Chapter 283
Chapter 283
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 283
Chapter Title: Short Break 283 ? Short Break #5
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Thud-thud.
I kicked off the ground twice in quick succession.
It was me imitating Calidour's footwork, and even imperfectly executed, I could still produce explosive speed. I figured it was safe to say I'd reached about the first level of Flash Step.
"Tch-!"
Swoosh-.
As my body sliced through the air toward the twin-axe guy, I could clearly hear the panicked voices of the people around us.
"Huh, he's gone!?"
"What the? Where'd he go?"
All living creatures have something called dynamic vision. Speed beyond that becomes so fast it's imperceptible, making it look like the target just vanished.
That's exactly why the mosquito you're chasing right now seems to disappear right in front of your eyes.
In that fleeting instant, my body had already closed in right up to the nose of the twin-axe Caliph.
I swung my fist upward toward his solar plexus, slamming it into his gut.
"Gueh-!"
His body bounced up a few centimeters into the air. Without missing a beat, I grabbed both sides of his head and drove my knee straight up into it.
Master Hassan's merciless hell ultimate technique, knee smash...!
To my ears came a gruesome cracking sound—pak!—along with, for some reason, Paranoia's sound effect.
Damn it, get out of my head, Paranoia!
Shaking off Paranoia's lingering echo, I smashed my gauntlet-clad fist down onto the man's back with all my strength. With a thudding impact—boom—the twin-axe whatever-his-title-was crumpled to the floor, motionless.
Drip-drip.
The ground gradually stained red with the blood trickling from his nose and mouth, soon forming a sticky carpet.
While everyone stared speechless, blinking in shock at the scene, I walked along the trail of flowing blood and snatched the silver necklace from Hippolyte's hand.
Then I hung it around my neck and said,
"Alright, anyone else wanna step up? Now's your chance."
I scanned the surroundings. The guild staff watching me nodded to each other, murmuring their assessments.
He's pretty decent.
Fights well.
Heard he was training under Hippolyte. Looks like it's true.
Makes sense how he fights like that. But Hippolyte taking on a male disciple? That's surprising.
That last move looked more like elven footwork than Hippolyte's. He just vanished from sight.
Their whispers reached my ears crystal clear.
I'd noticed it before, but ever since I'd clumsily acquired aura, my hearing had sharpened to the point where even faint murmurs sounded like they were shouted right in my face.
Maybe because I was pumped from the fight, I could hear everyone swallowing, exhaling, even smacking their lips.
My senses are getting way too sharp.
Isn't this a bit much? Is my head messed up or something?
As I started panicking a little, the man sprawled out in front of me pushed himself back up.
"Tch, damn. That hurt like hell. This is why I said no. No need to check if he's Hippolyte's disciple."
He was the twin-axe Caliph. The guy I'd nailed dead-on acted like he was just blowing his nose, pinching one nostril and spitting out blood—phbt. Tough as nails.
Then he grinned, his face smeared with blood.
"Samaritan—or was it Hassan? Not bad at all. You look young, but you've got skills. Mars Guild's stock's gonna climb nicely."
The man who'd been radiating killing intent like he wanted to murder me moments ago suddenly talking stocks threw me for a loop.
I'd thought my attacks were strong enough to keep him down for at least a couple hours, but here he was getting up like he'd just tripped over his own feet. Unreal.
Silver Tier adventurer, alright.
Glancing at Hippolyte in confusion, she explained.
"It's Mars Guild's own baptism. They've gotta see some blood. In that sense, you passed with flying colors, Hassan."
"I see."
I looked around. Everyone was chattering about how Mars Guild's stock would list properly now.
This year we might actually go public? That Samaritan guy's the real deal. Should help with the review.
Heard Minerva Guild's up for listing this year too. Stock's supposed to hit one gold per share.
Damn it, someone hustle! Hunt some big-name monsters, discover a new labyrinth!
Screw this, the adventurer market's already saturated. No monsters around except goblin pups. World's too damn peaceful.
Gotta go check the Styx River temperature or something.
Their talk didn't sound like normal conversation, so I was puzzled when Hippolyte added,
"These are Mars Guild's Silver Tier adventurers—all shareholders. From Silver Tier on, a portion of your pay gets replaced with guild stock. Mandatory."
Mandatory replacement? The nuance sounded like an obligation you couldn't refuse. I had to ask.
"Wait, mandatory? For real?"
"Yep. You're in the same boat as us now. Just declare 'I pledge my life to Mars Guild,' and the promotion ceremony's—"
No, screw that. Was that real? Hippolyte kept talking, but nothing registered.
Even kids in Sodmora knew Mars Guild stock was worthless. Forced to take that instead of pay? Horrifying.
"You're serious?"
"Hassan, wasn't it in the guild enrollment terms?"
Enrollment terms? What? Racking my brain, I recalled the distant memory of joining the guild.
The day I first met Daphne and got accused of sexual harassment.
Not a day I liked remembering, but I'd signed something like a thick ledger back then.
That must've been the terms. Daphne said it was nothing important, just sign, so I did.
"Son of a—"
"What?"
"—I pledge my life to Mars Guild."
"Good. Now you're one of us! Blood brothers!"
Hippolyte's furrowed brow relaxed a bit. She turned to the gathered Silver Tiers.
"You all know, but I'll say it again. I am Hippolyte, priestess of Mars Guild. The more blood you shed on the battlefield, the higher our stock will soar!"
"Woo-!"
"Fight to the death! Warriors keep flooding into the guild anyway!"
"Priestess, like always, let's end with that chant."
"Right. I'll lead, you follow on the chorus—."
*
*
*
After the promotion ceremony in the guild's small plaza wrapped up, as I headed out the main gate, I spotted a pink-haired girl sitting on a bench, idly swishing her sandals on the ground.
"Luna."
"Oh, Hassan! How'd it go? Ceremony over? You've got a cut on your face! Here, lemme put some ointment on."
Luna pulled some weird salve from her pouch and dabbed it on my nose bridge and cheek. It was bitter, but soaked in nicely.
"Who'd you fight inside? What happened?"
"No idea."
"No idea? What do you mean? They said only Silver Tier and up can attend, so I couldn't get in."
"Wasn't really a ceremony. More like a shareholders' meeting."
"Shareholders'?"
The more I explained to Luna, the more her brows twisted in confusion.
And the more I talked, the less sense it made to me. What even was that group chant at the end? Felt like I'd peeked into something I shouldn't have.
I'd been to the Abyss, but somehow Mars Guild's shareholders' meeting creeped me out more.
My mind felt shrouded in black darkness the more I thought about it, so I changed the subject.
"Oh, yeah—they said I gotta go to Delphi soon. Pick my own date."
"Delphi, huh. Yeah, you've been saying you need to go forever. Summer's winding down, weather's cooling—rent a carriage, probably takes about a month round trip?"
"Yeah, roughly. Volunteer's almost done anyway. Month away, my scandals should die down. But can you come, Luna?"
Luna had the workshop and all sorts of stuff to handle. That's why I asked if she could join. She pondered with a hum.
"Actually, I had business in Delphi too. Wanted an oracle."
"You? What for?"
"Th-that's a secret—."
Luna keeping secrets from me? Weird. Awkward air brewing, so I smoothly pivoted.
"You alone? Where's Paranoia?"
"Out bug-hunting with a friend. Weird nymph. Called herself a honey-water nymph. Thought Paranoia was the strangest, but this one's next level."
Luna must've chatted with Doris the honey-water nymph a bit. Probably spent yesterday together.
"But her honey's good. Mixed in potions, improved the taste! Here, Hassan, try this!"
Luna rummaged in her pouch and pulled out a wooden potion vial. The stuff inside gave off its usual bizarre smell—.
"Huh, smells okay?"
Still bitter-medicine-ish, but tolerable. Used to be it'd sting my eyes and chill my spine just from the whiff.
Curious about the taste, I took a sip—and something surprisingly decent slid down my throat. I blinked in shock.
Actually drinkable.
"Still tweaking it?"
"Yep! Whaddya think? You like honey water, so I upped the honey. Good?"
"Turned out great."
"Yay!"
Luna beamed, thrilled her potion was leveling up.
Had I ever told her I liked honey water? Then I remembered—long ago, the morning after our first night together, she'd given me some.
Freshly freed slave, scraping by at Iron Tier bottom. Level barely scraping 10.
Now the necklace around my neck was a pristine silver-white one, different from back then.
A long way come.
One more step to Gold Tier for real.
"Luna, still no totem?"
"Nope. Haven't done karma-building stuff."
"Got it."
Not just piling up my own karma value—Luna needed to rack up karma hunting dungeons and monsters too.
Still, Gold Tier at level 40 was in sight. Felt confident. Day off volunteer duty, good mood, nice weather, peak condition.
"By the way, Hassan, where's your club?"
"Oh, I planted it in the ground."
"What does that even mean?"
"No clue. Sounds fake, but my club literally sprouted roots into the dirt."
"You say the weirdest things sometimes."
Luna not believing me? Felt a bit wronged. So I took her to the inn by the north gate where I was staying.
Some punks eyed me on the way, but spotting the silver necklace, they just spat on the ground—ptui—and backed off. Super convenient.
Damn, this the difference between Bronze and Silver?
Wonder what happens with a gold one.
Whoa, check that guy—scruffy dude wearing a gold necklace!
Top city beauties—somehow Luna, Hippolyte, Elfriede, Antiope types—hesitantly slip me notes with their addresses.
My place—date?
Date? Awkward.
Damn, what a life.
"Whoa, it really sprouted roots!"
Luna yelped, seeing the club embedded by the well. As if on cue, a presence slinked up behind me.
"Cute little squirt's back. Here to see me?"
"H-Hiiiik-!"
It was Elfriede. Said it was her day off, but she hadn't budged from the inn?
"Eeek!"
Luna froze like a raccoon hearing a dog bark, trembling.
"D-don't—!"
"I haven't done anything yet. Don't what? This maybe—?"
Elfriede zipped over to Luna. As the panicking Luna flailed her arms, Elfriede pressed her lips to Luna's cheek and sucked—smooch!