A quiet room.
Ingrid and Jeong Yusin were both staring down at the table in silence.
On the table lay a set of underwear with a mixed yellow and black pattern.
“…”
Gulp.
Jeong Yusin swallowed hard.
‘Is this some kind of a joke?’
Karin’s underwear, which he had mistaken for candies and food wrapped in a cloth, lay before him.
From a mother’s perspective, this felt as though the unexpected arrival of Barbaroy had declared:
“Yoohoo! I enjoyed your daughter very much! And here’s the lingerie of your precious daughter who’s now corrupted!”
It was tantamount to announcing that he had seduced her with his prowess and painted her with his colours, reducing her to a trophy.
And then, a declaration of intent: “I’ll do the same to you soon.”
Is there a more brutal announcement of conquest for a widow in this world?
This was the kind of depraved intimidation that would make even readers of adult manga from sketchy websites shake their heads and back away.
Realizing this fact sent a tremor through his body.
The adversary wasn’t just any widow; she was a guardian of Labyrinth City’s council and protector of the Labyrinth, a person sitting in an immeasurably high position.
‘Why is Karin trying to assassinate me? What could have driven her to this?’
Fate led inexorably toward his impending doom.
No.
He regained control of his thoughts.
Even if caught by a pack of red wolves, maintaining your presence of mind prevents becoming prey.
His battle-hardened mind began working quickly.
“…Ms. Ingrid, please hear me out. I can explain well.”
“That’s enough. This underwear belongs to me.”
“…Pardon?”
Jeong Yusin stared bewilderedly. Ingrid avoided meeting his eyes.
“It’s mine.”
“…”
Ingrid’s red ears trembled.
‘How embarrassing.’
A few weeks before, the massage from this Barbaroy had stirred certain feelings in her. Consequently, she had secretly purchased the risqué underwear she had previously never worn. Normally, she wore plain cotton.
But once bought, it seemed far too vulgar for her age. Even after repeated attempts at acceptance, the embroidered underwear marked her limit.
Thus, it remained locked away in her wardrobe until her daughter, upon lifting her home detention, came visiting.
To be precise, Karin had simply taken it.
Ingrid’s sense of justice meant confiscating everything Karin had, but this confiscation was harsher compared to other families. Given her role in the Labyrinth City Committee, setting an example was unavoidable.
Even so, the pang of parting wasn’t easy.
She had quietly allowed Karin to take it. And yet, her daughter had returned it, pristine and neat.
Karin, knowing that such decorative lingerie wasn’t for her, returned it anyway. The reason was clear—
It was a silent announcement of her independence as an Explorer.
On one hand, Ingrid was proud; on the other, she felt ashamed.
And now, this deeply personal secret lay exposed before this hybrid Barbaroy—a fact she’d preferred kept hidden.
Ingrid brushed her ear and crossed her legs.
‘How embarrassing.’
If this man were to mock her with something like, ‘Is this what you wear? How disgraceful,’ Ingrid felt she’d collapse on the spot.
“Scath, I apologize for showing you such an underwear.”
“…I think it’s fine.”
Ingrid’s eyes widened at Jeong Yusin’s gentle reply.
“Isn’t choosing what underwear to wear everyone’s personal freedom?”
“But isn’t this pattern too flashy for someone of your age group?”
“To be honest, when I first met you, I thought you looked like Karin’s older sister. You’re so youthful and beautiful, worrying about this seems unnecessary.”
‘And it’s not like you’re flaunting it to anyone anyway.’
He refrained from voicing the last part.
“Th..that’s right. My face is still young, isn’t it?”
Ingrid, her face reddening, kept brushing her ear, while her wolf ears twitched nervously.
“And I like snake-patterned underwear.”
This sudden outburst made Ingrid’s jaw drop.
‘Could it be…’
Was this man indirectly telling her to wear these lingerie?
With a seemingly innocent face and voice, he had gently comforted her only to make an unreasonable request.
‘Damn…!’
This man who had already toyed with her body to the fullest extent was now dictating her preferences. How dangerous.
An alarm bell rang loud and clear in her mind.
Despite enduring five days of intense caresses that had even made her blurt out “Master,” things had changed.
She had built resistance and couldn’t let herself fall so easily this time.
She wouldn’t be led around any longer.
Determined to reject him, she glared into Jeong Yusin’s eyes.
“Ah… understood. Should I wear this then?”
Ingrid was shocked to hear her own words, which were entirely contrary to her intentions.
‘This isn’t right. I should be more assertive.’
Her face flushed as she had spoken the opposite of what she truly wanted.
Jeong Yusin hurriedly waved his hands.
“Ah… no. That wasn’t my intention!”
“Then what should I do?”
“It’s about personal ‘freedom.’ If you wish to wear it, who can stop you?”
‘Freedom.’
Ingrid swallowed hard.
‘He’s pushing me to the brink.’
He was giving her the silent order to willingly fall into depravity.
She shuddered.
A man who didn’t demand her body, but instead encouraged her to shamefully offer herself.
Just how much lower would this man drive her before he was satisfied?
Yet once more,
“Understood… If I wear this underwear ‘freely,’ it’s fine, right?”
Words contrary to her mind tumbled out.
“Yes, do as you please.”
Jeong Yusin, his face red and eyes avoiding Ingrid’s, was pretending to be innocent when inside, he was the epitome of sadism.
She suddenly began to worry about her daughter.
‘Could she have fallen into the hands of a man like this?!’
Was her daughter enduring unimaginable horrors?
Exploring the Labyrinth and dying was something unavoidable. Although it would tear her apart, those who aim for greatness must inevitably endure such hardships.
Especially one who stands solitary at the top will face all kinds of adversities. It was a troublesome and lonely position.
But there was something worse.
Should her daughter succumb to this man, gradually conforming to his lewd and sadistic demands?
Imagine her daughter, upon retiring from her duties as an Explorer, covered in crass tattoos, wearing scandalous clothes akin to a courtesan, and eventually reduced to nothing but a receptacle for his desires?
If that happened, Ingrid wouldn’t be able to bear it.
Ingrid clenched her teeth.
She couldn’t simply stand by and watch.
For her daughter’s sake and her own.
She couldn’t directly assist her daughter, but could she take it upon herself to bear the brunt of this man’s sadistic desires?
She believed that by doing so, she could protect her daughter.
Just at that thought, the part she had never touched except for during baths became moist.
Like applying oil, it became slick and sticky, tightly contracting then releasing, repeating the cycle.
“Huff… Huff…”
Ingrid’s breathing grew heavy, and Jeong Yusin looked worried.
“Are you alright? You seem unwell.”
“I’m… fine.”
She was filled with resentment. Having tortured her relentlessly over the past few nights, and now displaying such a concerned expression was frustrating.
She wanted to pinch his cheeks hard, but as a representative of her alliance and as a mother, she had to restrain herself.
‘Because it appears too familiar.’
Ingrid, her face red, took the snake-patterned underwear.
Underneath, there were food and medicine, along with an attached letter.
Jeong Yusin spoke.
“Karin’s request has been completed. May I inquire further?”
“Speak.”
“Did you have any reason to summon me here?”
“It’s not that great.”
Ingrid chewed her lip before finally speaking out.
“It’s regarding Lin’s massage.”
“That’s right. I believe I performed it diligently. We even slept in my room together.”
Ingrid felt herself sinking into the chair, as though melting like ice.
‘I already know everything about you, your scent, your sleep-talk, your gestures.’
“Lin… told me that she doesn’t like overly intense massages.”
“Understood. I’ll be careful.”
Several scenes flashed through Jeong Yusin’s mind.
Sitting on Lin.
Slapping Lin’s bottom.
The unintended side effect of sealing Lin’s virginity imprint, which caused his hands to go rogue and massage her all night.
“Could… could you be more gentle? Please. That’s all I ask. More than that… ”
Ingrid’s face flustered, and she couldn’t continue.
Jeong Yusin nodded. There was a reason she was being so cautious. Who would approve of being careless with something so precious?
“I’ll be gentle.”
“…”
Ingrid’s body twisted in reaction.
Jeong Yusin rubbed his head.
‘She really isn’t feeling well it seems.’
At such times, it was polite to promptly take one’s leave. Karin’s request was completed, and Ingrid’s matter had been clarified.
Staying longer would merely be a bother.
He stood up.
“Then, I’ll take my leave first.”
“Ah… understood. Please be careful.”
Click.
Bang.
Ingrid watched Jeong Yusin’s back as he walked out the door before lowering her head.
The snake-patterned underwear.
She bit her lips hard. Should she refuse to wear it, would she then be subjected to further harassment? His smile, his expressions, his tone—all of it implied he knew everything.
‘Do you want me to endure this instead of letting my daughter descend into vulgarity?’
Due to the humiliating torture for five days, she’d failed to properly monitor the Labyrinth entrance.
She had been so worried that she bit onto her pillow, muffling her screams to avoid being caught by her subordinates and daughter.
“Huff… I’ve really stepped into the wrong alliance.”
Allowing pleasure to overwhelm her brain was the biggest mistake, failing to sever her sensory-sharing magic with Lin.
She couldn’t imagine returning to the way things were before.
What should she do?
Should she wear this garish underwear and submit to the whims of this man?
As the member of the Labyrinth City Committee and the leader of the Red Wolf tribe?
The hot sighs in the quiet room grew deeper as night wore on.
*
Jeong Yusin returned to the inn, enjoying the humid night breeze.
“Why are you so late?”
Karin glared at him, her chin resting on her hand.
“I’ve just had a conversation. Though, say, why do you ask?”
“What is it?”
“Why did you wrap underwear in the cloth?”
“Eh… Did you dare open the cloth before?”
“No. Ms. Ingrid instructed me to open it.”
“Is that so? That’s strange. Why would she do that? I thought she’d just give you the cloth and leave. Are you and my mom getting along?”
“No way. As the representative of the Werefolk Union and a member of the Labyrinth City Committee, how could I get that close to her?”
“But why did it take so long then?”
Karin questioned, and Jeong Yusin tilted his head.
‘Did that much time pass?’
“I don’t have a close relationship with Ms. Ingrid, but we share some connection.”
“What kind of connection?”
“Haven’t I told you?”
“I was locked up in a room!”
Karin grumbled.
“That’s right. When I first met Ms. Ingrid, it must’ve been… ”
Jeong Yusin crossed his arms and stared into the distance.
“Wait.”
Karin pulled out a bottle of alcohol from the counter cabinet.
“Let’s drink while you tell me.”
Jeong Yusin smirked.
“Alright then?”
“And stop using honorifics. We’re close, and you are the inn ‘owner,’ aren’t you?”
Karin emphasized the word “owner.” Jeong Yusin tilted his head, then nodded.
Shouldn’t matter, right? He assumed it was a reason she made up because she wanted to get closer to him. Though her behavior was bold, she was straightforward and considerate.
“Alright.”
“Good. Continue.”
“Hmm… So, didn’t we meet Han in the labyrinth a while back?”
“Yeah. So?”
“That Han guy, well…”
An empty inn.
As the night deepened, so did the cups of alcohol grow empty, and the conversation between the two grew longer.
It was the heat of summer.
