The spinning plate finally crashed to the floor, shattering into pieces. Yet, Go Yeon-ju seemed unfazed, not even considering cleaning up the mess. Her expression had turned icy, a stark contrast to her usual languid and relaxed demeanor. Now, she was glaring at me with a fierce intensity.

I met her piercing gaze with calm indifference, taking a drag from my cigarette. With a hint of kindness, I spoke again.

”…It doesn’t matter since we’re in Mule anyway.”

“User Kim Soo-hyun.”

“Yes.”

Go Yeon-ju spat her cigarette onto the floor and fixed her eyes on me. After a moment, a slight smile tugged at her lips.

“You… are interesting.”

“I’m equally curious why the Shadow Queen is in a small town like this.”

“You act like a rookie, but your demeanor and presence suggest otherwise. You’re so intriguing, I can hardly sleep.”

She chuckled softly and sidled up next to me, her hip brushing against my thigh. With a decadent smile, she leaned into my chest.

Watching her rest her head against me, I whispered softly into her ear.

“What do you find interesting?”

In response, Go Yeon-ju’s hand began to explore my body. I reciprocated, gently caressing her ear and neck. To an outsider, it might seem like lovers whispering sweet nothings, but the reality was far from it. A single misstep, and the hands touching each other could become deadly weapons.

I could see her throat bob as she swallowed nervously under my touch.

“From the first time I saw you. A rookie using Destruction… is that even possible?”

“And?”

“The people you have with you aren’t ordinary either. How did those chicks grow so much in such a short time? It’s like they’ve been trained by a seasoned veteran…”

“Heh, you’ve got a keen eye. But you’re still lacking.”

“Don’t joke.”

At my modesty, Go Yeon-ju snapped, turning sharply. She placed her hands on my shoulders, facing me fully with a provocative stance. I activated my third eye, wary of her using her Lure Eyed ability again.

“Don’t be so guarded. I don’t use the same trick twice on someone it didn’t work on.”

“Why don’t you back off a bit? It’s a bit overwhelming.”

“Oh? Do you know how many users are dying to touch my chest or my hips?”

“I have no interest in touching a poisonous flower. One wrong move, and you get stung.”

At my cold words, a fleeting sadness crossed her face. It was brief, but I caught it. Did I say something wrong?

Without a word, Go Yeon-ju massaged my shoulders. Surprisingly, her touch was quite soothing.

“You…”

We sat in silence for a while, just as Go Yeon-ju was about to speak, we both turned our heads toward the stairs. Someone was coming down from the third floor. With a hint of regret, she licked her lips and stood up slowly.

“Six orders of A-course, right, sir?”

Her tone shifted back to business, and I chuckled, nodding.

“Yes, please serve it warm.”

“Will do. But make some time for me later.”

“Hmm.”

“Oh, come on. Don’t be so aloof.”

Go Yeon-ju winked and turned away. Watching her saunter off, I let the magic I’d been holding in dissipate. She was a user I could never let my guard down around.

The first to come down was Ahn Hyun. He peeked around, looking for Go Yeon-ju, and seemed disappointed when he didn’t see her. But he quickly straightened up and joined me at the table.

“Hello. I’m Ahn Hyun, a rare-class Qi Gong Spearman.”

”…You’ll find out soon enough, but try not to brag too much.”

“Heh, sorry, hyung. I’m just so happy.”

Despite my reprimand, Ahn Hyun beamed with joy. I regarded him with a cool gaze. Ahn Hyun was experiencing the Hall Plain differently now. Initially, he might have felt nothing, but inheriting a rare class guaranteed his future. In the Hall Plain, higher classes were akin to power or authority.

From that point, users start getting swayed by that power and authority. The goal of survival and return fades away. In a way, the Hall Plain was no different from a modern online game. An RPG where you raise your stats and acquire better gear.

“Though you can’t save or load.”

“Sorry, what?”

”…Just talking to myself.”

Seeing Ahn Hyun’s puzzled look, I decided to keep quiet. For now, it’s okay to let him be. Even if it’s just misguided vanity, it could help him grow. Of course, if he goes too far, I’ll step in.

As Ahn Hyun and I chatted, Go Yeon-ju brought out the food, and the rest of the group started coming down one by one. An Sol, Yoo Jung, Vivian, Ahn Hyun, and Shin Sang-yong all took their seats, and the table quickly became lively. Shin Sang-yong, who had been debating with Vivian, looked around and spoke up.

“Jung Ha-yeon is a bit late.”

“Huh? She wasn’t in her room when I woke up,” Yoo Jung murmured, causing Shin Sang-yong to furrow his brow slightly.

“Really? That’s odd. She’s usually so punctual… Could something have happened?”

This guy… he’s sharp. Just then, I sensed her presence upstairs. I moistened my lips and pointed to the second floor.

“She’s coming down now.”

As soon as I finished speaking, Ha-yeon emerged from the second-floor door. The group nodded at her appearance, but their expressions soon turned awkward. She was descending the stairs slowly, gripping the railing as if each step was a struggle.

Watching her carefully pull out a chair and sit down, Sol asked with concern.

“Are you feeling unwell?”

“It’s just… my lower abdomen hurts a bit.”

“That time of the month?”

Yoo Jung’s blunt comment left An Sol and Ha-yeon flustered. Ha-yeon shot me an apologetic look, and I shook my head. She probably didn’t want to show it, but the pain was too much to hide. It must be so bad that she couldn’t stand or walk properly.

“If the pain gets worse, I can try to heal you.”

“I’m not sure if it’ll help, but I’ll ask later.”

The group all looked at Ha-yeon with concern. I was relieved they didn’t push her or act coldly. They were good-hearted kids, after all. I was glad I had considered personality when recruiting them. I picked up my spoon first, and the others followed suit, as if on cue.

Though it was a simple A-course, it was just right for breakfast. I dipped a piece of bread into the steaming soup. As I took a bite, the savory aroma filled my mouth. Go Yeon-ju was not only skilled but also a great cook. I thought it would be fun to have her in the group as I moved on to the stew.

After a lively breakfast, the group sipped warm tea at the now-cleared table. Everyone looked relaxed. Just yesterday, they had been on edge, constantly dealing with monsters. Now, they seemed to be enjoying the rare peaceful atmosphere.

“So, leader, do you have any plans for our next steps?”

Shin Sang-yong adjusted his glasses and asked, prompting me to gather my thoughts. Our next steps. I had mentioned we would take a longer break, but there were still things to do. We needed to handle most tasks before leaving Mule, as I planned to depart quickly after conquering the Cave of Wailing.

The good thing was that I didn’t need to rely on records or my third eye this time. In the first round, the caravan I was with discovered the Cave of Wailing, so I remembered most of the route. Even if I couldn’t recall every detail, I could find it with my third eye.

The only issue was the distance. Assuming we left from Mule, it would take about ten days to reach the cave. Ten days there, ten days back, totaling twenty days. Distance-wise, it was an expedition that could be considered an official mission.

Moreover, including the time spent exploring the cave, it would take at least three weeks. We’ve been in Mule for just under a month and a half. This means our break should be at least two weeks but no more than four weeks. That way, when we return to Mule, the vagrant extermination operation will be over, and we can hear news of the Golden Lion Clan’s departure to the Iron Mountains.

As I pondered these thoughts, the room had fallen silent. I glanced up to see the group watching me intently, eager to hear about our plans. I took a sip of tea to wet my throat and spoke calmly.

“As I mentioned before, we’ll be taking a slightly longer break this time.”

“I’m all for it.”

Shin Sang-yong chuckled warmly, his smile as friendly as ever. The kids seemed to relax a bit, their faces showing a subtle relief, likely feeling the strain of their recent endeavors. However, even during this maintenance period, there was no intention of simply resting. This time was to be used as efficiently as possible to prepare for the next expedition.

“There are three main goals for this maintenance period: improving your skills, preparing for the next expedition, and establishing a clan.”

“A clan?” Ha-yeon, who had been absentmindedly rubbing her lower lip, suddenly widened her eyes in surprise. The others, already familiar with the idea, remained unfazed, but for newcomers like Shin Sang-yong and Ha-yeon, this was news. Quick-witted as she was, Ha-yeon mulled over my words, nodding to herself as she murmured.

“Indeed… it seems quite feasible. No, it’s practically a given.”

“We’ve successfully completed two expeditions. It would be strange if we weren’t approved for a clan. Anyway, this might be new to you both, but we’ll need to discuss it further later.”

Both Ha-yeon and Shin Sang-yong nodded in agreement. I planned to explain what our clan was about and its purpose, and gauge their interest. However, with Vivian and myself already involved, they were practically members already, just needing to go through the formalities.

“Anyway, we’ll discuss this in detail later. First, Ahn Hyun, Ahn Sol, Yoo Jung.”

“Yes, hyung.”

“Yes, oppa.”

“Yes, brother.”

The kids responded like little birds, and I continued.

“During this maintenance period, your focus should be on improving your skills. Unless I call for you, remember: training first, training second. Especially you, Ahn Hyun…”

I paused and glanced at Vivian, who was sipping her tea with a delighted expression, only to burn her tongue and yelp in pain. I sighed and continued.

“Vivian.”

“Ouch, hot… huh?”

“While it’s great that you’re teaching Shin Sang-yong, I’d like you to help Ahn Hyun with decoding his records whenever you have time.”

“If it’s just simple decoding, that’s no problem. It’s not like I’m teaching him spear techniques.”

Vivian replied nonchalantly. Her easygoing response made me nod in approval, and I turned my attention to Ha-yeon.

“Ha-yeon, I’d like you to guide Sol. Your classes may differ, but the basic mana manipulation is similar. Sol still has a lot to learn.”

I changed my address to avoid sounding strange to the kids. Ha-yeon didn’t seem to mind.

“Leave it to me.”

“Yes…”

As I watched the two respond obediently, I was about to feel relieved when Yoo Jung, who had been waiting quietly, suddenly spoke up.

“What about me, oppa?”

“Hmm?”

I asked, puzzled, and Yoo Jung immediately showed a hint of disappointment on her face.

“Ahn Hyun has his class and books, and Ahn Sol has someone to teach her… am I supposed to train alone?”

Hearing the disappointment in her voice, I paused to think.

---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=

Hello, this is Ro Yu-jin.

Ah, I’m not feeling well today. I finished a chapter and dozed off, only to sleep deeply. (I set an alarm for 10, but I must have slept through it. I woke up past 11 to the sound of a message alert…)

When I woke up, I was so thirsty that I instinctively fumbled for water in the fridge. It was unbelievably sweet and refreshing. The sensation of quenching my thirst was almost chilling.

Phew. Anyway, I’m glad I woke up.

The boiler’s on, but the floor’s as cold as ice. ㅜ.ㅠ

Everyone, please be careful not to catch a cold!

『 Reader Comments 』

1. MTBear: Thank you. I wish you all the best in your future endeavors. Congratulations on being first!

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5. GradeRown: Hahaha, that’s a really clever thought. I didn’t think of it that way. Hahaha.

6. juan: What will be Go Yeon-joo’s fate? Recruitment or assassination? Hehehe.

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