Chapter 265

265th Episode

Entrance of Fall 265 – Entrance of Fall #1

“There, put it right there. Yes, there. A little higher -, just a bit more, higher.”

“Will this do?”

“Yes, there, that’s good! Well, with this, we’ve moved all the boxes for today. Even with four strong men struggling to lift these, you managed to lift them effortlessly. That’s quite impressive.”

“Is there anything else I should do?”

“Not particularly. At first, you seemed a bit clumsy, but seeing how quickly you adapted and learned, you do have skill. And you’re more composed than I’d heard. If you set your mind to it, you do a good job. I think it’s fine for you to go home now.”

Hearing the man’s words, I felt somewhat better. I’m not sure if it was due to the hesitant but clumsy praise from the gruff middle-aged man or because he said it was alright to go home.

“Huff.”

Straightening up at last, my back and shoulders scream in pain after enduring a day of hard labor.

It must be the strain on my muscles and joints from repeatedly lifting boxes that weigh two or three times my body weight, moving them up and down all day.

Not only today, but yesterday and the day before too, I’ve been expending so much effort that I’m starting to approach my limits.

The arson incident in Samaria.

A few days, a few weeks have passed since the event commonly known as the Sodomora Trial.

They say many new rules and ordinances have been created due to what happened that day, and many people have gained or lost based on their interests.

In reality, many things have changed.

The scorching heat that made you furrow your brow just by standing still has started to subside, cool breezes blow, and the leaves are turning red, signaling the approach of autumn.

And I, Hassan of Samaria, a man around twenty-five years old, had to feel quite a lot of changes.

“Good. I think this is where we’ll stop for today. The time allocated to me is already up. Thinking this is the last day feels somewhat nostalgic, Hassan.”

I looked at the middle-aged man who runs the carpentry shop near the east gate.

When we first met, he was busy nitpicking and reprimanding me with a strict expression, but after a few days of hard labor together, his heart seems to have opened up. Now he speaks casually to me, even calling me by my name ‘Hassan’ instead of lumping me as just ‘Samarian.’

I said,

“Perhaps we’ll meet again if destiny allows.”

“That’s right. That’s what makes life interesting. But I still don’t understand, Hassan. Why did you set the fire? You don’t seem like the type to do such a thing.”

“Isn’t it true that everyone has the desire to set fire to something at least once? When you see dry leaves rolling on the ground or a well-built bonfire, don’t you sometimes feel the urge to light a flame?”

“That’s true. But setting fire to it is a different story. People lack the courage and the audacity to do such a thing, and they’re afraid of the consequences.”

“I merely carried it out. And now, I’m taking responsibility for it.”

“That’s right, that’s true. Nowadays, considering the treatment you’re receiving, it’s understandable that you set the fire.”

“Is it?”

“Anyway, are you sure you’re truly alright?”

With the man’s question, I smiled in a now familiar way.

“I’m fine.”

With that, my connection with Verdú’s carpentry shop came to an end. Tomorrow, I should help Galad’s laundry shop with repairs again.

Every day there’s something to do, so I’m not bored. Whatever I do, keeping my hands busy helps me focus, making time pass quickly, which is good.

Waking up in the morning to work and retiring in the evening.

An ordinary life—something everyone yearns for—that I am currently living feels somewhat surprising.

There was a time when living an ordinary life seemed inevitable, but now it feels like I’ve come full circle, yearning for the mundane again.

Even if it’s a bit different from the everyday life I wanted, for obvious reasons.

Swish.

To avoid the eyes and ears of people, I pull my robe tightly around me and return to where I should be.

Of course, that place has no garden, no familiar cabin, and no sound of women laughing. All it has is a broken door, some half-hearted curse-like scribbles, and a smelly blanket.

Of course, I look up at the ceiling.

“sh*t, my handwriting is terrible. The grammar’s all wrong. So, how did it get engraved on the ceiling? Did someone ride a rocking horse and carve it with a kn*fe?”

At the thought of burly men riding rocking horses and carving graffiti into the ceiling, I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“sh*t.”

Then, it felt as if a rock had hit my chest. Now I understand why those people downstairs were whispering about me. Even though it’s been a while, I thought I had grown accustomed to it.

Seeing those taunting words written like stones thrown at a frog, I felt my cheeks and eyes tighten.

Do they even realize that the frog they throw stones at will d*e from those carefree throws?

They probably do.

Because they throw stones to k*ll frogs. If I d*e, they’ll spit on my corpse and mock me.

But I have no intention of letting their plans come true.

Thinking this way, I felt a bit more energized. Mindset is very important.

However, despite the surge in motivation, my eyelids grew heavier and my consciousness sunk into a deep slumber.

*

Rustle.

Awoken by a strange sound, I opened my eyes. The inn room was dark, without a single candle lit.

Creak, creak.

Even though I had closed the door that was known to be faulty, it now stood wide open, rattling. I felt somewhat uneasy.

Did the wind blow it open?

As I stood up intending to close it, I sensed another presence in this cramped inn room other than myself. My eyes, slowly adjusting to the dark, began to see shadows.

“Luna?”

Realizing that it was a mistake speaking into the void, I corrected my thoughts. It wasn’t just one sound but several. Moreover, Luna wouldn’t be here,

“sh*t.”

And then I felt something loop around my neck.

Gaaak.

Someone behind me was using a rope to choke me.

“Huh!”

I used all my strength, thrusting my fingers between the rope choking my airway. This gave me a brief relief. Simultaneously, I swung my fist blindly in the dark, striking something.

“Ugh!”

I heard a thick man’s scream as my wild punch connected with someone.

As I wriggled around, the rope around my neck loosened and soon fell to the floor.

Lying on the bed, I quickly grabbed the club I had tucked at my waist and faced several shadowy figures in the dark.

Who are you?

Of course, that doesn’t matter now. What matters now is whether or not I can knock them all down and survive.

“You guys know who you’re attacking? I think you’ve come to the wrong room. This is one person’s room.”

“Who do you think you’re talking to? You’re Hassan from Samaria, the disgusting arsonist-. It’s time to pay for your crimes.”

“Look at that, I walked into the wrong room. You idiots, you’ve got the wrong place.”

Shinggg.

I felt a burning sensation on my right cheek. Reacting quickly, I dodged out of the way. A sharp blade-like object just narrowly grazed by my side, cutting through the air with a loud noise.

Sssshhhheeeeeeekkkk!

It was probably a dagger or something similar.

The fact that someone had swung it at my face or neck with full force means these guys are trying to k*ll me.

I lifted my fist and rammed it powerfully into the shadow’s abdomen.

“Uuugh!”

With a sound that suggested broken ribs, the figure who swung the kn*fe towards me screamed, flying backward and slamming into a wall.

“Grrrrrrrrrrr!”

A loud impact followed by the sound of someone throwing up violently on the ground.

I thought to myself, no one wants to sleep where someone’s vomited.

With that thought in mind, I quickly swung my fists and struck the heads of the remaining two figures with all my strength.

Paak, Paattt!

“Ugh!”

“Kkk!”

The short cries of agony from the collapsing shadows filled the room.

Gradually, the darkness around me began to clarify as my skill Dark Eyes activated. Even after experiencing this many times, it never ceased to amaze me.

The first thing I saw was the man who had flown into the wall, another two men lying twitching on the bed, and finally a man sitting on the floor raising his face towards me. On his hand, he held what seemed to be a club or stick.

I kicked it away with my foot and grabbed the man’s collar, lifting him easily up to my face.

Despite the significant height difference, I brought his feet off the ground as if I was holding a bag of flour.

“Hyihiiik! M-m-monster! Are you even human!?”

“You knew who I was and still came. You should’ve known by now that guys like you don’t stand a chance against me. Guess you didn’t think you’d end up like this, huh?”

“sh*t!”

“Exactly. So that means you had no idea about me. Makes sense. Anyway, why are you here to k*ll me?”

“Obviously-.”

The man gave a sneer, raising the corner of his mouth cruelly.

“Obviously, by the sponsorship of Count Sarditch.”

That must be a lie. There’s no reason for the Count’s household to want me dead.

In fact, it’s only because of their protection that I’m able to live as I do now. It’s also hard to believe they’d hire such low-class thugs.

“What happens if you lie?”

Gaaaah.

“Uwaugh!”

As I shook him around by his collar like a doll, he wailed in a way that mimicked a drunk throwing up.

“Now tell the truth.”

“d*mn you, it’s because of you that the underground market went down! You arsonist b*stard, you criminal, always walking around with your head held high, you got what you deserved!”

“See? That’s more like it.”

“Guuuuuuuh!”

I lifted my forefinger and forcefully jabbed it under his chin. The point struck pressure points, making him scream like a chicken whose neck had been twisted, thrashing on the ground.

“sh*t.”

So now I’m probably going to be kicked out of this inn too.

I had hoped to live quietly for the time being, but ever since the trial gained fame, stories about me have spread far and wide. Those who have harbored grudges against me seem restless, unable to bear biting me.

Though I knew just showing a weakness here could spell instant doom.

Until just a few days, weeks ago, I had been sleeping soundly in comfort, a fact which now feels like a lie.

I rummaged through the pockets of the remains of the former underground market enforcers who had assaulted me. What came out were either a rusted dagger, chains, and random useless trinkets.

“sh*t. You poor bastards. Hey, you guys- stop being such drama queens. I didn’t hit you that hard.”

“Uuuuuuh.”

I examined the wrist of each one. Hans, Zimmer, Cornello, Marco—names common enough to hear anywhere. Their levels were 5, 3, 4, 3—a group of fairly average individuals.

“Hans, Zimmer, Cornello, Marco.”

As I called out their names, the men lying on the ground were visibly startled.

“What the f*ck?! How do you know our names?!”

“We hid everything that could identify us…”

The angry expressions they had a moment ago, ready to rush me instantly, were now replaced with a mix of confusion and fear. They must be terrified. Knowing someone’s name when it’s not said out loud is a terrifying matter.

What do they know about me? Do they know where I live? Will they try to harm my family?

Fanning their imaginations, they would quickly spiral into dread. Hell does not exist elsewhere. The minds filled with fear are the true hell.

Just by naming them, a person can be thrown into a panic. Having once been the most fearful kind of person, I understand this well.

I said:

“You guys know who I am now, right? Go on, leave. Tell your friends and comrades. Tell them who I am, what I do. And tell them exactly what happened to you. Let everyone know.”

Paaak.

“Hiieek!”

With that, I kicked the wooden floor with a loud sound, and just like frightened mice discovered by a cat, they hastily scrambled to their feet and scurried away, some even limping as they helped their fallen buddies.

Their retreating figures strangely brought me a sense of satisfaction.

“d*mn bastards.”

And with that, I spat on the floor and lay back on the bed.

d*mn, I’m wide awake now.

Probably because I’ve unnecessarily drained my stamina. If I had known, I shouldn’t have let them go and instead would’ve tried to have some more meaningful conversations. Maybe we could’ve even played some games of truth all night.

As I lay there with that thought, I heard the sound of shuffling. The figure approaching was small. Was it a woman? Or a dwarf?

“Do you want to get beat up too?”

I growled with a bit of menace in my voice. After several days of dealing with hoodlums, I’ve somewhat mastered the art of scaring people with my tone.

An average thug would scamper away like a nymph encountering boiling water at the sound of my growl.

The newly arrived figure, however, didn’t run away despite being threatened by me.

Instead, it walked closer, addressing me.

“Using thugs to deliver your message…! Was it Hassan’s technique to spread the screams of hell and fear to others!? Such a clever move! A ruthless wisdom worthy of a successor to hell! I saw it all from outside! Of course, I didn’t just watch out of fear—!”

What the d*mn—

I sprang up in surprise at the sound of this voice, only to see a small female figure stepping cautiously into the room, holding a lantern.

“What the hell!”

“Hasssan-sama!—I’ve heard about this foolish city of Sodomora committing arson!—What a truly righteous act, heralding the coming of hell!—I, Paranoi, burst into tears right there when I heard the news…!”

“What the—! Paranoi!”

“But, but I have regrets!—If only you had given me a hint of your plan, I could’ve informed you which place, at what time, would set the entire city ablaze turning it into a river of fire…!”

“What?”

“All this happened only because I wasn’t by your side!—As penance, I refrained from eating candy for an entire day!—Hassan-sama, you must understand how massive an act of repentance this is…!”

“Ah, I see.”

Paranoi loves sweets. She consumes sugar as if it’s her second nature. For her to consciously refrain from eating candy for even a day was akin to a princess renouncing luxury.

“But, Paranoi, what brings you here? It’s been quite a while!”

Perhaps it was due to the extended period of solitude, but the sight of Paranoi filled me with joy. She spoke up.

“It’s quite a long story to tell…—but first, could you buy me some food? I’m starving…”

[Author’s Note] Potatoeserver! Caffuccino! Gweeek! Succulentium! Gimoruga! QuandIceCream! CompleteLifeForm! Kadeom! Windblue! Vurgil! EroticMangaThief! UnderworldLord! Hyunjinji! Tygoni! PersistentBear! Inbang! Semul! Amenos! DangerousEye! And the great GooiGooi! GMpolshay! And our illustrious BarbparkStag! Thank you for your vouchers!!!

I’ve received a lot of script coupons too, thank you all so much! And all the recommendations and comments have really helped sustain me in this sweltering heat…

This week is filled with energy thanks to all of you, and I shall spread the empowering voodoo charm for vitality…!!

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