episode_0279

The moment Jung Yoo-shin was about to open his mouth.

Thump!

A strange wave flowed from the distant center of the city.

Something ominous was lurking in the city.

He hadn’t seen it yet, but he was certain. When the wave passed through his body, he felt an unpleasant sensation as if he’d been punched in the heart.

Everyone else seemed to feel something similar, staring at the city with confused expressions.

Cain clicked his tongue and stepped back.

“Tch.”

Sian stepped forward. Her expression was as hard as stone.

“What on earth is that energy?”

Cain scratched his hair roughly and turned his body.

“Follow me. Hand in the torches.”

The people rummaged through their backpacks, handed all the torches to the knights, and headed into the city, following Cain.

Jung Yoo-shin was nervous that Cain would speak to him again, but it didn’t happen.

Jung Yoo-shin stuck to the rear of the party and looked around the city.

It wasn’t a large city, but it had everything it needed.

A general store, a blacksmith, and an inn/tavern.

There was also a magic item shop, and quite a few monster parties on the street.

It could be called a small city inside the labyrinth.

‘How fascinating.’

Jung Yoo-shin and the party members looked around here and there, following Cain until they reached the central plaza of the city.

People who looked like soldiers and explorers surrounded the central plaza in a circle, blocking people from entering.

The number of guards, at least several hundred, was significant.

The stern atmosphere naturally created tension.

‘The second seal of Azdras has cracked.’

Eros’s words flashed through his mind.

Cain stopped in his tracks.

Beyond the guards.

A large hole was gaping in the middle of the plaza.

Sian looked at Cain.

“Can we get a closer look?”

Cain shrugged his shoulders.

“As you wish. Are you the Empire’s Hero?”

“That’s right.”

“Follow me.”

Cain led the party members closer to the gaping hole.

“…”

Jung Yoo-shin closed his mouth.

It was a pit 2m deep, and a small flame was burning there.

It looked like a small bonfire, but it was different from a typical bonfire.

How should he put it?

It wasn’t emitting a red light, but a radiance that was dazzling to the eyes.

Moreover, he felt a familiar sensation from the flame.

‘The divinity of the Mother Earth.’

He instinctively realized it.

‘That is.’

The seal of Azdras.

The party members stared at the bonfire burning in the pit with their mouths open.

“Hero, that is the seal of Azdras.”

“Ah… I see.”

Sian replied blankly. Her gaze was captivated by the flame of light.

Jung Yoo-shin revised his information about Azdras.

The Saint Azdras.

The man who drew all the demons from the end of the continent and sealed them in one city.

He didn’t seal them with his own power alone. He used the power of the spirit gods.

“It wasn’t this weak originally. It was brighter.”

“Then is the seal weakening?”

“That’s right.”

At that moment.

People dressed as priests came from afar, carrying a box.

Jung Yoo-shin’s eyes narrowed.

That box.

He’d seen it somewhere before.

‘Where did I see it? Ah!’

When he was wandering around the labyrinth with the Iron Mask party.

He had received a designated request from the temple that served the spirit god of wind.

It was a request to receive a certain box from the temple and bury it somewhere in the forest floor.

It was similar to the box he saw back then.

“What’s in that box is the bone ash of dead priests. It’s useful for scattering the demonic energy that rises from the abyss and the demonic energy from another world. It can’t restore the seal of Azdras, but it can maintain it.”

Cain finished speaking and gestured to the priests.

The priests opened the box and poured the bone ash into the pit.

Whoosh!

The bonfire in the pit burned even brighter.

Jung Yoo-shin smiled bitterly.

He had been quite curious about the contents of the box because the priest hadn’t said what it was.

‘It was the bone ash of priests.’

His mind raced quickly.

Perhaps.

Was the state of the seal becoming unstable even before he came to the labyrinth city?

‘I came at the wrong time.’

Being dropped into this other world in the first place was unlucky.

Thump!

His heart beat again.

Jung Yoo-shin raised his head.

The emptiness of the central plaza.

He saw a distorted space. It was similar to fragments of a cracked mirror.

“…”

Cain raised his hand and pointed to the distorted emptiness.

“Can you see that space? Something is crossing over here, taking advantage of the weakened seal. I don’t know what it is, though.”

Cain didn’t seem to know what was lurking beyond the distorted space.

However.

Jung Yoo-shin knew.

‘The outer god of change, the Changeling.’

He knew because he heard it from Eros.

Will the main body come out, tearing through that space?

Or will a minion come out?

He didn’t know.

Cain shrugged his shoulders and stepped back.

“It looks okay for now. Let’s go rest and talk later. There’s an inn street a little further away.”

“I understand.”

Sian nodded in response and looked back at the party members.

Luther, Gibson, and Sebastian all looked tired.

“Let’s go.”

The party members left the central plaza following Sian’s lead.

Seti’s party parted ways along the way.

Seti smiled and held out his hand to Sian.

“Good work, Hero. Then let’s meet in the labyrinth city later.”

Sian took Seti’s hand.

“Thank you.”

“The Red Bead Destruction request? It was nothing. Besides, you guys did it all.”

Seti greeted Sian and approached Sebastian, whispering.

“Let’s meet up sometime when you come back to the city?”

“…”

“Answer me.”

“I, I’ll think about it.”

Seti was dissatisfied with Sebastian’s answer, but decided to concede.

There would be plenty of time anyway.

Seti’s party disappeared into the crowd on the street.

Sian’s party looked around for about 30 minutes and found an inn to enter.

The middle-aged orc man who was the innkeeper held out his hand.

“It’s 50 silver coins per night.”

Jung Yoo-shin’s eyes widened as if they would pop out.

50 silver coins a night?

Even if it’s the 20th floor, isn’t that too expensive?

Contrary to Jung Yoo-shin’s thoughts, Sian looked at Sebastian without a word.

Sebastian rummaged through his pockets and took out gold coins, handing them to the orc.

The orc frowned as he counted the money.

“There’s one person short.”

“Barbaroi will pay separately.”

Sian immediately stepped in to stop him.

“Sebastian, aren’t we the same party? Just pay for it.”

Sebastian pursed his lips and nodded.

“I understand.”

“Hahaha!!! Thank you!!!”

Jung Yoo-shin and the party members went up to the second floor.

There were quite a few rooms on the second-floor hallway, and unfamiliar monsters and human explorers were mixed together, wandering around.

The party members quietly found their own rooms and entered without saying much.

It was natural to be exhausted after spending nearly three weeks camping in the labyrinth.

Jung Yoo-shin also found his own room and looked around.

‘There’s nothing special.’

The room only had an old bed, a yellow blanket, and a creaky table and chair.

Jung Yoo-shin took off his sweat-soaked clothes and wiped his body with a damp towel provided by the inn.

He rummaged through his backpack, ate dried jerky and dried fruit, and lay down on the bed.

Come to think of it.

Although it wasn’t as good as the Darmong Inn, it was quite luxurious to enjoy this level of comfort in the labyrinth.

Jung Yoo-shin closed his eyes.

Darkness came.

* * *

Knock knock.

A knocking sound came from beyond the door.

Jung Yoo-shin opened his eyes and got out of bed, grabbing the axe he had placed by his head.

“Who is it?”

“This is the Labyrinth City Knights. Open the door.”

“Please wait a moment.”

Jung Yoo-shin carefully opened the door, raising his axe.

Creak.

Two knights were standing outside the door.

One of them frowned and grabbed his sword.

“What is it?”

“No, you really are knights. What’s the matter?”

“The Captain is calling for you. You’ll have to come with us.”

Jung Yoo-shin scratched his head and looked around the hallway.

Everyone seemed to be in a deep sleep; there was no sign of anyone.

“Alright.”

Jung Yoo-shin and the knights left the inn and headed back towards the central plaza.

Had it been about 20 minutes of walking?

Jung Yoo-shin and the knights stopped in front of a building.

A unique building with a circular dome-shaped roof.

He remembered it because quite a few soldiers were guarding the place.

“Follow me.”

Jung Yoo-shin followed the knights into the building.

After passing through the main gate with its antique carvings, a large hall came into view.

It was similar to a banquet hall made for nobles to enjoy parties.

There was a huge round table in the center of the hall.

Quite a few familiar faces were there.

The Elder of the Magic Tower, Matthias.

The Barbaroi Torgel.

He hadn’t seen his face lately, so he wondered where he was; he was here?

Quite a few of the top-ranked clans who were known to be big shots from the Explorers Guild headquarters were also present.

‘The Crystal Rose Clan.’

He remembered them because their hair color sparkled like crystals.

‘The Hellfire Clan.’

A fierce impression with fiery red hair.

‘The Guardians of Order Clan.’

Platinum blonde hair and a noble impression.

The three clans had one thing in common.

A group united by one overpowered engraving. They were elite clans that topped the charts in the labyrinth city, where there were many talented people.

Most of the clan members glanced at Jung Yoo-shin once and paid no further attention.

It was the attitude of looking at a beast that was not even worth paying attention to.

Cain, who was sitting in the center of the round table, raised his hand and pointed to the seat next to him.

“Scar, did you come straight from sleeping? Sit down.”

“Yes.”

Jung Yoo-shin greeted the familiar faces with a nod and sat down next to Cain.

“Cain, how long do we have to be stuck here on the 20th floor? I don’t want to stay here any longer.”

A middle-aged man with red hair growled.

Cain stared at the red-haired man with an apathetic expression.

“Just be patient. They said they’ll send you when the time comes, so why do you keep grumbling? My ears are going to bleed.”

Veins popped out on the red-haired man’s forehead.

“Cain, just because you’re the Captain of the Knights doesn’t mean you can’t see what’s in front of you?”

“You should keep your eyes open. Just because you’re doing well in the Explorer’s Guild doesn’t mean you can act like you own the world.”

At Cain’s response, the red-haired man slammed the table.

Bang!!!

“Is that truly…?! Aren’t you also being arrogant because you’re a disciple of Sword Master Ashur?!”

Jung Yoo-shin yawned as he clicked his tongue inwardly.

‘What’s with this power struggle?’

To be suddenly called by Cain after sleeping and see this mess.

He wondered if he was dreaming.

‘Why the hell did he call me?’

Cain shrugged his shoulders.

“There are many disciples of my teacher besides me. Every time something happens, you bring up that I’m a disciple of the Sword Master, but even this half-breed Barbaroi next to me is a disciple of Teacher Ashur.”

People’s gazes focused on Jung Yoo-shin.

Jung Yoo-shin paused as he was about to yawn.

The red-haired man glared at Jung Yoo-shin.

“The youngest disciple of the Elf Sword Master. I know your name.”

“…”

Jung Yoo-shin closed his mouth and looked at Cain.

‘Is he trying to start a killing spree here?’

Cain simply crossed his arms and said nothing else.

Jung Yoo-shin turned his head and looked at the red-haired man.

He had to introduce himself properly.

In any situation.

“That’s right. I am the last conscience of the labyrinth, a living moral compass, and the leader of a small-to-medium-sized clan, as well as a sponsor of the Children’s Love Clan and cute beastkin.”

“…”

Silence fell over the round table.

The red-haired man’s eyes trembled, and he looked around before looking at Cain.

“Captain, where were we in the conversation?”

“I said I can’t send you. I don’t know what will pop out after tearing through that unstable space.”

“Yes! Even though it’s an event of the Labyrinth Committee, is it fair to restrict the freedom of explorers like this?!”

The red-haired man ignored Jung Yoo-shin and started arguing with Cain again.

Jung Yoo-shin felt a strange sense of alienation, but he didn’t bother to say anything.

That’s besides the point.

‘Why the hell did he call me?’

The question he had suppressed resurfaced.

Cain turned his head again and looked at Jung Yoo-shin.

“Scar.”

“Yes.”

“Do you know what’s beyond that space?”

Jung Yoo-shin’s lips jutted out.

“Captain, why are you asking me that?”

“I called you because I thought you might know. Didn’t you receive the blessing of the spirit god? Can’t you sense something?”

“…”

Once again, people’s gazes focused.

Jung Yoo-shin made a sullen expression. Did he call him to ask what was beyond that distorted space?

Seriously?

‘He’s treating me like Doraemon.’

The red-haired man chuckled.

“Huh! What could that Barbaroi possibly know? He’s just a lower-intermediate explorer…”

“I do know, for now.”

Jung Yoo-shin’s words came out quietly.

“…!”

People stared at Jung Yoo-shin with wide eyes.

‘Ah.’

Jung Yoo-shin, realizing the people’s gazes, smiled slyly.

Seeing their surprised expressions, he finished calculating the situation.

‘How should I act entitled so that it will be rumored that I did well?’

“H, how on earth?!”

The red-haired man raised his voice.

Jung Yoo-shin leaned back in his chair leisurely.

“Hehe. Are you curious?”

“Tell me quickly!”

The red-haired man urged.

The people sitting at the round table didn’t say anything, but their feelings were the same as the red-haired man.

Jung Yoo-shin raised a finger and tapped the table.

“But with empty hands? Oh, come on. I’m disappointed.”

“…”

The people sitting at the round table immediately noticed.

Especially.

The Magic Tower Elder Matthias and the Barbaroi Torgel trembled slightly.

What that expression meant was clear.

This half-breed Barbaroi’s power trip.

It was about to begin.