The dimly lit inn had only a single lantern left burning.
Jeong Yusin stood with his arms shoulder-level, observing Galerheim.
Delnaco had been sent to the Demon Disassembly Site—it was something worth reporting to Aldein.
Deciding to wait at the inn until Delnaco returned, Jeong Yusin figured they had some time.
“Galerheim, let’s be honest. Didn’t you go to the eastern district?”
“…Why do you think that?”
“It’s just a guess. Were you perhaps there for some slave play?”
“…”
Galerheim remained silent.
Meanwhile, he kept touching his nose.
Had Jeong Yusin hit the nail on the head?
‘Nuum is really difficult to trust.’
Thanks to Dito, Jeong Yusin was almost suffering from PTSD.
“I’m not trying to interrogate you. Slave play? I like it too. Yeah, definitely. I think it’s a morally sound and healthy culture.”
“Is that so?”
Galerheim slowly raised his head.
Jeong Yusin leaned back against the chair, creating some distance between him and Galerheim.
“Please be honest. Did you go to the eastern district? I think that’s the only place for such activities.”
“…That’s true.”
That makes sense.
Jeong Yusin had expected it when he heard that the red-light district was located in the eastern zone.
From now on, if there’s any suspicious place, betting on the eastern district would likely get it right most of the time.
Jeong Yusin crossed his arms and spoke.
“Did Oswald contact you?”
“…That’s correct.”
That timing of Oswald’s signal seemed suspicious. Jeong Yusin presumed that information had leaked somewhere.
Then.
Who could have informed Oswald about his recent activities?
It’s quite simple.
Apart from Soline and Fiyaron, who are involved in the priesthood, only Galerheim remains.
“What did you tell Oswald?”
“…I didn’t say much. He merely asked if Scath has been busy lately.”
“Hmm.”
Jeong Yusin leaned back further in the chair.
“…”
Jeong Yusin silently stared at Galerheim.
Galerheim fidgeted, looking uneasy.
Should I kill him?
Or just shut up?
Jeong Yusin tapped on the table.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
After a while, Jeong Yusin began speaking.
“Galerheim, it’s better if you take off that mask.”
A calm voice carried through the air.
“…Why?”
Galerheim asked.
Jeong Yusin chuckled slightly, finding it amusing.
“Do you want to die?”
“…Alright.”
Galerheim removed his nose-mask.
Jeong Yusin leaned in closely, making eye contact with Galerheim from a short distance.
“Let me ask again. Did Oswald only inquire about my recent activities? Just whether I’m busy or not?”
“…Yes, that’s all he asked.”
Galerheim replied.
His nose didn’t grow longer.
‘Just this one time.’
I’ll spare him.
An explorer of a lower rank probably wouldn’t be able to resist a dark street lieutenant anyway.
“Understood. Has anything unusual been happening recently in the eastern district?”
“I’m not quite sure, but I’ve heard that people turning into demons or animals have gone missing. Hence, the atmosphere in the eastern district is uneasy.”
“And what about the red-light district? I heard there’s a barbarian there.”
Galerheim’s face turned pale, and his body began to tremble.
“That area is now a brothel pit. No one can enter. For a long time, semen smell has filled the alleys of the red-light district and the sewers.”
‘Shit.’
Jeong Yusin stood up.
“Please wait a moment.”
“Alright.”
Jeong Yusin went upstairs, entered the room, and buckled on his sword belt, securing the Aming Sword to his waist.
“Lin?”
Not even the faintest sound could be heard. Thinking Lin might be asleep, Jeong Yusin gently lifted the blanket, but Lin wasn’t there.
Lin hadn’t been seen for a week.
Given Lin’s free-spirited nature, even if he didn’t return to the inn for a few days, Jeong Yusin wouldn’t have worried much. However, the extended absence caught his attention.
‘Perhaps…’
The rumor mentioned by Galerheim just now flashed through Jeong Yusin’s mind.
Even though Ingrid had cast a protective spell, Jeong Yusin couldn’t suppress the creeping anxiety.
‘It’s unnecessary concern.’
Lin is under Ingird’s stewardship in the Labyrinth Committee.
Pushing aside the worry, he left the room and descended to the first floor.
Delnaco was already back, holding some clothes in his hands.
“Here’s a coat. Aldein asked to send it.”
Jeong Yusin shook his head.
“Even though it’s summer, a demon-skin coat? I’ll suffocate. Let’s go as we are.”
“Isn’t that dangerous?”
“It’s not like we’ll die, right?”
“I’m fine, but Scath might be a concern.”
“Nothing serious will happen.”
Jeong Yusin glanced at his own outfit.
A linen shirt with rolled-up sleeves.
Brown cotton pants.
Steel-sole work boots.
A sword belt with the Aming Sword dangling from it.
Jeong Yusin opened the inn door.
“Since you’re familiar with the place, Galerheim, let’s go.”
“Yes.”
The three men left the inn and stepped out into the night streets.
After two hours of walking, they arrived at the checkpoint of the eastern district.
“It’s curfew time.”
A guard stopped them. Delnaco approached the guard and whispered something.
The guard’s eyes widened.
“Y-yes…you can pass.”
Galerheim looked at Jeong Yusin and Delnaco in shock.
“Did you think we couldn’t go through?”
“Who would’ve thought the method would be a frontal assault?”
“What’s so great about a frontal assault? If you bash in, everything’s a frontal assault. Let’s go.”
They passed the checkpoint and entered the eastern district.
It had been a while since they’d been here.
It was entirely different from the quiet southern district.
The streets sparkled with a dazzling mix of demons and humans in a chaotic jumble.
They walked down the street with Galerheim taking the lead.
Walking through the street where suspicious items were sold,
And the street with taverns glowing in colorful lights,
Three hours later they kept moving.
The number of demons and humans began to increase.
“Are we really on the right path?”
“Yes.”
The street Jeong Yusin’s group stepped into now was markedly different from the dark shack-village at the outskirts mentioned last time.
The buildings became progressively taller, and the lively music, laughter, and shouting rose in proportion.
Jeong Yusin looked around.
In the sky, harpies were flying, scattering flyers.
A female rabbit anthropomorph walked by in risqué clothing, soliciting customers.
Between the towering buildings, in the alleys, lay elves with a vacant gaze, smoking something.
Jeong Yusin clicked his tongue.
‘The pleasures seen at the entrance were just the appetizers.’
This street deep within the eastern district was filled with souls craving indulgence and pleasures.
What was strange was…
No one approached him.
An alligator anthropomorph engaging in solicitation walked straight toward Jeong Yusin but quickly changed direction to other customers upon catching sight of him.
An orc with long fangs approached confidently, but upon seeing Jeong Yusin, it recoiled and sidestepped.
Jeong Yusin frowned.
He hadn’t received such treatment even in the southern streets or at the eastern checkpoint.
“Why is no one bothering us? It’s strange.”
“It makes sense. Scath is, after all, a barbarian.”
Delnaco scratched his head and replied.
“…Though I have nothing to say, isn’t this going too far? They treat him like a plague.”
“That’s because they’ve experienced a lot. You should understand with an ‘open’ mind.”
“Got it.”
It wasn’t Jeong Yusin who widened their orifices. Shouldn’t someone who received beatings learn to avoid the innocent?
‘Pfft. Let’s understand. A person startled by a toad might also be startled by a pot lid. Is the red-light district near from here?’
Jeong Yusin sighed inwardly and walked through the gradually dispersing crowd.
Walking a bit further, an open space appeared.
A giant, colorful tent was visible.
It was certainly large enough to easily accommodate hundreds of people.
“There.”
Galerheim pointed with his finger.
“Looks like some circus troupe.”
“Circus shows are mainly performed by the Shadow Clown Clan.”
There was a long line at the entrance of the tent, with demons, humans, and animals all present.
“Delnaco, have you been there once?”
“Two or three times.”
“What’s it like?”
Delnaco tilted his head.
“If you mean the circus performance, I think it’s worth seeing.”
“Let’s go.”
The three men joined the long line patiently waiting.
The line shortened quickly, and soon it was Jeong Yusin’s turn.
“One silver coin, please.”
A human man with white makeup on his face said.
Jeong Yusin took out three silver coins and handed them over.
The man received the money and handed over a bracelet.
“This bracelet is to verify that you’re a customer. Please don’t lose it.”
“Yes.”
Inside the tent, a stifling heat could be felt.
Even though the performance hadn’t started yet, excitement could be physically felt in the air from the audience.
Finding a seat wasn’t difficult. Whenever Jeong Yusin approached, people hastily gave up their spots.
“Excuse me, is this seat here?”
“Whoa…! Please, take it!”
A pig anthropomorph sitting in the front row quickly stood up and ran away.
“Truly excessive…”
Jeong Yusin muttered while watching the pig anthropomorph run away.
“…”
Jeong Yusin crossed his arms and stared at the empty stage.
Though he came for work, he still had some anticipation.
Then.
A fat human walked onto the stage. His face was painted white, and he wore a silly hat.
“Esteemed ladies and gentlemen! Thank you very much for joining us today!”
The man removed his hat and bowed deeply.
“Wowwwww!!”
“Show us now!!!”
The audience shouted loudly in unison.
Jeong Yusin, keeping his arms crossed, glanced around at the people.
Galerheim and Delnaco sitting on either side didn’t overtly pretend to be uninterested but were visibly excited.
“Let’s begin! The very first act…is the Slime Tower!”
A lion-like anthropomorph walked out, followed by about ten slimes.
‘What is this?’
The slimes wobbled up a tall ladder.
The lion anthropomorph started riding a unicycle.
Dum dum dum dum dum!!!
A member of the crew began beating a drum. The tension kept rising.
Then,
The slime jumped down from the high pole.
Splash.
The lion acrobat expertly caught the slime while riding the unicycle.
“Wowwwwwww!!!”
People cheered wildly.
One by one, more slimes began to jump down from the high pole.
The interesting part was how they changed into various shapes as they fell.
Star. Heart. Dragon. Pig. Cow.
There were all kinds of shapes. Upon closer inspection, the level of detail suggested it wasn’t something they just practiced once or twice.
“Wowwwwwwwww!!!!! Incredible!!!”
The slimes stuck to the lion’s head and arms, transforming into different shapes.
When one slime covered the lion’s eyes, the cheering grew even louder.
The last slime fell down shaped like a teddy bear.
Thud.
The last slime safely landed on the lion’s head.
“Wowwwwwwwww!!!”
Clap clap clap clap!!!
People rose from their seats, clapping enthusiastically and whistling loudly.
Jeong Yusin also abruptly stood up and clapped his hands.
“Here comes the teddy bear? Wow! This place is legit!”
Under the gaze of Delnaco and Galerheim, Jeong Yusin sat back down.
The show continued afterward.
There were hobbling goblins and beautiful elves swinging dangerously high in the air.
A troll mage with blue skin came out on the stage and manipulated flames into various illusions.
The flames in the shapes of dragons, wyverns, eagles, sparrows, and swallows freely flew over the audience.
Jeong Yusin and everyone else watched, mesmerized as the fiery illusions weaved through the air.
A single wave of the troll mage’s staff, and the flapping flames disappeared.
“Wowwwwwwwwwww!!!”
Following the troll mage’s performance, thunderous applause echoed throughout the circus.
The audience’s cheers and compliments kept growing louder as time passed.
Finally,
There was one act left—the axe throwing display.
Crew members set up thick wooden panels on the stage.
An orc with their eyes covered by a cloth came out onto the stage with an axe in hand.
A fat man walked out to the front of the stage and addressed the crowd.
“Finally, we have the fearsome warrior—orc’s axe throwing performance!!! Just one brush and it splits cleanly!!! Is there anyone with enough nerve to step up?! Now, now!!!”
Dum dum dum dum dum.
The drumbeat reverberated through the circus venue.
The fat man pointed somewhere.
Jeong Yusin abruptly stood up from his seat.
“Lin?!”
A small white mouse wearing a cap stood confidently on two legs.
“Cheep!”
“Wowwwwwwwwwwwww!!!”
The audience’s cheers resounded thunderously across the circus.
‘Why are you out here?!’
Jeong Yusin’s mouth dropped open in shock.
