episode_0082

Jeong Yu-sin’s eyes shone even brighter as he looked at the teddy bear.

“Come here.”

“Ugh…I have something I forgot, bear! Later.”

The teddy bear said, stepping backward.

Jeong Yu-sin jumped up from his seat and strode over.

The teddy bear looked up at Jeong Yu-sin and trembled.

“Why…why are you doing this, bear!”

Jeong Yu-sin quickly slipped his arms under the teddy bear’s armpits.

“Bear!”

The captured teddy bear exclaimed in horror, struggling.

It was annoying to see the teddy bear patting his chest with his cotton-like fists.

To see such a cute friend in this insane labyrinth city.

‘I’m going crazy.’

Jeong Yu-sin tensed his face to avoid showing it.

He immediately picked up the teddy bear and sat him down on the chair opposite him.

“I helped you up because it might be uncomfortable to climb. Tell me. What do you need help with?”

“Hoo. Hoo.”

The teddy bear panted and clutched his chest tightly.

“Tarman!”

“Yes!”

Tarman quickly ran over.

“Bring this friend some fruit juice.”

“Yes! Oh?! Mr. Bampeuring!”

Tarman shouted as he looked at the teddy bear. The teddy bear raised his head as if he had come to his senses.

“Oh! Isn’t that Tarman, bear?”

“Tarman, did you know this little bear friend?”

“Yes. And to call Mr. Bampeuring a friend, he is a bit older.”

“How old are you?”

“33 this year, bear.”

“I…I see. I apologize for my rudeness.”

Jeong Yu-sin bowed his head and apologized.

“I understand, bear. Our Honey Pot race is a bit youthful, bear.”

Honey Pot race, huh.

‘There were different races even among bear demi-humans.’

Was this what Aldean meant by the various races of the Eastern Allied Territories he mentioned a few days ago?

“Mr. Bampeuring, please wait a moment. I will bring you some fruit juice.”

“It’s okay, bear. I’m just going to talk, bear.”

Tarman sat down next to Jeong Yu-sin stealthily.

“Ahem. What is the request?”

Jeong Yu-sin asked.

“I want you to move something, bear.”

Something, huh.

“What kind of thing are you talking about?”

“I bought wheat, and I want you to move it to the warehouse, bear.”

Wheat?

“Do you run a bakery?”

“Of course, bear! Because I have the Bread Bread Hand engraving, bear!”

The teddy bear spread out his hands.

Soft paw pads.

Jeong Yu-sin carefully observed the teddy bear’s hands before opening his mouth.

“What is the Bread Bread Hand engraving?”

“It’s an engraving that makes bread taste better when you make it, bear!”

A Bread Bread Hand engraving that makes bread taste delicious.

Crazy labyrinth.

“Were you an explorer?”

“That’s right, bear! I’m retired now, bear.”

Jeong Yu-sin scratched his head.

He thought he was just a small and cute bear demi-human, but does he have some hidden potential?

Teddy bear, Bampeuring, took out a piece of paper from his arms.

“I made a request to the Explorer’s Guild, but no one accepted it, bear. I heard there was a strong and kind Barbaroi here, so I came, bear.”

A strong and kind Barbaroi?

Jeong Yu-sin turned his head to look at Tarman sitting next to him.

“Tarman, is that you? Aren’t you gilding the lily too much?”

“I’m just telling the truth.”

“I see.”

Jeong Yu-sin turned his head back to look at Bampeuring.

“How much is the reward?”

“Bread, bear.”

Bread?

Jeong Yu-sin crossed his arms.

“What do you mean?”

“The Lionel merchants were selling high-quality wheat, so I spent too much of my budget, bear. I have no money, bear.”

There was a reason why the explorers wouldn’t accept it.

Who would do it if they give bread instead of money?

Jeong Yu-sin rested his chin on his hand and thought.

To be promoted to a mid-level explorer, it is essential to resolve requests within the labyrinth city.

In short, a request that must be done.

It also seemed like an easy task.

Jeong Yu-sin nodded.

“It doesn’t seem like it will take that long, so I will accept it.”

“Thank you, bear!”

The teddy bear raised both arms high into the sky and danced.

Jeong Yu-sin gritted his teeth.

‘Krrr!’

‘Crazy bastard. Control yourself.’

The conflict between the inner demon and angel instantly crossed.

“Now that it’s decided, there’s no need to delay. Let’s go.”

“Okay, bear!”

Jeong Yu-sin and the teddy bear got up from their seats and left the inn door.

“Ah! Mister!”

Luna discovered Jeong Yu-sin and ran over.

She kept calling him Dad and trying to assassinate him, so Jeong Yu-sin begged her to call him Mister, and he was glad she listened.

Luna and the teddy bear started talking, as if they knew each other.

“Mr. Bampeuring is also well, she is.”

“Luna, how is your mother, bear?”

“Mom is getting better, she is. Mr. Sca helped her so that Mom wouldn’t go far away, she is.”

“I see, bear.”

“Where are you going, Mr. Bampeuring, she is?”

“I’m going to work, bear.”

“I’m going too, she is!”

Luna chimed in.

A small fox demi-human and a teddy bear were attached to Jeong Yu-sin’s sides.

A bizarre procession. The people on the street stared and whispered several times.

It didn’t take long. But it was a place he had never seen before.

It was a fresh sight for Jeong Yu-sin, who always took the same path.

Should it be called a bakery street?

The savory smell of bread filled the street.

Numerous crowds were gathered, looking at the bread placed on the stalls.

Jeong Yu-sin scratched his head.

He was concerned that he had been so focused on the labyrinth that he had been indifferent to the surrounding life.

“Let’s go quickly, bear!”

“Yes.”

At the teddy bear’s urging, Jeong Yu-sin passed through the people and arrived at a bakery.

It was a building made of wood and bricks, and a large honey pot was drawn on the sign.

The teddy bear raised his short arms and pointed to the honey pot.

“Honey pot! It’s the pride of our Honey Pot race, bear.”

“I see.”

An enormous number of wheat sacks were piled up in front of the bakery.

‘That’s a lot.’

Jeong Yu-sin looked down at the teddy bear.

Was his name Popuring or Mumuring.

“Is it okay to buy this much?”

“It’s a bit excessive, bear. But Lionel Kingdom wheat has an excellent savory flavor, bear!”

The fact that wheat was transported during this summer season meant that it was wheat sown last fall.

Since winter wheat usually has a high protein content, the reason for purchasing a large amount of wheat at this time was understandable.

“I understand.”

“Luna is cheering here, she is!”

“Okay.”

Jeong Yu-sin rolled up his sleeves and went to the pile of wheat sacks.

He sighed as he looked at the wheat sacks piled higher than his height.

There were approximately 300 sacks piled up.

He shook his head and steeled his heart.

‘This much is nothing.’

As always.

One by one from the beginning.

Jeong Yu-sin lifted a wheat sack, put it on his shoulder, and carried it to the bear demi-human’s bakery warehouse.

‘This is really no joke.’

Sweat formed at the tip of his chin and dripped down.

It was bear manual labor rather than honey, and it was easier than labyrinth exploration to call it hell.

Based on his senses, each sack weighed about 40kg.

Since it was a hot summer, sweat poured down like rain.

The people on the street were looking at him. But he couldn’t pay attention.

He diligently carried about 150 sacks.

His waist and knees ached.

Jeong Yu-sin sat down in the shade of the bakery building.

“Hoo. I’ll rest for a moment.”

“Rest for a while while eating this, bear.”

The teddy bear approached and handed him bread.

“Give me water. Not bread.”

He felt like he would choke to death if he ate it.

“You’ve worked hard, she is!”

Luna came up to him and gently fanned him with her hand. The three summoned slime brothers also approached and shook their soft bodies.

He didn’t feel a breeze, but a heartwarming feeling welled up.

Is this what it feels like to be a dad?

For some reason, strength surged up.

Jeong Yu-sin smiled and got up from his seat and carried the wheat sacks again.

As the sun that rose above his head set in the west, he finished all the work.

His whole body was soaked with sweat.

Jeong Yu-sin slumped down and sat on the entrance of the bakery.

Luna was not there. He sent her home earlier because it was getting dark.

“Hoo. There’s no easy work in the world.”

“You’ve worked hard, bear.”

The teddy bear approached and handed him water.

Jeong Yu-sin drank the water and got up from his seat.

“Wait a moment, bear.”

The teddy bear went inside the bakery and came out again.

In his dainty hands, he held a bag containing various breads and a piece of paper.

The long-awaited request completion document.

It was hard work, but his fatigue disappeared when he saw the document.

“You can take this paper to the Explorer’s Guild, bear.”

“I understand. Sell a lot of bread.”

“I will continue to supply delicious bread, bear.”

Supply.

Jeong Yu-sin tilted his head.

“Were you perhaps supplying bread to our inn?”

“That’s right, bear. I thought you were the inn owner Darmong’s representative, but you weren’t, bear?”

“I didn’t grasp the details that precisely. Now that I think about it, it’s embarrassing.”

“There’s no need to blame yourself, bear. Tarman and Ann praised you to the skies, bear. They said you’re diligent and dependable, bear. Like a huge tree, you’re someone they can trust and rely on, bear.”

“You’re buttering me up.”

Jeong Yu-sin smiled and joked.

“H-How dare you say such lewd things! G-Get away from me, bear!”

“…”

He asked why it was a dirty joke, but the teddy bear didn’t answer.

Jeong Yu-sin left the angry teddy bear behind and returned to the inn.

As he entered the inn, familiar faces caught his eye.

All of his party members were sitting in one place. However, the grandma lover elf was not seen.

“Sca.”

The paladin, Soline, called Jeong Yu-sin.

“It’s been a while.”

Jeong Yu-sin smiled, approached, and sat down.

The atmosphere of the party was strangely subdued.

“I’m sorry.”

Soline suddenly lowered her head and apologized.

“Why? What’s wrong?”

“I think I have to leave the party. There was a call from the temple. I have to leave the labyrinth city.”

He swallowed a bitter taste.

“I understand. But where is Pirion?”

“Priest Pirion has been dispatched to a small village temple in the southern Lionel Kingdom territory. I heard that the priest who was serving there passed away, leaving a vacancy. He asked me to tell you he’s sorry.”

I see.

He swallowed the sigh that rose from within.

“I…I’m leaving too.”

Gallerheim said.

“Is something wrong?”

“To be honest. Sca, I’m scared of you.”

What is this nonsense?

“Please explain in detail.”

“You’re too deeply involved with the underworld. Ordinary explorers don’t get involved to this extent. It’s just a feeling, but it seems like you’ll get even more involved. It’s too much for me to handle.”

As expected of a guide. He had a good sense.

“I understand. You are free to leave.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. It’s my karma.”

Jeong Yu-sin smiled bitterly.

“But I’ll stay until the incident with the fifth prince’s nanny being captured by Oswald is resolved.”

Soline said. A faint smile hung on Jeong Yu-sin’s lips.

As expected of Gilshion’s junior paladin. She has a sense of loyalty.

Jeong Yu-sin shook his head.

“The fifth prince’s nanny case has already been resolved. You can leave comfortably.”

“Really?! How did you resolve it?”

Soline asked in a surprised voice.

“It’s a secret. It’s something I can’t easily talk about. Please understand.”

“I…I see. I understand.”

Soline had a knowing look on her face, but she didn’t open her mouth to ask further.

Jeong Yu-sin saw off the departing party members.

The darkening evening. He sighed as he watched the departing Soline and Gallerheim’s backs.

He thought it would last a long time this time.

It wasn’t.

He understood because it was the nature of a temporary party.

Everyone had their own circumstances, so he couldn’t force them.

The world was full of difficult things.

The most difficult thing was people.

The party members’ backs disappeared into the crowd.

Jeong Yu-sin returned to the inn’s restaurant and helped Ann and Tarman clean up the store.

Time passed, and Ann and Tarman left work.

Late at night. The empty first floor of the inn.

He sat alone at the counter, tilting a glass of alcohol.

Creak.

The inn door opened, and a cat demi-human suddenly entered.

He was a familiar face because he occasionally stopped by the inn to eat. His job was a letter carrier.

“Sca, a letter.”

The cat demi-human took out a piece of paper from his bag and handed it over.

“At this late hour?”

“I was going to deliver the letter and sleep here.”

“Who is it from? I don’t think I have anyone who would write me a letter?”

“Darmong sent it.”

Jeong Yu-sin’s eyes widened.

It had been about 2 and a half months since Darmong left.

“Q-Quickly, give it to me!”

Jeong Yu-sin snatched the letter like a hawk catching a mouse.

The cat demi-human shook his hand and frowned.

“The room?”

“The fourth room on the right on the second floor.”

“Here’s the lodging fee.”

Jeong Yu-sin shook his head.

“Lodging is free. Just pay when you have breakfast.”

“I understand.”

The cat demi-human wagged his tail and went up to the second floor.

Jeong Yu-sin took a deep breath and carefully tore open the letter.

Darmong was asking about his well-being in easy words.

Jeong Yu-sin’s eyes widened as he quietly read the letter.

“What?!”

Shocking content.

The hand holding the letter trembled.

He wrung out his head, which wouldn’t turn, and organized the contents of the letter.

Darmong’s wife hadn’t committed adultery.

She had just lied because she wanted to see Darmong. And it was written that his wife was really pregnant.

‘She got pregnant over there?’

There was also a statement that he would have to stay until the new child was born.

There was also a story that it would be okay to entrust the inn to someone else if it was difficult.

At the end of the letter, there were phrases expressing Darmong’s deep gratitude and concern, and wishing for his own happiness and peace.

Jeong Yu-sin stared at the letter for a long time before neatly folding it and putting it in his arms.

Suddenly, Aldean’s words came to his mind.

‘If you lose one, you gain one.’

The party was disbanded. It was okay to think of it as losing one.

He heard about the well-being of an acquaintance. He gained one.

‘Is it not the case that the world is only full of bitter things?’

Jeong Yu-sin took out a pen and paper from the counter and began to write a reply.

Because his learning was still shallow, he wrote while muttering aloud.

“Darmong…I’m doing well. And congratulations on your wife’s pregnancy…”

A small smile was already forming on Jeong Yu-sin’s face as he wrote the letter.

Dark inn hall.

Only one small light remained, illuminating Jeong Yu-sin’s head.

It was summer.