Chapter 150 No one's Here!
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Translator: JayM
Chapter: 150
Chapter Title: No one’s Here!
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‘Calm down.’
He swallowed the curses that were about to erupt and soothed his raging mind.
Losing his composure here would do him no good.
Jeong Yoo-shin took a deep breath and took off his helmet.
Thanks to his experiences in the labyrinth so far, he was able to act calmly.
He touched his eyes and felt an itch.
“Here, a water bottle.”
He took the water bottle Karin handed him, opened the cap, and sprinkled some water on his eyes.
The unidentifiable, worm-like creatures were washed away and fell to the ground.
He blinked once. No problem.
He looked down.
Small larvae were wriggling in the puddle on the floor.
“Sigh. Shit.”
Seriously, this was too much.
He didn’t know what that red sphere was, but just looking at it had made worms appear in his eyes.
It was definitely an unusual object.
Barion approached him and waved their hand in front of Jeong Yoo-shin’s eyes.
“Is there a problem?”
Jeong Yoo-shin asked. Barion replied with a hand signal.
‘Mind Protection is broken.’
“Is that common? What’s going on?”
He asked Barion, but they just shrugged.
They didn't know either.
Judging by Delia’s voice earlier, it seemed that the red sphere had never appeared before.
It was probably a new phenomenon.
Or a recent event that wasn’t yet known.
‘I’ll cast Mind Protection again.’
As a light flashed from Barion’s hand, Jeong Yoo-shin’s eyes felt hot. It felt as if a film had been peeled off his eyes. His vision became brighter.
Jeong Yoo-shin blinked again, then shook his head.
“Delia, are you alright?”
“I’m fine.”
Barion approached Delia, looked into her eyes, and then shook their head.
‘No problem.’
Jeong Yoo-shin frowned.
‘Why only me?’
The moment he saw the red sphere, he had felt a sensation similar to when the mystic Ahiman had cast his anti-ambush alarm spell.
He felt a transcendent gaze from a distant place.
To be precise…
When he was with Ahiman, he had felt a hint of interest amidst the indifferent gaze.
This time, it was different. Completely.
He felt a strange malice and temptation.
Karin placed her hand on her chin and pondered.
“…I overheard some seniors talking at the Guide’s Guild…”
“…”
The party members fell silent and listened to her.
Karin continued.
“One of them said that the red sphere is a new thing. There’s not much information about it though. Just be careful and don’t go near it.”
Was that so?
“Sigh.”
Jeong Yoo-shin sighed deeply.
He didn’t know what the labyrinth was. Every time he thought he had adapted to it, a new kind of shit appeared.
“So we just have to avoid the red sphere?”
“Right. Other explorers will probably figure it out through direct experience.”
“Is there another resting place besides this one?”
Karin took out her map and examined it.
“There’s one a few hours away.”
“Let’s go. We’ll rest there.”
The other party members nodded in agreement.
The party left the resting place and walked down the dark, gloomy hallway again.
How long had they been walking?
Karin stopped again.
“Ten monsters ahead.”
“Prepare for battle.”
Were they going to be easy this time too?
He shook his head and dismissed the thought.
Clatter.
At the other end of the dark hallway…
Skeleton Soldiers, their eyes glowing with a red light, approached them.
Delia stepped forward, her shield raised.
Karin, who had been loading her crossbow, narrowed her eyes.
“It’s a Skeleton Mage!”
“This won’t be easy.”
Delia muttered with a sigh.
[Sacred Barrier]
Barion quickly cast a spell.
A skeleton in tattered robes raised its staff high.
Twang!
Karin aimed her crossbow and immediately fired a bolt.
Swish!!!
It flew swiftly towards the Skeleton Mage’s head.
Thud!!!
But a Skeleton Soldier with a shield threw itself in front of the bolt and blocked it.
The Skeleton Mage tilted its head and clattered. As if it was laughing. Did it have intelligence?
The Skeleton Soldiers charged. They were heavily armed, a clear difference from the ones they had encountered before.
The Skeleton Mage struck the ground with its staff.
Thump!!!
A black energy shot through the hallway, spreading across the floor and enveloping the Skeleton Soldiers.
Their white bones turned black.
The Skeleton Soldiers’ movements became faster than before. Their clattering bones seemed to be overflowing with vitality now.
“Haaah!!!”
Delia shoved the charging monsters with a shield bash.
The Skeleton Soldiers stumbled backward but weren't sent flying like before.
Jeong Yoo-shin stood beside Delia and swung his sword vertically.
He brought it down like he was splitting wood.
Clang!!!
His longsword failed to cut through the Skeleton Soldier’s ribcage and bounced off.
His hand stung.
‘Shit.’
He understood.
That black magic…
‘Was a buff that increased the skeletons’ strength and defense.’
The light in the Skeleton Soldiers’ eyes narrowed.
‘These bastards.’
They were laughing.
He had thought that they were emotionless.
So what?
It was still dark magic. He could just use a counter skill.
[Sacred Weapon]
He created a dagger of light with one hand and pierced the Skeleton Soldier’s temple.
Crack.
The light in the Skeleton Soldier’s eyes brightened for a moment, then faded.
Wham!!!
He kicked the collapsing skeleton. The shattered bones scattered across the hallway floor.
At that moment…
All the Skeleton Soldiers began to target Jeong Yoo-shin.
They ignored Delia’s mace and charged towards him.
“Skar!!!”
Delia shouted urgently.
“Hold your position!!!”
Jeong Yoo-shin shouted back while swinging his longsword.
‘Are these bastards crazy?!’
His swordsmanship, moving seamlessly from one stance to another, began to shine.
He placed his sword where it needed to be.
He stepped and tried to remember the sword techniques his master had taught him.
Clang!!!
Clang!!!
Sparks flew every time his sword clashed with the dead’s.
He abandoned the idea of conserving mana.
He deflected a descending mace and then severed a neck with Sacred Weapon.
He blocked a thrusting dagger with his plate armor.
And he blocked a military pick that looked like a pickaxe by closing the distance and taking the blow on his shoulder.
Just as he deflected a swinging axe from a Skeleton Soldier…
A black mass of magic flew towards him and struck him.
It was faster than most bolts.
Thump!!!
Jeong Yoo-shin’s body stumbled.
“Ugh!!!”
His vision darkened for a moment, and he felt nauseous. It felt as if his mind was being torn apart.
The thought of death flickered in his mind.
The Skeleton Soldier seized the opportunity and swung its axe.
Wham!!!
Jeong Yoo-shin’s helmet dented slightly.
His legs gave out, and he fell to one knee.
Eeeeeeeeeee.
His head spun. A ringing sound filled his ears.
His head throbbed as if he had a concussion.
“Skar!!!”
Karin’s horrified voice erupted.
“Mage!!!”
Jeong Yoo-shin screamed frantically. Karin bit her lip, drew her daggers, and charged forward.
[Revenger]
A blue flame flickered in Jeong Yoo-shin’s eyes.
[Sacred Weapon]
He willed…
A single-edged axe.
He would repay them in kind.
These pathetic skeletons.
‘They think I’m a joke.’
He sprang to his feet and swung the axe.
Crack!!!
Jeong Yoo-shin’s single-edged axe split the Skeleton Soldier’s head in two.
He kicked the collapsing skeleton and swung his sword frantically.
As their leader regained his composure, the party members found their footing and began to fight back.
Boom!!!
Barion took Karin’s place and swung their warhammer.
Jeong Yoo-shin gritted his teeth and cursed himself.
‘You pathetic fool.’
He was truly pathetic.
What was the point of saving mana?
How long could he survive by conserving his stamina?
He wanted to kill the version of himself that strutted around Labyrinth City before this.
He sharpened his mind, which had become dull.
Swish!!!
A sound of tearing wind came from his blue longsword.
His blade, honed by self-reproach, sharply cut down the Skeleton Soldiers one by one.
“Skar…?”
Delia glanced at Jeong Yoo-shin with wide eyes.
His movements were completely different from before. Was this the power of a barbarian?
Karin had already beheaded the Skeleton Mage.
The light in the Skeleton Mage’s eyes faded, and the buff magic wore off.
The blackened bones returned to their original color, and the battle turned in their favor.
As he swung his sword frantically, the end of the battle drew near.
Boom!!!
Barion crushed the last one with their warhammer.
Shattered bones scattered on the floor.
Subjugation complete.
“Sigh.”
Jeong Yoo-shin collapsed onto the ground.
“Skar!!! Are you alright?!”
Karin, Delia, and Barion rushed over.
Jeong Yoo-shin took off his helmet and spoke.
“Stop worrying. I’m fine.”
The wound on his head had already healed thanks to the Revenger imprint.
“That skeleton mage used a nasty spell.”
Delia approached.
“That’s why I told you not to let your guard down. Anyway, you fight well. Have you been practicing swordsmanship for a long time?”
‘Less than half a year.’
“I learned a little at the Swordsman’s Guild.”
“Really? It doesn’t look like a little.”
Delia replied while taking out a pouch from her backpack.
Barion patted Jeong Yoo-shin on the shoulder.
“What?”
They took out a pen and paper and scribbled.
[The black sphere you were hit by was a mental pollution spell. My divine magic blocked most of it, but like most pollution spells, it accumulates in your mind and body. If you don’t want a long recovery, it’s best to avoid it.]
“Ah.”
He remembered reading about it in a book with Priestess Mion, but experiencing it himself was a different matter.
“Alright.”
Jeong Yoo-shin replied while nodding.
The party members sat down and collected the bones in their leather pouches.
Delia’s eyes sparkled as she cracked open a skeleton’s head.
“There are a lot of magic stones!”
“Yeah. With this many, we can complete the magic stone request as well.”
Karin and Delia chatted while rummaging through the pile of skeletons.
Having party members with experience in the Corridor area made things much easier.
He didn't have to give any instructions.
They each knew what they had to do.
‘I’m blessed.’
He rubbed his aching head and picked up a skeleton’s bone before putting it in his leather pouch.
The party members, their pouches full of bones, stood up.
They continued down the hallway, led by Karin.
After walking for about four hours, they finally reached a resting place.
The resting place was the same as before. A room with a wooden door.
The resting place was empty.
They settled down, took out some camping firewood from their backpacks, and lit a fire in the center of the room.
He had heard that it was necessary to keep a fire going while sleeping in the Corridor area because of the low temperature.
Crackle. Crackle.
The party members gathered around the bonfire to warm themselves and took out their food.
He chewed on the dried meat, which he was already sick of. He had bear biscuits, but he wasn’t in the mood, so he didn’t take them out.
He swallowed the dried meat and then put a piece of dried apple in his mouth, rolling it around.
Delia was munching on her special nutrition bar. She didn’t look like someone who had been in a life-or-death battle just a few hours ago. Was she really that tough?
Barion sat silently while staring at the bonfire.
What should he say to them?
They were reliable.
Come to think of it, he had chosen his party members well this time.
Since the law of this labyrinth area was ‘fear,’ it was good that he had gathered party members with strong and resilient personalities.
“Skar, can you turn around?”
Karin asked casually after they finished eating.
“Sure.”
Jeong Yoo-shin turned around.
Since they were approaching a week of labyrinth exploration, they needed to maintain some level of hygiene.
Although it was just wiping their bodies with a wet towel.
With two women in the party, it couldn’t be helped.
Clank. Clank.
He heard the sound of Delia taking off her armor.
“Sigh. It’s hot.”
“Delia, I’ll wipe your back.”
“Karin, you take yours off too.”
“Okay.”
They were whispering, but he could hear them clearly.
“Hmm? Karin, your breasts are quite big.”
“Oh! Delia, don’t grope me!”
“They’re soft and bouncy, like chewy slime bread. Hehe.”
“D-Delia!”
“But isn’t that bra a bit lewd? Leopard print? Hmm…”
“Delia!”
“Ah, alright. Don’t be mad.”
Jeong Yoo-shin and Barion turned around and faced the wall.
‘Karin.’
Leopard print?
Did it make sense to wear such indecent underwear in the labyrinth?
There’s also the naked dwarf.
‘Right. You crazy bastard, calling everything indecent. Do you want to see the naked dwarf priest’s sweaty armpits again? Huh?’
Jeong Yoo-shin shook his head. The long battle must have accumulated some mental pollution in his head.
Barion was as still as a mouse while staring at the wall.
‘Come to think of it, where are Barion’s eyes?’
He didn't seem to be using his helmet for vision.
Could he be peeking right now?
As Jeong Yoo-shin’s suspicion grew…
Knock, knock!!!
Someone knocked on the wooden door.
“…”
The party members all held their breath.
“W-Wait a minute.”
Karin stammered.
He heard the sound of clanking armor and rustling clothes.
Knock, knock!!!
“Is anyone there?”
A man’s voice came from outside.
“Okay. You can turn around now.”
Jeong Yoo-shin turned around to glance at Karin. Even though they hadn’t had much time, she seemed to have gotten dressed quickly.
‘As expected of Karin.’
But Delia, her face flushed, was frantically stuffing something into her backpack.
‘Huh.’
A large, gray bra, its cups still damp and steaming, was being crumpled and shoved into her backpack while inside out.
Karin glared at Jeong Yoo-shin.
“Ahem!”
Jeong Yoo-shin cleared his throat and quickly looked away.
“Is anyone there?”
The voice came again.
He was annoyed that they kept asking, even though they already knew the answer.
“No one’s here!”
“…”
The man’s voice outside stopped abruptly.
In a quiet resting place…
The party members’ glares pierced Jeong Yoo-shin.
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T/N - I mean, I can understand the MC here. Someone already told the guy to wait a minute, but the dingus still kept knocking.
Also, the MC got humbled real quick this chapter, huh? Looks like his long break really dulled his senses.