Chapter 57
Chapter 57
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Midnight Negotiations #2
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Exiting the guards' office, the sky now held two moons shining quite brightly. Both moons were partially eclipsed by shadows, their sharp, nail-like crescents looking surprisingly pretty.
Were those waxing or waning crescents? As I racked my brain trying to remember my Earth science grades, Luna spoke up.
“Sorry, Hassan. For dragging you into all this trouble…”
Her anger fully subsided, Luna spoke in a meek, creeping voice.
Having lost every bit of money she had, she probably had no confidence left to speak of. A thinning wallet tends to thin out a person’s confidence too.
“I told you to team up with me when I offered to help. I had some free time today anyway.”
“Still, I can’t keep relying on you forever. The hut was my mess to begin with. I need to learn to handle it myself.”
Luna’s determination to handle things on her own without others’ help was admirable. But it also felt like she was drawing a line between your problems and mine, which left a twinge of loneliness.
Of course, she probably hadn’t meant it that way—it was just how it hit me. And then it struck me anew how her words had made me feel lonely.
She seemed to rely on me for a lot, but apparently, I was leaning on her too, especially for emotional support.
In this cutthroat world where even baby deer get pickpocketed, Luna’s softness and innocence had been like a lantern lighting my path and surroundings, back when I was scraping the bottom alone with no one trustworthy in sight.
Living day by day in grim solitude, groaning through it all,
was a far cry from having a reliable companion to share with, struggle alongside.
“Don’t go tailing strange guys so recklessly from now on. What if something even worse had happened?”
“…”
Realizing her mistake, Luna just shrank back in silence. No point lecturing further—it wouldn’t change anything, and she seemed to get it, so I shut my mouth.
We walked on until we reached Luna’s tiny hut in the western slums of Sodomora.
“You’re really planning to sleep here?”
“I can’t afford an inn.”
“I’ll lend you some.”
“No. Borrowing willy-nilly turns into a bad habit. Debts snowball out of control eventually. I already owe two gold—I can’t let it grow more.”
Luna’s stance was surprisingly firm. Living alone had probably ingrained a motto like “never owe anyone money.”
But leaving her here alone in this hut made me uneasy somehow.
Not that I wanted to badmouth the slums, but Sodomora’s weren’t exactly safe.
You could hear bodies hitting the ground nearby, followed by stifled screams of “Ugh, ugh—”
Thugs, vagrants, and bandage-wrapped invalids lurked in the back alleys, their jaundiced eyes gleaming.
Even I—with my sturdy build and three swords—stayed on high alert passing through.
Letting Luna sleep here alone? Who knew what could happen. Homeless folks dodging the wind might even break in.
I asked,
“You’re really planning to sleep here?”
Luna replied,
“What’s wrong with it? I cleaned it up nice—looks good, right?”
Whoooosh—
Just then, a gust shook the hole-riddled planks, making the whole hut sway like it might collapse.
Luna shivered.
“It’s a bit cold, sure. But I’ve camped in worse. Anyway, thanks again today, Hassan. See you tomorrow morning at Sodomora’s south gate!”
No matter what I said, Luna seemed dead set on sleeping here.
There was even something ascetic about her resolve, like a prisoner embracing punishment or a monk in penance.
Punishment for losing the money? Who knows what was in her head.
“Fine, then I’ll crash here too.”
The words I’d been chewing on finally spilled out raw. I’d mulled over fancy ways to say it, but this was it.
Luna furrowed her brow, puzzled.
“You’re staying here? Why?”
What did that “why” mean? Innocent curiosity, or a politely twisted rejection? Probably the former—she wasn’t the type for fancy talk. My hunch tilted that way.
“Can’t I?”
“Wind’s gonna blow right through…”
“Then we huddle close.”
Cheesy as it sounded coming out, it wasn’t half bad improv. On a cold night, sharing body heat was standard.
Fearing rejection, I desperately milked more wisdom.
“We share the blanket, shoulders touching—way warmer. Better than shivering solo, right?”
“Hmm, true. Okay then!”
Score—she agreed. Sure, ditching an inn bed for a shack sounded iffy, but I’d roughed it plenty.
A place with walls and a roof? Super easy mode for camping.
Plus, having warm, soft Luna there melted my heart.
Rustle, rustle. Flutter—
We spread an old blanket on the floor, sat back-to-wall with shoulders touching, and draped my long rain cape over us like a quilt.
It wasn’t bad at all.
“Not bad, huh.”
“Right? Great spot. I can even feel faint mana nearby.”
She started bragging about the hut’s “vibe” and voodoo inspiration.
Worshipping the god of superstition, Nox, she bought into vibes and energies like they were real.
But my eyes were glued to Luna, eyes sparkling as she chattered.
Those glittering pupils caught me first. Up close, her lashes were surprisingly long. Pert nose, but not heavy-lined.
Delicate jawline, pale, soft-looking skin—it all formed a pretty shape.
Her shoulder’s gentle warmth and softness felt vividly alive against me.
Had I really spent a night with this girl? Looking back, that day felt like a midsummer night’s dream.
My frazzled, clumsy self probably exaggerated or distorted the memories. Regrets bubbled up over what I hadn’t touched or tasted—such a shame.
Sniff, sniff—
Sneaking a whiff, she smelled of cool mint as always. But unwashed today, a faint sweet sweat mixed in—deliciously provocative.
Throb—
Damn, my lower half kept pitching tents despite knowing better. This thing was the ultimate optimist.
“Anyway, that’s how it went! See why I picked this place? Three gold’s a steal here. Prices’ll double later—I got the better deal!”
Luna wrapped up her solo ramble.
I’d been admiring her profile, half-listening, but yeah—she’d basically done isekai land speculation.
Not what mattered to me, though.
“L-Luna.”
“Yeah? What?”
She turned, head tilted like I had a question. I couldn’t hold back, slowly leaning in toward her.
Kissing those sparkling lips again would be a dream. But her slender hand brushed my chest, blocking me.
“N-No, Hassan…”
“Why not? Just us here. Quiet and sneaky—no one’ll know.”
That’s when I remembered my Grace: Cloak of Night.
It reduced detection for secret acts in the dark. Did “secret acts” include this? Hard to get stealthier.
Lost in thought, Luna whispered,
“Not just us. Wolf spider over there too.”
She pointed to a jar in the corner. Creepy—palm-sized wolf spider inside.
“And Nox is here.”
Swish.
I followed her fingertip. There, looming awkwardly, was some grotesque statuette?
Palm-sized. I’d figured it was Luna’s decor.
“That’s Nox?”
“Yeah! Mini shrine thing. Pretty good, right? I made it based on the voice I heard.”
I stood and approached the “Nox statue.” Up close…
Fuck, not a statue. Cursed object fit better—like a horror game puzzle piece unlocking a secret door.
Owl-human hybrid—gave me chills. Especially those deeply carved eyes, staring eerily.
“Why make this all of a sudden?”
“Gotta pray to Nox every night before bed now. She wants to hear about my day, my thoughts.”
“I see.”
Like a mother getting reports from her daughter. Picturing Luna chattering to it solo—kinda cute.
“B-But, do you believe me, Hassan?”
“Huh? The deer running off with your money? Sounds like BS, honestly—”
“No, that Nox spoke to me. People’d call it a lie… Even I feel like it was a dream.”
Ah. She could hardly believe Nox talked to her herself. Makes sense—people here revere gods fervently,
but hearing their voice or grace? Rare as hell. Most just vaguely sense “something big and awesome exists.” Me too.
But having met Nox blanket-to-blanket, I had zero doubt Luna was telling the truth.
I sat back beside her. For now, settle for this shoulder warmth. But I’d find a way.
“I believe you about talking to Nox. Feels real.”
“R-Really? So it was real?”
“Probably.”
“You saying it makes it super convincing. You got direct help from the God of Light too, right? I’ve only heard that stuff in myths. First time seeing someone blessed by a god.”
She stuck out her tongue in awe, recalling the old tale. I thought back to Kalan’s swamp.
The flaming arrow ripping through fog, evaporating all moisture. Even I’d nearly crapped myself.
Similar vibe in my duel with Hippolyte.
That guy appearing in the frozen world—probably one of this world’s revered gods, I figured solo.
God of Strife, Mars? He’d mentioned choosing me over Minerva, sounding like Sodomora’s guilds beef.
That’d make him Mars naturally.
Wait, but Hippolyte’s his daughter, right? A dad stripping his daughter’s armor? Weird. No clue.
“You were amazing, Hassan. Kinda wild now that I think. Are you secretly a big deal? Like Jupiter’s son?”
“Whose son?”
“God of thunder and lightning, Jupiter! His kids become high demigods or heroes tackling impossible feats. You one of them? Real parents both?”
Whoa, sudden dead-dad jab? Flustered for a sec, then realized she didn’t mean it that way.
I’d heard “Jupiter’s son” tossed around. Luna said it admiringly, but folks used it mockingly.
Meant bastard—dadless kid.
Jupiter, strongest god here, was a total playboy knocking up women everywhere.
Ladies birthing unknowns would claim “Jupiter’s son!”—stuck as slang.
“My parents are both alive and kicking back home. Probably.”
“Oh? Then how do you get gods’ attention without being divine spawn? Enough to break 30 years of silence…”
Luna puzzled over it, lost in thought.
If she knew the guy before her was Korean Hassan, not Samarían Hassan—what face would she make?
Anyway, deep in thought, she soon dozed off with soft breaths. Chasing deer and sorting crap tired her out—makes sense.
Watching her sleep, I was about to close my eyes, conserve energy for tomorrow’s thief hunt.
Eerie chill—
The cramped hut grew bone-numbingly cold, goosebumps rising. Thought it was just wind through holes at first.
Crack, craaack—
Shit, this unnatural, marrow-freezing cold—I’d felt it before.
『I. Descend.』