Chapter 71 A Salvation Story That Starts with Panties
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Translator: JayM
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: A Salvation Story That Starts with Panties
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A gentle, hot summer breeze swirled through the garden, brushing past the two men.
Jeong Yoo-shin spoke.
"Uh... Hello."
"Not hello."
Cain Landisher replied while running a hand through his flowing blond hair.
He was dressed in a comfortable shirt, as if he were on vacation.
His expensive-looking longsword was carelessly placed on the table.
Cain looked Jeong Yoo-shin up and down.
"What brings you here?"
"I came to have my imprint checked."
"Then why come all the way to the garden?"
"Priestess Mion usually does it. I also have something to ask of her today."
At Jeong Yoo-shin's reply, Cain shook his head.
"Not today."
"Why not?"
"I'm on vacation. I'm going to a nice restaurant with Mion for dinner."
"It's lunchtime now. Don't you have plenty of time before dinner?"
"I have to go shopping in the central district with her before dinner. Merchants from the Lionel Kingdom have recently arrived, and they've brought many good items. There are many interesting things to see there."
'Crazy little sister lover.'
Jeong Yoo-shin nodded and turned around to leave.
"Where are you going?"
"I thought you were uncomfortable with me here, so I was going to leave."
"Me? You're being overly self-conscious."
"Alright."
Jeong Yoo-shin sat down while facing Cain.
"..."
Neither of them spoke and they simply stared at each other.
Jeong Yoo-shin felt awkward.
This felt like the first formal meeting with his girlfriend's older brother.
Strictly speaking, it wasn't their first meeting, though.
Cain then spoke.
"Were you the one who broke through Hans' barrier?"
"...Yes."
At Jeong Yoo-shin's reply, Cain clicked his tongue.
"Tsk. This is the only time… I'll let you check your imprint with my sister this time. Mion is quite busy, you know."
"Understood."
"..."
Another awkward silence passed between the two men.
Jeong Yoo-shin turned his head and admired the flowers blooming in the garden.
Cain crossed his arms.
"...Thank you."
"Huh?"
"Thanks to you breaking Hans' barrier, the city didn't suffer much damage."
"It was a barrier that was about to crumble anyway, as it was already covered in cracks by the time my turn came."
"You're talking back even when I'm praising you. Retracted."
'Is this guy a bit of a tsundere?'
Jeong Yoo-shin scratched his head.
"Yes. But I have a question."
"What is it?"
"Does Priestess Mion know? That you collect her panties?"
"You crazy bastard! When did I ever collect panties? You're completely insane!"
"Sure, sure."
"Mion doesn't know."
"Ah, I see."
"Just in case, don't tell Mion."
"You could have just not told me in the first place."
"I must have been out of my mind from drinking too much that time. Forget it."
"Yes."
"No, wait, it's strange. Lately, Mion's panties..."
Jeong Yoo-shin's ears perked up.
"Yes, yes."
What about Mion's panties?
Jeong Yoo-shin leaned closer to Cain.
"They've... gotten thinner, or maybe smaller in coverage. They used to have cute animal prints, you know? Bears, rabbits, cats. But lately... tsk. Anyway, yeah. And besides..."
'Bears, rabbits, cats? Confirmed.'
And besides?
Cain's expression turned fierce.
Grit.
The sound of grinding teeth echoed through the quiet garden.
"Some random guy's underwear were in Mion's closet. Does that make any sense? What kind of crazy bastard puts his own underwear in my sister's closet? When I catch him, I’ll tear him to pieces!"
Jeong Yoo-shin's expression also turned serious.
What kind of psychopath would do such a thing?
As expected of Labyrinth City.
Too many crazy people.
"What kind of madman is he? Shouldn't we call the guards and throw him in jail?"
"Right. That's why I brought the evidence."
'What a guy.'
He had no idea when Cain had snuck into his sister's room.
Or how he had taken the underwear.
Well…
That was what it took to be called a little sister lover.
Jeong Yoo-shin nodded inwardly, convinced.
Cain took a cloth bundle out of his pocket, placed it on the table, and unwrapped it.
"Look. This is what it looks like. These are his underwear."
"This is it?!"
Jeong Yoo-shin's eyes widened.
Black, square, spandex underwear. A very familiar shape.
'Uh... Aren't these mine?'
His head spun as if he had been hit with a mace.
Cain, oblivious to Jeong Yoo-shin's inner turmoil, spoke with a serious expression.
"The material is unusual. I suspect it's underwear made by the Arachne Weaver's Guild in the eastern district."
"The front part is severely stretched. He's well-endowed. Monstrously so. He's a truly vile and disgusting person."
The Knight-Commander had a sharp eye.
However…
"...Why is being well-endowed vile?"
"Isn't he bragging about his size? Toying with innocent women like this... it's unprecedented."
"I... I see."
Jeong Yoo-shin looked down at the underwear again.
He was certain. He couldn't deny it. The stretched and torn parts from all the rolling around were familiar to him.
He had definitely put them in the laundry basket.
'How did these end up here?'
Could it be...
Mion?
No. Mion couldn't have done it.
A priestess of the Earth Mother sneaking into his room, sucking on his cheek, and stealing his underwear from his laundry basket?
'Couldn’t it be true though?'
The devil whispered.
'If this isn't a green light, then what is it? Grrr! Just go for it!!!'
'No. Mion might have a special imprint that she can't tell anyone about. She's definitely interested, but we don't know what kind of interest it is. Are you really sure? What if you make her cry again?'
The angel countered.
The devil then offered a compromise.
'At least hold her hand. And only have three kids.'
'No. You need to get stronger and get rid of that Cain guy first. That's the natural order of things.'
He didn't know who was the angel and who was the devil anymore.
Was this the legendary inner conflict in martial arts novels?
Jeong Yoo-shin closed his eyes and quelled the conflict within him.
"What are you thinking so hard about?"
At Cain's question, Jeong Yoo-shin opened his eyes.
"Nothing much. I was just thinking about how to deal with the owner of these underwear. Are you going to tell Priestess Mion about them?"
"No. I can't. How can I tell innocent Mion about such a dirty and disgusting scheme?"
"I see."
Shuffle. Shuffle.
Someone approached Jeong Yoo-shin and Cain. Cain quickly snatched up the underwear.
It was the temple receptionist.
"Skar, you can come in now."
Jeong Yoo-shin stood up.
Cain pointed at himself.
"What about me?"
"Priestess Mion said you can come in a little later."
"I don't want to. I'm going too."
"Sigh, alright."
The temple receptionist sighed and allowed Cain to accompany them.
Jeong Yoo-shin and Cain walked down the hallway to a door deep within the temple.
"This is a secret until the investigation is over. Got it?"
Cain said while standing in front of the door.
"Yes."
Jeong Yoo-shin nodded.
Knock, knock.
"Priestess Mion, Skar and Cain Landisher are here."
"Let them in."
"Yes. You two, you can enter."
Jeong Yoo-shin and Cain opened the door and entered the room.
Flowing platinum blond hair.
A high nose bridge and gently closed eyes.
Mion, dressed in white priestess robes, stood there with a benevolent smile.
"Mion!"
Cain pushed Jeong Yoo-shin aside and rushed towards Mion.
"O-Older brother."
The startled Mion stepped back slightly.
"Why are you so busy? Your older brother found a great restaurant. Let's go together. We can also go on a date in the central district. Sounds good, right?"
Jeong Yoo-shin stared blankly at Cain, dumbfounded.
He had been acting all serious and solemn just a moment ago, but now he had completely changed his face and was flirting with Mion.
"Older brother, we need to check Skar's imprint first."
Mion firmly interrupted Cain.
As expected, she knew how to prioritize.
Jeong Yoo-shin approached Mion and greeted her.
"It's been a while, Priestess Mion."
"Yes. You're here for an imprint check, right?"
"Yes."
Jeong Yoo-shin immediately knelt before Mion and bowed his head.
What kind of imprint would it be?
He hoped it was a good one.
No.
He didn't even wish for a cheat imprint.
As long as it wasn't a strange one.
Mion's chanting filled the room.
Jeong Yoo-shin closed his eyes and prayed fervently.
'Please, heavens, don't let it be a negative imprint.'
About five minutes passed.
Mion spoke.
"I've confirmed it. Your imprint is 'Venom Protection'."
Venom Protection.
Jeong Yoo-shin raised his head abruptly.
"Is that a good one?"
It sounded like a good imprint, based on the name alone.
A troubled expression flickered across Mion's face.
"It's... not bad."
Cain Landisher chuckled from the side.
"Too bad. It would have been more fun if you got an imprint that made slugs come out of your mouth or something."
Jeong Yoo-shin ignored Cain Landisher.
"What does it do?"
"It gives you some resistance to poison. It's an activation type imprint, not a passive one. The duration varies from person to person. On average, it lasts for 12 hours. Oh! And it gives you some resistance to diseases as well."
"Oh! Isn't that a good imprint?"
It was a modestly good imprint. He could save money on antidotes. He wouldn't catch colds easily either.
Jeong Yoo-shin grinned.
It wasn't an imprint that would kill him in three weeks if he didn't touch his chest.
It wasn't an erectile dysfunction imprint.
And it certainly wasn't a Child Lover imprint.
He could consider himself extremely lucky.
Cain Landisher scoffed at Jeong Yoo-shin.
"It might be somewhat useful on the lower floors, but it won't be enough on the deeper levels. The monsters down there all use strange mixed-element poisons. This kind of imprint won't help you much against them."
'Look at his personality.'
Jeong Yoo-shin frowned.
There was always someone who had to rain on his parade.
Couldn't he just offer congratulations?
Mion made a stern expression.
"Older brother, Skar is still a novice explorer."
"Tsk. Fine."
Jeong Yoo-shin stood up and faced Mion.
"Priestess Mion, I have a favor to ask."
"Yes, what is it?"
"Hey! I told you I have plans!"
"Please, just this once. It's a matter of life and death."
Seeing Jeong Yoo-shin's serious gaze, Cain closed his mouth.
Jeong Yoo-shin began his story.
He explained about the fox beast-person family.
He described Edel's current situation and Luna's efforts.
He also added his sincere desire to help.
After about 30 minutes, he finished his story.
"..."
Silence fell over the room.
Suddenly, Cain spoke.
"...I understand the situation, but let me ask you one thing."
"Yes."
"Why are you going so far to help them? Even putting aside where you got that magic stone from, it's going to cost you dozens of gold coins. You could buy good equipment, good magic tools, and live comfortably with that amount of money, but you're doing this much for someone you've barely met?"
Cain pointed at Jeong Yoo-shin and continued.
"Are you out of your mind? Are you trying to get with that widowed Edel? Is your head clouded by lust?"
'This bastard.'
Rage surged through Jeong Yoo-shin.
Jeong Yoo-shin glared at Cain and spoke.
"Cain Landisher, don't cross the line."
"...What did you say?"
Cain's jaw dropped at the sudden informality.
"I know you're the Knight-Commander of Labyrinth City, but there are things you should say and things you shouldn't. Don't insult me."
"You're curious why I'm helping? The good equipment, expensive magic tools, and comfortable living you mentioned will come naturally if I become stronger. And I like money too. But I like to maintain the well-being of the people around me even more. If you don't understand it, then don't try to. It's my choice."
It was also Dalmong's sentiment.
And Einhorfer's stubbornness.
It wasn't about being a saint.
Everything was...
'To protect my heart.'
"..."
Cain and Jeong Yoo-shin stared each other down for a long time.
Cain, as if admitting defeat, then lowered his hand and shook his head.
"...Sigh. Fine. And don't speak informally to me next time, you disrespectful brat. I'm letting you off the hook just this once. Tsk."
"I apologize."
"I'll go! I'll help!"
Mion shouted.
"...Really? I don't have much to offer you though."
"No. You've given me enough."
Jeong Yoo-shin tilted his head.
What had he given her?
Cain also frowned.
"What about our date?"
"Older brother, I don't think it will take long. Please wait a little while."
"Really? Then I'm coming too."
"You don't have to come with us."
Jeong Yoo-shin indirectly refused.
A vein throbbed on Cain's forehead.
"Why should I trust you with my sister? You could drag her into a dark alley and do something bad to her!"
"O-Older brother!"
Mion's face turned bright red.
Jeong Yoo-shin scratched his head.
He had a lot to say to that, but he held back.
"Let's go then."
Jeong Yoo-shin and the Landisher siblings left the temple.
Snout was standing in the front yard of the temple.
He was wearing a small backpack, and his expression wasn't very bright.
"Who's that?"
Cain asked.
"He's my subordinate."
'Subordinate-to-be, but still.'
Cain, unaware of Jeong Yoo-shin's thoughts, let out a hollow laugh.
"Huh. You have subordinates?"
"Yes. He's a friend who shares my sentiments."
Jeong Yoo-shin approached Snout.
"You look pale. Is something wrong?"
"S-Skar."
"What?"
"About the magic stone..."
Snout hesitated.
"Just spit it out."
At Jeong Yoo-shin's urging, Snout finally spoke.
"I think we were scammed."
"What?!"
Jeong Yoo-shin's jaw dropped.
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T/N - FBI to MC: We’ll get you next time.
Lol, what a riot of a chapter. The siscon unwittingly discussing the supposed crime with the suspect he’s looking for, not knowing that the suspect himself is also just a clueless victim. I laughed especially at Mion’s evolving panties preference and the MC’s size that Cain deduced from how the underwear streched.