episode_0246

Maze 3rd Floor.

Rest Area.

Sian opened his eyes.

About 6 hours had passed since Barbaroi’s snoring had subsided.

Soon it would be wake-up time. All the other party members were asleep.

He quietly got up from his spot and stretched his body, so as not to wake the party members.

Sian twisted his waist and intently looked down at Barbaroi.

He was lying with his arms and legs spread wide. Quiet breathing, close to a snore, could be heard.

‘His normal breathing.’

When awake, he was an extremely active man, to the point of being distracting.

His sleeping appearance was different.

It was difficult to see his full features, as his long, disheveled black hair covered half of his face.

Realizing the difference between when he was awake and when he was asleep, curiosity welled up.

‘What does he look like?’

Sian approached Barbaroi stealthily, as if possessed.

Was it rational affection?

Sian inwardly shook his head in denial. How could he feel such emotions after only meeting him a short while ago?

It was just curiosity.

He took off his gauntlets, carefully placed them on the floor, and knelt on one knee next to Barbaroi.

‘I’m just going to check for a moment.’

He repeated inwardly as he slowly reached out his hand. Towards the hair that was covering his forehead and half of his face.

Swoosh.

As the hair was pushed aside, his forehead slowly revealed itself.

Gulp.

Sian unconsciously swallowed hard. Just as the hero’s hand was about to completely sweep back his hair.

Flash.

Barbaroi opened his eyes.

Sian’s eyes widened.

“Ah.”

Thud!!!

His heart sank.

It wasn’t because Barbaroi had grabbed his hand with lightning speed.

It was his eyes.

The pupils were endlessly and coldly sunken. So heavy and dark that even the abyss would be bright in comparison.

How could one’s impression change so drastically with just a look in their eyes?

It suited his sharp eyes too well.

“What?! What is this?!”

Barbaroi’s eyes became round, and a flustered voice flowed from his mouth.

However, Sian couldn’t pay attention.

Because he felt both a familiar and unfamiliar energy from their clasped hands.

And there was one more energy.

The scent similar to Barbaroi’s sweat lingered at the tip of his nose.

What should this feeling be called?

It felt as if Barbaroi’s sweet body odor had entered his body and was warming him up.

Sian instinctively pulled his hand away.

“S-Scar, it’s time to wake up. I reached out my hand to wake you, but you grabbed it.”

“···Is that so? Got it!!!”

Barbaroi rolled his eyes around, immediately let his hair down, and jumped up.

Luther and Sebastian also woke up to the commotion.

“What’s going on?”

Sebastian, still not fully awake, asked with a dazed expression.

“It’s wake-up time.”

Sian replied, picking up the gauntlets that were on the floor.

After Sian’s party cleaned up their sleeping area, they sat around the bonfire, ate jerky and biscuits, and got up to walk again.

4th Floor.

Hobgoblin Warriors and Shamans appeared, but were easily swept away by Sebastian’s Explosion magic.

5th Floor.

They arrived at Ingrave, a city submerged in darkness.

The party members passed through a cave, descended a high hill, and then walked straight to stand in front of a huge gate.

“Kuaaaaaaak!!!”

As soon as they stepped inside the gate, a huge hobgoblin wielding a staff screamed.

Hobgoblin King.

One of the powerful entities that began to appear after the last maze change.

The Explorer’s Guild eventually gave it a name. Because it wasn’t a temporary phenomenon.

Sebastian stepped forward and raised his hand.

“I will take care of it.”

A quick murmur passed, and the magic was deployed in an instant.

[Ice Wall]

Three ice walls surrounded the Hobgoblin King.

[Earth Vine]

Tree roots sprang up from the ground and tied its ankles.

[Explosion]

Finally, the floor where the Hobgoblin King was standing became scorched and an explosion occurred.

Boom!!!

In an instant, the Hobgoblin King was shattered into pieces. Burnt flesh and bone fragments flew up and stuck all over the ice walls.

[Holy Barrier]

A hot shockwave that would burn even blood splattered out, but Luther deployed holy magic to erase the aftermath.

“Ooh!!! Amazing!!!”

Barbaroi exclaimed.

“Hmph. Let’s go.”

Sebastian scoffed.

The party members fearlessly crossed the city streets and stood in front of the transfer stone leading to the cloister area.

Whoosh.

A red portal and a blue portal.

The expressions of the party members looking at the portals were nonchalant.

Luther smiled.

“At this rate, we’ll break through to the 10th floor in a few days.”

Gibson shook his head with an awkward smile.

“Hehe. We were lucky this time. We always fell near the transfer stone.”

“Assuming we’re not so lucky, we’ll need to make long-term plans to get past the 10th floor. We’ll have no choice but to pay attention to supplies and food.”

The people who were chatting glanced at Sian and Barbaroi. Because both of them were silent.

“…”

Barbaroi was staring at the portal with a dazed expression.

And Sian had his mouth shut as if he had something to think about.

Luther approached.

“Hero, are you okay?”

“Ah, I just had something to think about···. I’m fine. Just like the priest said, we need to make plans assuming long-term battles and exploration.”

“That’s right!!! The one who survives is strong!!!”

Barbaroi shouted loudly.

The party members shook their heads and stepped into the portal. Thinking that it was really an uneventful maze exploration.

As they entered the portal, they felt a sense of floating along with flickering vision, before landing on the ground.

Flash!!!

The party members stood at the maze exit magic circle.

Sunset.

Cold air touched their skin.

Sian felt a sense of liberation. At the same time, his muscles became a little stiff.

“Did I get an imprint?”

Barbaroi’s eyes widened at Sian’s murmur.

“Did you feel a sense of liberation?!”

“Yes.”

“Then you got an imprint! Go to the temple quickly!”

“Should I?”

Luther and Sebastian stepped forward.

“We’ll accompany you. Hero, let’s go right now.”

Sian nodded, looking at Barbaroi.

“Thanks for helping, Scar.”

“Woo-ha-ha-ha!!! Don’t mention it! Aren’t we comrades?!”

Sian, Sebastian, and Luther left the magic circle at a brisk pace and disappeared into the streets.

One person.

Only Ranger Gibson remained.

“Gibson, aren’t you coming?!”

“There are already two people going, so there’s no need for me to go. But.”

Gibson’s expression turned serious.

“Barbaroi.”

Barbaroi’s expression also hardened.

“Why?”

“By any chance···. Could you lend me some money?”

Barbaroi’s hardened expression blossomed.

“Euhahaha!!! How much do you need?! Just say the word!”

“I think 1 gold coin would be enough.”

“…”

Barbaroi looked at Gibson with his mouth shut.

Gibson scratched his head.

“Is it, is it too much?”

“No!!! 1 gold coin?! That’s small change!”

Gibson’s face also relaxed.

“Hahaha!!! This friend is very generous!!! Thank you!!!”

“Euhahaha!!! But what are you going to use it for?!”

Gibson laughed.

“I’m thinking of drinking and gambling. Are you thinking of coming with me?”

“I’m tired! Here, 1 gold coin.”

Barbaroi rummaged through his backpack, took out 1 gold coin, and threw it.

Gibson smiled broadly and snatched the flying gold coin.

“You were well-prepared!”

“Euhaha!!! That’s me!!! See you later then!!!”

Barbaroi slung his single-edged axe over his shoulder and ran down the street.

Gibson fiddled with the gold coin.

His heart was pounding and his breathing became rough.

He was thirsty for alcohol. His fingers were itching to taste the thrilling moment of laying down money and revealing the cards.

“Hehehe. Barbaroi, that guy was a good friend.”

Gibson smiled sinisterly and quickened his pace.

* * *

Central Area.

The temple that worships the Wind Spirit God.

Spirit Instructor Luke took his hand off Sian’s shoulder.

“Your imprint is a muscle stiffness imprint.”

Sian’s expression was nonchalant, but Sebastian and Luther’s expressions were distorted.

Sebastian stepped forward.

“Please explain in detail.”

“Just as it sounds. Your muscles become stiff and tight.”

“Damn it!!!”

Only then did the meaning of the imprint hit them hard.

“Can it be erased?”

“It can be erased. But I don’t recommend it.”

Luke replied to Sebastian’s question with a subtle expression.

“Why?”

“Don’t be so sharp. We don’t want to make enemies with the people of the Empire either.”

“…”

Luke cleared his throat and opened his mouth.

“Ahem! The more you erase imprints, the more the cost increases. If it keeps growing, you won’t be able to handle it. And if you get another negative imprint, it’s over.”

“If cost is the problem.”

“Do you really think cost is the problem?”

“Then…?”

“It’s hard to tell you. Anyway, just leave most negative imprints alone. I recommend erasing them when you’re about to retire as an explorer.”

Sian nodded and opened his mouth.

“Does the muscle stiffness continue?”

“No. It’ll get better if you loosen it up properly with a massage. Of course, you’ll have to do it regularly.”

“I understand, thank you.”

Sian gave his thanks, turned around, and left Luke’s room. Sebastian, who was about to follow Sian out, looked at Luther.

“Priest?”

“I’ll talk to Luke-nim and then go.”

“Yes.”

Creak.

Thud.

The door closed and the two priests remained in the room.

Luther was quiet for a moment, then suddenly asked.

“What is Scar’s imprint?”

“···I can’t tell you that.”

“Why?”

“It’s against the rules to reveal it unless the explorer reveals it themselves or poses a serious threat to the city. Please understand.”

“Then tell me about that friend.”

Luther asked directly.

He had only been in the city for a short time, so he had put all his effort into adapting.

He didn’t have the leeway to pay attention to Barbaroi. There was also the reason that his first impression was strongly imprinted, and he trusted and followed him because he was His Highness the Crown Prince’s choice.

But.

Now that he had experienced the maze and its laws a little, and had begun to think seriously about imprints.

The rumors about Scar that the hero had mentioned in passing at the dinner table felt different.

The rumor that he had cut off an ogre’s head in the 17th floor of the maze with his eyes closed.

It was no different from saying that he had a hidden imprint.

If you think about it a little more.

It meant that he might have an imprint that would negatively affect the hero.

Luke gave a bitter smile.

“You don’t need to think too deeply about that friend. Wouldn’t it just make your head more complicated?”

“···I see. Then.”

Luther silently looked at Luke before turning around and leaving the temple.

The winter wind was swirling, but Luther was lost in thought and didn’t even feel the cold.

‘There’s something.’

He felt it instinctively.

Luther’s eyes gleamed coldly as he walked down the street.

‘What are you hiding? Barbaroi.’

* * *

Central Area.

A luxurious inn.

Sian slowly took off his armor.

He placed the parts of the plate armor on the table.

Sian, now wearing a thick arming doublet and padded pants, frowned.

“Hmm.”

His shoulder felt stiff.

Sian raised his hand and tapped his shoulder.

“Is it already stiff?”

He should find a good masseuse. A female one, of course.

He wasn’t too worried.

Because Barbaroi knew the maze city well.

Around noon the next day.

Sian went to the Swordsmanship Guild.

Barbaroi was still swinging his axe vigorously.

Sian waved his hand towards Barbaroi.

“Scar.”

Barbaroi ran over in one stride.

“Oh!!! Sian! Are you going to spar?”

Sian shook his head.

“No. I’m looking for a masseuse to loosen my muscles. Is that possible?”

“Suddenly?!”

Sian hesitated for a moment before opening his mouth.

“I ended up getting a muscle stiffness imprint. I need to loosen my stiff muscles regularly.”

Barbaroi was silent for a moment, then patted his chest.

“There’s no need to go far!”

Sian tilted his head.

“What do you mean?”

“You have me?! A warrior knows a warrior’s body better! Leave it to me! I’ll loosen you up nicely!”

“…”

Sian, who was about to shake his head and refuse, stopped.

The endlessly sunken eyes he had seen in the maze flashed through his mind. They seemed so chillingly cold.

He was curious about what this man’s true self was.

Was it just a hazy look that briefly flashed by because he had just woken up?

He could find out for sure this time.

He had no fear. Because he was the one blessed by Lux Aeterna.

“Is that so? I’m counting on you.”

Sian nodded and muttered inwardly.

‘It’s just my shoulder.’