episode_0221

Nellia left. She seemed incredibly busy, without even the time to drink a glass of water, so I didn’t stop her.

Jung Yushin sat on the counter stool, looking out the window before closing his eyes.

‘I’ve absorbed all the Yin energy. Your head will probably be a bit clearer now.’

Beatrice, on his lap, said as if it were nothing special.

Indeed, Beatrice’s vacuum Yin energy absorption was excellent.

It was more effective than drawing out the Yin energy from within oneself and storing it in the ring or putting it into Beatrice.

‘Did you just have a weird thought?’

“Not at all. I was just thinking that you absorb Yin energy well.”

‘Absorb? Sca, you…!’

“Beatrice, you’ve got demons in your heart.”

‘Megumi?’

“Demons. I’m going to concentrate now, so be quiet.”

‘What the hell is Megumi?’

Jung Yushin ignored the grumbling Beatrice and focused his mind.

With his head clearer, he slowly wrapped up the battle he had fought with the outer god’s faction.

He left the good things as they were and quietly engraved the regrettable points in his mind.

He clearly remembers the enlightenment gained from this battle.

The trajectory of the swung sword contains a person’s story.

The story comes from a person’s head, that is, their mind.

However.

The human mind is a labyrinth.

Because it was difficult to know what lurked within.

Threats and corruption are only temporary fixes. He learned that through Mion.

If so.

He needed to change his thinking.

If there was a torch to brightly illuminate the dark mind like a labyrinth, it would probably be affection.

The reason Mion trusted him.

The reason he trusted Mion was all the same.

Affection built on goodwill.

Beatrice.

I’ll bind you with affection.

So that my death will be the saddest thing in the world for you.

Jung Yushin quietly pledged and stroked Beatrice on his lap.

“Beatrice.”

‘Why?’

“Did you wet yourself again? Should I wipe it with a cloth?”

‘…’

Beatrice didn’t speak to him for a long time after that.

Jung Yushin scratched his head and resolved.

To find someone with an Ego Sword engraving and hear various information.

* * *

In the afternoon, Granny came to visit.

“Sca, have you been well?”

Jung Yushin smiled gently.

“I’m doing well. Is business doing well?”

Granny smiled back.

“Yes. The East District bastards’ misdeeds have lessened, so it’s manageable. Other clans have asked me to thank you as well.”

“Good.”

Granny placed a large sack on the counter.

“This is a small token of our appreciation.”

From the sack, various items popped out, starting with expensive liquor, cigars and a lute, playing cards and a mascot costume, a hexagonal hat and candlesticks.

“You shouldn’t have… thank you.”

“We plan to bring larger items after receiving Sca’s permission.”

“Like furniture?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll gladly accept them. But you don’t have to give them next time.”

“Then would it be okay to give you money?”

Granny asked cautiously.

Jung Yushin shook his head.

“No. I don’t need money either. It’s enough for me if the small and medium-sized clan members are doing well.”

“Sca…!”

Granny’s eyes turned red.

Jung Yushin opened his mouth.

“Granny, I have a favor to ask.”

“Just tell me!”

“In a little while, the Explorer Association will formally hold a clan meeting.”

“I know.”

“Find out the names, characteristics, engravings, and hidden rumors of all the clan leaders attending this time. If possible, organize it into a document.”

Granny bowed her head without even asking why.

“I understand. Just leave it to me.”

Jung Yushin put his hand into the counter. He was thinking of using the 300 gold coins he received from Deputy Director Nellia this time.

“Granny, you’ll need seed money, right?”

“Ah, no! It’s alright! I’ll find out as quickly as possible!”

Granny waved her hand in refusal and quickly ran out of the inn.

‘Did you see her eyes turning red? Is she emotional? She’s a weak-hearted human.’

Beatrice muttered in a weak voice.

“Even though she looks like that, she was the representative of the former small and medium-sized clan alliance.”

Beatrice clicked her tongue as if she was dumbfounded.

‘Tsk. It’s fortunate that you became the leader.’

Jung Yushin chuckled at Beatrice’s response.

There’s another person with a lot of water around.

‘What?’

“I didn’t say anything.”

* * *

Late at night.

Granny came with documents.

“You’ve worked hard. You’re quite fast.”

When Jung Yushin praised her, Granny grinned.

“It was easy to organize the information because they are already famous people. Ah! And several small and medium-sized clans are wanting to join, but what should we do?”

“Tell them to come in. Is there a clan I know, perhaps?”

“It’s the Soft and Fluffy Clan. They are hoping to formally join the clan alliance with this opportunity.”

Soft and Fluffy.

“The Soft and Fluffy Clan leader will have to have a separate interview with me. Set a date.”

“I understand.”

After Granny left, Jung Yushin scanned through the clan leaders’ personal details.

While he was reading through the mountain of documents, Karin and Ingrid returned.

Jung Yushin got up from his seat and greeted them.

“Welcome back.”

“Hmm.”

Ingrid couldn’t make eye contact with Jung Yushin properly and went up to the second floor as if fleeing.

Karin came up with a sorry face and said.

“Sca, the upcoming summit is getting closer, so I think we need to get the guards a little closer. If it’s okay, would it be alright for a few more people to stay at the inn?”

“Make yourselves comfortable.”

“Th, thank you.”

Karin’s face flushed red.

Her heart fluttered when she saw Sca, who seemed somehow more reliable. Then, she became even more embarrassed when she remembered the passionate love they shared a few nights ago.

“I’ll, I’ll prepare dinner.”

“Thank you.”

Karin quickly went into the kitchen, and Jung Yushin sat at the counter and continued to scan through the documents.

At that moment.

Ingrid, who had changed into comfortable clothes, came down the stairs and approached the counter.

The sound of clattering dishes flowed from the kitchen.

“Sca, what are you looking at?”

“It’s the personal details of the large clan leaders. I heard that a regular meeting will be held at this Explorer meeting, so I was reading it in case it would be good to know their faces in advance.”

“Is that so.”

“…”

An awkward silence flowed between the two.

Ingrid carefully sat opposite Jung Yushin.

Jung Yushin wondered how to start the conversation.

“Um… Ingrid?”

Ingrid handed over a black coat.

“It was torn in the last fight with Rex, wasn’t it? I prepared a new one. I think it’ll be sturdy since I ordered it with extra care this time.”

Ingrid gave him an unexpected gift.

A gift to someone she wouldn’t mind killing.

Jung Yushin got up from his seat, received the coat, and bowed deeply.

“Ingrid, I’m sorry.”

“…”

“I had lustful thoughts and harassed you. I’ll accept any punishment.”

Ingrid’s face turned red.

“It’s alright. Don’t worry about it. I know it’s difficult to control Yin energy since you received the Half Incubus engraving.”

“I see.”

Only then did Ingrid look at Jung Yushin’s face.

His eyes, which had lost their Yin energy, were deep and serene.

Moreover, he exuded a strong atmosphere.

It felt like just the other day she saw him as a green warrior.

To think he would become this strong.

Her heart fluttered anew.

Ingrid cleared her throat and got up from her seat.

“Ahem! Would it be alright for a few of my guards to stay at the inn?”

“Yes. As many as you want.”

“Thank you.”

Ingrid smiled slightly.

Seeing that, Beatrice muttered in an unbelievable tone.

‘N, no way? Why are Ingrid’s eyes like that? Megumi?’

Jung Yushin tapped the one-edged sword, who was spouting nonsense, with his hand to shut her up.

* * *

The next morning.

Jung Yushin headed to the Explorer Headquarters.

The wind was cold. It felt like winter was approaching.

As the hem of Jung Yushin’s long coat fluttered in the wind, the appearance of Beatrice hanging on his waist briefly revealed itself.

As soon as he entered the Explorer Headquarters, the receptionist who had been waiting guided Jung Yushin to the meeting place.

He went up the stairs and entered a large room.

A place that looked antique at a glance.

A large round table was placed in the center, and people of various races were seated.

As expected of the heads of large clans, they all exuded a force that was unmatched.

He would have been nervous before, but not now.

In the middle, Nellia had a tired expression on her face, but she managed to smile when she saw Jung Yushin.

Jung Yushin looked around and went to sit in an empty seat.

The gazes of the people around him were focused on Jung Yushin.

Across from him sat a large human man, glaring at Jung Yushin with fiery eyes.

He knew who it was.

A short, buzz-cut hairstyle.

Middle-aged.

His name was Victor.

He was the head of the clan to which Mitsu, the guy who caused a big accident in the East District sewer exploration this time, belonged.

The clan name was Blue Storm.

It was a childish name, but it was a large clan that was popular because it provided solid support to its talented members.

Nellia looked around and opened her mouth.

“Sca has arrived as well. Then let’s start the meeting.”

“Isn’t there something we have to talk about before that?”

Blue Storm Clan leader Victor said, glaring at Jung Yushin.

“Victor, we have a meeting about countermeasures against the outer god’s faction right now.”

Victor raised his hand to cut off Deputy Director Nellia’s words.

“Wait a minute. We have to address this first. Sca, I’ve heard a lot about you.”

The eyes of several clan leaders shone unusually.

Jung Yushin crossed his arms and leaned back leisurely in his chair.

“…”

Victor, seeing that Jung Yushin didn’t say a word, opened his mouth again.

“I heard you easily killed the outer god’s changeling faction? That’s amazing.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Jung Yushin tilted his head from side to side and replied briefly.

“But we have some doubts.”

“…”

“Why didn’t you help sooner? With your skills, you could have caught and killed that faction. And why did Vlad and the explorers in the East District show up so late?”

“Victor!”

Nellia frowned and raised her voice.

The Explorer Association headquarters was in an uproar because of this incident.

It was because many talented young clan members had died in the East District.

The clans that couldn’t even find the bodies gnashed their teeth and denounced the Explorer Association’s faults.

Claiming that they failed to control the requesters, they demanded huge compensation and the right to dispose of not only the explorers in charge of the requests but also the explorers who were watching, as well as various rights and interests.

Now Victor was subtly pushing Jung Yushin into a position of responsibility.

If you have power, you have that much responsibility. The explorer party is one body, so if someone failed to control it, shouldn’t you have stepped up and done something? That was the question.

A completely absurd argument.

“…”

Jung Yushin closed his mouth and looked around. Several clan leaders nodded, agreeing with Victor’s words.

Extreme arrogance was felt in his tone.

It was clear that he had obtained a good engraving and his pride was soaring.

He was practically an otherworlder of high status.

“Answer me.”

Victor urged him to answer.

Jung Yushin swept back his hair and opened his mouth.

“Victor.”

“Do you think I’m a joke? Suddenly speaking informally…!”

“You cheeky bastard. Shut your mouth.”

Unheard-of abuse came out of Jung Yushin’s mouth.

The surroundings became silent in an instant.

“…”

Everyone sitting at the round table stared at Jung Yushin with wide eyes.