episode_0242

As the days grew colder, Jung Yushin’s meditation deepened.

While Karin and the children were looking at icicles hanging from the roof ridge on a winter morning, Jung Yushin had his eyes closed.

Even when Granny, Snout, and the elf, a lover of children, came to visit, he silently shook his head and sent them away.

Barbaroi Thorgel and spirit teacher Luke, who visited the inn again to get an answer, turned away after seeing Jung Yushin.

Even when Karin approached, put a blanket over him, pressed her soft lips against his cheek, and hurriedly left.

Even when Mion secretly approached, poked his chest and blew hot breath into his ear, he remained still.

External disturbances were manageable.

The problem was within.

Dozens of ways to deceive the enemy came to mind, but imagining a window of the mind was truly difficult.

When he made a window, various distracting thoughts rushed in and shattered it.

‘Yushin, do you believe Luke? Do you really think meditation helps?’

‘What are you going to do if you just sit here? You need to train and acquire knowledge. Time is money.’

‘Incubus, let’s just try having sex with your vagina filled with love juices in the labyrinth once. Please!’

Jung Yushin waited patiently for the distracting thoughts to pass.

After the distracting thoughts disappeared, intense memories followed.

Memories of walking a tightrope on the edge of death came flooding back. He didn’t know it then, but now, thinking about it carefully, there were more than one or two chilling moments.

There were several times when he missed and got hit by a sword.

There were also many times when he held onto his wavering mind and used his brain to break through the labyrinth.

There were also times when he lined up those trashy Eastern District guys and agonized all night whether to kill them or let them live.

Each time, Jung Yushin’s brow furrowed slightly, but he didn’t open his eyes.

‘It’s hard.’

His mind was a swift wild horse running across the prairie, a lake battered by storms, and a pitiful butcher contemplating death.

Nevertheless, he created a small window in his mind.

And he could see.

In his mind’s eye, madness was looming outside the window like a dark and viscous fog.

‘This is enough.’

Jung Yushin was satisfied with this much.

It was a great gain to have organized his inner self to some extent and discovered the madness lurking in his mind’s eye.

The storm quietly subsided.

Jung Yushin raised his hand and closed the window of his mind.

Click.

He opened his eyes.

Numerous people were densely gathered in the inn hall, looking at his face.

Jung Yushin’s mouth fell open.

From small and medium-sized clan members to dwarves from the blacksmith street, members of the swordsmanship association and Snout from the monster dismantling center. Priestess Mion, Vivian, Karin, Luke and Matthias, and even cute beastkin friends were gathered.

The inn was decorated with colorful ornaments.

“What is all this?”

Luke cleared his throat and opened his mouth.

“Ahem! The winter festival is near. Your guild members wanted to have a small party before the festival, so they gathered. But are you alright?”

“I’m fine.”

“You’ve been sitting in the counter chair for three days?”

He had been sitting for that long?

Time passed so quickly.

“Now that I see it, my body feels a bit stiff.”

Jung Yushin looked down at his body.

He just threw on a medieval quilted jacket, called a gambeson, and sat down, but when he came to his senses, he was wearing a thick cloak and fur hat.

Three slimes summoned by the fox beastkin Luna were dancing above his head.

‘So distracting.’

Jung Yushin grabbed the slimes placed on his head, held them in his hand, and squished them.

People were looking at him with half worry and half smiles.

“Why did you come all the way here to see something like this?”

Matthias shrugged.

“Everyone came to see you.”

“Goodness.”

Jung Yushin scratched his head and got up from his seat. His head was spinning because he had been sitting for so long, but he didn’t show it.

He stepped out from behind the counter and stood in the center of the hall.

It was already snowing outside the window.

He put his hands behind his back and admired the snowy scenery for a moment.

“…”

The people held their breath and watched Jung Yushin.

He squished the plump slime, put it down on the table, and stretched out his hand.

“Sword.”

“Here it is.”

One of the small clan members approached and politely handed him a sword.

A well-worn longsword.

Swish.

He drew the sword, held it up, carefully observed the blade, and opened his mouth.

“I am Scar, the representative of the small and medium clans and the acting manager of the Darmong Inn. Nice to meet you all.”

“Nice to meet you, Scar-nim.”

“We look forward to working with you.”

“Thank you for your hard work on this labyrinth expedition!”

The people responded in their own way.

Jung Yushin turned his head and looked at the people once.

“You came all the way here to see someone insignificant, so I can’t just send you away. Watch my sword dance once before you go.”

The people naturally moved the tables and created space in the center of the hall.

Jung Yushin slowly swung his sword.

The trajectory of the sword, without any formality or bloodthirst, fell into the people’s view like snow fluttering outside.

He swung his sword and looked out the window.

‘It’s snowing.’

[Sacred Weapon]

[Multiple Casting]

[Telekinesis]

Small golden pieces were created on the ceiling of the inn and began to fall one by one.

There weren’t many.

But the people widened their eyes and looked up at the shimmering lights falling from the ceiling.

Jung Yushin’s sword moved faster and faster, cutting and piercing the golden pieces.

The people were mesmerized, not even making a sound, and fell into Jung Yushin’s dance.

Soon, all the lights disappeared, and Jung Yushin sheathed his sword.

Swish.

Clack.

“Ah.”

Someone let out a voice full of regret. Soon after, people responded with thunderous applause.

“Wonderful!!!”

“That was a soul-stirring swordsmanship!”

“Have a good party.”

Jung Yushin bowed his head and returned to the counter.

Wandering musician clan members in one corner began playing their instruments.

Thanks to the alcohol, songs, and delicious food, the atmosphere gradually heated up.

Jung Yushin also smiled and mingled with the people, sharing various stories.

As the sun set and evening came, people said their goodbyes one by one and left.

After the small party ended, only those with important business remained at the table.

Luke, Thorgel, and Matthias sat next to Jung Yushin.

Thorgel asked.

“Scar, what are you going to do?”

“The Hero?”

“That’s right.”

“I will join their party. But can I kill the Hero?”

“…”

The people closed their mouths and looked at Jung Yushin.

Luke barely opened his mouth.

“You… shouldn’t kill him, right?”

“Just don’t kill him?”

“…”

Once again, silence fell in the inn.

“Let’s not think too complicatedly. I’ll join the party, watch what those friends do, and decide whether to kill them or what to do.”

Luke sighed deeply.

“Hoo… Scar, I know your swordsmanship is excellent. But the Hero is strong.”

Jung Yushin looked into Luke’s eyes and said.

“I have to kill those who deserve to die. If their personality is garbage, I will kill them.”

“H, how…?”

“Somehow.”

Thorgel interjected.

“Scar, do you have a plan?”

“It will be becoming a true barbarian.”

‘A true barbarian?’

The people’s faces were filled with questions. They couldn’t even guess what kind of plan this crazy barbarian had in mind.

Jung Yushin grinned.

“I’ll take care of everything, so everyone can go home comfortably.”

* * *

The next morning.

Jung Yushin met Einhofer.

“Einhofer, please make me a big axe.”

“How big?”

“Big enough to look like a barbarian?”

“That’s difficult. I’ll give it a try.”

“If it’s too difficult, just make it like the axe Einhofer uses.”

“I understand what you mean. The axe blade should be longer on one side, right? The center of gravity should be towards the axe head?”

“Yes.”

Next, he stopped by Aldeane.

“Isn’t this a Stone Wolf?”

“Please make armor out of this wolf fur.”

“Okay. But when are you going to take your younger sibling?”

“I’ll take them later.”

“Really? Don’t overdo it.”

“Yes.”

After the inn party.

Jung Yushin’s actions changed.

He ate only chicken breasts every day to build muscle and grew his hair long to cover his forehead.

He also walked around the streets shirtless in the middle of winter.

His way of speaking also changed.

“Woo! Sex! Delicious! Scar likes chicken boobies!”

Thorgel made a blank expression.

“Sc…ar? What on earth are you doing?”

“I am Barbarian Scar! Impregnation is good!”

“What on earth do you think a barbarian is?”

Jung Yushin tilted his head.

“Isn’t this a barbarian?”

Thorgel raised his finger and pointed at Jung Yushin’s body.

“At least they wear something in winter. They don’t walk around bare-bodied with only a wolf skin hanging around.”

“It’s my will! Fake barbarians get out!”

Jung Yushin shouted, and Thorgel scratched his head.

“I’m going crazy.”

Jung Yushin’s expression changed in an instant.

“How many barbarians are left in the city?”

“Not many. Most of them went into the labyrinth.”

“Thorgel, I order you as the acting chief. Tell the friends who are left. If they happen to go out, tell them to take off their tops and act stupid.”

“…”

“Answer.”

“Okay. I don’t know exactly what your plan is, but since Grandpa Ragna trusts you, I will trust you too. But there is one thing I’m worried about. Your rumors have already spread widely throughout the city. Do you really think you can deceive the heroes with just this kind of pretense?”

“I’ll take care of that.”

“Do as you please.”

Thorgel got up from his seat and left the inn.

Jung Yushin watched Thorgel leave with his arms crossed.

At that time.

Karin approached with a worried expression.

“Scar, are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Karin, the physical regression imprint is an opportunity to get stronger. You know that, right?”

“Yes. I want to get stronger. Enough to protect you.”

Jung Yushin raised his hand and gently stroked Karin’s hair.

“Good thinking.”

“Mion said she would introduce me to a retired high-ranking guide. She’s staying in the Silver Forest outside the city.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I’ll be gone for a while, is that okay?”

Jung Yushin smiled and pinched Karin’s soft cheeks.

“Karin, don’t worry about me. Train comfortably and come back.”

Karin hugged Jung Yushin tightly and then stepped away.

“Thank you, Scar. I’ll be back.”

Karin left the inn with Mion and went to the Silver Forest.

He didn’t know who Karin’s temporary teacher was, but since she came with Mion’s introduction, he thought it wouldn’t be bad.

About two weeks passed.

Jung Yushin gradually turned into a barbarian.

The people on the street couldn’t adapt to the sudden change in atmosphere and way of speaking.

There were those who thought he had finally gone crazy because he didn’t say anything else, and there were those who thought he had returned to his true self.

On a cold winter morning.

While he was finishing his early morning training and diligently chewing on chicken breasts.

He heard people chattering outside the inn.

“H, hey! Th, the Hero has come!!!”

“Really?! Wh, where?!”

“He’s outside the city gates right now!”

Jung Yushin threw away the chicken breast he had been eating.

‘What was coming has come.’

He got up from his seat, slung the huge dwarf axe over his shoulder, left the inn, and ran towards the city gates.

The people on the street scattered in panic when they saw Jung Yushin suddenly popping out.

The wolf skin fluttered in the cold wind.

Jung Yushin, running down the street, took in a deep breath of cold air into his lungs and opened his mouth wide.

“HEROOOOOOOO!!!!!”

Jung Yushin’s thunderous voice echoed throughout the city.