Chapter 337
Chapter 337
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 337
Chapter Title: Sultan Hassan's First Step #2
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Sodoma, one of the kingdom's premier metropolises.
They say that when the great monster Typhon, who sought to overturn the world, was finally struck by Jupiter's lightning and let out its death throes, the earth was riddled with earthquakes, faults, and fissures.
Among those fissures was one connecting the underworld—known as the realm of the dead—to the Saha World, the mortal realm. Sodoma was built right next to such a fissure.
It was said to have arisen above the point where the rivers of the underworld intersect, a place commonly called the "Underworld Ferry Landing."
Mages gathered there one by one atop the fissure, drawn by the underworld magic rising from the ferry landing.
Rumors of that overflowing magic spread, forming a village, and tales of the nearby gold mines proliferated until it had grown into a massive city.
"After necromancy advanced during the Titan War fifty years ago, it exploded in growth."
Inevitably, Sodoma was deeply tied to Pluto, the god who ruled the underworld and its veins of ore.
As Sodoma swelled in size, Pluto worship naturally gained immense prestige, rivaling the number of followers of Jupiter, the kingdom's chief deity.
"Imagine skeleton miners who don't take wages, need no rest or food, digging up ores in the mines. Of course Pluto's followers and priests amassed wealth."
Baltma, the head of the Mars Guild, directed his single eye into the void.
His gaze seemed not on his office—like a battlefield tent—but on distant memories of the past.
Baltma continued.
"Using that wealth, Pluto's followers seized key positions throughout the kingdom. That might have been the problem. They grew too powerful and provoked backlash from the established powers."
"So Pluto's followers were persecuted?"
"Yes, but it's more complicated than that. If you've heard the rumors, you know my real name isn't Baltma—it's Vincent Friedrich."
Friedrich.
No one living in this kingdom would be unaware of that name.
It was a title bestowed directly by Jupiter to the royal family, one only royals could bear.
That meant this one-eyed middle-aged man, who feared his nightly duties with his wife and drowned himself in potent snake liquor, was originally royalty.
"Uncle, you're royalty?"
"Yes. The current king, the Thunder Emperor, is my younger brother. Most who knew this are dead or were killed. It's a secret."
The king's brother?
I'd thought he was no ordinary guy, but fuck, he was insanely high up. What position does the king's brother hold? Duke or something? Among the nobles I've met, he'd be the highest.
I couldn't fathom why such a man was running an unregistered guild.
Sure, being guild head was impressive, but someone like the king's brother should be lounging in a grand mansion at the palace, living in luxury.
"Then why the hell are you doing this here?"
At my question, Baltma scratched his half-bald forehead with a finger. He hemmed and hawed as if reluctant to answer, then let out a strange sigh.
"The Pluto followers in high positions were demoted or mostly executed. Or converted, like me."
"Ah."
"And their paths to advancement were blocked, needless to say."
I recalled the time in Delphi when I was invited to Marquis Carville's banquet. Most guests there had been Pluto worshippers.
They'd welcomed me thinking I might be their chance to reclaim high office.
They believed I could restore Pluto's fallen prestige and save their own plight.
Whether I could do that was another matter, but just my presence as a symbol must have been comfort enough.
"..."
While I was lost in those thoughts, Baltma remained silent. I could tell he was holding something back.
The king's brother.
In this patriarchal world that prioritized the eldest son, that implied seniority in succession rights.
And for a man who'd served as Pluto's high priest to abandon his name and identity for the headship of an unregistered guild—there had to be far more to it than met the eye.
"So you're the leader of the cultists, Uncle?"
I remembered how Pluto's cultists had attacked Sodoma and wrecked the Mars Guild. In hindsight, what the hell had that been about?
The cultists, led by their leader, smash the guild of that very leader, then he spends a fortune to rebuild it. What was the point?
No idea. One thing was clear: Pluto cultists were idiots.
There's always a reason for downfall.
At my words, Baltma pulled out a pipe from somewhere, lit it with a tap-tap, stuck it in his mouth, and sighed.
"Leader? Nah, hot-blooded Pluto followers went rogue trying to overthrow the kingdom. Most are in the prison city now. Pluto worship is fading completely. Or so I thought—"
Swipe.
Baltma's remaining eye pierced me like a glare. It held a subtle resentment, or maybe not so subtle.
"Your existence ruined everything, Hassan. Pluto's son? Archduke of Hell? Gods, I never imagined such a thing was real."
"But the cultists spread it as prophecy, right?"
I recalled what I'd heard from Skizo, the greatsword warrior and Pluto's holy knight.
They believed without doubt that Pluto's son would turn the world into hell.
Even dying, he'd shown fanatical loyalty.
Their conviction had even chilled me. In hindsight, it was spot on.
That greatsword guy and I—we'd both been fools. Good thing he's in prison. Seeing him now would be fucking awkward.
But Baltma saw it differently.
"That prophecy? I made it up. To tell persecuted Pluto followers to bide their time and preserve their lives. Just a story I invented."
"Fuck, really?"
"That was our role: fade quietly into oblivion. But you show up now claiming to be Pluto's son? You're just pouring oil on dying embers."
"Fine, then stamp this recommendation letter. I'm busy..."
"..."
Baltma shot me a this-fucker look. Probably thinking it too. But when I shoved the letter at him, he grudgingly signed.
Vincent Friedrich.
Seeing his name boldly stamped on my paper felt damn good.
It was like I'd collected all the gym badges from every region's leaders to become a Pokémon master.
Two weeks since arriving in Sodoma from Delphi.
Finally, I could build my temple, just as Hypnos's gods had said.
I felt great. Time to open a temple-named health center and suck up all that karma value.
My initial goal of setting up wellness centers in this world to level up was within reach.
For the first time, I'd planned something and nearly achieved it. Huge sense of accomplishment.
*
*
*
I'd felt amazing just moments ago. But with temple construction ahead and business done, my mouth was parched, cold sweat pouring.
Each step made my heart pound, vision spinning with dizziness.
"Hoo."
My breathing was ragged, hyperventilating long ago.
Why so terrified? Because each step brought me closer to Luna's hut.
Remembering how hiding my affair with Hippolyte from Luna had blown up spectacularly, I decided to come clean about Elfride.
"Hassan-sama, are you really going to tell her the truth...? She might kill you...!"
Paranoy kept scaring me from the side.
"Luna-sama might stake your heart...! Or sneak in while you sleep with scissors and castrate you...! It's castration voodoo...!"
"Sh-shut up, you bastard!"
Her dire warnings left me no choice but to clamp her mouth.
I was used to her paranoid delusions, but today they hit hard.
It could really happen.
This was deadly serious. But I couldn't avoid or run. Hiding was worse.
Fuck it, face it like a man.
Ding-.
Finally, the wind chimes in the small yard tinkled.
"Aaah-! Someone's here! House owner! I'll go check!"
Someone scurried and flung open the door into the yard. It was Doris, the honey-water nymph with honey-colored hair.
She'd fully become Luna's errand girl. Nymphs naturally serve gods or their children, right?
Like Paranoy followed me, Doris was Luna's personal maid. But that wasn't important now.
"Um, Doris. Is Luna inside?"
"She's inside! And I'm a ditch-water nymph! The Vesta goddess nymph alumni planned an autumn picnic! She prepared tons of cookies and candy!"
"Really...? Guess we have to make time...!"
Fuck Paranoy. She'd terrified me, but now she was thrilled about the picnic. Heartless bitch.
"Hmm."
Anyway, the picnic and Paranoy weren't key. Facing Luna with the truth was.
So I took a deep breath, thought fuck it, worst case I die, and entered the hut. There was Luna's back as she poured water into a jar.
"Uh, Luna—."
"Oh, Hassan! How'd it go? Master the magic?"
"Uh, yeah. Light Vessel—."
I showed her the orb in my palm. Luna, thrilled, practically leaped a few centimeters into the air.
"Hassan's using magic now too!"
"Got all the recommendation letters for the temple. Can build it now..."
"That's huge! Shit! But why so down? Bad news?"
"Well, Luna, um..."
Fuck, how to say it? But backing down meant my necromancer sultan dream flies away. So, man up.
"Luna, I slept with Elfride."
"W-what...?"
Her brows furrowed tight. Time froze.
Whoooosh—.
A chill seeped around me.
I'd felt this before—when Nox possessed Luna's body, wrapping me in eerie air.
What, is Nox coming? Fuck, I'm done. But thankfully, Luna seemed compos mentis.
"What'd you do with Elfride?"
"S-sex..."
"When."
"Yesterday..."
"Sorry, Luna. Nothing to say. No excuses."
I pressed my forehead and hands to the floor in a deep bow. Total submission.
Utterly humiliating surrender. My fate was in Luna's hands.
"..."
But Luna padded barefoot around me in circles, sniffing like she was smelling something.
"How the hell did you get her scent this strong?"
"R-really?"
I'd showered multiple times; didn't think Elfride's smell lingered. But Luna sensed it.
"Hmm—."
Luna circled me endlessly. Doris, who'd overheard, barked instead.
"This guy's got the house owner as his lover but cheats with another! Worse than honey-thieving badgers or bears! Total scumbag!"
She seemed to condemn me, raging like it happened to her. Couldn't tolerate harm to her chosen mistress Luna.
The ditch-water nymph Illinois, who'd served mountain god's son Sijo, had raged like this when he was wronged.
So I looked to my companion nymph, Paranoy.
Paranoy, who might one day become a frontier countess atop hellfire. Time for her to defend me and score points.
"Luna-sama, may I say something in this situation...?"
Paranoy actually spoke up.
"Hassan-sama is a bad guy...!"
But I had to admit again: this bitch always sides with the winner.
"Daring to cheat on a lover like Luna-sama...! As a fellow female, I can't forgive it...!"
"Hmm—."
Luna's brows furrowed deeper at Paranoy's words. Goosebumps prickled my back. Nymphs or not, women. Three of them here.
Grrr...! Woof woof-!
Even female Woof Woof seemed my enemy now. Deep in enemy territory, no allies. Fucked.
Is this the end?
As I thought that, Paranoy spoke again.
"But what about Jupiter and Neptune, who strut as chief gods...? They cheat openly on Juno and Salacia, siring kids nonstop...!"
"What?"
"Their sons are worse delinquents...! Look at Triton—thirty wives and still chases more women, a total thug...! Compared to them, Hassan-sama's a gentleman...!"
"What the fuck? What're you on about?"
Unexpectedly, Paranoy's outburst soured Luna's mood. But Paranoy pressed on like she'd seized the moment.
"Hypnos's gods all see cheating as normal...! But Hassan-sama, Archduke of Hell, is different...!"
"How's he different? He cheated."
"No, he's not...!! He could touch any woman he wants, yet endures this humiliation to beg Luna-sama's forgiveness...!! Treatment even Juno, goddess of marriage, never got...!!"
Paranoy was like a fiery activist rallying the masses. Since when was she this eloquent? Her clear voice hammered the message home.
"Hassan-sama apologizes to Luna-sama, no one else...! Doesn't that mean she's the most precious, the first in his heart...?"
"R-really?"
Is it working? Luna's furrowed brows are smoothing!
"Hassan-sama surrounded by women is the fate of a ruler—! If inevitable, accept it...! Luna-sama, push him away and risk thieves stealing the principal wife spot. Fight instead...!"
"F-fight...? To keep principal wife status...?"
"Yes...! Abandon him now, and you'll fatten the magpies waiting below...?"
"..."
"They lose nothing...! But you, Luna-sama, lose much...! This way, you could lose everything...!! Fight them, Luna-sama...!!"
What fight? What struggle?
Then I remembered: she'd persuaded the cultists and tree monsters Stomps to strike, a persuasion master.
Convinced by Paranoy's rhetoric, Luna fully relaxed her brows and helped me up from the floor.
Then she said,
"Fine, Paranoy. You defended Hassan, so take a honey chestnut for him."
"Luna-sama, just cut off Hassan-sama's lower parts...!"