Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: A Small Disturbance in Bachran (2)
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"...Your body is in really good shape."
"...Pardon?"
Good shape? What did she mean by that?
The straightforward interpretation would be that she was commenting on my muscles. I do work out pretty consistently, after all.
But this was coming from a nun. Could it really be that simple? Maybe she meant I was healthy, or that my organs were in the right places...
"Ah, I just meant your muscles look really firm."
So it was the straightforward meaning after all.
"Then, if you'll excuse me..."
The nun placed her hand on my wound.
"Ugh..."
"Please bear with it just a little, even if it hurts."
The nun prayed to her god for healing.
"Holy and noble Yurmia, please grant a miracle to this poor lamb."
A crystalline light bloomed from the nun's hand where it touched my body. The light enveloped the wound and began to heal it.
'It's always so amazing no matter how many times I see it.'
A wound that would take weeks to heal naturally was mended with a single prayer. Every time I witnessed something like this, it really drove home that I'd come to this world.
"Hoo..."
The nun's breathing grew a bit ragged. Was it taking a toll on her?
"Sister, are you okay?"
"...Pardon?"
"If it's too much, you can rest a bit before continuing."
"No, I'm fine."
She spoke firmly, then examined my wounds with her praying hands.
...It felt oddly like she was caressing me, but that had to be my imagination, right?
Yeah, my imagination. No way a nun would do that.
"Now I'll treat the lower wounds."
The injuries on my upper body had all healed, so it was time for the lower ones. The nun crouched down in front of me.
"...Sister?"
"Yes?"
"That, uh, position is a bit..."
"What about my position?"
"...Never mind."
It felt awkward to say it out loud, so I decided to just quietly let her treat me.
"Then, I'll start on the lower ones."
The nun placed her hand on my thigh. There was a gash from a spear. As she prayed, it was wrapped in pure white light, and fresh skin began to grow.
Gulp.
I heard the swallowing sound again. This time I saw it clearly—her throat bobbed.
"...Sister."
"Why do you keep calling me? I need to focus on the treatment, so please be quiet."
"No, it's just... you're staring so intently."
"Staring intently? I'm just checking if the wound is healing properly!"
"Ah, okay..."
But for checking a wound, her gaze kept drifting to the inside of my thigh. Hmm, and now she was stroking it like she was pretending to examine it.
"This is a man's..."
She was even muttering strange things. How was I supposed to react? I was seriously troubled. Who would've thought I'd be pondering this in a temple, of all places.
"All done."
But she was a nun, through and through. She never crossed the line until the treatment was finished. I handed her 1 silver.
"Thank you. May Yurmia's blessing be with you."
"Yes, thank you. Oh, Sister."
I decided to ask about something that had been bothering me before leaving.
"Yes?"
"Do you usually handle healing for men?"
At my question, the nun's face flushed a little as she replied.
"Ah, no. The priests are all out today, so this is a special case. Normally, there's always at least one priest here. So today's events are just for today..."
"Ah, I see. Got it. May Yurmia's blessing be with you."
I left the room, leaving the excusing nun behind.
"Ah, Yuseong! You're out... Kyaa!"
Seris screamed when she saw me and covered her eyes.
"You scared me. Seris, what's wrong?"
Someone tapped my arm from the side. It was Kara. Her face was a bit red as she said,
"Oppa... y-you're not wearing any clothes...?"
"Huh...?"
Oh, I'd been so distracted by the nun that I forgot.
Damn it.
After leaving the temple, I stopped by a clothing store and bought some new clothes. My old ones were basically rags now.
After buying clothes, I went to the inn with the Seris sisters. They were pretending otherwise, but both Seris and Kara were mentally and physically exhausted.
The inn was bustling. All sorts of people gathered, drinking and chatting with their parties.
"So this is an inn!"
Kara's eyes sparkled as she looked around the inn. Inns were a staple in adventure tales, so she must have been curious. I hoped she wouldn't be disappointed—it wasn't much compared to her expectations.
"Usually, this is where you pick up your first companion!"
I looked around. Just a bunch of drunk old men. No one who looked like companion material.
"Order here!"
I called the waitress after sitting down. A beastkin with cat ears came over.
"Yes, what can I get for you?"
"Could you recommend something from the menu?"
"Ah! First-timers, huh? Our chicken stew is to die for! Pair it with ale, and it's mmm~ out of this world!"
"How much is the chicken stew?"
Seris, tempted by the beastkin waitress's description, asked. The waitress held up three fingers.
"Chicken stew is 3 copper. Ale is 1 copper for four glasses."
"Th-three copper..."
Seris's pupils trembled.
"Our place is on the cheap side, you know?"
"Cheap...?"
'Do city folk just throw money around like this?' Seris muttered to herself.
"Sis, let's eat! You're not gonna skimp even on a day like today, right?"
"Ugh... A-alright! Three chicken stews and four ales here, please!"
Maybe thinking one day wouldn't hurt, Seris psyched herself up and ordered.
"Got it! Three chicken stews and four ales!"
The cat beastkin wagged her tail as she left.
"Three chicken stews... You buying for me too?"
I teased. Seris's eyes went wide.
"Ah, uh, um..."
She stammered, unable to respond properly. Her eyes shook like she was seriously considering it. I chuckled, about to say I was joking.
"I'll cover it. Eat up!"
"Huh...? You're buying...?"
"Yep!"
I placed my hand on Seris's forehead.
"Eh?"
"Let me check... No fever."
"Wh-what are you doing?!"
Seris panicked and pulled back.
"Are you really Seris? Nah, can't be."
"What are you talking about?"
"The Seris I know wouldn't offer to buy anything for someone else."
"What do you even think of me?!"
Seris yelled, sounding truly indignant. When other customers looked over, she bowed apologetically.
"I do spend when I need to, you know."
Seris grumbled as she sat back down.
"Sure."
"Yes! You helped us a lot this time, Yuseong. You even got hurt because of it. Oh, right—how much was the temple treatment? I'll pay you back."
"Nah, forget it. It was my body."
"No. You got hurt because of us. I should pay. How much?"
"I said it's fine."
I waved her off. If I told her it was 1 silver, her soul might just leave her body right there.
Seris kept insisting stubbornly until the stew arrived.
"Stew's here!!"
Once she smelled the stew, she got lost in it and quieted down.
"Enjoy!"
The cat beastkin waitress left. Kara watched her go and muttered,
"Beastkin waitress... Assassin...!!"
No. She's just a slave.
I stirred the stew, took a big spoonful, and ate. The subtle vegetable aroma mixed with the chicken juices for a savory burst.
"Why is this so delicious?!"
That was Seris's review. She'd take a bite, savor it, then take another and savor again.
I chuckled and sipped the ale. It was lukewarm.
"Lock your door tight when you sleep. Drunks might mistake rooms."
"Got it."
"See you tomorrow morning."
"See you tomorrow, oppa!"
I waved to them and left the inn, heading to the slums. First time back in a week—kinda nostalgic...
"Gwehk..."
"Kyaa! Thief! Someone catch that thief!"
"S-sorry, I was wrong!!"
"If you're sorry, you take the beating!"
...Not nostalgic. Same old slums. Not welcoming even after a while away.
Should've just stayed at the inn tonight?
Too late to turn back now, so I hurried my steps. Better get home quick and sleep.
"What the?"
I arrived at the hut. Light was leaking from inside. Someone was in there.
I approached quietly, careful not to make noise, and pressed my ear to the door crack.
-You saw it too, right? That guy flinched when I said something and gave me the side-eye!
-Saw it! He struts around all stiff-necked, but he met his match.
-Hey, hey, drink and talk.
I eavesdropped more, but only three voices. I opened the door and went in.
Inside were the three sleazy slum dwellers. Two familiar faces, one new.
"Huh? Who's this punk?"
The unfamiliar slum dweller glared at me.
"That's what I want to ask. This is my hut—why are you here?"
"Oh, so you're the owner they mentioned?"
The unfamiliar one slapped a familiar one's back and laughed heartily. He turned to me with a sleazy grin.
"Kid, if you've got a nice spot like this, you gotta share. Right? In this harsh world, we gotta help each other out."
"Cut the crap and get out. Grandma Manda left this place to me."
The hut originally belonged to a grandma named Manda. I took care of her when she was sickly, and she gave it to me before dying.
"Ha, this brat's got some guts."
"Hey, Yon, cool it. Han Yuseong, sorry. We thought you'd left for good since you hadn't come back."
"Let go. I'm gonna teach this punk a lesson!"
"Ah, calm down? Hey, what are you doing? Tell Yon to chill too."
As Yon stood, the other two slum dwellers held him back—or pretended to. They narrowed their eyes, gauging the situation.
If I backed down here, they'd side with Yon and claim the hut. If Yon lost, they'd use "we tried to stop him" as an excuse to bail.
Fucking hell, they're all pieces of shit.
"Let go! I'm gonna teach him...?!"
I jabbed Yon's eye. He clutched it and screamed.
"Aaaagh!!! My eye!!!"
"Shut up."
I grabbed his hair and slammed his head into the floor.
Bam!
"Argh!"
Bam!
"Guuh..."
Bam!
"Ugh..."
I kept slamming. After five more, he went quiet. Not dead, just out cold. I let go of his hair.
"Oops."
The two slum dwellers looked down at the fallen Yon. No worry, just like junk they couldn't use.
"This guy's new to the city slums, huh?"
They nodded at my question.
"Yeah. Broke Ban already, and he's barely been here."
"Ban? That slippery bastard?"
Ban was a slum fighter. Not on the level of a real gang like the Masked Gang, but he'd pick fights with slum folk and extort them.
"Anyway, sorry. We tried to stop him, but he insisted on coming here..."
One tried to cut ties. I backhanded his jaw. He staggered and fell to his knees.
"Urk..."
"What does failing to stop him have to do with you being here?"
I kicked his face and stomped it.
"What the hell!"
The unharmed slum dweller scowled.
"You know me, even if you don't know him. You shouldn't have done this knowing that."
"Son of a bitch!"
"Draw a knife? If you do, I will too."
"..."
The unharmed one sheathed his dagger. I punched his philtrum. Shook him off and slugged him again as he reeled.
I beat the three just enough, then chased them out.
This should keep troublemakers away for a while. They'd brag about who beat them up.
Getting beaten by some no-name gets you mocked, but I'm different—no mockery for losing to me.
No worry about them nursing grudges and stabbing later. Guys with that kind of spine wouldn't live like this. Still, no slacking on vigilance.
I lay on the floor and slept. It was cold, but I was tired and dozed off quick.