Chapter 243
Chapter 243
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 243
Chapter Title: Elves of Alfheim #3
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Her name was Herci.
She was born in a slum village on the outskirts of the city of Sodomora, but by some stroke of unexpected luck, she caught the eye of a high-ranking priestess at the Venus Temple and got hired there.
A priestess of Venus.
As I had explained before, all the women working at the Venus Temple were professionals. They were a high-income profession skilled and expert in handling men.
That was why I had been viewing this woman as a mature, big-sister type. But the moment she opened her mouth to greet me, I realized my assumption was wrong.
"Kalidur! You're here! Is your leg feeling better today?"
"Thanks to you, it's much improved, sister of the foreign god."
"You'll probably be fully healed in a few more days. I may not have many talents, but I know exactly when a broken bone will mend. I've broken plenty myself."
It was Herci, the woman who lifted the corners of her mouth so high that her prominent cheekbones stood out. Then, as if she had just noticed my presence beside him, she quickly scanned me up and down with slightly frightened eyes.
"Wh-who's this dark brute? I thought he was a troll. He's human!"
She must have been scared by the big, black guy standing there.
But I was a little hurt. Weren't Venus priestesses supposed to welcome and embrace all men?
Savage, troll...
My delicate heart stung a bit.
So I scanned Herci from top to bottom in the same way. With her red hair and face full of freckles, she didn't match the image of Venus priestesses I had imagined.
She just looked like a country girl you could find anywhere in this world.
Her face was decently cute, but she seemed a bit young. Whether she wore no makeup or just light makeup, her features were overall thin and plain.
"I am Hassan of Samaria."
"Oh... of Samaria...? Ah? You don't mean...?"
"Probably."
"Wow, first time seeing you in person. So this is what you look like—."
Her nodding along with sounds like "hmm" and "ooh," putting in little interjections, felt a bit off. Was "this is what you look like" something to be happy about or get mad over?
Still, it didn't seem malicious.
"I'm Herci. Nice to meet you, Hassan."
There are those lively girls who are great at striking up conversations, and she seemed exactly that type. Just then, someone shouted from afar.
Herci! You're away from your post again! Keep this up, and you'll get in trouble!
"Ah, well, I have work to do. Kalidur, see you later! I'll change your bandages next time!"
"Sure."
The woman hurried back to her station. Then, it looked like she was getting scolded by what seemed to be her superior for leaving her post, as an older woman reprimanded her.
Kalidur and I left the Venus Garden behind us.
I said,
"Is that for real? You couldn't beat a girl who looks that scrawny?"
"It's true."
"You bastard—."
I had a lot to say. But seeing Kalidur's serious expression, the words that had bubbled up to my throat sank back into my stomach.
I could understand as a man.
The girl who healed his broken leg—yeah, no wonder he couldn't win against her. In my case, there was Phinri the healer I owed during the time right after my emancipation from slavery.
I wondered for a moment what she was up to now. With a husband and son, she was probably doing well. Then, on a whim, I casually asked,
"That woman... she's not married, is she?"
"She's still a virgin."
"Really? A Venus Temple priestess?"
A virgin and a Venus Temple priestess. Could there be a more mismatched pair? As I furrowed my brow slightly at the thought, Kalidur added,
"Herci is an apprentice who hasn't taken any devotees yet."
Apparently, even this world's professionals had an internship system. My knowledge of my old world was expanding in useless areas.
As I marveled at that, Kalidur asked me sidelong, just as I had done to him moments ago.
"So, what do you think?"
"What do you mean, what? She's a nice girl."
"Not that. Did you notice any weaknesses about her? Samaritans have strong intuition. Did your brother's eyes catch anything?"
"Weaknesses? No, I don't even know if that woman's strong to begin with."
"She is strong. I, Kalidur, have a minor gift for reading people's hearts. I've seen many in this world, but none as strong as her."
I see.
If it was strength of heart, then sure.
Born in a slum on the city outskirts and making it to this temple where just anyone can't enter—clearly not your average mentality.
Of course, there was that too.
But probably, in Kalidur's eyes, that woman looked special. Right now, even her freckles probably seemed like a huge strength to him.
Just like how I saw Luna's weird dances and occasional serious nonsense as her own charms.
"Herci will become a full priestess in three days. According to the rules of the foreign god Venus, I won't even have time to meet her personally after that. Before then, I want to have a match with Herci."
Become a full priestess.
Does that mean she'll start taking clients?
Wanting a match before then probably meant he wanted to express something in his own way.
So I tried to think of what could be her weakness. But how would I know? If I did, I'd have escaped single life long ago.
What would Luna or Hippolyte do to make her happy?
Lost in thought and glancing around, I saw the profusely blooming flowers and mumbled something vague.
"Give her flowers."
"Flowers. Indeed, that makes sense. Such a small-minded one like me never even thought of it. Good thing I introduced her to you, brother."
Stride stride—
Kalidur hopped along on his one good leg with the cast and arbitrarily plucked a flower from the garden.
Snap— the tearing flower stem made me panic, but he didn't care and went back into the temple holding that bizarre bouquet.
When he finally emerged, I had to ask.
"How'd it go? Did it work?"
"I just got teased."
"Savage. Figures."
After that, I went to the saintess's office to collect my pay, but all I heard was that she had gone to the sea to escape the heat.
"Damn it."
*
*
*
Scratch scratch—
I furrowed my brow.
According to Kalidur, to emit fighting spirit, you needed a mindset of intimidating your opponent.
Imagine a lion in your heart.
I am a lion.
I am fucking strong.
With my face scrunched up like that, Luna finally couldn't hold back and spoke.
"Hassan, why are you glaring at me like that?"
"No, did you feel anything?"
"Feel anything? My back itches! Why is my back so itchy? I scratched it twice earlier."
Luna was bustling around the hut making potions.
"Ah, there it is. Cungcung was stuck to my back. When did this guy climb on?"
Cungcung!
Luna peeled the rainbow-colored spider off her back and placed it on her palm. I glared at the thing.
Emit fighting spirit—
Hoo—
Even tensing my lower abdomen, Cungcung's eight eyes just stared back calmly. If anything, looking at the spider made me fucking scared.
Hioong.
I had learned the feeling and method roughly from Kalidur, but trying it myself, there were parts I just didn't get.
Whether humans could even do such a thing was questionable. If I hadn't seen Kalidur or Hippolyte do it, I'd have dismissed it as childish fantasy.
"Sigh, whatever."
"I don't even know what you're trying to do. Furrow your brow too much, and you'll get wrinkles!"
"Yeah. Anyway, how's the training going?"
I recalled that Luna was training under Witch Nemeia in ways helpful for combat.
She got up at dawn, made potions all early morning, then after lunch went to the witch's workshop to run errands and learn the know-how.
Luna had always been diligent, but lately even more so.
"Training? Going pretty well, I think! Yesterday I learned how to use spider venom."
"Oh? Spider venom?"
With Luna holding Cungcung on her palm and talking about spider venom, it felt eerie somehow. Of course, Cungcung was like an automatic door—scary-looking but venomless and affectionate toward people.
But Luna's next words were pretty shocking.
"I'm gonna feed Cungcung special stuff to give him venom!"
"That possible?"
"The old Pluto priests or Ideope's ancient poisoners put venomous bugs in a jar and made curses! Cungcung can do it too!"
Luna shouted enthusiastically, then carefully put Cungcung back in his jar.
"Hehe, I'll catch lots of wasps. Centipedes, poison toads, toxic mushrooms too—"
Hioong....
But the voice from inside sounded utterly pitiful. Going from tasty rats every day to bland venomous bugs—must be sad.
Somehow it overlapped with my childhood, making me unexpectedly feel sorry for Cungcung.
"Making curses? Doesn't that make Cungcung a bit pitiful?"
"I feel that way too, but wouldn't it be good if Cungcung got stronger with me? And he's gotten fat from eating only rats. Can't even jump well anymore, just waddles."
"Yeah, whatever—."
Pet spider treatment was Luna's domain. Lots of thoughts came to mind, but I decided to shut up.
"Oh, Hassan, and here, moai totems!"
Then Luna held out two small wooden statues toward me.
"I've always wondered—why do you take the totems I make?"
"With these, I can evolve my Karma stage."
"Liar. Fine, I won't ask."
"It's true."
Even when telling the truth, people often didn't believe me. So I didn't bother with long explanations to avoid wasting energy.
"Anyway, I'm heading out."
"You said a commission? Meeting Alfheim's envoys? Full of elves, huh. Sounds fun!"
"Wanna come?"
At my question, Luna made a hesitant "hmm" sound and looked around.
"Still got a bit left to do—can you wait like ten minutes?"
"Yeah, take your time getting ready."
I gave a suitable reply and headed to the yard first.
The yard had those fucking horrific potato vines sprawling everywhere like a demon realm, but after seeing it a few times, I'd gotten used to it.
"Chaos forever—."
『Name: Hassan Lv. 24
Strength: 12
Agility: 4
Vitality: 8
Karma: 280
Blessings: Blessing of Chaos | Shining Hand | Armor of Night | Dark Eyes』
My current Karma value was now 280.
With the two moai totems from Luna, I could raise at least 2 levels. I pondered briefly. Which stat to raise?
Strength to 14? Or supplement the relatively low Agility?
Or maybe raise Vitality by 2 to make it two digits?
They were all my inner voices, but all sounded plausible. After agonizing, I raised my finger and added 2 to Agility.
Lately, I hadn't felt short on strength or greatly lacking vitality.
But dodging that giant palm attack or getting easily countered by Kalidur showed my reflexes and speed needed work.
Thus, Agility.
Ding, ding—
Hoping for bonus stats maybe. But fucking horribly, the 40% success chance failed twice in a row.
"Argh, damn it."
Disappointing, but nothing to do. Just keep massaging here and there to diligently gather Karma.
Or wait for the Agumons I released in the valley to clean up mobs and pass on Karma.
I buried the used totems from Luna in a corner of the yard.
Stretching my shoulders and looking up at the sky, it was now early afternoon. Today was the day to meet Alfheim's elves for Kalidur's commission.
Elves, huh.
Would there be a bunch like Elfride? Or a ton like Kalidur?
"All done! Let's go!"
While pondering, Luna and I headed to the inn where Kalidur had set up the meeting.
The inn was Serphian, a tavern near the east gate.
Even in daytime, quite a crowd, and all their eyes focused on one spot.
"This is the average adventurer, Bronze Tier? Pathetic."
Crash—
"Ugh—!"
The moment I entered, someone flew toward me.
"What the fuck."