episode_0317

I finished all the preparations for 3 days.

I also finished checking the equipment and camping supplies.

Jeong Yushin shouldered his greatsword and backpack and came down to the hall.

‘Scar’ was waiting.

The wolf beastman Scar was also waiting for Jeong Yushin with a bag on one shoulder.

Middle-aged Scar and the TS guy approached and tapped Jeong Yushin on the shoulder.

“Have a good trip.”

“Maknae, be careful.”

Just as Jeong Yushin was about to open his mouth.

A handsome man with brown hair entered the inn with a bright smile. Wearing plate armor and a backpack over his shoulder.

“Hello, everyone.”

It looked like an explorer about to enter a labyrinth.

It wasn’t surprising.

Dietrich contacted me first 2 days ago.

The purpose was simple. A question of whether he could accompany me when I entered the labyrinth.

Jeong Yushin and the wolf beastman Scar gave permission.

I thought of it as an opportunity, and rather welcomed it.

I heard Dietrich’s inner thoughts, if not all of them.

I have to keep watching, but the place didn’t necessarily have to be a city.

If we move together, can’t we hear a little more intimate stories?

Besides, Dietrich is a level 35 swordsman. I already know his skills.

Jeong Yushin lowered the corners of his mouth that were trying to rise slightly.

‘I’m getting carried.’

I don’t want to show it, but I was honestly happy.

How much did I suffer in the labyrinth?

At least this labyrinth trip will be easy.

There are days like this.

At that time.

The mystic frowned and looked out the window.

“This is not even the rainy season. Does it rain this much in spring? Something’s wrong?”

‘Scar’ also looked outside.

It was morning, but it was dark because it was full of dark clouds.

The rain that started a few days ago showed no signs of stopping.

Jeong Yushin stroked his chin.

Certainly.

A report sent from a small and medium-sized clan a day ago flashed through my mind.

It was news from the Maritime Defense Force Clan.

‘Did they say that a lot of fish have been caught recently in the rivers around the labyrinth city?’

There was also information that they had recently witnessed disappearing fish.

Should I think of this as strange?

The rain that is constantly falling around the city.

A sudden explosion in the amount of catch.

‘What else is there? Ah!’

There was also a rumor that a rare artifact was discovered in the underwater cave area beyond the 20th floor. Whether it was true or not was uncertain.

Jeong Yushin glanced at the mystic guy.

Recently, he seemed to be distracted by something.

Should I say anxious?

I was going to ask about Alhazard, but I didn’t have a chance because I was stuck in the Magic Tower for the past few days.

At that time.

Karin quietly approached and handed me a small pouch.

“Take it.”

“What is this? Is it a snack?”

Karin’s face turned slightly red.

“Well, you know what it is, right? That.”

“Ah!”

Panty amulet engraving.

It is an amulet that blocks hostile magic or spells with a certain probability.

“I put Sian’s in too.”

Jeong Yushin tilted his head.

“Why Sian?”

“I, I don’t know. Anyway, you have to come back healthy. We’re going to enter the labyrinth soon too, so we might not see each other for a while.”

A few days ago, Karin and Sian also decided to enter the labyrinth.

They couldn’t stay at the bottom of the intermediate level forever.

I heard that they teamed up with a female magician of the lower middle rank sent from the Magic Tower.

Karin and Sian liked the female magician, but they didn’t try to introduce her to Jeong Yushin.

I didn’t know the reason, but I assumed so.

The labyrinth is rough, but I wasn’t too worried about their skills.

Karin’s dagger skills have already increased beyond comparison with the past.

Sian was the best at swordsmanship.

Besides, they were both discerning women, so they wouldn’t have hired strange party members.

“I’ll be back.”

Jeong Yushin greeted on behalf of the three men, left the inn, walked through the rainy streets, and arrived in front of the labyrinth magic circle.

There were many novice explorers, so the line was quite long.

“There are a lot of people.”

Dietrich muttered.

Some of the White Night Mercenary members spotted Dietrich from afar and greeted him.

“Are they newbies?”

Wolf Scar asked.

Dietrich nodded.

“Yes. Talented people have entered from the border village this time. We dispatched them to this labyrinth exploration to raise their level and develop teamwork. We have accompanied each party with a senior mercenary, so there will be no major problems.”

After waiting for a while, the magic circle appeared.

And in the distance, the soldiers of the Elven Kingdom were also in sight, forming ranks in an orderly manner around the magic circle.

Jeong Yushin scratched his head.

Why do I feel like the gaze of the elf women is sharp?

Elf Queen Ellasein, holding a staff, was also standing still and glaring at Jeong Yushin.

She didn’t seem to have any intention of coming over and talking, so I just gave a light greeting and stood in front of the magic circle.

Jeong Yushin looked at the gloomy sky and muttered inwardly, closing his eyes.

‘I’m definitely getting carried this time. Let’s suck some honey.’

Light flashed.

Jeong Yushin, Wolf Scar, and Dietrich entered the labyrinth.

* * *

3 weeks passed.

Jeong Yushin easily broke through the labyrinth under the guidance of the wolf beastman Scar.

Since I already knew all the ‘rules’ of the surface layer, there were no major difficulties.

Passing Gray Village on the 10th floor.

I arrived at Dwarven Hold on the 20th floor.

A city that hasn’t changed at all.

However, it looked a little brighter because the torches were burning.

The three men took their seats in the shabby inn.

Dietrich ordered alcohol. The orc owner brought a bottle of alcohol and placed it on the table.

The orc owner seemed to recognize Dietrich, but he took the money without saying anything and returned to his seat.

Dietrich swept back his greasy hair and tilted his glass.

“Wolf, how far do you plan to go?”

“Up to the 30th floor.”

“You’re passing through the underwater cave area.”

Dietrich stroked his chin, thought for a moment, and opened his mouth.

“Have you two heard the rumors?”

Jeong Yushin and Wolf Scar looked at each other, then turned their gaze to Dietrich.

“”What rumor?””

“I mean the reason why it keeps raining in the labyrinth city.”

“…”

“You already knew.”

Dietrich immediately came to a conclusion after seeing Jeong Yushin’s expression.

“What does that have to do with the underwater cave?”

“I don’t know. I heard that one of the explorers brought out a statue with a strange appearance. Isn’t it possible that the artifact and the strange phenomenon happening in the city right now are related to each other?”

Jeong Yushin’s face hardened.

Dietrich’s eyes were shining.

It seemed like a man possessed by transcendent power was starting to take steps once again.

I thought we had shared friendship while exploring the labyrinth for nearly a month, but was I wrong?

As expected.

Doesn’t it seem like people don’t change easily?

Well, it’s funny.

If he was a man who would give up his beliefs after being hit a few times, the wolf guy would have stopped him a long time ago.

Dietrich gave a bitter smile when he noticed Jeong Yushin and Wolf Scar’s gaze.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…”

Jeong Yushin tilted his glass.

The bitter and murky cheap liquor passed through his esophagus and warmed his stomach.

“I checked through the information organization of a small and medium-sized clan, but the truth has not been revealed. I don’t know.”

“Scar is right. Rumors always include uncertainty. But isn’t it a strange phenomenon?”

“We’ll have to check it out ourselves.”

Wolf Scar muttered, looking at Dietrich briefly.

* * *

The three men spent the night on the 20th floor, Dwarven Hold, and stood in front of the transfer stone the next day.

When Wolf Scar placed his hand on the transfer stone, two portals were created.

Whoo-oong!

The blue portal that leads back home.

The red portal that leads to the next floor.

Wolf Scar went in first, followed by Dietrich, and finally Jeong Yushin stepped in.

The vision flickered.

I felt a damp and bumpy floor.

Jeong Yushin opened his eyes and looked around.

It was as if water had been drained from an underwater cave, and there were puddles of water everywhere.

Sea creatures I had never seen before were crawling around on every rock.

The salty smell vividly pricked my nose.

It was basically a cave, but it was wider than the surface layer. The floor was much more slippery.

This is the 21st floor.

‘Underwater cave area.’

The rule is ‘sweet song’.

For a certain period of time, a strange song echoes in the cave.

What happens if you listen to the song for a long time?

Of course, you go crazy.

There’s no need to worry. I already packed earplugs in the city and wore them before coming to the underwater cave floor.

Wolf Scar looked at Jeong Yushin and Dietrich and sent a sign language.

‘Fell near the transfer stone. Lucky.’

At that time.

Wolf Scar’s ears twitched as he was sending the sign language.

‘Enemy. Prepare for battle.’

Jeong Yushin grabbed the greatsword slung over his shoulder with both hands.

Dietrich took his place on the back left.

Wolf Scar raised his fist from the back right.

Jeong Yushin took charge of the front.

A formation created to give the monsters to Jeong Yushin, who needs to level up.

After waiting for a while, something crawled out over the surrounding puddles.

Human form.

Pale gray skin.

The eyeballs were abnormally large, did not blink, and even had gills.

Scales were sparsely visible over the naked upper body.

In short, it was close to a grotesquely shaped merman.

A monster commonly seen in the underwater cave area.

Fishman.

The weapons held by the Fishmen were mostly harpoons, cutlasses, and giant crossbows with harpoons instead of bolts.

“Hoo. Fuck.”

Jeong Yushin spat out a curse.

There were 15 in total.

I could tolerate the terrible appearance, but the rotten fish smell emanating from those guys was so disgusting that it made me want to throw up.

Wolf Scar gestured.

‘Charge.’

Jeong Yushin shot out like a bullet.

In the first place, it’s a party with 3 vanguards.

There was no particular strategy other than charging or reverse charging.

But that’s enough. Because all three are strong.

The surprised Fishman stabbed a harpoon at Jeong Yushin.

Clang!!!

However, it hit Jeong Yushin’s armor and bounced off.

“Heup!!!”

He swung the greatsword down with all his might.

Whoo-oong!!!

The greatsword drawn in a straight line tore the Fishman’s head and shattered his skull.

Kwaddeudeuk!!!

Red brain fluid and bone fragments soared into the air.

The Fishman with his head split in two fell backwards.

Instant death.

There’s nothing more to see.

I quickly turned my gaze.

The Fishmen stabbed in with their respective weapons.

Jeong Yushin did not avoid it and grabbed the ricasso of the greatsword and took a half-swording stance.

From bottom to top.

I raised the greatsword.

Chaaaaaaang!!!

The harpoon coming in at close range was caught in Jeong Yushin’s greatsword and flew into the sky.

Tremendous strength.

The art of greatswordsmanship, which had been intensively trained by middle-aged Scar along with leveling up, shone brightly for a moment.

Jeong Yushin did not step back, but instead took one step forward.

Putting strength in his shoulder, he body-checked the Fishman’s solar plexus as it was.

Paaaaaaak!!!

“Kkweaek!!!”

The Fishman with his chest bones shattered vomited a handful of blood.

He swung the greatsword at the Fishman staggering away.

From bottom to top.

Swaeeeeeeeeek!!!

The greatsword flashed and tore the Fishman’s crotch, cut through his heart, and then cut off his head.

Pudeudeuk.

Lumps of blood and severed entrails poured onto the floor.

Kung!!!

The Fishman corpse, split exactly in half, fell to the floor.

Jeong Yushin licked the Fishman’s blood that had entered his helmet with his tongue.

It was bitter and sweet.

‘It’s good?’

The armor I bought this time was so strong that I thought I could just push my body in and fight hand-to-hand.

Toong!!!

The giant harpoon fired by the Fishman flew towards Jeong Yushin.

Jeong Yushin, sensing the killing intent, quickly raised his hand.

[Telekinesis]

The harpoon that was flying stopped abruptly in mid-air.

‘Go.’

The harpoon slowly turned and flew like a ray of light towards the Fishman holding the crossbow.

Swaeeeeeeeeek!!!

Kwaddeudeuk!!!

The Fishman with his head pierced fell backwards.

Jeong Yushin grabbed the greatsword again.

There’s no time to rest.

This time, three of them rushed in at once.

He laid the greatsword down and pierced the belly of the Fishman running in the front.

Pwoooooook!!!

The Fishman with his abdomen pierced coughed up blood and struggled.

He kicked another guy running in from the side.

He grabbed the chin of the guy coming back and stuck his finger into his mouth.

Kkadeudeuk!!!

The Fishman bared his teeth and bit, but he couldn’t penetrate the hard gauntlet.

“Heueueup!!!”

He gave strength and tore off his chin.

Kwajijijik!!!

Tough muscles and jaw bones were torn away.

“Agagagak!!!”

The Fishman, with his chin gone, screamed, dripping blood.

Jeong Yushin threw away his torn chin, raised his fist, and struck the Fishman’s face.

Pak!!! Pak!!! Pak!!!

Once. Twice. Three times.

Every time the heavy gauntlet struck the Fishman’s face, disgusting eyeballs burst and cheekbones and frontal bones shattered.

The Fishman’s face was so crushed that it was impossible to recognize the shape.

The Fishman, who had already lost the strength to resist, fell and convulsed.

Jeong Yushin stepped on the Fishman’s neck bone with his worker.

Pudeudeudeuk!!!

The thick neck bone was crushed, and the Fishman died as it was.

“That’s really scary.”

Dietrich swung his sword, cut off the Fishman’s neck, and then muttered quietly.

Because fear was already swirling in the eyes of the Fishman group.

A profane monster harboring fear.

I’ve been watching for 3 weeks, but Scar was a unique person.

He perfectly twisted the expectations of the monster, who only knew how to use a greatsword, and showed off his martial arts.

As if that wasn’t enough, he also had excellent insight, manipulating the flow of battle by utilizing engraving techniques.

I felt like I knew why he had the nickname of butcher.

The terrified monsters took a step back one by one.

But.

When Jeong Yushin raised his hand, the monsters stopped moving and stiffened.

[Telekinesis]

Jeong Yushin slowly gave strength, his eyes twinkling.

Is it possible?

I received telekinesis training from the TS guy.

A chance to check how much I’ve grown.

Five Fishmen floated into the air at the same time.

“Keuieeeeeeek!!!”

Some shook their heads and shouted something, but I couldn’t hear them because I was wearing earplugs.

Pudeudeuk.

The arm of the Fishman floating in the air bent abnormally.

“Kkeueeeeek!!!”

The Fishman trembled.

Then the legs.

The broken leg bone tore through the flesh and popped out.

The Fishmen foamed at the mouth.

Jeong Yushin didn’t stop there and focused on the neck bones.

‘If I grab it with an invisible hand and twist it…?’

Tuduk.

A small bone sound. The necks of 5 Fishmen tilted at the same time.

Jeong Yushin widened his eyes.

Just a little more.

Tudeudeuk.

The Fishman stopped even screaming and trembled.

The neck bones gradually bending.

‘More!!!’

Tudeudeudeuk!!!

In the end, the necks of 5 Fishmen were bent abnormally.

5 instant deaths too.

The Fishmen’s necks were dented here and there, as if the neck bones had been shattered together.

Jeong Yushin shook his hands and slung the greatsword over his shoulder.

“Easy.”

Kung!!! Kung!!! Kung!!!

The corpse fell to the floor.

Wolf Scar approached Jeong Yushin, patted him on the shoulder, and then took out the pot he was carrying on his back.

‘Well done. Let’s eat now.’

Jeong Yushin lowered his gaze and looked at the scattered Fishman corpses.

“…”

This might not be easy.