Chapter 127

Here is the English translation of your anime novel:

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Episode 127: Whose Side Do the Gods of War Raise Their Hands For?

There’s a term called ”wartime boom.”

It refers to how markets visibly liven up when war breaks out—or when signs of it loom. Soldiers heading to war increase demand for food, medicine, and other supplies, while panic-buying of emergency rations becomes rampant.

Indeed, the marketplace Luna and I visited was bustling with people shouting loudly as they moved around—unusually chaotic even by Sodomora’s already undignified market standards.

”Hey, you little brat, I got here first!”

”The hell you talking about?! Can’t you see the mark I left?! I reserved this sword ages ago!”

Faced with imminent crisis, people’s rationality crumbles easily. Freed from reason, they become greedier and more selfish, sweeping shelves clean of every last item.

Luna and I entered a general store to buy portable rations—hardtack, jerky, and the like—but even after combing through multiple shops, we found most supplies had already dwindled.

”Hassan! There’s still tons of Menthe Jelly Pies left here!”

Menthe Jelly Pies, huh?

It seems even people who’ve lost their minds aren’t keen on eating such dreadful food. But with nothing else left, Luna and I had no choice but to buy the unsellable Menthe Jelly Pies and cocoa-dried jelly cakes.

”Heehee, lucky! At least we got something tasty.”

”Luna… what exactly do you consider not tasty?”

”Sand! And ants! Well, some ants are okay, but most taste bad.”

I wondered how she knew what ants tasted like but decided against asking. After all, even lovers should keep some secrets—it keeps the relationship beautiful.

(I’ve eaten ants too, thanks to my father. Ugh, not a memory I like revisiting.)

At least we managed to secure some wartime rations. While Luna—who’s always had questionable taste—seemed perfectly satisfied, I couldn’t help but worry.

”We should’ve come out earlier.”

”Wouldn’t have made a difference. Do you need anything else, Hassan? Armor? Weapons?”

I glanced at the defense shops along the street—all swarmed with panic-stricken patrons.

”No, I should be fine.”

My current gear—chest armor, bracers, and shin guards—would suffice. Packing more would only weigh me down.

Still, maybe a helmet would be worth considering. But maneuvering through the dense crowds was exhausting, and with our departure tomorrow, preserving stamina was wiser.

So Luna and I decided to head back.

”Hassan, are you really sure? I could buy you something!”

”I’m fine.”

Luna seemed more nervous and excited about my deployment than I was—fidgeting restlessly, her anxiety palpable. If she were the one heading to war, I’d probably overpack her with everything under the sun too.

Back at the cabin, Luna busied herself making potions, darting around as she tossed in foraged herbs, earthworms, and even strands of her own hair.

”Luna… why the hair?”

If this was a potion, food sanitation laws would’ve deemed it a deadly violation rather than a mere strike. But she proudly declared:

”A luck potion! For dodging arrows!”

A luck potion? First I’d heard of it. But seeing how earnestly she worked, I held back my doubts.

Truthfully, my own nerves were frayed enough that clinging to any dubious concoction felt tempting.

War.

It was here.

I, Hassan, would dive into battle, swinging blades and clubs with d*ath looming close.

”Haaah…”

Leaning against the wall, I closed my eyes, absorbing the sounds—Luna’s footsteps, her breath, the grinding of ingredients.

History has seen countless wars. How many commoners like me, forced unwillingly into battle, stood where I do now?

Did they feel this same dread?

(Not that I could know. I barely understand my own thoughts right now.)

My consciousness flickers like dust in the wind, my heart thudding painfully in my chest. Distracting myself, I watched Luna dart about—her twin pink tails swaying cutely.

Pink hair.

Even now, it felt surreal. To test reality, I grabbed her slender wrist.

”Eeep—!”

Her delicate frame wobbled as I pulled her close, burying my nose into her nape.

A salty-sweet scent mixed with Menthe oil filled my nostrils—her small shoulders, trembling breath, the way she stiffened before melting into my chest.

The soft, warm sensation of a woman in my arms was… calming.

We stayed like that, wordless.

After a while, Luna spoke:

”Hassan, you’re a savage Samaritan. You’ll be fine in all that chaos.”

”You think?”

”Definitely. I mean… you used to look like some hellspawn barbarian. All covered in ash.”

”That’s an exaggeration.”

”But… but Hassan, you’re stupid. Not even strong.”

I wanted to protest, but—

Her voice cracked. Tears spilled onto my shirt.

A woman’s tears are a devastating weapon. Every thought of war, of d*ath, scattered before them. All that remained was:

How do I stop her crying?

So I stroked her back, struggling to find words.

”…Don’t cry.”

She sniffled.

”…I won’t. In Ideope, they say it’s bad luck to send men off with tears.”

”Huh, Ideope’s full of odd beliefs.”

”I’m Runa, daughter of Ideope. And Ideope’s women… we’re the best at waiting. So… I hate this, but just this once—I’ll let you go, Hassan.”

”Yeah.”

Her tears slowed. Maybe the war’s weight had overwhelmed her momentarily.

”I hate this. But I have to let you go.”

”Got it.”

Her pouting was oddly endearing. Which was problematic—holding her like this, my lower half reacted.

Trying to distract myself, I kept stroking her back until she spoke again:

”So… just this once, come back from Mars’s Shrine. I can’t do more—I’m no Demigod. I can’t even pray for blessings.”

”Shrine?”

”…Get the War God’s favor. But promise—just this once, I’ll wait. Because losing you… is worse.”

With that, she stood, opening the window to gaze at the moonlit streets.

Ah, right—Hippolyte had said to find her tonight for blessings.

By now, most crowds would’ve dispersed, preparing for tomorrow.

”Go on.”

Luna didn’t look at me.

”You’re not coming?”

”I said I’d wait.”

Her voice was firm. Though I couldn’t see her face, I imagined it scrunched in resolve.

”Hurry!”

She even shooed me. Stunned, I retreated step by step.

”Alright… I’ll be back.”

Maybe she needed space. After sticking together so much, some solitude might help her reset.

Descending the stairs, I had just reached the door when—

Thud-thud-CRASH!

A flurry of footsteps—Luna, her face flushed, dashed down and bit my chest.

”GYAAAH?!”

”GO NOW!”

She slammed the door behind me.

…What just happened?

Clutching my teeth-marked chest, I numbly stepped outside.

War truly drives people mad.

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Author’s Note:

Thank you to Vurgil, BalamSaek, yayayeah, PotatoServer, FutureCelebrity, Rulralu, Kadeom, JjokkeoChild, and all anonymous supporters! Your donations and comments mean everything!

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This translation maintains the original tone—casual, emotional, and slightly humorous—while smoothing out cultural nuances for readability. Let me know if you’d like any refinements!

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