episode_0209

Central Plaza.

A tremendous number of spectators gathered, watching Yushin Jeong and Rex.

The scene of a blood-soaked duel disappeared.

Only the one trying to take off the pants and the one desperately stopping him remained.

The Chicken Beastman approached.

“Sca, stop it.”

Jeong Yushin rolled his eyes.

“Didn’t this bastard tell me to stay away from Karin first? I decided to take off Rex’s pants, though.”

The Chicken Beastman drooped his shoulders.

“Wasn’t that formally agreed upon before the duel started? Are you planning to disgrace Lady Ingrid and Lord Astaroth?”

Jeong Yushin’s expression contorted.

He couldn’t tarnish the honor of Ingrid, who was his backing.

But letting him go like this felt lukewarm.

Jeong Yushin pushed his face close to Rex’s.

“Rex, next time, there won’t be a gentlemanly fight like this in front of people. I’ll kill you all in ways you can’t even imagine. You can believe it. When you return to the Beast Clan, tell them to always watch their backs.”

Rex’s face stiffened.

Sca’s warning was on a different level from simply winning or losing a duel.

Annihilation.

He didn’t think it was a lie.

The blue marking from the Revenger engraving had disappeared, but Sca’s ominous gaze contained sincerity.

He almost died from a greatsword that suddenly fell from the sky.

And that was in a moment of carelessness after almost winning the fight.

What would happen if they fought without rules?

Rex trembled.

At that moment.

Ingrid stood up from her seat and looked around at the audience.

“The duel is over! Furthermore, the Beast Clan should reflect on whether they are expanding their business excessively, and whether such actions are harming other districts. That’s all!”

“Kugh!!! Rex!!! Come back!!!”

Tig, the leader of the Beast Clan, shouted from a distance. His face was so red with anger.

As Jeong Yushin stepped back, Rex limped and barely got up from his seat, moving away from the plaza.

Astaroth, sitting in the upper seat, gestured, and the barrier magic disappeared.

A considerable number of people rushed towards Jeong Yushin from within the crowd.

“Sca!!!”

“You fought well!!!”

“Are you crazy!!! A mid-tier low rank beats a mid-tier high rank explorer!!!”

People from the Southern District, as well as clans running small businesses in the Western District, crowded around, shouting.

Granny, the clan leader of the Granny Love Clan, approached, knelt on one knee, and bowed her head.

“To go this far for us, you are indeed the only one suitable for the Small and Medium Clan Alliance, Sca-nim. Please take on the position of representative.”

Jeong Yushin looked around at the people. All of them were engaged in their livelihoods.

They worked as explorers as a side job, but essentially, they were working people.

Those people were looking at him with sparkling eyes.

“Am I really suitable for this?”

“If it’s not Sca-nim, who else would take on this role? Please, don’t refuse.”

“Granny is right. If Sca-nim hadn’t stepped in, we would have had all our businesses taken away.”

“Alright. Though I am lacking, I will take on the position.”

Jeong Yushin accepted.

“If so, we must also decide on a name for this alliance. What should it be?”

Someone asked.

“Let’s think about it over time.”

Jeong Yushin pondered for a moment, then shook his head and replied.

Astaroth watched Jeong Yushin, surrounded by people, sighed, and stood up from his seat.

“Haa. Ingrid, you’ll have to be my drinking partner in the Inner Keep.”

Ingrid gave a bitter smile.

“Having gone this far, this should be a warning to the Eastern District bastards. Astaroth, you’ve worked hard. Let’s go. I need a drink too.”

* * *

The Small and Medium Clan Alliance members naturally gathered at Jeong Yushin’s inn to drink.

He heard that Ingrid had business in the Inner Keep and would be staying for about a day before returning.

Meaning there would be no problem holding a small party at the inn.

The inn was lively for the first time in a while.

People drinking and chattering noisily. Among them, unfamiliar small and medium clan leaders approached Jeong Yushin and bowed their heads.

“Thank you. Thanks to Sca-nim, we were able to avoid having our businesses taken by the Eastern District.”

“What do you do?”

“I’m a wagon wheel repairman. I also run a small transportation business.”

“I see.”

After that, many people came forward to express their gratitude to Jeong Yushin.

Starting from day laborers to lumber merchants, leather merchants, writers, roof repairmen, locksmiths, tanners, and rug makers.

The occupations were diverse.

He was surprised that so many people were part of the Small and Medium Clan Alliance.

There was even a street performance clan.

They played the lute and flute, and sang beautifully in a corner of the inn, enlivening the atmosphere.

While drinking, someone approached.

A small weasel beastman with white fur.

“H-hello. I came from the SoftSquishy Clan.”

“Hmm.”

Jeong Yushin stroked the weasel beastman’s head.

“SoftSquishy. That’s right. What brings you here?”

“Our clan was also struggling because of the Eastern District people. Thanks to Sca-nim, we were able to breathe a sigh of relief, so I came as a representative to repay you.”

“I already received it, though? I don’t need money.”

“It’s not money, it’s a recommendation.”

Recommendation?

“What do you mean by recommendation?”

“Ah! It would be faster to see it directly. E-err… Here! Recommendation!”

The weasel beastman squeezed his eyes shut, put her hands together, stretched out her soft paw pads and shouted.

Bbyorong.

A yellow star appeared above Jeong Yushin’s head.

“W-what kind of ability is this?”

The weasel beastman scratched her head, looking embarrassed.

“Hauu. It’s a Recommendation Engraving. It’s an ability to grant a star-like recommendation on the other person’s head. Ehehe.”

“…”

So there’s even a Star Engraving in the world. There’s even a Good Post Engraving.

Jeong Yushin tapped the yellow star floating above his head.

“Does this star have any special abilities? Like, does it strengthen my power or magic?”

“N-no.”

The white weasel beastman fidgeted with her paws, looking embarrassed.

“Then what’s it good for?”

“I-it feels good.”

“Oh… okay.”

“W-well then, I’ve delivered my thanks, so I’ll be going now.”

The weasel beastman bowed politely and quickly left the inn.

Jeong Yushin, with a glittering star on his head, sat facing Granny at the counter.

“So, did you find any information about the association receptionist?”

At Jeong Yushin’s question, Granny nodded.

“Yes. I found one peculiar thing.”

“What is it?”

“A few weeks before she was murdered, the receptionist stopped by the liquor store. The shop owner said that the receptionist was quite drunk and seemed to be in a good mood. She also said that she would soon be rich.”

“Rich, huh.”

“She also said that she would be lucky this time.”

Jeong Yushin tapped the counter with his finger.

“Granny, are you thinking the same thing as me?”

“Yes.”

“She was addicted to gambling. That receptionist.”

“That’s right.”

A receptionist addicted to gambling.

Gambling dens might not only be in the Eastern District, but the way the receptionist screwed him over was the way of the Eastern District’s underworld.

Without a doubt, it was the Eastern District bastards’ doing.

If so, there’s only one problem.

‘I need to find the culprit among those who run gambling dens in the Eastern District.’

Jeong Yushin stroked his chin.

Should he ask Vivian for help?

Just a few hours ago, he overturned the Eastern District bastards’ rice bowl.

They must be watching his actions with their eyes burning.

What would happen if he contacted Vivian in the Eastern District now?

Vivian might face various disadvantages or checks.

‘I can’t do that.’

He decided to keep Vivian’s help as a last resort and wait a little longer, trusting the people in the Southern and Western Districts.

After all, he had united the small and medium clans through this duel.

It was safe to say that he had united the scattered small-scale information clans into one.

If it were in a martial arts novel.

‘Is it the Beggars’ Sect?’

They are people who are engaged in their livelihoods to make a living. They have unique engravings, but their essence has not changed.

Jeong Yushin took out the money pouch he had placed under the counter and put it on top.

Jingle!!!

Granny’s eyes widened.

“W-what is this?”

“There must be quite a few people who suffered losses from the Eastern District bastards this time, right? It’s not much money, but help them out.”

Granny opened the pouch, looked inside, and shuddered.

“I-isn’t this all gold coins?”

“That’s right.”

800 gold coins he received from the explorer association two days ago. It was a consolation payment from the association.

“W-why so much money…?”

Jeong Yushin shrugged his shoulders.

“We help each other out. It’s the Clan Alliance, isn’t it? The name hasn’t been decided yet, though.”

“T-thank you!!!”

Granny bowed her head with teary eyes.

“It’s nothing to be so grateful for. If you’re grateful, investigate that association receptionist as thoroughly as possible.”

Granny pounded her chest.

“Leave it to me. I will definitely gather all the information!”

“I’ll trust you.”

* * *

The enjoyable party that lasted until evening ended, and people got up from their seats one by one.

“Master Sca, I’ll see you later.”

“Thank you.”

“I will definitely repay this favor.”

The Clan Alliance members bowed politely and left the inn.

After seeing everyone off, he cleaned up the inn with Karin.

“Mom said she’s sleeping over tonight.”

Karin twisted her hair, blushing.

Jeong Yushin grabbed Karin’s hand and dragged her into the room.

Click.

“Karin, you worked hard today.”

“I didn’t do anything.”

“You were cheering me on from afar.”

“Of course, I had to.”

“Good. I have to reward a good Karin. Sit down.”

As Jeong Yushin lowered his pants, Karin instinctively knelt down.

Slap!!!

A heavy, hard-on dick popped out and slapped Karin’s cheek.

Sca’s clone was soaked in sweat and reeked of a foul odor.

Karin glanced sideways at the dick stuck to her cheek.

“S-something seems bigger than last time? And what is this purple shining pattern? It’s scary.”

Sca let out a bewitching laugh.

“Ah? That’s said to be a characteristic of a half-incubus. Don’t worry about it.”

“D-don’t worry about it? I’ve never seen such an ominous purple glow before.”

“It’s a demonic gate. If you get stabbed by it, you’ll become corrupted.”

Karin’s eyes widened.

“Eh?! Then it’s dangerous, isn’t it?”

Sca slowly stroked Karin’s hair.

“You just have to not become corrupted, right? Karin is the noble daughter of the Beastman Representative Alliance, so she can overcome this much difficulty, right?”

Karin glared at Sca and gritted her teeth.

“You!!! Fine. I’ll show you whose daughter I am!”

* * *

Ingrid walked slowly down the street.

She was late because she was drinking with Astaroth in the Inner Keep of the Central District and having various conversations.

Originally, she was going to sleep overnight in the Inner Keep, but she changed her mind.

Sca’s inn made her feel comfortable.

The bedding and furniture were not inferior to those in the Inner Keep.

There was also the reason that she didn’t want to listen to Astaroth’s complaints any longer.

Ingrid took out the key, opened the locked inn door, and went inside.

The inn lobby was neatly organized.

It was quiet, as if everyone was asleep.

Ingrid slowly walked up the stairs to the second floor. The room she was staying in was not far from Sca’s and Karin’s room. It was the largest room.

While walking down the hallway on the second floor, she heard a small noise.

Creak.

Creak.

A squeaking sound.

“Ugh…! Khut…!”

A sound that was hard to distinguish from a moan or a cry leaked from Karin’s room.

Ingrid’s expression hardened.

She heard that the inn was newly built and well soundproofed.

How loudly could they be making noise for it to leak outside?

Besides, it was a pitiful crying sound?

Did something sad happen to her daughter to make her cry so desperately?

She didn’t know.

Ingrid approached Karin’s door.

She carefully put her ear to the door.

“S-slowly!!! I’m… gonna dieee♥”

A faint plea.

Ingrid’s eyes widened in surprise.

‘What…?!’

She had no idea what was happening.

Ingrid grabbed the doorknob.

But she froze like ice at the sound of a man’s voice.

“Karin, stick out your tongue.”

A familiar voice.

It was Sca’s voice.

Ingrid opened the door slightly with a trembling hand.

Creak.

And the scene that was barely revealed through the door.

She couldn’t believe what she was seeing.

Ingrid covered her mouth, stifling a scream that was about to burst out.

‘Wh-what in the world…?!’