Chapter 172 Hic!
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Translator: JayM
Chapter: 172
Chapter Title: Hic!
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Jeong Yoo-shin went to the table Lena had guided him to.
Two people were sitting there.
Jeong Yoo-shin was about to pull up a chair and sit down, but he flinched.
It was because a man in priest's clothes was staring at him intently from across the table.
He was in his mid-thirties.
He had a muscular body that looked like it would burst out of his clothes.
And he wore heavy makeup that women would wear.
Jeong Yoo-shin could tell at a glance that this man wasn’t an easy bastard to deal with.
The man in priest's clothes placed a hand on his cheek and smiled sweetly.
"Oh my, Lena brought a new comrade?"
A raspy voice mixed with a cloying tone grated on Jeong Yoo-shin’s eardrums.
Shudder!
A chill ran down his spine.
Lena sat down demurely next to the man and shook her head.
"Skar-ssi has come here to look, but it hasn't been decided yet whether he’ll join our party or not."
'Calm down. It could just be an imprint that makes him like makeup.'
Jeong Yoo-shin desperately managed his expression and sat down.
Next to the man with makeup, another human male was sitting with his arms crossed.
A familiar face.
Mick.
He was a warrior he had met when he was with the Iron Mask party.
To be more precise…
Jeong Yoo-shin had met him when they were camping at the 5th-floor Ingrave, right before his party entered the Forest area.
He had almost misunderstood the man because of the latter’s Dirty Talk imprint.
But Mick was an explorer who had told them the Forest Troll's weakness and had given them pain-relief cream for free. Of course, the misunderstanding was quickly cleared up.
If it hadn't been for Mick's help, Jeong Yoo-shin wouldn't have survived in the Forest area.
"Mick, it's good to see you again."
"..."
"It's Skar. We met when we were camping at Ingrave last time. I survived thanks to your advice. Thank you."
Mick stared at Jeong Yoo-shin intently for a while, then gave a slight nod.
Seeing that he was trying not to open his mouth, it seemed that he hadn't removed his lewd talk imprint yet.
The man with makeup smiled and held out his hand.
"Ah! So you're that barbarian? Nice to meet you. I'm Sarteurang."
Jeong Yoo-shin looked down at the hand of the man called Sarteurang and shook his head.
"I ate fried fish before coming here, so my hands are still greasy. Let's postpone the handshake for next time."
"Huuung? Okay, I get it."
Sarteurang hummed and took his hand back.
Jeong Yoo-shin secretly sighed in relief and looked around.
"Is this everyone?"
Lena shook her head.
"There's one more. I think they went to the restroom a little while ago, so we can start first."
Start what?
Sarteurang winked at Jeong Yoo-shin.
"It's introduction time. I'm Sarteurang, an intermediate-rank priest who serves the water elemental god. I can use most intermediate-rank holy magic."
"I see."
When Jeong Yoo-shin nodded and replied, Sarteurang wagged his index finger.
"It's not over yet."
Was there more?
"Not only do I know intermediate-rank holy magic, but I've also completed an Imprint Synergy. Its name is Spirit Stream!"
Jeong Yoo-shin tilted his head.
"Do you also name your Imprint Synergies?"
"Of course you have to! Oh my! You really don't know anything, do you?"
How would he know if he'd never heard of it?
Ever since he spat at Astaroth's face, he had felt that the more respectable-looking explorers were avoiding him.
Since there was no interaction, it was difficult to get information.
"Do you know how difficult it is to achieve an Imprint Synergy? It's only natural to give it a name and cherish it!"
Sarteurang seemed to be very proud of his Imprint Synergy skill.
Lena chimed in.
"Generally, explorers name their Imprint Synergies. It's because a named Imprint Synergy exerts a stronger bond. Of course, it could just be a psychological feeling. Unfortunately, I haven't achieved an Imprint Synergy yet, so I don't know the details."
Is that so…
Then should he also name the Imprint Synergy he had achieved?
What should he call the combination of Revenger and Death Reprieve?
No suitable name came to his mind right away.
While he was thinking, Mick took a piece of paper from his pocket, placed it on the table, and tapped it with his finger.
Tap, tap.
Looking closely, a few imprints were written on it. There was a simple explanation next to each imprint, so Jeong Yoo-shin understood immediately.
Taunt imprint.
The ability to use mana to forcibly fix a monster's attack target on the caster.
Perfect Block imprint.
The ability to recover health and mana by blocking an enemy's attack with a shield.
Combat Movement imprint.
The ability to move faster as the battle dragged on.
Jeong Yoo-shin, who had been reading the text carefully, looked up.
"Did you also achieve an Imprint Synergy?"
"..."
Mick nodded in affirmation.
Jeong Yoo-shin handed the paper back to Mick and leaned back on his chair.
Forcibly draw aggro, block the enemy's attack, and recover health and mana. As he gained more leeway, the battle time would naturally increase, and his movements would become faster. Was the principle to use the recovered mana to draw more aggro?
In short, it was an Imprint Synergy skill that allowed him to infinitely sustain aggro while recovering health and mana, and at the same time, increase his speed.
Wasn't this a tank's dream?
No wonder he didn't even bat an eye when he was leading a bunch of Huntsmen clan members, who were all ranged dealers. Did he have such a cheat Imprint Synergy?
"Does your Imprint Synergy not have a name?"
Mick held up the paper and pointed at the very bottom.
'Infinite Kiting.'
"..."
Jeong Yoo-shin had nothing to say.
It seemed like it was named carelessly, but it also seemed to reveal the core of the Imprint Synergy in its raw form.
Sarteurang smiled brightly and met Jeong Yoo-shin's eyes.
"Skar, aren't you curious about my Imprint Synergy too?"
"I am."
"Etherealization imprint, Possession imprint, and an imprint that can stack blessings on the possessed target. The name of the last imprint is Endless Devotion. Can you imagine?"
"D-Don't tell me?"
"That's right. Words are just a pain. It's faster to experience it directly."
Before Jeong Yoo-shin could react, Sarteurang stood up and held out his hand.
"Spirit Stream!"
Sarteurang turned into a translucent form and flew around in the air.
Not only Lena's party members, but everyone in the guild looked up at Sarteurang.
"Skar! Let's become one!"
Then, Sarteurang suddenly shouted something incomprehensible and dove down from the air.
Jeong Yoo-shin, who had been watching blankly, was startled and quickly waved his hand.
"Ah, wait a minute!"
Thud!!!
Sarteurang crashed into Jeong Yoo-shin's body and bounced off.
"Open your heart!!!"
Sarteurang shouted something strange again, rushed at Jeong Yoo-shin, and clung to him.
'What the hell is this...?!'
Jeong Yoo-shin, flustered, punched Sarteurang, but he couldn't inflict any damage and passed right through the ethereal Sarteurang.
"Sarteurang, please stop. Skar-ssi is uncomfortable."
At Lena's restraint, Sarteurang pouted and returned to his original form.
"Anyway, my Imprint Synergy amplifies the effect of holy magic on the possessed target. I feel about 3 times stronger than when I just receive a blessing magic."
"No, it's amazing, but… You could have just told me. Why…?"
Sarteurang made a frustrated face.
"Most people don't understand. No matter how much I explain."
Indeed.
Did they really not understand?
Or did they pretend not to understand?
He could immediately see why the vanguard position was vacant.
A muscular male priest with a powdered face turns into a ghost and clings to you while saying ‘Let's become one.’ Who would want that?
He looked at Mick, and he was making a face.
It seemed like he had already experienced it once.
"Skar-ssi, it might be awkward at first, but Sarteurang's Imprint Synergy is excellent. You're the only one who can carry him on your back and take on the vanguard position. Please understand."
"I'll try."
Jeong Yoo-shin glared at Sarteurang and continued.
"My imprints are Sacred Weapon and Revenger."
"Huuung. I know. I heard you had a big fight in the Eastern District this time."
Had the rumor already spread?
"Yeah. Some crazy bastard came and started a fight with me, so I sent him to a good place. But is the next explorer not here yet?"
"They'll be here if you wait a little… Oh! There they are!"
From a distance, something came walking while wagging its tail.
"What...?!"
A dog.
No…
It was much bigger than a dog.
It was a wolf with cloud-like silver-gray fur.
'What's with the sudden wolf...?'
The wolf walked leisurely and looked up at Jeong Yoo-shin.
"Are you the new vanguard?"
A wolf was talking?
Jeong Yoo-shin's mouth hung open for a while before he barely managed to regain his senses.
"Uh… Yes."
"Varg. It's a pleasure. I'm in charge of guiding this party, but I haven't achieved an Imprint Synergy yet. I have several imprints specialized in scouting and trap detection. Do you want to hear about them?"
"No. I'll hear about them later."
For a wolf, he spoke quite fluently.
After the introductions were over, he looked around.
It was strange.
The guide wolf, Varg.
The lewd talk tank, Mick.
The muscular makeup priest, Sarteurang.
And the mage, Lena.
It was a combination that was both reliable and made him tilt his head.
It seemed like each of them still had a hidden story.
"Skar-ssi, our party is lacking one thing. Do you know what it is?"
"You don't have a ranged attacker."
"That's right. I've heard that you can handle various weapons. Can you use a bow?"
Jeong Yoo-shin shook his head.
"No. I've used thrown weapons like daggers or short spears a few times, but to be honest, my accuracy isn't very high."
"Is that so. Then have you ever used a crossbow?"
"No. But, if I practice, I think I can master it quickly. But do I have to take on ranged interception as well?"
"I can kill monsters with magic, but I can't do it as quickly as archers. This is where we need your help, Skar-ssi. Would that be difficult?"
A crossbow was a point-and-fire weapon. It wouldn't be difficult. He was confident that he would get used to it quickly after a few practice sessions.
"Not at all. I'm sure I'll get the hang of a crossbow if I use it. If it really doesn't work, I can just get close and throw a weapon."
Lena nodded and looked around at the party members.
"Is that so? I understand. Everyone, are you willing to accept Skar-ssi as a member of the party?"
"I'm for it."
Nod.
"Good."
All the party members agreed.
Lena stood up from her seat.
"Let's go back to Nelia-nim. Now that all the party members are gathered, we need to hear about the mission."
Jeong Yoo-shin and the party members went up the stairs again and into Nelia's room.
Nelia immediately grasped the situation as soon as Jeong Yoo-shin appeared with Lena's party members.
"You're all gathered. From now on, Skar-nim, you are a member of the Labyrinth Investigation Team's 3rd Party."
Nelia stood up, handed out a piece of paper to each of them, and began the briefing.
"You all know that the areas that split on the 5th floor merge again on the 10th floor, right? The Forest area, the Corridor area, and the Sewer area all meet on the 10th floor. And..."
Nelia's explanation continued.
"According to the report of an explorer who returned from the 10th floor, a unique monster that has never been seen before has appeared there. Therefore, your mission is to assist a high-rank explorer in observing and documenting the monster's characteristics. If you have the chance, it's alright to assist the high-rank explorer in subjugating the monster."
Nelia immediately went on to explain the monster's appearance.
"...This concludes the general introduction of the mission. I know that various rumors are circulating in the city, but please refrain from discussing the details too much."
"I understand."
"The base pay will be 50 gold coins. If you bring back better information, we’ll reward you accordingly. The expedition will be in a week."
The party members nodded in agreement.
Jeong Yoo-shin parted ways with the party members in front of the guild headquarters and walked down the street.
On the way back to the temple…
A carriage passing by on the main road stopped next to Jeong Yoo-shin.
The window of the expensive-looking carriage opened, and a seductive voice was heard.
"Skar."
A familiar tone.
There was only one person with that voice.
He turned his head and saw a dark elf with half her face sticking out of the window.
"Vivian? What is it?"
"I heard you're 100 gold coins in debt."
"No... Where did you...? So?"
"I'll pay it off for you."
So suddenly?
A gloomy voyeur dark elf appears and offers to solve his debt?
He couldn't understand.
"Why?"
"Of course, on the condition that you grant me one favor."
Jeong Yoo-shin secretly swallowed a sigh that was about to come out.
Of course.
"What's the favor?"
"Get in first."
Jeong Yoo-shin opened the door and got into the carriage.
"So what's the condition?"
As the carriage slowly started to move, Vivian fidgeted for a moment.
"Um... I, I'd like you to release the restriction on me."
"What?"
A restriction?
Jeong Yoo-shin's eyes widened at the sudden remark.
"D-Do you remember when I was under the mind suppression curse? Didn't you tell me to tell you everything honestly? That restriction still hasn't disappeared."
Jeong Yoo-shin scratched his cheek.
"Is that restriction something that can be easily cast?"
At Jeong Yoo-shin's question, Vivian bit her lip hard.
To cast a restriction close to a command word, one needed superhuman willpower and intense emotions.
She had never dreamed that Skar, who was barely twenty, would have that kind of ability.
Vivian had tried various things to release the restriction on her own, but it was all in vain.
The only thing she could rely on was Skar's goodwill. She couldn't stay like this any longer. If she delayed, it would cause a major disruption to her business.
"...It's a special case. I'll share some of my power with you, so you can use it to release the restriction on me."
Jeong Yoo-shin thought for a moment, then grinned and crossed his arms.
Isn't this an opportunity?
An opportunity to pay off his debt and get some useful equipment.
'Is the heavens helping me?'
As expected, it's right for people to live a good life.
"Vivian, that won't be enough."
"Wh-What do you mean?"
"You know what they say. Debt is also an ability. Who would lend 100 gold coins to someone who doesn't have the ability to pay it back? The fact that I have this much debt means that I am a talented person with both ability and credit. Do you understand?"
"..."
Vivian stared at Jeong Yoo-shin with a dumbfounded face.
"S-Skar, then what do you want?"
Jeong Yoo-shin shook his head.
"Vivian, that's the wrong question. The right question is..."
He raised a finger and pointed at Vivian.
"What can you give me?"
Unusually sparkling black eyes.
They were like the color of the abyss, heralding ruin.
'Wh-What?'
Shudder.
Vivian's heart sank, and she ended up hiccuping.
"Hic!"
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T/N - Really now… I know that the MC just wants to fleece Vivian, but did he really have to say that in an easy to misunderstand way? Poor Vivian.
Also, what an interesting party. A lewd talking super tank, a super gay priest who possesses strong muscular men to give them stronger buffs, and a talking good doggo guide. Honestly, there's a lot I want to comment about the MC’s new friends, I just won’t since that would make the T/N too long. I wonder what Lena’s imprints are though? She didn’t say hers…