A fox beastkin ran up and firmly clung to Jeong Yusin’s leg.
Jeong Yusin looked down at the fox beastkin who was sticking to him like gum.
Setting aside the strange sense of distance from the young fox beastkin for now,
the inn hall was currently packed with people.
“…”
A chilly silence descended.
The guests’ piercing gazes beat down on Jeong Yusin.
Dangerous. Maybe even more so than the time with Oswald.
Instinctively sensing a crisis,
Jeong Yusin now needed to choose his words carefully.
Cold sweat trickled down his forehead.
Jeong Yusin opened his mouth calmly.
“Why am I your dad?”
“The dad is the dad!”
With that, the fox beastkin pressed their face into Jeong Yusin’s thigh.
“…”
An irrational declaration of fatherhood.
An irrational assassination attempt.
The effect was immediate.
The people gathered in the inn hall were shocked.
“Whoa…!”
“What is this?”
“I heard it was sympathy, but was it not?”
“Could it be the reason for sympathy is…? The forbidden relationship between father and daughter…?”
The people began murmuring.
Jeong Yusin’s body wobbled once.
Hardly grabbing ahold of his dizzy mind, he grasped the young fox’s shoulder.
“Friend, why are you suddenly calling me dad?”
“Well…that wild boar uncle said to call you that!”
Wild boar uncle?
There’s only one wild-boar beastkin around here, Delnaco.
‘No, you crazy bastard.’
He certainly thought Delnaco was a good-natured subordinate, but this?
It felt like a blade was buried deep in his heart.
Veins bulged on Jeong Yusin’s forehead.
As Jeong Yusin’s expression grew frightening, the fox beastkin started to sob. Round eyes filled with tears drop by drop.
“Whaa… Daddy is the daddy!”
‘Hmph.’
His mind grew dizzy once more.
Without even mentioning marriage, let alone sex, and a tiny fox calling him father,
to make matters worse, the expressions of the people around slowly worsened.
Just then,
“Scath!”
The inn door opened, and Delnaco walked in.
Delnaco looked at Jeong Yusin and the young fox, immediately grasping the situation and closed his mouth.
“Delnaco, did you stab me in the back?”
Jeong Yusin growled.
Upon hearing Jeong Yusin’s voice, the fox beastkin embraced his leg even tighter.
‘Hmph.’
Jeong Yusin swallowed.
The young fox’s thin body was trembling.
Is he scared?
The sudden surge of anger subsided.
Jeong Yusin raised his hand and gently patted the fox beastkin’s head.
“Don’t be afraid. I’m not angry with you.”
The fox slowly lifted his head. Tear and snot streaks on his face were visible.
“…Really?”
“Yeah.”
Jeong Yusin turned his head to look at Delnaco.
“Delnaco, go fetch a handkerchief and fruit juice.”
“Yes.”
Delnaco rushed to the kitchen.
Jeong Yusin gently patted the fox beastkin again and glanced around.
Whether to trust or not, meeting each person’s eye, he spoke.
“Many of our regular customers, you know who I am? Let’s leave aside the assumptions and get back to your own business.”
When Jeong Yusin finished speaking, some people nodded, and some tilted their heads.
Reading something from Jeong Yusin’s calm tone and gaze, the people went back to their original seats without a word.
Delnaco came out from the kitchen with a handkerchief and fruit juice.
Jeong Yusin took the handkerchief and gently wiped the young fox’s face and handed over the fruit juice.
“Go play with the slimes. Don’t worry. Sorry for scaring you.”
“Okay!”
The fox beastkin smiled happily as if nothing had happened and wandered off again.
Jeong Yusin motioned toward the counter with a nod at Delnaco.
“Follow me. Let’s have a talk.”
“Yes.”
Jeong Yusin and Delnaco took their seats at the counter.
“Tell me your story.”
“Yes.”
Delnaco carefully began.
About 10 minutes later, Delnaco’s story concluded.
Jeong Yusin rubbed the corner of his eyes.
He processed the situation.
The young fox beastkin’s name was Luna.
When he was absent in the labyrinth, Luna often came to play at the inn and performed.
With her active personality and cute appearance, not only the inn guests but also Delnaco, Tarman, and Ann welcomed Luna.
One evening, while Delnaco took Luna home, he visited the house where Luna lived and met her mother.
Delnaco briefly talked with Luna’s mother.
And the fact he learned.
The little fox beastkin’s situation was more serious than expected.
Jeong Yusin spoke.
“…So, the father of that young fox beastkin went missing in the labyrinth and the mother fell sick months ago?”
“Yes.”
“The father was a mid-level explorer who went missing 8 years ago… Is this kind of situation common?”
“It happens from time to time.”
His taste had gone sour.
Now he understood why there was a recruitment for chefs.
Looking for a job at the age where she should play happily.
It was unfortunate, but,
“So, why is she calling me dad? You said you told her to?”
“There is a system called godparenthood in the spirit church.”
Godparent?
Godfather.
Simply put, a system where someone becomes a guardian for a child.
He wasn’t familiar with the details, but having heard children talk about adoption and guardianship while studying at an orphanage, it was a known concept.
Delnaco continued.
“It was a topic that came up briefly while conversing with Luna’s mother. Since Scath is the innkeeper, your name came up briefly in conversation. It seems Luna might have overheard from outside the door, but I never forced her to do so.”
Jeong Yusin sighed.
He now had some understanding of why the young fox beastkin called him “dad.”
Rather than truly thinking of him as a father, perhaps she needed someone to lean on.
Just then, the fox beastkin came closer.
“Uncle! Daddy! Luna is going home!”
The young fox beastkin bowed deeply.
He noticed the jingling coin pouch was quite full.
Glancing outside, Jeong Yusin saw it was late and the streets were dark. Even in the southern district, it wouldn’t be safe for a young child to wander.
Jeong Yusin spoke.
“Delnaco, since it’s dark, please escort Luna home and then return.”
“Yes.”
Jeong Yusin watched as Delnaco and Luna, holding hands, left the inn, and crossed his arms.
Should he interfere in someone else’s family affairs?
‘I have a lot to say about that.’
Jeong Yusin sighed deeply.
“Scath!”
The inn door opened and a group of people entered.
It was Jeong Yusin’s party.
Holy Knight Soline, the snub-nosed Nuum Galerheim, and the granny-loving Fiyaron.
Jeong Yusin waved to them.
The party approached.
“Are you feeling okay?”
Soline asked.
“Thanks to your concern, I’m on the mend. Thanks. Let’s sit at the table. I’ll treat, so let’s drink heartily today.”
Galerheim’s face lit up.
“The innkeeper seems to know a thing or two.”
Jeong Yusin gave a wry smile.
“I am not the innkeeper.”
“Still, the business seems to be thriving, doesn’t it?”
While looking around, Fiyaron said.
“I’m managing somehow. Please come in.”
Jeong Yusin got up from the counter and guided his party to the table.
Since Tarman was busy rushing around, Jeong Yusin went directly to the kitchen.
“Ann! Prepare some simple dishes.”
“Yes!”
Jeong Yusin came out of the kitchen and grabbed bottles and glasses from the liquor cabinet behind the counter to return to the party members.
“Wow! Dwarf brew? You’ve got quite a large heart.”
Galerheim’s tongue rolled.
“Even if you serve the holy office, drinking isn’t an issue, is it?”
“Drinking won’t be a problem as long as you don’t make a scene.”
Fiyaron spoke for Soline.
He poured the liquor into the glasses and returned to the party members.
After having a sip, various conversations began, mostly about their time in the labyrinth.
“…I really thought I was going to die.”
“Soline carried you on her back while swinging a sword in one hand. It was an incredible feat.”
Soline complained, and Galerheim admired her.
“Hmph. So, what about the wet nurse of the Fifth Prince?”
“Discussing that right now doesn’t seem appropriate. There are too many listeners present.”
Jeong Yusin abruptly cut off Fiyaron.
“Still… sorry for being rash.”
Fiyaron apologized.
“No, it’s alright.”
Jeong Yusin generously ignored Fiyaron’s misstep.
‘Being fond of grandmas, how can he differentiate between poop and soybean paste with those wrinkled eyes?’
“Let’s discuss the distribution of earnings.”
“Why not?”
Soline took out four money purses and placed them on the table.
Hobgoblin extermination. Total 40. 30 silver coins. The presence of a hobgoblin warrior made the reward better than usual, but it wasn’t as good as when the party was exterminated.
Judging from the information provided that time, it seemed the reward then was more meaningful.
Magic stone acquisition. 15. 15 silver coins.
All in all, 45 silver coins were earned.
Since the party consisted of four members, each would receive 11 silver coins. The remaining reward was to be taken by the elven priest Fiyaron.
“Upon hearing that I was taken to the infirmary, I wondered how much the treatment cost?”
“Fiyaron, the priest, helped the infirmary staff treat you. Of course, I lent a hand too. We managed to get a discount. It amounted to around 2 silver coins, but we took care of it.”
Soline answered Jeong Yusin’s question.
“I should repay the treatment fees.”
Soline frowned upon hearing Jeong Yusin’s words.
“No, stop. Scath, you saved our lives. Without you, we would have all died at their hands. Let this be a token of our gratitude, don’t worry about it.”
Soline smiled while saying this, and Fiyaron nodded in agreement.
Galerheim seemed to have a different thought but eventually nodded.
“Alright. 10 silver coins, not bad. This ought to be enough for some rest and play.”
Upon Galerheim’s words, the party members all grinned.
Each had thoughts of different desires in their minds.
“Come on! Let’s drink!”
Galerheim shouted.
Clang!
Jeong Yusin and the party laughed and clinked their glasses.
Jokes and idle talk bloomed under the festive mood.
Jeong Yusin went to the kitchen and brought some food.
It was barbecued pork ribs boiled once and seasoned for grilling.
Famously called “pork ribs” or “pork spareribs.”
Upon seeing the platter full of pork ribs, Galerheim’s eyes widened.
“Are you really giving this much?”
“Quit whining, let’s eat.”
Soline tore off a piece of pork rib and put it in her mouth, and her eyes immediately widened.
“Tastes good.”
“Help yourself.”
No sooner had Jeong Yusin finished speaking than the party members began devouring the food and downing the liquor.
‘Were they possessed by a demon?’
Jeong Yusin chuckled at the sight of his party members eating the food in silence, as if they were possessed.
When most of the pork ribs were gone,
Jeong Yusin had a sudden curiosity.
“By the way, has anyone received a new brand or leveled up?”
Jeong Yusin asked.
“No one did. We’ve already checked at the temple. And hunting monsters doesn’t seem sufficient for leveling up yet.”
Fiyaron wiped his sauce-covered fingers and answered.
Jeong Yusin inwardly nodded.
Levelling up wasn’t as easy as thought.
Since he himself had only leveled up twice after so much hardship.
And as for brands,
‘I should go and check as well.’
He missed the omens due to losing consciousness.
There was no sign of physical abnormality, so it’s also uncertain what kind of brand he might have received.
Could it be another negative brand?
No.
Jeong Yusin shook his head to dismiss the negative thoughts.
With intact limbs and mental clarity, with no group collapse from severe negative branding, there was only cause for gratitude.
As time passed and the customers left,
he sent off Tarman and Ann, who had finished their shifts.
Only Jeong Yusin’s party remained in the dim and quiet inn hall.
After a quick cough, Jeong Yusin recounted his encounter with Oswald.
The party’s faces grew serious with the concise explanation.
“So, what should we do?”
Galerheim asked.
“…”
No one responded.
What should be done?
A heavy silence enveloped the room.
“There is at least one assassin in the Labyrinth City. Their number is unknown, but given that the wet nurse of the Fifth Prince has been attacked, it’s reasonable to assume her identity has been revealed.”
“Shouldn’t we rescue her?”
Fiyaron asked.
True to his character as a grandmother-lover.
“The wet nurse is currently the blazing sun. Approaching too closely could result in who-knows-what calamity. It’s dangerous, so we should observe the situation for a while. Honestly, we are unaware what Oswald is thinking.”
The worst-case scenario is if Oswald sends the wet nurse of the Fifth Prince to this side.
The even worse scenario is if Oswald tips off the assassins about Jeong Yusin’s party.
He was a lunatic. No one could predict his next move.
Whatever happens,
if the assassins all come at once and involve innocent bystanders, he would hate to see anyone getting injured.
It’s not a situation where one can jump in carelessly or sit around idly.
Confusion brewed in his mind.
Lacking information, his imagination ran wild.
‘Remain calm.’
Jeong Yusin shook his head and opened his mouth.
“Let’s table this for now. Let’s rest and then reconvene. How about in three days?”
“That’s too short.”
Galerheim said.
“How much rest is typically needed?”
“At least a week of rest to properly recover.”
The party members nodded in agreement.
‘For that long?’
The party members suddenly seemed like slackers to him.
‘Am I the odd one out?’
“Understood. Let’s meet again in a week. Take care of yourselves in the meantime. Let’s refrain from wandering out.”
The party members nodded as they gradually got up from their seats.
“Ah! I almost forgot. Here.”
Soline handed over a bag.
It was the bag carried around by the blindfolded man.
“Inside the bag, there’s the magic stone Oswald gave you.”
“Then let’s sell it and distribute it.”
“There’s no need. You earned it. We did nothing. Truly.”
Soline said earnestly.
“Then I’ll take it graciously.”
The party members nodded in agreement.
After seeing off the party members, he returned to the counter and sat down.
He spent some time alone.
Not long after,
Delnaco returned.
“Did you see her off safely?”
“Yes, and I have something to say.”
“What?”
Delnaco scratched his head and spoke.
“Luna’s mother wishes to see you.”
Jeong Yusin placed his hand on his forehead.
Not only did a fake daughter just appear, but now a fake wife is asking to see him face-to-face.
Jeong Yusin wore a disapproving expression.
“When?”
“She wants to see you immediately today.”
“Ah…”
Jeong Yusin ultimately let out a long sigh.
The night was not yet over.
