How a Black-Haired Barbarian Survived the Labyrinth in Another World – Chapter 144

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: JayM
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Explorer Headquarters.

“…”

Hundreds of explorers held their breath, their gazes fixed on Jeong Yoo-shin and Astaroth.

It was hard to believe what they were seeing.

The barbarian had just spat on one of the Labyrinth City council members.

Calling it rude was an understatement.

This barbarian was truly insane.

They had never seen anyone so crazy.

‘He’s completely lost it.’

That was what every explorer was thinking.

Meanwhile, Jeong Yoo-shin’s face was stiff.

‘I’m so fucked.’

He realized what he had done.

He should have just told her.

He had acted impulsively.

The madness of the labyrinth had made him lose control again.

But…

It was too late for regrets.

He had to face the consequences of his actions.

Astaroth’s face was burning with rage.

And she was trembling.

“…Skar, what do you think you’re doing?”

“…I’m sorry. I suffer from madness.”

“Ha!”

Astaroth scoffed.

And then…

She threw a punch.

Wham!!!!!

Boom!!!

Jeong Yoo-shin, struck by the punch, crashed through the guild wall and flew outside.

Overwhelming strength.

It was a force that couldn’t have come from a small girl.

The explorers’ jaws dropped again.

‘He’s dead.’

How could he survive after crashing through a wall? And he had been hit squarely in the abdomen too. His internal organs must have been ruptured.

“Skar!!!”

Karin rushed outside…

…Though Astaroth was even faster, disappearing from the guild building like a shadow.

Karin gritted her teeth and drew her daggers while watching Astaroth’s retreating figure.

“Cough!!!”

Jeong Yoo-shin crashed through the wall of the Explorer Headquarters and rolled onto the ground.

He struggled to his feet while writhing in pain.

“Skar, you’re insane.”

Astaroth glared at him, her expression murderous.

She was so angry that she hadn’t even wiped the spit from her face.

“…”

Jeong Yoo-shin lowered his head.

Shit.

There was nothing he could say.

He had dug his own grave.

Jeong Yoo-shin silently stood up. Only a bluish flame burned in his eyes.

“Nothing to say?”

“…”

“It’s hard for me to let you live after this.”

Astaroth raised her fist.

She had deliberately held back as she wanted to hear an explanation, but he had remained silent.

Jeong Yoo-shin closed his eyes and looked inward.

What was done was done.

He had no choice but to fight, for better or for worse.

He could use his Sacred Weapon’s special properties twice.

The possible properties were…

Gale Sword…

…And Half-Ogre Gauntlets.

He dismissed the idea of using a normal Sacred Weapon. It would be useless against her overwhelming strength.

“How dare you close your eyes? Do you take me for a fool?!!!”

Astaroth, her face contorted with rage, charged at him.

Boom!!!

A sonic boom erupted from where Astaroth had been standing, and she disappeared in a flash.

Jeong Yoo-shin closed his eyes and felt the flow of the air.

She was coming.

One.

Two.

‘Now.’

He opened his eyes.

[Sacred Weapon]

Property imbuement.

Half-Ogre Gauntlets.

He swung his fist enveloped in a radiant glow.

Jeong Yoo-shin and Astaroth’s fists collided.

Boom!!!!!

A thunderous sound echoed from the point of impact.

Astaroth’s eyes widened.

She had been certain that her punch would have been enough to incapacitate this foul barbarian.

‘He blocked it?’

Astaroth revised her assessment of Jeong Yoo-shin.

But the difference in their skill and strength was undeniable. Jeong Yoo-shin’s fist was slowly being pushed back.

The distance between them closed, as if they were lovers.

Jeong Yoo-shin suddenly spoke. Seeing the flickering, dying light of his ring, he felt a renewed sense of urgency.

“…Don’t fall for me.”

It was a sudden, nonsensical remark.

“Huh?!”

Astaroth looked up at Jeong Yoo-shin with wide eyes.

His blazing blue eyes.

Strangely, they were more beautiful up close.

Seeing him endure the pain and fight back, she felt more admiration for him now than anger. He wasn’t like other explorers.

Astaroth regained her composure and gritted her teeth.

Her heart began to pound more violently than ever.

‘Could it be? No, it can’t be.’

She had a secret imprint.

The Masochistic Female Corruption imprint.

A terrible curse that would make her become depraved if she was looked down upon and treated as a ‘female.’

The only silver lining was that it only activated when she had feelings for the other person.

The reason she had reacted so violently was because of this imprint.

The conditions for the imprint to activate were strict.

First, she had to have feelings for the other person.

Second, the other person had to see her as a ‘female.’

Third, the other person had to look down on her and treat her with contempt.

She had never been seen as a woman before because of her small stature. A few men with strange imprints had hit on her, but they were all weak.

And because of her status, everyone groveled before her, so she had never developed feelings for anyone.

Thanks to that, she had been able to remain a virgin and avoid corruption for a long time. Perhaps she had become too complacent.

But looking into this man’s eyes, she knew.

This man…

Didn’t he see her as a ‘female’?

Strangely…

The spit he had spat on her felt like an affirmation of her femininity.

‘I’ve never met a man like this before.’

A man she was slightly attracted to saw her as a female and looked down on her at the same time.

It was a completely new sensation.

‘Me?’

Realizing her fate, her legs went weak, and a shiver ran down her spine.

‘No!’

Astaroth shook her head violently, denying the pounding in her chest.

Setting aside the secret imprint…

She had already been humiliated in front of so many people. If she backed down now, it would not only damage her reputation as a Labyrinth City council member, but it would also tarnish Lilith’s name.

She had to at least cripple him.

Just as she made up her mind and raised her other fist…

“Lady Astaroth!!!”

The dark elf rushed towards her. Astaroth glanced at him.

“What?! I’m busy!”

“Lady Ingrid has summoned you. There’s an emergency at the labyrinth entrance!”

“…”

Astaroth bit her lip and glared at Jeong Yoo-shin.

She quickly composed herself.

She decided to postpone his punishment.

It definitely wasn’t because she wanted to be treated like trash again and feel her heart pound.

“You’re lucky. You, follow me. If you run, you’re dead.”

“Yes.”

Astaroth turned and ran towards the labyrinth entrance.

She disappeared in a flash.

Jeong Yoo-shin immediately knelt down and vomited blood.

“Ugh!!!”

As he coughed up a mouthful of blood, Karin approached him.

“Skar!!!”

“…Let’s go to the labyrinth entrance.”

Jeong Yoo-shin, suppressing his nausea, ran towards the Western District.

After running with all his might…

He arrived at the labyrinth entrance sooner than expected.

Countless guards were gathered at the entrance, on high alert.

The guard captain glanced at Jeong Yoo-shin and waved his hand.

“Is that the barbarian and Karin? Pass. Go to the labyrinth exit.”

Jeong Yoo-shin passed the guards and walked towards the labyrinth exit behind the tall, black tower.

The magic circle at the labyrinth exit was covered in writhing flesh.

Looking closer, he saw that it was a mass of writhing internal organs that was exuding a foul, coppery stench.

Ingrid was standing in front of the magic circle, her greatsword plunged into the ground. Astaroth was standing beside her with arms crossed, examining the magic circle.

Ingrid turned her head and saw Jeong Yoo-shin and Karin. Her gaze lingered on Jeong Yoo-shin, her eyes widening slightly before returning to normal.

Ingrid looked at the approaching Jeong Yoo-shin and Karin and spoke.

“…Is that Skar? Karin is here too. What are you two doing here?”

Astaroth interjected.

“I called them.”

“Why?”

“That kid spat on my face.”

Ingrid’s eyebrows furrowed.

Astaroth looked at Jeong Yoo-shin with an angry expression.

“So I’m thinking about how to deal with this black-haired barbarian.”

Ingrid, who had been silent, looked down at Astaroth.

“…Astaroth.”

“What? Do you have something to say? Don’t worry. I won’t touch your daughter.”

Ingrid shook her head.

“Explorers must bear the consequences of their actions alone. My daughter is no exception. If she has done something wrong, punish her.”

Jeong Yoo-shin stepped forward.

“Karin has done nothing wrong.”

Ingrid sighed deeply.

“Sigh. He spat on you? Skar, I know you wouldn’t do something like that without a good reason.”

‘Although he has a rather sadistic side.’

She muttered inwardly. It wasn’t something she could say in front of her daughter and Astaroth.

“…”

Jeong Yoo-shin remained silent.

“Astaroth, please reconsider.”

Astaroth’s expression hardened at Ingrid’s words.

“Me? Why?”

“Skar risked his life to fight Hans, who had transformed into a monster at the labyrinth exit, and protected the labyrinth. His contribution was not small. And he didn’t ask for any reward. As a member of the council that protects Labyrinth City, you should know what his dedication means.”

Astaroth looked at Jeong Yoo-shin with surprised eyes.

“He really didn’t ask for anything?”

“…”

Jeong Yoo-shin scratched his head silently.

Ingrid looked at Jeong Yoo-shin with gentle eyes.

“Yes. You know how many explorers avoid unprofitable work and prioritize their own safety. In that sense, Skar is someone who deserves the council’s favor.”

“…I heard about it. I knew it was a critical situation, but… So that virgin was this barbarian? But he spat on my face in front of hundreds of explorers! I can’t just let it go, you know?”

“If you want something, just say it.”

“Sigh. I can’t think of anything right now. My head is still spinning.”

“Think about it calmly. Skar, Karin, both of you, come to my room.”

“Yes.”

As Skar and Karin followed Ingrid, Astaroth also trailed behind them.

“Astaroth, you don’t have to come.”

“The situation seems to be over. And we have to talk anyway, don’t we?”

Ingrid sighed deeply.

“Sigh. That’s true. Follow me.”

Ingrid led them into a quiet building behind the clinic.

They gathered around a table in the room and waited. Ingrid’s subordinate brought them tea.

Ingrid gestured.

“Skar, why are you so far away? Come and sit down.”

“There’s a reason I can’t explain.”

Ingrid tilted her head, then spoke.

“…Is that so? Let’s talk about business first.”

Astaroth also looked curious, but she held her tongue. No matter how curious she was, work came first.

The protection of Labyrinth City was the most important thing.

In fact, Astaroth cared more about Labyrinth City than the other council members.

Like most monster-person imprints, she was shunned by people outside the labyrinth because of her appearance.

She had nowhere else to go, so Labyrinth City was her home.

Ingrid took a sip of her tea.

“An intermediate-rank explorer who came out of the labyrinth received a monster-person imprint. He was consumed by his monstrous nature, so I had to dispose of him.”

Astaroth crossed her arms.

“Isn’t that a common occurrence? Why the fuss?”

“Before he was consumed, the explorer said that an Eldritch Wave had spread throughout the Forest area. This isn’t a normal phenomenon. Something is rising from the abyss.”

Astaroth’s expression hardened.

“Really?”

Her anger at Skar’s disrespectful behavior vanished instantly.

“In that sense, Skar…”

Jeong Yoo-shin straightened his posture at Ingrid’s serious gaze.

“Yes. Go ahead.”

“Be careful.”

“…Yes?”

“The Forest area is already overflowing with an Eldritch Wave. It’s already happened, so there’s no need to go to your death. But I don’t know about the other areas. Be extra careful. And if you find anything suspicious, report it.”

Jeong Yoo-shin nodded.

“I understand. Should I report directly to you, Ingrid?”

Ingrid shook her head.

“By the time you return from the labyrinth, Astaroth will be guarding the labyrinth entrance. Report to her.”

“Yes.”

Ingrid looked around.

“That’s all. Everyone, leave. Skar, you stay.”

Astaroth frowned.

“Why is he staying?”

“It’s a personal matter. Mind your own business.”

“Tsk!”

Astaroth glared at Jeong Yoo-shin, then sighed deeply.

She was furious, but strangely, she didn’t hate him.

Even though he had spat on her face.

“Sigh. Skar, I’ll let you live since you risked your life to fight for Labyrinth City. But don’t think I’ll just let this go.”

“…”

“We’ll talk later. And you’d better have a good explanation for why you spat on me. Tsk! I’ve become so soft. In the old days, I would have just…!”

Astaroth raised her cute fist and then lowered it.

Jeong Yoo-shin bowed his head.

“Yes. Thank you.”

Was she postponing it?

Perhaps she was more lenient than she seemed. A woman with a big heart despite her flat chest.

He revised his thoughts.

He shouldn’t judge people by their breast size.

‘No. This isn’t the time for that.’

He had to go to the magic tool shop and replace the magic stone on his ring immediately.

“Karin, you can go now too.”

Karin frowned.

“Mom.”

“It’s a private conversation. You can’t stay.”

“Alright.”

Karin stood up.

“I’ll be waiting at the inn. Come back soon.”

“Okay.”

Astaroth and Karin left the room, leaving only Jeong Yoo-shin and Ingrid inside.

Ingrid tapped her teacup with her finger.

“Skar.”

“Yes.”

“I’m leaving now.”

“I see.”

“Take care of my daughter.”

“Karin is strong. You don’t have to worry so much.”

“…”

Silence passed between them.

Jeong Yoo-shin looked at Ingrid intently.

Her eyes were moist. She had a look of longing. She was also fidgeting.

“Is there something you want to say?”

“Well… I have a favor to ask.”

“What is it?”

Ingrid’s face was slightly flushed. She hesitated, then finally spoke.

“…Can you give me the same massage you gave Lin?”

Jeong Yoo-shin’s eyes widened.

“Huh?!”

Suddenly?

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T/N – I see Ingrid enjoyed her latest memory sharing with Lin and wants to experience it first hand. Though it’s a shame that this won’t be an oyakodon considering that Ingrid is already leaving. Oh well.

Also, what are the fucking odds of that? Astaroth has a secret negative imprint that seems to perfectly work with the MC’s negative imprint, and he just ticks all the requirements just as his ring inexplicably loses its charge. If you tell me that there’s no divine intervention after reading all that, I wouldn’t believe you.

If you find any mistakes, feel free to point them out in the comments.