episode_0144

Exploration Guild Headquarters.

“…”

Hundreds of explorers held their breaths, focusing their attention on Jung Yu-shin and Astaroth.

It was hard to believe what they were seeing.

That Barbaroi bastard spat on one of the Labyrinth City Committee members.

To call it rude was an understatement.

That Barbaroi was truly insane.

They had never seen anyone so crazy.

‘He’s really lost it.’

Countless explorers all had the same thought.

Meanwhile, Jung Yu-shin’s face was frozen stiff.

‘I’m fucked.’

He realized what he had done.

He should have just said it.

His body had acted before his mind could catch up.

The labyrinth’s madness had surged again.

However.

It was too late to regret.

He had to bear the full consequences of his actions.

The face of Astaroth in front of him was burning bright red. Her body was trembling as a bonus.

“…Scar, what are you doing?”

“…I’m sorry. I have a madness.”

“Ha!”

Astaroth gave a hollow laugh.

And.

She threw a punch.

WHAM!!!!!

SMASH!!!

Jung Yu-shin, hit by the punch, immediately broke through the guild’s wall and flew outside.

An incredible amount of power.

A power that shouldn’t be possible from a small girl’s body.

The explorers couldn’t help but gape once again.

‘He’s dead.’

How could he survive after breaking through the wall and flying away?

Moreover, he was hit directly in the abdomen, so his internal organs must have been ruptured and he died.

“Scar!!!”

Karin shot outside.

Even faster than her, Astaroth dashed out of the guild building.

Watching Astaroth’s afterimage disappear like a shadow, Karin gritted her teeth and drew her dagger.

“Kuh-huh-uck!!!”

Jung Yu-shin broke through the Exploration Guild building’s wall and rolled on the ground.

He struggled and squirmed before getting up.

“Scar, you’re out of your mind.”

Astaroth glared at him with a murderous expression.

She was so angry that she couldn’t even wipe the spit from her face.

“…”

Jung Yu-shin lowered his head.

Shit.

Nothing to say.

He opened his own coffin and went inside, he wouldn’t have enough mouths even if he had ten.

Jung Yu-shin silently got up. Only the bluish-green spirit energy blazed with a blue light.

“You have nothing to say?”

“…”

“I can’t let you live.”

Astaroth raised her fist.

She deliberately reduced her power to hear his excuse, but he remained silent.

Jung Yu-shin looked at Astaroth, closed his eyes, and contemplated within.

It had already happened.

Nothing could be done.

He had no choice but to fight back, whether it turned out good or bad.

The number of times he could grant traits to the Sacred Weapon was 2 in total.

Possible traits.

Gale Sword.

Half-Ogre Gauntlet.

He excluded ordinary Sacred Weapons. He would be immediately pushed back by that tremendous power.

“Dare you close your eyes? Do you think I’m a joke?!!!”

Astaroth charged, looking truly enraged.

Bang!!!

An explosion erupted where Astaroth stepped, and her figure disappeared in an instant.

Jung Yu-shin closed his eyes and felt the flow of air.

She’s coming.

One.

Two.

‘Now.’

He opened his eyes.

[Sacred Weapon]

Trait Imbue.

Half-Ogre Gauntlet.

He swung his fist, imbued with brilliant light, to meet hers.

Jung Yu-shin and Astaroth’s fists collided.

CRASH!!!

A deafening roar echoed from the point of impact.

Astaroth’s eyes widened.

Clearly, with this much power, she should have left that obnoxious Barbaroi bastard in a near-death state.

‘He’s enduring this?’

Astaroth mentally revised her assessment of Jung Yu-shin.

Still, the difference in skill and power couldn’t be ignored, and Jung Yu-shin’s fist was slowly being pushed back.

The distance between Jung Yu-shin and Astaroth became as close as lovers.

Jung Yu-shin suddenly opened his mouth. Seeing the flickering ring, he became anxious once more.

“…Don’t fall for me.”

Suddenly, an absurd remark popped out.

“Huh?!”

Astaroth’s eyes widened as she looked up at Jung Yu-shin.

Eyes burning blue.

Strangely, they were more beautiful up close.

Seeing him clash head-on without flinching an eyebrow, even amidst the gut-wrenching pain, she felt more admiration than annoyance. He wasn’t like the typical explorer.

Astaroth snapped back to reality and gritted her teeth.

Her heart began to race more fiercely than ever before.

‘Could it be? No way?’

In fact, she had a secret mark.

A Masochistic Female Corruption Mark.

A terrifying curse that would corrupt her if she was treated poorly and looked down upon as a ‘female.’

The only comforting thing was that it only activated against someone she had feelings for.

That’s why she reacted so strongly.

The conditions for the mark to activate were strict.

First, she had to have ‘feelings’ for the other person.

Second, the other person had to see her as a ‘woman.’

Third, the other person had to treat her poorly and look down on her.

Until now, she had never been seen as a woman because of her small and delicate physique. Some guys with strange marks had hit on her, but they were all weaklings.

Moreover, because of her status, everyone in front of her was terrified, so there was no reason to have feelings for them.

Thanks to that, she was able to protect her virginity for a long time without being corrupted. That’s why she might have been more relieved.

But looking into this man’s eyes, she knew.

This man.

Wasn’t he seeing her as a ‘female’?

Strangely.

It felt as if the spit this man spat was affirming her femininity.

‘I’ve never met a man like this before.’

A man she felt even a slight interest in saw her as a female and looked down on her at the same time.

A completely new sensation.

‘This me?’

As she realized her fate, strength drained from her groin and a shiver ran down her spine.

‘No!’

Astaroth shook her head violently, denying her pounding heart.

Putting aside the secret mark.

She had already been humiliated in front of many people. If she backed down here, it would not only damage her reputation as a member of the Labyrinth Committee, but also tarnish the reputation of Lilith.

She had to make him at least half-crippled.

The moment she made up her mind and raised her other fist.

“Lady Astaroth!!!”

A Dark Elf rushed over in a panic. Astaroth glanced sideways.

“What?! I’m busy!”

“Lady Ingrid has summoned you. A big incident has occurred at the labyrinth entrance!”

“…”

Astaroth bit her lip and glared at Jung Yu-shin.

She quickly regained her composure.

She decided to postpone his punishment for now.

Absolutely not.

It wasn’t because she wanted to have her heart flutter while being treated like trash again.

“You’re lucky. You, come with me. If you run away, you’re dead.”

“Yes.”

Astaroth turned her back and ran towards the labyrinth entrance.

Astaroth disappeared in an instant.

Jung Yu-shin immediately knelt down and vomited blood.

“Uwaaaaaaaack!!!”

As he vomited a handful of blood, Karin approached.

“Scar!!!”

“…Let’s go to the labyrinth entrance.”

Jung Yu-shin endured the churning in his stomach and ran towards the western district.

As a result of running until his feet were sweating.

He was able to reach the labyrinth entrance faster than expected.

Many guards were gathered at the labyrinth entrance, maintaining a state of alert.

The captain of the guard glanced at Jung Yu-shin and waved his hand.

“Barbaroi and Lady Karin, is it? Pass through. Go towards the labyrinth exit.”

Jung Yu-shin passed the guards and walked towards the back of the tall black tower, towards the labyrinth exit.

The magic circle at the labyrinth exit was filled with writhing flesh.

Looking more closely, they were like writhing intestines, emitting a stench and the smell of blood.

Ingrid stood in front of the magic circle with a greatsword stuck in the ground. Next to Ingrid, Astaroth stood with her arms crossed, intently looking at the magic circle.

Ingrid turned her head and looked at Jung Yu-shin and Karin. Ingrid’s gaze lingered on Jung Yu-shin for a moment, widened slightly, and then quickly calmed down.

Ingrid looked at Jung Yu-shin and Karin, who had come closer, and opened her mouth.

“…Scar? Karin is here too. What brings you two here?”

Astaroth interjected.

“I called him.”

“Why?”

“That guy spat on my face.”

Ingrid frowned.

Astaroth glared at Jung Yu-shin with an angry face.

“So I’m thinking about how to deal with this black-haired Barbaroi.”

Ingrid, who had been quiet, looked down at Astaroth.

“…Astaroth.”

“What? Do you have something to say? Don’t worry. I won’t touch your daughter.”

Ingrid shook her head.

“An explorer must bear the consequences of their actions alone. There are no exceptions, even for my daughter. If there is something wrong, punish them.”

Jung Yu-shin stepped forward.

“Karin has done nothing wrong.”

Ingrid sighed deeply.

“Hoo. Spat on you? Scar, I know you wouldn’t do such a thing for no reason. There must have been a valid reason.”

‘Although he does have a rather devilish side.’

She muttered the last words in her mind.

It wasn’t something she could say in front of her daughter and Astaroth.

“…”

Jung Yu-shin closed his mouth and remained silent.

“Astaroth, reconsider.”

Astaroth’s expression hardened at Ingrid’s words.

“Me? Why on earth?”

“Scar risked his life to fight Hans, who had turned into a monster, at the labyrinth exit and protected the labyrinth. That contribution cannot be said to be small. Moreover, he didn’t ask for any reward. If you are a committee member who protects Labyrinth City, you should know what this man’s dedication means, right?”

Astaroth looked at Jung Yu-shin with surprised eyes.

“He really didn’t ask for anything?”

“…”

Jung Yu-shin scratched his head without saying a word.

Ingrid looked at Jung Yu-shin with a soft gaze.

“Yes. You know how many explorers hate doing unprofitable work and try to avoid it, right? In that sense, Scar is a man who can be viewed favorably by the Labyrinth Committee.”

“…I’ve heard about it. I knew it was a pretty urgent situation, but was that sympathy for this Barbaroi? But this guy spat on my face in front of so many explorers! I can’t just let it go. You know that, right?”

“If there’s something you want, say it.”

“Haa. I can’t think of anything right now. My head is dizzy.”

“Think carefully. Scar, Karin, both of you come to my room.”

“Yes.”

As Scar and Karin followed behind Ingrid, Astaroth followed closely behind.

“Astaroth, you don’t have to come, do you?”

“It looks like things are over. Besides, we have to talk about it anyway, right?”

Ingrid sighed deeply.

“Hoo. That’s true. Come on.”

Ingrid led the people into a quiet building behind the relief center.

As they sat around a table in the room and waited, Ingrid’s subordinate brought tea.

Ingrid gestured.

“Scar, why are you so far away? Come and sit down.”

“There’s a reason why it’s difficult to explain.”

Ingrid tilted her head and opened her mouth.

“…Is that so? Let’s talk about work first.”

Astaroth also had a curious expression, but she refrained from speaking. No matter how personal her curiosity was, work came first.

Protecting Labyrinth City was the most important thing, no matter what.

In fact, Astaroth cared more about Labyrinth City than other Labyrinth Committee executives.

Like most people who received monster marks, her appearance was similar to that of a monster, and she was shunned by people outside the labyrinth.

Since there was no suitable place to stay, Labyrinth City was essentially Astaroth’s home.

Ingrid took a sip of tea.

“One of the mid-level explorers who came to the labyrinth received a monster mark. Because he was consumed by demonic energy, I disposed of him.”

Astaroth crossed her arms.

“Isn’t that a common occurrence? Why are you making such a fuss?”

“Before that explorer was consumed by demonic energy, he said that Eldritch Wave had spread throughout the forest area. This is not a normal phenomenon. Something is coming up from the abyss.”

Astaroth’s face hardened.

“Really?”

Scar’s rude behavior instantly disappeared from her mind.

“In that sense, Scar.”

Jung Yu-shin straightened his posture at Ingrid’s serious gaze.

“Yes. Please speak.”

“Be careful.”

“Yes?”

“Eldritch Wave is already rampant in the forest area. Since the work has already begun, there’s no need to go to a place where you’ll surely die. But I don’t know about other areas. Pay special attention. And if you find something suspicious, report it.”

Jung Yu-shin nodded.

“I understand. Should I report directly to Lady Ingrid?”

Ingrid shook her head.

“By the time you come out of the labyrinth, Astaroth will be guarding the labyrinth entrance. Report to her.”

“Yes.”

Ingrid looked around.

“The story is over. Everyone go. Only Scar stays.”

Astaroth frowned.

“Why is he the only one staying?”

“It’s a personal matter. Mind your own business.”

“Tch!”

Astaroth glared at Jung Yu-shin once and sighed deeply.

She was furious, but strangely, she didn’t just look at him with resentment.

He was definitely the man who spat on her face.

“Haa. I’m going to let you live because I think highly of the fact that you fought for Labyrinth City without sparing your life. But don’t think I’m just going to let this go.”

“…”

“Have an interview with me later. You’ll have to explain why you spat on me then. Tsk! My personality has improved a lot. If it were the old me, I would have just…!”

Astaroth raised and lowered her cute fist once.

Jung Yu-shin lowered his head.

“Yes. Thank you.”

Is she postponing it?

He thought that she might have an unexpectedly lenient personality. She might be a woman with a big heart, even if her chest was flat.

He revised his thoughts.

He shouldn’t discriminate against people based on their chests.

‘No. This is not the time for this.’

He had to run to the magic tool shop right now and replace the magic stone.

“Karin, you go too.”

Karin frowned.

“Mom.”

“It’s a private conversation. You can’t join.”

“Yes.”

Karin stood up.

“I’ll be waiting at the inn. Come quickly.”

“Okay.”

Astaroth and Karin left the room, and only Jung Yu-shin and Ingrid remained in their seats.

Ingrid poked the teacup with her finger.

“Scar.”

“Yes.”

“I’m leaving now.”

“I see.”

“Please take good care of my daughter.”

“Karin is strong. You don’t have to worry too much.”

“…”

Silence passed between the two.

Jung Yu-shin looked closely at Ingrid.

Ingrid’s eyes were moist. Her eyes looked as if she was earnestly wishing for something. Her body was twitching.

“Do you have something to say?”

“That’s…I have a favor to ask.”

“What is it?”

Ingrid’s face was slightly red. After hesitating, she barely opened her mouth.

“…Could you give me the massage you gave Karin?”

Jung Yu-shin’s eyes widened.

“Yes?!”

Suddenly?