Chapter 294 The Quintessential Barbarians
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Translator: JayM
Chapter: 294
Chapter Title: The Quintessential Barbarians
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Aldein and Vlad stood on the roof of a building and watched Jeong Yoo-shin leave.
"He won."
Aldein made a hollow smile and slumped into a folding chair.
Because he had to wait for over 5 hours, he had ordered his subordinates to bring him a chair.
Vlad stroked his chin. The vampire's red pupils flashed.
"He's a truly terrifying guy. How many schemes did he come up with? Moreover, to think he even achieved an Imprint Synergy."
"Danse Macabre. I thought he was a friend with no sense for naming things, but he picked a decent one for his Imprint Synergy."
Aldein muttered while nodding his head.
Vlad went a step further, imitating Jeong Yoo-shin's posture when he swung his sword, and burst into an exclamation.
"Amazing! What’s with that mental power? His heart was definitely cut and he died, but he became explosively faster at that moment? The trajectory of his sword swing didn't waver at all. He's quite a tough guy."
"It could be an imprint that postpones death, or an imprint that completely denies death."
"It could also be an imprint connected to Revenger."
"There could also be an imprint that makes him stronger the closer he is to dying."
The two men instantly deduced Jeong Yoo-shin's imprints.
Vlad stood up with his arms crossed and looked around.
The superhumans hiding in the city still hadn't left their spots and were staring at Jeong Yoo-shin's back.
'Beautiful.'
Perhaps the others were thinking something similar.
This barbarian wasn't just a nobody who acted up while only relying on his Imprint Synergy.
Deep scheming, an immovable mind that didn't bat an eye even in the face of death, and an Imprint Synergy hidden like a dagger at the end.
All of that came together as one.
With it, he defeated an opponent he normally couldn't match.
That was the reason why this many superhumans had gathered to watch the fight.
"Aldein, shouldn't you take him in as your successor soon?"
"I was going to bring it up before the duel."
"And?"
"I was rejected before I could even say it. He said that he had a way to win."
"Hoooooo."
Vlad felt his breath getting hot.
'This is driving me crazy.'
Did he establish a plan right after meeting Jern and confirming the man’s abilities?
He was someone one couldn't help but like.
"I'm certain. That guy definitely has to join Pandemonium."
"He doesn't seem to have any intention of doing so at all, though?"
Aldein gave Vlad a bitter smile.
He had thought that if Skar got tired of the darkness of the labyrinth and entered the shade of Pandemonium, it would be the best outcome.
That was the plan.
However…
Watching the guy overcome this obstacle decisively with his own power, even if he had received help, Aldein thought that it might be okay to just leave him be.
The elf looked up at the sky and stood up.
"I need to get some sleep. In all my life, the times I've stayed up all night while waiting for something can be counted on one hand."
With Aldein's words, the presences of the superhumans disappeared one by one.
"Kuhuhu. Everyone's caught by the nose."
Vlad also grinned and turned around.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"S-Skar? Did you achieve an Imprint Synergy?"
"Yes."
"Hah. S-Since when?"
"Stop asking, go and analyze that magic tool. No, let's go together. I can't leave you alone since I'm anxious too."
"A-Alright."
Jeong Yoo-shin dragged Matthias and headed to the Mage Tower branch in the central area.
Passing the magic tool shop street and going a little deeper, a single tower stood imposingly.
'Is this the Mage Tower branch?'
When Jeong Yoo-shin and Matthias entered the Mage Tower together, the people who looked like mages freaked out.
Because a black-haired young man wearing a tattered shirt was holding a shiny longsword and had his arm around Matthias's shoulder.
"E-Elder-nim!"
"The Elder-nim is a hostage?!"
Matthias hurriedly waved his hands.
"N-No!!!"
Jeong Yoo-shin patted Matthias's shoulder.
"Matthias, is there anyone among the guys here who bothers you? Just say the word. I'll just slice them up."
"...!"
The mages flinched.
"N-No one bothers me! Have you forgotten?! I'm a Mage Tower Elder!"
"Is that so? Anyway, hurry up and finish analyzing this magic tool. You guys don't do anything properly."
"..."
Matthias was silent. He had nothing to say to that even if he had ten mouths.
They had released people to find the whereabouts of the magic tool, but the person who actually brought information about its location was Skar.
"Stop disappointing me. If you think the words I said to the Pantheon Clan only apply to the Eastern District underworld, I want to tell you you're greatly mistaken."
Shiver.
Matthias trembled.
Goosebumps ran up his spine.
"A-Alright! I-I’ll quickly finish the magic tool analysis. I’ll stake the honor of the Mage Tower!"
"I'll trust you. Just this once."
Jeong Yoo-shin patted Matthias's shoulder to encourage him and left the Mage Tower branch.
Jeong Yoo-shin walked the street and fiddled with his torn shirt.
The blue flash drawn from Jern's scabbard…
That slash loaded with lightning flickered before his eyes.
Jern's sword was…
Faster than the Gale Sword made with the Sacred Weapon property infusion.
Although the intent behind them was slightly different.
The Gale Sword was fast, but its main purpose was fast movement.
It wasn't for cutting quickly like the duel a moment ago.
A bizarre inspiration circled in his head.
'Should I try making one?'
Jeong Yoo-shin shook his head.
He should take it easy for now.
When he trudged back to the inn, Karin and Cian welcomed him.
"Skar!"
"Where have you been since dawn?!"
"I went to clean up some leftover trash in the Eastern District."
The two women hurriedly rushed over and touched Jeong Yoo-shin's body here and there.
"Eh?! I-Is your body okay?! Are you hurt anywhere?!"
"I'm fine. I'm perfectly okay."
"Your shirt’s cut, though?"
"The guy who cut my shirt is dead."
"Are you sure you're okay? Tell me if something happens next time. I'll go with you!"
Despite Karin's earnest request, Jeong Yoo-shin shook his head.
"He was a nobody. He wasn't at a level for you guys to step in."
"Really...? But if he cut the hem of your shirt, shouldn't he be pretty skilled? Who was it?"
"A guy whose name I don't even remember anymore."
Jeong Yoo-shin said vaguely as he stroked Karin's head.
Karin puffed out her cheeks with a dissatisfied expression, but at the soft touch, her face immediately relaxed into a silly smile.
"Muhuhu."
"Squeak!"
Lin, who was riding on Karin's shoulder, crawled up and pushed its head forward.
A sign to stroke it.
Jeong Yoo-shin smiled and picked Lin up by the scruff of its neck.
"Lin, is Ingrid-nim doing well these days?"
"...Squeak?"
Lin shrugged its shoulders and quickly turned its head away.
"Why’re you pretending not to know?"
Jeong Yoo-shin smiled and poked Lin's soft belly.
"Squeak squeak!"
Lin hurriedly covered its belly and struggled.
After kneading and tormenting Lin's belly for a while, he handed the exhausted mouse to Karin.
"Squeak..."
Lin, who instantly went limp like well-melted cheese, breathed softly on Karin's hand.
"Ugh. It just melted like porridge? Skar, did your massage skills improve?"
"I had a lot of actual practice opportunities."
Cian blushed and twisted her golden hair.
Jeong Yoo-shin stroked his chin and smiled.
"With this much, do I have the skill to do massages as a side job?"
""A-Absolutely not!!!""
The two women shouted in unison.
Jeong Yoo-shin tilted his head.
Was it not enough to do business?
"Anyway, I've finished everything I had to do. Shall we see Karin's skills for a bit?"
Karin smiled confidently and nodded.
"Good! Where do you want to do it?"
"Let's spar in the backyard. Bring your weapon."
"Wait a minute!"
"Squeak!"
Karin and Lin scurried up to the 2nd floor.
Cian watched Karin's back with a gentle smile, then she blushed and lowered her head.
Squeeeeze.
Jeong Yoo-shin's fingers gently squished the flesh of Cian's plump butt.
Cian gradually got into a tiptoe stance.
"Cian."
She heard a beast-like voice in her ear.
"Your body has been stiff these days, right?"
"Y-Yeees."
"I'll give you a massage tonight. Instead, report in detail what happened at the Soft and Fluffy Clan during the day."
Nod.
Cian slowly moved her head up and down.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Spring came quickly.
As the days got warmer, the crowd lining up in front of the Labyrinth City gates grew longer.
And smiles appeared on the faces of the merchants in the Southern District.
Because their sales increased due to the large number of people.
There were many faces they hadn't seen before, so every inn was packed with people.
Items that only attracted flies at the general store started selling like hotcakes.
Many new orders were placed at the smithies, so the sound of hammers rang in them until late in the evening.
Luna's pharmacy was also busy with people flocking in.
Perhaps Jeong Yoo-shin's strategy was effective, as quite a large number of beginner explorers had already formed good relationships with small and medium-sized clans.
Was this the vitality of spring?
Mion and Vivian also visited him frequently.
Cian and Karin didn't show any signs of dislike and welcomed them well.
Rather…
The four women got along well with each other.
He tried to join in while wondering if there was some strong bond between them, but they all blushed and stopped him.
Today too, the four women had gathered in the evening and chatted.
Was that all?
The leaders of each small and medium-sized clan also visited the inn with gifts to express their gratitude, sharing drinks or asking how they were doing while chatting merrily.
An inn full of people.
"This is nice."
Jeong Yoo-shin sat in the counter chair and muttered softly while watching his acquaintances chattering noisily.
People who weren’t related by blood, but were like family.
Watching those who cared for each other, a corner of his heart became warm.
'Dalmong.'
He suddenly missed the innkeeper.
Would he be able to see that face this spring?
While he was sitting in the counter chair lost in various thoughts…
Creeeeak.
The inn door opened, and Matthias, Radament, and Malakai walked in.
Jeong Yoo-shin shot up from his seat.
The three men looked around the noisy inn with blank faces and slowly approached the counter.
Jeong Yoo-shin felt his heart pounding.
He didn't tremble this much even when he killed that Jern guy.
"D-Did you finish analyzing the magic tool?"
"We did."
At Jeong Yoo-shin's question, Matthias nodded with a face full of confidence.
"P-Please give it here."
Matthias rummaged through his pocket and held out the compass.
"..."
Jeong Yoo-shin took the compass in his hand and stroked it preciously.
Matthias sat across the counter.
"It's a rechargeable dimensional travel magic tool with a set number of uses. It's the first time in my life seeing such a rare magic tool, so I had a hard time analyzing it, but still, I finished it 'quickly'."
Jeong Yoo-shin raised his head and looked at Matthias.
"H-How does it work?"
Could he use it?
He wanted to see his family's faces again.
It must have been over a year since he went missing. What parents wouldn't worry about their missing child?
He wanted to at least send word to them that he was doing well.
Matthias beat his chest.
"It's simple! It's structured so that a dimensional door opens when you imagine the place you should be. Thinking about it, it's no different from a spatial movement magic tool. Isn't it fascinating?"
Jeong Yoo-shin stiffened like a board.
"What?!"
"What's wrong?"
Jeong Yoo-shin's eyebrows trembled.
"N-No."
‘Did I just imagine it?’
‘The place I should be…’
At that moment…
A blue light began to flash from the compass. It was so strong that the gazes of all the people gathered in the inn were focused on it.
"Wh... What is that?!"
"Skar-nim?!"
Not only the small and medium-sized clan leaders, but the four women also shot up from their seats and looked at Jeong Yoo-shin.
The light was getting stronger and stronger.
"What?! Ah, wait a minute!!!"
Jeong Yoo-shin shouted while covering his eyes with one hand.
‘Am I really going like this?!’
A flash of light sparked from the compass in Jeong Yoo-shin's grip.
Flash!!!
A dazzling light swallowed the inn.
Jeong Yoo-shin ended up closing his eyes.
And silence followed.
"..."
It was quiet.
Jeong Yoo-shin opened his closed eyes and looked around.
"Hah."
Still the same inn.
He didn't travel dimensions or anything.
His disappointment and relief were brief.
Jeong Yoo-shin ended up opening his eyes wide.
People he hadn't seen before were standing in the middle of the inn hall.
A handsome middle-aged man wearing a basic coat with a greatsword slung over his back.
A beautiful woman with a sharp impression wearing a single-edged sword at her waist.
A male wolf beast-person with bushy fur.
A young man wearing a long robe, his red eyes flashing bewitchingly.
And…
A small mouse.
Four people and one animal.
"Wh-What is this?"
A trembling voice flowed from Jeong Yoo-shin's mouth.
Their appearances were all different, but they had one thing in common.
Namely…
That all of their hair or fur was black.
The handsome middle-aged man with a little gray hair mixed in stroked his chin.
"Hmm? Where is this...?"
A soft and profound voice flowed out of him.
When the beautiful woman with a sharp impression crossed her arms, her heavy breasts popped out.
"What is this again?"
A husky, attractive voice flowed from the woman's mouth.
The wolf beast-person sniffed and looked around.
"This is strange. Spatial movement all of a sudden."
The bewitching young man scratched his head without saying a word.
"..."
The black mouse guy looked around and then lay flat on its back.
"Squeak."
"..."
All of the people gathered in the inn stared at the four people and one animal with their jaws dropped, then they urgently turned their eyes toward Jeong Yoo-shin.
"M-Master Skar?! What in the world is going on?!"
One of the clan leaders stuttered and asked.
The handsome middle-aged man smiled and answered instead.
"Skar’s my name, though?"
The woman shrugged.
"Mine too."
"Hmm."
"Me too."
"Squeak."
A situation where the wolf beast-person, the bewitching young man, and finally even the mouse answered in turn.
"..."
The inn fell into silence just like that.
Jeong Yoo-shin's lips trembled.
"Wh-What in the world is this...?!"
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T/N - Lol, parallel version MCs, huh? That’s one way to go with this dimensional travel arc. I suddenly remembered that famous question. Would you fuck the genderbent parallel version of yourself?