Chapter 8

Chapter 8: Hassan is now a free man.

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“Mr. Samaritan, we’re here. This is the city of Sodomora, the city of indulgence. All the people who have some muscle tend to gather here.”

The carriage pulled by two horses had run nonstop for a whole day to arrive at the city of Sodomora.

My first impression as we entered the city walls was that it was disgustingly dirty.

Even Kolkata, a city where Elpride once had her base, reeked of the usual medieval grime and barbarism. But this Sodomora was so messy that Kolkata would seem like a brand-new city by comparison.

Trash and filth were scattered everywhere without a care.

The sewage system, if there was one, seemed completely neglected, with water spilling out in various places to create pools of muddy swamps everywhere.

The roads were so uneven it was difficult for carriages to pass, and the buildings looked like they were patched together with boards, with wet rags hung on laundry lines, creating an incredibly messy sight.

Just standing here on the street felt like it was lowering my San(?) levels.

sh*t, if I lived here, I’d definitely catch some disease—cholera, malaria, plague or something.

But I wasn’t as soft as to complain or frown at something like this, having traveled to various places as a slave.

“What are you looking at, b*stard?”

“Black hair, huh? My luck’s bad from the start today, cough—spit.”

A few passersby cursed at me. Of course, this was an everyday occurrence. But while Kolkata had some semblance of rules and common sense, the rough-looking people here all seemed like hidden thieves with knives in their pockets, ready to strike.

The looks of the beggars and street sleepers were unnervingly sharp, too, as if they were clearly sizing me up.

They were definitely targeting easy prey. They looked like they’d bash you in the back of the head with a hidden club and steal everything you had if they could.

In fact, in that nearby alley, I could see what looked like a beggar or a street sleeper being trampled by a few men.

“Ugh, ugh! S-stop! I’m really dying—!”

“d*e, you b*stard! How dare you put pineapple in my pizza? I was ready to tolerate the mint-flavored beer, but this is unacceptable!”

“Let’s cut off your fingers so you can never make such a dish again!”

What the hell, man. Cutting off fingers over something like that?

I quickly averted my gaze to avoid getting involved in some unnecessary trouble.

Just then, the grizzly-toothed driver gave me a smirk.

“Such a warm city, isn’t it? After traveling such a long distance, could you pay me 80 copper coins? And if you want to give more, that’s fine too.”

80 copper coins—about the price of a carriage ride Finley had mentioned. So apparently, they weren’t trying to take advantage of me for being unfamiliar with the area.

One silver coin equals about 100 copper coins, so I reached into the pouch I had prepared beforehand and handed over one silver coin.

The driver took the coin and said:

“Silver! I guess I owe you some change now.”

“No, keep it. I have a question, though. Are you originally from this city of Sodomora? Do you know your way around?”

“Sure, I know this place so well I can navigate it with my eyes closed.”

“Do you know where the Adventurer’s Guild is?”

I knew the layout of Kolkata fairly well after staying there for about a year, but I was completely clueless in Sodomora.

Without a smartphone or a friendly map in this world, there was no choice but to ask around for the way.

It was better to ask the driver, who just spent a night and day on the road with me, about the directions than to grab random people on the street.

“Hmm…”

The driver seemed to understand what I was saying and began scratching his scraggly beard with his fingernails.

“Of course I know the way to the Adventurer’s Guild. Now, Mr. Samaritan, are you heading to the Minerva Guild or the Mars Guild?”

“Two guilds?”

“Yeah. This place is a city almost as big as the capital, so naturally there’s more than one. And, of course, it’s filthy like nowhere else. Anyway, if you’re registering as an adventurer, you’ll need to make the right choice.”

Minerva Guild and Mars Guild. I had a vague memory of hearing these names, but nothing specific came to mind.

My knowledge over the past two years had mainly focused on pleasing Elpride, after all.

The driver noticed my pause and clicked his tongue in disapproval.

“Mr. Samaritan, looks like you’re fresh off the boat and know nothing. You won’t last a week in this city. But since I’ve already received silver for it, I’ll explain. Listen closely now.”

He glanced around with bloodshot eyes before continuing.

“The Minerva Guild is an institution that also serves as a shrine to the goddess Minerva, the goddess of wisdom and exploration. The Mars Guild is the guild that worships Mars, the god of struggle and courage. There are slight differences between the two.”

“Differences?”

“Well, they’re somewhat similar, but the Minerva Guild tends to attract the illegitimate children of noble families and other weirdos obsessed with discovering the unknown. The Mars Guild, on the other hand, feels more like a place for brawlers and street thugs who can’t control their youthful energy. Since you’re Samaritan, I’d recommend the Mars Guild.”

With the driver’s explanation, I nodded absent-mindedly, muttering, “I see.”

For some reason, hearing ‘Minerva’ and ‘Mars’ reminded me of something familiar—oh, weren’t these similar to the names of ancient Roman deities?

In fact, much of the culture, religion, and language here mirrored Earth, at least to some extent.

Of course, there were also many differences.

Still, it seemed humanity was similar no matter where it existed.

“Shall I take you to the Mars Guild, then? Consider it a free service.”

—

“Wow…”

After stepping out of the carriage, I squinted up at the towering building in front of me, genuinely impressed.

The statement that the guild also served as a shrine to a god wasn’t an exaggeration at all.

Though I hadn’t expected much, the building’s architecture was surprisingly powerful and majestic, leaving me momentarily stunned.

It seemed like it was built in an ancient architectural style, with columns made of processed granite and marble supporting a triangular roof.

In this world of barbarism and violence, the existence of such advanced architecture was surprising. Of course, even on Earth, religious structures were often constructed with great care—like pyramids, ancient Greek temples, or the elaborate ancestral altars my father used to set up for festive occasions.

“Alright, I’ll be going now. Wishing you the blessings of Mars, Mr. Samaritan. Oh, if you need to travel to other cities later, look for me, Gullio!”

“Gullio?”

“Sounds similar to the name of the messenger god, doesn’t it? Easy to remember, right? Anyway, hang in there. Let’s go, Speedy Wagon!”

clip-clop

The driver cracked the whip, and the horses began trotting away with the sound of hooves.

Left standing in front of the Adventurer’s Guild, I tidied up my scruffy beard, tangled hair, and leather clothing that resembled rags before stepping inside the massive building.

Inside, the space was just as wide as I’d imagined. A sort of large, open hall greeted me, with counters that looked like bank teller windows lining the walls. Neatly dressed women with tidy haircuts were sitting at the counters, dealing with people.

Unlike the chaotic and messy scenes outside the city, there was a sense of civilization here that tickled my 21st-century sensibilities.

Indeed, this was a shrine as well.

Though I felt slightly embarrassed by my disheveled appearance, the bearded and brawny individuals walking around weren’t much better off, so I gained back some confidence.

Men and women alike were armed with armor, shields, swords, and bows, creating a peculiar atmosphere of strangeness and tension.

I cleared my throat a couple of times before approaching an empty counter. A green-haired woman with slightly pointed ears glanced up and asked in a gentle tone:

“What can I do for you?”

“Um, I’d like to register as an adventurer with the guild.”

“New registration?”

“Yes.”

How long has it been since I last went through such formal procedures? Even for something simple like this, my palms started sweating unnaturally.

“Do you have the fee?”

“Fee?”

“There’s a fee for new adventurer registration—20 silver coins. Is that clear?”

As she turned around and pointed with her fingertip at a sign on the wall, I followed her thin finger and saw a large wooden board with the words carved in bold letters: “Registration Fee: 20 Silver Coins—Mars Guild.”

“Ah, but before that, can you read?”

“Yes, I can read.”

“Ah-ha.”

With an expression of obvious surprise, the receptionist raised her eyebrows. In this world, where illiteracy was rampant, it seemed unusual that someone who looked like a barbarian could read.

And the truth is, I was surprised that I could read their script too.

Anyway…

I learned for the first time that it would cost 20 silver coins to register as an adventurer. It’s like a membership fee, right?

Still, 20 silver coins isn’t a small amount—it made me feel reluctant to part with the money.

“Our fees are much cheaper compared to the Minerva Guild. They charge 40 silver coins for registration, including literacy and skills training… which is basically just basic swordplay. They’re just thievery personified.”

“G- guess so…”

Sensing my hesitation, the receptionist smoothly encouraged me, but the mention of 40 silver coins made my head go blank with anxiety.

sh*t, if I had gone to the Minerva Guild, I’d have been kicked out for lack of funds.

Thank you, knowledgeable driver, for recommending the Mars Guild instead.

“Since you said you can read, just review the rules here and sign with your mark. There are no refunds, so think carefully before you commit.”

rustle

The receptionist handed me a thick packet of bound scrolls.

The cheap parchment and paper seemed to be poorly stitched together, creating a book of sorts. The text inside resembled squiggly worms, and I couldn’t tell if it was due to the unreadable script of this world or just poor handwriting over time.

“It’s formalities. Just mark it with your signature.”

“A-all right.”

crunch

“Alright, let me help you settle the payment first. That’s 20 silver coins.”

I took out 20 silver coins from my pouch and handed them over as instructed. I wondered how many bowls of rice soup this amount could buy.

As I hesitated, regretful, the receptionist snatched the coins from my hand with remarkable speed.

“Hmm, 20 silver coins. Perfectly accurate. Confirmed. Now, may I ask for your name?”

The receptionist met my gaze, double-checking as she recounted the coins. Looking at her face, I realized she was surprisingly attractive, making me slightly nervous.

Ever since the ‘Curse of Doubles’ lifted, it seems like every eye contact makes me feel like Juje would spring to life.

“H-hassan.”

“Hac-Sac Danda?”

“No, Hassan. Hassan.”

“Ah, Mr. Hassan. Would you mind placing a fingerprint here? It might feel a bit prickly for some people.”

The receptionist handed me a small pen-like item. Its tip was rather sharp, making me apprehensive about how painful it would feel.

“Which finger?”

“Any finger. Choose one that won’t hurt too much.”

But, seriously, which finger doesn’t hurt?

With no better option, I tentatively pressed my left thumb, lessening the pressure as much as possible. A slight pricking sensation followed, and a drop of bl**d appeared, soaking into the pen’s tip.

“Now, please turn it over to me.”

The receptionist took the pen and pulled out a blank piece of parchment, using the bl**d to write something in crimson letters.

Squiggle, Squiggle.

“`plaintext

Name: Hassan

Strength: 2

Agility: 2

Vitality: 3

Blessing: Amateurish Craftsmanship

“`

“What does this mean?”

In response to my question, the receptionist calmly explained:

“This is Mr. Hassan’s karma, transcribed through your bl**d. This paper and pen allow us to read it. Strength 2, Agility 2, Vitality 3. Overall, not bad. Added together, your total score is 7, an excellent indicator of health. There don’t seem to be any disqualifying factors.”

“Is there such a thing?”

“The average scores for a healthy adult male are around 1 each, with a total of about 3. People with scores lower than that might face difficulties and aren’t eligible to register. We wouldn’t want a disqualifying factor like that.”

In other words, the score of 1 seems to represent an average person. According to that, my stats don’t seem too bad.

“Could something be wrong with the transcription? Like a typo or something being left out?”

“On the name of Mars, I can assure you that is impossible. This detection needle is a story-grade artifact, after all. Anyway, you’ve passed the physical examination…”

I had no idea the guild had such a disqualification rule.

As I stared at the words on the paper, the receptionist swallowed hard and quietly added:

“By the way, you’ve been granted a ‘blessing’—’Amateurish Craftsmanship.’ I’ve never seen this type before… Please wait a moment.”

Whoosh

Pushing back her chair, the receptionist hurried off somewhere.

I turned my gaze back to the paper and quietly muttered the grotesque incantation from a crumpled old pamphlet from long ago, in a voice so low no one could hear it.

“Hail Chaos!”

Chime!

An artificial jingle rang out, and new words appeared before my eyes.

“`plaintext

Name: Hassan Lvl. 7

Strength: 2

Agility: 2

Vitality: 3

Quests: 307

Blessing: Blessing of Chaos, Amateurish Craftsmanship

“`

Something seems seriously off no matter how I look at this.

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[Author’s Note] This chapter was uploaded as a scheduled release. Another one will come out in about three hours!

Please give likes and recommendations! Though I’m hesitant to shout this out loud since there aren’t many chapters yet!

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