episode_0106

A bread with a crispy exterior and filled with rich cream inside.

It was a delicacy so delicious that even if someone died while eating it, you wouldn’t know.

‘I’m touched.’

His eyes welled up.

Having lived in the labyrinth city, he had tasted all sorts of decent breads, but nothing like this.

The savory taste was good. However, it felt bland, so it was mostly eaten with other foods. In short, a substitute for rice.

Only sweet teddy bear biscuits were the only permitted drug for himself.

But not anymore.

Jeong Yushin jumped up from his seat and approached the teddy bear.

“···What’s wrong, bear?”

“Let me give you a hug.”

“H-Heok bear! D-Don’t do it, bear!”

The teddy bear beastman flailed his fluffy arms.

“I’m okay to hug!”

Luna, with cream smeared all over her mouth, wagged her tail and rushed at Jeong Yushin.

“Squeak!”

Lin also ran across the table.

“Luna, Lin. You should wipe the cream off your mouths.”

Ann pointed out in a calm voice, and Luna and Lin stopped and nodded.

“Got it.”

“Squeak.”

Karin looked at Ann with a curious expression.

“Ann, the kids listen well?”

“I guess so. Maybe it’s because I gave them food. I’m not sure.”

Ann tilted her head and replied.

Jeong Yushin sat back down at the table.

So, the bread is ready.

Just need to prepare one more thing.

“Isn’t it a bit boring to just sell bread? Don’t we need something else?”

Tarman wiped the cream from his mouth.

“If it’s something to drink, we have milk. Very fresh milk.”

“Really? Then let’s do that. The last problem remains.”

Everyone’s attention focused on Jeong Yushin.

“How do we attract attention? How should we advertise?”

“…”

While everyone was pondering, Luna stood on the chair and raised her hand.

“Show them the slime dance!”

Jeong Yushin wore a worried expression.

“Wouldn’t it be difficult?”

“Not at all!”

“Squeak squeak.”

Lin also nodded from the side.

“Lin, are you thinking of dancing too?”

“Squeak!”

Jeong Yushin touched his forehead.

They were truly a duo that was hard to stop.

“Do as you please.”

Actually, he didn’t care what happened. He would do his best, but he prepared the festival with the mindset that if it didn’t work out, there was nothing he could do.

He, Tarman, and Ann were all just amateurs when it came to running an inn.

Barely managing to avoid losses these days.

Perhaps failure was predictable. But the important thing was something else.

Their top priority was to get through the festival safely. It’s okay to fail. If they were unharmed, they could just get back on their feet.

‘Please, let nothing bad happen.’

He quietly wished in his heart.

“We’ll bake the bread, bear! We’re counting on you for the cream, bear!”

“Got it.”

The teddy bear left the inn.

People gathered in the kitchen and took their places.

When the teddy bear sent the ingredients, they each took out their tools to make the cream right away.

“Hmm. Cream is likely to spoil in the summer. I think we’ll need a magic tool that emits cold air.”

Karin stroked her chin and muttered.

Jeong Yushin’s mind snapped to attention.

He almost forgot. Dairy products were likely to spoil in the summer.

“There was such a magic tool? How much does it cost?”

“Well…about 15 gold coins?”

“···Do you know where they sell it?”

“I saw them selling it at the magic tool shop in the central district. I’ll go buy it.”

“Got it.”

Jeong Yushin gave Karin a money pouch and sent her off, then looked around.

He tried to smile, though he felt like he was about to cry for some reason, and opened his mouth.

“Shall we start then?”

“Let’s make delicious cream!”

“Squeak squeak.”

People cheerfully chatted and went into the kitchen.

* * *

Karin took the money she received from Jeong Yushin and went to the central district.

It was familiar since she always went there. She entered the alley and went into the magic tool shop.

“I’m looking for a magic tool that emits cold air.”

Karin said to the shop owner.

The gnome sitting at the counter went into the warehouse for a moment and came out.

“I have one. 10 gold coins. A magic stone costs about 2 gold coins.”

“I’ll take it. Can you send it separately?”

“I can. Where should I send it?”

“Do you know the inn run by Barbaroi in the southern district?”

“Ah…that place? I’ve heard rumors, but is it true?”

“It is.”

“I’ll have to charge a danger fee then?”

“It’s not dangerous at all?! I work there!”

“Re-really? You’re quite a daring woman. Um? Wait a minute…could it be?! Aren’t you Karin-nim?”

“You realized that now? And don’t call me respectfully. I’m just an explorer now.”

“No…even if you say that.”

“Anyway, don’t speak ill of our Ska. Send the item quickly.”

“Yes, yes.”

The gnome owner scratched his head, looking at Karin’s back as she turned around and left, muttering to himself.

“Karin-nim has become so gentle that I couldn’t recognize her. Amazing, amazing.”

Karin bought a robe in the central district, put it on, and went to the eastern district.

As she passed through the gate and entered the eastern district, she saw many monsters.

Karin walked through the monsters with familiar steps and entered a dark alley in the corner.

After walking for a while, she found a wooden house with a suspicious potion painted on it.

Gulp.

This is it.

The black market.

A place that sells items that are difficult to put out in the sun in the city.

She was sorry to Ska, but she couldn’t take it anymore.

Ska’s laundry basket like a thief.

Burying his nose in the found underwear and sniffing lewdly.

And that chesty cleric targeting Ska, everything.

She had made a non-aggression pact with Mion while Ska was unconscious and asleep during the last labyrinth trip. But pacts are made to be broken. She was going to preemptively take Ska first.

And this festival is the perfect opportunity.

‘I won’t give up.’

Karin opened the door and went inside.

Creak.

The shop was filled with bizarre magical tools.

“Oh my. A precious guest has arrived.”

Someone muttered while sitting at the counter.

A dark elf, covering only the important parts with soft silk cloth, sat at the counter with a smoking pipe in her mouth.

Karin frowned because of the pungent tobacco smell.

“Phew. What are you looking for?”

“Love potion.”

“With that lewd body? Who are you going to use it on?”

“A man.”

The dark elf chuckled.

“The other person must be quite impotent.”

That was true.

No matter how much she tried to seduce him with her body, Ska was like an iron wall. Yet, he glanced at her chest and stared at her butt when she turned around.

The sharp look that seemed like he would devour her flashed through her mind, and suddenly one side of her stomach tightened.

“D-Don’t talk nonsense and give me a love potion.”

“Heung?”

The dark elf woman made a nasal sound and looked down at Karin’s pants.

Specifically, the crotch between her plump thighs.

“You’re too impatient, and you have a bit of a curse lingering.”

“I know.”

“Do you know exactly what it is?”

“Yes.”

“Phew. I understand. Wait a moment.”

The dark elf turned around and rummaged through the cabinet.

“Hmm. This would be good.”

The dark elf handed Karin a glass bottle containing a yellow liquid.

Karin carefully took it and sniffed it.

Strangely, a pleasant smell wafted up. You could say it was a delicious smell?

“Wh-What is this?”

“It’s a paralysis love potion that makes the other person unable to move. Yet, it can make that thing stand up straight. He’ll howl like a rutting wolf?”

Gulp.

Karin swallowed hard again.

“The point to be careful about is not to use it excessively. One drop is enough.”

“I understand. One drop.”

“Be careful. It’s one drop. Any more is dangerous.”

“I understand. How much is it?”

“You’re in a hurry. 3 gold coins.”

“That’s too expensive.”

“Then shall I give you a small discount? 2 gold coins and 50 silver coins.”

“Okay. Here.”

Karin shook out her coin pouch and handed it to the dark elf.

“I got it. Have a good festival. Red Wolf.”

The dark elf laughed.

“Keuh! You knew? You’re really bad-tempered.”

Karin glared at the dark elf once and then left the shop.

Ting-a-ling.

As Karin’s red tail disappeared with the sound of the bell, the dark elf put the long smoking pipe back in her mouth, sucked the smoke into her lungs, and then exhaled it into the air.

“Phew…a love potion. She wouldn’t need something like that. She’s impatient. She takes after her mother.”

A quiet shop. Only the dark elf’s mutterings echoed quietly.

* * *

Karin passed through the eastern district gate and returned to the inn.

Holding her pounding heart, she went into the kitchen and saw people chatting and stirring something.

It was cream in a large pot.

“You’re here? The magic tool just arrived. Where were you coming from?”

Jeong Yushin asked with a bright smile.

Karin stared at Jeong Yushin’s face for a moment.

Why is he smiling so brightly?

He usually exudes a lewd scent and seduces her.

When he’s working or focused, he pretends to be innocent again.

She felt resentful for no reason.

“I had somewhere to stop by.”

Jeong Yushin tilted his head for a moment at the cold tone, but soon agreed.

“I guess you wanted to check out our competitors at the festival? I know how you feel. But don’t worry too much. We’ll win.”

‘I don’t think you know how I feel at all.’

Karin suppressed a sigh. And rolled up her sleeves.

“I’ll help.”

“Great.”

Karin stuck close to Jeong Yushin out of spite. Then Jeong Yushin’s body stiffened.

“Y-You’re too close?”

“So? We have to stir together anyway, right?”

Karin whispered in Jeong Yushin’s ear.

At that time.

“Ahem!”

Someone stood at the kitchen entrance and cleared their throat.

Jeong Yushin, Karin, and the others turned their heads in the direction of the sound.

“Snout, why are you so late?”

The boar beastman scratched his head with an embarrassed expression.

“I’m sorry. I’ve been so busy with work these days that I’ve been swamped.”

“Welcome. You have to work.”

“Ska-nim, before that, can I talk to you separately for a moment?”

Jeong Yushin, sensing an unusual atmosphere in Snout’s voice, nodded.

“···Okay. I’ll be back.”

“Come back soon.”

Jeong Yushin left the kitchen, seeing Karin off.

“Sigh.”

Karin sighed deeply. Then she joined the people who were stirring diligently with spatulas.

* * *

Jeong Yushin was surprised at the sight that greeted him as soon as he came out of the kitchen.

“What is this…?”

Several people with an unusual atmosphere were sitting solemnly at the table.

Ashur Startree, chairman of the Swordsmanship Association.

Ursula, chairman of the Southern District Explorer Association.

A dwarf wearing expensive-looking clothes.

And.

Mion.

The bizarre composition of people confused his mind.

“You should stop by once you’re back, shouldn’t you? Did you have to make me come find you?”

Ashur said, waving his hand.

Ursula nodded.

“Ska.”

Mion smiled and waved her hand slightly.

“Ska-nim.”

“We’ve met before, right?”

The dwarf wearing expensive clothes said with a smile. Jeong Yushin tilted his head.

Um?

Where did I see this dwarf?

“Ah.”

He had met him when he interviewed chefs to find a cook after killing the slave hunters.

It was also the day he first met the fox beastman Luna.

‘That dwarf who asked me if I was a Barbaroi who doesn’t rape back then.’

He wondered what kind of crazy person he was.

“I remember now, old man.”

Jeong Yushin replied and approached the seat.

“I’m Sorgin Goldhand, chairman of the Southern Merchant Association.”

As the dwarf extended his hand, Jeong Yushin took it and shook it.

“You’re short, but you’re a high-ranking person.”

“···You were a good feeder.”

The dwarf retorted with a sullen expression.

Jeong Yushin crossed his arms and looked around at the people.

“So, why have such great people gathered in this humble place?”

Ursula quietly looked up at Jeong Yushin.

“···You were there too, so you know.”

Jeong Yushin frowned.

He was there?

What on earth is he talking about?

“Barbaroi brought a proposal.”

“···What, is the proposal to offer women?”

Jeong Yushin retorted lightly. But the atmosphere became even more subdued.

“That’s right. He said he’d control the crowd instead of the guards and asked for the ‘hole’ in return.”

Damn it. Crazy bastards. Was that really the proposal?

“···But why are you coming to me to say that? I’m just a…”

“There was one condition in the proposal.”

What condition?

Ashur leaned back leisurely in his chair.

“He said he would take the ‘hole’ you picked.”

What?!

Jeong Yushin froze in shock. Then he barely managed to say one word.

“What the fuck.”