Chapter 75
Chapter 75
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: Pluto's Descendant
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“That, then... Hassan, why don’t you stay here tonight? It’s getting late....”
“Really? You sure that’s okay?”
Lost in all sorts of thoughts, I was thrilled at Luna’s words, like I’d just flipped in midair.
Stay over? Truth be told, I’d been racking my brain for excuses to spend more time with her here. Things turned out so perfectly that I even felt grateful toward that Schizo guy from earlier.
And so, on the second floor of the cabin that reeked of fresh-cut wood, I lay down side by side with Luna on a deer hide and tried to sleep.
Sniff sniff.
Maybe it was my imagination, but the deer hide still gave off a pungent smell. It was because Luna had an accident on it last night. Of course, that was only because I wouldn’t let her go to the bathroom.
“But did you wash this carpet properly?”
“O-Of course. I washed it three times.”
“Then why does it still smell a bit?”
As I sniffed around, Luna wrinkled her nose and sniffed the carpet on the floor too.
Sniff sniff.
“...It’s just your imagination.”
“Doesn’t feel like it.”
“...Keep sniffing and I’ll curse you.”
“Curse!?”
“My voodoo skills have improved, so my curses work pretty well now.”
Luna casting curses? Well, voodoo was a mishmash of superstitions, so it probably covered everything from barbaric medical practices to curses and rituals.
But Luna and curses just didn’t go together at all, so I couldn’t quite believe it.
“How do you do that curse thing, anyway?”
“You make a curse doll and hammer nails into it. Or chant spells on a moonless night to send evil spirits after them. I know some basic curse spells.”
“Wow, that’s cool. Can you show me one?”
“I-I don’t really recommend it.... Without a ward, I can’t guarantee it’ll work....”
Luna’s voice trailed off, like she was embarrassed or unsure. My excitement dipped a little.
“What, it’s fake then?”
“I-It’s real! Don’t blame me later, Hassan.”
Luna suddenly shot up from her spot. She fetched a sharp needle and a scrap of cloth used for patching clothes from somewhere.
She pricked her pinky with the needle to draw blood, then wrote my name on the cloth in red.
“This is the curse spell!”
“What’s that supposed to do?”
“Writing the name in red curses the target!”
No way, for real?
Just in case, I sat up too and tensed up, wondering what might happen. But nothing did.
“What? That’s it?”
“...Y-You don’t have a ward, that’s why. Good night, Hassan.”
Having failed her spell, Luna couldn’t hide her embarrassment. She gave a quick goodnight and turned her back to me.
I’d half-hoped for some soft, squishy midnight mishap.
But after building that treehouse loft, exhaustion must have piled up. The moment my head hit the hide, I passed out deep.
* * *
“Wake up. It’s morning—.”
A thin, soft sensation tickling my face woke me from a groggy sleep.
I’d dreamed of a rabbit as big as me sitting on my stomach all night, pressing down. Felt like I hadn’t slept at all. What kind of weird dream was that? Curse effect?
“Wake up, Hassan.”
When I opened my eyes, Luna was peering down at me, swishing her hair across my face to tickle it.
“When did I fall asleep? Morning already?”
“The second your head hit the pillow. You must’ve been exhausted. I thought you’d died.”
“I have been using my body a lot lately. Fatigue’s building up.”
My strength was rising, but my stamina couldn’t keep up.
If Dad were here, he’d brew some tonic— No, snap out of it. Who’d miss those nasty, suspicious juices?
Anyway, I needed to build more stamina.
Next time I get a stat boost, maybe invest in stamina instead of dumping everything into strength. Spreading it out might be more efficient.
Luna spoke up.
“Your stamina’s low? Oh, right—I made something for you, Hassan!”
She dashed downstairs with a clatter, then returned with a small vial.
“Here, take it!”
It was a small earthen pot, about the size of a soymilk bottle, sealed with thin leather tied like a handkerchief. Super suspicious.
“What is this?”
Still half-asleep and awkward, I took it. To my surprise, text popped up in front of me.
『Low-Grade Stamina Potion Infused with a Bit of Nighttime Affection』
『Consuming it temporarily boosts a specific stat for a set duration.』
She’s making potions now, not just totems?
Actually, her main thing was potion-making, right? Not carving totems. She’d said this shed was for brewing and workshops.
“Drink it quick! I worked so hard making it for you, Hassan! Tell me how it tastes and feels. If you like it, I’ll sell it!”
Luna looked up at me with such eager eyes that I reluctantly uncorked the leather stopper.
Sour whiff.
A yogurt-left-in-storage-for-a-year stench assaulted my nose like a punch. Sleep vanished instantly.
“D-Do I really have to drink this? The smell alone is no joke. Honestly, it’s gross.”
“You’re just weirded out ‘cause you don’t know what’s in it. Hear the ingredients, and you’ll be fine!”
“Yeah? What’s in it?”
At my question, Luna ummed shortly, rolling her eyes as she recalled.
“Crushed tiger wasp larvae, goblin teeth, troll blood—and a bit of sequoia sap for flavor. Oh, and my secret special ingredient.... So, what do you think?”
What do I think? Seriously?
“Knowing the details makes it worse.”
“Ingredients alone cost a silver per bottle. I worked really hard.... Even borrowed the bakery’s oven....”
Chastised, Luna deflated. I pictured her slaving over this potion.
“Fine, I’ll drink it.”
...Never again. With Dad gone, Luna’s handing me this stuff now.
I pinched my nose and poured it in. An indescribable sourness hit, making my whole body shudder.
The awful taste cleared my head like shattering glass—any lingering drowsiness gone. Shit, an awakener?
『Stamina temporarily increases by 3.』
『23:59:59』
Taste was beyond words—sour, bitter chaos. But the effect? Broken. +3 stamina for 24 hours?
“How is it? Feel stronger?”
“Feels like it. But can’t you make it taste better? It’d sell well.”
If even I can’t stomach it, others won’t touch it. For sales, improve the flavor.
“Who drinks potions for taste? It’s for health! Glad you like it anyway! I’ll make more!”
“Y-Yeah.... Thanks for making it. Definitely feels stronger.”
Refreshed, we grabbed clothes and swords, stepped outside.
As Luna was about to leave, she went, “Huh—.”
I turned. On the wooden door, a knife-carved ? X ? mark.
“Hassan, was this here before?”
“Don’t think so.”
I didn’t remember it. Neither did she. Made last night?
Luna shivered.
“Kinda creepy.”
“Then wipe it off.”
I recalled leftover sandpaper from yesterday, scrubbed the weird mark away.
“Hassan, look here too.”
Walking the street, Luna pointed. Houses everywhere had X marks like hers.
What? Census? No logical guess.
We reached the Mars Guild in the city center, puzzled.
“Shit, what the hell.”
“H-Hassan, what happened...?”
Luna panicked at the half-destroyed guild building.
Me too.
The temple of the War God Mars—grand and imposing—was bombed overnight. Marble columns and roof crumbled.
“A dragon...? How else does a sturdy building shatter like this.”
Luna trembled. I imagined a winged, fire-breathing monster. Terrifying if real.
“Oh, you’re here. Guild’s a mess, huh.”
A woman approached from the rubble. Green hair, short ears—receptionist Daphne.
“What happened?”
“Pluto cultists attacked. Silver-tier adventurers like Hippolyte repelled them, but... Attacking a temple in the city? Not even scared of divine wrath.”
Even to this grumpy world’s resident Daphne, it crossed a line.
With the guild wrecked, quests? No money for a while?
Daphne addressed me.
“Oh, and Hassan, Baltma’s looking for you underground. Go quick.”
Baltma—balding, one-eyed with eyepatch, mid-rank in Mars Guild.
Mid all that chaos, the underground prison seemed intact.
Me back in this guild dungeon? After Daphne’s false start got me slapped and jailed? Not eager.
“Hassan, let’s go!”
Pushed by Luna, I navigated debris to the basement stairs.
The moldy dungeon was far better off than upstairs.
“Ah, you’re here, Samaritan. And the cute pink-haired miss too. Heard you’ve been killing it lately? Sudden growth spurt. Got a secret?”
“Uh, I... don’t really know.”
“We’ll chat later. More urgent stuff.”
Baltma stood arms crossed, peering into a cell. Beside him, wounded and bloody Hippolyte did the same.
Her bronze armor was torn like paper—testament to last night’s ferocity.
“Why’d you call me?”
Hippolyte spoke gravely for Baltma.
“We didn’t. This one did.”
She nodded inside.
What the—?
Eyepatch, gag, handcuffs, shackles—mummified figure.
Arm chains bolted to walls, spread wide.
Leg chains to floor, M-shaped—kinda erotic.
Her? The Pluto cultist nymph from the logging camp. Paranoya, was it? First nymph cultist, memorable name. Crimson bob, pointy ears.
“She wants me? Why?”
“We wanna know too. Talk it out.”
Hippolyte and Baltma left me alone with the bizarre cultist nymph.
“H-Hassan—.”
“You too, halfwit. She insisted on just her and the Samaritan. Had business with you anyway, Noxdoty.”
[Author's Note]
Thanks as always for the coupons from Kadeom...!!! So many manuscript support coupons too ㅠㅠ..
Grateful for every recommendation and comment...!!!!