episode_0109

The old Barbaroi was crying.

Jeong Yushin stared blankly at the sight.

Because the robe was covering the Barbaroi’s face, only Jeong Yushin, standing right in front, could see the tears. However, because the atmosphere turned strange due to the harsh words just uttered, some of the crowd began to glance around. Some were even approaching.

“Uh… that is.”

Jeong Yushin had no idea what to say. He had only gently admonished him for demanding tributes, but suddenly, he burst into tears.

‘Could he have acquired some kind of emotionally rich engraving?’

Seeing the old Barbaroi bursting into tears, he regretted whether he had conveyed his feelings without filtering them too much.

“I… I was a bit harsh. I’m sorry.”

Jeong Yushin readily apologized.

Now that he looked at him, he was different from the Barbarois he had seen so far. His eyes weren’t glistening with lust.

Of course, he hadn’t seen them often, so he didn’t know well.

Even so, wouldn’t you say the atmosphere he exuded was different from the others? There was no talk of sex out of the blue. It was a slightly more rational atmosphere.

Was he old enough to have a moment of clarity? Still, he couldn’t let his guard down.

“Wait here. I’ll see if there’s one left and come back.”

“Ahem! I understand.”

Jeong Yushin went inside the inn and came out with one remaining bread. He had taken his share from the food made for the people working at the inn to eat.

“Here you go.”

When Jeong Yushin handed over a cream slime bread that was slightly larger than the others, the old Barbaroi smiled brightly.

“Thank you. How much is it?”

“It’s free. I’m sorry for speaking harshly just now.”

“Thank you. I didn’t actually have any money.”

“…”

Jeong Yushin shook his head and came to a conclusion.

Suddenly crying and then saying he has no money?

‘He’s a bit senile.’

He hoped someone would take this old man away soon.

“Mixed-blood child, may I ask you something?”

“What is it?”

“Answer me honestly.”

“Yes. I’m always honest.”

“Have you seen other members of our race? Let me ask more specifically. Are other pure-blooded members of our race living like you?”

Jeong Yushin’s expression soured.

Pure-blooded Barbarois living a life of realizing the value of labor while shedding blood and sweat?

There were none like that among the black hairs.

There were many in the original world. Rather, they suffered because they worked too hard.

Wasn’t the working hours the 5th longest in the world? It was fair to say they were grinding their lives into labor.

Jeong Yushin calmly opened his mouth.

“To answer the first question, I’ve seen about two. And I don’t know well because I haven’t been here long, but there was no one living like me.”

The old Barbaroi’s expression hardened menacingly.

“I heard that our race is staying in brothels, is that true?”

“Yes. I haven’t been there myself, I’ve only heard it. There should be a brothel somewhere in the eastern district.”

“I understand. Just one more thing. What is your father’s name?”

“…”

Jeong Yushin closed his mouth.

What a strange old man.

He didn’t know why he was trying to find out someone else’s father’s name. Just like that crazy Barbaroi he met at the explorer’s guild last time.

“I can’t say that.”

“I see. I’m sorry for asking a sensitive question.”

Jeong Yushin tilted his head. It wasn’t exactly a sensitive issue. He was just reluctant to talk about his true origins to the people of this world.

“Yes… well.”

Jeong Yushin vaguely mumbled.

It occurred to him that he had a question while talking to this rational Barbaroi whose manhood was newly limp.

Why does this old Barbaroi strictly distinguish between purebloods and mixed-bloods?

It’s true that it shows.

There is a huge difference between the savage of this world and himself.

You can tell right away if you actually see them.

Should I say it’s like the difference between a muscular, bald, tattooed black man and an intellectual black man wearing horn-rimmed glasses in a judge’s robe?

The old Barbaroi raised his hand and patted Jeong Yushin’s shoulder.

“You must have gone through a lot. You must have been discriminated against by other tribes often because you’re mixed-blood.”

Jeong Yushin’s head tilted to the side at the unexpected words.

“What are you talking about? That never happened.”

“Is that so? Well, there are a lot of good people.”

He hadn’t met that many Barbarois in the first place. The only person he talked to recently was one, and even though he heard a crazy suggestion, he just shrugged it off, thinking that’s just how Barbarois are.

If there was any discrimination, it was from the people living in the labyrinth.

And from the beginning, he was treated like a Barbaroi by those people. He heard the word mixed-blood, but not very often.

‘I don’t know what’s going on.’

Jeong Yushin stopped thinking about it.

No.

Actually, he wasn’t that curious. He was doing just fine as he was. There was no need to stick his foot in a cesspool and swim around.

“I’ll be going now. Good luck with your business. Ah! Take this.”

The old Barbaroi took something out of his pocket and put it in Jeong Yushin’s hand.

“What is this?”

Suddenly giving him a ring.

“It’s a gift.”

He didn’t know when they met, but he was already giving him a gift. Suspicion grew rampant. Was it some kind of charm for virility?

“I can’t accept this.”

“Take it. I’m giving it to you because I’m grateful, so don’t refuse.”

“If that’s the case, I’ll sell it well and use it to help the store.”

The old Barbaroi grinned.

“You’ll regret selling it.”

“You’re the one who should regret it, old man. They say if you cry and then laugh, you’ll grow hair on your butt.”

“…In another sense, I’m curious about who your father is. Let’s meet again sometime.”

The old Barbaroi made an absurd expression, barely said a word, and walked away.

Jeong Yushin stared at the departing old man’s back for a while before closing his stall. Today’s business was over. There was nothing more to see.

The bustling night that lit up the city finally subsided at dawn. The people who filled the inn hall had all left, and only Jeong Yushin and Karin remained.

As they sat at the counter sharing a drink for a while, Karin said.

“Do you want to look around the city tomorrow?”

“Suddenly?”

“What do you mean suddenly? Are you just going to work all through the festival?”

That wasn’t good. It wouldn’t be good to just work like other people and pass over the festival.

“Okay. Is there anywhere you particularly want to go?”

“Um… um.”

Karin’s face turned slightly red.

“Let’s just look around the southern and central districts. I heard there are a lot of things to see?”

“Really? Okay. Then I’ll have to adjust the schedule?”

“I’ve already done it all. Crooked Nose said he’d bring his friends to help.”

Karin.

She’s incredibly meticulous?

Jeong Yushin chuckled and teased.

“What is it? Why are you so thorough with the planning? Are you trying to eat me up?”

Karin’s face turned red in an instant.

“W-what?! That’s absolutely not it?!”

Karin’s red tail spun around like a fan.

“Why are you so flustered?”

At Jeong Yushin’s question, Karin downed her drink and stood up from her seat.

“It’s because you’re saying weird things. Anyway, we’re still meeting, right? See you tomorrow.”

“Okay. Got it.”

Jeong Yushin looked at Karin’s swaying butt as she left, then turned his gaze back to his drink.

“What?”

He was confused by Karin’s incomprehensible actions. But he soon let it go.

Not knowing the heart of Roynel, who had become a duck.

He didn’t know the hearts of the Barbaroi bastards who told him to offer his hole.

It was even more difficult to know the hearts of the beastmen.

They say the human heart is a labyrinth.

‘That’s right.’

Jeong Yushin downed his drink and stood up from his seat.

There was no harm in getting to know Karin’s heart little by little. He had seen her face a lot in various ways, so he was sure she was someone he could trust.

‘She wouldn’t do anything bad, would she?’

* * *

Knock knock!

The next day. Someone knocked on the door early in the morning.

“Who is it?”

Jeong Yushin, who had woken up from his sleep, rubbed his eyes and raised his head.

Bang!

Karin, wearing hot pants and a white tank top, burst into the room.

“We were supposed to go on a date today. Why did you wake up so late?!”

Since when did it become a date?

“Wait a little bit. I’ll change my clothes and go.”

Jeong Yushin sent Karin out and changed into comfortable clothes.

When he went downstairs, Ann greeted him with a smile.

“Sir, have a good date.”

“Uh-huh. I understand. Take good care of the store. I’ll be back early.”

“No. It’s okay if you come back late.”

???

Jeong Yushin scratched his head. It seemed like Karin and Ann exchanged meaningful glances just now. Was it his imagination?

Karin wrapped herself around Jeong Yushin’s arm like a snake.

“Ann, I’m off.”

“Yes. Do your best, Karin.”

Jeong Yushin was dragged by Karin’s hand to the southern district. The streets were overflowing with people.

A play was unfolding in the park, and the alleyways were filled with people playing instruments and performing various magic tricks.

“Cheap! Cheap! One grilled chicken skewer for 20 copper coins!”

“Selling Numek meat sandwiches!!! Buy one now and get one free!!!”

The streets were lined with street vendors selling a variety of foods.

Jeong Yushin and Karin roamed the city without realizing how much time had passed.

How much time had passed?

Before they knew it, the sunset filled the city with light.

Jeong Yushin looked up at the sky. The sun was gradually setting.

It was summer, so the sun set late, but they had already spent so much time. He had enjoyed himself without even realizing it.

The time he spent with Karin was one of the most comfortable and enjoyable moments in recent months.

The most important point was.

He was able to learn about Karin’s unknown sides.

‘She unexpectedly liked feminine things.’

She liked not only cute stuffed animals, but also accessories and sweet desserts.

Especially.

“How is it?”

When he saw Karin squinting as she put on silver earrings, his heart fluttered.

When she was working as a server at the inn, she acted tomboyish, but at times like this, she hesitated.

“Pretty.”

“Hehe.”

Even this easy smile.

Come to think of it, how did their fates become intertwined like this?

Their first impression wasn’t very good. Maybe Karin felt the same way? He still clearly remembered being caught by slave hunters and having his head shoved into blood-mixed mud.

When he entered the Labyrinth City with Simus, he slammed his head first.

Come to think of it, a lot of things happened.

“Why are you spacing out?”

When Karin asked with a smile, Jeong Yushin snapped out of his thoughts.

“Thank you. Today was the most comfortable day in the Labyrinth City.”

“Really? Then… should we go for walks together often in the future?”

“That would be nice.”

As they leaned on each other’s shoulders and returned to the southern park, the sun had already set and the night sky had unfolded.

The stars and the blue moon hung over Jeong Yushin and Karin.

A young girl pointed to the sky.

“Ah! Dad! Look over there!”

The man who appeared to be her father also raised his head.

“The spirit gods have appeared.”

Clusters of light of various colors were slowly flying in the city’s sky.

It was like jellyfish swimming in the sea or fireflies flying through a reed field.

Red. Gold. Green. Blue.

Various brilliant lights adorned the city’s sky. A light that couldn’t even be compared to the city’s lights. It contained divinity.

‘As expected, it’s another world?’

People closed their eyes and prayed silently.

Jeong Yushin also closed his eyes.

And wished.

For the peace and happiness of the people next to him.

Also, for a safe return to the original world.

At that time.

The ground shook. It wasn’t very big, but Karin and Jeong Yushin felt it.

Kuguguung!!!

And with a huge explosion, red flames soared from a distant place. It was too far away to see clearly.

The people who had been watching the spirit gods hovering in the air turned their heads and looked in the direction where the fire was rising.

‘That’s the east side.’

Jeong Yushin thought to himself.

“That’s definitely the brothel district…”

A middle-aged man who seemed to enjoy nightlife quite a bit muttered.

Jeong Yushin’s expression soured.

If so, that’s where the Barbarois are staying.

‘What the hell is going on?’

He was curious, but he put it aside. It wasn’t a one or two day thing for the nuisance race to be acting like that.

In the first place, he didn’t want his peaceful time to be disturbed.

At that moment.

“Kyaaaaak!!! A monster… a monster has appeared!!!”

A piercing scream filled the park.

Jeong Yushin and Karin’s eyes widened.

“What…?!”