Episode 38: Heading to the Pleasure District

I headed to the Pioneer Association with baby Babiyen and Maman Aransel.

Babiyen, having eaten her fill of mama, wore a very satisfied expression.

On the other hand, Aransel’s face was full of fatigue.

Still, we had spent time together as fellow disciples in the past.

Babiyen’s regressed state was not something one could bear to watch.

,That kid, she strangely follows Harua-reul well.

Aransel watched Babiyen, who was holding onto the back of my clothes and following me, with narrowed eyes.

As she said, Babiyen had been trailing after me ever since she had her fill.

She’s been following only me since prison for some reason.

,Was she imprinted on something before she got into this state?

I don’t know the reason either.

I just hope Babiyen returns to normal as soon as possible.

The room is too small for the three of us.

,More than that, I’m getting caught up in incidents like this just by not having you around. Harua, shouldn’t you chase away some bad luck or something?

Is it because incidents keep happening wherever I go?

Aransel looked at me with a worried face.

As Aransel said, I’m getting involved in incidents wherever I go.

But I have to set the record straight.

,I only go to places where incidents are likely to happen.

I didn’t cause the incidents.

Every incident had signs that it was about to happen.

If I had noticed the signs in advance, I would never have gone there.

,More than anything, there have been too many incidents worldwide recently.

,Because of the Black Dawn incident, things are ominous.

Incidents aren’t just happening where I am.

The Black Dawn is causing terror all over the world right now.

Since there are so many incidents happening in the first place, it’s inevitable that I’ll be involved in them with a high probability.

,I need to be able to take care of myself as soon as possible.

I have a feeling I should improve my self-defense skills, let alone holy magic.

,More than that, Aransel, I’m more curious about your changes.

Aransel had been sick for a day after taking the elixir.

At least now, there had to be some effect to make the money worthwhile.

Aransel raised the corners of her mouth when she heard my question.

,Don’t worry. The effect was real.

,It seems like you’re feeling something.

,You can look forward to it.

I decided to look forward to it a lot.

As we were talking, we arrived at the Pioneer Association.

,Euh, euwoo.

I took Babiyen, who was groaning as if she was tired from walking a lot, inside.

Then I saw a familiar face.

,Mr. Bandal.

Bandal, the dwarf pioneer from the Kalen Team.

He was there.

Bandal turned to us at the call.

,Oh, it’s the Holy Magic-sa hyeong-ssi.

,Is your head okay?

,Haha, it’s a little cracked, but I’m fine. Dwarves have strong heads, you know.

His face was very bright.

He’s such an amazing guy to be so cheerful even after what happened yesterday.

,What about the rest of the team?

,Miren said she’s quitting as a pioneer.

Miren didn’t tell anyone that I saved Kalen.

It seems like they’re planning to leave the capital together as I told them.

,As you know, the little brat.

Gnome, Pingle.

He was nowhere to be seen when we arrived at the exit of the Moss Flower Cave.

,What exactly happened?

When I asked about the situation, Bandal scratched his beard.

,I don’t know. There wasn’t anything special on the way to the exit except for a few spiders.

So we were going to wait after taking care of the spiders when suddenly the criminals showed up.

It was as if they knew we were there.

Immediately after that, a battle broke out, and the Kalen Team fought to break through.

In the process of the battle, Pingle, who had less combat ability than the others, eventually ran away to save his own life.

After that, the battle situation was as we saw it.

,I don’t even know if the little brat is alive. I checked, and he wasn’t on the list of people who came back.

Bandal sighed.

In just one day, the team he had been with was shattered.

For him, this was like a bolt from the blue.

,So I’m going to take a break for a while. I got a lot of money thanks to this.

,Huh? Thanks to this?

When I asked back, Bandal raised the corners of his mouth.

,I was waiting to tell you that. Go see the Pioneer Association staff. I’ll be on my way.

Bandal slapped me on the back and passed by.

His excited face didn’t look like someone whose team had been disbanded.

After Bandal left, I went straight to the staff as he said.

And then I knew why Bandal was so excited.

,The criminals’ bounty is in our name?

,Yes, as a result of the investigation, the regular army distributed the bounty payment to Harua-nim’s team and the Kalen Team.

The criminals who escaped to the 2nd World.

Their bounty payment was given in our name.

I realized who was involved here.

Regular Army Lieutenant General, Inferno.

It must be that person.

This, you crazy son of a bitch!

There was someone else I should have been treating as a benefactor.

He was a wonderful gentleman, as expected of someone from the same transmigrator background.

Hooray for people from the same hometown.

I don’t know what country he’s from, but I’ve registered him as an honorary Korean in my heart.

From now on, any attack on Inferno will be considered an attack on me.

He and I are inseparable.

,How much is it?

,It’s 300 gold per person.

300 gold!

In Korean currency, that’s about 9 million won!

Considering that there were a total of 7 people in our group this time, it’s a huge bonus.

Should I go on a criminal hunt from now on?

I have an urge to become a bounty hunter in my heart.

I’ll put a sword in my helmet slot first.

With 300 gold in my hands, I couldn’t be happier.

If I collect 700 more gold, I can buy an elixir from a designated merchant.

,And this is for Babiyen Astria-nim.

Then the staff took out Babiyen’s share.

Babiyen was sticking to my back, so it was a natural process.

,Next person.

And then I was kicked out of the counter.

Somehow, I ended up with Babiyen’s gold as well.

Babiyen and I made eye contact.

,Babiyen, can I think of this as the cost of taking care of you for a while?

,Eung, eung?

Babiyen tilted her head innocently.

,You said yes, right? Thank you. I’ll use it well.

When I stroked Babiyen’s head with an excited face, Babiyen also giggled and rejoiced.

,Harua.

But Aransel looked at me with cold eyes.

,Yes.

,Babiyen earned that money by risking her life too.

,Yes, that’s right.

,Even if you spend the money on taking care of Babiyen for a while, shouldn’t you give her the rest?

Unfortunately, I didn’t disagree.

It would be troublesome if Babiyen set fire to the place later asking for her money.

,…Still, I think about 100 gold would be appropriate as the cost of taking care of her.

Then, Aransel looked away and spoke.

Aransel and I are so in sync!

,Harua is in a desperate situation for money. Babiyen will understand.

,You’re saying that Babiyen, who has been spending money like water as a noble, has a broken sense of money and will understand?

,I didn’t say that far.

What does it matter?

Anyway, the important thing is that I got money.

,Ah, Aransel-ssi, Harua-ssi.

While I was doing a dance of joy, another familiar face appeared.

It was Horizon.

,Oh, Horizon, go to the pioneer staff right now!

,Ah, yes, yes!

Horizon hurriedly went to the staff at my instruction.

Then she received 300 gold, just like us.

Horizon had a surprised expression.

It was a face that said she never thought she would earn money from this.

,You’ve been through a lot too. It seems stingy compared to almost dying. But at least you got something.

,Almost dying…

When I excitedly chattered, Horizon glanced at me.

Ah, come to think of it, Horizon and I really did die.

Horizon hesitated for a moment, moving her lips.

An awkward silence followed between us.

,Harua, so what are you going to do for the time being?

It was Aransel who broke our silence.

I have to collect a thousand gold in less than a month.

There’s no place where you can make money as well as the 2nd World.

But there was a commotion in the 2nd World.

The regular army will prohibit entry for at least a few days to crack down on criminals.

The Pioneer Association is deserted even though it’s daytime, which is proof of that.

,I guess I have to get a part-time job at the hospital.

Holy magic-sa are welcomed in hospitals because there are few of them.

But with my current level, it was difficult to get a lot of money.

If I let them know that I can use resurrection magic, I can easily earn a thousand gold.

But it was more risky to let them know that.

What should I do?

It was the moment I was worried.

,Th-there.

Then, Horizon raised her hand.

,I-if you’re in a hurry for money, Harua-ssi knows how to make money.

,What is it?

,B-but that’s, well. You’ll make money, but that’s, um.

Horizon seemed hesitant to speak.

As soon as I read that, I knew what was going on.

,It’s a back alley job.

,…Yes.

Horizon reluctantly answered.

Pioneering is a high-risk job.

Due to the nature of this job, they are often involved in illegal activities.

Bulldog Ajussi told me not to get involved as much as possible, but even while saying that, he often bought magic materials from the back alleys because they were cheap.

,Harua.

I could feel Aransel trying to stop me.

,It’s okay, let’s hear the story first.

If Horizon told me willingly, it shouldn’t be too dangerous.

Looking at her personality, it seems difficult for her to get involved in dangerous things.

,Ah, first of all, it’s a store where an acquaintance works.

,What kind of store is it? Is it a back alley job?

,That’s, that’s, um.

Horizon blushed slightly and lowered her head.

,It’s a pleasure district job.

Pleasure district.

So.

,Are you telling me to become a male prostitute?

,Y-yes?!

Horizon was horrified.

And Aransel hit me on the back for no reason.

,N-no! Harua-ssi is a holy magic-sa, so I was wondering if I could ask you to treat the people who work in the pleasure district.

Confusion spread in Horizon’s eyes.

Ah, that’s what it is.

Some of those who work in the pleasure district cannot come out to the streets.

Those people have no choice but to hire people from outside to get treatment.

,If it’s the pleasure district, it’s syphilis.

,Yes, yes, it seems so. It’s been happening a lot recently, so they asked me to introduce them to a holy magic-sa I know.

Horizon answered shyly.

She’s so innocent even though it’s not her job.

She has the biggest boobs, which is the furthest thing from innocence.

Even if it’s syphilis, they’ll give you a lot of money if they call someone from outside.

,Aransel, what do you think?

,…You’re in a desperate situation for money. It’s not the time to be picky.

I’m not hurting people, I’m going to treat them.

Aransel didn’t seem to object either.

Good, my bodyguard agreed too.

The back side of the capital, Valterion.

I’m heading to the pleasure district.