## Chapter 452 – Kim Kat and the Haunted House
“I heard a few D-ranks went in… that was a few days ago. Haven’t heard anything back.”
“Probably just a bunch of losers who went in and died, right?”
“Who knows? Hmm, if they’re all dead, maybe we could go and grab their belongings.”
“Heh heh heh, you sound like a corpse robber.”
“Heh heh heh, aren’t you the same? Should we go? Even just searching around the outskirts could get us something worth money. We’ll pull out if it looks dangerous.”
“Gather the guys?”
I crossed my arms and pretended to look at the bulletin board, quietly eavesdropping on the adventurers talking about this disappearance situation.
The mansion Copson mentioned had already become quite famous.
It started with a few adventurers going and not returning, and now more and more adventurers were going to search the mansion and disappearing.
There were even rumors of people disappearing from nearby villages, and a quest had already been organized to investigate.
Truthfully, when adventurers went missing, the common consensus was that they were just dead. Some were already looking to loot the corpses’ belongings. Finders keepers, after all.
For that reason, it seemed to be known among adventurers as a mysterious mansion of sorts. Some were saying there might be treasure or antiques inside.
“What the hell.”
In my opinion, the correct answer was that some ridiculously strong monster had wandered into the area and was eating everyone who approached… Still, the sudden appearance of the mansion was suspicious.
Well, a building is a building, so there was a high probability that other monsters, robbers, or bandits had made their nest inside.
Either way, the fact that people were disappearing meant there must be some kind of physical cause. I had been so busy investigating with Elise for the past few days that I hadn’t heard about any of this.
Wait a minute.
Could this be related to the demons?
Other demons besides succubi or high imps might have crossed the gate and hidden in that mansion. It was reasonable to think that way. It was only natural that tourists from hell would wander around like stray dogs.
Ah, damn it.
If I had known about this before sending Elise off, I would have asked her to come with me. I found out about this right after she left. My luck is just too damn bad.
Still, a mansion… it reeks of money.
Just stripping the corpses of their equipment would be a decent amount of money.
Of course, it would be dangerous since people were disappearing, but with my skills, it shouldn’t be a problem.
I know my skills well.
I trust my strength, I trust my sword.
There’s no reason not to jump into something that makes money.
That’s what I usually do, after all.
“Barbarian? What are you doing there?”
“Copson?”
As I was lost in thought, Copson jutted his chin at me and spoke. What’s with this guy, jutting his chin out like that? Are you a stag beetle?
“Long time no see, buddy. What have you been up to?”
“Heh heh heh, wondering what I’ve been up to? Then it’s only right that I answer.”
“Did you win money again?”
Copson, whom I hadn’t seen in a few days, seemed more confident than before. Was it because he was wearing proper equipment? Adventurers need good equipment to have some余裕.
“Money? Heh heh heh! Well, something similar!”
He laughed loudly.
He seems overly excited about something.
“Something similar to winning money… Don’t tell me… a woman!”
Did Copson manage to pick up a girl!
“No, damn it. It’s not that. Damn it, a woman would have been better.”
“Then what is it, you bastard?”
“Prepare to be amazed.”
I prepared to be amazed as Copson told me to.
What is he going to say?
As I suspiciously watched Copson, he reached into his pocket like a magician and pulled out his adventurer’s plate.
“Take a look at this!”
“What is this… Oh, shit! What is this!”
ㅡD-rank Adventurer Copson.
It wasn’t an E-rank adventurer’s plate, but a D-rank adventurer’s plate.
“You son of a bitch! What’s going on! Did you get promoted!”
No way, Copson got promoted!
“Heh heh heh! That’s right! I finally got promoted! Haven’t I been working like crazy lately! I guess I accumulated a lot of experience! I got promoted yesterday!”
“No way! This can’t be happening!”
“It’s totally happening! Ha ha ha!”
Copson must have really wanted to brag, as he laughed loudly and ordered two beers. He said he’d buy me a drink to celebrate his promotion, so I decided to listen to his bragging for a bit.
Copson got promoted.
He’s a gambling addict and an alcoholic, but he does work hard. For an adventurer, he’s surprisingly sane, diligently working while wasting money.
He’s been living like that for years, so he must have accumulated some know-how and his skills must have improved. When we were stranded in the jungle, his skills were quite reliable.
He must have finally gotten promoted because of his skills.
But more than anything, it’s strange that he worked so hard to earn money to gamble.
Anyway, he bought all new equipment and got promoted.
This guy has been working hard.
“Heh heh heh! If I save up some money like this, I might be able to snag a girl in the city and settle down!”
“Hey, aren’t you going back to your hometown?”
“Now that I’m a D-rank adventurer, there’s no need to go back to my hometown. My career is all here now.”
“Well, I guess so.”
Copson’s dream is to save money, pick up a girl, get married, and settle down here.
First, he needs to quit gambling to achieve his dream.
“Then, you bastard, shouldn’t you quit either drinking or gambling?”
“Hmm… I’m thinking about it. That’s why I’m only buying one drink. I’m going to cut down on drinking and gambling.”
I hope it’s not just a three-day resolution.
“For once, your head seems to be working properly. Anyway, congratulations, you bastard. I remember when we were going crazy in the jungle.”
“Heh heh heh! Same here! Well, you could say that experience made me stronger. Facing the Alraune broadened my horizons. That’s the feeling.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
I emptied my glass while listening to Copson’s bragging.
Copson was overflowing with confidence right now.
“By the way, Barbarian. Are you interested in that mansion that’s been the talk of the town?”
He said, chewing on jerky.
I knew he would be interested in this.
“Of course. Why? Going?”
“Well, I’m a D-rank now, so I should be playing in that kind of water. I’m thinking of going to meet other D-rank adventurers and build connections. It’s time to network. I don’t need to associate with those thugs anymore.”
That’s surprisingly constructive.
He’s thinking of cutting ties with the lower ranks as soon as he becomes a D-rank. He has the right idea. These are the guys who become great adventurers.
It’s a truly chivalrous way of thinking.
“This guy… he can think constructively!”
“Heh heh heh! Of course! The world is different now!”
Whether you’re a D-rank or a C-rank, if you’ve been promoted, you need to be friendly with your peers. Unlike the unreliable E and F-rank adventurers, they were pretty decent guys. They’ll be working together in the future, so it’s important to be friendly.
I used to think that way too, damn it.
Those shitty guys, people are all the same.
Those harpy bastards.
You abandoned me and ran away?
“So, Barbarian. Why don’t we go together? Well, I’m planning to run away without looking back if it’s dangerous. You know? Poke around and give up if it doesn’t work. Immediately pull out if it’s dangerous. Those are the virtues that you and I know well.”
Copson said with a confident tone.
“You know your stuff. Yeah. That’s how it should be.”
That’s also my preferred method.
If fighting is the only way out, then fight. But if there’s a chance to escape, then aim for it. That’s Kim Kat’s survival know-how.
Copson has similar know-how to me.
That’s why I trust him.
“Heh heh heh, that’s right. Anyway, you’re the only D-rank I can suggest this to. Why don’t we go together? And gather other adventurers along the way.”
“Should we go?”
“Let’s go!”
“Yeah, damn it, we should always jump headfirst into things like this. Let’s go!”
“Oh!”
And so, Copson and I decided to search the mansion together. Copson said he’d scout out some people. He’s very motivated.
We decided to meet again tomorrow morning.
I need to prepare to search the mansion.
I should tell Claudia and Winia too.
When I got home, Winia was doing magical research in comfortable clothes. She’s been working on it for a while now, but she can’t seem to make any progress.
Risha helps her out from time to time, but achieving something is a personal matter.
As a mage, it’s something that requires time and concentration.
“Haa… You’re back, Darkie?”
Winia, who was engrossed in her work, closed her book and sighed deeply.
“I’m back early?”
“Yeah. You’re back early.”
“Is it hard because your magic isn’t working out?”
“Damn it, it’s so stressful, really. I feel like my head is going to explode. I can’t get past anything. Haa… Darkie, I feel so fucking awful.”
Winia, who had gotten up from her seat, hugged me tightly and spewed out complaints and curses. It felt quite cute to have her chattering while hugging me.
“Heh heh, maybe the book is wrong? There’s no way our Winia can’t do it.”
“…Well, maybe. The book is wrong, it is.”
I was about to comfort her for a bit and then bring up the story, but Winia looked up at me and said.
“Darkie, relieve my stress quickly.”
“How should I relieve it?”
“Do I have to say it?”
“Gasp.”
I immediately picked up Winia and went up to the second floor.
As soon as we went up, Winia roughly took off her clothes and roughly took off my clothes as well, pushing me onto the bed. And then she climbed right on top of me, and at that moment, I went crazy with excitement.
Yes, it’s my duty to relieve Winia’s stress.
Claudia was sleeping right next to us, but she opened her eyes when she heard the commotion.
“Kat… are you back?”
“Unnie’s awake.”
In the end, I ended up relieving Claudia’s stress as well as Winia’s. No, Claudia didn’t have any stress. We just had a good time together in the morning and then sprawled out on the bed.
“Claudia, Winia. I’m going to do a job with Copson this time.”
“With Darkie’s friend? But you got a job without my permission?”
“No, it’s not a job. There’s something interesting, so I’m going to investigate it.”
I told them about the mansion and what I talked about with Copson today.
It seems like Winia and Claudia don’t know about the mansion yet. They haven’t been to the Adventurer’s Guild or the Magic Tower recently, so they probably don’t know the rumors.
“I told you to just stay home and rest while I do my magic research, why do you keep going out? Do you hate home that much? Who’s going to relieve my stress if Darkie’s not here? Where are you going? Don’t go.”
After hearing the explanation, Winia said that and gnawed on my pectoral muscles. It’s so ticklish.
“Hehe, should Unnie relieve it?”
“Ah, don’t touch me, Unnie. Ahh! Stop! I’m sensitive right now!”
Claudia, who had moved towards Winia, began to caress her body. Hmm, it’s going to be difficult if Winia tells me not to go.
As I was thinking that, Claudia said.
“Kat, go. Warriors should always strive to improve rather than rest. But I can’t leave Winia home alone, so Mama will stay home? You can do it alone, right?”
“Heh heh heh, what are you worried about? Of course I can do it alone.”
I got permission.
I need to tell Karin and Risha about it tonight.
“Sigh… I can’t help it. Darkie, it’s not dangerous, right?”
“Copson emphasized that we should run away no matter what if it doesn’t work. Winia. I’m the man who defeated a succubus. Don’t worry. I’ll go make some money.”
“I care about Darkie more than money.”
“Gasp.”
My heart.
“I know Darkie is strong, but I’m always worried. Haa. Instead, when you come back this time, you have to do whatever I say for at least a month. Got it?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
