A Subtle Rebellion
“Alright, let’s call it a day. Use the remaining time for personal maintenance or just relax.”
“Hmm.”
“Yawn…”
After dinner, I announced the end of our day’s activities to the group. The reactions varied, but two stood out. Yujeong seemed anxious, biting her nails and shaking her leg, while Ansol immediately buried her forehead on the table, looking utterly exhausted. It seemed following Hayun’s lessons had been tough for her.
Hayun, on the other hand, sipped her tea calmly. She had insisted on taking a break today, but it seemed she had given her all in teaching Ansol. Knowing her, she wouldn’t have taken it lightly, so I could imagine the challenges Ansol faced.
Still, I was grateful to Hayun. Just agreeing to teach was a favor, and she was doing it wholeheartedly. Ansol was a particularly challenging student, often on the verge of tears if anyone raised their voice. It was awkward every time she tried to cling to me for comfort.
But Hayun never raised her voice, likely guiding her with gentle yet firm words. I was pleased to have found such a good teacher for Ansol.
“Hey, oppa…”
Yujeong called out to me, her usual cheerful demeanor replaced with hesitation.
“Yes?”
I responded lightly, lighting a cigarette. Yujeong continued in a timid voice.
“Are you busy tonight? Do you have more work?”
“Well, yes. I need to talk with Hayun and Shinsangyong, and there’s some record-keeping to do.”
“What about tomorrow?”
“I have things to do then too… Why?”
As I nodded, Yujeong pouted and said, “Never mind, it’s nothing,” before quietly sipping her tea. I tilted my head in confusion, then turned to Hayun and Shinsangyong.
“Hayun, Shinsangyong.”
“Yes, leader.”
“Yes, what is it?”
“I’ll head to my room first. It might be a long conversation, so finish what you’re doing and come up. It’d be better if you all came together so I don’t have to repeat myself.”
“Haha, that’s fine with me. I was just discussing magic squares and summoning with my mentor.”
I raised an eyebrow at Shinsangyong’s words. Vivian, though often scatterbrained, always exceeded expectations when given a task. Today, too, she had grasped exactly what I wanted and acted accordingly. I looked at her with admiration, and she straightened her neck, elegantly sipping her tea.
Seeing her like that made me want to tease her. Sensing my mischievous gaze, Vivian shot me a sharp look, her face turning red. I quickly turned away, fearing I’d lose control. (I heard her click her tongue softly, but I decided to pretend I hadn’t.)
Vivian was a good teacher, and Shinsangyong was eager to learn. They made a great mentor-student pair. But Ansol and Hayun seemed to have a different dynamic.
Hayun nodded as if it was a good idea, while Ansol looked up in shock. Hayun’s next words were merciless.
“Let’s do that. Ansol, you heard, right? We’ll have an extra hour of lessons today.”
“Ugh…”
Ansol looked between Hayun and me, bewildered. I wondered what kind of teaching had led to such a reaction from such a gentle person. Hayun just shrugged in response. But I was the one who had asked for the lessons, and I trusted Hayun.
”…Please take care of her.”
“Of course. Don’t worry too much.”
As I stepped back, Hayun smiled reassuringly. Listening to Ansol’s groans, I sighed inwardly.
Perhaps it’s a lack of maturity. The kids are great, but sometimes I see things that concern me. They lack urgency. They don’t realize how fortunate they are to be living in the Hall Plain as new users. In a way, it’s my fault. They’ve never gone hungry or lacked anything since the initiation.
Typically, new users struggle to survive their first year. I did too. In my first round, I barely ate once a day, constantly worried about food and shelter, always searching for a caravan to join. A mentor? That was a luxury I couldn’t even dream of.
But these kids didn’t know that struggle. From the start, I provided for them, so they didn’t understand the harsh reality of new users. If I took one of those struggling users, fed and clothed them, and gave them a skilled mentor, they’d probably cry tears of gratitude.
It’s like students complaining about studying. Once they gain more experience in the Hall Plain, they’ll realize how fortunate they are now. It’s a long way off, but I decided to accept it with the patience of a parent raising children.
Hoping the kids would grow quickly, I decided to leave. If I stayed longer, they might start whining.
“Alright, I’ll head up first. Take your time finishing up, but make sure to wrap things up properly before coming.”
After firmly setting my expectations, I climbed the stairs. I could feel their eyes on my back, but I didn’t turn around.
“Suhyeon, are you working again? You just got back from an expedition. You’re overdoing it.”
“Hayun, it’s fine. It’d be great if we could find another dungeon on the next expedition.”
After the meeting, Hayun knocked on my door about an hour later. I was in the middle of researching the Cave of Wailing. Seeing me engrossed in records again, she worried about my health. Her concern made me feel like we were a newlywed couple. Wait, does that make Hayun the stepmother to the kids?
“Don’t rely on luck. Exploring the city outskirts is enough for now. You still seem affected by the last expedition’s strain… The more you push yourself, the more anxious I get. So, for my sake, just finish the discussion and get some rest tonight.”
“Alright. Since you insist, I’ll do that.”
“Thank you.”
Hayun smiled, relieved at my compliance. I returned her smile warmly. In this second round, I was discovering emotions I hadn’t felt in the first. While I was wary of losing my edge, it wasn’t an unpleasant feeling.
As we exchanged contented looks, the door suddenly burst open, and a bespectacled user rushed in. It was Shinsangyong, of course. He bowed hastily upon seeing us.
“Leader, I’m sorry. I’m a bit late.”
“Oh, it’s alrigh—”
“You were exactly 17 minutes late. It would have been better to either be on time or come much later.”
I was about to say “alright,” but Hayun spoke first, cutting me off. Her smile vanished, replaced by a cold tone. Her voice had an edge that made me uneasy. Shinsangyong seemed equally taken aback by her sharp words. He quickly apologized and took a seat at the table. I couldn’t help but feel sorry for him.
The atmosphere grew awkward, but I cleared my throat to regain focus. The topics we were about to discuss were foundational to my plans and carried significant weight. After a moment to collect my thoughts, I began.
“You probably know why I’ve called you both here.”
“Yes.”
“Let’s get straight to the point. I plan to establish a clan in the Hall Plain…”
They both nodded in unison, and I continued. Just as I was about to delve into the main topic, there was a knock, followed by the door opening without my permission. Surprised by the lack of manners, I looked up to see a familiar user enter. It was Goyeonju.
“Oh? I thought you were alone. What a shame.”
”…What brings you here?”
“This.”
Goyeonju smiled prettily and approached us with graceful steps.
She was dressed differently than usual. Her hair was neatly styled, and she wore modest clothing instead of her usual casual attire. I wondered what was up with her today, but she gently placed a tray on the table. It was filled with delicious-smelling food and fine, aromatic drinks.
“I didn’t order anything.”
“No, it’s a service for our regulars.”
Go Yeon-ju smoothly brushed off my comment and quickly set the food on the table. Shin Sang-yong, seeing the unexpected late-night snacks, grinned and said, “Haha, thank you. I was getting hungry from all the thinking. This is perfect timing. Leader, is this okay?”
”…As long as it’s just the food, I suppose. Thank you for the meal.”
Yeon-ju shook her head at my thanks. Part of me wished she would just leave, but as expected, she defied my hopes.
“Don’t mention it. So, what were you all discussing?”
“Ah, we’re in the middle of an important conversation. But thank you for the food.”
It was Shin Sang-yong who answered, not me. Though he phrased it politely, anyone could tell it was a request for her to leave. Yet, Yeon-ju didn’t budge.
“Why? It’s quiet with no customers around. Mind if I join in?”
“Uh…?”
Caught off guard, Shin Sang-yong looked bewildered. Ha-yeon narrowed her eyes at Yeon-ju’s response, but Yeon-ju just smiled serenely. Eventually, both Ha-yeon and Sang-yong turned their gazes to me, and Yeon-ju followed suit.
With everyone’s eyes on me, I tapped the table lightly and met her gaze. The Shadow Queen, Go Yeon-ju. One way or another, she needed to be dealt with—either recruited into our clan or eliminated before leaving the Mule. It might seem unfair to her, but in the first round, her information-gathering skills were a significant obstacle. While we let Woo Jung-min’s group go, thinking we had time, Yeon-ju was different. She had to be either an ally or a target. So, I decided to test the waters.
As everyone awaited my response, I slowly spoke, “Please, have a seat.”
“Thank you~.”
“Su-hyun?”
“Leader!”
Yeon-ju sat down in the remaining chair, and Ha-yeon and Sang-yong called out to me in confusion. I understood their bewilderment. However, I was curious to see their reactions once Yeon-ju revealed her true identity.
“Su-hyun, do you even know who this user is…?”
“Second-year user, Jung Ha-yeon.”
Just as Ha-yeon was about to voice her confusion, Yeon-ju interrupted her with a calm voice. Hearing her own name and tenure, Ha-yeon widened her eyes and fell silent.
“A wizard user abandoned by the Golden Lion Clan. And next to her… second-year user, Shin Sang-yong.”
“Wh-what…!”
Ha-yeon’s face turned to shock, but Yeon-ju didn’t give her a chance to react, immediately shifting her gaze to Shin Sang-yong.
“Y-yes?”
Not expecting her to know about him, Shin Sang-yong was taken aback. Finding his reaction amusing, Yeon-ju twirled her finger playfully and continued.
“A quirky wizard who loves alchemy. And…”
She finally turned her gaze to me, pausing for effect. I watched her closely, waiting. Her calm voice resonated as she spoke.
“Zero-year user, Kim Su-hyun. Top graduate of the User Academy… and a peculiar user who’s already conquered two dungeons in his first year.”
“How… how do you know that…!”
Shin Sang-yong’s voice was filled with astonishment, and I could hear Ha-yeon quietly preparing a rapid incantation.
Yet, Yeon-ju remained unfazed. She propped her chin on one hand and looked at me, seemingly indifferent to their reactions.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Hello, this is Ro Yujin.
I’ve been trying to lighten the mood a bit after the intense chapters, and I hope it resonates well with you, the readers.
Ah, I’m not sure if I’ll be able to post another chapter today or if I’ll have to wait until midnight. I need to prepare for a family ritual right after posting. :)
『 Reader Replies 』
Hwi-eul: Congratulations on being first! You’re really making your presence known in the competitive first comment scene. Hahaha.
Centaurus: NO. I used it in the sense of a flashback. :)
archangels la: No, Vivian is actually a mature 24-year-old human woman.
SaulabiHunterT: Haha, it’s all my fault. OTL I only pick randomly for about 10 minutes… ㅜ.ㅠ
Ramude: Hahaha, what if Su-hyun’s character becomes irreparably damaged? But this is actually part of the foreshadowing. Hehe. I wonder if anyone has caught on. :)
FantasyGod: That’s exactly right. When Su-hyun is troubled, you can enjoy comforting him. :)
hohokoya1: I’m glad! I’ve decided to add small stories in between handling the main plot, and I’m relieved to hear you’re enjoying it. Hahaha.
Kolok123: Thank you for the coupon. I’m not sure if this will be a double release or just the midnight chapter, but I’ll do my best. (__)
HumanLife: I hope you’re feeling better. Stay strong, and I look forward to your comments. ^-^
Techno: The last reader reply was going to be a long comment, but Techno’s comment really touched me. I feel the same way. Hahaha.
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