The exterior was crispy, and the interior was filled with a rich cream—the kind of bread that could make you forget about everything else.
Two people could eat it and be so engrossed that they might not even notice if one of them died.
“This is… moving.”
My eyes began to sting with tears. Since living in the Labyrinth City, I’d tasted all the decent bread available, but none had reached this level. The savory flavor was excellent, though it leaned a bit toward blandness, making it typically something to pair with other dishes. In short, it was more of a side dish to replace rice.
Sweet teddy bear-shaped biscuits had been my only vice, my sole addiction, until now.
But that would change from this moment forward.
Jeong Yusin abruptly stood up from his seat and approached the Teddy Bear.
“Is something the matter, Teddy?”
“Let’s give it a hug.”
“Don’t, Teddy! Please don’t!” the Teddy Bear flailed its fluffy arms dramatically.
“I’m the huggable one, you know!”
With cream smeared all over her mouth, Luna—her tail wagging—rushed toward Jeong Yusin.
“Squish, squish!”
Lin also darted across the table.
“Both Luna and Lin, you should wipe the cream from your mouths first.”
Ann calmly reminded the two, and they stopped, nodding their heads.
“Understood.”
“Squish.”
Karin looked at Ann with curiosity.
“Ann, why do the kids listen to you so well?”
“I’m not sure. It might be because of the food we gave them. I don’t really know.”
Ann tilted her head as she answered.
Jeong Yusin returned to his seat at the table.
“So then, we have the bread ready. We just need to prepare one more thing.”
“Doesn’t just selling bread seem a bit plain? Perhaps we need something more?”
Tarman wiped the cream from the corner of his mouth.
“We have beverages as well—we have very fresh milk.”
“Sounds good then. That will do. Only one problem remains.”
Everyone’s gaze turned toward Jeong Yusin.
“How do we draw attention? How should we advertise?”
“…”
While everyone was deep in thought, Luna stood on the chair and raised her hand.
“Let’s show them the Slime Dance!”
Jeong Yusin wore a worried expression.
“Wouldn’t that be too tiring?”
“Not at all! It’s nothing.”
“Squish, squish.”
Lin also nodded beside her.
“Lin, are you thinking of dancing too?”
“Squish!”
Jeong Yusin pinched the bridge of his nose.
This duo was impossible to stop.
“Do as you wish.”
Truthfully, it didn’t matter how things turned out. They had decided to do their best but understood it might fail. It was because Jeong Yusin and Tarman, along with Ann, were still inexperienced when it came to running an Inn. They were barely managing to cover their losses. Perhaps failure was inevitable, but the important thing remained unchanged: that everyone enjoyed themselves during the festival. Failure was fine if their bodies stayed intact, ready to rise again.
“Hopefully nothing will go wrong.”
He quietly wished for this in his heart.
“The bread’s on us! Please prepare the cream!”
The Teddy Bear left the inn.
People gathered in the kitchen and took their positions. As soon as the Teddy Bear delivered the ingredients, everyone took out their tools to quickly start making the cream.
“Hmm… since it’s summer, the cream might spoil easily. We’ll need a magical artifact that emits a cooling effect.”
Karin stroked her chin thoughtfully.
Jeong Yusin snapped back to attention.
I forgot. Dairy products spoil easily in the summer.
“Is there such an artifact? How much does it cost?”
“Let’s see… about 15 gold coins.”
“…Do you know where to get it?”
“I saw one at the central district magic artifact store. I’ll go buy it.”
“Understood.”
Jeong Yusin handed over a money pouch to Karin, who then left the kitchen. Everyone else stayed behind, and Jeong Yusin looked around. Feeling emotional for some reason, he tried to maintain a smile.
“Shall we begin, then?”
“To make delicious cream!”
“Squish, squish.”
Everyone entered the kitchen, cheerful chatter filling the air.
Karin arrived at the Central District with the money given by Jeong Yusin.
This was a place she knew well. Walking through the familiar alleyways, she entered the magic artifact shop.
“I’m looking for a magic artifact that emits cold.”
Karin told the shop owner.
Inside the counter, a Nuum briefly went into the storage room and came back out.
“I have one. 10 gold coins. The magic stone costs around 2 gold.”
“I’ll take this. Can you send it separately?”
“Sure. Where should I send it?”
“Is there an inn managed by Barbaroy in the Southern District?”
“Ah… that place? Have you really heard about it?” the Nuum asked cautiously.
“Yes.”
“We might need to add extra danger fees…”
“It’s completely safe! I work there!”
“Seriously? You, Karin, have such remarkable courage. Wait… could it really be? Oh! Lady Karin!”
“Finally realized, didn’t you? And please don’t address me so formally. I’m just an Explorer now.”
“No… really…”
“Do as you’ve been told. Stop gossiping about Skath. Send the item quickly.”
“Yes, yes Lady.”
The owner watched Karin’s back disappear, scratching his head and muttering to himself.
“Karin has become so gentle these days. Amazing, simply amazing.”
Karin bought a robe in the central district, put it on, and headed to the eastern district.
Passing through the gate into the eastern district, many demons were visible.
She confidently walked through the throngs of monsters, entering the darker alleyways tucked into the corner.
After some time, she found a treehouse with a suspicious potion symbol drawn on it.
Gulp.
Here it is.
The Darkness Shop.
A place where items difficult to display in the bright parts of the city were traded.
Though sorry to Skath, she simply could no longer endure it.
Sneaking around like a thief, rummaging through Skath’s laundry basket.
Burying her nose into whatever she managed to find—undergarments especially, and acting disgracefully.
Or the creepy male priest who kept eyeing Skath suggestively.
Skath had made an inviolable agreement with Mion during their last Labyrinth trip after fainting. But an agreement is made to be broken, and she intended to claim Skath first during this festival.
This was the perfect chance.
‘I won’t back down.’
Karin opened the door and entered.
Creak.
Inside the shop were all sorts of strange magical artifacts.
“My, my, look who’s here.”
From somewhere, someone muttered lazily at the counter.
A Dark Elf woman, covered only in soft silk that revealed important areas, nonchalantly smoked a pipe at the counter, puffing on it.
The acrid smell of tobacco made Karin wrinkle her nose.
“Hmmm. So what brings you here, may I ask?”
“Love potion.”
“Are you sure with that kind of body? Who do you want to use it on?”
“A man.”
The Dark Elf smirked.
“Your target must be quite obstinate.”
That was the truth.
No matter how Karin tried to seduce Skath, they were met with ironclad resistance. Still, Skath’s eyes would dart toward her chest, and then when she turned around, his glance would linger on her behind.
A sharp image of Skath’s predatory gaze flashed in her mind, and an uncomfortable constriction tightened in her abdomen.
“Shut up! Just give me the love potion.”
“Hmm?”
The Dark Elf female made a sniffing sound and glanced at Karin’s pants.
Specifically, the area between her full thighs.
“You’re really anxious, aren’t you? Also, there’s a faint aura of a curse around you.”
“I know.”
“Do you know exactly what kind of curse it is?”
“Yes.”
“Ah, I see. Very well. Give me a moment, please.”
The Dark Elf turned her body and rummaged in the cupboards.
“Hmm… this should work.”
The Dark Elf handed Karin a glass bottle filled with yellow liquid.
Karin carefully took it and sniffed it.
It carried an unusually pleasant fragrance. Would you call it a delicious smell?
“W-What is this?”
“This is a paralyzing love potion that will immobilize your target. However, it will also make that place stand firm. They’d be barking wildly like a rutting wolf.”
Gulp.
Karin swallowed hard again.
“Be cautious: don’t overuse it. Just a drop is enough.”
“Got it. Just one drop.”
“Be careful. Just one drop. Using more than that amount is dangerous.”
“Got it. How much does it cost?”
“Looks like you’re in a rush. Three gold coins.”
“That’s too expensive.”
“Shall I cut it a little then? Two gold coins and 50 silver coins.”
“Alright. Here you go.”
Karin emptied her coin pouch and handed it to the Dark Elf.
“Received. Have a happy festival, little Red Wolf.”
The Dark Elf chuckled as she spoke.
“Grrr! You knew?! You’re really so annoying.”
Karin gave the Dark Elf a glance before leaving the shop.
Jingling.
Karin’s red tail disappeared with the sound of a bell as the Dark Elf took a slow drag and blew the smoke into the air.
“Hmm… a love potion. Although you wouldn’t need something like that. Too impatient, aren’t you? Just like your mother.”
In the quiet store, the Dark Elf’s murmurs softly echoed.
Karin returned to the Inn after passing through the eastern district gate.
Clutching her heart, she entered the kitchen where people were laughing and stirring something. It was the cream in a large pot.
“You’re back? The magical artifact just arrived. Where have you been?”
Jeong Yusin asked cheerfully.
Karin looked at Jeong Yusin’s face for a moment.
Why is he smiling so brightly?
While usually spreading an enticing aura to lure her.
But when it was time to work or focus, he acted all innocent.
Unfair resentment bubbled inside her.
“I just stopped by somewhere.”
Her tone was cold, making Jeong Yusin raise an eyebrow but he quickly nodded.
“Of course, you must want to check out our competition during the festival. I understand how you feel. Don’t worry too much though, we’ll win.”
‘You don’t seem to understand my feelings at all.’
Karin suppressed the urge to sigh and rolled up her sleeves.
“I’ll help.”
“Great.”
Karin perversely decided to stick close to Jeong Yusin. As she did, Jeong Yusin stiffened.
“You’re too close, huh?”
“So what? Aren’t we supposed to make it together anyway?”
Karin whispered in Jeong Yusin’s ear.
Then.
“Hem!”
Someone stood at the kitchen entrance and cleared their throat.
Everyone, including Jeong Yusin and Karin, turned their heads toward the sound.
“Delnaco, why are you so late?”
The boar-man scratched his head and wore a sheepish expression.
“I’m sorry. Lately, I’ve been swamped with work.”
“Hurry up. We have work to do.”
“Skath, may I speak to you separately before we begin?”
Hearing something unusual in Delnaco’s voice, Jeong Yusin nodded.
“Alright. I’ll be back.”
“Briefly.”
Jeong Yusin left the kitchen with an escort from Karin.
“Phew.”
Karin exhaled deeply and then wove herself into the group hard at work stirring.
*
As soon as Jeong Yusin exited the kitchen, the scene unfolding made him jump.
“What is all of this…?”
A solemn group of unfamiliar individuals sat at a nearby table.
Ashur Startri, the head of the Swordsmanship Guild.
Ursula, the head of the Southern District Explorer Guild.
An expensively dressed Dwarf.
And also,
Mion.
The unexpected combination of attendees left his mind in a whirl.
“You should have dropped by earlier, shouldn’t you? Do I always have to come see you?”
Ashur waved.
Ursula nodded.
“Skath.”
Mion smiled and slightly waved.
“Skath.”
“We’re old acquaintances, right?”
The expensively dressed Dwarf gave a sly smile. Jeong Yusin tilted his head.
Wait,
Hadn’t he seen this Dwarf somewhere before?
“Ahhh.”
It was the Dwarf who had interviewed with him after killing the Slave Hunters, in search of a cook.
It was also the day Jeong Yusin first met Luna the fox-woman.
‘The Dwarf who asked me if I was a Barbaroy who doesn’t commit rape.’
He thought the guy seemed crazy at the time.
“Old man, I remember now.”
Jeong Yusin approached and answered.
“I’m Sorugin Goldhand, the Southern District Merchant Guild head.”
The Dwarf extended his hand, and Jeong Yusin shook it.
“Short statured, but you’re quite a high-ranking figure.”
“…A friend who’s easily remembered.”
The Dwarf gave a wry smile in response.
Jeong Yusin crossed his arms and looked at the gathering.
“So, why are such distinguished figures gathered here in such a humble locale?”
Ursula quietly looked up at Jeong Yusin.
“…Since you were present there, you should understand.”
Jeong Yusin furrowed his brows.
There where?
What on earth was she talking about?
“The Barbaroy’s made a proposal.”
“So, they’re asking me to sacrifice a woman?” Jeong Yusin responded lightly, but the atmosphere grew heavier.
“Yes, they want ‘The Hole’ in exchange for crowd control instead of regular security.”
Damn. Were those lunatics really serious with their proposal?
“…But why are you all coming to me about this? I’m just a…”
“There’s one condition to the proposal.”
What condition?
Ashur leaned back comfortably in his chair.
“That you choose ‘The Hole’ to be given to them.”
What?!
Jeong Yusin froze in shock. He finally managed to choke out a reply.
“Oh, bloody hell.”
