Chapter 54

Chapter 54

Star of Sodomora Hassan

The scroll that Luna handed to me was made of lambskin, hammered thinly, and looked quite archaic.

The seal that rolled and bound it was aromatic, clearly indicating that this was a document of considerable prestige.

In this world, institutions like city halls or slave registries usually handle such scrolls. And a scroll obtained from such a place generally carries important information.

“What is this?”

“Go ahead and open it.”

Luna said this with an almost indifferent voice, which might feel cold in some sense. It seemed unusually calm for her, high-energy personality, making her seem a little intimidating.

It was odd. A scroll from Luna. What could it be? Could it be something like a marriage registration form?

I was trembling when I opened and unfurled the document, quickly scanning the serpentine writings inside.

“To Bronze Tier adventurer of Mars Guild-Luna Noxdotty-the right to the land and buildings in Sodomora West Gate 5th Street Area has been transferred. Signed by the Mayor of Sodomora.”

“What is this thing?”

“Credential of Rights! How’s that? Amazing, isn’t it?! Now I have my own hideout!”

I watched Luna jumping with joy, and I too was amazed and delighted. I don’t know what it was exactly, but considering the mention of land and buildings, it sounded like Luna might have become a property owner.

Indeed, she owned much land in her hometown, though those lands weren’t for sale. Regardless, having a property right in the prime urban area is a big deal.

“Wow! That’s amazing! How did it happen?”

“Let’s go see it quickly!”

And so, we left the Guild and walked through the streets.

Luna was walking so fast that even I struggled to keep up. Indeed, Luna was far more agile than me.

From the city center, our destination was the western edge of Sodomora, an area packed with slums and unsavory vagrants. I’d walked through this area many times before for various tasks, so I’d become quite familiar with it.

Swish, swish.

While walking past alleys, I suspected there were potential pickpockets, bandits, or thieves lurking among the shadows.

Finally, we arrived…

“This is it, isn’t it? That old barn.”

This was the same old barn where Luna and I once carved moai totems with great effort.

It was barely standing. You might even call it a wooden warehouse in disrepair, and it definitely didn’t warrant being labeled a ‘building’ or ‘villa.’

“Yep! This is the only place I could afford with my own money. Still, I bought it at a high price. I used my entire savings!”

“How much did you pay?”

“Three gold. Actually, I borrowed two more because they said it would be gone if I didn’t buy it now.”

Luna added a few more words but they didn’t really register in my head at first.

What? Three gold? I don’t even know how much that is. Three gold equals 300 silver, and 300 silver … ugh, it’s too complicated even to calculate.

Anyway, it seems Luna had more money than I originally imagined.

And why did she buy this place with such a large sum? Are they going to dig up oil under the land? Curious, I couldn’t help but ask Luna.

“So, what are you planning to do here?”

“I’ve decided to build a workshop here. I’m going to make alcohol, potions, and various things!”

“Ah.”

And sure enough, it reminded me of our earlier discussions – how now that Luna had reached Bronze Tier, she could secure loans to open her workshop, which we had thought would likely happen much later. I guess Luna was faster than I anticipated.

On second thought, Luna has this strange characteristic – she’s really proactive.

Does her soft, young body need to be that determined to survive in the corrupt city of Sodomora?

“Still, there’s a lot of preparation to be done. We need to fix up the exterior and do a bit of interior work…”

“Just bought the land, then?”

“Yeah, kinda. But isn’t it awesome? Now this is my place! Let’s go inside!”

Clang, clang-clink. With a rattle of rusted chains and locks, Luna opened the door and walked inside the dusty old warehouse.

“Great place isn’t it? I’ve been scouting this place since a while ago.”

A great place, huh?

When we came here to carve the moai totems, I wasn’t paying much attention to the surroundings, but now, with a more detailed look, I got to know the finer details.

The size of the shack was about that of a reasonable one-room apartment. If you added a bed, a wardrobe, and a desk, it would take up almost all the room.

It might be sufficient for a young girl running a workshop, but still, it’s rather dilapidated.

There were cobwebs dangling from all corners, piles of dirty straw, and stray hair from animals spread everywhere. It would probably take at least two days of thorough cleaning to shake off the dirt.

“Wha, wha, it’s a wolf spider! sh*t!”

At that point, Luna, who was examining the corner, suddenly leaped forward, swiping something with both hands.

And in the blink of an eye—BASSH—and something huge and terrifying ran away.

As it bolted toward me, I literally jumped about a meter in the air.

“sh*t!”

It was a spider. Holy cr*p, a palm-sized spider. A tarantula, isn’t it?

Anyway, it had rainbow-colored fur and just looked incredibly dangerous to touch. As I mentioned before, I can handle bees, but I really can’t stand spiders. Spiders, for f*ck’s sake, are terrifying.

“Quick! Don’t let it escape! Hassan!”

“Yieck!”

Luna was darting around trying to catch the creature, whereas I was simply hoping that it would disappear as soon as possible. And eventually, Luna used her swiftness and captured it forcefully with one hand.

Holding one of the creature’s legs, she turned back, laughing, and showed it to me.

“Wow, this is a big one. This might be the first time I’ve seen a wolf spider this size. Lucky us!”

Kong, kong!

“What? Why does it sound like spider noises?”

“It’s a wolf spider! Is this the first time Hassan has seen one? Anyway, they are valuable materials for medicinal herbs. They also make good pets and can be sold for about 20 copper. Aren’t they cute?”

Crou, kongkong, wrrkongkong, kongkong!

What does this thing have to do with being gentle? To me, it looked like a predator who was itching to bite into my neck. A natural-born assassin.

Furthermore, it seems suspect that something covered in such iridescent rainbow colors doesn’t have venom. Anyway, Luna carefully inspected the enormous spider and pushed on its belly with her fingers.

“Wow, it’s a female! Let’s raise it well. Come on, inside…”

Then she opened an old jar tucked in the corner, and after forcing the spider into it, she shut the lid. I could finally exhale in relief now that the spider was out of sight.

“Holy cr*p, really scary.”

“Hassan doesn’t like spiders, huh?”

“Really, really scary.”

“Spiders are cute. Anyway, putting some chairs here, a table there, installing a fireplace on that corner, and getting a big cauldron and other stuff would make it look decent.”

Luna pointed with her fingers all over the shack, explaining her plan to me. The decrepit hut looked just like a decrepit hut to me, but to Luna, it was the launchpad for her grand dreams.

I couldn’t really understand what was in her mind, so all I could do was nod along muttering, ‘Yeah.’

“So, are you planning to stop being an adventurer?”

“No, I’ll probably still need to go out and gather materials from time to time. Oh, and Hassan…”

There she was, fumbling nervously, trying to say something important.

“What.”

“Um, f, for a little while, I was thinking I could form a party with you.”

“No.”

The moment I rejected her, Luna’s face crumpled, looking deeply hurt. Her large eyes almost glistened with oncoming tears.

“Just kidding. I’d be happy to.”

Luna was, in many ways, mysterious and powerful to me. This connection growing between us only seemed fair. After all, she was growing rapidly, and perhaps soon enough, she might overtake me and become the bus driver.

Even if that’s not the case, I simply enjoy the companionship now.

“Hassan, is it? Is it really true? You’ll really be forming a party with me?”

“Yeah, and I have a question.”

“Hmm? Hassan has a question for me?”

“About us. Are we more than just party members?”

Upon hearing the question, Luna blushed immediately and closed her mouth, refusing to say anything. A heavy silence filled the small shack where only moments before things had seemed so cramped.

Finally, Luna broke the silence.

“What kind of relationship would Hassan prefer? What would you like me to be?”

“Hmm… How about girlfriend?”

This was the most courageous moment of my life.

My past was filled with countless rejections; yet here I was, making what could possibly be my first real confession.

With my heart racing wildly, I stared at Luna.

Luna, too flustered to answer outright, bowed her head, eyes fixed on her feet below. The way her toes wriggled in embarrassment was incredibly cute.

“Ha, Hassan… actually, I have a confession too…”

“Confession?”

The word ‘confession’ made my chest drop heavily.

Yes, there are only two possible answers, right? And unless it’s either ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ something unusual, perhaps undesirable, was sure to follow.

“What are you going to confess?”

Still holding on to a tiny hope, I gingerly asked her. Luna continued to hesitate, head bowed low and fumbling anxiously.

“Speak up, I won’t get angry.”

“Last time, when I stayed up on night watch, I prayed to Mother Nox, Goddess of the Night…”

“…”

This was an extension of a story Luna had tried to tell many times but couldn’t due to interruptions. Now, we were the only two people here in this tiny confined space.

So, I waited anxiously as Luna’s lips formed words.

“Mother Nox answered my first prayer. Although, it might have been a hallucination. Maybe I dreamt it while half asleep…”

Luna paused again.

“Why? Come on, keep talking.”

“My… Mother Nox says that my marriage partner must be a great male god, or at least a hero who has accomplished great feats…”

It felt like someone had whacked me on the back of the head with a hammer.

Even though Luna doesn’t know that Nox is her mother, I’ve had an encounter with her, so I am aware of this truth. That Nox, who could perhaps have been Luna’s girlfriend’s mother, seems to dislike me.

Probably because…

I’m far from being a great god or a hero.

I’m just Hassan, an irregular immigrant laborer with no permits!!

It’s as if your parents disapprove of your relationship, although this doesn’t feel quite the same thing. But I can’t think of any other fitting explanation.

Still, Nox blessed me before, so she didn’t seem completely against me back then.

I said to Luna,

“Still…weren’t we together yesterday, without considering any pledge of purity?”

I clung onto any straw that might save me from this sinking situation.

And Luna replied.

“…I was only allowed one day.”

“Are you serious?”

I actually felt my knees buckle.

I collapsed unto the ground, as if the string controlling a puppet had suddenly snapped and left me sprawled there.

“…So you’re going to get married to someone else, someday?”

Shaking her head in response to my question, Luna declared,

“I don’t want anyone else but Hassan. I haven’t even entertained the thought.”

Hearing Luna’s words made strength flow back to my body. I needed to get up now.

“So then…how does one become this hero?”

Is there some sort of certification process?

As it turned out…

The next day, when I asked Hippolyte at the training grounds, I received a fairly shocking answer.

“You can earn credentials.”

[Author’s Note]

Mr. Willbegood!!! Mr. Soto!!! Mr. orz055055!!! Mr. Bodymaster!!! Mr. inno0822!!!

Mr. Yanggang Master!!! Mr. Waterfall Sound!!! Mr. Honor7!!! Mr. Greenwave23!!! Mr. Kadeom!!!

And Miss Moon Princess!!! Thank you so much for your support coupons…!! To all who anonymously sent me manuscript coupons, I am endlessly grateful…!!! ㅠㅠ… I’m touched…ㅠㅠ… Hah!

Thank you to everyone who left comments. I read every single one…!!

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