episode_0025

Two weeks passed.

Jeong Yushin’s daily life consisted of endless training.

He woke up at dawn, loosened his body, and racked his brains, squeezing out mana to skillfully unfold the engraving technique.

From morning to lunch, he learned to read and write at the temple.

From lunch to night, he toiled harshly at the swordsmanship guild.

His body, enhanced by leveling up, was quickly adapting to the grueling training.

It was as if he had significantly raised the floor of his physical abilities.

It was more appropriate to see it as a body injected with anabolic steroids and growth hormones at doses dozens of times higher than the proper amount.

Any excess fat had already been shed while working at the monster dismantling site.

He built muscle at the swordsmanship guild.

He was astonished by the explosively growing strength and stamina that changed every day, and he inwardly clicked his tongue.

And he enjoyed it.

‘There was a reason why people get addicted to working out.’

After finishing his dawn training, he sat on the inn table and admired his forearm. Solid muscles and thick blood vessels stood out.

“Is this my forearm?”

It was like the forearm of a burly “golden boy” that appears in NTR genre content.

With this arm, he could grab Mion’s neck from behind and grope her breasts.

Just as he was about to fall into strange delusions, he slapped himself across the cheek.

Smack!

“Get a grip. This is not the time for this.”

He rubbed his tingling cheek and repeated to himself.

Creak.

The inn door opened, and a beastman entered. Then, all eyes in the inn were focused on that beastman.

The murmuring conversations stopped, and a strange silence filled the inn.

Jeong Yushin also snapped out of it and turned his head to look at the beastman.

Karin.

The only daughter of the beastman union representative and the benefactor who saved his life.

Karin and Jeong Yushin’s eyes met.

“Hello.”

He only slightly bowed his head in greeting. Although he had suffered the humiliation of groveling and begging for his life, he had still received the grace of being saved.

Karin’s red tail swayed gently.

Her white shirt clearly revealed a black lace bra, and the tight brown leather pants showed off her sturdy thighs and plump buttocks without reservation.

Behind her waist, two daggers were crossed, with only the handles protruding sharply.

Karin approached and plopped down on the chair opposite Jeong Yushin.

“Darmong. Give me food.”

“Yes. Miss.”

Perhaps because she was a high-ranking member of the beastman union, Darmong also showed respect.

Darmong politely bowed and went into the kitchen to bring food, placing it on the table.

It was a dish of sausages cut into large pieces, stir-fried with potatoes and cabbage. Grilled rye bread and a cream similar to kaymak were also served.

“Let’s eat and talk.”

“Yes.”

The two were absorbed in their meal for a while. Karin was hungry, as she quickly disposed of the food in an orderly manner. Not wanting to be outdone, Jeong Yushin also moved his fork and spoon quickly.

“Whew. That was good. Is it hot? Is it summer now?”

Karin said, fanning herself.

The front of her shirt was wet with sweat, revealing all the embroidery of her black lace bra.

“I heard that the slave hunter group sent assassins?”

A question that came right to the point.

“Yes. But is it okay to talk about this in a crowded place?”

“It’s a story meant to be heard.”

Karin looked around.

People who met Karin’s eyes flinched and lowered their heads, or some got up from their seats and hurriedly left the inn.

“I’m sorry. It’s my fault that the slave hunters attacked you.”

Karin apologized.

“Why is it Karin-nim’s responsibility?”

“Because I beat up a lot of those guys. I guess they were very angry. Seeing that they attacked you to deliver a message.”

“What message are you talking about?”

“A message that we are watching. They can’t touch me, so they touched you, whom I saved.”

“Is there a reason to ambush me specifically? There must have been many other people.”

“You’re a Barbaroi with no connections and no backing.”

Jeong Yushin’s expression crumpled. It was true, so he couldn’t argue. He couldn’t mention Seemus’s name either. Luke would come to kill him right away.

“I understand. I’ve received your apology and know the details of the attack, so that’s a relief. Then I’ll be on my way.”

“The story isn’t over.”

Jeong Yushin returned to his seat.

“What is it?”

“Come under me.”

Jeong Yushin and Karin’s eyes met.

When Karin straightened her back, her large breasts protruded prominently. Jeong Yushin’s mouth opened slightly.

“Serve me.”

“…What do you want me to serve?”

“Various things. I’ll give you a salary too. 50 silver coins a month.”

Whether it was an exceptional offer or not, gasps of surprise were heard from all over the inn.

Isn’t it a good offer? He was almost out of money anyway.

“There are two conditions. Don’t enter the labyrinth. Stay by my side.”

At the conditions Karin presented, Jeong Yushin remained silent and stared at the empty bowl on the table.

After a while.

Jeong Yushin raised his head.

Karin’s body stiffened.

This was not the man who had bowed his head and begged for his life in front of her.

It was difficult to adapt to his completely changed appearance.

Especially this man’s eyes.

Jeong Yushin’s eyes, filled with a strong will, stamped Karin’s heart like a brand.

“Impossible.”

A lowered voice drilled into her ear. Karin’s fine hairs stood on end.

“Why? Wasn’t it a good offer? There’s no need to go to the dangerous labyrinth and suffer.”

“I need an engraving.”

“What kind of engraving?”

The more they exchanged questions and answers, the more Karin felt like she was being sucked into quicksand.

“That is difficult to reveal.”

A firm refusal.

A blood vessel slightly bulged on Karin’s forehead.

“Is that so? If you don’t want to talk, then don’t. It must be a trivial engraving anyway. And why are you speaking informally?”

“I’m sorry.”

Jeong Yushin immediately shrunk back.

Seeing that, Karin felt even more annoyed.

“Fine. Get lost.”

“Yes.”

Jeong Yushin immediately got up from his seat and went outside the inn.

Karin bit her lip tightly. Feeling the gazes around her, she glared around the inn and growled.

“What are you looking at? Is it a spectacle? If you’ve finished eating, get out!”

People hurriedly got up from their seats and left the inn like a swarm of flies scattering.

“Randolph!”

Karin shouted. A giant wolf beastman entered from outside the inn and prostrated himself.

“Yes.”

“Send the kids to watch him.”

“Who are you referring to?”

“The black-haired Barbaroi who just left.”

Randolph recalled a memory from a few months ago.

The man he had grabbed by the head and slammed into the ground.

He seemed weak and insignificant, but his master seemed interested in him now.

‘She’s not used to being refused. My master.’

Randolph tasted a bitter feeling and lowered his head even further, saying.

“Is it really necessary to watch him?”

“I saved him. It’s my achievement. No matter how much the slave hunter bastards fly and crawl, I can’t allow them to tarnish my work. I don’t care how he dies, but make sure he doesn’t die at the hands of the slave hunter bastards.”

“Yes.”

Randolph went outside the inn, and Karin was left alone, sitting on the chair.

“Darmong.”

“Yes. Karin-nim.”

“Where did that Barbaroi go?”

“He went to the Great Earth Mother’s temple.”

“Why?”

“He went to learn to read.”

Karin scoffed.

“Is he really a trustworthy fellow?”

“He hasn’t caused any trouble.”

“Did you hear anything? What kind of engraving is that Barbaroi looking for?”

“I don’t know. He hasn’t said anything.”

“What does that Barbaroi even want?”

“He seems to be short on money.”

“Is that so? I understand. I’ll come again later. Tell that Barbaroi.”

Karin put a pouch of silver coins on the counter and left.

Darmong sighed.

As a member of the beastman union, he couldn’t refuse Karin’s questions and requests. Still, he sided with Scar as much as possible.

“Oh, my head.”

Darmong’s lament echoed through the empty inn.

* * *

Late at night, Darmong sat at the counter with his arms crossed.

“It’s about time he came.”

Clatter!

“I’m here.”

The inn door opened, and Jeong Yushin entered.

He had toiled so harshly at the swordsmanship guild that his whole body was covered in dust and sweat.

“Did you come? There’s a letter.”

“Is it for me?”

“Yes.”

Jeong Yushin strode over, tore open the seal of the letter, and examined the contents.

“Hmm.”

Jeong Yushin had a serious expression on his face.

“Did something big happen?”

“No.”

Jeong Yushin answered Darmong’s question with a sigh.

“Then?”

“I can’t read it. It’s too difficult. Please read it for me.”

Jeong Yushin held out the letter.

Darmong took the letter and calmly read it.

“They’re disbanding the party. Dell is retiring. Einhofer has gotten a job at the smithy, and Carlton has been appointed as a scribe in the magic department at the Second Academy of the Lionel Kingdom. The main reason is that they can no longer maintain the party due to Dito’s betrayal.”

Jeong Yushin lost his strength and slumped down.

‘Is that so? Are they giving up and going their separate ways to find their own lives?’

Carlton’s figure, looking up at the stars that dawn, pricked his heart.

He swallowed his bitter feelings. He couldn’t give up. Because he had nowhere to return to.

He straightened his back and corrected his posture.

He didn’t have the luxury to be caught up in emotions. There were more urgent matters than that.

‘I need to make money.’

Two weeks had passed. He would have to pay the rent soon, and he had to get equipment. He also had to find a party and buy exploration supplies for the labyrinth.

‘That damn money.’

He couldn’t help but sigh. His posture collapsed.

It was a fantasy world where giant bears walked on two feet and even talked, but the fear of money was as real as it was in his original world.

‘Life must be similar everywhere.’

Darmong stroked his chin as he looked at the seemingly depressed Jeong Yushin.

“Scar, there’s a job. Would you like to try it?”

“What is it?”

Darmong couldn’t help but give a bitter smile as he saw Jeong Yushin’s eyes light up.

‘I’m sorry.’

Darmong said inwardly, unable to bring himself to say it out loud.

“Karin-nim wants to hire you.”

Jeong Yushin frowned.

“Isn’t that old news? I said I wouldn’t.”

“It’s a different story. She said she’ll stop by tomorrow evening, so how about talking to her for a bit?”

“Still…”

Thump!

Darmong placed a leather pouch on the counter. The clinking sound indicated that it was definitely coins.

Jeong Yushin’s eyes wavered.

“50 silver coins. She said it’s an advance payment.”

“Keuh! I understand. I’ll listen.”

Jeong Yushin gritted his teeth as if he was resentful, but his eyes were fixed on the pouch of silver coins and wouldn’t leave.

Darmong took out one silver coin from the pouch and flicked it at Jeong Yushin.

“You’re meeting tomorrow evening, so go to the bathhouse and wash up.”

“I understand. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Okay.”

* * *

The next day, after finishing all his tasks, he stopped by the public bathhouse in the southern district.

Jeong Yushin was a sorry sight, having toiled enthusiastically at the swordsmanship guild.

The bathhouse owner frowned and said.

“Don’t poke if you see a hole.”

“I’m not that kind of person.”

“Don’t say things like, ‘I couldn’t help it because he exposed the hole and seduced me’ after sticking it into the hole of someone who’s bending over. A person who’s bending over is just a person who’s bending over.”

Those crazy Barbaroi bastards.

He was sick and tired of these crazy bastards.

“I’m not that kind of person. I like women.”

“I hope that feeling doesn’t change. I’m letting you in because business is tough these days. Be careful.”

The bathhouse owner didn’t even listen to Jeong Yushin’s words.

‘What the hell are those Barbaroi bastards doing somewhere?’

His animosity towards the Barbaroi, whom he had never even seen, grew rapidly.

He passed the counter, took off his clothes in the locker room, and entered the bathhouse, where steam was thickly laid out.

People were milling about naked.

A man with tattoos all over his body swaggered and bumped into Jeong Yushin.

“Hey, which bastard?!”

The man scanned Jeong Yushin up and down, then fixed his gaze on one spot.

“I’m sorry.”

“Crazy. He’s still young, but this monstrous…”

The man looked up at Jeong Yushin’s face in disbelief, then looked down at his lower body again.

“What kind of engraving is it? A dick engraving?”

The man asked.

‘This bastard.’

Jeong Yushin’s expression contorted.

“It’s not an engraving. It’s embarrassing, so let’s stop looking.”

“Oh? Oh, sorry.”

The man scratched his head embarrassedly and hurriedly walked off somewhere.

Seeing him being spoken to in the bathhouse, he seemed like a fresh newbie who hadn’t heard of the Barbaroi’s infamy yet.

Standing still and looking around, he saw that people’s actions were similar.

They scooped water from a large wooden tub with a gourd and washed their bodies, then entered the bath.

Once inside the bath, they relaxed or chatted with people and spent time before leaving the bathhouse.

Looking closely, there were also scrubbers and a sauna.

‘There aren’t any hairy beastmen.’

He secretly thought it was a relief and approached a large wooden tub.

People were scooping water from the wooden tub and pouring it on their heads and bodies.

Jeong Yushin did the same as the people around him.

He scooped water from the wooden tub and poured it on his body.

He shivered at the sensation of warm water flowing down his body.

He had only been wiping his body with a wet towel every day, so he was deeply moved by taking a proper bath.

“Ah. Sex.”

The people around him gasped and stepped back.

Some covered their buttocks and gave wary glances.

He didn’t care. This is sex.

He washed away sweat and dirt and entered the bath.

As he closed his eyes while submerged in the hot water, he heard the sound of people chattering.

“Did you hear?”

“About what?”

“About what happened in the labyrinth.”

“Are you talking about the disappearance of many novice explorers? I already know that.”

“That’s not all. The return of the intermediate explorers who went in this time is also delayed.”

“Isn’t that common? It doesn’t seem like particularly surprising news.”

“A few days ago, a summons order was issued to the heads of all explorer branches in the city. It’s usually not a serious matter.”

“…..”

“The movements of the labyrinth city knights are also unusual. Listen to me. It’s not a good idea to go into the labyrinth right now.”

“Damn it. It’s hard enough to make a living, but do I have to go outside the city to earn money? Tsk.”

“It’s not bad to leave for a while and come back.”

“It’s easy to say. My whole family is here…”

The men chattered about various other things, but Jeong Yushin didn’t hear them.

‘Something’s up.’

Something was happening in the labyrinth.

Jeong Yushin crossed his arms and looked at the ceiling.

Information that novice explorers could not access was being exchanged at a high level.

At that fact, Jeong Yushin felt an intense hunger.