episode_0059

Swordsmanship union members gathered in the training grounds, standing in formation. The boy from this morning was also there.

Quiet training grounds.

Dozens of people were all silent, looking only at Jeong Yu-shin.

“Stand up straight.”

Ashur, who had turned his back without anyone noticing, glared at Jeong Yu-shin.

“Yes.”

Jeong Yu-shin straightened his posture.

Ashur turned his back and looked around at the swordsmanship union members.

“Everyone heard how Scavenger fought in front of the labyrinth, right? What do you think?”

A goat-bearded man among the quietly standing union members stepped forward and said.

“He fought well, didn’t he?”

“Drop and give me pushups.”

“Yes.”

The goat-bearded man put his hands on the training ground floor and went down.

“I’ll ask again. What do you think?”

Mohican head stepped forward at Ashur’s question.

“I heard he fought monsters with the iron-masked swordsman and a half-ogre, forming a formation. I think he’s quite a cool newbie…”

“You too, drop and give me pushups.”

“Yes.”

Mohican got down.

Ashur glared at the swordsmanship union members, sighed deeply, and turned to Jeong Yu-shin.

“Scavenger, I admit it. A novice explorer faced the onrushing horde of monsters without retreating an inch? That’s amazing. That’s right. But.”

Ashur waved his hands around in the air.

It looked like he was holding a sword and cutting something.

“Can’t this be done somehow? Huh? Can’t you cut artistically like this? Can’t you swing a sword or blade like a human being? Why do you keep biting the monsters’ necks and shaking your head with the blade in your mouth?”

Ashur’s voice was full of regret.

Like a veteran looking at a newbie and feeling the ‘That’s not how you do it’ kind of regret.

‘If that was the case, I would become a Sword Master.’

Jeong Yu-shin swallowed the sigh that was about to burst out and lowered his head.

“I was out of my mind while fighting. I’m sorry.”

The swordsmanship union members nodded.

A muscular elf stepped forward from among the union members and opened his mouth.

“I heard that this barbarian friend broke Hans’ barrier. It’s true that he received help from many people, but his courage is not diminished. I hope the union leader will be lenient.”

The muscular elf smiled and continued.

“Besides, it’s commendable that he doesn’t target the union members’ holes like other barbarians. To be honest, it’s a bit hard to believe.”

The union members nodded, agreeing with the muscular elf’s opinion.

“Come to think of it, that’s right. It’s amazing that no one has been violated so far.”

“Could he really be a virgin? I thought the guard friends were talking nonsense…”

“Anyway, union leader, I honestly think you’re being a bit excessive. This friend hasn’t even learned much yet, has he?”

“Ugh, stop dumping your work on the vice union leader.”

Ashur, his face turning red, shouted.

“What about my dignity, you bastards!!!”

The surroundings became quiet for a moment.

Soon, the union members buzzed.

A few people tilted their heads and said.

“···Suddenly, what about your dignity?”

“You don’t work and just lie down and sleep all the time, don’t you? Shouldn’t you think about the vice union leader’s hair, who’s racking his brains?”

“Hey! Everyone get out! Do your jobs.”

Ashur, outnumbered, waved his hand and shouted.

The union members grumbled and scattered.

People went back to their places, and only Ashur and Jeong Yu-shin remained.

A moment of silence flowed.

Ashur cleared his throat once and opened his mouth.

“I admit it. That was a courageous act.”

“Yes.”

“Still, be careful. It was an extension of blindly throwing yourself forward, trusting your engraving. That’s how it looked in my eyes.”

“I understand. I will be careful.”

“Come here.”

Jeong Yu-shin approached as Ashur gestured.

Ashur grabbed his shoulders and looked into Jeong Yu-shin’s eyes.

“···It looks a bit greasy?”

“I’m fine.”

“Is that so? No, come to think of it, I’m quite angry. How can you use a sword with your mouth? Back in my day.”

The hand on Jeong Yu-shin’s shoulder gained strength.

“Th, that’s beside the point. How are the barbarians these days?”

Jeong Yu-shin asked, slightly stepping back.

“Why are you asking me that?”

Ashur crossed his arms and asked back.

“Don’t you know everything?”

“Not to that extent. I only know what I know.”

“Is there a possibility that the barbarians will target Darumong’s inn?”

“You should see that there’s no possibility. If they’re going to target anyone, it’s you. They won’t target the inn.”

Goosebumps ran down his body.

“Wh…what should I do then?”

“I think I said it before.”

Ashur crossed his arms and looked at the training grounds.

People were wielding swords and spears, running around the training grounds.

Why isn’t he saying it?

He was impatient and frustrated.

Ashur’s mouth slowly opened.

“There’s nothing you can do. Just enjoy it.”

“···Yes?”

“Think of it as a storm.”

Jeong Yu-shin’s mouth dropped open.

Is that something a Sword Master would say?

If this is true, wouldn’t it be safer to enter the labyrinth than stay at the inn?

“I’ll enter the labyrinth.”

“I really can’t stop you. Go.”

Ashur spat out and wiped his face with the palm of his hand.

“I’ll start preparing slowly from today.”

“I understand. Be careful. Don’t die.”

“Yes.”

Jeong Yu-shin turned around and left the training grounds.

Ashur watched Jeong Yu-shin’s departing back and sighed deeply.

“Why is he in such a hurry. Tsk.”

He left the swordsmanship union and walked towards the explorer’s union.

He told Mion that he couldn’t go to class for a while, so there was no worry.

The inn protection issue was also resolved.

The barbarian issue was postponed. Because he didn’t have the ability to deal with it.

Lastly, there was the issue of finding a party.

Come to think of it, that’s the most difficult hurdle.

Because it’s a matter of finding people.

He walked along the street and arrived at the explorer’s union in the southern district.

Squeak.

Opening the door, he saw the desolate interior of the union.

Most of the explorers had left for the labyrinth early in the morning. Therefore, it was natural that there were no people around lunchtime like now.

He went to the bulletin board hanging on one side of the wall and stood there.

Looking up, there were numerous job postings plastered all over it.

When he didn’t know anything, he grabbed any paper attached to the bulletin board and took it to the receptionist to ask.

Now, thanks to learning to read at the orphanage class, there were some parts he could read, however little.

“Hmm.”

He could recognize only a few words and numbers, but it was much better compared to the past.

Most of the bulletin board postings were looking for rear guards.

In particular, there was a high demand for priests and mages.

The compensation ratio was also somewhat higher for priests and mages.

Of course, it wasn’t an abnormally high ratio.

Kaal’s party divided the shares equally because they were clueless friends.

When he was in the trash party, he was the most normal, so there was no bargaining in dividing the compensation.

When he went to Karin’s party as a porter, he didn’t really bring up the compensation issue.

There were requests on the other side of the bulletin board, but most of them were similar.

The requests were mainly for subjugation and magic stone collection.

Most of the requests were between the 1st and 5th floors.

Requests for the 5th floor or higher were seen sporadically.

He heard that mid-tier explorers went to the explorer headquarters in the central district, and it was true.

Besides, they were looking for explorers with some experience.

They had some experience to be called novice explorers, and they had clumsy aspects to be seen as mid-tier explorers.

An ambiguous position, you could say.

It was right to call them low-tier explorers.

There wasn’t a party that particularly caught his eye.

Jeong Yu-shin passed the bulletin board and went to the reception desk.

A dog beastman was sitting alone at the desk.

“Hello. How can I help you?”

“I want to find a party.”

“Are you looking for a specific party?”

“Is there a party that a vanguard can join?”

“Yes. Please wait a moment.”

The dog beastman rummaged through the documents piled up next to him.

“Hmm…there aren’t many. Some novice explorer parties are looking for a few people.”

“Are there no parties other than novice parties?”

“There are some people looking among the trash parties, though.”

“That’s alright.”

“I recommend coming in the morning. After all, that’s when explorers flock in.”

“I understand. Thank you.”

The dog beastman smiled brightly and bowed his head.

“Yes. Then I’ll see you tomorrow, explorer.”

‘Cute.’

Jeong Yu-shin smiled contentedly and left the explorer’s union.

When he returned to the inn, Hooknose was there.

The time he asked Alden for help was this morning, but he already came. His work processing was fast.

“You’ve arrived?”

Hooknose bowed his head and greeted.

“I heard you’ve been talking about me lately?”

Hooknose scratched his head with an awkward smile.

“My colleagues kept asking me, so I had no choice but to say a few words.”

“Alright. Thanks for coming.”

“···Scavenger-nim!”

Why is this guy like this?

Hooknose’s moved expression was a bit awkward.

“Let’s sit down first. There’s something I want to ask.”

“Yes.”

Hooknose carefully sat across from Jeong Yu-shin.

“What happened to those slave hunters?”

“Most of them died at the hands of Scavenger-nim. There are some remnants left. But they don’t know each other’s faces, so they’re low-intelligence guys who recognize each other’s identities with only crude signs. Besides, their loyalty to the organization doesn’t seem that high, so there’s no need to worry about retaliation.”

“Is it safe enough for me to enter the labyrinth?”

“···I think it will be fine for the time being. It doesn’t mean this is the end. I think we’ll have to see how this issue goes over time.”

Are they like cockroaches that can’t be completely exterminated?

“I understand. Take your compensation after discussing it with Tarman.”

“Yes.”

He received confirmation that it would be safe for the time being.

Jeong Yu-shin unconsciously swept his chest.

He laughed when he realized it.

He came empty-handed, but before he knew it, the things he had to protect had increased one by one.

His shoulders were heavy, but it wasn’t a bad feeling.

Jeong Yu-shin looked at Hooknose and smiled.

‘This isn’t such a bad world. People’s lives are all similar.’

* * *

“Our party doesn’t accept barbarians. Get lost.”

The bald dwarf, who was the party leader, said firmly.

Jeong Yu-shin’s face crumpled terribly.

‘Fucking other world.’

He woke up early in the morning and ran to the explorer’s union to attend party interviews, but most of them shook their heads.

“Please tell me the reason.”

“Well…because you’re a female hunter?”

‘Shit.’

“Please just let me join once. I’m not that bad of a person.”

“Wh-wh-what are you asking me to insert?! Get the hell out of here, you crazy bastard!”

The dwarf was startled and grabbed his axe.

Jeong Yu-shin pulled his body back.

“Let’s talk it out. I meant to ask you to let me join the party.”

“No way!”

Jeong Yu-shin looked around at the dwarf’s party members sitting at the table.

Seeing their cold expressions, it didn’t seem promising.

He got up from his seat and went to the reception desk.

“Hmm…another rejection?”

The dog beastman asked with a sorry expression.

“Yes.”

This is the 5th rejection.

Jeong Yu-shin was also tired in body and mind from the constant rejections, since he was a human too.

He was glad that the rumor of him being a virgin barbarian hadn’t spread this far, but if this continues, his mind will change again…

Slap!!!

He slapped his cheek to stop his thoughts from going to the extreme.

‘Today isn’t the only day.’

You can’t be full on the first try.

If he keeps trying, isn’t there a possibility that he’ll run into a party with good skills and good character?

“I’ll come again next time.”

“Yes. I’m sorry.”

The dog beastman bowed his head with a sorry expression.

Jeong Yu-shin also bowed his head in return and left the explorer’s party.

He walked along the street and returned to the inn.

“I’m back.”

“Oh! You’ve arrived?”

Hooknose and Tarman, who were diligently carrying food, greeted Jeong Yu-shin when they saw him.

Jeong Yu-shin looked at Hooknose and asked.

“Hooknose, why do you work?”

“I felt sorry for just sitting still, so I was going to move my body. It’s not that hard, so you don’t have to worry.”

He looked at Hooknose, who was smiling brightly, and sat down at the counter.

A soft seat.

It was the seat that Darumong always sat in.

“Give me some liquor…no, a cup of water.”

“Yes, sir!”

Tarman answered and ran to the kitchen to bring water.

He drank a glass of water and blankly looked at the scenery outside.

A warm summer breeze entered through the open window, ruffling Jeong Yu-shin’s hair as it passed.

‘Nice.’

How nice would it be if his life’s genre was a healing one?

The slow life of an inn owner in another world.

He was hit by a truck and fell into another world, received cheat skills, and ran an inn with soft friends, living a roughly flowing life, and that wouldn’t be bad either.

“Bullshit.”

Jeong Yu-shin muttered, closing his eyes.

He wasn’t hit by a truck, and he didn’t have cheat skills either.

The inn wasn’t his either.

He dozed off while having these and other imaginations.

He heard the conversations of the guests in his sleep.

“Did you hear that news?”

“What news?”

“The 5th prince disappeared from the Lionel Kingdom.”

“The 5th prince? Isn’t he the youngest of the five princes? Could it be that he’s missing?”

“I don’t know. I just heard rumors that the kingdom is turned upside down.”

“Where did you hear that?”

“I heard it from a merchant who came from the Lionel Kingdom.”

“The Lionel Kingdom is far away to the south from here, so they come all the way here?”

“The magic stones and rare materials from the labyrinth city, as well as the artifacts, all come from here, so why wouldn’t they come?”

“That’s true, but the distance is far, so…”

“Money is the problem. Is distance a problem?”

“You have a talent for making people speechless. Anyway, the Lionel Kingdom is also quite chaotic. Didn’t the 1st prince also collapse with a terminal illness?”

“I heard that, but I’m not sure.”

The guests continued their conversation, but Jeong Yu-shin fell asleep again.

The chair was so soft that he couldn’t come to his senses.

The surroundings became quiet.

Someone carefully touched his shoulder.

“Scavenger-nim.”

Jeong Yu-shin opened his eyes. Hooknose was looking down at him.

“Why?”

“It’s closing time.”

“I understand.”

Jeong Yu-shin got up from his seat and went up to the 2nd floor.

He slept all day, but he was still tired.

He changed his clothes and lay down on the bed.

“Squeak!!!”

Something squishy fell on his body. He hurriedly got up and shook off the bedsheets, and a white rat was sprawled out on its back.

“Lynn, I’m sorry.”

“Squeak!! Squeak!!”

The white rat wriggled its body and squeaked.

“Let’s make up. I’ll give you a massage.”

Jeong Yu-shin gently massaged the white rat until its anger subsided and yawned.

He wasn’t hit by a truck, and he didn’t have cheat skills either, but he had soft friends.

Soft friend.

‘Is this right?’

He felt a moment of doubt.

He patted Lynn’s belly and entrusted his mind to the darkness that came.