episode_0156

Jeong Yu-shin looked at Astaroth, who was approaching.

A big shot who suddenly appeared.

Karin and Snout were completely out of it, unable to come to their senses. Meaning there was no one to help.

‘Let’s stay calm.’

He calmed his pounding heart due to the tension.

No matter how exalted her status, in the end, she just has modest breasts.

Astaroth’s face, receiving Jeong Yu-shin’s gaze, slightly reddened.

“Barbaroi, aren’t you being too rude?”

“In what way have I committed a discourtesy?”

“If staring so intently at a lady’s chest isn’t a discourtesy, then what exactly is?”

‘A…lady?’

Calling herself a lady, with such a pitiable chest that wouldn’t fill a single hand.

At least a woman with breasts the size of Priestess Mion would qualify as a lady.

Anyway.

The alcohol was increasingly taking effect, making his head spin.

Jeong Yu-shin debated whether to use the Venom Protection engraving to dispel the intoxication but decided to postpone it for a moment.

“Lady Astaroth, that’s a misunderstanding.”

Astaroth tilted her head at Jeong Yu-shin’s reply.

“Really…?”

“Yes.”

With those words, Jeong Yu-shin glanced sideways at Karin’s ample bosom.

“Khut!”

Astaroth bit her lip and covered her flat chest.

A man who, while saying it was a misunderstanding, compared chests with his gaze.

‘How dare he!’

Anger surged up and then subsided.

Wasn’t he indirectly criticizing her meager physique?

Due to having the Masochistic Female Corruption engraving, lewd desires surged.

Naturally, her pelvis loosened, and her chest thumped.

“Lady Astaroth, this topic is uncomfortable. Let’s stop here. Do you perhaps have other business?”

He looked at her chest with critical eyes and then changed the subject.

Astaroth glared resentfully at Jeong Yu-shin and then cleared her throat.

“Ahem! Let’s get to the point. The reason I’m here is none other than because of the red orb you reported.”

“The red orb?”

“Yes. I heard that you discovered that the red orb is a passage to another world and that you subjugated the Sweeper. Is that true?”

Jeong Yu-shin nodded.

“That’s correct. However, I didn’t subjugate it alone; we barely won by combining our strength. And while the emergence of the red orb is recent, the Pathfinder Association was already discussing it. I don’t think it’s appropriate to say that I figured everything out.”

“You were the first to reveal its identity, though.”

Is that so.

Astaroth took out a pouch from her pocket and placed it on the table.

Thump!!!

The weighty sound echoed through the inn’s hall.

Clang!!!

“Thirty gold coins. This is compensation for discovering the identity of the red orb and subjugating the Sweeper. It includes personal gratitude from the Labyrinth Committee.”

Jeong Yu-shin rested his chin on his hand and gazed at the pouch Astaroth had placed down.

“…”

A higher-up came all the way here to bring compensation?

She could have had her subordinates do it.

Could there be another reason?

‘But what can I do?’

The other party is the Labyrinth City Committee. He decided to quietly wait for the next topic to come up.

He reached out and grabbed the gold coin pouch placed on the table.

“I’ll make good us…”

Thwack!

Astaroth extended her hand faster than the speed of light and seized Jeong Yu-shin’s arm.

[Venom Protection]

Jeong Yu-shin immediately activated the engraving to dispel the intoxication.

The redness instantly disappeared from his face.

He wasn’t flustered like last time. Because the anti-female corruption ring was working properly.

“Why are you doing this? Please let go.”

Astaroth wore a chilly smile.

“Scar, don’t you owe me an explanation? The reason you spat in my face. I want to hear it now.”

“…”

Jeong Yu-shin was silent for a moment before opening his mouth.

“If you keep the secret, I’ll tell you.”

“Do you possess an engraving that’s that great? I’ve seen many people who hide things like that, but they’ve all had engravings that were pretty much the same?”

“So, will you keep the secret?”

“Fine. I swear on the honor of Lady Lilith. Don’t forget that the reason I’m going this far is because of the dedication you’ve shown to the Labyrinth City.”

“…”

Jeong Yu-shin’s gaze lowered.

He seems to be hearing the word dedication a lot these days. He even said it himself.

Diego, who had served the spirit god with all his might, called it a betrayal of dedication after hearing the news of his murdered younger sister.

Ann and Tarman, who worked hard at the inn.

Because of their dedication, Jeong Yu-shin stepped up to help Marie, who was in trouble. Of course, it was also because they had spent quite a bit of time together and developed affection.

‘It’s difficult.’

Astaroth and the others are the same.

If paying the proper price for dedication is the virtue of a leader.

Is he a good leader?

It was a problem to think deeply about.

“What is it? What kind of engraving do you have that’s making you look so serious?”

Astaroth asked.

Jeong Yu-shin shook his head and brushed away his thoughts.

“Lady Astaroth, are you perhaps a ‘virgin’?”

“Wha…what?!”

Astaroth looked at Jeong Yu-shin with a surprised face. Her round, orange eyes were quite cute.

Perhaps it was because of her attire, a sleeveless shirt and a short flared skirt.

“Wha, what’s that got to do with it?!”

Astaroth’s voice slightly rose.

“Lend me your ear.”

If he said it like this, she seemed likely to say his engraving out loud.

Astaroth leaned her ear towards Jeong Yu-shin.

Her swaying orange hair and Jeong Yu-shin’s face drew closer.

Her loose sleeveless shirt slipped down, slightly revealing her squishy, small breasts encircled by a cotton bra.

Astaroth didn’t realize it because she was focusing all her attention on her ear. Jeong Yu-shin pretended not to see it. Because he felt sorry for her.

“My engraving is.”

“E, engraving?”

As the man’s breath tickled Astaroth’s ear, her heart beat faster and faster. She wondered if she had ever been this close to a ‘man’ before.

“It’s a Virgin Female Corruption engraving.”

Finally, the secret is revealed.

“Hoo!”

Astaroth hurriedly inhaled. The fine hairs on her outer ear stood on end. But Scar’s words weren’t over yet.

“If a virgin who has ‘affection’ for me touches my body or is exposed to my bodily fluids or saliva, a vulva will be engraved on their lower abdomen, and they will be corrupted into a female. It’s a terrifying engraving.”

Astaroth’s body trembled.

“H…huh? Is that so? It’s no, nothing.”

Astaroth tried to maintain a dignified expression, but she couldn’t stop the corners of her mouth from twitching.

This black-haired man.

Was he seeing her as a ‘virgin’ and a ‘female’?

For the first time, she was treated as a ‘woman’ by a ‘normal’ man. Her head was spinning, and her heart was pounding.

Astaroth’s pure, untouched womb, not knowing a man, was warming up.

Astaroth came to her senses and straightened the facial muscles that were threatening to loosen clumsily.

“Hu, but that doesn’t fully explain why you spat.”

“Which woman could maintain ‘affection’ after being spat on in the face? It’s also my fault for acting so extremely. But it was difficult to talk about this negative engraving in front of so many people.”

“…”

Astaroth kept silent.

“Why, why do you think I have feelings for you? Isn’t that excessive self-consciousness?!”

‘Why else, since you grabbed my hand and smiled.’

Jeong Yu-shin smiled and raised his other hand to sweep back his hair.

“Because I’m handsome.”

“You…you’re a bit annoying.”

Astaroth frowned as she retorted. But she couldn’t hide the fact that her cheeks were flushed.

“But it’s okay now.”

He showed the ring on his finger.

“The virgin female corruption engraving has been sealed through a magic tool. I apologize for being rude because the seal was released due to the magic power running out at that time.”

“Ah…I see.”

So, he does have consideration for other women?

“Is that a sufficient explanation?”

“No. No matter how I think about it, spitting on the face of a perfectly fine ‘virgin’ is a bit much, I think.”

“…”

Jeong Yu-shin was silent.

Actually, it was a bit harsh. It was because the darkness within his heart was deep.

Astaroth subtly moved her body back and turned her head.

“We, well, I understand what you were thinking when you acted. Don’t do that again next time. Understood?”

“Yes.”

Astaroth looked down at the table. She was suddenly thirsty.

‘Was I being too much of a pushover?’

To forgive so easily the man who spat in her face.

She wondered if she was acting too softly.

“Now that I think about it, I think I let it go too easily.”

“…”

“I guess I have to have a free drink, then?”

“Understood. May I first leave Karin and my boar friend in their rooms?”

“Go ahead.”

Karin and Snout were so drunk from the alcohol that they couldn’t come to their senses and were mumbling something with their faces buried on the table.

Jeong Yu-shin supported Karin and Snout and went up to the second floor, getting them separate rooms and laying them down on the beds.

Before going down to the first floor, he opened his own room.

Delia’s ‘personality’ and Lynn were sound asleep on the bed.

Jeong Yu-shin quietly closed the door and went down to the first floor, searching the counter cupboard and bringing out alcohol and glasses.

He poured dwarf fire wine into Astaroth’s glass.

Pour, pour.

“You brought strong alcohol? Do you have some ulterior motive?”

“If you don’t like it, I’ll just drink it. I brought it because it was the only decent alcohol.”

“No. I like it.”

Astaroth smiled and lifted the glass to her mouth.

“Ah…come to think of it.”

Just as Astaroth was about to move on to the next topic.

Creak.

The inn door opened once again.

A woman in a white uniform entered the inn.

In her early twenties.

A woman with short, navy hair that reached her shoulders approached after discovering Jeong Yu-shin.

“Black-haired Barbaroi. Name is Scar. A mid-level explorer who took over and is running Darmon’s Inn. Is that correct?”

It was a curt tone.

“That’s me.”

At Jeong Yu-shin’s reply, the woman slightly bowed her head and greeted him.

“Greetings. I am Vice-Director Nelia from the Explorer Headquarters.”

“Is there something you need?”

“Yesterday, the Sweeper subjugation report came up. It was something that didn’t make sense at all, so I came for further investigation.”

He heard that the Association would call him separately, but suddenly a higher-up visited.

Astaroth raised her hand and waved it around.

“Hello, Nelia.”

“Lady Astaroth…what on earth are you doing here…no, never mind.”

Nelia sighed and sat down in an empty chair around the table.

She straightened her back and looked at Jeong Yu-shin with sharp eyes.

“The Sweeper is a monster that shouldn’t exist in the Labyrinth 6th Floor Corridor area or anything like it. It means that it’s an existence that an explorer who has just reached the mid-level can’t handle. A more detailed explanation of the battle is needed.”

“···That’s the thing.”

When reporting to the Association, he hid the fact that he had received the power of the Outer God. And his death deferral engraving as well. There was no point in it being known.

Just as Jeong Yu-shin was about to open his mouth.

Creak.

The door opened once more.

A Dark Elf woman wearing a black robe entered.

Her swaying, long silver hair and bewitching eyes were impressive.

“Oh my, so many high-ranking people have gathered.”

The Dark Elf slowly approached and sat at the table.

“Barbaroi, our Night of Death Clan owes you a great debt.”

The Elf smiled brightly and said.

“Who are you?”

“Me?”

The Elf crossed her legs, rested her chin on her hand, and smiled brightly.

“I’m the Clan Leader who runs the Night of Death and a person who sells various magic tools in the Eastern District. Karin has bought interesting items from me before. Do you know about it?”

“…”

“Your expression is scary. Call me Vivian.”

Labyrinth City Committee, Astaroth.

Explorer Association’s Vice-Director, human woman Nelia.

Night of Death Clan Leader, Dark Elf Vivian.

Three women gathered in one place.

All of them weren’t ordinary women one would see on the street. It was clear from their beauty and behavior that they were of high status.

Would it be Vivian, Nelia, Astaroth in order of largest breasts?

He couldn’t properly see Vivian’s chest because she was wearing a black robe, but seeing how they protruded so amply that they seemed like they would tear through the robe, it was certain that the Dark Elf Vivian had the largest chest. They were almost as overwhelming as Priestess Mion’s breasts, one could say.

Astaroth clapped her hands.

“Since we’ve gathered in one place like this, why don’t we have a drink or something?”

“Lady Astaroth, I’m busy, so I don’t have time for that.”

Nelia replied in a stiff tone.

On the other hand, Vivian smiled brightly.

“I’m fine with it. It’s been a long time since we’ve gathered like this, so we can have a drink.”

Jeong Yu-shin scratched his head. High-ranking people suddenly visiting was nothing but burdensome.

Moreover, they’re all women.

It was an uncomfortable situation.

“I’ll bring alcohol and glasses.”

He went to the counter, grabbed some glasses and bottles of alcohol, then went to the kitchen and put dried fruit, cheese, and nuts into a dish as snacks and brought them out.

“Eck.”

When he came out of the kitchen, a golden slime and Lynn were on top of the table.

They were definitely sleeping on the bed, so when did they wake up and climb up to the table?

Jeong Yu-shin hastily approached and picked up Lynn and Delia’s ‘personality.’

“I, I’m sorry.”

“What is it? Is that a slime monster that Scar is raising? It’s even cuter because it’s in the shape of a worm.”

Astaroth smiled and said.

“Ye, yes. Yes, yes. It’s a slime.”

Nelia’s eyebrows furrowed.

“Barbaroi, you’re lying.”

She said it in a definitive tone.

Jeong Yu-shin’s body stiffened.

“Pardon?”

Vivian rested her chin on her hand and smiled brightly.

“That’s right. Barbaroi’s magic power is wavering.”

“Scar, that wasn’t a slime?”

Astaroth pointed at Delia’s ‘personality’.

“Uh…”

Jeong Yu-shin couldn’t find the words to say for a moment. He wanted to protect Delia’s secret, but when he actually tried to think, he couldn’t come up with a method.

“Barbaroi, do you know that you’re very suspicious?”

“That’s right.”

“…”

The Vice-Director who was questioning him and the Night of Death Clan Leader who looked like she was watching something fun.

And the Labyrinth Committee executive who was silently looking up with her arms crossed.

The atmosphere had become even more subdued.

Chilly gazes were stabbing at Jeong Yu-shin.

“Tha, that’s the thing.”

Sweat formed on Jeong Yu-shin’s forehead as he stammered.

‘Ha. How should I explain this.’

His head throbbed.