Chapter 52
Chapter 52
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: Sodomora's Morning Star Hassan
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Breathing was a struggle, but somehow I managed to stab my sword into the ground and plant my feet on the earth to haul myself upright. Honestly, I wanted nothing more than to just lie there.
If I passed out flat on my back like that, I might end up as a lifelong laughingstock.
As a slave, I could take all the mockery in the world.
But as a free man, I absolutely could not become a joke. Even if it was just stubborn pride or reckless bravado, it was enough to force strength into my body and stand before the woman.
"Hoo...."
"Just-. Lie down-. Wouldn't that be easier-? That's plenty of effort-."
Hippolyte's voice, as she steadied her stance while watching me, grew increasingly muddled until I could barely make it out.
How long had it been since I'd felt this kind of silence enforced by violence? Maybe since middle school, when I'd gotten beaten for sneaking into my dad's wallet. No, actually, when the hunters caught me and I became a slave, I'd blacked out from a beating like this too. Of course, I didn't like dwelling on the time I became a slave.
Damn it, but I'd stood up. Could I actually win this? I'm screwed. What do I do?
I was letting out hesitant breaths thick with doubt when it happened.
『You're in quite the grueling fight. Shall I lend you a hand?』
Amid everything blurring like ink in water, a vivid voice rang clear in my ear.
It was a deeply confident male voice, booming in my ears like cheers or a shout.
『You look too worn out to reply. Just nod if you want.』
I had no idea what it was. Ever since coming to this world, I'd encountered countless incomprehensible events that defied reason.
So this time, too, I figured some magical force must be at work on me. Maybe there was a mage hiding among the crowd.
In any case, in this desperate moment, an offer of help had come—one where the worst outcome was breaking even. With no energy left for complex thoughts, I simply nodded slowly.
『You refuse? I never saw that coming. Why?』
Why? Because I'm not idiot enough to bob my head at some sudden, suspicious offer of kindness.
As I'd mentioned before, in my view, there was no such thing as selfless goodwill in this world. Everyone had their own agenda, or something to hide, disguising their bait as "kindness."
Especially since whoever it was could speak directly into my ear with such precise magic. They were probably about to demand something huge from me.
Better to fight fair and square and lose than get used like that.
Anyway, just as I was about to take a step forward—
『What an amusing brother.』
With those final words, the world itself began to slow to a crawl. Soon enough, it ground to a complete halt.
Sand scattering in the wind, the crowd's clamor, birds in flight, falling leaves—all froze motionless in midair.
My body was no exception; it wouldn't move.
The only things free were my eyes and my thoughts. But no matter how I looked or pondered, I couldn't make sense of it.
Damn it, what the hell? Some next-level life-flashing-before-my-eyes? Was even the afterlife in this shitty world a total letdown? That's what I was thinking when—
Whoosh-. Thud.
Something dropped from on high, landing lightly between me and Hippolyte.
First to catch my eye was a red cape, then long-flowing brown hair and a helmet. Beneath it, a face with tanned skin gleamed.
A man armored in form-fitting plate gazed at me in this stopped world, flashing white teeth in a broad grin. It was a hearty laugh, but for some reason, a chill ran down my spine.
『Up close, you really are something. First off, pass along my thanks for choosing me over Minerva. She was pretty pissed about it. Anyway, consider this a little token of my appreciation.』
With a swipe of his hand, the man reached for the knot securing Hippolyte's armor.
Ting-.
He snapped it with his fingers like pulling the pin on a grenade.
Then, with 『That's as far as I go—any more would violate Hypnos's laws』, he leaped away, vanishing from my sight.
The flapping red cape disappeared. And with it, the frozen world stirred back to life, like power surging through it, starting slow.
Very slow at first, then accelerating to its normal speed.
Ting, clang-.
In that instant, Hippolyte's armor fell away from her body right before my eyes, revealing her tanned skin beneath.
"Wha—what-!?"
I squeezed out every last bit of strength and lunged at the flustered Hippolyte, hand outstretched.
I had no clue what just happened, but wasn't this a chance?
Suffocating pain and backlash could wait. Who knew when I'd get another shot like this?
"Th—this damn—."
I felt Hippolyte click her tongue as she tried to cover herself. She seemed just as thrown by the sudden turn as I was.
For the first time, I saw confusion flicker in those eyes that always burned like fire. One hand scrambled to shield her chest, the other reached to grab me.
Those opposing actions captured her perfectly—teetering on the tightrope between woman and warrior.
"Where do you—!"
She tried to catch my hand reaching for her waist, but her brief hesitation made it impossible.
Got it, damn it!
My right hand seized the cord tied around Hippolyte's waist. One hard yank, and it was over.
But in that moment, something incredibly strong and firm clamped around my wrist. Damn it, it felt like a noose—but it was just Hippolyte's hand.
Crunch-.
Her grip tightened like she meant to crush it, forcing a scream from me. Damn, what kind of vise was this hand?
It felt exactly like getting your arm caught in machinery.
"Grk, gah, gi—gihah—!"
My hand lost its strength on her waistband, and she twisted my arm, sending me crumpling to my knees, face-planting on the ground.
"Surrender. Keep resisting, and your arm shatters."
Fuck, shatter? Sure, healing magic was a miracle, but could it really fix bones ground to powder? In this world with no disability benefits or welfare, losing an arm would be a massive loss.
"H-Hah, I surrender—! I surrender! Th—that hurts—!"
"Hoo-."
Only then did Hippolyte let out a small sigh and release my hand. Damn it, tears nearly welled up from the throbbing pain in my arm. It hurt like hell. Not broken, was it?
Luckily, no breaks or cracks. But if she'd squeezed any harder, my arm would've been pulverized.
Throb-throb-.
This was real. How could human grip strength be like that? Her muscle density and bone structure might be fundamentally different from a normal person's like mine.
"Hoo-. Not like me to get worked up. You caught me off guard somehow, but you still lost. You're the first man to grab my waistband, though. Be proud."
Clank, thud-.
Hippolyte picked up her armor from the ground and strapped it back on. But seeing the abnormally torn knot made her brow furrow deeply.
She glared up at the sky with a scowl.
* * *
"No major damage, looks like."
Receptionist Daphne assessed my arm, swollen red in the exact shape of a handprint.
I was just stunned that a human palm could leave such a vivid mark.
Damn it, what the hell had I been thinking, challenging that? This is why guys always need to watch their junk. Gets you into reckless shit.
And speaking of, my throbbing arm wasn't the only thing pulsing—my junk wouldn't settle down either. Ever since catching that glimpse of Hippolyte's glowing skin and bare flesh, it'd been like this.
Damn you, junk, show some humility.
Anyway, total beatdown. Though something weird happened midway.
What was it? Things were such a blur, I couldn't remember well. Just that it felt like something incredible.
As I pondered, Daphne spoke up again.
"Anyway, grabbing Hippolyte's waistband? Impressive. You could add a line to Hassan’s list of life achievements."
Add to life achievements? It reminded me of the bulletin board where adventurers hyped each other up.
Like posting 『Hassan: Grabbed Hippolyte's waistband.』?
"That big a deal?"
"Imagine prying open a sleeping lion's jaws, shoving your head in, and coming out alive. Wouldn't you brag?"
Her explanation had me picturing my head in a lion's maw. Yeah, that'd be prime bar story material for life.
"Something like that. Might even boost your adventurer profile?"
"Ah-. Speaking of, when's the next commission?"
I'd just returned from an expedition, but I was still starving for cash. No home in this world, bouncing between inns—life sucked.
Paying every night to sleep? Damn, insane.
Needed to earn quick, buy a house, rank up to Silver Tier, get my own space.
Once I had that, maybe open a little wellness spot with Luna? She could brew mead from bees or make potions from herbs.
I'd give massages for cash. Synergy between our gigs.
Kids? Maybe ten. Not me popping them out, so more the better.
Though tiny Luna handling that many? Worry. Compromise at five?
"Hassan, your face looks awful. What're you thinking?"
Fuck.
"Daphne, could you maybe keep thoughts like that to yourself?"
"I usually do, but it was too awful. Anyway, next commission's a bit off. Got stuff to handle first. Hoo...."
Daphne sighed. She'd been tacking sighs onto everything lately.
I could tell her workload was insane enough to drive anyone mad, but this felt different.
"Sick or something?"
"Huh? Oh, just indigestion. Sitting all day. That stinky meat from lunch isn't sitting right."
"Ah, indigestion. Mind giving me your hand?"
"Hand? Why?"
Her gaze sharpened impossibly. I'd caught hell from her before, so I worried about backlash.
But passing up a chance to bump my Karma Value even a little? Waste.
"I-It's not weird. You know I have that blessing, right?"
"Oh, right. Tons of creeps use excuses to grope. Makes me wanna quit this job."
Her hand extended to me. Slender, long fingers—pretty. But the palm was unexpectedly rough and callused.
"Always noticed this. You ever wield a sword or weapon, Daphne?"
"Huh? How'd you know? Stalking me?"
"F-Fuck!?"
"Pfft, kidding. Yeah. I was a same-rank adventurer once. Big shoulder injury ended swordplay for me. But they recognized my past work, so now I do desk duty."
"Ah-."
Like a veterans' association for wounded adventurers?
New respect that injured ones got opportunities.
Anyway, I placed fingers lightly on her wrist. Same as before—ding-, and stats appeared.
『Name: Daphne Lv. 6
Status: Indigestion》 Hyperhidrosis》』
Ah-. Yeah, remembered now. Indigestion was there last time too. Hyperhidrosis was new, maybe developed since.
"Hassan, question. What do you learn from feeling my wrist?"
"Pulse diagnosis. Think of it as reading the karma flowing through your body. Uh, mind if I press your palm?"
"Go ahead."
Kept it vague, then gripped the fleshy spot between thumb and index with my fingers, pressing hard with my thumb.
Hegu acupoint. Great for indigestion—improves circulation.
Palm massage was far from "illegal practice," so no rocks thrown my way.
Though where's the line on medical acts? Check later.
Squeeze-.
"Eek, ow, it hurts!"
"Not pressing that hard, and it hurts? Means your blood and qi are blocked up tight."
Press, squeeze.
Kept stimulating it. Strong pressure hurt but worked best. Daphne started writhing like she couldn't take it.
"Hnngh, uh, ha, uh.... Feels weird! S-Sexual harassment! Ah, ang-!"
What the—damn, not the reaction I expected. Startled, I yanked my hand back—
Ding-.
『Cured Daphne's Indigestion.』
『Karma Value + 10』
『Current Karma Value: + 47』
"Urp-."
A small burp, and Daphne's pale face flushed red.
"...Wh-what? What just...?"