Chapter 243 The Crown Prince Threw Shit at Me
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Translator: JayM
Chapter: 243
Chapter Title: The Crown Prince Threw Shit at Me
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There were 200 ways to deceive a person.
Among them, there were 100 ways to deceive a guy who acted all high and mighty because he thought he was smart.
There were about 50 ways to deceive a guy who was strong and smart.
And…
The number of ways to deceive and kill a guy who was strong, smart, and suspicious was so small that you could count them on one hand.
Meaning, a difficult opponent.
It was true that the guys Jeong Yoo-shin was about to meet were strong. Because they had killed a kin of an Outer God that had destroyed cities and villages and caused enormous damage to the dwarf kingdom.
But their strength was a secondary issue. A weakness always existed.
Hadn't someone said that?
The condition to defeat an enemy would be found within the enemy.
But there was one thing he was worried about.
Could he deceive the hero and his party?
It wasn't an easy task to act like a simple-minded barbarian.
'Because I'm too smart.'
A brilliant intellect that shone like the sun wasn’t the kind of thing that could be easily hidden.
Even so…
'I have to try.'
Big strides.
Big actions.
A simple and ignorant way of speaking.
"Heroooooo!!!!!"
He shouted loudly once more and ran down the street.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Labyrinth City.
In front of the south gate.
The hero, Cian, tucked her long hair behind her ear. The winter wind blew, shaking her dark blond hair.
A sharp nose and flawless skin.
Under long eyelashes, her calm eyes twinkled like starlight.
Although her appearance was mysterious and beautiful…
Among the people gathered in front of the gate, no one approached Cian.
Because a purity seal praising Lux Aeterna was plastered all over the chest of her bloodstained and scarred plate armor.
The hero Cian opened her mouth.
"We're a little late."
At her gentle yet firm voice, a male mage in his twenties pushed up his glasses.
"It couldn't be helped, Cian-nim. Didn't you help the dwarves who were buried in the ground?"
When they were subjugating the kin of an Outer God, the underground city of the dwarf kingdom had collapsed.
Because Cian had strongly insisted, they had spent a lot of time rescuing the dwarves. In the end, they arrived in Labyrinth City later than planned.
A male priest in his thirties standing next to them stopped him.
"Sebastian-nim, we may be a little late, but we've arrived here safely, haven't we? And this’ll be an opportunity for the dwarves to realize it. That the mercy of Lux Aeterna-nim descends equally even on half-breed demi-humans like dwarves."
A middle-aged man with a bushy beard and arrows slung across his back scratched his messy hair.
"Priest Luther-nim, let's go quickly. Sleeping outside in the winter isn’t something a person should do. At my age, my body aches easily. I want to have a warm drink and rest comfortably."
The priest called Luther let out a deep sigh.
"Gibson-nim, you can't get drunk and make a scene like you did when we stopped by the last city. And you mustn’t forget our purpose. Didn't the crown prince ask you?"
"Hehe. Don't you think you can make mistakes while living?"
While they were chatting…
The long line leading to the Labyrinth City gate was getting shorter.
After waiting patiently, it was Cian and her party's turn.
When they reached the front of the gate, an elf with dark circles under his eyes raised his head.
"Name."
"Cian, the mage here is Sebastian, the priest is Luther, and finally, the one with the bow is Gibson."
"Is that so? By any chance, are you the 'people' from the Empire?"
"That's right."
As the elf was looking up silently, Sebastian smiled.
"Elf, is there something you want to say?"
"No. However..."
The moment the elf was about to open his mouth and speak…
"Heroooooo!!!!!"
A loud voice was heard from inside the street, reaching the gate.
Cian raised her head.
A black-haired human wearing wolf fur was running at them with an axe.
His thick, muscular body was exposed, and his long, unkempt hair made him look like a barbarian.
The elf stared blankly at the barbarian and then muttered.
"The barbarian? Has he finally gone mad?"
Cian's party immediately took a battle stance.
The barbarian, who had been running, came to a sudden stop.
"Who's the hero?"
"I am."
Cian said, taking a step forward.
Priest Luther quickly interjected.
"Are you the barbarian His Highness the Crown Prince mentioned?"
"That's right! Call me Skar."
The mage Sebastian also interjected.
"The guide designated by the crown prince? Hey, we're tired from fighting a kin of an Outer God and our long journey to get here. Guide us to an inn quickly."
"What are you? I'll just smash this scrawny four-eyes!"
At the sudden outburst of profanity, Sebastian's face turned red and blue.
"W-What?! You crazy barbarian bastard!"
Sebastian's powerful magic shimmered like a heat haze.
People gulped.
They had said that he was a member of the hero's party, and his enormous amount of mana seem to attest to that.
"The crown prince asked me to help you. But I don't listen to anyone weaker than me!"
Cian asked back in a calm tone.
"Skar, what if it's someone stronger than you?"
"There’s no one stronger than me."
"..."
Cian and her party members had dazed expressions.
They were dizzy, as if they had been hit on the head.
A declaration so bold as to be arrogant.
Priest Luther thought to himself.
'As expected.'
It was just as His Highness the Crown Prince had said. A man whose mind wasn’t sound. He was an erratic person.
"Hero! Are you going to keep being so frustrating? Draw your sword! Prove it!"
The barbarian shouted while holding a large single-bladed axe with both hands.
Not only the guards protecting the gate, but also the people in line craned their necks to watch.
But Cian turned her head and looked at the elf.
"Is it alright to fight here?"
At the unexpectedly polite question, the elf closed and opened his mouth for a moment.
"That barbarian must have finally gone mad. Just don't kill him."
"I understand."
The elf rubbed his eyes and leaned back in his chair for a moment.
The guard captain approached him and whispered.
"S-Secretary-nim, is it alright to leave them like that?"
"I want to sleep for a bit. Wake me up when the fight’s over."
"...I understand."
The barbarian grinned and then immediately rushed at Cian and swung his axe.
Whoooosh!!!
The axe blade came down from top to bottom, cutting through the air.
Shing.
Cian drew her sword and swung it.
From bottom to top.
The sword light flashed for a moment.
Flash!
Claaaaaaang!!!
The axe and sword clashed, and sparks flew in all directions.
Immediately, the barbarian's two arms were thrown up high by the rebound.
"What?!"
A sound of astonishment came out of the barbarian's mouth.
A look of surprise, as if he hadn't expected such strength to come from a woman's body.
Cian thrust her sword as it was.
Swoooosh!!!
The dazzling blade aimed for the barbarian's neck.
Cian had no intention of killing the barbarian. She had heard various stories about Labyrinth City.
A city where all sorts of demons and corrupted people gathered.
She hadn't thought the journey would be easy. This level of resistance was within her expectations, and it was a problem she could handle without seeing blood.
'I should stop at the neck.'
However…
Contrary to Cian's expectations.
The barbarian bent his neck back, dodged the thrust, and came a step closer.
Splat!!!
As blood spurted from his neck…
Cian's eyebrows rose for a moment.
She wasn't surprised by the blood.
It was because the barbarian's eyes were burning blue.
'Is that an imprint...?'
As Cian was about to step back and swing her sword, the barbarian dropped his axe and swung his right hand.
A punch aimed at her face.
Whoooosh!!!
Cian immediately raised her hand and caught the fist.
Clasp!!!
It was a gauntlet made of steel blessed by Lux Aeterna.
Then the barbarian completely let go of the axe and swung his left hand.
Cian also had no choice but to let go of her sword and spread her other hand.
Clasp!!!
'He's strong.'
A body transformed through mana adaptation. On top of that, the veins on his hard, muscular forearms bulged. She could tell how hard he had trained.
But that was all.
It wasn't a strength that could compare to her, who had been blessed by Lux Aeterna.
Near the gate, a man and a woman locked hands and entered a power struggle.
The barbarian's face trembled.
"...What's your name?"
"Cian."
"You're really strong."
"..."
"By any chance…"
"Hmm?"
"Can you bear my child?"
Cian, who had been silent for a moment, opened her mouth with a calm face.
"...I refuse."
Cian put her strength into it and pushed the barbarian away.
The barbarian staggered back.
"Skar, want to go for more?"
At Cian's question, the barbarian shrugged and picked up his axe.
"You’re qualified to be my comrade. Consider it an honor."
Cian held back the laugh that was about to come out of her lips. He was arrogant, but not so hateful.
His sense of propriety was understandable since he was a barbarian, but the gaze that had briefly flashed in his eyes while they were struggling was clear.
It didn't seem like he had any bad intentions.
'I'll have to watch him a little more.'
"That's enough."
The mage named Sebastian interjected with a stiff face.
The barbarian turned his back.
"The test is over! Follow me. I'll guide you to the central area."
Cian picked up her sword and sheathed it.
"Let's go."
At Cian's words, her party members moved their feet.
The party's form gradually disappeared.
The guard captain approached the sleeping elf.
"It seems that the fight’s over."
The elf opened his hollow eyes.
"Already?"
"Yes."
"It ended more normally than I thought."
"Skar got into a scuffle with the Empire bastards. In broad daylight. And he even publicly proposed to the hero on their first meeting, asking her to bear his child!"
"He's the guy who spat in the face of a Labyrinth Council member. That's cute compared to that. I thought that friend would finally pull out his cock and swing it around, but thankfully, it seems like he's in his right mind today. Let's get to work."
The guard captain opened his mouth with a dumbfounded face and then nodded.
"...Yes."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
As they advanced down the street, Priest Luther's eyes grew colder.
There were too many half-breed demi-humans.
The sight of things that were neither beast nor human walking the streets happily made him feel nauseous.
If it hadn't been for the crown prince's strict command, these impure things would be tied to a tree and burned to death right away.
'Calm down.'
Luther pressed his eyes closed. It was clear that his nerves were on edge because of the winter camping, just as that drunkard ranger Gibson had said.
Then he bumped into someone.
Thump!
When he opened his eyes, a small raccoon beast-person kid was quickly getting up and bowing his head.
"Ah, ah, I'm sorry."
Luther's face, which had been wearing a benevolent expression, instantly contorted like a fierce demon.
"T-This lowly demi-human...!"
Just as Luther's hand, which was holding the staff, was about to twitch.
The middle-aged man with the bow smiled slyly and grabbed Luther's arm.
"Aigo, Priest-nim, please calm down. The long camping must have had your nerves on edge."
Luther raised his head.
The black-haired barbarian was staring at him.
"Ahem! That's right. Because of the arduous journey, I almost lost my reason for a moment. My training is still insufficient. Hoo."
The barbarian nodded and laughed loudly.
"Hahaha!!! I understand! Sleeping with just one blanket in the winter is the hardest! What's your name, Priest-nim?"
"It's Luther."
"Luther!!! That name really rolls off the tongue! Uahahaha!!!"
The barbarian burst out laughing, as if he was so happy.
Luther was relieved.
'He was a simple-minded guy.'
He had heard that this barbarian was a representative who played a part in the Eastern Alliance, but the man’s expression hadn't changed one bit even after hearing a curse directed to a demi-human.
It was clear that the barbarian was a bird-brained madman who had only developed his muscles. That was why the crown prince had designated such an innocent person to them.
The barbarian continued to talk loudly and swung his fists.
"Hey, barbarian! My ears are going to fall off. Can't you lower your voice a bit? Haven't you learned any manners?!"
The mage in the robe shouted with a face full of annoyance.
The barbarian's eyes widened.
"Oh?! You know my race?!"
"I read about it in a book. You're just like what was written in it."
"What does it say?"
"It said that you're a race that befriends nature, eats raw meat, and is closer to fists than to letters."
"Uahahaha!!! That's right!!! You studied hard! Four-eyes!"
"My name’s Sebastian. Lower your voice. And stay away from me. You stink of rancid fat."
"Uahahaha!!! Sorry! I was just so happy that strong comrades had come!!!"
The barbarian burst out laughing even louder with a wide smile.
A sneer appeared on the mage Sebastian's face.
As expected of a northern barbarian.
'A stupid and dirty bastard. Who's a comrade?'
The barbarian, whether he knew the party members' thoughts or not, talked loudly and showed them around.
A moment later.
They arrived at the inn street in the central area.
Compared to the south, the well-organized streets and luxurious buildings soared high, making a comparison embarrassing.
"Pick any one you like, hahahaha!!!"
"I'd prefer a place without any demi-humans."
Priest Luther muttered quietly.
Cian replied.
"I understand, Priest-nim."
The barbarian suddenly pushed his face toward Cian.
"Hero, do you have money?"
"Don't worry. I received some compensation for helping the dwarves."
"Is that so? If you need money, just say the word!!! I'll lend you as much as you want!!!"
"No, that much is..."
"Aren't we 'comrades'?! If there's anything uncomfortable, just say the word, chahahahaha!!!"
A look of fatigue appeared on the party members' faces.
Because this crazy barbarian had been babbling in a loud voice without rest from the south to the central street, their ears were about to bleed.
Cian saw her party members' expressions and made a troubled smile while gently pushing the barbarian away.
"You're too close. Thank you for guiding us this far. Let us rest for a few days and then we’ll meet again."
"Alright!!! If you have something to say, you can leave a message at the Explorer's Guild Headquarters!!!"
"Got it."
"Then see you later, friends!!!"
The barbarian shouted loudly and ran down the street before disappearing from their sight.
"He was like a storm."
Cian watched the barbarian's retreating back with a faint smile.
"He's just an uneducated barbarian, isn't he?"
Sebastian muttered while pushing up his glasses.
"He seems to be a person with good intentions, so please don't belittle him too much, Sebastian."
"...I understand."
At Cian's words, Sebastian bowed his head with a grim expression.
"First, let's unpack and find an inn to stay at."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Evening, when the sun had set.
Dalmong's Inn.
Jeong Yoo-shin collapsed into a chair.
His throat was hoarse from shouting so much.
Snout, who had been waiting in advance, came over and handed him some water.
"Skar-nim, how was that hero party?"
Jeong Yoo-shin looked around.
The barbarian Torgel, the Mage Tower's elder Mathias, Granny, and Luke were all staring at Jeong Yoo-shin.
Jeong Yoo-shin gulped down a glass of water and wiped his mouth.
"The crown prince…"
An icy voice, not the boisterous laughing and talking voice from the street, came out.
Jeong Yoo-shin tapped the table with his finger and was lost in thought for a moment.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
People gulped and focused their attention on Jeong Yoo-shin.
After organizing his thoughts, he opened his mouth.
"The crown prince threw a big, generous pile of shit at me."
"...!"
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T/N - Ah, so it’s a different party then. Too bad, I wanted to see Zek again. And of course the hero is female. And a worshipper of Lux Aeterna. Might as well put a sign on her forehead: “next harem member”.
The MC sells the idiot barbarian act pretty well. He even identified 2 trash already. Gibson’s harder to pinpoint. But the hero Cian seems to be a decent person, as expected of the MC bait.