## Chapter 223 – Holy Knights
Well, still, the room seemed spacious enough for three people.
As soon as I got in, I set my backpack down in the corner and took out some hardtack to chew on. Even though we rode in a carriage, traveling long distances was more exhausting than I thought.
I felt drained all over.
According to the plan, I was going to do some reconnaissance on the day we arrived, but that was impossible in this state. Since things turned out this way, and the time was a bit ambiguous, it seemed better to rest today and head out tomorrow.
“Let’s just rest today and start tomorrow. I’m too tired.”
“Blackie’s right. Yeah, we need a day to rest. This sister here seems ready to work… Elves are elves, after all.”
Wienia seemed to want to rest too.
The carriage had been shaking quite a bit this morning.
“Hmph… I wanted to go out for a bit. Are we really resting today?”
Cloudy seemed disappointed.
As expected of a well-trained half-elf with stamina surpassing humans.
She didn’t seem tired at all, despite the long journey.
I could only imagine how she felt, having been waiting to kill someone.
Of course, if Cloudy wanted to go out right away, I would go with her.
“I do need to stop by a nearby shop… Cloudy, do you want to go outside the village? I’ll go with you then. We need to do reconnaissance anyway.”
“No. It’s okay. We can do it tomorrow.”
“You seem pretty bummed. Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yeah… I’m fine. Are you thinking of me? Thanks.”
“I’m always thinking of you. Duh.”
Cloudy, who seemed cheered up, smiled and sat on the bed. Should I rest for a bit and then go look for a shop? Wienia, who had taken off her coat, rummaged through her bag and said,
“Ugh… I feel so grimy. Blackie, I’m going to go wash up, so go out and buy a map. We need to know what’s around here. And you too, sis. Let’s go together. There’s a shower area outside. Let’s take the nun with us.”
According to the landlady, there was a communal shower area separated by gender in the backyard of the inn. If a roof and fence around a well counted as a shower room, that is.
When asked if we could use it during the war, she said we could for 3 coppers. 3 coppers for a shower was an insane amount, but Wienia didn’t seem to care much.
Her sense of money is different from mine.
And so, Wienia grabbed Cloudy’s hand and went out.
I need to wash up too… Shit. It’s such a waste of money.
Anyway, after sitting for a bit, I went outside as well. I needed a map to catch the bandit bastards around here. It was my first time here.
I didn’t know the terrain at all.
Rushing in blindly would be too dangerous.
I thought about going with Divine Friend, but recalling the conversation from earlier, they said they were going to take a shower together. Feeling a bit disappointed, I strolled through the village.
ㅡOne, two! One, two!
ㅡOne, two! One, two!
ㅡOne, two! One, two!
Whether they were well-disciplined or not, soldiers were marching in formation, stalls were open around them, and there were many groups of adventurers walking around while eating.
Even though it was wartime, the atmosphere wasn’t completely ruined, and there was a sense of everyday life.
Having only thought of war as something like World War II or the Korean War, it felt a bit awkward to me. It seemed that the bandits hadn’t fully invaded the village, but were attacking in a guerrilla style.
As I walked around looking for a general store, I couldn’t find one, so I grabbed a soldier nearby and asked. He was standing in front of the public restroom, so was he waiting for his comrade?
“Ah, excuse me, soldier.”
“Uh, uh? What is it?”
“I’m looking for a general store right now… but I can’t find it. Do you happen to know where it is?”
“Ah, you’re an adventurer. The general store is over there, just keep going that way and you should see it.”
He pointed to the right.
“Oh, thank you. You’re very kind.”
“Hehe, I am kind. Is this your first time here today?”
“Yes? Well, yeah. I just arrived today by carriage.”
I was just going to ask for directions and leave, but somehow I got caught up in a conversation. Was he bored? Well, since he was a nice guy who gave me directions, I decided to hang out with him to gather information.
After chatting for a while, I asked about the war situation.
“In my opinion, it’s not that dangerous. The residents are cooperative and the village’s wooden fence is high enough to withstand them. Until the day before yesterday, we were in the middle of a battle… but they couldn’t get over the fence. The village has some余裕, doesn’t it? It’s all thanks to our continued victories.”
He spoke in a tone that suggested it was manageable.
I remember the recruitment officer saying it was really hard to hold out, but I guess the perspectives of soldiers and commanders are different.
“Oh, is that so? The Baron’s army is different after all.”
“What’s so different when we lost?”
“Ah, I think I heard that the Baron’s army was defeated… is that what you’re talking about?”
“That’s right. The vanguard fell into a trap and the formation collapsed in an instant. They were like monsters… we barely managed to retreat. Well, they couldn’t get over the fence either.”
“Oh, is that so? But what do you mean by monsters? Are those heretical bandits that strong?”
“Don’t even mention it. Those guys blessed by evil gods were slicing people in half.”
He made a face as if he had witnessed it on the spot.
He continued with an explanation.
“Of course, those guys aren’t common. Those guys are quite strong even among the bandits. But most of the bandits weren’t just average either… Maybe it’s because of the blessing, but they all seemed to be able to hold their own.”
He was quite sociable, so before I knew it, I was having a girls’ talk, no, a men’s talk, without realizing how much time had passed. Still, I was able to get some pretty good information.
As a last joke about his comrade falling into the toilet and dying, I said goodbye.
“Then take care. The guys around here aren’t that strong, but there’s always an exception. Always be careful.”
“Thank you for the advice. You be careful too, soldier.”
“Hehe, Mirke’s friend has a really good personality!”
I parted ways with him and headed in the direction he had told me.
As I entered the main street, some buildings that looked like shops appeared. As I circled around them, looking inside, I was able to find a general store.
ㅡCreak.
“Are you open for business?”
“…I am.”
I had already packed enough food, so I didn’t really need to buy any, and I decided to buy some oil for emergencies and the map, which was my original purpose.
“Do you sell maps?”
“Do you need a map of this area?”
“Yes. Give me the cheapest one.”
“It’s 20 coppers.”
“Damn.”
I’m just spending money here, damn it.
I came here to work, not to sightsee? With trembling hands, I took out 20 coppers and handed them over. Yeah, it’s a necessary investment. I need a map to defeat the heretical bastards. I’ll make up for the loss with their property.
In other words, I’m not buying it with my money, but with the bandits’ money.
Thinking that way made me feel better.
Looking at the map I received, it seemed to be well-made.
I don’t know much, but it’ll be fine since Wienia and Eliza are good at reading maps.
I went straight back to the inn.
As I stood in front of the room door, I could hear voices.
…The soundproofing isn’t very good.
I opened the door and went inside.
“Katt, you’re here?”
“Yeah. Cloudy. I’m back.”
When I went inside, all three of them were sitting on the bed in comfortable clothes.
Huh? All three of them?
“Were you three together?”
“Ah, Holy One. We were just having a conversation.”
Divine Friend was there too.
She wasn’t wearing her nun’s habit, but the casual clothes she bought last time.
“About what?”
“We were just discussing the direction of heretic hunting.”
“Is that so?”
They were having a constructive and righteous conversation.
“Blackie. Go wash up.”
“Yeah, I need to wash up. Was the shower okay?”
“It was just a well, like they said. It sucked.”
“I figured.”
I unbuckled my belt and took off my breastplate. Then, after releasing my gauntlets and greaves, I took off my quilted armor, and I felt the smell of sweat rising. I hadn’t been able to wash for three days, so I must smell like a man.
I carefully placed the removed equipment on top of the bag, and took off my top and pants.
Eliza was already turning her head away.
I quickly changed into shorts, grabbed a towel and underwear, and went outside. I wore the sandals I had bought for times like this.
It’s uncomfortable to go to the shower room wearing long boots.
In the first place, I couldn’t understand the meaning of wearing long boots with shorts.
“Are you going to use the shower room?”
I was moving stealthily, thinking I could just go secretly, when a little kid came and said that.
Was she an inn employee?
“Ah, you said it was 3 coppers, right?”
“Yes.”
“Here you go… But are you really an employee here?”
“I am.”
“If you’re lying, you don’t know what I’ll do. Are you sure?”
“I really am.”
I was a little suspicious, but I handed over 3 coppers and headed to the shower room.
I was expecting poor facilities, but when I actually went, there were shelves, so I was satisfied. I roughly took off my clothes and went inside.
Indeed.
“…”
“…”
“…”
My satisfied mood was shattered.
There was only a well in the center, and three men were taking turns using the dipper. ㅡSplash. A man with an expressionless, yet serious face poured water on his body, and then handed the dipper to the person next to him.
They all had rough appearances, whether they were adventurers, mercenaries, or residents. If they had carp tattoos on their backs, they could easily be mistaken for gangsters, but they were washing their bodies in reverent silence.
I awkwardly stood next to them.
What is this surreal space?
“…”
After waiting for a while, an old man with an impressive white beard handed me the dipper.
I used it to scoop water from the main water tank and pour it on my body, and then handed the dipper back to the man next to me.
“…”
Infinite loop.
“…”
What the hell is this?
Save me.
The washing speed was also really slow, and I couldn’t understand why there was only one dipper. I wanted to just put my hand in the main water tank and wash, but it felt like it wasn’t polite in this atmosphere, so it was hell.
Are these guys monks?
I received the dipper again.
With an unpleasant feeling, I poured water on my lower body and massaged my junk. It’s the area that needs the most cleanliness. It looks like I’m squeezing it when I wash it because it’s so big, but I’m definitely not doing anything lewd.
“…It’s big.”
“…Huge.”
“…He’s got a club.”
Because I was doing it slowly, not wanting to pour it all at once, their eyes were focused on my junk. The trio of men were looking at my junk with very serious faces.
“Huh? Huh? What are you guys! Why are you staring! Turn your heads!”
“…My apologies.”
“What the hell!”
The three men covered their junk in awkward poses and ran out of the shower room as if fleeing. I was so dumbfounded that I couldn’t say anything. What the hell are those guys.
And so, I washed my body alone, feeling uncomfortable.
I felt really bad, but I couldn’t say anything.
Let’s brush my teeth.
After using the tooth powder I had packed in a small pouch to rinse my mouth, I became the very definition of Clean Kim Katt. All the stress from not being able to wash for three days was gone.
I’ll get dirty again tomorrow anyway, but isn’t that what life is all about? Before entering the room, I knocked on the door. I was only wearing a tank top and shorts, so I didn’t want to show it to Eliza.
And then I went inside.
“…”
“…”
As soon as I went inside, I ran into Eliza.
“Ho, Holy One’s body…”
“Kyaa! Eliza! Don’t look!”
I immediately had a seizure and covered both nipples. My body is too dynamite, so it’s not something kids should see! Sexy man Kim Katt is definitely not suitable for minors…!
“Stop being a drama queen, Blackie. Stop being ridiculous and come sit down. We were discussing what to do tomorrow. And what’s with the cheap map you bought? It’s really shitty.”
While listening to Wienia’s nagging, I took out a tank top and put it on.
Eliza seemed to have been standing in front of the door, thinking of opening it for me when I knocked.
Ah, damn, I’m so embarrassed…
Anyway, I sat next to Cloudy.
The three women were spreading out the map in the middle of the bed and talking about something.
“Katt, haven’t your shoulders gotten broader?”
“Hmm? Really? They were already as broad as a mountain, but they’ve gotten broader? Oh no, really. What if I get stuck in a doorway because of my shoulders? Shit.”
“Hehe, that’s possible. Oh my, your arms have gotten bigger too?”
“Really? Hehehe… Come here!”
As I was playfully tickling Cloudy’s sides for a while, I felt a sharp gaze and some kind of presence.
Wienia was glaring at me, and Eliza was staring at me.
“Blackie, stop being a damn fool and look at the map.”
“…”
“O, okay. I will.”
When I looked into Eliza’s eyes, she suddenly avoided my gaze.
…Could it be that she’s worried about my muscles?
I’ll have to teach Eliza the ultimate Divine Health training method starting tomorrow!
And so, a future was drawn where Eliza would also be reborn as a Holy Muscle Sister.
buff Elise