Chapter 287 Becoming the Honey Badger of Labyrinth City
-------------------------------------
Translator: JayM
Chapter: 287
Chapter Title: Becoming the Honey Badger of Labyrinth City
-------------------------------------
The night he met Matthias and Torgel…
Jeong Yoo-shin couldn't sleep.
Instead, he sat by the bed and admired the brightening street.
It felt similar to when he was about to go on his final leave before military discharge.
He felt a calm yet awkward joy.
To think about it rationally.
He didn't know yet whether the dimensional travel magic tool was real or fake.
However…
Just 'knowing' that there was a way for him to return made him feel quite at ease.
He was tired, but Jeong Yoo-shin smiled and shot up from his seat.
When he went down to the first floor of the inn, Cian, who had changed into comfortable clothes, smiled and welcomed him.
"Skar, you’re awake? Good morning."
On the table were freshly baked rye bread, onion soup, and a large sausage.
"Cian, did you make this?"
"I bought the bread. I made the rest. I hope it suits your taste."
Jeong Yoo-shin sat down and took a spoonful of onion soup.
The onions were well-roasted in butter and the rich cream harmonized in his mouth.
"It's delicious."
Cian made a bright smile.
"That's a relief."
Jeong Yoo-shin, who had finished a proper meal for the first time in a while, quickly called the leader of the Soft and Fluffy* Clan.
"W-What is it, bear?"
A cute teddy bear sat at the table and looked alternately at Jeong Yoo-shin and Cian.
"Clan Leader, have you had any difficulty lately?"
At Jeong Yoo-shin's question, the teddy bear shrank.
"N-Not really, bear."
"Don't you need a helping hand? How about putting out a designated request through the Explorer's Guild?"
The teddy bear opened his eyes wide and his mouth gaped.
"Bear...?"
"I want to entrust a request to Cian."
"Ah! Is that it, bear?"
Only then did the teddy bear smile and continue.
"If it's the Hero-nim, it's good, bear. I heard that she defeated an Outer God on the 20th floor, bear! And isn't the Hero-nim a lover of soft and fluffy beast-people, bear?"
Confusion appeared on Jeong Yoo-shin's face.
"What does that mean? A lover of soft and fluffy beast-people?"
The teddy bear stuck out his plump belly.
"I heard, bear! The rumor has already spread all over the street, bear! I don't know the details, but I heard that she fought dressed as a beast-person, bear?"
'Ah. The cow bikini.'
Cian's face turned red, as if she had the exact same thought.
"..."
The teddy bear shrugged his small shoulders.
"I understand, bear! She must be envious of our soft and fluffy appearance, right, bear? Muhuhu."
The teddy bear even let out an outright triumphant laugh.
Cian fidgeted with her head bowed low.
Her earlobes that were peeking through her blond hair turned red like strawberries.
Jeong Yoo-shin scratched his head and spat out.
"That was me."
"...?"
At the sudden confession, the teddy bear's eyes widened.
"I made Cian wear it."
"Bear?!"
The teddy bear let out a single scream, and he pulled his body back.
Jeong Yoo-shin stealthily pushed his face forward and whispered in the teddy bear's ear.
"What's with that expression? Can't I like you guys? Can't I love the Soft and Fluffy Clan a little?"
"Haaak!!! Beaaar!!!"
The teddy bear trembled.
"Clan Leader, choose. A belly raspberry or a job."
Cian, who had come to her senses, waved both her hands.
"S-Skar? Making a request like this is a bit..."
"Is it?"
When Jeong Yoo-shin stepped back, the teddy bear put his cute hands on his chest and gasped for breath.
"Hooo, bear. Huuuu, bear."
"It can't be helped if you don't have any requests."
"I-I have one request, bear."
"What is it?"
"Y-You know our clan gathers at the tea shop, right, bear?"
"And so?"
"We’re short one tea shop employee, bear. I think a strong and energetic human woman would do, bear."
The teddy bear said while glancing at Cian.
"Is that so? That's great."
"S-Skar, is it okay to put out a request so easily?"
Jeong Yoo-shin shrugged.
"Why not? If he really hated it, the Soft and Fluffy clan leader would have refused."
"Is that so?"
The teddy bear interjected.
"That's right, bear. Besides, didn't you drop by our clan's tea shop once before, bear? The clan members liked you, bear."
"..."
Jeong Yoo-shin stared at Cian with narrowed eyes.
It was a gaze that had somehow become sharp.
Cian hurriedly opened her mouth.
"I-I went there once before while looking around the street. That's all!"
Jeong Yoo-shin glared alternately at the teddy bear and Cian.
‘This shouldn't have happened…’
Jealousy welled up within him.
He thought about giving a belly raspberry to the teddy bear guy who was flinching with his large eyes shining, but he held back.
'It happens.'
"Cian, if you ever need 'help' while carrying out the request, just say the word. I'll run over right away."
"A-Alright."
Cian bowed her head to the teddy bear.
"Clan Leader-nim, I'll do my best. And I've thrown away the title of hero, so please call me Cian from now on."
"Understood, bear!"
At Cian's polite greeting, the teddy bear, his self-esteem revived, nodded solemnly.
Immediately…
Cian and the teddy bear spent time discussing matters related to the tea shop.
The two seemed to get along well for some reason.
After finishing their negotiations, Cian and the Soft and Fluffy clan leader stood up.
"Skar, I'll be back!"
"Bear bear!!!"
"Tell me anytime if you need 'help'."
Jeong Yoo-shin stood at the door, waved his hand, and then lowered it.
Cian's request had been handled skillfully.
The next task remained.
In a way, this was his most important task.
'I should check my imprints.'
He immediately went to the Earth Mother Goddess's temple and met with Mion.
It was around lunchtime, so the orphanage classes were already over.
Mion, having finished her lunch, was resting in her room.
She ran over as if jumping and grabbed Jeong Yoo-shin's hands.
"Skar-nim!"
"Priestess Mion-nim."
"Skar-nim, how’s your body?"
"It's gotten much better."
Only then did Mion seem relieved and let out a deep sigh.
"That's a relief. Hoo. I was very worried."
Jeong Yoo-shin smiled faintly.
Mion seemed to get cuter as time went by.
The priestess, noticing his subtle gaze, blushed.
"B-By the way, what brings you here?"
"I came to check my imprints."
"Ah! I see. I'll check it right away."
Jeong Yoo-shin knelt down on one knee in front of Mion and bowed his head.
What imprint had he gotten this time?
Seeing that his body was fine, it didn't seem to be a negative imprint.
'Please…'
He wasn't even hoping for a cheat imprint anymore.
Just not a negative imprint.
When Mion's chanting ended, a light flashed.
"Ah..."
A moment later…
A strange sigh came out of Mion's mouth.
Jeong Yoo-shin raised his head.
His heart sank at Mion's sudden reaction.
"What is it?"
Mion hesitated and gripped her clothes tightly.
"...The imprint you obtained, Skar-nim, is 'Last Stand'."
Jeong Yoo-shin's expression hardened.
It was quite the chilling name.
"L-Last Stand? What in the world kind of imprint is that?"
Mion's face darkened.
"...It's an imprint that increases your combat power the closer you are to death. It has the effect of strengthening s-strength, agility, reflexes, and mental power. There’s no clear data for it, but it’s generally expected to increase one’s combat power by up to 5 times. Of course, that’s only when death’s right in front of you."
"..."
Jeong Yoo-shin was silent.
It was a good imprint.
Wasn't it an imprint that made him stronger the more he was hurt?
Could there be a better ability for a vanguard?
This wasn’t a game world.
When you got hurt, your movements became sluggish.
There were many cases where one stiffened due to their fear of death.
If he had this imprint…
He could preserve his combat ability even in the worst of situations.
Jeong Yoo-shin stopped his thoughts. Because Mion's expression was getting darker.
"Priestess Mion-nim, thank you. It's a good imprint."
"Eek...!"
Mion couldn't say that it was a good imprint even if her mouth was torn off.
Because the case where this imprint exerted its maximum power was…
'When your death’s right in front of you, Skar-nim.'
Jeong Yoo-shin slowly stood up.
"By the way, I've finally achieved an Imprint Synergy."
"...You have."
Revenger, which increased the regeneration ability of his body and mana when he attacked while hurt.
Death Reprieve, which could temporarily postpone his death.
And…
Last Stand, which made him stronger the closer he was to death.
These three imprints became one and intertwined.
Honestly, it looked good to him.
However…
He didn't want to grin in front of Mion's sad expression.
He thought that he knew what Mion was worried about.
Jeong Yoo-shin opened his mouth.
"Teacher Mion."
"Eek...!"
He approached and hugged Mion.
A warm and supple body. She was trembling slightly, perhaps trying to hold back her tears.
"Don't think that I'll be in danger because of this Imprint Synergy."
"T-Then...!"
"You just have to think that I can survive thanks to this Imprint Synergy."
"...!"
Mion's eyes widened.
Right.
Why had she forgotten about it?
This man…
Was someone who confidently went his own way under any bad conditions.
Mion buried her face in Jeong Yoo-shin's chest.
The two of them stood there for a long time, sharing their warmth.
Mion, having calmed down to some extent, slipped out of Jeong Yoo-shin's arms with a red face.
"Ah?! I-I'm sorry."
"No. I liked it."
"R-Really! P-Please wait a moment."
Mion went out of the room and brought in some tea and refreshments.
Without anyone starting it first…
Jeong Yoo-shin and Mion naturally sat at the table and talked about this and that.
Most of it was about what had happened in the labyrinth.
Or about the incidents that had happened while Mion was teaching the orphanage students.
The afternoon sunlight came through the crack in the window and shone on Mion.
'Ah.'
Jeong Yoo-shin realized as he watched the priestess drinking tea while sweeping her hair behind her ear…
That the ties he had formed so far weren’t light.
Because of the goodwill of numerous people, he was able to steady himself without losing his way.
Just because he had found a way to return home…
It didn’t mean that he could just throw away these precious ties like throwing away trash and leave.
What should he do?
'What do you mean, what should you do? You should settle down and make a baby. Are you kidding me?! Now that you're stronger, fuck her hard and pour lots of seed into her pussy! Enjoy your labyrinth life!'
The darkness of the labyrinth whispered to him, but Jeong Yoo-shin let it go in one ear and out the other.
First, he would take the Mage Tower's request.
Because knowing the way and not knowing it were worlds apart.
It wasn't even clear yet whether dimensional travel was possible or not.
As Jeong Yoo-shin was stroking his chin while deep in thought, Mion asked.
"Skar-nim, what’re you thinking about?"
"I was thinking about what name to give the Imprint Synergy. What do you think, Teacher Mion? Do you have any names that come to mind?"
At Jeong Yoo-shin's question, Mion also straightened her posture and crossed her arms.
To think that this gentle, slitted-eyed priestess was pondering the name of his first Imprint Synergy…
Somehow it felt like she was agonizing over a baby's name, making it lewd.
"Hmm. It's difficult. I think I need to think about it a little more."
"Priestess-nim, then how about Honey Badger?"
Mion's mouth opened slightly.
"Pardon?!"
"It's cool, isn't it? Imprint Synergy Honey Badger."
A mindset of not giving a shit and doing his own thing.
Mion made a dumbfounded expression and then nodded as if she understood.
"C-Come to think of it, it's similar to your actions, Skar-nim. But isn't it too cute for an Imprint Synergy name...?"
"Is that so? Hmm."
Jeong Yoo-shin stroked his chin and fell into thought again.
'It fits perfectly though.'
He wondered if there was a better name.
'I became the Honey Badger of Labyrinth City.'
Wouldn't it be at least better than ‘Female Hunter Barbarian’?
A quiet afternoon.
At the beginning of spring, when the weather was getting warmer.
The peaceful time of the two passed.
-------------------------------------
T/N - Hey guys! I have a new novel I'm translating called "I Built a Savior Organization". It's a Chinese web novel about a guy with a saviour system going to different worlds to save them from their doomsdays. Try it out! Who knows, you might like it. ♥️
Fucking finally! It took him 287 chapters to realize the bonds he made in his current world! That many chapters to make him hesitate about just going back to his old world, even if just a little. Took him long enough! 🤦♂️
Also, lol that Last Stand imprint. Someone really wants the MC to stick to his “on the brink of death” build. ‘Honey Badger’ sounds stupid for an imprint synergy name, but I have to admit, it does fit and it also sounds cute. Though I don’t think ‘The Honey Badger Barbarian’ will ever strike fear in the hearts of his enemies. 😅
*I once translated this to Malrang-poksin in older chapters, but now that I think about it, this is a western fantasy setting. Only the MC ever uses Korean words and language. So I’m changing it to English instead to fit the setting.