episode_0288

Dawn, two days later.

Jeong Yushin swung his sword in the inn’s backyard and raised his head.

The day had brightened, but the sun was not visible, obscured by gloomy clouds.

The weather looked like it would rain at any moment.

“Hooo.”

Jeong Yushin breathed out a long puff of air.

The day was still cold, but he was certain.

‘Spring is coming.’

There was no way he couldn’t know.

Because small sprouts were poking their heads out one by one in the corner of the backyard.

Was that all?

In line with the quickly approaching spring, the movements of people also became busier.

It could be seen as a change in the labyrinth city.

The changes were not limited to the commoners in the southern district.

They also occurred among the high-ranking people in the central district.

First.

Astaroth of the Labyrinth Committee stepped down.

Unless something special happened, it was decided that the Labyrinth Committee would only serve for one season.

However.

Originally, the dwarves in charge of this winter suffered great damage due to the powers of an Outer God.

In the end.

Astaroth guarded the labyrinth entrance on behalf of the Dwarven Kingdom.

Secondly.

There were rumors that the Elf Queen would personally guard the labyrinth entrance this spring.

It was an unusual move. She had only sent a representative until now.

Some thought that she was giving her daughter a chance to run the country without interference.

Others saw it as a political move to counter the threat of the Empire.

‘Not that I care.’

Jeong Yushin put down his sword and went to the well to wash himself.

He washed his sweat-soaked upper body with cold water, and as he was wiping himself with a towel,

Granny peeked out from the back door.

“Scar?”

Granny, the clan leader of Granny’s Love.

A diligent young man who runs a small furniture workshop.

Jeong Yushin draped the towel over his shoulder.

“What’s the matter?”

“It’s not that, but there’s an important meeting, and I came to ask if you could attend.”

“Where should I go?”

“It hasn’t been decided for sure yet. I think we’ll gather at the bar in the western district like last time.”

“Do it at this inn.”

“Would that be alright?”

“It’s not like it’ll wear out. Come comfortably.”

Also, he disliked the deserted inn.

Granny grinned.

“Thank you!”

As soon as Jeong Yushin’s permission was given, quite a few leaders of small and medium-sized clans gathered at the inn.

Because there were so many people, the tables were joined together to make a long one.

Jeong Yushin sat at the head of the table.

Granny, the clan leader of Granny’s Love, sat on his right.

On his left, Kenneth, the clan leader of Children’s Love, took his place.

The people looked at Jeong Yushin’s face in silence.

Since they looked like they were asking for his permission, he waved his hand roughly.

“Start.”

Granny unfolded the paper and cleared her throat.

“Ahem! I will now begin the meeting of the small and medium-sized clans.”

Several agendas were brought up.

“This is the most important agenda. We need to provide some conveniences for the ‘newcomers’ who will be coming in this time, what do you all think?”

Jeong Yushin’s ears perked up.

“Newcomers?”

Granny noticed Jeong Yushin’s expression and explained further.

“Yes. Every spring, many people flock to the labyrinth city from all over the continent.”

“Is that so.”

Come to think of it.

‘I also came to the labyrinth city around spring.’

Are people who want to change their fate by borrowing the power of the stigma flocking to this city again?

“The explorers who came in last spring…”

Granny glanced at Jeong Yushin’s expression and continued.

“Most of them died or gave up. It’s because of the anomalies that occurred in the labyrinth. In particular, the Eldritch Wave damage was severe.”

Eldritch Wave.

A phenomenon in which unheard-of monsters pop out when the magic of the abyss and the other world is combined and laid on a layer.

Jeong Yushin turned his head and looked out the window.

That was true.

Almost all of his classmates who took the beginner explorer class together died at that time.

How could there be a hierarchy in death, but their deaths were the worst form, hard even to talk about.

Granny continued her explanation.

“The explorer branches in the southern and western districts have also made requests, so how about those who run inns or general stores give some convenience to the novice explorers?”

Someone raised their hand.

“How much convenience should we provide? Even though they are called newcomers, there are quite a few people who have been rolling around outside the city before entering.”

“…”

People turned their heads and looked at Jeong Yushin.

Jeong Yushin turned his head from looking at the street outside the window.

“Why?”

“Do you have any good ideas?”

Jeong Yushin looked around at the clan leaders.

“I’m a swordsman, not a businessman.”

“…”

Despite Jeong Yushin’s words.

The clan leaders kept their mouths shut and their eyes shone.

Jeong Yushin, who had been stroking his chin for a while, opened his mouth.

“I don’t think we need to go out of our way to sort out whether they are real newcomers or not. Whether you reduce the accommodation costs, or sell the goods cheaply, I don’t know what your plan is, but if you’re going to do it, give them convenience across the board.”

“…”

The clan leaders’ expressions hardened.

Jeong Yushin relaxed and leaned back in his chair.

“You have a lot of complaints on your faces, but think differently. Don’t think of it as giving convenience against your will, but think of it as looking for good people.”

“…!”

“Make a connection first and watch them. If you think they’re good people, introduce them to a job, and if you think they’re talented enough to join the clan, recruit them.”

Someone raised their hand.

Solomon, an old man from a brewery.

“Master Scar, as you know, it’s difficult to know a person’s heart. Even if we do them a favor, will they properly repay us?”

Come to think of it.

That was not wrong.

Ironically.

The labyrinth city is also a place where people’s true colors are well revealed.

When they believe they have become stronger by receiving the power of the stigma.

In other words, when they realize that they are superior to others, their true nature tends to be revealed.

Jeong Yushin gave a bitter smile. Did he expect some great advice from someone barely in his early twenties?

“Do as you please, old man. You’ve spent quite a long time in the labyrinth city, so at least you have a better eye for people’s hearts than a swordsman like me.”

Solomon burst into hearty laughter.

“Haha. I don’t know about anything else, but I think it’s fortunate that you became the representative of the small and medium-sized clans.”

The clan leaders laughed and each said a word.

“That’s right. I like the plan that Scar proposed. I will follow Scar’s plan as it is.”

“We’re short on manpower as well. I’ll follow Master Scar’s suggestion.”

Jeong Yushin frowned.

“I’ve been wondering since before.”

“…?”

“Why do you keep adding the title ‘Master’?”

Granny scratched her head.

“We are all people who lead a clan, so it’s difficult to call Scar the clan leader, isn’t it? Is there any other title you want?”

Jeong Yushin pondered for a moment and shook his head.

“Call me whatever you want.”

““Yes!!!””

The clan leaders laughed and shouted loudly.

After that.

Several agendas were exchanged, and the meeting of the small and medium-sized clans ended.

Before leaving, the clan leaders brought gifts.

First, Solomon.

“This is a new wine I brewed this time. Tell me what you think later.”

“I will.”

This time, a little rabbit beastkin with a small lute approached.

“Um…”

Jeong Yushin’s face softened.

“What’s the matter?”

An elf woman approached.

“This is a lute made by this child. She is an orphan being cared for by the Children’s Love Clan, and she has a talent for playing and making instruments, so we will be bringing her into our wandering troupe clan.”

“Is that so.”

Jeong Yushin turned his head and looked at Kenneth.

A muscular elf with the Children’s Love stigma.

He was diligently listening to the reports.

When he didn’t have enough time, he asked Granny.

He hadn’t heard the reports for a while because he was busy.

Fortunately, he was taking good care of the children.

Jeong Yushin smiled and received the lute that the rabbit beastkin handed him.

“Thank you.”

The rabbit beastkin kept bowing its head.

“Hooo. Thank you.”

“I’m the one who’s grateful.”

The inn was empty with the rabbit beastkin and the wandering troupe clan as the last to leave.

Jeong Yushin cleaned up the inn and sat on the counter chair and played the lute.

Tiriring.

He had never learned to play properly.

He just liked the quietly audible sound, so he plucked the strings as his hands went.

As he was playing with the lute for a long time, time flew by quickly.

Swaaaaaaa.

Before he knew it, rain was pouring down outside the window.

Jeong Yushin blankly admired the rainy street.

‘Is it spring rain?’

What else is rest?

Just sitting down and listening to the sound of the rain might also be rest.

Just as Jeong Yushin was about to close his eyes and enjoy the sound of the rain.

Thump!!!

The inn door opened roughly, and two men came in.

Jeong Yushin opened his eyes and examined the uninvited guests.

An old man and a young man wearing robes.

The young man’s face was familiar.

‘Malachi.’

The magician youth who was trying to frame him as a power of an Outer God at the explorer association headquarters.

He somehow managed to get through it with improvisation, but honestly, his heart still trembled whenever he thought about it.

His feelings could not be good.

An old man with rat whiskers stepped forward.

“Are you Scar?”

Jeong Yushin nodded.

“That’s right.”

“I am Radamant, who holds the position of Elder of the Labyrinth Magic Tower. The young man next to me is.”

“Malachi. I know.”

Radamant, who was looking around the inn, opened his mouth.

“…I heard that Matthias came to see you a few days ago.”

“So?”

Magic Tower Elder Radamant frowned.

“You’re speaking informally?”

Jeong Yushin straightened his posture and bowed his head.

“I’m sorry, Radamant. What brings you here?”

“We are here to cancel the designated request that Matthias recommended to you.”

Jeong Yushin’s face hardened.

“Are you talking about the dimensional transfer magic tool?”

“That’s right.”

“Is there a reason?”

At Jeong Yushin’s question, Radamant raised his index and middle fingers.

“There are two reasons.”

“What are they?”

“We have obtained all the materials necessary for dimensional transfer, as well as the ‘mystery’ of the Lake Mine layer beyond the 20th floor.”

“I see. What’s the other one?”

“The magic tool has disappeared.”

“…”

Radamant stared intently at Jeong Yushin’s face.

“…I’m asking out of caution, but did you perhaps take that magic tool?”

Jeong Yushin made a dumbfounded expression.

“How could I take it?”

He had been busy dealing with the piled-up work until now, and he was just taking a short break.

“Scar, I’m asking politely considering your status and achievements. Answer properly.”

A bitter smile appeared on Malachi’s face, who was standing next to Radamant.

“Radamant, haven’t I told you several times that this person doesn’t know anything? It’s just a waste of time.”

Jeong Yushin swept back his hair.

“Elder, I’ll tell you for sure. I didn’t take it.”

Radamant clicked his tongue and turned his body.

“Is that so? Tch. I understand. Good work.”

Step. Step. Step.

Radamant and Malachi walking across the inn hall and away.

Jeong Yushin glared at the backs of the two men.

‘Are they just going to leave like this?’

They suddenly barge in, ask random questions, and disappear?

Besides.

The words that the dimensional transfer magic tool, which might be a way to return home, had disappeared, mercilessly scratched his calmly subsided mind.

Jeong Yushin, his head hot, jumped up from his seat and stretched out his hand.

[Telekinesis]

The power responding to his will stretched out and reached the inn door.

It was as fast as lightning.

Kwaaaang!!!

The inn door slammed shut with a roar.

Radamant and Malachi hurriedly turned around and looked at Jeong Yushin.

“Scar, what on earth are you doing?”

Radamant asked in a calm tone, but a huge amount of magic began to swirl in his left hand.

Regardless of that.

Jeong Yushin slowly got up from his seat and walked towards the two magicians.

“Thinking about it, it’s fucking bullshit.”

The curse word popped out of Barbaroi’s mouth.

Radamant and Malachi’s faces hardened.

“That dimensional transfer whatever magic tool, it was originally mine.”

“W, what do you mean?!”

Malachi bravely stepped forward, but stuttering words popped out of his mouth.

Jeong Yushin pointed his finger at Radamant.

“Old man, you said that the dimensional transfer magic tool you mentioned was in the blood spilled by the Outer God, right?”

“…!”

Radamant’s face hardened.

Jeong Yushin snarled.

“I cut off the Outer God Changeling’s eyeballs and the dimensional transfer magic tool fell out, right? Then it’s my stuff. Why did the Magic Tower gobble it up?”

Malachi pointed his finger at Jeong Yushin.

“S, Scar? There’s n, no evidence that you cut down the Outer God.”

Malachi couldn’t finish his sentence.

Swaaaaaaak!!!!!

Because Jeong Yushin swung his hand and slapped Malachi’s cheek.

Malachi, who had been flying through the air, fell to the floor, rolled two or three times, and crashed into the corner.

Thud!!!

“You son of a bitch, am I your friend? You keep speaking informally. Do you want to die?”

“Kkeueok!!!”

Thick blood and broken teeth flowed out of Malachi’s mouth.

Jeong Yushin turned his head and looked at Radamant, who was frozen.

“Where is my stuff?”

“…”

Swaaaaaa.

A quiet inn.

Along with the sound of the rain, Jeong Yushin’s eerie voice was lowered.