Chapter 30

Here’s the English translation of the provided novel text:

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### Episode 30: The Lion Has Pride

Humans often reveal unexpected thoughts or instincts in extreme situations.

I realized just now—while blocking kn*fe-like claws—that my brain works remarkably well, given I could afford to think about other things in such a moment!

Ding-.

Now, familiar letters and spots on the beast’s body rise into view. Who knew I’d ever see the bl**d vessels on a beast’s body like this?

It reminded me of when my father used to practice acupuncture on live chickens, poking them with needles. I vaguely recall hearing that even beasts have pressure points.

Turned out it was true. d*mn it, I thought that was nonsense!

”Grrrr!”

But something far more urgent demanded my attention—escaping the claws swinging down at me.

Just as expected of a giant predator, the force pressing down with those massive forepaws was beyond imagination—strong enough to remind me of Elpride’s raw strength. If this kept up, I’d end up flattened like a perfectly packed sandwich!

”Hey, hey, do something quick!”

”J-Just wait! The fire won’t catch! Maybe it‘s too damp!”

”Goddammit, this d*mn sewer water!”

”Brother, hold on! I shall lift your spirits with the music of battle!”

Tap-, tap-tap, tap tap-.

Malco clacked away on some instrument—castanets or whatever.

Tap, tap-tap, ta-tak.

Tap.

This b*stard’s playing music now?! While a man’s about to be eaten by a lion?! I was so pissed I could scream!

”GRRR!”

Seemed the lion was just as furious at Malco’s heartlessness. The beast stopped pinning me down and lunged at Malco, swiping at his torso with a massive paw.

”W-What the—why me?! Mercury’s tits!”

”Khak!”

The lion, pleased with Malco’s reaction, kept hammering down punches.

Thwack, thwack, thwack thwack, thwack—

They looked like playful cat punches, but given the size, they were horrifying. Thank God it wasn’t me under those.

”Ghk! Hk-hk! Hhk!”

Malco made amusing noises with each hit. The sight of him—once handling an instrument, now becoming one—was a masterpiece worthy of street performers’ envy.

”You damned b*stard! I won’t forget your d*ath!”

”N-Not dead yet… spare me…!”

”G-Got it! The fire’s lit! I’ll spread smoke now!”

Then, Luna’s welcome voice came from behind. Along with it, a thick cloud of smoke billowed out from her breath, filling the area.

A choking, indescribably pungent stench spread through the air.

”Grrrl, grrrl—”

The previously rampaging white lion shuddered violently before turning its head toward Luna and me.

”H-Hey, is this really working?”

”Cats go crazy for this. J-Just wait. It’ll collapse soon.”

Was trusting Luna the right call? I debated it twice in that split second but got no answer.

What I did see was the lion’s saber-like fangs protruding from its lips, dripping saliva, and the merciless crimson eyes of a predator.

”S-Strange, why isn’t it falling? Its size must’ve weakened the effect!”

”Heh, d*mn it!”

”ROOOOOAR!”

The lion roared, mouth wide open. The sheer force of its roar made Luna collapse onto her b*tt in the filthy sewer water.

”Huuu—”

No surprise her legs gave out. If not for my two-year slavery under that vicious Elpride, I might’ve pissed myself too.

Yeah, d*mn it. After surviving under that tyrant, was I really gonna end as a beast’s meal in a stinking sewer?!

I couldn’t accept that.

”Bring it, you b*stard!”

”GRRR!”

We clashed again, the lion’s forepaws pressing down on my shoulders, trying to force me onto my back.

”Hey, Luna! It’s working!”

Its strength and aggression were noticeably weaker—manageable now. This, I could handle.

So, I clenched my fist and smashed it full force into the lion’s exposed stomach—right at the reddened spot.

THWACK.

”KRK—!”

The satisfying impact and the lion’s violent convulsions confirmed the punch landed perfectly.

Seizing the momentum, I relentlessly hammered its shiny abdominal spots.

”GGEHEHEHEK—!”

”d*e, b*tch!”

”KHEK-HEK!”

Despite its pained screams, the lion showed no sign of collapsing.

Maybe its hide was too thick for human fists to harm. If anything, my fists were getting wrecked.

”GRRRRL—”

Eventually, I was the one running out of steam. The lion shoved me down beneath its paws.

”Grrrl…”

Strangely, it didn’t attack. Just stared, perhaps deciding where to begin eating.

”GRRRL—”

Decided, it lowered its muzzle to my neck. Trapped under hundreds of pounds of beast, I had no way to resist.

”I’m gonna be eaten alive! d*mn it, save me!”

”Hassan! Hold your breath!”

CRASH—

Along with the sound of shattering glass, a vile stench erupted—one that might belong in Hell’s most polluted, scorching depths.

”Khh! S-Sisters, what is this stench?!”

”Toad paralysis oil! Costs a silver per bottle… A-Anyway, you okay?”

Luna asked after me. Aside from my nose nearly falling off, I was fine. Seeing the lion writhe in agony gave me strength.

”GRRRL!”

”Suffer, b*stard!”

Not missing its flinch, I looped my arms like a noose around its thick neck, squeezing with all my might.

”NGHEK! KHK! HK!”

”Sleeper hold, you son of a b*tch!”

”KHK! GHEK!”

The lion thrashed wildly. Between the sewer filth and sweat, my locked arms kept slipping—it felt like it’d break free any moment.

”You brats, don’t just watch—help!”

”I-I’ll help, Hassan!”

”Brother, I’m here too!”

Finally snapping to, Luna and Malco piled onto the lion, pressing it down with all their weight.

They got flung off repeatedly but didn’t give up. Since when did these idiots have such tenacity? Fine, then I’d step up too.

”HRRAAAAAGH!”

”KHK…! GHEK! HK!”

The lion gagged like something was lodged in its throat—a sign of weakening.

Biting down hard, I summoned my last reserves and tightened my grip.

”GRUUUUGH!”

Crack—

Ding—

[You have cured “White One’s Heartworm.”]

[Quest Progress + 10]

Finally, the lion coughed up something and slumped like a corpse. My arms went limp. Whew. d*mn, thought my arms would tear off.

”B-Brother! You defeated a lion! By the world, is this real?! Brother subdued a lion barehanded!”

”Hassan! We’re alive! All of us! See? I helped too!”

”And my battle music played a vital role—!”

Luna and Malco whooped atop the fallen lion. I was thrilled too, but too exhausted to do more than gasp for air.

”Wait, what’s this? A bug? Oh—this is a parasite!”

Luna grabbed the furry, marble-sized lump the lion spat out—round like a pillbug but pitch black.

”Black! It’s really a heartworm! We’re so lucky! Must be Lady Nox’s grace!”

”Sister, what is this thing you’re fawning over like a salted slug?”

”A worm that infests cats’ hearts! Dried and powdered, it’s a potion ingredient. Wow, even its size matches the lion—huge!”

”Powdered bug? Sounds unappetizing. Do Ideopeans relish such things?”

”Tastes awful, but it’s super healthy! The potion sells for six silvers—split three ways, that’s two each! Lucky us!”

”Bastards, while you chat, help me tie this thing up…”

Barely conscious, I grabbed ropes scattered nearby—thank gods they came in the pack.

We bound the massive lion’s legs tightly, triple-knotting them for good measure.

”d*mn… It’s over!”

Exhausted, I raised a weak cheer—just as footsteps approached from behind.

The flute-woman, Hamelin.

”Interesting results. Exceeded expectations… Crude, but passable. However—”

Spouting nonsense, she vanished back into the shadows.

”The hell? What ‘fails’? Whatever—let’s just get out. Need a bath.”

Thus concluded the “Find the Cat” quest.

Wait, d*mn it—this isn’t a cat.

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### Post-Quest

Stepping out of the sewers, darkness draped over the world like a carpet.

”By the world, look at that white fur. Isn’t that a lioness?”

”Looks like a cat though. Cute.”

”But it’s lion-sized! Where else would you find a cat this big?”

”d*mn it, you questioning me? Let’s duel, you b*stard. I’ll send you to Pluto!”

”Sure, uneven-balled freak. Tonight, your last one’s vanishing too.”

Carrying a giant lion drew stares—some even approached.

”Fine pelt. Did you hunt it yourself?”

”Well…”

Before I could answer, Malco—holding the lion’s rear—chimed in.

”Indeed! Brother Samaritan Hassan slew it barehanded! I, Malco the bard, witnessed it!”

”Holy— d*mn, barehanded?! No ordinary savage, eh? Just seeing it dead gives me chills.”

”Wait, the Hassan? The ‘Goblin Hundred-Slayer’?”

”Heard he killed so many in the wilds he got exiled here.”

”Rumors say he’s humanity’s butcher—a real monster.”

What the hell? Another Hassan running around?

”Brother! Your fame grows! No need to thank me—we’re brothers.”

”You b*stard—you spread this?”

”I speak no lies—only unbearable truths. Truth is uglier than fiction sometimes.”

This brat was echoing the flute-woman. Must’ve really liked her words.

But where’s the ‘truth’ in this bullshit?

Anyway, the attention was unbearable. Eager to dump this freakish ‘cat’ and collect my pay, I hurried on.

”Brother! Here?”

”Yeah. d*mn, heavy for a cat.”

”Then leave a tenth at the guild. I’ve… business in the sewers. Ahem. I’ll go ahead.”

”Oi, big nose. Take this.”

Luna handed Malco a battered molehill idol from under her cloak. His nose twitched in delight.

”Stimulates artistic libido, truly. Anyway, I’m off—”

Dropping the lion at Witch Nemea’s shop, Malco scurried off like he’d found honey.

”d*mn loudmouth. Hope he cracks that nose one day.”

”He’ll d*e by rock someday. My Voodoo Priest senses say so.”

”Right…”

Still, he had helped—mostly by lugging this overgrown cat-lion so I didn’t have to do it alone. And Luna did her part too.

Without her burning herbs and smashing toad oil, I’d be lion chow right now.

”Luna, you did great.”

”See? I can do it!”

But smashing a 1-silver potion? The reward’s two silvers. Talk about a loss.

It stung, but since Luna didn’t care, I stayed quiet.

”Hassan, mind if I leave first?”

As I knocked on Nemea’s door, Luna hesitated, clutching a parasite-filled flask like an eager kid on Christmas.

”Why?”

”Potion ingredients spoil fast. Gotta buy the rest while shops are open. If I brew tonight, it’ll be ready by dawn.”

”Not staying for the pay? We suffered together.”

”…I don’t wanna go in there.”

”Hmm.”

”See you at the guild tomorrow!”

”Hey—”

Before I could stop her, Luna dashed off, giggling, her pink pigtails vanishing into the crowd.

Baffled, I knocked.

Tap, tap-tap—

”Ah~. Here you are~. See you later~. Must attend to guests~.”

Nemea’s velvety voice came through the door—then creak, it opened, releasing a flood of black rats.

”Squeak!”

”What the hell?!”

”My~. White One~. So thin from days without food~.”

The witch clucked at the beast—well-fed as it was—before ushering it inside.

”Come in~, Friend~. Much to discuss~. Hamelin took a liking to you~.”

”Word spreads fast?”

”Witches have ears everywhere~.”

How without phones? Magic’s terrifying. Maybe it stifles science—d*mn magic, a relic of corruption.

”White One~. Not napping forever~. Up~.”

Snap.

”Wha—?!”

The ‘unconscious’ lion tore its bonds like weeds, stood, and began nuzzling the witch’s skirt—horrifyingly affectionate.

”Grrrl…”

”A massage~?”

”Grrl.”

”Spit up a worm~? Hehe~. Friend, White One likes you~. Your hands are soothing~. I remember that night too~. Ah, yes, cheating~. Anyway, no wandering, White One~.”

With that, the pair left me gaping and stepped inside.

”Well~? Coming~? Little One’s likely misplaced something~, and there are spots needing attention~.”

[Afterword] orz055055, thank you for your patronage!! Grateful to all who sent coupons!! Why don’t coupon names show up…?! T_T

Tried cutting content, but still hit ~20kg…!!

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(Note: The translation maintains the original tone—crude humor, violence, and stylized speech—while adapting cultural references for readability. Let me know if any adjustments are needed!)

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