Chapter 99
Chapter 99
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 99
Chapter Title: Second Moon #1
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Hiyoong.
A bizarre sound emanated from the tiny spider's mouth.
How should I describe it? It was like air leaking from a balloon, or the cry of a small animal calling for its mother.
At any rate, it was definitely too strange and comical to be a sound from a spider.
Luna must have been just as startled by the unexpected cry.
"Kuh, kyungkyung! Was that you just now? Do it again!"
Krurrung-!
When Luna shook the spider in her palm this way and that, it hopped away in annoyance, landing on the first floor.
It had probably returned to its home in the jar.
I'd dismissed it as a creepy-looking spider, but it turned out to be one damn smart little bastard. Anyway, getting help from something I never expected! I can't let this chance slip!
"See, I told you there was nothing."
"I-it's weird...."
But Luna still hadn't let go of her suspicions, sniffing and twitching her nose.
That's right. She still had her specialty of scent-tracking left.
Srrk.
Luna pulled away the blanket covering my body and sniffed at my nape and side.
"Hmm...."
Then she fell silent, looking deeply troubled.
"W-why?"
"There's so much scent everywhere, I can't tell.... We need to air it out."
With that, she flung open the window on the second floor.
A cool breeze from outside instantly cooled my flushed face, heated from panic and excitement. It felt good, but it was still too early to relax.
"I told you, nothing happened. Didn't you see kyungkyung cry?"
"T-that's true, but...."
"Luna, sure, there's no one trustworthy in this Sodomora. But there has to be trust between you and me. We're a party, right?"
"You're right. Y-yeah! I must've been too sensitive. Sorry, Hassan."
My words, wrung from my brain after much thought, seemed to sway her. Surprisingly, Luna apologized readily. Only then could I finally swallow a sigh of relief in my mind.
Whew, I'm not the type who can lie smoothly like the wind. Lying to Luna made my whole body feel parched, like I was dying.
"Sorry for misunderstanding you, Hassan. D-do you hate me now...?"
She apologized again, truly sorry for suspecting innocent me.
She kept glancing at my eyes while I lay there, looking so pitiful and lost.
That made me feel an inexplicable guilt.
"No, I mean.... It happens."
I wanted to say something cool and reassuring to ease her anxiety, but nothing came to mind.
So, to shift the awkward Luna's attention, I changed the subject.
"But where'd you go? It took a while."
"Oh! Hassan, I got something good for you! Wait a sec!"
Thud thud crash.
Luna clomped noisily down to the first floor. Soon, she rushed back up, something plump wriggling in her hand like a fat person's finger.
"W-what's that?"
"This is—longevity—"
"No, better not know. But why...?"
Wriggles, wriggles.
Truly grotesque.
I remembered eating a few wasp larvae with my dad while raiding a hive, so that bursting texture was already filling my mouth in anticipation—ugh, it was killing me.
"They're great for intense muscle pain!"
"I see...."
"A-and they're really good for men too. Anyway, Hassan, I dug them up in the park just for you. Get better soon."
Dug them up in the park dirt for me?
Looking at her, dirt was smeared here and there, her skin sunburned red from the blazing sun—she looked like she'd worked hard.
While Luna was toiling in the heat, I was fondling a woman's foot and getting hard. This is all Juice's fault, that bastard.
"Ah—."
So I opened my mouth wide.
"W-why open your mouth?"
"You brought it for me. Put it in. Ah—."
"B-but...."
"Hurry. Gotta get better quick so we can walk together, eat out, stuff like that."
"B-but...."
Luna hesitated, staring at the creature in her hand. Why back out now? I just wanted to repay her effort somehow.
And this was punishment for myself too.
"Come on, quick. Jaw hurts."
"O-okay, fine."
Finally, Luna shoved three or four fat ones into my mouth. I clamped down and chewed them up, feeling like I was dying.
Larvae like these? I'd eaten plenty following Dad around the mountains and as Elfriede's slave. Most taste awful, but high in protein, good for the body.
But then something popped with a sharp fizz, startling me. What? These bugs carbonated or something?
I'd thought they'd be horrific, but surprisingly edible.
"Th-that okay, Hassan?"
Gulp.
As I swallowed the contents, Luna eyed me cautiously.
"Why? Problem?"
"Th-they're highly toxic, supposed to neutralize first.... You felt it right away in your mouth."
"Toxic?"
The word chilled me. No wonder it fizzed.
But despite Luna's fear, I felt no change in my body.
"I'm fine."
"You shrugged off those wasp stings last time too. Hassan, must be resistant to poison! I can use all the other venomous bugs for potions too! You'll heal fast! Wait!"
Luna started heading downstairs like she'd made a huge discovery. If this kept up, I'd be chugging eco-friendly juice forever!!
"P-power's surging through my body!"
I yelled like a panicked man and shot up. Luna's step to the first floor halted, her eyes widening like saucers as she stared.
"Hassan! How'd you stand up?"
"Wow, Luna. My body's moving!"
"Oh my god, my potions worked!"
"Yeah, must be!"
Now that I'm better, she won't make potions or catch bugs for me! I'm so smart.
"Hassan's body responds well to potions! I'll make 'em every morning from now on!"
* * *
Hippolyte, who said she'd fetch the wallet, never showed no matter how long we waited. By evening, as the sun set.
"She must've run off 'cause she didn't wanna pay 3 silvers."
Luna, waiting for Hippolyte, spat venom at the silver-tier warrior woman.
I just nodded, "Yeah, probably." Seemed important to empathize with women.
Or maybe overdo the empathy for bonus points?
"Hippolyte's such a bitch. Smashing someone's stuff and running—total trash."
"No, Hassan. Even so, don't say that. She might have reasons. Good adventurer, maybe something came up."
What!? Not the response I expected.
"R-really? You're more magnanimous than I thought, Luna."
"A-anyway, done! Here, Hassan! Moai!"
While waiting for Hippolyte, Luna had been carving wood and handed me a tiny wooden figurine.
As always, crudely shaped, barely recognizable as human. Still, cozier than Somnia's horror totem thing from before.
And for me, this primitive-looking stump played a big role.
Ding-.
『Expending Karma Value—.』
With the sound, text appeared.
As usual, spend 100 Karma Value to raise a specific stat. I had over 400 now.
Luna said she'd earned plenty from the Somnia fight too, enough for three or four totems.
Converting them all to stats means at least +4 levels.
From my current Lv. 12 to 16?
Just days ago I was scraping by in single digits. Broke into double right after becoming an adventurer, eyeing 20!
If this keeps up, gold-tier adventurer's no dream!
Stats aren't everything, but the joy of steady growth was real.
Makes me wanna work hard.
『40% chance for bonus stat gain.』
Trusting my luck, I tapped Strength.
Ding—Strength up by 1.
Bust.
Next totem, tap Strength again. Ding. Up by 1 honestly.
"Damn it!"
What's the odds of failing 40% twice in a row? Too complex for my brain. But insanely low, right?
Fuming and yelling, Luna flinched while carving, shoulders jumping.
"W-why? Moai no good...?"
"N-no. Uh, Luna. Pick 1, 2, or 3."
"Again? You say the weirdest stuff sometimes."
"Well, circumstances...."
"Circumstances?"
"Eh... never mind."
Even to Luna, I didn't wanna spill about my weird power.
I don't blab my life to others anyway, and it could stir needless controversy.
"Anyway, pick."
"3!"
3? Stamina?
Tapped Stamina per her word.
Ding-.
One sound, one honest stat up.
"Damn...."
"W-why again...."
Luna trembled, eyeing me. My gacha rage scared her.
"Luna, one more for the last!"
"Th-then 3 again...."
Stamina again?
Bit reluctant.
Last one, my pick? But Luna hit jackpot before, so maybe follow her? Hesitated, then tapped Stamina again.
Ding-.
Ding-.
Two sounds! Stamina up by two!
"Chaos Eternal."
Suppressing joy, I chanted goofy spell.
『Name: Hassan Lv. 12 → 17
Strength: 5 → 7
Agility: 4
Stamina: 3 → 6
Karma: 22
Grace: Blessing of Chaos | Shining Hand | Cloak of Night』
"Damn it!"
"W-why!?"
Total stats at 17? Failures aside, pure joy!
Like before, I hugged Luna's waist from behind, spinning her around. So slender always.
Whoosh, whoosh.
"Luna, you're the real goddess of luck!"
"M-me, a goddess!? Hassan, don't say blasphemous stuff!"
Spinning her like a ride for a while.
"S-stop! Dizzy! Urgh!"
Luna groaned like she was suffering. I panicked, setting her down.
"W-why?"
"Stomach hurts a bit...."
Really hurting? Frowned, hunched over. Did I press something bad hugging her waist?
Worried, then Luna straightened up, face normal.
"N-nah, it's nothing. Probably period coming. Yeah, about time. Urgh...."
"Period?"
What’s that?
Recalled: women get sensitive and pained for a week monthly. Luna calls it "lunar cycle."
Anyway, women's periods are a big deal.
My sister suffered a full week, thrashing like a bear woken from hibernation, raging. I took all the fallout.
Shit, thinking of it gives me chills.
Whoever dates her better treat her right or I'll disown him.
Not just old-world sis—even Elfriede whipped me harder during hers, hellish.
Was Luna hiding a destructive side too?
Luna's period had an unexpected twist.