The dimly lit inn.
Karin and Jeong Yusin sat facing each other across the counter.
As Jeong Yusin turned his head to look at Karin,
he paused for a moment.
What?
Karin is leaving now?
Slap!
He slapped his own cheek.
Whether Karin was watching with surprised eyes or not, he rubbed his numb cheek and calmed his disturbed heart.
I am in charge of Darmong’s inn. I shouldn’t fall for the tempting leopard-pattern bra.
Regaining his composure, Jeong Yusin quietly gazed at Karin’s choker.
“Karin, do you remember the day we first met?”
“What’s with the sudden question?”
Karin frowned in response.
Jeong Yusin fidgeted with the dagger he had kept under the counter.
“Karin, please answer me.”
“I don’t quite remember the exact place, but we met in a forest near the pilgrimage road, didn’t we?”
‘Confirmed.’
But this alone isn’t enough.
“Isn’t there a magical tool you took from me? Can you show it to me?”
“The one that makes fire? Here.”
Karin pulled something out from between her breasts and showed it.
Jeong Yusin’s eyes widened.
A lighter.
Emerging from between her ample bosom, encased in the leopard-patterned bra.
Moreover, the lighter that Karin took out shimmered with sweat gathered in the cleavage.
A damp lighter, no less.
Unable to look away from that scene, he felt his soul being sucked out.
‘Mamma-mong.’
The baby Yushin in his mind mumbled.
Karin put the lighter back and crossed her arms.
“Scath, are you done doubting me?”
The black and yellow leopard-patterned bra stretched as her arms crossed, protruding forward.
Jeong Yusin clenched his teeth and resolved to only look at Karin’s face. It couldn’t continue. Watching any longer would cause his intelligence to regress.
“I believe you. But what about that choker?”
“Oh, this? It’s a magical tool to prevent the corruption of virgins. It was expensive.”
Karin stroked the choker as she spoke.
“I already have an imprint suppression artifact.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
Karin contemplated for a moment and then nodded.
“…Hmm. No, it’s not bad. It means double safety.”
Relieved by Karin’s response, Jeong Yusin silently placed the dagger he’d been holding back on the counter.
Seeing how openly Karin approached him, Jeong Yusin had grown suspicious.
Because Karin was aware of the existence of the corruption imprint for virgins, the real Karin would have been prepared.
Alternatively, it could have been someone else disguising themselves with ill intent.
‘Shall we end it here?’
He heard where Karin and he first met.
He confirmed the function of the choker.
He also verified the lighter Karin held.
Without turning into Nietzsche and endlessly doubting indefinitely—because doing so could lead to madness—he decided to conclude the identity verification here.
“However, how did you end up here? I heard from Lady Ingrid that you were under house arrest?”
“…Oh. Did you meet my mom? That explains it.”
Karin suddenly sniffed and frowned.
“There’s something odd about the smell.”
“I am currently serving as Ingrid’s familiar. Though I don’t raise it, I provide food for it when it comes to rest at the inn while patrolling the city.”
“Lin? Hmm.”
Karin emitted a strange sniff and twisted her lips.
“Anyway, house arrest is over. Starting today, I can live in the Labyrinth City again.”
“But why come here? I heard you stayed in the central district last time.”
“Mom took everything—my money, my equipment, my subordinates. She said I have to start over from scratch.”
‘Sure enough.’
Jeong Yusin silently nodded.
No wonder she had come dressed only in a tank top and a small backpack.
“I see. Welcome back, Karin.”
Jeong Yusin smiled and extended his hand.
Karin smiled and shook it.
Thwack!
Jeong Yusin suddenly slapped her hand.
Karin’s eyes showed confusion.
“…What is it?”
“Your accommodation fee. Five bronze coins. Customer.”
Karin grimaced.
“Hey! Isn’t this too much?”
“Do you not have a single penny?”
“No money!”
“Being penniless isn’t something to boast about. Why are you raising your voice?”
“…Why are you being so cold?”
Karin glared at him with a reproachful look. Jeong Yusin scratched his head.
It wasn’t him, but capitalism that was cold.
He could have accepted her payment, but he wasn’t that cold-hearted.
Karin Redtail.
Guide.
Though she made a mistake on the 5th floor of the Labyrinth, she was a competent individual.
Her ability to find paths, to assess levels, and even her seductive charm were all outstanding. This judgment came after observing and experiencing various guides since her party.
Besides, Karin had originally been the only daughter of the Water Seal Alliance representative.
Though she had her benefits, the issue was her personality.
‘Too strong.’
If the inn’s other guests felt uncomfortable, it could negatively impact sales.
Jeong Yusin stared at the leopard-pattern bra.
Black. Yellow.
Amazing.
Though only two colors, they created a mesmerizing beauty that seemed to captivate the soul.
Realizing immediately where Jeong Yusin’s gaze was directed, Karin smiled broadly and pushed her chest forward.
“Scath, do we need money between us? I’ll pay you back in another way, if you’d like.”
Her body?
The image of Tarman, exhausted from work, flashed through Jeong Yusin’s mind.
Leaning back against the counter, he crossed his arms.
“Indeed. Karin, you said you’d pay back with your body, didn’t you?”
“Y-Yes.”
Karin’s face slightly flushed as she responded.
Jeong Yusin gave a sly smile.
“Great.”
Karin swallowed dryly.
Jeong Yusin stood up and approached Karin.
“Karin, we’re short-staffed at the inn. Can you help a bit?”
“…What?”
Karin’s brows furrowed.
“Why should I do that?”
“Unless you’d prefer to pay with money.”
“Urgh!”
Karin hesitated for a moment and then nodded.
“Alright. I’ll give it a try.”
‘This was easy.’
Another employee had come on board. It was uncertain how things would go forward, but if she didn’t work out, dismissing and chasing her away wouldn’t be a problem.
The only remaining task was finalizing the contract.
Jeong Yusin lifted his shirt slightly.
A firm row of abs gleamed in front of Karin, damp with sweat.
“Wha…what is this?”
Karin’s voice trembled involuntarily.
“Didn’t we make a contract? Don’t the traditions of the Red Wolf Tribe involve licking the abdomen?”
Karin’s face turned bright red.
“You…you!”
She glared at him with fiery eyes.
But Jeong Yusin stood his ground, showing no movement, displaying the chiseled abs.
Gulp.
Karin’s throat moved again. Her red tail stood up stiffly.
The belly kiss symbolized humiliating submission.
An old tradition that even older wolf individuals couldn’t recall, causing them to tilt their heads in confusion.
‘Dare you…!’
A feeling of frustration welled up with a suffocating pressure on her chest.
“Karin.”
“I get it, I’ll do it!”
Karin approached Jeong Yusin, knelt before him.
An intense male smell from the salty abs penetrated her sensitive nose.
“Huff. Huff.”
Her breathing naturally grew rough.
‘I… I’m licking a man’s belly.’
Even as a seeker, she was still the only daughter of the Water Seal Alliance leader responsible for the eastern union, someone who had protected and saved many people at the border and eradicated slave hunters. She had lived a life celebrated by the water seal alliance citizens. Many men had proposed to her, all of whom bent their knees before her, pleading for her hand in marriage. Some flaunted vast fortunes, while others boasted of their immense strength.
But none of them appealed to her heart, so she naturally turned down all the proposals.
But this person.
‘Casually telling me to lick his stomach.’
The bubbling anger and the constricting humiliation.
And deep beneath that, an obscure desire was slowly rising, though Karin herself didn’t seem to realize it yet.
Glaring at Jeong Yusin, Karin opened her mouth.
“Beeeee.”
Karin’s red tongue slowly approached Jeong Yusin’s stomach.
Unconsciously, Karin’s cleavage touched Jeong Yusin’s knee. She absently pressed her erect nipples into his knee as she rubbed them back and forth.
“Huff. Huff.”
Her breaths grew even heavier.
The moment Karin’s red tongue was about to touch Jeong Yusin’s six-pack abdominals,
“Chirp?”
A white mouse stood on the counter, tilting its head curiously.
“Hmm? Lin.”
Jeong Yusin pushed Karin’s head away.
“Chirp chirp.”
Lin noticed Karin and scurried down from the counter to rub against her legs.
“…Lin? All of a sudden?”
Karin looked down at Lin touching her legs and muttered in a daze.
“Lin, come here.”
“Chirp?”
Jeong Yusin picked Lin up by the scruff and tucked it into the pocket of his shirt.
“Karin, I am not from the Red Wolf Tribe. Therefore, I find little meaning in these rituals regarding traditional contracts, although I mean no disrespect to the Red Wolf Tribe’s history. I suggest that a verbal agreement is sufficient.”
“…”
“Room 3 on the second floor, left side, will be fine. Please join us early tomorrow to help with serving.”
Jeong Yusin turned and headed upstairs.
“What…what is this?”
Karin slumped onto the floor, blankly watching Jeong Yusin’s retreating figure.
“Huff. I almost got myself into trouble.”
Jeong Yusin sighed in relief as he ascended the stairs.
The image was still vividly imprinted.
Karin’s rough breathing tickling his belly.
Her bright red face.
And the pressing sensation as her chest pressed into his thighs.
Had it not been for Lin, he would have lost his mind and become like Oswald, falling into Karin’s leopard-patterned web, giving away everything without reservation.
‘I need to be careful.’
Jeong Yusin muttered to himself as he entered his room.
*
The next morning.
After finishing his morning training, he sat in the inn hall.
All necessary supplies had been purchased and the gear had been checked.
“Here’s your food.”
Thump.
Karin approached, setting down the meal.
The menu included sweet and savory pork shoulder steak, potato soup with herb butter, and a baguette from Teddy Bear Bakery.
Jeong Yusin took the food and slowly began eating.
Fantastic taste.
Especially the baguette from Teddy Bear was so delicious that even the French would smack their foreheads in amazement.
“So, you’re going into the labyrinth in a few days?”
Karin asked.
“Yes, if nothing big happens, I plan to go to the 6th floor of the Forest Zone.”
“Fast. You’re already a mid-level explorer, then?”
“No, I haven’t advanced yet, so I am still a beginner explorer.”
“Then why are you going beyond the 5th level?”
“This time, I met capable party members.”
“Good luck then.”
Karin spoke cheerfully, then turned around.
Jeong Yusin scratched his head as he watched Karin’s swaying rear.
He had initially thought that the real Karin would proudly demand to come with them to the labyrinth in a high-handed way, but it turned out to be another fantasy.
She made a mistake but learned from it.
‘She’s not a hot-tempered fiery wolf idol.’
With a laugh, he lifted his spoon.
At that moment, Karin stopped mid-step and returned to Jeong Yusin.
“Salary is one gold coin, right? If you’re working this hard, you should get at least that much, right?”
Karin placed her hands on her hips and looked down at Jeong Yusin.
Is the salary one gold coin?
‘Maybe not?’
Jeong Yusin had begun to worry about the inn’s welfare.
A few days later.
Jeong Yusin stood in the inn’s hall with his equipment on.
A barbute helmet with a visor.
A newly repaired light armor.
An arming sword and a round shield.
He carried a long sword on his back and a backpack.
Just then, party members entered the inn and gathered in front of Jeong Yusin.
“Scath, are preparations complete?”
Iron Mask, the 1st Prince holding a greatsword, asked.
Jeong Yusin nodded and glanced at the other party members.
Mars, the rodent humanoid with a shortbow and dagger.
Kubo, the dwarf in panties holding a staff.
This party wasn’t easy, but it was water under the bridge now.
“Let’s go.”
“Good.”
Before leaving, Jeong Yusin looked around at the people in the inn. Tarman, Ann, and Karin were standing there.
“Tarman, Ann, and Karin, please take good care of the inn.”
“Do not worry. We will protect it with our lives.”
“Sir Scath, please take care.”
Tarman and Ann bowed deeply.
Karin crossed her arms and looked at Jeong Yusin for a while.
“Scath, be careful.”
“Karin, please protect the inn.”
“You can count on me.”
Karin inexplicably wore a lewd smile.
‘Something feels off.’
Praying that nothing would happen, they left the southern district and headed toward the Great Labyrinth.
Despite the early morning, there weren’t many explorers on the streets.
“Isn’t anyone around today?”
“Barbaroy, isn’t there a Blue Moon Festival in a month? They can enjoy themselves. If you get stuck in the labyrinth and miss the festival, that’s something to regret.”
Dwarf Priest Kubo replied to Jeong Yusin’s comment.
Adjusting the straps on his backpack while listening to Kubo, Jeong Yusin thought,
Ah, is that so.
Even if explorers have gone mad over the imprint gacha, hearts of people still exist.
They weren’t completely insane.
As they approached the Great Labyrinth, various thoughts began to surface in his mind.
Living happily together with those around him might not be so bad.
Recently, Tarman and Ann’s faces seemed to have improved.
‘Enough.’
Shaking his head to clear his scattered thoughts.
As he advanced toward a place of suffering, various thoughts kept creeping in.
The party walked for a long time and arrived at the Great Labyrinth at the edge of the western district.
“Line up!”
The guards lined up the people in front of the Great Labyrinth magic circle.
Each party entered the magic circle in orderly fashion.
It was soon Jeong Yusin’s party’s turn.
Right before stepping into the magic circle, as instructed by the guard,
Iron Mask turned around and looked at his party members one by one, examining their expressions.
His gaze lingered briefly on Jeong Yusin.
“Do not be nervous. Is there anything to worry about?”
“…”
The party members, except Jeong Yusin, nodded.
As they stepped into the magic circle, it started to glow.
It always happened. His chest would beat with a strange tension and excitement before entering the labyrinth.
6th Level Forest Zone.
This was uncharted territory for someone like him whose highest reached level was only 5.
He toyed with the flintstone in his pocket.
No negligence like the last party.
Resolved, he entrusted himself to the bright light.
An odd sensation of floating enveloped him as his vision began to darken.
