episode_0046

A week passed.

A quiet morning at the inn.

Jeong Yushin sat at the counter, resting his chin on his hand.

“Ugh, ptooey, ptooey!!! How can food be this awful?! Owner, come out!”

A rabbit beastkin raised his voice, huffing and puffing.

Jeong Yushin rose from his seat and approached the rabbit beastkin.

“Is it that bad?”

“It’s complete garbage!”

“I agree.”

Jeong Yushin nodded.

Tarman’s cooking couldn’t be called delicious, even as a polite euphemism.

“Where did Darmong go?”

The rabbit beastkin asked.

“He took leave because he had some business to attend to in his hometown.”

“Tsk.”

The rabbit beastkin clicked his tongue and got up from his seat.

Jeong Yushin watched the beastkin’s retreating figure as he stormed out, then entered the kitchen.

“Tarman.”

“Yes, Sca-nim.”

“I heard you’re good at cooking?”

Tarman scratched his head. His cleanly shaven head, devoid of any hair, glistened with sweat.

“My friends praised my cooking as delicious.”

“I just got slapped by a customer. They said it was really bad.”

“Re…really?”

“I’m lying.”

“…”

“Tarman.”

“Yes.”

“It seems our connection ends here.”

Tarman’s eyes widened like a rabbit’s.

“Pardon?!”

“I’m lying.”

“Kuh-heuk.”

Tarman clutched his heart and staggered.

“I should hire someone. Someone who is good at cooking. Go to the monster dismantling site and bring back Hooknose.”

“···Did you know?”

“That you’re Aldaine’s contact? Everyone in this town probably knows. While you’re at it, find out how Silva is doing.”

“Understood.”

Tarman took off his apron and left the inn.

Jeong Yushin closed the shop door and sat at the counter.

He crossed his arms and pondered deeply.

He considered Aldaine’s words and actions and the eastern district of the labyrinth city. He could deduce that people who were worse than slave hunters were lurking somewhere.

The problem was that he couldn’t be sure whether they were paying attention to him or not.

It could be paranoia.

But there was no harm in preparing. Besides, the remaining slave hunters could be secretly disguising themselves as cooks and coming here.

This was where Aldaine’s help was needed.

He needed a filter to weed out the trash.

There’s a saying that like attracts like.

It was obvious that underworld guys would recognize other underworld guys.

Jeong Yushin waited quietly.

A few hours later.

Tarman and Hooknose entered the inn.

“Sca-nim.”

“Yeah. Anything happen?”

“No.”

“I’m thinking of hiring someone, so I need some help.”

“Understood.”

Hooknose bowed and answered immediately.

Jeong Yushin turned his head and looked at Tarman.

“Once the cook is decided, you’ll be serving. The food tastes too much like garbage.”

“Yes.”

Tarman answered in a dejected voice.

A large cook recruitment notice was posted in front of the inn.

Hooknose wrote down Jeong Yushin’s conditions. He was a smart fellow. You could say he was a desirable talent.

“Please don’t expect too much.”

Hooknose said.

“Why?”

“Aren’t you a Barbaroi, Sca-nim? You might think you can get a female to cook.”

“···Let’s wait and see first.”

One day. Two days. Three days.

The inn was deserted. No one applied. On the fourth day, Jeong Yushin rose from the counter chair.

“Tarman.”

“Yes.”

“You don’t seem to have any worries. Can’t you see that the fate of the inn is as precarious as a candle in the wind?”

“…”

“Go out. Go out and shout, ‘We’re looking for a cook.’”

“Yes.”

As Tarman staggered towards the inn door, the door opened.

Clang!!

“I heard you’re looking for a cook.”

A small fox beastkin with yellow fur stood at the entrance of the inn and shouted confidently.

Jeong Yushin narrowed his eyes and looked down at the fox beastkin. Then he looked at Hooknose.

“Is this it?”

“You should probably interview them first.”

Jeong Yushin nodded and pointed to the seat across from where he was sitting.

“Sit here.”

“Hee-woo-woo.”

The short fox beastkin ran to the table and struggled to climb onto the chair.

Jeong Yushin watched the scene and then picked up the fox beastkin and placed it on the chair.

“Thank you.”

“Yeah. Can you cook?”

“Of course.”

“You’re a bit short. How do you cook?”

“I have summoning magic.”

The fox beastkin puffed out its flat chest and raised its chin.

“What do you summon? Food? Or familiars?”

“Familiars.”

The conversation trailed off.

“So, you’re saying you’re going to use your familiars to cook?”

“That’s right.”

“Summon them then.”

“Watch closely. Haap!”

The fox beastkin gathered its small hands together and squished them, then spread them out towards the table.

A flash of light appeared and something appeared on the table.

Jeong Yushin’s eyes widened.

‘This is?!’

Three small, colorful slimes appeared on the table.

“Wh…what is this?”

Jeong Yushin barely managed to ask, barely holding onto his dizzy mind.

The fox beastkin pointed to the red slime crawling on the table.

“This friend is Nyalmeum. Isn’t he cute?”

“…”

“This blue friend is Mongmong. How is he?”

“This green kid is Chopeu-chopeu. Ehehe.”

Jeong Yushin blankly stared down at the slimes.

He couldn’t stand watching them crawling on the table, so he raised his head.

“So, you’re going to cook with these friends?”

“I…I can do it!”

It seemed like there was more to show.

The fox beastkin closed its eyes and muttered something.

“Haap! Transform!”

In accordance with the fox beastkin’s incantation, the slimes wiggled and transformed into different shapes.

They transformed into a bear beastkin, an elf, and something like a strange lump.

Jeong Yushin pointed at the shapeless lump slime.

“What is this?”

“It’s a dragon.”

Dragons really existed. It was a fantasy world after all.

That was beside the point.

Jeong Yushin ran a hand over his face.

How could he politely refuse?

He was very worried.

Jeong Yushin looked down at the fox beastkin and slowly opened his mouth.

“Well…it’s a great skill, but your work abilities are not related to the duties of this inn…”

Jeong Yushin stopped talking and looked at the fox beastkin.

“Wuuu. I don’t know what ‘abilities’ are.”

Round teardrops welled up in the fox beastkin’s big eyes.

Tarman and Hooknose were staring intently from the side.

Jeong Yushin sighed.

“Come to the inn and perform once in a while.”

“I’m hungry!”

‘Oh dear, I’m going to die.’

Dealing with the tantrum of a small fox beastkin was more difficult than exchanging knife stabs and fighting.

At that moment, Hooknose smiled contentedly and took out a coin from his pocket and handed it over.

“Buy something delicious with this.”

The fox beastkin’s eyes sparkled at the coin Hooknose handed over.

“Wow! Thank you, Mister.”

The fox beastkin politely bowed and ran out of the inn.

The three men sitting at the table crossed their arms and looked at each other.

“Doesn’t that kid know what a Barbaroi is? So fearless.”

Jeong Yushin grumbled in disbelief.

Hooknose gave a bitter smile.

“It’s amazing. But it’s not a bad start.”

“I hope so too.”

Jeong Yushin said, looking at the inn entrance.

A little later.

“Are you that Barbaroi?”

‘Who is this old man again?’

A white-haired dwarf sat across the table, staring intently at Jeong Yushin.

“Elder, please clearly state what kind of Barbaroi I am.”

“Are you that nice Barbaroi who doesn’t rape?”

“I am that person. The only decent man in the labyrinth city.”

“I’ve never seen anyone like this in my life.”

The dwarf old man muttered blankly.

“Old man, did you come here to apply as a cook?”

“No?”

The dwarf sat there blankly, looking up at Jeong Yushin.

Jeong Yushin sighed deeply, looking at the ceiling.

“Hoo, get out of here. You’re disqualified. Next.”

“You’re an interesting fellow. Let’s see each other often.”

The old dwarf got off the chair and walked out of the inn.

The next applicant sat in the chair.

They were wearing a crow beak mask and a robe, and carrying a suspicious bag.

“Did you…come here to apply as a cook?”

“···Buy this.”

The crow beak mask suddenly took something out of the bag and placed it on the table.

It was difficult to tell whether the voice was male or female because it was so hoarse.

“What is this?”

There was a fist-sized glass bottle on the table. Inside it, pink liquid sloshed.

“It’s a potion that makes you happy.”

“Isn’t this a drug? Get out.”

Jeong Yushin growled.

“It’s an aphrodisiac. It drives women crazy.”

“Same thing. Get out.”

The crow beak mask clicked its tongue and put the glass bottle back in the bag and got up from its seat.

“This medicine is expensive. I won’t give you a discount next time.”

“Disqualified. Next.”

The beak mask left the inn, and the next applicant sat across the table.

A hyena beastkin with yellow fur. There was a long scar on one eye.

‘Hoo.’

There was the scent of a master.

Should he call it the scent of an eccentric who had only dug one path in solitude?

“Can you cook?”

Jeong Yushin asked the hyena beastkin with anticipation.

“I don’t need that kind of thing.”

Jeong Yushin’s expression soured at the hyena beastkin’s words.

‘What is this now…’

He was slowly reaching the limit of his patience.

The cook he was looking for didn’t come, and only strange people appeared.

“Are you that guy? The one who suddenly appeared in the eastern district and slaughtered the slave hunters?”

Jeong Yushin turned his head and looked at Hooknose.

Hooknose nodded.

Were they underworld guys?

“That’s me.”

Jeong Yushin answered.

Excitement appeared on the hyena beastkin’s face.

“Are you really the guy who killed 31 people alone in one night? You look too flimsy for a Barbaroi.”

“Do you judge by appearance? You have to measure to know what’s long and short.”

The surroundings suddenly became quiet.

The silence that suddenly fell enveloped the inn.

‘Did I say something wrong?’

What’s going on?

Jeong Yushin turned his head from side to side and looked at the people.

Some of the applicants packed their bags and rushed out of the inn.

The hyena beastkin’s face turned slightly red.

“No…way? Are you suggesting we ‘face it’ together?”

Damn it.

“No.”

“I…is that so. Anyway, I have a proposal.”

“Tell me.”

“Join our clan. I promise you a generous treatment.”

“Hoo.”

Jeong Yushin leaned back in his chair and glared at the hyena beastkin.

He didn’t know what a clan meant, but he decided to understand it as a group in the underworld.

“Are you going to hire me?”

“Yes. It’s a bit different, but it’s a similar story.”

Jeong Yushin looked into the hyena beastkin’s eyes.

The hyena beastkin’s body flinched.

‘What…are those eyes?’

His spine tingled as he saw the strangely flickering eyes.

Jeong Yushin slowly rose from his seat. A longsword was in his hand.

“Don’t move.”

The people who were about to leave the inn stopped at once.

Jeong Yushin slung his sword over his shoulder and stood at the inn entrance.

Clang!!!

Thud!!!

Jeong Yushin locked the inn door.

He turned around and looked at the faces of the people.

“Are there any guys here who came from the eastern district?”

A few guys flinched. Some guys remained silent.

“Did you all hear it? Rumors spread so quickly.”

Jeong Yushin swept back his black hair.

“Let’s make this clear. I didn’t kill those guys for my own glory or a high price.”

A few people sneered.

Jeong Yushin continued without paying attention.

“Those bastards crossed the line. Explorers can fight and kill each other. This is the labyrinth city. I understand. But gouging out the eyes and tearing the mouth of an innocent child to death? And showing it to me? You should have begged me to kill you. You bug-like bastards.”

Jeong Yushin’s eyes gleamed.

The silence of the inn became even heavier.

“I don’t know what kind of bastards you guys are, but if you’re the kind of guys who do that kind of thing and walk around in broad daylight…”

“Sca-nim, there are no such guys here.”

Hooknose got up from his seat and stopped Jeong Yushin.

“Hoo.”

Jeong Yushin sighed and touched his eyes. He suppressed the rising homicidal intent.

Thud!!!

Squeak!!!

He opened the inn door.

“Get out, except for the guys who are really applying to be cooks.”

Most of them got up from their seats and left the inn.

Among the people leaving, there were a few who glared at Jeong Yushin, and there were some who nodded as if they had understood something. There were also guys who couldn’t make eye contact because they were scared.

“Tsk. I’m done for.”

Jeong Yushin returned to his seat.

The hyena beastkin remained seated.

“Leave.”

Despite Jeong Yushin’s eviction order, the hyena beastkin did not budge.

“You must have come to the labyrinth city because you wanted something. No one is without desire. Tell me what you want. I’ll grant it as much as possible.”

Hooknose’s body stiffened at the hyena beastkin’s words. It was a bold claim that Aldaine would have gotten angry about.

“What I want.”

Jeong Yushin crossed his arms and turned his gaze to the inn entrance.

“Yeah. Tell me. What do you want?”

Jeong Yushin remained silent, despite the beastkin’s urging.

How much time had passed?

Just as the beastkin was about to speak again, Jeong Yushin spat out.

“It’s none of your business. Get out.”

“Hoo.”

The hyena beastkin sighed and glanced at Hooknose.

“I see. I missed my chance.”

The hyena beastkin got up from his seat and left the inn.

The three men were left alone again in the empty inn.

“It’s really hard to find someone.”

“It’s not easy.”

Hooknose nodded in agreement.

Evening was approaching. The streets were getting dark.

“Shall we stop for today?”

Just as Jeong Yushin was about to get up from his seat, someone was standing at the inn entrance.

A red-haired girl.

The rearguard of the Kaal party.

It was Anne.

Tarman’s body stiffened.

Anne strode over and stood across from Jeong Yushin.

“Anne?”

Anne bowed deeply.

“Sca-nim, thank you for saving Tarman.”

Anne used honorifics.

She knew everything and came here.

“Yeah. Didn’t Tarman tell you?”

“He hasn’t come to the dorm for a week, so I asked around. He just left money in front of the door and disappeared. I didn’t know what happened, so I quit my job…”

Tears welled up in Anne’s eyes.

Jeong Yushin and Hooknose crossed their arms and looked at Tarman.

“Ahem…ahem.”

Tarman turned his head in embarrassment and coughed dryly.

“You two seem to have a lot to talk about, so go into the kitchen and do it.”

“Thank you.”

Anne sniffled and glared at Tarman.

“Tarman, come with me.”

Anne dragged Tarman into the kitchen.

The sounds of crying, beating, and something breaking were heard from the kitchen.

Jeong Yushin and Hooknose crossed their arms and stared at the innocent ceiling.

A little later.

Tarman walked out, trembling, with a large bruise on his face.

Anne was smiling as if she felt relieved.

Hmm.

“Anne, can you cook?”

Anne’s eyes widened at Jeong Yushin’s question.

“Yes?”

“We need someone to cook at our inn. I’ll give you a generous salary. How about it?”

Tears welled up in Anne’s eyes again.

“Thank you.”

“Well, it seems like you have a separate lodging, so go back today and let’s meet tomorrow at dawn.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

Anne repeatedly bowed and expressed her gratitude.

Jeong Yushin only nodded and looked at Tarman.

“That’s good.”

“···Yes.”

Tarman said in a cracked voice.

Anne grabbed Tarman by the collar and dragged him out of the inn.

Jeong Yushin got up from his seat and searched the cupboard behind the counter, took out a bottle of alcohol and two glasses, and brought them to the table.

Jeong Yushin placed a glass in front of Hooknose and tilted the bottle to pour him some alcohol.

Pour, pour.

“Hooknose, you’ve worked hard.”

Hooknose smiled faintly at Jeong Yushin’s praise.

“I’m glad you found a cook.”

Hooknose said, raising his glass.

Jeong Yushin chuckled and poured some alcohol into his own glass.

“First, I have to see their cooking skills. If it’s not good, I’ll have to think about it then.”

Jeong Yushin said, raising his glass.

“I feel like I’ve said it many times, but it’s really hard to find someone.”

“I agree.”

Clink!

On a summer evening in an empty inn, two men smiled and clinked their glasses.