## Chapter 66 – [Side Story] F-Rank Adventurer Kim Katte
Usually, that was my daily life. To get promoted to an E-rank adventurer, which would at least guarantee some rights, I would attend the guild, squeeze into parties, and complete jobs or quests to build up my record. Or, I would do other manual labor unrelated to the guild to earn a daily wage.
When I worked for the guild, I was subjected to a lot of abuse from other adventurers, but even that was better than begging on the streets. My life was just a struggle.
Today’s job was sewer cleaning.
This was a kind of part-time job commissioned by the guild because it was hard to gather enough people. It was a good deal because it offered a daily wage and contributed to the record needed for promotion to E-rank.
Krasheim has a fairly large underground waterway.
Do you know the importance of water supply facilities? Water supply is a crucial core facility that brings relatively clean water to the city, raising the level of urban sanitation and making the greatest contribution to human survival.
By not using dirty, stagnant water, the city naturally becomes cleaner, reducing disease rates, improving people’s health, lowering mortality rates, and increasing the population.
Anyway, as such a facility, it needed regular cleaning because all sorts of trash and waste flowed into the underground waterway. Illegal waste dumping was common, and even corpses turned up. There might also be monsters that had invaded from the outside, so it was quite diverse.
“It’s dark.”
Along with other workers, I went down into the underground. The only equipment we were given was a ‘ㄱ’-shaped rod. The cleaning foreman instructed us to use it to scoop up the trash.
If accumulated trash blocked the waterway, sewage would flow back into the city. He added that explanation and demonstrated how to scoop up the trash.
ㅡSwish.
Something like a rotten tire was pulled out.
“Okay, this is how you scoop up the trash. Today’s goal is to purify this D区 area. If we finish early, you can go home, so work hard.”
The workers, motivated by the promise of leaving work early if they finished the job quickly, eagerly pushed their rods into the water. I followed suit. I put the rod in, stirred it around to find something to hook, and when I felt something, I pulled it out.
The work itself was simple. It was just unpleasant because it was dark and the air was foul.
The cleaning foreman didn’t seem to interfere much as long as we did our jobs properly. Not having to suffer because of people, and being able to leave early if we finished quickly, was a pretty good deal. And to even get 3 coppers as a daily wage, there was nothing more to say.
“…Hmm?”
As I stirred the water, something got caught.
I put my strength into pulling it up.
“Oh.”
The trash had a somewhat familiar shape. I wondered what it was and brought my face closer to look, but a terrible smell wafted out. Wait a minute, this… could it be?
“Uwaaaaaaah!”
A scream burst from my mouth.
“It’s a human corpse!!!”
It was a human corpse, rotten and tattered. A wave of nausea washed over me. It would be a huge loss to throw up the food I had eaten, so I desperately suppressed it. I dropped the rod and sat down.
“What’s wrong!”
The cleaning foreman ran over. I shouted at him.
“A human corpse! I pulled up a corpse!”
“Hmm… I can’t tell if it’s someone who’s been reported missing.”
My heart was pounding. This was the second time I had seen a human corpse at such close range… The first corpse I saw was… Ugh, another wave of nausea washed over me. I forced myself to hold it in. Throwing up would mean losing 1 to 2 coppers. I absolutely couldn’t let that happen.
“Let’s leave it here for now. I’ll report it separately when the work is done. Okay, everyone, don’t just stand around, get back to work.”
The corpse was moved to a corner, and we started working again. Seeing the corpse had dampened the initial enthusiasm. I mechanically stirred the water with the rod again.
After that, it was a repetition of monotonous work. We were slowly starting to see the end of the trash. A mountain of trash that had been scooped up piled up on one side of the passage. Fortunately, clearing away the collected trash wasn’t our job.
“Hooh… You guys are working very fast today. I’m impressed.”
ㅡClap, clap, clap.
The cleaning foreman smiled and clapped. It was late afternoon, not yet evening. The cleaning foreman looked around at the workers and declared with a satisfied expression.
“Work’s over! Come with me to get your wages and go home!”
“Hooray!”
“Waaaaah!”
“Hooray!”
Cheers erupted. I added my voice to the excitement. It was very refreshing to come outside. Partly because I had been in a place with foul air, but also because I was feeling unusually good. I felt even better when I received 3 coppers as my daily wage.
But at the same time, I felt a little depressed.
ㅡI saw a corpse.
My heart was pounding. Not pounding in a good way, but pounding with anxiety.
I had killed someone.
I didn’t know his name. I didn’t know who he was. I didn’t know what he did, and I didn’t know a single thing about how he had lived. All I knew was that he was a beggar like me.
I killed him because he stole my bread.
Stealing bread from a beggar was practically an act of murder. So I killed him in self-defense to survive.
But no matter how justified the reason, could murder ever be justified?
My hands were shaking. I was terrified of being alive after killing him. Because I thought that just as easily as I had killed him, I could be killed just as easily…
“Haa…”
I decided to wash away this gloomy feeling by going to the bathhouse. Investing 1 copper, which was 30% of my daily wage. My body was dirty, and my mind needed to be cleansed as well. For me, a modern person, bathing was an important value.
The bathhouse was crowded. Everyone was probably coming to wash off the day’s grime after work. It was just that time.
“Wash off the filth before entering the bath, foreigner.”
“Of course.”
The employee said that after seeing my appearance. It’s fortunate that I don’t have a chance to look in the mirror, because I don’t want to see myself right now.
I entered the bathhouse and first scooped up water to wash off the filth from my body. First, I scoop water into a bucket and wash my body outside the bath. From head to toe, starting with the head. I wash myself clean. I slowly wash away the matted hair and the body soaked in grime. Taking my time, slowly.
There was no soap, no shampoo, no body wash, nothing. But at least in this moment, I was satisfied.
I squeeze out the oil from my unruly beard and the shaggy hair that I haven’t been able to cut since coming to this world. I scrub off the accumulated layers of grime from my body. I rub my teeth and tongue with my fingers and rinse them with water.
I wash my face. I splash water on my face, which is soaked in eye boogers, blood, and dust. Even though there’s no lotion to wash and apply here, I wash my face mercilessly.
And,
And then I enter the bath.
“Ggrrr…”
There probably wasn’t much time left until closing. I’ll try to get the most out of it until then. I’ve already washed away all the bad smells and filth from my body. I can afford to relax a little here.
I close my eyes and let my body sink into the warm water, and I gradually fall into my thoughts. Thoughts that I couldn’t afford to have because I didn’t have time to spare. Thoughts that I couldn’t have because I didn’t have the money to spend time thinking alone.
“…”
That day was nothing special. It was just one of those ordinary days with no omens, no signs, no indications of anything to come.
It was a weekend. I remember it clearly. I didn’t have to go to work, and I woke up around 2 PM after sleeping in. Naturally, I was hungry. When you’re hungry, it’s only natural to eat. I didn’t have any food at home, so I decided to go to the convenience store.
I put on a pair of black sweatpants, threw on a white t-shirt and a baseball jacket, grabbed my wallet and phone, and went to the convenience store. I was planning to buy a few pieces of bread and a coffee milk. I was thinking of ordering chicken for dinner.
I was thinking about that as I put on my sneakers, and then.
I opened the door.
I went outside.
I closed the door.
And it was another world.
Really, without any. Without any cause or reason, it was just another world.
I was confused. I felt like I was going crazy. All I wanted was to go home.
I starved. I starved and starved again. Luckily, the church gave out bread to the homeless, and I was able to survive. I ate the bread while crying. It was just one piece of bread, but it was worth my life. After that day, I started begging for the first time in my life.
While begging, I started working at some point. While working, I learned about the adventurer’s guild, registered there, and worked again. I saw a lot of hardships. I experienced a lot of shitty things. That’s why I was here now.
I could eat if I worked. I could eat, and once I could eat, I started thinking about home again. I started to realize the shittiness that I couldn’t afford to think about when I was struggling to survive. I hated this world so much.
“Home.”
I have a lot of hatred.
“Can I go back?”
All I can do is worry about tomorrow.
The bath is over.
I don’t feel much better.
I dry my body with the towel I received, put on my clothes, and come outside.
The sun is starting to set. It’s twilight. When the sun sets, the silver moon rises, along with the purple and green satellites that guard her. It’s an unbelievable sight. They say it’s the moon goddess Mirtuna and her daughters.
This is another world.
“Should I sleep in a place with a roof tonight?”
I was thinking about renting a stable for a dayㅡ, when I met a familiar pink-haired girl.
“Oh.”
“…”
It was Winia. A pink-haired bitch as big as her chest. It was an unexpected encounter.
The fact that this bitch had swindled my money along with Lena was a lifelong grudge etched in my heart. This bitch not only laughed at me but also abused me.
“…What are you staring at.”
Winia, who was glaring at me, said. She was very short, so she naturally had to look up at me.
“Huh? What? Oh. No, it’s not that.”
I stammered at her sudden question.
“That, well, that’s…”
Hey. Wait.
No.
Do I need to be intimidated here?
Lena, the muscle-headed swordsman, is one thing, but this Winia is a pushover that I can beat to a pulp, right?
Fueled by hatred, I made a quick decision.
Magic was certainly a terrifying and threatening killing spell, but it took some time to cast, so I was confident that I could pull out my rusty sword and give this wicked bitch a big stab before she finished chanting. Once I got to that point, I couldn’t suppress the murderous impulse.
My enemy, my nemesis!
I also noticed that Winia was the only one around.
ㅡBlood was boiling.
She was alone. She was alone.
I happened to have the sword I had acquired last time.
It was rusty, but a sword was a sword.
So what does that mean?
It’s a duel, you bastard!
“Hey, Winia.”
“…?”
“What’s with that dumbfounded look? Can’t I even call your name?”
When I called Winia as if she were a friend, her expression immediately soured and twisted. This bitch still doesn’t know.
“…What rude behavior.”
“Rude, my ass, what’s rude is you guys swindling my money.”
“…Heh. Hehehe.”
“Huh? Laughing? You fucking bitch.”
Winia, who had been looking sour, suddenly started laughing. She must have been thinking about what happened back then. It must be funny, you bastard. You guys might find it funny, but I had to worry about starving to death because of it?
Seeing her laughing face, my hatred grew even more. I made up my mind. I’m going to kill this bitch. I’m going to kill her and get back the money I was owed back then.
Then Winia said.
“Don’t tell me, you’re angry about that… and you’re acting up because I’m alone?”
Ugh, I’m suddenly getting pissed off. Does this bitch not know the word ‘sorry’? I guess I have to finish this now.
“Stop laughing, you fucking bitch. I guess you remember what happened back then, I need to get the 4 coppers I didn’t get back then from you.”
“I didn’t expect… you to do something so cute…? Hehehe. You made me laugh a little. Ah, good. I like this. I like it a lot. Hehe, hehehe…!”
Winia seemed more relaxed than I thought.
I was momentarily flustered.
W, why is this bitch so confident?
Could she have some hidden card? No, did I misunderstand in the first place? Beat a mage…? Me? No, fuck! I can’t back down here! I decided to go strong.
“Cute, my ass. How can you say that after looking at my face. Anyway, if you don’t want to die, hand over the 4 coppers right now. You see this sword? Today, this sword-nim says he won’t charge interest, so take out your wallet nicely, you bastard.”
“Heh. Hehehe! Heh, hehehe! He… Hahaha! Ahahaha, ahahahahahaha!!!!”
Winia burst out laughing. She started laughing softly at first, but the intensity of her laughter gradually increased, and now she was just laughing her ass off.
It was a maniacal laugh.
“H, hey? A, are you laughing? Did I say something funny just now? Ah, I don’t think so… Why, why are you laughing… Fucking, is she, is she crazy…”
Hearing her laughter, I suddenly started to feel uneasy. A, a lot. I started to feel really uneasy. And it seemed that it was showing on my face too…
“Why? Are you suddenly scared?”
Winia suddenly tilted her head and said.
I got goosebumps all over my body.
“Th, th, there’s no way. Hahaha… I’ll let you off today. Fr, fr, from now on, li, li, live, ni, nicely.”
I, I started to tremble. Did I mess up? A goblin suddenly turning into a fireball started to overlap in my head. To be honest, I had been holding back my anger and it suddenly burst out when she appeared… Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Ah, fuck! Why is this happening again!
“Um, Ms. Winia.”
I’ll ask.
“Yeeeesss?”
“You’re not going to use magic, right?”
“Why are you suddenly using honorifics? Why aren’t you using informal speech like you were just now?”
Escape preparation complete.
“Here.”
Taking advantage of the gap when Winia was about to say something, I quickly turned my body around. Magic incantation, was that just now a magic incantation? I had a brief thoughtㅡ,
“I’M SORRYYYYYㅡ!!!! FUCKKKK!!!!”
I ran like crazy.
I ran away.
I fled. I ran away shamelessly even though I’m old enough to know better, after picking a fight with a girl who looks younger than me and getting scared.
“Where! Where are you running off to!”
I couldn’t think of anything else. The opponent is a mage. A monster with omnipotent power. A monster among monsters who can summon fire from the air and turn something that was alive just a moment ago into a roast in an instant. I didn’t spare any stamina to evade such an opponent.
I ran like crazy, like the giants running in the primordial world. Only to escape, to live. I ran away.
“Huk!”
It must be some kind of nightmare. No, it’s not just some kind of nightmare, it’s a nightmare itself. There’s no way this is reality. If this is reality, then reality is wrong. I’m not at fault at all.
“Fucking hell!”
Ah! Fucking nothing works out! The plan was perfect! I was going to reluctantly take the 4 coppers and give her some advice before sending her away, but why! Why does things always turn out like this!
I ran for a long time. My body was sweating, making the bath I had taken pointless. This should be enough. My body and mind were exhausted, so I crawled into a corner and lay down.
I’m tired.
“Hoo… Hoo…”
My heart is still pounding.
I should be a little more careful in the future. So that I don’t run into Winia. I’m a little embarrassed, but I have to admit it. She’s a mage. Rather, I did well to get this far against a mage. Don’t you think?
A purple moon was in the sky. It should be enough to have escaped this far. There’s no way she’ll chase me tonight. Once I thought that far, I started to lose strength.
Okay, let’s sleep.
I have to work tomorrow too.
I fell asleep.
