episode_0069

A fox beastkin ran over and clung tightly to Jung Yushin’s leg.

Jung Yushin looked down at the fox beastkin stuck to him like gum.

Setting aside the little fox beastkin’s insane lack of boundaries.

Currently, the inn’s hall was packed with people.

“…”

A chilling silence descended.

The guests’ piercing gazes hammered into Jung Yushin.

It’s dangerous. Perhaps even more so than with Oswald.

He instinctively sensed a crisis.

He had to choose his words carefully from now on.

Cold sweat trickled down his forehead.

Jung Yushin calmly opened his mouth.

“Why am I your dad?”

“Dad is Dad!”

With those words, the fox beastkin rubbed her face against Jung Yushin’s thigh.

“…”

A brainless declaration of “Dad.”

A brainless assassination attempt.

The effect was immediately apparent.

The people gathered in the inn hall were shocked.

“Huk…!”

“No, what is this?”

“I heard he was a virgin, but was that not the case?”

“Could it be the reason he’s a virgin is…? A forbidden relationship between a father and daughter…?”

People whispered.

Jung Yushin staggered for a moment.

Barely maintaining his dizzy mind, he grabbed the fox beastkin’s shoulders.

“Hey, friend, why are you suddenly calling me Dad?”

“Well…the Boar Mister told me to call you that!”

Boar Mister?

The only boar beastkin is that snub-nosed guy.

‘That crazy bastard.’

I thought he was a subordinate with a good personality, but he’s stabbing me in the back like this?

It felt like a knife had been plunged deep into his lungs.

Veins popped out on Jung Yushin’s forehead.

As Jung Yushin’s expression became frightening, the fox beastkin began to sob. Tears welled up in her round eyes.

“Weehee. Dad is Dad.”

‘Ha.’

His mind became dizzy again.

He hadn’t even had sex, let alone gotten married, but a tiny fox beastkin was calling him Dad.

To make matters worse, the expressions of the people around him were starting to worsen.

Just then.

“Sir!”

The inn door opened, and Snub-Nose came inside.

Snub-Nose saw Jung Yushin and the fox beastkin and immediately grasped the situation, shutting his mouth.

“Snub-Nose, are you stabbing me in the back?”

Jung Yushin growled.

Hearing Jung Yushin’s voice, the fox beastkin hugged Jung Yushin’s leg even tighter.

‘Ha.’

Jung Yushin swallowed a groan.

The fox beastkin’s fragile body was trembling.

Was she scared?

The sudden surge of anger subsided.

Jung Yushin raised his hand and gently stroked the fox beastkin’s head.

“Don’t be scared. I’m not mad at you.”

The fox beastkin cautiously raised her head. Tear and snot marks were visible on her face.

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

Jung Yushin turned his head and looked at Snub-Nose.

“Snub-Nose, go get a handkerchief and some fruit juice.”

“Yes.”

Snub-Nose ran to the kitchen.

Jung Yushin stroked the fox beastkin once more and looked around.

Whether they believed him or not, he made eye contact with each person and opened his mouth.

“I see many regulars here, so those who know what kind of person I am know, right? Put aside your speculation and get back to what you were doing.”

As Jung Yushin’s words ended, some people nodded, and some people tilted their heads.

Perhaps they read something in Jung Yushin’s calm tone and gaze because people returned to their original places without complaint.

Snub-Nose came out of the kitchen with a handkerchief and fruit juice.

Jung Yushin received the handkerchief, carefully wiped the fox beastkin’s face, and handed her the fruit juice.

“You go play with the slimes too. Don’t worry. I’m sorry for startling you.”

“Okay!”

As if she had never cried, the fox beastkin smiled brightly and moved away again.

Jung Yushin looked at Snub-Nose and pointed to the counter with his chin.

“Follow me. Let’s have a little talk.”

“Yes.”

Jung Yushin and Snub-Nose took seats at the counter.

“Tell me what happened.”

“Yes.”

Snub-Nose cautiously opened his mouth.

About 10 minutes passed, and Snub-Nose’s story was over.

Jung Yushin rubbed his eyes.

He organized the situation.

The fox beastkin’s name was Luna.

When he was in the dungeon, Luna often came to the inn to perform.

With her lively personality and cute appearance, not only the inn guests but also Snub-Nose, Tarman, and Ann all welcomed Luna.

One evening, when Snub-Nose was taking Luna home, he stopped by the house where Luna was staying and met Luna’s mother.

Snub-Nose talked with Luna’s mother for a while.

And he learned the truth.

The little fox beastkin’s situation was more serious than he thought.

Jung Yushin opened his mouth.

“…So, that fox beastkin’s father disappeared in the dungeon, and her mother fell ill a few months ago?”

“Yes.”

“The father was a mid-level explorer and has been missing for 8 years. …Is this common?”

“It happens often.”

His mouth felt bitter.

There was a reason why she came looking for a job when I was recruiting cooks.

She was looking for a job at an age when she should be playing happily.

It was unfortunate, but.

“So why is she calling me Dad? You told her to, didn’t you?”

“The Spirit Order has a ‘godparent’ system.”

Godparent?

Godfather.

Simply put, it’s a system where someone becomes a guardian for a child.

I don’t know the details, but I was familiar with it because I overheard children talking about adoption and guardians while taking classes at the orphanage.

Snub-Nose continued.

“It was a topic that briefly came up while I was talking to Luna’s mother. Since the innkeeper is Sir, I briefly mentioned Sir’s name. Perhaps Luna overheard it outside the door at that time, but I never forced her to.”

Jung Yushin sighed.

He could guess at least a little why the little fox beastkin was calling him Dad.

Rather than really thinking of him as her dad, didn’t she just need someone to rely on?

At that moment, the fox beastkin approached.

“Mister, Dad! Luna is going home!”

The little fox beastkin bowed deeply.

Looking at her jingling coin pouch, it seemed like she had earned a lot.

Jung Yushin looked out the window for a moment. It was a dark street late at night. Even if it was the southern district, he thought it wouldn’t be safe for a young child to walk around.

Jung Yushin opened his mouth.

“Snub-Nose, it’s dark, so take Luna home.”

“Yes.”

Jung Yushin watched Snub-Nose and Luna leave the inn holding hands and crossed his arms.

Was it right to get involved in someone else’s family affairs?

‘I have enough problems of my own.’

Jung Yushin sighed deeply.

“Sir!”

The inn door opened, and a group of people came in.

It was Jung Yushin’s party.

The paladin Soline, the long-nosed gnome Gallaheim, and the grandma lover Pirion.

Jung Yushin waved his hand.

The party approached.

“Are you feeling okay?”

Soline asked.

“I got better thanks to your concern. Thank you. First, sit at the table. I’ll pay, so let’s drink to our hearts’ content today.”

Gallaheim’s face brightened.

“The innkeeper knows what’s up.”

Jung Yushin gave a bitter smile.

“I’m not the innkeeper.”

“By the way, business seems to be doing well.”

Pirion said, looking around.

“I’m managing somehow. Come on.”

Jung Yushin got up from the counter and led his party to the table.

Since Tarman was moving like his feet were on fire, Jung Yushin went directly into the kitchen.

“Ann! Prepare some simple food.”

“Yes!”

Jung Yushin came out of the kitchen, took out a bottle of liquor and glasses from the liquor cabinet behind the counter, and returned to his party members.

“Oh! Dwarven fire liquor? That’s generous.”

Gallaheim clicked his tongue.

“Is it okay for you to drink when you’re engaged in the clergy?”

“It’s okay as long as you don’t get drunk and misbehave.”

Pirion said on behalf of Soline.

He opened the bottle and filled the party members’ glasses.

They each took a drink and started talking about this and that. Most of it was about what happened in the dungeon.

“…I really thought I was going to die.”

“Soline carried you and swung her sword with one hand. It was an amazing fighting spirit.”

Soline complained, and Gallaheim praised Soline for it.

“Ahem. So, the Fifth Prince’s nanny is…”

“I don’t think it’s appropriate to talk about that now. There are too many people listening.”

Jung Yushin cut off Pirion’s words sharply.

“M…my apologies. I was careless.”

Pirion apologized.

“No. It’s okay.”

Jung Yushin magnanimously overlooked Pirion’s mistake.

He’s a grandma lover, so what else would he do?

Seeing him unable to distinguish between poop and soybean paste because he was blinded by wrinkled eyes, he felt really sorry for him.

“Let’s talk about the reward distribution.”

Gallaheim interjected.

“Let’s do that.”

Soline took out four silver coin pouches and placed them on the table.

Goblin extermination. A total of 40. 30 silver coins. There was a hobgoblin warrior, so the reward was high, but it wasn’t as good as the reward during the garbage party.

He guessed that the reward he received at that time was largely due to the information provided.

Magic stone mining. 15 pieces. 15 silver coins.

In total, they earned 45 silver coins.

Since there are four people in the party, dividing it up means each person gets 11 silver coins. The remaining reward would go to the elven priest Pirion.

“I heard I went to the aid station when I collapsed. How much did the treatment cost?”

“Priest Pirion helped the aid station staff treat you. Of course, I lent a hand too. We were able to lower the price a bit. It was about 2 silver coins, but we stepped up and paid it.”

Soline answered in Jung Yushin’s place.

“I should pay back the treatment cost.”

Soline’s expression changed at Jung Yushin’s words.

“Don’t do it. Sir, you saved our lives. If it weren’t for you, we would all have been killed by those guys. It’s a token of our gratitude, so don’t worry about it.”

Soline said with a smile. Pirion also nodded in agreement.

Gallaheim seemed to have a slightly different opinion, but he eventually nodded.

“Yeah. 10 silver coins, that’s still a lot. At this point, it’s okay to play around a bit.”

At Gallaheim’s words, the party members smiled brightly.

They had various thoughts inside, as if they had things they wanted to do.

“Alright! Let’s drink!”

Gallaheim shouted.

Clink!

Jung Yushin and the party members laughed and clinked glasses.

In the cheerful atmosphere, they exchanged jokes and gossip and started telling stories.

Jung Yushin went to the kitchen and brought food.

It was a barbecue dish made by boiling pork ribs once, seasoning them, and grilling them.

A dish called baby back ribs.

Gallaheim’s eyes widened when he saw the pork ribs piled high on the tray.

“Are you giving this much?”

“No nonsense. Let’s eat.”

Soline tore off one side of the pork ribs and put it in her mouth, then her eyes widened.

“It’s delicious.”

“Eat a lot.”

As soon as Jung Yushin finished speaking, the party members devoured the food and emptied their glasses.

‘Are they possessed by gluttons?’

Jung Yushin chuckled as he watched the party members silently and greedily devour the food.

Just as the piled-up pork ribs were about to run out.

A question suddenly arose.

“By the way, did anyone get a new stigma? Or did anyone level up?”

Jung Yushin asked.

“Nobody. I’ve already checked at the temple. And it doesn’t seem like we hunted enough monsters to level up.”

Pirion licked a finger covered in sauce and answered.

Jung Yushin nodded inwardly.

Leveling up wasn’t as easy as he thought.

He had only leveled up twice while going through all that trouble.

Besides, the stigma.

‘I should go check too.’

He didn’t feel any signs because he lost consciousness.

There’s nothing wrong with his body, so he doesn’t know what kind of stigma he received.

Maybe it’s another negative stigma?

No.

Jung Yushin shook his head and shook off the negative thoughts.

He was in good shape physically and mentally, and the party hadn’t collapsed due to a vicious negative stigma, so he had nothing but gratitude.

Time passed, and guests left.

He sent Tarman and Ann, who had finished their shifts, back first.

Only Jung Yushin’s party remained in the dim and quiet inn hall.

Jung Yushin cleared his throat once and explained what happened with Oswald.

The party members’ expressions became serious at the end of the short explanation.

“…So what should we do?”

Gallaheim asked.

“…”

No one answered.

What should they do?

A heavy silence hung in the air.

“There are currently assassins in the dungeon city. We don’t know how many there are, and seeing that the Fifth Prince’s nanny was attacked, it’s right to assume that the nanny’s identity has already been revealed.”

“…Shouldn’t we go save her?”

Pirion asked.

As expected, he’s a grandma lover.

“The nanny is a blazing sun right now. We don’t know what kind of disaster we’ll face if we get too close. It’s dangerous, so we should watch the situation for the time being. Honestly, I don’t know what Oswald is thinking.”

The worst-case scenario is that Oswald sends the Fifth Prince’s nanny here.

The even worse scenario is that Oswald tells the assassins about Jung Yushin’s party.

He’s a madman, so he had no idea what he would do.

Anyway.

Assuming the worst-case scenario.

The assassins would all flock here, and he didn’t want to see the people around him get caught up and hurt.

He couldn’t act rashly, and he couldn’t just stand by and do nothing.

His mind was complicated.

He didn’t have enough information, so his imagination was running wild.

‘Let’s calm down.’

Jung Yushin shook his head and opened his mouth.

“Let’s stop here for now and rest a bit before gathering again. Would about 3 days be enough?”

“That’s too short.”

Gallaheim said.

“How long do you usually rest?”

“To get rid of the fatigue, we need to rest for at least another week.”

The party members nodded in agreement.

‘They rest that long?’

Suddenly, the party members looked like grasshoppers.

‘Am I weird?’

“Okay, I understand. Then let’s meet in a week. Take care of yourselves. In the meantime, let’s refrain from going out and wandering around.”

The party members nodded and slowly got up from their seats.

“Ah! I almost forgot. Here.”

Soline handed him a bag.

It was the bag that the masked man was carrying.

“I put the magic stones that Oswald gave you in the bag.”

“I see. I’ll sell them and distribute the profits.”

“There’s no need to do that. You’re the one who got them. We didn’t do anything. Really.”

Soline said seriously.

“Then I’ll gratefully accept them.”

The party members nodded in agreement.

He saw off the party members and returned to the counter, taking a seat.

He spent time sitting alone.

After waiting a little longer.

Snub-Nose returned.

“Did you take her home safely?”

“Yes. And I have something to tell you.”

“What is it?”

Snub-Nose scratched his head and opened his mouth.

“Luna’s mother wants to see Sir.”

Jung Yushin put his hand on his forehead.

Not only did he get a virtual daughter, but his virtual wife wanted to see his face.

Jung Yushin made a reluctant expression.

“When?”

“She wants to see you right away today.”

“Ha…”

Jung Yushin eventually let out a long sigh.

The night was not over yet.