episode_0075

Amidst thunderous cheers.

A white mouse stood on its hind legs.

Its plump belly prominently displayed, it looked quite dignified. Could it truly be called Ingrid’s familiar?

“Squeak!”

Regaining his senses, Jeong Yu-shin immediately leaped up from his seat and onto the stage.

A sudden action.

No one around him had a chance to stop him.

Reaching the stage, Jeong Yu-shin knelt on one knee before Rin.

“Rin, what on earth are you doing here?”

“Squeak?”

Standing on two legs, Rin tilted its head. The hat fastened by a chin strap bobbed.

“Let’s go home.”

Jeong Yu-shin extended his hand. Rin glanced once at the stout clown, then wiggled its body and moved onto Jeong Yu-shin’s palm.

“Wait. Wait. Wait!!!”

The stout man panicked and blocked Jeong Yu-shin.

Ignoring him, Jeong Yu-shin stuffed Rin into his shirt’s front pocket and stood up.

Having been fed so well, Jeong Yu-shin’s shirt stretched downwards.

Jeong Yu-shin glared at the stout clown.

“Did you kidnap Rin? You bastards want to die.”

The stout clown panicked and whispered.

“No! I’ll explain later, so please calm down for now and help us!”

“Why should I?”

Jeong Yu-shin’s sudden intrusion caused confusion in the audience.

The murmuring grew louder and louder. In proportion, the sweat flowing from the stout man’s face also increased.

“Hey! Aren’t you Scar? That half-blood Barbaroi Mr. Oswald mentioned! We were kind enough to let you into the theater, how could you do this to us?”

“You bastard. Do you know whose familiar Rin is?”

“Mr. Scar!”

Snub-nose suddenly shouted. Turning around, he saw Snub-nose shaking his head violently.

Meaning not to reveal the familiar’s identity.

Jeong Yu-shin frowned.

He didn’t know why he shouldn’t say it, but he decided to trust Snub-nose.

“Mr. Scar, it would be best to finish the performance well first. I’ll go instead.”

Snub-nose said. Gallaheim, whose face had turned pale, also nodded vehemently.

“No. I’ll do it.”

Jeong Yu-shin took Rin out of his pocket and placed it on the floor.

“Go to Snub-nose. You’re going to have a talk with me later. Where are you wandering around like that?”

“Squeak.”

Rin nodded and scurried to Snub-nose.

“I’ll take Rin’s role.”

At Jeong Yu-shin’s words, the stout man clapped his hands together.

“Thank you! No. Why should I be thanking you? Doesn’t that sound strange?”

Suddenly, as if experiencing a split personality, the stout man began to question himself.

“Do it quickly.”

Jeong Yu-shin urged.

The stout man cleared his throat and shouted loudly again.

“Ladies and gentlemen!!! To add to your enjoyment, we have a special guest!!! Away with the white mouse!!! The half-blood Barbaroi has arrived!!!”

“Waaaaaaaah!!!”

A different kind of heat filled the theater.

However, some of the people’s shouts were not cheers.

“Kill him!!!”

“Cut off his balls!!!”

“The enemy of my brother!!!”

Was this responsibility without pleasure?

Seeing the crowd so enraged, he thought the Barbaroi’s karma must be very deep.

But Ah-da, Jeong Yu-shin, was confident.

Jeong Yu-shin picked his ear, looked around the audience, and threw his Aming Sword, still in its scabbard, to Snub-nose.

He stood in front of the thick wooden board and leaned back.

Performance staff came and tied Jeong Yu-shin’s hands and feet with ropes to secure him.

The stout man whispered something into the ear of an orc wearing a blindfold.

The orc’s body trembled slightly.

Jeong Yu-shin calmly looked at the orc.

“Alright!!! Let’s begin!!!”

The orc threw an axe.

Whoooosh!!!

Thwack!!!

The axe pierced the thick wooden plank and stuck.

The location was to the left of Jeong Yu-shin’s neck.

The axe handle was vibrating.

‘Shit.’

He stepped forward confidently, but feeling the vibrations of the axe made his heart tremble.

“Kill him!!!”

“Hole-digger!!! Rapist!!!”

“My grandfather!!! Because of bastards like you…!”

Anger was mixed in with the cheers.

Jeong Yu-shin blankly stared at the audience, feeling dumbfounded.

“Grandfather is a bit much…”

Thud!!!

This time, to the right of his waist.

Thud!!!

This time.

Jeong Yu-shin’s expression hardened.

Right below his penis. It was stuck between his groin.

Cold sweat streamed down his forehead.

Of all things, the axe almost hit his nether regions.

An Otherworld virgin eunuch Barbaroi.

It’s a joke he couldn’t laugh at.

“Hey, do you want to die?”

Jeong Yu-shin snarled.

The orc’s body trembled like an aspen.

“O-oh. I’m sorry. Don’t tremble. Calm down.”

Jeong Yu-shin lowered his voice and gently coaxed him.

But it didn’t work at all on the orc whose body was shaking.

“I-I’m sorry. The practice partner suddenly changed. I’m sorry!”

Wheeeeeesh!!!

Crash!!!

The axe blade grazed Jeong Yu-shin’s cheek and stuck into the board.

Trickle.

A stream of blood flowed down his cheek.

[Avenger]

Jeong Yu-shin’s eyes blazed with blue mana.

“Calm down and listen to me. A little more above that. Yes. Throw it like that.”

Jeong Yu-shin coached him on his posture and the orc threw the axe.

Wheeeeeesh!!!

Crash!!!

The place where the axe stuck was above his head.

Cut hair fluttered down.

‘Shi…t.’

There was one axe left.

“A little to the left. Yes. There.”

Wheeeeeesh!!!

Unfortunately.

The place the axe was aiming for was Jeong Yu-shin’s head.

“Crap!”

His eyes widened. He’ll die if he messes up.

He slightly tilted his head. It was a subtle movement that no one would notice.

Crash!!!

Thankfully, the axe stuck where Jeong Yu-shin’s head had been, trembling.

He almost died.

“Hoo.”

Jeong Yu-shin sighed deeply.

People who knew nothing about it cheered loudly.

“Waaaaaaaah!!!”

“Ah, damn it!!! Why won’t he die?! Die already!!!”

The stout man hurriedly walked onto the stage, took off his hat, and bowed.

“Thank you!!! Thank you!!! Today’s performance ends here!!! See you again at this time next time!!!”

As soon as the man finished speaking, the orchestra in the corner began to play their instruments.

A cheerful melody shook the circus tent.

People, feeling disappointed, chattered and slowly left the theater.

After the performance ended and the music faded.

The performance staff came and untied Jeong Yu-shin.

“Bring that orc here.”

Jeong Yu-shin pointed at the orc. The orc, who had removed his blindfold, staggered over.

Jeong Yu-shin jabbed his fist into the orc’s solar plexus.

Oof!!!

“Ugh…cough!!!”

The orc knelt and slammed his head against the floor.

The performance staff gathered and murmured.

“Be grateful that I’m ending it here. You know better, right?”

“Cough…Haa. Y-yes.”

The orc barely managed to answer.

The wound on his cheek was slowly healing.

Jeong Yu-shin crossed his arms and looked at the audience seats.

Snub-nose and Gallaheim stood up from their seats and approached.

“Mr. Scar! You have great courage!”

Snub-nose said, his eyes sparkling.

“Amazing. As expected of a Barbaroi.”

Gallaheim also nodded in agreement.

“It was nothing much. It was doable?”

Jeong Yu-shin shrugged his shoulders and replied.

‘I really almost died.’

As he was calming himself down, the stout man approached.

“There’s something I want to tell you about that white mouse.”

Jeong Yu-shin carefully observed the man’s face and shook his head.

“I’ll hear it all from Oswald. Where is he?”

Hearing it from different people would only make him more confused.

The performance was enjoyable and thrilling, but he didn’t forget his purpose.

“Follow me.”

He followed the stout man deep inside the tent.

Every time he passed a tent, there was a notable sight.

Animals and monsters that had been performing in the circus were freely sitting and resting.

Strangely, the monsters and animals were not in cages.

‘Was it a person?’

Jeong Yu-shin swallowed his curiosity and walked on.

In another tent, the clowns who had finished their performances were gathered, drinking beverages and chatting.

Jeong Yu-shin passed through there and went to another area.

He entered a small tent where people with painted faces were gathered.

And.

In the center stood a man.

A man with white paint on his face and his hair completely slicked back.

Oswald.

An executive of the Shadow Clowns.

“You’ve come? Scar, I’ve been waiting. How was the show?”

“It was nerve-wracking. Why did you call me?”

“I called you to talk about business.”

Suddenly, a business story?

Wasn’t it about the fifth prince’s nanny?

Jeong Yu-shin stroked his neck and opened his mouth.

“It seems like there are a few too many people to have that kind of conversation, don’t you think?”

“Is that so? Everyone but two can go rest.”

“Yes.”

The people scattered.

“Please, sit down.”

Oswald pulled out a folding chair and gave it to Jeong Yu-shin.

Jeong Yu-shin sat down, and Gallaheim and Snub-nose stood behind him.

“A guest has arrived, aren’t you offering any tea?”

“Would you drink it if I offered?”

“No.”

“That’s right.”

Oswald sat on a chair, crossed his legs, and looked over Jeong Yu-shin.

“Scar, did you use the magic stone I gave you well?”

“Yes. I used it in a good place. But you’re a bit stingy, aren’t you.”

“What?”

“There was only half the mana in the magic stone.”

“Is that so? Someone must have used it. I don’t know much about it since I received it too.”

Oswald shrugged as if he had heard an insignificant story.

Jeong Yu-shin frowned.

“So, what’s this ‘business’ story you wanted to talk about?”

“I called you to talk about the fifth prince’s nanny.”

“Is there really a need for me to know about it?”

“That’s true. But listen to it first. It’s a story somewhat related to you.”

Oswald continued.

“Originally, I was going to hand the fifth prince’s nanny over to assassins, but my thoughts have changed a bit.”

“Why did they change?”

“I found out that these guys aren’t just after the fifth prince. They’ve joined hands with some merchants from the Lionel Kingdom.”

Assassins allied with some merchants?

“So?”

“Listen to the end. Circumstances have been discovered in which some of the Lionel merchants have joined hands with slave hunters.”

Slave hunters?

“The Crimson Hunters. Are you talking about those guys?”

“That’s right. It’s probably a familiar name to you?”

Assassins, merchants, and slave hunters all allied together?

A foul stench was lingering.

“What the hell are those bastards doing again?”

“They’re not satisfied with just humans, so they’re capturing monsters and animals. Do you know why they’re capturing them?”

“Why?”

“Workers. Toys. Display furniture. Various purposes.”

Oswald added.

“And they use them as sacrifices for leveling up.”

Jeong Yu-shin’s face twisted hideously.

Nausea welled up.

‘People who don’t seem like much of anything.’

“I completely crushed them last time, and they’ve popped up again?”

Snub-nose interjected.

“It’s definitely strange. It’s an organization that disappeared from the Labyrinth City not long ago.”

Oswald scratched his head.

“I don’t know either. Anyway, what I want to say is this. Help me kill the assassins. We need to rescue the people on our side who are currently captured.”

Jeong Yu-shin crossed his arms.

“It’s a difficult task. And apart from everything else, why should I help you?”

“I heard you annihilated those slave hunters at the slum last time? I dug around a bit. The reason was that they killed a gnome family. Right? You risked your life for people who weren’t anything special and didn’t have anything unique. Since there are people who crossed the line, I thought it was something you would get involved in.”

Something’s strange.

Why would you be so desperate with just a novice explorer?

Besides, the reason Oswald is presenting doesn’t make sense.

He felt it intuitively.

Oswald is hiding something.

“…”

Oswald’s face became serious.

“You saw our performance, so you know? Because of the carvings, they have the appearance of monsters and animals, but inside, they’re people. They also have no special abilities and are starving. They barely make enough to eat day by day from the performances. Does that mean that on top of struggling at the bottom, they have to be caught by other guys and sold off?”

“Can’t they leave the Labyrinth City?”

At Jeong Yu-shin’s question, Oswald snorted.

“Ha! A hundred out of a hundred get hunted down and die. A talking monster? It’s fascinating, but that’s not a reason to keep them alive. If they leave the Labyrinth City and walk for only a month, their lives are on the line. This is the safest place.”

Jeong Yu-shin crossed his legs and fell into thought for a moment.

Oswald’s story growing bigger and bigger was very uncomfortable.

With a body that was hard to maintain, he tenaciously looked at only one path and ran.

He had enough leeway to take care of people around him, but that was it.

Should he learn more about this issue?

He raised his head and looked at the ceiling of the tent.

He felt intuitively that it was no easy matter.

A fight is always a life-or-death matter.

He couldn’t see a good enough reason to get involved in this situation.

Besides, this bastard.

Isn’t he the guy who tried to kill me?

The sound of that lute that he was plucking in the labyrinth was still lingering in his ears.

Jeong Yu-shin opened his mouth.

“Honestly, it’s a bit ridiculous. A guy who took requests from trash like assassins to kill people has completely changed his face and is talking about justice? This is a funny bastard. Are you out of your mind?”

Oswald’s expression turned fierce.

“Scar, you’re right. I don’t really care about the lives of the guys outside the Eastern District. I admit it. I’m a piece of garbage. But I want to protect the people around me. You don’t know. The feelings of these guys who are stuck in the Eastern District waiting for the day they die.”

Oswald pointed his finger at Jeong Yu-shin and continued.

“And those slave hunters are going to keep coming into the Labyrinth City anyway. They’re making astronomical amounts of money by capturing people in other places, so they have plenty of leeway. And do you think those guys are going to leave you alone? No. Do you think it’s all over just because it’s quietly passed now? That’s a naive thought.”

“That’s something I’ll take care of. It’s not something you need to worry about.”

Jeong Yu-shin replied calmly.

“Damn! You’re making it impossible to say anything.”

Oswald huffed and puffed.

“Don’t curse. It’s degrading.”

“Would you help if I offered you my ass?”

“Is this crazy bastard out of his mind?!”

Jeong Yu-shin was enraged by Oswald’s words.

“Why are you keep saying things that don’t make sense? It’s okay for other people to die, but your Eastern friends have to live. You take requests from assassins and then you don’t. What are you doing? Are you crazy?”

“That’s because I’m human.”

Oswald spat out.

“I haven’t known about this information for long either. I accepted the request from the assassins to check, just in case. I found out, so I did this ridiculous thing.”

Jeong Yu-shin glared at Oswald.

He stood up from his seat.

“You’re full of shit. If you want to save them, you go. Snub-nose, Gallaheim. Let’s go.”

‘I need to consult with Aldaine about the fifth prince’s nanny.’

Then.

Someone strode into the tent.

“Scar, just a moment.”

Maya was standing there.

Jeong Yu-shin’s eyes widened.

Maya?

Aheman’s disciple he met at Karin’s party.

He thought she took Aheman, who had turned into a lizard, somewhere.

‘Why are you here…?’