episode_0023

Dawn before sunrise.

Jeong Yu-shin threw off the blanket and got out of bed.

“Ugh! I’m going to die.”

The muscles all over his body screamed. He opened the window and twisted his waist this way and that, and the sound of bones cracking echoed.

“Hoo.”

When he went down to the first floor, he heard clattering sounds from the kitchen. Darremong, who was already awake, was preparing breakfast. When he opened the kitchen door, he saw Darremong’s back.

“Good morning. Darremong.”

“Are you awake?”

“Yes. Is it okay if I sweep the yard?”

“As you wish.”

“Thank you.”

When he opened the back door of the kitchen and went out, the morning air hit his face. Behind the wide yard were a house where Darremong stayed and a warehouse.

Jeong Yu-shin stood in the middle of the yard and began to stretch his body in earnest. He had no professional knowledge. He just moved his body as he saw on the internet.

Still, whether it was effective or not, the stiff muscles loosened a little and he felt the heat rising.

“Hoo.”

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

What to do at dawn.

Practice of imprinting.

He could practice at the swordsmanship association, but there were too many eyes watching there. He wanted to hone at least one secret weapon in a place where no one could see. Darremong is excluded. Because he is his benefactor.

[Sacred Weapon]

The magical particles that had been spread throughout his body gathered in his hand. He used to feel it faintly, but it is different now. The magic gathering at his fingertips felt more vivid. It’s thanks to leveling up.

Flash!

A golden dagger of warm colors was created in his hand.

He did not feel the cold sensation unique to cold weapons.

The golden dagger made of magic soon disappeared.

It lasted for about 3 seconds, he estimated.

His body felt stiff and weak because he had consumed magic, but he could handle it.

Again.

He took a deep breath and gathered magic in his hand.

Flash!

This time, a one-handed sword in the form of an arming sword.

He grabbed it and swung it.

The trajectory drawn in warm gold cut through the cold dawn air.

Jeong Yu-shin looked down at the sword in his hand.

Tss tss tss.

The sword crumbled like sand and scattered into golden particles, flying into the air, hovering, and disappearing.

Jeong Yu-shin smacked his lips.

“Too slow.”

The deployment speed of Sacred Weapon was too slow.

It did not match the speed he had created during the fight with the hobgoblin warrior. It did not even match the speed he had when responding to Ditto’s assassination.

Jeong Yu-shin closed his eyes and reviewed several battles.

How desperately he fought.

And how desperately he wanted to win.

He thought and thought again.

“Hoo-eup.”

He spread his hand. Magic responded and gathered in his hand.

This time, golden knuckles were created.

“Slow.”

Jeong Yu-shin muttered discontentedly.

Just as he was about to try again, he suddenly felt dizzy. He knelt down and supported himself on the floor with both hands. His heart was pounding like crazy.

The limit is 3 times when used consecutively. He understood with his body. Still, it was much better than in the past when he had fallen after only one time.

He regained his composure and stood up. Dawn was breaking.

He had a meal at the inn and went to the temple.

He had his attendance checked at the temple reception desk and turned around when he spotted a familiar face.

Ann.

The archer girl from the party he met on his first labyrinth trip.

Ann approached.

“It’s been a while. Mr. Scar.”

“Yes.”

Was it 2 weeks? Was it 3 weeks? He couldn’t remember when he had last met her.

“It seems like it’s been about 3 weeks since I last saw you. How are you?”

“I’m healthy. How are you, Ann?”

“I’m healthy. Ah! Are you curious about what happened to our party?”

He was not curious at all. However, because a dark light flickered in Ann’s eyes, he just nodded.

“Dean was taken away by the mage tower in the labyrinth city. They say they are conducting various experiments to restore people who have been consumed by darkness and are not in their right mind. Of course, humanely.”

Ann continued.

“Kaal is buried in a corner of the cemetery behind this temple. Marie didn’t want to let go of Kaal, so it was hard to separate them.”

“…”

“Marie is pregnant with a hobgoblin baby. She is currently staying at the Mother Earth Temple. Have you seen her?”

He had not seen her at all.

Jeong Yu-shin shook his head without saying a word.

“Tarman and I are working. We’re doing all the jobs that make money. Except for going into the labyrinth.”

Jeong Yu-shin and Ann looked at each other for a moment.

Dark circles were deeply etched under Ann’s eyes.

“Oh, that’s unfortunate. But, well, won’t there be a day when you see the light? Cheer up.”

“···I guess so.”

“Yes, yes. I’ll be going now. Good luck.”

Jeong Yu-shin left the temple without hearing Ann’s reply.

‘I feel terrible.’

It is said that there are as many misfortunes as there are people in the world, and that was exactly right.

His steps toward the orphanage stopped.

“Don’t do this. Yu-shin. It’s crazy.”

He said to himself.

He lived in a world where moderate ruthlessness and distrust were virtues. If you didn’t have virtues, you were called a pushover. If you had too many virtues, you received the wonderful title of son of a bitch.

“Damn it. We’ve only met once. What help are you going to give?”

Darremong came to mind.

He also remembered the warm food he ate when he returned to the inn after spending a cold dawn at the shelter.

He turned around and ran to the inn. He ran like a madman without stopping.

“Darremong!!”

He burst open the inn door and shouted.

Darremong, who was sitting at the counter, raised his head.

“What is it?”

“Why are you being so nice to me? Aren’t I a stranger to you?! Why!”

He shouted loudly. The people eating at the inn fell silent and looked back and forth between Jeong Yu-shin and Darremong’s faces.

Darremong stroked his chin for a moment.

“Because you asked me to help. And because I wanted to help.”

“Is that all?”

“Yes.”

“Keuek!!”

Jeong Yu-shin’s expression was terribly distorted. He turned around and ran to the second floor, rummaged through his room, took out silver coins, and came back down to the first floor.

“Do you know Ann?”

“Are you talking about the girl archer you met on your first labyrinth trip?”

“Yes.”

“Is she in a difficult situation? You want to help her, I see.”

Darremong grasped Jeong Yu-shin’s condition at a glance.

“What should I do? Should I help her?”

“Don’t ask me.”

“…”

“Do as your heart tells you. So you don’t regret it.”

“I understand.”

Jeong Yu-shin left the inn with the pouch filled with silver coins.

Perhaps because he had left so quickly and like the wind, silence lingered in the inn for a while. But soon people began to talk little by little, and the inn returned to its usual appearance.

The ears of the beastwoman sitting opposite Darremong perked up.

“Hmm? Darremong. Is that barbarian your type?”

“No. Lady Karin.”

Her red tail wagged gently.

“Really?”

“Yes. I like women.”

“But is that barbarian trustworthy?”

“I don’t know. I don’t think he’s ever caused an accident. He’s also a diligent human being.”

“What? You’re praising a human. That’s unusual.”

“People can change.”

“Is that so? Hmm. Okay. I’ll come back later.”

“Yes. Please take care.”

* * *

Jeong Yu-shin ran like the wind and arrived at the temple.

He asked the priest sitting at the reception desk.

“Where is the red-haired girl from a little while ago?”

“Are you an acquaintance?”

The priest who was working at the reception asked back.

“I’m a former party member.”

“She is currently in the garden. If you go straight through the passage on the right from here, you will find it.”

Jeong Yu-shin walked through the passage and came out to the garden.

Marie and Ann were sitting together on a long wooden chair.

Mion was also there, but he didn’t care.

Jeong Yu-shin strode up to them.

“Eu-woo.”

Marie’s body, who was hugging a teddy bear tightly, flinched. She seemed to be afraid of the outsider who had suddenly appeared.

“Mr. Scar.”

“Take it.”

Ann bit her lip when she saw the pouch Jeong Yu-shin handed her.

“···I can’t. You wouldn’t have any obligation to help us like this in the first place, would you?”

“I want to help you. There’s no other reason. And you need it, right? If you’re uncomfortable with it, think of it as help from a former colleague who went on the first labyrinth trip together.”

They exchanged glances silently for quite a long time.

Eventually, Ann chuckled. Tears welled up slightly in her eyes.

“We weren’t the first, though.”

That’s right.

“Then give it to Marie.”

“Awoo-woo.”

Marie tilted her head when she saw the pouch, then grabbed it with one hand and touched it. When Jeong Yu-shin took his hand away, Marie put the pouch on her lap and tugged at Ann’s clothes.

“It’s not much. I put in about 5 silver coins and 50 copper coins.”

“···Thank you.”

Ann bowed her head deeply. Tears fell to the floor.

Mion gently took Ann’s hand.

“That’s great. Ann. You can use this to cover Kaal’s funeral expenses and Marie’s medical expenses. I’ll help you with the rest out of my own pocket.”

“Sniff. Thank you. Priestess Mion.”

“Go back and get some rest today. You look tired.”

“···I understand.”

Jeong Yu-shin turned his body.

“I’ll be going now. I’m going to be late.”

“Hehe. Yes. I’ll be going soon too. Mr. Scar.”

Was it just his imagination that Mion’s atmosphere felt warmer?

“Th-thank you. Mr. Scar.”

“Okay. Let’s see each other often.”

He waved his hand in response to Ann’s words of gratitude, turned his back, and walked out of the garden.

He arrived at the classroom on the first floor of the orphanage and sat down in his seat.

“The teacher is late today.”

“I hope Teacher Mion is here again today.”

“That’s right. Teacher Mion is like a kind older sister. She smells nice when you’re next to her.”

“Could that barbarian ahjussi be with the teacher?”

“Hey…no way?”

The parentless children were slandering Jeong Yu-shin.

Some of the older children glared and stood up stealthily.

“What are you going to do if you stand up? Sit down. The teacher will be here soon.”

At Jeong Yu-shin’s words, the children sat back down in their seats.

Only the brown-haired boy was standing.

“You! What did you do to the teacher?!”

The classroom became quiet and everyone’s attention was focused on him.

“I didn’t do anything.”

“Then why isn’t she coming! You’re a barbarian, aren’t you? You must have done something!”

“That’s right. That’s right.”

“Boo!! Bad barbarian!”

Listening to the groundless accusations of the boys and girls, a strong sense of emptiness came over him.

‘I’m getting dizzy.’

Jeong Yu-shin pointed his finger at the brown-haired boy.

“What exactly did I do to Teacher Mion? Tell me specifically.”

“Th-that’s.”

The boy’s face turned red.

The children agreed with Jeong Yu-shin’s words.

“Yeah. John, tell us! Let’s tell him proudly how bad that barbarian was!”

“That’s right!”

The boy named John hesitated and opened his mouth.

“Th-that’s right! You barbarian! You groped Teacher Mion’s chest?!”

“Gasp.”

The 8-year-old kid next to him trembled at John’s blasphemous words.

“And…and you kissed her and licked her tongue! I know everything!”

“Eck.”

The girls glared at John with cold eyes.

Jeong Yu-shin crossed his arms and looked at John.

‘Is this the level of a 1 silver coin no-mother academy?’

“And you sniffed Teacher Mion’s neck while sniffing! Yeah. You bad barbarian!”

John looked around as if seeking approval, but the atmosphere in the classroom was chilling.

“Hoo.”

A low voice was heard from behind John.

John’s body stiffened.

John slowly turned his body creakingly.

“Heok! Tea…Teacher.”

“I see. John, is that how you were looking at me?”

Jeong Yu-shin was then able to see Mion’s eye color. It was cold and subdued, but it was definitely golden. Just for a moment, Mion’s eyes turned into slits.

“John.”

“Y-yes. Teacher.”

“Write 50 pages of reflection papers by the end of today.”

John’s face turned black.

“Y-yes.”

“Apologize to Mr. Scar, too.”

“Yes.”

John bowed to Jeong Yu-shin.

“Sorry. Mister.”

“It’s okay. You’re just going through a rebellious phase at that age. I understand.”

The subdued atmosphere was relieved.

“Well then. Shall we start the class?”

“Yes! Teacher!”

30 minutes had passed since the start of class.

A drop of sweat dripped from Jeong Yu-shin’s forehead.

‘I was also going through a rebellious phase.’