As I sat there, I realized I hadn’t been thinking about Yujeong. In the past, I might have brushed it off, thinking she could handle things on her own. But honestly, I had been focusing more on Ahn Hyun. Even if I excluded An Sol, who was my apprentice, it was clear that Ahn Hyun was more in line with my preferences, which led to this situation.
My opinion hadn’t changed. Ahn Hyun had always had more potential, and inheriting a rare class had widened the gap even further. I knew that Yujeong, who secretly saw Ahn Hyun as a rival, might not be entirely comfortable with this.
However, Yujeong wasn’t someone to be underestimated. She had enough potential to become a top-tier user. Depending on how I taught and nurtured her, she could become renowned in the future.
In short, it was a matter of potential.
For now, it was better if I didn’t guide Ahn Hyun. Regardless of the differences between sword and spear, reading and internalizing that book was an essential process. I could only offer advice; trying to teach him clumsily might ruin the efficiency of his spear techniques.
After tapping the table and organizing my thoughts, I looked at Yujeong, who was pouting, and spoke.
“Yujeong, I think it would be better if I guided you.”
Ahn Hyun and An Sol’s eyes widened in surprise. Yujeong, too, quickly retracted her pout. Seeing her like that, I couldn’t help but find her a bit cute.
“You’re going to guide me? Aren’t you busy?”
“Well, I am, but I’ve been neglecting you. I think I can make time for you. It might not be all day, but I’ll do my best. Besides, you could see the sword as an extension of the dagger, so it makes sense for me to teach you.”
“But… it’s so sudden…”
Watching Yujeong fidget with her fingers, uncharacteristically hesitant, I smiled.
“What? You don’t want to?”
“No, no! I like it!”
She shook her head vigorously, grinning from ear to ear. Beside her, Ahn Hyun grumbled, “How could you do this to me, brother?” while An Sol looked half-jealous, half-sullen. I ignored them and turned away.
After that, I spent about thirty minutes outlining our goals for this maintenance period.
To summarize, Shin Sangyong would focus on training under Vivian. Like the others, he wouldn’t be called unless it was important. As a second-year user, rapid growth like the others was unlikely, but it was worth trying while there was still a sliver of potential.
Ha Yeon would be given more freedom. This meant she could act independently, though she would still receive guidance from An Sol. Granting her freedom was a sign of trust, especially since we had established a clan. Ha Yeon was capable of handling herself, so there was no need to intervene.
However, being in a small city posed its own challenges. One major issue was finding a place for the kids to train. We could go outside the city, but we had no plans for monster hunting this week. While sensory training could be done indoors, future training would require physical movement, which was impractical in an inn room, even a special one.
There was no easy solution. The city was still developing, and the focus was on advancing into the Iron Mountains. Choosing the small city of Mule as our starting point meant accepting these challenges. But I didn’t regret it. The benefits and achievements so far outweighed these issues.
With that, I concluded most of the explanations. Preparations for the next expedition and clan establishment were my responsibilities, so there was no need to elaborate. However, there were a few points to address.
I quietly addressed the two magic users who were listening intently.
“I have something to discuss with you two this evening. After today’s activities, please come to the leftmost room on the third floor after dinner. It’s important.”
They likely had an inkling since I mentioned the clan earlier. Ha Yeon and Shin Sangyong nodded calmly. I added one more thing.
“By the way, the leftmost special room will be my personal office from now on. If you need to see me, come there. Vivian?”
“Huh?”
Vivian, who had been listening attentively, looked up. It was only natural, but I couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride.
“You should get a room for yourself too.”
“Sounds good, but why?”
“We need the power of an alchemist. Can you set up a workshop in a special room? It doesn’t have to be elaborate, just functional.”
Vivian’s eyes narrowed at the mention of a workshop. She tilted her head, considering, then spoke with a slightly uncertain expression.
“Well… if it doesn’t need to be fancy, I think it’s possible. I’d like to hear more details, though.”
“It’s not the right time to discuss it now. I’ll explain later when we have time. I’ll talk to the innkeeper, so go check out the room. You’ll probably need some things for the workshop…”
“Plenty. But I don’t mind. Can I go up now?”
“Of course. Even if it’s temporary, I’ll provide ample support, so don’t worry about the cost. Just take a good look.”
With a nod from me, Vivian stood up energetically. Shin Sangyong, looking at me with hopeful eyes, received a reluctant nod as well. The two of them quickly ascended the stairs with excited expressions.
”…”
After they disappeared upstairs, I turned to the remaining group with a blank expression.
“That concludes today’s agenda. You can go up and prepare. Ahn Hyun, visit Vivian tomorrow. I’ll let her know. And… Ha Yeon, please stay for a moment. I have something to discuss.”
“Yes.”
With a simple response, Ha Yeon stayed behind while the others slowly got up and left. Yujeong lingered around me, but a firm look sent her up the stairs. Watching the three of them ascend, I turned back to Ha Yeon, who was waiting patiently.
“Ha Yeon, how are you feeling?”
“I’m okay… Sorry, I didn’t want to show it, but I couldn’t help it.”
Ha Yeon replied with a faint smile. After her response, a brief awkward silence settled between us. Despite this, she continued to meet my gaze with unwavering, clear eyes.
Exchanging glances with Ha Yeon, I reached into my pocket, feeling for something.
Finally, my fingers closed around the item I sought, and I placed it on the table. Ha Yeon’s eyes widened as she recognized it. It was the Glory Necklace we had found in the ruins.
“This is…”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t give it to you earlier. It’s time it found its owner.”
“Suhyeon.”
“I’ve already appraised it. It’s the Glory Necklace you described. You were mostly right. However, the stored magic resets at the end of each day. Keep that in mind.”
Despite its unassuming appearance, the Glory Necklace had a certain allure if you looked closely. Ha Yeon gazed at the beautiful, shimmering necklace on the table. When I prompted her again, she finally reached out and picked it up with careful hands.
As she placed it around her neck, a clear, ringing sound echoed. After adjusting it for a moment, she spoke softly.
“Suhyeon, this necklace feels like too much. But I’ll accept it, considering your intentions. Besides, no one else in our group could make better use of it.”
Normally, Ha Yeon would meet my gaze directly when speaking. But this time, she glanced around, her words coming hesitantly. Sensing something, I smiled gently.
“Heh, you like it, don’t you?”
I teased with a smile, and she returned it. But I noticed her earlobes turning slightly red.
“Hehe. Yes, honestly, I’m happy. I’m glad to have this item, and I’m happy you trust me enough to give me freedom. And…”
Ha Yeon paused, as if she had more to say, but then closed her mouth. She finished with a tender look.
“I’ll cherish it. Oh, and… can I take today off? I’m not feeling well. I mean, yesterday was… Anyway, I’m really not in good shape.”
Recovery is important. That’s why I nodded without hesitation. From what I knew of her, if Hayeon said she wasn’t feeling well, she truly wasn’t. Unlike me, she wasn’t the type to push herself when she was struggling. So, I decided to respect her wish to be in the best condition for the mission. And…
“From now on, Hayeon, you’re free. Don’t push yourself. Rest whenever you need to. No one will say anything.”
“That’s something you should tell yourself, Suhyeon. Don’t try to do everything alone. Share the load a bit.”
I had no retort to that, so I just made a sheepish face. Hayeon chuckled at my expression and pointed upstairs.
“I’ll still guide Ansol. Since we’re sharing a room, it makes sense…”
“Hmm…”
Sharing a room, huh? That might be a bit uncomfortable. Should I arrange a separate room for Hayeon? Sensing my hesitation, Hayeon spoke up brightly.
“Don’t worry too much. They’re good kids at heart. They just like you a lot. Those extreme scenarios you’re imagining won’t happen.”
“Alright. I trust them. But if things get tough, let me know right away. I’ll step in and set things straight.”
Though I meant well, Hayeon gently shook her head.
“Please don’t do that.”
“But still…”
“Suhyeon, you really don’t understand women. Women have their own world. And these are things I need to handle myself. Trusting me a bit more is the best way to help.”
Her voice was soft yet firm. I couldn’t think of anything to say in response. Scratching my head awkwardly, I nodded. I didn’t think Ansol was the type to cause trouble. I was a bit worried about Yujeong, but their initial relationship seemed fine. And since Hayeon was the elder, she wouldn’t be treated carelessly like Vivian.
“Alright. If you insist, I understand. Let’s get going then. And come to my office tonight.”
“Yes. I’m already excited. I’ll be looking forward to it.”
In the past, I would have thought she was eager to hear about the clan I founded. But after being with her, I couldn’t help but interpret her anticipation differently. I sighed inwardly, stood up, and offered her my arm.
“If you’re still feeling unwell, let me help you. Let’s go up together.”
Hayeon nodded gently and took my hand cautiously. Together, we leaned on each other as we made our way up the stairs.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Hello, this is Royujin.
Ah, having a goal in life truly brings happiness. Today was exhausting, but I can’t stop smiling. Coming home to enjoy my hobbies is such a joy. Happiness is all about perspective, they say. It’s challenging, but I’ll keep striving to be happy every day. I hope all my readers find peace and happiness too. :)
PS. I heard a lot of coughing on the subway today. It seems a cold is going around. Please take care of your health, everyone! Don’t get sick~.
『 Reader Comments 』
Hwiul: Wow, such passion for the first comment. Haha. Congratulations! Yes, Goyeonju is a character with a story. Will Ingong kill or spare Goyeonju? Here’s a hint: when Ingong leaves Mule, they’ll choose one of those options. Goyeonju is too dangerous to leave unchecked. :)
hohokoya1: Haha, Goyeonju is quite popular. It seems Sol’s popularity is waning lately. -_-a
wnstngndk: Rather than being stronger than the protagonist, it’s more accurate to say they have the potential to defeat the protagonist. Of course, there are users stronger than the protagonist in certain aspects.
Joy of Reading: I’m not sure how to apologize. I hope you don’t feel too down. Also, to clarify, Han Soyeong is indeed someone Suhyeon loved. There are many aspects, but admiration plays a significant role in that love.
GradeRown: In Hole Plane, there’s a saying: people form clans, and clans form alliances. Even if they’re both clan lords, their meeting won’t be awkward. :)
SunLove: It’s something made in Hole Plane. There will be a brief explanation in the next chapter. The vision enhancement from abilities is minimal. If it were significant, Suhyeon wouldn’t need to raise his magic to enhance his sight.
Gogan: Haha, can their secret relationship remain undiscovered?
BearLover: Thank you. Ahem. I’m no longer a eunuch. Haha. Thanks for the coupon. (__)
Execution: Wow, what a delightful comment. Haha. Please keep commenting~.
Hong Seungsik: If you follow the timeline markers, you’re right, but there are instances where the timeline isn’t specified. I’ve aligned it with the Golden Lion Clan’s expedition. That’s how it’s set, but I’ll double-check just in case. :)
Kunlai: Meeting the brother happened much later. The order is brother → Han Soyeong → brother’s death → Han Soyeong’s death. After Mule, a few more parts will pass before meeting <?>. Haha.
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