Jeong Yusin followed the guidance of the guard and went to the Explorers Guild Exchange Office right in front of the Labyrinth.
Since the Labyrinth closure order had not been fully lifted, there were few people, leaving the inside of the exchange office quiet.
He entered a small office tucked in the corner of the office.
Inside the office, an Elf was seated at a desk, scribbling something with a pen on a scroll.
The Elf looked up. Dark circles were beneath their eyes.
“The Labyrinth Investigative Team 12, with Karin as the leader, I presume. Did you survive alone?”
“It’s no, but may I ask who you are?”
“I’m the overall scribe of the Labyrinth Investigative Team, part of the Investigative Committee. My job is to record the team’s reports. Tell me the story.”
The Elf glanced at Jeong Yusin’s hair and added,
“Exclude any mating stories.”
“Understood.”
Jeong Yusin opened his mouth and briefly explained the incidents inside the Labyrinth, delivering only the facts clearly without emotion.
Thirty minutes passed.
“…With that, Lady Karin ran off somewhere, two party members became animals, and one seems rather confused—they appear to have a ‘fool’ brand.”
“And where are these party members?”
“They’re waiting outside.”
“Then let’s—”
“QUACK!!”
At the sound coming from outside, the Elf, who was about to stand up, sat back down.
“I hear you. Thanks for your efforts. Now, go rest well.”
Jeong Yusin had reported everything that happened in the Labyrinth. Now, it was time to inquire about what he wanted to know.
Jeong Yusin asked,
“What happened to the other investigative teams?”
The Elf sighed and rubbed the corners of their eyes.
“Some have returned after completing their investigations, some haven’t yet, and only time will tell. There will likely be an announcement soon, so wait and see.”
The Elf spoke vaguely and evaded the core of the issue. It didn’t seem like they’d divulge anything more if he stayed longer.
Jeong Yusin stood and left the office.
Creak.
Thump.
The door closed, and silence returned to the office.
The Elf touched their forehead and muttered to themselves.
“Huh. Toppled a tower, dug a hole, and set up a portal? Not many with strong nerves would’ve pulled that off. You’re quite insane.”
The Elf’s pen darted swiftly across the parchment.
A while later,
the report was done, and they separately jotted down their personal opinion at the bottom:
Further Investigation Required.
The Elf set down the pen and skimmed over the entire report once more.
Satisfied, they nodded a few times and leaned back in the chair.
It was an unusually quiet noon for the Labyrinth City.
Jeong Yusin exited the Exchange Office with the guard’s guidance.
At the entrance to the exchange office, a duck, a lizard, and Gilsian stood huddled together, greeting Jeong Yusin.
Jeong Yusin scanned his party members and said,
“Well, see you later. Stay healthy.”
As Jeong Yusin was about to take a step forward, the duck, Loenel in her transformed state, bit his foot firmly.
“Oof! What is it?”
“QUACK!!”
‘What?’
“Are you asking me to take you to the Temple to remove the brand?”
The duck shook its head.
“So what do you want? Speak, in human language.”
“QUACK.”
The duck folded its wings and assumed a sleeping posture.
“You want a nap?”
“QUACK!”
“Money?”
The duck protruded its puffy belly.
Jeong Yusin looked for a while at the fluffy white belly fur and said,
“You want me to cut open your belly?”
The duck nodded.
Jeong Yusin found it absurd and chuckled awkwardly.
“Hold on for a second. Come here. Don’t back away. Is this Elf real?”
Thanks to Loenel’s past experience as an Elven Ranger, she noticed something instantly and quickly retreated, loudly quacking.
A guard passing by noticed them and approached.
“What’s the matter?”
“The duck tried to mock me.”
“You seem tired. Were you with an investigative team? Go rest.”
“Understood. Come here, duck. Let’s go home. Ah, you’re so cute.”
The duck cautiously approached.
‘Now.’
QUACK!
Jeong Yusin’s hand firmly grabbed the duck’s body.
“Loenel, don’t be like this. Snap out of it. You are an Elf.”
The duck flapped around.
“QUACK QUACK!”
The guard smiled and said,
“Truly troublesome. Must be hungry for a body supplement.”
The duck’s body stiffened.
Jeong Yusin’s face hardened with seriousness.
“She is actually an Elf.”
“I know. I saw her from afar. I just teased a bit. But be cautious. If you head out onto the streets, it may not be a joke.”
After hearing this, Jeong Yusin suddenly came to his senses.
A while ago, when the priests rushed over and verified his sanity by asking a few questions, there was a reason behind it.
It was a procedure to check whether he could function properly as a protector of the party.
Jeong Yusin searched his baggage and rummaged through Loenel’s clothing.
His finger brushed against something chilly.
He pulled it out to see a silver badge that gleamed.
It was the silver badge emblematic of a mid-ranked Explorer.
Jeong Yusin hung the badge around the duck’s neck.
The guard’s words seemed all too real now.
What a tragedy it would have been if they had survived such peril only for Loenel to be abducted on the street and meet an ‘End as Duck Meat.’
Jeong Yusin looked around. Ahiman was nowhere to be seen.
“Chirp.”
The transformed Ahiman, now a lizard, was sitting on Jeong Yusin’s shoulder.
“Ahiman, will you have the brand removed? Should I take you to the Temple?”
The lizard bit Jeong Yusin’s earlobe.
“Let’s communicate verbally. If you don’t want to, slap my palm twice, please.”
He held out his palm, and the lizard stared at it for a moment before biting.
Once. Twice.
“No, you say? Confirm.”
It was utterly baffling what these people were thinking.
Jeong Yusin looked at Gilsian and sighed, grabbing Gilsian’s hand.
“Let’s go.”
A peculiar procession commenced.
Up front strutted the duck with the silver badge hung around its neck, waddling proudly.
Behind was Barbaroy, a Warrior clad in plate armor holding Gilsian’s hand; atop Barbaroy’s head sat the lizard.
The streets were bustling with people murmuring.
“Could this be an investigative team from the Labyrinth?”
“Did they fail?”
“Don’t know. But, with two animal transformation brands in the party, that’s quite peculiar.”
People only whispered among themselves from afar, none dared approach.
Jeong Yusin’s face reddened.
‘Will you people stop staring? It’s embarrassing.’
The duck waddled around with its rump swaying, proudly flaunting its silver badge.
They passed through the southern streets under the watchful eyes of the crowd, reaching Darmong’s Inn.
“We’ve returned.”
Darmong, who was sitting at the counter, sprang up.
“You’ve come back alive.”
“Yes. How many days have passed since I left?”
“It’s been about a week.”
A week? Time truly flies, doesn’t it?
‘So much has passed so fast.’
Darmong looked around Jeong Yusin then asked,
“A duck, a lizard, and a Holy Knight, what a unique combination. And Lady Karin?”
“She suddenly started talking about towels, covered her mouth, and ran off somewhere.”
“I see. Nonetheless, glad to see you’re back.”
Jeong Yusin sat opposite the counter, and Darmong pulled out a mug and poured some liquor.
“Just a moment, I’ll bring you something to eat.”
“Thank you.”
The duck flapped its wings beside him, so Jeong Yusin lifted it into a chair.
He gently guided Gilsian into a seat beside the duck, holding his hand.
The lizard had already descended onto the table, flicking its tongue.
“Huff…”
An inexplicable sigh escaped Jeong Yusin.
Darmong came out from the kitchen carrying barley bread, cheese, and dried sausage.
“Because of the earthquake, we can’t light the fire. Please bear with it.”
“Thank you very much.”
Jeong Yusin slowly ate the food.
Loenel, her eyes gleaming, extended her beak, prompting Jeong Yusin to tear off a bit of bread and cheese and offer it.
‘Is this fine?’
Not knowing what ducks primarily eat, he was uneasy at first but was relieved by her gulping it down with ease.
He tore off a piece of bread and offered it to the lizard, which skillfully caught it with its tongue.
‘Good eater.’
Taking the chance, he also removed Gilsian’s helmet and helped him eat. Luckily, Gilsian took the food well.
Watching this, Darmong faintly smiled.
Once the meal was finished,
Jeong Yusin recounted what had happened inside the Labyrinth.
“… When we exited the Labyrinth, Loenel became a duck, Ahiman a lizard, and Gilsian gained the ‘fool’ mark. I’ve completed the report at the Explorers Guild.”
“Scath, you’ve grown.”
Darmong slapped Jeong Yusin’s shoulder.
“I don’t know. Just my luck I guess.”
“Good fortune is also a form of skill.”
Thud!
Beer splashed onto Jeong Yusin’s face.
Beside him, Loenel was wagging her behind while plunging her head into the beer mug, systematically moving her beak.
‘Ah, my face.’
Caught in the absurd scene, he clutched his head.
“Loenel, aren’t you an Elf? Aren’t you a dignified long-lived species? Please maintain some decorum.”
“QUACK!!”
SPLOSH!
Beer splashed on his face once more.
‘Is this thing insane?’
Perhaps, at the tail end of the Labyrinth ordeal, she’d laughed and cried and gone a little crazy in the head.
His anger surged temporarily before quickly fading.
‘Ah, never mind.’
He was too physically and mentally exhausted after the continuous shocks.
Jeong Yusin wiped the beer off his face with his hands and stood up.
“Darmong, I’m going upstairs to rest.”
Darmong nodded with a smile.
“Alright. Is this Holy Knight a worshipper of the Light Spirit?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll arrange something separately. Rest for now. You look quite tired.”
“Yes. I’ll rest first.”
Jeong Yusin bowed and headed upstairs. The duck and the lizard followed; the lizard was riding the duck’s back.
“Let’s separate. Please head to another room.”
“QUACK.”
“I should be the one asking questions.”
Inside the room, Jeong Yusin captured the squirming Loenel and used a damp towel to clean her feet. The lizard cautiously retreated to a corner, so he let it be.
Jeong Yusin also shed his clothes, wiped himself with the towel, changed into fresh ones, and lay down on the bed.
The duck and the lizard wriggled under the blanket.
“Phew.”
Jeong Yusin sighed and closed his eyes.
*
It was late in the afternoon when Jeong Yusin woke up.
He lifted the coverlet to find the duck and lizard fast asleep, softly snoring.
“Good morning.”
Jeong Yusin shook them awake, and they descended to the inn’s first floor.
“You’re up? Last night, a priest of Dejimoseon took Gilsian away.”
“Yes. That’s fortunate.”
After finishing the breakfast Darmong served, he went out for a walk.
But Loenel was adamant, tugging at his pant leg with her beak and throwing a tantrum. He couldn’t resist.
The streets were still being patrolled by tense knights and guards.
Jeong Yusin was stopped and questioned several times by the guards, but each time Loenel took the lead, jabbing their knees with her beak.
The guards looked at her with pity.
“Is that your comrade?”
“Yes. I’m an Elf.”
“Hmph. A long-living one and yet. Go, and thank you for your service.”
“Yes. Thank you for your hard work.”
After receiving sympathetic glances from the guards several times, they finally reached the park.
Tents were scattered throughout the park because earthquake victims had taken refuge there.
Jeong Yusin sat on a wooden bench a bit away from the fountain.
Loenel had abandoned all dignity, strutting around the park fountain like a ruler, seemingly ready to nibble on worms soon.
Ahiman lay next to Jeong Yusin, eyes closed, basking in the warm sunlight.
He sat silently staring at the duck and the fountain as the fountain danced.
He had many things to do, but it was hard to turn his eyes away from his party members.
‘They really look happy playing like that.’
“Ah? Scath Sir!”
Turning at the voice, Jeong Yusin saw Mion.
“Teacher Mion.”
Jeong Yusin stood and bowed. Mion returned it with a soft smile.
“I heard you joined the Labyrinth Investigative Team. It’s a relief to see you safe.”
“It was just luck.”
Indeed. This time he had nearly been dragged away by the ferryman at the gates of the underworld.
If he had not regained his senses or if his luck ran slightly short, he would have surely perished.
“Is that so?”
Mion sat beside Scath.
The early summer breeze passed between them.
They both sat silently watching the duck splashing around in the fountain.
Jeong Yusin pointed with his finger toward the duck.
“That duck is my party member.”
Mion nodded.
“I see.”
“Why is she acting like this?”
“Perhaps she endured a lot of stress in the Labyrinth.”
“Can stress be relieved this way?”
“It varies from person to person, doesn’t it Scath Sir?”
‘Is that so?’
As much as Jeong Yusin tried to understand, he couldn’t.
What kind of feeling was it to become a duck?
He wanted to hear their thoughts at least once.
The duck splashed around while quacking.
Jeong Yusin asked again,
“Where are you headed?”
“I was visiting a relief center. I just stopped by the park on the way back to the Temple.”
“Relief center?”
Jingling.
Mion showed her silver badge.
‘Piona’
That was the name inscribed on the badge.
“One of the priests who participated in this investigatory mission of the Labyrinth died in the Labyrinth. The body was lost, only the silver badge was brought back. The team leader cried while apologizing to me. I’m sorry.”
My.
“Shall I hold your hand?”
He asked sincerely. Then Mion glanced subtly at the lizard and smiled faintly, a bittersweet smile.
“No, just please stay beside me.”
“Understood.”
The mysterious brand, newly obtained, came to Jeong Yusin’s mind, but he cast it aside.
He decided not to mention it.
He did not wish to bring up the ordeal to someone quietly mourning another’s death.
This wasn’t the Labyrinth, after all.
He wanted to act like a human.
Late afternoon.
The two quietly watched the duck flapping its wings and strolling around.
