Chapter 111 Joobakeom
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Translator: JayM
Chapter: 111
Chapter Title: Joobakeom*
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The blonde woman was radiating light.
It was as if a holy light that repelled the darkness enveloped her body.
“Don’t you know who I am?”
The blonde woman asked him with a smile.
Jeong Yoo-shin’s expression hardened.
“Tell me clearly.”
After all his experiences in Labyrinth City, it wasn’t easy to trust anyone, especially not a stranger.
Wasn’t that Ret bastard he had just fought also someone he had met in the labyrinth?
The woman looked bewildered.
“I am the Earth Mother Goddess. I govern abundance, mercy, and fertility.”
‘I see.’
Jeong Yoo-shin tilted his head inwardly.
The woman’s words were somewhat convincing.
She had a similar aura to Mion.
And…
Her breasts were enormous. The largest he had ever seen. Was this the power of the goddess of abundance and fertility?
“H-How dare you!?”
The blonde goddess covered her breasts with one hand and glared at him.
But it only served to emphasize her cleavage, which spilled out like melted cheese.
No.
He couldn’t be certain that she was the Earth Mother Goddess just because of this. She could be some evil, lewd boob goddess.
“Ahem. You claim to be a goddess, but what proof do you have?”
The woman looked bewildered again at Jeong Yoo-shin’s question. She continued to cover her breasts while repeatedly tucking her hair behind her ears.
“W-Well, I saved you, didn’t I? I think that sufficiently demonstrated my abilities and intentions. To be precise, I entered your mind. But it’s true that time had stopped outside.”
The mindscape…
So that was why it was so dark here. Setting that aside…
“I was doing fine on my own.”
The woman’s mouth opened slightly at Jeong Yoo-shin’s nonchalant reply. He caught a glimpse of her luscious lips and red tongue.
“…What?”
“I said I was doing fine before.”
“W-Weren’t your fingers severed and your bones broken? And that boy Ret’s sword was aimed at your throat.”
“That can happen in a fight. And I’ve been stabbed in the throat before, and I didn’t die. It’s the mystery of the human body, you could say. Anyway, that’s how it is.”
“…”
The woman closed her mouth and glared at him.
‘A goddess giving me a dirty look… It sends shivers down my spine.’
“So, why did you call me?”
He was curious and surprised, but he wanted to get to the point. He still had things to do. He couldn’t just sit here and chat with this woman.
“I want to bestow a blessing upon you.”
“Why?”
“…”
The goddess glared at Jeong Yoo-shin again.
“Don’t you need to overcome this crisis?”
Jeong Yoo-shin tilted his head.
“I was handling it just fine on my own. I don’t think anything will change with the intervention of a god or whatever.”
He had been outmatched by Ret’s swordsmanship. But so what?
If he had been fully prepared, he was confident he could have killed Ret by any means necessary.
Even if he couldn’t, he was prepared to fight tooth and nail and take Ret down with him.
‘That little swordsman worm.’
“S-So you’re saying you don’t want it?”
The blonde woman asked.
“Let’s see what you have to offer.”
“Ahem! Others would be overjoyed and prostrate themselves before me, but you’re different.”
The woman cleared her throat and extended her hand.
Flash!!!
A bright light flashed, and a small bonfire appeared before Jeong Yoo-shin.
And then, five shapes emerged around the bonfire.
Jeong Yoo-shin’s eyes widened.
“…What are these?”
A warm, golden pattern.
A blazing blue flame.
A green foam.
A large, rusty, old bell.
And a pink heart.
He had never seen them before, yet they all looked familiar and comforting.
They felt like something he had known for a long time, at least some of them.
“These are your imprints.”
The blonde woman said.
“Ah.”
Jeong Yoo-shin stared blankly at the imprints around him.
‘As expected.’
The golden pattern was Sacred Weapon.
The blazing blue flame was Revenger.
The green foam was Venom Protection.
The rusty, old bell was Death Reprieve.
The heart was Female Virgin Corruption.
Jeong Yoo-shin reached out and touched the golden pattern. He felt a warm sensation.
He also knew that the imprint was reacting to his touch.
He liked this bread-and-butter imprint of his the most. No matter what others thought of it, it was his lifeline.
Why?
Because it had helped him through the valley of death multiple times.
The blazing blue flame flickered closer.
Jeong Yoo-shin smiled and stroked the blue flame as well. It wasn’t hot. In fact, it was pleasantly cool. The flame also flickered in response to his touch.
Revenger had also accompanied him all this while. It had been with him in every moment of crisis, a true comrade.
Venom Protection seemed hesitant, unsure whether to approach or not. He left it alone since they hadn’t been together for long.
The rusty bell-shaped Death Reprieve imprint remained silent and still.
The heart slowly approached him.
The imprint he had suppressed and pushed away. The imprint he had tried to seal and erase.
He looked down at the heart which was rubbing against his leg and let out a wry smile.
“I’m sorry.”
He reached out and stroked it while remembering the times they had spent together.
The woman watched him and then spoke.
“Skar, I’ll give you a choice.”
“What is it?”
“Choose one of your imprints to receive my blessing.”
Jeong Yoo-shin pondered.
A blessing.
Did that mean that the imprint would become stronger?
It wasn’t a completely foreign concept. He had heard about it in passing.
If this woman’s words were true, what would be the best choice?
“May I ask a question?”
“Ask away.”
“Can Revenger and Death Reprieve be linked?”
“Explain further.”
“Can I survive a ‘certain’ death by recovering with Revenger?”
“That’s something you can achieve as you become stronger through mana adaptation and continuous use of the Revenger imprint. If you receive my blessing, you’ll be able to do it right now.”
Hmm.
That seemed like the best option for now.
“What are the benefits of strengthening Sacred Weapon?”
“The casting speed will increase, and you’ll be able to manifest weapons from your mind in greater detail. Further down the line, you’ll be able to imbue your Sacred Weapons with special ‘abilities.’”
“What kind of abilities?”
“The kind found in magic swords and artifacts.”
“Those exist?”
“They do. But people don’t know about them. It takes a very long time to reach that level.”
“I understand.”
Jeong Yoo-shin sat down by the bonfire and lost himself in thought.
Should he strengthen Sacred Weapon?
Or should he strengthen Revenger?
He set aside Death Reprieve. It seemed like it would only extend the reprieve time, which was useless for now.
And considering death against a mediocre opponent like Ret?
‘My pride won’t allow it.’
He also set aside Venom Protection and Female Virgin Corruption for the same reason as Death Reprieve.
The answer was clear.
If he wanted to live, he should strengthen Revenger. If he wanted to kill, he should strengthen Sacred Weapon.
Jeong Yoo-shin pondered and reached a conclusion.
He looked up to see the woman sitting demurely across from him while gazing at the bonfire.
She looked like a goddess now. Her aura, which was similar to Mion’s, made her seem more trustworthy.
“Are you ready?”
The woman asked.
“Yes.”
“Come here.”
The woman stood up and said so. Jeong Yoo-shin also stood up and approached her.
“Clasp your hands before me, kneel on one knee, and name the imprint you wish to be blessed.”
He assumed the position the goddess had instructed and spoke.
“Sacred Weapon.”
The woman’s beautiful eyebrows furrowed.
“Not Revenger?”
“…”
He lowered his head without answering. Then, with a sigh, a soft hand stroked his hair.
A divine energy flowed through his body from head to toe and then disappeared.
“…It is done.”
Already?
Jeong Yoo-shin looked up and was startled by the sight of the woman’s lower body illuminated by the bonfire.
Her lower body was clearly visible.
Since she was only wearing a single, flowing cloth, it was practically see-through.
He saw a familiar pattern on the thin, purple lace thong that covered her plump buttocks.
“…Huh?”
“Oh!”
The woman quickly covered her lower abdomen.
‘…Why is that…?’
Before he could dwell on it, the woman spoke quickly.
“P-Please keep this a secret from Mion, alright?”
Jeong Yoo-shin scratched his head.
“Why? Isn’t Mion your devout follower? There’s no reason to hide it from her.”
“…”
The woman hesitated and didn’t answer. Jeong Yoo-shin frowned.
‘What’s she up to?’
It was strange that she was showing him favoritism in the first place.
What did she see in him to bestow him such a blessing?
If she was truly the Earth Mother Goddess, it would be more appropriate to bless her followers instead.
And for a goddess, her attire and figure were far too indecent.
This might be blasphemous, but…
‘She feels similar to Ingrid.’
She had a similar aura to Mion, but she was more mature and seemed to be suppressing something.
Jeong Yoo-shin shook his head. It wasn’t his business. She must have had her reasons for giving him the blessing.
Honestly…
He was still disoriented after being suddenly dragged into his mindscape in the middle of a fight.
“May I ask one more question?”
“What is it?”
“Have you ever heard of transmigration? Like, someone from another world crossing over to this world?”
The woman placed her hand on her cheek and thought for a moment.
“…No. That has never happened before. There have been a few disappearances in the past that were suspected to be ‘transmigrations,’ but…”
‘She doesn’t know anything? With those huge breasts. Tsk.’
“Does a Transmigration imprint exist?”
“It does.”
The goddess stated firmly.
Jeong Yoo-shin nodded. He had received confirmation. Now all he had to do was survive and enter the labyrinth.
“Time is running out. Prepare yourself and survive.”
“Yes.”
Jeong Yoo-shin nodded and looked at the goddess.
Despite her questionable personality, she was an elemental god who had helped him out.
‘Am I lucky?’
The goddess extended her hand. Jeong Yoo-shin froze.
Wait a minute.
Several facts flashed through his mind.
The goddess knew his name.
He saw a familiar pattern on her lower abdomen.
She specifically asked him not to tell Mion.
Could it be…?
He didn’t have enough evidence. It could just be his imagination. But he had to be sure.
Jeong Yoo-shin strode forward and grabbed the goddess’s arm.
“Huh?!”
The goddess’s eyes widened as she looked up at him.
“Child, what are you doing?!”
“Earth Mother Goddess.”
“Wh-What?”
Jeong Yoo-shin’s hand roughly grabbed the woman’s soft belly.
“Hmph?!”
The woman flinched. He continued to press, and her legs trembled. She leaned against him, her enormous breasts pressing against his chest.
He whispered into her ear.
“Does Mion have a ‘Descent’ or ‘Possession’ imprint?”
“Hmph?! Get out!!!”
The woman pushed Jeong Yoo-shin away with all her might.
Jeong Yoo-shin was flung back into the darkness, falling endlessly.
He placed his hand on his chin as he fell.
“Was I right? Or was I wrong?”
So that was why the kind Mion had acted so strangely.
If he assumed that the goddess was behind it, everything made sense.
But the most fundamental question remained a mystery.
‘Why is she being so nice to me?’
She was treating him like a prized milk cow.
Why was a goddess with such sharp, determined eyes acting so sweet and seductive in front of me?
“Because you’re handsome, you idiot.”
“She wasn’t being seductive. You’re getting ahead of yourself, you lunatic.”
Miniature versions of Jeong Yoo-shin appeared beside him and muttered.
‘Hmm. Confirmed.’
He concluded his thoughts. He had no intention of dwelling on mere speculation.
‘I don’t even understand human hearts, let alone the heart of a god.’
He had many questions, but he set them aside for now. This wasn't the time to be pondering such things.
It was time to return to the harsh reality. A world where he had to fight with severed fingers, shattered bones, and a sword lodged in his throat.
‘It feels like a dream.’
A midsummer night’s dream?
Or reality?
He closed his eyes and opened them again in the endless darkness.
Ret’s sword was right in front of his throat.
‘As expected.’
An excruciating pain in his left arm shot through his brain.
He slightly turned his head. As long as the aorta wasn’t hit, he would be fine.
Thud!!!
A sharp pain pierced his neck as Ret’s sword found its mark.
“Gurk!!!”
Blood filled his mouth, and his vision flashed. He saw a glimpse of the afterlife.
Even though he was on the verge of death, Jeong Yoo-shin smiled brightly.
He released his sword and clenched his fists.
He had already thought about how to use his imprints.
[Sacred Weapon]
He willed…
What should he choose?
Half-Ogre Power Gauntlets.
He visualized them in his mind and imbued them with power. He felt a golden pattern resonating deep within his soul.
All his mana was drained in an instant.
He saw Ret grinning. Did he think he was dead because he had been stabbed in the neck?
‘You idiot.’
Jeong Yoo-shin stepped forward and threw a straight punch.
The perfect counter.
Wham!!!!!
A tremendous sound engulfed the street.
Jeong Yoo-shin’s fist, which was enveloped in a platinum glow, connected with Ret’s jaw, shattering his mandible, cheekbone, and zygomatic arch.
Thud!!!
Ret spun through the air and crashed onto the ground.
“Kuh…!!! Gah!!!”
Ret convulsed and struggled to get up. Broken teeth, mixed with thick blood, fell from his mouth.
Jeong Yoo-shin grinned while watching him and spat out the blood that had risen in his throat.
“Ptoo!!! Ret, you think you’re a genius? You little worm… You’re nothing against my fists.”
One of the brave onlookers who hadn’t fled muttered in awe.
“I… I can’t tell who the villain is anymore.”
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T/N - Good counter! Go on and beat that fucker up, MC! Punch that lucky bastard to a pulp!
Also, hearing about transmigrations from this world to the outside convinces me even more about my theory in the earlier chapters that the MC’s dad is an actual barbarian.
Lastly, I find the MC’s attitude with the Goddess kinda rude. Dude, she’s helping you. The least you could do is not be an ass to her.
*주박꼼 (Joobakeom) - This is likely a newly coined slang term by the author. "주박" (Joobake) means "shackles," "fetters," or a "curse." "꼼" (Kkom) doesn't have a direct translation but is often used in slang to indicate something small or insignificant. The context suggests it's a derogatory term, possibly meaning something like "cursed worm" or "shackled little shit." Since it's slang, a direct translation loses the nuance, so I've left it as "Joobakeom."