—————————————————————–
Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: JayM
—————————————————————–
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Karin closed her mouth and looked down at Jeong Yoo-shin.
His sparkling eyes told her that he had already made up his mind.
But…
“In that body?”
Jeong Yoo-shin shook his head.
“I have to remove the Body Regression imprint.”
Although he had finished his training and taken the elixir, which increased his mana, it was still not enough to stay in the labyrinth for a long time.
Since he didn’t know how many enemies he would face inside, he couldn’t use his mana as freely as he did in the city.
The labyrinth was a place where anything could happen.
In the worst-case scenario, he needed a certain level of physique and stamina.
He had to be able to endure marching for days and nights in the dark labyrinth while carrying heavy equipment without proper rest.
He had to withstand the pressure from all sides and maintain his composure in the face of his companions’ deaths and various traps.
Maintaining one’s sanity was, in fact, the essence of labyrinth exploration.
And a healthy mind came from a well-trained body.
Going into the labyrinth with a child’s body?
It was practically suicide.
‘I have to return to my original body.’
Jeong Yoo-shin grinned.
“What? Are you disappointed?”
Karin sighed deeply and thought to herself…
‘Would Mion allow that?’
She could vividly imagine Mion vehemently opposing Skar’s return to his original form.
“Do as you please. But there’s something we need to decide first.”
“What is it?”
“We need to decide on which area to enter.”
“Can’t we go to the ‘Forest’ area?”
“Didn’t you hear the Temple of the Wind God’s announcement?”
“Huh? What did they say?”
“I overheard some customers talking. They said that there’s a high concentration of abyssal mana in the Forest area right now. They advised people not to enter that zone for a while.”
“Hmm?”
Jeong Yoo-shin stroked his chin.
They had buried the ‘holy relics’ to stabilize the abyssal mana in the Forest area before.
‘Was it not enough?’
Or was it more likely that the experiment with the ‘holy relics’ had failed?
It could mean that while there were short-term results, it was impossible to block the abyssal mana in the long run with just that.
“Then let’s rule out the ‘Forest’ area. Which one do you think is best, Karin?”
Karin thought for a moment, flicking her red tail.
“I’ve mainly been to the ‘Corridor’ and ‘Forest’ areas. But we have to consider our party composition. It’s not just the two of us entering the labyrinth.”
Jeong Yoo-shin nodded.
Karin was right.
Iron Mask had also chosen his party members based on the characteristics of the Forest area.
“We have a lot to prepare.”
“Right. It’s also important to wear the right equipment for each area. We don’t have to rush. We can take our time and prepare before entering the labyrinth.”
“Should we?”
“Yes. If you’re having trouble deciding which area to enter, you can ask Mion for advice. That busty priestess probably has more experience than me.”
Karin bit her lip, looking uncomfortable.
Jeong Yoo-shin pondered for a moment, and then spoke.
“By the way, I made some money from selling the magic stone, and I want to buy some good equipment. The problem is, I don’t know what materials are good. Help me.”
“Materials? What’s your budget?”
“About 70 gold coins?”
“What?!”
Karin’s eyes widened. Jeong Yoo-shin shrugged.
“This oppa made some money.”
“…”
Karin glared at him.
If any other man had said that, she would have slapped him. But coming from Skar, it suited him. They said that handsome men could get away with anything.
And for that, she was a little annoyed.
“The best quality materials for the lowest price, right?”
“Right. Talk to Snout about the details. Even if the equipment needed for each labyrinth area is different, there must be some equipment that’s commonly used, right? Let’s start by getting the materials for those.”
“Okay. Leave it to me.”
Jeong Yoo-shin stood up.
“I left the money in my wardrobe. Take it if you need it. I’m going to the Earth Mother Goddess’ Temple.”
“Be careful.”
Karin warned in a low voice.
Jeong Yoo-shin tilted his head.
‘Is there anything there to be careful about?’
“Okay.”
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
“No!”
Mion crossed her arms while blocking his path.
Jeong Yoo-shin stared blankly at Mion.
“Huh?”
“I said no!”
“Priestess Mion…”
Mion bit her lip.
She had been happy to see Skar at the morning class, but her heart sank after they talked.
‘He’s completely different.’
The Skar she had seen a month ago was a cute little devil.
Now, he was a sharp, beautiful boy who radiated a fatal charm.
Mion unconsciously sniffed the air.
Was this the scent of a young beast?
It was an unripe, masculine scent.
Even the smell of sweat from the nape of his neck was sweet.
Mion felt her face flush.
She had barely resisted the urge to cling to Skar during class and rub her breasts against him.
During recess, all the girls in the orphanage had flocked to Skar, fawning over him.
‘Skar oppa, do you want to go for a walk in the park with me?’
‘Oppa, do you want to see my room?’
‘N-No, I’m first!’
‘Ugh!’
Mion also wanted to join in.
But as a teacher, she couldn’t forget her duties, so she gritted her teeth and prepared for the next lesson.
After a difficult class, they gathered in her room during lunchtime.
Just the two of them.
And then…
Her heart sank at Skar’s words.
“W-What do you mean, you’re going back to your original self?! No!”
Tears welled up in Mion’s half-closed eyes.
‘We haven’t even showered together yet. Or had a lap pillow. Or slept together! We haven’t done anything at all! Not even a date!’
She wanted to at least cherish the image of the lovely and cute Skar, but to suddenly make such a decision…
“…Priestess Mion.”
Jeong Yoo-shin scratched his head.
He felt sorry for Mion, who looked so upset.
‘I’ve been neglecting my studies lately.’
He had been busy with various things and hadn’t had much time to read.
He could make excuses, but it was pointless.
It was his fault for wasting time, having been captivated by his own good looks.
Of course, he didn’t regret the time he had spent training with Ashur or hunting down the drug dealers.
It was something that had to be done.
‘Ah!’
Jeong Yoo-shin’s eyes lit up.
He thought he knew why Mion was crying.
She was sad that he, in his ignorance, hadn’t even thought of using this opportunity to grow.
Jeong Yoo-shin spoke cautiously.
“You seem very upset. Do you have any advice, Priestess Mion?”
“Y-Yes!”
Mion quickly continued.
“Y-Your learning ability must have increased with the Body Regression imprint, right?”
“That’s right.”
“Then why don’t you use this opportunity to learn more? It’s a good opportunity, isn’t it?”
“…”
He knew it was difficult to master a language overnight.
In fact, learning to read had been one of his biggest struggles since coming to Labyrinth City.
“Then I’ll do that.”
There was no harm in refining his writing skills, since he had already learned the basics.
Come to think of it, the Body Regression imprint could be a blessing for studying.
Correcting his flawed swordsmanship.
And learning to read with his sharp mind.
Wasn’t this an opportunity to refine his knowledge that was based on his difficult experiences?
Perhaps he was pushing himself too hard towards the labyrinth.
Karin’s worried expression also flashed through his mind.
Mion wiped away her tears and stroked Jeong Yoo-shin’s head.
“Skar, what do you think?”
“I’ll focus on my studies for a while.”
“Good. Really.”
Jeong Yoo-shin couldn’t see Mion’s red tongue seductively licking her lips.
“Priestess Mion, there’s one thing I’d like to learn, though.”
“What is it?”
“I heard that the ‘Forest’ area has become dangerous.”
Mion nodded, as if she already knew.
“Ah! Yes. I heard that there’s a high concentration of abyssal mana there.”
“Then I have to choose between the ‘Corridor’ and the ‘Underground Waterway’ areas. Do you have any recommendations?”
“Hmm.”
Mion thought for a moment, then spoke.
“I’ll have to think about that a bit more.”
“Alright.”
Mion gently stroked Jeong Yoo-shin’s head.
‘I’m going to get addicted to this.’
She liked the original Skar, but this cute Skar was special.
Especially since she wouldn’t be able to see him like this for long.
‘I’ll enjoy him to the fullest.’
Mion hid her wicked thoughts behind a saintly smile.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
A month passed.
Jeong Yoo-shin’s life returned to its former routine.
He learned dagger techniques from Karin in the morning and studied with Mion from morning until afternoon.
Neither was easy.
In fact, it had become more difficult.
Karin’s dagger techniques, a secret art of the Red Wolf Tribe, were a series of complex skills.
And Mion’s teachings were becoming increasingly advanced.
They were no longer reading children’s fairy tales, but novels with more difficult vocabulary and books with short, informative passages.
In the meantime, he also made sure to visit the Swordsman’s Guild and spar with the guild members there.
Several female explorers had tried to befriend him, but Jeong Yoo-shin had refused.
His plan for a pampered labyrinth life was long gone.
Instead, he focused on honing himself under the guidance of various people.
And so, one late summer morning, a month later…
Under the dawn light slowly creeping up the city walls, Karin and Jeong Yoo-shin stood in the inn’s backyard, daggers in hand.
They had already sparred several times and were both drenched in sweat.
Karin charged while wielding two daggers.
From left to right.
Diagonally from below.
Swish!!!
Sharp daggers lunged at him.
Jeong Yoo-shin’s eyes widened, and he parried the blows.
Clang!!!
Clang!!!
He blocked and immediately thrust right after.
Karin dodged to the side, avoiding the dagger aimed at her stomach, and then, like a snake, she slid up Skar’s arm and held a dagger to his throat.
Even with the cold blade against his neck, Jeong Yoo-shin didn’t flinch.
‘If I just block the aorta…?’
He would give up his neck to stab her in the chest.
“Skar, stop.”
Jeong Yoo-shin snapped back to reality at Karin’s voice.
Karin was looking down at him with a weary expression.
“Skar, get a grip.”
“Sigh. Sorry. This dagger technique is really difficult. My head is spinning.”
Perhaps because the reach was shorter than a longsword, the results of their exchanges were usually instantaneous.
He had to react just as quickly, and his head throbbed because of it.
Karin wiped her sweat and grinned.
“What did you expect? It’s our tribe’s secret art. But you’re learning incredibly fast.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Oh! And I finished talking to Snout. He said that he’ll prepare all the materials we need. We just need to commission the equipment.”
“Really? That’s great.”
Jeong Yoo-shin wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve and looked up at the heavens.
Was it just his imagination, or did the sky look clearer?
Now…
He felt confident that he could overcome the madness even if he returned to his original body.
At least he wouldn’t see things anymore or take off his pants in broad daylight.
Karin handed him a towel.
“You have Mion’s test today, right?”
“Yeah.”
It was unusual for Mion to give a test. He had no complaints, though. It was an opportunity to test his knowledge.
“Should I go with you?”
“I’ll finish it quickly and come back.”
Jeong Yoo-shin ate breakfast and ran to the Earth Mother Goddess’ Temple.
“Skar orabeoni*!”
The girls in the classroom rushed towards him as soon as he entered.
Jeong Yoo-shin chuckled.
It hadn’t taken long for his title to change from “mister” to “oppa,” and now to “orabeoni.”
On the other hand, the boys’ glares were becoming increasingly hostile.
“Lily is mine… Ugh! I liked her first!”
“The ice-cold class president is smiling like that? I’m shocked.”
“You black-haired punk! Stop smiling with that handsome face! Stop bewitching the girls!”
“Why did the world create me and that guy? Ah!”
Some of the boys, in their anguish, were even spouting things beyond their years.
Jeong Yoo-shin ran a hand through his hair and put on a cold expression.
“Don’t fall for me.”
“Huh?!”
“Huh?!”
The girls clasped their hands together and stared at Jeong Yoo-shin.
“I’m a dangerous man.”
The girls’ eyes widened at his words.
“S-So cool!”
“Kyaaagh!!! Orabeoni!”
“Dangerous boy!”
Sweat trickled down Jeong Yoo-shin’s forehead.
‘I’m really dangerous, you guys.’
They seemed to think that the Female Virgin Corruption imprint was a joke.
While the girls were gathered around Jeong Yoo-shin while chattering excitedly…
Click.
The classroom door opened, and Mion entered the room and stood at the lectern.
“Alright! Everyone, please take your seats.”
““Yes!””
Jeong Yoo-shin finished the lesson under the intense gazes of both the girls and the boys.
He barely managed to get through the morning lesson and eat lunch before meeting Mion in her room.
“Then let’s begin the ‘test.’”
Mion said solemnly.
“Yes.”
Jeong Yoo-shin nodded, his eyes sparkling.
He would show her…
The knowledge he had honed with his sharp mind!
“Huh? Oh? There’s no paper?”
Mion muttered to herself while fidgeting.
“Oh, well.”
“…?”
Mion took off her white priestess robe, revealing her black undergarments.
She extended her soft belly towards Jeong Yoo-shin.
“W-Well, since there’s nowhere to write, you’ll just have to write here.”
“Huh?”
Jeong Yoo-shin stared blankly at Mion’s soft belly.
A platinum-colored holy symbol glowed on her tight-fitting black priestess undergarment.
“P-Priestess Mion?”
Mion’s seductive tongue licked her lips.
“The test begins♥.”
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
T/N – You know, even though the MC already got some action with Karin, the fact that he’s still so dense with Mion is really infuriating me somewhat.
Also, lol at Mion. She’s quite the shotacon.
If you find any mistakes, feel free to point them out in the comments.
* 오라버니 (orabeoni): A formal way for a younger female to address an older brother or a close older male. It’s more respectful and intimate than “oppa.”
now is finally mion turn ? noice
Sorry to break the news but Mion isn’t going to get any action anytime soon.
I’m betting all this training is gonna change grown up Skar’s appearance too