episode_0053

I was on edge, and dawn broke.

What was that murderous aura?

The sun was gradually rising beyond the walls of the Labyrinth City.

Jeong Yushin looked around.

Most people were packing up their belongings with hollow faces.

Guards were approaching from afar.

Before long, a mole beastman emerged from the guard post and spoke to the relief personnel.

“There were no major problems tonight. Good work.”

“Yes.”

“Now, come to the guard post to receive your pay and go back.”

Jeong Yushin hesitated for a moment, then approached the mole beastman.

“I have something to tell you.”

“What is it?”

The mole beastman was wearing glasses that looked like sunglasses, as if he didn’t want to see the rising sun.

Jeong Yushin told him about the murderous aura he had felt at dawn.

The mole beastman listened to Jeong Yushin and then asked.

“I heard there was a slight scuffle during the night. Surely it’s not because of that.”

“No. Feeling the murderous aura has nothing to do with the scuffle.”

“I’m asking just in case, but do you have any imprints that affect your mind?”

“No.”

“Does your heart suddenly race at night, or does any part of your body rise up?”

“Ah! No, I don’t.”

Suddenly, what’s with the sexual harassment?

“Okay, I understand. If something like this happens again, come and report it.”

The mole beastman yawned and left. It seemed like he wasn’t even listening.

“What benefit would I get from this? Sigh.”

The people who had been on night guard duty flocked to the guard post to receive their pay. Jeong Yushin also followed the people and received his pay.

Clang.

20 Donghwa coins.

It was the reward for performing a night of guard duty.

Jeong Yushin stuffed the Donghwa coins that had fallen into his hand into his pocket and left the place.

As he came out of the guard post, the half-ogre Stone Fist and the frog beastman Cork waved their hands once from afar.

Jeong Yushin waved back.

“See you again.”

The iron mask man approached Jeong Yushin and said.

“Let’s do that.”

Jeong Yushin parted ways with the night guard party and returned to the inn.

When he entered the inn, Tarman and Anne were there.

“You’ve worked hard.”

Tarman said with a smile.

“Yeah. Good job. I need to get some sleep. The lunchbox was delicious.”

“Yes. I’m glad you liked it.”

Jeong Yushin returned to his room on the second floor, took off his equipment, and lay down on the bed.

The birds were singing, and the people on the street were just starting to move, but his eyes were closing.

It was the first time in a while that he had felt the feeling of staying up all night.

Before he was transferred, he used to stay up all night playing games sometimes.

Looking back on his past life, he felt strange.

Thoughts chased each other’s tails.

Delusions and expectations continued until they reached one place.

That murderous aura that was targeting him at night.

What on earth was it?

Slap!!!

Jeong Yushin slapped himself on the cheek.

“Let’s just sleep.”

He closed his eyes, then quickly opened them again.

He moved only his upper body and looked under the bed.

There was nothing there.

Jeong Yushin lay back on the bed and closed his eyes.

* * *

The next day, he headed to the labyrinth again in the evening.

He stopped by the guard post, made an impression on the guard captain, and stood near the exit magic circle under the mole beastman’s orders.

Around the torch were the same party members as before.

Frog beastman Cork.

Greatsword Iron Mask.

Half-ogre Stone Fist.

They greeted each other with nods and unfolded their simple wooden chairs to sit down.

It was a chair that he had asked Tarman to prepare.

‘It’s really comfortable.’

He had only worked for two days, but he could smell it.

The smell of a sweet honey request.

If it weren’t for the murderous aura that made his heart pound, it would just be a honey mission where he could sit in a chair and monitor the magic circle.

Jeong Yushin crossed his legs and stared blankly at the magic circle.

A lukewarm night breeze brushed past Jeong Yushin’s cheek.

The exit magic circle was quiet without any particular abnormalities.

He could hear people talking around him.

“···Is it true that Ingrid-nim is coming this month?”

“That’s what I heard. No. She may have already come.”

“My eyes will be delighted.”

“You crazy bastard, she’s not someone you can talk about carelessly.”

“I can still talk about her. That cold face without any change in expression makes me shudder every time I see it.”

The bull beastman chuckled.

Jeong Yushin was deep in thought.

What does Karin’s mother look like?

The representative of the beastman alliance and one of the members of the Labyrinth City Committee.

The head of the Red Wolf tribe and a widow.

Just then, light flashed from the front.

The magic circle opened, and a blue portal was created.

People hurriedly got up from their seats.

They raised their weapons and took their positions.

Jeong Yushin also grabbed his sword and got up from his seat.

Five people came out of the blue portal.

Two humans, two beastmen, and one dwarf.

As soon as the man who appeared to be the leader came out of the portal, he collapsed on the floor.

His shaggy beard and hollow eyes were impressive, as if he had stayed in the labyrinth for quite some time.

Several guards approached with spears in their hands.

The priest standing behind the guards followed along.

The sound of the guards and party members talking could be heard from afar.

The guards nodded and returned to their positions.

“Nothing’s wrong. Just relax.”

Only then did the people sit back down or continue the conversation they had stopped.

Several hours passed, and several more party members came out of the exit magic circle.

It was a repetition of the same thing as before.

Several guards and the priest approached, talked, and returned.

Jeong Yushin opened his mouth.

“It seems like not many people are getting imprints?”

“It’s normal. Whether an imprint is good or bad is secondary, and getting one itself isn’t that easy.”

The frog beastman Cork opened his mouth.

“Is that so?”

‘I felt like I was eating one every time I went in.’

Jeong Yushin tilted his head.

Was he just lucky?

He opened his lunchbox because he didn’t have anything to do.

The late-night snack was chicken grilled with butter and various spices.

Earlier, the guard captain’s face had hardened rapidly when he saw this, so he was inwardly taken aback.

The gazes of the three men were focused.

“Let’s eat together.”

“Thank you.”

“It doesn’t seem like it’ll even tickle my stomach.”

The party members gathered around and tore apart the chicken.

“Oh! It’s really delicious. Ribbit.”

The frog beastman exclaimed.

“It’s a shame there’s not much.”

“Iron Mask, please have some too.”

“I’m fine.”

The iron mask man shook his head.

He couldn’t force him if he didn’t want to.

At that moment, there was a rustling sound in the bushes behind them, and something popped out.

A plump mouse with white fur.

Jeong Yushin’s eyes widened.

That guy who was under the bed?

The mouse wriggled through the people and sprinted towards the chicken dish. A daring charge. It seemed like it couldn’t see anything but the roasted chicken.

Whack!

Jeong Yushin snatched the mouse by the nape of its neck, timing it perfectly.

“Squeak! Squeak!”

The white mouse floating in the air wriggled its chubby butt and struggled.

“What is it? A snack?”

The half-ogre Stone Fist asked.

“It’s a guy I have a connection with. I thought it was someone who got a mouse imprint, but it wasn’t.”

Jeong Yushin poked the mouse’s belly with his finger!

“Squeak!”

The mouse wiggled its body.

“It looks like a familiar?”

The frog beastman Cork said.

“···Is there a way to confirm who its owner is?”

“There is, but my memory is fading. Wait a moment.”

“Okay.”

While waiting, Jeong Yushin played with the mouse.

He stroked its back and massaged its body gently.

“Squeak. Squeak!”

As if it liked Jeong Yushin’s massage, the mouse lay on its back, exposing its belly.

“Do you like it here? Yat yat.”

“Squeak. Squeak.”

He gently stroked its belly and poked it.

“Squeaaaaak!!!”

The mouse trembled once and then slumped.

The half-ogre Stone Fist shook his head at the sight.

“Barbaroi, why are you tormenting the innocent mouse like that? It hasn’t been revealed who its owner is yet.”

“It’s the guy who came under my bed. This much compensation is cheap.”

“Come to think of it, that’s true.”

Jeong Yushin glared at the half-ogre for a moment.

“I found it. I guess I can’t think well because I’m old.”

“Let’s do it.”

The frog beastman Cork began to chant.

[Find Owner]

A blue light flashed briefly from the frog beastman’s staff.

The blue light rose and enveloped the white mouse.

“Kuh!”

Suddenly, the frog beastman dropped his staff and covered his head.

“Are you okay?”

“···I’m fine. The familiar’s magic power pushed back my magic.”

“Then?”

“Judging by the amount of magic power, it’s someone higher than me. The familiar’s eyes are clear, so its owner shouldn’t be a bad person either. Just let it go.”

“Okay.”

Jeong Yushin gently stroked the white mouse once and released it.

The mouse got up, glanced at Jeong Yushin once, picked up a chicken leg, and disappeared like an arrow.

“Why are you letting familiars run around like that?”

“Who knows? How much of what happens in Labyrinth City can you understand?”

That’s right.

Jeong Yushin stopped paying attention to the white mouse.

He judged that it was safe because the priest who worshiped the water spirit had guaranteed it.

If the familiar’s owner had something to do with him, he would have met him soon.

He decided to wait.

He rested his chin on his hand and looked at the people coming out of the labyrinth.

Some had dark eyes.

Some were giggling.

Some had heavy, hardened expressions.

Jeong Yushin spent time looking at the expressions of those people.

At that time.

He felt the murderous aura again.

Jeong Yushin grabbed his longsword, got up from his seat, and looked around.

“Barbaroi is really horny. Can’t hide his blood even if he’s a half-blood? His mother must have suffered quite a bit.”

The bull beastman sneered.

Jeong Yushin’s body froze.

He tried to ignore it and move on, but the insult crossed the line.

Jeong Yushin strode towards the bull beastman.

The bull beastman sat on a sturdy iron chair, looking at Jeong Yushin with a smirk.

His nerves were on edge because he had been exposed to a strong murderous aura.

Jeong Yushin opened his mouth.

“I can tolerate it once, but not twice.”

“What the hell…!”

Boom!!!

Jeong Yushin’s worker boot was embedded in the bull beastman’s chest.

Crash!!!

The large bull beastman fell backward with the chair.

He was gasping for breath, writhing on the floor, making a choking sound.

“Hey, you crazy bastard!!!”

“Are you crazy?!”

The bull beastman’s lackeys got angry and jumped up from their seats.

“Stop!”

At that moment, the mole beastman rushed in, panting.

“Barbaroi! Go to the back of the shelter right now. That’s an order.”

“These guys started it first.”

“···Okay, I understand, so go to the back of the shelter.”

“Ugh. Okay.”

Jeong Yushin glared at the bull beastman.

“If you utter one more word, I’ll tear your mouth apart. You son of a bitch, you’ve been scratching my nerves since yesterday.”

“Barbaroi!”

The mole beastman shouted.

“Yes, yes. I’m going.”

Jeong Yushin trudged to the back of the shelter building.

A small yard.

Someone was standing there looking at the moon.

Red hair.

A long tail swaying slowly and wolf ears.

A huge greatsword was stuck next to her.

The tall red wolf beastman turned her head and looked at Jeong Yushin.

A cold beauty with no expression on her face.

Similar to Karin, but different.

Could she be Karin’s older sister?

A cold and quiet impression, different from Karin’s outspoken impression.

An atmosphere that only an overwhelming powerhouse can have.

He realized it intuitively.

Ingrid Redtail.

The representative of the beastman alliance and the head of the Red Wolf tribe.

One of the members of the Labyrinth City Committee.

Her face was as if she was spending the winter alone. Perhaps that’s why she suited the long coat with red fur on the back of her neck, even though it was a milf.

He had only heard stories about her. Seeing her in person was amazing.

H-cup breasts, a fully open pelvis, and a protruding butt even with the tight leather pants.

He could see for sure where Karin’s body came from.

“Half-blood Barbaroi Ska, are you the one?”

A calm and ice-cold voice awakened Jeong Yushin’s mind.

“I’m Ska. Are you Ingrid-nim?”

“That’s right. I’ll ask you one more time. Are you the guy who seduced Karin?”

“Seduce? What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

Ingrid came closer. Her red hair sparkled in the moonlight.

Jeong Yushin and Ingrid’s eyes met.

Ingrid’s emotionless, dry eyes intently observed Jeong Yushin.

Sniff sniff.

Ingrid’s nose wrinkled.

Suddenly, she’s smelling me?

Jeong Yushin took a step back.

“Why are you doing this?”

“I was curious, so I smelled you. Don’t approach Karin again. Unless you want to die.”

Ingrid turned her head to look at the moon as if she had lost interest.

“How is Karin doing?”

“None of your business. Get lost.”

‘Damn it.’

Jeong Yushin turned his body and left the shelter’s yard.

“I sent the murderous aura. Go back and stay quiet.”

Ingrid said from behind Jeong Yushin.

“Why did you send it in the first place?”

Jeong Yushin asked.

“That’s also none of your business.”

Jeong Yushin sighed and turned his body to leave the yard.

Her personality was strangely similar to Karin’s.

He could understand that she was looking down on him because she was a high-ranking figure in Labyrinth City.

‘Seduce?’

When did he ever seduce Karin?

Whack!

Jeong Yushin hit his forehead as he pondered.

Ah.

The virgin female corruption imprint.

Jeong Yushin stroked his chest.

It was a miracle that he had just come back alive.

His mind calmed down when he realized that he had just stepped on the threshold of the underworld.

As he walked quietly back to his seat, he saw the guard captain and the mole beastman.

The guard captain and the mole beastman, who had been rolling around inside the guard post until yesterday, were standing guard with precision.

The bull beastman also saw that and sat quietly. Still, he rolled his eyes and glared at Jeong Yushin.

As he returned to his seat and sat down on the chair, the half-ogre Stone Fist opened his mouth.

“He was a troublemaker.”

“My life has been a bit unfortunate.”

“Hehehe.”

The frog beastman Cork laughed blandly at Jeong Yushin’s remarks.

The iron mask man stroked his greatsword without saying a word.

Jeong Yushin and the iron mask man’s eyes met for a moment.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

The iron mask man asked.

“It’s nothing.”

“How boring.”

Jeong Yushin crossed his arms and watched the magic circle.

One question arose.

Luke and Ingrid.

They are all people he met in front of the labyrinth.

Why are the committee members at the entrance of the labyrinth?

If it’s once, it can be passed off as a coincidence, but it’s already the second time.

Surely they didn’t come just to see a worthless half-blood Barbaroi.

He had no choice but to think that there was something.

‘What is it?’

At that moment, Jeong Yushin’s vision was brightly colored. The question could not continue.

Flash!

A blue portal was created in the magic circle.

Paaaah!

Stone Fist, Frog, and Iron Mask all turned their heads to look at the portal.

Only one person crawled out of the portal.

Jeong Yushin jumped up from his seat.

Hans?

It was the high-ranking explorer Hans.

The navy-haired human who was the leader of the investigation team on the 3rd labyrinth trip.

He definitely heard that he had passed through the black portal.

After that, he was not found anywhere in the labyrinth.

He heard that he had been missing for quite some time because he had not returned.

Has he returned?

The people standing guard got up from their seats one by one.

Hans was in a terrible state.

His armor was torn to shreds and turned into rags, and he was covered in blood from head to toe, with one arm and one leg missing.

It was amazing that he was alive.

The portal disappeared, and Hans barely raised only his upper body on the magic circle.

“Hans is back!!!”

The mole beastman ran over with several guards.

One boy priest followed.

“Kuheek.”

Hans vomited blood.

“Priest-nim! Heal him quickly!”

The mole beastman shouted urgently.

“Ye, yes!”

When the priest approached.

An anomaly occurred.

Red light began to flash and leak from Hans’s body.

The guard captain shouted.

“It’s an imprint!”

“Get back!”

The guards hurriedly retreated. The boy priest also staggered and stepped back.

The light emanating from Hans’s body gradually subsided.

The boy priest approached cautiously.

“Are you…are you okay?”

Hans did not answer the priest’s question.

Despite it being a summer night, the atmosphere cooled down.

There were 40 people, but not even the sound of breathing could be heard.

The bizarre silence gradually increased in weight.

At that time, Hans raised his head.

“Heuuh.”

The entirety of Hans’s pupils were dyed black.

“Hi…hic!!!”

The boy priest was horrified and fell on his butt.

At the same time.

Hans’s skin repeatedly distorted and swelled unevenly.

A scene of frenzy as if something trapped inside a balloon was trying to come out.

People were blankly watching the bizarre and terrible transformation as if their souls had left their bodies.

Jeong Yushin covered his mouth with a trembling hand to hold back the rising nausea.

‘What the.’

The evil sleeping in the labyrinth was wearing a human body.

Slowly.

Leisurely.