Chapter 246 Palpitating Hero Massage (1)
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Translator: JayM
Chapter: 246
Chapter Title: Palpitating Hero Massage (1)
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3rd floor of the labyrinth.
Shelter.
Cian opened her eyes.
About 6 hours had passed since the barbarian's snores had quieted down.
It was almost time to wake up. The other party members were all asleep.
She quietly got up from her spot and stretched so as not to wake her party members.
Cian twisted her waist and looked down intently at the barbarian.
The sight of him lying with his arms and legs spread wide was quite something. She could hear his quiet breathing, close to a soft purr.
'His original breathing.'
He was a man who was so active that it was distracting when he was awake.
His sleeping form was different.
Because his long, unkempt black hair half-covered his face, it was difficult to confirm his full appearance.
As she realized the gap between when he was awake and when he was asleep, a curious thought arose within her mind.
'What does he look like?'
Cian, as if mesmerized, stealthily approached the barbarian.
Was it a romantic feeling?
Cian inwardly shook her head and denied it. How could she harbor such feelings for someone she had just met?
It was just curiosity.
She took off her gauntlet, carefully placed it on the floor, and knelt on one knee beside the barbarian.
'I'm just checking for a moment.'
She repeated to herself inwardly and slowly extended her hand. Toward the hair that was half-covering his forehead and face.
Rustle.
The hair was moved, and his forehead was slowly revealed.
Gulp.
Cian unconsciously swallowed dryly. Just as the hero's hand was about to completely push back his hair…
Flash.
The barbarian's eyes opened.
Cian's eyes widened.
"Ah."
Thump!!!
Her heart sank.
It wasn't because the barbarian had snatched her hand at the speed of light.
It was his eyes.
Infinitely cold, sunken pupils. The abyss itself would be bright compared to those heavy and dark eyes.
How could a person's impression change so drastically with just their gaze?
It suited his sharp eyes so well.
"What?! No, what is this?!"
The barbarian's eyes became round, and a flustered voice flowed from his mouth.
But Cian couldn't pay attention to it at all.
Because she had felt a familiar yet unfamiliar energy from their clasped hands.
In the midst of that, there was one more energy.
A smell similar to the barbarian's sweat that had been lingering at the tip of her nose.
What should she call this feeling?
It felt as if the barbarian's sweet body scent had entered her body and was warming it up.
Cian instinctively pulled her hand away.
"S-Skar, it's time to wake up. I reached out to wake you, but you grabbed my hand."
"...Is that so? Alright!!!"
The barbarian's eyes rolled around, and then he immediately lowered his hair and shot up from his spot.
At the noisy sound, Luther and Sebastian also woke up.
"What is it?"
Sebastian, who wasn’t fully awake yet, asked with a dazed expression.
"It's time to wake up."
Cian replied, picking up her gauntlet on the floor.
Cian's party, who had tidied up their sleeping spots, sat around the bonfire, ate jerky and biscuits, stood up, and then started walking again.
4th floor.
Goblin warriors and shamans appeared, but they were lightly swept away by Sebastian's explosion magic.
5th floor.
They arrived at Ingrave, the city submerged in darkness.
The party members passed through the cave, came down a high hill, and then walked straight until they were standing in front of a huge castle gate.
"Graaaaaak!!!"
As soon as they stepped inside the gate, a huge goblin holding a staff roared.
A Goblin King.
One of the powerful individuals that had started to appear after the last change in the labyrinth.
The Explorer's Guild had eventually given it a name. Because they had already confirmed that it wasn't a temporary phenomenon.
Sebastian stepped forward and raised his hand.
"I'll take care of it."
A quick muttering passed, and the magic was deployed in an instant.
[Ice Wall]
Three ice walls surrounded the Goblin King.
[Earth Vine]
Tree roots shot out from the ground and tied its ankles.
[Explosion]
Finally, the ground where the Goblin King was standing was set ablaze, and an explosion occurred.
Booooooooom!!!
In an instant, the Goblin King was blown to bits. Burnt flesh and bone fragments flew up and stuck to the ice walls.
[Holy Barrier]
A hot shockwave that could even burn blood burst out, but Luther deployed his holy magic and handled the aftermath.
"Oh!!! Amazing!!!"
The barbarian exclaimed.
"Hmph. Let's go."
Sebastian snorted.
The party members walked through the city streets without hesitation and stood in front of the transfer stone that led to the Corridor area.
Hwoooong.
A red portal and a blue portal appeared.
The expressions of the party members looking at the portals were nonchalant.
Luther smiled.
"At this rate, we'll break through to the 10th floor in a few days."
Gibson made an awkward smile and shook his head.
"Hehe. We were lucky this time. We always landed near the transfer stones."
"Assuming we're not lucky, if we're to go past the 10th floor, we'll have to make a long-term plan. We'll have to be mindful of supplies and food."
The people who were chatting glanced at Cian and the barbarian. Because both of them were silent.
"..."
The barbarian was looking at the portal with a dazed expression.
And Cian was keeping her mouth shut, as if she had something to think about.
Luther approached them.
"Hero-nim, are you alright?"
"Ah, I was just thinking about something… No problem. As the Priest-nim said, we'll have to make a plan assuming a long-term battle and exploration."
"That's right!!! The one who survives is the strong one!!!"
The barbarian shouted loudly.
The party members shook their heads and stepped into the portal. They thought that it was a truly uneventful labyrinth exploration.
When they entered the portal, they felt a sense of floating along with a flashing vision, and then they landed on the ground.
Flash!!!
The party members stood on the labyrinth's exit magic circle.
Evening, with the sun setting.
The cold air touched their skin.
Cian felt a sense of liberation. At the same time, her muscles became a little stiff.
"Did I get an imprint?"
At Cian's muttering, the barbarian's eyes flashed.
"Did you feel a sense of liberation?!"
"I did."
"Then you got an imprint! Go to the temple quickly!"
"Should I?"
Luther and Sebastian stepped forward.
"We’ll accompany you, Hero-nim. Let's go right now."
Cian looked at the barbarian and nodded.
"Thanks for your help, Skar."
"Uahahahaha!!! Don't mention it! Aren't we comrades?!"
Cian, Sebastian, and Luther left the magic circle with quick steps and disappeared into the street.
One person.
Only the ranger Gibson remained.
"Gibson, aren't you going to follow them?!"
"Two of them are going, so there's no need for me to go too. But…"
Gibson's expression turned serious.
"Barbarian."
The barbarian's expression also hardened.
"What?"
"By any chance... Can you lend me some money?"
The barbarian's hardened expression brightened.
"Uahahaha!!! How much do you need?! Just say the word!"
"I think 1 gold coin will be enough."
"..."
The barbarian looked at Gibson with his mouth shut.
Gibson scratched his head.
"I-Is that too much?"
"No!!! 1 gold coin?! That's a pittance!"
Gibson's face also relaxed.
"Hahaha!!! This friend is a very generous friend!!! Thank you!!!"
"Uahahaha!!! By the way, what are you going to use it for?!"
Gibson smiled.
"I'm thinking of drinking and gambling while I'm at it. By any chance, do you want to come with me?"
"I'm tired! Here's 1 gold coin."
The barbarian rummaged through his backpack, took out a gold coin, and threw it.
Gibson grinned and snatched the flying gold coin.
"You're a well-prepared friend!"
"Uahaha!!! That's me!!! Then see you later!!!"
The barbarian slung his single-bladed axe over his shoulder and ran down the street.
Gibson fiddled with the gold coin.
His heart pounded, and his breathing became ragged.
He was thirsty for alcohol. His fingers tingled, wanting to taste that thrilling moment of betting money and flipping the cards.
"Hehehe. Barbarian, that guy’s a good friend."
Gibson smiled gloomily and quickened his pace.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Central area.
The temple that served the Wind Spirit God.
The Spirit Teacher Luke took his hand off Cian's shoulder.
"Your imprint is a Muscle Stiffness imprint."
Cian's expression was nonchalant, but Sebastian and Luther's expressions crumpled.
Sebastian stepped forward.
"Please explain in detail."
"It's just as it says. Your muscles get tight and stiff."
"Damn it!!!"
Only then did the meaning of the imprint hit him hard.
"You can remove it, right?"
"I can. But I don't recommend it."
At Sebastian's question, Luke replied with a subtle expression.
"What's the reason?"
"Don't be so sharp. We don't want to be at odds with the people of the Empire either."
"..."
Luke cleared his throat and opened his mouth.
"Ahem! The cost increases the more you remove imprints. If it keeps increasing, you won't be able to afford it. And if you get another negative imprint, it's over."
"If cost is the problem…"
"Do you really think cost is the problem?"
"Then...?"
"It's difficult to tell you. Anyway, just leave most negative imprints as they are. I recommend removing them when you're about to retire as an explorer."
Cian nodded and then opened her mouth.
"Does the muscle stiffness continue?"
"No. It gets better if you loosen it up with a massage. Although you'll have to do it periodically."
"I understand, thank you."
Cian gave her thanks and turned to leave Luke's room. Sebastian, who was about to follow Cian out, looked at Luther.
"Priest-nim?"
"I'll talk with Luke-nim and then go."
"Yes."
Creeeeak.
Click.
The door closed, and the two priests remained.
Luther, who had been quiet, suddenly asked.
"What is Skar's imprint?"
"...I can't tell you that."
"Why?"
"It's a principle not to reveal it unless the explorer reveals it himself or it poses a serious threat to the city. Please understand."
"Then please tell me about that friend."
Luther asked bluntly.
Since it had only been a short time since he had come to the city, Luther had focused all of his attention on adapting.
He had no time to worry about the barbarian. That was also the reason why his first impression of the man was strongly engraved in his mind, and he had trusted and followed him because it was His Highness the Crown Prince's choice.
But…
Now that he had experienced the labyrinth and its laws, even if just a little, and had come to think seriously about imprints…
He came to see the rumor about Skar that the Hero-nim had mentioned in passing during a meal differently.
The rumor that he had cut off an ogre's head with his eyes closed on the 17th floor of the labyrinth.
It was no different from saying that he had a hidden imprint.
Thinking about it a little more…
It meant that there was a possibility that he had an imprint that could have a negative effect on the hero.
Luke made a bitter smile.
"There's no need to think too deeply about that friend. Won't it just make your head more complicated?"
"...I suppose so. Well then…"
Luther looked at Luke silently for a moment, then turned his body and left the temple.
The winter wind raged, but Luther was so lost in thought that he didn't even feel the cold.
'There's something.'
He felt it intuitively.
Luther's eyes as he walked down the street shone coldly.
'What are you hiding? Barbarian.'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Central area.
A luxurious inn.
Cian slowly took off her armor.
She placed the parts of the plate armor on the table.
Cian, who was now only in a thick arming doublet and quilted pants, frowned.
"Hmm."
Her shoulder was stiff.
Cian raised her hand and patted it.
"Is it already tight?"
It seemed like she would have to find a good masseuse. A female one, of course.
She wasn't too worried.
Because there was the barbarian who knew Labyrinth City well.
The next day, around noon.
Cian went to the Swordsman’s Guild.
The barbarian was still swinging his axe vigorously.
Cian waved her hand toward him.
"Skar."
The barbarian ran over in one step.
"Oh!!! Cian! Want to spar?"
Cian shook her head.
"No. I'm looking for a masseuse to loosen up my muscles. Is that possible?"
"So suddenly?!"
Cian hesitated for a moment and then opened her mouth.
"I got a Muscle Stiffness imprint. They say that I have to periodically loosen up my tight muscles."
The barbarian was silent for a moment and then patted his chest.
"You don't have to go far!"
Cian tilted her head.
"What do you mean by that?"
"You have me, don't you?! A warrior knows a warrior's body best! Leave it to me! I'll loosen you up nicely!"
"..."
Cian, who was about to shake her head and refuse, stopped.
The infinitely sunken pupils she had seen in the labyrinth flashed through her mind. They had also looked chillingly cold.
She was curious about what this man's true form was.
Was it just a drowsy gaze that had briefly passed by because he had just woken up?
She would find out for sure this time.
She had no fear. Because she was the one who had been blessed by Lux Aeterna.
"Should I? I'll be in your care then."
Cian nodded and muttered to herself.
'It's just the shoulder.'
T/N - And there it is. It’s already over for Hero Cian. The moment she got that imprint, I knew where this was going. And she willingly jumped into the hole soon enough.
Also, it seems like the MC’s disguise is unravelling little by little. Luther’s smarter than my initial impression of him.
Lastly, damn, 1 gold coin is all it took to buy Gibson? If he wasn’t such a piece of shit, I wouldn’t mind if he stuck around then. Unfortunately, his background story is just too much for me.