episode_0143

Jeong Yu-shin glared, scrutinizing his reflection in the mirror.

His thick eyebrows remained, but his sharp eyes had softened into a gentle, amiable gaze.

His nose was high and well-defined.

His skin was as firm and radiant as if it had been glazed with honey.

His countenance, which had grown increasingly marred by his time in the labyrinth, had brightened overall.

A face that resembled his mother more than his father.

Could it be.

Was this the blessing that Mother Earth had spoken of?

That goddess.

Was she subtly sincere about appearances?

However, it was a stretch to call such external changes a blessing.

Jeong Yu-shin closed his eyes. A vast amount of magical power surged from his entire body.

He had momentarily forgotten about the naturally flowing magical power.

‘I brought the increased magical power with me.’

Even if she is somewhat inept, is she still a god, after all?

Karin chuckled.

“Judging by your expression, you seem to have an idea? That’s right. It seems the goddess did a little something extra during the seal release. She said she borrowed magical power because she was short on strength.”

Magical power?

‘Are you referring to the magical power in my body?’

“Is that so? You seem to know the details. Have you made up with Mion now?”

“…We never fought in the first place?!”

Karin retorted, her face reddening.

In fact, the previous evening, she had a long conversation with Mion in the park, leaving the sleeping Scar behind.

Mion erased the sense-sharing magic inscribed on her chest, apologizing for casting the magic in haste and out of desperation.

She shook off the remaining resentment.

Still, her heart stung a little, since she had slept with Scar first.

Karin rubbed her eyes.

“I’m tired from staying up all night. I’m going to get some sleep.”

“Alright. I’ll take care of serving at the shop, so rest comfortably.”

“Thank you.”

Leaving Karin as she entered her room, he went down to the first floor.

Tarman still looked dazed, as if his soul had left his body.

“Ah, no. Mr. Scar?”

Tarman stammered.

“What is it?”

“Is it really okay for your face to change so drastically? I’m worried that one day you’ll come back looking completely different, and I won’t recognize you.”

“Tarman.”

“Yes?”

“Stop talking nonsense and let’s get to work. Do you think a person’s appearance changes that easily?”

Tarman had several rebuttals come to mind, but he held them back.

“Yes.”

Jeong Yu-shin put on an apron and started serving.

He also went to the kitchen to say hello to Ann.

Ann, who was holding a frying pan, looked surprised.

“M-Mr. Scar?”

“What?”

“You are Mr. Scar, aren’t you? I was so surprised. You look so different.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment. Prepare the potato salad and rye bread.”

“Yes.”

Jeong Yu-shin diligently carried the food.

A man dressed as a merchant looked at Jeong Yu-shin and gaped.

“A Barbaroi? Are you the owner here?”

“Something like that.”

“Did you perhaps change your business?”

“No. We’re still running an inn.”

“And you also offer nighttime massages? Isn’t this complete player management?”

“Absolutely not.”

“Hey! I’ve traveled to many cities, but this is the first time I’ve seen a Barbaroi as handsome as you. Your manhood must never have a dry day?”

A vein popped out on Jeong Yu-shin’s forehead.

‘This lowlife thug.’

His manner of speaking was like that of a third-rate gangster grunt who had spent ten years in some obscure underworld sect.

“Eat quietly and leave. I’m telling you nicely.”

“H-Hey!!! I understand!”

The merchant, having received a fearsome glare, buried his face in the table and began to eat.

Jeong Yu-shin moved busily.

He had no time to rest from morning until lunchtime.

Surely the number of customers should be decreasing, as normal.

But they were increasing.

It was difficult to come to one’s senses due to the endless stream of customers.

“Hey, black-haired oppa over there! I’ll have tomato soup and a ham sandwich!”

“I’ll have grilled potatoes and steak.”

“Cream pasta.”

“Yes. Coming right up.”

Three female novice explorers who had placed their orders huddled together and whispered.

“Is this the restaurant with good value for money?”

“That’s right. I heard it’s dangerous because a Barbaroi runs it, but it doesn’t seem like it.”

“Isn’t that the famous Barbaroi owner? He’s so handsome. I could just eat bread and be happy.”

As evening approached, the number of explorer customers decreased more and more.

Explorers usually come a lot during the evening hours, so this lull made him wonder.

‘Is something going on?’

He pondered for a moment before shaking his head.

There are days like this, too.

‘It’s impossible to have good business every day.’

As he sat at the counter, resting, Karin came down from the second floor, yawning.

“Haaah. What’s this? There aren’t many people here today.”

“Yeah.”

Karin tilted her head for a moment, then clapped her hands.

“Ah! That’s right. The labyrinth committee is being replaced this time, right?”

“What does that have to do with the lack of customers?”

“Listen to the end. You know how ordinary explorers usually enter the labyrinth in the morning, right?”

“That’s right. Isn’t that obvious?”

“Explorers who have turned into monsters enter in the afternoon.”

“Ah.”

I momentarily forgot. I always enter the labyrinth in the morning or early morning, so I forgot.

“So?”

“I heard that the time slots are changing as the labyrinth committee is replaced.”

Jeong Yu-shin immediately understood.

“Monster explorers enter in the morning, and ordinary explorers enter in the afternoon?”

“That’s right. I heard that since it’s hot summer now, they’re leisurely gathering in the evening to enter the labyrinth.”

“Isn’t Ingrid still guarding it?”

“There isn’t much time left. They’re adapting in advance. The explorer’s guild is also managing it that way. I’m not sure about the details since I just heard about it.”

Is that so.

Jeong Yu-shin stroked his chin.

Should I take this opportunity to go to the explorer’s headquarters in the central district to register a party and look at requests?

He didn’t want to waste time idly.

“Let’s go register a party and take a look at the requests.”

“Really? Alright.”

Jeong Yu-shin and Karin left the quiet inn and headed to the central district.

After walking for a while, they arrived in front of a huge building made of white marble.

“It’s been a while.”

Jeong Yu-shin muttered, looking up at the building.

The explorer’s guild headquarters.

The crowds of people in front of the explorer’s guild headquarters were beyond comparison with the explorer’s guild in the southern district.

Upon entering, the interior, with its vast space comparable to a soccer stadium and its height extending to the fifth floor, came into view at a glance.

‘Are these all mid- to high-level explorers?’

On one side of the first floor, dozens of reception windows were filled with explorers.

On the other side, hundreds of tables were placed, where explorers gathered and shared various stories.

At that moment.

Someone saw Jeong Yu-shin and widened their eyes.

“Oh my!”

“Why?”

“Is that a Barbaroi over there?!”

“Huh?! Really?”

Several female explorers who were looking at Jeong Yu-shin up and down opened their mouths.

“What is it? He’s incredibly handsome?!”

Starting with that remark, several explorers began to look at Jeong Yu-shin.

“Wow!”

“Is he insane?”

“Who is he? Is he a friend who came for the first time this time?”

While Karin was pricking up her ears and glaring at the female explorers, Jeong Yu-shin was blankly staring at the reception window.

“Karin, let’s hurry and get in line. That side looks the shortest.”

“Alright.”

After waiting for a while in the shortest line, it was Jeong Yu-shin’s turn.

“I came to register a party.”

“Y-Yes…yes.”

When Jeong Yu-shin spoke with a smile, the female receptionist’s face reddened, and she stammered.

“I’ll need to see your identification card.”

“Ah! Here it is.”

The receptionist received the silver badge that Jeong Yu-shin handed over and began to stare at it intently.

“Scar. So, you are Mr. Scar.”

“Yes.”

“You’re creating a party?”

“Yes.”

“Are there any jobs you are looking for?”

“There aren’t any jobs that I particularly prefer. About one vanguard and one or two rearguards should be enough.”

“I understand. Please wait at seat 127, and we will process it for you.”

“Yes.”

Jeong Yu-shin and Karin left the reception window and went to a table where explorers were sitting and took their seats.

Behind the table was a huge bulletin board comparable to a soccer stadium scoreboard, and there were thousands of requests stuck to it.

‘The scale is no joke.’

Jeong Yu-shin rested his chin on his hand and read through the requests one by one.

After reading about 60 requests.

Someone approached Jeong Yu-shin.

A bald, burly man who looked to be in his 30s.

“Hey, are you Scar?”

Jeong Yu-shin raised his head and looked at the bald man.

“Dick? Did you recognize me at a glance?”

“I stabbed at it, because you had a similar feeling to when you were younger.”

“Is that so?”

Dick.

He was Dick, a swordsmanship guild member and intermediate explorer.

He was the man he had become acquainted with while training together in the forest last time. He was also the person who had advised him to join a clan.

Dick grinned.

“Scar, are you thinking of joining our clan?”

“I don’t know yet. I want to form my own party and enter the labyrinth this time.”

“Is that so? I understand. Think about it slowly. A skilled vanguard is always welcome.”

Jeong Yu-shin tilted his head.

“Have you ever seen my skills? It would have been difficult to grasp perfectly with just sparring, wouldn’t it?”

Dick scratched his head.

“This is true. Scar, rumors about you are spreading everywhere. Aren’t you too ignorant of worldly affairs?”

Rumors?

What could I have done to spread rumors about me?

“What rumors? I don’t remember doing anything particularly special.”

“The rumors about the forest troll subjugation have spread like wildfire.”

Dick continued.

“Did you really set your arm on fire yourself and crush the troll’s head with your fist?”

“That’s right. Although, it seems like a somewhat exaggerated rumor.”

Dick nodded his head.

“People who are interested know. The iron-masked man reported it to the guild, and that’s how it spread.”

The explorers who had been listening quietly began to whisper.

“Whoaaaa. Is he insane? Was that real?”

“That’s what I told you. Temia, there isn’t a sane person among the pretty ones. Committing such crazy acts in the ‘forest’ area.”

“Good job. He wasn’t consumed by madness. Did he use a high-quality pain relief cream or something?”

“By the way, is the beast-kin woman next to him Ms. Karin?”

“That’s right. She’s Ingrid’s daughter. But she’s so beautiful. I’ve only seen her from afar, but I get to see her as an explorer like this. It’s an honor.”

Jeong Yu-shin looked around.

The explorers’ gazes were focused on him and Karin.

Is this what it feels like to be a super rookie?

He felt his shoulders rising and his nose getting higher.

Jeong Yu-shin smiled and opened his mouth.

“If the rumors have spread so well, it should be easy to find party members, right?”

Dick made a troubled expression.

“That’s a bit…”

Jeong Yu-shin’s eyes widened.

“Why?”

“Why, you don’t spare yourself, do you? Labyrinth explorers generally pursue safety. Of course, clans that are tightly bound by friendship are different, but if you’re trying to find temporary party members with strong individual tendencies, it might be a little difficult.”

“Ah.”

Was I too flashy?

“Besides, there’s also Ms. Karin’s status.”

At Dick’s words, Karin narrowed her eyes sharply.

“I’m just an intermediate explorer.”

“Even if you say that, there are more than one or two explorers who saw Ms. Karin’s actions in the labyrinth investigation team last time. They can’t help but be wary. Explorers want comrades, not someone’s maid or servant.”

“…”

Karin shut her mouth tightly.

Jeong Yu-shin massaged his forehead.

He instinctively felt it.

This.

‘Finding party members isn’t going to be as easy as I thought.’

As he was massaging his forehead, a receptionist approached.

“Mr. Scar, there are currently no party applicants. Would you like to wait a little longer?”

“No. I’ll come back again next time.”

“I understand.”

Jeong Yu-shin stood up from his seat with Karin.

Dick smiled and patted Jeong Yu-shin’s shoulder.

“Take your time and look slowly. You’ll definitely be able to find good party members.”

Jeong Yu-shin sighed deeply.

“Hooo. Is that so? I want to believe that.”

Just as he was about to give up and leave the guild.

Someone began to descend the stairs from the second floor.

All the explorers in the guild, without exception, stopped talking and looked up at the girl descending the stairs.

Orange twin tails.

A pointed horn protruding from her left forehead.

Playfully protruding snaggle teeth.

‘Hmm?’

Jeong Yu-shin’s eyes widened.

Wasn’t that the girl I saw in the eastern district before I dealt with Max?

Or isn’t she a girl?

I’m not sure.

It was difficult to guess because of her world-weary eyes.

What was her name?

“Astaroth.”

Dick muttered with a hardened face.

“Do you know that girl?”

“Do I know her?! That woman is an executive of the labyrinth committee coming this time! She’s the person who guards the labyrinth entrance in place of the demon queen Lilith!”

“…Really?”

That flat chest was an executive of the labyrinth committee?

As he was whispering and talking with Dick, Astaroth saw Jeong Yu-shin.

Astaroth grinned.

She quickly approached this way. She was moving so fast that there was no room to escape.

“Hey, kid, you’ve suddenly gotten bigger?”

An unexpectedly friendly voice popped out. Karin’s eyes narrowed.

“You must be Ingrid’s daughter. You’re a spitting image.”

“…”

Karin crossed her arms and remained silent.

“How did you recognize me?”

At Jeong Yu-shin’s question, Astaroth chuckled.

“You look alike. Like when you were younger. And those eyes.”

“My eyes?”

“As soon as I heard my identity, I thought your blazing eyes were similar. When you asked about Max’s whereabouts, they were similar eyes, so I could be sure.”

“…”

He could only remain silent, leaving Astaroth, who was suddenly spouting nonsense.

“Anyway, you did as I said. Good job. It’s good to kill moderately.”

Astaroth said with a smile.

“…”

Jeong Yu-shin closed his mouth once again.

Astaroth smiled and looked up at Jeong Yu-shin.

“Looking at you like this, you have a ‘likable’ face.”

Likable?

This is not good news at all.

He could tell just by looking at her.

This woman.

Isn’t she a walking bomb?

Astaroth lowered her head and looked at Jeong Yu-shin’s hand.

“That ring, it’s sparkling? Is there something wrong?”

“Excuse me?”

Jeong Yu-shin looked at the ring on his finger.

It was a ring that sealed the virgin female corruption seal.

The red magic stone fixed in the ring was flickering.

A chill ran down his spine.

‘Crazy.’

There should still be some magical power left over, right?

His mind went blank due to the sudden crisis.

Shit.

Is the seal of the virgin female corruption going to be released here?

This is screwed.

“Uh…it was nice meeting you. But I don’t have time for this right now…”

Jeong Yu-shin decided to retreat for now.

But Astaroth blocked him.

“Where are you going in such a hurry? How dare you say you’re busy when I’m here? You’re really brave. Everyone else cowers in front of me, but you’re different. You’re a ‘likable’ kid.”

Jeong Yu-shin’s eyes widened.

Likable?

The word he heard again.

Crazy.

He doesn’t know if Astaroth in front of him is a virgin or not.

He assumed the worst-case scenario.

What if Astaroth is a virgin?

He might end up carving a yin stamp on the deputy of the eastern district ruler.

What should I do?

His head wasn’t working properly because of the shock that was rushing in at once.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

Meanwhile, Astaroth reached out and grabbed Jeong Yu-shin’s hand.

“Why are you doing this? Hehe. Are you nervous?”

“Please let go. I have an embarrassing, negative seal.”

Astaroth chuckled.

“Hmph. What kind of seal is it that makes you pull back like this? But it’s no use. Because, I’m…”

Unmoved.

Astaroth didn’t seem to have any intention of backing down. It was difficult to move because of her steel-like grip.

The light from the red magic stone was gradually disappearing.

If this continues, it will lead to a catastrophe.

Dislike.

How can I avoid gaining a woman’s favor?

How?

He frantically spun his head, but he couldn’t think of a way.

Should I say that I have a virgin female corruption seal?

In front of hundreds of explorers?

Social suicide was looming before his eyes.

Ah.

Shit.

I don’t know either.

“Kaaaaaak!!!!!”

Jeong Yu-shin’s throat rang.

Astaroth widened her eyes.

“Kid…?”

“Spit!!!”

Thud!!!

Phlegm flew out of Jeong Yu-shin’s mouth and stuck to Astaroth’s face.

“…?”

The thick phlegm dripped down Astaroth’s forehead.

“…”

Astaroth stared blankly upwards with her mouth open.

An incomprehensible sight.

Hundreds of people, including explorers and guild staff, all stopped breathing at once.

A heavy silence fell on the explorer’s headquarters.