Chapter 59 Is This Right
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Translator: JayM
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: Is This Right?
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The swordsmen of the guild gathered in the training yard, standing in formation.
The boy from that morning was among them.
The training yard was quiet.
Dozens of people were silent, and all eyes were on Jeong Yoo-shin.
"Stand up straight."
Ashur, who had turned to look at him at some point, glared at Jeong Yoo-shin.
"Yes, sir."
Jeong Yoo-shin corrected his posture.
Ashur turned back around and faced the assembled swordsmen.
"You all heard of how Skar fought at the labyrinth's entrance, didn't you? What do you all think of it?"
From the group of quietly standing guild members, a man with a goat-like beard stepped forward.
"He fought well, I'd say."
"Drop and give me twenty."
"Yes, sir."
The goat-bearded man placed his hands on the ground and assumed a push-up position.
"I'll ask again. What do you all think of it?"
At Ashur's question, a man with a mohawk stepped forward.
"I heard that he formed a line with the Iron Mask swordsman and the half-ogre to fight the monsters. I thought he was a pretty impressive newbie..."
"You too, drop and give me twenty."
"Yes, sir."
The mohawked man dropped to the ground.
Ashur glared at the swordsmen, let out a deep sigh, and turned back to Jeong Yoo-shin.
"Skar, I'll admit it. A rookie explorer standing his ground against a horde of monsters without backing down? That's impressive. It is. But!"
Ashur waved his hand around in the air, mimicking the motion of swinging a sword and cutting something.
"Can't you do something about the way you fight? Huh? Couldn't you have swung your sword a bit more… artistically? Whether it's a sword or a great sword, can't you at least swing it like a human being? Why do you keep biting monsters' necks and swinging your sword around while holding it in your mouth?"
Ashur's voice was filled with disappointment.
It was the kind of disappointment a veteran player might express while watching a newbie flail around while thinking, 'That's not how you do it.'
'If I could do that, I'd be a Sword Master.'
Jeong Yoo-shin swallowed the sigh that threatened to escape his lips and lowered his head.
"I lost myself in the heat of battle. I apologize."
The swordsmen nodded in understanding.
A muscular elf stepped forward from the group and spoke.
"I heard this barbarian friend broke Hans's barrier. While it's true that he received help from several people, that doesn’t make his courage less impressive. Guild Master, please go easy on him."
The muscular elf continued with a smile.
"Moreover, unlike other barbarians, he doesn't target the guild members'… vulnerabilities, which is commendable. Honestly, it's a bit hard to believe."
The guild members nodded in agreement with the muscular elf's opinion.
"Now that you mention it, it is strange that no one has been assaulted yet."
"Could he really be a virgin? I thought the City Guard were just spouting nonsense..."
"Anyway, Guild Master. Honestly, I think you're being a bit harsh. That friend hasn't even learned much yet, has he?"
"Boo, stop dumping your workload on the Vice Guild Master."
Ashur, his face red, shouted.
"What about my reputation, you bastards!!!"
The area fell silent for a moment.
Then, the guild members started murmuring.
A few of them tilted their heads and said.
"···Your reputation, really?"
"You're always lying down and sleeping instead of working, aren't you? Shouldn't you spare a thought for the Vice Guild Master, who's pulling his hair out from all the stress?"
"Hey! Everyone, get out! Go do your jobs."
Outnumbered, Ashur waved his hands and shouted.
The guild members grumbled and dispersed.
The people returned to their respective places, leaving only Ashur and Jeong Yoo-shin in the vicinity.
A brief silence followed.
Ashur cleared his throat once and spoke.
"I acknowledge it. It was a courageous act."
"Yes, sir."
"Still, be careful. It was an extension of your recklessness, relying on your imprint to charge in headfirst. That's how it looked to me."
"I understand. I'll be more cautious."
"Come here."
Ashur gestured, and Jeong Yoo-shin approached him.
Ashur grabbed Jeong Yoo-shin’s shoulder and looked into his eyes.
"...They look a bit glazed over, don't they?"
"I'm fine."
"Really? No, on second thought, I'm still pretty pissed off. How could you use a sword with your mouth? Back in my day..."
The hand on Jeong Yoo-shin's shoulder tightened.
"W-Well, anyway. How are the barbarians these days?"
Jeong Yoo-shin subtly stepped back and asked.
"Why are you asking me?"
Ashur crossed his arms and asked back.
"Don't you know everything?"
"Not everything. I only know what I know."
"Is there a possibility that the barbarians will target Dalmong's inn?"
"I'd say the possibility is slim. If they're targeting anyone, it's you, not the inn."
Goosebumps ran through his body.
"Th-Then what should I do?"
"I think I told you last time already."
Ashur crossed his arms and looked around the training yard.
People were swinging their swords and spears, or running around the yard.
Why wasn't he telling him?
His impatience grew, making him feel frustrated.
Ashur's lips slowly opened.
"There's nothing you can do. Just enjoy it."
"...Excuse me?"
"Think of it as a storm."
Jeong Yoo-shin's mouth fell open.
Was this something a Sword Master should say?
If this was true, wouldn't it be safer to enter the labyrinth than to stay at the inn?
"I'm going into the labyrinth."
"You really are incorrigible. Go then."
Ashur spat out the words and rubbed his face with his palm.
"I'll start preparing today."
"Alright. Be careful. Don't die."
"Yes, sir."
Jeong Yoo-shin turned around and left the training yard.
Ashur watched Jeong Yoo-shin's retreating figure and let out a deep sigh.
"Why is he in such a hurry? Tsk."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
He left the Swordsman's Guild and walked towards the Explorers Guild.
He had told Mion that he wouldn't be able to attend classes for a while, so he wasn't worried about it.
The issue of the inn's protection was also resolved.
He had postponed the barbarian problem. He didn't have the ability to deal with it for now.
The last problem was finding a party.
Come to think of it, it was the most difficult hurdle.
Because it was about finding people.
He walked along the street and arrived at the Explorers Guild in the southern district.
Creeeak.
He opened the door and entered, and the quiet interior of the guild came into view.
Most of the explorers had already departed for the labyrinth early in the morning.
Therefore, it was natural to see only a few people around during lunchtime.
He stood in front of the bulletin board on one side of the wall.
Looking up, he saw numerous job postings attached to it.
When he still knew nothing, he would grab any paper from the bulletin board and ask the receptionist about it.
Now, thanks to the orphanage classes, he could at least read a little bit.
"Hmm."
He could only recognize a few words and numbers, but it was much better than before.
Most of the postings on the bulletin board were looking for support roles.
In particular, there was a high demand for priests and mages.
The pay ratio for priests and mages was also somewhat higher.
Of course, it wasn't an abnormally high amount.
Karl's party consisted of clueless friends, so they divided their gains equally.
In the reject party, he was the only normal one, so there was no negotiation when it came to dividing the pay.
In Karin's party, he went as a porter, so he didn't really bring up the issue of pay.
On the other side of the bulletin board were requests, most of which were similar to each other.
The majority were subjugation and magic stone collection requests.
Most of the requests were for levels one to five.
Requests for level five and above were few and far between.
He had heard that intermediate-rank explorers went to the Explorer's Guild headquarters in the central district, and it seemed to be true.
Moreover, they were looking for explorers with some experience there.
Rookie explorers who had some experience, but were still lacking to be considered intermediate-rank explorers.
An ambiguous position, you could say.
It would be more appropriate to call them lower-rank explorers.
There weren't any parties that particularly caught his eye.
Jeong Yoo-shin passed the bulletin board and went to the reception desk.
A dog beast-person was sitting alone at the desk.
"Hello. How can I help you?"
"I'm looking for a party."
"Do you have a specific party in mind?"
"Are there any parties that a vanguard could join?"
"Yes. Please wait a moment."
The dog beast-person rummaged through the stack of documents beside her.
"Hmm… There aren't many. There are a few rookie explorer parties looking for members though."
"Are there any other besides rookie parties?"
"There are some people looking for members among the reject parties."
"That's fine."
"I recommend coming in the morning. That's when most explorers gather."
"I understand. Thank you."
The dog beast-person smiled brightly and bowed her head.
"Yes. Then I'll see you tomorrow, explorer."
'Cute.'
Jeong Yoo-shin smiled warmly and left the Explorer's Guild.
When he returned to the inn, Snout was there.
He had asked Aldein for help this morning, and Snout had already arrived in the afternoon.
He was quick with his work.
"You're here?"
Snout bowed his head in greeting.
"I hear that you've been talking about me lately?"
Snout scratched his head with an awkward smile.
"My colleagues kept asking me about you, so I had to say a few words."
"Alright. Thanks for coming."
"...Skar-nim!"
What's with this guy?
Snout's expression of being deeply moved was a bit off-putting for him.
"Let's sit down first. I have some questions."
"Yes, sir."
Snout carefully sat down opposite Jeong Yoo-shin.
"What happened to those slave hunters?"
"Most of them were killed by your hands, Skar-nim. There are still some stragglers left. But they're fools who only recognize each other by crude markings and don't even know each other's faces. Besides, they don't seem very loyal to the organization, so you don't have to worry too much about revenge."
"Is it safe enough for me to enter the labyrinth now?"
"...It should be fine for the time being. That doesn't mean it's over though. We'll have to wait and see how this plays out."
Were they like cockroaches that couldn't be completely eradicated?
"I understand. Discuss the payment with Tarman."
"Yes, sir."
He had received confirmation that it would be safe for the time being.
Jeong Yoo-shin unconsciously stroked his stomach.
When he realized it, he laughed.
He had come to this city empty-handed, but now he had one or two things he had to protect.
His shoulders felt heavy with responsibility, but it wasn't a bad feeling.
Jeong Yoo-shin looked at Snout and smiled.
'This isn’t such a bad world after all. People are all the same in any world.'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Our party doesn't accept barbarians. Get lost."
The party leader, a bald dwarf, said firmly.
Jeong Yoo-shin's face crumpled.
'This fucking otherworld.'
He had woken up early in the morning and rushed to the Explorers Guild for party interviews, but most of them shook their heads and rejected him.
"At least tell me the reason."
"Well… Because you're a female hunter?"
'Fuck.'
"Please just give me a chance. I'm not a bad person."
"Wh-Wh-What do you mean give you a chance?! Get lost, you crazy bastard!"
The dwarf, startled, grabbed his axe.
Jeong Yoo-shin backed away.
"Let's talk. I meant to give me a chance to join the party."
"No!"
Jeong Yoo-shin looked at the dwarf's party members sitting at the table.
Their expressions were cold, so it seemed pretty hopeless.
He got up and went to the reception desk.
"Hmm… Another rejection?"
The dog beast-person asked with an apologetic expression.
"Yes."
This was the fifth rejection.
Jeong Yoo-shin was human, too, and the continuous rejections had worn him down, both physically and mentally.
He had considered himself lucky that the rumors of him being a virgin barbarian hadn't spread this far, but now he was starting to think otherwise...
Slap!!!
He slapped himself to stop his thoughts from spiraling.
'There’s always tomorrow.'
He couldn’t expect everything to work out on the first try.
If he kept trying, wouldn't he eventually stumble upon a party with good skills and good personalities?
"I'll come back next time."
"Yes. I'm sorry."
The dog beast-person bowed her head with an apologetic expression.
Jeong Yoo-shin bowed back and left the Explorers Guild.
He walked back to the inn.
"I'm back."
"Oh! You're here?"
Snout and Tarman, who were busy serving food, greeted Jeong Yoo-shin.
Jeong Yoo-shin looked at Snout and asked.
"Snout, why are you working?"
"I felt bad just sitting around, so I thought I should move my body a bit. It's not too taxing for me, so don't worry."
He looked at Snout, who was smiling brightly, and sat down at the counter.
The comfortable seat.
It was the seat Dalmong always sat in.
"I'll have a… No, a glass of water."
"Yes, sir!"
Tarman answered and ran to the kitchen to get water.
He drank a glass of water and stared blankly at the scenery outside.
The warm summer breeze entered through the open window, ruffling Jeong Yoo-shin's hair as it passed.
'Nice.'
How nice would it be if the genre of his life was a healing one?
The slow life of an otherworld innkeeper.
Getting hit by a truck and falling into another world, receiving cheat skills, and living a laid-back life of running an inn with fluffy friends.
"Bullshit."
Jeong Yoo-shin mumbled, closing his eyes.
He wasn't hit by a truck, and he didn't have cheat skills.
The inn wasn't his either.
He dozed off while having these thoughts.
He could hear the conversations of the customers in his sleep.
"Have you heard the news?"
"What news?"
"The fifth prince of the Lionel Kingdom has disappeared."
"The fifth prince? Isn't he the youngest of the five princes? Is he missing?"
"I don't know. I only heard rumors that the kingdom is in an uproar."
"Where did you hear that?"
"From a merchant from the Lionel Kingdom."
"The Lionel Kingdom is far to the south though. They came all the way here?"
"All the magic stones, rare materials, and even artifacts come from the Labyrinth City. Why wouldn't they come here?"
"That's true, but it's still a long way from here."
"Money is the issue, not distance."
"You have a knack for shutting people up. Anyway, the Lionel Kingdom is quite chaotic, too. Didn't the first prince also fall ill and become bedridden?"
"I heard that, but I'm not sure."
The customers continued their conversation, but Jeong Yoo-shin drifted back to sleep.
The chair was so comfortable that he couldn't stay awake.
The surroundings became quiet.
Someone carefully touched his shoulder.
"Skar-nim."
Jeong Yoo-shin opened his eyes. Snout was looking down at him.
"What is it?"
"It's closing time."
"Alright."
Jeong Yoo-Shin got up and went up to the second floor.
He had slept all day, but he was still tired.
He changed his clothes and laid down on the bed.
"Squeak!!!"
Something squishy was under him.
He quickly got up and lifted the bedsheet to find a white rat sprawled out.
"Lin, I'm sorry."
"Squeak!! Squeaaak!!"
The white rat squirmed and squeaked.
"Calm down. I'll give you a massage."
Jeong Yoo-shin gently massaged the white rat until it calmed down, then he yawned.
He hadn't been hit by a truck, and he didn't have cheat skills, but he did have a fluffy friend.
A fluffy friend.
'Is this right?'
A brief moment of doubt arose within him.
But as he patted Lin's belly, he gave himself over to the approaching darkness.
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T/N - Well, he didn’t get scolded nearly as badly as I thought he would be. But it’s still pretty hilarious that Ashur is complaining about the MC not swinging his sword artistically when he was fighting for his life.
Also, awww, MC has a fluffy friend now. I wonder how he would react if he knew Lin is being used by Ingrid so she can get off of his massages?