Chapter 17

Chapter 17

First Mission. Accomplished! After-party… Successful?

After coming back from the bathhouse, two moons were already high in the sky. Tonight, both moons were full, bright enough to illuminate this otherwise dark and primitive night.

It’s been two years since I fell into this world, yet the sight of two moons in the sky continues to astonish me.

How much longer will it take for this sight to feel normal? And will I even still be here by that time? Though I’ve compared my life here to my military service in Gangwon Province, in the army, at least you can call home, go on leave, or eventually finish your service and return to normal life. In this incomprehensible world, I’m not even sure if there’s a way out, leaving me feeling somewhat disheartened.

Thinking I might never see my family or friends again drives me mad, so I try to shift my focus.

What is this world? Why am I here?

I’ve spent countless sleepless nights searching for answers to these fundamental questions. Of course, no answers come, just more questions piling on top of each other.

Still, I remember the last day I was in my world, surrounded by my family.

It was two years ago already.

That day, the full moon was also quite bright.

I was walking under the full moon that evening as well. The difference was that there was only one moon in my world, and so it stood out even more.

After putting some snacks for myself and an ice cream for my sister into a bag at the convenience store and heading home, I was staring at the moon high above in awe like it had hypnotized me. I recall something about a supermoon, and the moon really did seem larger than usual, which made it all the more fascinating.

WHOOSH—

Suddenly, I felt like my body was being sucked into the ground.

It felt like I’d failed to dodge a hole in the ground while walking under the glittering moon, thinking I’d fallen into a manhole—then, regaining consciousness, I found myself… here. d*mn it! To this day, I still have no clue what exactly happened.

“Be careful of the light.”

The last words of Nemea, the witch, echo in my mind. If only she had given that warning to my past self two years ago!

Now, I’m treated like some ignorant savage, crawling around the dirt—and d*mn it, how frustrating this world is!

Of course, my life now as a freed slave isn’t only dark skies ahead. I still have hope!

“…Long live Chaos.”

DING.

『Name: Hassan Level 7 → 8

Strength: 2 → 3

Agility: 2

Health: 3

Tasks: 227

Blessings: Blessing of Chaos, Clumsy Hands』

Strange runes manifest as I mutter some odd incantations. Perhaps the obsidian statue from earlier was the cause, but my strength stat has increased, and my level has risen to 8.

What I understand at this moment is that for some reason, I can spend task points to increase my stats, such as strength, and that level seems to be a summary of these stats overall.

To increase the total task points, it appears I have to heal people using pressure techniques or similar methods.

In any case, that’s the gist of what I’ve figured out so far.

I hope I can thoroughly study and utilize the power I’ve been given, to find a place here and start living like a human. Wishing upon the full moon, I pray thus.

Still, d*mn it, how do I know which of these two moons to wish upon? Ah well, just give me a sign, whichever one’s more effective!

Or, with two moons, will my wishes come true twice as fast? Of course, I, a person who has enjoyed ramen from instant noodles, must be smarter than these primitive people.

“Over here, brother! You’re late!”

Arriving at the Nymph Wings Inn, the lobby on the first floor, converted into a tavern, was bustling with all sorts of people and tables. It was a cacophony of noise with scattered foodstuffs, a true scene of chaos.

It’s like a pigsty, but this is just how inns and restaurants work in this world.

There’s no food hygiene law in this world—it’s perfect for my old man, who runs a questionable health center. So why the hell did I end up here instead of him?

Of course, I’ve heard that noble houses or high-ranked adventurers use places that resemble fancy restaurants, but it’s likely I’ll never experience those.

“Had to wait for you, so I started eating with my sister here.”

“We just began eating. Come, sit.”

I tried to tell them, ‘I forgot the inn’s name…’, but swallowed it back. I only remembered the part where it was called something about a Nymph. I went to practically every inn that mentioned a nymph in its name—Nymph Tail Inn, Nymph Legs Inn, Nymph Tear Inn, and so on, before finally arriving here.

Inn owners of this world, why do you keep sticking “nymph” in all your names? Are these some sort of franchises?

“You look different. Did you shave?”

Luna noticed my change after a visit to the bathhouse first. The bath and shaving cost me 10 copper, but if she hadn’t noticed, I’d have been disappointed.

I wanted to change into cleaner clothes as well, but all the clothes stores and equipment shops were closed because it was late, so I decided to do it the next day.

“Is it strange?”

“You looked more like a barbarian with the beard, which suited you. Now you look exactly like a thief!”

While Luna was scrutinizing my face and giving her assessment, I wasn’t sure if it was praise or mockery.

After stroking my freshly smooth chin, which I haven’t done in a long time, I just nod in response.

Luna, too, seemed to have taken off some peculiar mask somewhere and was now showing her bare face.

“Where’s the mask?”

“Can’t drag my formal attire all the way to dinner, can I~”

Is this something like her work uniform? Anyway, I prefer Luna without the mask, so I have no complaints.

She may act a little crazy, and her pink hair is a bit strange, but her face is pretty regardless.

Indeed, her cheerful voice drew attention, as people from around the tavern kept glancing our way. Mostly tables of only men drinking, gathered in small groups.

Of course, I had no intention to mock them. Drinking with a woman? How long has it been since I’ve done that? I’m feeling this moment as something unusual myself.

Tension and rising interest build simultaneously. Not even considering the fact that I’m drinking with a woman, when was the last time I was seated face-to-face with someone, sharing both alcohol and food?

…

I can’t even remember, so it must have been a very long time.

Beer in this world has practically no carbonation. It tastes quite bland, lukewarm, and rather like barley tea that has been boiled and cooled. However, the alcohol content is higher than what I’m used to, so a few drinks quickly lead to intoxication.

Maybe it’s the aftereffects of our hard quest, or maybe it’s the alcohol, but the initial awkwardness has now largely dissipated, and we’re able to talk freely.

“Anyway, I, Malco, will certainly visit the end of Pluto’s ruin. There, I’ll receive the grand masterpiece from Orpheus and make a name for myself. My song will spread across all inns and campfires of travelers!”

Malco, the minstrel, delivers a rambling speech, his tongue thick with drink.

Having little knowledge of this world, I mostly listen. Meanwhile, Luna, who has had only a few drinks and is thus relatively sober, is responding to the story.

“Orpheus? I’ve heard of him. Wasn’t he a super famous bard? But, didn’t he d*e ages ago? How can you inherit anything from him?”

“Oh, you who’ve come from a distant land must not know. Beyond the end of Pluto’s ruin, there’s a river that flows into the Underworld. Crossing it will take you to the land where the dead await.”

Ruin sites of Pluto scattered around the world have varying traps and monsters lurking in them, but they are said to ultimately form part of a colossal underground palace.

All ruin ends ultimately lead to Pluto’s palace. In modern terms, you might call it the underworld or hell.

“The land of the dead? Oh, you mean the land of shapeless beings? That’s what we call it in Ideope.”

“The land of shapeless beings? What a fascinating expression! This gives me inspiration!”

“Still, if everyone goes there when they d*e, why go there directly? Continents’ ways of thinking are incomprehensible.”

Luna, from Ideope Island, shakes her head slightly, seemingly facing a cultural barrier she doesn’t understand. Then she blinked and looked at me.

“Hassan, what about you? Why did you become an adventurer? Are you seeking to meet dead people, too?”

“Sister, you’re asking why? Hassan from Samaria is undoubtedly a murderer searching for glorious battles and a d*ath worth dying for! It’s not about meeting dead people; it’s just about killing people!”

sh*t. What kind of a story is this? Is this bard trying to turn me into some kind of psycho?

As I opened my mouth to rebut this, drunken with alcohol,

“To seek a d*ath worth dying for, how admirable. Actually, I’ve never encountered a true Samaritan before! I’ve always wanted to meet one where I come from.”

“I, Malco, am meeting a real Samaritan for the first time too! My goodness, you’re even more imposing than I had heard! Ripping apart an ugly hellish beast like the goblin with your bare hands and stepping on it to k*ll it — it’s astonishing! I nearly froze in fear during that moment.”

DING DING!

Malco suddenly pulled out an instrument strapped on his back and plucked its strings with his fingers.

“Hassan of Samaria. I feel a great song coming on. Someday, if you meet your glorious d*ath, I’ll compose a grand chant in your honor. Then, brother, you’ll forever live in everyone’s hearts!”

“Great, you little brat! I hope you do that.”

Great?! Hope for what?! You’re all telling me to d*e!

*

Perhaps because there was no need to worry about etiquette in this drinking session, whether late or early, we all ended up utterly drunk. The table was left with only the leftovers of eaten snacks and drunken babble.

Malco, the bard, who quickly drank from the beginning, was now snoring, face-down on the table.

Only I, who can hold my liquor relatively well, and Luna, whose tolerance was anyone’s guess, remained sitting and devouring the leftover dishes while speaking in slurpy tongues.

“So, I told them, Captain Kim, that’s not allowed! The goalkeeper is the commander! If you just try to hit the ball straight, you’ll get no holidays—.”

“Fufufu, what’s that? Anyway, it’s an interesting story. Are all Samaritans as entertaining as you?”

Luna laughs, her face flushed red and filled with joy.

To the people living in this brutal world, the stories I have from living in the 21st century probably sound more like funny jokes.

Actually, now that I think about it, even my existence here and the life I lived in that comfortable world feels more like a joke.

What must it be like for those who hear it directly? It must sound like a wonderland story set in some distant land called Samaria.

Still, I must admit it’s nice seeing this girl laugh so hard at what I say.

In this world of men, laughter has a healing power that extends beyond imagination, exclusive to women.

The self-esteem I had lost as a man, while being suppressed and clinging onto Elpride like gum, feels somewhat restored.

“Here, this is the Ideope snow liquor I brought. It’s quite rare, but I’ll let you have a taste.”

Gurgle.

Luna fills my empty beer mug from her leather flask with a bluish liquid.

I wondered if outside foods were allowed to be brought in, but with alcohol already clouding my thoughts, it was all spinning.

In any case, that she listens well to my stories and keeps filling my glass with drinks creates a pleasant dynamic.

A healthy man can’t dislike this situation. The suffering and torment I’ve endured until now feel like they’re finally being repaid. This must be why everyone strives for success and high positions, right?

“Your glass is empty again. You really can drink, Hassan.”

Will you forgive my sting? Come to think of it, wasn’t I trying to protect me from goblins?

“Hassan, did you really not have any popularity with women back home? Being strong and funny, you should have been quite the favorite.”

“No.”

Touché—hurting the sore spot, d*mn it. It feels like a bee sting on the nape of my neck, which slightly wakes me up from the drunkenness.

Of course, it’s just the feeling. The alcohol hasn’t worn off yet. In fact, not even the strength to move my fingers remains, yet my mind remains clear while my body feels extraordinarily heavy.

“Fascinating. If you went to Ideope, you’d be popular… Ideope women… like one man… since there aren’t many men…”

Luna’s voice is now breaking. Either she’s too drunk to speak properly or it’s just her slur.

I feel my eyelids getting heavier, so maybe the issue isn’t with Luna’s words but with my ears.

“Hassan, have you…received divine favor…then…shouldn’t you be…popular. No women?”

“Never.”

“…Hassan, let’s…?”

“No, I’m not sleepy yet. I’m not that drunk.”

“Are you…serious?”

The conversation doesn’t sync.

Luna, who claimed to have a high alcohol tolerance, seems thoroughly drunk if she can’t even grasp the gist of what’s being said. It would be dangerous for a young woman to wander drunk on the streets in this harsh world.

[Author Note] There are four more parts coming. Always grateful for reviews and support!

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