episode_0253

The Pathfinder Headquarters was filled with people.

Yoo-shin Jung and Cyan pushed through the dense crowd from the entrance of the headquarters.

“Cyan, I’ll clear the way.”

Unable to endure it any longer, Sca took the lead. Cyan tried to say something, but the Barbarian didn’t listen, placing Cyan behind and moving forward.

Each time they were shoulder-checked, the Pathfinders glared back, but upon seeing Sca, they silently lowered their eyes and stepped back.

“Mr. Sca!”

Nellia waved her hand from the reception desk.

Yoo-shin Jung approached the reception desk.

“You can come up to the 4th floor.”

“Got it!”

Yoo-shin Jung and Cyan followed Nellia’s guidance and entered the room on the 4th floor.

A room full of luxurious decorations.

Sebastian, Luther, and Gibson from the Hero Party were sitting there.

The atmosphere between the three was subtle.

Sebastian was glaring at Gibson.

Luther was lost in deep thought, blankly staring into space.

“You came?”

Astaroth waved her hand with a mischievous smile. Her orange ponytail swayed gently.

“What’s going on?!”

“Hehe.”

At Yoo-shin Jung’s question, a strange laugh burst from Astaroth’s mouth.

“…”

The Hero Party looked at Astaroth with questioning eyes.

Why did she burst into laughter?

Regardless, Astaroth leaned back in her chair.

“I’m a little tired, so my tongue is twisted. Shall we get to the point?”

Astaroth took a sip of warm tea and continued.

“The second seal of Ezdrath on the 20th floor has broken.”

Luther interjected.

“Seal? What is that?”

“Think of it as a net that filters out the magical power coming up from the abyss.”

“What happens if the seal breaks?”

“Monsters get stronger. Sca, doesn’t sound like someone else’s problem, does it?”

Yoo-shin Jung’s eyebrows furrowed slightly.

‘This woman.’

Why does she keep dragging me into it?

When my disguise is already unstable.

“Don’t know! Sca hungry!”

Astaroth’s lips twitched.

“Sca single-handedly subdued the strengthened ogre on the 17th floor.”

Sebastian crossed his arms and smirked.

“That’s not such a big deal.”

“Heung…?”

Astaroth’s eyes narrowed.

“He fought with his eyes closed?”

“…!”

The Hero Party looked at Yoo-shin Jung with surprised eyes.

Cyan’s eyes widened in particular.

They couldn’t know how strong the ogre had become, but this was from the mouth of the labyrinth committee.

‘It must not have been a normal ogre.’

He was indeed a brave warrior.

On the other hand.

The mage Sebastian glared at the Barbarian.

‘Ignorant bastard!’

The priest Luther’s gaze narrowed even further.

“Why did you fight with your eyes closed?”

At Luther’s question, the Barbarian opened his mouth.

“Because of the labyrinth’s ‘rule’!”

“Rule? What rule is it that…”

Astaroth smirked and opened her mouth.

“Ah. You guys probably don’t know yet. The 16th to 19th floors are mountainous areas. For a certain period of time, a ‘grotesque thing’ floats in the sky, and if you look at it, you go crazy.”

“Then what do you do?”

“You have to hide in a shelter with a roof.”

“Why didn’t you do that?”

“Why bother? Isn’t it enough not to look at it?!”

At Sebastian’s question, the Barbarian asked back with a genuinely puzzled expression.

“Uh…”

Sebastian was at a loss for words.

‘He has a point, but.’

Isn’t that too ignorant of a method?

Seeing the Barbarian’s words, the slightly grown seed of doubt disappeared at once. Perhaps even the labyrinth committee was laughing because it was so absurd.

Gibson also shook his head with a dumbfounded expression.

On the other hand, Luther’s face changed subtly.

“Hmm.”

He was utterly confused.

Whether he closed his eyes and fought after finishing precise calculations.

Or whether he just recklessly charged in.

It was impossible to get a grasp.

Astaroth raised her finger.

“Let’s get back to the original story. Various problems will arise as the seal weakens. One of the problems is that beings from another world will invade through the labyrinth.”

“…”

Cyan’s eyes changed.

Astaroth’s expression also became serious.

“Cyan, was it? What do you think? The Empire sent you to protect the peace of the labyrinth, so I want to hear your opinion.”

“His Imperial Highness sent a messenger to tell me. To protect the labyrinth and prevent beings from another world from invading. I will act according to that will.”

“Then, I can ask your party for a favor, right?”

Cyan’s eyes were calm and full of resolve.

“Of course.”

In contrast.

Sebastian, Gibson, and Luther’s faces did not brighten.

Luther especially seemed very dissatisfied.

“Aren’t you sending us to a dangerous place too quickly? Are you telling us to go to the 20th floor in this situation?”

“It’s not that serious. Take a look at this.”

The dark elf standing next to Astaroth put down a small box.

Click.

When the box opened, pieces of red gems were visible.

Cyan’s expression immediately hardened.

An ominous energy emanated from the red pieces.

“These pieces are fragments of the Red Orb. The Red Orb is used to open a passage to another world.”

Luther distorted his expression.

“Such ominous things…!”

“Listen to the end. Red Orbs exist one by one on each floor of the labyrinth. I’d like you to get rid of them.”

“What makes you so sure that we can get rid of them?”

At Luther’s question, Astaroth shrugged her shoulders.

“Didn’t you subdue the Otherworld’s minion? I figured there must be a way.”

Cyan strode forward and grabbed a piece of the Red Orb.

Instantly.

The powerful divinity of Lux Aeterna burst from Cyan’s body and swept through the room.

And.

The red piece in Cyan’s hand turned into an ash-gray fragment and crumbled to dust.

Cyan raised her head and looked at Astaroth.

“I’ll take care of it.”

“Good. Let’s receive this favor in the form of a request. How should I give you the reward?”

“We’ll discuss it among ourselves first and then let you know.”

“As you wish. And you guys are still ‘beginner’ Pathfinders, right?”

The Hero Party’s faces stiffened.

“Take this opportunity to do some labyrinth city quests and raise your rank. You’re going to live in the city anyway, so you need to interact and know how the city works, right?”

“It doesn’t seem like such a great city.”

Sebastian muttered quietly.

Astaroth’s eyes flashed coldly, but she pretended not to hear.

“That’s the end of the business. I’ll organize and give you the locations of the Red Orbs separately. You can go now.”

The Hero Party, except for Cyan and Yoo-shin Jung, left the room with faces like they had eaten poop.

Sebastian waved his hand dismissively.

“Barbarian, we’ll talk about the reward separately, so let’s part ways here.”

“Why?! I like rewards too!”

Gibson stepped forward with a serious expression.

“Barbarian friend, wouldn’t we take care of it? Don’t be so impatient and wait calmly. You don’t like complicated calculations, do you?”

At Gibson’s words, the Barbarian recoiled in disgust.

“That’s right! I hate boring and scholastic words! Death is better.”

“Then we’ll go first. You go do your work.”

Cyan tried to stop them, but Luther grabbed Cyan’s arm and shook his head.

‘There’s something to discuss.’

Reading Luther’s lip movements, Cyan reluctantly nodded.

“Sca, see you later. I’ll go first.”

The Barbarian waved his hand with a beaming smile.

“Goodbye! You have to give me a lot of rewards!”

The Hero Party members pushed through the crowd and left the Pathfinder Headquarters.

Squeak.

The door opened slightly, and the dark elf came out.

“Mr. Sca, please come in.”

“What’s going on?!”

“Ms. Astaroth says she has something to say.”

“Got it!”

Yoo-shin Jung re-entered the room where the meeting had just ended.

Astaroth grinned and tapped the chair next to her.

“Sit.”

Yoo-shin Jung swept his long hair back over his forehead.

“What is it?”

The man who had been acting generously with a booming voice just a moment ago was gone.

Only a man remained, radiating an icily cold gaze.

An unbelievable temperature difference.

How could someone be born and change their facial expressions so naturally?

Even Astaroth, who had been through thick and thin, felt goosebumps all over her body.

Step. Step.

Yoo-shin Jung slowly walked over and plopped down next to Astaroth.

“What is it?”

Astaroth had tried to show a relaxed appearance, but when she was faced with Sca’s cold gaze.

Her body trembled slightly, and her lower abdomen fluttered.

“J, just saying you worked hard.”

“Why were you laughing during the meeting just now? I almost got caught.”

“You didn’t get caught, did you? Then it’s fine.”

‘Agh.’

Looking at her playful eyes, I wanted to lay her face down on my lap and smack her butt a few times.

‘I’ll hold back because she’s a labyrinth committee member.’

“What about the other Hero Party members?”

“They don’t seem like good guys.”

Astaroth nodded.

“I thought so too. The Hero seemed to have a clear purpose, but the party members seem to have other intentions. Especially that Gibson guy. Do you know that he’s been going around the gambling dens in the eastern district these days?”

“Yes.”

“Assuming the worst-case scenario, can we co-opt the Hero?”

Yoo-shin Jung scratched his head.

What could be the worst-case scenario?

The Hero Party going astray?

Or one of the Hero Party members leaking the weaknesses of the labyrinth city to the Empire in detail.

He had no idea.

‘Complicated.’

Leaving aside the worst-case scenario.

“How about we wait and see before deciding?”

“It’ll be too late when the time comes. Co-option is done in advance.”

“How am I supposed to co-opt the Hero?”

“Sca, you have your own weapon, right? Why don’t you use that?”

Yoo-shin Jung tilted his head.

“Poison? Or sowing discord?”

“N, no, not that kind of thing.”

Astaroth stopped talking and suddenly began to vigorously tuck her hair behind her ears.

“U, with your face.”

“…”

Yoo-shin Jung silently looked down at Astaroth.

Astaroth blushed slightly and turned her gaze to the side.

“I, I heard ‘that’ is big too… W, with night skills, y, you can conquer the Hero…”

Astaroth, who was speaking, fiddled with her small fingers, seemingly embarrassed.

Yoo-shin Jung rubbed his face dry with a tired expression.

To be sexually harassed by a demon loli masochist.

‘I’ve experienced everything in this otherworld adventure.’

There was nothing more to see.

“Y, yes, subdue the Hero with your heinous dick!”

Astaroth, who had been hesitating, closed her eyes and screamed.

Yoo-shin Jung raised his hand and gave Astaroth a flick on the forehead.

Thwack!

“Eek!”

“Ah, I’m sorry. I thought you crossed the line too much.”

Yoo-shin Jung got up from his seat and bowed.

“First, I’ll try to build a friendly relationship with the Hero. I’m giving her massages these days. Don’t worry too much.”

Astaroth, who was rubbing her crown, glared at Yoo-shin Jung.

“She’s already fallen for you!”

“Didn’t you see those eyes? The Hero is a person with a strong heart. I don’t think she’s a woman who can be co-opted just by her face.”

“…”

“Then I’ll see you later. Uhahahahaha!!!”

Yoo-shin Jung greeted Astaroth, laughed boisterously, and left the room.

On the way back to the inn.

Yoo-shin Jung slowly organized his thoughts.

He had to co-opt the Hero?

That was right.

At least she had to hesitate when the Empire gave an over-the-line order.

‘But that’s not easy.’

To attract the Hero with his face and dick.

It was no different from using his looks.

‘Cut off your dick and die, you idiot. You have no confidence. You were born a man, so, huh?! You have to stick it in the Hero’s pussy too, you idiot!’

The darkness of the labyrinth ranted in his head.

“Sca?”

Yoo-shin Jung, who was shaking his head, suddenly looked up.

“Um?!”

Cyan was standing in front of him. Still wearing her plate armor.

Had she already returned to the inn?

“Why do you have a dazed expression?”

“I was thinking of you!”

Sweet words immediately popped out of Yoo-shin Jung’s mouth.

Cyan chuckled.

“I’ve roughly finished dividing the reward. I came to tell you.”

“Oh?! Really?!”

Cyan’s face blushed slightly.

“A, and I also came to get a m, massage.”

Her last words were as small as a mosquito.

“Uhahahaha!!! I understand! Come in!”

Midwinter.

The two men and women put their shoulders together and entered the inn.