episode_0240

20th Floor Mountain Area.

A huge gate existed between the sharp mountain ranges that seemed to be carved out.

Jeong Yu-shin was in front of the gate, and a robed stranger and a gnome stood before him.

“Nops, now return to the city.”

At the stranger’s words, the gnome called Nops widened his eyes.

“Odd, are you thinking of going alone?”

“That’s right.”

“I will serve you until the end.”

“I’m okay, but you are in danger.”

“I am also an upper-intermediate explorer.”

“The magic of the Abyss is getting thicker once again. Didn’t you see it on your way here? The monsters are getting stronger and stronger.”

The gnome, Nops, scratched his head.

“That’s…right.”

The stranger took off his robe.

A figure with only white bones remaining. Only green lights were quietly burning in its eyes.

“Tell Lilis and the Labyrinth Committee. The magic rising from the Abyss is getting thicker and thicker.”

“Um… I understand. Odd, take care.”

The gnome bowed his head and entered the blue portal.

The skeleton stood for a moment and looked up at the huge gate.

Suddenly.

The half-breed barbarian he saw at the mountain area shelter came to mind.

‘It was definitely Ragna’s sword.’

He was certain.

It had been a long time since he had seen it, and even the appearance of the sword was different, but the energy he felt was similar.

Hellblade.

A greatsword that burns the magic of the Abyss.

He heard that he had passed it on to his son, but unfortunately, his son disappeared in the labyrinth along with the sword.

After that, Ragna wandered madly in the depths of the labyrinth for a long time. Of course, there were other reasons as well.

But.

The greatsword that disappeared with his son has returned?

Is this a trick of fate?

Or.

Is a new change occurring in the labyrinth?

Odd shook his head to clear his useless thoughts.

‘It doesn’t matter.’

The skeleton stepped into the red portal.

Something was happening deep in the labyrinth, and there were still many things to find out.

* * *

Jeong Yu-shin looked down at Armin.

His struggling and crying appearance was unsightly yet cute.

On the other hand, the incubus Eru’s gaze towards Armin was growing colder.

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

“Eru.”

“Yes.”

“I’m curious about something, but I don’t know if it’s okay to ask.”

“You can ask me anything.”

For some reason, he seemed more loyal than before.

“Why are you cross-dressing…?”

“Ah!”

Eru gave an embarrassed smile.

“My mother got a job at the Arachne Sewing Cooperative this time. She will be working in women’s clothing, and I am trying it on from time to time to help her out.”

“I see.”

Jeong Yu-shin nodded.

Before entering the labyrinth, he saw Eru opening a sewing book and studying.

It wasn’t a completely strange story.

“Your mother was a very passionate person.”

“She was always interested, but Vivian’s introduction played a decisive role.”

I see.

Vivian got Eru’s mother a job at the Arachne Sewing Cooperative?

He had never visited the Sewing Cooperative himself, but he concluded that it was a fairly reputable cooperative because many high-ranking people, such as Ingrid and Vivian, mainly used clothes from the Arachne Sewing Cooperative.

“That’s good.”

Armin stopped struggling, listened to the whole story, and then slumped down.

“My, my pure heart.”

Armin seemed to have lost the will to live, and he buried his face on the floor.

Jeong Yu-shin took Karin, who had fallen fast asleep, to her room and came out.

Because Karin had shrunk, he had to buy her new clothes, but he didn’t know where to start.

He couldn’t go to the street himself and buy children’s clothes and underwear. He didn’t know what kind of looks he would get.

‘First, I need to ask Mion.’

He also needed to figure out his sharply refined senses, his explosively strengthened telekinesis ability, and his own sanity that had become vulnerable to the madness of the labyrinth.

Jeong Yu-shin inwardly resolved and left Karin’s room.

* * *

The next morning.

Jeong Yu-shin borrowed a spare maid outfit from Eru and dressed Karin in it.

“My legs feel empty, so it’s weird.”

Karin mumbled, holding onto her fluttering skirt.

Jeong Yu-shin handed her a small robe that he had obtained from the market.

“Cute, isn’t it? It suits you well.”

“R-really?”

At that moment.

Armin yawned and came out of Eru’s room.

“Huuuaaam. Good morning.”

Jeong Yu-shin narrowed his eyes.

“Why are you coming out of Eru’s room?”

Armin wagged his tail.

“I can’t do anything because my foot is like this, right? Eru helped me.”

Jeong Yu-shin looked at Eru, who had come out of the room and was standing there, and said one word.

“You’ve worked hard.”

Eru slightly bowed his head.

“Thank you.”

Jeong Yu-shin took Karin and Armin and left the inn, heading to the Temple of the Great Earth Mother.

He could guess what kind of engraving they had obtained through their appearance, but he wanted to be sure.

Arriving at the Temple of the Great Earth Mother, he was guided by the receptionist to Mion’s room.

After knocking.

Mion came out.

“Sir Ska!”

Mion approached and took Ska’s hand.

“Priestess Mion, has anything happened?”

“Yes. But who are these people…?”

Mion’s gaze turned to Karin and Armin.

“This is Karin and Armin. They each obtained engravings.”

“Heung?”

Mion looked down at Karin and made a humming sound.

Karin’s face immediately crumpled.

“You’ve gotten smaller. Lady Karin, you’re so cute.”

Mion’s additional words. Karin instinctively covered her flat chest.

“Keut!”

Karin glared at Mion with a resentful expression, but Mion simply smiled and covered her mouth.

“Sir Ska, would you like to check the engravings first?”

“Yes.”

“Then please kneel on one knee in front of me.”

Jeong Yu-shin approached Mion and knelt on one knee.

Mion placed her hand on Jeong Yu-shin’s head and muttered something.

After a while.

Mion smiled brightly and opened her mouth.

“Sir Ska, you’ve obtained a good engraving this time, haven’t you?”

A good engraving?

Jeong Yu-shin raised his head.

“What engraving is it?”

“It’s a Mana Accumulation Engraving.”

Mana accumulation.

Mion stroked Jeong Yu-shin’s hair and continued to speak.

“The Mana Accumulation Engraving makes mana adaptation, commonly referred to as leveling up, stronger. However, the amount of mana required to level up increases greatly.”

“For reference, how much stronger does it become?”

“According to records, when a person with a Mana Accumulation Engraving levels up, it is known to be similar to leveling up five times normally.”

Jeong Yu-shin scratched his head.

There was no news after the 4th level up.

He thought he would definitely level up after subjugating the ogre in the mountain area.

If he had received the Mana Accumulation Engraving, it made sense that he had not leveled up.

Of course, leveling up doesn’t dramatically strengthen you.

But if you ask if you can’t feel the change at all, that’s not true either.

Reflexes, strength, stamina, and magic power have already increased to a level that cannot be compared to before.

It’s like stepping into the realm of a superhuman, step by step.

Mion also checked Karin and Armin’s engravings.

“Lady Karin has obtained a Physical Regression Engraving. It’s the same engraving that Sir Ska obtained last time. Armin has obtained a Human-Faced Dog Engraving.”

All the engravings have been revealed.

Armin only nodded, as if he didn’t have any thoughts.

“Is that so?”

“I thought you would be disappointed?”

“This isn’t the worst. Besides, it’s easier to run.”

Armin moved his four feet and jumped around Mion’s room once.

Karin stared blankly into the air as if she had something to think about.

Jeong Yu-shin got up from his seat.

“Then Priestess Mion, I’ll come back later.”

“Yes. I’ll be waiting.”

Karin hesitated for a moment and looked up at Jeong Yu-shin.

“Ska, I’ll stay with Mion for a while and then go.”

“Really? Okay. Should I come pick you up later?”

Mion stepped forward.

“I will take you to the inn later.”

“I understand.”

Jeong Yu-shin went to the reception desk, paid the price, and left the temple.

Armin walked well on the street. He occasionally jumped around.

He’s very excited.

Jeong Yu-shin exhaled. White breath flowed out and scattered into the air.

Is it winter?

It was almost a year since he had fallen into the labyrinth city.

Will he be able to see Darmong this winter?

It would be difficult to come with the newborn baby in the winter.

Won’t he come in the spring?

Jeong Yu-shin walked down the street, thinking about this and that.

“Brother Ska, what are you thinking about?”

“Baby.”

“…?”

“There’s that. But why do you keep calling me brother?”

“Because Brother Ska is a brother, isn’t he?”

“Don’t call me brother.”

Armin muttered and pouted his lips.

“Are you ashamed of me because I look like this?”

“That’s right. Walk a little further away. I’m afraid people will see.”

“Brother!!!”

Armin stuck to him and bit Jeong Yu-shin’s pant leg.

“Muumuung!!!”

‘Not even a dog.’

Jeong Yu-shin picked up Armin with one hand, tucked him under his arm, and walked slowly.

“When are you going to get rid of the engraving?”

“I don’t know. When are you planning to go back into the labyrinth?”

“After I take care of a few things.”

He needs to solve two problems.

Find a weapon or party member who can deal with large monsters.

He needs to find out what’s happening in his mind.

Before that, he has to deal with the dwarf bastards first.

Jeong Yu-shin turned around as he thought of it.

“Brother? Where are you going?”

“I’m going to deal with the dwarf bastards. How dare they pass off strange items to me. I almost died?”

“P-please let me go! I’m going to Eru!”

“Okay. Go carefully. Don’t get caught. I can’t save you.”

“Don’t worry!”

Armin slipped out from under his arm and ran to the inn.

Jeong Yu-shin watched Armin’s back before turning around and heading to the blacksmith street in the west.

“Yo! Barbarian, what’s going on? Did you bring the money already?”

The dwarves who were gathered on the blacksmith street saw Jeong Yu-shin and greeted him.

Jeong Yu-shin glared at them right away.

“Money my ass. You bastards, are you trying to screw people over like this?”

The dwarves wore blank expressions.

“W-what are you talking about all of a sudden?”

[Eternal Ark]

Jeong Yu-shin summoned the golden coffin and took out the broken black iron greatsword.

“Look at this. The sword broke in half after cutting off one troll leg.”

“What?!”

The dwarves who ran the blacksmith shops heard the commotion and gathered one by one.

Jeong Yu-shin took out the remaining sword blade.

“The cross-section here doesn’t match.”

The dwarves poked their heads out and observed the black iron greatsword.

“Heo. That’s really true.”

“Crazy, there was a scammer with this much skill?!!”

“It’s really seamless.”

What are they admiring?

Jeong Yu-shin shrugged his shoulders.

“You shouldn’t scam people. Let’s just say the 200 gold coins didn’t happen.”

The dwarves raised their heads.

“No…didn’t you already buy the sword? And we were also scammed.”

“Who sold this?”

“…”

The dwarves looked at each other and closed their mouths.

“Who sold it?”

“That…it was one of the Crystal Rose Clan.”

The Crystal Rose Clan is one of the highest-ranking explorer clans in the labyrinth.

It was also a clan that only explorers who had obtained the Crystal Rose Engraving could enter.

“Was it really a Crystal Rose Clan member?”

“To be exact, it was a porter of the Crystal Rose Clan.”

“And you guys just believed that?”

“There was no reason not to believe it. Even if it was a lie, what does it matter? Either way, it’s a weapon made of black iron, isn’t it?”

“It broke. A person almost died, and these bastards are being shameless.”

Jeong Yu-shin growled, and the dwarves closed their mouths and only rolled their eyes.

“Anyway, 200 gold coins is too much, let’s make it 100 gold coins.”

“No, that’s a bit…okay.”

The dwarves were about to say a few words, but they immediately agreed after seeing Jeong Yu-shin’s hand twitch.

“And can this be fixed?”

“It can’t be fixed. It looks like we have to melt it down and make it again.”

“You couldn’t melt it down on this street. Then shouldn’t you go to the underground workshop in the western city?”

“That’s right.”

Jeong Yu-shin clicked his tongue a few times and put the greatsword back into the coffin.

“Tsk. Good work. I won’t be able to get away with it so nicely next time. I’m a swordsman, you know. What’s a swordsman’s pure heart? It’s the sword, of course.”

“…”

Jeong Yu-shin took out a gold coin pouch from his chest, put it in the dwarf’s chest, and patted it.

“But if our dwarf blacksmiths trample on my pure heart, then I can’t be a gentleman. Do you understand?”

The dwarves stared blankly up at Jeong Yu-shin.

Their bodies trembled and their mouths went dry because of his glittering eyes.

“Ah, I understand.”

“You must have a stomach ache, so have a drink with this money. Let’s laugh together later.”

“…”

Jeong Yu-shin glared at the dwarves who were nodding diligently without saying a word, turned around, and walked away.

When he returned to the inn, there were two faces he hadn’t seen in a while sitting at the table.

Labyrinth Committee member and spirit teacher, Luke Wiseman.

And a barbarian with a vertical scar on his eye. He didn’t know his name, but he remembered him clearly. He was the guy who ate strawberry juice and ran away last time.

Jeong Yu-shin was silent for a moment at the unexpected combination.

“It’s been a while.”

Luke smiled and waved his hand.

Jeong Yu-shin approached the table and sat down.

“What’s going on?”

“It’s urgent, so I’ll get straight to the point. The Emperor has sent a hero.”

Jeong Yu-shin tilted his head at Luke’s words.

Hero?

Could it be that the person the Crown Prince told him to accept was a hero?

“So?”

“I want you to form a party with the hero.”

Several questions flashed through his mind.

Jeong Yu-shin scratched his head and opened his mouth.

“Me? Why?”