The Cursed Blind Woman (13)
Someone was sitting on the bed where no one should have been, gazing at me. The woman with pure white skin and long, platinum-blonde hair cascading down smiled warmly at me.
"Finally here, are you?"
"Goddess...?"
I just stood there dumbly, staring at her.
"What's with that look? Not happy to see me?"
"No... it's not that... why are you here?"
"See? You aren't happy."
The goddess puffed out her cheeks and furrowed her brow. I let out a hollow laugh and sat down on the chair, facing her. Her kind, mischievous eyes scanned me up and down.
"Been at it again, huh?"
"Something like that. But it ended well this time."
"And what exactly does 'ended well' mean?"
She asked with a cute smile, her tone affectionate.
"Well... I let half the bounty hunters live. The inn's fine, the guests all understood, I squeezed some money out of them, Kosa's issue got sorted... yeah, that's a win."
"I see. If that's how you see it, then it must be."
She crossed her legs, resting her hands neatly on her knee. A glimpse of her smooth, plump thigh peeked out.
"So, really, why'd you come this time?"
"Because I missed you?"
As if the goddess who oversees this entire world would descend for something so trivial.
"Well, since you're here, mind granting a little request?"
"Of course. Tell me—if I like it, I'll do it."
"Fix Kosa's eyes."
She didn't answer right away, just smiled. She knew who Kosa was, knew the state of her eyes. She wasn't playing dumb...
"Why fix Kosa's eyes?"
"I want her as the inn's exclusive troubadour. But if eye contact kills, that's risky. Common sense, right?"
"Hmm. Fair point. Makes sense."
Still no firm yes. Instead, she changed the subject abruptly.
"I like this inn. Great views, always spotless inside, the staff are sweet. Warm in winter, cool in summer."
"Glad you approve."
"I hope it thrives. A singing bard would help with that."
She glanced around my room as she spoke.
"Kosa's eyes are fixed."
"Pardon?"
Her sudden declaration left me flustered, blurting out a stupid echo.
"Kosa's eyes are fixed. No one will die from meeting her gaze anymore."
I knew her powers well, but seeing them in action still amazed me every time. Fixing Kosa's eyes while chatting about the inn...
"Thank you, Goddess."
"But she still can't see."
"Uh... why? You could've fixed that too while you were at it."
"I can't."
Unlike her usual self, she cut me off sharply.
"That's her karma."
"Karma?"
"The light to see the world was the price she paid for her Instant Death Gaze."
"The price for the Instant Death Gaze...? So that means..."
In other words... Kosa had chosen to trade her sight for that power.
"Tell me plainly, Goddess."
"I can't say more. But one thing's certain."
She smiled, uncrossing and recrossing her legs the other way.
"Kosa's no villain. And now her eyes are safe. She can work at the inn."
"Got it."
If the goddess said so, it was so. Without the Instant Death Gaze, Kosa was just a blind bard—nothing more, nothing less.
"You always help the inn like this. I don't know how to repay you."
"This much is nothing. Watching it grow is fun."
"Fair enough. Well, business done? You must be busy."
"You think I came down here just for that blind girl?"
She chuckled lowly, uncrossing her legs. A glimpse of her bare inner thigh flashed by.
"Didn't we agree you'd punish me? I came to get scolded."
Ah... right. When I asked about Kosa's past, she said she couldn't tell, so I'd joked about it. She'd read my mind to make an excuse, huh.
Fine. After all she'd done, I owed her that much.
"I've been waiting for you."
Her cheeks flushed as she rubbed her thighs together.
"Then... punish me quick...?"
I stood from the chair and approached her.
I'd seen dozens of sunrises and received that many divine healings. Kindly, she'd topped off my stamina with holy power despite wringing me dry, then vanished.
Luckily, no embarrassing collapse. She'd even swapped the bed for fresh, dry sheets.
Wonder if her butt's okay. I'd made her kneel and spanked it bright red...
Eh, she'd heal herself. But seriously—a goddess begging human forgiveness like that? Submissive to a mortal... what a sight.
In the dim dawn light, I crossed the hall to Kosa's room. Mumbling came from inside—something about astrology.
"Kosa. Can I come in?"
"Please do, Balder."
As if she'd sensed me at the door, she replied calmly.
Inside, she lay propped up, a thick astrology tome on her lap.
"Studying this early?"
"Always. Even blind, turning pages soothes me."
I pulled up a chair and sat, watching her. She stopped flipping pages and turned her head my way.
"Something to say?"
"The demon hunters won't pursue you anymore. No need to wander."
"I don't know how to thank you. Truly, Balder."
She bowed deeply.
"But I must leave. Staying put... I can't earn coin. I need new places, new faces."
"That's why I'm saying..."
I paused to ensure her focus, then spoke.
"How about being our inn's exclusive bard?"
"Ah... work here...?"
"Yes. Standard pay, room and board on me. Read fortunes for guests by day, tell tales at night."
"I see..."
She hesitated, touching her eyepatch. Probably the Instant Death Gaze.
"But you know my cursed power. It endangers you, the staff, the guests."
"Just don't make eye contact. Keep the patch on—or don't open your eyes if it comes off."
I didn't mention the power was gone. Explaining the goddess would be tricky, and she'd refuse to test it anyway. "The goddess removed it—look at me!" No sane person buys that.
"Still, the damage I caused... staying feels wrong."
"Hmm... fair. Then work here till the debt's paid."
"Speak, Balder."
"Until you feel it's compensated."
She fell silent at my proposal. No exploitation—I'd pay full wages. But her conscience needed pushing, or she'd bolt. Like some other staff at first.
Call me a sleazy boss. Fine. But I'd dragged them into the light, with pay and perks. Win-win.
"If you insist... yes. I'll work and repay today's deeds."
After long thought, she accepted.
"You won't regret it."
I extended a hand—then remembered. Blind.
"Start today. I'll clear a room upstairs for private readings. Secrets need privacy."
"Essential, yes."
"After dinner, when drinks flow, perform in the hall—songs, music, stories."
"Understood. Same as always, just without the rain."
She smiled faintly.
"One thing... 'Balder' feels off now. What should I call you?"
"Staff call me Boss. That works."
"Got it, Boss. Just call me Kosa, drop the formalities. I'm staff now."
With serene poise matching her snow-white hair, she sealed our new dynamic.
"I'll familiarize myself with the inn, Boss."
"Sure. And meet the others."
The staff had mild reservations about Kosa but no big fuss. It was the gaze, not the wandering blind bard.
Celereja came home that evening, face sour at the news. As a saintess, hard to overlook.
Handled it privately in my room—with some physical dialogue for 'amicable' resolution.
"Hnggg... Do whatever, Bertrand... I don't care... as long as you love me tons like this..."
Drenched in ecstasy, the defenseless saintess slurred through drool, agreeing to tolerate Kosa.
I hammered signboards at the inn entrance. Adding to the old ones made it look decent.
Stay at our inn, get divine healing for five silvers! (By a beauty saintess)
Inn staffed by a horned super-cute girl! (Good demon)
Swift delivery right to your door! (Cute half-elf)
Fortunes told, songs sung! (Royal castle bard)
Capital origins? White lie—who's checking.
"What's this junk?"
Ukun approached, poking a sign with a thick finger.
"You punk. Tell me first—I could've engraved it fancy on spare marble."
"Nah, I like these. Rough, handmade charm."
"Mine lack heart?!"
I chuckled at his rage—then spotted something. A fancy carriage pulled up at the wagon lot, suited gentlemen stepping out.