episode_0039

A week passed.

A shocking news once again swept through the Maze City.

The Explorer’s Guild announced it first.

Out of the Maze Exploration Teams, 3 out of 5 high-ranking explorer teams returned. 12 out of 20 mid-ranking explorers returned.

Hans’s party was nowhere to be found.

Among the returned exploration teams, there were those who had passed through the black portal. They testified that passing through the black portal transferred them to a random floor.

This was the reason why Jung Yushin’s party did not receive support from other maze exploration parties when they were trapped in the tower.

Most of the bodies of the missing novice explorers and mid-ranking explorers were found on the 5th floor.

In particular, there were many bodies buried under the ruins of the collapsed tower.

Most were headless, but they could be identified through their IDs.

Next was the announcement from the Maze Magic Tower.

A new ‘phenomenon’ had occurred in the maze.

A phenomenon where new monsters appear on random floors.

The Magic Tower called this phenomenon the ‘Eldritch Wave’.

The reason was simple.

When the energy of another world, dormant in the abyss of the Great Maze, bursts out and stays on a specific floor, monsters from another world appear there.

The earthquake was also caused by this explosion.

But now that the ‘phenomenon’ has become a ‘law’.

It was predicted that another earthquake would not occur. At least, the Master of the Magic Tower claimed so.

The floor movement of the Eldritch Wave was slow.

This was also the reason why the human-faced centipede found on the 5th floor was also found on the 4th floor.

People on the streets talked a lot about this announcement.

They also visited those who participated in this exploration team to hear more information.

The Long-lived Race simply nodded and said nothing. They thought that what was bound to happen had happened.

Rather, they thought it was strange that there had been no changes in the Great Maze for nearly 300 years.

Their theory was that Ma (demon) takes on different forms depending on the era.

The evil sealed by the sage Ezdrath was still wriggling and transforming its form deep below.

Jung Yushin summarized the announcement in one word.

‘It was just a random level-up burning event.’

From the first maze trip to the third maze trip, all were related to this burning event.

He thought life was unfair, but there was a reason for it all.

Jung Yushin accepted it and let it go.

The way to counter the Eldritch Wave was simple.

Endure until the wave disappears.

Or run to the transfer stone and return to the city.

The chaotic atmosphere of the city subsided after a few days.

Since the unknown had a name and was revealed, they did not fear it, even if they shunned it.

With their throats being a hanging offense, people began to enter the maze again one by one.

The city quickly returned to normal.

The Knights returned to the inner castle, and people started working again.

Two days had passed since the maze closure order was completely lifted.

Karin’s party gathered at Darmon’s Inn early in the morning.

Five people were sitting around the table.

“It’s bizarre. It really feels like a dream.”

Roynel, who had returned to being an elf, muttered blankly.

“What is it?”

Jung Yushin asked.

Roynel stared blankly into the air, then looked at Jung Yushin.

“I liked flapping my wings and walking around the streets when I was a duck. Living as an elf and becoming a duck to see the world through the senses of a duck was amazing and wonderful. It was like transcending the ‘me’ of an elf and seeing the world through the eyes of nature. I should say that my perspective on the world has widened. I feel hazy. Was I a duck, or was the duck me?”

It was absurd.

Not Zhuang Zhou’s dream of a butterfly, but a dream of a duck?

“So, what are you trying to say?”

Jung Yushin asked cautiously.

“I will withdraw from the party.”

“Yes?”

“I’m going back to my hometown to raise ducks and live. I don’t need any more wealth or success. What useless things.”

“Oh, come on.”

Jung Yushin scratched his head.

Suddenly gaining enlightenment, talking about the unity of all things, and declaring his withdrawal from the party.

Karin nodded.

“Okay. Do you need anything else?”

“No.”

“Cheerup.”

Ahiman’s disciple, Maya, said.

“My teacher also said that he would like to withdraw from the party. He said he wanted to do a little more research on lizards…”

“Okay.”

Karin nodded.

Jung Yushin looked at Gilshion. His eyes, which had regained their reason, were calmly settled.

“I’m going to visit the temple that worships the Spirit God of Light. It seems like it will take some time.”

Why is he talking in a tone that implies he’s going far away?

Curiosity arose.

“Isn’t there a temple that worships the Spirit God of Light in the city?”

Jung Yushin asked.

“No. The Temple of Light is outside the city.”

“I see.”

How fascinating.

“Okay.”

Karin accepted Gilshion’s withdrawal as well.

The party’s meeting ended like that.

He didn’t think it was the end.

He didn’t know about Roynel, but as long as he stayed in the Maze City, he thought he would meet them from time to time.

They talked and drank alcohol.

Darmon approached.

“Karin, Luke is calling for you.”

Karin tilted her head.

“Why is that old man calling me?”

“He says let’s talk about the details at the temple.”

Karin sighed and got up from her seat.

“Okay. I’ll go first. Take care of yourselves. See you later.”

“Okay.”

“Come visit the duck farm later.”

“Cheerup.”

Karin waved her hand once and left the inn.

The party leader was gone, but the people didn’t seem to have any intention of getting up from their seats.

They were deeply immersed in the charm of daytime drinking, and their faces were gradually turning red. The snacks that Darmon brought also contributed to the charm.

They exchanged various trivial stories.

Among them, the story of magical tools came up.

You could definitely get it from the 5th floor. I remember. Gilshion mentioned it when he was on the 5th floor tower.

I’m curious.

If there are various magical tools, wouldn’t there also be magical tools that suppress the effects of imprints?

Or even magic.

“I have something to ask.”

Jung Yushin said to Maya.

“Please speak.”

“Is there a way to suppress imprints?”

Maya tilted her head.

“Yes, there is, but did you perhaps get a negative imprint?”

Jung Yushin’s face turned slightly red.

“Please listen without misunderstanding.”

Jung Yushin told Maya about the negative imprint he had received.

The party members, who had been talking among themselves, stopped talking and focused on Jung Yushin’s story.

Jung Yushin realized that his party members were listening to his story and blushed a little more.

He could trust them because they were people who had overcome the line of death together. But it was quite embarrassing to talk about something similar to a flaw, like the virgin female corruption imprint.

“···So, I’m looking for a way to suppress this imprint.”

Jung Yushin finished the story.

Maya nodded.

“It was a virgin female corruption imprint.”

Gilshion pulled his chair back a little.

“···Please speak a little quieter.”

Jung Yushin looked around and whispered quietly.

“Yes.”

Maya answered nonchalantly and rested her chin on her hand, lost in thought.

The lizard cried cheerup and poked Maya’s neck.

Maya clapped her hands.

“Ah! Usually, we use magical tools to suppress imprints. There are also spells and magic, but they are not efficient. Why don’t you go to the magical tool store in the central area?”

“Whereabouts in the central area?”

“Um. It’s complicated to explain in words. Would you like to go with me tomorrow?”

“Is it okay for me to be next to you?”

He was worried. If she had a crush on him, she would fall into an irreversible abyss.

Maya laughed in disbelief.

“Barbarian, I didn’t see you like that, but you have excessive self-consciousness. Get your mind right.”

“Ah… yes.”

He suddenly created a dark history.

He wanted to die of embarrassment.

Jung Yushin looked down at the table and looked for a rat hole.

“Besides, I have someone I like.”

Maya smiled and gently stroked the lizard.

The lizard’s body froze like ice.

“I see. I’m in your care.”

Jung Yushin bowed his head and asked.

In the evening, he saw off Roynel, Gilshion, and Ahiman.

Jung Yushin leaned against the entrance of the inn and looked at the backs of his party members.

Zhuang Zhou’s dream of a butterfly.

Roynel’s dream of a duck.

‘If I become a beastman, will I be able to understand Karin?’

‘If I become an elf, will I be able to understand Roynel?’

Del came to mind.

An elf archer who became a goblin.

The party members disappeared beyond the street.

Jung Yushin stretched once and went inside the inn.

It was an early summer evening in the Maze City.

* * *

The next morning, Jung Yushin went to the central area with Maya.

He passed the Explorer’s Guild headquarters that he had seen at first and passed the central square.

There were many people wearing better clothes than in the southern area.

He walked for a long time.

Jung Yushin and Maya entered an alleyway lined with wooden buildings. The scent of old wood faintly wafted through the street.

“Here it is. The magical tool shop street.”

“There are so many.”

Jung Yushin stuck out his tongue as he looked at the signs that were closely attached to the alleyway and protruded unevenly.

“There is a store that I recommend. Please be careful with your actions.”

“Don’t worry.”

Maya walked through the complicated alleyway skillfully.

Jung Yushin followed slowly.

Maya stood in front of an old-fashioned wooden building and made eye contact with Jung Yushin. It was a look that meant not to do anything unnecessary.

Jung Yushin nodded.

Clang.

When he opened the door and entered, he heard the sound of a bell.

It was a store filled with the smell of old paper and herbs.

The bookshelves were packed with unknown magic books.

People in long robes were standing in front of the bookshelves, looking at the books.

Maya passed the people and approached the counter.

A dwarf with a neatly trimmed mustache and glasses was sitting in a chair behind the counter, reading a book.

“Maya, what’s wrong?”

The dwarf took his eyes off the book, looked at Maya once, and then widened his eyes when he saw Jung Yushin standing behind her.

“Barbarian?”

The dwarf asked in a surprised voice.

Jung Yushin, who had nothing to say, shrugged once and got to the point.

“I’m looking for a magical tool.”

The dwarf frowned.

“Are you looking for a magical tool to increase the size of your genitals? We don’t handle that kind of thing in our store.”

“I don’t need that.”

“Then what? We don’t have magical tools that infinitely increase your stamina either?”

“Hoo. I don’t need that either.”

“You’re confident, aren’t you? We also don’t handle a collection of 108 coital positions and magical tools that drive women crazy.”

“No.”

“Listen to the end. We also don’t have a book called ‘50 Ways to Corrupt a Naive Priestess’.”

Hmm.

No. I must not be tempted. I have to come to my senses.

“Um…I came because I heard there was a magical tool to suppress imprints.”

“What kind of imprint is it?”

“It’s a virgin female corruption imprint.”

The dwarf’s expression soured.

“So you’re just going to sit still and swallow virgins that suit your taste? There should be a limit to how shameless you can be. If you’re a Barbarian, you should at least pretend to hunt a bride, shouldn’t you?”

‘Damn it. Did I want to get it?’

Jung Yushin’s expression distorted.

Maya intervened.

“After all, he’s a Barbarian. I don’t think it’s going to be easy since he needs to have ‘affection’.”

The dwarf nodded.

“That’s right. Just wait a moment.”

The dwarf got up from his seat and went into the warehouse behind the counter.

He could hear the sound of things being rummaged through.

After a while, the dwarf came out. He was holding a small ring in his hand.

“There was one. It was hard to find.”

“Is this a magical tool that suppresses female corruption?”

“That’s right. But there is a side effect.”

“What is it?”

“It strengthens the wearer’s sexual desire.”

It was a side effect that he could handle well enough.

It had been over 4 months since he had abstained from sex.

“It’s nothing.”

The wise Jung Yushin readily nodded and continued.

“How much is it?”

“Since you came through an acquaintance, I’ll give you a discount. Just give me 1 gold coin.”

Jung Yushin’s eyes bulged out as if they would pop out.

“Wha…what did you say?”

Jung Yushin’s voice trembled.

1 gold coin wasn’t just some dog’s name.

He wanted to tear off the dwarf’s beard that easily spat it out.

“Hey, hey. Why are you doing this? I’m giving you a discount, so what’s with that expression?”

Jung Yushin turned his head and looked at Maya.

“Is this right?”

“Yes. This is a cheap amount.”

It’s too expensive.

Jung Yushin gritted his teeth.

But he had to buy it.

He was already a Barbarian who was shunned in the party. It would be as difficult as picking a star from the sky to enter a normal party with this female corruption imprint.

Besides, he had to learn to write at the temple, but he couldn’t unintentionally commit the crazy act of engraving vulvas on the bellies of young children.

He could be branded as a child hunter who corrupts innocent children, and the guards might come after him with swords.

‘Yushin, you’ve really become a fatal man.’

Jung Yushin sighed inwardly and took out a gold coin from his pocket.

“Here’s 1 gold coin. I’ll think of it as a sacrifice to save the countless young virgins of the future who will fall into my charm.”

“…”

The dwarf and Maya looked at him like he was crazy, so he said something.

“I’m kidding. Let’s brighten up your faces.”

“Barbarian, where am I supposed to laugh? Besides, there are many older virgins in our city.”

The dwarf shop owner complained.

Jung Yushin shook his head and touched his forehead.

They were really people who had no sense of humor.

He thought that the more they talked, the more they would go astray.

He gave up talking any further and immediately put the ring that the dwarf handed him on his finger.

“Um? Is the imprint really suppressed?”

He didn’t feel anything.

“Just wait a moment.”

“Ugh!”

As the dwarf said, the effect appeared after 1 minute.

His vision was spinning. He covered his eyes with his hands for a moment.

After waiting for a while, the dizziness subsided.

He lowered his hand and opened his eyes.

The world that should have been visible was unfolding.

Why had he forgotten?

The dwarf standing in front of him…looked like a female.

His short body and sullen expression.

He wanted to knock him down right away and engrave the pleasure of a female on that wrinkled face.

Jung Yushin’s eyes narrowed like a beast aiming for its prey.

He reached out and stroked the dwarf’s beard.

“Dwarf, how can you have such a seductive beard? Come to the warehouse right now. It’s an interview.”

The dwarf’s face turned white.

[Mind Flash]

Maya chanted magic.

Bang!

Something exploded in front of his eyes.

Jung Yushin’s neck snapped back.

His vision shook and he felt nauseous.

“Ugh.”

Jung Yushin groaned and grabbed his head.

“What… what just happened?”

Jung Yushin said in a trembling voice.

He didn’t remember anything. He only felt like he had almost done something terrible.

“Nothing happened. Barbarian, don’t be swallowed by your desires.”

“Okay. I almost did something very dangerous just now, but I don’t remember it well.”

“Be wary. Darkness lurks everywhere.”

“Yes.”

When Maya and Jung Yushin’s conversation ended, the dwarf cleared his throat.

“Ahem… you can go now.”

At that time, Jung Yushin leaned his body against the counter.

“Heo…heok!”

The dwarf let out a single scream of horror.

“Shop owner.”

Jung Yushin said quietly.

“…Why?”

“That…you know the last item?”

“What?”

“50 ways to corrupt a…priestess. If it has a name, that means it exists, right? Where do you sell that?”

“It’s in the eastern area. Look for it later.”

“Thank you.”

“Go quickly.”

The dwarf shop owner looked at Jung Yushin’s back as he left the store and realized.

That his back was soaking wet.

‘A dangerous fellow.’

The dwarf shuddered as he recalled Jung Yushin’s beast-like eyes.

Jung Yushin and Maya left the magic tool store.

“Maya, thank you.”

Jung Yushin bowed to Maya.

“It’s a reward for saving my teacher. I’m glad I could help, even though it’s not enough.”

Maya stroked the lizard once and turned her body.

“Then let’s part here. Goodbye.”

“Yes.”

Jung Yushin looked at Maya’s back as she left, came out of the alleyway, and returned to the southern area.

He spent a lot of money. He had a bitter taste in his mouth. But it was meaningful in that it was to protect the peace of the surroundings.

Because a peaceful daily life was more important to him than mindless mating.

Still.

‘I should stop by the eastern area.’

Jung Yushin’s eyes sparkled like stars.