Evening at the inn.
Two water elementals were near the counter.
“Darmong, when is that Barbaroy coming?!”
Karin said in an irritated voice.
The tail protruding from the chair wagged back and forth.
“It’s about time for them to arrive, Lady Karin.”
Darmong calmly replied while cleaning a glass with a cloth.
Creak!
“Back.”
Jung Yusin pushed the inn door open and entered.
“Are you here?”
“You’re late!”
Karin’s sharp gaze narrowed further.
“I’m late because I took a shower. Sorry.”
Jung Yusin briskly approached and sat next to Karin.
They sat side by side facing the counter.
The scent of the Barbaroy reached his nose through the nostrils.
The pure smell of a sweat-and-dust-free man clouded his mind.
It was strange. Until yesterday, it wasn’t like this.
Karin felt an odd thirst.
“Would you like a drink, Lady Karin?”
Darmong, standing on the other side of the counter, offered a drink.
“Yeah. Pour me one. I need to drink this irritation away.”
Transparent liquor was poured into a freshly cleaned glass.
“You too, Scath.”
“Yes, thank you.”
Darmong took out another glass, poured the liquor, and handed it to Jung Yusin.
Karin sipped her drink and glanced at Jung Yusin from the corner of her eye.
Looking at his quiet profile contemplatively studying the drink, it seemed like he was lost in thought.
“Hem. So, have you thought about it?”
Karin began.
Jung Yusin turned his head.
“What are you talking about?”
“The offer.”
“I refuse the previous offer. Didn’t you call me for another proposal?”
“Yeah. Still, it’s disappointing. I thought it was a good offer.”
“What’s the other offer?”
“To hire you as a porter.”
Taken aback by the unexpected words, Jung Yusin’s eyebrows shot up.
The Barbaroy’s face clearly showed confusion.
Karin felt a small thrill seeing that look.
“Please explain.”
“Soon, the Labyrinth closure order will be issued.”
Jung Yusin’s body stiffened.
His eyes widened with surprise, and as Karin watched those eyes, her lower abdomen fluttered.
“Something is happening in the Labyrinth. The Explorer Guild’s main office is currently collecting and analyzing testimonies from parties that have recently returned from the Labyrinth. The results will be out soon.”
Karin took a sip of her drink and continued speaking.
“The Labyrinth closure order will soon be lifted. They’re going to assemble a team of upper-level and mid-level explorers staying in the city for investigation, and I’m on that team.”
“An explorer?”
“Yeah. I recently ranked up to mid-level. You’re still a beginner, right?”
Karin smiled while gazing at Jung Yusin.
Watching the disgruntled Barbaroy again made her lower abdomen flutter, this time tingling a bit.
Then, she felt her waist and hips loosening. She could feel the private area wrapped in underwear and leather trousers touching the hard chair.
‘Strange.’
Karin thought.
Is it because of the alcohol?
Or because of the displeased expression on the Barbaroy’s face?
She didn’t know.
But she definitely wanted to keep this strange and peculiar tingling sensation for a little longer.
Karin spoke.
“···So, come on. Join me in the Labyrinth investigation team as a porter. I’ll pay you well. And I’ll protect you. How does that sound?”
Karin’s face, perhaps from the alcohol, had a slight flush.
Jung Yusin stroked his chin and carefully thought about Karin’s offer.
‘Not bad, huh?’
He could earn money and personally investigate what’s happening in the Labyrinth. It might be dangerous, but aren’t there upper-level explorers? There’s a world of difference in safety compared to the perilous-tier parties.
Moreover, with high-level explorers leading the way, there would be enough time to prepare for any problems that arise.
He couldn’t just sit around with his fingers crossed, drowning in worry after worry. He didn’t have that kind of time.
‘Alright.’
“I accept the offer. The advance is 50 silver coins. How much is the rest?”
Karin took out a gold coin from her pouch and flipped it toward him.
“Take it.”
Jung Yusin caught the flying gold coin like a diving hawk.
“Wow.”
‘Suspiciously generous. Note to self.’
Glancing at the gold coin made him feel at ease and made all worries about the future disappear.
Karin stood up from her seat.
“Alright. Shall we finalize the contract?”
Jung Yusin turned his head to look at Karin.
“What do you mean by ‘finalizing the contract’?”
Karin suddenly pulled up the bottom of her shirt.
Her soft-looking yet firm belly and cute belly button were fully exposed.
“It’s a tradition of the Red Wolf Tribe to confirm the establishment of a contract. Kiss my belly.”
Karin smiled with a narrow gaze.
Silence fell over the inn.
“Is this correct? Darmong?”
In response to Jung Yusin’s question, Darmong felt a mix of emotions deep down. But upon sensing Karin’s sharp gaze just as he was about to speak, he nodded.
“···Yes.”
The daughter of the representative of the Water Elemental Union.
Despite her high status, she personally led her subordinates to patrol the eastern union’s borders, hunting slave hunters, and built her reputation as a hero and idol among the water elementals.
Her beauty was renowned, and numerous water elemental marriage proposals came her way constantly.
All those marriage proposals were unceremoniously rejected.
But at this moment, Karin, known for not submitting to anyone, was pressuring a mere Barbaroy to perform a belly kiss.
The belly kiss symbolized a humiliating act of submission.
This tradition of kissing the belly to confirm a contract was ancient and had already faded away.
Even Darmong, who had reached middle age, thought of it as an old tradition, so the younger generation wouldn’t even know it existed.
But Karin knew it.
Truly the daughter of the head of the Water Elemental Union.
As a member of the Water Elemental Union, Darmong could not resist Karin’s glance.
Still, he couldn’t bear to watch Jung Yusin’s humiliating act, despite having grown somewhat attached to him, so he turned away.
“I… I’ll go to the kitchen for a moment. I haven’t finished cleaning up.”
Wobbling slightly, Darmong opened the door behind the counter and went into the kitchen.
Karin urged.
“Hurry up.”
“Are you sure? Is it really the tradition to confirm a contract by kissing the belly?”
“Does it look like I’m lying to you? I’m the daughter of the Water Element Union’s representative.”
Karin narrowed her sharp gaze and growled.
“Fine. I understand.”
Jung Yusin knelt down and stared at Karin’s belly.
Her underwear seemed to be pushed up, and the lace of her black underwear peeked above her pants.
Jung Yusin’s lips got closer and closer to Karin’s firm belly and cute belly button.
Karin’s breathing quickened, and her hand gripping the shirt tightened.
Then.
Chuoup.
The lips touched the belly.
Karin’s head tilted sharply upward.
A current ran down her spine, and something deep in her belly tightened and loosened repeatedly.
Karin braced her wobbly legs and covered her mouth with one hand.
She could feel the vibrations transmitted through her lips.
‘Could she be… feeling something?’
Mossolada, Jung Yusin was confused as he pulled his lips away from Karin’s belly and stared at her.
“What?”
Looking up, Karin’s expression remained as cold and sharp as ever.
‘Not really… is it?’
“Should we continue?”
“Huh?”
In response to Jung Yusin’s question, Karin had a moment of contemplation on her face.
“Isn’t this enough?”
“Once more.”
“Exh.”
“Does the contract look like a game to you?!”
Karin snapped nervously.
Jung Yusin frowned but pressed his lips to Karin’s belly again.
Chuo.
Karin’s body shivered again.
‘Probably ticklish, can’t resist, huh? What can you do? This is your choice. Endure it with strength or cunning.’
Uooop.
Sucking on the smooth belly with great force.
Like nibbling a baby’s cheek, he sucked the belly and held it in his mouth, lightly biting it with his teeth.
“Krkh!”
Karin’s body violently trembled. Her waist moved uncontrollably forward and backward.
‘Must be dying of ticklishness. Can’t hold it, right? What can you do? You chose this route. Persevere with strength or cunning.’
Chuo.
All of a sudden,
Ding!
Karin’s hand grabbed Jung Yusin’s head.
“Stop.”
At the icy voice, he obediently pulled his lips away from the belly.
The belly, which had been flawless and firm, was now covered in red bite marks and saliva.
‘Huh! What on earth have I done…’
Realizing he had lost himself and bitten the belly of the precious daughter, a chill ran down his spine.
And it wasn’t just any precious daughter; she was the daughter of the representative of the Water Elemental Union.
As Jung Yusin hesitated, he opened his mouth.
“Th-Thi…”
“It’s fine. Don’t do that next time. I’m leaving.”
Karin pulled down her shirt and disappeared out of the inn like the wind.
Jung Yusin stood up after blankly staring at Karin’s rapidly retreating back.
“Darmong, I’m leaving.”
Darmong came out of the kitchen quietly.
“Ahem. Is that so? Good work.”
“Not much. I’m going to sleep.”
“Okay.”
Two days passed. A huge piece of news spread across the Labyrinth City.
The Labyrinth Closure Order.
Entrance into the Labyrinth was forbidden for all explorers staying within the city.
In the recent two months, not only new explorers but even mid-level explorer parties have disappeared in large numbers in the Labyrinth.
The continuous disappearances and unusual behavior of demons indicated something was seriously wrong, leading the Explorer Guild to conclude something was happening in the Labyrinth.
The leaders from the Mage Tower, the Council, and the Exploration Guild in the Labyrinth City convened several meetings.
The outcome of those meetings was the indefinite closure of the Labyrinth.
The reason given was for the safety of the explorers.
However, some astute individuals suspected there was a different reason but remained silent, for it was unnecessary to attract the attention of the high-ranking officials.
People everywhere were talking about this news, especially in the Southern District where those who made a living from Labyrinth-related activities were gathered.
Speculations and worries spread like wildfire.
Darmong’s inn was no exception.
With the inability to enter the Labyrinth, the number of things explorers could do was limited. One of those was sitting at the inn, drinking one cup of wine, and chatting in groups.
As Darmong’s tending of the inn coincided with the end of its fur shedding season, the inn, unlike in the past, was bustling with people.
There were no explorers who would leave a good inn with decent wine and tasty food alone.
“The thriving business makes me feel good.”
Jung Yusin smiled as he was ladling soup.
“Why should you be happy about it?”
Exhausted from dealing with the sudden influx of customers, Darmong responded weakly.
“Let me help you?”
“Ah, no. A fishmonger doesn’t entrust his fish to a cat.”
The expression of a feline elemental sitting at a nearby table distorted.
“What’s with the cat? Bro, that’s elemental discrimination.”
“You guys feline elementals also joke about bears, don’t you?”
“That’s true.”
The feline elemental quickly agreed and sipped his drink.
“Delicious.”
With those words, Jung Yusin quickly finished his food and stood up.
“What are you doing today?”
“Adjusting equipment and buying exploration supplies.”
“Good. Since you’re going to carry items, go for lightweight gear and buy only essential supplies. With the Labyrinth closure order issued, the prices of equipment and supplies must have dropped, so you can snag some good deals.”
“Wow. You seem like a hidden son, huh?”
“Shut up.”
“Alright.”
The feline elemental calmly took another sip of his drink.
Jung Yusin chuckled and stood up.
“I’ll be back.”
“Okay.”
‘It’s been a while since I bought Bo Ron a drink. Maybe I should go see him.’
*
“Bo Ron! I’m here.”
Walking through the quiet blacksmith district, Jung Yusin entered Bo Ron’s forge.
“Barbarian? What brings you here? With the Labyrinth closure order issued.”
Bo Ron came out from behind the door. His appearance was grimy, as if he hadn’t washed for a while.
“I came to adjust my gear. And I also brought some wine.”
“Ooo!!”
With the glimmer of finding the light in the darkness, Bo Ron’s eyes sparkled as he rushed over. Snatching the wine bottle from Jung Yusin’s hand, he rubbed his face against it.
“This wine! It’s super expensive, isn’t it? Did you make it big or something?!”
“That’s not it.”
“Ah, not yet? Did you come for weapons?”
“No. I came to buy a helmet and get my armor mended.”
“Hmm? Surely you’re not suggesting that tattered thing you’re wearing is an armor?”
Bo Ron eyed Jung Yusin’s Hard Leather Armor with a dubious look.
Jung Yusin gave a wry smile.
“Is it completely unwearable?”
Bo Ron approached and tapped on the Hard Leather Armor or poked at it.
“Completely neglected. It’s useless. If you stab it with a sword, it’ll just cut through easily.”
After drawing his conclusion, Bo Ron shook his head.
“Buy something new. I’ll give you a discount.”
“Didn’t you say that negotiating with dwarves is an insult?”
“That was then. Orders have completely dried up since two days ago. No money.”
Bo Ron smacked his lips.
‘In front of money, there’s no business.’
Once again, he felt the power of money.
With a smile, Bo Ron folded his arms. For some reason, his face was full of vitality.
“Alright! Let’s find an armor that fits you! AinHofer!!”
Bo Ron turned his head and shouted.
The inn’s door opened, and AinHofer appeared.
Jung Yusin’s and AinHofer’s eyes met.
“Uh.”
An eerie silence enveloped the inn.
