Chapter 209 Beyond the Door
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Translator: JayM
Chapter: 209
Chapter Title: Beyond the Door
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Central Plaza.
An enormous number of spectators had gathered and were watching Jeong Yoo-shin and Rex.
The scene of the bloody duel had disappeared.
All that was left was one person trying to take off the other's pants, and the other desperately trying to stop him.
The chicken beast-person approached them.
"Skar, stop it."
Jeong Yoo-shin's eyes flashed.
"This bastard was the one who told me to stay away from Karin, wasn't he? So I decided to take off his pants."
The chicken beast-person's shoulders slumped.
"It wasn't something you officially agreed to before the duel, was it? Are you trying to dishonor Ingrid-nim and Astaroth-nim?"
Jeong Yoo-shin's face contorted.
He couldn't tarnish the honor of Ingrid, who had been his backer.
But he felt that something was lacking if he just let Rex go like this.
Jeong Yoo-shin pushed his face in front of Rex.
"Rex, next time, we won't be fighting so gentlemanly in front of people like this. I'll kill you all in a way you can't even imagine. You can believe that. When you go back to the Beast Clan, tell them. To always watch their backs."
Rex's face hardened.
Skar's warning was on a different level from the issue of winning or losing a duel.
Annihilation.
He didn't think it was a lie.
The blue will-o'-the-wisp from the Revenger imprint had disappeared, but Skar's menacing gaze was sincere.
He had almost died from the greatsword that had suddenly fallen from the air.
And that was at a moment when he had almost won the fight and had let his guard down.
What would happen if they fought without rules?
Rex trembled.
Just then…
Ingrid stood up from her seat and looked around at the crowd.
"The duel is over! And to add, the Beast Clan should reflect on whether they are expanding their business excessively, and whether such actions are harming the other districts. That is all!"
"Kugh!!! Rex!!! Come back!!!"
From a distance, the leader of the Beast Clan, Tig, shouted. His face was beet red, showing how angry he was.
As Jeong Yoo-shin stepped back, Rex limped and barely managed to get up, moving away from the plaza.
Astaroth, who was sitting at the head of the table, gestured, and the barrier magic disappeared.
From the crowd, a large group of people rushed to Jeong Yoo-shin.
"Skar!!!"
"You fought well!!!"
"Are you crazy!? A low-intermediate beating a high-intermediate explorer!!!"
Not only the people from the southern district, but also the clans that ran small businesses in the western district flocked to him and shouted.
The Grandma's Love clan master, Granny, approached Jeong Yoo-shin, knelt down on one knee, and bowed his head.
"To think that you would step up for us to this extent. As expected, the only person suitable to represent the small and medium clan alliance is you, Skar-nim. Please take the representative position."
Jeong Yoo-shin looked around at the people. They were all engaged in their own livelihoods.
Although they also worked as explorers, they were essentially working people.
These people were looking at him with sparkling eyes.
"Is it alright for me to do so?"
"If not you, Skar-nim, who would take on this role? Please don’t refuse."
"Granny’s right. If Skar-nim hadn’t stepped up, we would have lost all of our businesses."
"Let's do it. Although I’m lacking, I’ll take the position."
Jeong Yoo-shin accepted.
"Then, we must also decide on the name of this alliance. What should it be?"
Someone asked.
"Let's take our time and think about it."
Jeong Yoo-shin thought for a moment, then he shook his head and replied.
Astaroth, who had been watching Jeong Yoo-shin being surrounded by people, let out a sigh and stood up.
"Hah. Ingrid, you'll have to be my drinking partner in the inner castle."
Ingrid gave her a bitter smile.
"After doing this much, it should be enough to warn those Eastern District guys. Astaroth, you've worked hard. Let's go. I need a drink too."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The small and medium clan alliance members naturally gathered at Jeong Yoo-shin's inn and drank.
He heard that Ingrid had some business in the inner castle and would be back after staying there for about a day.
Meaning, there was no problem with him holding a small party at the inn.
The inn was lively for the first time in a long time.
People were drinking and chatting boisterously. In the midst of all that, small and medium clan leaders he hadn't seen before approached Jeong Yoo-shin and bowed their heads.
"Thank you. Thanks to you, Skar-nim, we were able to avoid losing our businesses to the Eastern District."
"What do you do?"
"I'm a carriage repairman. I also run a small transportation business."
"I see."
After that, many more people came and expressed their gratitude to Jeong Yoo-shin.
From a pickle maker to a lumber merchant, a leather merchant, a writer, a roofer, a locksmith, a tanner, and a rug maker.
The professions were also diverse.
He was surprised that so many people were a part of the small and medium clan alliance.
There was even a street performance clan.
In a corner of the inn, they were performing with a lute, a flute, and a beautiful voice, livening up the mood.
While he was drinking, someone approached him.
A small ferret beast-person with white fur.
"H-Hello. I'm from the Malrang-poksin clan."
"Hmm."
Jeong Yoo-shin stroked the ferret beast-person's head.
"Malrang-poksin. That's right. What brings you here?"
"Our clan was also having a hard time because of the people from the Eastern District. Thanks to you, Skar-nim, we've been relieved of our worries, so I came to repay you as a representative."
"I've already received it. If it's money, I'm fine."
"It's not money, it's a recommendation."
A recommendation?
"A recommendation? What do you mean by that?"
"Ah! It's faster to see it directly. E-Eit! Recommendation!"
The ferret beast-person squeezed their eyes shut, gathered their hands, spread their soft paws, and shouted.
Twinkle.
A yellow star appeared above Jeong Yoo-shin's head.
"Wh-What is this ability?"
The ferret beast-person scratched their head, as if embarrassed.
"Hauu. It's a recommendation imprint. It's an ability that grants a star-like recommendation on the other person’s head. Ehehe."
"..."
There were all sorts of strange imprints in the world. To think that there was even a 'like' imprint.
Jeong Yoo-shin lightly tapped the yellow star floating above his head.
"Does this star have any special ability? Does it increase my strength and mana?"
"N-No."
The white ferret beast-person fidgeted with their paws, as if embarrassed.
"Then what's good about it?"
"I-It feels good."
"Uh... Alright."
"Th-Then, since I've conveyed my thanks, I'll be on my way."
The ferret beast-person bowed and scurried out of the inn.
Jeong Yoo-shin sat at the counter with the sparkling star above his head while facing Granny.
"So did you find any information about the guild receptionist?"
At Jeong Yoo-shin's question, Granny nodded.
"Yes. I found one strange thing."
"What is it?"
"A few weeks before he was murdered, the receptionist stopped by a liquor store. The store owner said that the receptionist was very drunk and seemed to be in a good mood. He also said that he would soon be rich."
"Rich."
"He also said that he would be lucky this time."
Jeong Yoo-shin tapped the counter with his finger.
"Granny, are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
"Yes."
"He was addicted to gambling, that receptionist."
"That's right."
A receptionist addicted to gambling.
Although there were gambling dens in places other than the Eastern District, the way the receptionist had screwed him over was reminiscent of the Eastern District Underworld’s usual modus.
Without a doubt, it was the Eastern District bastards' doing.
Then there was only one problem.
'I have to find the culprit among the guys who have set up shop in the Eastern District and are running gambling dens.'
Jeong Yoo-shin stroked his chin.
Should he ask Vivian?
Just a few hours ago, he had overturned the Eastern District guys' rice bowl.
They must be watching his every move with their eyes lit up.
What would happen if he contacted Vivian in the Eastern District now?
There was a possibility that various disadvantages or checks would be placed on Vivian.
'I can't do that.'
He decided to leave Vivian's help as a last resort, trust the people of the southern and western districts, and wait a little longer.
After all, he had united the small and medium clans through this duel.
It was safe to say that he had united the scattered small information clans as well.
In terms of wuxia…
'Is it the Haomun*?'
They were people who were engaged in their own livelihoods to make a living. Although they had strange imprints, their essence hadn’t changed.
Jeong Yoo-shin took out the money pouch he had placed under the counter and put it on top.
Clink!!!
Granny's eyes widened.
"Wh-What’s this?"
"There must be quite a few people who have been harmed by the Eastern District guys this time. It's not much, but this should help them."
Granny opened the pouch, looked at the contents, and flinched.
"A-Aren't these all gold coins?"
"That's right."
The 800 gold coins he had received from the Explorer's Guild two days ago. It was his consolation money from the guild.
"W-Why so much money...?"
Jeong Yoo-shin shrugged.
"We live by helping each other. It's a clan alliance, isn't it? Although we haven't decided on a name yet."
"Th-Thank you!!!"
Granny bowed his head, his eyes reddening.
"It's nothing. If you're thankful, please investigate everything about that guild receptionist in as much detail as possible."
Granny beat his chest.
"Leave it to me. I’ll definitely gather all his information!"
"I'll trust you."
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The cheerful party that had continued until evening was over, and people began to leave one by one.
"Master Skar, I'll see you later."
"Thank you."
"I will definitely repay this kindness."
The clan alliance members bowed politely and left the inn.
After seeing everyone off, he cleaned the inn with Karin.
"Mom isn’t sleeping here tonight."
Karin blushed and twirled her hair.
Jeong Yoo-shin took Karin's hand and pulled her into her room.
Thud.
"Karin, you worked hard today."
"I didn't do anything special."
"You were cheering for me from a distance."
"Of course I had to."
"Good. Good Karin deserves a reward. Sit down."
When Jeong Yoo-shin pulled down his pants, Karin instinctively knelt down.
Slap!!!
A heavy, large cock popped out and slapped Karin's cheek.
Skar's alter ego was soaked in sweat and reeked.
Karin glanced at the dick stuck to her cheek.
"S-Somehow, it seems to have gotten bigger than last time. And what's this purple glowing pattern? It's scary."
Skar let out a bewitching laugh.
"Ah? That's a characteristic of a half-incubus, they say. Don't worry about it."
"H-How can I not worry? I've never seen such an ominous purple light before."
"It's a lust sigil. If you're pierced by this, you'll be corrupted."
Karin's eyes widened.
"Ek?! Then it's dangerous, isn't it?"
Skar gently stroked Karin's head.
"You just have to not be corrupted, right? Since Karin is the noble daughter of the Beast-people Alliance representative, you can overcome this kind of difficulty, right?"
Karin glared at Skar and gritted her teeth.
"You!!! Alright. I'll show you whose daughter I am!"
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Ingrid slowly walked down the street.
She was late because she had been drinking and chatting with Astaroth in the central district's inner castle.
Originally, she had planned to spend the night in the inner castle, but she had changed her mind.
Skar's inn made her feel more at ease.
The bedding and furniture there weren’t inferior compared to the inner castle.
There was also the reason that she didn't want to hear Astaroth's complaints anymore.
Ingrid took out a key, opened the locked inn door, and went inside.
A neatly organized inn hall.
It was quiet, as if everyone was asleep.
Ingrid slowly went up the stairs to the second floor. The room she was staying in wasn’t far from Skar and Karin's rooms. They were the largest on the second floor.
While walking down the corridor, she heard a faint noise.
Creeak.
Creak.
A creaking sound.
"Ugh...! Kugh...!"
A sound that could be either a moan or a cry was leaking from Karin's room.
Ingrid's expression hardened.
She had heard that this inn was newly built and soundproofed.
How loudly must she be screaming for the noise to leak out?
On top of that, such a pitiful cry?
Had something sad happened to her daughter?
She didn't know.
Ingrid approached Karin's door.
She carefully put her ear to the door.
"G-Gently!!! D-Dieee♥ I’ll dieee♥"
She heard a small plea.
Ingrid was so surprised that her eyes widened.
'What...?!'
She didn't know what in the world was happening.
Ingrid grabbed the doorknob.
But she froze like ice at the male voice she heard.
"Karin, stick out your tongue."
A familiar voice.
It was Skar's voice.
Ingrid opened the door a little with a trembling hand.
Creak.
And the scene that was faintly revealed to her through the gap in the door…
It was something she couldn't believe even after seeing it.
Ingrid covered her mouth and suppressed the scream that was about to come out.
'Wh-What in the world is that...?!'
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T/N - You guys are in for a ‘treat’ next chapter. It’s been a while since Karin had her turn, right? 😏
Also, the MC is closing in at the idiots who tried to kill him. Hopefully, he’ll be brutal about it with them, as he always is.
*Haomun (하오문) literally translates to the "Lower Five Gates" or "Lower Five Sects.” A classic troupe in Wuxia stories, Haomun is not a single sect, but a collective term for an alliance of lower-class, often looked-down-on groups who make their living in the "underworld" but aren’t necessarily evil.