Chapter 77 Shhh!
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Translator: JayM
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: Shhh!
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Three days passed.
A quiet evening.
Jeong Yoo-shin sat on a chair at the inn's counter.
Strangely, there weren't many customers today.
Creak.
The inn door opened, and Snout entered, sitting across from Jeong Yoo-shin.
Jeong Yoo-shin took a bottle and some glasses from the cabinet, and placed them in front of Snout.
"Snout, what's the situation?"
"Most of the compensation you asked for has arrived at the monster dismantling shop. And as you requested, I brought the poisonous herbs."
Snout placed a pouch on the counter.
"It's not a lethal poison. It only causes paralysis when ingested. It can also cause sensory dulling."
Jeong Yoo-shin took the pouch and placed it under the counter.
"Good work. And did you find out if Oswald's story is credible?"
"That will take a little more time."
I see.
"Why isn't Oswald taking action himself?"
"As Oswald mentioned before, there's an unspoken rule in the eastern district. No inter-clan conflicts. The main reason is that overt conflicts would cause chaos in the eastern district."
"Even if his own clan suffers damage?"
"They have to prove they suffered damage, which is difficult for weaker clans. Even if they do prove it and receive compensation, there could be covert retaliation."
"It sounds like the strong can do whatever they want."
"That's right."
Jeong Yoo-shin scratched his head. He felt like they were avoiding the main point.
The root of all these incidents.
"Are there any rumors about sightings of the Fifth Prince?"
Jeong Yoo-shin asked quietly while looking around.
Snout leaned in and whispered.
"We haven't found any clues so far. It's strange."
He remembered the duo who had visited the inn before. Snout had said they were high-ranking individuals.
"Are that boy and knight still here? I haven't seen them lately."
"They stayed until you were in a coma for a week, then they left for somewhere."
"Could they have been the Fifth Prince and his escort knight?"
"I considered that possibility and observed them, but they seemed different."
"In what way?"
"Aren't royals usually picky about their food and clothing? But they ate the inn's food without complaint. They didn't seem to mind their clothes getting dirty either. And their speech was polite."
"What about their appearance? Did they resemble him?"
Snout shook his head.
"Aldein showed me a portrait, so I checked. The Fifth Prince has dark blond hair. The boy we saw had brown hair. His facial features were also different. That's the decisive factor, actually."
Indeed.
The escort knight had green hair and wore worn plate armor.
The boy had brown hair and wore a robe.
He knew that even with a disguise, a person's noble bearing could sometimes unconsciously reveal itself. The opposite could also be true. He didn't think a high-ranking individual would be that thorough.
He trusted Snout's judgment.
Besides, he had heard that they had left quite a while ago, so there was no point in asking further about them.
Jeong Yoo-shin sighed deeply.
'A complete dead end.'
The heavens were truly indifferent. Shouldn't they throw him a clue after all the effort they’ve made?
No.
He shook his head, suppressing his frustration.
Worrying about it now wouldn't solve anything.
He made up his mind and changed his approach.
"Snout, send all the gold except five coins to Edel. I don't know if 25 gold coins will be enough to revive the pharmacy she sold, but..."
"Huh?"
"Send all the herbs to Edel as well."
Snout's expression hardened.
"...Skar, you don't have to go this far."
Jeong Yoo-shin grinned.
"This isn't charity."
"What do you mean?"
"I'll need high-quality potions and herbs for this fight. I have a feeling this won't be as easy as last time. We need to minimize the damage."
"Ah, I understand. Edel's condition has improved considerably as well."
"Good. This is more of a transaction than charity. Snout, explain that to Edel."
"Yes, I understand. But..."
Snout hesitated, as if he still had something to say.
"Just say it."
"Is your party participating in this fight?"
"No. This is the eastern district underworld's business. I have to handle this by myself."
"Isn't this too much for you to handle alone? I'll help you."
"I have a plan, but I'm not sure how it will turn out. Let's wait and see. Leave the items Oswald sent at the monster dismantling shop for now."
"Alright."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Night fell, and closing time arrived.
He sent Snout to the monster dismantling shop and helped Tarman and Anne clean the common area and kitchen.
After sending Anne and Tarman to their quarters, Jeong Yoo-shin remained alone at the counter, keeping watch.
He sipped his drink and stared blankly at the ceiling.
The dark ceiling offered no answers.
Thinking about it, his fate was truly strange.
He had fallen into another world and somehow ended up as the acting innkeeper.
In the world of martial arts novels, he would be the waiter running the inn in the owner's stead.
Smack!
He slapped himself to stop his train of thought.
"Slapping yourself after smiling to yourself? What are you doing?"
Just then.
Oswald emerged from the shadows.
The effect of the Veil of Darkness imprint.
Jeong Yoo-shin, unfazed, pointed to the front of the counter.
Oswald walked over and sat across from Jeong Yoo-shin.
"Innkeeper, drinks?"
Oswald asked.
"Let's hear the plan first."
Oswald explained his plan. It was a rather unusual plan, as expected from a man with a screw loose.
Jeong Yoo-shin stood up, took a bottle and some glasses, placed them in front of Oswald, and poured him a drink.
Glug, glug, glug.
Jeong Yoo-shin spoke as he filled the glass.
"Lure the assassins outside Labyrinth City using the Fifth Prince's nanny as bait? Do you think they'll fall for it so easily?"
"So what if they don't? Do we have any other way?"
"By the way, how many assassins are there?"
"Twenty-five."
"That's a lot. You want me to kill them all by myself?"
"Hoo. We've hired a few mercenaries for a hefty sum. They're discreet. But they can't directly intervene. All they can do is hide in the distance and fire bolts."
"Who's the leader of the assassins?"
"Kuelin Calheid. A dark elf. She's famous for getting involved in underworld conflicts and making a profit. Her personality isn't very pleasant, but she gets the job done as cleanly as I do. Her imprints are Fast Weapon, Crow’s Sight, and Hyper Sensitivity."
"Tell me more."
At Jeong Yoo-shin's request, Oswald took a sip of his drink and explained.
Fast Weapon.
An imprint that allowed the user to wield weapons faster. The more the user swung their weapon during combat, the faster they became.
Crow’s Sight.
An imprint that sharpened the user's vision like a crow's.
Hyper Sensitivity.
An imprint that heightened the user's senses.
It amplified the five senses, making it a double-edged sword that could be detrimental if used incorrectly.
'Is she like a swift swordsman from a martial arts novel?'
He felt like he was making too many comparisons to martial arts novels today, so he slapped himself again.
Smack!!!
Oswald stared blankly at him, but Jeong Yoo-shin didn't care. The poor clown had no idea of his inner struggles.
Jeong Yoo-shin rubbed his reddened cheek and fell into thought.
Even if, by some miracle, he managed to lure all the assassins out, there was another obstacle.
The dark elf with those broken imprints.
And on top of that, 25 assassins.
If they scattered and started firing bolts, his chances of survival were zero.
Could he handle it?
He had to clean up thoroughly to avoid retaliation. He would have to kill them all.
"This dark elf. Are you sure I can kill her?"
"Hoo. That's what's giving me a headache. I don't see a way to do so."
Oswald, his face haggard, scratched his head and took a cigarette out of his pocket.
"Can't you kill her?"
"We've already had a run-in. If she's attacked, wouldn't people suspect me first? With my imprint, I can't just wander around freely. And that dark elf, with her Hyper Sensitivity imprint, would notice me immediately."
"Look at you, being all cautious."
"I can't put my family in danger just to save my own skin."
'So you're a family-loving clown.'
He truly was a pitiful man.
Perhaps that crazed laughter in the labyrinth was actually the desperate cry of a family man driven mad by the need to provide for his family.
"Alright, I understand. But why is this plan so full of holes?"
"Hoooo."
Oswald didn't reply, just exhaling a puff of smoke.
"This inn is non-smoking. Get out."
Oswald finished his drink and stood up.
"See you later."
"Wait."
Jeong Yoo-shin stopped Oswald.
"What?"
"Leave a cigarette."
"These are expensive."
"Really? Then two."
Oswald glared at Jeong Yoo-shin as if he wanted to kill him, then sighed and placed two cigarettes on the counter.
"Go. Come back with a better plan."
"...Fuck."
Oswald cursed and left the inn.
Jeong Yoo-shin sat back down and racked his brain.
He couldn't see a solution.
If only he had a cheat imprint, then he could just wipe them all out.
He stopped thinking. His head throbbed.
Jeong Yoo-shin went into the kitchen and brought out a late-night snack.
The roast chicken that Anne had prepared before leaving.
A whole roasted chicken, well-massaged with herbs and olive oil, with crispy skin.
Jeong Yoo-shin tore off a leg and took a bite.
The salty, savory chicken skin and the tender, juicy meat danced in his mouth.
"Mmm. This is what sex is like."
It tasted even better because he was eating it late at night.
They said eating late at night was like taking poison.
Poison?
He had almost forgotten.
He had received the poisonous herbs from Snout to test his new imprint, but he hadn't had the time to think about it with all the other things going on.
He wiped the chicken grease from his mouth, picked up the bottle, and filled his glass.
Glug, glug, glug.
Clear dwarven fire liquor filled the glass.
Jeong Yoo-shin took the poisonous herbs from under the counter, tore them into small pieces, and put them in his glass.
And then…
[Venom Protection]
He activated his imprint.
Jeong Yoo-shin looked over his body. He felt a slight drain on his mana, but there was no noticeable change.
He picked up his glass and downed its contents in one gulp.
"Hmm."
He felt nothing.
Did he have to wait a little longer?
He took another glass and placed it on the counter.
There were now three glasses on the counter.
He tore the poisonous herbs into small pieces, put them in the glasses, and poured the liquor.
Just then…
Creak.
The inn door opened, and two people entered.
The boy and the knight.
They looked disheveled, as if they had been through a rough time. Had they been in the labyrinth?
The two of them approached the counter as if in a trance.
"Innkeeper, can we stay for the night?"
The knight asked.
"Certainly."
"Is it possible to get a meal?"
"I'm afraid not. I apologize."
"I see..."
The boy was staring intently at the roast chicken.
"I already ate a leg, but would you like the rest?"
"We'll take it. How much?"
"It's on the house."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
The boy and the knight started devouring the chicken. They looked like they hadn't eaten in a while.
After eating for a while, the knight and the boy clutched their chests, as if choking.
"I-Innkeeper, something to drink."
"Yes."
Jeong Yoo-shin went into the kitchen.
There should be some fruit juice left somewhere. Anne and Tarman had prepared some for Luna, the fox beast-person, who often came to perform.
"Where is it?"
As he rummaged through the kitchen.
He overheard whispering voices from outside.
"...is too early."
"It's fine. I'm an adult now. We just have to pay. The innkeeper is generous, so he'll understand..."
"But... this herb..."
He heard the boy's clear voice intermittently.
"Found it."
He left the kitchen with two wooden cups of fruit juice and saw the boy and the knight sitting at the counter.
"Here you go. Huh?"
The glasses were empty.
The knight scratched her head and said.
"Sorry. We were thirsty, so we drank a little. We'll paaaay..."
The knight's body stiffened, and she rolled off her chair.
Thud!!!
The boy, seeing this, stared blankly at Jeong Yoo-shin.
"Uh... Uh-oh."
Then the boy also fell backwards off his chair.
Thud!!!
"Why did you drink that?!"
Jeong Yoo-shin rushed over to the counter in a panic. The boy and the knight were trembling.
"A-Are you alri..."
"Your Highness!"
The knight shouted.
Your Highness?
Jeong Yoo-shin froze.
"...Your Highness?"
Jeong Yoo-shin asked, dumbfounded.
The knight's face turned pale. She realized her mistake. She couldn't deny it.
"The Fifth Prince?"
Jeong Yoo-shin asked, looking at the boy. The boy's eyes widened.
"...Who told you? Second brother? How did you know?"
The boy's speech was slurred, as if his tongue was also becoming paralyzed by the poison.
This sudden situation.
Jeong Yoo-shin, frozen in place, clutched his head.
Just then…
Inspiration struck him like lightning.
Poison and the Fifth Prince.
"Aha!"
A way to overcome this predicament.
The heavens truly didn't abandon those who worked hard.
A way to lure out the 25 assassins and their dark elf leader outside Labyrinth City and get rid of them all at once.
He didn't know if it would work, but it was worth a try.
Jeong Yoo-shin quietly unbuckled his belt.
The knight's eyes narrowed.
"What are you... mmph!!! Mmph!!!"
Jeong Yoo-shin gagged the knight with his belt.
He looked over and saw the boy trembling. He couldn't tell if it was from the poison or fear.
"Eek!!!"
The Fifth Prince let out a strange cry when Jeong Yoo-shin looked at him.
Jeong Yoo-shin looked around. He couldn't find anything to gag the Fifth Prince with.
Just then…
He saw the leftover roast chicken on the counter. Almost all of it was gone, leaving only the chicken breast.
He tore off a piece of the chicken breast and shoved it into the boy's mouth.
"Mmph!!! Mmph!!!"
"If you spit out the chicken breast, I'll give you something harder."
The boy's body convulsed. Fortunately, he didn't spit out the chicken breast.
Jeong Yoo-shin looked at the boy's face.
His pupils were dilated with fear.
"Your Highness."
Your Highness.
A pleasant sound.
Jeong Yoo-shin grinned and stroked the boy's head.
Brown hair slipped through his fingers.
"Shhh!"
Jeong Yoo-shin put his finger to his lips.
The boy's eyes widened in terror.
And then…
Psss.
The Fifth Prince's pants grew damp.
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T/N - Jeez man! I’m laughing so hard at this. He complains how hard it is to deny the allegations, then he acts like this. No wonder the boy pissed himself.
Also, called it! I told you guys the boy was the fifth prince. So predictable. Then again, this is just the MC’s luck working hard to include him in every important incident.