episode_0130

Suddenly, the female elf made a deflated sound.

‘What’s wrong?’

Jung Yu-shin didn’t know what to do and stood there silently.

Then, the female elf blushed slightly and hesitated.

‘I should at least greet her.’

Regardless of whether she’s royalty or not, Ashur knows her. It’s not polite to just stand here blankly.

“Hello?”

He bowed.

“H…Hello.”

The female elf bowed back.

“…”

When he raised his head, the female elf kept sweeping her ears back.

It was like a handsome man and a beautiful woman on a blind date.

Ashur, who couldn’t bear to watch, stood up.

“Princess, what brings you here?”

The female elf, called princess, glanced at Jung Yu-shin and opened her mouth.

“I heard you came to the villa a few… a few hours ago, looking for me.”

“That’s correct. But I was going to wait and visit you later.”

“No. I can’t have you waiting. I was also taking a walk. Besides, there was a message from my mother.”

Jung Yu-shin’s ears perked up.

Mother?

If that elf is a princess, then her mother must be a queen.

If I just stand here blankly and end up hearing a secret, won’t I get caught up in something strange again?

It didn’t seem like a good idea to be here.

Jung Yu-shin quickly backed away.

“I’ll go rest in the back.”

“Understood.”

Jung Yu-shin went to a large tree at the edge of the clearing and leaned against it.

A cool breeze came from the forest and fluttered his hair.

For a while, he watched Ashur and the princess talking in the distance. As far as they were, he couldn’t hear the content.

Jung Yu-shin closed his eyes and replayed his sword training with Ashur.

That elf princess was beautiful. But that was it, her chest was small. He had no interest in her.

While Jung Yu-shin was meditating with his eyes closed.

The elf princess opened her mouth.

“Ashur, is that Barbaroi boy your disciple?”

Ashur nodded.

“Yes. He’s a friend with skill, courage, and a good heart.”

“You think highly of him?”

“He sometimes spouts nonsense, but it’s cute enough.”

The elf princess tilted her head.

“What kind of nonsense does he say?”

Ashur was about to tell this innocent princess about his disciple’s lewd plan, but stopped.

It would be too shocking.

“I don’t want to taint the princess’s ears. I’m sorry.”

“Is that so?”

The elf princess seemed quite curious and kept glancing in the direction where Jung Yu-shin was sitting.

Ashur was sweating.

‘Could that disciple of mine be…?’

“Princess.”

“Oh! I’m sorry. By the way, he’s really handsome. He has a beauty comparable to our race.”

“…”

Ashur was speechless looking at this pure princess.

It was like she was jumping into a mud pit herself.

It was even more so because he had heard about his disciple’s outrageous plan.

Ashur thought he should get the princess out of here quickly.

“Princess, I heard there was a message from the Queen.”

“Yes. Ashur Startree, the Queen said that she wants you to visit the kingdom in the near future. She also said it was an urgent matter.”

“···Did she say anything else?”

“No. But I don’t think it’s a simple summons. It’s also something I can’t say here. You can hear it directly from my mother. Then, goodbye.”

After speaking, the elf princess turned around and left the clearing.

Worrisome, she didn’t forget to glance at Jung Yu-shin before leaving the clearing.

Ashur saw the princess off and then sighed quietly.

A summons from the Queen.

What’s happening in the kingdom?

They say that as you live longer, your worries increase.

‘I hope nothing bad happens. I don’t have time.’

Jung Yu-shin, who was resting against the large tree, got up and approached Ashur.

“Was that a princess?”

“Yes. Don’t worry about it. She’s just someone who stopped by for a moment. Pick up your sword again.”

“Yes.”

“Hmm. I need to change the plan a bit.”

“What plan?”

Jung Yu-shin asked, hearing Ashur’s mutterings.

“What plan? The plan to help my disciple grow.”

“Huh?!”

Jung Yu-shin flinched and stepped back.

Ashur chuckled and picked up his sword.

“Here I come. Get ready.”

* * *

Three days had passed since they came to the forest.

Eat breakfast and run through the forest.

From lunchtime to dinner, he received swordsmanship correction from Ashur.

It was a simple plan. The content was hellish, though.

Ashur carried the sprawled-out Jung Yu-shin on his shoulder and approached the guild members.

“Build up some muscle appropriately.”

“Should I go easy? Isn’t he young?”

“He’s leveled up quite a bit. He endures better than most his age.”

“Hoo.”

The guild member’s eyes lit up as he looked down at Jung Yu-shin.

Jung Yu-shin, who had regained consciousness, looked around.

He was sure he had been beaten up during a sparring session with his master and lost consciousness.

When he woke up, he was in a different place.

“Huh?!”

Another clearing in the forest. Iron weights were scattered here and there.

It was like an outdoor gym.

Is it okay to have something like this in the forest?

No.

Is it okay for something like this to exist in this era?

People were lifting iron weights and moving around as if it were natural.

His stomach churned at the sight of their hard muscles glistening with sweat.

‘Crazy other world.’

It was just like ancient Roman gladiators working out.

He thought they were muscular, but he didn’t think it would be this serious.

“Hoo. Delicious.”

Some men were adjusting their breathing while lifting dumbbells.

“Thirty-four. Hup. Thirty-five!”

There were also men sweating profusely while doing bench presses.

“Come over here.”

A muscular elf beckoned Jung Yu-shin.

“Just a moment. I, I need to prepare myself.”

“The mind follows when the body is ready.”

“Ah!”

In an instant, he was grabbed by the muscular elf and laid down on the bench.

Before he knew it, he had grabbed the iron bar.

The muscular elf smiled.

“First time, right? Let’s go light.”

His head was spinning.

‘Ah.’

Weight training after coming to another world.

Does that make sense?

It was like he was dreaming.

Stop.

Jung Yu-shin widened his eyes.

‘If I’m here anyway, I should do my best.’

The muscular elf saw that and licked his lips.

“Good expression. Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

* * *

3 hours later.

“Kkyaaaaaa!!!”

Jung Yu-shin screamed as he lifted the iron bar.

His biceps and chest muscles were burning.

“I can’t do it anymore!!! I’m going to die!!! No more!!! Stop!!!”

“Just one more!!! Just one more!!!”

The men surrounding Jung Yu-shin shouted enthusiastically.

Sweat that had formed on his forehead stayed around his eyes before flowing down.

Jung Yu-shin screamed.

“No, I can’t!!! Please!!!”

“Just one more!”

His eyes were bloodshot and a murderous intent was rising from the depths of his heart.

Where in the world do they make you do dozens when they say just one more?

Muscle-crazed bastards!

In the end, thanks to the enthusiastic support of the guild members, he was able to escape after lifting the iron bar 15 times.

He staggered back to the dormitory.

The sun was setting.

“Ah. I really feel like I’m going to die.”

He sighed and muttered, but there was no time to rest.

After eating dinner, he entered into a personal training session with Ashur again.

Clang!!!

Clang clang!!!

Ashur and Jung Yu-shin’s wooden swords collided in the air and fell.

The guild members lit a bonfire in the clearing and sat loosely, watching Ashur and Jung Yu-shin exchanging swords.

Sparks flew from the bonfire.

The muscular elf man opened his mouth while watching the sword dance.

“His posture is much cleaner now? What do you think, Deputy Guild Leader?”

Killa nodded.

“The sword is upright. The posture is flexible too. His growth is really fast. Now that I see it, the Guild Leader was polishing a gem.”

One of the guild members muttered, resting his chin on his hand.

“I’m tempted. I want to put him in our clan? Didn’t they say that guy was promoted to intermediate explorer? Should I seriously recommend it?”

“Don’t bother. I already called dibs.”

“Greedy bastard. In my opinion, he doesn’t seem like someone who would be under anyone.”

While the guild members were chatting.

Jung Yu-shin and Ashur’s sparring was reaching its climax.

Clang clang clang!!!

He received the sword in a half-swording stance and struck Ashur with the pommel.

Ashur only tilted his chin to avoid the pommel and stepped back.

“Scar.”

“Huuuuh. Huuuuuh. Yes.”

Ashur put his wooden sword on his shoulder and looked down at the boy.

The boy, soaked in sweat, had sparkling eyes.

Eyes clearer than anyone else, without any lewd thoughts.

“Excellent. The sparring ends here.”

Ashur smiled and praised him.

Jung Yu-shin gasped for breath and collapsed in the clearing.

Ashur lowered his sword and looked up at the sky.

“The weather is cool for summer.”

The Milky Way was spread out in the night sky above the clearing.

‘Good.’

“Deputy Guild Leader, bring the sword.”

“Yes.”

Killa went into the tent and brought Ashur’s longsword.

Ashur handed the wooden sword to the Deputy Guild Leader and drew his beloved sword.

Shhh.

The sword was slowly drawn out, scattering a clear light.

Ashur held up his sword and lowered his head slightly.

“Good work today too. It’s really nice to see you working hard.”

The guild members straightened their posture and smiled.

“It’s all thanks to the Guild Leader’s hard work. We just followed along.”

“That’s right. Thank you, Guild Leader.”

Ashur smiled.

“My heart is happy. Today I will show you a sword dance.”

The elf master grabbed his sword and slowly swung it.

So that Jung Yu-shin and the guild members could see it clearly.

Sparks flew from the bonfire and the sword fluttered like the wind.

Star clusters could be seen in Ashur’s sword dance.

The dignified flow of the sword, captivating and shaking the soul, was like the Milky Way scattering and gathering under the sky.

‘Beautiful.’

Jung Yu-shin even forgot to breathe and engraved his master’s sword dance in his eyes.

His mind was itching.

He felt it instinctively.

‘This is.’

It is the path that the master is showing.

It was also a sigh from the master, who had not found the answer to madness.

That heart.

That sword dance.

He put it in his mind.

The sword of star clusters landed like feathers in the place where madness was nailed down.

At first, it would be light, but it would become heavier as he shed sweat and blood.

Summer night.

In front of a blazing bonfire.

The boy, who was a crazy man, engraved his master’s sword in his heart.

How much time had passed?

Whoosh.

The elf lightly swung his sword and shook it off. It was as if he was shaking off the hardships of the world.

Ashur looked around at the guild members and smiled.

“Look at those dazed expressions. Flies will get into your mouths.”

“It’s always amazing.”

“Hoo. What day is it today?”

The guild members laughed and answered.

On the other hand, Jung Yu-shin closed his eyes and sat quietly.

It was the action he took immediately after Ashur’s sword dance ended.

Ashur gestured.

“Everyone, go in and get some sleep. Leave Scar behind. Quietly.”

“Yes.”

The guild members answered quietly and got up from their seats and went into their tents.

Jung Yu-shin, who had been sitting in his seat for a long time, opened his eyes.

The starlight in his clear eyes sparkled and slowly subsided.

Ashur slowly opened his mouth.

“How is it?”

“It was a beautiful sword dance.”

“Good.”

Ashur came over and stroked Jung Yu-shin’s head.

“Don’t do that.”

“Tsk. I showed you a sword dance that you wouldn’t be able to see even if you paid a million gold, but you’re saying I can’t even stroke your head once?”

“…”

“You know where to wash your body, right? Around the lake. Your acquaintance is waiting. Go.”

“Who is it?”

“Someone you know.”

Jung Yu-shin tilted his head.

Who is it?

“Can’t you just tell me?”

“It’s no fun if I tell you now. You’ll be so surprised your eyes will pop out.”

Surprised?

Could there be something more surprising than the master’s sword dance?

“Well, I understand. I’ll meet them while washing up.”

Jung Yu-shin went into the tent, packed clothes and toiletries to change into, and came out.

Ashur was nowhere to be seen, having disappeared somewhere as if he had something to do.

‘What is it?’

Jung Yu-shin scratched his head.

Is it a woman?

A busty older sister is into me?

Could Karin be worried and come looking for me?

No way.

A cold bath with a naked, busty older sister on a humid summer night.

Just thinking about it made his face break into a smile.

Jung Yu-shin hurried his steps and walked along the forest path.

He arrived at the lake after walking for about 30 minutes.

The serene lake reflected the stars and swayed gently.

‘I should at least see their face before taking a bath.’

With a pounding heart, he looked around.

There was no sound.

‘Did Master make a mistake?’

That’s impossible.

He wasn’t the type to joke around with something like this.

‘No. Well, maybe.’

Isn’t he the very person who kidnapped me?

Jung Yu-shin wandered around the lake for a while, searching, but couldn’t find anyone.

“Sigh.”

I don’t know. Should I just take a bath?

Just as he lowered his hand to loosen his belt.

Rustle.

One side of the bush shook. Jung Yu-shin’s head turned.

Someone slowly walked out.

“Huh?!”

A huge body.

Tall height.

An old man with white and black hair mixed together.

“That old man?!”

“It’s been a while.”

Ragna Hellblade.

The Barbaroi smiled under the moonlight.