Chapter 33
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: From Cloudy to Clear
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From Cloudy to Clear
“Hey, get up.”
Though I saw him flinch, the weasel kept his eyes squeezed shut.
I gave his head a light kick, and the startled bastard’s eyes flew open.
“I said, get up.”
“Boss, I’ve lost so much blood, my head’s spinning… I feel faint…”
The weasel shifted slightly, showing me the wound on his back as his voice trailed off.
“It’s just a scratch. Don’t be so dramatic. Get up.”
“A… a scratch! Look at all the blood…”
“One.”
The moment I started counting, the weasel scrambled to his feet. He swayed a little, so he didn't look to be in great shape, but it wasn’t like he could sleep here in the rain.
“Where are the others?”
“The others… Ah! Boss! Pul is badly hurt! We have to go, quickly!”
The weasel limped ahead, leading the way.
Even at the fork in the road, he forged ahead without hesitation. Soon, I could see a large figure and a skinny one sprawled on the ground.
“Oh no! Boss!! Uwaaah!”
The weasel yelled and started to run, only to trip over his own feet and fall face-first into a puddle, where he lay motionless.
‘He’s so full of it.’
I pressed my temples to suppress my rising irritation and checked on the guys.
None of them were in good shape. Pul had two holes in his shoulder, and blood was trickling out.
Ska had a long gash running from just below his eye down to the left side of his chest, blood pouring from the wound.
The weasel’s wound wasn’t deep, but it looked like he’d hit his head and passed out.
I crouched down and rummaged through Pul’s inner pocket.
‘There it is.’
A transparent bottle was tucked deep inside, as if he’d been worried someone would steal it.
I sniffed it. A low-grade potion.
It would be enough to handle the immediate crisis.
I gathered them in one spot, shielded them with the umbrella, and sprinkled the potion evenly over their wounds.
Ska was so big that a wound like that was unlikely to kill him, and Pul was a tough bastard who had survived a knife to the gut before, so he’d probably be fine.
After tending to those two, I used the little that was left on the weasel’s back.
‘I should probably buy some potions to carry around.’
“Aron!”
“Levi. Go drag that over here.”
Just then, Levi arrived, and I pointed to an old cart parked in the distance.
Levi brought the cart over, and I carefully stacked the men on top. Ska was so heavy that my own wound tore open again as I lifted him.
After loading them onto the cart, I stuck the umbrella next to it to shield them from the rain.
Levi, who moved quickly and smartly without needing to be told, started pulling the cart. A moment later, we ran into Berman.
“Jojang! You weren't at the designated location… What’s this?”
“What about the rest?”
“We got them all except for that fixer bastard. Pul?! What the hell happened to him?!”
Berman’s eyes widened as he checked the cart, his voice rising.
“I took care of the fixer. Let’s wrap this up. I’m tired.”
“Yes, sir. This way. Huh? Levi. It’s been a while.”
“Long time no see, Ber…”
“Save the greetings for later.”
Berman nodded and led the way.
We soon arrived at the place where I had left the others tied up.
Guards and men in flat caps were bustling about the area.
“That bastard Aron. If you’re going to kill someone, kill them. Leaving them barely breathing just makes things difficult…”
“Captain. Jojang Aron has returned. He said he caught the fixer, too.”
“Ah! Of course! The Jojang I trust so much! That’s our Aron! A clean job! A Jojang who gets his hands dirty!”
The Captain beamed, clapping his hands. The men next to him followed suit, and I suddenly looked like some local hero returning in triumph.
“Master!!”
The bratty kid standing next to the Captain leaped toward Levi. While those two had their emotional reunion, the men in flat caps approached.
They hesitated, looking at the tangled mess of bodies in the cart.
“Hey, take them all and get them treated.”
“…Yes? Yes, sir.”
One of them replied immediately, nodding as he took the cart. Another flat cap followed behind him.
“We’ll be heading out first, then. You two, come on.”
I gave the Captain a small nod and gestured to Levi and the kid, who were still jumping around.
The two glanced at the Captain for a moment before scurrying behind me.
“Aron? This man was also detained, so a detailed investigation is… not necessary! He’s vouched for by Jojang Aron, so he must be fine! After all, I trust Jojang Aron completely!”
The Captain laughed awkwardly, and I laughed along with him.
***
*Knock, knock.*
“You don’t have to go this far…”
“Just shut the… I mean, be quiet.”
I was about to speak harshly to the hesitant Levi, but corrected myself for the bratty kid next to him.
I heard movement from behind the door, then it swung open and Hana appeared. The Mini Fridge was stuck to her side like glue.
“Aron! Are you okay?!”
“I’m fine. Go on in.”
“G-Greetings! My name is Levi!”
“Oh my, please come in.”
“I brought you a new friend. Play nice.”
Peer friendships are crucial for personality development during formative years, so I gave the bratty kid a gentle push toward the Mini Fridge.
“G-Greetings.”
The bratty kid, his face red enough to burst, held out his hand with a strange formality.
“Hello.”
The Mini Fridge glanced at me, then trotted over and took the bratty kid’s hand.
I nodded, watching the two little ones greet each other.
“Aron, is that blood?!”
“Ah, it’s just a scratch.”
“You’re bleeding! How is that just a scratch?!”
“I said it’s just a scratch.”
I quickly slapped Hana’s hand away as she reached for the leather strap on my breastplate. Her eyes widened as she looked up at me.
“It’s just a scratch. A little one.”
“…Alright. Are you going to bathe first?”
“Yeah.”
“I’ve heated the water, so go ahead. I’ve laid out your clothes, too.”
Hana glared, her expression inexplicably sulky.
I nodded and headed inside.
Just as Hana had said, the wooden tub was filled with steaming hot water.
I propped my sword against the door to block it and slowly removed my armor.
When I took off the breastplate, the dried blood stuck to it peeled away, making me grimace. I was wearing so many layers that getting undressed took forever.
I tossed aside my underclothes, soaked with sweat, rainwater, and blood, and stepped into the tub.
The clear water instantly turned red.
The blood that had clotted around the wound washed away, and it began to bleed anew.
‘Stings.’
I should have used the leftover potion on myself instead of the weasel. With a pang of regret, I slowly washed myself clean.
*Knock, knock.*
“Don’t need anything.”
I answered quickly, just in case she tried to come in.
“…It’s not that! Aron, are you really okay? You’re not seriously hurt, are you?”
“I said I’m fine.”
“Last time, you said it was nothing, but later I heard you fought a demon! How is that nothing?! I know you’re a good fighter and you’re tough… and strong, but the human body is…”
Hana continued to rattle on and on from the other side of the door, nagging me for a good while before she finally left.
When I finished bathing and came out, a clean bandage and some Keumsagwi herbs were waiting for me.
***
Huris, an orphan, had weathered the storms of the world firsthand.
Having endured those storms, Huris considered himself an adult.
But now, Huris stood with his mouth agape, experiencing the greatest shock of his entire life (all twelve years of it).
‘How can a person be this beautiful!’
Across from him sat a pouting woman who hadn't said a word, and Huris felt as if his heart would explode.
It was the first time.
The first time he worried that someone else might hear his heart pounding.
When he saw the purple-haired woman smile, he could barely breathe.
“Oh my, are you alright, child?”
“I’m… I’m fine.”
At the voice from his side, Huris quickly nodded his head.
‘It’s so obvious!’
How could he make such a foolish, naive mistake! Huris shook his head to clear it.
But he couldn’t help his eyes from being drawn to her.
Conversations swirled around him, but he heard none of it.
A short while later, the brute who had gone to wash came out and sat at the table.
“Kanna, could you bring some beer?”
Another woman asked, and the purple-haired woman shot up and disappeared into the back.
He was disappointed. So disappointed he couldn’t hide it.
Just then, the woman who had gone inside peeked her head out and wiggled her fingers. A signal to come over.
Huris didn’t hesitate for a second. He shot to his feet.
‘Yes! She feels the same way I do!’
Since his mother had been a popular prostitute, Huris was confident in his looks.
Huris straightened his clothes like the young men of the city and headed for the back room.
‘Did she want to hold my hand in secret? Her personality is quite cute, unlike her aloof appearance.’
Huris put on a serious expression and stepped inside, but the woman was nowhere to be seen.
He tilted his head in confusion.
*Thwack!* Pain exploded on the back of his head.
He whipped his head around to see the woman holding a pot.
What? Huris couldn’t understand the situation.
Then, the woman swung the pot again, and Huris took a direct hit, collapsing to the floor.
“Try that shit again and you’re dead.”
He didn’t understand why the woman was glaring at him and spewing such harsh words, or why she was swinging a pot.
But even so, she was still beautiful.
“That’s strange. Mr. Dylan told me to hit him in the back of the head first…”
Did she hit him too hard? Kanna frowned, looking down at the little boy grinning foolishly.
***
The first thing I did upon waking was reach for the sword by my head.
*Hoo…* I took a deep breath and slowly stretched my body.
Since no one had said otherwise, my day off seemed to still be on. I put on my armor, grabbed my sword, and headed to the backyard.
The sky was clear, as if it had never rained.
As usual, I ran until I was out of breath, then swung, thrusted, and slashed with my sword.
Even in armor, the number of repetitions was gradually increasing.
After finishing, as I caught my breath, the Mini Fridge handed me a mug of beer with ice floating in it.
I patted the Mini Fridge on the head and downed the beer in one go.
“Ah, career counseling.”
“…?”
I chose my words carefully as I looked at the Mini Fridge, who was staring up at me with wide eyes.
“Do you have any future aspirations?”
“…Pardon?”
“Something you want to become. Something you want to do. For example, a knight, or a noble lady.”
“Ah…”
At my question, the Mini Fridge pursed her lips.
She seemed to be thinking over her answer.
Watching her, I wondered what the fridge would evolve into.
‘An air conditioner? A humidifier? A shaved ice machine?’
The Mini Fridge’s potential was limitless.
After a long moment of contemplation, the Mini Fridge opened her mouth.
However, the answer that came out was not what I expected.
“…I want to live.”
At the clear determination in that young voice, I scratched my head.
This was the Middle Ages, where two out of every four people died; it was hard to say that couldn't be a future aspiration.
If you took a survey, it might even rank as the number one dream job.
“Alright. Let’s work on that.”
“Work on it…”
The purple eyes looking at me grew wide.
“So you work hard too.”
I gently tapped her small, purple-haired head.
“Work hard…”
The Mini Fridge muttered quietly.
***
Even with a day off, there wasn’t much to do in a medieval border castle.
Lazing around, occasionally heading to Sector 3 for a good meal, and drinking with a few guys in the evening was the extent of my leisure.
It was no wonder the men got so excited about public executions.
First, I decided to buy some potions, so I headed to the Society’s hall.
‘They must have an employee discount, right?’
I ran a hand over the golden cape draped over my shoulder. It was proof that I was an insider of the Holy Cartel. Of course, with the Devil’s Handprint, ‘spy’ might have been a more fitting term.
Unlike my last visit, the hall was now bustling with many busy monks.
“Hey, you there.”
I called out to one of the more gentle-looking ones.
The monk, whose large earlobes made him look like a Western Buddha, tilted his head, then noticed the golden cape on my shoulder and trotted over.
“Ah! You must be… Honorary Monk Aron.”
“Yes. I am that honorary monk.”
At my reply, the monk tilted his head to the other side before speaking.
“Ah, yes. Honorary Monk Aron. I am Monk Ains.”
“A pleasure to meet you, Monk Ains.”
“Yes. But what brings you here…?”
“I’m here to see Priest Blian.”
“Priest Blian is not in the hall at the moment due to business with the main order.”
It was a problem that the praise vending machine wasn’t here. As I scratched my head, the earlobe monk continued.
“But may I ask why you were looking for the priest…?”
“I’d like to purchase some potions at a discount.”
“…At a discount, you say?”
The earlobe monk tilted his head again. It seemed to be a habit of his.
“Yes, Priest Blian told me to come by anytime…”
“I see. In that case, I will guide you.”
I nodded, and the earlobe monk trotted off. I followed him inside.
‘The main order… something must be going on.’
The monks, who were usually flushed from drinking, were now pale-faced and moving diligently. It seemed to be something big.
“So, this business with the main order…”
“Ah, the Abbot is coming to Casedic Castle, so everyone is busy preparing.”
The earlobe priest answered my casual question.
‘The Abbot…’
If a priest managed a hall in a remote place like this, then an abbot managed a monastery in a city. It seemed the Order was placing more importance on Casedic Castle.
I briefly wondered if it would be a problem, but if the Inquisitor hadn’t noticed anything, an abbot likely wouldn’t be any different.
Soon, we entered a small room thick with the smell of medicine. A long table, like in an apothecary, divided the room, and a bald man with a sullen expression sat on the other side.
“Monk Ketub.”
“What is it?”
“Honorary Monk Aron is here to purchase potions, so I guided him here.”
At the earlobe monk’s words, the bald man looked me up and down. His insolent gaze made him feel less like a monk and more like some mercenary.
I politely brought my right hand to my forehead.
“Honorary Monk. Don’t make me laugh.”
The bald man ignored my greeting with a smirk and turned toward the back.
“Um… Monk Ains.”
“Yes, Honorary Monk Aron.”
“What’s the punishment for monks fighting each other?”
“…Pardon?”
The earlobe monk’s eyes widened at my question. He didn’t seem to understand, so I asked again.
“I mean, what’s the punishment if monks get into a minor fistfight?”
“A… fistfight?”
“Yes. Just a light scuffle, a few punches.”
I nodded at the bewildered monk, and his already wide eyes seemed to stretch even wider, as if they would tear.
“N-No, you can’t! It’s unthinkable for monks to fight!”
“Then I’ll have to do it secretly.”
“Yes, secretly… Huh? What are you saying…?”
“Here.”
Just then, the bald monk returned.
He was holding two transparent bottles, which were clearly the lowest-grade potions.
“I wanted to buy low-grade potions. Are there no low-grade ones?”
“We normally have them, but the Lord’s side recently bought them in bulk, so we’re out. There are only a few of these left, so you should be grateful.”
‘Why is this bastard so damn snarky?’
His strangely arrogant tone, as if he had God himself backing him up, made me slowly rotate my wrist.
“The price?”
“Ahem… 90 silver each.”
“What? He’s an Honorary Monk, why are you charging full price?”
“Of course I am. Is some random stray who rolled in off the street supposed to be a member of the Order?”
The way he shot back at the earlobe monk’s question, one corner of his mouth twitching up, was familiar.
‘Ah, I see.’
It was the look of a man whose promotion was blocked, staring at an unexpected parachute hire.
“But the Honorary Monk was personally appointed at the request of Priest Blian and the Inquisitor to the main order.”
The earlobe monk, who had seemed like just a nice guy, retorted clearly and precisely. The bald monk’s face scrunched up, and he clicked his tongue with a ‘tsk.’
“Honorary Monk… what a joke. 50 silver each.”
The cheap price made his shitty attitude bearable.
‘Almost half off. Is this the Holy Cartel?’
I nodded, took out a gold coin from my pouch, and exchanged it for the two potions.
“…To think a thug like that is an Honorary Monk. Priest Blian has really hit rock bottom.”
As he continued to grumble, I subtly clenched my fist. The earlobe monk, startled, whispered, “Don’t!” and pushed me out of the room by my back.
“Aren’t you going to stay for worship?”
“No, I’m a bit busy. I’ll come again next time.”
I waved to the head-tilting earlobe monk and left the hall.
Next to the hall was an unusually large tree. The Inquisitor was sitting beneath it.
Looking closer, I saw she was picking up a piece of cake and eating it with her gauntleted hand.
Her usual expressionless face seemed strangely relaxed.
‘Why hasn’t she gone back yet? What is she still doing here?’
Inquisitors usually didn’t stay in one place for long. They were too busy roaming around, smashing the heads of the unholy.
Just then, my eyes met the Inquisitor’s. I gave a small nod, but she narrowed her eyes, stood up, and walked toward me.
She raised her right hand, probably planning to give a blessing without so much as a greeting again.
‘…She could at least wipe her hand first.’
The Inquisitor pressed the hand she’d been eating cake with firmly against my forehead.
After a short blessing, she lowered her hand and offered me the cake she’d been eating.
I didn’t understand the situation and just stared at her, but the Inquisitor’s eyes gleamed. *Try this. This is true flavor,* her eyes seemed to say.
‘That fish bread must have really been a shock.’
I hesitated for a moment, then took the cake and had a bite.
The sweet taste made my expression soften unconsciously. Seeing this, the Inquisitor nodded slightly with a look of relief.
Then she returned to her spot, leaned against the tree, and went back to eating her cake.
‘…She’s not normal either.’
I nodded to myself, using my tongue to dislodge a piece of cake stuck between my molars.
***
I decided to pay a visit to the guys to check on their condition.
Unlike other brutes, I was a man of intellect, so it was only natural to bring a gift when visiting the sick.
I decided on fish bread as the gift.
The plan was to buy some fish bread from Masha’s restaurant, then head to the headquarters to find out where they’d taken the guys.
“Ah! Aron! What brings you here so early in the morning?!”
“Charlotte?”
I ran into Charlotte in front of Masha’s restaurant.
“Yes. It’s my day off, so I decided to help out.”
Charlotte replied, her face faintly blushing.
‘To make her withstand the fish bread… Brick, you magnificent bastard.’
As I marveled silently, Brick himself came out.
“Char- the ingredients are… Jojang?”
Brick, who had naturally wrapped an arm around Charlotte’s waist, saw me and bowed his head.
“Happy now?”
“Pardon?”
“Br- please, speak comfortably.”
Charlotte gave a small bow and went inside.
The fact that they were calling each other by the first syllable of their names was strangely annoying.
“Wipe that smirk off your face.”
“Pardon?”
“Stop smiling.”
“Umm… yes, sir.”
“Your lips are still turned up.”
“Yeees, sir.”
“Now you’ve lowered them too much. Are you mocking me?”
“Haha, yes, sir.”
I chuckled watching Brick playfully move the corners of his mouth up and down. He laughed along with me.
Brick filled me in on what happened after I left yesterday.
He and Kel, being on the opposite side, were the last to arrive. By the time they got there, I was already gone. When they heard Pul was injured, they rushed over to him.
“They went to old man Horman’s place.”
“I see.”
“At least there’s no rot… As long as it doesn’t come to amputation, he’s the most reliable one we’ve got, isn’t he?”
I nodded at Brick’s words. There were a few people in Casedic Castle who called themselves doctors, but Horman was the most decent of the lot.
Of course, he’d have a fit and insist on cutting off any part that was even slightly rotten, but aside from that, he was an expert in folk remedies who was worthy of the title ‘doctor.’
“They said it was a close call, but the bleeding stopped, so he probably won’t die. I mean, it’s Pul. Would he really die?”
“That’s true. If there’s one thing he is, it’s unusually tough.”
“So what brings you here, Jojang? Last time, you said you’d kill me if you ever had to come here again…”
Brick’s voice trailed off as his eyes darted around.
For some reason, I got angry and smacked him on the back of the head.
“Ow! Why’d you hit me?!”
“Whatever. Go inside and get me three fish breads to go.”
“What? Jojang, have you finally discovered the taste of fish bread? I knew it! I knew you’d eventually see the light…”
“It’s not for me. I’m getting it for the guys.”
“Aha. But… Pul said he’d kill me if he ever saw fish bread again…”
“Then you can die by my hand instead.”
“Ugh… Alright. I’ll be right back.”
After a moment of deliberation, Brick went inside and quickly returned with three fish breads.
“Ugh… the smell.”
“Oh my, Aron.”
“My mouth is watering.”
I pressed a few silver coins into Masha’s hand as she came out to greet me and headed for old man Horman’s place.
I pushed aside the cloth covering the entrance of a decent-looking house and was hit by a musty smell.
“So… there I was! I saw Boss Pul go down, and I yelled, ‘You son of a whore! You spawn of a demon and a prostitute! Fight me! I won’t stand by and watch my boss die!’ And that demonic bastard came charging at me! He was kicking off walls, leaping… the bastard appeared and we fought, and I plunged my knife into his gut! *Stab!* Blood went *swoosh!* And then I went *shunk!* and blood just poured out!”
As soon as I entered, I saw the weasel waving his hands around, recounting his heroic tales from last night. Ska was crouched in front of him, and Pul was lying down scratching his stomach. They all seemed fine.
They were a tough bunch of bastards.
“Oh, Jojang’s here.”
“My comrade has arrived.”
“Hieeek!”
The weasel, upon seeing me, dropped to the ground and rolled onto his back like a dog seeing its master. It was a truly pathetic sight.
“Hey, you all okay?”
“Yeah. They say I need to rest, but I’m fine for now.”
“I’m perfectly fine.”
Ska, now with a thick scar on his face, nodded.
“You finally look like a man.”
“Hmph… I quite like it myself.”
“…But Jojang, what is that smell?”
Pul asked, wrinkling his nose.
“A get-well gift.”
I brought out the gift I’d been hiding behind my back.
“Aaaargh! It’s that fucking bread!”
“…That bastard Brick.”
Their reaction was more dramatic than I expected, and the corners of my mouth lifted on their own.
“But I’m on a fast. And there are three.”
Just then, Ska tilted his head and muttered.
“Ah, did you bring one for yourself too, Jojang?”
At that, Pul, who had been scowling, broke into a wide grin.
And this time, it was my face that crumpled.