Chapter 103

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Episode 103

Nymph Cultist and Pluto’s Underground Maze

### 103 ? Nymph Cultist and Pluto’s Underground Maze #1

Truth be told, I was never close with books or words.

From the days of school meals to institutional food—my grades barely scraped the middle. Not that I didn’t try pushing further, but strangely, the moment I opened a book, drowsiness would wash over me like a d*ath sentence.

Later, when I learned I’d have to take over my father’s Health Center, I focused more on physical practice than theory. Moving my body suited me better than wading through dense text anyway.

So why bring this up now?

Rustle, rustle.

It’s because, after so long, the book before me refused to make sense. The crammed letters blurred, their meanings slipping through my mind like water.

After two futile hours of half-napping in the library, the librarian Elemanthos called out from afar.

“Scouring the library? Unexpected. What, planning a career change now that the guild building’s wrecked?”

His raspy voice jolted me awake. Wiping drool from my mouth, I forced my gaze back to the page.

『Chaos — The primordial fissure that existed since before the world’s creation. After the Giant War, the faith of the Twelve Main Gods rose to dominance, and Chaos worship faded, leaving even its records scarce.』

“Hmm…”

“Something not clicking? You haven’t turned a page in forever.”

Elemanthos sidled up, bony and intrusive. I hated how he invaded personal space but kept quiet—speak up, and I’d likely get thrown out.

His eyes skimmed the passage I’d been stuck on before he snorted.

“Tch. Of all things, this? Debating Chaos is pointless. That’s why it’s Chaos—meant to defy understanding.”

“Is that so?”

“Still, learners aren’t unwelcome. Here.” Rustle, rustle.

He rummaged inside his ash-gray robe and handed me something flat—another book. A better reference, maybe?

I peeked inside. Empty. Just blank pages.

d*mn. Hassan got fooled again.

“What is this?”

“An empty book. The primordial Chaos was like this. Now it’s yours—fill it as you will.”

“Oh.”

A notebook from the strict librarian? In this world, where paper was a luxury, this was valuable. Dozens of pages—worth over 1 silver, easy. Yet he gave it free? What was the catch?

“Need me for something?”

“Not yet. But having a line to a famed Samaritan like you won’t hurt. You’re skilled mercenaries.”

“Fair point.”

“Either way, don’t dig too deep into Chaos. Those blessed by it, who’ve gazed into the abyss… they all lose their minds. Like Pluto’s cultists.”

With that, Elemanthos left with his slave Aesop to reorganize shelves. Don’t seek too deep—was it forbidden knowledge? Like subversive texts?

Still, getting a notebook while studying was lucky. I’d been debating buying one, grudging the cost.

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Outside, sunlight still blazed. It felt like I’d spent all day in the library, but barely any time had passed.

I’d told Luna I’d study till evening. Ending early felt anticlimactic—no bragging rights now. Yet, a sliver of satisfaction lingered; I’d stuffed some knowledge into my skull.

But what now? A PC bang?

Luna had strict orders not to return before evening—she was crafting some secret reagent. PC bangs didn’t exist here, though. So I headed to the guild ruins instead, curious about the reconstruction of Mars’s Shrine.

“Move your a**, runt!”

“Shut yours first!”

At the site, burly dwarves stripped to their waists hauled debris, raising pillars. I blankly watched them mix water, gravel, and mortar.

“Ah, Hassan! Perfect timing!”

A bright voice called. Few here knew me well enough.

”Daphne?”

“Yes! I actually needed you.”

Turning, I saw Daphne, her head wrapped in cloth, wearing grimy work clothes. A basket of stones hung at her waist—she’d joined the reconstruction too.

She needed me? Please, not labor.

Her next words cut my tension.

“The Underground Nymph was asking for you.”

Underground Nymph?

My brain, already strained from hours of thinking, stuttered before I recalled—the crimson-haired cultist Paranoi, imprisoned in Mars Guild’s dungeon.

Hadn’t Hippolyte said captured cultists were being transferred to the prison city? Was Paranoi still here?

“Why me?”

“No clue. She refuses to speak to us. Won’t even eat.” Daphne clicked her tongue. ”Tch. Even for a nymph, days without food’s rough.”

I bid her off and descended into the dungeon. I expected chill, but the air was thick with heat, reeking like a beast’s den.

Thud, thud.

My footsteps echoed in the dark until I halted before the sole prisoner—Nymph Cultist Paranoi.

“You called?”

“Mmph! Mmm!”

Bound in chains, gagged, and blindfolded, she jerked awake at my presence like a machine powering on. How long had she been here?

Clank.

Using the key outside, I entered. Last time proved she couldn’t harm me.

Unbuckling her gag, she gasped, drool stringing down.

“Haaah… hh… alive. Comrade! You’ve been busy?”

Still mistaking me for a fellow cultist, thanks to Pluto’s pendant.

I thought Somnia and Schizo had cleared this up when we fought—but Paranoi, locked down here, wouldn’t know.

“Just busy.”

“The plan—what of it? Smash Minerva’s Guild under fog, like we vowed! The statue—did it fall?” Her whisper was urgent.

I recalled Minerva’s Guild, its towering goddess statue untouched.

“It failed.”

“d*mn…! My capture ruined it. My magic fueled the fog! Somnia and Anchors are like dried shrimp! The others—what of them?”

“All captured. Somnia and Schizo were sent to the prison city.”

“What?! Who took them?!”

She shrieked, disbelief raw. Did she really trust their strength that much?

Granted, they were strong—enough to overpower average adventurers or soldiers.

“Anyway, I’m leaving if you’ve got nothing else.”

“W-wait! A… a favor!”

A favor? Suspicion prickled.

Was it escape? Or another “urgent business”?

“What? Need to pee that badly again?”

“N-no! Even I wouldn’t ask that twice!” She panted. “I refused their food—even water!”

Glancing around, I saw flies swarming untouched meals—likely the dungeon’s stench source. Stupidly principled for a cultist.

“Then what?”

“Just… stay. It’s too dark… quiet…”

“Hmm.”

Did loneliness gnaw at her? Or was isolation warping her mind?

Her status did list ”Loneliness.”

Fine. I’d humor her—maybe earn some quest points.

I touched her wrist.

“W-what?”

“Just checking for bugs.”

“B-bugs?! Not spiders?!”

Her panic spiked at spiders—she hated them.

“S-spiders?! I hate spiders!”

She thrashed, chains clanking.

Pathetic. Yet, watching her fray, I pinched her inner thigh—soft.

Pinch.

“Eeek! A spider bit me!”

Her overreaction surprised me.

“I’m poisoned! I can’t breathe!”

Her terror spiraled—blindfolded, her mind conjured horrors.

Gasp! Wheeze!

She flailed wildly. Fear prickled me too.

I didn’t care if she rotted here, but her dying on my watch felt like bad luck.

“Hey—no spider! It’s—”

“V-venom’s spreading!”

Her panic worsened, thrashing her starved frame—pitiable, almost.

“C-comrade! s*ck it out! Quick!! I-I don’t wanna d*e!!”

“Wha—?”

“My thigh! Now!!”

After flailing, she sagged, weak.

“I-I see the Styx… Charon’s boat… N-no coins… I don’t wanna d*e…”

Hallucinating, likely from starvation.

Sigh.

No choice.

I pressed my face between her thighs, lips brushing the reddened pinch mark—then sucked.

Sluurp.

Her skin pulled into my mouth. No venom—just clammy sweat.

What the hell am I doing?

Ptooey.

I spat.

“Done. Venom’s gone.”

“R-really?”

“Yeah. You’ll live.”

“C-comrade! My savior!”

Gods. Talking to her dumbed me down.

Between guilt and a sadistic urge to pinch her again—

Shift.

She parted her shackled legs slightly, her ragged cloth slipping—revealing her groin.

“W-what?”

“T-thanks… is all I can give…”

Huh?

[Author’s Note]

Thank you to the supporters!!!

(End of translation)

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The text was translated faithfully while maintaining stylistic tone, pacing, and cultural context. Let me know if you’d like any adjustments.

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