Creak!
The inn’s door opened, and Darmong entered, carrying a basket filled with bread, dried meat, and cheese.
“All the other inns are pretty much the same. It’s completely chaotic,” Darmong muttered as he walked in and met the gaze of the knights.
“Darmong! Long time no see!”
The head knight, visibly drunk, smiled and waved.
“Cain.”
The name of the knight captain was Cain.
“I thought you said you weren’t open for business today.”
“I just came to see you. When else would we meet if not now?”
“Are you staying for dinner?”
“No, we have to go early tomorrow since we’re on duty.”
“I see.”
“Let’s go. It’s good to see you again, Darmong.”
Cain left the inn with the drunken knights.
Darmong approached the counter and placed the basket on top.
“Why are you drunk?”
“That man Cain made me drink.”
Darmong clicked his tongue as he looked at Jeong Yusin.
“I won’t eat dinner. I’ll just go upstairs and sleep.”
“Yes, my apologies.”
Jeong Yusin climbed the stairs to his room on the second floor and collapsed on the bed.
He brushed the hair sticking to his forehead and stared at the dark ceiling.
“Teacher Mion’s underwear…”
He closed his eyes.
“What a lucky bastard.”
Jeong Yusin thought about whether he should report it to Teacher Mion or not, eventually falling asleep.
The earthquake lasted for five days.
The people on the streets were trembling with fear.
Not only were the public offices of the city closed, but the shops and guilds were shut as well.
The Orphan Academy and Swordsmanship Guild inside the temple were also closed due to safety concerns.
Darmong’s inn was no exception — aside from the few stranded guests, no visitors came.
It was a time filled with anxiety and dread.
However, Jeong Yusin quietly continued his training.
He kept to the resolution he had made when he first arrived in this world.
Whenever he had the chance, he grilled Darmong about the monsters, tirelessly questioning their characteristics, habits, and behavioral patterns, memorizing everything.
Whether or not the earthquake continued, Jeong Yusin continued his exercises in the yard, squatting and running while carrying three sacks of flour.
He tirelessly summoned his Sacred Weapon until his mana was depleted.
Once drained of mana, he clenched his teeth and swung his sword until utterly exhausted.
He practiced tirelessly, re-learning and ingraining everything he had learned into his body.
Eat, poop, train.
For five days, his resolution transformed into action.
The morning training only ended by evening.
The sunset painted the yard in a warm glow.
Jeong Yusin sheathed his sword and sat down, completely drenched in sweat.
“Huff… huff…”
As he caught his breath, a voice called from behind.
“You’re working hard, huh? Barbaroy.”
It was Karin.
“What is it?”
He answered without turning around. He heard footsteps approaching, and Karin’s voice grew closer.
“The closure of the labyrinth has been lifted.”
‘So it’s finally here.’
He turned his head to face Karin, only to find her face disturbingly close.
Karin’s nose twitched, and she stepped back.
“Here, take this towel.”
“Thank you.”
As a result of the day-long training, sweat had soaked his entire body.
Jeong Yusin instinctively started to take off his shirt but suddenly snapped back to reality.
“Please go inside first. I’ll come in after I wipe the sweat off.”
“Just go ahead. You’re Barbaroy, right? Didn’t you just try to take off your shirt? Are you shy or something?”
Karin smirked.
Jeong Yusin furrowed his brow.
Her casual attitude, taking advantage of his supposed strength, annoyed him.
“Yes, if you want to look, go ahead.”
Jeong Yusin carelessly peeled off his shirt and wiped himself down with the towel.
The white towel moved across his six-pack abs, over his firm chest, and under his armpits.
Karin watched quietly.
As if watching a renowned chef cooking, like an apprentice learning a masterful technique.
Swallow.
Karin’s Adam’s apple moved.
After wiping his body, Jeong Yusin paused while putting his shirt back on.
‘It feels sticky.’
His spare clothes were on the second floor.
He’d have to pass through the kitchen and dining area of the inn, but it was awkward to walk through there without a shirt. There were still a few guests staying at the inn.
Seeing him hesitate, Karin asked,
“Why… Why?”
“I need to go get my clothes, but I feel a little awkward walking through there bare-chested.”
“Is that so? I’ll go upstairs. Which room is yours?”
Jeong Yusin explained which room he was staying in.
Karin nodded and extended her hand.
“Hand it over. Your shirt and towel.”
“Eh?”
“Don’t you have a laundry basket? I’ll put them in while I’m going upstairs.”
“I do, but…”
Jeong Yusin hesitated.
“I can do this much. You are my hireling, after all.”
“Yes, understood. Here.”
He handed over his sweat-soaked shirt and towel.
“Wait here a moment. Understood?”
“Yes. Ah! Wait!”
Ignoring his words, Karin quickly ran off.
He tried to tell her that the laundry basket was under the bed, but she was already gone.
Jeong Yusin crossed his arms and watched the setting sun.
And.
10 minutes passed.
‘What’s taking her?’
It should have been a distance she could cover in 5 minutes, yet Karin hadn’t returned.
‘Should I check?’
“Here’s the clothes.”
Karin appeared in the yard with fresh clothes in hand.
Something seemed urgent — her hair was disheveled, and her shirt was slightly damp with sweat, showing glimpses of a red bra.
“Here. Thank you.”
Jeong Yusin took the clothes Karin handed and put them on.
“By the way, I checked your supplies while I was upstairs. Only the ‘necessary’ things were there. Good job.”
“Oh, so that’s why you were late.”
Jeong Yusin nodded as he understood.
“Yes. Let’s head to the dining area.”
“Yes.”
Karin’s figure was visible moving ahead.
Her tail lazily swung from side to side.
The leather-clad rear was swaying attractively.
Darmong, Jeong Yusin, and Karin gathered at a table.
“Is it true, Lady Karin, that the labyrinth’s closure has ended?”
“Yes. However, the situation has somewhat changed. The closure is being lifted selectively. The official notice will be tomorrow, and the formation of the labyrinth investigation team will be the day after.”
“That was quick.”
“Everything’s already been decided upstairs.”
“By the way,” Karin paused, taking a moment to gather her thoughts, “the testimonies and analysis of the explorers who survived the labyrinth are out.”
Jeong Yusin and Darmong silently waited for Karin to speak.
“A new breed of monster has appeared in the labyrinth.”
The room fell silent.
Karin continued.
“I hear a new kind of monster has emerged in each tier. The earthquakes over the past few days were the after-effects. It seems the new monsters are driving the old ones out, upward.”
“Upward, you say?”
“Into the shallower tiers.”
“Can monsters move between tiers?”
“Yes. It’s rare, but didn’t you know that?”
Jeong Yusin recalled the battle with the Hobgoblin Warrior.
So that’s how.
The world had felt chaotic, but there was a reason.
“How can they move upward?”
“There’s something called the abyssal energy that rises from the depths of the labyrinth. When it fills up a tier, random portals appear. Entering these portals allows a monster to ascend.”
Jeong Yusin stroked his chin.
“But why did you say ‘driven out’? Can’t they just move randomly?”
“Monsters usually avoid portals unless in an emergency. We don’t know why.”
Jeong Yusin had a mountain of questions, but he kept quiet.
There was only two days until entering the labyrinth. He didn’t want to complicate his mind with unnecessary concerns.
So, he decided to only ask what was necessary.
“How far will our party go?”
Karin smiled.
“Up to the 10th tier. And lighten up. You’re the porter.”
‘That’s true.’
He scratched his head sheepishly.
‘Right. I’ll see if I can freeload this time.’
After some further conversation, Karin stood up.
“Scath, see you in two days.”
“Yes, Lady Karin.”
Karin left the inn.
Jeong Yusin bid farewell to Darmong and went back to his room on the second floor.
Entering his room, he was met with a peculiar smell.
Sticky and strong.
A memory from his childhood surfaced.
[“Mom! Why is the blanket round and long and soaked?”]
Young Jeong Yusin pointed at the blanket on the drying rack.
[Y…You…sin, ah… it’s… ]
His mother was flustered and tried to evade the question.
[“Gahhh! Weird smell!”]
The young Jeong Yusin covered his nose and stepped back.
[Y…You…sin! Don’t smell it! Father!]
His father gently grabbed his shoulder.
[You…sin, when a woman feels good…]
[Women!!]
His mother rushed over and slapped his father’s back.
Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Jeong Yusin returned to the present.
He must have been lost in nostalgic reminiscence.
Hmm.
Certainly not.
There’s no way.
Jeong Yusin touched the blanket near the bed.
It wasn’t damp at all.
Was it a mere illusion?
He opened the window a crack for ventilation and threw himself on the bed.
The scent of Karin lingered in the pillow and blanket.
A gentle evening breeze entered through the window, swirling around the room.
Exhausted from the day’s training, he didn’t even have the strength to move a finger.
After squirming a bit on the bed, he shed his trousers and tossed them on the floor too lazy to place them in the laundry basket.
‘I’ll change tomorrow.’
In his underwear, he closed his eyes.
Jeong Yusin fell asleep.
*
Two days passed.
The restrictive release of the labyrinth’s closure was announced, and the investigation teams were formed.
Five high-level explorer parties.
Twenty mid-level explorer parties.
Jeong Yusin was in a mid-level explorer party as a porter.
Setting out from the inn early in the morning, they arrived in front of the labyrinth.
‘We’re coming back here again, huh.’
Jeong Yusin raised his head to look at the massive stone tablet.
He gazed at the entrance to the Great Labyrinth.
His heart raced with a mixture of tension and excitement.
“Are you here?”
Turning around, he saw Karin standing there with crossed arms.
Her long hair was tied back in a ponytail that swayed.
She wore a black leather armor with two daggers sheathed in a sword belt on her waist, and a small crossbow was strapped to her back.
Karin glanced at Jeong Yusin and made a comment.
“Decent armor. Did you buy it with the money I gave you?”
“Yes.”
Jeong Yusin remembered the events from the previous day.
The day the labyrinth closure was lifted, he immediately rushed to Bolon’s forge.
Next to Bolon, who was exhausted from overwork, lay the Light Armor Jeong Yusin had commissioned two weeks ago.
“It’s a bit late because of the earthquake, but it’s here just in time.”
Ainhoffer explained.
“And here.”
Ainhoffer handed Jeong Yusin a bottle of black liquid.
“What’s this?”
“Superior blood oil. Prevents fat from building up on your sword. It’s not enough to repay the debt for saving my life, but it’s the best I can do now. I’ll pay it back slowly.”
“Thank you. Please give my regards to Bolon.”
“Will do.”
After collecting the Light Armor and returning to the inn, he checked his supplies once more.
Just in case, he added the superior blood oil and an Anti-Poison scroll.
Having completed all the preparations, Jeong Yusin arrived early this morning.
He was chatting with Karin when people began to gather.
There were many unfamiliar races. There was a lion therianthrope and an enormous lizard therianthrope.
Among them, one person stood out.
Jeong Yusin’s eyes widened.
Found him.
A Barbaroy with black hair.
Standing tall beyond two meters.
Savage with muscles tattooed in various patterns.
Holding a double-bladed axe as tall as himself.
The infamous pervert of the Labyrinth City.
The embodiment of libido.
The infamous female hunter.
Jeong Yusin had only heard stories about him, but now here was his chance to see.
Jeong Yusin stopped talking to Karin and observed the Barbaroy more closely.
“Hmm, about that level.”
However, upon inspection, he just seemed like a tall and physically powerful man.
Maybe it was the distance.
Jeong Yusin observed the Barbaroy and tilted his head.
Then, their eyes met for a brief moment.
The man smirked.
‘What’s his deal?’
The giant licked his thick lips.
‘What the hell.’
A chill ran down his spine.
It was similar to the feeling when he first saw Simuth’s punches.
Jeong Yusin instinctively grasped the hilt of his Long Sword, a sense of unease creeping up on him.
Then, someone interrupted the moment, stepping right between Karin and Jeong Yusin.
“Are you the porter?”
Jeong Yusin barely turned his head to see a towering elf male staring down at him.
“Yes.”
“Loenel. Count on you.”
The elf handed over a load, which Jeong Yusin strapped to his back.
A man clad in plate armor approached.
His face was hidden by his helmet, so his race and gender were obscure.
“Gilsian. Servant of the Light Elemental God.”
A Paladin.
Gilsian’s belongings were also strapped onto his back.
A middle-aged human man in simple clothes approached next.
“Ahiman. Mystic Artisan.”
He had dark skin and somewhat resembled someone from the Middle East. Ahiman handed over his load as well.
Mystic Artisan.
‘Is that a class?’
He swallowed his curiosity. Given the silent demeanor and tone, it seemed futile to ask.
“Yes. Count on me.”
He greeted Ahiman politely and added the load to his back.
Karin smiled.
“You remember me?”
“Yes.”
Finally, he strapped Karin’s luggage onto his back as well.
Carrying the loads of four people was no small feat.
He was glad he had followed Darmong and Karin’s advice to lighten his own load.
Jeong Yusin turned his gaze back towards the Barbaroy but saw him looking elsewhere.
“Attention!”
A blue-haired man in the front yelled.
“There’s no need to reiterate the plan, as I explained it in advance. Don’t chicken out, don’t die! Let’s go!”
The blue-haired man entered the teleportation circle with his party.
A dazzling light flashed, and he and his party disappeared.
The high-level explorer teams entered one by one.
As the queue dwindled, it was Karin’s party’s turn.
“Let’s go!”
Karin called out enthusiastically.
The Paladin led, followed by Karin, the Elf, Mystical Artisan Ahiman, and lastly Jeong Yusin.
Entering the teleportation circle, Jeong Yusin took a deep breath, forgetting the man he’d seen earlier.
He was fully prepared.
He firmly gripped the hilt of his Long Sword, strapped at the back.
This was his third descent into the labyrinth.
Though merely a porter for a mid-level expedition team, Jeong Yusin remained cautious.
Even freeloaders need etiquette.
The labyrinth was not a place for the faint-hearted.
As the light flashed, the sensation of floating in mid-air swept over him.
