Chapter 53
With his nerves on edge, dawn finally broke.
What had that killing intent been?
Beyond the walls of Labyrinth City, the sun was slowly rising.
Jeong Yushin looked around.
Most people were gathering their things with hollow, exhausted faces.
Several guards were approaching from a distance.
The mole beastkin who had come out of the guard post looked over the people taking over the watch and spoke.
“There were no problems tonight. Good work, everyone.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Now, come to the guard post, collect your day’s pay, and go home.”
Jeong Yushin hesitated briefly before approaching the mole beastkin.
“I have something to tell you.”
“What is it?”
The mole beastkin was wearing glasses that looked like sunglasses, as though he disliked looking at the rising sun.
Jeong Yushin told him about the killing intent he had felt at dawn.
The mole beastkin listened to Jeong Yushin, then asked in return.
“I heard there was a brief scuffle during the night. Don’t tell me that was the reason.”
“No. The killing intent I felt had nothing to do with the scuffle.”
“I’m only asking just in case, but do any of the Imprints you possess affect your mind?”
“No.”
“At night, does your heart suddenly start pounding, or does some part of your body rise up?”
“Ah! No, I said!”
What the hell was that sexual harassment about?
“All right, I understand. If something like this happens again, come report it to me.”
The mole beastkin yawned and walked away. He looked as though he had not listened at all.
“What do I get out of it? Sigh.”
Those who had worked the night watch crowded toward the guard post to receive their pay. Jeong Yushin followed them and collected his own pay.
Clink.
Twenty copper coins.
That was his pay for a single night on watch.
Jeong Yushin stuffed the copper coins into his pocket and left.
When he exited the guard post, the half-ogre Stonefist and the frog beastkin Cork waved at him from a distance.
Jeong Yushin waved back.
“See you again.”
The Iron Mask man approached Jeong Yushin and spoke.
“Let’s do that.”
Jeong Yushin parted ways with the night-watch party and returned to the inn.
Tarman and Anne were there when he entered the inn.
“You worked hard.”
Tarman said this with a smile.
“Yeah. Good work. I should get some sleep. The packed meal was delicious.”
“Yes. I’m glad it suited your taste.”
Jeong Yushin returned to his room on the second floor, removed his equipment, and collapsed onto the bed.
The birds were chirping, and people in the street were only just beginning to move, but his eyes were already growing heavy.
It was a feeling he had not experienced in a long time—the feeling of staying up all night.
Before his transfer, he had sometimes stayed up all night playing games.
Looking back on his old life left him with a strange feeling.
His thoughts led one to another.
His fantasies and predictions continued until they converged on a certain point.
That killing intent that had targeted him at night.
What on earth had it been?
Smack!!!
Jeong Yushin slapped himself across the cheek.
“I should just sleep.”
He closed his eyes, then abruptly opened them again.
Moving only his upper body, he peered beneath the bed.
There was nothing there.
Jeong Yushin lay back down and closed his eyes.
* * *
The following evening, he headed into the labyrinth again.
He stopped by the guard post, made sure the guard captain saw him, and followed the mole beastkin’s orders to take up a position by the exit magic circle.
The same party members as last time were gathered around the torch.
The frog beastkin Cork.
The greatsword-wielding Iron Mask.
The half-ogre Stonefist.
They exchanged greetings with a glance, unfolded some simple wooden chairs, and sat down.
They were chairs he had asked Tarman to prepare and bring along.
‘This is really comfortable.’
He had only worked for two days, but he could already smell it.
The sweet scent of a honeyed assignment.
Except for the killing intent that made his heart tremble, it was an absurdly easy job. All he had to do was sit in a chair and watch the magic circle.
Jeong Yushin crossed his legs and stared blankly at the magic circle.
A lukewarm night breeze brushed past Jeong Yushin’s cheek.
The exit magic circle remained quiet, without anything particularly unusual happening.
Voices chatting nearby drifted over.
“···Is it true that Lady Ingrid is coming this month?”
“That’s what I heard. No—she may have already arrived.”
“Our eyes are in for a treat.”
“You madman. She isn’t someone you can casually talk about.”
“We can at least talk about her. That cold face without a hint of expression gives me the creeps every time I see it.”
A bull beastkin said this with a snicker.
Jeong Yushin fell into deep thought.
What did Karin’s mother look like?
The representative of the Beastkin Alliance and one of the members of the Labyrinth City Committee.
The leader of the Red Wolf tribe and a widow.
Just then, light flashed directly ahead.
The magic circle opened, and a blue portal appeared.
People hurriedly rose from their seats.
They raised their weapons and took up defensive stances.
Jeong Yushin also gripped his sword and stood.
Five people emerged from the blue portal.
Two humans, two beastkin, and one dwarf.
The man who appeared to be the leader plopped down onto the ground as soon as he stepped out of the portal.
His shaggy beard and hollow eyes were striking, as though he had spent a considerable amount of time in the labyrinth.
Several guards approached with their spears gripped tightly.
A priest standing behind the guards followed along as well.
The voices of the guards and party members speaking from a distance reached them.
The guards nodded and returned to their posts.
“Nothing to worry about. Relax.”
Only then did people sit back down or resume conversations that had been interrupted.
Several hours passed, and another group of party members emerged from the exit magic circle.
The same thing happened again.
Several guards and a priest approached, spoke with them, and returned.
Jeong Yushin spoke up.
“It seems not many people obtain Imprints?”
“That’s normal. Setting aside whether the Imprint is good or bad, obtaining one at all isn’t easy.”
The frog beastkin Cork spoke up.
“Really?”
‘I thought I got one every time I went in.’
Jeong Yushin tilted his head.
Had he simply been lucky?
With nothing else to do, he opened his packed meal.
The late-night menu was chicken roasted in butter and various spices.
The guard captain’s face had suddenly hardened when he saw it earlier, which had made Jeong Yushin feel a little guilty.
The three men focused their gazes on him.
“Let’s eat together.”
“Thank you.”
“It doesn’t look like it’ll even be enough to make a dent.”
The party members gathered and tore into the chicken.
“Oh! This is really delicious. Ribbit.”
The frog beastkin exclaimed in delight.
“It’s a shame there isn’t more.”
“Iron Mask, have some.”
“I’m fine.”
The Iron Mask man shook his head.
There was no way to insist when he said he did not want any.
Just then, something rustled in the bushes behind them before leaping out.
A chubby, white-furred rat.
Jeong Yushin’s eyes widened.
Was it the bastard that had been under his bed?
The rat slipped deftly between the people and charged toward the roasted chicken. It was an astonishingly bold rush. It seemed unable to see anything except the roasted chicken.
Smack!
Jeong Yushin timed it perfectly and caught the rat by the scruff of its neck.
“Squeak! Squeak squeak!”
The white rat dangled in the air, kicking and wriggling its plump rear desperately.
“What is it? A snack?”
Stonefist, the half-ogre, asked.
“It’s connected to me somehow. I thought it was someone who had obtained the Rat Imprint, but it wasn’t.”
Jeong Yushin poked the rat’s belly repeatedly with his finger!
“Squeak!”
The rat squirmed.
“It seems to be a familiar, though?”
Cork, the frog beastkin, said.
“···Is there any way to find out who its owner is?”
“There is, but my memory is hazy. Give me a moment.”
“Understood.”
While they waited, Jeong Yushin played with the rat.
He stroked its back and gently kneaded its body as though giving it a massage.
“Squeak. Squeak! Squeak!”
Apparently enjoying Jeong Yushin’s massage, the rat rolled onto its back and exposed its belly.
“Is this the spot you like? There, there.”
“Squeak. Squeak.”
He gently stroked and poked its belly.
“Squeeeeeak!!!”
The rat shuddered once, then went limp.
Stonefist, the half-ogre, shook his head when he saw this.
“Barbaroi, why are you tormenting that innocent rat so much? We still haven’t found out who its owner is.”
“It crawled under my bed. This is a cheap price to pay.”
“Come to think of it, you have a point.”
Jeong Yushin glared at the half-ogre for a moment.
“I found it. Perhaps it’s because I’m old, but I couldn’t remember properly.”
“Let’s do it.”
Cork, the frog beastkin, began chanting.
[Find Owner]
Blue, watery light briefly flashed from the frog beastkin’s staff.
Blue light rose up and enveloped the white rat.
“Guh!”
The frog beastkin suddenly dropped his staff and clutched his head.
“Are you all right?”
“···I’m fine. The familiar’s master’s magic pushed my spell away.”
“Then?”
“Judging by the amount of magic power, its master has more than I do. The familiar’s eyes are clear, so its master probably isn’t a bad person either. Just let it go peacefully.”
“Understood.”
Jeong Yushin gently stroked the white rat once, then released it.
The rat stood up, gave Jeong Yushin a sidelong glance, grabbed a chicken leg, and vanished in a flash.
“Why would you let a familiar wander around like that?”
“Who knows? How many of the incidents that happen in Labyrinth City can we actually understand?”
He had a point.
Jeong Yushin stopped paying attention to the white rat.
A priest who served the Water Spirit God had vouched for it, so he decided it was safe.
If the familiar’s owner had business with him, they would probably meet soon.
He decided to wait.
He rested his chin on his hand and watched the people emerging from the labyrinth.
Some had dark eyes.
Others were grinning foolishly.
Some wore heavily hardened expressions.
Jeong Yushin passed the time watching their expressions.
Then.
He felt that killing intent again.
Jeong Yushin gripped his longsword, stood, and looked around.
“That Barbaroi is in heat something fierce. Even mixed blood can’t fool the blood, huh? His mother must have had quite a time.”
The bull beastkin sneered.
Jeong Yushin’s body went rigid.
He had tried to ignore it and let it pass, but the insult had crossed the line.
Jeong Yushin strode toward the bull beastkin.
The bull beastkin sat on a sturdy iron chair and grinned at Jeong Yushin.
That intense killing intent had left his nerves razor-sharp.
Jeong Yushin spoke.
“I can let it go once, but not twice.”
“What the hell are you—!”
Boooom!!!
Jeong Yushin’s boot slammed into the bull beastkin’s chest.
Crash!!!
The enormous bull beastkin toppled over backward with the chair.
Apparently unable to breathe, he lay on the ground, making choking noises as he writhed.
“You crazy bastard!!!”
“Have you lost your mind?!”
The bull beastkin’s underlings angrily leaped to their feet.
“Stop!”
Just then, the mole beastkin came running over and burst into the middle of things.
“Barbaroi! Go behind the relief station at once. That’s an order.”
“These bastards picked the fight first.”
“···I understand, but go behind the relief station for now.”
“Good grief. All right.”
Jeong Yushin glared at the bull beastkin.
“Say one more word and I’ll tear your mouth apart. You bastard have been getting on my nerves since yesterday.”
“Barbaroi!”
The mole beastkin shouted.
“Yes, yes. I’m going.”
Jeong Yushin trudged behind the relief-station building.
A small courtyard.
Someone was standing there, looking at the moon.
Long, straight red hair.
A long tail swaying slowly and wolf ears.
An enormous greatsword was planted beside her.
The tall red wolf beastkin turned her head and looked at Jeong Yushin.
A cold beauty with no expression on her face.
She looked similar to Karin, yet different.
Could he call her Karin’s older sister?
Unlike Karin’s boisterous impression, she had a cool and quiet air about her.
An aura possessed only by an overwhelmingly powerful person.
He recognized her instinctively.
Ingrid Redtail.
The representative of the Beastkin Alliance and leader of the Red Wolf tribe.
One of the members of the Labyrinth City Committee.
She had the face of someone who had spent the winter alone. Perhaps that was why the long coat with red fur at the back of the neck suited this milf so well.
He had heard about her only in stories, but seeing her in person was astounding.
Despite her H-cup breasts, flared hips, and sturdy leather pants, her ass still jutted out prominently.
He could tell exactly where Karin had gotten her figure.
“Mixed-blood Barbaroi Ska, are you that man?”
Her calm, ice-cold voice brought Jeong Yushin back to his senses.
“I’m Ska. Are you Lady Ingrid?”
“That’s right. I’ll ask you again. Are you the bastard who seduced Karin?”
“Seduce her? What are you suddenly talking about?”
Ingrid approached him. Her long red hair shimmered in the moonlight.
Jeong Yushin and Ingrid met each other’s eyes.
Ingrid’s emotionless, flat eyes studied Jeong Yushin intently.
Sniff, sniff.
Ingrid’s nose twitched.
Was she suddenly smelling him?
Jeong Yushin took a step back.
“Why are you doing this?”
“I took a sniff out of curiosity. Don’t approach Karin from now on. Unless you want to die.”
Ingrid turned her head toward the moon, as though she had lost interest.
“Is Karin doing well?”
“That’s none of your concern. Get out.”
‘Fuck.’
Jeong Yushin turned and left the relief-station courtyard.
“I was the one who sent that killing intent. Go back and behave yourself.”
Ingrid spoke from behind Jeong Yushin.
“Why on earth did you send it?”
Jeong Yushin asked.
“That is none of your concern either.”
Jeong Yushin let out a deep sigh, turned around, and left the courtyard.
Her personality was strangely similar to Karin’s.
He could understand her looking down on him to some extent, given that she was one of the important figures in Labyrinth City.
‘Seduce her?’
When had he ever seduced Karin?
Smack!
Jeong Yushin, who had been thinking deeply, struck his own forehead.
Ah.
The Virgin Female Corruption Imprint.
Jeong Yushin rubbed his chest in relief.
The fact that he had returned alive just now was a miracle.
When he realized that he had just set one foot over the threshold of the afterlife, his mind finally calmed down.
As he quietly walked back to his post, he saw the guard captain and the mole beastkin.
The guard captain and the mole beastkin, who had still been lounging around inside the guard post as recently as yesterday, were now standing guard with disciplined bearing.
The bull beastkin had also settled down after seeing them. Even so, he glared at Jeong Yushin with bulging eyes.
When Jeong Yushin returned to his post and sat in his chair, Stonefist, the half-ogre, spoke.
“So you’re a troublemaker.”
“My life has been somewhat unfortunate.”
“Ho ho.”
Cork, the frog beastkin, gave a weak laugh at Jeong Yushin’s remark.
The Iron Mask man silently stroked his greatsword.
Jeong Yushin and the Iron Mask man briefly met eyes.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
The Iron Mask man asked.
“It’s nothing.”
“How dull.”
Jeong Yushin folded his arms and watched the magic circle.
One question nagged at him.
Luke and Ingrid.
They were both people he had met in front of the labyrinth.
Why was the committee stationed at the entrance to the labyrinth?
Once could be dismissed as coincidence, but this had already happened twice.
Surely they had not come just to see one insignificant mixed-blood Barbaroi.
There was no choice but to assume something was going on.
‘What could it be?’
Just then, Jeong Yushin’s vision filled with bright light. He could not continue his train of thought.
Flash!
A blue portal appeared in the magic circle.
Fwoooosh!
Stonefist, Cork, and Iron Mask all turned their gazes toward the portal.
Exactly one person crawled out of the portal.
Jeong Yushin sprang to his feet.
Hans?
It was the high-ranking explorer Hans.
The navy-haired human who had served as the expedition leader during his third trip to the labyrinth.
He had definitely been said to have passed through a black portal.
He had not been found anywhere in the labyrinth after that.
He had apparently been declared missing after failing to return for quite some time.
Had he returned?
The people standing guard rose from their seats one by one.
Hans was in a horrific state.
His armor had been torn to shreds and reduced to rags, and he was covered in blood from head to toe, with one arm and one leg missing.
It was a wonder he was still alive.
The portal vanished, and Hans barely managed to raise his upper body while lying on the magic circle.
“Hans has returned!!!”
The mole beastkin ran over with several guards.
A young priest followed after them.
“Kheeeurk.”
Hans vomited blood.
“Priest! Hurry and use healing magic!”
The mole beastkin shouted urgently.
“Y-yes!”
When the priest approached.
Something strange happened.
A red light began flashing and leaking out from Hans’s body.
The guard captain shouted.
“It’s an Imprint!”
“Stand back!”
The guards hurriedly backed away. The young priest also staggered backward.
The light pouring from Hans’s body gradually faded.
The young priest cautiously approached.
“A-are you all right?”
Hans did not answer the priest’s question.
Despite it being a summer night, the atmosphere grew cold.
There were forty people present, yet not even the sound of breathing could be heard.
The bizarre silence grew heavier and heavier.
Then Hans lifted his head.
“Hhng.”
His eyes had turned completely black.
“H-heek!!!”
The young priest fell on his backside in horror.
At the same time.
Hans’s skin repeatedly bulged and warped, rising and falling unevenly.
It looked as though something trapped inside a balloon was trying to get out.
The people blankly watched the bizarre, horrifying transformation as though their souls had left their bodies.
Jeong Yushin covered his mouth with a trembling hand and suppressed the nausea rising in him.
‘What the hell is this?’
The evil sleeping within the labyrinth was wearing a human body.
Slowly.
Leisurely.