Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Lions Have High Pride
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People often have thoughts or willpower they didn't know they had in extreme situations.
I just found out now that my brain works pretty damn well, since I was blocking those kitchen knife-like claws while thinking about other shit!
Ding-.
The now-familiar text pops up along with the spots on the beast's body. Who would've thought I'd see acupoints on a baby animal's body?
It reminds me of my dad raising live chickens to practice acupuncture, stabbing them with needles, saying beasts have acupoints too.
But damn, it was real. Fuck, I thought it was bullshit!
Grrrrk!
"Grraaah-."
But right now, there was something more important. Escaping this front paw attack somehow.
As expected of a massive beast, the pressing force from its paw was beyond imagination, almost like Elfriede's brute strength. If it keeps pinning me like this, I'll end up as a nicely squished sandwich!
"Hey, hey, do something quick!"
"W-Wait a bit! F-Fire won't catch! M-Maybe 'cause it's wet!"
"Grraaah, fuck this shitty underground waterway!"
"Brother, hold on! I'll boost your spirits with the music of battle!"
Clack-, clack- clack, clack-clack-.
Malco clacking away on some castanets or whatever the hell they are.
Clack, clack-clack, clack.
Clack.
This little shit, with me about to get eaten by a lion, is playing music like it's some ritual? Pisses me off so much!
Grrrrk!
The lion seemed pissed at Malco's heartlessness too. It gave up pinning me and charged at Malco, swatting his torso with its front paw.
"Wh-What, why me! M-Mercuryyy!"
Kak!
Malco reacted well, so the lion kept punching down.
Thud, thud, thud-thud, thud-.
It looks like a cat's punches, but with that weight class, it's brutal. Thank god I'm not in that spot.
"Gek, guk, heek-heek, heek!"
Every hit, Malco makes funny noises from his mouth. From playing an instrument to becoming one himself—worthy of street performers' admiration.
"Fuck, Malco you bastard. I won't forget your death!"
"Ah, I'm not dead yet, save me...."
"D-Done! F-Fire's lit! I'll spew the smoke!"
Then Luna's welcome voice from behind. At the same time, whoosh—she exhales, spreading smoke everywhere.
A acrid, indescribably seductive smell fills the air.
Grrr, grrr-.
The white lion, busy beating Malco, shudders hugely and turns its head toward Luna and me.
"Hey, hey, this really works, right?"
"Cats can't resist this. W-Wait. It'll collapse soon."
Was trusting Luna the right call? I pondered it twice in that one second, but no answer came.
What my eyes see right now: the lion's saber-tooth-like fangs hanging way out past its lips, drool dripping between them.
And the beast's merciless, bloodshot eyes.
"Th-That's weird, why isn't it down? Too big, effect halved maybe!"
"Heehee, fuck!"
Kraaak!
The lion roars with its huge mouth wide open. So intimidating that Luna goes "Hweee-" and plops ass-first into the sewage.
Legs giving out is natural. If I wasn't used to Elfriede's pressure, I'd have pissed my pants too.
Yeah, fuck. I survived two years as that vicious bitch's slave, and now I'm dying as beast chow in this stinking underground sewer?
No fucking way.
"Come at me, you bastard."
Grrrrk!
We leap at each other, lion and me overlapping. It tries pinning my shoulders with both front paws to topple me, but.
"Hey, Luna! It really works!"
Its strength and ferocity are way down compared to before, making it manageable. I can handle this.
So I clench my fist tight and slam it full force at the glaring red spot on its exposed belly, right at the solar plexus.
Thud-.
Keruk-.
Good impact, and the lion's body shakes hard—punch landed perfectly.
Riding the momentum, I unleash a flurry on the shiny spots on its belly.
Krrraaaah-.
"Die, asshole!"
Keguk!
But despite the lion's screams of pain, no sign of collapsing.
Maybe its hide's too thick for human fists to hurt. My punching hand hurts more now, can't keep going.
Grrrrk-.
In the end, my strength gives first. I fall back as it pins my shoulders, ending up under its front paw.
Grrr....
But the lion just looks down at me, not biting or attacking. Wondering where to start eating, maybe.
Grung-.
Decided, it shoves its face at my nape. With hundreds of pounds pressing down, no way I can stop it.
"Gonna get eaten alive! Fuck, save me!"
"Hassan! Hold your breath!"
Crash-.
Then a glass bottle shatters, and a foul smell spreads. How to describe it—like the most polluted, hottest spot in hell.
"Kuh, s-sister, what smell is this!"
"Paralysis toad oil! Costs 1 silver a bottle.... Anyway, you okay?"
Luna checking on me. My nose feels crooked, but otherwise fine. Seeing the lion suffer more gives me energy.
Grrrrk!
"Fucking disgusting, huh bastard!"
I seize the moment it flinches, spread my arms like a noose, and hug its thick nape with all my might.
Geguk, kek, kek!
"Sleeper hold, you shit!"
Kek, geguk!
The lion thrashes like it's in agony. Sewage and sweat make my arms and locked hands slip.
"You shits, stop watching and beat it!"
"I-I'll help, Hassan!"
"Brother, I'm here too!"
Finally snapping to, Luna and Malco pile on, pressing the lion down hard.
They bounce off the thrashing beast a few times but don't give up. These guys have that grit? Then I gotta step up.
"Shiiibaaaak!"
Kek..., kekek, kek!
The lion keeps hacking like something's stuck in its throat.
I take it as its strength fading, grit my teeth, pour my last reserves into squeezing my arms tighter.
"Grraaaahk!"
Kek-.
Ding-.
『Cured Whitey's Heartworm.』
『Karma Value + 10』
Finally, the lion hacks up phlegm and goes limp like it's dead. My hands slacken too. Whew, fuck. Thought my arms'd rip off.
"Br-Brother! You beat the lion! My god, is this real? Brother subdued a lion barehanded!"
"Hassan! We lived! All of us! See? I helped too!"
"Above all, my battle music played a big role-!"
Luna and Malco jump up on the limp lion, making a fuss. I'm thrilled too, but too drained to move, just panting roughly.
"But what's this? Some worm. Oh, it's a heartworm!"
Luna grabs the round furry lump the lion spat out.
Size of those marbles from the old corner store, shape like a pillbug curled up.
"Black one! Wow, real heartworm! Super lucky! Nox's blessing for sure!"
"Sister, what's got you excited like a salted snail?"
"Worm that parasites in cats' hearts! Dry it, grind to powder for potion ingredient. Wow, cat's big, so worm's huge too."
"Worm powder? Sounds appetite-killing. Do they eat that in Ideophe?"
"Tastes bad. But great for health! Finished potion's 6 silver, split three ways is 2 silver each! Lucky!"
"You shits, if you got breath to yap, tie this bastard up...."
Barely conscious from exhaustion, I grab the strings on the ground. Thank fuck the pack had rope.
We tie its huge paws tight, then tie more, knots secure so it won't escape.
"Fuck, done...!"
Finally, I weakly cheer victory. Then footsteps behind me: thud, thud. The piper woman named Hamelin.
"Intriguing result. Beyond expectations~. Sloppy, though. Passable. But~."
Mumbling nonsense, the piper woman vanishes back into the darkness she came from.
"What the fuck. What was failing? Anyway, let's get outta here. Wanna wash."
And so the cat-finding quest ends. But fuck, this ain't a cat.
*
Exiting the sewers, the world is blanketed in dusk like a carpet.
"My god, look at that. White fur. Ain't that a lion?"
"Looks like a cat though. Kinda cute."
"But size of a lion. So it is? No cat that big anyway."
"Fuck, you calling my words into question? Duel it, you shit—off to Pluto with ya."
"Fine, oddballs. Today your last pair's gone too."
Lots of stares at us carrying a huge lion on our heads. Some even approach.
"Fine pelt. You hunt it yourself?"
"Uh...."
As I open my mouth, Malco holding the lion's ass answers instead.
"Yes! Brother Samarian Hassan beat it barehanded! This bard Malco saw clear!"
"Huh, fuck, caught that barehanded. No ordinary barbarian. Scary just seeing it dead."
"Wait, Hassan? The one who slew a hundred goblins? Black hair matches."
"Heard he killed too many in the wilds, got exiled here?"
"Rumor he's the world's human butcher-. Hell of a shithead."
No, fuck, what's this story? Another Hassan besides me?
"Brother, your fame rises. No thanks needed between us."
"You fuck, your doing? What rumors you spreading?"
"I don't lie. Just shout unbelievable truths. Truths can be uglier than lies sometimes."
This shit's parroting that piper woman's words from the sewer. Must've liked 'em.
But where's the truth in those rumors? All fucking lies, bastard-.
Anyway, the stares burden me, and I hurry to toss this ridiculous monster to its owner and get paid.
"Brother, here?"
"Yeah, good job, kid. Heavy as fuck for a cat, tsk."
"Then 10% quest fee to the guild. Got business in the sewers. Ahem, see ya."
"Hey, nosey. Before you go, take this-. Moai totem."
Luna pulls a stone statue from under her worn raincoat and hands it to Malco. His nose swells huge.
"Artistic libido stirred by fine shape. Anyway, later. I'm off-."
Malco drops the lion in front of Witch Nemea's alchemy shop and bolts like he found hidden honey, no look back.
"Fucking braggart. Gonna get his nose broke for real."
"It's fine, Hassan. Nosey's doomed to die by stoning someday. Voodoo priestess insight."
"R-Really."
Of course, bitching aside, meeting him helped big time.
Didn't need his guiding honestly, but without him, Luna and I'd have to carry this huge cat-or-lion alone.
Basically me solo. Horrifying just thinking. Luna helped huge too.
If she hadn't burned herb and smashed toad shit at the clutch, I'd be in this cat's gut now.
"Luna, you worked hard. Helped a ton."
"R-Right? See, I can do it!"
But smashing 1-silver potion. Quest's 2 silver—backwards as fuck.
Felt wasteful, but Luna didn't care, so I shut up.
"Then Hassan, can I head out first?"
As I go to knock on Nemea's door, Luna fidgets behind, clutching a leather waterskin.
Like a kid eyeing Christmas gift and wrap.
Since getting that worm, she's been like this.
"What for?"
"Potions need fresh ingredients. Wanna grab the rest quick. Shops still open now. Make all night, done by morning."
"No need to get paid together? You worked too."
"...I-I don't wanna go in there."
"Hmm~."
"See ya at guild tomorrow morning, Hassan!"
"Hey-." No time to say wait—Luna giggles uncontrollably and vanishes far away.
After her pink twintails disappear round the merchant alley corner, I dazedly knock.
Knock, knock-knock-.
"Ah~. Finally here~. See ya later~. Gotta deal with customer now~."
Nemea's soft voice from inside. Another customer? Then click, door opens, black rats swarm out past my feet.
Squeak-squeak!
"Fuck, what the hell!"
"Oh my~. Whitey~. Skinny from days without food~."
The witch clicks her tongue pityingly at the white-furred beast by the door.
Looks fat and healthy to me. If starved to this, fuck, full strength would've been untouchable.
"Come in~ friend~. Lots to say about this job~. Seems you pleased Hamelin~."
"Rumor spread here already?"
"Witches have many eyes and ears~."
How in this no-phone world? Magic's terrifying.
Maybe that's why science stalls—with handy weird powers. Magic's fucking anti-progress.
"Whitey~. Gonna lay forever? Get up now~."
Crack.
"Ack, shit, scared me!"
The "unconscious" giant cat rips the ropes off its paws like weed roots, stands, turns.
Then rubs its huge face on the witch's skirt hem—chills me to the bone.
Grrr.
"Got a massage~?"
Grrk.
"Spit out the worm too~? Hehe~. Friend, Whitey likes you~. Makes sense, your touch is good~. Even I remember that day~. Ah, yeah that's cheating~. Anyway don't go wild, Whitey~."
Witch and giant white cat enter the shop, ignoring stunned me.
"What're you doing~. Friend come in too~. Kid left something behind apparently~. Places she wants touched too~."