episode_0131

A barbarian stood next to the lake.

Jeong Yushin’s eyes widened as if they would pop out.

A scene so scary it would appear in his dreams.

His heart began to pound rapidly.

What should you do if you meet a barbarian at night?

‘Calm down.’

Even if you get caught by a tiger, you can survive if it doesn’t see your backside.

“…”

Jeong Yushin and the old barbarian met each other’s eyes.

A moment of silence flowed.

‘No…no way!’

I can’t stand it.

Jeong Yushin turned around and ran away as fast as he could.

“S, save me!!!”

The boy ran away screaming.

Ragna scratched his head.

“Oops.”

Jeong Yushin moved his feet with all his might, panting.

His head was dizzy.

It felt like he was having a nightmare.

‘Ashur tricked me!!!’

He felt the crisis of his chastity before the betrayal that his teacher had sold him out.

At least the elf wouldn’t try to look at his backside.

And how on earth did he recognize him?

Could it be.

Did Ashur tell him?

His teacher’s head must have gone crazy.

“Guaaaak!!!”

He ran diligently along the lakeside.

Ragna shook his head and lightly jumped and flew into the sky.

Thud!!!

Ragna landed right in front of Jeong Yushin.

“Calm down. I didn’t come to hurt you.”

Jeong Yushin’s body froze.

“You expect me to believe that?!”

“Look. I haven’t laid a finger on you, have I?”

The old barbarian spread his palms and waved them in front of Jeong Yushin.

That’s true.

But his palm was as big as a person’s head.

“Old man, what’s your name? Who the hell are you?”

“Ho ho. You want to hear my true name?”

The old barbarian looked down with a gentle smile.

‘I feel like I’m going to throw up.’

His stomach was queasy.

Wait.

That’s not the problem. The problem isn’t the smile.

‘I heard that barbarians reveal their true name to their lifelong wives or close friends.’

A long time ago.

It was what he heard when he first came to the labyrinth and registered as an explorer.

The receptionist definitely said that. With a pale face.

Jeong Yushin took a few steps back.

He wouldn’t use the word friend for a child.

In that case.

The blood drained from Jeong Yushin’s face.

The old barbarian smiled.

“I can’t tell you that. Call me Ragna.”

‘Ragna.’

Is that a fake name?

Should I be relieved that he didn’t tell me his real name?

‘I don’t know yet. Stay focused.’

“…What brings you here?”

Jeong Yushin asked without letting his guard down.

Ragna crossed his arms and turned his head to look at the lake instead of answering.

A tranquil night lake.

“Ashur seems to cherish you a lot.”

“…We have a few things tied together.”

“I know.”

Were this old man and the elf teacher acquainted?

The elf is a long-lived race, so it’s not surprising, but.

“Looking back, it’s a funny time. When I first met Ashur, he was a snot-nosed brat.”

“Have you been in the labyrinth city for quite a while?”

“Yes. I’ve traveled all over the world.”

“…Can we get to the point?”

“Ahem!!! You’re in a hurry, my friend. Understood.”

Ragna took something out of his bag.

A glass bottle that looked expensive at a glance.

There was a sky-blue liquid sloshing around in it.

“What is this?”

“It’s an elixir called the Tears of a Mage.”

“What’s that?”

“It’s a medicine that permanently increases a person’s magic power. It can’t be converted into gold. If it were released on the market, there would be a lot of chaos.”

An elixir?

Jeong Yushin stared up at the bottle as if possessed by something.

His mouth watered.

Gulp.

If I take that elixir, won’t I be able to get rid of the chronic lack of magic power?

His magic power had increased to some extent when he buried the relic last time. It was a tiny amount, but.

Besides, he didn’t know when he would be able to level up again.

Of course, he wasn’t going to die right now just because he didn’t have enough magic power.

It was just a shame.

Ragna shook the bottle, and the sky-blue liquid gently swayed.

“Ska, you’re drooling. Do you want it?”

When did he even learn my name?

Scary old man.

Jeong Yushin was about to nod but stopped.

“Yes. I want it. But I heard that you shouldn’t accept things from strangers.”

“That’s the right attitude. But this is our second meeting, so we’re not strangers, are we? I’ll give it to you if you need it.”

Jeong Yushin was speechless at Ragna’s brazen reply.

If you’re not strangers after seeing each other twice, then who the hell is a stranger?

“Why? What do you want in return?”

“Nothing.”

Ragna shook his head and said firmly.

Jeong Yushin’s eyes narrowed.

Suspicion grew deeper.

He’s just giving away an elixir that can’t be converted into gold?

With no strings attached?

“Really nothing?”

“Yes. Take it if you want.”

Ragna held out the bottle.

Jeong Yushin slowly approached Ragna.

The elixir in front of him was too tempting to doubt any further.

Besides, he knows the elf teacher, doesn’t he?

‘This is definitely a lucky chance that heaven has given me in response to my sincerity.’

A kind of cliffside lucky chance.

In some martial arts novels, I heard that they even offer their butt*ole to get taught by a master.

If I can get this kind of lucky chance by just moving my hand in front of a barbarian, it’s a worthwhile deal.

Having made up his mind, Jeong Yushin slowly reached out his hand.

Clack.

He grabbed the bottle and brought it up to his eyes.

His heart was pounding as he looked at the sky-blue liquid.

He got an elixir that increases magic power without any hardship.

Ragna smiled and took another item out of his bag.

An antique elf-style single-edged sword.

Jeong Yushin quickly turned his head.

He’s not a magician taking a sword out of his bag.

Is it a magic bag or something?

Ragna held up the single-edged sword and held it out in front of Jeong Yushin.

“Do you want this too?”

“What’s that sword?”

“This old man got this sword in the labyrinth. It’s a magic sword with a special ability.”

“Oh!!!”

Jeong Yushin’s eyes sparkled.

“What ability?”

“The magic ‘Gale’ is engraved on it.”

“Gale?”

Jeong Yushin tilted his head.

“You can move quickly if you use this sword.”

“Wow!”

“Take it.”

Jeong Yushin moved closer to Ragna and reached out his hand.

Clack.

It was light for a sword. It was a little heavy for a boy’s body to hold.

But there’s no need to worry.

He’ll be able to use it more easily if he returns to his original body. If not, he can just increase his strength.

Jeong Yushin smiled broadly and stroked the sword.

“There’s something you should be aware of when using this single-edged sword.”

“What is it?”

“You can only swing it three times. If you’re surrounded or need to avoid an attack in a hurry, it will be a weapon that can save your life. Use it wisely.”

“Okay.”

“Ah! I almost forgot.”

Ragna reached into his bag again and rummaged through it to take something out.

A red stone.

“It’s a top-grade magic stone. I hope it helps you on your journey.”

‘This old man.’

Isn’t he almost like a lucky chance vending machine?

He was just standing still, and he was suddenly handing out expensive items one after another.

‘Maybe he has an enchantment that makes him want to give good things to cute children?’

A very reasonable inference.

He was a honey pot grandfather.

Jeong Yushin, intoxicated by the sweet lucky chance, gradually approached Ragna.

Maybe barbarians are actually good people, but they’ve been slandered?

In Jeong Yushin’s mind, the misconceptions about barbarians were gradually being corrected.

When he first heard the rumors about barbarians, he showed the lowest possible image, almost with his pants and underwear down.

Now.

He had the image of a gentleman in a suit.

“Give it to me.”

Jeong Yushin reached out his hand as if it were natural.

“Okay.”

Ragna smiled and held out the magic stone.

Clack!

He grabbed the magic stone, but Ragna didn’t let go.

“Huh?”

“This old man has a wish. Won’t you grant it?”

“W…what is it?!”

Only then did he realize.

The old barbarian’s sinister trick.

Is he trying to lure and kidnap people with sweet rewards?

High-level technique.

“Let’s have a hug.”

“Ah…?!”

Before he could say yes or no, Ragna moved his huge body and picked up Jeong Yushin.

“Guaaaak!!!”

Jeong Yushin struggled, but Ragna didn’t budge.

‘Is this lucky chance a butt offering lucky chance?!’

No way.

Predicting that Ragna would do something else, he wriggled his body with all his might.

But Ragna just held Jeong Yushin and stayed still.

“…?”

Jeong Yushin stopped struggling and stood still.

A few minutes later.

Ragna put Jeong Yushin down on the floor.

“…”

Ragna didn’t say anything. Only his eyes were a little red.

The old warrior’s eyes were full of sadness.

Ragna stroked Jeong Yushin’s head once.

“I wish I could hug you more, but I don’t have time.”

“Where are you going?”

“There’s a bad guy I have to chase.”

Ragna paused for a moment and then opened his mouth again.

“And if you think you lack training in the Swordsmanship Guild, find my subordinate in the northern district. Don’t worry too much. I’ve properly ‘educated’ the people of my race in the city.”

Educate barbarians?

Are those guys even capable of being educated?

Aren’t they irredeemable baby-making machines?

Anyway.

“What do you mean by the northern district?”

“I’m moving the disobedient guys there and making them work. If you go and show them the ring, they’ll all understand.”

“Old man, who the hell are you?”

“Me?”

Ragna grinned.

“Are you curious?”

“Yes.”

“Let’s talk about that when you get back.”

“No…?!”

Ragna turned around and disappeared into the bushes.

He was so fast that when he blinked, only the wind was blowing.

“Good grief.”

Jeong Yushin slumped down on the spot.

He was out of his mind as if a storm had passed.

He’s just shoving lucky chances into my mouth.

Can I really be this lucky?

And why did he hug me?

It was full of incomprehensible things.

After sitting blankly for a while, he took off his clothes and submerged himself in the lake.

‘It’s strange. The elf teacher and that old man are the same.’

They were all acting so fast as if they were in a hurry.

He washed his body while thinking about this and that, came out of the lake, and returned to the open space.

A familiar face was sitting by the bonfire.

“Huh?! Iron Mask?!”

Iron Mask waved his hand.

Jeong Yushin sat facing Iron Mask with the bonfire in between.

“Ska, I heard everything from Karin. You’re getting separate training from the Swordsmanship Guild. You’re going through a lot.”

There was a faint smile in Iron Mask’s voice.

“I was kidnapped.”

Jeong Yushin frowned and grumbled.

“I heard it was a good opportunity?”

“Why don’t you join us while you’re here?”

Iron Mask shook his head.

“Ska, don’t you know? I don’t have time.”

“…”

Jeong Yushin immediately understood and closed his mouth.

Crackle. Crackle.

In silence.

The bonfire burned quietly.

Iron Mask opened his mouth.

“I have to move forward.”

“…”

Jeong Yushin, who had been silent for a long time, raised his head.

“…Brother, don’t worry about me and go.”

Iron Mask stroked his greatsword.

“Ska, what you said gave me enlightenment. I thought I had given up everything, but that wasn’t the case. The fact that there are people waiting for me was supporting me. Thank you.”

Jeong Yushin smiled a little.

“Well, we’ll see each other often, so let’s not say too many sentimental things. Please stop by the store often and increase my sales.”

Iron Mask chuckled.

“That wasn’t like me.”

“By the way, who’s going in instead of me?”

“Karis. Remember the elf magician who fought with you against the troll last time?”

“Yes.”

“And another human warrior has joined.”

“A 5-person party.”

“That’s right.”

“That’s good.”

“I’m thinking of creating a clan if I have time. If there are a lot of trustworthy party members.”

“Can I have a seat?”

“Of course. But I don’t think you’re the type to be under someone else.”

“…”

Jeong Yushin scratched his head.

He was embarrassed that Iron Mask was overestimating him.

“Anyway, I have to find a new party again. Tch.”

“It won’t be easy. These days, the barbarians…”

Are those bastards at it again?

I’m sure I heard Ragna ‘educated’ them.

Wasn’t he?

Iron Mask shook his head and got up from his seat.

“It would be better for you to see it for yourself. Of course, they’re not as lawless as when you saw them last time.”

Iron Mask left as quickly as he came.

Jeong Yushin saw Iron Mask off and returned to the tent.

“Haa.”

Another relationship I’ve come to know is leaving like this.

He was sad.

But he couldn’t grab onto the pant leg of that poor crown prince.

Because he wouldn’t have time.

He lay down, closed his eyes, and fell into thought.

‘First of all, put Karin in the party…’

He made various plans and soon fell asleep.

A summer night.

Only the bonfire was quietly burning in the forest.