Chapter 312 Drawing Lots
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Translator: JayM
Chapter: 312
Chapter Title: Drawing Lots
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Around dawn.
The 'Skars' finished eating the food prepared by the wolf beast-person guy and prepared to go to bed.
Aldein stood up from his seat.
"Skar, let's walk for a bit."
"Understood."
Jeong Yoo-shin and Aldein moved their feet and headed to the Western District.
Beatrice walked between the two men.
"..."
It was a quiet dawn street in spring.
Silence passed between the three people.
Aldein slowly opened his mouth.
"Skar, I detest pathetic melodramas."
"Yes."
He gently stroked Beatrice's head.
"When you can't see, your heart becomes anxious, and an anxious heart always makes a person trip over a stone. Thank you for stopping me."
"Yes."
Jeong Yoo-shin answered, but he didn't know what Aldein was talking about.
The monster dismantler shop manager.
Ashwood, one of the noble families of the Elf Kingdom.
Once an executive of Pandemonium, the 1st-ranked clan in the Eastern District.
He didn't know the elf’s exact combat power…
What imprint he received, or what his level was…
But since the man was once an executive of Pandemonium, wouldn't he be strong?
'Stop.'
Jeong Yoo-shin stopped his thoughts.
In the end, it was something he would find out about later. More than that, he was curious about the essence of the man named Aldein.
However…
Instead of unraveling a lengthy past, Aldein untied the patch covering his eye.
Jeong Yoo-shin's pupils widened.
It wasn’t a normal eye.
The white was black, and the iris was red.
It wasn’t an elf eye, but something closer to that of a monster’s.
"The eye that sees death. It's the Death Eye imprint."
"..."
"It’s an imprint that shows the 'lines' representing the 'death' of all things and life. It's the reason I became an executive of Pandemonium, and also the reason why I suffer from madness."
He sees lines?
This was totally…
"I see."
"You accept it surprisingly easily."
"Director-nim, I've also rolled around quite a bit in the labyrinth, so there's no reason for me to be surprised. By the way, if you cover it with a blindfold, can you still see the 'lines'?"
Aldein held Beatrice's hand.
"A little less. Anyway, thank you. Only after seeing my sister with my own eyes today did I realize what I was doing wrong."
Beatrice smiled and looked up at her brother, then she looked at Jeong Yoo-shin.
"Skar, I look forward to working with you."
"Yeah."
"Ah! And brother, please show Skar my portrait."
"Why?"
"So that he'll give me a lot of lustful energy."
Aldein put his eye patch back on and scratched his head.
"When I have time later."
At that moment…
Beatrice's body began to glow.
Was she returning to her single-edged sword form again?
"What's with that sad expression? If I absorb just a little more energy, I'll return to my original form in no time."
Mirth could be heard from Beatrice's voice.
"How much?"
"About 2 years’ worth?"
Jeong Yoo-shin's eyes widened.
It was reduced from 10 years to 2 years?
The amount of lustful energy she absorbed this time must have been enormous.
Before long, dawn broke, and Beatrice's body was completely engulfed in light.
Fwaaaaat!!!
And…
Only a red sword and her clothes were left on the floor.
Aldein made a bitter smile, picked up the clothes and the sword.
"Go and rest, Skar."
"Yes, Director-nim."
"Ah! And be careful."
Jeong Yoo-shin, who was about to move his feet, stopped abruptly.
"What should I be careful of?"
"It seems like quite a few tough guys from outside are planning to enter Labyrinth City this time."
"Is that so?"
Thunder Blade Jern briefly flashed through his mind.
"Haven't there been quite a few big incidents in the labyrinth recently? It must have piqued their interest."
"Is there a famous group I should keep an eye for?"
Aldein fiddled with Beatrice's clothes and then looked at Jeong Yoo-shin.
"The ones that come to mind right now are the White Night Mercenary Group and Alhazred. The mystic guy seemed to know about Alhazred in detail, so try asking him about it."
White Night Mercenary Group?
Alhazred?
Putting aside the White Night Mercenary Group…
Just hearing the name ‘Alhazred’ reeked of secret society vibes.
Jeong Yoo-shin took note of the names and then bowed his head.
"I understand. Then I’ll be going in first, Director-nim."
"Okay."
Jeong Yoo-shin parted with Aldein and walked back to the inn.
"Alhazred? White Night Mercenary Group? Hmm... Still, I'm level 10 already. The Director-nim is worrying too much."
Jeong Yoo-shin muttered while feeling the morning sunlight.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
3 days passed.
A summons from the Elf Queen came.
Jeong Yoo-shin fastened Beatrice to his waist and headed to the inner castle.
"There's no problem."
Jeong Yoo-shin, who was kneeling on one knee in the middle of the hall, glanced at the Queen and the royal guards and muttered softly.
Beatrice immediately retorted.
'I don't think so? Do you know what kind of eyes they look at you with when you look away? Like a beast aiming for its prey.'
Really?
No wonder his spine was currently tingling nonstop.
Ellasein, who was sitting on the throne with her legs crossed, looked down at Jeong Yoo-shin.
"Skar."
"Yes."
"Ahem. The Ashwood family has sent a petition requesting leniency for you."
"..."
"And the Ashwood family said that if you wait just a little longer, the Startree family will also submit a petition for you as well."
The fine hairs on the nape of Jeong Yoo-shin’s neck stood on end.
Startree?
Isn't that his Master Ashur's family?
"Q-Queen-nim, that isn’t possible!"
Jeong Yoo-shin shouted, bowing his head deeply.
"..."
After a brief silence…
Ellasein rested her chin on her hand.
"Skar, what’s your reason?"
"Th-That is…"
"Hmm?"
Queen Ellasein's eyes narrowed.
The more she looked at this barbarian…
'How insolent.'
He had an unfazed expression even when she was struggling in the abyss.
Moreover…
That day, he merely sucked out her lustful energy, and then he left the inner castle just like that.
Of course, it was true that she had permitted him to go back, but she thought that he would at least stay by her side until her body recovered.
'It was my delusion.'
She felt like she couldn't do anything about this man with her own power.
Just as she was about to give up…
When the name of the Startree family came up, Skar showed a flustered appearance.
Ellasein observed Jeong Yoo-shin's face and squeezed her crossed thighs tightly.
Why was this happening?
When a person is in a difficult situation, one should feel the desire to help them.
But on the contrary, when she looked at Skar…
'It's chilling.'
Ellasein fell into thought with her thighs tightly clenched.
Soon, a familiar name came to her mind.
"Ashur?"
"...!"
Jeong Yoo-shin's pupils widened.
Ellasein's lips thinned.
'It was the right answer.'
At the same time, the royal guard captain Selenis's expression also became complex.
After Selenis sought the Queen's permission, she immediately questioned Jeong Yoo-shin.
"Skar, do you have a problem with the Startree family?"
"N-No!"
"Hmm... Ah!"
Clap!
Selenis put her hand on her cheek, looked at the floor, and then suddenly clapped her hands.
"Come to think of it, older brother Ashur mentioned a barbarian disciple once. To think that was you. I didn’t recognize you because you're a little different from what I heard."
"..."
Jeong Yoo-shin's lips convulsed.
Older brother…
Did he hear that wrong?
No.
Selenis definitely called his Master her older brother.
Sword Master Ashur is Selenis's older brother?
If so…
Selenis Startree?!
His vision went dark.
'To think that the female Skar made climax was actually his master's younger sister. And she's married, right? Ah! I can see it, I can see it!'
Beatrice snickered.
Even Selenis made a strange expression and let out a suspicious nasal sound.
"Hmm...? To think you’re brother Ashur's disciple."
Slowly, the atmosphere began to flow strangely.
Ellasein cleared her throat and opened her mouth.
"Ahem! Skar, since you committed the act, you must bear the burden as well. I won’t make a big demand. How about you join the royal guards for a while and serve?"
As soon as the Elf Queen's words ended, he felt multiple gazes as if they would pierce his whole body.
Gulp.
Jeong Yoo-shin swallowed dryly.
The eyes of the Queen-nim, Selenis, and all the royal guards were scary.
"I-I’ll think about it for now."
"Decide comfortably. Comfortably."
The pressure was quite severe.
Jeong Yoo-shin, who finished the audience, left the inner castle with his shoulders slumped.
'Did you see the royal guards' eyes? They had the look of aiming for prey, right?'
Beatrice saw it correctly.
A kind of gaze that wasn’t unfamiliar to him.
It was the same kind of gaze Karin had shown before feeding him the aphrodisiac.
It was the gaze Vivian had shown before casting her spell.
And it was also the gaze Priestess Mion-nim had revealed before casting her hypnosis.
If he joined the royal guards now, it was obvious what would happen to him.
He had to help the elves calm their lust and think rationally.
Meaning he had to buy some time.
Jeong Yoo-shin returned Beatrice to Aldein. And then he went back to the inn.
Whether they knew his mind or not…
The mystic guy was half-lying on the counter chair, snoring.
Jeong Yoo-shin slowly approached the man and tapped his belly.
"Second Brother, wake up. What should I do about this?"
The mystic guy, his belly pressed, stopped snoring and opened his eyes wide.
"Kuhuuuk?! Wh-What is it?!"
The mouse Skar, who had been sleeping soundly in his mouse-sized armchair, also stealthily opened his eyes.
"Squeak?"
Jeong Yoo-shin woke up one person and one animal and explained his situation.
When the rough story ended, the mystic guy made a dumbfounded expression.
"Youngest, why’re you telling me this?"
"Why?"
"Think about it. An alpha male suddenly comes to me and confides his woman problems? This is killing me twice. Isn't that right, Squeaky?"
"Squeak."
The mouse guy also made a rare nod.
"Stop with the strange talk and help me out!"
The mystic guy scratched his head and yawned.
"Haaaaam. Go into the labyrinth for a bit and come out. I happen to need materials to operate the magic tool anyway. You can get them in the underwater cave area beyond the 20th floor."
A thought flashed through Jeong Yoo-shin’s head.
Why didn't he think of that?
"As expected of Second Brother. Thank you!"
The mystic took out a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it over.
"I was going to request it from the Explorer's Guild, but now, I can just entrust it to you."
On the paper Second Brother handed him, unfamiliar words were listed.
Jeong Yoo-shin, who had been reading the paper for a while, raised his head.
"Did you find out a little about the magic tool that summoned you guys?"
"Roughly? From what I see, that compass you got is a magic tool that summons ‘yous’ that exists in multiple dimensions."
"How’re you all going to go back?"
"We just have to completely disassemble the magic formula, reverse engineer it, and put it together. You could call it a reverse summon."
"Are you making a new one?"
"Not to that extent. Just adjusting it. It looks like a rechargeable magic tool, but the number of uses of that compass magic tool is fixed. It can probably only be used one more time from now on."
The mystic guy stopped talking and chuckled.
"Youngest, why’re you suddenly making a sad expression?"
Jeong Yoo-shin touched his face.
Did he?
It wasn't a strange thing…
Since he had fallen into another world and had his heart comforted while being with his other versions who had different experiences.
The mystic guy stroked his chin.
"Shall we try picking one of us to go in with you?"
"Is that okay?"
At Jeong Yoo-shin's question, the mystic grinned.
"Why not?"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Time passed, and it became evening.
The 'Skars' who had finished their respective businesses gathered in one place.
"You're sending Skar into the labyrinth?"
TS Skar asked with her hands in her pockets.
"I need some materials to operate the magic tool."
"Isn't it too fast?"
TS Skar complained.
"We're just gathering the necessary materials in advance. Besides, the youngest is currently being eyed by the Elf Queen and the royal guards."
"Eyed?"
Jeong Yoo-shin interjected.
"I have to serve in the royal guards as punishment for spreading lustful energy. But their eyes were scary. I'm trying to leave for a bit because I think an 'accident' will happen if I go there now."
The mystic guy looked at the ceiling and let out a deep sigh.
"Hoo. A handsome version of me working overtime diligently in a workplace full of women. Such a horny situation is happening? Is that right? Something seems terribly wrong."
"..."
The 'Skars', Karin, and Cian silently looked at the mystic guy.
The mystic cleared his throat and spoke again.
"Ahem! Anyway, we’ll pick one of us to go with the youngest."
"How?"
"Drawing lots."
When the mystic gave her a look, Karin brought a small box with finely cut pieces of paper.
TS Skar tilted her head.
"4 pieces of paper? Where did the mouse guy go?"
The mouse Skar somehow had disappeared somewhere again.
The mystic guy fluttered his hand.
"Leave him be. He's probably playing somewhere again. He's totally a sergeant at the end of his service."
"It's strange. Can't we all go in together?"
At TS Skar's question, the mystic shook his head.
"I'll explain that to you later. Let's just draw lots for now."
Cian took a piece of charcoal and marked one of the papers.
The mystic put all the pieces of paper in the box and shook it.
Rustle. Rustle.
"Now, now. Close your eyes, pick one each, and then hold it tight in your hand. First Brother first."
The middle-aged Skar closed his eyes and picked a piece of paper.
Next was the second.
He was immediately followed by the wolf beast-person.
Lastly, TS Skar.
Everyone picked a piece of paper.
"Ready? Let's reveal our hands at the count of three. One. Two. Three!"
In time with the second's voice, the 'Skars' opened their eyes and spread their hands.
"Hmm."
"Oh my…"
"Grrrrr."
"Ah?!"
The 'Skars' each exclaimed.
The mystic guy stood up from his seat.
"It's decided. The one who’ll go into the labyrinth with the youngest is…!"
A spring evening in the inn.
The mystic's finger pointed at one of the Skars.
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T/N - Holy shit! Aldein has the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception! Any Fate fans here? Also, that is totally broken. No wonder he could become an executive of Pandemonium.
Then there’s the mystic Skar. Poor guy keeps getting strays from the MC, hearing all of these steamy situations that he’s never experienced before.
Lastly, finally, another labyrinth run! I wonder why they can't all go in together? Any bets as to who will accompany the MC?