episode_0108

Evening, at the inn.

Jeong Yu-sin and others gathered and sat.

Tarman opened his mouth with a determined look.

“I’ve been preparing diligently, even sacrificing sleep. Today, as we stand before the official grand opening, the sound of wind and bleak rain patters against the window. Many merchants laughed at us, but whether they are incompetent or we are incompetent will be revealed by the results.”

Jeong Yu-sin wore a dubious expression.

‘Why is this guy suddenly acting like this?’

“Tarman, I don’t remember any merchants laughing at us. I especially never heard the word ‘incompetent’. And it’s not raining. It’s summer. Aren’t you being too sentimental?”

“…”

As people silently stared intently at Tarman, he scratched the back of his head, feeling awkward.

“I just mean I’ve prepared that hard.”

“That’s true.”

He had spent the past few days decorating the inn and preparing food. Making bread and filling it with cream. Each process involved repeated failures and reflections. Frankly, even the word ‘hard’ was insufficient. He had poured his heart and soul into it.

“So, Tarman decided to bring Marie? What happened to Dean?”

“Dean is scheduled to come in a few days.”

Jeong Yu-sin stood up and clapped his hands.

“Good. Then let’s finish up here and get some rest.”

* * *

The next day.

The Labyrinth City was suffering from an unprecedented influx of people.

Every alleyway was filled with tourists. As a result, the eyes of the guards were also becoming increasingly jaded.

There was only one reason why so many people had gathered.

It was because of the Spirit God’s blessing.

The festival was famous for an event where the Spirit Gods would fly through the night sky and bestow blessings upon those they favored.

Some would receive longevity, while others would receive wealth and power. It was also said that they would grant blessings to unite lovers, but this was not certain.

Despite the extremely low probability of only a few people receiving blessings out of the countless who came, people flocked in hopes of receiving one.

The festival lasts for about 5 days. Perhaps one or two people will receive blessings during that time.

He thought it was a story that had nothing to do with him.

What mattered was the Cream Slime Bread.

Since today was the first day, it had to go smoothly.

Jeong Yu-sin set up a wooden stall in front of the inn and piled up the special Cream Slime Breads one by one.

“A slime shape. Look at these eyes and mouth. It’s so cute?”

“It is. The shape is unique. I wonder what the taste is like…?”

Perhaps intrigued by the unusual shape of the bread, a few people bought one and put it in their mouths.

And then.

“Huuuueok!!! How can there be such delicious bread?”

“Look at this crazy cream!”

“Butler!!! Buy some more!!!”

“It’s the taste of heaven!”

As those who had bought and tried it once exclaimed in admiration, the gazes of others instantly converged.

“It’s cheap!!! Cheap!!! Only 30 copper coins for one bread!”

Jeong Yu-sin didn’t miss this opportunity and shouted.

“Isn’t that too expensive for bread?”

When someone expressed dissatisfaction, another person pushed their way in.

“Don’t whine about it being expensive, get out of here! I’ll buy them all!”

“Ah… that’s not what I meant…”

Before long, the man who had expressed dissatisfaction was pushed away by the crowd and disappeared, leaving only customers with shining eyes.

“Give me everything you have here!”

“It’s 5 per person.”

“Ah, no way?!”

People lamented.

Some people were eating the bread ravenously as soon as they received it.

Others quietly put it in their arms.

‘Rubbing your cheek against the bread is a bit much.’

Jeong Yu-sin worked hard to sell the bread while observing people’s expressions. Most seemed satisfied. He felt a sense of pride for some reason.

The bread was sold out in an instant.

There was no need to worry about how to advertise. Because it was delicious, people talked about it, and people gathered again after hearing the talk.

An overwhelming virtuous cycle.

“Owee. I wanted to dance.”

“Squeak… squeak.”

Luna and Lynn carried the bread with tearful faces. Since Lynn had difficulty holding the bread due to her physical structure, she fixed a small basket on her back.

Jeong Yu-sin smiled wryly and stroked Luna and Lynn’s heads.

“There will be another chance later at night, so let’s do it then.”

“I understand.”

They diligently carried bread to the stall, but the bread sold even faster than they could carry it.

In less than 10 minutes, the Cream Slime Bread was completely sold out.

Jeong Yu-sin grinned.

“Thank you, everyone. Thanks to your enthusiastic support, all the Cream Slime Bread is sold out!”

“No!!! How can the owner end it here?!!!”

“The owner, bake more bread!!!”

“I haven’t even had a bite yet!”

‘Wipe the cream off your mouth before you talk.’

Jeong Yu-sin scratched his head.

“More bread will be out in the evening, so I think it’s better to wait until then!”

“It’s a promise!”

“If you don’t bring out the bread then, I’ll set fire to the inn!”

“Butler! Wait here until evening! I can’t be satisfied with just one!”

“Ah, Miss…!”

Jeong Yu-sin turned away from the disappointed people and entered the inn.

The inn was also crowded with people. It was full of people drinking alcohol and enjoying food from morning.

From some point on, the corners were filled with people plucking lyres and singing together, and people clinking glasses and laughing loudly.

To be able to see a scene that you only see at night even during the day.

‘Hehehe. Money is rolling in.’

Jeong Yu-sin’s smile deepened.

He had only raised the price slightly compared to other restaurants to celebrate the festival, but people flocked in, saying it was good.

In addition, it was natural for people to flock because he didn’t think about profit margins and put in plenty of ingredients and cooked deliciously.

He was a little uneasy because it was his first time experiencing such a festival, but it was going surprisingly well.

When he entered the kitchen, Tarman, Ann, and Karin were working hard.

“Come on, work hard everyone. Money is coming in. Money!”

“Sca! You do some work too!”

Karin shouted while cooking, sweating profusely.

“Okay. Tarman, go out and watch the store with Hooknose. I’ll have to work in the kitchen.”

“Yes.”

Tarman put on his apron and ran outside.

“Money is coming in. Money is coming. The day I see the light in my life is coming like this.”

Jeong Yu-sin hummed a song and began to move diligently.

* * *

Contrary to the festive atmosphere, the labyrinth exit was deserted with no one coming or going.

Ingrid Redtail sat quietly in place, facing the hot summer wind.

The spot where Sca had sat before. It was the perfect place to look straight at the labyrinth.

‘What on earth is that half-blood Barbaroi doing?’

Ingrid stood up abruptly after thinking about various things.

Whoaaaaaaang.

Light flashed at the labyrinth exit.

And then.

A group of black-haired men appeared.

Armor that was old and twisted. Men holding axes and swords with edges that were shiny from how much they had been used.

Dull eyes and long beards.

In the middle of them stood an old Barbaroi with hair close to white.

Ingrid’s eyes widened in shock.

“Could… could it be Lord Ragna Hellblade?!!!”

The elderly Barbaroi smiled faintly.

“Is it 40 years? Yurine Redtail. Why do you seem younger than the last time I saw you?”

“That’s my mother’s name.”

The elderly Barbaroi, called Ragna, looked at Ingrid with surprised eyes and then burst into hearty laughter.

“Haha. Has there already been a generational shift? It’s really been a long time.”

“···It has really been a long time.”

The elderly Barbaroi raised his head and looked at the dark sky for a long time. The people around him also counted the stars along with the elderly Barbaroi.

For a very long time.

Suddenly, the elderly Barbaroi lowered his head and looked at Ingrid.

“I have a question. May I ask?”

“Yes, Lord Ragna. Please ask anything.”

“How is it that none of our race who reached the depths of the labyrinth for 30 years ever came out?”

Ingrid wore a troubled expression at Ragna’s question.

“That’s…”

“What happened?”

Ragna stroked his beard with a curious expression.

Ingrid explained about the current situation of the Barbaroi.

It was quite a long time before Ingrid finished speaking.

“···Currently, they are in the eastern district. We have been trying to be as considerate as possible according to the ‘Covenant,’ but it is now difficult. In recent years, their acts of atrocity have begun to cross the line.”

Ragna’s expression hardened terribly.

“So that’s what happened. I’m sorry. Yurine, you must have suffered a lot.”

Ingrid couldn’t say a word to Ragna, who kept looking at her and calling her mother’s name.

This was because an immense energy was gushing out from Ragna’s body, as if he was terribly angry.

The air was vibrating.

‘Is this the power of the former labyrinth committee?’

Even Ingrid, who had gone through various hells, was nervous and her fingertips were trembling.

Ragna relaxed his expression.

“What’s the name of the guy leading the Barbaroi now?”

“It’s Kaiser.”

“It’s not that I don’t believe you, but not all of our race commit such atrocities. I’ll have to go take a look. I’ll look around secretly, so there’s no need to follow.”

“Right now? You can rest a little. Today is the Blue Moon Festival, so it’s better to relieve your fatigue first…”

Ragna waved his hand, cutting off Ingrid’s words.

“There’s not much time left. Prepare a robe for me.”

“I understand. Can you give me some time before that?”

“Not for long.”

“Yes.”

Ingrid called her subordinates.

“Quietly tell the committee, the head of the inner castle knight order, and the head of the outer castle guard. Tell them to keep their mouths shut.”

“I understand. What should I tell them?”

“Tell them that the true Barbaroi has returned.”

* * *

“S, Sca! People are shouting outside!”

Tarman rushed over and said.

“Why?”

Jeong Yu-sin, whose whole body was soaked in sweat from working in the kitchen, asked.

“Th… that’s because the bread isn’t coming out.”

“Tell them it’s all ready. I’ll be out soon.”

“Yes!”

When he went outside, the place was a sea of people.

“Owner! Bring the bread!”

“We’ve been waiting too long!”

“I’ll give you all the money I have, so sell it all!”

‘Am I really going to become rich like this? Should I open a bakery when I go back?’

He opened the stall while having absurd thoughts.

“Alright!!! Cream Slime Bread for sale!!! Cheap, 30 copper coins! Get in line! Fresh milk is also available!!!”

“Waaaaah!!!”

People screamed and rushed in. Copper coins were flying around here and there, fierce debates were taking place, and some were even grabbing each other by the collar.

Jeong Yu-sin smiled broadly and diligently handed out bread.

‘Let’s make some money.’

One hour later.

All the bread piled high on the stall had been sold.

“Ooh!!! Is this what it tastes like?!”

“Owner! Sell me the recipe!!!”

“Crazy… all the bread I’ve eaten until now was fake…!”

“I can’t eat any more after eating 10. Stomach, you bastard! Quickly put in the cream bread!”

The people gathered at the inn’s stall were all smiling happily with thick cream smeared on their mouths, stroking their bellies.

‘Was it that good?’

Jeong Yu-sin scratched his head. He thought the fuss was a bit much.

“Business is closed. See you tomorrow!”

Anyway, he felt good because he sold a lot.

He had some time left, so he was going to help other people prepare ingredients for tomorrow’s business.

At that time.

Someone approached the stall.

A height of over 2m.

A muscular, strong body that was difficult to hide with just a robe.

If a chilly sensation could be a smell, this would be how it felt.

His whole body was sending out danger signals due to a smell that was impossible to describe in words.

Jeong Yu-sin recognized the identity of this man at a glance.

‘A Barbaroi!’

“Hey there. Do you have any bread left?”

An old, gravelly voice flowed down from above.

“…”

Jeong Yu-sin was silent for a moment and looked closely inside the robe.

An elderly Barbaroi with more white hair than black hair.

He was surprised for a moment, but quickly calmed his mind.

‘They’re all the same.’

“Get lost. I have no bread to give to a criminal.”

Jeong Yu-sin growled at the elderly Barbaroi.

“···A criminal, you say. What do you mean?”

The elderly Barbaroi was silent for a moment, then asked back.

Jeong Yu-sin’s expression twisted like a demon.

This bastard.

The joyful feeling of doing well in business instantly plunged into a swamp.

They had no awareness that the guys who acted like thugs by relying on their strength were committing crimes.

He couldn’t turn a blind eye to it.

“Aren’t you the guys who told me to offer up [a woman]?! You must be losing your mind as you get old. Go to a brothel. *Ptooey!!!* You can’t come to your senses even when you’re old and you’re rushing all the way here to receive [an offering]? Get a grip. You son of a bitch!!!”

“…”

Ragna Hellblade.

An old warrior who had faced the abyss in the labyrinth for a full 30 years.

Even while overcoming all sorts of dangers with his comrades, he had never heard such abusive language.

‘Oh. My sin is great.’

How much had this young half-blood been tormented by that guy Kaiser to make him shout as if he was consumed by evil?

He couldn’t help but feel miserable.

Upon realizing this, a tear ran down his cheek.

Jeong Yu-sin also saw it.

“What…?!”

A Barbaroi… crying?

‘Was I too harsh…?’