episode_0167

Quiet evening inn.

Aldaine’s subordinates had left long ago, and the hooked-nose guy also left the inn just now.

Karin was asleep in the second-floor room with Delia’s ‘Persona’, Ingrid’s familiar rat, and Rin.

Only Jeong Yushin and Nelia were sitting at the inn’s hall counter.

Nelia’s business was simple.

An invitation to join the labyrinth investigation team.

However, since the vice-chairman of the Explorer’s Guild had personally come, it was difficult to think of it so simply.

It seemed like it would be a long story.

He took out a bottle of liquor and glasses from the cupboard and placed them in front of Nelia and himself.

Jeong Yushin poured liquor into Nelia’s glass and asked.

“Vice-Chairman, what is happening in the labyrinth?”

Nelia looked down at the liquor filling her glass and opened her mouth.

“We don’t know the fundamental reason either. If it’s something that happened recently, I can tell you. The entire forest layer has been designated as an inaccessible area because it is full of abyssal magic. The sewer area is the same. The only area you can go down from the 5th floor is currently the corridor area.”

Jeong Yushin tapped the counter table with his finger.

He had been distracted by other things and missed the most important news.

Nelia took a sip of liquor and cleared her expression.

“I heard that you buried the ‘Sacred Object’ for the designated request before.”

Nelia’s sudden question.

Jeong Yushin nodded in agreement.

“Yes.”

He received a request from the temple and entered the forest layer with the Iron Mask party to bury the Sacred Object in the ground.

He heard that the Sacred Object scatters the magic power rising from the labyrinth abyss.

But listening to the vice-chairman, it seems that even the ‘Sacred Object’ could not stop the abyssal magic.

“Actually, several incidents have occurred in the deep layers, but I can’t carelessly talk about them. I ask for your understanding.”

Jeong Yushin frowned.

‘This doesn’t seem like something I should be involved in?’

“I see. But as you know, my party is quite lacking to participate in the labyrinth investigation team. There are many capable clans and parties in the headquarters, so I’m curious why you came to me.”

Nelia nodded.

“That’s certainly true. Sky’s party is about a middle-rank ‘lower grade’.”

Middle-rank lower grade?

It was a classification he had never heard before.

If it’s middle-rank, it’s middle-rank, what’s with the lower grade attached to it?

Nelia seemed to read Jeong Yushin’s expression and continued with additional explanations.

“Lower-grade explorers, often called beginner explorers, are easy to distinguish. This is because most of them don’t know much about the labyrinth. They are ignorant of their own livelihood, as well as the layer攻略 methods and the special rules of the labyrinth.”

“I see.”

“But it’s different when you go up to middle-rank. Everyone gains one or two useful engravings, and their skills gradually accumulate. Because the speed at which abilities bloom or experience accumulates varies greatly from person to person, the middle-rank is also divided into grades.”

He understood.

As the number of middle-rank explorers in charge of the waist area is large and diverse, the guild also makes separate distinctions.

Even if they are the same middle-rank explorer, there would definitely be a difference between a middle-rank who has just risen from a beginner explorer and a middle-rank who has rolled around in the labyrinth and has a lot of experience.

Is it the difference between a new Private who has just been promoted to Private First Class and an E-4 Specialist just before rising to the position of Squad Leader?

‘So, you’re saying I’m a newb?’

He felt somehow uncomfortable.

Nelia quickly noticed Jeong Yushin’s expression and added a few words.

“It’s not that I’m going to ignore Sky’s party because they are middle-rank lower grade. There is a more important reason. Trust.”

Jeong Yushin scratched the back of his head.

Had he ever done anything to earn Nelia’s trust?

He didn’t remember having done so.

And he wondered if a grand condition called trust was necessary for the labyrinth investigation team recruitment requirements.

“Fragments of the Red Bead were taken out of the labyrinth city. Now that we don’t know who committed such an act, it’s difficult to randomly designate parties or clans.”

“It could have been a mistake. Aren’t you overreacting too much?”

“There’s no reason to be careful. It’s only natural to clean up the inside to prepare for external threats.”

That’s true.

“So, why our party? I want to hear the reason.”

“The first reason is that there are several people who guaranteed Sky’s identity.”

Who?

He couldn’t grasp it.

“Who guaranteed my identity?”

“First, it’s Spirit Teacher Seamus.”

“Ah.”

It was the priest he met when he first fell into this world. He was a middle-aged man whose appearance of punching goblins to death was impressive.

“The guild conducted several investigations into Sky. I heard that you misunderstood the guards on the Pilgrim’s Road and came to meet Karin.”

“That’s right. The misunderstanding was resolved as well.”

Now, to have his past pop out of the mouth of a third party he met for the second time, frankly, his spine was chilling.

“After that, you followed Karin to the labyrinth investigation team as a porter. You survived excellently and finished the report. I heard that you made a considerable contribution to the subjugation of the monster化 Hans while working at the labyrinth entrance. I heard that you didn’t ask for separate compensation.”

“That’s true.”

“You also excellently completed the temple’s designated request, and you also have a connection with Ingrid and Astaroth. Of course, the latter is a bad relationship.”

Jeong Yushin rubbed his forehead and leaned back in his chair.

“I understand that I have gained the trust of many people. What is it you want to say?”

“It’s not over yet. I also heard that you killed the middle-rank explorer Mage Slayer, Ben and Sharp Tooth, who are active in the underworld. And the reason for that too.”

Jeong Yushin crossed his arms.

The rumors spread faster than he thought.

“They were guys who deserved to die.”

“I’m just amazed that Sky’s skills are increasing so quickly. To get back to the main point, Sky is currently receiving the trust of many high-ranking people. You are qualified to participate in the labyrinth investigation team.”

“…”

Jeong Yushin lifted the glass and poured it into his mouth.

Labyrinth investigation team.

It was definitely a matter to think about deeply.

“Okay, I understand for now. Can I think about it a bit? I need to hear the opinions of other party members and have a meeting.”

“Okay. I’ll give you about a month to decide. Discuss it thoroughly and find me at the headquarters. If you participate in the labyrinth investigation team, I will prepare sufficient compensation. Then.”

Nelia got up from her seat without any regrets.

He thought she would hold on a bit more, but was he wrong?

It felt more like a job fair than headhunting.

Nelia left the inn and only Jeong Yushin was left alone in the inn.

He racked his brain, but he couldn’t come up with an answer.

“Aigo, my head.”

Jeong Yushin rubbed his forehead and sighed.

* * *

The next morning.

Jeong Yushin and Karin were sitting at the inn table.

Delia’s Persona, shining in gold, was crawling around on the table.

The familiar Rin was leaning on Delia’s Persona and munching on nuts.

“When should we put Delia’s ‘Persona’ back in?”

“Tonight. Sky, you have to do it ‘directly’.”

Jeong Yushin made a disgusted expression.

“Why?”

“I don’t know. Mion said that’s how it can be preserved intact without damaging the Persona?”

He trusts Mion’s words unconditionally, but he has to pry open Delia’s butt hole and put that golden slime in?

It was too difficult a task.

Delia’s Persona lifted its head(?) and bumped Jeong Yushin’s cheek.

“Ah, stop it.”

Jeong Yushin frowned and pushed Delia’s ‘Persona’ away.

At first, he was horrified and pushed it away, but now he didn’t resist that much.

If you look closely, it’s kind of cute.

‘Am I crazy?’

He wondered whether to slap himself in the face, but stopped.

“The procedure is tonight.”

Karin emphasized the time once again.

Jeong Yushin sighed and got up from his seat.

“Okay. It was something I had to do anyway.”

With time left until evening, he stopped by Boron’s smithy and received the repaired equipment.

The equipment wasn’t completely destroyed like before, so it didn’t take long in terms of cost or repair time.

When he returned to the inn, Luna was sitting at the table.

“Sky Uncle.”

For some reason, Luna had a dejected expression.

“What’s wrong?”

“Mom scolded me.”

“Why?”

“There are a lot of people with strange engravings these days, and she said I’m wandering around carelessly without being careful.”

“Is that so?”

“It’s a letter Mom sent.”

Luna took out a small piece of paper from her pocket and handed it to Jeong Yushin.

It contained a message that she was worried because Luna didn’t listen even though she was sternly scolded.

It ended with a request for advice and a note to stop by the pharmacy at any time.

Jeong Yushin smiled bitterly and stroked Luna’s head.

“It’s because your mother cares about Luna a lot. It’s not that she dislikes you, but she wants Luna to act a little more carefully? There are a lot of bad people wandering around these days.”

“I know. Luna likes Mom too.”

Luna smiled a little. Did she feel a little better?

“But what is that wriggling thing?”

Luna, who had come to her senses, raised her hand and pointed to Delia’s ‘Persona’ in her pocket.

“Slime.”

It was half a lie.

He didn’t know how to explain that Persona slime in front of a little fox beastkin.

“Oh?!”

Luna’s eyes sparkled.

“I want to see it!”

“Th…that’s right.”

He took Delia’s ‘Persona’ out of the leather pouch and placed it on the table.

“It’s amazing! The color is more sparkling than Luna’s slime.”

“Actually, it’s a person.”

“Huh?!”

Luna looked up at Jeong Yushin with a blank expression.

“It’s a person who got a slime engraving after going into the labyrinth. How about it, aren’t you scared? Do you know what your mother wants to say?”

Luna stammered.

“B, but! It’s so moist and squishy?!”

Luna reached out and squished Delia’s Persona.

Delia wriggled and enjoyed Luna’s touch.

“D, don’t touch it, it’s dirty.”

Jeong Yushin was flustered and put Delia’s Persona back in.

“Anyway, it’s late now, so I’ll take you home.”

Karin folded her arms and quietly observed before opening her mouth.

“Why don’t you take her?”

“Where to?”

“To the temple.”

Karin fluttered Luna’s letter.

“Luna’s mother wrote here to tell her about the horror of engravings, right? I don’t think it’s a bad idea to show her around once?”

“There are things to do and things not to do. It’s too stimulating a sight for Luna. It’s not good for education.”

“Luna wants to see it!”

Luna stuck to Jeong Yushin’s lap and acted cute.

“No, Luna. It’s not a good sight to see.”

Karin snorted and shrugged her shoulders.

“What about it? When I was Luna’s age, I was killing thieves with daggers? Aren’t you being too protective?”

At that age?

Crazy other world.

“Sky Uncle, Luna wants to see it once! The scene where the slime turns back into a person!”

“Haa.”

What should I do?

He knew Luna’s bold personality.

When gangsters came to the pharmacy last time and tried to force her to buy drugs, she didn’t back down a step and swung her fists.

‘Am I being too overprotective?’

“I’ll take responsibility.”

Karin said coolly, sweeping her hair back.

“I don’t know. Luna, if you feel nauseous or scared, leave immediately. Okay?”

“I understand!”

Luna smiled brightly and nodded.

‘Haa.’

Jeong Yushin sighed and scratched his head.

He has to show a child the scene where the Persona slime goes back into the butt hole?

‘Is this right?’

Dark evening.

Jeong Yushin and Karin, with Luna smiling brightly between them, left the streets and headed to the temple.