episode_0292

I opened my eyes.

I felt like I had a good night’s sleep for the first time in a while. My whole body felt refreshed.

I was enjoying the warm sunlight coming in through the window for a moment, then I watched Karin and Rin sleeping on my chest.

“Wake up.”

“Ugh. Just a little more.”

“Squeak.”

Should I let them sleep a little longer?

Well,

It’s Karin, who trained outside the maze city during the cold winter.

She met a good teacher through Mion’s introduction.

And Rin was right next to her, so she wouldn’t have felt lonely.

‘It wasn’t easy.’

I touched Karin’s finger.

It’s hard.

Did she swing her dagger so hard that calluses formed on her soft hands?

Jeong Yushin smiled, lifted Karin and Rin, gently placed them on the bed, and left the room.

When I went down to the first floor, a delicious smell was coming from the kitchen.

When I went into the kitchen, Sian, wearing a bear apron, greeted me.

“Scar, are you awake?”

“Yeah.”

Her face was closer to that of a farmer’s daughter than her former solemn appearance.

Sian, free from tension and pressure, looked peaceful.

“Sian, you drank a lot yesterday, are you okay?”

“Ugh…! I, I’m sorry.”

Sian blushed and apologized.

“No. It’s okay. You have to drink when you have to.”

How could I refuse the liquor offered by cute beastmen?

It was nice to see her getting along well with the Ainu despite being from the Empire.

“Do you remember meeting Karin yesterday?”

“That red-haired wolf beastman girl? I vaguely remember.”

“That’s Karin. She’s in my party.”

Sian smiled brightly.

“Ah! Is that so?”

“She’s also the daughter of the Beastman Union representative.”

Sian’s face hardened.

“Ah…”

“You don’t have to feel too pressured. She’s more down-to-earth than you think. I think you can get along well.”

“I’ll try!”

Sian clenched her fist and sparkled her eyes.

“Are you there?”

A voice came from outside the kitchen.

Jeong Yushin patted Sian’s butt and left the kitchen.

“I’ll go see.”

I saw a familiar face in the inn’s hall.

“High Priestess Mion?”

“Hello, Scar. I heard that Karin has returned after finishing her training.”

“Yes. She’s sleeping upstairs right now.”

“Is that so?”

“Why don’t you have a meal before you go?”

“Would that be alright?”

“Yes. You’re always welcome, High Priestess Mion.”

Mion smiled and approached.

“Then I’ll gratefully accept.”

“But how did you do the orphanage class today?”

“Someone else took over.”

“I see. Are those kids doing well?”

“Yes, they are growing up healthy without any problems.”

While I was talking with Mion,

Karin yawned and came down to the first floor.

“Haaah! Hmm? Mion? What’s going on from the morning?”

“I heard that you finished your training. I came to see your face.”

“Really? Thank you.”

Rin, who was sitting on Karin’s shoulder, got off on the table and stuck to Mion’s chest.

“Squeak!”

“Hehe. Rin is healthy too.”

Mion smiled softly and gently stroked Rin’s head.

“Ah. High Priestess Mion.”

Sian, who came out of the kitchen, saw Mion and stopped.

Mion smiled softly and bowed her head.

“Good morning, Sian.”

“Yes.”

Sian hesitated and approached, then stopped again when she saw Karin.

She was worried that she had treated the daughter of the Beastman Union representative without hesitation last night when she was drunk.

“Karin, last night…”

Karin waved her hand as if not caring.

“Just call me Karin. I don’t know what Scar told you, but make yourself comfortable.”

“Would that be alright?”

“Yeah. You can drop the honorifics. It’s really okay.”

Sian hesitated for a moment, then smiled brightly.

“Thank you!”

Jeong Yushin and the three women sat down and ate.

The menu prepared by Sian was simple.

Black rye bread baked with butter, tomato soup filled with beef and potatoes, and cabbage salad and sausage.

Even during the meal, the three women got along well.

But.

After the friendly meal was over.

When the dessert that Karin bought last night was placed on the table.

For some reason, the atmosphere became heavier.

Karin crossed her arms.

“I guess it’s hard to just bury it like this?”

Mion nodded.

“That’s right.”

Jeong Yushin tilted his head.

“What…?”

Karin pointed her finger at Sian.

“Sian, you had sex with Scar, right?”

A sudden, embarrassing question. Sian’s face turned red.

“Ah…um.”

Karin nodded.

“I knew it. You’re reeking of sticky female estrus pheromones.”

“Is that so? Karin, do, do I also smell like that?”

Mion blushed and asked.

Karin poked Mion’s chest and revealed her snaggletooth.

“Mion, you’re the worst!”

“Heeut!”

Mion glanced at Jeong Yushin and lowered her head.

Sian looked at the two women with trembling eyes.

“D, did both of you sleep with Scar…?”

“I slept with Scar first.”

Karin proudly said, sticking out her flat chest.

Sian’s head turned sharply.

“H, how could Scar with someone so, so small…? D, do you like children…?”

Karin quickly waved her hand.

“N, no! I got the reverse aging engraving, that’s why I’m like this!”

Mion smiled bitterly.

“We have a lot to talk about among ourselves. Scar?”

“Yes.”

“Could you leave us alone for a while?”

“Yes. I understand.”

At Mion’s suggestion, Jeong Yushin immediately got up and walked out of the inn.

Jeong Yushin glanced back as he left the inn.

Is it just his imagination that the atmosphere of the three women seems unusual?

He doesn’t know what kind of story will be told.

I hope it works out well.

Anyway.

‘Where should I go?’

There was nowhere to go.

I took a walk in the south park and sat down on a corner bench to watch the fountain.

Then I met Hook Nose.

“Scar!”

Hook Nose, who found Jeong Yushin, ran over breathlessly.

“Why did you come all the way to the park? I was going to find you.”

“I have something to do. Let’s get some spring breeze. Sit next to me.”

Hook Nose sat next to Jeong Yushin and looked at the park.

A cool breeze carrying sunlight revealed new faces.

Quite a few people.

“Did they all come here to become explorers?”

Jeong Yushin muttered.

“Yes. There seem to be quite a few newcomers this time.”

There were country people looking around here and there.

There were also those who were dressed in expensive clothes and walked confidently.

It was refreshing to see it with my own eyes.

How many of them will survive and settle in the maze city?

“Scar.”

“Why?”

“The Baisis Clan has been disbanded.”

Shocking news.

Still, it was one of the top clans in the eastern district underworld.

It’s disappearing so vainly?

“Overnight?”

“Yes. The reason has not yet been revealed.”

It’s a coincidence.

How could this happen in less than a day?

The Baisis Clan is the most likely culprit who took the magic tool.

The whereabouts of the magic tool were gradually buried in the darkness.

“Is there any talk that someone eliminated it?”

“I don’t know that yet either. I guess they disbanded themselves.”

“I see. What about the Red Storm Mercenary from yesterday?”

“Are you talking about that middle-aged man?”

“Was it Buddy? Or Dobby? I can’t remember.”

“It must be Dobby.”

“Keep him safe. If you find out anything, report it immediately.”

“I understand. Then, I’ll go first.”

Hook Nose got up from his seat, bowed his head and left.

Jeong Yushin rested his arm on the bench and sighed.

“Hoo…”

It’s not easy.

Both this guy and that guy are all working in the dark.

‘Should I go once?’

Should I go back to the eastern district and swing my sword again to reveal the secret?

While thinking about this and that, I was watching the children playing happily around the fountain.

Someone strode up.

Jeong Yushin raised his head.

A tall height.

Pale complexion.

It was a skinny human man wearing a black fedora and a black coat.

He looked to be in his 40s, but it was difficult to predict because his eyes were deep.

The man in his 40s was wearing a long sword on his waist.

A single-edged curved sword with a long sword design called a Swiss saber.

The man, as if wearing darkness, smiled and handed over the drinks he was holding in both hands.

“I heard that strawberry juice is popular these days, Scar.”

“Ah. Yes.”

Jeong Yushin received the drink the man gave him.

The man sat down next to Jeong Yushin and watched the fountain together.

Whirr.

Water gushed out from the fountain under the Ezdrass statue and scattered over the heads of the children playing.

“…”

The man sipped the strawberry juice full of ice, took out a piece of paper from his chest and handed it to Jeong Yushin.

“Um. It’s delicious. Ah! I almost forgot. This is my personal details.”

Jeong Yushin received the paper and quickly read it.

The man’s name and engraving were written in detail on the note.

‘Zern.’

Jeong Yushin, who had been silent for a long time, neatly folded the paper and put it in his chest.

Jeong Yushin leaned back on the bench and stared at the fountain.

Jeong Yushin’s mouth slowly opened.

“I killed Zern yesterday… what are you?”

“There are a lot of impersonators these days.”

“Are you Zern? Thunder Blade?”

Zern sipped the strawberry juice in a relaxed pose.

“It’s an embarrassing nickname.”

“So, why did you suddenly come to find me in the middle of the day?”

“Scar, I have the magic tool you’re looking for. Was it space movement? Something like that.”

“That’s mine.”

“Finders keepers.”

Jeong Yushin burst out laughing at Zern’s reply.

“Oh, come on! Zern, what do you want from me?”

“Let’s fight once.”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“Sigh. Where should I start explaining this…? It’s not easy.”

Zern slurped the strawberry smoothie and continued.

“I’m not good at explaining things like this, but if you have any questions, just ask me coolly. I’ll answer everything honestly.”

Jeong Yushin smiled and slowly began to gather magic power in his hand.

“I heard that the Baisis Clan was disbanded, is that your doing, Zern?”

Zern shook his head.

“It’s not me. It’s because of the ‘recommendation’ of the eastern district underworld. To be exact, there was pressure from the Pantheon Clan, which is ranked 2nd in the eastern district.”

“…”

“How could they target the Magic Tower’s items even though they were short on money? They were too cocky, believing in the backing of the 2nd rank. It was the same when I used to be there, but there were many problems with that clan. They were repeatedly beaten and got back up? But those friends didn’t learn anything.”

Information pouring out all at once.

The backing of the 8th-ranked Baisis Clan was the Pantheon Clan?

‘My guess was right.’

I knew it.

I thought there was something fishy.

“Zern, who are you working for?”

“I’m currently employed by the Pantheon Clan. The duel with you is also an extension of that.”

“Why are you doing this? A duel all of a sudden.”

“It’s money. If you leave the maze city and wander around the world, your pockets will be empty. Sometimes I come and do some dirty work to fill my pockets and relieve some stress. When I think about it, it’s not a bad thing.”

“I’ll give you as much money as you want.”

“Scar, I’ve already made a deal with the Pantheon Clan. Let’s not be pathetic.”

“…”

Jeong Yushin turned his head and looked at the fountain again.

Zern, who had been silent, opened his mouth.

“Scar, are you going to fight here?”

“…”

“I don’t think you’re a middle-grade lieutenant. If you’ve entered the ranks of the strong, then act with that much dignity.”

Jeong Yushin’s head turned crookedly.

“What a load of bullshit. You suddenly came to pick a fight with me? Are you crazy?”

Zern licked his lips.

“Tsk. You brought this on yourself, my friend. Why did you touch the underworld? You shouldn’t have entered the cycle of killing and dying in the first place. Wouldn’t it have ended quietly if you had just turned a blind eye and focused on exploring the maze? I heard that you’ve messed up all sorts of businesses.”

“…”

“Anyway, the 2nd-ranked Pantheon Clan took the initiative to eliminate the culprit of this incident and is temporarily holding onto the things you lost. They’ll give it to you whether you win or lose in the duel. They have a lot of things they’ve been hurt by. Still, they say they’ll give you the magic tool whether you win or lose in the duel. There are only two things they want in this duel.”

“What is it?”

“One of your arms. And a humble life. They say don’t act like a hotshot just because you got the next chief position of Barbaroi while you’re still wet behind the ears.”

“…”

“Do you want to hide behind the Maze Committee or the Magic Tower and act up? Feel free to do so. If you come out like that, you’ll never see me again. I can just leave the maze city.”

“Do you think I’ll let you go?”

“Try it if you’re confident. I don’t know if you read the note I gave you well.”

Zern shook off the strawberry juice and put the cup inside his pocket.

“Scar, if you’ve finished drinking, hand over the empty cup. I’ll throw it away for you.”

“…”

Jeong Yushin blankly looked up at Zern, drank all the strawberry smoothie and handed over the cup.

“It’s delicious. I enjoyed it.”

Zern held the empty cup in his hand and turned his body.

“The duel will be in a week. Let’s meet in the evening in the eastern district entertainment district. Don’t do anything stupid. Prepare well.”

“I will.”

Zern got up from his seat and left the park.

Jeong Yushin sorted out his thoughts.

The 2nd-ranked Pantheon Clan eliminated the 8th-ranked Baisis Clan and obtained the magic tool instead.

The Pantheon Clan used the magic tool as bait and proposed a duel through Zern.

They said they would return the magic tool regardless of whether they win or lose.

But.

The real intention is different.

The intention to take one arm.

It’s the honest word of Zern, who was hired by the Pantheon Clan, so it’s undoubtedly true.

Jeong Yushin gnashed his teeth.

Grind.

“All sorts of goddamn bastards are acting up. Those damn things are really looking down on me.”

The warm spring breeze disappeared.

Anger began to flicker in Jeong Yushin’s eyes.