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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: JayM
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Anne arrived the next morning.
The girl with flowing red hair.
The girl who had fought tooth and nail to protect her friends.
“What should I do first?”
“Cook. Make your best dish.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Anne’s cooking was decent. Not as good as Dalmong’s, but not bad enough to warrant complaints.
Jeong Yoo-shin was relieved to see the satisfied expressions on the patrons’ faces.
He called Anne to the side and handed her a pouch of coins.
It was Karin’s money, minus what he had set aside for himself.
“What’s this?”
Anne asked.
“Operating expenses for the inn. Use it wisely. Let me know if you need more.”
“You trust me this much?”
“Think what you want.”
“Thank you. I’ll repay your kindness.”
“Just work hard.”
Anne and Tarman, as if to repay his kindness, began working diligently.
He sat at the counter with his arms crossed.
The cool summer breeze drifted through the inn.
Outside, parties of explorers were heading towards the labyrinth.
He still hadn’t heard from Karin or Dalmong.
He planned to step back from managing the inn once things settled down. He didn’t plan to abandon it completely, but he needed to focus on his own strengths.
He was a swordsman, and he would protect Dalmong’s inn as such.
Which meant training and learning were essential to him.
When would he be able to return to the Swordsman’s Guild?
He picked up his long sword from under the counter and stood up.
His mind was wandering, so he decided to go to the courtyard and practice.
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Creak.
Someone opened the inn door. It was past lunchtime.
Tarman bowed his head and greeted the visitor energetically.
“Welcome!”
Then he froze.
“I-Is Skar here?”
“Y-Yes! Please wait a moment!”
Tarman rushed through the kitchen and into the courtyard.
Jeong Yoo-shin was practicing his swordsmanship shirtless, sweat dripping from his body. The summer sun was intense.
“S-Skar-nim!!”
“What’s with the commotion?”
“A-A priestess is here. She looks like an angel.”
Mion?
He grabbed a towel from the clothesline and wiped his face and neck.
“Tell her I’ll be there soon.”
“There’s no need.”
Mion appeared in the courtyard, having walked through the kitchen.
She glanced at his bare chest, then quickly lowered her gaze.
“What brings you here?”
“Y-You haven’t been to class lately… I was worried.”
He didn’t ask how she had found the inn.
He seemed to have become a known figure after the cook interviews. She could have easily found him by asking around.
“I was thinking about returning soon, but…”
He scratched his head.
It was a long story, and he wasn’t dressed appropriately to explain it.
Mion’s gaze was fixed on his thick arms.
Muscular arms with bulging veins, radiating heat.
Gulp.
She swallowed hard.
She quickly covered her chest and interrupted him.
“Don’t worry. I’ve found a way to resist the Female Virgin Corruption imprint. I’ll show you later. I’ll be going now.”
She turned around and quickly left the courtyard.
‘I’m wearing the ring though.’
He was about to tell her about the imprint suppression ring, but she left too quickly. And she hadn’t seen the ring because of the towel.
Tarman approached him.
“H-How can someone like her… be a priestess?”
“Be a good person, and good things will happen to you.”
“Huh.”
He patted Tarman on the shoulder and continued wiping himself down.
After Mion left, another visitor arrived.
Ashur Startree.
The Sword Master.
“Everything alright?”
“Yes.”
“You destroyed the Crimson Hunters’ hideout, and you say everything’s alright?”
“Things just… happened.”
“Come closer.”
Ashur examined his eyes.
“Why?”
“How did you recover? You should already be half-mad by now.”
“I just… held on, and I regained my sanity.”
Ashur then looked at his hand.
“I thought I told you to take off that ring.”
He ran a hand through his hair.
“I just have to endure it. It would be troublesome for me if some innocent virgin fell for me. Honestly, my own charm scares me sometimes.”
Ashur looked at him, then at Tarman who was standing nearby.
“Is he… alright?”
“It’s part of his charm.”
Ashur rubbed his face with his hands.
“…Where were we? Right. Come to the Swordsman’s Guild. You shouldn’t be wasting your time managing an inn.”
He finally got to the point.
“What do you mean?”
He asked while crossing his arms.
“Harsh training is the only way to suppress the madness of the labyrinth. Stop messing around in the courtyard and come to the training ground.”
“I’ll go later.”
“Later when? When you go insane?”
“When I have time.”
“Sigh. Just come soon. Your mind is probably already unstable.”
“I’m fine.”
“Tsk.”
Ashur clicked his tongue and left the inn.
Tarman, who was standing next to him, said,
“You know a lot of people.”
He shrugged.
“I’m well-connected.”
“And kind-hearted.”
“Of course. Now, how about a raise?”
“Thank you.”
Tarman smiled and rubbed his hands together.
Anne, emerging from the kitchen, saw this, and said,
“Aren’t you working?”
Tarman froze.
“Get back to work. Redeem yourself, you pathetic fool.”
Tarman, his face crumpled, hurried off to greet the incoming customers.
Jeong Yoo-shin returned to the counter and sat down.
The day passed quickly, and as the night deepened, the customers dwindled.
As he was cleaning the inn, Tarman approached him.
“What is it?”
He asked.
“It’s a message from Aldein-nim.”
“Tell me.”
“The Crimson Hunters are leaving Labyrinth City for a while. Apparently, something happened near the border of the Eastern Alliance.”
“Did he say anything else?”
“No. He said he couldn’t reveal any more details. Oh, and he said other groups are watching you, so be careful.”
“Other groups?”
He thought of the hyena beast-person and the other applicants from the cook interviews.
“Yes. He said he’ll tell you more later.”
“I see.”
Had he already overcome the crisis? He still couldn’t let his guard down, but he could finally focus on what he needed to do.
Learn to read and write at the temple.
Train his body at the Swordsman’s Guild.
And start preparing to return to the labyrinth.
His goal was clear, but the road ahead was long.
He couldn’t enter the labyrinth immediately as Ashur had warned against it, but it was good to be prepared.
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The next morning…
He woke up and went downstairs to the kitchen where Anne was cooking.
He watched her for a moment, then went out to the courtyard.
He inhaled the fresh morning air.
“Ha…”
He slowly stretched and warmed up.
He did two hundred push-ups and two hundred squats, then he jogged around the courtyard.
[Sacred Weapon]
A golden long sword materialized in his hand.
He swung the sword.
[Sacred Weapon]
This time, daggers.
He mimicked Karin’s dagger techniques.
[Sacred Weapon]
He summoned a harpoon, its blade barbed and jagged. He remembered this unusual weapon from his last fight.
He could summon Sacred Weapon eight times in a row now.
It was thanks to his level up after his third labyrinth expedition.
He stopped summoning Sacred Weapon and practiced his swordsmanship.
It was more than just a warm-up.
It was a grueling training session, pushing his magic and stamina to their limits.
But he didn’t flinch as he relentlessly pushed himself.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
His sword sliced through the morning air.
His bare chest glistened with sweat as his muscles rippled.
Time passed.
He stopped and looked up at the sky. The sun was rising.
He walked through the kitchen and into the dining area, where he saw Tarman.
“You’re awake?”
“Why are you so late?”
“I… I was tired.”
Tarman looked gaunt.
In contrast, Anne’s face was glowing.
“Tsk.”
He clicked his tongue and sat down at a table.
“Food.”
“Yes, sir.”
Breakfast was wheat bread with raisins and pumpkin soup with cheese. He looked at Tarman before starting his meal.
“Let’s eat together.”
“Should I call Anne?”
“Yes.”
Anne brought their food from the kitchen, and they sat down to eat.
They ate in silence.
“How’s the inn work?”
He asked, pausing his spoon midair.
“It’s a bit difficult since it’s my first time, but I’m learning.”
Anne replied.
He looked at Tarman and Anne, then turned away.
“I’ll leave the inn to you two. I have something to do.”
“Are you going to the labyrinth?”
“Something like that.”
“I see.”
“Take care of the inn. Come find me at the orphanage or the Swordsman’s Guild if you need anything.”
“Don’t worry.”
He finished his meal, left the inn, and walked to the Earth Mother Goddess’ temple with his bear-faced bag. He checked in with the receptionist and entered the orphanage.
“Eek?”
“You’re back, mister?”
“I’m scared.”
The orphaned children greeted him enthusiastically.
“Long time no see, my friends.”
“Who’s your friend? You have no shame.”
“…”
He fiddled with his ring and sighed, then he sat down.
The classroom door opened, and Mion entered.
“Hello, everyone.”
“Hello, teacher!”
“Wow! Teacher, it’s been a while!”
Mion smiled and stood at the lectern.
“Yes, I’ve been busy lately.”
“I love Teacher Mion.”
A child sitting near him muttered, her eyes shining.
“Alright, let’s begin.”
“Yes!”
The children replied in unison.
Mion’s gentle voice filled the classroom, and the children listened attentively, their eyes shining.
He also focused on the lesson.
He had wasted a lot of time on other things.
The more he learned about the Labyrinth City, the more he realized how much he didn’t know.
He refused to be swept away by the tide of ignorance.
He once again learned the hard way that knowledge was power in this world.
He wrote down every unfamiliar word Mion wrote on the blackboard along with their meanings and example sentences, and memorized them.
Even during breaks, he remained seated, writing and reading.
During a break, as Mion was preparing for the next lesson at the lectern, her gaze fell on his ring.
She froze.
She stared at the ring, then sighed in relief.
The ring was on his middle finger, not his ring finger.
She was relieved that it wasn’t that red-haired bitch’s doing, but at the same time, a sense of urgency gripped her heart.
The break ended, and the class resumed.
He occasionally felt Mion’s gaze on him during the lesson, but he focused on the blackboard and his textbook.
The class ended at lunchtime.
“Good work, everyone. Skar, please stay behind.”
“Yes, Teacher. You worked hard too.”
The children filed out of the classroom.
He packed his writing utensils into his bear-faced bag.
Mion approached him.
“Mr. Skar, you came.”
“Yes. Learning is important.”
“I…”
“What is it?”
Whoosh.
She suddenly lifted the hem of her loose robe.
His eyes widened.
Beneath the robe was her black habit.
The shape of her cute belly button was clearly visible through the tight-fitting habit.
She must have been wearing tight panties as well because the outline of her groin was clearly visible, almost revealing the shape of her clitoris.
The habit was supposed to be a one-piece garment, but it clung to her body like leggings.
“Oh.”
His eyes widened.
“Hee hee. Did you notice?”
A golden symbol glowed just below her belly button.
A sacred, intricate symbol that resembled a woman’s womb.
A sacred womb tattoo, not a pentagram.
“It’s a Sacred Tattoo. It prevents corruption.”
“I see. That’s good, but…”
He was about to mention the imprint suppression ring, but she interrupted him.
“S-So… I need to… confirm that the Sacred Tattoo is working properly.”
Her face was slightly flushed.
“I’d like you to… help me.”
“H-How can I help you?”
She had helped him a lot. He wanted to repay her kindness.
“Please… l-lick… no, touch my belly.”
“What?”
“There’s no ulterior motive. It’s just a procedure to confirm that it can protect me from your imprint.”
‘I won’t lose!’
She had given him a different reason than the one she was thinking.
She would ask him about the ring later.
The most important thing now was to have his hands on her belly.
He stared blankly at her Sacred Womb Tattoo.
‘Is this… a reward?’
Was this a sweet reward from fate for overcoming hardship and sorrow?
Dalmong’s absence.
Managing an inn for the first time.
Those who relied on him.
And those who despised him.
The stress accumulated from his near-death experiences.
Five months of celibacy.
And now, a shy woman asking him to touch her womb.
‘Ah.’
It was all too much for the twenty-three-year-old Jeong Yoo-shin.
‘I can’t take it anymore.’
His eyes glazed over, and a guttural growl escaped his lips.
“Krrrung… Teacher Mion!!!”
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T/N – You know, I expected some lemons by now, but it’s still a whole lot of teasing. Usually, I would complain at how dense the MC is in cases like this, but I can’t really blame the guy for being careful with how distrusted and ostracized barbarians seem to be. He’s also pretty pent-up as a result, so I also can’t blame his reaction here.
Also, I laugh whenever I imagine this lean but muscular MC bringing a cute bear-faced bag to school.
If you find any mistakes, feel free to point them out in the comments.
fuck i caught up. btw i enjoy reading your translation notes, theyre funny