Chapter 244 The Hero's Armpit and the Darkness of the Labyrinth
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Translator: JayM
Chapter: 244
Chapter Title: The Hero's Armpit and the Darkness of the Labyrinth
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"Shit... you say? What do you mean by that?"
Luke asked.
Jeong Yoo-shin shrugged.
"It means that the crown prince sent me some shitty people. Although I'll have to watch the hero a little more."
"I don't know if they're shitty people, but that young mage’s not ordinary. His magic could be felt even from a distance. I heard that something like a heat haze rose from his body, is that right?"
Jeong Yoo-shin nodded. As expected of an elder of the Mage Tower, he was very interested in mages.
"That's right."
Luke interjected.
"How was the priest?"
"He hated beast-persons. I don't know yet if he despises other demi-humans as well."
Luke let out a soft sigh.
"Hoo. This won't be easy."
"Why are you worried?"
"If that hero party gets an imprint, won't they come to a temple that serves a Spirit God to have it checked? And aren’t they followers of Lux Aeterna? My head is already throbbing."
"Let's suffer a bit in our old age. You have to work to live young."
"..."
Luke swept back his white hair and glared at Jeong Yoo-shin.
Jeong Yoo-shin didn't care and continued.
"That's my general first impression. I plan to find out the rest little by little as we travel together. Although I feel like I'm eating shit."
Jeong Yoo-shin crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair.
The ones he could see weren’t the problem.
'The crown prince.'
He was curious about the crown prince's intentions. He could find out more easily if they had a frank conversation, but that was impossible. Because the crown prince wasn’t in the city.
Did he simply want to screw Jeong Yoo-shin over?
Or did he have another plan?
"By the way, how was the hero?"
Snout asked.
Jeong Yoo-shin scratched his chin and then blurted out.
"Pretty."
"Pardon?"
"I said she's pretty."
Cian was certainly beautiful.
He didn't know her detailed figure because she was wearing thick plate armor, but she was tall enough to reach his neck.
Her dark blond hair, long eyelashes, and calm, sunken golden eyes were attractive.
Luke and Mathias stared blankly at Jeong Yoo-shin.
Jeong Yoo-shin had a reluctant expression.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"You, don't tell me... No, it can't be."
"No, but still, the hero...?"
'These old men. What do they take me for.'
"I'm not that kind of person. It was difficult to measure her overall strength, but her strength and agility were superior to mine."
Her swordsmanship also showed signs of being systematically learned.
Jeong Yoo-shin tapped the table and concluded the story.
"Let's end the story here. I'll have to watch a little more as we travel together."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Explorer's Guild Headquarters.
Explorers with nothing to do were gathered here.
Recently, there were two hot topics in Labyrinth City.
The news that the hero and her companions had entered the city.
The other was the rumor about the half-barbarian Skar.
"Hey, is that really true?"
At someone's question, a middle-aged man shouted.
"How many times have I told you?! It's true! I saw it with my own two eyes! He swung a greatsword with his eyes closed and cut off the ogre's head on a plateau where the 'hideous thing' had risen!"
"How, with his eyes closed? I can't understand it at all."
"Aren't you also going back and forth because of the madness?"
"Would a married woman's anus lover be in his right mind?"
"What did you say, you guys?!"
Just as the middle-aged man got angry and was about to slam the table…
Someone approached them.
The people's movements froze stiff. It was impossible not to know this person. Because she was one of the hot topics in the city.
The hero.
She was as beautiful as the rumors said, and she overflowed with a commanding presence.
"I have something to ask."
"What’re you curious about?"
At the hero's question, the middle-aged man cautiously replied.
Even if she was from the Empire, this person was a woman who had killed a kin of an Outer God.
Unless he was crazy, he couldn't openly show hostility to her.
"Is the person named Skar famous?"
"He is. He has set many crazy achievements. He's a great person."
"Could you tell me about them?"
"No. That's a bit... I-I'm busy today. Well then…"
The middle-aged man scratched his head and then hurriedly stood up and moved away.
Cian made a bitter smile.
Although they didn't openly antagonize her, quite a large number of explorers were sending wary gazes her way and were slowly avoiding her.
'This is difficult.'
Since the relationship between the Empire and the Alliance wasn’t good, this was unavoidable.
But she thought that it was fortunate that there were also people who kindly answered her questions.
In fact…
For the past few days, Cian had thought that she was going to lose her mind. Because there were many strange things here that she had never seen before in the Empire.
She was really surprised when she saw monsters walking down the street. She was even more surprised by the fact that they were originally human.
And imprints…
The rumors about imprints were widespread even within the Empire, so she had heard about them until her ears hurt, but when she saw them in person, she found that there were more diverse imprints than the rumors suggested.
The clothes were also very different.
She was embarrassed when she saw a female warrior wearing outrageous armor on the street.
'To think that she's barely covering her breasts and private parts.'
She wondered if that kind of armor would provide any defense, so she went ahead and asked.
The female warrior's answer was surprising.
Did she say that because she had a naturalist imprint, her defense increased the less clothes she had on?
Of course, there were some people who stuck to normal attire, but even those people didn't care about how others dressed.
She also saw an elf and an orc walking down the street arm in arm like lovers.
And she even saw a scene of a woman with a succubus imprint and a boy warrior heading to the labyrinth together.
Labyrinth City, where common sense and non-common sense were mixed…
What could she say?
It looked free.
'Enough.'
Cian shook her head and cleared her mind of such thoughts.
Her mission was to enter the deeper parts of the labyrinth with her companions. And to seal the passage to the other world.
She couldn't be distracted by other things.
Cian came out of the Explorer's Headquarters and raised her head to look west.
She saw a high-soaring black rock.
'That place is…'
The labyrinth.
She couldn't be careless. Just because she had received the power of Lux Aeterna-nim, she had no intention of neglecting her training.
'Is there a swordsmanship guild here?'
Cian walked while looking around.
As she was walking toward the south.
She saw a girl and a dog standing in front of a small bakery.
'A dog...?'
The body was a dog's, but the face was a cute pretty boy's.
Cian approached them.
"Hello?"
The red-eyed girl with white hair turned her head, saw Cian, and then flinched and stepped back.
"W-What is it?"
Cian swallowed a bitter smile. Well, they wouldn't look kindly on a hero from the Empire.
"Do you happen to know where the swordsmanship guild is?"
"Which swordsmanship guild are you looking for? There are many swordsmanship guilds in the city."
"Isn't there one in the Southern District?"
"There is one, but...?"
"Could you guide me there?"
"I have something to do, so it's difficult. The Swordsman’s Guild is a little north of the southern park."
"Thank you."
Cian turned her body and walked away.
Eru watched the hero's retreating back, then patted the head of Armin, who was keeping his mouth shut.
"It was surprising to suddenly meet the hero. We've bought enough groceries, so shall we go back?"
"I understand."
Cian walked while looking at the streets. It was a region that was underdeveloped in many ways compared to the central area, but it had a human smell.
As she walked while asking the people on the street for directions, she saw a building.
That was the Swordsman’s guild.
She recognized it at a glance. Because there were many people with weapons around the building.
When she went inside the building, a boy with shaggy hair was sitting at the counter.
"Is this your first time here? The registration fee is 20 silver coins."
"For a day?"
"It's for a month."
Cian searched her pocket and placed a gold coin down.
The shaggy-haired boy's eyes widened as he looked at the gold coin, then he put it in the table drawer and picked up a pen.
"What is your name?"
"Cian."
"...The hero."
"That's right."
"What's your reason for coming here?"
"I came here to train."
"I understand. Please follow me."
The shaggy-haired boy stood up and went out the back door.
When Cian followed the boy and went outside, she saw a yard.
And a familiar face came into her view.
Cian's eyes widened.
'The barbarian?'
The black-haired man she had seen a few days ago was swinging a huge single-bladed axe with gusto.
His opponent was a bald middle-aged man.
The bald man was swinging a greatsword with a weary face.
"Skar! Control your strength a bit!"
"Uahahahaha!!! Vice-Guild Master! I’ll take that position today!!!"
"You madman!"
Claaaaaaang!!!
Claaaaaaang!!!
Cian crossed her arms and watched the fight.
'As expected.'
He was no ordinary talent. He was swinging based on instinct, but his innate strength was compensating for his lack of technique.
The bald man, who had been sparring for a long time, stepped back.
"I can't do it anymore. My bones are aching."
"Skar can do it all day! Skar’s strong!"
The bald man let out a deep sigh and then turned his head.
"The hero?"
Cian again made a bitter smile.
She had been walking around the city for the past few days, so it seemed that her face had become too well-known.
The barbarian ran over in one step and stood in front of Cian.
"Oh!!! Cian!!! What is it?!!"
Cian's nose twitched.
Because a faint sweet scent was mixed in with the smell of sweat. It was a smell she had never smelled before in her life, but she didn't show it.
"I came to train."
"Where are your other companions?!!"
"They’re resting. They seem very tired from the journey."
"Is that so?!! Alright!!! Let's spar!!!"
Cian smiled and was about to draw her sword when she saw the bald man.
"Are you the Vice-Guild Master?"
"I am. Have you paid the fee?"
"Yes."
"Feel free to use this place then. Do you need separate swordsmanship instruction?"
"A spar will be enough."
"Do as you please."
Cian drew her sword and sparred with Skar.
She faced Skar while moderately holding back her strength and speed. There was no need to use the power of Lux Aeterna-nim during a spar.
Still, because it was more intense than a normal spar, she sweated a little.
"Skar, let's stop here."
Cian sheathed her sword and stepped back. It seemed that they had sparred for about 2 hours, but there was no sign of fatigue on Skar's face. Although he had sweated a lot as well.
"Haaak!!! Haaak!!! Cian is strong!!! Skar has fallen for you again!!! Bear my child!!!"
Cian smiled. He was an uncontrollably honest barbarian.
The barbarian came over, pushed his face close to hers, and sniffed.
"Huuuup!!! Cian's sweat smells good!!! I want to lick your armpit!!!"
"Eek?! T-This guy!"
The flustered Cian pushed the barbarian away.
The barbarian was pushed away without resistance and laughed loudly.
"Uahahaha!!! Skar is going to the bathhouse!!! Are you going too?!!"
Cian shook her head.
"I'll wash separately. I didn't bring a change of clothes."
"Is that so?!! Let's definitely take a bath together later!!!"
The barbarian waved his hand and left the Swordsman’s Guild like the wind.
'He's like a storm.'
He was a man as hearty and refreshing as his axe swings.
Although the part about wanting to lick her armpit was a bit creepy.
She imagined what he would look like if he pushed back his long, unkempt hair and then shook her head.
'Useless thoughts.'
Cian finished her training and returned to the inn in the central area.
Priest Luther and the mage Sebastian were standing in front of her room.
Luther approached her with a benevolent smile.
"Hero-nim, where have you been?"
"I looked around the Explorer's Guild Headquarters and stopped by the Swordsman’s Guild to train for a bit. How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine, thanks to your concern. By the way, where’s Gibson-nim...?"
"He went to drink early in the morning."
At Cian's answer, Sebastian's face became annoyed.
"Can't that ahjussi live without alcohol?"
Cian made a bitter smile and then got to the point.
"I plan to go to the Explorer's Guild in three days, finish the registration, and enter the labyrinth. Is that alright?"
Priest Luther nodded.
"That's good. In fact, for the past few days, you've been wandering the streets without a word, so I was worried that you might have been captivated by the debauched culture of Labyrinth City, but it seems like I was mistaken."
Cian shook her head.
"How could that be?"
Sebastian interjected.
"Priest-nim, our Hero-nim’s not someone who would be swayed by the stupid Eastern Alliance bastards."
"I see. It is my fault for my lack of faith."
The priest and the mage smiled and talked.
Cian turned her body with a gentle smile.
"Then I wish you both a good night."
"Yes. You too have a comfortable night, Hero-nim."
Cian grabbed the doorknob and felt a strange sense of frustration.
Then she thought of the heartily laughing barbarian.
'Enough.'
Either way, they were her companions. Even if their words were harsh, they had good coordination when they fought together.
If it hadn't been for them, she would have had more difficulty subjugating the kin of the Outer God.
Moreover, weren't they the companions His Highness the Crown Prince had designated her?
'Let's not have useless thoughts.'
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Jeong Yoo-shin, who had returned to the inn, slammed his head on the table.
"Damn it."
To want to lick the hero's armpit…
Even if he had spoken without thinking, hadn't he crossed the line?
Won’t he be kicked out of the hero's party after this?
Jeong Yoo-shin tore at his hair.
'The darkness of the labyrinth is too deep.'
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T/N - Sure, MC. It’s the darkness of the labyrinth. Definitely not your inner desires coming out in a moment of madness.
Also, so the hero does have her doubts about her party members. Only Gibson’s stance is still unknown as we only know that he loves drinking. The hero is also already falling for the MC. Well, she did smell the sweat of a half-incubus. That’s just asking for trouble.