episode_0077

3 days have passed.

A quiet evening.

Jeong Yushin was sitting on the chair at the inn counter.

Surprisingly, there weren’t many guests today.

Creak.

The inn door opened, and Snub Nose entered, sitting across from Jeong Yushin.

Jeong Yushin took out a bottle of liquor and glasses from the cabinet and placed them in front of Snub Nose.

“Snub Nose, what’s the status?”

“Most of the compensation requested by Scar has arrived at the monster dismantling site. As you said, I brought the poisonous herb here.”

Snub Nose placed a pouch on the counter.

“It’s not a poisonous herb that takes lives. If you squeeze out the juice and ingest it, you’ll experience paralysis. They say sensory dulling follows as well.”

Jeong Yushin took the pouch and put it under the counter.

“Good work. And did you find out how credible Oswald’s words are?”

“I think it will take a little more time for that.”

I see.

“What’s the reason Oswald doesn’t step forward directly?”

“Didn’t Oswald say it last time? There’s an unspoken rule throughout the eastern district. A ban on clan disputes. The biggest reason is that disputes that come to the surface bring confusion to the eastern district.”

“Even if his clan has been harmed?”

“They have to prove that they suffered a loss, but it’s difficult for powerless clans to do that. Even if they prove it and get compensation, retaliation can come from under the surface.”

“It sounds like a strong guy openly acting like a jerk.”

“That’s right.”

Jeong Yushin scratched his head. He felt like he kept going around the core.

The beginning of all these events.

“But is there a rumor that you’ve seen the Fifth Prince?”

Jeong Yushin looked around and asked in a small voice.

Snub Nose leaned his head in and opened his mouth slightly.

“I haven’t gotten any clues so far. It’s a strange thing.”

He remembered the duo who came to the inn. He thought Snub Nose said they were important people.

“Are that boy and knight I saw last time still here? I haven’t seen them lately.”

“Those people stayed until Scar was in a coma for a week and then left somewhere for a while.”

“Isn’t it possible that they are the Fifth Prince and his escort knight?”

“I had that thought and observed them, but it was a bit different.”

“In what ways?”

“Usually, royal family members are picky about food and clothing, aren’t they? But those people ate the inn food without hesitation. They didn’t care much about their clothes getting dirty either. Their tone was also polite.”

“What about their appearance? Do they look alike?”

Snub Nose shook his head.

“Aldaine showed me a portrait, so I checked. The Fifth Prince’s hair color was a dark blonde. The boy we saw had brown hair, right? The shape of the face was also different. Actually, that’s the decisive reason.”

Indeed.

The escort knight had green hair and wore old plate armor.

The boy had brown hair and wore a robe.

In fact, as human beings, even if they change their appearance, their dignity sometimes shows in their unconscious actions. The opposite is also true. He didn’t think someone important would be that thorough.

He trusted Snub Nose’s discernment.

Besides, he heard they left quite a while ago, so there was nothing more to ask.

Jeong Yushin sighed deeply.

‘Completely useless.’

Even the heavens are so heartless. If I try this hard, shouldn’t they at least give me a clue to be fair?

No.

He shook his head to quell his dissatisfaction.

It’s a problem that won’t be solved no matter how much he worries about it now.

He made a conclusion and changed direction.

“Snub Nose, leave only 5 gold coins and send everything to Edel. I don’t know if I can revive the pharmacy I sold for 25 gold coins.”

“Pardon?”

“Send all the medicinal herbs to Edel too.”

Snub Nose’s face hardened.

“…Scar, you don’t have to do this much.”

Jeong Yushin smiled.

“This time it’s not free.”

“What do you mean?”

“I need high-quality potions and medicinal herbs in this fight. I felt like the opponent wasn’t easy this time. I have to go in a direction that minimizes the damage.”

“Ah, I understand. Fortunately, Edel has recovered a lot.”

“Good. This time, it’s more of a trade than help. Snub Nose, tell Edel that well.”

“Yes. I understand. But, um.”

Snub Nose hesitated, not leaving, as if he still had something to say.

“Speak comfortably.”

“Is Scar’s party going to be involved in this fight?”

“No. It’s a matter for the dark side of the eastern district. I have to handle it alone.”

“Isn’t it a difficult task alone? I will help.”

“I have something in mind, but I don’t know what will happen. Let’s watch for now. Leave the items Oswald sent at the monster dismantling site for now.”

“Yes.”

As night came, closing time arrived.

He sent Snub Nose back to the monster dismantling site and helped Tarman and Anne clean up the inn hall and kitchen.

He sent Anne and Tarman back to their quarters and Jeong Yushin alone remained at the inn counter to keep watch.

He sipped his drink and stared blankly at the ceiling.

The dark ceiling didn’t tell him anything.

Come to think of it, it was a truly bizarre fate.

He fell into this other world. Somehow, he was even acting as the innkeeper’s proxy.

In terms of martial arts, he was a server who ran the inn on behalf of someone else.

Slap!!!

He stopped thinking by slapping his cheek.

“Slapping your cheek while smiling to yourself? What are you doing?”

At that time.

Oswald revealed himself from the darkness.

The imprinted ability of Veil of Darkness.

Jeong Yushin didn’t even blink and pointed to the front of the counter.

Oswald walked over and sat down across from Jeong Yushin.

“Innkeeper, how about some liquor?”

Oswald asked.

“Let’s hear the plan first.”

Oswald explained the plan. It was a unique plan because he was a crazy friend.

Jeong Yushin got up from his seat, took out a bottle of liquor and glasses, and poured them in front of Oswald.

Pour, pour.

Jeong Yushin opened his mouth as he filled the glass.

“Using the Fifth Prince’s nanny as bait to lure the assassins out of the labyrinth city? Will the other side be fooled so easily?”

“If they don’t get fooled? Isn’t it something that can’t be helped?”

“By the way, how many assassins are there?”

“25 people.”

“That’s a lot. You want me to kill them all by myself?”

“Hoo. We have a few mercenaries we hired for a large sum. They are people who keep their mouths shut. But they can’t directly step forward. All they can do is hide their identity and fire bolts from afar.”

“Who’s the leader?”

“Kuelin Calhide. Her race is Dark Elf. She’s a famous elf who gets involved in underworld disputes and takes a share. Her personality isn’t that good, but her work is as clean as mine. Her imprints are Fast Weapon. Crow Sight. Hyper Sensitivity.”

“More details.”

At Jeong Yushin’s request, Oswald tilted his glass, drank his liquor, and explained.

Fast Weapon.

An imprint that makes you swing your weapon quickly. The characteristic of this imprint is that the speed also increases as the number of times you swing your weapon during battle increases.

Crow Sight.

An imprint that refines your vision precisely like a crow.

Hyper Sensitivity is an imprint of hypersensitivity.

An imprint that amplifies the five senses coming from the outside. It’s a double-edged sword ability that can be a disadvantage if used incorrectly because it has clear advantages and disadvantages.

‘In terms of martial arts, is she a quick swordsman?’

He felt like he was comparing it to martial arts too much today, so he slapped his cheek again.

Splat!!!

Oswald stared blankly, but he didn’t care. It was because the poor clown couldn’t know his anguish.

Jeong Yushin stroked his reddened cheek and pondered.

Even if the heavens helped and he managed to lure all those assassins out, there was one more obstacle.

A Dark Elf with a crazy cheat imprint.

On top of that, 25 assassins.

If those guys scattered and fired bolts in all directions, there was no chance of survival.

Can I handle it?

The aftermath has to be clean to avoid retaliation. He has to kill them all.

“This Dark Elf. Can I kill her?”

“Hoo. That’s why I’m so worried. I can’t see a way.”

Oswald, with a haggard look, scratched his head roughly and took out a cigarette from his pocket and put it in his mouth.

“Can’t you kill her?”

“There was already a conflict once. If I get attacked, won’t people suspect me first? Hey, friend. Where am I going with an imprint like this? And that Dark Elf, she’ll notice right away because of her hypersensitivity imprint.”

“Look at you protecting yourself.”

“I can’t put my family in danger just to protect myself.”

‘Was he a family-loving clown?’

He’s really pathetic.

The crazy laughter he showed in the labyrinth, wasn’t it actually the seething cry of a father who had gone crazy from feeding his family?

“Okay, I understand for now. But why is the plan so full of holes?”

“Hooo.”

Oswald puffed out cigarette smoke without answering.

“Our inn is a non-smoking area. Get out.”

Oswald emptied his glass and got up from his seat.

“See you next time.”

“Wait.”

Jeong Yushin stopped Oswald from leaving.

“Why?”

“Leave one cigarette behind.”

“This is expensive.”

“Really? Then two.”

Oswald glared at Jeong Yushin as if he would kill him, then sighed deeply and put down two cigarettes from his pocket.

“Go. Refine the plan a bit and come.”

“···Damn it.”

Oswald cursed and left the inn.

Jeong Yushin sat back down alone and racked his brains.

He couldn’t see a way.

If he just had one cheat imprint, he could wipe them all out.

He stopped thinking. His head was hot.

Jeong Yushin went into the kitchen from his seat and brought out a late-night snack.

Roast chicken that Anne had made before leaving work.

It was a whole chicken with a crispy surface, well-massaged with herbs and olive oil.

Jeong Yushin tore off a leg and put it in his mouth and chewed.

The salty salt seasoning was well-infused in the chicken skin, and the tender flesh with overflowing juice danced in his mouth.

“Hmm. This is sex.”

It was even more delicious because he was eating it late at night.

He heard that eating something late at night is poison.

Poison?

He forgot for a moment.

He deliberately received a poisonous herb from Snub Nose to test the imprint he obtained this time, but he couldn’t think of it because he was busy with various things.

He wiped the chicken grease from his mouth and tilted the liquor bottle to fill his glass.

Pour, pour.

Clear dwarf liquor was poured into the glass.

Jeong Yushin took out the poisonous herb from under the counter, tore it into small pieces, and put it in the glass.

And.

[Venom Protection]

Imprint activated.

Jeong Yushin looked around his body once. He felt that mana was being consumed, but there was no noticeable change.

He picked up the glass and drank it all in one shot.

“Hmm.”

I don’t feel anything?

Should I wait a little longer?

He brought one more glass and put it on the counter.

There were a total of 3 glasses on the counter.

He tore the poisonous herb into small pieces, put it in the glass, and poured liquor.

At that time.

Creak.

The inn door opened and two people entered.

A boy and a female knight.

They looked haggard and seemed to have rolled around somewhere badly.

Did they enter a labyrinth or something?

The two people approached the counter as if possessed.

“Innkeeper, can we stay one night?”

The female knight said.

“It’s possible.”

“Is it possible to have a meal?”

“I’m afraid that would be difficult. I’m sorry.”

“I see…”

The boy was staring intently at the whole chicken.

“I ate one leg, but would you like to have this?”

“I won’t refuse. How much is it?”

“It’s okay. Just take it.”

“Is it really okay?”

“Yes.”

The boy and the knight began to tear at the chicken ravenously. They looked like they had been starving for a long time.

The knight and the boy, who had been eating for a long time, patted their chests as if they were choking.

“In…Innkeeper, something to drink.”

“Yes.”

Jeong Yushin went into the kitchen.

There should be some fruit juice left somewhere here. There was some left that Anne and Tarman had prepared because the fox beastman Luna often came to perform.

“Where is it?”

While rummaging through the kitchen.

He heard whispering voices from outside.

“···but it’s still too early.”

“It’s okay. I’m all grown up too. I just need to pay. The innkeeper is generous, so he’ll understand leniently···.”

“But···this herb.”

The boy’s voice, heard sporadically, was clear.

“Found it.”

When he took out of the kitchen holding two wooden cups filled with fruit juice, the boy and the knight were sitting down.

“Here you are. Huh?”

The glasses were empty.

The female knight scratched her head and said.

“I’m sorry. I was in a hurry, so I drank a little. I’ll paaaay?”

The female knight’s body stiffened and she rolled off the chair.

Thump!!!

When the boy saw that, he stared blankly at Jeong Yushin.

“Ah…Ueeet.”

Soon, the boy also fell backwards with the chair.

Thump!!!

“Why did you drink that?!”

Jeong Yushin was flustered and approached over the counter. The boy and the knight were trembling.

“Are…are you okay?”

“Your Highness!”

The knight shouted.

Your Highness?

Jeong Yushin’s body stiffened. She realized her mistake. He couldn’t deny it.

“The Fifth Prince?”

Jeong Yushin asked, looking at the boy. The boy’s eyes widened like lanterns.

“···Who shyed that? Shecond hyung? How did you know?”

The boy’s pronunciation was slurred as his tongue seemed to stiffen due to the paralysis poison.

A sudden situation.

Jeong Yushin couldn’t do anything and tore at his hair.

At that time.

An inspiration flashed through his mind like lightning.

Poison and the Fifth Prince.

“Ah!”

A way to overcome this difficulty.

As expected, the heavens do not abandon those who try.

A way to lure the 25 assassins and the Dark Elf leader out of the labyrinth city and send them all in one go.

He didn’t know if it was possible. But it was worth trying.

Jeong Yushin quietly untied his belt.

The female knight’s eyes turned fierce.

“What is this..Ugh!!! Ugh!!!”

Jeong Yushin gagged the female knight’s mouth with his belt.

Looking to the side, he saw the boy trembling. He couldn’t tell if it was because of the paralysis poison or because of fear.

“Huwek!!!”

The Fifth Prince screamed strangely when he received Jeong Yushin’s gaze.

Jeong Yushin looked around. He couldn’t see anything to block the Fifth Prince’s mouth.

At that time.

He saw the leftover chicken on the counter. He had eaten almost everything, leaving only the chicken breast.

He tore off the chicken breast on the counter and stuffed a handful into the boy’s mouth.

“Ugh!!! Ugh!!!”

“If you spit out the chicken breast, I’ll put something harder in.”

The boy’s body convulsed. Fortunately, he didn’t spit out the chicken breast.

Jeong Yushin looked into the boy’s face.

Pupils widened as much as possible due to fear.

“Your Highness.”

Prince.

It’s a good sound.

Jeong Yushin stroked the boy’s head and smiled.

Brown hair flowed through his fingers.

“Shh!”

Jeong Yushin put his finger to his lips.

The boy’s eyes widened as much as possible with fear.

And.

Ssshhhhhh.

The Fifth Prince’s pants were getting wet.