Chapter 279 For Free?
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Translator: JayM
Chapter: 279
Chapter Title: For Free?
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The moment Jeong Yoo-shin was about to open his mouth…
Thump!
A strange wave flowed out from the center of the city far away.
Something unusual was lurking in the city.
He hadn't seen it yet, but he was sure. When the wave passed through his body, he felt a sense of displeasure, as if his heart had been hit with a fist.
The others seemed to have felt something similar, as they looked at the city with confused expressions.
Cain clicked his tongue and stepped back.
"...Tsk."
Cian stepped forward. Her expression was stiff as stone.
"What in the world is that energy?"
Cain scratched his hair vigorously and turned his body.
"Follow me. Also, surrender your torches."
The people rummaged through their backpacks, handed all their torches to the knights, and followed Cain toward the city.
Jeong Yoo-shin was tense, wondering if Cain would talk to him again, but the latter never approached him again.
Jeong Yoo-shin stuck to the rear of the party and looked around the city.
It wasn't a very big city, but it had everything it needed.
General stores, smithies, pubs slash inns…
He also saw a magic tool shop, and there were quite a few monster people parties on the street.
It could pretty much be called a small city inside the labyrinth.
'Fascinating.'
Jeong Yoo-shin and his party members looked around here and there and arrived at the city's central plaza while following Cain.
People who seemed to be soldiers and explorers surrounded the central plaza in a circle, blocking people from entering it.
The number of guards here seemed to be at least several hundreds.
The strict atmosphere naturally induced tension.
'Ezdras's second seal has cracked.'
Eros's words flashed through his mind.
Cain stopped in his tracks.
Beyond the guards…
A large gaping hole was in the middle of the plaza.
Cian looked at Cain.
"Can we get a closer look?"
Cain shrugged.
"As you wish. Are you the hero of the Empire?"
"That's right."
"Follow me."
Cain took her party members and approached the hole.
"..."
Jeong Yoo-shin closed his mouth.
It was a pit 2 meters deep, and a small flame was burning in it.
It looked like a small bonfire, but it looked different from a normal bonfire.
How should he describe it?
It wasn't emitting a red light, but it instead shined a radiance so bright that it made one's eyes dizzy.
Moreover, he felt something familiar from the flame.
'The divinity of the Earth Mother Goddess.'
He realized it instinctively.
'That is…'
Ezdras's seal.
The party members stared blankly at the bonfire burning in the pit with their jaws dropped.
"Hero, that’s Ezdras's seal."
"Ah... I see."
Cian replied blankly. Her eyes were bewitched by the flame’s radiance.
Jeong Yoo-shin went through the information he knew about Ezdras.
Saint Ezdras.
The man who had gathered all the demons up to the edge of the continent and sealed them in one city.
He hadn't sealed them entirely with his own power. He had used the power of the Spirit Gods.
"It originally wasn't this weak. It was brighter in the past"
"Then is the seal weakening?"
"That's right."
At that moment…
From a distance, people dressed as priests came while carrying boxes.
Jeong Yoo-shin's eyes narrowed.
Those boxes…
He had seen them somewhere before.
'Where did I see them? Ah!'
When he was wandering the labyrinth with Iron Mask’s party!
They received a designated request from the temple that served the Wind Spirit God back then.
It was a request to receive a certain box from the temple and bury it somewhere in the Forest area.
These boxes were similar to the box he had seen then.
"What's in those boxes are the bone ashes of dead priests. They’re useful for scattering the mana coming up from the abyss and the mana of the other world. It can't restore Ezdras's seal, but it can maintain it."
Cain finished speaking and gestured to the priests.
The priests opened the boxes and poured the bone ash into the pit.
Fwoosh!
The bonfire in the pit burned brighter.
Jeong Yoo-shin made a bitter smile.
Because the priest hadn't told him what was in the box before, he had been quite curious about it.
'So it was the bone ash of priests.'
His head spun quickly.
Perhaps…
Had the state of the seal been unstable even before he entered Labyrinth City?
'Then I came at a bad time.'
In the first place, falling into another world was an unlucky event for him.
Thump!
His heart pounded again.
Jeong Yoo-shin raised his head.
The air in the central plaza…
He saw a distorted space. It was similar to a fragment of a cracked mirror.
"..."
Cain raised his hand and pointed at the distorted air.
"Do you see that? Taking advantage of the weakened seal, something’s crossing over to this side. Although I don't know what it is…"
Cain seemed to not know what was lurking beyond the distorted space.
However…
Jeong Yoo-shin knew.
'The Outer God of Change, Changeling.'
He knew because he had heard about it from Eros.
Would the main body tear through that space and come out?
Or would his kin cross over instead?
He didn't know.
Cian shrugged and stepped back.
"It seems fine for now. Go rest, and we'll talk later. If you go a little further, there's an inn street."
"I understand."
Cian nodded in response and looked back at her party members.
Luther, Gibson, and Sebastian all had tired expressions.
"Let's go."
The party members left the central plaza while following Cian's lead.
Seti's party parted ways with them on the way.
Seti smiled and held out her hand to Cian.
"You've worked hard, Hero. Then see you later in Labyrinth City."
Cian held Seti's hand.
"Thank you for your help."
"The red orb destruction request? It was nothing. Besides, you guys did all the work."
Seti said goodbye to Cian, approached Sebastian, and whispered.
"Let's meet up when we return to the city later, okay?"
"..."
"Answer."
"I-I'll think about it."
Seti was dissatisfied with the mage’s answer, but she decided to yield for now.
There would be plenty of time later anyway.
Seti's party disappeared into the crowd on the street.
Cian's party looked around the street for about 30 minutes, found an inn, and went in.
The innkeeper, a middle-aged male orc, held out his hand.
"It's 50 silver coins for a one-night stay."
Jeong Yoo-shin's eyes widened as if they would pop out.
50 silver coins for one night?
Even if this was the 20th floor, wasn't that too expensive?
Contrary to Jeong Yoo-shin's thoughts, Cian looked at Sebastian without a word.
Sebastian rummaged through his pocket, took out some gold coins, and handed them to the orc.
The orc counted the money and frowned.
"You're short for one person."
"The barbarian will pay separately."
Cian immediately stepped up and stopped him.
"Sebastian, aren't we in the same party? Just pay for this much."
Sebastian's lips twitched, and then he nodded.
"I understand."
"Uhahahahaha!!! Thank you!!!"
Jeong Yoo-shin and other party members went up to the 2nd floor.
There were quite a few rooms in the 2nd-floor hallway, and monsters and human explorers he hadn't seen before were walking around and mingling together.
The party members quietly found their rooms and went in without saying much.
Since they had spent nearly three weeks camping in the labyrinth, it was natural for them to be tired.
Jeong Yoo-shin also found his room, went in, and looked around.
'Nothing much.'
In the room, only an old bed, a yellowed blanket, and a creaky table and chair were placed inside.
Jeong Yoo-shin took off his sweat-soaked clothes and wiped his body with the wet towel provided by the inn.
He rummaged through his backpack, had a meal with jerky and dried fruit, and laid down on the bed.
Come to think of it…
It wasn't as much as Dalmong's Inn, but enjoying this level of luxury in the labyrinth was quite close to extravagance.
Jeong Yoo-shin closed his eyes.
Darkness came to him.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Knock, knock.
Jeong Yoo-shin heard a knock from the other side of the door.
He opened his eyes, got up from the bed, and grabbed the axe he had placed by his bedside.
"Who is it?"
"It's the Labyrinth City Knights. Open the door."
"...Please wait a moment."
Jeong Yoo-shin carefully opened the door while holding his axe up.
Creeeeak.
Two knights were standing outside the door.
One of them frowned and grabbed his sword.
"...What is it?"
"No. You really are the knights. What's your business with me?"
"The commander’s calling for you. You'll have to come with us."
Jeong Yoo-shin scratched his head and looked down the hallway.
Everyone must have fallen into a deep sleep already, as there was no sign of their presence.
"Let's go."
Jeong Yoo-shin and the knights left the inn and headed toward the central plaza again.
Had they walked for about 20 minutes?
Jeong Yoo-shin and the knights stopped in front of a building.
It was a unique building with a circular dome roof.
He remembered it because a quite large number of soldiers were guarding the place.
"Follow me."
Jeong Yoo-shin followed the knights and entered the building.
After passing through the main gate engraved with old-fashioned intaglios, a large hall appeared.
It was similar to a banquet hall built for nobles to enjoy parties.
In the center of the hall was a huge round table.
He saw quite a few familiar faces there.
Matthias, the elder of the Mage Tower.
The barbarian Torgel.
Jeong Yoo-shin had wondered where the man was since he hadn't seen the barbarian recently. So this guy was stationed here?
He also saw quite a few of the top-tier clans that were influential in the Explorer's Guild Headquarters.
'The Crystal Rose Clan.'
He remembered them because their hair color sparkled like crystals.
'The Hellfire Clan.'
They gave off a fierce impression along with their flaming red hair.
'The Guardians of Order Clan.'
They had platinum blond hair and exuded a noble air.
The three clans had one thing in common.
They were a group united by a single cheat imprint. They were elite clans at the top of Labyrinth City, which had many outstanding guys.
Most of the clan members just glanced at Jeong Yoo-shin once and paid no more attention to him.
It was an attitude of looking at a beast that wasn't even worth paying attention to.
Cain, who was sitting in the center of the round table, raised his hand and pointed to the seat next to him.
"Skar, did you just wake up? Sit down."
"Alright."
Jeong Yoo-shin greeted the familiar faces with his eyes and sat next to the man.
"Cain, how long do we have to be tied up here on the 20th floor? I don't want to stay here any longer."
A red-haired middle-aged man growled.
Cain stared at the red-haired man with an indifferent expression.
"Be patient. I told you I'd let you go when the time comes, why do you keep grumbling…? My ears are going to bleed at this rate."
A vein popped on the red-haired man's forehead.
"Cain, do you have no respect for us just because you're the knight commander?"
"Open your own eyes nicely. Why do you act like you own the world just because you're doing well in the Explorer's Guild?"
At Cain's reply, the red-haired man slammed the table.
Bang!!!
"This guy really...! Aren't you the one acting arrogant just because you're a disciple of Sword Master Ashur?!"
Jeong Yoo-shin wiped the sleep from his eyes and clicked his tongue inwardly.
'What's with this battle of nerves?'
To be suddenly called by Cain when he should be sleeping and see this kind of sight…
He wondered if he was dreaming.
'Why in the world did he call me?'
Cain shrugged.
"My master has many disciples besides me. Every time something happens, you bring up the fact that I'm a Sword Master's disciple, but this half-barbarian next to me is also Master Ashur's disciple."
The people's gazes focused on Jeong Yoo-shin.
Jeong Yoo-shin, who was about to yawn, paused.
The red-haired man glared at him.
"...The youngest disciple of the Elf Sword Master. I know your name."
"..."
Jeong Yoo-shin kept his mouth shut and looked at Cain.
'He's pushing me into a killing field here?'
Cain just crossed his arms and said nothing else.
Jeong Yoo-shin turned his head and looked at the red-haired man.
He had to make his self-introduction clear.
In any situation.
"That's right. I’m the last conscience of the labyrinth, a living moral textbook, the leader of the small and medium-sized clans, and the sponsor of the Children Love Clan and cute beast people, Skar."
"..."
Silence fell on the round table.
The red-haired man's eyes wavered, then he looked around before looking back at Cain.
"...Knight Commander, where were we?"
"I said I can't let you go. We don't know what will tear through that unstable space and pop out, do we?"
"Right! Even if it's an order of the Labyrinth City Council, is it reasonable to restrict the freedom of explorers like this?!"
The red-haired man ignored Jeong Yoo-shin and started arguing with Cain again.
Jeong Yoo-shin felt an inexplicable sense of alienation, but he didn't bother to speak.
By the way…
'Why in the world did he call me?'
The question he had suppressed rose once more in his mind.
Cain turned his head again and looked at Jeong Yoo-shin.
"Skar."
"Yes."
"Do you know what's beyond that space?"
Jeong Yoo-shin's lips protruded.
"Commander, why’re you asking me that?"
"I called you because I thought you might know. You received the blessing of a Spirit God, didn't you? Can't you sense it or something?"
"..."
Once again, the people's gazes were focused on Jeong Yoo-shin.
He had a blank expression. Did Cain call him to ask what was beyond that distorted space?
No, what?
'He's treating me like Doraemxn*!'
The red-haired man smirked.
"Ha! What would that barbarian know? He's just an intermediate-rank low explorer..."
"I do know, for now."
Jeong Yoo-shin's words quietly echoed out.
"...!"
The people glared at Jeong Yoo-shin.
'Ah.'
Jeong Yoo-shin, noticing the people's gazes, smiled stealthily.
Seeing their expressions of surprise, like that of startled rabbits, he roughly finished his calculations.
'How should I boss them around so that rumors spread that I did well?'
"H-How in the world?!"
The red-haired man raised his voice.
Jeong Yoo-shin leaned back in his chair leisurely.
"Hehe. Are you curious?"
"Tell us quickly!"
The red-haired man pressed him.
The people sitting at the round table didn't say it, but their feelings were the same as the red-haired man's.
Jeong Yoo-shin raised his finger and tapped the table.
"For free? Well, this… I'd be disappointed if you do this."
"..."
The people sitting at the round table immediately noticed it…
Especially…
The Mage Tower elder Matthias and the barbarian Torgel trembled slightly.
What that expression meant was clear.
This half-barbarian's bossing around…
…was starting from now.
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T/N - Lol, hook, line, and sinker. The red-haired guy fell for it. But now I wonder if these top clans actually know about the prophecy and the Ezdras Family’s fuck up… 🤔 Because they sure don’t act like it.
*For those who don’t get it, the author is referencing Doraemon. He just censored the “o”, likely for copyright reasons.