Jeong Yusin’s eyes gleamed even brighter as he looked at the teddy bear.
“Come here.”
“…Uh-uh. I forgot something! I’ll come back later.”
The teddy bear took a step back while saying this.
Jeong Yusin suddenly shot up from his seat and approached rapidly.
The teddy bear looked up at Jeong Yusin, trembling.
“Why… why are you doing this!”
Jeong Yusin deftly inserted his arm under the teddy bear’s armpit.
“Bear!”
The captured teddy bear gasped in shock and struggled.
Seeing the tiny teddy bear flailing its soft, fluffy fists against his chest was infuriating.
Meeting such a cute friend in the crazy Labyrinth City—what madness.
‘He’s driving me nuts.’
Jeong Yusin tightened his face to hide his amusement.
Soon, he placed the teddy bear on the chair opposite him.
“…I helped you since you might have had trouble climbing up. Tell me, what kind of help do you need?”
“Huff… huff…”
The teddy bear tightly held its chest, panting.
“Tarman!”
“Yes!”
Tarman came running quickly.
“Could you bring some fruit juice for this friend?”
“Yes! Wha— Bearping-sama!”
Tarman shouted upon seeing the teddy bear, who appeared to regain his senses as he lifted his head.
“Hey! Isn’t that Tarman, bear?”
“Tarman, do you know this small bear friend?”
“Yes. And it’s not quite right to call Bearping-sama a ‘friend’. He’s quite old.”
“How old are you?”
“This year, I’m 33.”
“Tha… That’s true. I apologize for being rude.”
Jeong Yusin bowed his head in apology.
“I understand. Our HoneyPot species have been around for a while.”
HoneyPot species…
‘So there are different tribes among the bearfolk, huh?’
Was this what Aldein was referring to a few days ago when he mentioned the Eastern Union’s various tribes?
“Bearping-sama, please wait a moment. I’ll bring you some fruit juice.”
“It’s fine. I’m just here for a chat and will leave after speaking.”
Quietly, Tarman sat down beside Jeong Yusin.
“Hmm. What’s the content of the request?” Jeong Yusin asked.
“To move something for me.”
Something?
“What exactly do you mean?”
“I bought some flour, and I need it moved to the warehouse.”
Flour?
“Are you running a bakery?”
“Of course! I have the ‘BreadHand’ mark, which is why I can!”
The teddy bear stretched out its fleshy paws for Jeong Yusin to see.
Soft and pudgy hands.
Jeong Yusin carefully observed the bear’s hands before speaking.
“What’s the BreadHand mark?”
“It’s a mark that makes bread taste even better when baking!”
A BreadHand mark that makes the bread more delicious?
What a crazy Labyrinth.
“Are you an Explorer?”
“That’s right! Though I’ve retired now.”
Jeong Yusin scratched his head.
Just when I thought this bearfolk was small and cute, does he have some hidden strength?
The teddy bear known as Bearping took a piece of paper out from their belongings.
“I registered a request with the Explorer’s Guild, but no one accepted it. So, I came here because I heard there’s a strong and kind Barbaroy here.”
A strong and kind Barbaroy?
Jeong Yusin turned his head to look at Tarman sitting beside him.
“Tarman, is that you? Isn’t it a bit overdoing it with the compliments?”
“I only told the truth.”
“I understand.”
Jeong Yusin turned his head back to look at Bearping.
“How much is the fee?”
“…Bread.”
Bread?
Jeong Yusin crossed his arms.
“What does that mean?”
“I bought such good quality flour from the Lionnel merchants that I spent too much of my budget. I have no money.”
Now it made sense why other Explorers didn’t accept this task. Who would do it for bread instead of money?
Jeong Yusin put his hand on his chin and thought for a bit.
To upgrade to a mid-level Explorer, it’s mandatory to complete requests within the Labyrinth City.
In short, this was a must-do request.
Plus, the task looked fairly simple.
Jeong Yusin nodded his head.
“It doesn’t seem to be a long task, so I’ll take it.”
“Thank you!”
The teddy bear raised both arms into the air and danced joyfully.
Jeong Yusin gritted his teeth.
‘Grumble!’
‘Insane. Calm down.’
In an instant, the inner conflict between the devil and the angel passed.
“Now that it’s decided, there’s no need to delay. Let’s go.”
“I understand!”
Jeong Yusin and the teddy bear got up and walked out of the inn’s door.
“Aunty!”
Luna noticed Jeong Yusin and ran to him.
Recently, she had repeatedly called him ‘Daddy,’ and though Jeong Yusin desperately begged her not to, he was fortunate she finally began calling him ‘Uncle.’
Luna and the teddy bear began chatting as if they already knew each other.
“Uncle Bearping is also doing well.”
“How is your mother doing?”
“Mom is better. Uncle Scath helped stop her from leaving.”
“Ah.”
“Where is Uncle Bearping going?”
“To work.”
“I’ll follow you!”
Luna inserted herself.
Jeong Yusin walked with the cute foxfolk child Luna on one side and the teddy bear on the other.
A strange sight. People on the street turned their heads and murmured multiple times.
It didn’t take long, but it was somewhere Jeong Yusin had never been before.
A street so full of bakeries, perhaps this should be called the “Bakery Street?”
The rich scent of bread filled the street.
Many people gathered around the stalls to admire the freshly baked breads.
Jeong Yusin scratched his head. He felt a tinge of regret for having been so oblivious to the everyday life around him, always focusing on the labyrinth.
“Let’s hurry!”
“Yes.”
Following the bear’s urging, Jeong Yusin pushed through the people and arrived at one bakery.
It was built with wood and bricks, and its sign featured a large honey pot.
The teddy bear raised his short arms and pointed at the honey pot.
“Honey Pot! It’s the pride of our HoneyPot species!”
“I see.”
In front of the bakery, an enormous number of flour sacks were stacked.
‘Quite a lot, isn’t it.’
Jeong Yusin looked down at the teddy bear.
Was his name Popung or Moomung?
“Can you buy this much flour?”
“It might be a bit excessive. But the wheat from the Lionnel Kingdom has an indescribably fragrant aroma!”
This meant that the wheat had been transported here in the summer, the wheat that was planted in the fall of the previous year.
Since winter wheat generally has a high protein content, it now made sense why bulk wheat purchases were happening this time of the year.
“I understand.”
“Luna, you stay here and cheer us on!”
“That’s right.”
Jeong Yusin rolled up his sleeves and approached the pile of flour sacks.
Looking at the sacks stacked higher than his own height, he sighed.
There were roughly 300 sacks judging by the appearance.
Shaking his head, Jeong Yusin gathered his resolve.
‘Just this much.’
As always.
One step at a time.
Jeong Yusin lifted a sack of flour, slung it over his shoulder, and carried it to the bearfolk’s bakery warehouse.
‘This is no joke.’
The sweat at the end of his chin formed and fell.
It was honey work, not really a bearfolk’s job but hellishly tiring compared to exploring the labyrinth yet easier than that too.
Each sack weighed about 40 kilograms.
With the scorching heat of summer, he sweated like it was raining.
People on the street were watching him, but he didn’t have the time to care.
Jeong Yusin diligently moved about 150 sacks.
His waist and knees throbbed painfully.
Jeong Yusin collapsed under the shade of the bakery.
“Huff… I’ll rest for a moment.”
“Here, eat this while taking a short break.”
The teddy bear came up and handed over a piece of bread.
“Please give me water instead. I’m not eating bread.”
It felt like I would choke and die if I tried eating anything.
“You’ve worked really hard!”
Luna came by and fanned him with her small hand. Nearby, three summoned Slimes appeared and gently wiggled to create soothing movements.
Though not a trace of breeze existed, a sense of pleasant emotion welled up inside him.
Is this how it feels to have a child?
Somehow, energy surged within him.
Jeong Yusin smiled, got up from his seat, and moved another sack of flour.
By the time the sun in the sky began to set in the west, he had finished all the work.
His entire body was soaked with sweat.
Jeong Yusin staggered and sat down by the bakery entrance.
Luna wasn’t there anymore; he had sent her home before it got too dark.
“Huff. There’s no easy job in the world.”
“Thanks a lot.”
The teddy bear approached and handed over water.
Jeong Yusin drank it and stood up from his seat.
“Wait a moment…”
The teddy bear went inside the bakery and soon returned. He held a bag full of various breads in his adorable hands, along with one piece of paper.
The completion document for the request they had awaited.
Though it was a physically demanding task, the fatigue washed away when he saw the document.
“You can take this paper to the Explorer’s Guild.”
“I understand. Wishing you success selling your bread.”
“I will continue to supply delicious bread.”
Supply bread?
Jeong Yusin tilted his head.
“Have you been supplying bread to our inn?”
“That’s right. I thought you were acting as the agent for innkeeper Darmong, but it seems not?”
“I didn’t examine it in such detail. Thinking about it now, it’s a bit embarrassing.”
“There’s no need to blame yourself. Tarman and Ann were saying your praises endlessly. They praised you as hardworking and reliable, comparing you to a massive tree that makes you feel trusted and dependable.”
“You’re buttering me up.”
Jeong Yusin smiled and made a joke.
“Huh…Huhuh! How dare you say such obscene things! Get away from me!”
“…”
When Jeong Yusin asked why it was obscene, the teddy bear gave no answer.
Jeong Yusin left the indignant teddy bear and returned to the inn.
Inside the inn, familiar faces caught his eye.
All his party members were gathered, except for the grandmother-loving elf lady who wasn’t seen.
“Scath.”
The paladin, Soline, called out to Jeong Yusin.
“It’s been a while.”
Jeong Yusin approached with a smile and sat down.
However, the ambiance of the party was strangely subdued.
“I’m sorry.”
Soline suddenly bowed her head and apologized.
“Why? What’s the matter?”
“I think I’ll have to leave the party. The temple has summoned me. I must leave the Labyrinth City.”
He swallowed the sour taste in his mouth hard.
“Understood. But where’s Pilaron?”
“Pilaron the cleric was dispatched to a small village in the southern Lionnel Kingdom region. I heard that the assigned cleric there passed away, leaving an empty position. He requested that you convey his apologies to you.”
Is that so…
Jeong Yusin suppressed the sigh rising from within.
“I… I want to drop out too.”
Galerheim said.
“Is there something wrong?”
“…Honestly speaking, you terrify me, Scath.”
What does that mean?
“Could you give me more details?”
“You’re too deeply involved with the underworld. Normal explorers don’t get this deep. It’s just my feeling, but it seems like you’ll get deeper into it. I can’t handle it any longer.”
Indeed, the pathfinder has a sharp intuition.
“I understand. You can leave.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault. It’s my bad karma.”
Jeong Yusin smiled bitterly.
“However, Oswald’s nurse is held hostage by the underworld, so I’ll stay until the matter is resolved.”
Soline said. Jeong Yusin felt a faint smile tug at the corner of his lips.
Of course, a righteous paladin, the junior of Gilseon.
Jeong Yusin shook his head.
“The hostage issue of the Fifth Prince’s nurse has already been resolved. You are free to leave.”
“Have you really solved it?! How did you do it?”
With a surprised tone, Soline asked.
“It’s a secret. It’s something I can’t divulge easily. Please understand.”
“…Is that so? I understand.”
Soline seemed to have guessed something but didn’t pry further by opening his mouth.
Jeong Yusin bid farewell to the departing party members.
As the evening deepened, he sighed while watching the fading backs of Soline and Galerheim.
I thought this could last a bit longer…
No, it wasn’t the case.
It’s the nature of temporary parties, and I understand that everyone has their own reasons; one can’t force them to stay.
The world is filled with difficult matters…
Among them, the most challenging one is dealing with human relationships…
The disappearing figures of his party members faded into the crowd.
Jeong Yusin returned to the inn’s dining area and helped Anne and Tarman clean up the shop.
Time passed, and Anne and Tarman went off work.
A late evening. The first floor of the empty inn.
Alone at the counter, Jeong Yusin sipped his drink.
Creeeak.
The inn’s door opened, and a catfolk entered hurriedly.
A familiar face who would occasionally stop by the inn for a meal. The job was a letter courier.
“Scath, a letter for you.”
The catfolk pulled out a piece of paper from the bag and handed it over.
“Is it really this late?”
“I happened to drop by, so I thought I might deliver this letter too while resting for the night.”
“Who’s it from? I don’t think anyone writes to me?”
“Darmong sent it.”
Jeong Yusin’s eyes widened in surprise.
Darmong had been away for about two and a half months.
“Hur, hurry and give it to me!”
Jeong Yusin snatched the letter like a hawk catching a mouse.
The catfolk dusted his hands and frowned.
“Room?”
“Second floor, the fourth one on the right.”
“Here’s the lodging fee.”
Jeong Yusin shook his head.
“The lodging is free. Just pay during breakfast.”
“Understood.”
The catfolk swished his tail and ascended to the second floor.
Jeong Yusin took a deep breath and carefully tore open the letter.
Darmong was asking about his well-being through simple words.
While reading silently, Jeong Yusin’s eyes widened.
“What?!”
A stunning content.
The hand gripping the letter trembled.
After wracking his brain, Jeong Yusin gathered the contents of the letter.
Darmong’s wife hadn’t committed adultery.
She merely lied because she wanted to see Darmong. Additionally, it was written that his wife was genuinely pregnant.
‘Had she waited for his return while being pregnant?’
There was also a note saying he would stay until the new child was born.
It mentioned it would be fine to entrust the inn to someone else if it became too difficult for him.
At the end of the letter, Darmong expressed deep gratitude, concern, and wished for Jeong Yusin’s happiness and peace.
Jeong Yusin stared at the letter for a long while, then delicately folded it and tucked it inside his shirt.
Suddenly, Aldein’s words came to mind.
‘When you lose one, you gain another.’
The party had dissolved, which could be considered as losing one.
He had heard good news from a close friend, so he gained one.
‘Is it true that the world doesn’t only consist of bitter matters?’
Jeong Yusin pulled out a pen and paper from the counter and began writing a reply.
Still inexperienced, he painstakingly sounded out each word as he wrote.
“Darmong…I’m doing well. And congratulations to your wife for her pregnancy…”
A faint smile appeared on Jeong Yusin’s face as he wrote the letter.
The dark hall of the inn.
A small lamp remained lit, illuminating Jeong Yusin’s bedside as he wrote.
Summer.
