26. Karin's Belly Button Endure It Like Hell
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Translator: JayM
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Karin's Belly Button: Endure It Like Hell
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Evening at the inn.
Two beast-people stood near the counter.
“Dalmong, when is that barbarian coming?!”
Karin asked impatiently, her voice laced with annoyance.
Her tail twitched and swished outside the confines of her chair.
“He should be arriving soon, Karin-nim.”
Dalmong replied calmly while polishing a glass with a cloth.
Clatter!
“I’m back.”
Jeong Yoo-shin entered the inn.
“You’re here?”
“You’re late!”
Karin’s sharp eyes narrowed.
“I apologize. I was taking a bath.”
Jeong Yoo-shin strode over and sat down next to Karin, facing the counter.
The scent of the barbarian wafted towards her.
The pure, unadulterated scent of a man free of sweat and grime made her head spin.
It was strange. It hadn’t been like this before.
Karin felt a strange thirst.
“Karin-nim, would you like a drink for your wait?”
Dalmong, who was standing behind the counter, offered.
“Yes. Give me a drink. I need something to calm my nerves.”
Dalmong poured a clear liquid into a clean glass.
“Have a drink too, Skar.”
“Yes, thank you.”
Dalmong poured another drink and handed it to Jeong Yoo-shin.
Karin sipped her drink and glanced at Jeong Yoo-shin.
He was staring quietly at his drink, seemingly lost in thought.
“Ahem. So, have you thought about it?”
Karin started the conversation.
Jeong Yoo-shin turned his head.
“Thought about what?”
“My offer.”
“I refused your previous offer. Didn’t you call me here for a different proposal?”
“Yes. But it’s a shame. I thought it was a good offer.”
“What’s the other offer?”
“I’ll hire you as a porter.”
Jeong Yoo-shin’s eyebrows shot up at the unexpected offer.
The barbarian looked puzzled.
Karin felt a small thrill of satisfaction.
“Please explain.”
“The labyrinth will be closed soon.”
Jeong Yoo-shin stiffened.
His eyes widened in surprise. The sight of his wide-eyed expression made Karin’s stomach flutter.
“Something is happening in the labyrinth. The Explorers Guild headquarters is currently gathering and analyzing the testimonies from the returning parties. We should have the results soon.”
Karin took a sip of her drink and continued,
“The labyrinth closure will be temporary. They’ll assemble an investigation team afterward composed of high and intermediate-rank explorers currently in the city, and I’ll be part of it.”
“You’re an explorer?”
“Yes. I was recently promoted to intermediate rank. You’re still a rookie, right?”
Karin grinned at him.
The barbarian’s frown made her stomach flutter again. This time, it felt like a tickle.
She felt a warmth spreading through her lower body. She could feel the hardness of the chair below her through her underwear and leather pants.
‘This is strange.’
She thought to herself.
Was it the alcohol?
Or the barbarian’s frustrated expression?
She didn’t know.
But she wanted to prolong this strange, tingling sensation. That much, she was certain.
“So, join my investigation team as a porter. I’ll pay you well and protect you. What do you say?”
Karin’s face was slightly flushed, perhaps from the alcohol.
Jeong Yoo-shin stroked his chin, considering her offer.
‘Not bad.’
He would earn money and see firsthand what was happening in the labyrinth at the same time. It would be dangerous, but they were proper intermediate-rank explorers. It would be much safer than a reject party.
Plus, with a high-ranking explorer leading the way, they would have plenty of leeway to react to any situation.
He couldn’t afford to sit around worrying while doing nothing.
‘Good.’
“I accept your offer. Fifty silver coins as an advance, you said? What’s the rest of the payment?”
Karin took out a gold coin from her pocket and tossed it to him.
“Here.”
Jeong Yoo-shin caught the gold coin like a hawk.
“Whoa.”
‘A suspiciously generous wolf beast-person. Noted.’
The sight of the gold coin filled him with a sense of ease, erasing all his worries about the future.
Karin stood up.
“Good. Now we need to finalize the contract.”
Jeong Yoo-shin looked at her.
“Finalize the contract?”
Karin suddenly lifted the hem of her shirt.
Her smooth, toned stomach and her cute belly button were exposed.
“It’s a Red Wolf Tribe tradition to finalize a contract. Kiss my belly.”
Karin smiled, her eyes narrowing.
Silence fell over the inn.
“Is this… customary, Dalmong?”
Jeong Yoo-shin asked. Dalmong felt a pang of sympathy for him. He was about to speak, but Karin’s sharp glare silenced him. He nodded reluctantly.
“…Yes.”
The daughter of the Beast-person Alliance representative.
A hero and an idol among beast-people, renowned for leading her subordinates and personally slaying slave hunters along the borders of the Eastern Alliance.
A beauty who had rejected countless marriage proposals from prominent beast-people.
And now, she was demanding a belly kiss from a mere barbarian.
A belly kiss, a symbol of humiliating submission.
It was an ancient tradition, long since abandoned. Even Dalmong, a middle-aged beast-person, considered it archaic, so younger beast-people were likely unaware of its existence.
But Karin knew.
She was, after all, the daughter of the leader of the Beast-person Alliance.
Dalmong, a member of the alliance, couldn’t defy her.
But he couldn’t bear to watch Jeong Yoo-shin’s humiliation, so he turned away.
“I’ll… I’ll be in the kitchen. I haven’t finished cleaning up yet.”
Dalmong excused himself and retreated into the kitchen.
Karin prompted him.
“Hurry up.”
“Are you sure? We’re finalizing the contract with a belly kiss?”
“Do I look like I’m lying? I’m the daughter of the Beast-person Alliance representative.”
Karin growled, her eyes narrowing even further.
“Ugh. Fine.”
Jeong Yoo-shin knelt and looked at Karin’s stomach.
She must have pulled her panties up because the waistband was now resting on her wide hips. He could see the black lace embroidery peeking above her pants.
His lips moved closer to her toned stomach and her cute belly button.
Karin’s breathing quickened. She tightened her grip on her shirt.
And then…
Smooch.
His lips touched her belly.
Karin’s head snapped back.
A jolt ran down her spine, and a tightening sensation pulsed deep within her abdomen.
She braced herself on her trembling legs and covered her mouth with one hand.
She could feel the vibrations through his lips.
‘Is she… enjoying this?’
Jeong Yoo-shin, a complete novice in matters of intimacy, pulled away and looked at Karin in confusion.
“What?”
He looked up, and Karin’s expression was still cold and sharp.
‘Maybe not?’
“Should I continue?”
“Hmm?”
Karin hesitated for a moment.
“Isn’t this enough?”
“Do it again.”
“Huh?”
“Do you think contracts are a joke?!”
Karin snapped.
Jeong Yoo-shin frowned and placed his lips on her belly again.
Smooch.
Karin’s body trembled.
‘Why are you getting angry? Enjoy this then.’
Suck.
He sucked on her smooth belly.
He sucked on her belly like a baby suckling on its mother’s breast, then gently nibbled on it with his teeth.
“Gah!”
Karin’s body shuddered. Her hips bucked involuntarily.
‘Is she ticklish? Can’t take it anymore? Too bad. You chose this. Endure it with grit.’
Nibble, nibble, nibble.
He was nibbling on her belly when…
Grip!
Karin’s hand grabbed his hair.
“Stop.”
He obediently pulled away at her cold command.
Her smooth, toned stomach was now covered in red marks and saliva.
‘Gasp! What have I done…?’
A chill ran down his spine as he realized he had just lost control and sucked on the belly of a high-ranking official’s daughter. Not just any daughter, but the daughter of the Beast-person Alliance representative.
He stammered,
“I…”
“Forget it. Don’t do that again. I’m leaving.”
Karin pulled down her shirt and left the inn.
Jeong Yoo-shin stared blankly at her retreating figure, then stood up.
“Dalmong, she’s gone.”
Dalmong emerged from the kitchen.
“Ahem. Is that so? Good work.”
“Sure. I’m going to bed.”
“Alright.”
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Two days later, news spread throughout the Labyrinth City.
The Labyrinth Closure Order.
All explorers within the city were forbidden from entering the labyrinth.
In the past two months, a large number of newbie explorers, as well as several intermediate-rank parties, had gone missing in the labyrinth.
The Explorers Guild, alarmed by the continued disappearances and the unusual behavior of the monsters, concluded that something was amiss.
The Labyrinth City’s Magic Tower, the Council, and the higher-ups of the Explorers Guild convened.
After several meetings…
They issued an indefinite Labyrinth Closure Order.
For the safety of the explorers.
Some perceptive individuals suspected there were other reasons behind the order, but they remained silent. There was no need to antagonize those in power.
The news was the main topic of conversation everywhere, especially in the southern district where many people depended on the labyrinth for their livelihood.
Speculation and anxiety were rampant.
Dalmong’s inn was no exception.
There wasn’t much for explorers to do with the labyrinth closed.
One of their few options was to sit around in taverns, drinking and gossiping.
Now that Dalmong’s shedding season was over, the inn was bustling with activity.
The explorers weren’t going to pass up an inn with decent liquor and good food.
“I’m glad your business is booming.”
Jeong Yoo-shin said with a smile, pausing between spoonfuls of soup.
“Why are you happy?”
Dalmong, exhausted from dealing with the sudden influx of customers, asked weakly.
“Can I help you with anything?”
“Don’t bother. A fishmonger doesn’t leave a cat in charge of the fish.”
A cat beast-person sitting at a nearby table scowled.
“What’s wrong with cats? That’s beast-person discrimination.”
“You cat-people make fun of bears all the time.”
“That’s true.”
The cat beast-person conceded and took a sip of his drink.
“Thank you for the meal.”
Jeong Yoo-shin finished his food quickly and stood up.
“What are you doing today?”
Dalmong asked casually.
“I’m going to buy some equipment and restock my supplies.”
“Good. You’re going as a porter, so pack light. Only the essentials. The prices of equipment and supplies have dropped significantly due to the Labyrinth Closure Order, so you should be able to find some good deals.”
“Wow. Is he your long-lost son?”
The cat beast-person interjected.
“Shut up.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
The cat beast-person quieted down and went back to sipping his drink.
Jeong Yoo-shin chuckled.
“I’ll be going now.”
“Alright.”
‘I should buy Boron a drink.’
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
“Boron! I’m back!”
He walked through the quiet streets of the blacksmith district and entered Boron’s shop.
“Barbarian? What brings you here? The labyrinth is closed.”
Boron emerged looking unkempt as if he hadn’t bathed in days.
“I’m here to buy some equipment. And I brought you a drink.”
“Whoa!!”
Boron’s eyes lit up as if he had seen a light in the darkness. He snatched the bottle from Jeong Yoo-shin’s hand and rubbed his face against it.
“This is expensive stuff! Did you hit the jackpot?!”
“Not really.”
“Is that so? Are you here for a weapon?”
“No. I need a helmet and some armor repairs.”
“Repairs? Don’t tell me that rag you’re wearing is your armor.”
Boron looked at Jeong Yoo-shin’s hard leather armor with a skeptical expression.
Jeong Yoo-shin chuckled wryly.
“Is it that bad?”
Boron approached him and examined the armor, poking and prodding it.
“It’s been completely neglected. It's now useless. A sword would go right through it.”
Boron shook his head.
“Buy a new one. I’ll give you a discount.”
“Didn’t you say haggling with a dwarf was an insult?”
“That was then. I haven’t had a single order in two days. I’m broke.”
Boron smacked his lips.
‘Money talks.’
He was reminded of the power of money.
Boron grinned and crossed his arms. For some reason, he seemed unusually cheerful.
“Alright! Let’s find you some suitable armor! Einhorfer!!”
Boron turned around and shouted.
The door to the back room opened, and Einhorfer appeared.
Jeong Yoo-shin and Einhorfer’s eyes met.
“Oh.”
Silence fell over the blacksmith shop.
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T/N - Okay, Mion was one thing. But Karin weirded me out too much in this chapter, so I read ahead a little bit. I won't spoil it though. But the fact that I'm telling you this is a clue in and of itself, so… happy guessing!