Chapter 89 To the Forest Area
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Translator: JayM
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: To the Forest Area
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In the dimly lit inn.
Karin and Jeong Yoo-shin stood facing each other across the counter.
Jeong Yoo-shin tilted his head as he looked at Karin.
Wait a minute.
Karin, here, out of the blue?
Smack!
He slapped himself.
Ignoring Karin's surprised look, he rubbed his stinging cheek and collected his scattered thoughts.
He was responsible for Dalmong's inn. He couldn't succumb to the allure of that seductive leopard-print bra.
Jeong Yoo-shin, regaining his composure, quietly looked at Karin's choker.
"Karin, do you remember the day we first met?"
"What's with the sudden question?"
Karin replied while frowning.
Jeong Yoo-shin fidgeted with the dagger he had placed under the counter.
"Karin, please answer me."
"I don't remember the exact location, but we met in the forest near the Pilgrimage Road, right?"
'Confirmed.'
But it wasn't enough.
"You have the magic tool you took from me, right? Can I see it?"
"That fire-making thing? Here."
Karin took something out from her cleavage and showed it to him.
Jeong Yoo-shin's eyes widened.
A lighter.
A lighter emerging from between her ample breasts that were barely contained by her leopard-print bra...
Moreover, the lighter was glistening with sweat.
A boob lighter.
He felt his soul being sucked away as he watched the captivating sight, unable to tear his eyes away.
'Mommy milk.'
Baby Yoo-shin babbled in his mind.
Karin put the lighter back and crossed her arms.
"Skar, are you done with your suspicions?"
Her leopard-print bra, a mix of black and yellow, strained against her arms.
Jeong Yoo-shin gritted his teeth and forced himself to look only at Karin's face. He couldn't look any lower. His intelligence would deteriorate if he continued.
"I believe you. But what's with the choker?"
"Oh, this? It's a magic tool that prevents the Female Virgin Corruption imprint from affecting me. I paid a lot for it."
Karin said while stroking the choker.
"I already have an imprint suppression magic tool."
"Really?"
"Yes."
Karin pondered for a moment, then nodded.
"...Hmm. Well, it doesn't hurt to have it. It just means double the protection."
Jeong Yoo-shin released the dagger he had been secretly gripping.
He had been suspicious of Karin's casual physical contact.
Because Karin knew about the Female Virgin Corruption imprint.
If it were truly Karin, she would be cautious instead.
Or perhaps someone else was impersonating her with malicious intent.
'Should I stop here?'
He had confirmed where he and Karin had first met.
He had confirmed the function of the choker.
He had also confirmed the lighter Karin was carrying.
He couldn't keep doubting her endlessly, like Nietzsche. He would go insane. He decided to end his verification here.
"But how did you get here? I heard from Ingrid that you were under house arrest."
"...Ah. You met my mom? I see."
Karin suddenly sniffed the air and frowned.
"Something smells strange."
"I'm looking after Ingrid's familiar. I’m not raising it, but I provide food to it when it visits the inn after wandering around the city."
"Lin? Hmm."
Karin made a strange humming sound and pouted.
"Really? Anyway, my house arrest is over. I can live in Labyrinth City again, starting today."
"But why did you come here? I heard that you were staying in the central district last time."
"My mom took everything. My money, equipment, and subordinates. She told me to start over from scratch."
'As expected.'
Jeong Yoo-shin nodded inwardly.
So that was why she was only wearing a tank top and carrying a small backpack.
"I see. Welcome, Karin."
Jeong Yoo-shin smiled and extended his hand.
Karin smiled back and took his hand.
Smack!
Jeong Yoo-shin suddenly slapped Karin's hand.
A puzzled look appeared in Karin's eyes.
"...What was that for?"
"That's for the lodging fee. Five copper coins, customer."
Karin's face crumpled.
"Hey! Isn't that a bit much?!"
"You really don't have any money?"
"I said I don't have any money!"
"Not having money isn't something to brag about. Why are you raising your voice?"
"...Why are you being so cold?"
Karin glared at him resentfully. Jeong Yoo-shin scratched his head.
It wasn't him who was being cold, but capitalism.
He couldn't refuse her, though.
He wasn't that cold-hearted.
Karin Redtail.
A guide.
She had made a mistake on the fifth floor, but she was a capable person.
Her navigation skills, floor identification skills, and tracking skills were all excellent. It was an assessment he had made after seeing and working with various guides after the Karin Party incident.
Moreover, although she was currently an explorer, wasn't she originally the precious only daughter of the Beast-person Alliance representative?
It would be beneficial for him to be on good terms with her.
The problem was Karin's personality.
'Too strong.'
If the inn's customers felt uncomfortable around her, it would negatively impact his business.
Jeong Yoo-shin looked at the leopard-print bra while lost in thought.
Black. Yellow.
Strange.
It was just a mix of two colors, yet it was captivatingly beautiful.
Karin, noticing where Jeong Yoo-shin's eyes were focused, smiled seductively, and pushed her chest forward.
"Skar, do we need money between us? I'll repay you with my body."
Her body?
The image of Tarman, exhausted from work, flashed through his mind.
He leaned against the counter and crossed his arms.
"You said you would repay me with your body, right?"
"Y-Yes."
Karin replied, her face slightly flushed.
Jeong Yoo-shin grinned.
"Good."
Karin swallowed hard.
Jeong Yoo-shin stood up and approached Karin.
"Karin, we're short-handed at the inn. Please help us out."
"...What?"
Karin frowned.
"Why should I do that?"
"Pay up if you don't want to."
"Ugh!"
Karin hesitated, then nodded.
"Fine. I'll work."
'Easy.'
He had gained a new employee. He didn't know how it would turn out. If she was incompetent, he could just fire her, so there was no problem.
All that remained was to finalize the agreement.
Jeong Yoo-shin lifted his shirt.
His firm abs, glistening with sweat and salt, were revealed to Karin.
"Wh-What are you doing?"
Karin's voice trembled involuntarily.
"We made a deal. You have to lick my stomach. Isn't that a Redtail tradition?"
Karin's face turned bright red.
"Y-You!"
Karin glared at him with anger in her eyes.
But Jeong Yoo-shin remained motionless, his sculpted abs still on display.
Gulp.
Karin's throat bobbed. Her red tail stood on end.
A belly kiss, a symbol of humiliating submission.
It was a tradition so ancient that even the oldest beast-people couldn't remember its origins.
'How dare he...!'
A sense of oppression, along with anger, tightened in her chest.
"Karin."
"A-Alright! I'll do it!"
Karin approached Jeong Yoo-shin and knelt down.
The strong, masculine scent of his salty abs assaulted her sensitive nose.
"Huff. Huff."
Her breath quickened involuntarily.
'I... I'm licking a man's stomach...'
Even though she was an explorer, she was the only daughter of the representative of the Beast-person Alliance, a prominent member of the Eastern Alliance.
She had protected the borders, saved people, and eradicated slave hunters.
She had lived a life of praise from the people of the Beast-person Alliance.
Countless men had proposed to her.
Men who had knelt before her and begged.
Men who boasted of their immense wealth.
Men who flaunted their strength.
But none of them had caught her eye.
Since there was no man she liked, she naturally rejected all proposals.
But this man…
'He's telling me to lick his stomach.'
Boiling rage and humiliating oppression.
And beneath it all, a dark desire was slowly surfacing, but Karin didn't realize it.
Karin glared at Jeong Yoo-shin and opened her mouth.
"Blegh."
Karin's red tongue slowly reached towards Jeong Yoo-shin's stomach.
Her breasts naturally brushed against his knees.
Karin unconsciously rubbed her erect nipples against his knees, straining her bra.
"Haah. Haah."
Her breathing grew increasingly ragged.
Just as Karin's red tongue was about to touch Jeong Yoo-shin's six-pack abs.
"Squeak?"
A white rat stood on the counter while tilting its head.
"Hmm? Lin."
Jeong Yoo-shin saw Lin and pushed Karin's head away.
"Squeak, squeak."
Lin, spotting Karin, scurried down from the counter and rubbed against her legs.
"...Lin? Suddenly?"
Karin stared blankly at Lin, who was rubbing against her legs, and muttered.
"Lin, come here."
"Squeak?"
Jeong Yoo-shin picked up Lin by the scruff of her neck and tucked her into his shirt pocket.
"Karin, I'm not a Redtail. So I don't see the point of upholding traditions like contracts and such. Of course, I don't mean to disrespect Redtail history. A verbal agreement is sufficient."
"..."
"You can use the third room on the left on the second floor. Wake up early tomorrow and take care of the serving duties."
Jeong Yoo-shin turned around and went upstairs.
"Wh-What the hell..."
Karin sat down on the floor while staring blankly at Jeong Yoo-shin's receding figure and muttered to herself.
"Hoo. That was close."
Jeong Yoo-shin, climbing up the stairs, sighed in relief.
It was still vivid in his mind.
Karin's ragged breathing tickling his stomach.
Her flushed face.
And her breasts pressing against his thighs.
If it weren't for Lin, he would have lost control and fallen prey to Karin's leopard-print trap, giving her everything he had, just like Oswald.
'I have to be careful.'
Jeong Yoo-shin muttered to himself as he entered his room.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The next morning.
He finished his morning training and sat in the inn's common area.
He had purchased all the necessary supplies.
And he had packed his equipment.
"Here's your food."
Thud.
Karin approached him and placed a meal in front of him.
The menu was sweet and sour pork steak.
Potato soup with herb butter.
And a baguette from the teddy bear bakery.
Jeong Yoo-shin slowly ate his meal.
It was delicious.
Especially the baguette made by the teddy bear. It was so good that even a Frenchman would be impressed.
"So you're entering the labyrinth in a few days?"
Karin asked.
"Yes. If nothing comes up, I plan to go to the sixth floor of the Forest area."
"That's fast. Are you already an intermediate-rank explorer?"
"No. I haven't been promoted yet, so I'm still a novice."
"Then why are you going past the fifth floor?"
"I met some capable party members."
"Really? Good luck."
Karin said casually and turned away.
Jeong Yoo-shin watched Karin's swaying hips, then scratched his head.
He had expected Karin to act high and mighty and insist on joining him in the labyrinth, but it was apparently just his imagination.
She had made a mistake, but she didn't repeat it.
'She's not that spoiled, fire-attributed wolf idol anymore.'
He smiled and picked up his spoon.
Just then, Karin stopped and turned back to Jeong Yoo-shin.
"My salary is one gold coin, right? I'm working this hard, so you have to pay me at least that much."
Karin said as she placed her hands on her hips and looked down at Jeong Yoo-shin.
A salary of one gold coin?
'Is that right?'
He was already worried about the inn's finances.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
A few days later.
Jeong Yoo-shin stood in the inn's common area, fully equipped.
A barbute helmet with a visor.
His newly repaired light armor.
An arming sword and a round shield.
A longsword on his back and a backpack.
Just then, his party members entered the inn and stood before him.
"Skar, are you ready?"
Iron Mask, aka. the First Prince, said while holding his greatsword.
Jeong Yoo-shin nodded and looked at his party members.
Mars, the rat beast-person, equipped with a small short bow and daggers.
Kubo, the dwarf priest in his underwear, holding a staff.
It was a rather unusual party, but the die was cast.
"Let's go."
"Good."
Before leaving, Jeong Yoo-shin looked at the inn staff. Tarman, Anne, and Karin were standing there.
"Tarman, Anne, and Karin. I entrust the inn to you."
"Don't worry. We'll protect it with our lives."
"Skar, please be careful."
Tarman and Anne bowed their heads and said.
Karin crossed her arms and looked at Jeong Yoo-shin for a moment.
"Skar, be careful."
"Karin, please protect the inn."
"Leave it to me."
Karin had a strangely mischievous smile on her face.
'That's unsettling.'
Hoping for the best, he left the southern district and headed towards the Great Labyrinth.
Despite the early hour, there weren't many explorers on the street.
"There aren't many people today."
"Barbarian, the Blue Moon Festival is next month, isn't it? It's fine to enjoy yourself before entering. It would be a shame to miss the festival while toiling away in the labyrinth."
Kubo, the dwarf priest, replied to Jeong Yoo-shin.
Jeong Yoo-shin adjusted his backpack as he listened to Kubo.
So that was why.
Even explorers, with their dopamine receptors destroyed by the imprint gacha, still had human hearts.
They weren't completely insane.
As they approached the labyrinth, various thoughts crossed his mind.
Living a happy life with the people around him wouldn't be so bad.
Tarman and Anne seemed happier than before.
'Stop.'
He shook his head and cleared his thoughts.
All sorts of thoughts came to mind as he headed towards the arduous journey.
They walked for a while and arrived at the Great Labyrinth, located at the edge of the western district.
"Form a line!"
The guards lined up the people in front of the labyrinth's magic circle.
One party at a time entered the magic circle in an orderly fashion.
Soon, it was the turn of Jeong Yoo-shin's party.
Just before entering the magic circle under the guard's guidance, Iron Mask turned around and looked at his party members. He made eye contact with each of them, assessing their expressions.
His gaze lingered on Jeong Yoo-shin for a moment.
"Don't be nervous. What could possibly happen?"
"..."
The party members nodded except for Jeong Yoo-shin.
As they stepped into the magic circle, it began to glow.
It was always like this. A strange mix of tension and excitement that made his heart pound before entering the labyrinth.
The sixth floor, Forest area.
It was uncharted territory for him, whose highest achieved floor was the fifth.
He fidgeted with the flint in his pocket.
He wouldn't be careless like last time.
He made up his mind and surrendered to the bright light.
His vision darkened, accompanied by a strange floating sensation.
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T/N - Ah, Iron Mask, why did you say that? Why raise a flag like that?
Also, lol at the interaction between Karin and the MC. As expected, nothing really happened between them, but Ingrid will have fun seeing that memory when Lin returns to her.
Also, dang, Karin is f*cking expensive to hire. Her celebrity factor better be worth that 1 gold coin salary she is demanding. Though I guess she is also doubling as the inn’s security.