45 times
Pluto’s black star
045 ? Pluto’s Black Star #4
“Hmm, hmm, Hassan of Samaria, you have a habit of trying to release the excitement of battle into sexual desire, yes. But I am not a priestess of Venus. If you have sexual desires, let others release them.”
“That was actually a rescue operation for someone who had difficulty breathing….”
“Whew-, that’s enough. Since you have the merit of this incident, I’ll just let it slide. But there will be no next time.”
When Hippolyte came to her senses, she began to suspect something on her own, and then she came to forgive me on her own.
In a world where most medical procedures are considered illegal, I stopped explaining CPR because I knew she wouldn’t know. Whatever I said, it wouldn’t reach her ears.
If some woman took off my pants while I was unconscious and shouted, “I was performing CPR on you!” would I believe her?
“That’s even more impressive. It’s a brutal and savage move, but it missed everyone’s vital points precisely. They’re injured, but their lives are not in danger. It’ll be easy to capture them and interrogate them.”
Hippolyte complimented my swordsmanship as if to change the mood. I swung my sword with the intention of killing, but it was a bit funny that I said I missed all the vital points.
But, I think that was good enough for my poor swordsmanship.
“Necromancer Coma. Your status is now under the control of Hippolyte, a priestess of the Temple of Mars.”
Hippolyte spoke to the necromancer who was flopping on the floor with both arms cut off. Then the necromancer coughed up blood and laughed.
“Death… can’t redeem anyone… I said… That’s why it’s not equal… .”
Pass-.
At the same time, the shaman’s body began to scatter in all directions like dry sand. Shit, what the hell is going on?
Not only the shaman, but also the bodies of all the cultists lying around were shattered into dust.
“… Did you use poison? Taking your own life? Aren’t you afraid of eternal punishment in Tartarus?”
“Already… . All that was desired has been achieved… . The primordial firmament… . The seed has been planted in the bodies of the rightful successors… . Chaos… . wants a new… . “
With those words, the necromancer’s body disintegrated into dust. All that remained were his tattered, blood-stained robes and the strange, mallet-shaped necklace he was wearing.
Hippolyta said, picking up the necklace.
“This is an epic-level relic. The Black Star. I heard it was lost in a temple in the Kallan region a dozen years ago. Was that what this guy was holding?”
Swish-.
Then he held it out to me. Having already experienced the ominous and terrifying majesty of that necklace, I was taken aback and my voice trembled.
“What, what is it?”
“Koma is no different from what you killed, so the spoils are yours. The ownership of this black star is yours.”
“Is it true?”
An epic relic? Shit, I’m feeling down!!!
I can have that. Didn’t they say that if it was an epic relic, it would be worth a dozen gold coins?
“Thank you, Lady Hippolyte!”
“You are just receiving the price for what you did. More than that, you exceeded my expectations, Hassan of Samaria. The Black Star of Kalan emits a mana strong enough to split the mind. To endure that and subdue them all-.”
Hippolyte said something. My mind was full of glittering gold coins. I didn’t know what to do with them.
Should I buy a house? Or a carriage? Damn, my poor brain can’t come up with an answer!
“Anyway, take it. It’s creepy, but I don’t think this relic and I are compatible. I don’t want to hold on to it.”
“Compatibility? Are there compatibility issues with relics?”
“Yes, epic-level relics are tools and treasures used by heroes who once left their names in the epics of history. They are miraculous products that were created by deeply engraving their karma. Therefore, if you are not someone who matches their karma, they are actually useless items. Some people go crazy because they can’t handle it.”
I don’t know what you mean. Is it similar to a job-specific item?
This black star is said to be an item exclusive to so-called necromancers, and is nothing more than an expensive piece of junk for other professions that don’t have the right compatibility with it.
Swish-.
Anyway, I took the relic from Hippolyte’s hands.
At that moment, it felt like electricity was rushing from the tip of my palm to my spinal cord and then to my head, and with a tingling sound effect, letters appeared before my eyes.
“You have acquired Pluto’s Black Star.”
『You can strengthen the equipment Black Star by consuming 100 task points.』
『Would you like to use the task value to strengthen the black star into Pluto’s eye?』
“yes.”
“no.”
The words that appeared before my eyes were telling me a rather strange story. You can use task points to strengthen your equipment? Do relics even have such a function?
In fact, this is not the first time I have been able to get my hands on a narrative artifact.
Before being freed from slavery, he first obtained the Staff of Clepius, and acquired this miraculous dexterity along with the writing.
I didn’t know it at the time. After obtaining this necklace and the black star, I cautiously guessed that epic-level relics possessed strange abilities and powers that could not be explained by reason.
Shit, the task values are going all over the place. They really are really valuable values. Of course, since I have a rough idea of how to collect them, it’s not a big problem.
“What’s wrong? Is there a problem? You’re not out of your mind or anything, are you?”
But then Hippolyta drew her sword and acted as if she was going to cut off my head, so I snapped out of my thoughts and opened my mouth to speak.
“No problem. Ka, put the knife away, please.”
“Then let’s go back. Anyway, Hassan of Samaria-. You’ve done quite a great job. There will be good news from the guild. You can look forward to it.”
* * *
As the party returned to the place where they had partyed with the skeletons, the priestess Cassandra was performing various healing acts on the people.
People with bandages wrapped here and there and groaning. The first one to greet me among them was Sval, the musician Malko with a nose.
“Brother! You came back safely!”
“Damn, how are you alive and well among those skeletons?”
“It was a requiem to comfort the dead, and to guide them safely to Charon.”
“I was the one protecting Malko-kun.”
Bu-chae appeared, revealing a huge shadow with his upper body wrapped tightly in bandages. He looked back and forth between the relic necklace hanging around my neck and Hippolyte, and asked with narrow eyes.
“Lady Hippolyte, what about the coma…?”
“He’s dead. All of Kallan’s cult followers.”
“I see. But… is it okay to assume that the reason the Samaritan Army is wearing that necklace is because of that?”
Nod-.
Hippolyte nodded without answering, and Bucer licked her thick lips with his tongue, making them sticky.
“Samaritan, the more I see you, the more interesting you become. My affection for you has increased.”
Shit, isn’t this kid more dangerous than a socialite, just for men? I want to swing my sword and kill him, but if we fight, I’ll lose nine times out of ten. I’m confident I’ll lose in 5 seconds.
If I just lose, there won’t be a problem, dammit.
“More than that, sir. There is an entrance to Pluto’s ruins here in Kallan.”
“Pluto’s ruins?”
“Yes, I think that’s why there are so many cultists and abnormal fog. I’ve blocked the entrance for now, but I might have to come back soon to take care of things.”
“Well, I’ll have to discuss that with the other Silver Tiers. Anyway, let’s head back. It’s fortunate that we finished earlier than expected. If we had continued walking through the fog and swamps, it would have taken longer.”
That marked the end of a journey that lasted about two days. Including the return trip, it took a total of three days.
I was so exhausted from all kinds of fatigue that the moment I saw the tall walls of Sodomora, I felt like all the energy was drained from my body.
Shit, you’re finally back. I feel like I’ve aged by five years.
“Then I, as the representative, will report the completion of the mission. Please receive the distribution of the commission from each receptionist tomorrow.”
After disbanding at the West Gate, it is now time for each person to have their own personal time and freedom.
From the crocodile skins you just got to the goblin teeth, the thought of selling your loot for cash makes you feel really good. It’s like floating into the air and walking on clouds.
Where should I sell it? Should I go to a general store? What was the name of that general store back then? – I was lost in thought when someone tapped me on the back.
“What, it’s Luna.”
“Hatsan.”
“Why, what do you have to say? Do you want to drink together again today?”
“Yeah, you’ve worked hard! This is a time for debriefing! Well, is there anything else you need to do?”
There’s really nothing for me to do, having just returned home.
If there is, it’s just going to the bathhouse, washing your dirty body, and thinking about how to use the money you’ve earned wisely?
“There’s nothing in particular to do.”
“Then, just like last time, be sure to come to the Nymph Wing Inn by dinner time!”
And then, before I could answer, he ran off somewhere and disappeared.
That guy also harvested various materials during this expedition, like swamp mushrooms and such, so I wonder if he went to sell them.
Come to think of it, Luna, who I thought would be a burden, surprisingly showed great activity. If she hadn’t been able to chase away the group of crocodiles, we might have all been annihilated there.
It was a promise to form a fixed party only until Luna was promoted to Bronze Tier. If Luna continues to do this, it seems like it would be a very good option to continue doing quests together like this.
Anyway, since the sun was high in the sky and I had some time until dinner time, I stopped by the bathhouse to wash up and then wandered around the streets looking for a nearby clothing store.
I lost one of the crocodile skins as a sacrifice or tribute, but I still have one good quality crocodile skin left.
Which clothing store is good?
After much thought, I stopped at a place with a large sign that said, “A clothing store blessed by Minerva.”
A clothing store that received grace? I don’t know what that means, but I guess it’s similar to the way they put up a sign saying “Winner of some sewing competition” in front of a tailor shop?
* * *
Just-.
As you open the wooden door and step inside, the inside reveals a brightly colored timber store with various fabrics and wallpaper.
It’s somehow refreshing and cool, and it smells good. Jasmine? Lavender? I don’t know.
“Oh, young Samaritan. Come in.”
The one who accepted me like that was a woman with long, dark blue hair.
She was wearing a purple off-shoulder short dress that appeared to be made of silk, revealing her pure white thighs, calves, shoulders, and neck, which was quite dazzling.
Above all, it was very provocative because the side was precariously tied with a single knot and exposed. Indeed, she was a person in the fashion industry.
But her face was sharp and fierce, but overall she was a great beauty, giving off a rather eerie vibe. She was probably in her early to mid thirties?
Of course, people in this world shouldn’t judge age simply by its appearance. Anyway, while I was thinking about that, the hostess said.
“Young Samaritan, what brings you here? That’s a nice necklace. It’s stylish. It looks quite expensive. I’ve seen it somewhere.”
A woman whose eyes sparkle when she sees the relic hanging around my neck. I wonder if she has any knowledge of accessories as she works in the fashion industry.
“I, uh, I’m looking to sell some leather.”
“Leather? If it’s leather, is it rabbit? Squirrel? Deer?”
“It’s a crocodile.”
“What? Oh, an alligator? Wow, that’s funny. I never thought of that. Then take it out and see.”
So I took out the crocodile skin from my backpack. I could catch the blue eyes of the woman who accepted the long, stiff object, darting back and forth for a moment.
“This is very good quality. Swamp crocodile skin is fragile, but it has been well-maintained. The drying process seems a bit lacking. Still, I can give you 7 silver for this.”
“oh.”
7 silver? That’s higher than expected.
“Or, if you add 3 silver, I can make you a set of clothes. I’ll make a jacket, a pair of pants, and some left over.”
The young proprietress of the lumber shop looked me up and down and said this. Was I a bit shabby in my rags?
Actually, I was happy to accept the offer because I was thinking of making clothes out of this crocodile skin.
“Then I’ll give you three silver.”
“Okay. Contrary to my expectations, you’re actually quite well-off. Now, let me take a quick look at your body measurements….”
The blue-haired woman came up to me and started measuring my waist, chest, arms, and other parts of my body with something like a belt.
Molkang-.
Her large, soft breasts began to touch my arms and back, and I felt the blood rush to my lower body. Did she not realize that they were touching? Or was she doing it on purpose?
I think I’ve heard of a ghost story going around among male adventurers, that there are female owners who use their bodies to increase the number of regular customers in their stores.
“Then just sit there and wait for about thirty minutes.”
“Will it be finished in thirty minutes?” Subal, it’s much faster than I thought.
“I have been blessed by Minerva, the goddess of talent. I am on a whole other level than those idiots.”
The hostess, who was snorting confidently, soon came with sewing scissors, needles, thread, etc. and began cutting and sewing the leather and adding fabric to make clothes.
Slap, slap – swoosh.
The sight is dazzling and incredibly skillful, like a spider building a web with its many legs.
“I think I have some cloth and leather left. Do you need anything else?”
“Excuse me, can you make something like this with what’s left?”
“Aha, that’s easy. But I’ll have to charge you two silvers as an extra fee. It’s a pretty demanding piece.”
“hmm….”
So I was able to put together a pair of fairly sturdy leather pants and a pair of sweatshirt-style tops.
And here’s a bonus tool made from the remaining cloth. This one turned out to be surprisingly well-made. Those with grace really have different talents.
“See you next time, Samaritan friend!”
I wave my hand lightly to the waving hostess and walk out onto the street.
As we headed towards the Nymph Wing Inn along the now familiar route under the already darkening sky, we saw a pink-haired girl holding a table in the corner of the first floor tavern.
“Hatsan! Over here!”
“Has Malko arrived yet?”
“Huh? You didn’t call me, Kojangi? You said you had an appointment with the head of the department. But you changed your clothes! You look like a capable thief!”
Luna often told me that I was like a murderer, a bandit, a robber.
Is this guy a compliment in his own right? This time, he even added the word ‘competent’ to the beginning, so this is definitely an excessive compliment, damn it. Anyway, it’s a compliment.
Luna looks around here and there as I am momentarily lost in thought.
“Wow, crocodile leather is definitely good. Ideophee considers crocodile leather to be the best. Not just anyone can use it and wear it carelessly.”
“okay?”
“I’m jealous! I wish I was strong enough to catch a crocodile!!”
If you think about it, crocodile skin was quite expensive even in the world I lived in. There was a lot of talk about animal abuse and such.
Luna, who had been sniffing the new clothes, now had sparkling eyes as if she was interested in something hidden behind my back.
“Moreover, what is that behind it?”
“Oh, this? Here, take this. It’s yours. I made it for you.”
Actually, I was going to give it to you a little later, but I can’t do anything about it since you already found out.
“Mine, mine? Really!? Really!?”
“Really. I paid 2 more silver for it.”
30% of the crocodile skin. If it weren’t for Luna, I wouldn’t have been able to catch the crocodiles. In a way, this is like a fair price that Luna should pay.
So I gave Luna a pair of tiny sandals made of crocodile skin.
In terms of appearance, it should be said that they are sandals with straps and leather, like those worn by typical ancient Europeans.
Anyway, Luna’s emerald eyes, which had accepted it, opened wide enough to look like the size of a king’s bell.
Gulp-.
Soon, large, clear tears fell drop by drop from her eyes that had grown as big as they could be.
[Work Review]
Hassan’s first expedition ended safely..!! I tried to catch my breath at a fairly long tempo, but I wonder if it was okay…!!
And as a side note….recommendations….comments….coupons….!!!!
If three technologies come together and form a combination, maybe tomorrow. Whoosh!!
