Chapter 243

Posted by Kuze, ? Views, Released on April 8, 2025

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Chapter 243 – The Elves of Albrheim #3

The woman’s name is Hershi.

She was born in the slum on the outskirts of the city of Sodomora but unexpectedly caught the eye of a high-ranking priestess of the Venus Shrine, securing herself a job there.

Priestess of Venus.

As previously explained, all women working at the Venus Shrine are professional courtesans. They possess skilled and specialized techniques for handling men and earn high incomes.

Thus, I’d regarded this woman with the impression of a rather mature sister-like figure. But the moment she greeted me, I realized I’d been wrong.

“Mr. Kalidur, you’ve come! Has your leg improved today?”

“Thanks to you, it’s much better. Sister of the foreign god.”

“Maybe in a few more days, it’ll be fully healed. I may not have many talents, but I know exactly when broken bones will heal. I’ve broken quite a few myself, you see.”

The woman, Hershi, lifted the corners of her mouth so high that her prominent cheekbones were clearly visible. She then seemed to notice my presence next to her, giving me a quick but slightly frightened glance.

“Wh-Who is this dark barbarian? I thought you were a troll! Oh, you’re human.”

Apparently, the large, dark-skinned man frightened her a bit.

Still, I felt slightly hurt. Isn’t it the job of Venus’ priestess to welcome and embrace all men?

“Swear… A troll?”

My delicate heart feels somewhat wounded.

So, I scrutinized Hershi from head to toe as well. Red hair with freckles all over her face—she was different from the Venus priestesses I’d imagined.

She felt more like a common country girl you might find anywhere in this world.

Though her face was relatively cute, she looked a bit young. Either she wasn’t wearing makeup or it was very light. Overall, her features were delicate and plain.

“My name is Hassan of Samaria.”

“Ah… Samaria’s… Ah? Wait, could it be…?”

“It’s probably him.”

“Wow, this is the first time I’ve seen you in person. So this is what you look like…”

Her affirming nods along with interjections like “Mmm” and “Hee” felt a bit awkward. I wasn’t sure if I should be flattered or irritated by her evaluation of my appearance.

But it didn’t seem to be out of malice.

“I’m Hershi. Nice to meet you, Hassan.”

With her friendly and outgoing demeanor, she seemed like the type of lively young woman who could easily strike up conversations. Just then, someone called out from a distance.

“Hershi! You’ve left your post again! You’re going to get into trouble if this keeps up!”

“Oh, well, then I have to go. Mr. Kalidur, see you again! I’ll change your bandages next time!”

“Alright.”

She hurried back to her post. Then, it seemed her superior, likely a woman, scolded her for leaving her post.

Kalidur and I left that scene behind us and walked into the garden of Venus.

I said, “Are you serious? That frail-looking woman defeated you?”

“I’m serious.”

“You son of…!”

I had plenty to say, but seeing Kalidur’s serious expression made all the words I had prepared sink back into my stomach.

I understood as a man.

After all, who could blame him—it was the lady who healed his broken leg. I remembered Finley, the healer who helped me when I was a newly freed slave.

I briefly wondered what she was up to these days, but knowing she had a husband and child, I assumed she was doing well. Then, almost offhandedly, I asked,

“Is that woman married?”

“She’s still a virgin.”

“Really? A priestess at the Venus Shrine?”

A virgin and a priestess of Venus—it was hard to think of two things that clashed more. As I frowned slightly at the oddity, Kalidur added,

“Hershi is apparently an apprentice who hasn’t started taking on believers yet.”

So, they had an internship system here for professionals too. My knowledge of this world expanded into yet another niche aspect.

While I was marveling at this, Kalidur posed a question to me as casually as before.

“So, how about it?”

“How about what?”

“Did you discover any of her weaknesses? Samaritans are known for their sharp intuition. Did you notice anything, my brother?”

“Weakness? I’m not even sure if she’s a strong woman in the first place.”

“She is strong. I have the ability to read the minds of others, though modest. I’ve seen many people in this world, but I’ve never met a woman as strong as her.”

I see.

So, her mental fortitude was what he was referring to. It made sense—being born in the slums and somehow making it to the exclusive Venus Shrine wasn’t something anyone with an ordinary mentality could achieve.

Of course, it’s more than that.

It seemed to me that through Kalidur’s eyes, this woman appeared quite extraordinary. His perspective made even Hershi’s freckles seem like a great strength to him—much like how I find strange charm in everything Luna does, despite her odd dances and random serious remarks.

“Three days from now, Hershi will officially become a priestess. According to the rules of the foreign goddess Venus, the chances for personal meetings with her will then diminish. Before that, I’d like to challenge her.”

Officially becoming a priestess…

So she’d start receiving guests. His desire to have a confrontation before that seemed like his way of expressing something to her.

So, I tried to think: What were some potential weaknesses this woman might have? Of course, there was nothing I could know. If I had known, I probably wouldn’t have stayed single for so long.

What does someone like Luna or Hippolyte enjoy?

While contemplating this, I glanced around and saw the lush flowers. Casually, I suggested,

“Give her flowers.”

“Flowers. Indeed, that’s a reasonable suggestion. I hadn’t even considered it. I did well introducing you to her.”

Thud, thud…

Kalidur, despite having his leg in a cast, walked confidently towards some flowers in the garden, plucked one at random, and tore it off the stem with an unsettling sound.

I was flustered, but he didn’t seem to care. With this strange bouquet, he returned to the shrine.

When he came back outside, I couldn’t help but ask,

“How did it go? Did it work?”

“I was only laughed at.”

“Swear. That’s expected.”

After that, I went to the Archsaint’s office to collect my fee, only to be told she had gone to the seaside to escape the heat.

“Swear!”

*

“Kyoo-gyit…”

I frowned deeply.

According to Kalidur, in order to radiate aura, one must have an intention to dominate.

Imagine a lion inside you.

I am a lion.

I am incredibly strong.

I concentrated hard on this, furrowing my brow in an imposing way, but eventually, Luna spoke up, unable to bear it any longer.

“Hassan, why are you glaring at me like that?”

“What? Did you feel something?”

“Feel something? My back itches! Why does my back keep itching? I already washed twice earlier.”

Luna, busy concocting potions in her hut, scratched her back.

“Ah, it’s Keng Keng. He must have latched onto my back.”

Keng Keng!

Luna picked the rainbow spider from her back and placed it on her palm. I glared at the creature.

Emanating aura—

Huff—

Even with all my abdominal muscles engaged, all I received from Keng Keng’s eight eyes was a steady, unblinking stare in return. Truth be told, it was me who felt scared looking at the spider.

Roar.

I had grasped the general feeling and method from Kalidur, but trying it in practice left me with many questions about the process. To begin with, I doubted if it was even possible for humans. If I hadn’t seen Kalidur and Hippolyte perform, I would have dismissed it as a child’s fantasy.

“d*mn, I give up.”

“Don’t know what you’re trying to do, but wrinkles will show up if you frown too much!”

“Alright. Anyway, how’s your training going?”

I thought of how Luna was receiving training from Witch Nemea to help in combat.

She would wake up early each day to enthusiastically make potions before lunch and then go to the witch’s workshop to learn secrets and run errands in the afternoon. If anything, she was now living even more enthusiastically since her usual diligence increased.

“Training, you ask? It’s going pretty well, I think! Yesterday, I learned how to use spider venom.”

“Is that so? Spider venom?”

Luna holding Keng Keng on her palm and talking about spider venom made me feel uneasy. Still, Keng Keng was more adorable and followed people well than his dangerous appearance suggested.

Her next statement was quite shocking.

“I’m going to feed Keng Keng special things to make him venomous!”

“Is that possible?”

“Long ago, the priests of Pluto and the high sorcerers of Ideope placed venomous bugs in a jar to create curses! I think Keng Keng will also become venomous!”

After saying this cheerfully, Luna carefully placed Keng Keng back into his original jar.

“Heehee, I’ll catch a lot of wasps for you. And centipedes, poison toads, and poisonous mushrooms… and—”

Roar…

From inside the jar, a pitiful sound could be heard. Poor Keng Keng, who until now had been feasting on delicious mice and was now being fed distasteful poisonous insects. It was a sad situation indeed, reminiscent of my childhood.

“Making curses, isn’t Keng Keng a bit pitiable?”

“I do feel that way, but if Keng Keng grows stronger too, it would be nice, wouldn’t it? Also, Keng Keng has been eating too many mice. He’s getting fat now and can’t really run, you see? Now he just walks.”

“Hmm, alright…”

Taking care of the pet spider was ultimately Luna’s decision. Despite many thoughts crossing my mind, I decided to keep quiet.

“Ah, Hassan, here! Take these Moai Totems!”

Then Luna extended two small wooden statues toward me.

“I’ve always wondered, why do you take these totems I make with you?”

“Because they help me evolve Karma’s stage.”

“Liar. Got it. I won’t ask anymore.”

“No, it’s the truth!”

People often doubted my truth when I explained. Thus, I intentionally didn’t elaborate too much.

“Anyway, I’ll be heading out.”

“You said something about a request, right? Meeting emissaries from Albrheim? With so many elves, it’ll be fun!”

“Do you want to come?”

Upon my question, Luna made a sound like “Um” and hesitated as she glanced around.

“I’ve still got a little more to do, so can you wait about ten minutes?”

“Sure, take your time.”

Satisfied with her response, I stepped out into the courtyard.

A horrifying potato vine with branches stretched out in every direction, creating a scene that resembled a demon world. However, after seeing them a few times, I’d grown accustomed to it.

“Hail Chaos!”

[Name: Hassan Level 24

Strength: 12

Agility: 4

Stamina: 8

Mission Points: 280

Blessings: Blessing of Chaos, Glowing Hand, Night Armor, Dark Eyes]

My current mission points had reached 280.

With two Moai Totems from Luna, I could level up at least twice. I paused for thought—what stats should I increase now?

Raise strength to 14? Or compensate for the relatively low agility stat?

Or should I increase stamina twice to break the single-digit barrier?

All these voices in my head made compelling points. After pondering for a while, I lifted a finger and increased my Agility by two points.

Lately, I hadn’t felt a lack of strength or stamina, but I had noticed a need to improve my reflexes and speed when avoiding giant palms or being easily countered by Kalidur.

Therefore, Agility it is.

Ding, Ding—

Though I hoped for a stat bonus, the success rate of a measly 40% failed twice in a row.

“d*mn, swear.”

I knew it was disappointing, but there was nothing else I could do. I’d have to continue diligently collecting mission points through massages or wait for the assistance from Agumon, who roamed the valley.

I then buried the used Moai Totems in a corner of the yard.

Stretching and looking up at the sky, it was around early afternoon. Today, I was supposed to meet the elves from Albrheim as per Kalidur’s request.

Elves, hmm.

Would there be some like Elpride? Or maybe more like Kalidur?

“Alright, let’s go!”

With these thoughts in mind, I headed to the inn where Kalidur had made an appointment with Luna.

The inn, Serpian, was near the East Gate.

Even though it was still daytime, the place was crowded. All eyes were focused on one spot.

“Is this the average level for Bronze Tier adventurers? They look weak.”

Bang!

“Ugh!”

The moment I entered, someone lunged at me.