Chapter 86 The Offer
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Translator: JayM
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: The Offer
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The next morning.
The lukewarm morning air flowed through the cracks in the window and tickled Jeong Yoo-shin's nose.
He opened his eyes.
It was already getting bright, as it was a summer morning.
"Oh, my arms."
His muscles were stiff and sore from his intense training at the Swordsman's Guild yesterday.
He should have regained some strength after a full night's rest, but his arms felt strangely weak.
"Lin?"
"Squeak... squeak."
Lin was clinging to Jeong Yoo-shin's arm while shaking her head.
"Lin, are you hurt?"
At Jeong Yoo-shin's question, Lin gave him a resentful look.
"Squeak!"
"What's wrong?"
What had he done?
Could it be...
Had he unconsciously massaged Lin all night with his restless hands?
He felt a pang of guilt as he realized what had happened.
"Lin, I'm sorry."
He raised his hand and gently stroked Lin's head.
"Squeak."
Lin, her head pressed down, shivered and then buried her face in the bed.
She slumped like a well-cooked rice cake.
Jeong Yoo-shin patted Lin's backside and got out of bed.
He changed his clothes and went downstairs. Tarman was cleaning the common area.
"Tarman."
"Skar."
He went to the kitchen, greeted Anne, and then went out to the courtyard to stretch.
He took his time stretching. As his stiff muscles loosened, he started jogging around the courtyard.
"Huff. Huff."
He took deep breaths, inhaling and exhaling slowly.
As he jogged, he recalled his conversation with Ashur, the Swordsman's Guild Guildmaster, from last night.
'Change your perspective. There's a reason why your hands move like that. It's your subconscious constantly searching for your opponent's weaknesses.'
'Ashur, I believe that's slander. I'm a swordsman of integrity.'
'Cut the crap. A true swordsman doesn't grope his master's stomach.'
'Yes.'
He finished his laps and stood still while catching his breath.
"Good."
Jeong Yoo-shin drew his longsword and swung it.
Whoosh!
At first glance, it looked like random flailing. Almost like a dance.
The same dance he had performed after defeating the assassins in the labyrinth.
He was actually trying to replicate the flow of the sword he had realized back then while deflecting the bolts.
Of course, the assassins, with their heads smashed in, wouldn't know.
Again.
He replayed his past battles in his mind. He never got tired of them. They were always fresh.
Because he had won.
There were lessons to be learned from failure.
And there were lessons to be learned from success as well.
He looked back on the former with the bitter taste of regret, while the latter felt like the sweet honey a bear would savor.
He swung his sword while imagining the mediocre dark elf he had fought in his last battle.
Whoosh!!!
The sword flash scattered with his sweat.
When his back was drenched, he sheathed his sword and took off his shirt.
Push-ups and squats.
30 repetitions each, 10 sets.
It wasn't much for a daily workout. But he had been doing it consistently for months.
He felt his muscles burning.
Heat, like a mirage, rose from his sweat-soaked body.
"Three... hundred! Done!"
He stood up unsteadily, caught his breath, and washed himself at the well.
"Have a good day, Skar."
"Yes. Watch the inn."
"Yes."
After breakfast, he bid Tarman farewell and ran to the temple.
"Thank you for your hard work today."
"Yes! Thank you, Teacher Mion!"
Lunchtime arrived, and the orphanage class ended.
The children left the classroom after Mion's dismissal.
Jeong Yoo-shin also quickly left the classroom and went to the temple dining hall for lunch.
After lunch and a short rest, he started studying alone with Mion.
Thump!
Mion placed a thick book on the desk.
"Here's a book about the monster list for the Forest area."
Jeong Yoo-shin's eyes widened.
"It's huge."
"As you go deeper into the labyrinth, more diverse monsters appear. I brought this because I thought you might find children's stories boring. Of course, you should continue reading those as well."
"Thank you."
"Shall we read together?"
"Yes."
Mion and Jeong Yoo-shin sat close together and started flipping through the book.
Jeong Yoo-shin immediately focused.
The book contained information about the types of monsters that appeared in the Forest area, their ecology, their appearance, and so on. It was a very academic approach.
Mion glanced at Skar.
He was looking at the book with a serious expression while taking notes, but his other hand was stroking her thigh.
"...It's the Green Worm. It mainly bites into the skin with its sharp mouth and burrows deep inside the body... Ehehe."
Skar's hand tightened around her thigh. The soft flesh of her thigh was squeezed, and a tightness coiled in her lower abdomen.
His hand didn't stop there and started to creep up her inner thigh.
Mion's mouth went dry.
What if she spread her legs here?
Disqualified as a priestess.
For an unmarried virgin to shamelessly spread her legs while sitting next to a man...
It was preposterous.
But…
Mion's tongue darted out to lick her lips.
'J-Just a little bit...?'
She slightly parted her tightly closed thighs.
Whether it was due to the summer heat or something else, a warm heat emanated from her tight priestess robes.
Skar's hand crept further up her thigh.
As if wanting to guide him, she gently pressed with her fingers.
"Huff. Huff!"
Mion let out a ragged breath and leaned against Jeong Yoo-shin.
Unconsciously, she wrapped her arms around his arm and pressed her breasts against him.
A firm, muscular arm.
Her heart pounded.
'I-Is it coming?!'
Mion turned her head away and exhaled shakily.
The telltale sign of arousal peeked out from between her plump labia that was encased in a tight thong.
Just as his rough fingers were about to reach their destination.
"Oops!"
Jeong Yoo-shin snapped out of his trance and looked at Mion.
His hand quickly retreated from her groin.
"I-I'm so sorry. My training is still insufficient. I can't control the side effect."
"Ah..."
A disappointed sigh escaped Mion's lips at Jeong Yoo-shin's apology.
She closed her legs, a sense of emptiness lingering, and repeatedly tucked her hair behind her ear.
"N-No. It's okay. Shall we move on?"
"Yes."
"This monster is..."
The study of the Forest area continued in the awkward atmosphere.
Two hours passed.
Jeong Yoo-shin finished his lesson with Mion and stood up.
For some reason, Mion remained seated.
"Teacher Mion, thank you. I learned a lot today."
"N-No. I'm glad I could be of help."
Mion watched Jeong Yoo-shin leave, then she lowered her head and buried her face in the book.
"...What have I done?"
The nape of her neck, visible between her flowing blond hair, was flushed red.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Jeong Yoo-shin left the temple and ran to the Swordsman's Guild.
"You're late. Can't you be a little faster?"
Ashur, who was laying his head down on the reception desk, peeked his head up and looked at Jeong Yoo-shin.
"I apologize."
"Let's go."
"Yes."
Jeong Yoo-shin went to the training grounds and sparred repeatedly with Ashur.
Clang!!!
Clang!!!
Lost in the rhythm of clashing swords, the sun set, and the moon rose.
Late at night, completely exhausted, Jeong Yoo-shin knelt on the ground.
"Ugh!!!"
He couldn't stand up. All the strength drained from his body.
Ashur turned his back to him and spoke.
"Good work. See you tomorrow."
"Huff... huff... Please wait a moment. I have a question."
He had been debating whether to ask or not, but he had no other choice.
Sacred Weapon.
He had intended to keep it as a secret technique, but Ashur seemed to already know about it.
It was his bread and butter imprint. But he hadn't had the chance to use it lately.
No.
He hadn't been able to use it…
Because it had a serious flaw.
The time limit.
The fatal flaw of only being able to use it for three seconds, making it unsuitable for prolonged exchanges.
There was also the drawback of the summoned weapon disappearing after use and requiring time to recast it.
It was a technique specialized for sneak attacks and exploiting openings.
Its limitations were clear.
But he had come up with a way to use it.
Parry everything.
Gather mana in his hand, summon a Sacred Weapon, instantly read the opponent's attack, and either block or deflect it.
Jeong Yoo-shin explained his idea to Ashur.
Ashur looked at him in disbelief.
"Do you think that's possible?"
"Why wouldn't it be?"
"Even putting aside the mana requirement, even if you combine the imprint activation speed, reaction speed, the ability to read the flow of a weapon, and swordsmanship skills, you'd be lucky to use it once. How is that possible?"
"I can parry now."
"Was that languid sword dance you did this morning parry practice?"
'Crazy stalker elf.'
He wasn't surprised anymore.
"Guildmaster, it's not that bad, even if it looks slow."
"Ha. Alright. Since your stance has stabilized considerably, we can move on to the next stage."
"What's the next stage?"
"Sparring."
"With whom?"
"There are plenty of sparring partners. Did you know that the guild members are eager to spar with you? This is a good opportunity."
"...Ashur!"
Jeong Yoo-shin's voice trembled with emotion. His heart swelled with the realization that he could finally move forward.
"Sparring is just sparring, so don't violate your opponent just because they lost."
"...Ashur."
His excitement vanished instantly.
Ashur chuckled, patted Jeong Yoo-shin's shoulder, and turned around.
"Good work. Try that Sacred Weapon thingy. If it doesn't work, just get a good sword and use it well."
Ashur finished speaking and left the training grounds.
Jeong Yoo-shin also stood up and left.
He walked through the dark streets and returned to the inn. He cleaned himself up and laid down on the bed. Lin was nowhere to be seen.
Where did she go?
Did she go to Ingrid?
If so, that was a relief. He had given her a thorough massage last night, so he wasn't too worried.
He closed his eyes, and darkness enveloped him.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Three weeks passed.
His daily routine remained largely unchanged.
He studied with Mion.
And he sparred with the guild members.
They were all skilled, so it wasn't easy, but he gained a lot from it. It was valuable training, allowing him to convert his combat experience into practical skills.
"Good."
Jeong Yoo-shin sat at a table while opening and closing his hand.
His sun-tanned skin rippled with muscle.
His arms were completely different from when he had first entered the labyrinth.
They were the arms of a warrior.
As Ashur had advised, his rigorous training had made it easier to control his arms.
Creak.
The inn door opened, and Snout entered.
He was carrying a bag with a teddy bear's face embroidered on it.
"Skar."
"You're here?"
"I brought the backpack you requested."
"Perfect."
Jeong Yoo-shin took the backpack and grinned.
The leather backpack the assassins had been carrying.
After having Snout take it for appraisal, it turned out to be a backpack enchanted with a spatial expansion spell.
Since it was stolen goods, he had it customized to his liking at a repair shop.
It was a necessary item for explorers, allowing them to carry more supplies for longer stays in the deeper levels of the labyrinth.
It wasn't an exceptionally high-quality backpack, but...
It would definitely be helpful in the middle floors.
Jeong Yoo-shin looked up.
"How's the atmosphere in the city these days?"
"Same as usual. It's a bit busy because of the Blue Moon Festival next month."
Blue Moon?
"What's the Blue Moon Festival?"
"It's a summer festival. Various Spirit Gods ascend to the night sky and bless their followers with peace and prosperity."
"Really? Should we do something here at the inn?"
"Yes. We expect many people from outside the city to visit. It's a great opportunity to increase profits."
"Alright. Will you help? I'll pay you handsomely."
"I'll do my best."
Snout replied with a grin.
Jeong Yoo-shin slung the backpack over his shoulder and stood up.
All the preparations were complete.
He had gained knowledge about the Forest area from Mion.
He had honed his skills through sparring at the Swordsman's Guild.
All that remained was...
To find new companions.
'I hope they're normal this time.'
Just then…
Clatter!
The inn door opened.
Jeong Yoo-shin turned his head and looked at the newcomer.
"You...?"
Jeong Yoo-shin's eyes widened.
"It's been a while, Skar."
The Iron Mask said in an amused tone.
The man suspected of being the First Prince continued.
"Still a virgin?"
"...So suddenly?"
As expected of a well-educated person, his teasing skills were top-notch.
But to barge into his place of business and ask if he was still a virgin...
Did this Iron Mask have no heart?
Jeong Yoo-shin's expression hardened.
"What do you want?"
"We're one person short in our party. Join us."
The Iron Mask man extended his hand.
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T/N - Finally! Another labyrinth run, and this time, with Iron Mask. Hopefully, the others in the guard duty mission he took will also be in the party.
Also, oh boy. Ingrid’s in for a treat when she reads Lin’s latest memories. Being massaged all night long like that, I’d love to read her reaction. And Mion is thirsty AF, though nothing new there.
Lastly, yeah, his Sacred Weapon imprint has gotten sidelined, though it wasn’t that useful in the first place. I do hope it can get some sort of upgrade.