How a Black-Haired Barbarian Survived the Labyrinth in Another World-Chapter 135: Murder

Early morning.

In the Monster Dissection Office.

"..."

Silence passed between Jeong Yusin and Aldein.

Aldein, holding his scimitar, glared at Jeong Yusin.

"Crazy bastard. This is a damn mess."

A sudden curse.

"Excuse me?"

A flustered Jeong Yusin asked in return.

The elf captain had asked to work on something together, yet suddenly he was cursing.

Moreover, it was clear how furious Aldein was, as his hand holding the red scimitar was faintly trembling.

"Why are you angry? Did I do something wrong?"

Jeong Yusin’s question made Aldein brush his gray hair.

"I'm not angry."

???

Jeong Yusin looked at him with a dumbfounded expression.

‘Is he out of his mind?’

Aldein tapped his head.

"...Aigo, my head."

"If you're not feeling well, I'll come back later."

"No. Let’s finish business first."

Aldein leaned the scimitar against the table and straightened his posture.

"Something interesting is happening in the labyrinth city these days."

"..."

"Don’t shrug your shoulders like you don’t know anything."

"I really don’t know."

"Well, you wouldn’t know. You’ve been outside the labyrinth city for a month, right?"

"How do you know I was outside the labyrinth city? And how do you know I got younger?"

"Don’t we have our sweet-nosed friend? And the southern district is in chaos because of you. They’re saying a black-haired handsome boy appeared."

"..."

Jeong Yusin swept his hair back.

His shoulders slowly began to rise.

Maybe it’s time to admit it?

‘I might be handsome.’

"Don’t act like you're so deadly. You look like a cocoon in front of an elf."

"..."

Jeong Yusin slowly lowered his hand and gently placed it on his knee.

Aldein cleared his throat before speaking again.

"Ah! Drugs are circulating inside the city."

The sudden statement made Jeong Yusin’s eyes widen.

Drugs?

"What do you mean by drugs all of a sudden?"

"You might be familiar with it. You’ve been in the forest tier, so you probably know. What’s the ‘law’ of the forest tier?"

"‘Pain,’ right?"

In the forest tier, pain triggers madness.

It was an absolute rule of the labyrinth that no one could escape.

"Right. Recently, a 'strange' pain-relieving cream has been popular among explorers in the forest tier. It hasn’t been long."

"Shit."

Jeong Yusin cursed.

During the forest troll hunt before.

He had once used the pain-relieving cream given to him by a warrior.

He had smeared it thickly on his skin.

And that was... drugs?

Aldein looked at Jeong Yusin’s expression and crossed his arms.

"Have you used it once? Strictly speaking, it's a narcotic painkiller. Isn’t it better than going crazy?"

It might be true.

Whether you go mad from the madness.

Or get addicted to the drugs and slowly deteriorate into a useless wreck.

Both seemed like the worst possible outcomes.

"Why would someone use a narcotic painkiller when there are quality potions?"

"There are many reasons. Maybe during a critical battle, there’s no time to take off your helmet and drink a potion. Maybe there’s no priest in the party. Additionally, the drug’s effect helps to shake off fear. And potions can't erase the pain they've already experienced."

"..."

Jeong Yusin had no words in response.

"So?"

"Recently, there’s a drug that’s been released to the market. Its effect is terrifying. It works well as a painkiller, but that's it. The addiction is so severe that it messes up the brain."

Aldein paused for a moment before continuing.

"The problem isn’t just that. It was only popular among explorers, but now it’s starting to affect ordinary people as well. With how fast it’s spreading, it looks organized. I can’t ignore it. Some of my subordinates are addicted and losing their minds."

Jeong Yusin thought deeply and then spoke.

"I understand what’s going on. So, there’s some kind of organization behind this? But how can someone like me, so weak, capture them? If the captain can’t do it, how would I have the power?"

Aldein gave him a bewildered look.

"You think you're weak?"

"Yes. Look at my innocent face. Do I look like someone who would cut someone down?"

Aldein widened his eyes and looked down at Jeong Yusin.

"..."

An uncomfortable silence lingered for a moment between them.

Aldein rubbed his eyebrows.

"You’re fine, but sometimes you say ridiculous things. The madness of the labyrinth, and whatnot, you just sound like a crazy bastard."

"It’s not that bad."

"I get it. Think about it. This is related to the southern district as well."

Jeong Yusin pulled out a red magic stone from his pocket.

Aldein immediately recognized it.

"This is a top-grade magic stone, isn’t it? Where did you get this?"

"Some barbarian old man gave it to me. Is there anyone who would buy this magic stone?"

Aldein stared at the stone for a while, then slowly spoke.

"I can think of a few places."

"Can you sell it for me?"

"You know I’m the monster dissection office head, right? I’m not a black market dealer."

"Can’t you do it?"

Jeong Yusin rubbed his hands together, looking at Aldein with sparkling eyes.

Aldein grabbed the scimitar.

"...Captain, why are you holding the sword?"

"To feel the love and peace in my heart."

"Your hands are shaking, though?"

"I have tremors. It happens after working for a long time."

"..."

Another uncomfortable silence passed between them.

Aldein shook his head and sighed.

"Aigo. Darmong must’ve given me a huge burden."

"Isn’t that what we do, helping each other?"

"You’ve gotten really sly. Life looks easy, huh? The commission is 30%."

"Captain, what commission are you talking about? Can’t you do 20%? I’ve got a family to support."

"You guys make a lot of money from your inn. The innkeepers in the southern district are sighing heavily. You’re sweeping all the money."

"..."

They made that much?

"If you’re using connections, there’s a price to pay. Who’s living off the land?"

"Understood."

Aldein waved his hand.

"Alright. I’ll send the payment for the magic stone to the sweet-nosed friend. It might take some time. Go now. Think about what I said."

"Yes."

Jeong Yusin stood up, bowed his head, and left the office.

Creak.

Thud.

Aldein sighed as he looked at the spot where Jeong Yusin had been sitting and fiddled with the scimitar.

"Little brother, please stop talking. I’m dying here."

The scimitar shuddered.

Aldein stared blankly at the scimitar.

"...You really want to be held tightly by that pretty boy, huh?"

Aldein leaned back in his chair and rubbed his forehead.

‘This is really dangerous.’

He had known from the report by the sweet-nosed friend, but he didn’t expect it to be this bad.

The kind of beauty that could rival any elf.

Could this really be the same old Sky?

He had heard rumors about a handsome boy appearing in the southern district, but it must’ve been true.

‘And doesn’t he also have the Virgin’s Corruption imprint?’

Just a little twisted, and he could become a walking virgin killer.

The scene of countless virgins with imprints engraved on them flashed vividly in his mind.

A bomb of a guy.

"Ugh. Please don’t take off the ring."

Aldein sighed and muttered.

Jeong Yusin walked down the street with light steps, exiting the western district.

The hot sun was beating down on his head, but he didn’t mind.

He had gained something from the walk.

He entrusted the sale of the top-grade magic stone to Aldein.

Soon, the payment from the stone sale would be in his hands. Then he could buy equipment with Karin.

While waiting, he could train and prepare to enter the labyrinth.

He thought over his plans for the future.

‘Things are going smoothly.’

Jeong Yusin, smiling widely, was walking through the southern park street when he suddenly stopped.

The narcotic painkiller Aldein mentioned lingered in his mind.

‘Should I look into it a bit more?’

His tone had been serious.

He sat down on a park bench and stared at the fountain.

What should he do?

He knew well that there was no need to poke the hornet's nest.

‘But should I just stand by and watch?’

He hadn’t gotten the full details from Aldein.

He needed to understand how serious the situation was with the narcotic painkiller circulating in the market before he could make a decision.

As Jeong Yusin was lost in thought, a person came to mind.

Edel.

The mother of the fox beastman, Luna, and the owner of the pharmacy.

He had met her when she helped him with magic sclerosis.

‘I should ask her.’

Since she ran a pharmacy, she probably knew something about the pain-relief cream.

Jeong Yusin stood up.

‘I’ll stop by to see Luna’s cute face too.’

Southern street.

A small pharmacy.

The wooden door opened, and the doorbell rang.

Ding-dong.

"Welcome..."

Edel stopped mid-greeting and stiffened.

Three men with rough appearances had entered.

One was a lizard beastman.

The other two were humans.

Unwelcome visitors.

Luna, who had been organizing potions on the display rack, looked up and frowned.

"What do you want again?"

"Luna, step aside."

Edel sharply warned Luna, and Luna closed her mouth and stepped back.

The lizard beastman flicked his tongue and stepped closer.

"You know, I’ve seen your daughter’s temper a lot. But anyway, madam, how long are you going to keep refusing?"

"...I told you clearly, didn’t I?"

Edel responded coldly.

The lizard beastman grinned.

"Madam, why are you refusing when we’re offering such a good deal? We’re just trying to do good business here. Are you going to keep acting this way? If you do, I’ll be very disappointed."

"The pain-relief cream you’re offering is close to a drug. I can’t sell such things at our store."

Edel firmly stated.

The lizard beastman laughed in disbelief.

"Madam, don’t you know? In labyrinth exploration, such drugs are essential. In some layers, people go mad from pain. Have you ever seen someone go crazy from madness? If you had, you wouldn’t be able to deny how strong the effect is."

"...Even so, your products are too extreme. I can’t accept them."

"Hah! Damn. Other pharmacies just accept them without a word."

The lizard beastman sighed and shook his head.

"Ugh. Guys, do something. This lady’s stubbornness is really something."

The two rough-looking men smiled sinisterly.

Crash!!!

The two men swept the potion bottles off the pharmacy display and smashed them on the floor.

The glass bottles shattered instantly, and colorful liquids spilled across the floor.

"I’m calling the guards!"

Edel yelled.

"Call them. What happens next, you know, right?"

The lizard beastman smiled slyly and continued.

"When we leave, who do you think will come next? Hmm? You know the labyrinth committee is changing soon, right? When that happens, no one will care if we burn down a tiny pharmacy like this."

The lizard beastman slowly approached Edel and grabbed her chin.

"Such a pity. Such a pity. A mother and daughter working in the same place."

"Stay away from my mother!!!"

Luna, unable to hold back, swung her arms wildly and lunged.

The lizard beastman laughed.

Slaaap!!!

Without hesitation, he slapped Luna across the face.

Bang!!!

Luna flew through the air like a doll and crashed into the corner.

Her cheek turned bright red, and blood flowed from her mouth.

"Luna!!!"

Edel screamed and tried to rush to Luna, but the lizard beastman grabbed her arm.

"Madam, I think you’ve crossed the line while we’ve been so gentlemanly with you."

"Let go of me!!!"

Edel struggled.

Slaaap!!!

The lizard beastman slapped Edel across the face with his other hand.

He didn’t stop there—he grabbed her hair.

"Are you underestimating us? Decide now. Take the drugs, or close down your store."

"Cough!!!"

Edel clenched her lips, furious.

How had she come this far?

She had been given a second chance to live after being diagnosed with magic sclerosis, thanks to Sky’s help.

But before she could feel happiness, misfortune found her.

Repeated visits, threatening not-so-subtle threats, and pushing products she didn’t want to sell.

She kept refusing, but things kept escalating, leading to today.

Tears welled up in Edel’s eyes, desperate.

"Ah... I understand."

"Stop right there."

A cold voice rang from the back.

The lizard beastman turned his head.

"Huh? What’s this?"

A black-haired handsome boy stood by the door.

A twisted expression, like a devil.

Jeong Yusin looked around.

Luna, unconscious, was crumpled in the corner, blood dripping from her mouth.

Jeong Yusin’s eyes sparked with fury.

"These damn bastards."

An assassin's intent surged through ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) the heart of the formerly peaceful boy.