episode_0044

All eyes in the tavern were focused on him.

But Jung Yu-shin didn’t even blink an eye, focusing only on Donal.

So, this is the Myeongdo. Not a single piece of fat, blood, or bone stuck to the blade.

Jung Yu-shin lowered his sword and looked around the tavern.

It’s obvious at a glance.

The enemies’ fighting spirit has been broken.

Even though there are quite a few of them left, they are only looking for a place to run.

Weak against the strong and strong against the weak.

These bug-like bastards.

They can’t be spared.

Jung Yu-shin raised his sword and charged.

The men scattered like sheep, wetting themselves.

Each time the sword flashed, screams and pleas swept through the tavern.

The men struggled desperately to escape, but Jung Yu-shin didn’t miss a single one.

The guy jumping around and making a fuss.

The guy trying to escape the tavern by using his comrade as a shield.

The guy groaning in pain from being injured.

The guy who can’t see anything because his eyes are cut.

The guy begging for mercy, saying he has an old mother.

The guy who gives up and rushes in, spewing all sorts of swear words.

The guy who soils his pants and stares blankly up.

The guy who curses him as a devil.

Jung Yu-shin ignored all those sounds and, like a heartless butcher, slashed, tore, hacked, and sliced.

The tavern, which had been in an uproar, soon became quiet.

He killed all the living ones.

Except for one.

Jung Yu-shin looked around the floor covered in blood and guts, then plopped down on the chair from before.

“Tarman.”

He called the name of the one remaining guy.

The killing intent was not subsiding and continued to burn endlessly.

“Bring me another drink besides this.”

At Jung Yu-shin’s words, Tarman’s pants began to get wet.

Jung Yu-shin stood up when he saw that.

“S-Spare me!”

Tarman knelt and bowed his head.

Jung Yu-shin looked down at Tarman, then went to the counter, took out a bottle of alcohol and two glasses, and brought them back.

He returned to his seat, opened the bottle, and poured alcohol into the glasses.

Pour.

Jung Yu-shin brought it to his nose, smelled it, then lifted the glass and drank it in one gulp.

He tilted the bottle again and filled the glass.

“When is the boss coming?”

“P-Please!! Spare me!!”

Tarman pleaded, trembling.

Jung Yu-shin sighed deeply.

“Never mind.”

He tilted the glass, slowly drank it, and put it down on the table.

Jung Yu-shin spent time admiring Tarman’s head as he knelt and begged.

How much time had passed?

Thump!

The wooden door opened, and someone came in.

It was a leopard beastman.

Male. A guy with impressive glossy black fur.

Indeed, he looked exactly as Aldaine had described.

‘Kalik Hyman.’

A former lieutenant explorer and executive in charge of middle management at Crimson Hunters.

A total of 4 imprints.

[Acid Spit]

[Iron Arm]

[Tracker’s Nose]

[Deadly Dexterity]

A guy who blocks attacks with his strong arms, spits acid to block the opponent’s vision, and finally finishes off the opponent with a deadly blow.

An opponent that Jung Yu-shin is inferior to in terms of skill and the number of imprints.

But what does it matter?

This guy was also someone who had to die.

Kalik looked around and clicked his tongue.

“Tsk tsk. You’ve killed a lot.”

Thud. Thud.

Kalik plopped down in the chair opposite Jung Yu-shin.

“Scar, did you eat something good in the labyrinth?”

Jung Yu-shin wordlessly tilted his glass.

Kalik turned his head and looked at Tarman.

“Newbie, come and pour some drinks.”

Tarman got up and tilted the bottle.

Trickle. Trickle.

Because of his trembling hands, the alcohol splashed here and there on the table, and there wasn’t much filled in the glass.

Kalik scratched his head.

“This bastard is completely messed up. Get lost.”

Tarman put the bottle on the table and stepped back.

Kalik picked up the bottle and filled the glass.

Pour.

“Scar, are you a murderer?”

“…”

Jung Yu-shin slowly tilted his glass without answering.

“These friends also have families. They have cute sons and pretty wives. They also have parents to take care of.”

“Why did you kill Ditto’s family?”

Kalik sighed deeply once again.

“Haa. How absurd. This isn’t the time to ask that, you crazy bastard. You’re on our radar.”

“…”

“And if you saw the dagger insignia, you should have dashed to the eastern district and kowtowed. What are you doing, comfortably going in and out of the labyrinth behind a bear?”

Jung Yu-shin and Kalik made eye contact.

Kalik chuckled.

“I’ve never seen a barbarian who doesn’t mate. All he ever goes to is the swordsmanship association and the orphanage. This bastard doesn’t seem like a barbarian.”

Kalik turned his head and looked at Tarman.

“Is that right or not?”

“I…I don’t know.”

Tarman barely answered, trembling.

“If you don’t know, you should find out. You pathetic guy.”

Kalik rubbed his eyes as if he was frustrated.

“Scar, you have two choices.”

Kalik held up his fingers one by one.

“One. Come under me.”

“Two. Die here.”

Jung Yu-shin leaned back comfortably in his chair.

Kalik and Jung Yu-shin looked at each other in silence.

Kalik looked into Jung Yu-shin’s eyes.

“I don’t usually make these kinds of offers. You’re a novice explorer, but you’re skilled and have guts, so I’m saying this. Work under me.”

Is he generous, or is he someone who can get subordinates anytime?

Kalik continued.

“I’ll teach you how to survive in the labyrinth city. You devilish bastard. You have potential.”

Jung Yu-shin’s mouth slowly opened.

“Screw it.”

Kalik shook his head at Jung Yu-shin’s words.

“Tch. You crazy bastard.”

Jung Yu-shin narrowed his eyes.

His vision flickered. He couldn’t suppress the killing intent surging from his chest.

The world repeatedly turned red and blue.

‘Is it the Red Team or the Blue Team that’s the problem.’

Hallucinations flashed erratically under his eyes.

Hobgoblins and Seamus held hands and danced under the lights of the red-light district. A human-faced centipede sang with Darmon.

Unable to bear it any longer, he blurted out a word.

“Thinking about it, it’s right to join. Yes, yes.”

Kalik sighed.

“Too late.”

“Asura Balbalta.”

Preemptive strike is essential.

He kicked the table.

Bang!!!

The wooden table exploded. Shattered pieces of wood and glass scattered in the air.

Jung Yu-shin, who had already drawn his long sword, charged at Kalik.

“Crazy!!”

Kalik let out a scream and drew his longsword.

Clang!!!

Sword and sword collided, and sparks flew.

Kalik gritted his teeth and swung his sword.

‘Crazy bastard. Where did this guy come from!’

He was definitely someone who had been to the labyrinth for the third time. Even then, he had entered as a porter once.

He had been underestimating him. That’s why he was caught off guard.

Kalik, cornered, moved back and forth, dodging Jung Yu-shin’s sword.

Clang!! Clang!!

The sound of swords colliding echoed through the tavern.

Tarman couldn’t even think of running away and was trembling in the corner.

They exchanged blows several times.

Jung Yu-shin stepped on a fallen intestine. For a moment, his posture collapsed, and he staggered.

‘Chance!’

Kalik’s eyes gleamed.

Kalik swung his sword horizontally.

Swish!!!

Kalik’s sword aimed for Jung Yu-shin’s arm.

Tsuat!!!

Jung Yu-shin quickly twisted his body to dodge. The shoulder part of his coat was slightly cut, and blood flowed out.

[Avenger]

Imprint activated.

Jung Yu-shin’s eyes blazed with blue hellfire.

Clang!!!

Sparks flew.

Sword and sword collided again and fell apart.

‘What kind of power is that?!’

Kalik gritted his teeth.

The force hitting his sword was tremendous.

The two men clashed swords, crossing over broken piles of wood and corpses.

Clang!! Clang!!

With each spark and exchange, the number of sword marks on Jung Yu-shin’s body increased one by one.

The opponent is a lieutenant explorer. Moreover, he is a guy who has been rolling around in the labyrinth city for several years and has been involved in the underworld.

The difference in skill that comes from age could not be ignored.

But Jung Yu-shin did not flinch.

As flesh was cut and blood scattered, the blue hellfire in his eyes burned even brighter.

Clang!!!

Once again, sword and sword collided.

The two men locked swords and began to struggle.

Crackle!!!

The sound of metal grinding spread from the tangled sword and sword.

Jung Yu-shin and Kalik looked each other in the eyes.

A fleeting moment.

Kalik closed his mouth and puffed out his cheeks.

‘It’s coming.’

[Acid Spit]

Jung Yu-shin turned his head.

He couldn’t avoid it completely.

Thick spit splashed on his neck and shoulder.

Hiss!!!

With a bubbling sound, flesh and clothing burned away.

Thwack!!!

“Ugh!!!”

Instantly, tremendous pain shot up from his shin.

Jung Yu-shin gritted his teeth.

Something sharp broke through his shin bone and lodged firmly in place.

Jung Yu-shin pushed back his sword and limped away.

Something was sticking out of Kalik’s shoe.

It was a jackknife hidden in the sole of his shoe.

“How is it?”

Kalik smiled vilely.

“···Not bad.”

Jung Yu-shin answered calmly and tightened his grip on his sword.

Kalik burst into wild laughter and swung his longsword.

He’s a guy who has been rolling around in the underworld.

There was no way he would let go of the advantage he had gained.

Jung Yu-shin limped and raised his sword to block.

Since his shin bone was shattered, and he couldn’t firmly plant his foot on the ground, the power with which he wielded his sword naturally weakened.

The situation was gradually becoming unfavorable for Jung Yu-shin.

Kalik seemed to like this situation very much and leisurely pushed Jung Yu-shin back.

Swish!!!

A sharply cutting sword. The target is the right arm.

He finished calculating the sword path in an instant.

He twisted his body. But because of his injured leg, he couldn’t dodge completely and rolled his body.

As he rolled on the floor, thick blood stuck to his coat and hair.

Kalik charged and swung his sword down.

Checkmate.

He can’t avoid it.

Jung Yu-shin knelt and raised his sword.

Clang!!!

His wrist, holding the sword, was twisted by the strong sword strike.

Blood spurted out from his right shin.

Clang!!!

Kalik struck down once more.

Jung Yu-shin’s body completely collapsed.

Thwack!!!

Kalik’s foot was planted in Jung Yu-shin’s solar plexus.

Jung Yu-shin flew away and crashed into the wall. The sword he was holding also flew off somewhere and fell.

“Kuh-ugh!!!”

Jung Yu-shin writhed like a worm, exhaling.

Kalik grinned and slung his longsword over his shoulder.

“You were quite the fighter. Sorry for suspecting for a moment that you weren’t a barbarian.”

“…”

“Let’s finish this soon. Stick your neck out.”

Jung Yu-shin staggered to his feet. Kalik clicked his tongue.

“I almost didn’t recognize a tiger cub. You’re a dangerous bastard. Die for real.”

Whoosh!!!

Kalik’s sword aimed for Jung Yu-shin’s neck.

[Sacred Weapon]

A golden longsword was created in his hand. He grabbed it with both hands and lifted it.

Clang!!!

Sword and sword collided. Fragments of light scattered.

“That imprint!! I knew it!! You pathetic!!!”

Kalik snarled, baring his teeth.

He stuck close as if he would never back down. They entered a power struggle again.

Jung Yu-shin’s golden sword was pushed further and further towards his shoulder by the force.

1 second.

2 seconds.

3 seconds.

The golden longsword disappeared. This was because the weapon summoning time had reached its limit.

Kalik smirked.

There are no more obstacles blocking his way.

He straightened his sword and thrust it into Jung Yu-shin’s body.

The sharp tip of the sword instantly ripped through his intestines and came out through his back.

The chilling sensation of the sword tearing through his stomach.

And Jung Yu-shin’s mind went blank from the pain that immediately followed.

In his flashing vision, he bit down hard on his tongue.

“How is it? Why didn’t you just go comfortably? You pathetic bastard…”

Kalik sneered.

“Ptooey!!”

Jung Yu-shin spat out the blood he had been holding in his mouth.

“You son of a!!!”

Kalik stepped back in surprise.

The blood Jung Yu-shin spat out entered Kalik’s eyes, obscuring his vision.

Thwack!

Kalik tried to pull out the sword he had plunged into Jung Yu-shin’s stomach.

But the sword handle didn’t move.

Jung Yu-shin’s hand was tightly gripping Kalik’s sword.

He was gripping it so tightly that it wouldn’t budge.

‘What the?!’

His shock was brief.

Smack!!!

Kalik’s head snapped back.

His vision flashed, and blood poured from his nose.

Jung Yu-shin’s headbutt crushed Kalik’s nasal bone.

Kalik screamed and frantically spat out acid.

Jung Yu-shin didn’t care and cocked his head back again.

Headbutt.

Smack!!!

“Kuhahahaak!!!”

Kalik screamed and twisted his body. But Jung Yu-shin was faster.

[Sacred Weapon]

A dagger of light was thrust deep into Kalik’s stomach.

“Kuhuh-ugh!!!”

Kalik let out a scream and staggered backward before collapsing to his knees.

Tsuuuuk.

Jung Yu-shin pulled out the longsword stuck in his stomach with trembling hands. He originally wasn’t supposed to pull it out and go to the temple, but he trusted the Avenger imprint.

Clatter.

The longsword fell to the floor.

Trickle.

Blood flowed down the floor.

Jung Yu-shin limped towards Kalik.

Kalik’s eyes widened with fear.

“Cough. Keh-cough.”

He looked at Jung Yu-shin with desperate eyes as if he had something to say, but he was just vomiting blood.

Jung Yu-shin grabbed Kalik’s snout.

‘What!’

His hand gradually tightened. Kalik’s mouth slowly opened.

Hiss.

His fingers hissed and stuck together with acid, but he didn’t care.

“Aga gagak.”

Kalik trembled as his mouth widened to its limit.

‘Please!! Please!!’

Tsuzu zuk.

The corners of his mouth slowly began to tear.

Kalik shook his body with all his might, but Jung Yu-shin didn’t budge.

“Agagagagak!!! Agagagagak!!!”

Tears streamed down Kalik’s eyes.

Tsuaaaaak!!!

His lower jaw bone shattered, and his mouth was completely torn apart.

“Kahaaak!!!”

Kalik’s eyes completely rolled back.

Jung Yu-shin took his hand off Kalik’s mouth and stood up.

Because the Avenger imprint was still activated, his body was slowly healing.

The amount of blood flowing from his stomach had decreased.

Jung Yu-shin staggered, grabbed his stomach, found a decent chair, and slumped down.

The tavern was a mess of blood, corpses, and broken tables.

Jung Yu-shin tapped the table.

“Tarman, bring me some alcohol.”

Overwhelmed by Jung Yu-shin’s frenzied fight, Tarman trembled and couldn’t move.

“I said, bring me some alcohol.”

Jung Yu-shin said again.

“Yes?! Yes!”

Tarman ran to the counter, rummaged through the liquor cabinet as if he would break it, and brought a bottle of alcohol and a glass.

Tarman hurriedly ran over and placed the bottle and glass on the table.

Jung Yu-shin picked up the bottle and poured it into the glass.

Pour.

Jung Yu-shin lifted the glass and poured it into his mouth. But he didn’t swallow.

He held it in his mouth, swished it around once, and then spat it out on the floor.

“Ptooey.”

Blood-stained alcohol spread on the floor.

Jung Yu-shin leaned back in his chair.

He inhaled the blood smell that filled the tavern as if he were savoring it, filling his lungs and exhaling.

“Who was going to teach who how to survive in the labyrinth city?”

Jung Yu-shin muttered, looking up at the ceiling.

The unceasing murderous intent did not subside and became madness, poking at Jung Yu-shin’s mind.

Jung Yu-shin turned his head and looked at Tarman.

“Tarman.”

“Yes!”

“Kneel.”

“Yes?”

“I said, kneel.”

Tarman knelt on the floor, where blood was thickly spread.

“S-Spare me.”

Jung Yu-shin tapped the glass.

“You’re such a pathetic guy. You kidnapped and tortured kids and their mothers for money, and you tore their mouths to kill them? Are you even human?”

“I…I didn’t do it.”

“You must have been involved, right? Should I believe you if you say no?”

Jung Yu-shin looked at Tarman’s head and continued.

“Why did you come to a place like this?”

“I needed…money.”

“There must have been something going on in the southern district, right?”

“…I lost my job because of the labyrinth closure order. They said they would give me a lot of money…Please believe me!!! I really didn’t know it would be something like this!!!”

‘What should I do with him? Should I spare him for Anne’s sake?’

The murderous intent surged like a tide and then receded like a tide.

“My mind is wandering.”

Jung Yu-shin swept back his blood-soaked hair.

He looked up at the tavern ceiling.

Tarman bowed his head and trembled, shouting something.

He couldn’t hear it.

Jung Yu-shin got up from his chair and walked among the dead.

He found a dagger among the dismembered corpses and held it in his hand.

“Tarman, lift your head.”

Tarman lifted his head, and when he saw Jung Yu-shin holding the dagger, he froze in place.

Jung Yu-shin slowly went behind Tarman and stood there.

“What to do. I’m really worried.”

“S-Spare me.”

Jung Yu-shin said quietly.

As he held the dagger in his hand, the murderous intent surged again. His head was spinning.

“Shut up.”

What is he thinking? Tarman.

Is he regretting his sins?

Or is he just begging to save his life right now?

He doesn’t know.

A person’s heart was another labyrinth.

That fact relentlessly scratched at Jung Yu-shin’s mind.

Jung Yu-shin grabbed Tarman’s hair.

Snip.

The cut hair fell to the floor.

Jung Yu-shin cut Tarman’s hair every time the murderous intent surged.

‘Should I kill him?’

‘Should I not?’

Tarman’s hair fell to the floor in droves.

Perhaps because he had no talent as a hairdresser, Tarman’s hair became ridiculous.

It’s really pathetic.

Having already killed 31 people, he couldn’t kill the last one, and he was doing this late at night, which was really pathetic. It was driving him crazy.

Has his devotion to his childhood friend gone in the wrong direction?

If he were in Tarman’s position, what would he have done?

Would he have just watched? Would he have stubbornly insisted on the right path?

Probably.

‘Stop.’

He stopped thinking.

Jung Yu-shin stared at Tarman’s head with bloodshot eyes and threw the dagger far away.

“Don’t ever show your face again. You pathetic guy. Leave the labyrinth city. Repent.”

Seamus came to mind and disappeared.

Jung Yu-shin picked up the sword that was lying in the corner and walked among the dead.

On the way, he saw Kalik spitting blood from his torn mouth and rolling his eyes.

Is he still not dead?

Jung Yu-shin kicked Kalik’s neck.

Crack!!!

Jung Yu-shin’s work boot ruthlessly crushed Kalik’s neck bones.

The long tongue that came out of his torn mouth hung limply.

It was a truly pathetic death.

Wouldn’t he die like this someday too?

Jung Yu-shin opened the tavern door and went outside, thinking such thoughts.

Dark night.

Someone was standing outside the tavern.