Hmm, curse, huh. Since we’re party now, mind if I ask? You got any curses?”
“Uh? N-no, I don’t know about that stuff.”
Check her out, dodging my eyes. Trying to lie, but I knew she was curse-riddled. Hilarious.
Hiding it to snag a party? Fair enough—no psycho wants a cursed teammate.
This Chikorita was straight-up toxic debt!
Anyway, party formed. I’d stick with her till she hit Bronze and fulfilled the deal.
Sudden goblin ambushes or thug swarms could happen. If she pulled her weight, she’d be useful.
Parties form assuming everyone carries their load—especially permanent ones. It’s a strength.
My old owner, Silver-tier Elfriede, buzzed around with worker-bee parties like a queen.
Sure, her bees were Silver-tiers Luna couldn’t touch, but…
Point is, partying with Luna wasn’t all bad.
Plus, her weird statues boosted my stats. Better to keep her close.
Spinning that positive loop till my brain overheated, I switched gears.
“Ahem, uh, Luna. Since we’re partying, there’s a condition.”
“Condition?”
“Yeah, if you don’t like it…”
“I’ll do it!”
Wait, fuck, I didn’t even finish.
“At least hear me out. Not forcing you. If you say no…”
“Sounds good!”
“No, hold—listen to the end. Don’t misunderstand. I kinda need to touch your body.”
“M-my body…?”
Luna, who’d been jumping the gun, panicked hard, her pink twin-tails quivering. Fair reaction.
Even I’d stammer if someone said, “Hassan, lemme touch your body.”
But my intent was pure: dispel her curses, convert to Karma Value.
As a party member, lifting her weakening curse would boost growth and ranking.
“My blessing’s got strings attached.”
“Oh.”
Blushing Luna nodded like it clicked.
“You mean that? Like with the innkeeper…”
No clue what she meant, but she’d seen me drunk-heal the innkeeper up close.
That sped things up. She knew it wasn’t pervy.
“Yeah. So, before bed tonight?”
“…”
Luna hemmed and hawed, conflicted.
Knowing it was healing, but handing her body to a guy she’d known days? Tough for any girl.
I waited patiently.
“G-gotta be? Or no party…?”
“Necessary step.”
“…O-okay. Tonight? Or now…?”
“Sooner the better for me.”
Casual answer, then I recalled my blessings and Lay on Hands healing.
I’d dispelled her curse once before, but head pounding, I barely registered it.
Perfect chance to test this power properly. Bonus: lift her curses, rack Karma. Win-win.
Time passed.
I’d booked a room, perched on the bed.
Never thought I’d rent a double solo. 20 copper a night? Fucking pricey. But no healing her in a 6-bunk.
Already dropped 30 copper here today.
Freedom meant more gigs, but spending matched it. Time for reflection.
Why’s she taking forever?
Luna vanished to “prepare.” What prep for this? Barbarian spa rules?
Fidgeting in anticipation, I waited.
Knock knock.
“Luna?”
“Y-yeah.”
“Come in. Unlocked.”
Creak, squeak.
Cheap latch clicked, door swung open.
There stood a hesitant Luna, lit by flickering hallway torchlight. Post-dinner gloom made her look like—
“Gods, why are you soaked?”
“W-washed at the well. Thought I scrubbed, but… is this bad?”
Hmm, damp hair and skin, but fine.
“Come in.”
“Y-yeah…”
She dawdled like a pup dragged to the vet, sad-faced, shut the door.
Instantly, a sharp floral scent flooded the cramped room, tickling my nerves.
“Mint?”
“Mente flower oil. Good for teeth too…”
“Ah.”
This world’s shampoo-toothpaste combo. Cool, crisp, with sweet undertones—nice even for my sensitive nose. Refreshing.
“Anyway, face-down on the bed.”
Flinch.
Luna jolted at my voice, pouting like she’d cry any second, then started unfastening jewelry and clothes.
Rustle, rustle.
Whoa, shit, what’s this?
“Hey, why strip?”
“You said same as the innkeeper…”
Her skin emerged bit by bit. More shocking—what the hell did I do to that innkeeper?