episode_0140

Karin closed her mouth and looked down at Jeong Yushin.

Seeing the sparkling eyes, it was clear that his mind was already made up.

However.

“With that body?”

Jeong Yushin shook his head.

“I have to release the Physical Regression Engraving.”

Even though his magic power had increased from finishing training and taking elixirs, it was still too much to stay in the labyrinth for a long time.

Since he didn’t know how many enemies he would face, he couldn’t use magic power as freely as he could in the city.

The labyrinth was a place where anything could happen.

Assuming the worst-case scenario, it was essential to have a certain level of physique and stamina.

He had to be able to march for days and nights in the dark labyrinth with heavy luggage, without getting proper rest.

He had to endure the pressure closing in from all directions, as well as pull himself together when his mind collapsed due to the deaths of his comrades and various traps.

Protecting one’s mental state was, in fact, the essence of the labyrinth.

And a healthy mind comes from muscles that have been trained to the extreme.

In that situation, to enter the labyrinth with a body like this child’s?

That was begging to be killed.

‘I need to return to my original body.’

Jeong Yushin smiled faintly.

“What? Are you sad?”

Karin sighed deeply and repeated to herself inwardly.

‘Will Mion allow it?’

She could picture Mion vehemently opposing and trying to stop Scar from returning to his original form.

“Do whatever you want. There’s something we need to decide first.”

“What is it?”

“We need to decide which area to enter first.”

“Can’t we go to the ‘Forest’ area?”

“Didn’t you hear what they announced at the Wind Spirit Temple last time?”

“Huh? What did they say?”

“I overheard some guests talking about it. They said that the magic power of the Abyss is pooling too much in the Forest area right now. They said not to enter for the time being.”

“Hmm?”

Jeong Yushin stroked his chin.

They had definitely buried the ‘holy object’ to stabilize the magic power of the Abyss.

‘Was that not enough?’

Or should he see it as the experiment using that ‘holy object’ having failed?

It could also mean that even if there were short-term gains, it was impossible to block the magic power of the Abyss in the long term.

“Then let’s exclude the ‘Forest’ area. Which area do you think would be good, Karin?”

Karin wagged her red tail and fell into thought.

“I mainly go to the ‘Corridor’ and ‘Forest’ areas. But, we need to think carefully about the party composition, right? It’s not like it’s just the two of us entering the labyrinth.”

Jeong Yushin nodded.

Karin was right.

Iron Mask also took the characteristics of the Forest area into consideration when choosing party members.

“There’s a lot to prepare.”

“That’s right. It’s also important to wear equipment suitable for the area. There’s no need to rush too much. It’s not too late to enter the labyrinth after preparing thoroughly.”

“Really?”

“That’s right. If it’s difficult to decide which area to enter, it might be a good idea to seek advice from Mion. That damp priestess will have more experience than me.”

After speaking, Karin bit her lip slightly, looking uncomfortable.

Jeong Yushin pondered for a moment before opening his mouth.

“That reminds me. I made some money selling magic stones this time, and I want to get some good equipment. The problem is, I don’t really know which materials are good. Help me.”

“Materials? How much is your budget?”

“About 70 gold coins?”

“What?!”

Karin’s eyes widened. Jeong Yushin shrugged his shoulders.

“This older brother made some money.”

“…”

Karin gave him a sulky glare.

If another man had spouted nonsense, she would have slapped him, but when Scar did it, it felt alive. They say that if you’re handsome, you’re popular even if you commit crimes.

So, she felt a little resentful.

“We should get the cheapest and best materials possible, right?”

“That’s right. Talk to Hook Nose for the details. Even if the equipment you need to wear differs for each labyrinth area, there must be equipment that is commonly used, right? Let’s try to find materials for that part first.”

“Really? Leave it to me.”

Jeong Yushin got up from his seat.

“I put the money in my closet. Take it out and use it if you need it. I’m going to the Temple of Mother Earth.”

“Be careful.”

Karin warned in a low voice.

Jeong Yushin tilted his head.

‘Is there something to be careful about?’

“Okay.”

* * *

“No!”

Mion crossed her hands to block him.

Jeong Yushin blankly looked up at Mion.

“Pardon?”

“I said no!”

“Priestess Mion…”

Mion bit her lip tightly.

She was happy to see Scar, who had come to the morning class after a long time, but her heart sank.

‘He’s completely different.’

If Scar looked like a cute little devil a month ago.

Now, he had become a sharp-looking pretty boy exuding fatal charm.

Mion unconsciously twitched her nose.

Was this what a young beast smelled like?

The smell of an unripe male. Even the smell of sweat from his neck was sweet.

Mion felt her face burning up.

She barely resisted the gloomy desire to stick close to Scar throughout the class and rub her chest against him.

During the break, all the girls in the orphanage were clinging to Scar, acting cute.

‘Scar oppa. Do you want to take a walk in the park with me?’

‘Oppa. Do you want me to show you my room?’

‘I, I was first!’

‘Ugh!’

Mion also had a strong desire to cling to him.

However, as a teacher, she couldn’t forget her duty, so she had no choice but to grit her teeth and prepare for the next class.

After many twists and turns, the class ended, and they gathered in her room for lunchtime. Just the two of them.

And then.

Her heart sank once again at the words Scar spoke.

“You’re…you’re going back to your original form?! No!”

Tears welled up in Mion’s slit eyes.

‘I haven’t even showered together yet. I haven’t had a lap pillow. I haven’t even slept together! I haven’t done anything! Not even a date!’

She wanted to see Scar’s lovely and cute appearance in her eyes at least, but like this suddenly…

“…Priestess Mion.”

Jeong Yushin scratched his head.

He felt sorry when he saw Priestess Mion, who somehow looked wronged.

‘I’ve been neglecting the writing class lately.’

He had less time to pick up a book because he was busy with various things.

He could give a few excuses if he wanted to, but it was meaningless.

It was his fault for being intoxicated with his superior looks and spending time on various things.

Of course, he didn’t regret the time he spent training with Ashur or crushing the drug dealers.

It was something he had to do.

‘Ah!’

Jeong Yushin’s eyes widened.

He thought he knew why Mion was tearing up.

He was so ignorant that he didn’t even think about using this good opportunity to grow. That was what she was feeling sorry about.

Jeong Yushin carefully opened his mouth.

“You seem very depressed. Do you perhaps have any wise advice, Priestess Mion?”

“Th…that’s right!”

Mion quickly followed up.

“You, your learning ability must have increased with the Physical Regression Engraving, right?”

“That’s correct.”

“Then, how about taking this opportunity to learn a little more about writing? It’s a good opportunity, right?”

“…”

He knew that learning to read and write overnight was difficult.

In fact, one of the things he had the hardest time with after coming to Labyrinth City was learning to write.

“Then I will do that.”

Since he had already learned some things, there was no harm in refining his writing skills.

Come to think of it, the Physical Regression Engraving might be a blessing in terms of studying.

Correcting faulty sword techniques.

Learning to write with a head spinning around.

Wouldn’t it be an opportunity to smooth out the intellectual parts a little more based on his difficult experiences?

Maybe he was trying to push himself too hard into the labyrinth.

Karin’s worried expression also flashed through his mind.

Mion wiped away her glistening tears and raised her hand to stroke Jeong Yushin’s head.

“How do you feel, Scar?”

“I will be learning to write steadily for the time being.”

“That’s great. Really.”

Jeong Yushin couldn’t see it. The sight of Mion’s red tongue licking her lips seductively.

“Priestess, there is one thing I would like to learn no matter what.”

“What is it?”

“I heard that the ‘Forest’ area has turned into a dangerous place.”

Mion nodded right away, as if she knew about it too.

“Ah! Yes. I heard that the magic power of the Abyss is pooling intensively.”

“If that’s the case, I have to choose one of the ‘Corridor’ and ‘Underground Passage’ areas. Is there an area you would recommend?”

“Hmm.”

Mion pondered for a moment before opening her mouth.

“I need to think about this part a little more.”

“I understand.”

Mion slowly stroked Jeong Yushin’s head.

‘I think I’m getting addicted.’

The original Scar was good too, but this cute Scar was special.

Especially since it was an appearance she wouldn’t be able to see for long.

‘I’m going to enjoy it to the fullest.’

Mion hid her sinister intentions and wore a saintly smile.

* * *

A month had passed since then.

Jeong Yushin’s life had returned to what it used to be.

He learned dagger techniques from Karin in the early morning, and writing from Mion from morning to afternoon.

None of them were easy.

In fact, it was more accurate to say that it had become more difficult.

Karin’s dagger techniques were a series of difficult skills, as they were the secret techniques of the Red Wolf Tribe.

Mion’s teachings were also gradually increasing in level.

Instead of reading old children’s fairy tales, they mainly read novels with more difficult words or books containing short pieces of knowledge.

Even in the midst of all this, he did not forget to visit the Swordsmanship Association from time to time to mingle with the members and spar with them.

Several women who appeared to be explorers approached him and tried to build relationships, but Jeong Yushin shook his head and refused.

He had long abandoned his plans for a giggling, cute labyrinth conquest.

Instead, he honed himself by following the teachings of various people.

One late summer dawn, a month later.

Under the slowly rising dawn light over the fortress walls, Karin and Jeong Yushin were holding daggers in the backyard of the inn.

Both of them were drenched in sweat from several spars.

Karin rushed in and swung two daggers.

From left to right.

From below, diagonally.

Shriek!!!

The daggers rushed in sharply.

Jeong Yushin widened his eyes and clashed daggers.

Clang!!!

Clang!!!

He blocked it and stabbed right away.

Karin turned to the side to avoid the dagger stabbing towards her stomach, and like a snake, she climbed over Scar’s arm and aimed at his neck.

Even though a cold dagger touched his neck, Jeong Yushin didn’t even blink an eye.

‘If I block the carotid artery here…?’

He would give up his neck and stab her in the chest.

“Scar, stop.”

Jeong Yushin came to his senses at the sound of Karin’s voice.

Karin was looking down with a fed-up expression.

“Scar, snap out of it.”

“Hoo. Sorry. But this dagger technique is really difficult. My head is spinning.”

Perhaps because it had a shorter reach than a longsword, the results of the mental calculation battle appeared instantly.

Since the response had to be just as fast, his head became hot in an instant.

Karin wiped away her sweat and smiled brightly.

“Do you think our tribe’s dagger technique would be easy for no reason? Still, you’re learning really fast for someone like you.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah. Ah! And I finished talking with Hook Nose. He said all the materials we need will be prepared. All we have to do is commission the equipment production.”

“Really? That’s great.”

Jeong Yushin wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve and looked up at the sky.

Was it just his imagination, or did the sky look clearer?

Now.

He was confident that he could overcome madness even if he returned to his original body.

At least he wouldn’t see hallucinations or drop his pants in broad daylight.

Karin handed him a towel.

“You said you have Mion’s test today, right?”

“Yeah.”

It was unusual for Mion to give a test. There was no complaining. It was an opportunity to test his studies.

“Should I come with you, if you want?”

“I’ll finish it quickly and come back.”

Jeong Yushin ate breakfast and ran to the Temple of Mother Earth.

“Scar big brother!”

As soon as he entered the classroom, the girls rushed towards him.

Jeong Yushin smirked.

It didn’t take long for the title to change from Mister to Oppa, and from Oppa to Big Brother.

On the other hand, the boys’ eyes were becoming increasingly hostile.

“Even Lily…Kuh! I liked her first!”

“The ice-cold class president is making that kind of smile. It’s shocking.”

“Black-haired delinquent! Don’t smile with that handsome face! Don’t seduce the girls!”

“Why did the world create me and then create that guy? Ah!”

There were even boys who were saying things that made them sound older than their age, as if they were suffering.

Jeong Yushin swept his hair back and wore a cold expression.

“Don’t fall for me.”

“Huh?!”

“Hwee?!”

The girls held their hands together tightly and looked at Jeong Yushin.

“Because I’m a dangerous man.”

The girls’ eyes rolled at Jeong Yushin’s words.

“S, so cool!”

“Kyaaak!!! Big brother!”

“Dangerous boy!”

Sweat dripped from Jeong Yushin’s forehead.

‘I’m really dangerous, you guys.’

It seemed like they thought the Virgin Succubus Corruption Engraving was a joke.

While the girls were gathered around Jeong Yushin, chattering.

Creak.

The classroom door opened, and Mion came in and stood on the desk.

“Okay! Everyone, please take your seats.”

“Yes!”

Jeong Yushin finished the class with the attention of the girls and boys focused on him.

He barely finished the morning class, ate lunch, and then gathered in Mion’s room.

“Then let’s begin the ‘test’.”

Mion said solemnly.

“Yes.”

Jeong Yushin nodded, his eyes shining.

He would show her.

The knowledge he had honed with his spinning head!

“Huh? O, oh dear? There’s no paper?”

Mion mumbled to herself, faltering.

“O, oh well. There’s no helping it.”

“…?”

Mion took off her white priestess robe and revealed her black priestess robe.

She stuck her soft belly out towards Jeong Yushin.

“S, since there’s no place to write, I guess you can write here.”

“Pardon?”

Jeong Yushin stared blankly at Mion’s soft belly.

A platinum-colored divine pattern shone on the lower abdomen of her tight-fitting black priestess uniform.

“P, Priestess Mion?”

Mion’s seductive tongue licked her lips.

“Test start♥”