It took us three days to reach our destination, two days to explore the ruins of the research facility, and another three days to return. In total, we completed our journey in eight days. We arrived just after noon, and as we made our way back, other adventurers returning from their own expeditions glanced at us curiously. We must have looked quite the sight, bedraggled and worn, sparking their curiosity about where we had been.
Despite our ragged appearance, our faces were bright with the thrill of success. We had gained much from this expedition, and the atmosphere was almost celebratory, like victorious generals returning from battle. As the familiar, albeit shabby, northern gate came into view, Yu-jeong spoke up with excitement.
“Finally, we’re back. I can’t wait to eat a warm meal, take a bath, and just collapse into bed.”
“Me too…” An-sol replied with a grin, and Ahn-hyun, who had been listening, put on a serious expression. His stiff posture and the way he held his head high suggested he was deep in thought. I decided to tease him a bit.
“Ahn-hyun, what’s the first thing you’ll do now that we’re back?”
I sidled up to him and asked. He replied with a solemn face.
“Training, of course. Just because we’ve returned from an expedition doesn’t mean we should indulge in food and rest. That’s a mistake.”
“Very commendable. Just what I’d expect from someone of your class.”
“Naturally. This is just standard for me,” Ahn-hyun said, nodding with a self-satisfied air. Yu-jeong and An-sol shot him a look, and after a moment, Yu-jeong couldn’t hold back her retort.
“Yeah, right. You’ll just stuff your face like a pig.”
Despite Yu-jeong’s sharp words, Ahn-hyun remained unfazed.
“Hmm, I detect the scent of a common user. A rather envious one at that. Perhaps I should move over to where you and Vivian are.”
Ahn-hyun’s lofty tone made Yu-jeong’s eyes flare with anger.
“You idiot. You’re such a fool.”
“I hear the cries of a jealous beast. Brother, the weather is exceptionally clear today, isn’t it? Hahaha.”
“Alright, alright, that’s enough from both of you,” I interjected. Ahn-hyun nodded with a relaxed smile, while Yu-jeong bit her lip in frustration. I had only meant to tease them a little, so I waved my arms to calm the situation. Shin Sang-yong and Vivian chuckled at the scene.
I turned my attention to Jung Ha-yeon, who had been in a daze since we left the ruins. No one had spoken to her, and she rarely initiated conversation. Even Yu-jeong, who used to be close to her, now treated her as if she were invisible.
The atmosphere wasn’t ideal. Regardless of personal feelings, she was a clan member I had chosen to work with. We needed to at least maintain the camaraderie we had when we first set out from Mule. Especially since I planned to establish a clan soon, and she would be one of the founding members.
For now, it seemed best to let everyone rest today and address things later. We had returned from an expedition, but there was still much to do before the next one. However, with enough time and effort, everything could be managed, and we had planned for an extended stay in the city for preparations.
Feeling the fatigue in my body, I passed through the northern gate. As the guards greeted us with loud salutes, I decided our first stop would be the inn.
In the small town of Mule, I always stayed at the same inn, “The Modest Lady.” It wasn’t the most luxurious, but it was never overcrowded with users (except for those who pestered Go Yeon-joo), and the food was excellent. Of course, there were plenty of inns like that, but my real reason for going there was to recruit or eliminate Go Yeon-joo. The time to deal with her was approaching.
In the worst-case scenario, I might have to fight her alone. Hoping it wouldn’t come to that, I climbed the stairs to the inn.
As I opened the wooden door, I saw Go Yeon-joo cleaning a table.
“Gulp.”
That was Ahn-hyun swallowing hard. She must have sensed our presence, as she finished wiping the table and turned to greet us with a smile.
“Well, it’s been a while.”
“It has,” I replied.
Inside “The Modest Lady,” there were only a few users. I took a deep breath, knowing that soon, a large number of vagrants would be purged. Though still in the planning stages, users who had caught wind of it were already leaving for northern cities.
Go Yeon-joo was dressed in her usual revealing attire, a V-neck top that exposed more than half of her chest and shorts that showed off her thighs. She clasped her hands together, clearly pleased to see us.
“Would you like to eat first, or perhaps a bath? Or maybe…”
I cut her off with a tired tone.
“I’ll eat first, then bathe. We’ll take three special rooms for two weeks, and the usual for meals.”
I thought I heard her click her tongue, but I let it slide. Ignoring Ahn-hyun’s silent protest, we settled at a nearby table. The chairs creaked as we sat, and we all let out a collective sigh of relief.
“Phew… But Su-hyun,” Yu-jeong began.
“What?”
“Why did you book three rooms? Two would have been enough.”
“I have some things to take care of. The special rooms have space for that.”
Vivian tilted her head in curiosity. One of the special rooms was for me. I had a lot to handle, and I needed a space to work.
After seeing the elixir in the box, I had a thought. If I was right, I could increase my stamina by at least one point.
I shook my head to clear my thoughts. Today was supposed to be about rest and recovery, yet here I was, thinking about work again. It seemed I couldn’t shake the habit of pushing myself to the limit from my first life.
The others were already resting their heads on the table. The accumulated fatigue from battles and the grueling return journey had caught up with them. Since we were in the city, I decided to let it slide.
After a while, Go Yeon-joo brought out our food.
“Brother, can I have a drink?” Yu-jeong asked.
”…Just a little.”
I allowed it, thinking a light drink wouldn’t hurt. The others, tempted by Yu-jeong’s request, ordered drinks to their liking. I joined in, wanting to quench my dry throat.
We finished our meal quickly. Everyone ate in silence, eager to fill their stomachs and head upstairs to rest.
After eating, the female users opted for a bath, while the male users headed straight to their rooms. Watching them, I paid Go Yeon-joo and decided to take a quick wash myself.
After cleaning up, I left one room empty and entered the special room where Ahn-hyun and Shin Sang-yong were staying. They were already snoring softly. Ahn-hyun, who had claimed he would train, was drooling and had kicked off his blanket. I clicked my tongue and gently covered him before settling into the bed next to him.
“Sigh.”
I kept telling myself, “Just a little longer,” but eventually, I got up. The sky outside the window was already dark. I tried to lie back down and sleep, but within a minute, I was out of bed again.
Old habits die hard. Even when I tried to change, my body acted on its own. I had planned to sleep deeply for once, but my body was already moving. The real issue was that, despite knowing this was a problem, part of me considered it a necessary process.
After lying in bed for three or four hours, I had slept more than usual, but it was still far from enough. I realized that if I continued like this, I might end up seriously hurt one day.
Stats aren’t everything. You need to rest to perform at your best when it matters. Knowing this, I still found myself reaching for my sword. I needed to move or meditate to calm my restless mind.
I glanced over at Ahn-hyun, who had kicked off his blanket again. Shaking my head, I covered him up once more. I felt like a parent, and the thought left a bitter taste in my mouth.
After checking on the sleeping duo, I quietly opened the door. The creak seemed louder than usual. I gently closed it behind me and headed to the empty special room.
The floor I was on was eerily quiet, with no one around except for my companions. The reason was simple: there was no one else who needed to use the special rooms, and those who could afford them weren’t currently at the Mule.
Feeling too tired to practice swordsmanship, I decided to meditate instead and opened the door to another special room I had rented. And then…
“Oh.”
“I knew you’d come.”
”…What are you doing here alone?”
I asked, somewhat incredulously, as Jeong Ha-yeon tilted her head slightly.
Inside the room, which I had intended to use for work, sat Jeong Ha-yeon, looking as composed as ever. She had brought some food, and a bottle of alcohol and a plate of stir-fried vegetables sat on the table. As I stared at her for a moment, she shrugged and spoke.
“Why are you looking at me like that? Am I not allowed to do this?”
”…That’s not really the issue. There’s nothing wrong with it.”
“Heh. Don’t be so stiff. Come in and sit down. Drinking alone is a bit sad, and you came at just the right time.”
Her behavior seemed out of character, but I pulled out a chair opposite her and sat down. Once I was seated, she took a sip of her drink.
“I got kicked out.”
”…”
”…Just kidding. They wouldn’t do that, so don’t make that face.”
There was a hint of intoxication in her voice. When she mentioned being kicked out, I frowned, and she quickly corrected herself with a smile. Then, as if venting, she continued.
“Still, it’s a bit uncomfortable. I guess I brought it on myself.”
Hmm. So there was some tension. It seemed like I would need to talk to Yu-jeong soon. But that wasn’t the main issue right now.
Jeong Ha-yeon had said, “I knew you’d come.” That meant she had expected me to be here. Although we hadn’t spent much time together, she had noticed my routine. Even so, predicting I’d come here today was a bit of a gamble.
As I remained silent, she filled a glass with alcohol and handed it to me. I accepted it reluctantly. Before drinking, I asked her in a calm voice.
“What would you have done if I hadn’t come?”
“Well, I thought there was a good chance you’d show up. If not, I’d just enjoy the peace and quiet alone. Whatever the outcome, it’s fine. That’s how whole-plane mages think.”
Her voice, usually clear, now carried a seductive tone. As I hesitated with the glass, she nodded slightly, urging me to drink. I analyzed the liquid with my third eye before downing it in one go.
“You’re bold. It’s not a weak drink…”
As she continued to speak in circles, I interrupted her in a low voice.
“For the record, I don’t like beating around the bush.”
”…I guess I’m getting a bit sentimental from the drink. Please understand.”
Despite my bluntness, she only smiled beautifully. But my gaze remained indifferent. I instinctively knew she wasn’t really drunk. Her face didn’t show it. She was acting for some reason.
It was she who broke the silence first.
”…Kim Soo-hyun.”
“Yes?”
“Do you have time tonight…?”
Jeong Ha-yeon called my name and rested her chin on her hand. Then, with a sleepy gaze, she spoke to me. In the dimly lit room, with just the two of us and a table between us, I could hear her soft breathing and occasional sweet sighs.
After staring into my eyes for a long time, she slowly parted her lips.
“If you have time… would you listen to my story tonight?”
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Hello, this is Ro Yu-jin.
I’m not sure what to say.
To those who left kind words.
To those who offered encouragement.
To those who said they’d wait.
All I can say is thank you.
I’ve decided to chase two rabbits this time, and I’ll do my best.
Thank you. (__)
PS. Replies will continue in the next chapter.
PS2. Can someone tell me the novel’s rating? ㅜ.ㅠ