Chapter 26
That evening, at the inn.
Two beastkin were gathered around the counter.
“Darmong, when is that Barbaroi coming?!”
Karin said in an irritated voice.
The tail sticking out past the chair swished back and forth.
“It should be almost time for him to arrive, Lady Karin.”
Darmong calmly replied as he wiped a drinking glass with a cloth.
Clatter!
“I’m back.”
Jeong Yushin pushed open the inn door and entered.
“You’re here?”
“You’re late!”
Karin’s sharp eyes narrowed further.
“I’m sorry I’m late. I had to wash up first.”
Yushin strode over and sat beside Karin.
They sat side by side, facing the counter.
The Barbaroi’s scent rushed into her nostrils.
The clean scent of a man, free of sweat and dust, made her head swim.
Strange. It hadn’t been like this until yesterday.
Karin felt a peculiar thirst.
“Lady Karin, shall we have a drink?”
Darmong, standing opposite them at the counter, offered her a drink.
“Sure. Give me a glass. I need a drink to cool my temper.”
Clear liquor filled the cleanly wiped glass.
“You have a drink too, Ska.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
Darmong took out another glass, poured the liquor, and handed it to Yushin.
Karin sipped her drink and glanced sideways at Yushin.
Seeing his profile as he quietly stared at his drink, she thought he seemed lost in thought.
“Ahem. So, have you thought about it?”
Karin broke the silence.
Yushin turned his head.
“About what?”
“The proposal.”
“If you mean the previous proposal, I refuse it. You called me because you had another one, didn’t you?”
“That’s right. Still, it’s a shame. I thought it was a pretty good offer.”
“What’s the other proposal?”
“I’m hiring you as a porter.”
At the abrupt remark, Yushin’s brows rose.
The Barbaroi looked utterly baffled.
Karin felt a small thrill at the sight.
“Please explain in detail.”
“A labyrinth closure order will be issued soon.”
Yushin’s body stiffened in surprise.
The man’s eyes widened in alarm. Seeing those widened eyes made Karin’s lower abdomen throb.
“Something’s happening in the labyrinth. The Explorers’ Guild headquarters is probably gathering and analyzing testimony from parties that recently returned from the labyrinth. The results should come out soon.”
Karin took a sip and continued.
“The closure order will soon be lifted. They’re going to gather the high- and mid-rank explorers staying in the city and form an investigation team, and I’m joining it.”
“You’re an explorer?”
“Yeah. I was recently promoted to mid-rank. You were still a novice explorer, right?”
Karin gave him a sly smile.
Watching the frowning Barbaroi made her lower abdomen throb again. This time, it tickled a little.
Then her waist and pelvis seemed to loosen slightly. She could feel the intimate area enclosed by her underwear and leather pants pressing against the hard chair seat.
‘This is strange.’
Karin thought to herself.
Could it be the alcohol?
Or was it because of the bitter expression worn by the Barbaroi she disliked?
She didn’t know.
But she definitely wanted to prolong this strange, mysterious tickling sensation a little longer.
Karin spoke.
“···So come with us. Join the labyrinth investigation team I’m in. As a porter. I’ll pay you well. I’ll protect you. What do you say?”
Karin’s face, her words clipped short, was slightly flushed, perhaps because of the alcohol.
Yushin stroked his chin and carefully considered Karin’s proposal.
‘Not bad.’
He could earn money and directly see what was happening in the labyrinth. It was dangerous, but weren’t they mid-rank explorers? Compared to a garbage-tier party, the difference in safety would be like heaven and earth.
Besides, with a high-rank explorer leading the way, he would have plenty of time to prepare if trouble arose.
He couldn’t just sit around worrying and twiddle his thumbs. He didn’t have that kind of time.
‘All right.’
“I accept the offer. The advance is fifty silver coins, but how much is the remaining pay?”
Karin pulled a gold coin from her pocket and flicked it toward him.
“Take it.”
Yushin snatched the flying gold coin like a swift eagle.
“Whoa.”
‘A wolf beastkin who spends suspiciously freely. Noted.’
Looking at the gold coin soothed him, and all his worries about the future vanished.
Karin stood from her seat.
“Good. We should finalize the contract, shouldn’t we?”
Yushin turned his head and looked at Karin.
“Finalize the contract?”
Karin suddenly lifted the bottom of her shirt.
Her soft-looking yet firm belly and adorable navel were exposed.
“It’s a Red Wolf tradition that confirms the contract has been concluded. Kiss my belly.”
Karin narrowed her eyes and smiled.
* * *
The inn fell silent.
“Is that right, Darmong?”
At Yushin’s question, Darmong felt conflicted. Just as he was about to speak, he felt Karin’s fierce gaze and could only nod.
“···It is.”
The legitimate daughter of the representative of the Beastkin Union.
Despite her high status, she personally led her subordinates along the Eastern Alliance’s border, slaughtering slave hunters and earning a reputation as a beastkin hero and idol.
She was also beautiful, and countless prominent beastkin suitors never stopped sending her marriage proposals.
Karin, who had crushed every marriage proposal, was now forcing a mere Barbaroi to kiss her belly.
A belly kiss symbolizing humiliating submission.
Kissing someone’s belly was an old tradition that had already disappeared.
Even Darmong, who had reached middle age, thought it was an ancient tradition, so young beastkin didn’t even know it had existed.
But Karin knew.
She was every inch the daughter of someone at the very top of the Beastkin Union.
Darmong, a member of the Beastkin Union, couldn’t resist Karin’s pointed look.
Still, unable to bear watching the humiliating sight of Yushin, to whom he had grown somewhat attached, he turned away.
“I... I’m going to the kitchen for a moment. I haven’t finished cleaning up yet.”
Darmong staggered behind the counter, opened the door, and entered the kitchen.
Karin urged him.
“Hurry up.”
“Are you sure? Kissing your belly is really how we finalize the contract?”
“Do I look like I’m lying? I’m the daughter of the Beastkin Union’s representative.”
Karin narrowed her sharp eyes and growled.
“Good grief. All right.”
Yushin knelt and looked at Karin’s belly.
Perhaps she had pulled her panties up, because the waistband, which should have encircled her waist, rested across her broad hips. The embroidery of her black lace panties peeked above the waistband of her pants.
Yushin’s lips drew closer to her firm belly and adorable navel.
Karin’s breathing grew rough. Her hand tightened around her shirt.
And then.
Smooch.
His lips touched her belly.
Karin’s head jerked upward.
An electric shock raced down her spine, while something deep in her belly repeatedly tightened and released.
Karin tensed her trembling legs and covered her mouth with one hand.
She felt the trembling vibration through her lips.
‘Could she actually be feeling it?’
Yushin, a kissless virgin, lifted his mouth from her belly and looked at Karin with a puzzled expression.
“What?”
When he looked up, Karin’s expression remained cool and sharp.
‘Or not?’
“Should I continue?”
“Huh?”
At Yushin’s question, Karin wore a troubled expression for a moment.
“Isn’t this enough?”
“One more time.”
“What?”
“Do you think the contract is a joke?!”
Karin snapped.
Yushin frowned and put his lips against her belly.
Smooch.
Karin’s body trembled again.
‘Why is she getting mad? Have a taste of the smooching.’
Sluuuuuurp.
He pressed his mouth to her smooth belly and sucked with all his might.
As if sucking on a baby’s cheek, he drew a roll of belly fat into his mouth, held it there, and then lightly bit it.
“Kk!”
Karin’s body shook violently. Her waist jerked back and forth, ignoring her attempts to control it.
‘It’s ticklish enough to kill you, isn’t it? You can’t stand it, can you? What can you do? This is the smooching you chose. Endure it through sheer grit and spite.’
Nom nom nom.
He was in the middle of munching on her belly fat.
Grab!
Karin’s hand clamped onto Yushin’s head.
“Stop.”
At her cold voice, he obediently pulled his lips away.
Her spotless, smooth, firm belly was already covered in red bite marks and saliva.
‘Oh no! What have I done···.’
Realizing that he had lost control and bitten and sucked the belly of someone else’s precious daughter, he felt a chill run down his spine.
She wasn’t merely some precious daughter. She was the legitimate daughter of the Beastkin Union’s representative.
Yushin mumbled before speaking.
“Um···.”
“That’s enough. Don’t do that again. I’m leaving.”
Karin lowered her shirt and vanished out of the inn like the wind.
Yushin blankly watched her back as she hurried away, then stood from his seat.
“Darmong, she’s gone.”
Darmong quietly emerged from the kitchen.
“Ahem. Is that so? Good work.”
“For what? I’m going to bed.”
“All right.”
* * *
Two days passed. Huge news spread throughout Labyrinth City.
The labyrinth closure order.
All explorers staying in the city were prohibited from entering the labyrinth.
Over the past two months, not only new explorers but also many mid-rank explorer parties had disappeared in the labyrinth.
Seeing the ongoing disappearances and the monsters’ abnormal behavior, the Explorers’ Guild sensed that the situation was serious and concluded that something was happening in the labyrinth.
The high-ranking officials of Labyrinth City’s Mage Tower, council, and Explorers’ Guild gathered.
They held several meetings.
The result was an indefinite closure of the labyrinth.
The reason was to ensure the explorers’ safety.
Some far-sighted people judged that there must be another reason, but they kept silent. There was no reason to risk offending the powers that be.
Any place where people gathered was filled with chatter about the news. The southern district, where people whose livelihoods were tied to the labyrinth gathered, was especially abuzz.
Speculation and concern ran rampant.
Darmong’s inn was no exception.
There were only a few things explorers unable to enter the labyrinth could do. One of them was ordering a drink at an inn, sitting around, and chatting in small groups.
Since Darmong had just finished molting, the inn was bustling with people unlike before.
Explorers weren’t about to pass up an inn with decent liquor and tasty food.
“It looks like business is doing well. I’m glad.”
Yushin said with a smile, stopping halfway through spooning up his soup.
“Why are you happy?”
Darmong, exhausted from dealing with the sudden influx of customers, replied weakly.
“Shall I help you?”
“Don’t. A fishmonger never entrusts fish to a cat.”
The cat beastkin sitting at a nearby table grimaced.
“What’s wrong with being a cat? That’s species discrimination, man.”
“Your catfolk make plenty of jokes about bears too, don’t you?”
“That’s true.”
The cat beastkin quickly agreed and sipped his drink.
“Thank you for the meal.”
Yushin quickly finished his food and stood up.
“What are you doing today?”
Darmong asked casually.
“I’m going to get some equipment fitted. And buy exploration supplies.”
“Good. Since you said you’re going as a porter, keep your equipment light. Buy only the essentials. The prices of equipment and supplies must have dropped a lot because of the closure order, so you should be able to buy them cheaply.”
“Well, well. Is he your secret son, brother?”
The cat beastkin cut in.
“Shut up.”
“Sure.”
The cat beastkin quietly sipped his drink again.
Yushin chuckled and stood up.
“I’ll be back.”
“All right.”
‘I should buy some liquor and pay Boron a visit.’
* * *
“Boron! I’m here.”
He walked along the quiet blacksmith street and entered the forge run by Boron.
“Barbaroi? What brings you here? The labyrinth has been closed, hasn’t it?”
Boron opened the door and came out. He looked grimy, as if he hadn’t washed in some time.
“I came to get some equipment. I brought liquor too.”
“Ohhh!!”
Boron ran over, his eyes shining as though he had found light in the darkness. He snatched the liquor bottle from Yushin’s hand and rubbed his face against it.
“This liquor! It costs a fortune! Have you struck it rich?!”
“Not exactly.”
“Is that so? Did you come to look at weapons?”
“No. I’m here to buy a helmet and have my armor repaired too.”
“Really? Don’t tell me that rag you’re wearing is armor.”
Boron eyed Yushin’s hard leather armor suspiciously.
Yushin gave a wry smile.
“Is it completely unusable?”
Boron approached and tapped and examined the hard leather armor.
“You haven’t maintained it at all, have you? It’s no good. A blade would go straight through it if someone stabbed you.”
Boron shook his head after reaching his conclusion.
“Buy one. I’ll give you a good price.”
“Didn’t you say haggling with a dwarf was an insult last time?”
“That was then. Orders dried up completely two days ago. I need the money.”
Boron smacked his lips.
‘There’s no resisting money.’
Once again, he felt the fearsome power of money.
Boron smiled and folded his arms. For some reason, his face was full of vitality.
“All right! Let’s find some armor that fits you! Einhofer!!”
Boron turned and shouted.
The door at the back of the forge opened, and Einhofer appeared.
Yushin and Einhofer’s eyes met.
“Huh.”
Silence filled the forge.