Knock, knock.
Someone knocked on the door.
Jeong Yusin opened his eyes.
He got up from the bed and grabbed the sword he had placed by the bedside.
“Who’s there?”
“It’s Ann. There’s a guest downstairs.”
“How long have I been asleep?”
“Since yesterday morning until tonight.”
So, I’ve slept for a day and a half.
I must have been pretty tired.
“I’ll be right there.”
He changed clothes and strapped the single-edged sword to his waist.
A guest visiting at such a late hour.
Could it be Aldein? Maybe he’s come to return the single-edged sword I lent him.
Jeong Yusin checked his attire and descended to the first floor of the inn.
Ingrid was sitting at a table.
On the table was a cage, inside of which was a white mouse.
“Ingrid-sama?”
“Scath.”
Jeong Yusin took a seat across from Ingrid and asked.
“What brings you here?”
“I have a favor to ask.”
“A favor?”
Curiosity flickered on Jeong Yusin’s face as he inquired.
“I will bring some food.”
Ann, anticipating a lengthy conversation, stepped into the kitchen.
As Ann disappeared, a brief silence hovered between the two.
Jeong Yusin crossed his arms and admired the white mouse.
The mouse was sitting with its back turned, so its face couldn’t be seen.
Still, its round little bottom looked familiar.
I’ve seen it somewhere before.
Jeong Yusin turned his head to look at Ingrid.
“I don’t know what the favor is, but I’m afraid I cannot accept it.”
Ingrid’s eyebrows arched.
“—Why?”
Why, indeed.
Because you had me publicly paraded as someone to be pitied.
Still, it wouldn’t look good to raise a fuss in front of someone high-ranking based on such petty reasons.
Deciding to present a more practical excuse, Jeong Yusin continued.
“I don’t have the spare time. Running this inn is already putting me to the limits, and I’m scraping by just to put food on the table. Moreover, I lost all my equipment in the previous battle. All I managed to retrieve was a dented helmet.”
Clang!
Ingrid placed a pouch on the table.
The sound of coins. The happiest sound in the world, a melody that resonated with the soul.
Jeong Yusin’s eyes widened.
“Ten gold coins. It’s a combination of the bounty from the recent Hans eradication mission and as a token of my gratitude. It’s an excessive amount for a novice explorer. In addition, I’ll exempt you from night guard duties. Of course, your guard request will be considered successfully fulfilled.”
“Ten gold coins?”
Jeong Yusin repeated, his voice trembling.
“Exemption from night guard duties is included. However.”
Ingrid tapped the table with her finger as she continued.
“On the condition that you accept my request.”
Jeong Yusin swallowed nervously.
“Wa, what is the request?”
What if it’s some unreasonable request?
Still, with ten gold coins at hand in a time like this, one could jump into a burning fire if necessary.
Ten gold coins would be enough to cover the inn’s deficits and buy new equipment.
Ingrid pointed to the white mouse inside the iron cage.
“This white mouse. It’s under my command every so often.”
The mouse perked its ears and turned its body.
“So, that’s it.”
The moment he saw the white mouse’s face, he recognized it right away.
It was the same mouse that had crept under his bed.
There was something strangely familiar about it.
Jeong Yusin nodded but then his eyes widened.
Hold on.
A shiver ran down his spine.
“Could it be that you sent it to spy on me?”
Ingrid gave him a look as if observing a pitiful being.
“Overthinking. Barbaroy. Are you aware of your place?”
The direct factual blow left him bewildered.
‘You’re right. I’m not important enough to warrant surveillance.’
His face flushed.
Jeong Yusin stammered as he opened his mouth.
“Erm… So, why have you shown me this servant of yours?”
Ingrid opened the iron cage.
Creak.
The white mouse emerged from the cage and looked up at Jeong Yusin.
“This one is named Lin. Take care of it.”
So it had a name.
But.
“What exactly do you mean by ‘taking care’? This needs to be clarified.”
“Not in a cage. When Lin is tired and comes to the inn during her rounds around the city, occasionally providing food and a place to rest will do. And…”
Ingrid hesitated, faltering in her speech for a moment.
“Please feel free to speak.”
“Occasionally request massages.”
“Sorry?”
Jeong Yusin’s eyes widened.
Too easy?
Ingrid glanced away and continued.
“Didn’t you?… Last time during the night guard request… When you randomly handled the white mouse while eating fried chicken.”
“Oh.”
He recalled catching and fumbling with the white mouse that had suddenly jumped in while he was enjoying fried chicken.
“Hmm. Lin said she liked it and requested it again.”
“Squeak?”
The white mouse tilted its head.
“Does it speak too?”
“Not language, but rather ‘feelings’ and ’emotions’. To be precise.”
“You seem to care a lot about Lin. Asking for massages too.”
“…”
Ingrid’s face turned slightly red.
After pondering it,
Ignoring Lin’s fate, even if it’s destined for blessings,
With ten gold coins and the completion of the guard request, the conditions aren’t bad.
Jeong Yusin nodded and continued.
“I understand. But isn’t it dangerous? It seems the security of the Labyrinth City isn’t good enough for a little mouse like this to roam freely.”
“Lin is clever. If dangers arise, she’ll deal with them on her own. Besides, I’ve placed a magical safeguard as an insurance measure.”
“She got caught by me once.”
“Because she ‘let her guard down’. It won’t happen again.”
“Ah, understood.”
Jeong Yusin leaned closer and gently poked the belly of the two-legged mouse.
“Squeak!”
The white mouse, Lin, squirmed her body and covered her belly with both hands.
Clunk!!!
Suddenly, Ingrid abruptly stood up from her chair.
“What, what!!”
Ingrid’s usually expressionless face had turned slightly red.
“Why the sudden reaction?”
“It’s nothing, don’t worry about it.”
Ingrid slowly sat back down. It was evident from her reddening ears that she was clearly flustered.
“—Don’t touch her whenever you want. Be gentle and soft only at an agreed ‘time’.”
“Truly, you ask for quite a lot.”
“Understood.”
Jeong Yusin scratched his head and nodded.
Though Ingrid’s behavior was unusual, it wasn’t too surprising. He considered it one of the eccentric hobbies possessed by those in high positions.
Anyways,
With ten gold coins involved, whether it’s a mouse massage or anything else, he was ready to do it multiple times.
“I accept that condition. However, the payment seems quite generous.”
“It’s because you’ve earned it. The unholy flash is quite a formidable demon.”
Unholy Flash.
The demon Hans had mutated into.
“Is it really that strong of a demon?”
“To be precise, the complexity increased because of the mark Hans possessed. Moreover, if the summoned creatures had spread throughout the western streets, civilian casualties might have occurred. You played a big role.”
“I don’t think I played such a significant part. I believe you alone could have broken through the barrier, Ingrid-sama.”
“Yes, but it would have taken some time.”
For a brief moment, silence enveloped both of them.
Though Ingrid denied it, upon reflection, the bounty did seem somewhat excessive.
If they were to objectively review the recent battle, there were a few perilous moments.
If not for the raw strength of the Half Ogre’s stone fists and the holy magic of the frog cleric,
They might not have been able to reach Hans.
And if they didn’t have Aldein’s single-edged sword and Iron Mask’s gauntlets,
They wouldn’t have been able to pierce through Hans’ unyielding barrier.
If Ingrid’s strikes hadn’t weakened that barrier enough,
Jeong Yusin was sure his sword strike wouldn’t have delivered the final blow.
In summary,
This task was possible only because of the party’s support, good equipment, and external assistance. Those three components aligned perfectly.
A question then came to mind.
“There’s something I’ve been curious about. Aren’t seals omnipotent?”
Ingrid looked at Jeong Yusin and spoke.
It was a vague question, but Ingrid precisely grasped its essence.
“You’ve probably noticed the crack my sword strike left on Hans’ unyielding barrier. That’s right, seals are not omnipotent. Think about it differently: a seal grows and evolves alongside its owner.”
“Then, even with the same seal, its power can vary depending on the person?”
“That’s correct.”
Ingrid’s explanation made perfect sense.
It reminded him of the experience every time he leveled up, which resulted in the Sacred Weapon becoming faster and more refined in response to mana adaptation.
“I have one more question.”
“Ask it.”
“Why do people enter the Labyrinth? Isn’t obtaining an undesirable seal too much of a risk for it to be worth it?”
Ingrid’s lips curved into a wry smile.
Jeong Yusin’s eyebrows rose.
Since the first time they met, Ingrid had maintained an expressionless demeanor. The sudden wry smile caused his heart to skip a beat.
“Reasons to enter the Labyrinth… even I wonder about them. Everyone has their own. Some are chasing instant riches, others want to change their destiny, some crave great power, some want to test their luck, others wish to revive their deceased lovers. The list is endless. One could say it transcends the realm of reason. Scath, why do you go in?”
Ingrid’s question stiffened Jeong Yusin.
To understand someone, one must understand their desires.
It wasn’t wisdom imparted by the sages nor something he had read in books.
These were insights gained from his unremarkable life before his transfer, a thread drawn from a short yet reflective existence.
It might not even qualify as profound realization, merely a thin strand of understanding salvaged from his brief existence.
Nevertheless, Ingrid’s question was an attempt to gauge him.
The question was: How would Ingrid react upon hearing his answer?
It was unknowable.
Moreover,
Beneath the calm tone, there was a faint glimmer of scrutiny in Ingrid’s eyes.
An intuitive warning sign of impending danger.
It could be a paranoid delusion, but he decided to trust his intuition.
“—It’s difficult to talk about.”
“Why is it difficult? Speak freely. Could you possibly be in search of a seal that will let you rule the world?”
Ingrid’s eyes, probing carelessly, glimmered coldly.
Would a world-ruling seal even exist?
Jeong Yusin calmed his tumultuous heart. Such a nonsensical seal had nothing to do with him.
“No, nothing of the sort. When the time is right, I’ll inform you.”
“Ah, as you please.”
With her arms crossed, Ingrid turned her head away. Her eyes appeared more fatigued than ever.
Ann returned with some snacks from the kitchen.
Thin flatbreads were stuffed with chicken and vegetables, coated with sauce, and then grilled.
“Bring a bottle of Dwarf Whiskey.”
“Yes.”
Ann returned from the counter cabinet with a bottle of alcohol and cups.
The table was set with food and drink.
“Would you like a drink?”
“Dwarf Whiskey, hmm? So you, Barbaroy, are familiar with your drinks.”
“Yes, it’s rather good.”
‘Feels just like soju, but drinkable nonetheless.’
Jeong Yusin tilted the bottle, pouring alcohol into Ingrid’s glass.
Glug.
Ingrid’s glass was filled.
Glugglug.
And then his own glass was filled.
Jeong Yusin asked,
“Shall we toast?”
“No.”
“Understood.”
Jeong Yusin and Ingrid both downed their drinks at the same time.
Jeong Yusin picked up a flatbread with his hands and began chewing.
Ingrid, with elegant posture, lifted her fork and delicately brought a piece of flatbread to her mouth.
Completely different from the sight of her swinging her weapon as tall as herself with a storm-like ferocity.
Perhaps she should be called a “dignified noble milfh”.
“Speaking of which, how is Karin?”
Hearing Jeong Yusin’s question, Ingrid swallowed the food from her mouth while covering her lips.
“That one is currently under house arrest.”
“Is that so?”
“I heard she caused several disturbances in the Labyrinth City, flaunting her status. It’s a fitting punishment. To be honest, I’m ashamed to even raise my head.”
“Karin did have that side, right? She liked pulling rank. Yes, yes.”
Jeong Yusin laid his thoughts bare.
Ingrid glared at Jeong Yusin.
Unmoved, Jeong Yusin made eye contact with Ingrid.
“When she regains her senses, I intend to send her back to the Labyrinth City. This time, I’m planning to send her without any belongings. Rules that need to be followed must be strictly observed.”
Rules?
The unspoken principle that children of privilege do not rely on their family’s support?
It wasn’t entirely clear, but it seemed appropriate.
“As it’s late, we should wrap up the conversation here.”
Ingrid stood up and said.
“Yes, let’s do that.”
After seeing Ingrid off outside, Jeong Yusin returned to his seat.
Jeong Yusin sighed deeply as he looked at the white mouse munching on flatbread.
“Hmph, it felt like a daughter-in-law interview, or something. How formidable.”
