The bustling inn.
Jeong Yusin frowned as he looked at the trembling rat therianthrope (numen) held in his grip.
“What do you mean by that?”
“…Literally. I possess the ‘Wall of Way’ brand. It wasn’t thievery by my own will.”
Jeong Yusin’s grip tightened.
“Are you asking me to believe that?”
The rat therianthrope’s face grew desperate.
“Keh! It’s true. This is an irresistible desire I cannot control! I’m sorry!”
“Is that so? What exactly did you take? Show it to me now.”
“Uh… It’s right here.”
The rat therianthrope opened its palm.
There was the honey candy given by the teddy bear as a gift and the fairy tale meant for Luna.
“Hmm… I feel like this isn’t everything.”
“No, no. This is all of it! Didn’t you catch me red-handed? I swear on my mother!”
Swearing by one’s mother now?
“As far as I remember, there wasn’t a fairy tale in my pouch but silver coins.”
“Wha…What?!”
At Jeong Yusin’s words, the face of the rat therianthrope went pale.
At that moment.
The smell of medicine drifted from behind.
“Scath, were you here? Mars, you’ve also been here before me?”
Turning around, Iron Mask stood there.
Mars?
Are they talking about this rat therianthrope?
“Do you know this individual?”
Jeong Yusin asked while looking at Iron Mask.
“The name is Mars. As you see, a rat therianthrope and our party’s Guide.”
Iron Mask replied.
Jeong Yusin nodded after a moment of looking at the rat therianthrope and glanced back at Iron Mask.
“This one rifled through my pocket.”
“Received the Wall of Way brand during the last Labyrinth expedition. It’s a brand that makes you inadvertently rifle through treasure chests or pockets. Please bear with it with a broad mind.”
“Why don’t you just erase it?”
“That’s something you’d have to ask Mars about.”
Feeling Jeong Yusin’s gaze, the rat therianthrope cleared its throat.
“Ahem. Since we don’t know what brands we might receive in the future, we’re just waiting a while. It’s precautionary, should we receive a worse brand than this.”
Indeed, does experience accumulate to a point where thoughts become similar?
“Judging by how you’ve evaded capture by the town guards until now, you seem to have some skill.”
Jeong Yusin said while letting go of the rat therianthrope’s arm.
The rat therianthrope fidgeted its arm and slouched on a chair.
“Bah, Barbaroy, didn’t we just speak about this? You’ve possessed the brand for not long.”
Jeong Yusin nodded.
Is that so?
It was just good luck then.
Though, how many in the Labyrinth City can be brave enough to pickpocket someone known as the Barbaroy of Black Hair?
You’re more likely to end up with a swollen eye instead of a fat wallet.
“I see. Mars, I entrust you to my care.”
“Uh…”
“Why?”
“Remove your hand from my buttocks.”
Realizing he was indeed fondling the rat therianthrope’s buttocks,
“Shit. Get away with your ass!”
Jeong Yusin shouted in anger.
“But…”
The rat therianthrope wore the most aggrieved expression in the world.
“Barbaroy, is this your kind of preference?”
Iron Mask asked while retreating.
“No. There’s a deep reason behind it.”
“Do we need an explanation?”
“I’ll do it later. Where is the priest?”
After gazing at Jeong Yusin’s face for a while, Iron Mask spoke.
“…Just wait a moment.”
Creak!
The door opened, and someone entered the inn.
All eyes in the inn were drawn to the person who had just entered.
Naked body.
A dwarf wearing only a pair of triangular underpants looked around.
Jeong Yusin’s mouth dropped open in surprise.
What is this?
What level of moral decay must the city reach to allow someone to wander the streets clad this shamelessly and shamelessly indecent?
If I were to just sit quietly watching this, the dignity and honor of the deputy innkeeper would surely fall, as clear as the sun.
I can’t sit here and watch.
He immediately rose from his seat.
“You!”
Pointing at the dwarf, Jeong Yusin shouted.
At that moment,
“O! Have you arrived?!”
Iron Mask waved at the naked dwarf.
Jeong Yusin’s head turned swiftly towards Iron Mask.
What?
Is this perverted dwarf a party member?
The feeling of having been struck on the back of the head with a baseball bat.
I thought I wouldn’t be surprised anymore, but it was a misjudgment. The darkness of the Labyrinth ran deeper than my imagination.
“Hey. Iron Mask, you came fast.”
As the dwarf shook hands, his bushy chest hair fluttered violently.
The murmurings grew louder with each step the dwarf took.
“How can such a perverted dwarf exist? Does this guy not have a family or relatives?”
“…Is this the innkeeper’s taste?”
“We gathered here for a conference due to the Blue Moon Festival, but upon reconsideration, this barbarian heard of as a kind halfbreed Barbaroy, only to reveal his true colors today.”
Rumors and slanders filled the inn dining hall.
But the dwarf confidently walked up to Jeong Yusin.
“Nice to meet you! Barbaroy, I’m Kubo Heavyhand, a priest serving the spirit of the fire element.”
The triangular-pant-clad dwarf extended a hand while looking up at Jeong Yusin.
In a rush, Jeong Yusin turned his head and shouted,
“…Tarman!!!”
“Yes!”
Tarman, who was carrying food from the kitchen, shouted with wide eyes.
“Bring a sack of flour! A used one!”
“…Yes!”
Tarman quickly threw the food onto the counter and ran back into the kitchen.
“…Why… why are you doing this?”
The dwarf stammered and stepped back.
“What’s wrong with you? Are you insane? Why are you naked?”
“Scath, calm down. The reason the priest Kubo walks around like this is because of the brand.”
“What kind of brand is that?”
“The Naturist brand.”
“And what does that mean?”
The dwarf priest Kubo proudly spread his arms.
“It’s a brand that increases defense when not wearing clothes or armor!”
“…”
“Here’s the sack of flour!”
Jeong Yusin took the sack and handed it to the dwarf.
“Cover yourself.”
“Didn’t I just explain this?”
“Here is not the Labyrinth, is it? Or has your heart been tainted by the darkness of the Labyrinth?”
“Alright, Alright.”
The members of Iron Mask’s party gathered around a corner table.
The Naturist Dwarf Priest Kubo covered with a sack.
The thievery-numen Mouse Guide Mars.
The former crown prince Iron Mask.
And the good Barbaroy Jeong Yusin.
Sitting facing each other in the corner of the inn,
Jeong Yusin felt a little confined in his heart.
“It’s not easy.”
No.
You cannot judge people by their appearances alone. One must see inside.
“Hmm! Let’s get to the main subject then.”
“Scath, shouldn’t we clear up the matter of you feeling up Mars’ buttocks earlier?”
Iron Mask interjected.
“There are too many ears listening. Not now.”
At Jeong Yusin’s response, the priest Kubo’s face wrinkled.
“Barbaroy, spill it out. Aren’t we going into the Labyrinth where we’ll have each other’s backs?”
“I’m sorry. It’s a brand I can’t reveal in front of many people. Please wait just a bit.”
“Is it really that serious?”
“How dangerous is that brand?”
The expressions of the party members became serious.
It would be suicide to speak of it here. It’s a situation where I can’t even seek counsel from anyone.
“It’s not that serious, so relax. I’m wearing equipment to suppress the brand as well.”
“Understood. If you say so, I believe you.”
Among the party members who were casting skeptical glances, only Iron Mask believed Jeong Yusin.
By the way.
It seems the first meeting had a few awkward moments.
The party members were wearing somber expressions.
There was only one way to resolve this awkwardness.
He rose from his seat, rummaged through the cabinet, and brought out a bottle of alcohol.
“Let’s drink a round before continuing.”
“O!”
The expressions of the party members brightened.
The sack-clad dwarf broke into a smile.
“Fifty-year-old Dwarf Whiskey? Quite extravagant!”
“I brought the wrong one. I’ll go fetch another.”
“…”
Despite the sharp gazes of the party members, Jeong Yusin tenaciously brought out a ten-year-old Dwarf Whiskey.
“Isn’t a ten-year-old whiskey too young to have matured properly?”
The dwarf, passionate about alcohol, was meticulous in his critique.
Jeong Yusin poured the bottle into a glass, drank a little, and found it smooth as it went down, warming his insides.
“It’s ripe enough. Don’t drink it if you don’t like it.”
“That’s not the point. How could I refuse free alcohol? I’ll drink it in gratitude.”
The bottle made a round around the table. Even the dwarf who had been complaining was satisfied, tapping the table.
“I thought it was too young, but the fresh aroma is impressive.”
“Good.”
The conversation was slowly veering off-topic.
Jeong Yusin stepped in and spoke.
“Let’s get back to talking about the party.”
Jeong Yusin and the party opened up a conversation about the payment.
The discussion went on and on.
Various topics such as handled weapons and equipment, party formations, owned brand abilities, and more were exchanged.
“It’s all good, but it’s concerning that we lack a front-line defense.”
The rat therianthrope Mars pointed out.
“Iron Mask, don’t you wield a great sword?”
“That’s correct. Scath, I saw you wielding a sword last time. Is it possible to use a one-handed sword?”
At Iron Mask’s question, Jeong Yusin stroked his chin.
“It’s possible. I’ll take charge of front-line defense. Would a round shield and aming sword work? I’ll also prepare a long sword as a secondary weapon.”
Iron Mask nodded.
“That should do.”
“Let’s end the meeting here.”
The ongoing conversation had taken a long time, so the inn, which had been full of people, was now quite empty.
Iron Mask leaned with his arms crossed, looking at Jeong Yusin.
“So, can you explain now?”
Jeong Yusin immediately grasped what Iron Mask was referring to.
“It’s the ‘Corruption of Virgin Females’ brand.”
“…”
A chilling silence fell upon the party members.
“Don’t worry. As I mentioned earlier, I’m wearing an anti-brand magical device. As a side effect, my hands move unconsciously at times, but I’m controlling them well.”
The rat therianthrope Mars opened its mouth wide.
“Barbaroy, didn’t you handle my buttocks a few hours ago?”
“You were the one who pushed your buttocks into me. Let’s be clear with our words. And did you gild your buttocks or something? Tsk.”
“…”
Devoid of words in the face of Jeong Yusin’s logical retort, the rat therianthrope Mars took a swig from its cup.
“Isn’t his tone typical of a Barbaroy?”
The sack-wearing dwarf priest scratched his head and commented.
Now that he mentioned it, it was true.
“I apologize. Since we’ve both had unpleasant experiences, how about we just let it go?”
“…Understood. Since I was the one who made the first mistake, let’s pass over it this time.”
Mars nodded in response.
Iron Mask stood up from his seat first.
“We’ll end the meeting here. Let’s meet here the morning after tomorrow.”
““Understood.””
The party members also got up and exited the inn one by one.
Jeong Yusin saw them off and sat at the counter.
Tarman, who was on duty, bowed his head.
“Mr. Sky, I’ll take my leave then.”
“Alright. You don’t have to wait, but thanks anyway.”
“No, sir. With Delnaco gone, at least I need to keep the seat warm.”
Jeong Yusin was about to respond with a smile when he stiffened.
“Tarman, you look paler lately.”
“Ah… It must be tiring work lately.”
Tarman rubbed his bald head and brushed it off.
“Wait just a bit. I’ll try to hire another worker for you.”
“…Thank you.”
Jeong Yusin, watching Tarman’s slumped back as he went home after his shift, thought,
‘I should give him a raise.’
Jeong Yusin tidied up the area and opened a book. Preparations for the Labyrinth expedition were almost done. Since he had two days left, he intended to review the Forest Demon Ecology Compendium lent to him by Mion.
Because no amount of thorough preparation would ever be enough.
Sak. Sak.
The sound of flipping pages echoed through the quiet inn.
Creeeak.
The inn door opened.
Jeong Yusin looked up.
It’s deep into the night. There shouldn’t be anyone visiting at this hour.
“…Wha?!”
A surprised sound escaped Jeong Yusin’s lips.
Red ears and tail.
Karin Redtail.
“Hi, were you waiting for me?”
Clomp, clomp.
Her white see-through blouse revealing her prominent breasts stuffed into a ‘leopard print’ bra.
With a ‘leopard pattern’ bra.
A tight leather pants that clung to her curves, with work boots underneath.
“…Karin?”
Jeong Yusin muttered while blankly staring at the approaching Karin.
Strangely, she was wearing a choker around her neck.
“Scath, long time no see.”
“Ah…Eh?”
Jeong Yusin’s words jumbled up as he was momentarily afflicted with short-term dementia due to the ‘leopard print’ bra visible through the blouse.
“Scath, do me a favor.”
“Uh?”
“Can you let me crash here?”
Karin smiled with her eyes and gently caressed Jeong Yusin’s face with her tail.
