Chapter 256 If You Gaze into the Abyss
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Translator: JayM
Chapter: 256
Chapter Title: If You Gaze into the Abyss
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Three days later, in the evening.
The hero's party stood in a corner of the central plaza.
They had finished all their preparations to enter the labyrinth. All they needed was for the barbarian to arrive.
"Why’s that guy so late?"
Sebastian muttered in an annoyed voice.
Luther soothed him.
"Didn't you say that the barbarian was staying in the Southern District? It would take some time for him to get here."
Gibson interjected.
"The Priest-nim’s right. Hehe, I know it's cold, but Sebastian-nim needs to cultivate some patience."
Sebastian glared at the ranger.
Gibson just shrugged and didn’t avoid his gaze.
A cold wind blew between the two men who were facing each other.
Lately, the relationship between Sebastian and Gibson hadn’t been good.
Because Gibson had embezzled the party's funds.
It wasn't a large amount, but Sebastian's pride was hurt. Gibson's actions were no different from completely ignoring the person who was managing the funds.
On the other hand, Gibson was displeased with Sebastian for distributing less funds only to him.
It was difficult for Cian and Luther to take anyone's side.
They understood Sebastian's position as the one managing the funds, and they could also understand Gibson's complaint about receiving less money.
Still, Gibson was more at fault. In any case, it was the party's common fund.
Luther and Cian each stepped up to mediate.
"Gibson, didn't we decide to distribute the funds equally from now on? Please calm down."
"Sebastian, although Gibson was at fault, you also have something to reflect on."
"..."
Gibson and Sebastian, who had been glaring at each other, silently turned their heads.
Gibson and Sebastian's eyes hadn't changed much. Gazes filled with annoyance and anger. It seemed that it would take a little more time for the two to reconcile.
"Uahahaha!!! I'm here!"
From a distance, the barbarian shouted and ran over.
The barbarian passed the hero's party and stood next to Cian.
Cian glanced at Skar, then turned her body around and headed for the labyrinth.
"Skar’s here. Let's go."
Skar walked shoulder to shoulder with Cian.
The latter, unable to bear it, gently pushed Skar's shoulder away.
"S-Skar, aren't you too close?"
"So you don't like it? Aren't we both vanguards?!"
Skar grinned and stuck close to Cian's side again.
Cian was in a complicated state of mind, unable to say anything.
She was embarrassed, thinking of the massage from a few days ago.
And she also felt a sense of self-loathing, wondering if she was unattractive as a woman seeing as Skar approached her so readily with an indifferent expression.
Cian glanced at the barbarian, who was walking beside her. A smiling face, whether he knew her feelings or not.
'Enough.'
She looked ahead. She had to concentrate. The mission His Highness the Crown Prince had entrusted to her was no joke.
On the way to the labyrinth…
There weren't many explorers on the street because the rumor that the monsters were getting stronger had already spread in the Explorer's Headquarters.
According to the testimonies of the explorers who had returned from the labyrinth, it was true.
So it was natural for anyone but the daring to be reluctant to enter the labyrinth at this time.
Cian and her party members advanced down the street and stood on the labyrinth's magic circle.
Flash!!!
The hero's party entered the labyrinth through the magic circle.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
One day, two days, three days, four days.
The hero's party broke through the labyrinth at a high speed and arrived at the 6th floor, the Forest area.
This time too, they were lucky and landed near the transfer stone.
For several days, the party members had advanced through the labyrinth without any particular conversation.
Because there had been many instances where their feelings had been hurt.
Other than that, they had no particular difficulties.
Gibson, who had landed on the Forest area, unfolded a map.
"Hmm."
The ranger’s brow furrowed as he read the map.
The Forest area was more complicated than he had thought. There was too much grass and too many trees, so it was difficult to grasp the geography immediately.
It meant that there were no landmarks for him to use as a guide.
It wasn't an easy task, but it wasn't impossible either. Since his lifelong job was to wander through forests.
At that moment…
The barbarian approached him.
"What is it?!"
Gibson raised his head and rubbed his eyes.
"Hehe. It's nothing. It seems like my eyes have gotten dim from old age."
Skar laughed loudly.
"Kahahahaha!!! Aren't you in your 40s? You should still be in your prime!"
"Kuhuhuhu. That's true."
Gibson replied with a laugh, but his hand that was holding the map was trembling slightly.
In an instant, Jeong Yoo-shin's gaze shone coldly.
'Confirmed.'
He had drunk so much that even after 4 days in the labyrinth, Gibson's breath reeked of alcohol.
Was that all?
He had also noticed that Gibson's hand was trembling.
One of the withdrawal symptoms that could be seen in a severe alcoholic.
The trembling of the body.
Sebastian clicked his tongue.
"Tsk. You're looking at the map for a long time. If your eyes have gotten dim, how about you cut down on the alcohol and gambling?"
A vein popped on Gibson's forehead. Sebastian's tone was getting on his nerves today.
"Mage-nim, that's enough. It's not that easy to find your way in such a dense forest."
Gibson's voice naturally became stiff. Sebastian turned his head away and snorted.
In that cold atmosphere, Jeong Yoo-shin closed his mouth and stepped back.
'What is this?'
No wonder they hadn't said a word while exploring the labyrinth these past few days.
Had there been a conflict in his absence?
At that moment…
"Sebastian, Gibson."
Cian's cool voice echoed in the forest. The two flinched and looked at the hero.
"Are you going to be at each other's throats even here?"
Cian's voice was stern.
"I-I'm sorry."
Sebastian hurriedly bowed his head like a rat and apologized.
Gibson also bowed his head, but said nothing else.
"If you have something against each other, you should have resolved it outside the labyrinth. What’re you going to do, clashing like this in here? Are you going to act like this even when you go deep into the labyrinth? Do you think you'll have the leisure to talk comfortably there?"
"..."
The party members were silent.
"Everyone, think about the reason why you came here."
"I'm sorry."
"Yes."
"Alright!"
At Cian's rebuke, Sebastian answered first, and Gibson followed.
Finally, the barbarian grinned and shouted loudly.
Cian looked at Skar and was about to say something, but stopped.
In fact…
'I'm the same.'
Although she had warned the party, her situation was similar.
The further down the floors they went, the stronger Skar's sweat smell became.
She didn't know why she liked it so much, but she couldn't avoid it because he was walking right next to her.
She had tried to breathe through her mouth, but when she came to her senses, she found herself inhaling Skar's body scent to the fullest.
She should have been thinking about the red orbs…
But her head was full of Skar's scent, which was an embarrassing mishap.
"Let's go. If something like this happens one more time, I’ll suspend our labyrinth exploration."
At Cian's warning, the party members finally came to their senses and set out.
When they had advanced through the forest for about 3 hours, Gibson looked at Cian.
"Hero-nim, there should be a ruined watchtower around here."
"Is the red orb there?"
"Yes."
"I understand."
The party members slowly searched the forest.
Gibson opened his mouth.
"Found it."
A ruined watchtower was visible beyond the vine-covered view.
The hero's party approached the watchtower and opened the door.
Creeeeak.
The hinges of the rotten wooden door screeched.
The party members narrowed their eyes and looked inside the watchtower.
It was visible.
In the middle of the dark watchtower…
A red orb was shining on a strange, tentacle-like pedestal.
Luther stepped forward.
"Be careful! I can feel an unusual energy from that orb!"
Sebastian, unconcerned, approached the red orb a little closer and observed it.
"This is... a passage to the other world?"
Luther grabbed Sebastian's shoulder.
"Sebastian-nim, you shouldn't look at it for too long. Your mind could be contaminated!"
"Yes."
Sebastian replied, but his gaze didn’t leave the red orb.
On the other hand…
Jeong Yoo-shin frowned. Because he had no good memories of the red orb.
It was fortunate that something like a bug didn't appear in his eyes like last time.
Was it due to the blessing of Lux Aeterna?
Or was it because he had closed the window of his mind after his long meditation?
It could be both too.
Jeong Yoo-shin looked at Sebastian's gradually dazed eyes and inwardly clicked his tongue.
'This bastard’s being annoying.'
"Don't bring the torch close! You'll be pulled into the passage to the other world!"
Jeong Yoo-shin shouted in Sebastian's ear.
The startled Sebastian hurriedly stepped back.
"H-Huk!!! Why are you suddenly shouting? We know that too!"
Cian suddenly extended her hand and grabbed the red orb.
"Hero-nim?!"
Luther freaked out.
"Quiet."
Cian gave him a short reply and closed her eyes.
In a moment…
Woooooong!!!
The holy power of Lux Aeterna emanated from her body.
Fssssss.
In the vast radiance, the red orb lost its color, turned to ash, and crumbled.
Cian shook her hand, brushed off the ashes, and turned her back on the pedestal.
"Let's rest here for a bit and then…"
Cian couldn’t finish her sentence.
At that moment…
"Keng keng!!!"
"Uuuwoooo!!!"
"Kiiiiiii!!!"
They heard the sound of monsters from outside the watchtower.
Cian was the first to leave the watchtower, and Skar followed after her.
Outside, dozens of monsters were surrounding the watchtower.
Cian made a bitter smile and drew her sword.
"I heard that the number of explorers entering the labyrinth has decreased recently, but I never thought that it would have such a side effect."
Sebastian stepped forward.
"Hero-nim, please leave it to me."
"No. This time, we’ll fight together. I'm sorry for putting too much of a burden on you."
"Hero-nim!"
Sebastian looked up at Cian with a touched expression.
0.
That pure number was so beautiful.
"Prepare for battle. Skar’s next to me...!"
Cian turned her head and looked for Skar.
He had been next to her just a moment ago, but where in the world had he gone?
Sebastian had a dumbfounded expression.
"N-No, that crazy bastard!!!"
"Kahaaaaaa!!! The battle calls me!!!"
The barbarian was roaring and running into the enemy lines.
"Haa. Sebastian, Luther, Gibson. I'll go first."
"Yes."
Cian ran after the barbarian.
And Luther immediately chanted his holy magic.
[Holy Strength]
[Holy Protection]
[High Intelligence]
[Slow Heal]
In an instant, the blessing magic was fully released, strengthening the party.
Gibson took off the composite bow that he was carrying on his back and nocked an arrow on it.
Creeeeak.
Thwack.
Swoooosh!!!
The arrow that left the bowstring flew like a ray of light and embedded itself in a mushroom man's head. A blow that perfectly pierced its vital point.
His speed of shooting his arrows was also fast.
No sooner had the instantly killed mushroom man fallen back than several monsters were hit by arrows and also collapsed.
"Uahahaha!!!"
The barbarian was swinging his single-bladed axe like a madman among the monsters.
Kra-jeeeek!!!
He cut the mushroom man in front of him in half.
And then he kicked a dog running at him.
It seemed like the axe blade he swung wasn’t satisfied until it had halved whatever it touched.
Cian stuck behind the barbarian.
It was a fight that she should have led, but Skar had rushed in first.
But she didn't feel bad about it.
In fact, it was strange. Because she had never fought behind someone's back before.
Cian swung her longsword and intercepted all the attacks coming from outside Skar's field of vision.
A formation where Cian's sword followed and supported Skar's bold axe swings. The two's skills were a perfect blend of offense and defense.
Sebastian's brow furrowed as he was chanting his magic from a distance.
Although it was mainly Cian who was matching the barbarian, even he, who didn't know much about martial arts, could see that the two had good coordination.
'What an eyesore.'
Still, if there was one consolation, it was the number 0 floating above Cian's head.
Cian was a hero. He was sure that she wasn’t a woman who would fall for such a barbarian.
[Explosion]
Booooooooom!!!
Dozens of monsters were blown away by Sebastian's magic.
"Hmm?"
It was time for Luther's barrier to go up.
Sebastian turned his head and looked at Luther.
The priest’s gaze was somewhat dazed.
"Priest-nim? What is it?"
"N-Nothing. I-I was just a little surprised because there seemed to be too many monsters."
Luther stuttered and barely managed to answer, but his head was still in a mess.
It was strange.
'I definitely cast the blessing magic...?'
There was no big change in the barbarian's movements.
Should he say that it was as if he hadn't received the blessing magic properly?
Luther's eyes, which had been contemplating, narrowed for a moment.
'As expected.'
His prediction wasn’t wrong.
It was clear that that barbarian was hiding a sinister imprint.
However…
Luther didn’t realize it.
That if you gaze into the abyss, the abyss also gazes into you.
Jeong Yoo-shin, even while swinging his axe like a madman…
With a cool gaze, he didn’t miss a single move of Luther and Gibson and was steadily tracking them in his head.
'He's a sharp-witted priest. This is why quick-witted guys are… Tsk.'
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T/N - Huh, I wonder why the buffs didn’t affect the MC? Did any of his imprints have that kind of effect? Was it the half-incubus imprint? I can’t really remember…
Still, I can imagine how the hero party will break down. Cian will get seduced by the MC. Gibson will die to the MC now that the latter knows the former’s dirty secrets. The mage will have a meltdown when he sees Cian’s number turn to 1. And the priest’s paranoia will most likely get him into trouble.