Chapter 135: The Returner Hassan
“Since this place is so spacious, and there are so many people gathered, wouldn’t it be possible to find at least one man suitable for me?”
Considering it’s a party filled with nobles and high-ranked adventurers, there might not be a better setting for Hippolyte to find a potential spouse, as she suggested.
It’s apparently common for high-ranked adventurers, about at the Gold Tier level, to marry into noble families to secure their status. Of course, that was just a story I had heard.
Hippolyte marrying into a noble family…
When I tried to imagine it, my lack of creativity seemed to prevent me from picturing any plausible scenes. The image of Hippolyte as a commander might come to mind a bit more.
k*ll them all—.
Something like that, perhaps. Or not.
Just as I was briefly imagining Hippolyte’s wedding, Luna’s hand gripping my side started pulling me.
“Well, Hippolyte, look hard from afar! There’s bound to be someone great! We’re going because we’re hungry.”
“Go ahead, then. We’ll use the same table during the second part of the event. I’ve reserved a spot for you in the corner in my name. It should accommodate the two of you.”
The So domora merit award ceremony was conducted in two parts.
Since the first segment featured various banquets enjoyed in a standing party format, Luna and I could freely indulge in the food laid out on the tables without worrying about anyone watching.
“Hassan, look at this! What kind of fruit is this?”
Luna held up a long fruit, somewhat resembling a banana, in both her hands and asked me. I thought it was a banana at first, but the contents inside seemed darker, indicating it might be a different variety.
“I don’t know either.”
“Psh… It’s so delicious. Do the nobles eat this every day? I envy them.”
Despite the tension I felt being in a place filled with nobles and high-ranking officials,
they were mostly gathered in groups conversing with each other, and we were fortunate no one seemed to pay us any attention.
“Hassan, should we put a bit in our pockets to take?”
Luna glanced around cautiously as if to check if anyone was watching.
However, servants who looked to be from a baron’s house were busy refilling food and keeping an eye on us, making it difficult to sneak away with any fruit.
“Hmm… Hassan, can you watch out for me? I need to take just one.”
But Luna wasn’t giving up and asked me to keep watch for her while sneaking some fruit. Maybe it was due to the period of hardship she endured, but her obsession with food exceeded my imagination.
“Take mine too. Two should be fine.”
“Alright!”
As Luna fidgeted with the pouch tied to her waist, the moment she stealthily tried to stash the fruit inside happened.
Swish.
While I was keeping a lookout, I noticed someone nearby staring at us and heading our way.
“Luna, someone’s coming!”
“It’s done!”
Swish, swish.
Luna quickly tied up the pouch.
“Excuse me, you two.”
Myself and Luna were tense, wondering what the elderly man with a bun hairstyle and white hair approaching us wanted to say.
Were we caught stealing? Still, it’s only one piece out of so many. Would we be punished? Would we have to pay a fine?
Amidst the chaotic thoughts swirling in my mind, the man finally spoke.
“Ah, Samaritan.”
“W, what? I haven’t done anything.”
“I haven’t even said anything yet. Allow me to introduce myself first. I am this kind of person.”
The man extended what looked like a piece of metal toward me. An emblem, badge, or pin, it seemed to be an accessory attached to clothing.
Does he mean he’s a person related to this emblem? Both myself and Luna intently studied the small insignia—a small bird spreading its wings.
But no matter how we stared, it didn’t offer much clarity—just that it seemed to be emblematic of someone bird-related.
“Ahem, I suppose my introduction was incorrect. This is the crest of Blue Feathers Trading Company. I am Bartolome, someone of a high position within the Trading Company. If you’re somewhat interested in business, you might have heard my name at least once.”
However, neither Luna nor I had much interest in business and just narrowed our eyes, as if hearing the name for the first time.
At this, Bartolome cleared his throat.
“Hmm, understandable. Anyway, among the officers of the advance guard in this recent war was my cousin, Bayona. I hear she was beside you—.”
“Ah…”
I too remembered Bayona. He was the man who was so impressed by the noble damsel’s storm tactics that he nearly pulled out his hair.
Although his face and appearance have grown blurry by now, the vivid memory of a loud, acrobatically spinning man remained.
“I hear, Samaritan, that the feat you displayed was extraordinary. How would you feel about working as a bodyguard for our trading company? We offer a handsome salary.”
At this point, I finally understood why Bartolome approached me. Was he some sort of headhunter? Of all things, now I was being scouted!
“The salary is 1 gold per month. And at the end of every month you’ve completed your duties, we provide an additional bonus of 20 silvers.”
Every month, 1 gold?
My eyes felt as if they were struck by lightning at the enormous sum. Every month 1 gold equals 12 gold a year. 12 gold pieces are twelve gold coins.
Back in my days as a slave when I’d worked night and day to gather 30 silvers in two years, how many Hassans could 12 gold buy?
The amount is too overwhelming to calculate!
While I was mentally counting gold coins in my head, Luna, who was gripping my side, answered for me.
“No!”
“O, oh, I see. Then who is this lady beside you?”
“…I don’t know!”
Luna immediately hid her head behind my back. And so, I snapped out of my thoughts. Unfortunately, Luna is right; this offer truly cannot be accepted.
“Regrettably, though it’s such a kind offer, I must decline.”
“Huh? Twelve gold annually, with the possibility of bonuses? For a guard, that’s nearly as much as seasoned knights earn. Are you really saying you’d turn down such an opportunity?”
Bartolome seemed baffled and questioned me, but it was unavoidable. Right now, I was living for something other than money.
“Regretfully, though it’s tempting, I can’t abandon my career as an adventurer.”
“Hmph, so you are a dweller of the wilderness, it seems. Choosing a tough path over a safe and lucrative option is beyond my understanding.”
“Hassan will soon become a Gold Tier adventurer!”
The reply to the man’s statement wasn’t from me but from Luna, who had poked her head from between my ribs. With that, the man’s brows furrowed intensely.
“What? A Gold Tier adventurer?”
Not only that, but even those around who had been chatting took notice and started whispering to each other, pointing our way. Murmurs of “What did he say?” and “A Gold Tier adventurer?” began spreading.
The sudden torrent of attention and focus left me utterly disoriented. And seemingly, Luna felt the same, as she had quickly hidden her head in my side.
“Ugh, Voodoo of concealment…”
Was she under the impression that hiding her face meant she became invisible? People say that when pheasants hear gunshots, they bury their heads to hide their bodies. Luna was the pheasant.
Anyway, managing this commotion ultimately fell on me.
My face burning hot with embarrassment, I was fumbling for words when Bartolome, who had been listening in front of me, burst out laughing.
“A Gold Tier adventurer, huh? What grand ambitions indeed. So, Samaritan who wants to become a hero, what kind of hero do you wish to be?”
“What kind of hero…?”
“That’s right. Let me ask, do you have any heroes whom you respect? Achilles? Or perhaps Theseus? If not them, then—.”
“Yi Sun-sin.”
At the prompt about respected heroes, a name instinctively popped out. Yi Sun-sin is truly a powerful and admirable hero, deeply ingrained in my DNA.
Still, with that name, the murmurs around became even more intense.
“Who’s Yi Sun-sin?”
“I don’t know, did I hear wrong?”
Amidst the growing whispers, only Bartolome, who had been conversing with me, kept a straight face and questioned further.
“Who is this? Is he a notable person? I’ve never heard of such a hero’s name.”
Ah, they don’t know him.
Of course, people in this world only know the likes of this one and that one.
“…Once upon a time, a person who saved a people.”
“Ah… So he’s like… a hero among Samaritan’s kind?”
The man seemed to understand but still wore a face that betrayed incomprehension.
Certainly, it would have been hard for him to grasp, given that he’s from another world.
Bartolome simply looked at me with a mix of bewilderment and intrigue. Then, his smile widened with a slight lift of his lips and cheeks.
“In any case, a Gold Tier adventurer. It’s a lofty dream. Every man needs great aspirations. But, overcoming the many Silver Tier adventurers invited here to claim the glorious golden necklace will be no easy feat.”
At his words, I quickly surveyed my surroundings. Amidst the elegantly dressed attendees enjoying the banquet, there were quite a few Silver Tier adventurers wearing emblematic silver necklaces.
Judging by their unfamiliar faces, they might have been adventurers from the Minerva Guild. The looks directed at me, however, were not particularly friendly.
It was glaringly evident that they viewed me with emotions akin to, “Huh, look at this guy.”
Perhaps unwittingly, I had managed to provoke a wide group.
There’s no need to unnecessarily make enemies. This was bad.
Ding ding ding—.
Just then, a sharp and high-pitched sound, as if someone was striking metal, reverberated throughout the banquet hall.
Looking around, I saw a middle-aged man with a neatly groomed beard holding a white napkin and tapping a small gong-like object with both hands raised high.
“Alright, let’s move on to the next order!”
*
Just as Hippolyte had mentioned, in the corner of the banquet hall stood a small round table for four.
“Finally, we can relax.”
Luna collapsed onto the chair, resting her face on the table. Her legs ached from standing and moving about continuously.
“The table is cool; it feels amazing. Zzzz… I’m melting into sleep.”
Not long after, Luna began breathing evenly in a gentle rhythm, falling asleep with her face on the table. She seemed to possess the ability to snooze anywhere as soon as her head touched a surface.
In one sense, it was a truly blessed talent. There are plenty of people who suffer from sleep deprivation.
Without Hippolyte’s help, neither Luna and I would have secured a table, and we’d have likely spent the remainder of the event standing.
My legs might have swelled up, and that could negatively impact my overall condition.
Indeed, it’s a benefit to have connections.
I, who had originally landed in this world without knowing anyone, had now reached a point where we could reserve and sit at a table at a noble party.
At least in this situation, Hassan, that was success.
Riding on the tiger’s back as a fox—that was the level of success worth bragging to future generations.
At that moment, to flatter and please the tiger, I decided to say something:
“Lady Hippolyte, sitting on a chair truly feels amazing. I owe it all to you.”
At my words, Hippolyte’s brows slightly twisted, then she gave a small snicker through her nose.
“Hmm, it’s not that big of a deal. I am a renowned adventurer. And once I ascend to Gold Tier, I’ll have even more privileges and rights.”
“But didn’t you say you previously refused promotion to Gold Tier? Is there a reason you’ve changed your mind?”
“It’s a result of the guild and So domora’s internal discussions. The damaged reputation of a broken guild and a devastated town required a strong figure to represent it.”
“I see…”
Though I didn’t fully grasp his words, I decided to nod and accept it for now. Thereafter, Hippolyte added a few more words.
“Well, not only that. I’ve also decided to take on various challenges. The path I’m about to venture into is something I’ve never tried before, which makes it a bit nerve-wracking.”
“Are you changing your field of work?”
“It’s not exactly changing but more like experimenting. My plan is to harmonize the balance between the attributes of warrior and woman.”
Balancing the attributes of warrior and woman? Initially puzzled, I interpreted her statement as placing more emphasis on her life as a woman from now on.
Earlier, she mentioned something about marriage, didn’t she? I’ve heard that many people grow desperate to marry as they grow older; perhaps Hippolyte was that type.
By the way, how old is she?
I hesitated asking her age because it looked like the second part of the event was about to commence.
“Here comes the baron.”
“Indeed. The baron has arrived.”
A humongous roar arose as a group of people walked from a distance. Several attendees stood up, clapping enthusiastically.
Musicians playing instruments switched to a loud and grand march tune.
Wa Wa!
The man stood on a high stage raising his palms in response to the cheering crowd.
“Please relax, standing up only makes me appear shorter. I greet all esteemed guests. I am Hawkins Sardech, entrusted with the security of Somora and its surroundings by the illustrious royal family.”
Standing so high up, you see.
Because without such a height, it would be hard for anyone to see his face.
The baron was a dwarf, a bearded noble. Such an idea evoked a strange yet unique sensation. His daughter, the noble damsel, had been quite tall, perhaps a trait from the maternal lineage?
The magnificent bearded dwarf spoke.
“Today, we have five teams to honor here. Strikingly four of them aren’t nobles anymore. The times surely are changing—fascinating. But, no one, not in the past nor in the present, loves boring speeches, so let’s proceed without delay.”
Tatatatatata—.
The musicians then began a rapid and light beat on a drum-like instrument. And at the same moment, I felt a surge of tension, as if my heart was about to burst.
“First, allow me to announce this group. These are adventurers from the city of Kolkata known as the White Rose Team. They captured the head cultist, Anchors, directly ending the war.”
A Silver Tier adventurer team, huh?
Kolkata, the city where Elpride once had an adversary and also where I previously lived as a slave, came to mind because of the city’s name.
I began to get nervous, wondering if I’d recognize anyone I used to know, and my heart started to race heavily.
“Given their busy schedules, today, the team leader Delphina of the Swift Blade will represent the group and accept the award. Step forward and receive your honor!”
[Author’s Note]
Kadeom!!! Garamil!!! Zlzl12!!! Potateo Server!!! And to you, Yung Fung Nok Hwa, who sent the King Coupon!!! Thank you so much…!!! My empty barn is finally filling up…!!!
This is what I call a Blitz attack of coupons…!!
And to those who sent anonymous manuscript coupons, I’m incredibly grateful!!!
…I read every recommendation comment…!!! Thank you so much…!!!
