episode_0313

The person the mystic pointed to.

A wolf beastman, Scah.

The Scahs looked at the wolf beastman with envy.

“Krrr.”

A voice like scraping metal leaked from his mouth.

The mystic’s eyebrows furrowed slightly.

“Third, do you have any complaints? Why are you growling?”

“It sometimes comes out when I’m in a good mood.”

TS Scah smacked his lips as if he was disappointed.

“Tsk. It’s a shame. I wonder if I could sneak in, too?”

“Stop it. Second youngest and third, prepare to enter the maze. Choose someone you can trust among the party members, too.”

The wolf beastman smiled brightly, his eyes shining.

“Understood.”

Like a male beastman, he looked more like an animal than a female beastman.

It was like the smile of a predator welcoming hunting season.

“Haa. I want to form a party with Scah, too.”

Karin slumped on the table and muttered.

Sian also looked disappointed.

“I want to enter the maze with Scah quickly.”

Jeong Yu-shin smiled and took Sian and Karin’s hands.

“We can go together next time. You two are about to be promoted to Lieutenant, Mid-Rank soon, right?”

The mystic, watching them, looked up at the ceiling.

“Ugh. Lovey-dovey. This dirty world.”

* * *

After the meeting.

Three days passed again, and Einhofer came to the inn with new armor and a sword.

This armor was similar to full plate armor.

Of course, it was armor made with a monster skin base.

Because the shoulder, arm, and leg guards were all similar to parts of plate armor.

Einhofer stroked the surface of the armor.

“I’ve applied weight reduction magic and vitality increase magic.”

“That must have cost a lot.”

Jeong Yu-shin muttered with a worried face, but the mystic stepped forward with a grin.

“Second youngest, who do you think I am? I squeezed them dry at the Magic Tower. They gave me magic enchants for free, I tell you!”

Einhofer drew his sword.

“Next is the weapon.”

Jeong Yu-shin’s mouth opened slightly.

“Isn’t it a bit big?”

A greatsword.

Similar to a Zweihänder with ricasso.

But the blade was wider and thicker than the sword used by the middle-aged Scah.

“I was inspired by the black iron greatsword you brought.”

“Is that so?”

Jeong Yu-shin grabbed the greatsword and lifted it.

‘A well-made masterpiece.’

It felt heavy, but not burdensome.

The balance was perfect, and it was quite sharp.

He had leveled up and trained steadily, so it was no surprise.

Swinging a sword of this level won’t make my back ache, right?

Jeong Yu-shin smiled brightly.

“Thank you, Einhofer.”

Einhofer smiled in return.

“I’m thankful. I had the opportunity to learn at the Damesek Workshop this time.”

Einhofer said he was busy and left immediately.

Jeong Yu-shin carefully put away his equipment and went shopping with the third.

* * *

The maze city, welcoming spring, was full of life.

Jeong Yu-shin walked through the market with the wolf beastman.

‘What is it?’

The first place the wolf beastman Scah went was a blacksmith specializing in cooking tools.

He bought a large pot, then tied it with a rope and fixed it firmly on his back.

He thought he would buy equipment first, but he was wrong.

Jeong Yu-shin flicked his finger and hit the iron pot.

Ting!

“Third, aren’t you buying equipment separately?”

“Second youngest, I handle weapons, but I’m a martial artist now. You probably already guessed, right?”

That’s true.

As a beastman, he is superior in physique compared to other races.

Besides, the third’s engraving isn’t just any beastman engraving.

The engraving of the legendary beast, Behemoth.

An engraving that permanently enjoys an effect similar to leveling up by eating monsters.

Honestly, I don’t know how strong he is.

I guess he’s close to a superhuman?

But.

“Suddenly a martial artist?”

The wolf beastman Scah chuckled at Jeong Yu-shin’s question.

“Krrr. I used to go to a boxing gym.”

The wolf’s words brought back old memories.

“Ah! That’s right. But you only went for about three years, right? I only remember getting beaten up every day.”

It was an old boxing gym, and there were many men in their 40s and 50s.

On the surface, they were no different from ordinary people you meet in everyday life.

The chicken restaurant owner, who said he had gained weight because he hadn’t been able to exercise lately, smiled generously.

The bald-headed section chief, who was worried about what to do after retirement, looked tearful.

When I first entered the gym, I looked down on the older men because of their appearance.

That arrogance was shattered to pieces within three minutes of sparring.

They threw punches with their gentle faces, and I couldn’t come to my senses and got beaten up.

“Honestly, it was a gym full of seasoned players. Admit it?”

The wolf beastman chuckled at Jeong Yu-shin’s words.

“Krrr. But you got praised after two weeks, right? They said you had talent.”

Well.

The gym manager grabbed my pant leg with sparkling eyes and told me to participate in the competition.

Jeong Yu-shin, who had been lost in memories for a moment, raised his head.

“So, are you going to continue fighting based on boxing?”

“I also use my legs and sometimes use joint locks. If it doesn’t work, I bite, too. But most of the time, it doesn’t go that far.”

His whole body was just a weapon.

I was curious how he would fight.

After that, Jeong Yu-shin bought things at the market, chatting with the wolf, whose expression had become much more relaxed.

Mostly spices.

He could also get unique emergency rations.

It was a product sold in a small store in the corner of an alley, and he heard the owner was a sailor.

According to the wolf, it was a type of ship’s biscuit.

An extreme preservation food made to prevent spoilage during long voyages.

It was close to an emergency ration made by mixing water, flour, and salt, and then baking it at a low temperature for a long time to remove all the moisture.

It was definitely different from what he had seen in the maze city.

He had eaten emergency rations until he was sick of them while exploring the maze, but this biscuit was on a different level.

At least the emergency rations he bought could be bitten into.

“I don’t think I can eat this raw?”

It was so hard that it felt like his teeth would break if he bit into it.

If it was ground well, could it kill someone?

“Usually, you soak it in water before eating it. I went around the maze city, and this house makes the best biscuits. Be sure to remember it.”

“Understood.”

After that, Jeong Yu-shin and the wolf Scah went around the market and bought camping supplies, potions, and other types of emergency rations.

After finishing shopping, they were carrying a load of luggage and walking back to the inn when.

“Kyaaa!”

“Huh?!”

“They’re here again!”

The main street was noisy.

Jeong Yu-shin and the wolf turned their heads and looked at the main street.

A group of soldiers was moving in an orderly manner.

They wore unique equipment, so they couldn’t be called knights.

They were too aristocratic to be called mercenaries.

The man at the very front caught his eye.

A brown-haired man in his late 20s, riding a white horse and wearing silver plate armor.

His features were clear.

His eyebrows were thick, and his skin was smooth.

A handsome man who embodied both androgynous charm and nobility.

The women’s eyes sparkled.

The men also looked at him with secret admiration.

However.

The wolf beastman stood with his arms crossed and quietly stared at the brown-haired handsome man.

Jeong Yu-shin glanced at the wolf beastman’s face.

His expression was stiff.

“Third, do you know that guy?”

At Jeong Yu-shin’s question, the wolf beastman Scah revealed his sharp teeth.

“I know him well. Dietrich, the leader of the most famous White Nights Mercenary Corps in the Eastern Alliance. He jumped into the mercenary corps at the age of 20 and became the leader five years later. He is skilled not only in swordsmanship but also in handling people, so he cleanly solves everything, whether it’s a battlefield or a large-scale monster subjugation.”

“…”

Jeong Yu-shin closed his mouth.

Because the wolf’s eyes were already burning fiercely.

I can tell without asking.

The wolf beastman Scah is related to that White Nights Mercenary Corps.

I think I know what kind of relationship it is.

Looking at his face, they wouldn’t be on good terms.

Unlike Jeong Yu-shin and the wolf, who were keeping their mouths shut.

The people on the street muttered in excited voices.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen them. Is it three years?”

“It’s exactly two and a half years.”

“Will they be holding an entrance exam this time too?”

“I don’t know. Anyway, I’m really jealous. I heard they get paid an enormous salary.”

“Is that all? The welfare is good, and they provide high-level training for free.”

Jeong Yu-shin immediately realized.

That Dietrich mercenary leader didn’t visit the maze city just once or twice.

Then.

Dietrich’s head snapped around.

The man’s gaze rested precisely on Jeong Yu-shin and the wolf Scah.

“Why is that Dietrich bastard smiling?”

At Jeong Yu-shin’s question, the wolf beastman Scah adjusted his luggage.

“Don’t mind it. It’s like a meaningless habit. Let’s go back to the inn quickly.”

“Okay.”

* * *

Dietrich watched the departing young man and wolf beastman before turning his head to look at his adjutant.

“Dinah, secure lodging and let the men rest. The central and southern districts will do. I will go and have an audience with the Queen.”

A brown-skinned woman with striking orange bobbed hair bowed her head.

“Yes!”

Under Dietrich’s command.

The White Nights Mercenary Corps scattered in an orderly manner.

Dietrich rode his horse alone and entered the inner castle in the central district.

After surrendering his weapon and passing through a body search, he immediately had an audience with the Elf Queen.

Ellasein asked with a face that was as close to expressionless as possible.

“What brings the White Nights Mercenary Corps here?”

A cold attitude. But Dietrich’s smile did not disappear.

“I thought you might need guards at the maze entrance, so I came to visit.”

Ellasein’s eyebrows twitched.

“I don’t know what rumors you heard outside the city, but there is no problem. Of course, there are no requests either.”

“···Understood.”

Dietrich tilted his head slightly before answering immediately.

“Dietrich, will you continue to stay in the maze city?”

At Ellasein’s question, Dietrich bowed his head politely.

“Yes. I plan to take on guard requests on the outskirts of the city. I also plan to send the new recruit who joined this time into the maze.”

“Understood.”

“Then, I will be on my way. If you have any requests, please let me know.”

Dietrich did not erase his smile and politely withdrew.

Ellasein crossed her arms and watched Dietrich’s departing back.

The most famous mercenary corps in the Eastern Alliance.

Whether it’s war or monster subjugation, they never fail a request once they take it on.

I heard they had been staying near the border until recently.

‘Did they really come to train the mercenary corps and take on requests?’

Ellasein stopped thinking.

“Selenis, what did Scah say he would do? Did he say he would work in the escort team?”

Selenis knelt on one knee.

“There is still no news.”

“Haa.”

Ellasein sighed and stroked her lower abdomen.

“He really is a heartless man.”

* * *

After finishing the audience, Dietrich left the inner castle, secured a place in an inn in the central district, and waited until night.

As evening approached, he put on a robe and entered the eastern district.

The Pantheon Clan Leader, Balthazar, the second-in-command of the eastern district, sat in his office and stared at the man in front of him.

‘This is embarrassing.’

I heard that the White Nights Mercenary Corps had arrived in the maze city, but I didn’t expect him to come to me this quickly.

“Dietrich? What brings you here?”

Dietrich lowered his robe and smiled brightly.

“Ah, it’s been a while. Lord Balthazar.”

“Enough. Tell me your business first.”

“Do you still have no intention of joining our mercenary corps? We will treat you generously.”

Balthazar shook his head.

“Why would I? I like the eastern district.”

“Is that so? May I ask you for a favor?”

“…”

Balthazar silently glared at Dietrich’s handsome face.

An expression that he didn’t want to help at all.

However.

When Dietrich took something out of his chest, Balthazar’s eyes widened and his mouth opened.

“That’s…!”

“It’s a piece of the red marble that’s famous in the maze these days.”

“Why do you have that? No. How did you get that piece in the first place?”

Dietrich smiled.

“Is it important how I got it?”

“…”

Dietrich stared at the red marble piece with sparkling eyes.

“Red marbles, aren’t they really mysterious objects? A passage connecting different dimensions. Isn’t it a way for mere mortals to reach God?”

Balthazar made a sullen expression.

“It’s said to be a passage to another dimension. The marble is full of explorers who have been swept away and gone missing.”

“But it’s also a way to gain great power. Who knows? You might be able to become a god.”

Chills.

Balthazar’s neck became chilly.

‘Dietrich. This guy!’

He looked completely different from when I saw him last time.

A face that was firmly possessed by something.

But Balthazar couldn’t think until the end.

Because Dietrich slowly put the red marble piece in his chest and looked at Balthazar.

“Lord Balthazar, let’s go into the maze together. I want to see this marble with my own eyes.”

“Are you suggesting that just the two of us enter the maze?”

Dietrich shook his head.

“No. I saw someone pretty good while passing through the southern district today. He was as handsome as me, so I’d like to invite him.”

“…”

But Balthazar remained silent instead of answering.

Dietrich’s head tilted.

“Lord Balthazar, what’s with that expression? Did you forget?”

“···I didn’t forget.”

Balthazar couldn’t refuse.

His only daughter, Dinah, was his adjutant.

“So, who is the handsome guy?”

Dietrich stroked his chin before opening his mouth.

“Black hair.”

Balthazar’s body trembled once.

“B, black hair?”

Surely.

It can’t be?

But Dietrich’s answer shattered Balthazar’s hopes.

“Yes. He looked like a mixed-blood Barbaroi. Do you happen to know him?”

Balthazar trembled his lips.

“···I know him well.”

Balthazar.

Recited with a feeling that his stomach was twisting.

‘Very well!’