episode_0028

Karin and Jeong Yusin entered the inn, passing through the yard.

The gazes of the explorers sitting in the inn briefly converged and then scattered.

Perhaps because the labyrinth closure order was prolonged, the number of people gathering was gradually increasing with each passing day. There were more unfamiliar faces.

Karin sat at a table near the inn counter and pointed to the opposite side with her finger.

“Sit here.”

“Yes.”

Jeong Yusin sat down. After a while, Darmong brought breakfast.

The menu was simple: sandwiches and onion soup.

But it wasn’t simple.

Darmong’s special sandwich: thinly sliced roast beef, made by tying up and grilling beef with string, combined with cheese and sauce, crammed to the limit between sourdough bread.

Onion soup: onions caramelized to perfection by being stir-fried on a pan for a long time, then simmered for a long time with meat broth, and topped with cheese as a finishing touch.

It was perfect home cooking itself, requiring time and effort. It was no wonder people were flocking to it.

“It’s like home-cooked food.”

“It tastes like the onion soup my mother used to make often!”

“The innkeeper’s skills are improving day by day.”

People were eating the food while admiring it.

A peaceful breakfast.

Then, an anomaly occurred.

Clatter.

The table shook.

In an instant, silence filled the inn.

The eyes of a man and a woman eating a meal met.

Rumble.

It wasn’t just the table that was shaking.

Rumble.

The wooden pillars trembled, and the floor began to vibrate.

The entire inn started to shake.

“Wh..what is this!!”

“I..Innkeeper!!”

People began to buzz. Several people quickly dashed out of the inn.

Rumble.

The vibration was getting stronger and stronger. People who stood up staggered.

“L..Let’s get out of here!!”

“Hide under the table!”

People were at a loss what to do in the face of the sudden earthquake.

Someone grabbed Jeong Yusin’s arm tightly.

It was Karin.

“Under the table.”

Jeong Yusin’s eyes widened.

As if sucked in by Karin’s rough hand, Jeong Yusin’s body went under the table.

‘She’s stronger than me?’

He was dumbfounded by Karin’s strong arm strength more than the sudden earthquake. Karin’s body was closely pressed against him, and her soft breasts gently bumped against Jeong Yusin’s chest, but he couldn’t pay attention to it.

The earthquake was getting worse. Bottles and plates fell to the floor and shattered, and the wooden pillars and beams let out grotesque screams.

‘Isn’t the inn going to collapse like this?’

Just when his anxiety reached its peak,

The earthquake stopped.

It was an earthquake that came and went suddenly. People were still sitting under the tables, dazed.

“Darmong!”

Jeong Yusin was the first to crawl out from under the table and approached the counter. Darmong was inside the kitchen.

He was once a high-ranking explorer, so there was no great concern, but he thought it was strange that there was no news.

“Scar, are you okay?”

Darmong came out of the kitchen covered in ash.

Darmong’s entire body was scorched, and his fur was matted.

It seemed that he had been running around trying to put out the fire so that the kitchen fire would not spread, even during the earthquake.

Darmong sat down on the counter chair with a tired expression and said.

“Ms. Karin, are you hurt anywhere?”

“I’m fine.”

Karin, who had crawled out from under the table, answered.

Only then did people crawl out from under the tables, one or two at a time.

“An earthquake. What’s going on?”

“I’ve never experienced anything like this in my life…”

The people who had regained their senses began to buzz among themselves.

Karin approached Darmong and handed him a silver coin.

“Darmong, I’ll go first. It was delicious.”

“Yes. Ms. Karin. Please be careful.”

“Just a moment.”

Jeong Yusin grabbed Karin, who was about to leave in a hurry.

“Why?”

“Here. You have soup on your clothes.”

Jeong Yusin handed her a towel. Karin lowered her head and looked at her shirt. A purple lace bra peeked through the shirt wet with onion soup.

“It’s nothing.”

“Ah, then never mind.”

Thinking about it, he was also embarrassed.

To hand a towel soaked in sweat to the most beloved idol of the Human Union was something only a lewd pervert would do.

“No. That’s not it.”

Karin quickly snatched the towel that was moving away.

“I have somewhere to go urgently right now, so I’ll wipe it off as I go. I’m leaving. See you later.”

Karin ran out of the inn in a hurry with the towel.

Seeing that, people left the inn quickly, one or two at a time. The inn, which had been full of people, was now empty.

Jeong Yusin went outside the inn and stood near the entrance.

The street was full of people who had poured out due to the inexplicable earthquake.

The sudden earthquake had not only hit Darmong’s inn hard.

It shook the entire labyrinth city.

A roar filled with confusion and worry was sweeping through the entire street.

Then someone shouted.

“It’s the Knights!”

People’s gazes were all focused on one place.

Soldiers in plate armor that shone like silver in the sunlight cut through the chaotic crowd.

“Calm down!”

A blonde-haired, good-natured man in his 30s shouted at the head. His voice was so loud that it echoed through the streets.

“Who is that man?”

Jeong Yusin, who was standing at the entrance of the inn, asked Darmong, who was right next to him.

“Why? Do you feel competitive? Don’t even think about it. He’s not a man you can approach.”

Jeong Yusin looked down at his hands.

There was no one easy to deal with around him.

He spent his days in constant training, but he was still lacking, and the road ahead was long.

‘There’s no easy task in the world. This damn world is not easy to freeload in.’

He swallowed the bitter taste.

When the street became quiet, the blonde-haired man at the head said.

“The city council has been convened. There will be an answer soon, so maintain order and act calmly. The Knights’ swords will deal with anyone who causes trouble by taking advantage of the chaos. Those who have problems with their residences should pack their belongings and move to the park. That’s all!”

As soon as the blonde-haired man finished speaking, the soldiers standing behind him dispersed in an orderly manner and began to control the streets.

Darmong unfolded his arms and went inside the inn.

Jeong Yusin followed Darmong in.

“I’ll help you.”

“Hoo. Thank you.”

Darmong sighed as he looked at the wrecked inn.

* * *

He swept up the broken dishes and bottles with a broom and wiped the floor with a rag.

He finished cleaning the first-floor restaurant fairly easily, but the problem was the warehouse and the kitchen.

The warehouse was covered with all sorts of ingredients mixed and clumped together.

The kitchen was covered with cooking utensils, food being cooked, dishes, and glasses that were broken and scattered on the floor.

In Jeong Yusin’s personal opinion, it was fortunate that a fire had not broken out in the kitchen.

This was because Darmong was in charge of 10 stoves at the same time.

After finishing cleaning the restaurant, he helped Darmong clean up the warehouse and the kitchen.

The cleaning, which started in the morning, barely ended in the evening, past lunchtime.

Jeong Yusin sat on the steps at the entrance of the inn and looked at the setting sun.

Evening.

The city guard, centered on the Knights, was controlling the streets.

As he was blankly watching the streets, Darmong suddenly appeared from behind.

“I’m going to buy some dinner, so watch the inn.”

“I’ll buy it.”

Jeong Yusin said, getting up from his seat. Darmong shook his hand and stopped him.

“Don’t even think about it. If a Barbaroi walks around alone in this chaotic time, he’ll be arrested.”

Jeong Yusin’s mouth opened slightly.

“Why?”

“For attempted rape.”

“Oh, come on.”

Darmong seemed to have regained some energy as he joked.

No way, a disaster of unprecedented proportions has occurred, and people are going around attacking people?

That was impossible.

Jeong Yusin thought so and turned his head.

Then he made eye contact with the guard.

A cold and wary look.

‘Is it real?’

Jeong Yusin backed away into the inn at the sharp look.

Darmong stroked his chin and opened his mouth.

Judging by his faraway look, he was reminiscing about the past.

“There was a big fire in the eastern district a few years ago.”

“Yes.”

“Quite a few buildings started to burn. Then the Barbaroi stepped in.”

Suddenly, a Barbaroi heroic story?

Jeong Yusin listened to Darmong’s story.

No matter how evil a person is, they have at least one good virtue.

“Quite a few Barbaroi rolled up their sleeves and came forward to rescue people.”

“Hoo.”

“Everyone was rescued, and there were no casualties. That’s what I heard. Ask other people for more details.”

“Wow. So there are no completely bad villains after all. It seems like there are heartwarming stories like this too.”

“…”

“Darmong?”

Darmong was silent.

What’s going on.

An uneasy feeling was creeping up.

Oh.

No way? No way. No way.

“Everyone was ‘rescued’ for ‘now.’ That’s all I have to say. Let’s talk again later.”

Darmong went out into the street.

“…”

Jeong Yusin staggered into the inn and sat on the counter chair.

He crossed his arms and kept his eyes on the entrance of the inn.

But his head was full of crazy Barbaroi guys.

Did they rescue them to rape them?

Did they rape them as long as they were rescued?

As he thought about it, he became confused.

“Where the hell are these bastards hiding?”

Jeong Yusin tore at his hair and sighed.

* * *

Two hours passed.

Darmong didn’t come back.

What happened?

As he was sitting there thinking about this and that, people in plate armor came into the inn.

They were Knights.

“Innkeeper! Dinner for 5. Um?”

The fox demihuman shouted and looked at Jeong Yusin.

“Where’s the innkeeper?”

“He went to buy dinner. We’re not open for business today.”

“Aren’t you a Barbaroi?”

A female elf in plate armor stepped forward and said.

“Yes. I’m a Barbaroi.”

The elf muttered suspiciously.

“Is the innkeeper getting senile?”

“Okay, okay. Let’s sit down and wait.”

The fox demihuman led the group and sat at the table.

Then someone else came into the inn.

He thought it was Darmong, but it wasn’t.

It was the blonde-haired man he had seen in the morning.

“Commander!”

The Knights jumped up from their seats. The blonde-haired man smiled.

“So you’re all here? My shift is over, so I thought I’d have a drink?”

“Yes!”

“Okay. I’ll join you too.”

The blonde-haired man approached and stopped when he saw Jeong Yusin.

“Where’s the innkeeper?”

“He went to buy dinner.”

The fox demihuman answered. The blue-haired man scratched his head.

“I see. But you.”

The blonde-haired man looked at Jeong Yusin.

“Yes.”

“Aren’t you a Barbaroi?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Is Darmong getting senile? It’s like entrusting a fish store to a cat.”

Jeong Yusin’s expression soured.

“I’m a good Barbaroi who doesn’t rape.”

People laughed loudly at Jeong Yusin’s words.

“Yeah, right. Don’t talk nonsense and bring us some alcohol.”

The blonde-haired man chuckled and replied.

“We’re not open for business today.”

“We’ll have to hear what the innkeeper has to say. Bring us some alcohol.”

Jeong Yusin sighed, rummaged through the cupboard, grabbed the least damaged bottles of alcohol and wooden bowls, and brought them to the Knights.

“Why are the glasses like this?”

The fox demihuman frowned.

It wasn’t a normal glass, but a wooden bowl for soup.

“All the glass was broken by the earthquake.”

“I see.”

The blonde-haired man nodded.

“Barbaroi, pour us a cool drink.”

‘If you ask me to pour it, I have to pour it.’

Resigned, he poured a bowl full of alcohol.

He poured it all in, perfectly balancing it so that it would not overflow.

He emptied all the bottles of alcohol and filled 6 wooden bowls.

“Here. Enjoy. Coolly.”

“That’s too much.”

The female elf frowned and muttered.

“That’s right. You drink that.”

The blonde-haired man said with a smile.

“Yes.”

Let’s see how far this goes.

Jeong Yusin picked up the bowl and looked at the blonde-haired man.

For some reason, a sense of competition surged up.

He grabbed the bowl and drank it all down.

He drank it all down without stopping.

It felt like there was a fire in his esophagus and stomach, but he didn’t show it and put the empty bowl on the table.

“Burp.”

“You’re going too far.”

The fox demihuman muttered with an absurd expression at Jeong Yusin’s loud burp.

“Let’s drink too. When else would we come out and drink like this?”

“Commander, we have work tomorrow.”

“Don’t worry. The earthquake will be over soon.”

Jeong Yusin’s eyes flashed for a moment at the blonde-haired man’s words.

Is that so.

“I’ll go back to my seat now.”

Jeong Yusin turned around.

“Scar, stop.”

The blonde-haired man said.

Jeong Yusin’s body stiffened.

‘He knows my name?’

Jeong Yusin turned around again and looked at the blonde-haired man.

The fact that the commander of the Knights of the Labyrinth City knew his name made the back of his neck cold.

So he looked at him closely. As he looked, he realized that he was a face he had seen somewhere before.

“My sister told me about you.”

“Mion?”

The commander of the Knights nodded.

“I’m Mion’s older brother. I came out to see your face since I was out of the inner castle. Your face.”

“I see.”

“You’re quite handsome.”

“I…I see.”

Jeong Yusin took a slight step back.

‘Was he gay?’

“But you’re not worthy of my sister. You’re far from matching Mion’s character, ability, and appearance.”

‘What? He was just a normal sister lover.’

“I don’t have that kind of relationship with Ms. Mion. I have no intention of dating her. Don’t worry.”

Jeong Yusin said with a smile and waved his hand.

A vein popped out on the commander of the Knights’ forehead.

“What? What’s wrong with my sister Mion? Barbaroi, come and sit down here.”

Jeong Yusin sighed inwardly and sat down next to the commander of the Knights.

“It’s starting again.”

The fox demihuman grabbed his head and sighed.

The commander of the Knights’ praise for his sister continued for a full 2 hours.

“…Mion was kind and cute since she was little. Whenever she saw me, she would run to me saying ‘Oppa!’ and hug me. She says it’s embarrassing now, but she’s still pure and cute.”

The commander of the Knights’ eyes became hazy.

“I personally washed Mion’s diaper when she peed in her bed when she was little. The maids tried to stop me, but I insisted on washing it. Those were truly nostalgic times. The panties that Mion peed in back then are still in my drawer. They’re precious memories.”

Jeong Yusin crossed his arms and listened silently before coming to a conclusion.

‘Vicious sister lover. Confirmed.’

The sense of competition disappeared, and only pity remained.

The commander of the Knights kept talking about how ‘pure’ and noble Mion was.

Why does he keep emphasizing her purity?

Jeong Yusin was curious and asked quietly.

“Does Ms. Mion have a boyfriend?”

The commander of the Knights’ eyes blazed.

“She didn’t have one before, and she won’t have one in the future. I’ll protect Mion.”

‘Vicious sister virgin protector. Confirmed.’

After that, the commander of the Knights’ praise for Mion continued.

How long had it been?

The Knights around him were talking among themselves, as if they were used to the commander’s behavior.

Clatter!

Jeong Yusin’s head turned quickly.

The inn door opened, and Darmong appeared.

Finally.