The next morning.
The lukewarm morning air trickled in through the window cracks and rested on Jeong Yusin’s nose.
He opened his eyes.
It was already getting light, a summer dawn.
“Ow, my arm.”
The muscle tension from yesterday’s intense grappling session at the swordsmanship guild still lingered.
Even after having rested a full night, his arms curiously lacked strength.
“Lin?”
“Cheep… cheep.”
Lin was stuck to Jeong Yusin’s arm, shaking its head side to side.
“Lin, are you in pain somewhere?”
At Jeong Yusin’s inquiry, Lin gave him a reproachful look.
“Cheep!”
“Why?”
Have I done something?
Surely not.
Could it be that I unconsciously kept my hands moving last night, massaging Lin while asleep?
A feeling of apology arose.
“Lin, I’m sorry.”
Raising his hand, he gently stroked Lin’s head.
“Cheep.”
Lin’s body shivered as its head was pressed down, then collapsed on the bed with its face burrowed into the mattress.
Lin sprawled out like a perfectly cooked mochi cake.
Jeong Yusin gently patted Lin’s rear and got up from his bed.
He changed his clothes, went downstairs, and saw Tarman cleaning the store.
“Tarman.”
“Scath sir.”
He went to the kitchen, greeted Ann as well, and then stepped outside into the yard to warm up.
He spent considerable time stretching. Once the muscles that had gotten stiff during the night loosened, he began jogging slowly around the yard.
“Hoo. Hoo.”
He breathed deeply and let the air out slowly.
While pacing about the yard, he recalled last night’s conversation with Guildmaster Ashur.
“Change your perspective. There’s a reason behind your gestures. It would be correct to think it stems from your unconscious desire to keep finding your opponent’s weakness.”
“Ashur sir, I believe that’s slanderous. I’m an upright swordsman.”
“Tsk. Enough nonsense already. A righteous swordsman does not exploit their master’s back.”
“Yes sir.”
He finished his lap around the yard, stood in place, and regulated his breathing.
“Alright.”
Jeong Yusin drew his Long Sword and swung it.
Whoosh!
At first glance, it seemed like a sluggish position. It was more like a sword dance.
The very dance he had performed while defeating all the assassins in the labyrinth.
In fact, it was an act to reflect on the flow of the sword he had realized when parrying volleys.
Of course, the assassins whose heads had already been shattered wouldn’t know.
Again.
He recalled every fight he’d been through. It didn’t get old no matter how many times he did it because he had won.
While there was something to learn from failure, there was also something to learn from success.
Where failure was reviewed with the bitterness of chewing gall, success was met like a bear savoring sweet honey.
As he imagined the common dark elf he faced in the last battle, he swung his sword.
Ekieeeek!!!
A glimmer of a sword scattered with sweat.
When his back was damp with sweat, he slid the sword back into its sheath and took off his top.
Push-ups and squats.
One set of thirty reps each. Ten sets apiece.
Though it was minimal for a day’s workout, he had been doing it consistently for a few months.
He could feel every muscle in his body burning.
Steam-like heat rose from his sweat-soaked body.
“Three…three hundred! Finished!”
Wobbling, he got up, composed himself, and went to the well to wash his body.
“Scath sir, we’ll be counting on you.”
“Alright. Take care.”
“Yes sir.”
After finishing breakfast and receiving Tarman’s farewell, Jeong Yusin dashed to the temple.
“Today’s lesson was also hard work.”
“Yeah! Thank you, Teacher Mion.”
At lunchtime, the orphanage classes were over.
The children leaving the classroom greeted Mion as they went, and Jeong Yusin quickly followed to eat lunch at the temple dining hall.
After eating lunch and resting for a bit, Mion and Jeong Yusin started studying alone.
Bang!
Mion placed a thick book on the desk.
“Alright! Here’s a book about the creatures listed in the ‘forest’ section.”
Jeong Yusin’s eyes widened.
“It’s enormous.”
“The labyrinth grows deeper and more diverse creatures appear. Since you might find children’s fairy tales boring, here’s what I’ve brought. Of course, you should still keep reading fairy tales regularly.”
“Thank you.”
“Shall we read it together?”
“Yes.”
Mion and Jeong Yusin stuck together and began flipping through the book.
Immediately, Jeong Yusin focused.
It contained detailed descriptions of the various monster types, ecology, and appearances in the forest zone. The approach was highly academic.
Mion glanced at Scath.
While he was writing notes with a serious expression as he read the book, his other hand was stroking his thigh.
“…Green Worm. It primarily uses its sharp mouth to tear into the skin, burrowing deep into the body…”
Scath’s hand tightly gripped the thigh. As the smooth muscle of the thigh was pressed, a sensation gripped his insides.
The bold hand didn’t stop there; it slowly started creeping inwards towards the inner thigh.
Mion’s mouth went dry.
Should I spread my legs here?
Temple official disqualified.
Unmarried and virtuous maidens would never sit close to men and spread their legs.
It’s absurd!
Still…
Mion’s tongue lightly licked her lips.
“Jus…just a little?”
The tightly clenched thighs gradually parted a bit.
Be it summer or for other reasons, hot steam rose visibly from her tight clerical attire.
Scath’s hand slowly crept inside.
Perhaps clearly indicating where it was going, a tender pressing with the fingers was felt.
“Huff. Huff!”
Breathing heavily, Mion leaned onto Jeong Yusin’s body.
Without realizing it, she wrapped her arms around Jeong Yusin’s biceps and sandwiched her weighty bosom between them.
The firm, muscular arms made her heart flutter.
“O…Coming!”
Turning her head, Mion exhaled harshly.
The signal for the emission of her secret juices peeked out between the full labia, encased within the tight T-panties.
At the moment when the coarse fingers would just touch…
“Eh!”
Jeong Yusin regained his senses and looked at Mion.
In a flash, the sturdy arm withdrew from Mion’s aching groin.
“I’m… sorry. My training is not yet sufficient; it’s hard to control the side effects.”
“A…”
From Jeong Yusin’s apology, a sorrowful sigh escaped Mion’s lips.
Mion pulled her legs together, feeling empty, and repeatedly brushed her ear.
“Ah… no. It’s alright. Shall we move on?”
“Yes.”
“This monster is…”
The awkward atmosphere continued as they studied about the forest zone.
Around two hours later,
Jeong Yusin got up after finishing his study session with Mion.
For some reason, Mion was sitting in her seat.
“Teacher Mion, thank you. I’ve learned a lot today.”
“Ah… no. I’m glad to have been of help.”
Mion, looking at Jeong Yusin’s retreating back, bowed her head and buried her face in the book.
“…What have I done?”
The nape of Mion’s neck, revealed between the swaying golden hair, had turned red.
Jeong Yusin left the temple and rushed to the swordsmanship guild.
“You’re late. Can’t you hurry up a bit more?”
Ashur, who was lying on the reception desk, only raised his head to look at Jeong Yusin.
“Sorry.”
“Let’s go.”
“Yes.”
Jeong Yusin stepped out onto the training ground and repeatedly engaged Ashur in sparring matches.
Clang!!!
Clang!!!
Before he realized, absorbed in clashing swords, the sun had set and the moon rose.
It was late at night, and Jeong Yusin, completely exhausted, dropped to his knees.
“Gwaaaaah!!!”
His body felt lifeless, unable to stand again.
Ashur turned around and spoke.
“Good work. See you tomorrow.”
“Huff… Huff… Give me just a moment. There is something I’d like to inquire about.”
He contemplated whether to say it or not but realized there wasn’t much choice.
Sacred Weapon.
He had wanted to reserve it as his hidden skill, but Ashur seemed to know already.
It was seal carving. But lately, there had been no need for it.
No.
It wasn’t about use, it was something he couldn’t use.
Its fatal flaw was in one area.
Time Limit.
The fatal flaw that made it impossible to use in a strength duel with a duration of only three seconds.
Additionally, once the summoned weapon disappeared, it took time to cast again.
It was a technique specialized for attack and exploiting weaknesses.
Its limits were clear.
But he had come up with one idea after much thought.
Deflect everything using a parry.
Gathering mana in his hand, conjuring the Sacred Weapon to instantly read and preemptively block or deflect the opponent’s attack.
Jeong Yusin explained his thoughts to Ashur.
Ashur looked astonished.
“Are you seriously considering that to be possible?”
“What’s impossible about it?”
“Letting aside sufficient mana, with the seal activation speed, reflex speed, weapon flow insight, and sword handling skills all combined, it’s questionable if you can even use it once in a blue moon. How could that possibly work?”
“I can now also manage parrying.”
“Was your morning swaying sword routine secretly for practicing parries?”
‘Mad stalker elf.’
At this point, it wasn’t surprising anymore.
“Guildmaster, it may seem slow, but it’s not too bad.”
“Ah. I understand for now. Considering your stance has become much more stable anyway, you can probably advance to the next level.”
“What’s the next level?”
“Sparring.”
“With whom?”
“There are plenty of sparring partners. Do you know the guild members want to spar with you? This is a great opportunity.”
“…Ashur sir!”
Jeong Yusin’s voice wavered with emotion upon the realization that he could finally move forward.
“Spar is just spar. Don’t go overstepping just because you beat someone.”
“…Ashur sir.”
The sense of admiration faded instantly.
Ashur smirked and patted Jeong Yusin’s shoulder before turning around.
“Good job. Test that Sacred Weapon thing, too. If it doesn’t work out, just get a good sword and use it well.”
Ashur turned and strolled away from the training ground.
Jeong Yusin also stood up and left the training ground.
He walked through the dark streets and returned to the inn.
He cleaned himself up and laid down on the bed. Lin was nowhere to be found.
Where did it go?
Did it go to Ingrid?
That would be fortunate. Given the hard massage last night, there wasn’t much to worry about.
Closing his eyes, darkness greeted him.
Three weeks had passed.
There were no big changes in routine.
Studying together with Mion.
Sparing with the other guildmates. They were all highly skilled, making it tough but rewarding, allowing him to refine his combat experience into skill.
“Good.”
Sitting at the table, Jeong Yusin clenched and unclenched his hands.
The sunburnt skin rippled with muscles.
The arms were completely different from when he first entered the labyrinth.
They were the arms of a warrior.
Following Ashur’s advice and pushing himself hard improved the control over his arms.
Creak.
The inn door opened, and Delnaco entered.
On Delnaco’s shoulder hung a satchel embroidered with a bear’s face.
“Scath sir.”
“You’re here?”
“I’ve brought the backpack as you requested.”
“Perfect.”
Jeong Yusin took the backpack and beamed.
The leather backpack carried by assassins.
After checking its aura through Delnaco, it turned out to be an Expanded Magic Backpack.
Since it was stolen property, he sent it to a tailor to modify according to his tastes.
As they would inevitably need to stay longer the deeper they went into the labyrinth, this was a magic backpack necessary for explorers.
That said, it wasn’t a highly superior one, but it would definitely be helpful for entering deeper levels.
Jeong Yusin looked up.
“How’s the atmosphere in the streets lately?”
“It’s normal. However, there is much busyness because the Blue Moon Festival is a month away.”
Blue Moon?
“What is this Blue Moon Festival?”
“It’s a summer festival. It’s the day when many spirits rise into the night sky to bless their believers with peace and prosperity.”
“Is that so? Should we prepare something for our inn?”
“Yes. Many visitors from outside are expected, making it a great opportunity to boost our revenue.”
“Understood. Will you help out? I’ll pay you handsomely.”
“I’ll work hard!”
Delnaco grinned and answered.
Jeong Yusin slung the bag onto his shoulder and stood up.
All the preparations were done.
He had obtained knowledge about the forest region through Mion.
He had honed his skills by grappling at the swordsmanship guild.
What remained was to…
Find a new companion.
‘This time, I hope it’s someone normal.’
Just then,
Creak!
The inn’s door opened.
Jeong Yusin turned his head to look at the person who entered.
“You…?”
Jeong Yusin’s eyes widened.
“It’s been a while, Scath.”
The iron mask man spoke with a smile in his voice.
The suspected First Prince continued.
“Still indulging in sympathy?”
“…Suddenly?”
Was he so well-trained that he knew precisely when to ask?
However, to suddenly barge into someone’s workplace asking if they still care about them?
Does this Iron Mask lack human empathy?
Jeong Yusin’s expression hardened.
“What is it?”
“There’s one person missing in our party. Would you join?”
The Iron Mask extended his hand.
