NOVPUBBarbaroi was standing next to the lake.
Jung Yu-shin's eyes widened as if they were going to pop out.
A terrifying sight, as if it were a dream.
His heart began to pound rapidly.
What should he do if he meets Barbaroi at night?
'Keep calm.'
Even if he gets caught by a tiger, he can survive if he doesn't show his back.
"..."
Jung Yu-shin and the old Barbaroi met eyes.
A moment of silence passed.
'No...no!'
I can't stand it.
Jung Yu-shin turned around and ran away.
"S-save me!!!"
The boy ran screaming.
Ragna scratched his head.
"Ouch."
Jung Yu-shin gasped for breath and moved his feet with all his might.
He felt dizzy.
It felt like a nightmare.
‘Ashur tricked me!!!’
He felt a crisis of chastity before the betrayal that his master had sold him out.
At least the elf wouldn’t look at his back.
And how on earth did he recognize him?
No way.
Did Ashur tell him?
His master must have lost his mind.
“Guaaaak!!!”
He ran hard along the lakeside, moving his feet.
Ragna shook his head and jumped lightly, flying through the sky.
Boom!!!
Ragna landed right in front of Jung Yu-shin.
“Calm down. I didn’t come to hurt you.”
Jung Yu-shin’s body froze.
“You want me to believe that?!”
“Look. I didn’t even touch you with a fingertip.”
Old Barbaroi spread out his palm and waved it in front of Jung Yu-shin.
That’s true, though.
What palm was the size of a person’s head.
“Grandpa, what’s your name? Who the hell are you?”
“Hoo. Do you want to hear my true name?”
Old Barbaroi looked down with a gentle smile.
‘I feel like I’m going to throw up.’
My stomach felt nauseous.
Wait.
That’s not it. The problem isn’t the smile.
‘I heard that Barbaroi reveals his true name to his wife or close friend who he will spend the rest of his life with.’
Long ago.
That’s what I heard when I first came to the labyrinth and registered as an explorer.
The receptionist must have said that. His face turned pale.
Jeong Yu-shin took a few steps back.
You wouldn’t use the word close friend to a child, would you?
Then.
All the color drained from Jeong Yu-shin’s face.
Old Barbaroi laughed.
“I can’t tell you that. Bring Ragnara.”
‘Ragna.’
Is that a pseudonym?
Should I be thankful that he didn’t tell me his real name?
‘I don’t know yet. Get your wits about you.’
“···What brings you here?”
Jeong Yu-shin asked without letting his guard down.
Instead of answering, Ragna folded his arms and turned his head to look at the lake.
A quiet night lake.
“Ashur seems to care for you a lot.”
“···There are a few things that have happened.”
“I heard about it.”
Was this old man and the elf master acquainted?
Elves are the long-lived race, so it’s nothing to be surprised about.
“Looking back, it’s been a funny time. When I first met Ashur, he was a runny nosed, a snotty bastard.”
“Have you been in the Labyrinth City for quite some time?”
“Yes. I’ve traveled all over the world.”
“···Can I get to the point?”
“Big!!! You’re in a hurry. I see.”
Ragna took something out of his bag.
A glass bottle that looked expensive at first glance.
There was a blue liquid sloshing around in it.
“What is this?”
“It’s an elixir called the Wizard’s Tears.”
“What is that?”
“It’s a potion that permanently increases a person’s magic power. It can’t be converted into gold. If it were released into the market, there would be a huge mess.”
An elixir?
Jeong Yu-shin looked up at the bottle as if possessed by something.
His mouth watered.
Gulp.
If he took that elixir, wouldn’t he be able to escape his chronic lack of magic power?
His magic power did increase somewhat when he buried the holy relic last time. It was only a small amount.
And he didn’t know when he would be able to level up again.
Of course, it wasn’t like I was going to die right now because I didn’t have enough magic.
I just felt regretful.
When Ragna shook the bottle, the sky-blue liquid shook gently.
“Scar, your mouth is drooling. Do you want it?”
When did he even know your name?
Scary old man.
Jung Yu-shin nodded but stopped.
“Yes. I want it. But I heard that you shouldn’t accept things from strangers.”
“That’s the right attitude. But since this is our second meeting, aren’t we the ones left? If you need it, I’ll give it to you.”
Ragna’s natural and innocent response was absurd.
If it’s not someone else after seeing it twice, then who else is the one left?
“Why? Do you want anything in return?”
“Nothing.”
Ragna shook his head and said bluntly.
Jung Yu-shin’s eyes narrowed.
His suspicions grew deeper.
You’re just giving me an elixir that can’t be converted into gold?
That too without any price?
“Isn’t there really nothing?”
“Yes. Take it if you want.”
Ragna held out the bottle.
Jung Yu-shin slowly approached Ragna.
The elixir in front of him was too desirable to be suspicious.
Besides, he knew the elf master, didn’t he?
‘This is definitely a coincidence that the heavens gave me because they were moved by my sincerity.’
A kind of cliff-edge coincidence. 𝓃ℴ𝓋𝓹𝓊𝓫.𝒸𝓸𝓂
I heard in some martial arts novels that people give up their buttholes to receive teachings from masters.
If you can get this coincidence by just moving your hand in front of Barbaroi, it’s a good deal.
Jung Yu-shin, who had made up his mind, slowly held out his hand.
Thump.
He grabbed the bottle and held it in front of his eyes.
His heart pounded as he looked at the sky-blue liquid.
He had obtained the elixir that would increase magical power without any trouble.
Ragna smiled and took out another item from his bag.
An old-fashioned elven single-edged sword.
Jung Yu-shin's head quickly turned.
He's not even a magician, but he took out a sword from his bag.
Is this a magic bag or something?
Ragna held up the single-edged sword and thrust it in front of Jung Yu-shin.
"Do you want this too?"
"What's that sword?"
"This is the sword that this old man got from the labyrinth. It's a magical sword with a special ability."
"Ohhh!!!"
Jung Yu-shin's eyes sparkled.
"What special ability is it?"
"It has the magic 'Gale' engraved on it."
"Gale?"
Jung Yu-shin tilted his head.
"This sword lets you move quickly."
"Wow!"
"Take it."
Jung Yu-shin moved closer to Ragna and held out his hand.
Thump.
It was light for a sword. It was a bit heavy for a boy to lift.
But don’t worry.
If you return to your original body, it will be easier to use. If not, you can build up your strength.
Jeong Yu-shin smiled brightly and stroked the sword.
“There’s something to be careful of when using this single-edged sword.”
“What is it?”
“You can only swing it three times. If you’re surrounded or in a hurry to evade an attack, it could be a life-saving weapon. Use it wisely.”
“Understood.”
“Oh! I forgot.”
Ragna reached into his bag again and rummaged through it, pulling out something.
A red stone.
“A top-grade magic stone. I hope it helps you on your journey.”
‘This old man.’
Isn’t it almost like a vending machine?
He was standing still, but suddenly he was handing out expensive items one after another.
‘Could it be that he has an imprint that wants to give good things to cute children?’
A very reasonable inference.
He was the honey pot grandfather.
Jung Yu-shin, intoxicated by the sweet coincidence, gradually approached Ragna.
In fact, Barbaroi was a good person, but wasn’t he being slandered?
Jung Yu-shin’s suspicions about Barbaroi were gradually being corrected in his mind.
When he first heard the rumor about Barbaroi, he showed an image of him almost at the lowest point, with his pants and panties down.
Now.
He looked like a gentleman in a suit.
“Please.”
Jung Yu-shin held out his hand as if it was natural.
“Okay.”
Ragna smiled and held out the magic stone.
Thump!
He grabbed the magic stone, but Ragna didn’t let go.
“Huh?”
“This old man has a wish, won’t you grant it?”
“Wha...what?!”
He only then realized.
This old Barbaroi’s sinister trick.
He really doesn’t want to lure people with sweet rewards and kidnap them?
A high-level trick.
“Let me hug you.”
“Ah...?!”
Without even a moment to say yes or no, Ragna moved his huge body and hugged Jung Yu-shin.
“Guaaaak!!!”
Jung Yu-shin struggled, but Ragna didn’t budge.
‘Giyeon is a hole-paying Giyeon?!’
No.
He expected Ragnar to do something different, so he wiggled his body with all his might.
But Ragnar just held Jung Yushin and stayed still.
“...?”
Jung Yushin stopped struggling and stayed still.
A few minutes later.
Ragnar put Jung Yushin on the floor.
“...”
Ragnar didn’t say anything. His eyes were just a little red.
The old warrior’s eyes were filled with sadness.
Ragnar patted Jung Yushin’s head once.
“I want to hug you more, but I don’t have time.”
“Where are you going?”
“There’s a bad guy I have to chase.”
Ragnar paused for a moment and opened his mouth again.
“And if you think you lack the knowledge of the Swordsmanship Guild, find my subordinates in the northern district. Don’t worry too much. I have properly ‘educated’ my compatriots in the city.”
Educate Barbaroi?
Are those people the ones who can be educated?
Aren’t they just unrehabilitated baby copiers?
By the way.
“The northern district?”
“The ones who don’t listen are moved there and are being rolled around. If you go and show them the ring, they will all understand.”
“Who are you, sir?”
“Me?”
Ragna snickered.
“Are you curious?”
“Yes.”
“Let’s talk about that when we get back.”
“No...?!”
Ragna turned and disappeared into the grass.
When I blinked at how fast it was, all I could see was the wind blowing.
“Oh, really.”
Jeong Yu-shin slumped down in his seat.
He was completely out of his ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ mind, as if some kind of storm had passed.
He had poured fate into his mouth.
How could he be this lucky?
And why did he hug him?
It was full of things that I couldn't understand.
I sat there blankly for a while, then took off my clothes and dipped into the lake.
'This is strange. The elf master and that old man too.'
They all acted quickly, as if they were in a hurry.
While thinking about this and that, I washed myself and came out of the lake and returned to the empty lot.
A familiar face was sitting at the campfire.
"Huh?! Iron Mask?!"
Iron Mask waved his hand.
Jung Yu-shin sat across from Iron Mask across the campfire.
"Scar, I heard everything from Karin. You're getting separate training at the swordsmanship association. You've had a hard time."
There was a faint smile in Iron Mask's voice.
"I was kidnapped."
Jung Yu-shin grumbled with a frown.
“I heard it was a good opportunity?”
“Since you’re here, why don’t you join me?”
Iron Mask shook his head.
“Scar, don’t you know? I don’t have time.”
“...”
Jung Yu-shin immediately understood and closed his mouth.
Crackle. Crackle.
In the silence.
The bonfire burned quietly.
Iron Mask opened his mouth.
“I have to move forward.”
“...”
After keeping his mouth shut for a long time, Jung Yu-shin raised his head.
“···Brother, don’t worry about me and go.”
Iron Mask stroked the greatsword.
“Scar, what you said gave me a realization. I thought I had given up everything, but that wasn’t the case. The fact that there was someone waiting for me was what sustained me. Thank you.”
Jung Yu-shin smiled slightly.
“We don’t see each other often, so let’s not say anything too sentimental. Please stop by the store often to increase sales.”
Iron Mask chuckled.
“That’s not like me.”
“By the way, who will take my place?”
“Charis. Do you remember the elf wizard you fought the troll with last time?”
“Yes.”
“And another human warrior has joined.”
“A five-person party.”
“That’s right.”
“Good.”
“If I have the time, I’ll try making a clan. If I can gather a lot of trustworthy party members.”
“Can I join you?”
“Of course. But I don’t think you’re the type of person who would be subordinate to others.”
“...”
Jeong Yu-shin scratched his head.
He was embarrassed when Iron Mask overestimated him.
“That’s true, but I guess I have to find a new party. Ugh.”
“It won’t be easy. The Barbarians these days...”
These guys again?
I heard that Ragnar ‘educated’ them.
Wasn’t he?
Iron Mask shook his head and got up from his seat.
“It’d be better if you see for yourself. Of course, he’s not a total outlaw like the last time I saw him.”
Iron Mask left just as he had come.
Jeong Yu-shin saw Iron Mask off and returned to the tent.
“Haa.”
The relationship we had met like this is leaving again.
It was a pity.
But I couldn’t hold onto that poor crown prince’s trouser leg.
There wouldn’t be time.
I lay down and closed my eyes, lost in thought.
‘Let’s put Karin in the party first..’
I made various plans and fell asleep right away.
Summer night.
In the forest, only a bonfire was burning quietly.
