Chapter 7
Chapter 7
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Hassan Is Now a Free Man
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The last day of my service.
Even though a few years have passed since then, I can still vividly recall that day.
Bright sunshine.
The cozy mountain weather in Gangwon Province. The rice paddies stretching out before us, and the wistful gazes of the sentries watching our departure.
A strange mix of refreshment and reluctance.
Confidence that I could conquer anything, mingled with a vague sense of fear.
Any guy born in Korea has felt those emotions on discharge day.
As I stepped out through the battalion gate, I thought I'd never experience that feeling again.
But here I was, in a completely absurd world, savoring it for the most ridiculous reason.
Freedom.
I kicked open the grand doors of Calcuta's slave management office. In my hand was a slave document equivalent to my discharge papers.
Once I tore this up, I'd truly be a free citizen.
After military service came slave life—shit, is my life for real?
It felt like most of my hot-blooded twenties had been dumped into a dark dumpster. Somehow, it made me sad.
Like my life was ruined.
I couldn't even fathom why I was going through all this. Where the hell did this random medieval world pop up from?
But the whistling wind brushed my face, sweeping away the negative thoughts.
Instead of regretting the past, I needed to decide what to do next. I had to choose for myself.
The common thread between military and slave life? Just do what you're told.
Your tasks are handed down, and you're so busy carrying them out that the day flies by.
At least you get basic meals and a place to sleep, so following orders lets you coast by comfortably enough.
It breeds a slave mentality that stifles any drive for growth.
But now, I was free.
I had to make my own decisions, form my own intentions.
This newfound freedom felt like being tossed into a vast, motionless ocean in a sailboat. So immense it left me panicking, unsure where to steer.
Yet I had a short-term compass: a goal.
Become an adventurer.
It was something I'd dreamed of even before becoming a slave.
Build up achievements as an adventurer, earn a status, and qualify for bank services and public protections.
From illegal alien Hassan, trembling at every immigration raid, to Mr. Hassan with a proper work visa!!
"Shit, nothing can stop me now."
Cackling to myself, I headed back to the clinic where Finley was.
"Kihaak—! Uh, Elfriede!"
"Oh, there you are. Where the hell have you been wandering like a stray dog? I figured it'd take days more to recover, but you're all better now?"
Elfriede's eyes burned red like flames, but their chill rivaled ice itself.
My guts turned to ice-cold mackerel flung onto a rink.
I'd expected her to show up in at least three days. Facing her so suddenly made my legs shake and my head spin.
No turn signal, just barreling in.
That Elfriede bitch—.
Fride bitch—!
"You zoning out again, you little shit? Bet you're thinking something dumb. Cursing me out? Huh?"
"N-No..."
"No? 'No' is casual talk, asshole."
Elfriede raised her palm with a whoosh, and I shivered like a poplar in winter. One slap from that hand might knock me out for a week.
"Hieeek—!"
"If you're all healed, get out. Got work starting tomorrow. Need to shop with the money from that relic we sold, and there's tons of stuff to move."
Elfriede issued her haughty orders like it was routine.
I nearly snapped to "Yes, ma'am" and obeyed. The scars of violence run deeper than you'd think.
But—but I wasn't her slave anymore.
I would be the master of my fate—!
So I decided to fire back at Elfriede with a sharp retort.
"U-Um, Elfriede... ma'am. Don't get the wrong idea, listen up. I'm a free man now..."
"What bullshit is that? Wanna die? A few comfy days in bed and you think you're hot shit?"
"Kiiik—!"
***
Golden Fleece Clinic.
The reception room, remodeled to greet guests, was wrapped in silence.
That quiet terrified me; it felt like a hole was drilling through my stomach. I awkwardly sipped from my long-empty teacup.
"So, you've paid off the full redemption fee?"
"Y-Yeah... yes."
I wiped my mouth from the cup and said it with as much confidence as I could muster.
Elfriede's red eyes narrowed thinly as she stared at the scroll on the table, lost in thought.
Goosebumps prickled my skin.
Elfriede was scariest not when raging or frowning, but when deep in thought!
She was definitely scheming some nasty way to torment me.
But cowering wouldn't advance the conversation or my future.
So I mustered my courage.
"B-By law, I'm free. No reason to follow your orders anymore."
"Yep, official document. You didn't steal it from the office. Stole the money instead? No way you could pay that much otherwise."
"No, I earned it fair and square and paid fair and square."
"Hmm..."
Elfriede unrolled the scroll and fluttered it. Her slit eyes scanned the room, then her face twisted sharply at one spot.
"Hik—!"
A small yelp from Finley behind me. She'd been eavesdropping, probably.
"Got it. Hilarious. Unreal. Fine, whatever. I can always buy another sturdy slave—."
Whoosh—.
Flames erupted from Elfriede's palm as she scowled and chuckled to herself. My slave document turned to ash scattering in the air.
With that, I was fully a free citizen. No time for mixed feelings before Elfriede spoke.
"That's it, Hassan. But seriously, stay out of my sight from now on. If you end up back at the slave office, I'll cut your balls off this time."
"...We won't meet again. You bitch."
"What?"
It was barely a tenth of the insults I'd bottled up, but spitting it out felt liberating.
Seeing Elfriede's face twist in shock was satisfying enough to fill my belly without eating.
So this is freedom.
"So, free man, what's next, you barbarian shit?"
"Why should I tell you?"
"Hmph, as if I can't guess. Gonna be an adventurer, get official status, live like a human? Pathetic Samaritan."
Shit, how'd she know?
I'd never told Elfriede my plan, yet it felt exposed. Unease washed over me.
What if she sabotages it? She's a veteran adventurer with real cred.
She might pull strings to blacklist me—.
As I tensed up:
Thud.
Something heavy dropped from Elfriede's bosom onto the table. The worn bundle and familiar dull clink.
I instantly knew it was the savings I'd painstakingly gathered over two years.
Elfriede said,
"Take this and get lost. It's filthy from your grubby hands, and a hassle to keep."
"F-For real?"
"Yeah, a few silver coins are pocket change to me."
Whoaaa—.
My vision spun as I stared at the coin pouch on the table. Reunited with coins I'd thought gone forever!
But I couldn't read Elfriede's intentions, leaving us in awkward limbo.
She never does favors for free. Must be plotting something shady. The Elfriede I knew was full of schemes.
"What's the catch?"
"Catch my ass. Don't want it? I'll take it back."
"No, no."
Fearing she'd end the talk, I snatched the money pouch.
Its familiar weight and jingly hardness lifted my spirits; my lips twitched upward.
Elfriede watched me pocket it with her narrowed eyes.
She shoved back her chair and stood, voice icy.
"Hassan, that's us done for good. Stay out of my sight. If you don't wanna take a fireball to the back of the head, leave this city. Seeing your ugly mug pisses me off too much. Call it severance pay."
I'd expected a twist, but she turned and strode out of the clinic.
Better resolution than expected, I guess.
Yet a nagging unease lingered.
The coin pouch perked me right up, though.
"Heh, sweet deal!"
***
"You're really leaving the city?"
I nodded at Finley's question.
"Yeah. I owe you a lot, Miss Finley."
"Nah. You helped me tons. Your healing magic lessons got great reviews. I'm not super skilled, but..."
"Really?"
"Yeah. With skills like that, you'll thrive anywhere without starving. Still, it's a shame. I thought you'd be perfect working here at the clinic."
Finley smacked her lips regretfully. I'd considered building funds here too.
But this place reeked too much of that silver-haired witch Elfriede.
Staying here—or in Calcuta—might mean unwanted run-ins with her.
So I'd leave the city, start fresh elsewhere with this silver.
"Gotta go."
"Makes sense. Starting as an adventurer? Better off leaving Calcuta. Too many dangerous dungeons and rough jobs—tough for newbies."
"Is it? What's a good city for starting out?"
Finley hummed thoughtfully, then nodded.
"Sodomora, hands down. Bavelia's had some ruins and dungeons dug up lately, but nowhere beats Sodomora for work."
"Sodomora..."
I rolled the familiar name from my slave days around my mouth. Sodomora, Sodomora.
"Planning to open a clinic once you hit silver rank, Mr. Hassan?"
"A clinic?"
"Yeah. Build credit to silver-rank adventurer, and you qualify for a clinic license and bank loans. Our director used to be a dungeon-crawling adventurer, she says. That's your plan, right?"
"Hmm—."
I'd never considered the requirements for opening a clinic.
New knowledge. As I pondered that tidbit, Finley added,
"You know it's illegal for healers to work streets or squares without affiliation to a temple or clinic, right?"
"What happens if you don't? Fine?"
"That'd be lucky."
Finley smiled faintly, then fell silent. Sounded brutally serious, whatever it was.
Laws to weed out quacks and back-alley healers? I'd planned street vending like a medicine peddler. Plans derailed a bit.
Good thing I learned now. Finley's kindness saved me.
"If you open a clinic, Mr. Hassan, let me know. I'd love to work with you!"
"Snuuurf."
"W-Why?"
"Nah, just touched... Hope we can make it happen someday."
I pictured a small clinic, building a future with Finley.
A black-haired son like me, a blue-haired daughter like her, helping out. More kids fine too—I'm not the one popping them out.
Names from nature, per clan tradition: River, Sky. Something like that.
As I daydreamed:
"Hope that day comes. My son's a talented healer too—we could grow the clinic fast!"
"Y-Your... son? You have a son?"
"Yeah, the boy from the morning shift. Uses healing magic six times a day, and he's not even ten. Most max at five—impressive, right? Of course, your secret arts are amazing too—."
Finley kept talking, but...
Nothing registered.
She has a son?! Finley’s married?!
No clue who the morning boy was, but she has a kid. Means she's wed.
Shit, nothing comes easy in this world.
TL;DR: My plan to snag a local wife for a spousal visa—permanent residency even—failed at the brainstorming stage!!