Chapter 205 Manners Maketh Man
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Translator: JayM
Chapter: 205
Chapter Title: Manners Maketh Man
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After the Vice-Guild Master left, the inn became quiet again.
Only Jeong Yoo-shin and Ingrid were standing at the counter.
Ingrid crossed her arms and turned her body.
"..."
She was embarrassed to show Skar her nipples, which were sticking out stiffly over her thin bra.
There was one more reason.
It was hard for her to open her mouth while facing Skar.
Skar's words were sophistry, and his harassment had crossed the line.
It was a situation where she should have been angry, but Ingrid's eyes just spun.
What should she say?
Should she scold him gently?
Should she be firm?
'I don't know.'
Ingrid bit her lip hard. She couldn't get a feel for it at all. It was her first time in a situation like this.
She wanted to scold herself for having acted so nonchalantly.
She had initiated physical contact before and had even asked for a massage.
Why?
Because she had been superior in everything.
Skill, status, wisdom.
She had thought that there was nothing she was inferior to when compared to this man.
She had known that it was a wrong choice. But her curiosity had gotten the better of her. On top of that, she had intended to punish him thoroughly if he crossed the line.
But…
'Why?'
Ingrid was afraid that he would find out about her heart that was pounding like a virgin's.
There were only the two of them in the inn hall, and it was quiet.
She was worried that he would hear the sound of her beating heart.
"Ingrid-nim."
A gentle voice. It stimulated her ears as sweetly as honey.
At that moment…
Clunk!!!
Karin returned.
"I'm back."
"Y-You're back?! Where have you been?!"
Ingrid hurriedly moved away from her spot and needlessly chided Karin.
"I had some business at the Earth Mother Goddess’ temple. Why?"
"I should go to bed first. I'm very tired now."
"Alright."
Karin tilted her head as she watched Ingrid quickly go up to the second floor.
"Skar, did something happen?"
Jeong Yoo-shin shrugged.
"No. It just seems that 'bride training' is very difficult for her."
"Bride training? What's that?"
Karin tilted her head as she watched Jeong Yoo-shin go up to the second floor.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The next morning.
Jeong Yoo-shin immediately went to the monster dismantler shop.
Aldein was in his office doing paperwork.
Jeong Yoo-shin sat across from Aldein.
The latter lifted his head from the pile of documents on his desk.
"What is it?"
"The Eastern District underworld bastards tried to kill me."
Aldein pushed the documents aside and leaned back in his chair.
"So suddenly? I heard that you were dropped on another level because of a problem with your Bracelet of Unity. Do you think it was their doing?"
Jeong Yoo-shin scratched his head.
"Has the rumor spread this far?"
Aldein rubbed his eyepatch.
"I'm curious, why did you think the rumor wouldn't spread? To be honest, I was also surprised when I heard that you were taking a ghoul with you."
"It was manageable once I pulled out all of its teeth, fingernails, and toenails."
"..."
Aldein was quiet for a moment, then he spoke again.
"This fight won't be easy. They bribed a headquarters receptionist. They won't be just any riffraff. On top of that, quite a few of the Eastern District guys are paying attention to you. It would be strange if they didn't, with all the problems and stories that come and go wherever you are."
"I can't help it. Didn't I ruin a few of their businesses?"
Aldein let out a deep sigh.
"Hoo. Do you have a plan?"
"I met some decent people at a meeting of small and medium clans."
"So? What are you going to do? Are you going to lead those people and start a war with the Eastern District guys?"
Jeong Yoo-shin chuckled and shook his head.
"Of course not. Aren't those clans just people who are engaged in their own livelihoods? I'm just thinking of getting some information about the receptionist."
Aldein observed Jeong Yoo-shin's face, then he held out his red single-edged sword.
"I'd like to help you, but I'm busy these days. And you don't seem to have any intention of waiting, so just take my sword."
Jeong Yoo-shin grinned and took Aldein's red single-edged sword.
"Nice."
At Jeong Yoo-shin's answer, Aldein rubbed his forehead.
"When I have time later, I'll look into it myself. And there's one thing you should be careful about. As I said before, never enter the labyrinth with that sword."
"I understand. But may I ask why?"
"Later."
Aldein waved his hand.
"If you're not going to help me with my paperwork, get out."
"Take care."
Jeong Yoo-shin took the single-edged sword and went outside.
Aldein, left alone in the room, clutched his chest.
"Little sister, please stay still this time."
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Jeong Yoo-shin walked down the street while fiddling with the red single-edged sword.
Fortunately, the sword didn’t tremble or whisper strange things in his head this time.
When he has time later, he'll infuse it with a lot of lustful energy.
The next person he had to see was Granny, who was the representative at the small and medium clan meeting.
Granny was also the leader of the Grandma's Love clan.
His side job was a carpenter.
He made a living by making and selling chairs and furniture for the elderly in the western district.
Most of the smithies and workshops were in the western district of Labyrinth City.
Jeong Yoo-shin passed the smithy street and arrived at the workshop street.
He slowly walked down the street and looked around.
'This is strange.'
It was different from the streets of the southern district.
What should he say here?
It was similar to the industrial complex streets he had seen on old television.
'But with a medieval twist.'
The smell of chemicals used to dry leather stung his nose, and the sound of hammering echoed from the workshops. Wood shavings and various junk were also piled up in the corners of the workshops.
Jeong Yoo-shin asked a middle-aged man who was tanning leather in the front yard of a workshop if he knew Granny.
"I know him. He's a skilled young man. If you go a little further, there will be an intersection. If you turn right there, there's a furniture store that Granny runs."
"Thank you."
Jeong Yoo-shin bowed politely and quickened his pace.
As the man had said, when he turned right at the intersection, he saw Granny's furniture store.
It wasn't a very large workshop, but the chairs and furniture visible through the window looked like they had been made with great care.
When he entered the furniture store, Granny, who had been sitting at the counter and scribbling something down, lifted his head, saw Jeong Yoo-shin, and shot up from his seat.
"Skar-nim?!"
"It's been a while."
Jeong Yoo-shin said while slowly approaching him.
"What is it?"
"I stopped by to see if there have been any problems lately."
At Jeong Yoo-shin's question, Granny made a startled face.
"How did you know?"
Granny's sudden question.
Jeong Yoo-shin tilted his head.
"Know what?"
"Lately, people from the Eastern District have been trying to take over small businesses. But their methods are really..."
Jeong Yoo-shin's eyebrow furrowed.
It wasn't the story he wanted to know, but he couldn't just ignore it.
Jeong Yoo-shin sat across from Granny and listened.
Granny even brought out tea and continued his story.
The face of Jeong Yoo-shin, who had been listening for a long time, contorted.
'This is too much.'
The malicious feeling was palpable.
They would place a huge order and then cancel it just as the goods were about to be finished.
They would also forcibly find fault with the goods and demand compensation, or refuse to pay.
Granny let out a deep sigh.
"Hoo. This is actually the reason why I was trying to step down from the representative position. The atrocities of the Eastern District are getting worse. Especially for small businesses run by small clans like us, it's very difficult."
"Why did you take on the representative position in the first place?"
"Because no one else wanted it."
"..."
Well, he could understand Granny's feelings. There weren't many decent people at the small and medium clan meeting.
Jeong Yoo-shin thought for a moment, then spoke.
"Please gather our people. I believe that we can find a solution if we put our heads together and discuss it."
Granny smiled faintly at Jeong Yoo-shin’s request.
"I understand. As expected, we should gather at least once. I’ll gather the people. How about a tavern in the western district in a few days, around evening?"
"That sounds good. It seems like a lot of people will gather. Is a tavern alright?"
"I think only the clan leaders will attend, and not all the clan members like last time. It's because everyone is busy with work."
"Alright."
Jeong Yoo-shin parted ways with Granny and returned to the inn.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
A few days later.
Jeong Yoo-shin headed to the western street.
The western street was filled with the clamor of workers. It was a street with a rough feel.
The place Jeong Yoo-shin was heading to was a tavern called 'Dwarf's Club'.
When Jeong Yoo-shin entered the tavern, a momentary silence fell in the hall.
The people who had been drinking and talking saw Jeong Yoo-shin, closed their mouths, and stared blankly.
Granny smiled and waved.
"Over here! Skar-nim."
Jeong Yoo-shin slowly walked over to the table where Granny was sitting.
He saw familiar faces.
The Marine Corps clan master.
The Grandma's Love clan master, Granny.
The Naturalist clan master.
But…
There was one person he hadn't seen at the small and medium clan meeting.
A middle-aged human sitting leisurely at the head of the table.
A bushy beard.
A square jaw.
He looked like a laborer you would see at a port, but his eyes held a strange glint of intelligence.
The middle-aged man stood up.
"Are you Skar?"
"Yes."
Jeong Yoo-shin shook the man's hand.
The middle-aged man grinned.
"Solomon. I'm in charge of the brewing business in the western district."
"Skar, a low-intermediate rank explorer."
The two men shook hands and looked at each other as if they were sizing each other up.
The man named Solomon sat back down.
Jeong Yoo-shin sat across from Solomon.
"A brewer. I don't think I've seen you at the small and medium clan meeting."
"I'm not free enough to attend such a gathering. Besides, I'm not an explorer anymore. I'm just a retired old man. By the way, I've made a new alcohol this time. Let's have a taste."
When Solomon snapped his fingers, a few men in fedoras approached them, placed a bottle of alcohol, and stood behind Solomon.
Jeong Yoo-shin sat still and observed the bottle.
"Skar, the rumor has reached this far. You want to be the representative of the small and medium clans?"
"Yes. But I didn't come here for that problem today. I came here because I heard that the small and medium clans are facing difficulties."
Solomon raised his finger, tapped the table, and spoke.
"...Do you smoke?"
"I'll smoke if you give me one."
Solomon chuckled, then snapped his fingers again.
The man who had been standing behind Solomon approached him and took out a small cigar box from his pocket.
Jeong Yoo-shin took a cigar and put it in his mouth. The Marine Corps clan master sitting next to him took out a flint and lit it.
Jeong Yoo-shin gave a nod of thanks and exhaled smoke.
Solomon rubbed his forehead.
"Skar, let's get to the point. The Eastern District guys have been messing with our livelihoods lately."
"Yes."
"I want to hear your plan. Are you thinking of dragging us, who are engaged in our livelihoods, into a conflict with the Eastern District?"
At Solomon's words, the tavern momentarily became quiet.
Jeong Yoo-shin shook his head.
"I have no such intention. I don't think there's a need to drag working people into this."
"Then?"
Just as Jeong Yoo-shin was about to answer.
Clunk!!!
The tavern door opened, and a huge lizard beast-person man slowly entered.
The lizard beast-person licked his long tongue, looked around, and then fixed his gaze on one spot.
"So you were all here."
The lizard beast-person's smooth voice echoed through the quiet tavern.
The clan leaders had a reluctant expression, and the lizard beast-person chuckled.
"Cheer up. Anyone would think that we're threatening you."
The lizard beast-person swaggered over, then froze when he saw Jeong Yoo-shin.
"What's this? A half-breed barbarian? I was wondering what was going on since you kept putting off our offer. Don't tell me you were planning something disloyal?"
"..."
The clan leaders didn’t open their mouths.
Jeong Yoo-shin looked up at the lizard, then went back to puffing on his cigar.
The lizard beast-person pushed his face in front of Jeong Yoo-shin.
"Hey, half-breed. What are you doing here? Are you thinking of getting some money from these guys and trying something?"
The riffraff who had come with the lizard beast-person let out a sinister laugh.
The tavern was quiet, and the people's faces were dark.
Jeong Yoo-shin felt a strange feeling.
It had been a long time since someone had started a fight with him like this.
"Do you know who I am?"
Jeong Yoo-shin asked.
The lizard beast-person chuckled.
"I know you well. Skar the Butcher. You have to spread rumors in moderation for people to believe them. You survived alone in the swamp? With a ghoul? Ha! It's hard to believe when such ridiculous nonsense is spreading, my friend."
The lizard beast-person pushed his head closer to Jeong Yoo-shin.
"Skar, I have something I'm curious about. What in the world are you relying on to be so cocky? Do you think we're a joke just because you took out a few Eastern District riffraff?"
"..."
The lizard beast-person's mouth formed a long smile.
"And there's something else I'm curious about. That ghoul in the rumor, was it your fuck toy?"
"Hooo."
Jeong Yoo-shin let out a long puff of cigar smoke and stood up.
Jeong Yoo-shin slowly went to the tavern door.
The lizard beast-person let out a mocking laugh from behind him.
"Are you running away? It seems like the small and medium clans gathered all their money to hire you, but it was all in vain."
"Kahahahahaha!!!!!!"
"Look at him running away!"
"He should have just been a male prostitute. What a pathetic bastard, trying to act all cool."
Jeong Yoo-shin stood in front of the tavern door while listening to all the ridicule.
Jeong Yoo-shin raised his hand and moved the door's lock.
Click!!!
"Manners."
Another lock was closed.
"Maketh."
Click!!!
"Man."
Boom!!!
Finally, a huge wooden log completely blocked the tavern's door.
Jeong Yoo-shin turned, and with glistening eyes, looked at the lizard beast-person and his cronies.
"Do you know what that means?"
An overwhelming killing intent flowed from Jeong Yoo-shin's body.
"..."
A cool silence fell over the tavern.
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T/N - Damn, the author is on a roll with these references. I always did think that this was the coolest scene from the Kingsman movie. Also, did that lizardman really just threaten the MC? After everything he has done and all the connections he has? I guess brainless idiots haven’t run out yet in Labyrinth City.