Chapter 58 Skar, Attention!
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Translator: JayM
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Skar, Attention!
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The morning after Ingrid’s departure, Jeong Yoo-shin woke up in his bed while clutching his head.
“Ugh, my head.”
A hangover made his head feel like it was splitting open. It was the price he paid for downing the dwarven liquor alone after Ingrid left.
He lifted his blanket to find a white mouse, Lin, sleeping soundly on its back.
He thought she was going to explore Labyrinth City, but she had brazenly crawled into his bed instead.
“Lin, wake up.”
He poked her belly.
The white mouse flinched and slowly opened her eyes.
“Are you really not human?”
“Squeak?”
The half-asleep white mouse tilted its head.
“Never mind.”
Jeong Yoo-shin strapped the sword he had left by his bedside to his waist and went down to the first floor.
“You’re awake?”
Tarman, who was busily working in the inn’s hall, greeted Jeong Yoo-shin.
“Yeah. Here, I earned some money.”
Jeong Yoo-shin handed him a leather pouch. It had seven gold coins in it. He had kept three of the ten gold coins Ingrid had given him for himself, and intended to contribute the rest to the inn's operating expenses.
He didn't feel bad about it. He mostly ate, drank, and slept at the inn, after all.
“There are seven gold coins here. Let's keep this up until you get the hang of running the inn.”
“Th… Thank you!”
Tarman’s eyes welled up.
Jeong Yoo-shin turned his head away, feeling nauseous at the sight of a man’s tears so early in the morning.
“Take it to Anne. And ask her for breakfast for me.”
“Yes!”
Tarman ran to the kitchen.
Jeong Yoo-shin sat down at a table, crossed his arms, and looked out at the street.
His gaze was outward, but his thoughts were elsewhere.
Thanks to Ingrid, he was exempted from further night watch duty. He had heard that exempted duties were considered for the completion of the request. That meant he had fulfilled part of the Explorers Guild's promotion requirements.
Of course, he would have to complete many more requests to be promoted, but it wasn't a bad start.
He recalled last night's conversation.
If the World Domination Imprint Ingrid mentioned truly existed, then a World Transfer Imprint might also exist.
The faint glimmer of possibility amidst the overwhelming despair made him feel a burning thirst.
As he thought, his best option right now was to enter the labyrinth.
He could complete the ore collection and monster subjugation requests simultaneously inside, which meant he could earn some money. It wouldn’t be much, but it would be more than the amount the security duty request paid him.
However, he felt uneasy about leaving Anne and Tarman alone.
Moreover, there were those crazy barbarians, who wielded their manhood like power, lurking in the shadows of the city.
He was also unsure if he could even form a decent party.
‘Should I at least try?’
There were a few problems, but he figured he could find solutions if he tackled them one by one. If it didn’t work out, he could just wait for Dalmong to return. He couldn't give up out of fear of failure.
Lost in thought, he didn’t notice Tarman returning with his breakfast on a tray.
“Skar-nim, here’s your breakfast. Please enjoy.”
“Thanks. Wait a moment.”
Jeong Yoo-shin stopped Tarman as he was about to return to the kitchen.
“Yes?”
“Do you talk to Aldein sometimes?”
“Yes. Is there something you’d like me to tell him?”
“No.”
Jeong Yoo-shin quickly wolfed down his food and stood up. He decided it would be faster to go himself than to ask Tarman.
“I’m going to the Monster Dismantling Shop for a bit.”
“Yes, sir.”
Creak.
Just then, someone entered the inn. It was a boy with messy hair and freckles.
“Good morning, Skar-nim.”
The freckled boy approached and greeted him.
“Who are you?”
His face was familiar, but Jeong Yoo-shin couldn’t place it.
He tapped his single-edged sword as he asked.
“I’m from the Swordsman’s Guild.”
“Ah.”
He realized he had seen the boy around the Swordsman’s Guild. He didn’t know his name, though.
Jeong Yoo-shin decided to speak casually since the boy looked familiar.
“Is Ashur-nim doing well?”
“The Guild Master isn't doing well. And that’s why I’m here. Skar-nim, the Guild Master has summoned you. You need to come to the Swordsman’s Guild with me.”
The boy’s answer unsettled Jeong Yoo-shin.
He scratched his cheek.
“Is Ashur-nim uncomfortable? Tell him to sit up straight.”
“…The Guild Master heard about your fight in front of the labyrinth.”
The freckled boy ignored Jeong Yoo-shin’s response and changed the subject.
“Word travels fast. That’s right. Was the Guild Master jealous that I fought so well?”
The freckled boy closed his mouth and stared at Jeong Yoo-shin.
“I’m joking.”
“He heard that you fought with a sword in your mouth and slapped his knee in despair.”
Hmm. Was it that bad?
“Tell me more.”
“He said, ‘Why would he fight with the hilt of his sword in his mouth like that? People are questioning my teachings. What’s the point of living anymore?’”
Jeong Yoo-shin’s head tilted to the side. Wasn’t that a legitimate swordsmanship technique? Zoro fought like that, too. Or did he…?
Jeong Yoo-shin asked cautiously.
“Is he very angry?”
“He said to come immediately.”
“Tell him I’m short on money, so I’ll go later.”
“He knows you received ten gold coins from Ingrid-nim, so he said to get to the guild quickly.”
That ghost-like stalker master.
“Tell him my back hurts today, so I can’t go.”
“He said he’ll break your back if you don't go.”
“Tell him I’m too ashamed to see my master, so I can’t go.”
Jeong Yoo-shin and the boy had a brief staring contest.
“…Please just come, Skar-nim.”
“Sigh, fine. But I’ll go after stopping by the Monster Dismantling Shop.”
“You really have to come. We’re all going to die at this rate.”
“I said I’m going!”
After shooing away the persistently clinging freckled boy, Jeong Yoo-shin left the inn, leaving behind Tarman, who bowed to him respectfully as he saw him out.
He walked towards the Monster Dismantling Shop under the summer sun.
He was going to return the single-edged sword Aldein had lent him.
As Aldein had said, the sword’s performance was amazing. However, he was suspicious of Aldein’s motives for lending him such a good sword so readily. It felt like he was trying to put him in his debt.
That elf was not someone he could let his guard down around.
Jeong Yoo-shin walked for a while and entered the western district, searching for the Monster Dismantling Shop.
The familiar smell of blood.
The building constructed of red bricks.
He entered the shop while passing through the yard. He grabbed a passing worker and asked.
“Where is the manager?”
“Skar-nim, you’re here? Aldein-nim is in his office.”
The worker greeted him respectfully.
“You know me?”
“The flat-nosed guy talks about you often.”
“How did you recognize me at once when you’ve only heard stories of me?”
“Well… you have black hair.”
“Let's see each other often."
‘I asked a stupid question.’
Jeong Yoo-shin realized this and blushed.
He quickened his pace and headed to the corner of the building. He passed between monsters hanging from iron hooks, drained of blood and neatly skinned, and found an office.
He knocked on the door.
Knock, knock.
“Come in.”
He opened the door and entered. Aldein was sitting at his desk. He was scribbling something with a quill while surrounded by a pile of documents.
“What is it?”
“I came to return the single-edged sword.”
“Just keep it.”
Aldein said casually and went back to his writing.
“I can’t accept this.”
“He refuses even when I offer it to him. Don’t you like the design? Is the performance not good enough? What’s the problem?”
“I can’t accept something like this without giving anything in return.”
Accepting favors without hesitation could lead me to trouble.
“Sigh. You’re so picky. Fine, fine. Come here.”
Jeong Yoo-shin handed over the sword, and Aldein took it with both hands and stroked it. Although his business was concluded, Jeong Yoo-shin didn't move.
Aldein asked.
“Do you have something else to say?”
“I’m going into the labyrinth again, but I’m worried about the inn. Please protect it.”
“You don’t want to accept this, but you want that. Make up your mind.”
“I’ll pay you. Please protect it.”
Aldein scratched his eyepatch and sighed deeply.
“Sigh, I’ll send Snout. Just make sure you cover his food, lodging, and labor costs.”
“Thank you.”
“Get out.”
Jeong Yoo-shin bowed his head and left the office.
Thud!
As the door closed, Aldein sank back into his chair.
“I’ve gone mad. I tried to recruit a talented individual and ended up getting my nose pierced*.”
The red sword then trembled slightly.
Aldein’s eyes widened.
“You got your nose pierced too? How?”
Brrr.
“He put you in his mouth? Huh. You’re married now, little brother.”
Aldein stroked the single-edged sword with a gentle hand.
“Both siblings got their noses pierced. I don’t know what to do with this.”
Despite his worried tone, a faint smile played on Aldein’s lips.
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Jeong Yoo-shin left the Monster Dismantling Shop and headed for the blacksmith district.
On the way, he stopped at a shop and bought a bottle of liquor.
He entered the deserted blacksmith shop and found Boron sitting at his workbench. The dwarf looked pale as if he hadn’t eaten in a while.
“You’re here?”
Boron looked up at Jeong Yoo-shin with hollow eyes.
“I brought you some liquor.”
Boron lumbered over and snatched the bottle. Without a word, he popped the cork and gulped it down. Boron's face regained some color after he removed the bottle from his mouth.
“Cough, cough. Are you here to buy equipment?”
“Yes. I’d also like to request some armor.”
“What kind of armor?”
“I’d like something similar to the last light armor.”
“Similar? Be more specific.”
Jeong Yoo-shin thought for a moment before speaking.
“Could you make it so that the metal plates attached to the leather armor are segmented more finely?”
“You want to make it easier to move in? That’s dangerous. No matter how closely you attach them, there will always be gaps. Maintenance for it would be difficult, too. It would be cheaper to just add small plates to the chest area. It wouldn’t restrict your movement too much, either.”
“Alright. Let’s do that.”
“The rest of the armor pieces will be the same as the last one, right? One gold coin and 25 silver coins.”
“What’s with the sudden increase of 25 silver coins?”
“Labor costs. Do you want to see Einhorfer starve?”
“Seriously?”
Jeong Yoo-shin scratched his head in disbelief.
It hadn’t even been a few days, and labor costs had already gone up.
However, he couldn't bear to see Einhorfer starve. He decided to give in just this once.
He rummaged through his pouch, took out one gold coin and 25 silver coins, and handed them to Boron. The dwarf counted the coins as he asked.
“Is the helmet working out for you?”
“Not really. It’s cool, but the back of my head is too cold. If I get hit there, I’m dead.”
“It is a bit lacking, to be honest.”
“You knew that when you gave it to me?”
Jeong Yoo-shin glared at Boron. He stared back blankly, as if bewildered.
“You said you didn’t have any money back then, didn’t you?”
“…Sorry.”
“Just wait. I’ll bring you something good.”
“Okay.”
Boron went to a corner and brought back a helmet. It was a barbute with a visor.
“Isn’t this similar to the one I bought before?”
“Look closely.”
Jeong Yoo-shin narrowed his eyes and examined it.
It was similar in shape to the helmets worn by medieval knights, but there was a strange symbol engraved on the surface of the visor, just below the left side.
“What is this?”
“Tsk, typical barbarian. It's a symbol representing the Light Spirit God. A symbol of good luck.”
He felt like he almost remembered it. He took a closer look. It resembled the symbol engraved on the plate armor worn by Gillian, the dog beast-person paladin who served the Light Spirit God.
Jeong Yoo-shin looked away from the helmet and said.
“I might not know it. Is it okay to insult me like this? Let’s make it 20 silver coins.”
Boron's face turned crimson.
“Y-You crazy bastard! How am I supposed to make a living?! 30 silver coins.”
“That’s too expensive. 25 silver coins. This strange symbol seems to detract from my dignity, so it’s only right to reduce the helmet’s price.”
“…You don't have to commit blasphemy! Fine. 26 silver coins.”
“25!”
“Oh, I’m dying. This barbarian is killing me!!!”
“I bought you liquor. Let's make it 25. I’ll buy you more next time.”
Boron glared at Jeong Yoo-shin. He wanted to kick the smug bastard’s ass, but he held back for his apprentice's sake.
“…Fine. What about weapons?”
“Just a dagger, please. I’ll buy the rest later.”
“Why? Never mind. What do I care? It’ll only frustrate me. The dagger is one silver coin. Come back for the armor in a week. Are you taking the helmet now?”
“I’ll take the helmet then, too.”
“Alright. Sigh.”
Boron sighed and went to the corner to fetch a dagger. He handed over the silver and tucked the dagger into his clothes.
“See you later.”
“Oh, woe is me.”
Boron lamented.
Jeong Yoo-shin glanced at the area where the hammering sounds were coming from and turned to leave the blacksmith shop.
His next destination was the Swordsman’s Guild.
He sighed involuntarily.
It seemed like Ashur was seriously angry with him, and he had no idea how to appease him.
How was he supposed to please the male elf stalker sword master? Dating sim games weren’t this difficult.
Lost in thought, he walked down the street again. When he arrived at the Swordsman’s Guild, the building was empty.
Only the bald Vice Guild Master, Kila, was sitting at the reception desk.
“To the training grounds.”
“Yes.”
Kila pointed towards the exit on the other side of the building.
Jeong Yoo-shin quietly made his way to the training grounds.
There, he saw Ashur standing with his arms crossed while silently looking up at the sky.
“Skar, attention!”
Ashur’s icy voice echoed through the training grounds.
Jeong Yoo-shin swallowed hard.
‘Here it comes.’
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T/N - I knew Ashur would be made with the MC, but I didn’t expect he would criticize the sword mouth thing. Also, the gall of the MC for comparing what he did to Zoro’s (I assume this is a One Piece reference unless there’s another swordsman named Zoro who wields a sword in his mouth in fiction).
*I have no idea what this saying means. I tried to google it, but all I got was how Korea was conservative, and that nose piercings were frowned upon. Comment down below if you know about it.