—————————————————————–
Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Simzy
—————————————————————–
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
To put it simply, we had won. But there was no time for celebration.
Lina had cornered Nasen and sliced him in two.
Nasen’s lower half lay before Lina, severed.
But Lina spoke somberly,
“We let them get away.”
It was absurd, but she said that Nasen could still be alive even after being cut in half.
“They use wicked magic. Unless their heads are cut off and their bodies burned, there’s always a chance they’ll survive.”
They were terrifying opponents.
There was a reason Huruuku had fled with Nasen’s upper half.
“Why aren’t we pursuing them, Lady Lina?”
“If we pursue them unprepared, we could be endangered by Nasen’s curses. If only the elder shaman were here… or if I had been able to suppress Nasen’s magic… It was my mistake to let him escape.”
It wasn’t a complete loss.
Searching the pockets of Nasen’s severed lower half, they found some useful information.
[Assassinate – Victoria]
It seemed to be an order from their superiors.
Although they had lost the two men, they now knew their next target.
Kerry simply thought,
“We’ll meet again,”
but Lina’s expression was grave.
Her hand trembled as she held the paper with the order written on it.
What was wrong?
Kerry had a hunch.
‘Could it be… that Victoria is also Lina’s former comrade?’
He knew nothing about the history between Lina and those men. But Lina’s reaction seemed similar to Natasha’s earlier.
Lina clenched her fists.
‘Victoria’s assassination is happening earlier than in my past life? Why? Is it because I’m gradually changing the past?’
The only changed variable was herself, the Regressor. There could be no other explanation.
As Kerry suspected, Victoria was Lina’s former comrade. Even in her past life, Victoria hadn’t died in this assassination attempt.
However, her entire family, except for Victoria, had been massacred. More accurately, they had been sacrificed in a ritual.
Lina tightened her grip on the paper.
‘I have to save Victoria.’
The days she had spent laughing with Victoria were still vivid in her mind. Lina wanted to save Victoria, no matter what.
After the commotion at the farmhouse, the villagers arrived, armed with weapons.
They were wary of Lina’s group, the outsiders, but Kerry’s proactive approach quickly cleared up the misunderstanding.
He was the hero who had saved the village with the holy water. Even though he had been paid for it.
Lina’s expression was dark, as if she felt guilty about the villagers who had died.
Kerry noticed her feelings.
It was more accurate to say that he saw them rather than noticed them.
“It wasn’t your fault, Lady Lina.”
At his words, Lina gave a bitter smile and nodded.
“Kerry, how did you know to prepare like that?”
She seemed to be referring to the Molotov cocktails.
If it weren’t for Kerry’s help, they would have been in grave danger.
Of course, as a Regressor, she might have had some hidden tricks up her sleeve.
“While investigating the village, I saw many people who weren’t well. I’d seen people afflicted by voodoo curses before, and their symptoms were very similar. That’s how I figured out what they were planning.”
Of course, it was all a made-up explanation.
Lina seemed to believe him without a doubt.
Being too trusting wasn’t always a good thing.
“I’m not very strong. So I have to contribute in other ways.”
“Don’t say that. You’re a valuable asset to the party, Kerry. We would have been in danger this time if it weren’t for your quick thinking.”
‘I did a good job this time, didn’t I, Lina? You should take good care of me from now on.’
He was overjoyed to have deepened his bond with the Regressor.
“Natasha, where’s the elder?”
“I told her to wait in the village, since it seemed too dangerous for her.”
In hindsight, it wasn’t a bad decision.
‘We really need a main tank. The party balance is off without someone to protect the rear.’
Lina would probably handle the party recruitment well. It wasn’t his concern.
“Husband, you saved me again. Hehe.”
“You saved me too, Natasha.”
Natasha seemed completely smitten.
He gently peeled her off of him and headed towards the dining area.
After all their hard work, the meal was especially delicious.
Just then, he saw the young men from the village approaching the entrance.
“Oh? Adventurer! You’re having a meal.”
“Hero of the village! Thanks to the holy water you gave us, our village has been saved. Everyone has been cured of the voodoo curse.”
“Thank you so much, adventurer!”
He explained to his party, who were looking at him expectantly, that he had given the holy water to the villagers who were turning into ghouls due to the voodoo curse.
Lina spoke with admiration,
“You’ve accomplished so much in such a short time.”
“It was nothing. And this is the reward I received from the villagers for the holy water. As promised, let’s split it three ways.”
Everyone seemed surprised when he placed the heavy money pouch on the table.
He hadn’t intended to keep it all to himself.
Being too greedy would only lead to trouble.
‘I’ve already set aside half for myself.’
As Natasha rushed towards him, showering him with praise, the young men from the village said with mischievous smiles,
“Wow, adventurer. Now that you have all this money… you can finally do ‘that’.”
“That?”
He looked at them questioningly, and they repeated,
“The pride of our village!”
‘The pride of the village… Brown-haired Ellie!’
“Ah! The pride of the village? I can’t miss that.”
The young men burst into laughter. Lina and the others looked confused.
‘Let’s stop with the risky jokes.’
He gestured for the young men to leave, and they playfully cheered him on as they retreated to a corner of the tavern.
‘Lina will probably want to leave first thing tomorrow morning… so tonight is my last chance to see Brown-haired Ellie.’
It was time for the hero who saved the village to experience the village’s pride.
As expected, Lina suggested they set off for their next destination in the morning. To the place where Victoria, Lina’s former comrade, was located.
Lina had to save Victoria.
“I’ve heard the name Victoria before. She’s the daughter of a lord in a territory quite far from here. Shall we depart for there tomorrow? It’s the right thing to do to warn her of the danger… and we might encounter those two if we wait for them there.”
This meant that tonight was his last chance to see Brown-haired Ellie, the pride of the village.
He had to leave this village tomorrow morning.
“The morning air is chilly.”
The full moon illuminated the pre-dawn sky, bright enough that he didn’t need any other light to see.
The place where Ellie was located was called the Red-Light District.
It seemed to be a sizable red-light district, and Ellie was said to be quite exclusive, even there.
He could see the brightly lit street in the distance. Just as the young men had described.
Kerry put on a mask.
Since the Regressor and her companions were women, his image would plummet if they found out he frequented such places.
‘But I can’t leave without seeing the pride of the village!’
He asked for directions to the largest brothel in the Red-Light District. A large bouncer standing in front of the brothel politely asked,
“Do you have a reservation?”
He hadn’t thought about reservations. Did he need a reservation to see Ellie?
“I’m here to see Ellie.”
“Ellie is taking the day off due to the unfortunate incident in the village.”
She was taking the day off. But tonight was his last chance. Still, there might be a way.
“I’m not here for business. I have a message I must deliver to Ellie.”
“May I ask what the message is?”
“I’ve come to deliver her father’s last words.”
It was a lie, but it was effective. One of the large bouncers went inside, and shortly after, a demure woman came to escort him.
Everywhere he looked, there were people drinking. He could occasionally hear laughter amidst the noisy revelry.
It wasn’t just a brothel, it also served alcohol.
The luxurious atmosphere made it clear that it was an expensive establishment.
He had the money from selling the holy water, but he wondered if it would be enough.
The woman who was guiding him stopped in front of a door and respectfully bowed, stepping aside.
Brown-haired Ellie was beyond this door.
Since it was a woman’s room, he knocked before opening the door.
It was a large room, big enough to accommodate at least fifteen people.
A woman was kneeling demurely in the center of the room.
He saw a woman with brown hair and fair skin.
She was so beautiful that even the moonlight seemed to pale in comparison.
She possessed a pure aura, unusual for a prostitute, yet also an undeniable allure.
Although her clothes concealed her figure, he had a feeling that something incredible lay beneath.
He now understood why the young men sang Ellie’s praises.
“Welcome, adventurer. I’ve heard a lot about you. You saved the village, didn’t you?”
Ellie’s eyes were still moist with tears.
It seemed to be because of her father, who had passed away today.
She was breathtakingly beautiful, even while crying.
“I simply did what any human being should do.”
“You’re even humble. You’re truly wonderful. Thank you sincerely for saving the village. It’s a small gesture, but allow me to attend to you tonight, adventurer.”
For free? Free was good, but this didn’t seem like it was going in that direction.
It seemed she wanted to show respect to the hero who had saved the village and hear her father’s last words.
Ellie demurely approached him and offered him a drink.
This was quite different from the lewd atmosphere he had encountered on his way here.
‘Well, her father passed away today… would she be in the mood?’
But Ellie’s beauty stirred his desires.
After exchanging a few drinks and engaging in some polite conversation, Kerry finally broached the topic Ellie was most curious about.
“Regarding your father…”
“Yes, adventurer?”
“He was dying because of those wicked men who were causing trouble in the village.”
“Yes…”
Ellie’s expression darkened.
What emotions was she feeling upon hearing of her father’s death?
Kerry used the Goddess’s Eye to observe Ellie’s emotions.
Seeing Ellie’s emotional state, he could paint a picture of the situation.
What father would be happy about his daughter working in a brothel?
Their relationship had most likely deteriorated significantly after she started working here. It was only natural.
They might have even had a falling out, shouting and arguing.
But the bond between parent and child wasn’t easily broken. Ellie must have longed for her father even while working here.
He felt a pang of guilt, but the best he could do now was to comfort her with the words she most likely wanted to hear.
“Your father’s mind was clouded by their wicked curse. Normally, he wouldn’t have been able to speak… but perhaps his love for his daughter was too strong. He spoke to me clearly. He said he had a daughter… a beloved daughter.”
He glanced at Ellie, who was listening intently, her face streaked with tears. It seemed he hadn’t been too far off the mark.
“He asked me to deliver a message to his beloved daughter. He said he was sorry. That he missed her. And that he was sorry he couldn’t tell her he loved her.”
It was a father’s last words that would be appropriate in any situation.
Ellie finally broke down and sobbed.
Overwhelmed with emotion, she embraced Kerry, whom she had just met.
“…Sob… Dad… Dad…”
Kerry patted Ellie’s back. He felt a deep pang of guilt.
But he didn’t regret seeing Ellie today. She truly was a beauty.
‘…There’s nothing that can be done for the dead, but at least Ellie has found closure with her father. Perhaps it’s for the best.’
After crying for a while, Ellie calmed down and sat up. She spoke in a voice filled with grief,
“My father… he was always a quiet man. He didn’t talk much.”
Most fathers were like that.
“After my mother died of illness… my father became even quieter. He didn’t say much to me, his daughter, but I always knew he loved me.”
“I see.”
“We lived a simple life, farming together and barely making ends meet. Then, one year, there was a terrible famine. And to make matters worse… my father fell ill. It was the same illness that killed my mother.”
He began to understand why Ellie was here.
“I couldn’t lose my father too. But we didn’t even have enough money to survive the winter, let alone pay for his treatment. I resented the world for denying him treatment just because we were poor.”
“But I didn’t have many skills, just farming and chores. Fortunately… thanks to my looks, I was able to work here and send money to my father for his treatment and living expenses.”
“That’s quite a story.”
Seeing his moist eyes, Ellie embraced him again.
“But my father… he was a conservative and stubborn man… sob… He yelled at me, asking why I didn’t just let him die…”
Hearing Ellie’s sobs, he could imagine the rest.
Her father must have been heartbroken to see his daughter become a prostitute.
“I haven’t been able to have a proper conversation with my father since I started working here… but he still loved me. Until the very end… sob… Thank you, adventurer. Thank you for telling me his last words. Thank you so much.”
The last words were a lie, but it had ended successfully.
With such a touching ending, even Ellie’s father in heaven would be nodding in approval.
‘This is touching, but I really want to have sex! But the atmosphere isn’t right…’
Just then, Kerry had a brilliant idea. A way to have sex with Ellie.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
