NOVEL WEB Chapter 18 - Are You a Virgin?
“…Pardon? Wh-Wh-What story do you mean?”
As Hegel stuttered continuously, proving his nervousness, White Rabbit touched her forehead and answered.
“…You don’t need to be that nervous. Speak comfortably.”
‘No, even if you say don’t be nervous….’
How could he not be nervous when an executive of the Deep Water clan was talking to him, a mere 1st class?
If he said even one word wrong, he might become friends with the mermaids in that eastern sea.
It means he might be drowned.
“You said just now that a person named Sion told you that a stirring would occur in the labyrinth soon, right?”
“Y-Yes, but.”
“By any chance, was this Sion person a foreigner?”
“H-How did you know that…?”
“…I have my reasons. More importantly, after meeting you, do you know where that person went?”
At White Rabbit’s question, Hegel also answered as if troubled.
“I’ve been looking for him too, but… the last time I saw him was two days ago when we first met.”
“…Two days ago?”
White Rabbit had escaped the labyrinth just 3 days ago.
Two days ago would be one day after White Rabbit escaped the labyrinth.
‘…He broke through the 2nd floor of the labyrinth in just one day?’
This was certainly something that couldn’t be accepted within common sense, but.
‘…No, if it’s that person, it might be possible.’
Somehow, in White Rabbit’s heart, Siwon had already become an explorer beyond even stagnant water.
“By any chance, do you remember exactly when you met two days ago?”
“Hmm, I don’t remember exactly… but I think it was in the morning. Because people were bustling about.”
“…Then after talking with you, where did that person go?”
When White Rabbit asked again, Hegel pointed towards the office direction with his fingertip.
“There, he went towards the office, probably.”
“Thank you! Here, a tip!”
This was enough.
White Rabbit handed Hegel a coin pouch and disappeared.
“No, it’s not even much information, it’s fine….”
Looking at White Rabbit who had already gone far away, Hegel opened the pouch.
“Hu, huok?!”
The pouch, which he thought would contain silver coins, was filled with shining gold coins.
A moment later, inside the guild office.
“Excuse me.”
White Rabbit visited the Explorers Guild office again.
Although the receptionist had changed from earlier, White Rabbit didn’t mind and asked.
“Yes?”
“Two days ago, no, on the morning of two days ago, was there a foreign explorer who visited this office?”
“….”
The receptionist’s expression instantly hardened.
“Uh, uh, I don’t think there was? A foreigner?”
She wondered why she was stuttering, but.
‘Is it so surprising for a 5th class explorer to speak to her…?’
White Rabbit thought it was just because of her rank, like the white-bearded uncle from earlier.
“…Really?”
“Yes, yes!”
“…I see, then. Take care.”
She thought she had definitely gotten closer to the answer.
But with that one word from the receptionist, all her guesses turned to bubbles.
‘For now, let’s go back….’
Still, if there was a connection, they should be able to meet again.
White Rabbit had many things to do besides finding Siwon’s whereabouts.
‘I need to investigate more about the magic item obtained there.’
While fiddling with the sunglasses proudly placed on her white hair, White Rabbit muttered so.
At that time, inside the labyrinth.
“So, Hassan. What will you do?”
Siwon asked Hassan, whose face was filled with despair.
Having confirmed that a stirring had already occurred, Siwon couldn’t afford to linger in a place like this.
“….”
Hassan just bowed his head without saying anything.
‘…This bastard, is he broken?’
He can’t break down already.
He needs to accompany at least until the 5th floor for things to be easier afterwards.
“…Hey.”
“….”
“If you don’t answer within 3 seconds, the next place I’ll hit is your manhood.”
“I-I’m sorry!”
As soon as Siwon spoke, the answer came out naturally.
‘Fu-Fucked…!’
As that thought flashed through Hassan’s mind.
Thwack!
“Agh!”
“Bastard, if you’re in your right mind, answer. I was worried.”
“I’m sorry! Agh!”
“Good, you’re feeling better now, right?”
“Yes!”
“Then let’s depart.”
In the end, Hassan followed Siwon and stepped towards the red portal.
“…Phew.”
As soon as they came out of the portal, a sigh of relief was heard from right in front.
‘…It’s just a portal, why is he acting like that?’
It was a momentary question, but Hassan didn’t bother to ask.
He had already learned the formula that question = beating.
At that moment, Siwon turned his head.
“Hassan.”
“Agh!”
“…Hey, I haven’t even hit you yet. Bastard.”
“Agh!”
“….”
‘Did I hit him too much?’
What Siwon wanted was a slave, not the strongest marine.
‘…More importantly, I need to check if this guy knows about the 3rd floor of the labyrinth.’
In the case of the 3rd floor of the labyrinth, the difference between knowing and not knowing related information is like heaven and earth.
Even if he doesn’t know, there was a need to tell him.
“You, do you know what kind of place the underground 3rd floor is?”
“Agh! Siwon-nim! Would you be willing to grant permission to ask whether you would allow me to inquire about your willingness to permit an explanation about what kind of place the 3rd floor of the Argantolla Labyrinth is!”
“….”
For a moment he thought about hitting him more, but.
‘…No, let’s hold back. Anyway, the only healing potions left are mine.’
Siwon was reluctant to use his own healing potions to save Hassan.
“…Alright, go ahead.”
“Agh! Thank you! The 3rd floor of the Argantolla Labyrinth takes a form similar to a cave in all places, so it’s very difficult to pinpoint where you are currently located!”
“Is that all?”
“No! Besides that, there are monsters called mimics placed here and there on the 3rd floor of the labyrinth, and it’s good to be careful because you can die immediately if you show interest in these mimics!”
“….”
Well, this much isn’t bad.
“There’s one more thing.”
“Agh! I’m sorry! I don’t know!”
Hassan answered like that and smashed his head on the cave floor.
“…Get up. It’s okay.”
“Agh!”
“…One more thing you need to know is that those mimics transform into what you desire most.”
“Agh! Is that so?”
“Yes. So be careful. Whatever appears here, never approach it and don’t show any interest. Got it?”
“Agh! I understand!”
“….”
‘Can I trust this bastard?’
Honestly, if Hassan dies, well, I just have to suffer a bit more on the 5th floor, so that’s fine.
The problem is the luggage he’s carrying.
It’s not that I can’t carry it, but if he gets eaten by a mimic, it’s goodbye to these items too.
“Stick right behind me and follow. If you fall even a little behind, I’ll beat you right away.”
“Agh! I understand! Agh!”
So Siwon started the journey towards the 3rd floor of the labyrinth together with the unreliable Hassan.
.
.
.
“Hey.”
“Agh!”
“How the fuck is it that you only have women in your head?”
“Agh! I’m sorry! Agh!”
Siwon saw various things while walking through the 3rd floor with Hassan.
Half of them were women, and they were all beauties with pale skin and yellow hair.
An appearance that seemed full of Hassan’s tastes to anyone who saw.
Still, due to the characteristics of mimics, they couldn’t move or speak, so it was immediately noticeable.
“Agh! Perhaps would you be willing to grant permission to ask whether you would allow…”
“Just ask. What is it.”
“Agh! Thank you! Agh!”
Thwack!
“Aargh!”
“What is it. Speak, quickly. We don’t have time.”
“Well, there were strange box-like things appearing several times. What are those? Besides the golden color, there’s nothing particularly…”
“H100.”
“Pardon?”
“I said H100. You don’t know even if I tell you, right? There’s such a thing, bastard.”
It would be useless to Hassan, but.
Siwon suppressed the desire to run towards it several times while looking at its form.
He knew better than anyone what happens to explorers who are enticed by mimics.
‘Damn, I didn’t know it could transform to match the people of this world… Yellow Boss, is this right?’
“…Pe-People?”
At that moment, a woman’s voice was heard from the side.
“Ex-Excuse me! Please save me!”
“…?”
When Siwon turned his head, a woman with black hair was reflected in his pupils.
She was a beautiful woman with quite an impressive appearance, wearing only a white shirt.
Why would a foreign beauty be in a place like this?
The answer is that she is not human.
‘What’s this? If it’s a mimic, it shouldn’t be able to speak…’
“Agh! As expected, Siwon-nim is a man too! Agh!”
Thwack!
“Kuagh!”
“Shut up, bastard.”
“Ex-Excuse me! Please, I beg you! Save me!”
“…But, do mimics speak?”
“That’s what I’m saying.”
‘…Is it a variant species?’
These are usually creatures that appear about 20 floors down from here.
‘…Since a stirring is occurring, it’s not entirely impossible, but.’
During a stirring, sometimes errors occur and monsters that should appear on lower floors get mixed with upper floors.
Mimics like now, which exist on lower floors whenever there’s a gap, are a typical case.
Of course, it will be corrected at some point during the stirring process and its existence will be erased, but.
‘…Should I check it out?’
“Pl-Please… save me!”
“Hey, over there!”
Siwon shouted from afar.
“Ah, yes!”
“Agh! Siwon-nim! You clearly said not to show interest…”
Hassan tried to stop him from behind, but he ignored it.
“You there! If you want to live, come this way!”
“…?”
This is just a verification procedure.
If she’s a mimic, even if it’s a variant species, it shouldn’t be able to move while maintaining its transformed appearance.
If it’s a mimic that can speak and move while transformed, then it’s no longer just a mimic.
“Ah, that… It’s a bit difficult to move right now!”
As expected.
“Then I’m just leaving.”
“Agh! As expected, Siwon-nim! You were just trying to confirm!”
As Siwon turned his back.
“Uu… Alright! I’m coming!”
The woman answered that she would come towards Siwon.
“…Huh?”
“Agh! Siwon-nim! What do we do about this? We should quickly run away…”
At that moment, the woman stood up.
“….”
Hassan and Abdul’s breaths stopped.
The woman was wearing only a white shirt, with nothing underneath.
Not even panties.
‘…Was that why she said she couldn’t follow? No, more than that….’
“Hu, huhu….”
From the side, Hassan’s voice, already sounding entranced, was heard.
Siwon also seemed unknowingly entranced by the sight.
And before he knew it.
“I, I didn’t have anything on underneath… I’m sorry.”
The black-haired woman had reached right in front of Siwon.
“?!”
Siwon immediately backed away from her.
“Wh-Why are you doing that? I’m not doing anything…”
“….”
‘Is she really a woman?’
If she had been a mimic, she would have revealed her true form and eaten Hassan and Siwon before even approaching from the side.
“Hassan.”
“Agh!”
“From now on, I’m going to have a conversation with this woman, so during that time, shut your trap.”
“Agh!”
Siwon’s gaze turned towards the black-haired woman.
Her slightly wet-looking hair and fearful expression were quite impressive.
First, identity verification.
“…You, are you really human?”
“Do I look like some kind of monster to you?”
“…Well, not that.”
Siwon’s gaze went to the lower part of the woman’s body.
The white shirt was barely covering her buttocks.
Realizing Siwon’s gaze, the woman immediately covered her buttocks with her delicate hands and shouted.
“Wh-Where are you looking?!”
“No, I was just wondering why you’re not wearing anything…”
“I-I don’t know either! I was just washing and changing clothes when suddenly some kind of whirlpool appeared…”
“…Whirlpool?”
“Yes, and when I opened my eyes, I was here. There was nothing around, and I was somehow scared so I just stayed still… Then you guys appeared and I immediately asked for help.”
“…Wait a minute. Did you just say company?”
“Yes, what about company…?”
At least it’s not a word used in this world.
“You, what’s your name?”
“Se-Seo Isu…”
“…!”
It’s certain.
She was also a person from Korea, like Siwon.
“More than that, where is this place?”
“…You, do you remember what day it was today?”
“Today? Of course…”
The woman’s words trailed off.
“Huh? Why can’t I remember? That’s strange…”
“….”
It seemed all memories related to time had been completely forgotten.
There was nothing more to ask.
“Let’s go, Hassan.”
“Agh!”
“Wa-Wait a moment! Pl-Please take me with you…!”
Siwon drew his sword and held it to her neck.
Still, it was a longsword, not a yoto, showing a bit of consideration.
“Hii, hiiek?!”
“Why should I save you?”
“Th-That… Ar-Aren’t you Korean too?”
“What are you talking about? I’m a foreigner. Not Korean.”
“Agh! Siwon-nim! Perhaps may I request permission to ask whether I could be allowed to express one opinion…”
“If it’s about fucking this woman, shut your mouth, Hassan.”
“….”
Thwack!
“Agh!”
“You fucking bastard. Be moderately horny, will you.”
He was trying not to hit him as much as possible.
How can he endure this.
“Hu, huuk….”
The woman, seemingly quite shocked by Siwon’s words, was again sitting on the floor and sobbing.
‘…A woman like this would just be a burden in the labyrinth.’
Siwon thought this but still opened his backpack.
Of course, Hassan’s backpack.
“Here, food and water. It’ll be difficult to take you with us, but try to survive on your own.”
He knows she’ll die eventually.
Yet the reason he gave this to her was the last bit of affection towards a Korean person, not an NPC from a game.
“Th-Thank you….”
Unlike that damn Abdul who had already died, her expression of gratitude even for just water and food was pleasing, but that was it.
This should be the end of their connection.
“Agh! Siwon-nim!”
At that moment, Hassan called Siwon again.
‘This damn bastard, has he still not come to his senses?’
Just as Siwon was about to clench his fist.
“Siwon-nim’s bag is glowing!”
“…What?”
At Hassan’s words, Siwon immediately snatched his backpack from Hassan and rummaged through it.
“…Holy shit.”
The half-broken sword he had brought from the weapon shop was emitting a dazzling golden light.
Siwon immediately took the sword and brought it close to Seo Isu.
“…?”
Seo Isu looked at him with an expression that seemed to ask what it was, but.
“…”
Siwon just stared at Seo Isu and the increasingly brightly shining holy sword with a completely hardened expression.
“…You.”
Siwon’s lips slowly parted.
“Are you a virgin?”