episode_0284
by fnovelpiaI had a dream.
A dream about Sian in a cow-print bikini, offering her milk.
“Uhm. Good girl? Let’s eat, shall we?”
I chewed gently on her erect nipples.
Sweet and rich breast milk filled my mouth.
‘Is this really a dream?’
I wondered, but brushed it aside.
Jeong Yu-shin opened his eyes.
Familiar scent and scenery.
It’s Darmong’s inn.
‘How strange.’
It had been quite a while since I had passed out and been carried out of the labyrinth.
Turning his head, he saw Sian asleep next to the bed, her face buried.
Did she take care of me without rest even after returning?
I felt grateful, and also a little embarrassed at the thought of the dream.
Jeong Yu-shin frowned.
“Hmm.”
He felt an omnipotent sensation coursing through his body.
‘Level up.’
A phenomenon called mana adaptation.
The mana accumulated sufficiently in the body mutates the body.
It had the effect of strengthening strength, stamina, reflexes, and magic power.
Leveling up once doesn’t make you super-strong like a superhuman.
But.
It was clearer and more intense than any sensation I had felt before.
Why?
Because I obtained the mana accumulation engraving.
The mana accumulation engraving increases the required mana for body mutation, but enhances the level-up effect.
I must have grown explosively.
It felt good, like a blocked area had been cleared.
Jeong Yu-shin smiled, closed his eyes, and contemplated his inner self.
‘Magic power has doubled.’
He marveled at the tremendous increase in magic power.
Jeong Yu-shin, with his eyes closed, tilted his head.
‘Something’s strange.’
He didn’t feel any yin energy in his body.
Due to the incubus engraving, his body had always emitted yin energy, but not a single bit of yin energy remained in his body.
A bizarre thing.
Did the overwhelming power of Lux Aeterna sweep away the yin energy?
I don’t know.
Jeong Yu-shin rubbed his forehead.
That aside.
‘Just how strong have I become?’
Isn’t it time for an accurate measurement?
If I search the labyrinth city, wouldn’t there be someone with a status window engraving?
While lost in various thoughts.
“S…ca?”
Sian, waking up from her sleep, lifted her head.
“Sian.”
“Sca! You’re awake! Are you okay?!”
“I’m fine. How long have I been asleep?”
“About a day.”
It hasn’t been long.
“The Mion priest came by. She cast healing magic and various other spells. Uh…um. And a dark elf named Vivian also stopped by.”
Many came and went while I was asleep.
Just as Sian was about to open her mouth hesitantly.
“Sca…”
Knock knock knock!!!
Sian was about to say something, but a knock echoed.
“Sca, are you awake?”
It was Barbaroi Torgel’s voice.
“Yeah.”
“I’m coming in.”
Torgel opened the door slightly and stuck his head in.
“Sca, how’s your body?”
Jeong Yu-shin shrugged his shoulders.
“I’m fine. I’m overflowing with energy.”
“Is that so? People are waiting on the first floor of the inn.”
“Who are the people?”
Torgel rolled his eyes and sighed deeply.
“There are too many to tell you all. Get yourself together and come down.”
Squeak.
Thud.
Torgel closed the door and left.
Jeong Yu-shin got out of bed.
His clothes had already been changed. It was a neat tunic and cotton pants.
But the underwear was halfway down his hips.
“…”
Sian blushed and turned her head.
“I-It was too big, so it was hard to put on. Sorry.”
Jeong Yu-shin, having roughly grasped the situation, scratched his cheek and opened his mouth.
“It happens. Thanks.”
When he went down to the first floor with Sian, he saw an enormous number of people.
Jeong Yu-shin’s mouth slightly opened.
Why are there so many?
There were small and medium-sized clan leaders, Matthias, Cain, Mion, Vivian, Luke, Crooked Nose, Deputy Guild Leader Nelia, and even the fox beastkin Luna and Edel.
It would be quicker to count the people who weren’t there.
However, the hero party was not there.
Jeong Yu-shin stood in front of the counter and looked around.
“…”
Their gazes are burdensome. Especially the eyes of the small and medium-sized clan members were shining like stars.
“Sca, say something.”
Cain, with his arms crossed, said.
Suddenly, it became a speech, but Jeong Yu-shin didn’t panic and slowly opened his mouth.
“I don’t have anything in particular to say. It’s been a while since you’ve come, so have a drink and go. It’s been a while since I’ve left the inn empty, so it’s a good thing.”
“Sca-nim!!!”
Crooked Nose shouted with bloodshot eyes.
“Why?”
“Why don’t you tell us?! The rumors have already spread!”
“What rumors?”
“I heard that you defeated the outer god and restored the seal!!!”
“…”
‘It seems like a seriously twisted rumor.’
I tried to correct it, but Granny, the leader of the Grandma Love Clan, stood up from her seat and shouted even louder.
“Sca-nim! There are more than one or two explorers who saw you soaring high into the sky, draped in the holy radiance of the spirit god!!!”
“…”
Was it that much?
Jeong Yu-shin scratched his head and blurted out.
“It wasn’t a big deal.”
“Huh?! N-No, what does that mean…?”
The bewildered people were in an uproar.
Jeong Yu-shin crossed his arms and looked around.
‘It’s the truth though.’
Instead of wielding a greatsword against the outer god, it was just a matter of cutting down any slime.
Crooked Nose, regaining his senses, raised his voice once more.
“Y-You’re even humble!!! This Crooked Nose! I’ve fallen for Sca-nim once again!!!”
“No!!! I’ve fallen even more!!!”
The small and medium-sized clan leaders started to make noise.
Most of them were men, so I wasn’t particularly moved.
It wasn’t a soft beastkin either.
Jeong Yu-shin waved his hand to silence the people.
“Anyway, it’s good that the seal of Ezdrath has been restored. Give your thanks to Sian here. Have a good meal and go.”
“Yes!!!”
* * *
The banquet started in the morning.
As time passed, more and more people came to the inn.
Jeong Yu-shin met each one, exchanged greetings, and asked how they were doing.
Cain approached and nudged Jeong Yu-shin’s shoulder.
“Sca, you’ve worked hard.”
“It was nothing. Anyone could have done it.”
Cain gave a bitter smile.
“There aren’t many people who can risk their lives. Especially in the labyrinth city, where people are exploring their potential.”
“That might be true.”
Surviving and obtaining good engravings would be the main goal.
Those who obtained cheat-level engravings would think of themselves as special people.
For these and other reasons, there would be no one to step forward.
“The seal on the 20th floor has been completely restored. We don’t have to worry anymore. The magic tower elder Matthias and the spirit god’s priests have confirmed it. Of course, we have to clean up the red orbs scattered on the 20th floor.”
“So you confiscated the torches?”
“That’s right. I was going to explain it slowly, but it happened so suddenly that there wasn’t time.”
“That’s true.”
Cain turned his body.
“Get some rest.”
“Take care.”
Jeong Yu-shin saw Cain off and returned to the inn.
Mion, Vivian, and Sian were sitting in one place.
The three women had smiling expressions, but they were strangely stiff.
“…”
Moreover, even though the surroundings were all noisy, only that spot was quiet.
Jeong Yu-shin tightly closed his mouth and deliberately turned his gaze away.
Deputy Guild Leader Nelia approached.
“Sca-nim.”
“Deputy Guild Leader.”
Nelia bowed her head.
“Thank you for helping the hero to restore the labyrinth’s seal.”
Jeong Yu-shin shook his head.
“It wasn’t my doing.”
“No. If Sca-nim hadn’t kept the high-ranking clans on the 20th floor, the situation would have become much more unfavorable.”
“…”
Jeong Yu-shin scratched his head.
It was awkward because it was all praise.
“Sca-nim, in that sense, we would like to give you a special promotion to mid-level lieutenant, as well as a separate reward from our explorer guild.”
Jeong Yu-shin tilted his head.
He roughly knew the requirements for promotion to mid-level lieutenant.
Reach the 20th floor with a party member of the same rank.
Complete 20 quests within the labyrinth city.
Sian’s party is currently a novice explorer.
‘I’m a low-level lieutenant.’
Since they are not of the same rank, they would not be able to meet the promotion requirements.
Moreover, they had never performed any significant quests within the city.
It was a radical promotion in a way.
“Are you completely ignoring the procedures required for promotion?”
“Astharoth-nim and Luke-nim used their power for Sca-nim, who worked hard for the labyrinth city.”
“Isn’t that illegal?”
“You have performed a historical feat. Not only Sca-nim, but also Sian-nim and the other hero party members have been promoted to low-level lieutenant.”
“I see. I feel good. I’m now a mid-level lieutenant.”
“Sca-nim, do you have any other rewards you need?”
At Nelia’s question, Jeong Yu-shin thought for a while and shook his head.
“I’ll ask later if I think of something.”
“I understand. Please be sure to stop by the explorer guild headquarters later.”
As Nelia bowed her head and stepped back, magic tower elder Matthias and Barbaroi Torgel slowly approached.
Jeong Yu-shin frowned and waved his hand.
“Let’s talk later.”
He was tired from talking to so many people.
The two men flinched and sat down.
Jeong Yu-shin sat on the counter chair and sipped his liquor.
‘Good.’
How long has it been?
Seeing the inn return to such a lively state, his heart felt at ease as if he had come home.
* * *
As time passed and evening came, people began to leave the inn one by one.
Jeong Yu-shin stood at the door of the inn and saw everyone off.
“Sian, where’s Gibson?”
At Jeong Yu-shin’s question, Sian’s expression hardened.
“He disappeared. I don’t know where he went.”
Jeong Yu-shin nodded his head.
“Sian, don’t worry and rest comfortably today.”
“I understand. Then see you later. …And it seems that Sebastian and Priest Luther have a lot to talk about.”
“I have a lot too. Let’s set up a separate meeting.”
Jeong Yu-shin saw Sian off for the last time and leaned against the entrance of the inn, looking out at the night streets.
There were many things to do.
Repair the broken equipment, and decide what kind of reward to receive by visiting the explorer guild.
Was that all?
He had to go to Mion and check if he had obtained any engravings.
The most important thing remained.
‘Gibson.’
I realized it after seeing Sian’s eyes.
Gibson didn’t die. He ran away. It was obvious where he had hidden.
Jeong Yu-shin looked at Crooked Nose, who was standing next to him.
“Crooked Nose, get me a leather fur.”
“Isn’t the acting over yet?”
“There’s still work to be done. This is the last one.”
“Yes.”
After finishing his words, Jeong Yu-shin slowly walked down the evening streets.
* * *
Eastern District.
The pleasure district.
A place where hazy smoke, obscene jokes, and gambling take place.
Gibson slammed the table.
Bang!!!
Gibson, who spat out profanities, wrung his hair.
Nothing seems to be working out.
He took the transfer stone to escape to the labyrinth city in order to live, but the hero party restored the seal and survived.
The eastern streets were bustling with the activity of Sca and Sian.
The hero Sian, who did not give in even after being cursed by the outer god Eros and wearing obscene underwear.
The rumors of Sca were even more so.
I heard that he wielded a weapon, whether it was an axe or a sword, in the eyes of the outer god, and inflicted injuries.
‘Ignorant bastard!’
Would you call him a barbarian?
Irritation welled up.
Should I leave the labyrinth city?
Or should I go back to the hero party again?
Gibson was worried for a long time, but he couldn’t find an answer.
He needed money to leave the city, but the underworld guys who were encouraging slave trading all disappeared.
Gibson gulped down his alcohol.
“Oh my, this uncle drinks well.”
An unfamiliar succubus woman smiled and approached.
“What is it?”
“I think I’ve seen you before, aren’t you from the hero party?”
“…”
“I heard that you were active on the 20th floor, please tell me a story.”
Gibson looked around.
The monster women were smiling and looking at him.
“Oh, right! Here’s some alcohol. I wasn’t just asking you to tell me.”
The succubus woman picked up a bottle of expensive-looking alcohol and filled Gibson’s glass.
Pour, pour.
Gibson looked at the glass.
He had no story to tell. Because he ran away from the hero party.
Still.
If he’s a hero.
Wouldn’t they accept him back?
He emptied his glass and got up from his seat.
“Are you going to tell me the story?”
Gibson waved his hand.
“I have nothing to tell a monster bitch.”
“Heung?”
Gibson staggered out of the gambling house.
“…”
As a strange silence fell on the gambling house, Gibson’s eyebrows furrowed.
Something’s wrong.
When he turned his head, the monster women were looking at him.
“What are you…looking at? Huh?!”
Gibson looked at his hands.
A sensation of his body becoming dull.
It’s not intoxication, it’s poison.
The succubus smiled and approached.
“You’re Gibson, right? Aren’t you being too much to us, starting with Olga?”
“Wh-What?”
The succubus’s eyes shone coldly.
“You’ve ruined more than one or two people. The complaints are rampant.”
“J-Just because of that?!”
“Just? We received the monster engraving, but we’re people. You can’t treat us like this.”
“Kueeehk!!!”
Gibson glared at the monsters and quickly stepped forward.
He has to get out of here first.
Bang!!! Clang!!!
He barely managed to get out, pushing people aside.
Strangely, the monsters didn’t follow.
Thud!!!
Gibson, who came out of the gambling house, rolled on the floor.
How strong the paralysis poison is, his body has become stiff.
“S-Save me…!”
Just as Gibson was about to shout, he saw Barbaroi walking down the street.
I lived.
“S-Sca!!!”
Gibson desperately shouted and called Barbaroi’s name.
“Hmm? Isn’t that Gibson?”
Barbaroi tilted his head and slowly approached.
“Did you drink a lot of alcohol?”
“N-No! It’s poison!!! It’s paralysis poison!!!”
Barbaroi squatted in front of Gibson and nodded his head.
“Ah. I see.”
Gibson’s eyes fluttered.
Something’s wrong.
Why is the always generous Barbaroi acting so calmly?
Wasn’t he a stupid barbarian who even lent him a large sum of money while smiling?
“Wh-What? Hey Barbaroi, what the hell…?”
Barbaroi slowly got up from his seat and threw off his fur.
Whoosh!!!
A boar beastkin sprang out from the side and draped a black coat over Barbaroi’s shoulder.
Gibson’s eyes widened.
It’s different.
The appearance, the way of speaking.
Everything was different.
Sca smiled seductively and squatted in front of Gibson again.
“Oh my. Teacher, it seems I’m very lucky today. I’ve been looking for you all along.”
“Heok!!!! Heoooooheok!!!”
Gibson’s breath quickened.
“But why are you so surprised? Did you think you’d never see me again for the rest of your life? After doing all sorts of nonsense?”
“Heoooooheok!!! Heoooooooheok!!!”
Gibson couldn’t even answer properly and was only breathing heavily.
Jeong Yu-shin gently stroked Gibson’s head.
“Teacher, you have lived a life full of shame. And today, it’s time to put an end to your life full of flaws.”
The street, which had become quiet at some point.
Shhhhhhhhhhh.
Gibson’s pants became wet.
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