episode_0329

“…”

The audience chamber was enveloped in silence.

Everyone stared at Jeong Yushin with their mouths agape.

Leaving aside the impudence of interfering in the kingdom’s affairs.

‘He says they’ll compete with strength over who’s more handsome?!’

Is that even a reasonable thing to say?

At that moment.

The retired head of the family slowly rose from his seat.

“Next Chieftain Sca, I’ve heard many rumors.”

He didn’t resemble the old man who was so flustered in front of the Queen.

Since they were also from a different race and he was the ‘next’ chieftain, he didn’t seem to have any intention of showing as much respect as to a chieftain.

“My son made a mistake with you because he didn’t know much about the Labyrinth City. I ask for your understanding.”

‘Understanding?’

It sounded like he was saying he was sorry for beating him with facts.

This is infuriating.

“Forget it. Let’s have a go at who’s more handsome.”

“Sca, have you forgotten your mission?”

Selenis approached from the side and whispered urgently.

Instead of answering, Jeong Yushin glanced down at Ellasein.

Ellasein was sitting on the throne with a look of contemplation on her face. He needed to buy her time.

The head of the family stepped forward.

“Haha. If a duel will ease your mind, I’ll fight you anytime. Joffrey?”

“Ah, Father?”

“You made a slip of the tongue, so you take responsibility.”

At the stern tone, Joffrey nodded.

“I understand.”

Jeong Yushin crossed his arms and tilted his chin.

“The duel will be tomorrow evening, in the central plaza.”

“I understand. Your Majesty, is that alright with you?”

Ellasein looked up at Jeong Yushin without answering.

‘What are you thinking?’

‘Trust me.’

Their eyes met for a moment.

After a while.

Ellasein sighed deeply.

“Hoo. I grant permission. The duel is tomorrow evening. In the central plaza.”

“I will step down first.”

Joffrey and the head of the family withdrew.

Thud!!!

The door closed.

Ellasein opened her mouth.

“Sca, if you’re stepping forward because of how I feel…”

“No. I just didn’t like the way he looked. Besides, didn’t he say I was ugly?!”

“…”

The audience chamber became quiet.

Selenis opened her mouth instead.

“It’s true that you have a face that is comparable to our race, but to proudly say that out loud… How should I put it? It’s like a handsome playboy thug?”

A handsome playboy?

“Captain, is that a compliment?”

“…”

At Jeong Yushin’s question, Selenis blushed and closed her mouth.

Ellasein wore a worried expression.

“Sca, if you need any help…”

Jeong Yushin shook his head.

“I’ll take care of it myself.”

* * *

A luxurious accommodation close to the central plaza.

Two Elf men faced each other in the room.

“Joffrey, this is a fight that you have to lose.”

“Pardon?!”

Joffrey’s eyes widened at the head of the family’s words.

He has to lose when he should be winning?

He couldn’t understand what he was saying.

“You fool, the fight you win is the fight where you get broken and shattered.”

“Ah, Father, I don’t understand.”

Retired head of the family, Andrei, couldn’t help but sigh.

“I just let you go even when you made a mess of the family and left. Why? Because I thought that someday, after some time, you would realize something and come back.”

“…”

“But how could you not come until Ellasein nominates a successor?!”

“Yes?”

Retired head of the family Andrei’s face crumpled.

“Were you really going to end it like that? Didn’t you have any awareness of being a Long-lived race?! You should have had enough time to untangle the situation even if things went wrong.”

“Th, that’s…”

“You frustrating fellow!”

Andrei was seething inside.

“What will happen to you when Ellasein retires like this? Were you really going to be eternally preserved in the records storage as a good-for-nothing delinquent from the Underwood family who rejected the queen and ran away?!”

“…”

“Even if the start is the worst, you have to finish it well. Did you really think you could live freely after dumping crap on our family?”

Joffrey hung his head.

Andrei looked down at the back of his son’s head.

Joffrey.

The frustrating and dull fourth kid. There were times when he considered killing him with his own hands.

Actually, he didn’t want to do this.

He thought Ellasein would show her flaws if he waited a little longer. Because an eternal reign doesn’t exist in this world.

But Ellasein was too good at politics.

She treated each family fairly without favoring any one in particular.

And she solved difficult national issues wisely.

‘This is truly a difficult situation.’

How could she have made it so that even the high-ranking families didn’t have any complaints until now?

Even if they tried to form an anti-Ellasein alliance by gathering families with lingering feelings for the Queen, there were no such families.

Rather, recently, they had been showing movements to push out the Underwood family by working together.

It was the main reason why the retired himself had brought back his runaway son.

Ellasein was a capable yet cruel woman from beginning to end.

But.

‘I saw one opening.’

Andrei’s eyes gleamed.

Ellasein hasn’t married until now.

That means that she still has a wound in her heart.

People are simple beings.

If a wound festers, it becomes hatred.

Hatred stimulates revenge.

It doesn’t matter what Ellasein’s intentions are in accepting Joffrey.

She can turn him into a cripple, she can torture him.

The plan will succeed as long as he’s by her side.

If the Queen accepts Joffrey again.

The Underwood family will be a little more free from the pressure of other high-ranking families.

Whether Ellasein intends it or not, accepting Joffrey will be a political message to other families.

A message to stop the covert checks on the Underwood family!

Even if she accepts Joffrey out of the blue, other families will have no reason to doubt it. Because Ellasein has been pursuing the unification of the Elves from the beginning.

Therefore, Joffrey is a sacrifice.

A burnt offering that must fully receive the Queen’s wrath and burn to death in order to prevent the family’s decline.

“Joffrey, let me say again, what you have to do is lose honorably.”

“Can’t I win? I’m still a veteran adventurer.”

“Don’t be complacent just because you’ve explored a few 10-story labyrinths and swung your sword in the forest for a few years. This Great Labyrinth is on a different level.”

“…”

Joffrey closed his mouth. He was clearly dissatisfied.

“Son, don’t think about anything else. Fight Sca honorably like a warrior and lose. And sincerely apologize to Ellasein. Then Ellasein’s heart might be relieved a little.”

“…I understand.”

“Let me tell you one more time. Never think about fighting Sca and winning.”

“Yes.”

Andrei finished speaking and left the room.

Joffrey, left alone, was lost in thought.

Ellasein, whom he saw after a long time.

Quite some time had passed, but her haughty and arrogant face remained the same.

Unlike the slender elf, her vulgar body was still the same.

He used to hate her frivolous figure, but it’s different now. Because he’s tasted women’s bodies while wandering around here and there after leaving the Elf Kingdom.

‘If only her personality was a little more gentle, I could pin her down and violate her once or twice.’

In fact, it’s not too late even now.

Why?

Because Ellasein hasn’t married.

How little love has she received to have a burly Barbarian by her side?

Her mind must be messed up.

If he does well in the duel with that Barbarian guy, he’ll be able to enter the guard like his father said.

Spend some time in the guard and approach Ellasein.

“Hoo.”

As he thought about Ellasein’s vulgar body, his penis naturally grew stronger.

Joffrey’s eyes gleamed.

‘I’m just going to have to win this duel.’

He has enough potential.

He’s undergone adaptation to mana twenty times.

He’s also learned the Underwood family’s excellent swordsmanship, even if it’s not as good as the Startree family’s swordsmanship.

Plus, he knows the basic magic of the Elemental School.

No matter how great Sca’s achievements are, he’s still low level.

Wouldn’t he be able to see a chance of winning if he overpowers him with his size?

Joffrey smiled sinisterly as he thought of Ellasein’s vulgar body.

* * *

“That’s the conversation between Joffrey and the retired head of the family.”

Dietrich finished speaking, looking at Jeong Yushin.

Jeong Yushin scratched his head.

He wondered why he had come to the inner castle in the middle of the night.

Was it to tell him the conversation between the two Elves?

“Dietrich, how did you hear that?”

“The room was right next to mine. I was reading a book with the window slightly open because the weather was cool, and I overheard it.”

‘This is absurd.’

Jeong Yushin organized his thoughts.

The retired head of the family set the stage using his son. A situation where Joffrey benefits from losing honorably.

‘I can’t stand this.’

After thinking for a moment, Jeong Yushin whispered something in Dietrich’s ear.

Dietrich listened to Jeong Yushin’s words and widened his eyes.

“Pardon?! Ah, no. Isn’t that a bit too much?”

“And get me an arming sword. Something easy to use and throw away.”

“A, I understand.”

Dietrich left the inner castle and shivered slightly.

‘He’s really a terrifying person.’

To come up with such a terrible plan in such a short amount of time.

Dietrich shook his head and quickly moved his feet.

The night was short, and there was much to do.

That’s how the day passed.

The day of the duel arrived.

Evening, with the sun setting.

A huge crowd gathered in the central plaza.

Street vendors started selling not only beer and rice wine, but also various kinds of food.

“Sca is dueling again this time?”

“That’s what I heard, and honestly, I’m curious about how much he’s grown.”

Explorers tore at chicken skewers and talked to each other.

“Who’s the opponent?”

“They say it’s from the Juprit or Zoprin Elf kingdom, a son of a high-ranking noble. An adventurer, they say?”

“An adventurer?”

Another explorer chimed in.

“You know, those guys who are active in areas other than the Great Labyrinth?”

A middle-aged explorer grumbled.

“I don’t like those slick guys.”

A cat beastkin nodded in agreement.

“That’s right. They go into some shitty 5-story rural dungeon and come out bragging about how much experience they have, didn’t they?”

A young explorer frowned and opened his mouth.

“I know. I ran into him at an auction house last time, and he laughed at me for struggling against a hobgoblin on the 3rd floor. He doesn’t know anything about the ‘rules’.”

“This is something. I can’t help but root for Sca.”

“But why are they dueling all of a sudden?”

The young explorer stepped forward again.

“That Elf, Jupal or whatever, insulted Sca by saying he was ugly.”

“···So?”

“So he said let’s compete with strength over who’s more handsome, and the duel was set up.”

“…”

The details of the duel were so absurd that they were speechless.

No wonder there was no tension, and the atmosphere was almost like a festival.

“They’re out!!!”

Someone shouted.

The inner castle opened, and Ellasein, the guard, and Sca walked out.

Wearing a white lion mantle over his antique light armor. He looked like a legendary warrior from ancient times.

“Did that Zopri Elf have something wrong with his eyes?”

Someone muttered for a moment.

Two Elves appeared through the crowd.

The old Elf was wearing an unarmored robe.

The young Elf was wearing light armor similar to Sca’s and was equipped with a longsword.

Ellasein went up and sat on a high chair.

“Quiet!!! Duelists, come forward.”

Following Ellasein’s command, Jeong Yushin and Joffrey walked to the center of the plaza.

“He looks like an Elf, but, well… I don’t think he’s good looking enough to criticize Sca’s face.”

“I agree.”

People began to whisper as they looked at Joffrey’s appearance.

“T, the winner of this duel will be acknowledged as being more handsome than the opponent. I, I will omit the detailed explanation for security reasons, so I ask for your understanding.”

Ellasein’s face turned slightly red. The details of the duel were so absurd that she unknowingly stammered.

The mouths of the numerous crowds dropped open.

“No way. Was it real!”

“Huh. They’re not dueling to see who’s stronger, they’re dueling to determine who’s more handsome? What is this…”

People began to stir.

“It is okay to inflict injuries, but murder is not allowed. Begin the duel.”

As soon as Ellasein’s concise declaration ended.

A few magicians came out and cast a semi-transparent barrier magic, and the people who came to their senses cheered.

“Waaaaaah!!!”

Whatever the details of the duel were, a long time since a joyful spectacle had appeared in the stagnant Labyrinth City. In particular, many people were curious about how strong Sca had become.

Joffrey held his longsword and took a stance.

On the other hand, Sca was standing crookedly with only an arming sword.

“Sca, I heard you use a greatsword.”

“Did you already investigate me? Were you scared?”

“···Do you think I’m a joke? Stand properly!!!”

Joffrey shouted, unable to say anything.

At that moment, Jeong Yushin’s hand flashed.

[Sacred Weapon]

Granting Attribute.

Gale Sword.

A golden single-edged sword imbued with the attribute of being able to move quickly when held and swung gleamed.

Bang!!!

With the sound of the air exploding.

Jeong Yushin’s figure grew larger in an instant.

Joffrey widened his eyes.

‘Crazy!’

An incredible speed. He missed his movements for a moment.

‘But this much!’

Joffrey gritted his teeth and quickly swung his longsword.

A downward slash from top to bottom. It accurately targeted Jeong Yushin’s neck.

However.

Jeong Yushin spun around like a top and lifted his sword upwards.

Claaaaaaang!!!

Sparks flew as the longsword and arming sword collided.

Joffrey’s arm flicked into the air.

‘Th… This is a parry?’

“Kuhhhh!!!”

Joffrey gritted his teeth and swung his sword down again.

But Jeong Yushin dodged to the side to avoid the slash and thrust his sword toward Joffrey’s face.

Joffrey was horrified and turned his head.

Splat!!!

A cool blade grazed Joffrey’s cheek.

Hot blood flowed down his cheek.

Joffrey’s face contorted like a demon.

“You bastard!!!”

How dare he scratch his face?!

The very moment he was about to swing his longsword again in anger.

His body turned cold, and his stomach twisted.

Gurgle.

Joffrey’s eyes widened as his abdomen ached as if his intestines were being squeezed.

“Huh?!”

Jeong Yushin smiled at the sight.

Joffrey looked at Jeong Yushin’s sword with trembling eyes.

The sword blade was strangely blue.

“Co, Could it be poison?!”

“No. It’s diarrhea medicine.”

“…!”

“You wanted to win nicely? That won’t do. You have to lose miserably in front of people while shitting your pants.”

“Huckkkk!!!”

Where did the story leak out from?

No. That’s not important.

Joffrey didn’t even have the leeway to pay attention to the outside.

Gurgle!

He felt something more than a twisting in his stomach, something rushing towards his anus.

Jeong Yushin once again swung his arming sword and approached Joffrey.

Claaaaaaang!!!

The two men entered a contest of strength.

Joffrey shouted urgently.

“Wh, What’s the reason for going this far?!”

Jeong Yushin whispered.

“One handsome person is enough in the Labyrinth City, right?”

Joffrey’s eyes trembled.

He finally realized who he was dealing with.

‘This Barbarian.’

He’s completely insane.

Jeong Yushin’s smile deepened.

“Squeeze the strength into your butt.”