Chapter 35

35th Chapter

Hassan of the Local Kalin Swamp

035 – The Local of the Swamp, Hassan #2

“Ah, Mr. Hassan. I’ve heard about it. They say you took down a massive lion with your bare hands?”

The green-haired Daphne greeted us with a laugh. Of all things, the first thing she says is whether you defeated a lion.

Just like when I was speaking with the Maiden of the Sword earlier, rumors spread incredibly quickly in this world.

It must be because loafers and passersby chatter idly at taverns and on the streets, passing these stories around like snacks.

“Ah, well, it wasn’t actually a lion but a giant cat… And I didn’t k*ll it; I just managed to capture it alive. Plus, I didn’t do it alone.”

“That’s all right. Even so, that’s quite an impressive feat in itself. After all, news of Mr. Hassan’s might is spreading everywhere.”

“Might?”

“They’re saying at Mars Guild that finally, an exceptional rookie has appeared since Ms. Hippolyte. It feels good to one-up those uptight receptionists from the Minerva Guild!”

“That, is so…”

“So, let’s just say that you killed the lion. How about exaggerating a bit and saying it was an elephant? Or even a Drake?”

“That’s probably too much of a fib…”

“We need to exaggerate to keep those Minerva Guild brats in check. Those kids go even further.”

The rivalry between Minerva Guild and Mars Guild seems as intense as the Cold War between the Soviet Union and America.

It seems like they boast and show off their achievements to each other while desperately trying to put the other down, much like fierce rivals.

While I was pondering the politics and society of this world, Daphne was busy clicking her abacus in front of her.

“Even so, the commission of only 2 silver feels rather low. At this rate, it won’t cover costs. I’ll need to issue a warning to Ms. Nemea, the alchemist from the West Gate slums.”

“Warning?”

“Maybe just preventing the use of the guild’s job board for a few days to a few months. If these excessively low price estimates keep going against the market price, permanent bans might need to be considered.”

That’s something, is it? And to think my 2 silver commission was lower than expected. I hadn’t even realized it. All I knew was that I was making more money than I did as a slave, so it felt good.

Thinking about it now though, I went through quite a lot of trouble.

Of course, the subsequent incident was actually something I had to pay to come back from – but let’s just bury that in my heart forever.

“Anyway, the expectations placed on Mr. Hassan are enormous. The blessed Samaritan. It’s quite a sensational image. If Mr. Hassan enhances their reputation, our guild will gain fame too. And as your assigned receptionist, I might even get promoted…”

Lost in pleasant imagination, Daphne chuckled, “Heh heh heh.” People always get happy when their own interests are tied up in something.

“Anyway, I have a custom job for Mr. Hassan and Ms. Luna. The job rate is a staggering 10 silver! And upon successfully completing this job…”

Tap, click, tap.

Daphne, continuing to click her abacus, looked at Luna and said:

“Ms. Luna will be promoted to the Bronze Tier, including all fees and contributions so far!”

“M-Me? Bronze?!”

Luna screamed in disbelief.

I found it hard to believe too. Luna reaching the Bronze Tier? At the same level as those Amazon warriors with swords and armor?

Of course, the expectation for Luna’s potential is high. Luna is the daughter of something strange, something like ‘Nox’—to put it simply, truly the daughter of a god in this world’s terms. Even so, isn’t Bronze Tier a bit excessive?

“I thought it would take more time to qualify for the Bronze recognition badge…”

“It’s been decided in our internal meeting. Since you’re the only one who submits hornets to our guild regularly, once you reach the Bronze Tier, the guild can offer a loan if you want to establish your own wine fermentation workshop.”

“My own workshop? Really?! It’s unbelievable!”

“It’s not impossible. I’ve checked with the Mercury Bank. Ms. Luna owns considerable land and real estate in the Ideope Islands, so your credit is good… Besides, why are you starving yourself while working as an adventurer? That’s odd.”

“No way, Hassan! I’m in the Bronze Tier! I can start a workshop!”

Luna grabbed my arm and shook me, causing my head to spin from confusion. My idea of her as a fellow poor adventurer was shaken, as suddenly she seemed to be some sort of landowner. Things were starting to seem different about Luna now.

“Hey, Hassan! Did you hear that?”

“Y-Yes sir! Understood.”

“Why the sudden polite speech?”

Luna slightly frowned at my use of polite language. Receptionist Daphne quickly explained:

“Well, of course, all of this is assuming we handle the mission well. With this amount of money, it will naturally be quite a difficult and demanding quest. It involves the removal and extermination of local spirits residing in Kalin’s Swamp, as well as the Plutus heretics.”

“Removal, and extermination…”

Finally, a proper adventurer job worthy of its name was given to me.

From what I’ve seen through Elfride’s shoulders, this kind of life-threatening work is usually handed out to those in the Bronze Tier—those who are proven and reliable enough.

I seem to have some early promise after all. Maybe it’s fair to think of me as an eagerly anticipated rookie.

“Excuse me, Miss Daphne, what exactly are these Plutus cultists?”

“Ah. Just some bad guys around. You know… the god of d*ath…”

Daphne suddenly clammed up as if she had said something she shouldn’t, then she cleared her throat and continued:

“Followers of the unofficial god Plutus, the god of wealth. It’s frustrating how these dirty and irreverent resurrectionists keep appearing no matter how many we execute and hang. So naturally, we must reduce their numbers drastically when we can.”

“I see.”

“Since you’ve formed a party with Ms. Luna, it might be wise to familiarize yourself with some basic religious worldviews this time. Though not one of the Twelve Chief Gods, the faith in Nox that Ms. Luna follows is still considered orthodox.”

*

Guild outside, me and Luna. The mission’s departure is set for tomorrow. I heard there’s a fairly large-scale expedition to the swamp, including other party members outside us.

And a commission of 10 silver? That’s quite an amount, isn’t it?

In my slave days, I used to starve for months just to save up this much, and now I might make it from one mission?

Is this real life?

The money talk is making my head spin.

It felt like an expedition to raid a boss monster, and my chest fluttered slightly with excitement.

Of course, if a real boss monster showed up, I’d be running—hell, we’d all be running.

“Weren’t you listening?”

“Ah, yes ma’am.”

“Why the sudden polite talk? It’s weird.”

“Heh… never mind. Anyway, so twelve chief gods reside on the lofty Mount Hypnos. Then there are the three Great Gods. The most famous being Jupiter, the god of the sky. Then Neptune, the ruler of the seas, and finally, Plutus, the god of wealth.”

As we walked through the marketplace, Luna informed me about various knowledge. Gods, myths… It all feels like a fantasy story to me.

Still, there was something that caught my attention.

“Plutus means the god of the underworld, right? The god of d*ath.”

Contextually, the god of the underworld fits perfectly. Sky, seas, and the land are attributes or hierarchy in any myth or story. I even started to recall vague memories of a manga I read when I was a kid.

“Shhh, don’t say that! That’s forbidden.”

But Luna glanced around like a Korean secretly shouting “Independence Forever!” in a crowd of Japanese police officers before warning me.

“Plutus is the god of wealth. Only the heretics refer to him as the god of d*ath. You absolutely must not call him that.”

“I see.”

I was slightly curious why, but since it didn’t matter that much to me, I let it slide. There was actually something else that was truly on my mind.

I handed half the commission I earned from the giant cat job—a silver—to Luna, and finally asked the question I’d been holding in.

“Hey, Luna.”

“What? Is there something you want to ask? And hey! You’re giving me 1 silver? Hassan, this is too generous!”

“Anyway, I wasn’t eavesdropping or anything, but I heard they said you own lots of land under your name. True?”

“Oh, that? I’m not entirely sure of the details. The village elders manage it. Anyway, most of it is sacred ground that can’t be sold, so it doesn’t really make money.”

I don’t understand what sacred ground that can’t be sold means. Is it like Korea’s Green Belt? Regardless, owning land is dazzling to someone like me.

Having land or buildings wasn’t something I could ever imagine in the world I lived in before, let alone on Earth.

By heaven! The pink isn’t dumb; it’s luxurious. A Cofettata framed in gold… This isn’t even a simple Cofettata anymore. What is it? Something I can’t quite figure out with my impoverished mind.

“But if you owned all that land, you wouldn’t have had to go hungry, right? Why have you gone through so much hardship to come all the way here?”

“I’ve already said it. Ideope Island is cursed. I want to lift that curse somehow. If I become a high-level adventurer, I might get my hands on an artifact that can lift curses.”

“Hmm, that could be possible.”

“You left your hometown too, didn’t you, Hassan? The Samarian Wilderness is really far from here, right? How did you end up here, Hassan?”

“That’s what I would like to know.”

I wish someone could just tell me. What am I doing here when I was living a normal life in Korea, in the country of the Republic of Korea on Earth—so much farther away than the Samarian Wilderness?

Anyway, our meaningless chatter dragged on until lunchtime, and we entered a nearby restaurant.

There, we filled our stomachs with a bowl of soup priced at 5 copper and a cup of barley tea at 3 copper each, then stepped back outside. There, the square was bustling with people chatting noisily.

“Hey, we’ve got stones! Solid, throwing-sized stones for sale. Top quality, hand-picked stones.”

“Our stones are cheaper than the next door. A stone for 1 copper. Larger ones at 5 copper each.”

What the hell? Why are they selling stones?

“Hassan, look! It’s a rock-throwing festival!”

Luna bounced up excitedly like a high school girl spotting an idol concert on the street. Still having no idea what this “Rock Festival” was, I could only furrow my brows.

So, I casually asked a turbaned sandman selling stones at a stall.

“Excuse me, what event is this?”

“Foreign friend, it’s not a festival, but an execution. Those who violate the laws of the gods must be properly judged and stoned to d*ath. Would you like to buy a stone?”

An execution, huh?

Looking around at the horrifying word, sure enough, I saw a tied-up man on a cross-like frame elevated between the crowd.

His face swollen from beatings, his body covered in wounds with torn clothes, suggesting he’d been whipped at least twenty times. I knew such punishments well; I was an expert in such matters because I’d been flogged myself.

“Everyone, listen well. This man, Penny, violated the divine laws. He has repeatedly practiced healing without the temple’s permission.”

“That b*stard gave me fungus!”

“And me too!”

Someone’s accusation made the prisoner cough up bl**d from their mouth.

“It’s not fungus, it’s medicine. Something that kills invisible diseases—antibiotics…”

“Shut up, you fraud! Your fungus made me go bald with alopecia!”

“But that’s in your family’s medical history…”

“Regardless, it’s your fault! Let’s throw stones!”

Wow!

People were casting stones all around. What followed was a savage and ghastly scene too horrific to describe.

“Grilled chicken skewers, 5 copper.”

“Cool barley wine, 3 copper.”

The side was filled with stalls selling various goods and food, making the event lively like a festival.

What a world. How can they laugh so brightly while smashing someone’s face with such ferocity?

“Do you want a chicken skewer, Hassan? I’ll buy you one! We just got paid!”

“Of course, that’d be nice.”

Truly, the behavior of the land-owning elite is different.

While we were tearing away at a few roasted chicken pieces on sticks, the master of ceremonies, presumed from the man nearby, continued speaking.

“Alright, next! This street musician, Malco! He’s already embezzled a total of over 20 silver from all over! Let the people decide whether we sell him into debt slavery or stone him!”

“Throw rocks!”

“Hey, brethren! Have mercy! Someday, I’ll be famous, and I’ll pay it back! The signature I gave will one day be worth something big!”

“…”

“Throw rocks!”

Wow!

Why, for heaven’s sake, is that scoundrel bound there? Either way, it was fortunate I found him. How much slander have I endured because of you?

“Hey, merchant, give me a big stone.”

“Ah, this Samarian has quickly adapted to the laws of the continent. Here you go. Throwing stones is such fun. Just be careful. Once addicted to stoning, you might even sell your wife for stones.”

In exchange for a lost copper, I got a rock as big as a fist. As I tightened my fist to prepare to throw it, the man called out to me through the crowd.

“Hey, my dear friend! A fateful meeting by the grace of Mercury! Dear, like this, I’ll be stoned to d*ath! Won’t you defend me?”

Somehow, among all these people, Malco recognized me and began struggling violently so violently his bonds groaned.

Why, among all these people, could you recognize me? Is it because of my hair? Anyway, you’re quite skilled.

“Defend a food thief?”

“What?”

The outcry from Malco and the attention on me from the crowd with rocks in their hands was nothing but ominous.

“I’m not going to defend him, so just throw stones.”

“Throw rocks!”

“Wow!”

“Dear brethren! You-there, only sinless people should throw stones at me!”

Malco’s nose swelled further from the flying stones but couldn’t withstand the merciless brutality any longer and eventually went limp.

“Only the sinless should throw stones at me!”

Plop, plonk.

But at the sound of that cry, the hands of those throwing stones hesitated and stopped. Not missing the opportunity, Malco shouted loudly.

“Brothers, I know everything! You there with the blond hair, you cheated on your wife last night—!”

“Shame!”

“And the one next to him, despite your vow of chastity—”

“Be quiet!”

“We are all sinners! Sinners judging the sins of another! Only the gods can truly judge my sins!”

The voice, filled with despair as if his intestines were ripping, was crazed with divine spirit, dropping the stones from people’s hands as they fled in every direction. The street performer certainly had good projection, didn’t he?

“Phew, the excitement’s gone.”

“Hey, you incompetent clown, we’ll give you a week. You better pay it all back or we’ll castrate and sell you as a slave.”

“I-I will repay it!”

And so, Malco was released. As he wiped the bl**d from his nose, he limped towards me and Luna,

“Thanks to you, my friend, I’ve survived. Thanks to you, the atmosphere shifted.”

Seriously, I didn’t do anything, but for some reason, a prick of guilt made me toss the rock I was holding down discreetly so he wouldn’t see.

“Hey, you scoundrel, what will you do if you don’t repay your debts? That’s why you’re getting stoned.”

“With no money, how can one survive when your stomach is empty? The way of the artist has always been accompanied by hunger, you know. But d*mn it, I need to gather funds. Is there any work around here, maybe?”

“I have a nose for this, you b*stard.”

“That’s a truly heart-wrenching story. Oh, Mercury, what am I to do?”

And so, Malco’s desolate figure faded into the distance. I felt a bit of sympathy, thinking I wouldn’t see him around this city anymore.

So it was all the more surprising when I met him again at the West Gate entrance the next day.

“Sisters of the Sword! Give me the loads! Let Malco carry the burdens of everyone to Kalan’s Swamp safely!”

At this point, it seemed whatever Malco said about Mercury or the god of fate and meetings might actually hold some truth. True faith, it seemed, was not in words or sermons but action.

Thus began my first extermination mission. Put simply, it was the preliminary test for my real adventuring debut, and Luna’s promotion trial.

“Hassan of Samaria – we’re teammates now. We will see each other daily for the next few days.”

“H-Hippolite!”

[Author’s Afterword] This is the early stages, so Hassan is rolling along pretty hard.

I’m a bit worried if it’s too excessive.

It’s definitely easy to write him like this, but I’m not sure how it feels from the reader’s side…

Anyway, the tutorial phase (first experiences) is now done, and the real adventure is starting!

Recommendations, comments, and coupons – I’ll take them all eagerly! Please shower them upon me!!

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