Inside the Inn, the atmosphere had settled into a low, heavy gloom.
Geremu, who made a living selling belts in the South Street, struggled with all his might to calm his trembling heart.
Being a dog beastman, he could smell things incredibly well, if nothing else. But at this moment, he wanted to twist his own nose shut.
A terrifying scent was wafting off that Barbaroi.
'Ka... Karin-nim.'
He didn't know the specific details.
However, the Pheromone scent of Karin-nim's humiliation, tears, and pleas was thick and clinging to that man's body.
'Why...?'
It is the law of nature for a man and a woman to share love.
But.
How could he utter the word 'purity' after persistently tormenting the dignified and gallant Karin-nim all night long?
It was absurd.
The scent was so foul that if his own wife hadn't had her life saved by this Barbaroi, he wouldn't have even come here.
No.
In a way, he thought it was a relief.
If his wife had caught this scent, her modest and innocent sexual walls would have been shattered to pieces, completely ruining her.
Several beastman guards also gasped in flustered confusion, their faces turning red.
Geremu thought deeply.
'Karin-nim was treated like this, so will Ingrid-nim really stay quiet?'
No matter how much Explorers are considered equal, Ingrid-nim was not the kind of person to stay still after such a humiliation.
Geremu's train of thought was cut short.
It was because Jung Yu-shin cleared his throat with a keum-keum.
Jung Yu-shin realized that his joke hadn't landed.
"It was a joke. The atmosphere was so down that I thought I'd give you a laugh, but..."
"Ahahaha...!"
"Cough... keu-heok!!! That's, that's too funny. Oh my! My Navel!"
People burst into laughter while making strange expressions.
"Keum! Let's get to the point."
A male lion beastman cleared his throat.
He was dressed in Plate armor. Thick dark circles were visible under his eyes.
"I am Ricky Coleman, the Guard captain of the South Street. I've often heard news from my subordinates. I finally get to see you. You are indeed beyond my imagination."
"I see. I am Ska. Out of curiosity, what did you hear from your subordinates?"
"Several of my subordinates were on night Labyrinth guard duty. I heard you took the lead in fighting when the High-ranking Explorer Hans turned into a monster."
Jung Yu-shin scratched his head.
'I guess rumors do spread one way or another.'
The Guard captain continued.
"Many were injured because of the recent monster attack, but many also saved their lives thanks to your exploits."
"Is that so?"
Kung!!!
When the Guard captain set a pouch down on the table, the sound of clinking filled the Inn.
"Many people are indebted to you. So, the Guard, the Merchant guild, and several individuals have pooled their hearts to prepare a reward."
Jung Yu-shin smiled at the Guard captain's words.
"That's good. Thank you."
He approached and picked up the money pouch, but stopped just as he was about to put it in his pocket.
"How many people died in the South Street this time?"
"Quite a few."
"I would like to give half of this money to the bereaved families."
"...Were you that close to them?"
"No. But I hope it can be at least a small comfort to them. We are neighbors living on the same street, after all."
"...Is that so? Thank you. I won't forget this kindness."
The Guard captain bowed his head and offered his thanks.
Regardless of what this Barbaroi's sex life was like, many people had their lives saved.
Since everyone is bound to have secret tastes, he decided to understand with an open mind. Besides, Karin-nim was an adult, so she had the right to choose a man who suited her heart.
The Guard captain reached out to take the money pouch that Jung Yu-shin was handing back.
Just then.
The Guard captain's and Jung Yu-shin's hands briefly brushed.
"Heu-eo-eo-eok!!!"
The Guard captain had a fit and dropped the pouch on the ground.
"...What's wrong?"
"N-nothing. Don't mind it."
The Guard captain swallowed hard.
'As I thought, it's impossible. Such a ruinous scent, I can't understand it.'
The Guard captain's mind raced.
'Karin-nim is already involved. It would be a huge problem to speak of this out loud and spread it around. I have no choice but to keep my mouth shut for the time being.'
Of course, it wouldn't last long.
Still, he decided to consider it as repaying the debt he owed to this black-haired Barbaroi and be careful with his words.
It wasn't that he was absolutely terrified of a Barbaroi with such an outrageous sexual preference.
Simply.
To repay the favor.
The Guard captain decided to look away from this issue.
"Keu-eu-euk!!! I... I liked her first!!!"
Among the merchants and street residents, several young beastmen stood up and ran out, shedding tears with resentful expressions.
Jung Yu-shin tilted his head.
"Why are they acting like that?"
"The person they liked has crossed a river from which there is no return, so their sense of loss must be great. Understand them."
"Yes."
Jung Yu-shin scratched his head as he replied to the Guard captain.
There was one thing he was curious about.
"May I ask you one thing?"
"Speak."
"Do you know who was behind the monster attack?"
"It seems several monsters living in the Eastern District harbored resentment and committed the act. The details are confidential, so I cannot say. The higher-ups will likely discuss and resolve it."
"Does this happen often?"
"I've heard it happened occasionally in the past."
While Jung Yu-shin and the Guard captain were chatting.
The beastmen stood up first.
"We... we'll be going now. Ska, take care of yourself, and see you later."
Jung Yu-shin looked up.
"Leaving already? Stay a bit longer."
"Heu-eok...! N-no. Work at the shop is busy, so I have to go."
"My wife is alone, so I have to go quickly. I'll get yelled at for just playing around!"
"It's just that things are a bit busy lately. Please understand."
The beastmen replied while creaking like machines.
Even those who couldn't smell must have sensed the atmosphere turning strange, as they quietly stood up, gave a slight bow, and left the Inn.
Jung Yu-shin saw each and every one of them off with sincerity.
"Please come to the Inn often and help increase sales."
"O-of course! Who are you talking to?! I'll come often!"
"T-thank you. I won't forget this favor!"
The people left the Inn with stiff expressions.
Jung Yu-shin scratched his head as he watched their retreating backs.
'Is it that hard? Well, since many were injured and died, they wouldn't be in a good mood.'
He decided to be understanding and let it go.
* * *
A day had passed since the street people visited.
The streets of the Labyrinth City, where the festival had ended, were strangely restless.
In the midst of that.
Jung Yu-shin, Tarman, and Anne gathered around an Inn table.
It was to settle the accounts for the money earned during the festival.
"We made a profit of about 30 Gold Coins this time. This excludes the pay for the bakery owner."
Tarman said.
Jung Yu-shin's eyes widened in surprise.
"That's a lot."
In just 5 days, they had earned a profit of about 300 silver coins. Considering the low profit margins in the food industry, it was an enormous revenue.
"The cream Slime bread sold like wildfire. Rumors are rampant among merchants and tourists."
"To that extent?"
"Yes. I speculate that the fresh cream flavor, the crispy and savory bread, and the cute shape were the reasons for its popularity."
"Really?"
It seemed the freezing Magic Tool he bought last time had really done its job.
"But since we've earned this much, what should we do?"
"Let's leave 10 Gold Coins for Inn operations and divide the rest."
Tarman and Anne looked up in surprise.
"But... didn't you purchase a freezing Magic Tool this time? We're fine, but wouldn't you be taking a loss, Ska-nim?"
"Not at all. I bought it for the Inn's profit. Money can be earned again. Besides, you all worked hard. And I received some money from the Guard captain and the South Street people."
"Even so..."
Despite their protests, Jung Yu-shin decided to distribute 4 Gold Coins to each person.
He also decided to give Gold Coins to Karin and the Fox Beastman Luna.
After finishing the meeting, Jung Yu-shin fell into deep thought.
The 6 Gold Coins he received from the people this time.
And the 4 Gold Coins earned from selling cream Slime bread.
Altogether, it was an amount of about 10 Gold Coins.
Since he needed to replenish supplies consumed during the last Labyrinth trip, repair armor, and buy weapons, he planned to slowly walk around the streets.
He suggested going shopping with Karin, but she refused. She was constantly lying in bed, perhaps because she wasn't feeling well.
"Sorry, I'm not feeling well."
"Where does it hurt? Should I buy you some medicine?"
Karin's face turned slightly red.
"It's... it's not like that, okay? I think I just need to rest a bit."
"Understood."
Karin said that, but she looked like she needed medicine. Seeing her groaning while lying in bed made him worry all of a sudden.
He had heard that it hurts a lot the first time you have a relationship.
'I should go to Edel after a long time.'
The Fox Beastman Luna's mother. She was running a small pharmacy in the South Street.
He decided to stop by to give Luna her money and buy Karin's medicine.
He left the Inn and walked slowly toward the pharmacy.
Ttang-rang.
When he entered the pharmacy, Luna's mother was at the counter with her back turned, moving Potions.
"Edel, it's been a while."
"Ah! Ska-nim, it's been a wh...?"
Edel turned around to look at Jung Yu-shin and suddenly had a nosebleed.
Jung Yu-shin's eyes went round.
"Oh?! Edel, are you okay? Has your illness relapsed by any chance?"
"N... no."
As Jung Yu-shin approached, Edel covered her nose and stepped back slightly.
"Wha... what do you need?"
"Karin doesn't seem to be feeling very well. I think she needs painkillers or fever reducers."
"I, I see."
"Pardon?"
Edel muttered something small, but Jung Yu-shin didn't hear it clearly and asked again.
"I... it's nothing."
Edel hurriedly prepared the medicine.
Unlike her usual calm self, she placed the bottle containing the Potion on the counter with trembling hands.
"Th... this should do. It's about 3 silver coins."
"I see."
Jung Yu-shin took a Gold Coin out of his pouch and handed it to Edel.
In the process, their hands brushed.
"Hii-ii-ik!!!"
Edel recoiled and pulled her hand back.
???
Jung Yu-shin also stepped back in surprise.
"Wha... what's the matter?"
"N-no, it's nothing. Actually, I'm not feeling well myself. I'm sorry, Ska-nim."
"I see. By the way, Luna went through a lot of trouble this time. It's not much, but I've included as much as she worked for."
"Ah...! Thank you. You didn't have to do this..."
"No. Luna worked that hard. If she hadn't helped, we wouldn't have seen this much profit."
Jung Yu-shin said only what needed to be said and left the shop.
He had the medicine for Karin and had handed over the reward for Luna.
Seeing that Edel wasn't feeling well, it seemed difficult to chat any further.
Ttang-rang.
After Jung Yu-shin left and the shop door closed, Edel looked at her hand.
That scent was definitely Karin-nim's Pheromone.
As someone who distinguished all sorts of medicinal herbs, Edel knew it naturally even if she didn't want to. More specifically than any other beastman.
"How..."
For the always calm and altruistic Ska-nim to have such a ruinous Mating.
She couldn't believe it.
The massive plot twist made her head dizzy and her heart pound.
Edel fanned her face vigorously with her hand.
"Huu-ut."
Karin-nim's face, pinned under Ska-nim's sturdy body, must have looked like it was melting away.
It wasn't a face a brave Warrior who patrolled the eastern border with subordinates to protect people would make.
It was even less a face the idol of the Beastman Union, praised for her beauty, would make.
Karin-nim pleaded and wailed like a sow, something unimaginable for a virtuous woman.
The secret part that should surely conceive a lovely Child must have been stretched to its limit, spraying jets of water for dear life.
In all her life, she had never heard of such Mating.
How vivid the Pheromone was.
Edel ended up imagining herself being crushed under Ska-nim, as if she had swapped places with Karin-nim.
"Ah! No!!!"
Edel shook her head, her yellow tail twitching as if trying to snap back to her senses.
That was a path she must not take. As a woman and as a mother of a child, it was a path that led only to ruin.
"Ska-nim... what on earth happened?"
Edel sighed and muttered.
Edel didn't realize that her underwear was damply soaked.
* * *
When Jung Yu-shin returned to the Inn, Iron Mask, who was sitting across from the counter, waved his hand in welcome.
"Ska, I heard you pulled off quite a feat this time."
There was a hint of laughter in Iron Mask's voice.
"I thought I was going to die. It wasn't easy."
Jung Yu-shin grumbled as he sat at the counter.
"By the way, did you hear the news?"
"What news?"
"I heard the red-light district in the Eastern District was half-destroyed. Word is a white-haired warrior appeared and beat the Barbaroi to a pulp. The Labyrinth City is buzzing with this news more than the monster attack right now."
Jung Yu-shin crossed his arms.
He wasn't curious at all. What happened to those crazy Barbaroi had nothing to do with him.
"There's one more piece of news. Actually, that's why I stopped by."
Iron Mask's voice was full of excitement.
"What is it?"
"A message came from the Explorer Guild. Your promotion has been decided. They're telling you to come and receive your silver plaque."
Jung Yu-shin grinned.
"That's good. When did they say to come?"
Iron Mask replied.
"As soon as possible."
Jung Yu-shin stood up from his seat.
"Let's go now."