Chapter 224 Did You Put Honey on It
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Translator: JayM
Chapter: 224
Chapter Title: Did You Put Honey on It?
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Ingrid shook her head.
She had heard that Skar adored small beast-people. But she hadn't expected to see him blow air into their bellies like this.
"Karin, I'll be resting on the second floor. Please show the guards around the inn."
Ingrid felt a faint sense of jealousy as she went up the stairs to her room.
Karin looked at the guards.
"The owner of this inn is Skar. As you can see, he’s a half-barbarian. He's also the representative of the small and medium-sized clan alliance and an intermediate-rank explorer. Lastly, he's a trustworthy person. So don't treat him carelessly."
The guards kept their distance and bowed politely.
"Skar-nim, it's a pleasure to meet you."
"We'll be in your care."
Even though they had heard that Skar was an intermediate-rank explorer, they didn't lose their manners.
As expected of those protecting the alliance's representative, their gazes were all formidable. They gave off a strong impression of being elites.
Jeong Yoo-shin nodded.
"Please make yourselves comfortable. And there's one thing I’d like to correct. I’m not the owner of this inn, Dalmong is."
"Ah! I see."
"Understood."
"We'll keep that in mind."
"Skar, I'm going to show the guards around the inn. Is that okay?"
"Do as you please."
Karin took the guards into the kitchen.
As the guards passed by Jeong Yoo-shin, they glanced at the teddy bear in his arms and then exchanged looks.
'How terrifying.'
'If we get on his bad side, he'll give us a belly raspberry just like that. We have to be careful.'
'Everyone, be polite. Don't show any weakness.'
Jeong Yoo-shin looked down at the weasel beast-person while holding the teddy bear, Pongpri.
The weasel beast-person was trembling in fear.
Jeong Yoo-shin opened his mouth.
"Don't be afraid."
"Heek!"
The weasel beast-person trembled even more but didn't run away. He just looked up at Pongpri with teary eyes.
It seemed like he had no intention of abandoning his clan leader.
'He's loyal.'
"What's your name?"
"Pipi."
His name was as cute as his appearance.
As if noticing Jeong Yoo-shin's gaze, the weasel beast-person Pipi squeezed his eyes shut and stuck out his plump belly.
"P-Please let go of my clan leader! I-I'll take the belly raspberry instead."
Jeong Yoo-shin smiled faintly.
"You're not ripe yet. Come back when you're a little softer."
"Hi... Hieeeek!!!"
At the word "softer," Pipi let out a cute scream and stepped back.
At that moment…
"Uuuum."
Pongpri, who had fainted, slowly opened his eyes.
"W-Where am I? I think I was in a paradise flowing with honey-bear."
"Pongpri, get a grip."
"Bear!"
Pongpri's eyes shot open, and he looked around. Then he moved his short arms and touched his own belly, as if checking to see if it was still there.
"Welcome to the small and medium-sized clan alliance. If you have any trouble, feel free to come and talk to me anytime."
"T-Thank you-bear. But now, please put me down-bear."
Jeong Yoo-shin, with a heart full of regret, placed Pongpri back in his original spot.
Was it said that human greed has no end?
He had filled his selfish desires to the brim, but it wasn't enough.
"I'm going for a walk. Want to come?"
"N-No thanks-bear! I'm busy-bear!"
"M-Me too!"
Pipi and Pongpri scurried out of the inn.
As Jeong Yoo-shin stood up, Karin and the guards, who had finished looking around the kitchen and the yard, entered the hall.
"Skar, where are you going?"
"For a walk."
"You'll be back before dinner, right?"
"I'll be back as soon as possible."
Jeong Yoo-shin left the inn and walked around.
The Southern District had many things to see because of the many people doing business there.
As he walked while feeling the chilly autumn wind, the people on the street recognized and greeted him.
"Skar-nim!"
"Has everything been alright?"
Each time, Jeong Yoo-shin would nod and reply.
"I'm doing well. How's business these days?"
"Business is quite good because many people are visiting the city. I was worried about the friends who came from the Eastern District to do business here, but everyone’s making a decent living, so there's no friction."
"I see."
"Um… Here."
A small child approached Jeong Yoo-shin and held out a small piece of candy.
"T-Thank you, mister. For saving me during the last earthquake."
Was it when the inn had collapsed?
Jeong Yoo-shin smiled gently and took the child's candy.
"Thank you."
"Y-Yes."
Jeong Yoo-shin patted the child's head once and continued walking.
'You're quite loved.'
"It wasn't like this at first. They were so wary of me back then that it was hard to even get a room at an inn."
'...'
Beatrice was silent.
Jeong Yoo-shin looked around here and there, then made his way to the park.
Because of the chilly weather, the park was currently empty.
He sat on a wooden bench while sucking on the candy and looked up at the statue of Ezdras.
"Beatrice."
'Yes?'
"Do you feel any gazes? Or any presence?"
'No. They all disappeared as soon as you entered the park.'
Was that so?
Jeong Yoo-shin kept his eyes fixed on the statue and racked his brain.
That mage bastard named Malakai from the Mage Tower…
He hadn't been able to recognize him at once, perhaps because he was using some kind of perception-impairing or invisibility magic.
It bothered him.
He had left the meeting room with a flustered expression, but his eyes weren’t those of someone who had given up.
He had wandered around under the pretext of taking a walk, thinking that the mage might be watching from somewhere.
He had thought that he had almost caught the man.
To disappear so suddenly…
Jeong Yoo-shin swallowed his disappointment and bit the candy in his mouth.
At that moment…
A person wearing a robe and a woman dressed as a swordsman approached him.
"Young man, what are you looking at so intently?"
He heard a deep yet gentle male voice.
Jeong Yoo-shin, still sitting, turned his head and looked at the man wearing the robe.
Through the hood of his robe, calm yet strong eyes glinted.
A handsome face, as if he had made quite a few women cry in his heyday.
He looked about middle-aged.
The overall aura he exuded was similar to Iron Mask's.
On the other hand, the woman was tall. A hand's breadth taller than the man.
Her chest was ample, and her brown hair flowed down below her shoulders.
Because of her gentle look, she had the image of a docile cow, but he could feel the sharp aura dormant within her.
Jeong Yoo-shin raised his finger and pointed at the statue.
"Saint Ezdras."
"Is that so? May I sit next to you?"
"Do as you please."
Jeong Yoo-shin replied with a shrug.
The middle-aged man sat next to Jeong Yoo-shin and took off the hood of his robe, revealing golden hair.
The woman slowly moved and stood behind the bench.
Jeong Yoo-shin felt a heavy gaze from behind him.
The middle-aged man admired the empty park and opened his mouth.
"Traveling is so hard when you get old. Leaving home is a hardship at my age."
"Is that so? You must have come from far away."
"Quite far. The wind was so cold coming up from the south that my bones ached."
If you go south from Labyrinth City, you'll find the Lionel Kingdom.
"I need a warm place to rest my body. Do you have any inns to recommend?"
"There are quite a few good inns in the central area."
"It looks too crowded there. I'd prefer a quiet place in a corner..."
The handsome middle-aged man looked at Jeong Yoo-shin with a knowing smile.
The latter let out a deep sigh.
"Hoo. As it happens, I run a small inn. But…"
The middle-aged man put on his hood and stood up.
"Is that so? This is a very lucky day. Let's go."
"A high-ranking person is staying at the inn, so I might have to get permission."
A slight smile played on the middle-aged man's lips.
"I don't think that’ll be a problem."
"Alright. Then I'll guide you there."
Jeong Yoo-shin said politely and stood up.
They slowly left the quiet park and arrived at the large road that ran through the Southern District.
Clank. Clank.
People wearing glittering golden plate armor were marching down the street.
In the middle, a carriage as large as a house was visible, and golden knights on horseback were closely gathered around the carriage while moving forward in a square formation.
The people on the street were murmuring.
"Has King Lionel arrived?"
"Am I dreaming?! To think that I'd see the Lion Guard in person in my lifetime!"
Jeong Yoo-shin silently watched the endless golden wave.
He realized that a wind of change was once again sweeping through the city.
"What an impressive display. It gives me the shivers."
The middle-aged man in the robe muttered as if for him to hear.
Jeong Yoo-shin nodded.
"Indeed."
The procession was heading toward the central area.
A moment later…
The procession ended, and only the people remained on the street, murmuring.
Most of the talk was about the Lionel Kingdom.
Jeong Yoo-shin continued to walk down the street and arrived at Dalmong's inn.
Creeeeak.
When he opened the door and went inside, a delicious smell wafted out. For the first time in a while, he could also feel the warmth of people from inside the inn.
He heard a bustling sound from the kitchen. It seemed that a few of Ingrid's guards were cooking.
Those who were standing guard at the door looked at Jeong Yoo-shin, then turned their heads to look at the middle-aged man and the female swordswoman.
"Skar-nim, these people are...?"
Ingrid, who was sitting at the central table, stared at the middle-aged man next to Jeong Yoo-shin.
Her eyes widened.
"You?!"
The middle-aged man burst into a clear laugh and threw back his hood.
"Haha!!! Ingrid, it's been a long time."
"Weren't you supposed to be in the inner castle?"
"I came out for some fresh air, and you're telling me to stay in the castle again? I can't do that."
The middle-aged man turned his body and looked at Jeong Yoo-shin.
"Skar, would it be alright if I stayed here?"
Jeong Yoo-shin’s name came out naturally.
The middle-aged man had come while knowing everything.
Jeong Yoo-shin also thought that he knew the identity of this middle-aged man.
In fact, he had been half-sure from the moment he first saw the man.
Jeong Yoo-shin looked at Ingrid.
"What do you think?"
Ingrid shook her head.
"I don't mind. Do as you please. There are plenty of rooms anyway."
"Thank you."
The middle-aged man was walking away when he stopped and turned his head toward Jeong Yoo-shin.
"Do you know who I am?"
Jeong Yoo-shin opened his mouth with a calm expression.
"Aren't you the king of the Lionel Kingdom?"
The middle-aged man nodded.
"Correct. You’re a quick-witted and smart young man. Then I should pay for the room... Let's see."
Jeong Yoo-shin shook his head.
"You've already paid in full by getting rid of the riffraff in the park."
The middle-aged man glanced at Jeong Yoo-shin's finger and smiled faintly.
"It seems that old man Ragna has chosen a good successor."
"..."
Jeong Yoo-shin didn't bother to answer.
"And my youngest son praised you to no end. Thank you."
The middle-aged man said that while patting Jeong Yoo-shin's shoulder.
Was he talking about the Fifth Prince?
It seemed that the boy had said good things to his father about him after having his life saved.
"What should I call you?"
At Jeong Yoo-shin's question, the middle-aged man's expression hardened.
"You... don't know my name?"
"I'm sorry. I'm not familiar with the ways of the world."
"N-No. It's possible. Call me Bendrick."
"Yes, Bendrick-nim."
Bendrick tilted his head and took off his robe, and the female swordswoman came over and took the robe from him.
"I'm hungry. Ingrid, when’s dinner?"
"Dinner is almost ready. Just wait a little longer."
"What about alcohol?"
Ingrid shrugged.
"You'll have to ask the owner."
Ingrid and Bendrick's gazes…
And the guards' gazes as well were fixed on Jeong Yoo-shin.
Jeong Yoo-shin walked to the counter cupboard and took out a bottle of alcohol and some glasses.
'Skar, don't you think the dwarf king and the elf queen will also gather here?'
Beatrice hummed cheerfully, as if she could read Jeong Yoo-shin's mind.
"...No way. It can't be. It's not like I put honey on this place."
Jeong Yoo-shin muttered quietly as he wiped the glasses with a clean cotton cloth.
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T/N - Yo! Sorry about not posting a chapter yesterday. Had to deal with some personal matters. I could only do 1 chapter for today, but I’ll post the one I owe you for yesterday by tomorrow along with the regular daily chapter. (12/2/2025)
Lol, Beatrice’s guess might actually come true at this rate. The MC doesn’t have a connection with the Dwarven King yet, but he has plenty of dwarf friends. For the elves, his master is a swordmaster acknowledged enough by the crown to summon him and he’s met the elf princess before in his kid form, so the likelihood of the Elf Queen staying at his inn is actually quite high.