Chapter 112 A Chastity in Peril
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Translator: JayM
Chapter: 112
Chapter Title: A Chastity in Peril
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The street was in chaos.
People fled. Only a few daring onlookers remained, hiding at a safe distance.
Karin, who was covered in blood, was fighting the Skin Walker.
Jeong Yoo-shin stood in the middle of the street.
Blood rose in his throat, and he spat it out.
“Ptoo!!!”
Fortunately, the wound in his neck was slowly closing thanks to the Revenger imprint’s healing effect.
He was completely exhausted after using up all of his mana. But he couldn't stop here.
‘I have to kill Ret.’
Jeong Yoo-shin stumbled and tripped over something.
“Shit!”
It was a corpse mangled beyond recognition.
He writhed on the blood-soaked ground like a worm, then he picked up the longsword lying nearby and stood up.
Ret kept collapsing and getting back up, as if he had a concussion.
‘Pathetic bastard.’
He looked down on Ret, who couldn’t even stay conscious after just a single punch.
Just then…
Something suddenly attacked him from the side.
A foul stench. Flapping animal hides. A humanoid shape with an elongated jaw. An overall grotesque figure.
The Skin Walker.
“Don’t get in my way.”
Jeong Yoo-shin swung his broken left arm. It looked like he was giving it a thumbs-up with his only remaining finger. The ridiculous sight made him smile.
“Skar!!!”
Karin screamed and jumped in front of Jeong Yoo-shin.
Clang!!!
Karin gritted her teeth as she barely blocked the Skin Walker’s claws with her crossed daggers.
“What are you doing?!!!”
“Sorry. I’m a bit out of it.”
“Get a grip!!!”
Karin’s voice was laced with tears.
Jeong Yoo-shin shrugged and continued walking. He understood Karin’s feelings. She was worried because her companion was injured.
But Karin didn't understand the battles he had fought and who he had to kill.
He left Karin to her fight and continued walking.
With slow, tortoise-like steps, he finally reached Ret.
Ret was still struggling to stand, failing each time.
Now that he was standing before Ret, he found that he didn’t have anything to say to him.
He tossed his longsword in the air and caught it in a reverse grip.
“…Die.”
“W-Wait!”
Ret mumbled while raising his hand. His eyes seemed to have regained focus. Had he regained his senses?
“Go quietly.”
“I-I was kidnapped!!! Brainwashed!!!”
Ret shouted while waving his hands.
“So?”
Ret looked dumbfounded at Jeong Yoo-shin’s question.
“…Huh?”
“Look around you. See what you’ve done.”
“I-I didn’t do this…”
“You cleanly sliced off the guard captain’s head. You looked quite experienced doing it too. Are you sure you have the Genius Swordsman imprint?”
“…”
Ret remained silent.
Jeong Yoo-shin paused, catching his breath.
Causing such mayhem so close to his inn?
And rampaging with a monster?
He couldn’t let Ret live.
“Let’s go.”
“Oink!!! Oink!!!”
Ret flailed his arms with a determined expression, as if making a last stand.
But to Jeong Yoo-shin, it just sounded like a pig squealing. It was a pathetic sight.
Thud!!!
He plunged the longsword deep into the space between Ret’s ribs.
He felt the sensation of the blade piercing flesh and tearing through his heart through the hilt of the sword.
“Gah!!!”
Ret’s eyes widened, and he coughed up blood. And then he stopped breathing. Dead. There was nothing more to see.
Ret’s lifeless body began to fall backward.
He pushed the sword deeper, pinning the body to the ground.
It looked like an insect specimen.
He had pinned a mediocre swordsman masquerading as a genius to the street.
“Do you know the story of the pinned-down mediocre swordsman?”
He muttered, amused.
Just then…
The city guard rushed towards them from the other side of the street.
“There!!!”
“Catch that monster!!!”
Despite his hazy mind, Jeong Yoo-shin bent down, picked up Ret’s iron sword, and approached Karin.
He couldn't leave Karin to fight alone. He had killed his top priority target, so now it was time for the next one.
Jeong Yoo-shin charged at the Skin Walker, his longsword slung over his shoulder.
“I’m joining you.”
“Skar!!!”
He ignored Karin’s shouts.
‘How can she fight this thing alone?’
He had to help. She was his companion.
Clang!!!
He swung his longsword, deflecting the Skin Walker’s claws, and immediately did a thrust towards its heart.
Thud!
The tip of his sword barely grazed the Skin Walker’s chest.
The Skin Walker flinched.
Karin seized the opportunity and threw a dagger.
Swish!!!
The dagger, flying like a flash of light, embedded itself into the Skin Walker’s eye.
Thud!!!
“Kyaaaaagh!!!”
The Skin Walker screamed as one of its eyes burst.
‘She’s in a hurry.’
Throwing a weapon right away? Was she trying to end it quickly?
Good.
He observed the flailing Skin Walker while waiting for the right moment.
[Sacred Weapon]
He squeezed every last drop of his dwindling mana and manifested an arming sword.
He only had one chance, but it was enough in this situation.
‘Now.’
He charged and swung the sword like a club.
Swish!!!
The bright, golden blade sliced through the Skin Walker’s face like tofu.
Splat.
Thump!
The Skin Walker collapsed to its knees, its brain fluids spilling out.
Jeong Yoo-shin, drained of strength, also collapsed.
“Skar!”
Karin ran over and hugged him.
“Karin.”
He barely managed to speak, his mind hazy.
“Wait a minute! Guards!!!”
“Pick up my fingers.”
“Okay!!! Okay!!! Just… don’t talk!!!”
He chuckled at Karin’s frantic reaction.
“If you don’t know which fingers are mine, just feel them. The ones with the most calluses are mine.”
“…”
Smooch.
Suddenly…
His lips were sealed. Jeong Yoo-shin’s eyes widened.
Karin had suddenly kissed him.
Her tongue darted into his mouth like a snake, licking the inside of his mouth.
Slurp.
A string of blood-tinged saliva stretched between their lips.
“Shut up, idiot.”
“I-Is this… Are we really kissing right now?”
Jeong Yoo-shin muttered while staring blankly at Karin.
“Wh-What?! You were rambling some nonsense, so I did it!”
Karin shouted with her face flushed.
“Huh?”
Jeong Yoo-shin let out a single sound and lost consciousness.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
He had a dream.
His life in this other world flashed before his eyes like a panorama.
He had been called cute for the first time at the inn on the Pilgrim’s Road.
He had almost been executed by the guards but was given a chance to prove his innocence thanks to Simus.
He had traveled to Labyrinth City with Simus.
Had Simus said it was his first time traveling with a barbarian?
He had thankfully arrived in Labyrinth City, but it wasn’t an easy place. He had been subjected to unfounded accusations and contempt.
But even in the dirtiest mud, a lotus could still bloom.
Just like outside Labyrinth City, he had met good people here as well.
Dalmong, Ashur, Einhorfer, Mion, and Karin.
He opened his eyes.
A familiar sight. The ceiling he saw every day.
A hot summer breeze blew through the window, caressing his forehead.
His body was stiff from lying down for so long.
He looked at his left hand. It was perfectly healed.
The Female Virgin Corruption Sealing Ring was also in place.
‘That’s a relief.’
Seeing that even his fingers were perfectly reattached, it seemed like a powerful healing magic had been used on him.
He looked to his side and saw someone resting their face on the bed.
Red ears and a tail.
It was Karin.
He reached out and stroked Karin’s hair.
Playfully, he continued to touch her pointed ears.
“Mmm…”
Karin let out a strange sound and quickly opened her eyes.
“Skar…!!!”
Karin threw herself at him and hugged him tightly.
“You’re heavy.”
“You’re finally awake! I was so worried!”
Karin’s eyes welled up again.
“You’re such a crybaby. Stop crying.”
“Sniffle!!!”
“How long have I been asleep?”
“Three whole days.”
“Is today the last day of the festival?”
“Yes. But don’t overdo it. That busty priestess said you overused your mana, and you’re temporarily depleted. Just rest at the inn.”
“Alright. But I’m hungry.”
“I’ll bring you something to eat.”
“No. Let’s just go downstairs for that.”
He went down to the first floor with Karin’s help. The inn was bustling with people.
Despite the recent tragedy, people were still enjoying the festive atmosphere.
Were they tough, or were they just used to death?
It was a hard city to understand.
A few customers stood up when they saw Jeong Yoo-shin. They were familiar faces.
One person, in particular, stood out. The rat beast-person innkeeper who had refused him lodging when he first arrived in Labyrinth City.
“Skar, thank you for saving my child. You saved our lives.”
The rat beast-person approached him and bowed deeply.
Jeong Yoo-shin tilted his head.
‘Did I do that?’
He couldn’t remember clearly who he had saved in the chaos.
“Don’t mention it. I just did what I had to do.”
He gave a humble reply, unsure of what had happened.
The people around the rat beast-person also bowed deeply to Jeong Yoo-shin.
The clothing store owner and the general store owner were also there.
“Skar, thank you for saving the street.”
“We owe you our lives. My wife is also grateful.”
They were people he saw regularly on Southern Street. He was glad that they finally understood him.
Jeong Yoo-shin smiled faintly. But he couldn't help but have a lingering question.
“May I ask something?”
“What is it? Ask anything.”
“Why did you refuse me lodging back then? I clearly looked different from those barbarians.”
The rat beast-person scratched his head while looking embarrassed.
“I’m sorry. It’s a bit late for excuses, but those barbarians were causing so much trouble that I ended up taking it out on you, even though you’re a half-blood.”
“You knew I was a half-blood?”
“Of course. There’s a clear difference in physique. But you looked like a nobody, so… I’m ashamed to admit it, but I took my frustrations out on you.”
“How could you be so sure? Wasn’t there a chance I was a young barbarian? What if I was some powerful figure in disguise?”
“I’ve been running an inn in Labyrinth City for eight years. I have a good eye for people. And didn’t you have a thick beard back then? Even if you were young, I could tell you were an adult.”
‘I see.’
Well, after eight years of working in a restaurant, even a waiter in a martial arts world could distinguish between white-clad heroes, black-clad villains, wandering swordsmen, and beggars. It wasn’t unreasonable.
Then there was only one reason for the discrimination and contempt.
As the rat beast-person had said, he had been a target for their frustration with the barbarians. Since the word “barbarian” was practically a slur in Labyrinth City, whether he was a half-blood or not was irrelevant.
He had been an easy target because he was small and didn't look strong.
It was like a muscular, tattooed black man, stressed from being harassed by a group of gun-toting thugs, taking his frustrations out on a random mixed-race person.
Seriously.
He had thought that there was some profound reason, but it turned out that it was nothing like that.
All his problems stemmed from his weakness.
Jeong Yoo-shin walked over to the rat beast-person, put his arm around his shoulder, and whispered in his ear.
“Did I really look that weak?”
“…Quite a bit.”
The rat beast-person replied honestly.
“Huh.”
Jeong Yoo-shin sighed and asked again.
“Do I still look that weak?”
“Absolutely not!!!”
“Let’s get along from now on.”
Jeong Yoo-shin patted the rat beast-person on the shoulder and sat down at a table while looking around at the people.
They were residents of the southern district, his neighbors, in a way.
“I’ve told you who I am, and you’ve seen it for yourselves, so you understand now, right? Go home and rest, and let’s greet each other with smiles from now on.”
“Thank you. We won’t forget your kindness.”
“Come visit my inn sometime. I’ll give you a discount.”
The people from the southern district thanked him and left the inn.
Jeong Yoo-shin looked around, then he went to the counter and sat down.
He had heard so many bad things about barbarians that he had assumed that they were all strong and formidable.
But his conversation with the rat beast-person revealed a subtle difference in perception.
‘Are there weak barbarians, regardless of whether they’re pure-blooded or half-blooded?’
It was possible that only a few particularly strong barbarians were causing trouble in Labyrinth City.
It wasn’t something he could confirm right now though.
“What are you thinking about?”
Karin asked as she placed a bowl of oatmeal on the counter.
“Nothing.”
Jeong Yoo-shin replied while scooping up some oatmeal with his spoon.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Night fell, and the crowd dispersed.
Perhaps because it was the last day of the festival, their energy had been overflowing.
Anne and Tarman had also gone out to meet Dean and Marie.
The inn was empty.
Only Jeong Yoo-shin and Karin remained, sitting at the counter while drinking.
“We’ve already finished a whole bottle.”
“We have.”
“Wait a minute.”
Karin stood up.
“Where are you going?”
“I bought some good alcohol during the festival. I hid it in the kitchen. Let’s drink that.”
“Aren’t we drinking too much?”
“We have to drink a lot on occasions like this. You’re going into the labyrinth right after the festival, aren’t you?”
“Well…”
Karin went into the kitchen and returned with an expensive-looking bottle.
Karin grinned.
“It’s Elf Dew. It’s really expensive. I tried a little, and it was good.”
“Really?”
Jeong Yoo-shin, already drunk, nodded absentmindedly.
Glug.
A golden liquid filled his glass.
Jeong Yoo-shin and Karin smiled at each other.
““Cheers.””
Jeong Yoo-shin downed his drink in one gulp. It went down smoothly, warming his stomach.
“Sigh. This is good.”
“Right?”
Karin’s smile was alluring.
Jeong Yoo-shin ran a hand through his hair. The incident from earlier was still on his mind.
“Karin, let me ask you something.”
“Wh-What is it?”
Karin looked at Jeong Yoo-shin expectantly.
“When you first saw me…”
“Yes?”
“Did I really look that weak?”
“…”
Karin remained silent.
Just as Jeong Yoo-shin was about to speak again, frustrated…
“S-Say something…”
His body wouldn't obey him.
His strength drained away, and he slumped against Karin’s breasts.
Squish.
Jeong Yoo-shin’s eyes widened.
“Huh…?! Wh-What’s happening?!”
Karin grinned while baring her teeth.
“You asked if you looked weak? Yeah. You still do.”
“H-Huh…!!!”
Jeong Yoo-shin’s weak cry echoed through the quiet inn.
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T/N - Is it finally happening? Is the MC about to get laid? Will the Mature tag finally be justified after 112 chapters? Find out in the next episode of Drag— ahem…