Chapter 169 Want to Go Out
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Translator: JayM
Chapter: 169
Chapter Title: Want to Go Out?
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From inside the screen, Delia's face was briefly visible before it disappeared.
"Del, Delia-unni?"
Luna's voice trembled.
Delia had a very pained expression.
It was the same expression Luna’s mother made when she was receiving painful treatment.
How much must it have hurt for Delia to scream with the same face as her mother?
She had just come to watch with a light heart…
But seeing her unni in pain, her heart ached.
She regretted it.
She had clearly realized how scary imprints were.
Luna covered her mouth with her hands as tears streamed down her face.
"I-It's in!"
"Yes! Just push it in gently!"
The shadow behind the screen soon quieted down.
After a moment of silence, Jeong Yoo-shin came out.
He took off the blindfold, and, perhaps because the treatment had been difficult, plopped down on the floor while gasping for breath.
"Luna."
And then Luna heard a gentle voice.
Tears welled up in her eyes.
"Oh dear, were you scared?"
Luna ran and threw herself into Jeong Yoo-shin's arms.
"I-I'm sorry! I didn't know Delia-unni was in so much pain, and Luna was so thoughtless...!"
Jeong Yoo-shin gently stroked Luna's head.
"Do you understand now why your mother was so worried?"
"..."
Luna just nodded silently.
Karin and Mion approached them.
"Skar-nim, Delia-nim's procedure is finished. The 'personality' has adapted well to her body."
"That's a relief."
Mion watched the crying Luna for a moment, then approached her, took out a handkerchief, and wiped her tears.
"Luna, you understand now how scary imprints are, and how much they can hurt people, right? You shouldn't take them lightly and just think of them as curiosities. Especially in Labyrinth City."
Mion rebuked Luna in a stern voice.
It was a rare occurrence, given Mion's gentle nature.
"Uiii."
Large teardrops streamed down Luna's big eyes.
"I-I'm sorry."
"It's alright now. Luna’s a smart child. Keep this lesson in mind and act carefully from now on."
As Mion gently stroked Luna's head, a streak of bitter sorrow was visible on her face.
Jeong Yoo-shin's face hardened slightly.
'Could it be?'
Had there been an accident before with one of the orphanage children because of an imprint?
He immediately shook his head.
'That's a pointless thought.'
He decided not to ask.
Nothing good would come from asking.
He stopped himself from thinking about it anymore.
He entrusted the exhausted Luna to Karin and cleaned up the room.
Delia was lying in bed with her eyes closed while wearing a white gown.
Except for her hair, which was damp with sweat, she looked fine.
"Priestess Mion-nim, when do you think Delia will wake up?"
"Tomorrow at the earliest, two days later at the latest. We should go now."
Mion turned to walk and staggered.
"O-Oh my!"
Jeong Yoo-shin quickly approached Mion and supported her.
"I-I'm sorry. I've had a lot of work lately."
Mion blushed and bowed her head.
He helped Mion to her room and then left the temple.
He took Luna from Karin, carried her on his back, and headed to the pharmacy.
He opened the door, went inside, and found Edel sitting at the counter.
Edel saw Jeong Yoo-shin, got up, and approached him.
"Skar-nim."
"I'm back."
Luna buried herself in Edel's arms.
"M-Mom."
"Luna."
"I-I'm sorry."
"Do you understand how scary imprints are now?"
Luna buried her face in Edel's chest.
"Yes, I do."
Edel gently stroked Luna's hair.
"You'll be careful from now on, right?"
Nod.
Luna nodded and buried herself in Edel's arms again.
"Skar-nim, thank you."
"It's nothing."
"Um... I'd like to offer you some tea. Do you have time?"
"It's alright. It's already late, and it seems like Luna needs some time to think, so I'll stop by next time."
"Ah! Yes. Please have a safe trip back."
Jeong Yoo-shin left the pharmacy as he was seen off by Edel.
Luna helped her mother clean up the pharmacy and then laid down on her bed.
The image of Delia's expression still lingered before her eyes.
She had learned from this experience.
The fact that imprints were scarier than she had imagined.
She didn't want to see the faces of people in pain…
…Or the people who tormented her mother.
She decided not to act so childishly anymore.
She wanted to work harder on the summoning skills her mother had taught her to save people in pain and to become a person who protects them.
‘Like Mister Skar.’
The young Luna steeled her resolve and held out her hand.
"Summon Malrangi."
A flash of light, and a small, soft slime bounced out of her palm.
"Malrangi, come here."
The small slime crawled down her arm and stuck to Luna's cheek.
A cool yet soft feeling.
"Malrangi, can I become as kind and strong as Mister Skar?"
The slime silently rubbed its body against Luna's cheek.
It didn't speak, but she could tell.
It was a sign of affirmation.
Luna giggled, hugged the slime tightly, rubbed her cheek against it, and closed her eyes.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Two days later, in the afternoon.
All the party members were gathered at the inn.
The intermediate-rank priest of the Earth Mother Goddess, Barion.
The fallen noble, Delia.
Karin.
Jeong Yoo-shin.
"Delia, how are you feeling?"
"I'm fine!"
Delia looked full of energy.
"Is that so? The reason we've gathered here today is for something else."
The party members looked at Jeong Yoo-shin.
"The Vice-Guild Master of the Explorer's Guild has asked us to participate in the labyrinth investigation team."
"..."
A quiet silence fell over the table.
No one spoke up.
"If we participate in the investigation team, she promised a handsome reward. I don't know the exact amount, but since it came from the Vice-Guild Master's mouth, I'm sure it won't be a disappointing amount."
"Skar, why is the Explorer's Guild forming a labyrinth investigation team? It's so sudden."
Delia asked.
"I heard that various strange things are happening in the labyrinth. From the middle levels to the deep levels, without exception."
"Is that so? I think it's a good idea."
Delia agreed.
"I'm not so sure."
Karin said with her arms crossed.
"Why?"
"Well, there's no reason for the guild to hire a temporary party like us, right? There are several large, well-disciplined clans that are a better choice. And the reason the Vice-Guild Master gave is also a bit flimsy. I'm not really buying it."
Karin seemed to have become cynical about the guild after having her bad experience with the last labyrinth investigation team.
"Barion, what do you think?"
Barion crossed their arms and remained silent for a moment, then took out a pen and paper and began to write.
'As a priest, I say that it’s right for us to participate. The evils of the labyrinth will one day affect the city. It would be good if we could find the cause of the strange events as members of the investigation team. But as a comrade, I’m against it. It's too dangerous. We almost died at the border of the other world last time.'
Jeong Yoo-shin nodded.
That was true.
Before trust, they lacked ability.
Jeong Yoo-shin was also aware of this.
'I'm neutral.'
When Barion put down the pen, Jeong Yoo-shin stroked his chin.
Delia was for it.
Karin was against it.
Barion was neutral.
Jeong Yoo-shin thought for a moment, then spoke.
"I'm against it. We can slowly accumulate wealth, but we only have one life. As Barion said, I have a feeling that this is beyond our capabilities."
The party members nodded as if in agreement.
"And Delia."
"What?"
"That imprint."
Delia blushed.
"Wh-What?"
"You said you were saving money to remove the imprint, right? How much have you saved?"
"I'm almost there. Just a little more!"
"How much?"
"Just 8 more gold coins!"
It was a large amount.
At the same time, it was an ambiguous amount.
He had accumulated a lot of wealth, so he couldn't calculate every little thing like a miser anymore.
He had gained a whopping 1000 gold coins.
Wouldn't it be alright to show some kindness here?
"I'll help you."
"Why would you help me?"
"If you don't want it, then never mind."
Delia suddenly blushed.
"D-Do you... like me...?"
"That's not it."
Jeong Yoo-shin said flatly.
'I even pulled your 'personality' out of your asshole. How could I like you?'
He didn't want to give Delia, who had just gotten out of bed, another shock, so he didn't tell her the intimate details.
He just told her that he had done the 'procedure' and the result was good.
'How am I supposed to say it?'
That the man in front of you had diligently poked around your tight asshole, waited for it to get slick and loose, and then inserted your 'personality'.
It was true that Delia was a proud and active woman.
He also knew that she was brave, righteous, and had a warm heart.
But if you asked if he had any romantic feelings for her?
Well…
A thousand years of love can be shattered by a single fart. Could he like a woman with a personality excretion imprint?
To be frank, it was quite difficult.
"Don't feel burdened and think about it. I beat up some bad guys and earned some money while you were sleeping at the temple."
Delia tilted her head.
"Bad guys? Who?"
"Ahem!!!"
Snout, who had been watching from the counter, cleared his throat and approached them.
"Greetings. I’m Snout, Skar-nim's subordinate."
The boar beast-person suddenly joined their conversation.
Delia's eyes widened.
"Uh... Huh?"
"Skar-nim was active in the Eastern District again this time. Are you curious about the story?"
"Y-Yeah."
Barion also looked up at Snout intently, as if they wanted to hear the story too.
"Aigo! This won't do."
Snout clapped his hands, went to the counter, and brought back a bottle of alcohol and some glasses.
He set the glasses on the table, brought over a chair, and sat down among the party members.
"The story begins with that trash Saul coming to the inn."
That was where it started.
Jeong Yoo-shin didn't particularly want to stop Snout, so he let the latter explain.
To divert Delia's attention.
And because he wanted to know how he sounded from another's perspective.
Snout had a knack for telling stories.
Karin, Delia, and Barion all held their breath and stared at Snout.
"...Saul said. 'You madman, what do you think you're doing here alone?'"
"And then?"
Delia urged him on, her eyes sparkling.
"And then Skar-nim said. 'One of me is enough for a piece of trash like you.'"
"Ooh!!!"
Delia let out an admiring voice.
Barion nodded.
Karin tilted her head.
Jeong Yoo-shin scratched his head.
'Did I say that?'
He didn't think so.
"He lured Saul’s two hundred subordinates into an alley and swung his sword. Blood and screams filled the air, and even the renowned intermediate-rank explorers of Labyrinth City were scared and at a loss!"
"Really?!"
Delia exclaimed in an excited voice. Karin glanced at Jeong Yoo-shin with worried eyes.
Snout's story was gradually coming to an end.
"...And there, Skar-nim shouted! 'To the room of truth.'"
Snout lowered his voice and imitated Jeong Yoo-shin's line.
"When the barrier magic broke, there was Saul's head and two fallen explorers!"
"A-And then!?"
"The subordinates lost their will to fight and knelt. That's when Skar-nim spoke!"
Snout cleared his throat and lowered his voice again.
His eyes were as serious as if he were the protagonist of the story.
"The chains that bind you, I have cut them all. Follow me. I will teach you what conscience is."
Jeong Yoo-shin's face turned red.
Hearing it directly was quite embarrassing.
But…
'Did I ever say that?'
Something felt off about the story.
Barion scribbled on a piece of paper.
'What happened to the remaining subordinates of Saul?'
"Most of them have entered the monster dismantler shop. They're clumsy as new recruits, but they're working hard. They share Skar-nim's heroic tales during their breaks until their mouths go dry!"
"Hmm. You've got a lot of fans, huh? Are there any women?"
At Karin's question, Snout scratched his head.
"They're all men. Men who know romance."
Jeong Yoo-shin clapped his hands.
"Alright! Let's stop there. Hearing it directly, there's too much embellishment. It's not that dramatic of a story."
"Skar-nim!!!"
Snout looked at him with sparkling eyes.
It was a very burdensome gaze.
"When you have time, please visit the monster dismantler shop! Everyone’s eagerly waiting!"
"S-Sure. I got it."
He looked up and out the window.
It was evening, with the sun gradually setting.
He hadn't realized how much time had passed while listening to the story, eating, and drinking.
'I should get going now. It was a fun time.'
Barion stood up and made a sign language message.
Jeong Yoo-shin stood at the inn entrance and saw off the departing Barion and Delia.
He persuaded Delia to take the money to remove her imprint and go to the Earth Mother Goddess’ temple with Barion.
He watched his comrades' backs grow smaller, then smiled slightly with Karin.
There were days like this too, weren't there?
The situation in Labyrinth City was unstable, but he could steel his resolve because he had time to laugh and chat together with his loved ones like this.
"Karin, should we rest a few more days?"
"Let's do that. Mion is off tomorrow anyway, so do you want to go out somewhere together?"
"Sounds good."
On a late summer evening, with the sun setting…
A man and a woman chatted as they entered the inn.
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T/N - Lol, that story telling. So the MC’s deeds became more exaggerated with each retelling, and the culprits were Saul’s previous subordinates. Damn, gossip spreads fast!
Also, now that the MC’s party has decided not to participate in the investigation team, I’m now even more sure that shenanigans will happen that will force the MC and his party to join said team. The only question now is what it’ll be.