Chapter 102 Exorcism Ritual
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Translator: JayM
Chapter: 102
Chapter Title: Exorcism Ritual
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Sunlight streamed through the window. Jeong Yoo-shin awoke and squinted his eyes.
It was already well past morning. In fact, it was almost lunchtime.
“Ugh, my head.”
He had a terrible hangover from drinking dwarven liquor all night. He had spent last night drinking and talking with Karin.
He hadn’t been away from Karin for very long, but a lot had happened in the meantime.
Their conversation had continued until dawn. He remembered getting tipsy, going up to the second floor, and collapsing onto his bed. After that, everything was blank.
Jeong Yoo-shin slowly got up and opened his wardrobe.
“Hmm.”
The wardrobe contained two to three linen shirts, two pairs of pants, a few tunics he had taken from Oswald, and a fur-lined jacket Ingrid had given him.
It was midsummer already, but Jeong Yoo-shin was still wearing clothes suitable for spring.
‘I want to wear something else.’
He was hesitant for one reason.
The summer tunics Oswald had sent him looked… strange.
‘They’re too long.’
They reached down to his thighs, and he had to wear a belt over them.
In short, he would look like he was wearing an oversized t-shirt with a belt.
It looked ridiculous.
With linen shirts, he could just tuck the excess fabric into his pants and wear a belt for a neat look, but these tunics didn’t suit his modern sensibilities.
‘Should I buy new clothes?’
He immediately shook his head.
He had enough money, but he didn't want to waste it on unnecessary things. There seemed to be several famous brands in Labyrinth City, but he didn’t want to spend money on them.
Moreover, with the festival approaching, prices in the city were gradually increasing.
It was the perfect time to get ripped off.
And even if the clothes looked ridiculous to him, they might be considered normal by others.
Since Labyrinth City was home to such a diverse population, its fashion was also quite diverse.
There was even a dwarf who walked around in just his underwear.
As a woke, modern citizen with politically correct thoughts who respected diversity and life, he couldn’t be petty.
‘Alright.’
Jeong Yoo-shin took off his shirt and put on a tunic. The feel of the thin, soft fabric was strange. Had Oswald really given him something expensive just because he had asked for it?
Just as he put on the tunic and was about to put on his sword belt…
Knock, knock.
The door burst open along with the knocking sound.
“What? Were you changing?”
A familiar voice. It was Karin.
“Yeah. I’m done, so you don’t have to leave.”
“I can see that. Are you about to put on your belt?”
Karin strode towards him.
“Yeah.”
“I’ll do it.”
“You don’t have to.”
“I want to.”
Karin approached Jeong Yoo-shin, took the belt, and wrapped it around his waist.
Squish.
Because Karin was pressed so close to him, her breasts got squashed against his chest.
As Karin moved, her breasts rubbed against him.
‘This is strangely intimate. Does Karin not realize her breasts are touching me?’
“There! Done!”
Karin grinned and fastened the sword belt.
As Karin looked up, her eyes met Jeong Yoo-shin’s.
“What?”
“…”
“Are you embarrassed?”
Karin gave him a cat-like smile and pressed even closer.
Just as they were close enough to feel each other’s breath…
Karin pulled back. Her face was slightly flushed.
“Wh-Why are you looking at me like that? Your… your eyes are scary.”
Jeong Yoo-shin looked away.
He had to restrain himself. If he growled at the daughter of the Beast-person Alliance representative, he would have no place in Labyrinth City. His reputation would be ruined, to say the least.
“Let’s go eat.”
“…Okay.”
Jeong Yoo-shin and Karin went down to the first floor. They sat down and ate a late lunch.
“Skar, what are you doing today?”
“I’m going to the Earth Mother Goddess’ temple. To check if I got a new imprint.”
“Really? Go ahead. I’ll watch the shop.”
After lunch, Jeong Yoo-shin went to the Earth Mother Goddess’ temple while being seen off by Karin’s casual farewell.
“Skar.”
The temple receptionist recognized Jeong Yoo-shin at a glance and bowed.
“I’m here to check for an imprint.”
“I see. That’ll be one silver coin.”
“Here you go.”
“Please wait a moment, and someone will be with you.”
“Yes.”
Jeong Yoo-shin sat down in the reception area and waited.
A male priest approached him.
“Oh? Skar? It’s been a while.”
Jeong Yoo-shin looked up.
Diego Perez.
An intermediate-rank priest who had temporarily taken over the orphanage classes when Mion had been away. Jeong Yoo-shin remembered him because he had been a kind and helpful teacher. He hadn’t expected to see him here.
“Priest Diego? Fancy meeting you here. How have you been?”
Diego pushed up his glasses.
“I’ve been well. A bit busy with festival preparations lately, but I’m doing fine. Are you here to see Priestess Mion?”
“Yes.”
“Follow me. I’ll guide you.”
“Thank you.”
Jeong Yoo-shin followed Diego.
“Skar, how are your classes going?”
“They’re going well. Teacher Mion is very kind and helpful, so I’m learning a lot.”
“Do you often go into the labyrinth?”
Why was he asking that?
“Yes. Not often, but I try to go whenever I have the opportunity.”
“I see.”
Diego and Jeong Yoo-shin continued their conversation as they walked down the temple hallway.
They stopped in front of Mion’s room.
Knock, knock.
Diego knocked on the door.
“Priestess Mion, Skar is here.”
“Come in.”
Creak.
Jeong Yoo-shin looked at Diego before opening the door and entering.
“Priest Diego, thank you.”
“It’s my pleasure to serve.”
Diego replied with a smile.
“I see. Let’s see each other again sometime.”
Jeong Yoo-shin didn't notice that Diego was staring intently at him as he entered the room even as the door was closing.
Thump.
Mion was sitting on a chair inside the room.
Several books were piled on the table, as if she had just finished a class.
“Skar.”
“Priestess Mion.”
Their eyes met.
“I’m glad to see you’re doing much better.”
Mion walked gracefully towards Jeong Yoo-shin and stood in front of him. She stared intently at the red hair clinging to his chest.
“Hmm.”
Mion let out a soft hum and removed the red hair from his chest.
“U-Um, Skar?”
“Yes, Priestess Mion.”
“You’re here to check for an imprint, right?”
“Yes.”
“There’s a temple ‘tradition’ that increases the chances of obtaining a good imprint. Would you like to try it?”
There was such a thing?
He had never heard of it.
Weren’t imprints obtained immediately upon exiting the labyrinth?
Honestly, he didn’t understand.
If imprints were already predetermined, what was the point of this?
Was it like Schrödinger's cat?
“There’s such a tradition?”
“Yes.”
Mion replied with a gentle smile.
‘If Teacher Mion says there is, then there is.’
Jeong Yoo-shin nodded vigorously. There was no reason to refuse. He would have asked for it himself if he had known.
“Please.”
Mion sat down on a chair and spread her arms.
“Come closer and kneel on one knee. And… and then you can rest your face on my stomach.”
Jeong Yoo-shin looked at Mion.
‘Is this right?’
It must be. He didn't think Mion would lie.
Jeong Yoo-shin slowly approached Mion, knelt down, and rested his face on her stomach.
Her heavy breasts pressed against not only the top of his head but also the back of his neck.
And he could smell the scent of her sweat. It was a mixture of a rich milky scent and vanilla that tickled his nostrils.
The sensations and scents surrounding him.
The whole world was suddenly Mion.
Mion muttered something. Was she concentrating?
He instinctively sniffed. Mion’s body twitched.
“S-Skar, please stay still while I’m chanting.”
“Yesh.”
Mion resumed her chanting. Jeong Yoo-shin held his breath and kept his face pressed against Mion’s soft belly.
“It’s done.”
Jeong Yoo-shin lifted his head from Mion’s embrace and stood up.
Mion’s expression was serene.
‘Is it a good imprint?’
He had certainly been through a lot. If there was a god of dice somewhere in this world, they would be moved by his dedication and give him a good gift, wouldn't they?
‘Please!!!’
Mion spoke.
“Your imprint is ‘Death Reprieve.’”
“…Huh?”
Jeong Yoo-shin’s expression hardened.
Death Reprieve.
It sounded similar to a suspended death sentence.
“…Shall I explain?”
“Please.”
“As the name suggests, it’s an imprint that postpones death. The characteristic is that you hear a bell ringing in your head when your life is about to end. The duration of the reprieve varies from person to person, so it’s difficult to say for sure. But the maximum duration is said to be around 10 to 15 seconds.”
“I see.”
“…”
Mion and Jeong Yoo-shin fell silent. What more could they say? It was an imprint that postponed death. It was rather ominous.
Mion also seemed to be choosing her words carefully.
Jeong Yoo-shin shook his head.
‘Not bad.’
He was relieved that it wasn't a strange imprint.
It was better than an imprint that made him aroused by frogs or one that would kill him if he didn’t walk around naked.
“It’s a good imprint.”
“…Yes, it is.”
Mion smiled faintly but didn’t say anything more about the imprint.
“Skar, are you going straight back into the labyrinth?”
“No. I plan to rest during the Blue Moon Festival.”
“I see.”
Jeong Yoo-shin sat down, chatted with Mion for a while, and then stood up.
“Then I’ll see you later.”
“Yes. Take care, Skar.”
“Yes.”
He left the Earth Mother Goddess’ temple and walked down the street. The intense afternoon sun beat down on him.
He hadn’t walked far, but his back was already soaked with sweat.
“It’s hot, so hot.”
He fanned himself with his hand as he slowly entered the inn.
“I’m ba…”
Crash!!!
Before he could finish speaking, the sound of shattering objects echoed throughout the inn.
What was that?
He regained his composure and looked around the inn’s hall.
Five rough-looking men were confronting Karin.
“Fucking hell, what’s wrong with this food? Chef! Did you cook with your feet?!”
“Gah! Ptoo!!! You call this food?”
Crash!!!
A glass dish filled with food shattered on the inn floor.
The men were not only throwing food but also spitting and kicking chairs, causing a ruckus.
‘What’s going on?’
The men slowly surrounded Karin.
“Fucking bitch. Get the innkeeper here.”
Karin glared at the men without answering. How could they act like this towards an intermediate-rank explorer? Were they brave, or did they lack common sense?
“Now that I look closely, you’re quite pretty.”
A man with a thick beard grabbed Karin’s chin.
‘Oh dear.’
Jeong Yoo-shin took a step forward from the inn entrance.
“What’s going on?”
His low voice resonated through the inn.
Not only the rough-looking men but also the other customers turned their attention to Jeong Yoo-shin.
The bearded man removed his hand from Karin’s chin and approached Jeong Yoo-shin. The other four men followed and surrounded him.
Jeong Yoo-shin looked at the men.
They were wearing gambesons with metal plates covering their vital areas. They were well-armed with longswords, spears, and maces. Were they mercenaries or something?
“Are you the innkeeper?”
Jeong Yoo-shin nodded.
“Yes.”
“Looks like you took over the inn at a young age. Have you ever run a business before? You think you can make money with this tasteless food and shitty service? Have you no conscience?”
“…”
Jeong Yoo-shin stared at the bearded man without speaking.
“Look at this bastard’s eyes. He’s not getting it. I was going to just take some compensation and leave, but I’ve changed my mind. Hey, guys, bring that red bitch and the girl in the kitchen.”
Just as the man’s subordinates were about to move, Jeong Yoo-shin spoke.
“How much compensation are you looking for?”
The bearded man chuckled.
“Ha! Now you ask? Well, 10 gold coins should be enough.”
“Is that all?”
“And I’ll borrow that red bitch for a few days. I’ll play with her nicely and return her. Fucking hell, she’s got a great body.”
The man’s subordinates burst into laughter at his joke.
Jeong Yoo-shin also laughed in disbelief.
He hated to admit it, but these were the first people he had met who were this bold in front of him, a black-haired barbarian, at least outside the criminal underworld.
Moreover, demanding 10 gold coins as compensation?
Were they possessed?
If there were evil spirits in the labyrinth, there must be some outside the city as well. It was a reasonable deduction.
These men couldn't be acting this crazy unless they were possessed by some evil spirit.
Jeong Yoo-shin touched his neck and reached a conclusion.
“Gentlemen.”
The men chuckled and looked at Jeong Yoo-shin, as if inviting him to continue.
“I believe you are possessed by evil spirits.”
“…”
The inn fell silent. Not only the men but also the customers stared at Jeong Yoo-shin with wide eyes.
His words and actions were completely unexpected. They had anticipated either a bribe or a vulgar exchange of insults followed by a brawl.
Jeong Yoo-shin raised his fist.
“Therefore, from now on…”
He paused and looked around at everyone in the inn while smiling.
“I will perform an exorcism ritual.”
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T/N - Lol, I’ve always said this in the other novels, I hate dense MCs the most. I never expected this one to turn out as one though. Honestly, I should have seen it coming since there had been signs. Hopefully, this won’t last long while it’s still kinda funny.
Also, beatdown incoming. Idiotic tourists really are the worst. They have no clue about the places they visit, yet they walk around like they own the place. To think they would pick a fight with someone with the title of “the Butcher”. Tsk tsk.