Chapter 159 Someone to Kill
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Translator: JayM
Chapter: 159
Chapter Title: Someone to Kill
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Labyrinth City, Southern District.
The Cat’s Paw tea shop.
The members of the Malrang-poksin Clan were horrified.
Since it was the time of year when the thugs and gangsters from the Eastern District came to the Southern District, they had planned to take a break after this meeting.
But it seemed like they were too late.
A barbarian in a bizarre wolf mascot costume had somehow found their meeting place and crashed it.
The clan members froze, consumed by panic and fear.
“Hmph. This is paradise.”
And the barbarian’s words…
“Gasp!!!”
“Bear!!!”
“Run!!!”
The clan members scattered, their fluffy fur flying as they ran for their lives.
If they were caught, it was over. They had heard the gruesome rumors about barbarians.
A rumor about a kind barbarian who ran an inn in the Southern District had been circulating among the clan members, but only one person had believed it.
If they were caught here, they would be violated day and night.
Every hole would be used.
Man or woman, it didn’t matter. They would all become females in the end.
A terrible nightmare.
But even in the depths of despair, a hero always emerged.
The leader of the Malrang-poksin Clan, Teddy Bear Pongpri, bravely stood up.
“I’ll hold off the barbarian! Everyone, run!”
“Pongpri!”
“Don’t do it!”
Pongpri ignored their pleas and charged at the barbarian while swinging his small, soft fists.
“You evil barbarian! Take this!”
Pongpri pummeled the barbarian’s shin with his small, soft fists.
But the barbarian didn’t budge.
He was like a small egg crashing against a rock, but the teddy bear’s bravery ignited a fire in the hearts of the clan members.
“Ugh!”
“I-I’ll help the clan leader!”
“There’s nowhere to run!!! Let’s all attack at once!”
The clan members gritted their teeth and charged while swinging their fluffy fists.
The entire clan swarmed Jeong Yoo-shin, pummeling his legs and thighs with their soft, padded paws.
“Waaaaah!!!”
“H-He’s staggering!!!”
“A little more, and we’ll win!”
“Fall!!!”
Jeong Yoo-shin was dizzy. He had worn the wolf mascot costume so as not to intimidate the soft clan members. He had lost his mind and taken off the head, but they had greeted him with fervent gazes.
And now they were massaging his thighs and knees with their fluffy fists.
“I-Is this… heaven?”
The memories of his brutal battles began to fade.
Jeong Yoo-shin’s legs gave out, and he collapsed.
“Gasp?! Did we…?”
“The barbarian is down! Now’s our chance!”
“A little more!”
The fluffy friends, emboldened, swarmed him while stroking his hair and patting his cheeks.
“I-I’m so happy.”
Jeong Yoo-shin muttered, dazed, his cheeks squished by the soft paws.
Rabbit paws, cat paws, teddy bear paws, fox paws— all sorts of soft paws gently patted his entire body.
And since the clan members had moved even closer to him, he was surrounded by their fluffy fur.
A soft massage he could never have received in his original world, no matter how hard he tried or begged.
‘This is my reward.’
Jeong Yoo-shin closed his eyes.
A sense of fulfillment washed over him. He was glad he had survived.
“M-Mister?”
A stammering voice came from a distance.
He turned his head to see Luna standing there, looking confused.
“What are you doing here?”
“Luna, welcome.”
‘Strange.’
Luna couldn’t understand the situation. The clan members were attacking Mister Skar with all their might.
But…
Mister Skar looked happy. His cheeks were squished and his head was being hit, but he was still smiling.
A conversation with her mother suddenly flashed through her mind.
[Luna.]
[Mom? What is it?]
[There are people with all sorts of imprints in Labyrinth City.]
[?]
[Remember when Mister Skar’s appearance changed?]
[I remember. Luna’s heart went thump, thump.]
Her mother had a strange expression.
[W-Well, yes. There are people with strange imprints. For example, someone with an imprint that makes them want to be alone in a quiet place with a child.]
[That’s a strange imprint.]
[Right. And there’s another one. An imprint that makes them enjoy being bullied.]
[That’s a bad imprint!]
[It can’t be helped. Everyone is influenced by their imprints.]
[Hmm? But that’s strange. Mister Skar has become younger, so how does he act so mature then?]
[Some people are less affected by their imprints. They’re a very small minority. Mister Skar is an exception because he’s strong. But you have to be careful, Luna. Of both imprints and people.]
[Mister Skar is amazing! I understand!]
Luna snapped back to reality.
‘He must have gotten a strange imprint.’
Was it an imprint that made him feel happy when he was hit?
Otherwise, he wouldn’t be smiling so contentedly.
Mister Skar extended his hand.
“Luna. Come here. I’ve been waiting for you.”
What had he been waiting for?
Could it be…
An imprint that made him feel happy when he was hit?
He was clearly asking her to hit him.
Luna hesitated for a moment, then, with tears in her eyes, she charged at him. She had to repay his kindness.
‘Mister Skar is a pervert!’
Luna ran and swept Jeong Yoo-shin’s face with her bushy golden tail.
“Take that!!! Take that!!!”
Luna’s tail gently caressed Jeong Yoo-shin’s hair.
Jeong Yoo-shin smiled.
He was happy.
He could die like this.
At that moment…
Clang!!!
The tea shop door opened, and Snout rushed in.
“Skar!”
“What?”
“A group of thugs has come to the inn!”
“Sigh.”
He felt as if a bucket of cold water had been thrown over his head.
Jeong Yoo-shin jumped to his feet.
Was his happy time just a midsummer night’s dream?
He pushed aside his disappointment and stood up.
“Thank you. That’s all for today. I’ll come again.”
“Huh?”
“H-He wasn’t down?”
“W-What do you mean you’ll come again?”
The clan members flinched, bewildered.
Jeong Yoo-shin gently stroked Luna’s head and whispered in her ear.
“Luna, don’t worry your mother and go home early. Alright?”
Luna blushed and nodded silently.
Jeong Yoo-shin looked at the clan members who were staring at him blankly and then disappeared from the tea shop like the wind.
One of the clan members spoke with a dazed expression.
“C-Could it be… an imprint that makes him enjoy being bullied by soft and fluffy beast-people?”
A deduction close to the truth.
The members of the Malrang-poksin Clan collapsed onto the floor.
“W-We were tricked.”
“He was a pervert?! Hee.”
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Jeong Yoo-shin left the Cat’s Paw tea shop and ran to the inn.
Creak.
The door opened, and the scene inside the inn came into view.
A single man was sitting at a table.
Five men were standing behind him.
The man at the table had slicked-back, graying hair and was wearing a loose linen shirt.
He was half-lying on the chair while puffing on a cigar.
The man saw Jeong Yoo-shin and tapped the table.
“Skar? Sit down.”
Jeong Yoo-shin followed his command and sat down at the table.
“I haven’t seen you before. Who are you?”
“Who do you think? The very person you’ve been oppressing.”
“…”
The man took the cigar from his mouth and pointed it at Jeong Yoo-shin.
“What’s with that look? Did you think you could cause such a mess in the Eastern District and not have someone like me show up?”
“I don’t remember what you’re talking about.”
The man tilted his head and exhaled cigar smoke through his nose.
“You don’t remember? The drug business was hit because of you, and the slave trade is finished. Why are you meddling in other people’s business?”
The man sighed and looked up at the ceiling.
“Sigh. These are difficult times. I can’t believe I have to come all the way out of the Eastern District for this. Bring me some alcohol.”
“Snout, bring some alcohol.”
Jeong Yoo-shin said, his gaze fixed on the man.
“Yes.”
Snout went behind the counter and brought a bottle of alcohol and a glass.
“Pour.”
Jeong Yoo-shin personally poured the man a drink.
Glug.
Jeong Yoo-shin handed the man the full glass and asked.
“By the way, what’s your name?”
The man pointed at his hair.
“You little shit, speaking informally with me? Were you raised in a barn?”
“…”
“Saul.”
The man, named Saul, downed his drink and spoke again.
“I’m really getting tired of you. I don’t know where you came from, but why are you doing this? You were doing fine in the Southern District. Why come all the way to the Eastern District and cause trouble? Skar the Butcher, who slaughtered the slave hunters. The hero who took down the drug dealers. But it’s strange. Why did you spit on the face of the moderate Astaroth? And you’re still alive?”
Saul put down his glass and stared at Jeong Yoo-shin intently.
“Barbarian, what the hell are you?”
Jeong Yoo-shin observed Saul silently, then slowly spoke.
“I’m actually a dog.”
“…”
A sudden declaration.
Everyone stared at Jeong Yoo-shin with their mouths agape.
Even Snout was staring at him with wide eyes.
“Ahem. When I was young, I was a stray in Labyrinth City and once entered the labyrinth. There, I obtained the ‘Humanization’ imprint and the ‘Intelligence Boost’ imprint. And then I even obtained the ‘Barbarian’ imprint and became like this.”
“…”
“Thanks to continuously entering the labyrinth, I’ve also adapted to mana and obtained a divine magic imprint. Anyway, I’ve obtained various things.”
Silence fell over the inn.
Jeong Yoo-shin turned his head and looked out the window to suppress his rising killing intent.
Slave hunters.
Drug dealers.
Just hearing about them made his blood boil.
The dark street was beginning to fill with people and monster-people.
The monster-people who had come from the Eastern District were smiling, but the people of the Southern District looked wary and uncomfortable.
Saul rubbed his forehead.
“I don’t usually believe the rumors in Labyrinth City, but this one’s confirmed.”
“What is?”
“You’re handsome, but crazy.”
“…”
Jeong Yoo-shin frowned.
“You talk too much.”
Saul shook his head in disgust.
“Skar, my friend, you should watch your mouth. You’ll get stabbed and die without anyone knowing.”
“Actually, I…”
“Enough!”
Saul waved his hand.
“I’m going crazy. Alright. You have two choices.”
Jeong Yoo-shin leaned back in his chair without replying.
“Join me. Women? Drugs? Money? Or equipment? I’ll give you whatever you want. Just say the word. Want to have sex with a succubus? If you want to have wild sex with a monster you’ve never seen before, just say the word. I’ll get you good equipment. I’ll give you everything. How about it?”
“What’s the second option?”
Saul stroked his hair, then turned to look at his subordinate.
“Is this guy a bit… unstable? He’s mixing formal and informal speech. What do you think?”
One of his subordinates bowed politely.
“He seems a bit… insane.”
Jeong Yoo-shin glared at the subordinate.
“I’m about to be your boss. I’ll remember your face.”
The subordinate’s expression didn’t change.
“The second is to pay compensation for the damages.”
“How much?”
“Let’s see. You ruined the slave business and the drug trade. At least 1000 gold coins should do it.”
Jeong Yoo-shin, speechless, crossed his arms, looked at Saul, and then bowed his head.
“I’ll be in your care, Boss.”
Saul chuckled.
“Barbarian, at least wipe the spit from your mouth before you lie. Your eyes are filled with killing intent. You’re planning to kill me. Cool your head and think about my offer. Slowly.”
“Safe travels.”
Saul clicked his tongue, stood up, and left the inn.
Jeong Yoo-shin crossed his arms and pondered.
He had thought it was just the monster-people, but it seemed like all sorts of trash from the Eastern District were coming out as well.
Were their hearts like monsters?
“I have to kill him. Snout.”
“Yes.”
“Find out everything about that Saul guy. Who does he think he is, strutting around like that?”
“Yes, sir.”
Snout immediately ran out of the inn.
Jeong Yoo-shin looked up at the ceiling and sighed deeply.
“Sigh. There are too many people in this world who deserve to die.”
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Saul and his subordinates walked in the night breeze.
“Are you really planning to accept that barbarian as your subordinate?”
“No.”
“Then why did you go to him and try to persuade him?”
“Because I’m curious. The witch who controls the magic item distribution in the Eastern District and that lukewarm Astaroth both visited him at the same time. Aren’t you curious?”
“What are you planning to do?”
Saul paused, then opened his mouth.
“I have to kill him. No, I must kill him. A drug addict can be bribed with drugs, and a man obsessed with sex can be seduced. But a man whose motives are unknown is different. He’s a hard man to read.”
Saul shook his head.
“Did you see his eyes? They didn’t waver when I offered money, women, or equipment. He only had killing intent. He has to be killed.”
“Yes. Then shall we prepare for an attack?”
“Leave him be. He’s the type to come for my throat on his own. Just be prepared. I looked into it, and he has the Sacred Weapon and Revenger imprints. Make sure he can’t use magic and take him out cleanly in one go.”
“Y-Yes, sir.”
Saul rubbed his eyes and muttered.
“This is difficult. Life is hard. And with that hero bastard ruining the slave trade, it’s hard to make a living.”
“…”
Saul patted his subordinate on the shoulder and smiled.
“This is my life. Do you understand a boss’s heart?”
“I-I don’t know.”
“Right. Let’s go. Since we’re in the Southern District, let’s have a meal before we leave.”
Saul grinned and walked down the evening street before disappearing into the crowd.
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T/N - Wow, what a stereotypical villain. He really thinks that he’s a bigshot? I can understand before with the slave traders since the MC didn’t have connections then. But this time, the MC is now pretty famous and has lots of connections. The fact that there are still idiots like this thinking they have a clean shot at the MC without repercussions is baffling.
Also, damn. The MC’s relaxing time with cute and fluffy things was cut short. Now this Saul guy is for sure going to die, as if his idiotic nonsense at the inn wasn’t enough nails to his coffin.