episode_0205

The inn, after the departure of the Vice Guild Leader, became quiet again.

Only Jeong Yu-shin and Ingrid remained at the counter.

Ingrid crossed her arms and turned her body.

“…”

She was embarrassed to show Ska her nipples, which were stiffly protruding above her flimsy bra.

There was another reason.

It was difficult to open her mouth while facing Ska’s face.

Ska’s words were sophistry, and his teasing crossed the line.

It was clearly a situation to get angry, but Ingrid’s eyes just spun around.

What should she say?

Should she gently admonish him?

Should she come on strong?

‘I don’t know.’

Ingrid bit her lip tightly. She had no idea at all. It was the first time she had been in this situation.

She wanted to scold herself for being so nonchalant now.

She even bumped into him herself and asked for a massage.

Why?

Because she was superior in everything.

Skill, status, wisdom.

She thought she was better than this man in every way.

She knew it was the wrong choice. But her curiosity was greater. Besides, she was planning to thoroughly punish him if he crossed the line.

However.

‘Why.’

Ingrid was afraid that he would hear her heart pounding like a virgin.

There were only two of them now, and it was quiet.

She was worried that he would hear her heart beating.

“Ms. Ingrid.”

A soft voice. It stimulated her ears as sweetly as honey.

At that moment.

Thump!!!

Karin returned.

“I’m back.”

“Oh, you’re back?! Where did you go?!”

Ingrid hurriedly moved away from her spot and unnecessarily nagged Karin.

“I had some business to take care of, so I went to the Temple of the Great Mother. Why?”

“I’m going to go to bed first. I’m too tired.”

“Okay.”

Karin tilted her head, watching Ingrid quickly go up to the second floor.

“Ska, did something happen?”

Jeong Yu-shin shrugged his shoulders.

“No. It seems like her ‘bride training’ is very difficult.”

“Bride training? What are you talking about?”

Karin tilted her head, watching Jeong Yu-shin go up to the second floor.

* * *

The next morning.

Jeong Yu-shin went straight to the monster dismantling center.

Aldaine was doing paperwork in his office.

Jeong Yu-shin sat across from Aldaine.

Aldaine raised his head from the pile of documents stacked on the table.

“What is it?”

“The guys in the eastern district underworld tried to kill me.”

Aldaine pushed the documents aside and leaned back in his chair.

“Suddenly? I heard that there was a problem with the Bracelet of Binding and you fell into another stratum, so I thought it was those guys’ doing?”

Jeong Yu-shin scratched his head.

“The rumors have already spread this far?”

Aldaine rubbed his eyepatch.

“I’m curious as to why you thought the rumors wouldn’t spread? To be honest, I was surprised when I heard you were walking around with a ghoul.”

“After pulling out all its teeth, hands, and toenails, it was manageable to walk around with.”

“…”

Aldaine was quiet for a moment before opening his mouth again.

“This fight won’t be easy. They’re the guys who bought off the headquarters receptionist. They won’t be small fries. Besides, quite a few guys in the eastern district are paying attention to you. Everywhere you go, there’s trouble and stories, so it would be strange if they didn’t know.”

“I can’t help it. Didn’t I ruin some of their businesses?”

Aldaine sighed deeply.

“Hoo. Do you have any other ideas?”

“I met some decent people at a gathering of small and medium-sized clans.”

“So? What are you going to do? Are you going to lead those people into a war with the guys in the eastern district?”

Jeong Yu-shin chuckled and shook his head.

“Of course not. Aren’t they people who are engaged in their own livelihoods? I’m just trying to get information about the receptionist.”

Aldaine observed Jeong Yu-shin’s face and then held out a red single-edged sword.

“I’d like to help if I could, but I’m busy these days. It doesn’t look like you’re planning to wait, so take my sword.”

Jeong Yu-shin smiled and grabbed Aldaine’s red single-edged sword.

“Nice.”

Aldaine rubbed his forehead at Jeong Yu-shin’s answer.

“I’ll try to find out more later when I have time. And one more thing to keep in mind. As I said before, never take that sword into the labyrinth.”

“I understand. But may I ask why?”

“Later.”

Aldaine waved his hand.

“Get out if you’re not going to help me with my paperwork.”

“Take care.”

Jeong Yu-shin took the single-edged sword and went outside.

Aldaine remained alone in the room and stroked his chest.

“Brother, please stay still this time.”

Jeong Yu-shin walked down the street, fiddling with the red single-edged sword.

Fortunately, the sword didn’t tremble or whisper strange words in his head.

I should infuse it with a lot of yin energy later when I have time.

The next person to see is Granny, who is in charge of the meeting of small and medium-sized clans.

Granny was also the leader of the Granny Love Clan.

Her side job was a carpenter.

She made a living by making and selling chairs and furniture for the elderly in the western district.

Most of the smithies and workshops were located in the western district of the labyrinth city.

Jeong Yu-shin passed through the smithy street and arrived at the workshop street.

He walked slowly down the street, looking around.

‘How fascinating.’

It was different from the streets in the southern district.

What should I say?

It was similar to the industrial complex streets that I used to see on old television.

‘But with a medieval twist.’

The smell of chemicals used to dry leather stung his nose, while the sound of hammering echoed from the workshops. Wood shavings and various sundries were piled up in every corner of the workshops.

Jeong Yu-shin asked a middle-aged man who was tanning leather in front of a workshop if he knew Granny.

“I know her. She’s a talented young woman. If you go a little further from here, you’ll find an intersection. If you turn right there, you’ll find a furniture store, which Granny runs.”

“Thank you.”

Jeong Yu-shin politely bowed and hurried on his way.

As the man said, when he turned right at the intersection, he saw Granny’s furniture store.

It wasn’t a very big workshop, but the chairs and furniture that could be seen through the windows looked carefully crafted at a glance.

When he entered the furniture store, Granny, who was sitting at the counter scribbling something, raised her head, saw Jeong Yu-shin, and jumped up from her seat.

“Mr. Ska?!”

“It’s been a while.”

Jeong Yu-shin slowly approached and greeted her.

“What brings you here?”

“I just stopped by to see if anything’s been going on lately.”

Granny’s expression was startled at Jeong Yu-shin’s question.

“How did you know?”

Granny’s sudden question.

Jeong Yu-shin tilted his head.

“What do you mean, how did I know?”

“Lately, people from the eastern district have been trying to take over small businesses. But the way they’re doing it is…”

Jeong Yu-shin frowned.

It wasn’t the story he had hoped for, but he couldn’t ignore it.

Jeong Yu-shin sat down facing Granny and listened to her story.

Granny even brought out tea and continued the story.

Jeong Yu-shin’s expression crumpled as he listened for a while.

‘This is too much.’

It had a strong malicious feeling.

They would place huge orders and then cancel them when the goods were about to be finished.

They would forcibly find flaws in the goods and demand compensation, or refuse to pay.

Granny sighed deeply.

“Hoo. The reason I was going to resign from my position as representative is actually because of this. The eastern district’s misdeeds are getting worse and worse. It’s especially hard for small businesses like ours that are run by small clans.”

“Why did you take on the position of representative?”

“Because no one else wanted to.”

“…”

Well, he could understand Granny’s feelings. There weren’t many normal people among those who came to the small and medium-sized clan meetings.

Jeong Yu-shin thought for a moment and then opened his mouth.

“Please gather people. I think we’ll find a solution if we put our heads together and discuss it.”

Granny smiled at Jeong Yu-shin.

“Okay. I guess we should get together once. I’ll call the people together. How about a pub in the western district a few days later in the evening?”

“That’s good. It seems like a lot of people will gather, but is a pub okay?”

“I think only the clan leaders will gather, not all the clan members like last time. Everyone’s busy working.”

“Yes.”

Jeong Yu-shin parted ways with Granny and returned to the eastern inn.

* * *

A few days later.

Jeong Yu-shin headed to the western district.

The western district was filled with the hustle and bustle of workers. It was a rough-feeling street.

Jeong Yu-shin headed to a pub called ‘Dwarf Club.’

When Jeong Yu-shin entered the pub, there was a moment of silence.

The people who were drinking and talking looked at Jeong Yu-shin, closed their mouths, and stared blankly.

Granny smiled and waved her hand.

“Over here! Mr. Ska.”

Jeong Yu-shin slowly walked to the table where Granny was sitting and stood.

He saw familiar faces.

The Sea Guard Clan Leader.

The Granny Love Clan Leader Granny.

The Naturalist Clan Leader.

However.

There was one person he hadn’t seen at the small and medium-sized clan meeting.

A middle-aged human sitting leisurely at the end seat, the seat of honor.

A thick beard.

A square jaw.

He looked like a worker you’d see at a port, but his eyes gleamed with an unusual sharpness.

The middle-aged man rose from his seat.

“Are you Ska?”

“Yes.”

Jeong Yu-shin shook the man’s hand.

The middle-aged man smiled.

“Solomon, I’m in charge of the brewing business in the western district.”

“Ska, a mid-tier low-level explorer.”

The two men shook hands, examining each other as if they were exploring.

The man named Solomon returned to his seat.

Jeong Yu-shin sat down in the seat facing Solomon.

“A brewer. I don’t think I’ve seen your face at the small and medium-sized clan meetings.”

“Because I’m not free enough to attend such places. And I’m not an explorer anymore. I’m a retired old man. Anyway, I’ve made a new drink this time, so let’s all try it.”

Solomon snapped his fingers, and several humans wearing fedoras came over, put down bottles of alcohol, and stood behind Solomon.

Jeong Yu-shin sat still and observed the bottles of alcohol.

“Ska, I’ve heard the rumors all the way over here. You want to take on the position of representative of the small and medium-sized clans?”

“Yes. But I didn’t come here today because of that issue. I came because I heard that the small and medium-sized clans are having difficulties.”

Solomon raised his finger and tapped the table before opening his mouth.

“Do you smoke?”

“I’ll smoke if you give me one.”

Solomon chuckled and snapped his fingers again.

The man who had been standing behind him came forward and put down a small cigar box from his chest.

Jeong Yu-shin took out a cigar and put it in his mouth. The Sea Guard Clan Leader, who was sitting next to him, took out a flint from his chest and lit it.

Jeong Yu-shin sent a thank-you gesture and blew out smoke.

Solomon rubbed his forehead.

“Ska, let’s get to the point. Lately, the guys in the eastern district keep messing with our livelihoods.”

“Yes.”

“I want to hear your plan. Are you going to drag us, who are engaged in our own livelihoods, into a conflict with the eastern district?”

The pub became silent for a moment at Solomon’s words.

Jeong Yu-shin shook his head.

“I have no intention of doing that. I don’t think there’s any need to drag out the people who are working.”

“Then?”

Just as Jeong Yu-shin was about to open his mouth to answer.

Thump!!!

The door of the pub opened, and a huge lizardman slowly entered.

The lizardman licked his long tongue and looked around, fixing his gaze on one place.

“Everyone’s here.”

The lizardman’s oily tone echoed through the quiet pub.

When the clan leaders made sullen expressions, the lizardman chuckled.

“Cheer up a little. Anyone would think we’re threatening you.”

The lizardman swaggered over and stopped when he saw Jeong Yu-shin.

“What’s this? A mixed-blood barbarian? I was wondering why you kept postponing our offer, but were you perhaps plotting some disloyal plan?”

“…”

The clan leaders didn’t open their mouths.

Jeong Yu-shin looked up at the lizardman and continued to puff on his cigar.

The lizardman put his face close to Jeong Yu-shin’s.

“Hey, mixed-blood, what are you doing here? Are you thinking of getting money from these guys and doing something with it?”

The thugs who came with the lizardman spread out sinister laughter.

The pub was quiet, and the expressions on the people’s faces were dark.

Jeong Yu-shin felt a strange feeling.

It had been a long time since someone had picked a fight with him like this.

“Do you know who I am?”

Jeong Yu-shin asked.

The lizardman chuckled.

“I know you well. Butcher Ska, you have to spread reasonable rumors. You survived alone in the swamp? You’re walking around with a ghoul? Ha! It’s hard to believe such ridiculous nonsense. My friend.”

The lizardman put his head even closer to Jeong Yu-shin’s.

“Ska, I’m curious. What makes you act so cocky? You think we’re easy to deal with just because you took out a few eastern district thugs?”

“…”

The lizardman’s mouth formed a long arc.

“And I’m also curious. That ghoul in the rumors, was it your fucktoy?”

“Hoo.”

Jeong Yu-shin exhaled a long puff of cigar smoke and stood up from his seat.

Jeong Yu-shin slowly approached the pub door.

The lizardman laughed derisively from behind.

“Are you running away? I think the small and medium-sized clans gathered all the money they had and hired you, but it was all for nothing.”

“Kha ha ha ha ha!!!!!!”

“Look at him running away!”

“He should just be a male prostitute. He’s just putting on a pathetic show.”

Jeong Yu-shin stood in front of the pub door, listening to all kinds of ridicule.

Jeong Yu-shin raised his hand and moved the lock on the door.

Click!!!

“Manners.”

Another device was locked.

“Maketh.”

Click!!!

“Man.”

Thud!!!

Finally, a huge tree trunk completely blocked the door of the pub.

Jeong Yu-shin turned around and looked at the lizardman and his goons with gleaming eyes.

“Do you know what that means?”

Overwhelming killing intent flowed from Jeong Yu-shin’s body.

“…”

A chilling silence descended on the pub.