Chapter 5
Chapter 5
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Seris and the Village (3)
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On the way back to Bachran, I opened my status window and started fiddling around with it.
"Usually, you can tap on a stat to raise it."
I pressed my finger on the strength value. Sure enough, a new blue window popped up.
100 Karma?
I checked my remaining Karma.
I had none at all.
'How the hell do you even get Karma?'
I pondered it deeply, but in my current state, there was no way to know. My head was filled with thoughts about the status window all the way until I reached the city.
The moment I arrived in the city, I headed straight to where I'd stashed my money.
"That bastard Kalrix better not have touched it..."
I pulled out the money pouch and counted every single coin. Fortunately, nothing was missing.
"Too late to head back now... right?"
The sun hadn't set yet, but it would soon. I decided to leave early the next morning and started toward the shack. Then something occurred to me, and I changed direction.
"Hey."
I called out to a beggar sitting on the ground, staring up at the sky. She was a woman with filthy, tangled long hair.
"What? Huh...?"
The beggar snapped back irritably, then widened her eyes when she saw me. She pointed at herself.
"M-Me?"
"Who else is here besides you?"
"Wh-Why? I was just sitting here..."
She got to her feet and started backing away little by little. Before she could bolt, I raised both hands to show I meant no harm.
"Just wanna ask one thing."
"Ask...? What?"
"I heard the Masked Gang's at war with some new guys who rolled in. How's that going?"
"Oh, that?"
The beggar let out a relieved sigh.
"Not hard to tell you about it... but, um..."
She glanced at me slyly, eyes darting around. I knew exactly what that meant and clicked my tongue.
"Better not be bullshit."
I tossed her a single copper coin. She caught it with a grin and tucked it into her rags.
"Alright, listen up."
What the beggar told me was shocking.
"The Masked Gang's getting pushed back...?"
Just yesterday, the Masked Gang had clashed big-time with Roxy's crew—and they'd come out on the losing end.
"I thought the new group only had like twenty guys. How's that even possible?"
From what I remembered, the Masked Gang had over forty members. And they'd brought more than twenty thugs over from Kalita on top of that—yet they'd still lost ground?
"I was shocked too. But turns out, it makes sense."
"Makes sense how?"
The beggar eyed me, not spilling until I prodded.
I furrowed my brow.
"One copper should be plenty."
"Y-Yeah, it is! Totally! So, why they lost... it's 'cause..."
The beggar explained the reason for the Masked Gang's defeat.
"For real?"
"Totally real! Why would I lie?"
"Fair enough. But shit, a mana user...?"
One of Roxy's gang knew how to use mana. That made the Masked Gang's loss believable enough.
There's a massive gap between those who can wield mana—like knights or high-ranking adventurers—and those who can't.
Still, some lowlife thug slinging mana around? Hard to swallow.
"So what happened to the Masked Gang?"
"Word is, they're gearing up for revenge. But honestly, they're done for. After they retreated, Roxy swept up every business spot around here."
"Already?"
I shook my head in disbelief.
They worked fast—too fast. Had to mean they'd come prepared. Deep down, I was glad I hadn't ended up under Kalrix.
"Got it. Thanks."
I tossed the beggar another copper. Leaving her beaming, I headed into the shack.
I set out early the next morning and reached the village right around dusk, thanks to my quick pace.
This time, I skipped Seris's place and went straight to the village chief's house.
The chief's home was massive compared to the others, befitting his status. I knocked on the door.
"Who's there?"
It was a middle-aged woman's voice. I cleared my throat.
"I'm a traveler passing through the village. I'd like to see the chief."
"Oh, I see. Come in."
I followed the woman inside. Unlike Seris's cramped one-room hut, the chief's place was spacious, with actual separate rooms.
I entered the room she showed me and waited for the chief.
Moments later, the door opened, and in came the chief—an old man with wrinkles etched deep into his face. I stood from my chair and bowed.
"So, you wanted to see me? Looking for a place to stay the night?"
He stroked his beard as he spoke. I shook my head slightly.
"No, sir. The reason I wanted to meet you is something else."
"Something else?"
"I'd like to settle down in this village."
"Hm? Oh, you're that kid Seris mentioned?"
"Pardon? Seris talked about me?"
"Yeah. She asked me to keep an eye out if you showed up soon."
I was a little surprised by what the chief said.
Seris had gone out of her way to put in a good word. Guess reading that letter for her had really touched her.
Nice, I made a good impression. As I let out a quiet breath of relief, the chief narrowed his eyes at me.
"You haven't done anything weird with Seris, have you?"
It was a clear look of suspicion.
From his position—having to send Seris off to some noble—he probably didn't want any complications.
I answered calmly.
"No need to worry. I know my place. I'm well aware I'm not good enough for Seris."
Satisfied, the chief chuckled heartily.
"Hah! Knowing your place is the key to a long life. You're a wise one."
"Thank you, sir."
"Right, you want to settle here? Fine by me. Seris vouches for your character, so I'll trust that. Problem is, there are no empty houses right now. You'll have to stay at Gedric's inn for a while."
"Understood. And sir, this is for you..."
"Hm? What's this?"
"Just a small token of my appreciation."
It was a pouch with five silvers inside.
Small token my ass—that's a hefty sum.
But considering the cold shoulders I'd get from villagers, better not to skimp. Quests couldn't get blocked by bullshit like that.
"I've heard the village has been struggling with goblins lately. I hope this helps, even a little..."
"Now, now, no need. Keep it."
What a load of crap.
"Please, sir. I'm part of the village now. If you don't take it, I'll feel left out."
"Ahem... I see. You might feel alienated. Heh heh."
The chief laughed as he pocketed the pouch.
"Come along. I'll walk you to Gedric's myself."
He was in high spirits and personally escorted me to the inn, explaining everything to Gedric and getting his okay.
Thanks to that, I had a comfy place to crash, no hassle.
"Yuseong, grab a barrel from the basement."
"Got it."
A week had passed since I started staying in the village.
I helped out at the inn every morning.
"Seris, Yuseong can't handle it alone—give him a hand."
"Sure. Let's go together, Yuseong."
I wasn't the only one helping out. Seris came by every day too.
That gave us plenty of time to talk, and since she warmed up to me quick, we got close in no time.
"Nngh... ha!"
Seris hefted a beer barrel all by herself. Even the small ones weighed over 80kg.
I was genuinely impressed by her strength.
"Couldn't you have just carried it up alone?"
"What are you talking about? It's heavy just to lift. Help me out..."
She grunted under the weight. I hurried over and took half the load.
After moving the barrel, we tackled all sorts of odd jobs.
Work wrapped up around noon. Seris got paid for the day. I was helping in exchange for room and board, so no pay for me.
"You that happy about it?"
I asked, watching her grin ear to ear.
"Of course! Got an extra copper—feels great."
An extra copper made it three total. Her beaming face felt kinda pitiful.
"Where to next?"
"Gonna swing by home for a quick bite, then off to Uncle Ron's field."
"Uncle Ron's? Doesn't he pay crap?"
"Nothing else today. Gotta take what I can get."
"Take a breather. Been here a week and haven't seen you rest once."
"I rest at night?"
"That count as rest? Geez..."
As I went to open the inn door, I noticed a shadow from the light seeping under it.
"Seris, looks like he's back."
"Sigh..."
"Doesn't he ever get tired?"
I swung the door open. A burly guy stood there.
"Seris... Oh, it's you, Han Yuseong?"
Rian, the chief's grandson. He looked disappointed when he saw me.
"Yeah, it's me. Here for Seris again?"
"Yup. So mind your own business and scram."
"Whatever."
I headed to the inn yard to grab an axe for chopping wood. As I walked off, Rian muttered behind me.
"Han Yuseong, you've been glued to Seris lately. Try anything funny, and I won't let it slide."
"Anything funny? What're you even talking about?"
"Huh? Whoa! Seris! Since when?!"
"From the start. What did you mean by 'funny business'?"
Rian fidgeted like crazy at her words. The bear of a guy turned into a total mess in front of her...
"Th-That guy might do something bad to you..."
"Yuseong wouldn't."
"No, Seris, all guys are beasts! He might act nice on the outside, but inside..."
"Rian."
Seris's face hardened as she spoke.
"Yuseong's a good man. He wouldn't do that. And even if something did happen, it'd be between me and him—not your business. So stay out of it."
"S-Seris..."
"Yuseong, got the axe?"
"Huh? Yeah, got it."
"Then let's go. See you later, Rian."
"Wait, Seris?!"
Seris walked right over without looking back. I fell in step beside her, then glanced over my shoulder. Rian was glaring daggers at me.
"...You could've gone easier on him. Guy gets like that, he'll hassle me."
"Tell me if he does. I'll chew him out."
Her prickly tone wasn't like her at all.
"You really hate the guy that much?"
"Yes."
No hesitation.
Well, shows up every day when she hates him? I'd get sick of that face after a week too—wonder how she felt.
I cracked a few jokes to cheer her up. By the time we parted, she seemed a bit better.
"Thanks, Yuseong."
"Thanks me by hauling barrels solo next time."
"What if I drop it? You taking responsibility?"
"Nah."
I chuckled and we went our ways. Time to head to the mountains for wood. I made for the village gate.
But near the gate, villagers were gathered. Curious, I checked it out.
"Huh? What the hell's that?"
A bunch of green-skinned dwarves stood at the gate.
"Goblins."
One of the village youths told me. Thanks to the chief putting in a good word, they weren't giving me the cold shoulder.
"Goblins? Those things?"
"Yeah. Never seen 'em while gathering wood?"
"Gedric told me not to go deep in the mountains. First time—look like total freaks."
The goblins were pint-sized, kid-bodied, but with hag faces.
"What's the chief even doing with those things?"
"He knows how to talk to goblins."
"For real?"
Talking to goblins? Sounded fun—I edged closer.
"-Kreek! Meat and booze! When you gonna hand it over?!"
"The village is a bit tight these days. We'll prepare it quick—just bear with us a little."
Huh?
"Hey, didn't you say the chief can talk to goblins? They're speaking human language."
"What? Goblins speaking human? You high?"
The guy next to me looked at me like I was nuts.
"If those things spoke our language, the chief wouldn't have it so rough."
"...Huh?"
Something was off.
No matter how I strained my ears, those goblins were speaking plain human to me—but everyone else said no.
What the...?
I mulled over the contradiction and hit one conclusion.
'Holy shit, now I can understand goblin too?'
I thought it was just human languages—but nope.
If goblin worked, other foreign tongues should be a breeze too...
"Should've been a translator. What a waste."
Self-pity hit hard; I sighed.
I stared blankly at the sky, waiting for the goblins to leave the gate.
"-Three days! The chief said three days! If not ready by then, this village is toast!"
"Understood. We'll have it ready on time."
Overhearing, I pieced it together.
Village paid tribute to the goblins to survive, apparently.
"But why goblins, of all things?"
"Huh?"
"Just... why's the chief bowing to goblins?"
"Oh, you just got here, right? See that mountain?"
"Yeah."
"Hundreds of goblins live there."
"...What?"
"Actually, the whole mountain range."
"No way... What about the lord? Where were the soldiers?"
"Dunno. Adults say they begged for help tons of times, but no one's coming."
The youth spat it out with some irritation. He wasn't thrilled about the goblins either.
As I reeled from the scale, a goblin dropped a bombshell.
"-Women! Give us women too!"
"What?! Why... It's not our turn yet..."
"-Lower village! Wouldn't give women, called other humans to attack us! We killed 'em all! Your turn now!"
"No..."
The chief looked troubled.