28. Even a crying child stops at...
28. Even a crying child stops at...
Labyrinth entry and exit records are meticulously managed.
This is to prevent the rampant crimes popping up like bamboo shoots in the Labyrinth, and because of the lunatics who barge into the gate around month's end claiming they'll uncover its secrets.
In the past, northerners went in to prove their courage and vanished forever.
So now, let's think about why I've ended up like this.
My guess is that thing I grabbed earlier... seems like a portal fragment or something.
Green and with the same texture as a portal, so yeah, gotta be.
Must've gotten sucked into my Inventory while scrapping with those mercenaries.
No wonder it felt like it got severed... Guess this is a bug too.
Cut it out and brought it along, triggering the Transmigrator title—then just now, from outside the Labyrinth to outside again?
Anyway...
A guy who should clearly be outside pops out of the portal?
By all common sense, it'll look like I slipped every damn surveillance and secretly hit the Labyrinth.
Breaching all surveillance is the least implausible story...
Just thinking about it tires me out. Even if they brand me a criminal and punish me, I got no defense.
Right now, only one person knows: the Guild Master.
Easier to convince her than get tangled in investigations from everywhere.
"Master? I swear I heard a voice..."
From the footsteps, the soldiers are still right by the portal.
I whispered softly into the Guild Master's ear.
"If you keep just this one incident secret..."
-bureureu! eumjil! eumjil!
"I'll take on any request once."
The Guild Master's face went beet red as she nodded.
-kkeudeokkkeudeok
I gently let go of her hand, and the Guild Master spoke up.
"Hya, hya nothing happened... ahem! cough cough! Nothing at all."
"Master? You there?"
-jeobeokjeobeok
The Guild Master yelled at the soldiers heading behind the pillar.
"Yes! Count Hardin-nim! Ah, nothing! Don't worry!"
At "Count Hardin," the footsteps cut off sharp.
"Ah, con... contact..."
"Shh. Let's head out..."
"Y-yeah..."
After that, just the sound of soldiers retreating cautiously echoed, then silence.
Dodged one bullet for now.
Strength drained from my rigid body all at once.
How's this more exhausting than Training...
"Phew..."
"Um... Jang Ryu-o-nim...?"
"Yeah, so here's how it went down..."
While scrambling some excuse, the Guild Master spoke with a trembling voice.
"Your posture's a bit..."
Oh yeah, I was clutching her stomach tight.
"Sorry!"
Pulling my hand away, the Guild Master twitched head to toe, her waist snapping back.
Her, dug deep into my pubic bone, leaped back like she'd touched filth.
"Eek!"
Kinda hurt my feelings... I did sweat buckets rushing here.
"R-really sorry. Got too hasty..."
The Guild Master rubbed her belly and ass a few times, deep breaths.
"Whew... Ah, no. More importantly, what happened? Did you sneak into the Labyrinth...?"
Ah, no clue what excuse to spin for this.
Admit sneaking in? Instant investigation mandatory...
Then spill the whole process—but I'm not Master's level, so nah...
Say I ripped off a portal? Transmigrator title triggered, whole Labyrinth City in frenzy.
Smart use could mean massive gains. Hold that card...
As worries piled up, commotion from outside.
-Sword Saint-nim!
-Greetings, Sword Saint-nim!
-What brings you here...
-Aren't you in seclusion...
[Step aside.]
Master's voice boomed through everyone's heads.
-Ugh!
-H-head...
-Sword Saint-nim! N-no!
Me and the Guild Master naturally clutched our heads and bowed too...
"Ugh..."
"Ah, Arin-nim???"
She heard my voice, sniffed around, and charged over.
"Babe! Babe!!!"
Master crushed me in a hug, tail coiling my waist hard.
Way tighter than before—like she was done holding back.
-kkwaaak...
"Eek! Master..."
"M-Master?!??! What?!?!!"
Guild Master more floored than my portal exit.
Ignoring her entirely, Master murmured low.
"Thought I'd lost you, babe... Ha... Injuries... Sniff... Sniff sniff?"
Master's eyes went huge, staring at my face.
"Babe...?"
Soldiers poured in...
-ureureu
"Sword Saint-nim! You can't—huh?"
Guards confused by the extra guy.
"Why's it smell like Silvia..."
"Knew it wasn't ordinary... Sword Saint-nim's disciple?"
"A m-man? What kinda outfit..."
Situation spiraling to shit.
Grabbed mumbling Master's shoulder.
"Master. I'm fine. Snap out of it."
"Ah, right. Not the point... Let's bounce, babe."
Master grabbed my hand to drag me out.
Crowded soldiers whispered seeing it.
That's Sword Saint-nim's disciple...
Ain't that the guy who took the Bellatus Duchy request lately...
-Eek! Be-Bellatus? Damn, must've been insane...
Sword Saint-nim's disciple? Worth it...
Head still on...
Ah, so the knights got flattened last time cuz...
Whispering but flinching, soldiers parted way.
Some with awe, some puzzled, all mouths shut.
Gaping at the perfectly lined soldiers.
Didn't know Master was this famous... Sword Saint title too?
Curiosity about Master's past spiking...
"Ah, Arin-nim! Hope you've been well!"
Guild Master arms wide, blocking us.
Master's brows twitched, but she sighed and replied.
"Sigh... Silvia, been a while. What's up?"
Master grumpy but holding it—decent terms then.
"Well... Need to chat with your disciple..."
Guild Master eyed nearby soldiers and growing crowd.
"Mind a quiet spot? Not for public ears."
"Babe, business with Guild Master?"
Could dodge now. What to do...
Was gonna excuse anyway—dodging fine?
Master murmured soft.
"Trouble? I'll handle it. Your call."
Ah... Too damn cute.
Sneak-out flopped anyway, all eyes on me.
Shock first, then questions on where I popped from.
Might as well... Extra ally helps.
"Better talk it out."
Master smiled soft, nodded.
"Yeah, let's."
Guild Master's face finally eased.
"Phew... Thanks. Carriage to guild..."
"Guild... Babe, race ya."
"Yep."
-huung...
"...Huh?"
-sugeunsugeun
Guild inside, no peace investigating Second Duke's Daughter incident.
Receptionists on bare-minimum guests wailing, internals rushing around wailing too.
Meanwhile, receptionist-slash-Master's secretary Meidel called in drained voice.
"Entry-exit data organized, anyone...?"
Girl that deflated ain't right...
One receptionist swallowed sigh, handed Meidel files.
Neatly sorted, stacked bundle.
"Here."
Meidel smiled, nodded...
-kwang!
"Hkiiiyaaak!"
-chyararak!!
"Ah."
Meidel pulled comic-level reaction, papers exploding like fireworks.
Fluttering, mixing everywhere perfect...
Receptionists watching—forehead veins popping, blending right in.
Daring to pull this cocky shit in a guild packed with killing machines...
"Hueeeek..."
"Hiiik!"
"Cough! Cough! S-Sword Saint-nim!"
-S-Sword Saint?
-F-First time IRL...
Guild buzzing, every eye on Arin.
Long hair cascading white fox ears. Night predator yellow eyes. Toned curves screaming at first glance.
Old-timers who stuck around guild know her, seclusion or not.
Every few years she'd drop wanted heads—how not know...
Eyes-open noggins rolling... right here.
Newbies sensing doom, heads whipping lizard-girl style.
Living legend, first 80-floor conqueror, Raid Member Arin.
Receptionists scrambled for Guild Master but...
"Ma... Mas..."
"Field work..."
"Ah..."
Fair vote shoved Meidel forward.
"Hueeeek! Me? For real?"
"Hurry, Meidel!"
"You're the damn secretary!"
"Fuaaaang..."
Sacrifice to the gods vibes.
Meidel trembling up, Arin beckoned from doorway.
"Skills sharpening daily... Hehe..."
-huung!
"Ha... All thanks to Master."
-Who's the dude?
-Arin-nim's hubby? Stud...
-Check it...
-Shut it! Eyes down! Shh...
Meidel eyes darting, alternating Ryu-o and Arin.
"Huh? You...?"
"Huh? Hi, secretary...? You are, right?"
"Hm? You know her?"
Meidel jolted at Arin's word.
"J-just brushed past..."
"Helped with my registration."
"Hmm..."
Arin eyed her top to bottom, Meidel froze Basilisk-prey stiff.
Arin blew past, headed stairs.
"Pleased. Got Guild Master meet. Upstairs probably."
Guild Master out.
"Nye..."
Pair stair-bound.
Then guts-as-Kraken bitch blocked Arin and Ryu-o.
"Arin-nim! Thrilled to meet! I'm humble but they call me Sword Ghost..."
"? Spit it."
Older-looking eastern black-hair woman.
Sword on hip, fists clenched, stiff as board, lips quivering.
"Yang Hae-yeon... Mind a spar?"
Arin blank-stared, breezed past.
-ppajik!
Humiliation max, Yang Hae-yeon whirling...
-seureureuk... jjeolgeureok!
Hip sword slithered free, clattered floor.
"......"
Gaping woman, Arin tossed without glance.
"Up quick now."