Chapter 288 Where Is My Stuff
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Translator: JayM
Chapter: 288
Chapter Title: Where Is My Stuff?
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The dawn of the second day.
Jeong Yoo-shin finished swinging his sword in the backyard of the inn and raised his head.
The day had brightened, but the sun was hidden behind gloomy clouds.
It looked like it would rain at any moment.
"Hoooooo."
Jeong Yoo-shin blew out a long breath.
The day was still cold, but he was sure…
'Spring’s coming.'
He couldn't not know.
Because small sprouts were poking their heads out one by one in the corner of the backyard.
Was that all?
In line with the approaching spring, people's movements were also becoming more bustling.
It could be seen that Labyrinth City was changing with the season.
This wasn’t limited to the commoners in the Southern District.
It also happened among the high-ranking people in the central area.
First…
The Labyrinth Council member Astaroth stepped down.
Unless there was a special incident, it was decided that the Labyrinth Council members would only serve for one season.
However…
The Outer God's kin had caused great damage to the dwarf's side, who were originally supposed to be in charge of this winter.
So, in the end…
Astaroth guarded the labyrinth entrance and exit on behalf of the Dwarf Kingdom.
Second…
Rumors circulated that the Elf Queen herself would step forward and guard the labyrinth entrance and exit this spring.
It was an unusual move. Because she had only sent representatives up until now.
Some thought it was to give her daughter a chance to run the country without her interference.
And some saw it as a political move against the threat of the Empire.
'Although it's none of my business.'
Jeong Yoo-shin put down his sword, went to the well, and washed his body.
When he was washing his sweat-soaked upper body entirely with cold water and wiping it with a towel…
Granny peeked his head out from the back door.
"Skar-nim?"
The leader of the Grandma's Love Clan, Granny.
An earnest young man who ran a small furniture workshop.
Jeong Yoo-shin slung the towel over his shoulder.
"What is it?"
"It's nothing much. It’s just that there's an important meeting coming up, so I came to ask if you could attend."
"Where should I go?"
"We haven't decided for sure yet. I think we'll gather at the pub in the Western District like last time."
"Do it at this inn."
"Would that be alright?"
"It's not like it'll wear out. Come here as you like."
He also disliked the quiet inn.
Granny grinned.
"Thank you!"
With Jeong Yoo-shin's permission, quite a large number of small and medium-sized clan leaders gathered at the inn.
Because there were so many people, they put the tables together to form a long one.
Jeong Yoo-shin sat at the head of the table.
On his right sat Granny, the leader of the Grandma's Love Clan.
And on his left sat Kenneth, the leader of the Children Love Clan.
The people looked at Jeong Yoo-shin's face in silence.
Because they looked like they were seeking his permission, he roughly waved his hand.
"Start."
Granny unfolded a piece of paper and cleared his throat.
"Ahem! We will now begin the small and medium-sized clan meeting."
A few agendas came up.
"This is the most important agenda. We need to provide a few conveniences for the 'newbies' who’ll be coming in this time, what does everyone think?"
Jeong Yoo-shin's ears perked up.
"Newbies?"
Granny noticed Jeong Yoo-shin's expression and explained it simply.
"Yes. Every spring, many people from all over the continent flock to Labyrinth City."
"Is that so?"
Indeed…
'Because I also came to Labyrinth City around spring.'
Are the people who want to change their fate by borrowing the power of imprints flocking to this city again?
"The explorers who came in last spring..."
Granny observed Jeong Yoo-shin's complexion and continued.
"Most of them died or gave up. It's because of the strange incidents that had happened in the labyrinth. The damage from the Eldritch Wave was especially huge."
Eldritch Wave.
A phenomenon where unheard-of monsters pop out when the mana of the abyss and the other world combine and spread over a floor.
Jeong Yoo-shin turned his head and looked out the window.
It was true…
Most of his peers who had taken the beginner explorer classes with him back then had already died.
Although there was no such thing as a better or worse way to die, their deaths were horrific and hard to speak of even for him.
Granny continued his explanation.
"There have also been requests about this from the explorer branches in the Southern and Western Districts, so how about those of you who run inns or general stores provide some convenience to the beginner explorers?"
Someone raised their hand.
"How much convenience should we provide? Even though they're called newbies, quite a few of them are people who’ve already rolled around outside the city before coming here."
"..."
The people turned their heads and looked at Jeong Yoo-shin.
The latter, who was looking at the street outside the window, turned his head.
"What?"
"Do you happen to have a good idea?"
Jeong Yoo-shin looked around at the clan leaders.
"I'm a swordsman, not a businessman."
"..."
Despite Jeong Yoo-shin's words.
The clan leaders kept their mouths shut, their eyes shining.
Jeong Yoo-shin, who had been stroking his chin for a while, opened his mouth.
"I don't think there's a need to step forward and sort out whether they're real newbies or not. Whether you cut the accommodation cost or sell goods cheaply, I don't know what your plan is, but if you're going to do it, provide convenience across the board."
"..."
The clan leaders' expressions stiffened.
Jeong Yoo-shin relaxed and leaned back in his chair.
"You have expressions full of complaints, but think differently. Don't think you're forcing yourself to provide them convenience, think that you're looking for good people."
"...!"
"First, make a connection and watch them. If you think they're a good person, introduce them to a job, and if you think they're a talent worth joining your clan, recruit them."
Someone raised their hand.
It was the old man from the brewery, Solomon.
"Master Skar, as you know, a person's heart is hard to read. Even if we show goodwill, will those people properly repay it?"
Indeed…
His sentiment wasn't wrong.
But paradoxically…
Labyrinth City was also a place where a person's true nature was clearly revealed.
When they believed that they had become stronger by receiving the power of an imprint…
In other words, when they realized that they were superior to others, a person's true nature was bound to surface.
Jeong Yoo-shin gave the clan leaders a bitter smile. Did they expect some great advice from a guy barely in his early 20s?
"Do as you please, old man. Since you've spent quite a long time in Labyrinth City, you must at least have a better eye for seeing people's hearts than a swordsman like me."
Solomon burst into a hearty laugh.
"Haha. I don't know about anything else, but I think it's a relief that you became the representative of the small and medium-sized clans."
The clan leaders smiled, and they each spat out words of agreement.
"That's right. I like the plan you proposed, Skar-nim. We’ll follow your plan as it is."
"We are also short on hands. We’ll follow Master Skar's proposal."
Jeong Yoo-shin frowned.
"I've been curious for a while."
"...?"
"Why do you keep attaching the title 'Master' to my name?"
Granny scratched his head.
"We’re all people who lead a clan ourselves, so isn't it hard for us to call you clan leader, Skar-nim? By any chance, is there another title you prefer?"
Jeong Yoo-shin thought for a while and then shook his head.
"Call me whatever you want."
""Yes!!!""
The clan leaders smiled and shouted loudly.
After that…
A few agendas went back and forth, and the small and medium-sized clan meeting ended.
Before leaving, the clan leaders brought Jeong Yoo-shin gifts.
First, Solomon.
"This is a newly brewed liquor. Tell me your thoughts later."
"I will."
Then, a young rabbit beast-person holding a small lute approached him.
"Um..."
Jeong Yoo-shin's face softened.
"What is it?"
An elf woman then approached them.
"This is a lute made by this child. She's an orphan being taken care of by the Children Love Clan, but she has a talent for playing and making instruments, so we took her into our Wandering Troupe Clan."
"Is that so?"
Jeong Yoo-shin turned his head and looked at Kenneth.
A muscular elf with a Children Love imprint.
He had been listening to the reports without fail.
When he really didn't have the time, he asked Granny to do it instead.
He hadn't been able to hear the reports recently because he had been busy for a while.
Fortunately, Kenneth’s clan was taking good care of the children.
Jeong Yoo-shin smiled and took the lute handed over by the rabbit beast-person.
"Thank you."
The rabbit beast-person bowed repeatedly.
"Hauuuu. Thank you."
"I'm the one who should be thankful."
With the rabbit beast-person and the Wandering Troupe Clan leader leaving last, the inn had become empty again.
Jeong Yoo-shin tidied up the dining area, sat in the counter chair, and played the lute.
Pluck, pluck.
He had never properly learned how to play it.
He just liked its gentle sound, so he plucked the strings as his hands pleased.
As he played around with the lute, strumming it for a long time, time quickly passed.
Swaaaaaaaash.
At some point, rain poured down outside the window.
Jeong Yoo-shin stared blankly at the rainy street.
'Is it spring rain?'
What was resting?
He thought that just sitting there and listening to the sound of the rain was also a form of resting.
The moment Jeong Yoo-shin closed his eyes and tried to enjoy the sound of the rain…
Clatter!!!
The inn door opened roughly, and two men came in.
Jeong Yoo-shin opened his eyes and examined the uninvited guests.
They were an old man and a young man wearing robes.
The young man's face was familiar to him.
'Malakai.'
The young mage who had tried to corner him as an Outer God's kin at the Explorer's Guild Headquarters.
He had somehow gotten over it with his quick wits, but honestly, just thinking about that time made his heart chill.
So his impression of the mage couldn't be good.
The old man with a rat-like beard stepped forward.
"Are you Skar?"
Jeong Yoo-shin nodded.
"That's right."
"I am Radament, an elder of the Labyrinth Mage Tower. The young man next to me is…"
"Malakai. I know."
Radament, who was looking around the inn, opened his mouth.
"...I heard that Matthias visited you a few days ago."
"And so?"
The Mage Tower elder Radament frowned.
"Your words are short?"
Jeong Yoo-shin straightened his posture and bowed his head.
"I'm sorry, Radament-nim. What brings you all the way here?"
"I want to cancel the designated request that Matthias recommended to you."
Jeong Yoo-shin's face hardened.
"Are you talking about the dimensional travel magic tool?"
"That's right."
"Is there a reason?"
At Jeong Yoo-shin's question, Radament raised his index and middle fingers.
"There are two reasons."
"What are they?"
"We have obtained all the materials necessary for dimensional travel, as well as the 'mystery' of the Lake Mine floor beyond the 20th floor."
"I see. What’s the other one?"
"The magic tool has disappeared."
"..."
Radament stared intently at Jeong Yoo-shin's face.
"...I'll ask out of concern, but did you by any chance take that magic tool?"
Jeong Yoo-shin made a dumbfounded expression.
"How in the world would I take it?"
He had just been processing his backed-up work and resting for a bit here.
"Skar, considering your status and exploits, I'm asking you gentlemanly. Answer properly."
A faint smile appeared on the face of Malakai, who was standing next to Radament.
"Radament-nim, haven't I told you several times that this person doesn't know anything? It's just a waste of time."
Jeong Yoo-shin swept back his hair.
"Elder-nim, let me tell you clearly. I didn't take it."
Radament clicked his tongue and turned his body.
"Is that so? Tsk. I understand. Keep up the good work."
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Radament and Malakai walked across the inn hall, getting further away.
Jeong Yoo-shin glared at the backs of the two men.
'You're just going to leave like this?'
Suddenly barging in, throwing an out-of-nowhere question, and then disappearing?
Moreover…
The words that the dimensional travel magic tool, which might be his way back home, had disappeared mercilessly irritated his mind, which had been calm before.
Jeong Yoo-shin, his head getting hot, shot up from his seat and reached out with his hand.
[Telekinesis]
The supernatural power responding to his will reached out and touched the inn door.
It was a speed truly like lightning.
Kwaaaang!!!
The inn door closed with a roar.
Radament and Malakai hurriedly turned around and looked at Jeong Yoo-shin.
"Skar, what in the world are you doing?"
Radament asked in a calm tone, but an enormous magic began to swirl in his left hand.
Whether he did or not…
Jeong Yoo-shin slowly stood up from his seat and walked toward the two mages.
"Come to think of it, it's fucking bullshit."
A curse came out of the barbarian's mouth.
Radament and Malakai's faces stiffened.
"That dimensional travel magic tool or whatever, it was originally mine."
"Wh-What do you mean by that?!"
Malakai bravely stepped forward, but only stuttering words came out of his mouth.
Jeong Yoo-shin raised his finger and pointed at Radament.
"Old man, you said that dimensional travel magic tool you mentioned was in the blood the Outer God shed, right?"
"...!"
Radament's face stiffened.
Jeong Yoo-shin growled.
"I cut the Outer God Changeling's eyeball, and the dimensional travel magic tool fell out, right? Then it's my stuff. Why is the Mage Tower snatching it up?"
Malakai raised his finger and pointed at Jeong Yoo-shin.
"S-Skar? Wh-Where is the proof that you cut the Outer God…?"
Malakai couldn’t finish his sentence.
*Slaaaaaaaaap!!!!!*
Because Jeong Yoo-shin had swung his hand and slapped Malakai's cheek.
Malakai, who flew through the air, fell to the floor, rolled two or three times, and had hit a corner of the inn.
Bang!!!
"You bastard, am I your friend? You keep talking to me casually. Do you want to die?"
"Kuuuuk!!!"
Thick bloody saliva and broken teeth flowed from Malakai's mouth.
Jeong Yoo-shin turned his head and looked at the frozen Radament.
"Where's my stuff?"
"..."
Swaaaaaaaash.
A quiet inn.
Along with the sound of rain, Jeong Yoo-shin's chilling words hung low.
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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. ♥️
Lol, how dare this Radament fellow. Matthias is respectful to the MC, and he thinks he can be dismissive when he’s just an elder like Matthias? No surprise that the MC stood up to teach them a lesson.
Also, it seems that I was wrong a couple of chapters ago. It wasn’t Matthias who theorized that the MC was from another world, but this chump Malakai. At least it was Malakai who tried to confront the MC about it. You’d think that the man had learned his lesson after the last time.