Chapter 264 You Caught Me
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Translator: JayM
Chapter: 264
Chapter Title: You Caught Me
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Jeong Yoo-shin looked down at Sebastian.
The mage had been walking quickly, then he had stiffened like a stone and fainted.
'What's wrong with him all of a sudden?'
The others seemed to have had a similar thought as Jeong Yoo-shin.
They stared blankly at the fallen Sebastian.
"S-Sebastian-nim!"
Luther, who had come to his senses, ran over and grabbed the mage's shoulder.
Sebastian seemed to have completely lost consciousness, as he was only letting out shallow breaths.
Gibson frowned and looked at Cian.
"Hero-nim, I'll report the request instead."
Cian shook her head.
"No. Gibson and Luther-nim, please take Sebastian and go back to the inn first. I'll take care of the request report and reward collection."
Gibson's eyebrows twitched.
"...I understand."
Cian made a bitter smile.
"Gibson, I'm not suspecting you. I'm asking because Priest Luther-nim can't move Sebastian alone. It's just my guess, but I think there might be another request."
Gibson nodded.
"I see. I understand."
Gibson and Luther carried the unconscious Sebastian and left the plaza first.
Cian watched her party members leave before turning around.
"Skar, let's go."
"Am I going too?!"
"Yeah."
Jeong Yoo-shin and Cian entered the Explorer's Guild Headquarters.
"Welcome. Astaroth-nim’s waiting for you."
The receptionist immediately recognized them and guided them to the 4th floor.
As before, Astaroth and her dark elf assistant were in the old-fashioned room.
Astaroth sat in a chair and waved her hand with a tired expression.
"You're here?"
"We've destroyed all of the red orbs on the lower floors."
The dark elf standing next to Astaroth approached the two and handed them a leather pouch.
Clink.
"It's 50 gold coins. You've worked hard."
"Aren't you going to check if the request was completed properly?"
"The Guide's Guild will check that for us."
"Alright."
Cian immediately opened the pouch, took out 10 gold coins, and handed them to Jeong Yoo-shin.
The latter took the gold coins and put them in his pocket.
Astaroth opened her mouth.
"You went to Ash Village on the 10th floor, right?"
"Yes."
"How many floors are you planning to go down to next?"
"I'd like to go to the Swamp area. By any chance, do red orbs also exist in that area?"
"Yeah, there are a few in the Swamp area too. Are you thinking of taking the request?"
Cian nodded without a moment's hesitation.
"I'll take it."
"Then I'll let you know the locations of the red orbs through the Guide's Guild. Is there anything else you need? Any inconveniences?"
"We've all adapted to the labyrinth to some extent. Besides, Skar is helping me well on the side."
"Hmph?"
Astaroth let out a strange hum.
Cian, for some reason, felt uncomfortable.
She didn't like the way Astaroth was looking at Skar.
"What is it?"
"It's nothing. Then you can go."
Astaroth crossed her legs and gave them an order to leave.
Creeeeak.
Thud.
As the two left the room, Astaroth swept back her hair and sipped her tea.
She, who had been savoring her tea for a while, opened her mouth.
"Do you think those two did it?"
The dark elf tilted her head.
"Are you talking about mating? I'm not sure. But I do feel that the hero’s a little more conscious of Skar-nim."
"In my opinion, those two already mated."
"..."
"What?"
"With all due respect, Astaroth-nim, aren't you a 'virgin'? I think you lack the experience about intimate affairs between men and women to come to such a conclusion."
At the dark elf's rebuttal, Astaroth's face turned red.
"I-I know a thing or two, you know?!"
"Yes."
Astaroth glared at the dark elf for a moment and then leaned back in her chair.
The dark elf raised a teapot and filled Astaroth's cup.
"Astaroth-nim."
"What?"
"Why didn't you tell Skar-nim that the Eastern District guys are after him again?"
"..."
"Ever since the last duel, the Eastern District clans who have been struggling with funding have been after Skar-nim with their eyes lit. Especially the movements of the 8th-ranked Eastern District clan, the Vaisis Clan, are unusual."
"Haa."
Astaroth let out a deep sigh.
This wasn't an easy matter.
Just as there were people who, despite becoming monsters like those of the Arachne Sewing shop, found their specialty and lived a righteous life in the city…
There were also people who were ostracized. They were mainly the hard-liners, and because they had great power, they were a group that even she couldn’t treat carelessly.
"Let's wait for now. I'll warn Skar later, depending on the situation."
"I understand."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Jeong Yoo-shin and Cian left the room and stood at the entrance of the Explorer's Guild.
"Skar, I'll decide on the labyrinth trip after I see Sebastian's situation. Could you wait a little until then?"
"Alright!"
"Well then…"
Cian turned her body and quickly advanced down the street.
Even in the thickening snowfall, Cian's retreating back was clearly glowing.
Jeong Yoo-shin scratched his head, then he turned his body and headed for the inn.
If he was to enter the Swamp area, then there were many things he had to prepare.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
A day passed.
The snow didn’t stop and fell endlessly, piling up on the street.
Jeong Yoo-shin sat at the counter and stared blankly at the falling snow outside the window.
The inn, in the evening with no people, was quiet.
Eru and Armin were currently staying at Luna's house.
They often studied and played together, and they naturally ended up sleeping over.
Was it because it was winter?
Not only the once-bustling inn, but also the streets were quiet.
As the surroundings became desolate, various thoughts wandered in his head.
He had packed all the necessary equipment and supplies. All he had to do was leave.
But Cian hadn’t contacted him at all. It seemed like Sebastian's condition was very bad.
'That bastard, what in the world kind of imprint did he get?'
It was certain that Sebastian had gotten a negative imprint, but he couldn't even guess what it was.
'Did he get a severe mysophobia imprint or something?'
That couldn't be it.
Even if you had a severe mysophobia imprint, you wouldn't suddenly scream and faint when someone approached.
'By any chance, did he get a status window imprint or something?'
That was plausible.
When they made eye contact, he noticed that the mage’s gaze sometimes went up.
Moreover, Jeong Yoo-shin noticed that the other man also sometimes made a rotten smile whenever he thought no one was looking.
'Then it's a cheat imprint.'
Honestly, if there was anyone who should get such an imprint, shouldn't it be Jeong Yoo-shin himself?
Who else but him was rolling around in the labyrinth and doing good deeds?
'Yoo-shin, let's live with a little conscience. You've slurped up a hero's virginity, and you're still hoping for a good imprint? You're so full of yourself. You'll get stabbed for that, you bastard!'
The voice of his conscience, which had become strangely intense, pricked his heart.
Jeong Yoo-shin shook his head and stood up.
Sebastian probably hadn't gotten a status window imprint. With the man’s personality, he wasn't the type to keep his mouth shut if he got a cheat imprint.
'I should take a bath for the first time in a long time.'
If he soaked his body in hot water, then such useless thoughts would disappear.
Jeong Yoo-shin threw on some clothes and headed for the public bathhouse.
The owner of the bathhouse greeted him with a smile.
"Master Skar, it's been a while. I thought you didn't take baths anymore."
"Owner, you seem very happy to see me. Are you going to scrub my back?"
At Jeong Yoo-shin's question, the blood drained from the bathhouse owner's face.
"S-Sorry. If I made a slip of the tongue..."
"It's a joke."
"Haaa."
The middle-aged bathhouse owner's legs gave out, and he collapsed into the counter chair.
Jeong Yoo-shin handed him the payment and went into the changing room to take off his clothes.
There were no people around, either because it was evening or because it was winter.
Jeong Yoo-shin sniffed as he was taking off his clothes.
'It smells like Cian.'
After their affair, he had just roughly wiped his body with a wet towel, so Cian's body scent remained on him.
He had been holding her all night while soaked in her love juice, urine, and saliva. It was naturally difficult to erase such smell with a single wet towel.
Jeong Yoo-shin, with just a towel slung over his shoulder, went into the bathhouse naked.
There were no people in the bathhouse either.
He scooped up some hot water from a wooden bucket, poured it over his body a few times, and then immediately went into the bath.
He sat in the wide bath, spread his arms, and closed his eyes.
The hot heat slowly seeped into his body.
It was nice that there weren't many people tonight.
Jeong Yoo-shin closed his eyes for a moment.
Drowsiness washed over him.
How much time had passed?
Splash. Splash. Splash.
Jeong Yoo-shin woke up from his sleep at the sound of footsteps and opened his eyes.
A group of burly men were looking at him while naked.
Their bodies were covered with various tattoos, and their faces were fierce, as if they had been chewing on knives.
'At least thirty.'
Drip.
The steam that had gathered on the ceiling became a drop of water and fell onto the surface of the pool.
Jeong Yoo-shin looked around and then looked straight ahead.
A naked man came in and sat in the bath.
Early 20s.
He had long, indigo-colored hair, and his slanted eyes were similar to those of a snake.
Various tattoos were engraved on his moderately muscular body.
An unusual atmosphere.
He could tell at a glance.
This guy was the leader.
As the indigo-haired man came in and took a seat in the bath, the big men with fierce expressions also rushed in and put their bodies into the bath.
Despite the wide bath, it became full when dozens of people entered at once.
And yet, no one sat close to Jeong Yoo-shin.
The indigo-haired man opened his mouth.
"It's nice to take a bath like this for the first time in a long time. Right?"
"Yes!!!"
The men shouted loudly.
The indigo-haired man looked straight at Jeong Yoo-shin.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Johannes, an executive of the Vaisis Clan."
Jeong Yoo-shin kept his mouth shut and shrank his body.
The indigo-haired man's eyebrows furrowed for a moment.
'The butcher is scared?'
"W-Who are you?"
A trembling voice came out of the black-haired man's mouth.
Johannes's eyes widened for a moment.
"Aren't you Skar? You're clearly a black-haired half-barbarian."
"I-I'm not a barbarian. I was originally a small, chubby bear beast-person, but when I came out of the labyrinth, I suddenly became like this. M-My body got bigger and my hair turned black. Kuuk!!!"
The black-haired man, as if he couldn't speak anymore, lowered his head and his shoulders shook.
Johannes tilted his head and then glared at the man sitting next to him.
"He says he's not Skar. He's a beast-person who became a barbarian, right?"
"As far as I know, the only barbarian living in the Southern District is Skar."
"Are you sure? Didn't he have a duel or something while I was in the labyrinth? Everyone should know Skar's face, right?"
The bald man scratched his cheek.
"...That is… The people who could have watched the duel were all high-ranking people, so we couldn't see it ourselves."
Johannes rubbed his forehead a few times and then let out a deep sigh.
"Hoo. So he’s not that friend?"
"..."
The men lowered their heads and were silent.
Johannes, as if he was angry, slapped the cheek of the man sitting next to him.
Slap!!!
The man lost his balance and fell into the bath water.
"Is it him or not? You bastards. You crazy bastards, if you're the 8th-ranked clan in the Eastern District, you should live with your wits about you. What, you don't know anything and you just followed a black-haired human who looks right? This is a complete mess."
The black-haired man, with his mouth shut, looked around and then cautiously opened his mouth.
"T-Teachers, I suddenly have something urgent to do, so may I leave first?"
Johannes frowned.
"What's your name?"
"It's Sebastian."
"Sebastian?"
"Yes."
Johannes glared at the black-haired man.
There was no way that terrified expression could be fake.
Moreover, those eyes that were visible between his long hair…
One could mask other things, but they couldn’t disguise a person's eyes. Johannes had rolled around in the labyrinth enough to easily distinguish this much.
"Sebastian, get lost quickly."
"Yep."
The black-haired man wrapped a towel around his waist and stealthily stood up.
In a moment…
The men's eyes widened as if they would tear.
"Haaaaat!!!"
"This is crazy!!!"
The shadow of a huge cock was shaking beyond the towel.
Johannes stared blankly at the man's cock and then raised his head.
"Black hair, a horse cock. You're Skar, aren't you?"
Jeong Yoo-shin swept back his long hair.
"...You caught me. That's right. I'm Skar."
"..."
A quiet bathhouse.
Dozens of men, with their jaws dropped, were at a loss for words while looking at Jeong Yoo-shin.
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T/N - Ah, it’s good to be back. Honestly, the MC has gotten pretty good with his acting. They almost got away from a beating. The men, not the MC.
Also, I know I already said this before, but these guys are really still trying to merk the MC despite multiple examples showing how that isn’t a good idea. Really stupid of them. At this rate, the MC will clean up all of the city’s underworld. Well, the stupid ones, at least.