episode_0314

Balthazar gritted his teeth.

‘How could he not know!’

He knows about Scath.

He helped the Labyrinth Committee to protect the city, became the next chieftain, and restored the second seal of Ezdrass with the hero.

He achieved great feats from his young age.

In some ways, it was similar to Dietrich’s path.

About two months after he joined the White Nights Mercenary Group.

There was a ‘friction’ with the Imperial Army in the border area, and the White Nights Mercenary Group fell into a great crisis.

However, Dietrich, a newcomer, rushed in alone and beheaded an Imperial knight, thus overcoming the crisis.

Was that all?

He contributed to the noble’s territorial dispute in the southern Lionel Kingdom.

He once prevented the rampaging of monsters in the eastern Elven Kingdom.

He also protected a small village from the Imperial Army at the request of the beastmen alliance in the west.

‘Was the beastmen alliance request the last one?’

Recently, he heard that the White Nights Mercenary Group received a request to patrol the border area adjacent to the Empire.

Wait a minute.

Balthazar’s eyes flashed.

The place where Dietrich carried out the request is not far from the Dwarf Kingdom.

Then the conclusion is simple.

‘Did he see the atrocities committed by the Outer God’s minions?’

The Outer God Changeling’s minions devoured the strong, changed their appearances, erased the Empire’s cities and towns, and half-destroyed one of the Dwarf Kingdom’s underground cities.

Enormous damage.

It was the reason for the summit, and the reason why the hero came to the Empire.

There’s no way Dietrich wouldn’t know.

But it seems he hasn’t heard the details.

“The name of the Barbaroi you mentioned is Scath. He doesn’t have a good relationship with the underworld of the Eastern District. If I’m there, recruitment is impossible.”

“How bad is it?”

“Close to an enemy he wants to tear apart and kill.”

Balthazar spat out as if chewing.

But Dietrich didn’t seem to give up.

“There’s no harm in trying. Besides, I’m not from the Eastern District. It will be different from Balthazar.”

“Didn’t you say you were going with me? That Barbaroi mixed-blood bastard will try to kill me if he sees me.”

Dietrich got up from his seat.

“Isn’t it possible to resolve it through conversation? To be honest, I’ve never seen you so wary of anyone, Balthazar. Isn’t he a talent?”

“…”

Balthazar stared blankly at Dietrich, as if he was dumbfounded.

“He’s a man you can’t recruit. That man is crazy.”

Dietrich’s smile deepened.

“Crazy? It’s starting to sound more attractive. It’ll be worth recruiting him.”

Balthazar gave up trying to persuade him and waved his hand.

“Do whatever you want. Get out of here.”

“Good work, I’ll contact you separately later.”

Dietrich politely greeted and left the office.

Left alone, Balthazar looked at the ceiling and sighed deeply.

“Hoo. If he could be recruited, I wouldn’t have come this far.”

Money. Fame. Woman. Strength.

Scath was a Barbaroi who couldn’t be bought with anything in the world.

* * *

Jeong Yu-shin and ‘Scaths’ gathered in one place again.

TS Scath’s mouth dropped open as he looked at the pile of emergency food on the table.

“What is all this?”

Biscuits, salted meat, vegetables and spices, and various camping supplies were piled up like a tower.

That wasn’t all.

There was also portable soup, which was broth simmered and solidified into jelly.

There was also pemmican, which was made by mixing fat and grain flour and then solidifying it.

TS Scath tilted his head as he looked at the camping supplies.

“Hmm? There’s no fresh meat. There are hardly any vegetables either.”

“I’m planning to get meat in the Labyrinth. I’ll pick vegetables in the forest or swamp area if I have the chance.”

Wolf Scath replied, looking at the backpack he bought from the general store.

Middle-aged Scath smiled brightly.

“It will be a good learning opportunity for the youngest.”

The Mysticist guy chimed in.

“The eldest brother is right. How to survive in the Labyrinth?”

The wolf beastman scratched his head as if he was embarrassed by the compliment.

“At least I’m going to make sure he doesn’t starve in the Labyrinth. I’m also going to teach him how to attack each level.”

Jeong Yu-shin stroked his chin.

“I have a subspace bag, though?”

Wolf Scath looked at Jeong Yu-shin.

“Youngest, I have it too. But there’s no need to show off expensive items in the Labyrinth and stimulate the other person’s desire. Especially as you go deeper, supplies become harder to obtain, and people’s hearts become more desperate.”

Jeong Yu-shin nodded.

He was wondering how to store the fresh vegetables he bought at the market.

‘There was a reason for that.’

That’s right.

The words and actions of Wolf Scath had a familiar smell.

Those who are trapped in the Labyrinth and don’t come out.

A group of eccentrics who have turned their backs on the world.

Labyrinth Wanderers.

Jeong Yu-shin looked at the wolf beastman.

He is related to the White Nights Mercenary Group, and he smelled like a Labyrinth wanderer.

How to connect the two disparate points?

I have to ask directly.

He decided to confront head-on.

“Third, I’m curious about your past.”

Wolf Scath’s body stiffened at Jeong Yu-shin’s straightforward question.

“…”

Silence flowed.

The faces of the ‘Scaths’ also hardened.

Jeong Yu-shin looked around at another ‘me’.

“I want to know. Your stories. I don’t know how dark and shitty your past is.”

“…”

The third looked up at the ceiling, then lowered his head and looked at Jeong Yu-shin.

“Dietrich was my teacher and friend.”

The third’s story continued.

When he first fell into this other world, wandering through the forest.

He met the White Nights Mercenary Group who were camping.

“Hmm? A friend with a unique outfit? A magician?”

“Ma, magician? Where… where am I?”

“Amazing. Did he lose his memory? A Barbaroi suddenly falling from the sky.”

Unlike the mercenaries who looked at him with fierce eyes, Dietrich shone his eyes with ‘interest’ and reached out his hand.

“Do you want to come with us? Ah! It’s not a coercion.”

There was no way at that time. Dietrich didn’t seem like a bad guy either.

If he was a really strange guy, he thought he could secretly run away.

After that, Wolf Scath wandered around the Eastern Union with the mercenary group.

It wasn’t bad.

No.

Rather, it was good.

The mercenary group was skilled, kind, and above all, full of affection.

Scath grew his skills under the guidance of the mercenary group and Dietrich.

He sometimes visited the Labyrinth City to obtain engravings.

Dietrich was the one who congratulated him the most when he obtained the Behemoth engraving.

But.

After an ‘incident’ that happened in the Labyrinth City he stopped by for a while.

Dietrich changed. None of the mercenaries noticed his change.

Dietrich gradually began to pay attention to the news of the Labyrinth City, and often stared at the sky alone, lost in thought.

Even his adjutant, Dina, who worshiped him.

Someone said that admiration is the emotion furthest from understanding?

That’s right.

Wolf Scath closed his mouth.

“I want to talk about the past up to this point. To be honest, it’s meaningless. The friends and colleagues in my world will be different from this world.”

The second tilted his head to the side.

“Third, just tell me this. Is he a dangerous guy?”

“…”

“Tell me quickly. I’m thinking about whether to kill that Dietrich or Detroit, or whatever.”

The Mysticist’s voice turned cold.

At that moment.

Middle-aged Scath intervened.

“Second, calm down. This is different from your world.”

The Mysticist frowned, but obediently lowered his head.

“···I understand.”

“Why don’t we have a conversation? If it’s now, I feel like I can know what’s inside that Dietrich’s mind. Who knows? Maybe when we go back to the original world later, we can fix the twisted parts.”

The other ‘Scaths’ turned their heads at what TS Scath blurted out.

The Mysticist crossed his arms and looked up at the ceiling.

“Well… who can put spilled water back in, but it’s worth a try. The boob has a good head. As expected, she has a heavy bag of tricks.”

“Keep it appropriate.”

Middle-aged Scath smiled.

“That idea isn’t bad either.”

However, Wolf Scath’s expression did not relax.

“That guy is strong. When he became the leader, he was level 35. Killing him is possible, but I don’t think it’ll be easy to subdue him.”

The Mysticist frowned.

“Is he past the entrance of the superman?”

The entrance of the superman?

“What is that?”

The Mysticist opened his mouth at Jeong Yu-shin’s question.

“When you reach level 30, there is a significant difference from ordinary people. The mutated body is reorganized and undergoes an optimization process. This is called the entrance of the superman.”

Wolf Scath joined in and gave further explanation.

“Most people can’t overcome the wall of level 30. You can think of it as there is a limit to each individual’s adaptation to mana. Of course, you have to exclude cases where you have good engravings.”

Is it a world where anyone can’t become strong?

He gained another realization.

“What? Our youngest doesn’t know anything?”

TS Scath saw Jeong Yu-shin’s expression and teased him, smirking.

The Mysticist guy chuckled and chimed in.

“Instead, he knows a lot about women. I don’t know if you know about the secret rumors that have been spreading in the Labyrinth these days.”

“What rumors?”

“They say he made the elves into sex slaves? They say the moans never stopped in the stronghold.”

Jeong Yu-shin shook his head.

“That’s not true. It’s fake news.”

The second had a blank look on his face.

“No. Youngest, let’s have some conscience. It’s true, isn’t it?”

TS Scath tilted his head.

“It’s not that bad, is it?”

“Funny. Boob, be careful. You didn’t know because that Death Blade guy is blocking the Yin energy, but the Half-Incubus engraving has grown. If that guy decides to infuse a lot of Yin energy and swing his sword, you’re just done.”

TS Scath covered his chest and stepped back from Jeong Yu-shin.

“Ew.”

It’s dizzying.

Since we’re all together, the story keeps going off on a tangent.

Jeong Yu-shin raised his hand.

“But isn’t there the biggest problem? How can we ‘talk’ to Dietrich?”

Wolf Scath growled.

“Krr. That guy will approach us. Why? Because he likes talented people.”

“Are you sure?”

“One hundred percent.”

“Then does it seem like that Dietrich guy will enter the Labyrinth?”

“He will enter.”

The second nodded.

“Really? That means there’s a high possibility that that bastard will approach not only us but also the youngest. We have to catch him and have an in-depth ‘conversation’.”

“How?”

“If we catch him and rummage through his brain, we’ll find the answer.”

“That’s a bit much. Can’t we just beat him until he’s tired?”

The ‘Scaths’ put their heads together and started whispering.

Time passed.

The Scaths made a plan.

Jeong Yu-shin’s mouth dropped open.

“Will that work?”

The Mysticist shrugged his shoulders with a smirk.

“Let’s just give it a try. Don’t worry too much.”

* * *

The next day evening.

Jeong Yu-shin sat alone on a bench in the south park and muttered to himself.

“Is this a feasible plan?”

No matter how much that Dietrich guy is greedy for talent, I doubted that he would come looking for me out of the blue like this.

However.

An hour passed, and just as Jeong Yu-shin was about to get up from his seat.

Someone came up to him at a fast pace.

“Hello?”

A handsome man with brown hair smiled and greeted him.

Dietrich.

“…”

It was real.

Jeong Yu-shin put on an act.

“Who are you?”

“I am Dietrich, the leader of the White Nights Mercenary Group. Nice to meet you, Mr. Scath.”

Dietrich politely greeted him, maintaining his smile.

“Do you know me?”

“Hahaha!!! Aren’t you the most famous Barbaroi in Labyrinth City? There’s no way I wouldn’t know.”

“Ah. Yes.”

‘It’s fast.’

Did he already finish the background check?

He continued the question.

“What brings you here?”

“It’s nothing much, but I was wondering if you have any thoughts of joining our White Nights Mercenary Group? I promise you the best treatment.”

Jeong Yu-shin shook his head.

“I refuse.”

“Hmm.”

A refusal without a moment’s hesitation. Dietrich stroked his chin.

“···May I ask why? Even though I look like this, our mercenary group is famous in the Eastern Union.”

“There’s no grand reason. I’m just not planning to leave Labyrinth City.”

“Is there ‘something’ in the Labyrinth that catches Mr. Scath’s interest?”

“Who knows.”

“I see. That’s true. I’ve recently become interested in the Labyrinth. How about we team up once? I also want to hear the heroic story of you driving out the Outer God Changeling from the 20th floor and the story of you entering another world through the ‘Red Bead’.”

He knew more details than I thought.

Besides, looking at the sparkling eyes when he mentioned the Red Bead.

I could guess where this person’s interest was directed.

“That’s···.”

“That is?”

“It’s a difficult task.”

Wolf Beastman Scath revealed himself from the bushes and said instead of Jeong Yu-shin.

Dietrich’s eyes narrowed.

‘What is it?’

I definitely didn’t sense the existence of that Wolf Beastman until just now?

Is it the power of the engraving?

“Hmm? Are you the person next to Mr. Scath?”

“That’s right, Dietrich.”

Dietrich was about to open his mouth, but the rest of the Barbarois walked out of the bushes.

“Geez. What is this doing at night.”

“Wow. He really came.”

A total of 4 people surrounded Dietrich.

Dietrich’s expression hardened.

I know roughly that.

They are Scath’s brothers and sisters.

But.

I definitely heard that they go around separately.

“···What is this all about?”

A black-haired man in a robe gave off an ominous smile.

“Just. I have some questions. Just answer them comfortably and get lost.”

“···I don’t know what you’re going to ask, but you’re being quite rude. Do I look like a joke to you?”

Dietrich grabbed his sword and replied. But he couldn’t draw it rashly.

Because the middle-aged man was looking at him with a nonchalant expression.

A drop of cold sweat ran down Dietrich’s forehead.

‘What is this…?’

An immeasurable energy was emanating from the middle-aged man’s body.

“Mi, the Labyrinth Committee…!”

Despite Dietrich’s desperate cry, the man in the robe burst into an evil laugh.

“Hehehe! Stop it. The Elf Queen is already···.”

“Hey!”

Splat!!!

A black-haired woman shook her boobs and slapped the man in the robe on the back.

“Ah, I understand. It was the youngest’s private life, right? I’m sorry.”

Dietrich’s head turned quickly.

Crazy!

‘Did he bribe the Labyrinth Committee?!’

When the hell?!

His heart turned cold.

“Scath… did you know that I was going to come looking for you?”

Jeong Yu-shin smiled and nodded.

“Of course.”

Dietrich’s eyes widened as if they would tear.

“…!”

The Mysticist guy put his hands behind his back and opened his mouth.

“Handsome friend, we have a lot of questions. Let’s have a cozy conversation in a quiet place.”

“Wha, where are you planning to take me?”

“Where else.”

The Mysticist guy snapped his fingers and continued.

Splat!!!

“To the room of truth. Let’s go. Let’s twist fate.”

“Th, the room of truth, wha…?!”

Unfortunately, Dietrich’s words could not continue.

Flash!!!

As a dark blue light flashed, the Barbarois and Dietrich disappeared from the park.