Chapter 195 Into the Labyrinth Again
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Translator: JayM
Chapter: 195
Chapter Title: Into the Labyrinth Again
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Central District.
Around the time when a heated cry was faintly echoing from a corner room of a luxurious inn…
Three men gathered in a building deep in the Eastern District.
A middle-aged man with a bushy beard and looked like a bandit glanced at the documents before tossing them aside.
"Our sales have been completely decimated. All of our manpower has been pulled out. Is this all because that half-breed barbarian killed Saul? How in the world…?"
"Yes. He aimed for a time when the Eastern District clans were busy and struck precisely."
The middle-aged man, looking tired, rubbed his dry face with both hands.
The middle-aged man's name was Dicky Marson, and he was currently running a business that introduced workers and bodyguards to businesses in the Eastern District.
"Hoo. To think that cunning Saul would go down in one go. You really never know with this place. But why did Saul suddenly go crazy and mess with that half-breed barbarian?"
The subordinate standing politely next to Dicky scratched his head.
"He completely destroyed Saul's drug business, didn't he? Although several clans had invested a little, Saul was leading the business, so he probably had no choice. But according to the rumors, the monster dismantler shop manager, Aldein, is backing that barbarian."
Dicky crossed his arms and tilted his head.
"Well, now… What in the world possessed that cold-blooded one-eyed elf..."
"Not only that, but he is said to have made friends with high-ranking people. There's a story that he survived even after spitting on Astaroth's face."
"What? Is that guy handsome?"
"Yes."
"Is he more handsome than me?"
At Dicky's question, the subordinate's gaze darted around before he bowed his head.
"He's quite handsome."
Dicky stroked his beard.
"Still, it's strange. Why in the world did Astaroth let him live? His reputation must have been completely ruined."
"That's what I'm saying…"
"Is it right to assume that he received Astaroth's favor? I don't think so. It's confusing. I don't know yet, so let's put this on hold."
"I understand."
"But you know that the situation will become difficult if we just take this lying down, right? A lot of our slaves have also been taken this time. Is there no way?"
Another subordinate made a triumphant face.
"Don't worry."
"Why?"
"I've successfully bribed a receptionist at the Explorer's Guild headquarters."
"Hoo, a receptionist?"
"Saul ran a gambling den, didn't he? It turns out that that receptionist was a regular there. He poured all his money into drugs, alcohol, and gambling, and was on the verge of ruin. He is said to have sold some internal guild information to Saul a few times."
"How did you find that out?"
"He became a regular at our gambling den. He said he wanted to make a deal, so I got him drunk and, while listening to the receptionist's story, a strange remark came out."
"Even if he works at the Explorer's Guild headquarters, he's just a low-level employee. What...?"
"Don't be surprised. It turns out that the Huntsman clan is taking that barbarian."
At his subordinate's words, Dicky scratched his head.
"The Huntsman? Ah. You mean those guys who are crazy about hunting? Why is that guy going there?"
"He's going through a personal connection because he can't find party members."
"Is that so?"
"So I persuaded the receptionist to give him a faulty Bond of Unity."
The bearded man was at a loss for words and just stared blankly at his subordinate.
"..."
"There's a high probability that he'll be stranded when he goes below the 10th floor."
Dicky glared at his subordinate with an angry face.
"Shouldn't you have told me that first? No matter how busy I've been with work outside the city lately, this is a bit much, you bastard!"
"I-I'm sorry!"
Dicky rubbed his eyes and spoke.
"Hah. Anyway, it's a good method. Except for one drawback."
"What is it?"
"The witness is still alive, isn't he? His mind is weak, and we don't know when he'll blabber. We can't let him live. When he comes to the gambling den, take care of him quietly."
"I understand."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
A few days later.
Jeong Yoo-shin headed to the tavern Mick had told him about.
It was a long-standing tavern in the southern district, but its name was strange.
"Dragon's Tail."
Jeong Yoo-shin muttered while looking up at the tavern's sign.
When he went inside, the tavern was a spacious two-story building. It had a strange feature where you could look down at the first floor from the second floor.
Since it was around evening, people who had finished their explorations were sitting in the tavern in their armor.
The smell of sweat and boisterous laughter filled the hall.
Mick waved from a corner of the first floor.
He was with two human men.
They were young and were wearing a red fur hat and a blue fur hat each. They were around the same age as Mick.
Jeong Yoo-shin approached the table and sat down.
"Are these them?"
Mick nodded.
'The one in the red hat is Pete, and the one in the blue hat is Meat. Pete is the older brother. They're both in the Huntsman clan.'
"Is that so? Nice to meet you. I'm Skar."
Jeong Yoo-shin said with a smile.
"..."
Pete and Meat nodded at the same time. But they didn't open their mouths to speak.
Instead, they raised their fingers and pointed at their own mouths.
Jeong Yoo-shin immediately understood what Pete and Meat were trying to say.
"You two… Can't you speak?"
They nodded at the same time.
Mute twin brothers.
It was a strange composition.
Pete in the red hat looked at Mick and moved his hands.
'Mick, what's going on?'
'What is it?'
'Why is a barbarian here? Didn't you say someone trustworthy was coming?'
'He is a trustworthy person.'
Meat in the blue hat chimed in and quickly moved his hands.
'Mick, you spit out lewd words every day, so what are you going to do to us?! If that barbarian goes into the labyrinth and reveals his dark true colors, won't we be covered in semen before we know it?'
Mick frowned.
He was displeased. Skar was a trustworthy comrade worth fighting alongside with.
Although he did occasionally say nonsensical things or make statements that could be misunderstood.
Mick was about to calmly explain about Skar…
When he realized that Pete and Meat were smiling brightly. Two pairs of eyes were sparkling with mischief.
Mick realized it immediately.
'Ah. Really.'
The two brothers just wanted to tease him.
Just as Mick was about to chuckle and send a sign language message…
Jeong Yoo-shin chimed in. The dazzling sign language he had learned from Mick danced in the air.
When Jeong Yoo-shin sent the sign language message, Pete and Meat's eyes widened. They had never expected this man to send a sign language message.
But the reason for their greater surprise was somewhere else. It was because the content of the sign language Jeong Yoo-shin had sent was terrifying.
Jeong Yoo-shin glared at Pete and Meat and slowly moved his hands.
Jeong Yoo-shin's gesture was meant to mean 'Don't mess with Mick', but since he had learned little and his expression was clumsy, it turned into 'I'm going to put my fist in your asshole'.
Pete and Meat's faces turned deathly pale.
"..."
When Pete and Meat just stared blankly at his face, Jeong Yoo-shin tilted his head and sent another sign language message.
'Is that not enough? Then something else...'
As Pete and Meat began to tremble in fear, Mick chimed in.
'Stop. Skar, stop.'
"Why?"
'Your sign language is wrong. You're good at everything, but you sometimes can't distinguish between field sign language and everyday conversation sign language.'
"So? Did I make a big mistake?"
'No.'
Pete and Meat looked at Mick with their mouths agape.
Jeong Yoo-shin crossed his arms and stroked his chin.
"That's right. There's no way I would make a mistake."
"..."
The three men sitting around the table stared blankly at Jeong Yoo-shin.
Just then…
"Here's your order of Dragon's Tail special beer."
A waitress chimed in, placed the glasses on the table, and left.
Pete raised a trembling hand and sent a sign language message.
'Then let's start with the party's goal.'
Jeong Yoo-shin and his party members began to make a plan with their glasses in front of them.
The Huntsman clan's goal was simple.
To find and hunt a powerful monster in the swamp area between the 12th and 13th floors.
The Huntsman clan had decided to send three parties. The party Jeong Yoo-shin was in was one of them.
The reward was 10 gold coins.
It was a very generous amount.
Jeong Yoo-shin and his party members talked for a long time as the night deepened.
They finished their meeting and decided to gather in front of the labyrinth in the evening in 5 days.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
5 days later, in the evening.
Jeong Yoo-shin finished all of his preparations and shouldered his backpack.
He had decided to go in heavy.
The bastard sword and crossbow from the Jereus Workshop.
The blue longsword made by Boron's smithy.
He had prepared one dagger and about 200 bolts, combining the bolts from the Jereus Workshop and the ones he had bought from the smithy.
He stopped by the pharmacy and bought antipsychotic drugs, recovery potions, and pesticides to repel poisonous insects.
He also added hard-baked biscuits, dried fruit, jerky, and lard to his inventory.
'It's heavy.'
Jeong Yoo-shin adjusted his bag while looking at the full-length mirror.
The further he went down the levels, the heavier his luggage became. But he couldn't leave anything behind. They were all necessary items.
He slung the two swords on his back and fixed the crossbow to his thigh.
Finally, he put on a barbute helmet with a visor and left the room.
Karin was waiting for him in front of the door.
"Skar, h-here."
Karin blushed and handed him something.
Warm leopard-print underwear.
It was damp, as if soaked in sweat.
To protect Karin's dignity, he didn't turn it inside out.
Jeong Yoo-shin carefully folded the panties and put them in his pocket.
"I'll be back."
"Be careful. Let's definitely go in together next time."
"Alright."
Jeong Yoo-shin patted Karin on the bottom and went down to the first floor.
Ingrid and Eru were sitting at the table.
Ingrid looked up and saw Jeong Yoo-shin.
"Skar, are you going?"
"Yes."
"Have a safe trip. Don't overdo it. Leave the inn to me."
"I understand."
"Don't die."
Ingrid's last words strangely pierced his heart. Jeong Yoo-shin chuckled.
"I don't die."
Jeong Yoo-shin approached Eru.
"You can stay as long as you want. Think of it as a vacation while I'm in the labyrinth."
"Y-Yes. Skar-nim, I have something to ask you."
"What is it?"
"Is there a reason why you have to go into the labyrinth right now?"
Now…?
Did even a kid like Eru know that the current situation was strange?
"For me, entering the labyrinth is my priority."
"For what reason?"
"Because of an imprint."
"M-May I ask what kind of imprint it is?"
At Eru's question, Karin and Ingrid's gazes lingered on Jeong Yoo-shin's lips.
Jeong Yoo-shin gave a bitter smile.
"It's hard to say."
"..."
Ingrid, Karin, and Eru all had strangely disappointed expressions.
Jeong Yoo-shin waved his hand in farewell, left the inn, and walked down the street.
He slowly took one step at a time toward the setting sun. People coming out of the labyrinth, people going in.
He was swept up in the countless crowd, but Jeong Yoo-shin's steps went straight toward the labyrinth.
The more he walked, the calmer his mind became.
He forgot about the conflict between the Western Empire and the Eastern Alliance in his head. As well as the grim atmosphere that had arisen because of it.
He also pushed Aldein's single-edged sword to a corner of his mind.
The connections he had made at the small and medium clan meeting were also washed away by the evening autumn wind.
No matter what anyone said…
In order to become stronger, he had to enter the labyrinth.
In order to return home, he had to enter the labyrinth.
It was an absolute command carved on his soul.
Jeong Yoo-shin swept his hair back once and put on his helmet.
A clear, bright light streamed out from between the gaps of his helmet.
He arrived at the labyrinth entrance with the crowd.
At the edge of the sunset, Mick, Pete, and Meat were standing at the labyrinth entrance.
The two brothers were in light armor. The older brother, Pete, was holding a longbow, and the younger brother, Meat, was holding a shortbow.
Mick waved his hand.
Jeong Yoo-shin immediately approached them.
'Skar? You're heavily armed.'
"This is me."
The three men had a clueless expression for a moment, then shrugged.
'Barbarian, let's go with our shoulders relaxed. To come with two swords. Your preparedness is good.'
The younger brother, Meat, smiled slyly and sent a sign language message.
Jeong Yoo-shin tilted his head and spoke.
"You fell for me because I brought two swords? What in the world do you mean by that?"
Meat was shocked and quickly sent a sign language message.
'Wh-What?! N-No!'
Jeong Yoo-shin patted Meat on the shoulder.
"I'm kidding."
"Sh-Shit!"
Meat stuttered and cursed.
Mick smiled and stood next to Jeong Yoo-shin.
'The other clan members have already gone in. We're the last.'
"Oh? Then let's go quickly."
Jeong Yoo-shin and his party members stood on the magic circle according to the labyrinth guards' guidance.
Flash!!!
As the magic circle shone, his vision was submerged in darkness.
Jeong Yoo-shin closed his eyes and felt a floating sensation.
The Bracelet of Unity on Jeong Yoo-shin's wrist also emitted a strange light, but no one noticed it.