Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Swamp Native Hassan
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I roughly straightened out my clothes and stepped out of the tent, where two rough-looking men were glaring at me.
"Come on out already. Isn't it basic etiquette to come out early before the shift change and hand over the watch?"
"Ah, I'm truly, genuinely sorry."
I hunched my upper body slightly to hide my still-standing erection. As a result, my posture looked exactly like someone sincerely apologizing for a real mistake.
"Uh, umm?"
My heartfelt apology seemed to work; the men exchanged slightly bewildered glances. They probably never expected me to apologize so readily.
"Ah, whatever. Fine. We'll let it slide this once since you're bowing so low."
The Bronze Tier man cleared his throat with a hum and continued.
"Not much to tell you. Just check if there are any wild beasts nearby, and make sure the campfire doesn't go out. Oh, and—"
The middle-aged man paused midway through his sentence.
"The guy you're pulling watch with is a bit of an oddball, so just do your best on your own. We'll head in now. Sit by the fire and chat a bit, and time will pass quick enough."
Mumbling something about getting up earlier next time, the previous shift's watchers crammed themselves into their tent and disappeared.
Who could this person be that's got them warning me like that?
As I wondered and turned toward the central campfire amid the tents, there sat a woman wrapped head to toe in black cloth, warming herself by the flames.
It was a sight already etched in my memory.
The priestess of Delphi, Cassandra, right?
Of all things, she's blind. Who the hell schedules a blind person for night watch? What kind of inhumane, barbaric system is this?
"Wouldn't it be uncomfortable to watch the fire if you can't see? Are you sure you're okay with night watch?"
I approached the priestess politely and asked. She simply leaned even closer to the campfire and let out a quiet laugh.
"It's fine. For someone who can't see, distinctions like dark and light, night and day, are meaningless anyway. More importantly, your karma is as bizarre as ever. You remind me so much of someone I know that I'm still half in doubt."
"Someone you know?"
This was the woman who'd mistaken me for someone else before and bowed deeply. It was pretty ironic that a blind person could mix up identities.
Does she tell people apart by smell? With no sight, maybe her other senses like touch or smell are heightened.
Cassandra spoke.
"You must know him too. He always shines down from the heavens on all things. He rules over this world's light and radiance."
"Are you talking about the Sun God?"
"Hehe. Sun God? Such irreverent words. But yes. Your karma is strikingly similar to his. A barbarian of the wilds with karma like the God of Light—how is this possible?"
"Well, you know, maybe the blessing I have is from the Sun God or something."
"A blessing...? Did you receive a blessing from Lord Apollo?"
She extended her palm toward me with a swish. Startled, I instinctively pulled my face back.
"W-What's that?"
"Oh, pardon me. Could I touch your face for a moment? Ever since my eyes went like this, I need to feel anything I'm curious about with my hands to satisfy my mind...."
"Uh, s-sure, go ahead."
Swish.
A soft, supple palm touched my face. Despite her being by the fire for so long, her fingers were ice-cold, like a slab of ice.
The black clothes she wore were thin like nightgowns for rich ladies, and with the cold night air, her blood probably wasn't circulating well.
Still, it didn't feel bad. Soon, Cassandra was stroking my cheeks and nose, then even ruffling my hair.
"Your hair... it's so thick and full. How strange."
"I-Is that a problem?"
"It seems you haven't had Lord Apollo's blessing for long. Men who receive his blessing... gradually lose their hair until their forehead shines like the sun."
Fuck, for real? She's saying I'll go bald?
That's fucking horrifying. Shit, can I revoke the blessing?
The image of that adventurer—whose sword I'd taken, who claimed to be the Sun God's son—his gleaming bald forehead flashed vividly in my mind.
Fuck, I have to stop that at all costs!
"I-Is there no way to prevent it? The hair loss!"
"Not everyone, of course. It's just the blessing's overwhelming power manifesting externally. Hassan of Samaria... If you build your faith with a strong body and pious heart, you won't lose your hair."
"I-I see."
Cassandra continued groping my face—tap, tap, tap. She nearly poked my eyes and poked into my nostrils; it was honestly pretty uncomfortable.
Shit, how long is she gonna keep this up? Did she even wash her hands?
"But touching you confirms it—you're different from him. The karma dwelling in one's existence takes unique forms. His is pure light. Yours, though... it's like... it's like...."
She trailed off after "it's like," leaving it hanging. What a vicious sales tactic. Is she gonna charge me if I ask what?
"So, like what?"
I asked cautiously, willing to tip her about 3 coppers.
"Hmm..., well...."
The priestess hesitated as if debating whether to say it, then spoke reluctantly.
"...Your karma is like a massive castle. But only the foundations are laid so far. Like a huge, empty vessel. What kind of life have you lived to form such a vessel...? It's almost like you're not of this world...."
"Anyway, you're saying I've got a big capacity, right?"
Is it because she's blind? Cassandra's senses were surprisingly sharp. She saw right through me not being from this world. Magic? Is she a witch too?
"But can you tell that just by touching?"
"Thanks to the blessing I have. I received it from one high above when I was just a little girl."
"Ahh."
"Hehe, it was an honor far beyond my worth, though. I was foolish enough to stare too closely at the shining sun, and this is what became of my eyes...."
Did she go blind as a side effect of the blessing?
I wanted to ask more about her story, but she clammed up, and poking at someone's sore spot didn't feel right, so I stayed quiet too.
If Malco were here, I'd have pried without a care, but I wasn't about to stoop to being a clown like him.
I just stared at the crackling campfire, wondering if I should add more wood, how to kill the next hour or two.
And I sank into sentimental reminiscence of what happened with Luna earlier—the warmth and soft touches still lingering on my hands.
They were really soft. And Luna was about to say something more.... What if night watch hadn't come and things kept going? What would've happened?
For some reason, it felt like... like we could've gone all the way.
Just as I was about to drown in my own thoughts—
"P-Please, forget what I said earlier."
"Nep?"
"My body can't even see the rocks at my feet and trips over them... It's embarrassing that I pretended to know something. If possible, erase it from your mind."
"If you say so... sure, I'll do that."
After that, Cassandra didn't speak to me again. She just murmured prayers toward the fire or tossed dry twigs in haphazardly.
Imagining the unseen flames roaring must've been pure joy for a Sun God's priestess.
Maybe it was her way of venting a desire to set fires everywhere. Everyone has that inner urge to burn something intact, after all.
I didn't have much to say either, so I just got up for some light stretches and exercises.
Or wandered around now and then to check no baby wild animals were messing with the tents.
*
Zoning out, it was suddenly time to hand off to the next shift.
The tent where the Sword Maidens—the next shift's night watchers—were sleeping.
I made some noise in front: "Ahem. Rene. Tifa."
Rattle-clang. Shing.
"Ugh, already my turn? You didn't wake us early?"
"No."
"Haaah—!"
The Bronze Tier women stretched lazily. In daylight, their rough skin and freckles made them no great beauties.
But under the moonlight, they looked plenty attractive. Even their unkempt, wild blonde hair was kinda appealing.
Rene—the Amazonian-looking one with blonde braids like a country girl—said with sleepy, half-lidded eyes.
"Anything to report?"
"Nothing special."
"Got it. But... Hassan of Samaria. Aren't you kinda filthy? Why not wash up at the spring before bed? Even wilderness folk gotta follow civilized ways in civilization!"
Who knew the women screaming beast-like war cries while swinging swords would lecture me on civilized etiquette?
But they were right—my body was filthy as hell.
I'd rolled in sticky mud, so my leather clothes and gear were crusted with dried dirt everywhere. Goblin blood too. Perfect recipe for disease.
I'd planned to wash at the spring earlier, but the line was too long and I gave up. Now everyone's asleep; it'd be empty.
A cold splash might calm this sky-high erection too. Shit, how long you gonna stand there? Is my dick protesting now?
So I headed to the small stream by the ruined temple. Fog hung mysteriously; I worried some beast might jump out.
But after slicing ten goblins today, I brimmed with confidence and strode through the mist unfazed.
Trickle-trickle.
Following the water sound, soon a small pond—or stream—appeared before me.
Flowers and grass bloomed languidly along the sides, twin crescent moons reflecting on the surface. Pretty, if I say so.
Empty as could be, so I stripped to dive in.
Splash.
Suddenly the water parted, something rising from the depths. Fuck, ancient god? Man-eating water ghost?
I jolted in shock.
But up close, it was no ghost or god—just a person. Moonlit tan skin gleaming, athletic poise in her taut body.
But those fairly large, swollen breasts and firm pink nipples. Sculpted abs, wide hips, damp brown bush between her thighs stabbing at my eyes.
Th-That is—.
I hurriedly averted my gaze. The brown eyes meeting mine held utter shock and horror.
She quickly covered her chest with her arms, splashing back into the water, yelling.
"Y-You—!"
"H-Hippolyte...! I-I mean...."
I'm totally screwed now. This is the woman who flicks pebbles to smash goblin skulls. Seeing her naked?
I got slapped witnessing Witch Elfriede changing once and lay sick for days.
And this one's no witch—she's a physical powerhouse warrior. One slap might spin my head 720 degrees and rip it off.
"Why are you naked? A-Are you here to assault me!? Me, Hippolyte, daughter of Mars!?"
"I can explain everything—"
"Explain!? Your wicked erection already proves it!"
She pointed at my crotch like shooting an arrow. Yeah, the thing between my legs was fully battle-ready.
But this wasn't just from seeing Hippolyte's body. Sure, that helped, but it'd been like this since leaving Luna's tent.
"Pervert...! Striking on a moonlit night, no less. Utterly vile—! I'll scream!"
Hippolyte inhaled deeply—hup. Watching her chest swell fuller, I vividly pictured how fucked I was about to be.
Shit, if anyone sees this? Her squad, the Sword Maidens, are on watch right now!
Trial for assault would be the best case. My heart and precious dick might get sliced off by their merciless blades on the spot.
...My dick gets cut off and dies? Fuck, I have to prevent that no matter what!
No time to think—I splashed into the water. As she started screaming, I clamped both hands over her mouth.
"Y-You devil! H-Help—mmph!"
Clamping a veteran adventurer's mouth rivaling Elfriede?
It was bolder than a mouse darting in and out of a sleeping lion's maw, but I had no luxury for such thoughts now.
"Mmph! Mmph!"
"Shh, quiet. B-Be quiet."
"Mmmph!"
Hippolyte thrashed wildly, splashing. She swung fists and tried breaking free, but her strength was weaker than expected.
"Quiet, I said! Be quiet...!"
They say men unleash superhuman spirit and power in crises proportional to the peril. Facing death's door, maybe I'm tapping all my potential limits.
Somehow, I felt like I could pull it off.
Hell, I was physically overpowering Hippolyte right now! Am I actually that strong?
"Mmph! Mmph!"
"J-Just hold still, I'll e-explain! Shh, shhh—."
Splash, splash, flail.
"Calm down first—."
That's when I snatched her hand trying to hinder me.
Ding.
『Name: Hippolyte Heavensinger Lv. ?? 3
Status: Boiling Blood》 Moonlight Allergy》 Severe Menstrual Cramps》 ????』
"Mmph—!"