A Meaningful Conclusion
Another day of repetitive routines. The word “maintenance” doesn’t just mean taking a break. It implies organizing a disordered system to make it function properly. In that sense, everyone in the group was diligently carrying out their maintenance.
I awoke to the faint sound of someone moving around, feeling the chilly dawn air enveloping the bed. Inhaling the cold air cleared my head a bit. Instinctively, I glanced at the table, where a steaming cup of tea and a few documents awaited, just like always. I sat up immediately.
“Ugh.”
I used a bit of magic to ease my stiff body, twisting lightly. Crack, crack. The rhythmic sound of my joints popping was oddly satisfying. After savoring the mix of relief and pain for a moment, I strode over to the table and picked up the cup of tea, which was emitting a gentle white steam.
“Heh.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle when I saw the tea’s pitch-black color. It reminded me of the time when I had brewed tea, only for someone to suspect it was poisoned. Who knew they’d still hold a grudge over that? Smiling wryly, I took a sip, feeling the refreshing sensation spread through my throat, clearing my mind and invigorating my body. I turned to the woman beside the table.
“This is excellent LaBin tea. You brewed it well.”
”…Hmph. It’s a special blend with Rekl too. I was going to stop making it for you if you complained again, but it seems you’ve learned your lesson.”
Her soft voice echoed in the room, and a shadow beside the table gradually revealed itself as Go Yeonju. I responded calmly.
“So, why are you still here today when you usually leave this behind?”
“I was in a bit of a rush. Read the report in front of you first.”
Slurp.
I took another sip of the delicious tea as I picked up the report. Noticing my enjoyment, Go Yeonju smiled faintly. If only she were a bit more demure, she’d make the perfect bride. Beautiful face, great figure, excellent cook, and probably good at… Anyway, I focused on the report.
”…The Golden Lion Clan’s activities have intensified. The main participants are the Golden Lion Clan and the representative clan of the western city of Halo, SSUN, along with their subsidiary clans. At dawn, twelve reconnaissance teams composed of skilled users were confirmed to have departed. The emergence of the secret class Jewel Mage has boosted morale significantly. The Golden Lion Clan’s information control is noteworthy. While the allied clans are celebrating, there’s no sign of unrest, suggesting they might have known in advance. In contrast, the vagabonds in the Eurokia Mountains are in turmoil over the new secret class…”
“Hmm.”
As I read, my eyes narrowed. Those damn Golden Lion bastards. So they’re planning to use Kim Hanbyul like this. It’s clear that when the time comes to bring her over, it won’t be a smooth process. Of course, whether I’ll accept her or if she’ll join our clan is still uncertain. I had thought of meeting her when the Golden Lion Clan fell and she passed through Barbara, but things have gotten complicated. I sighed and folded the report. It seemed the time was approaching.
“Whether it’s there or not, it doesn’t matter.”
“What doesn’t matter whether it’s there or not?”
Go Yeonju interjected suddenly, and I posed a question.
“User Go Yeonju, what if this Jewel Mage joins our group in the future?”
“That would be great. But let’s not count our chickens before they hatch.”
Her clear response made me chuckle. I wanted to ask, “What about a rare class?” but it felt like a pointless joke, so I refrained. Instead, I made another request.
“I’m planning a major announcement today. Please ensure everyone attends breakfast on time.”
“Oh, so you’re heading out soon?”
I nodded in response to Go Yeonju’s excited inquiry.
“Yes.”
“Wow, that’s exciting. See you in the lobby then.”
With genuine excitement, Go Yeonju left my room in a flash.
<So, does that mean I can trust you, brother?>
The memory of her cold, proud face surfaced. A bold female user for a newcomer. She’s probably having a tough time with the Golden Lion Clan by now. After reminiscing about her for a while, I downed the rest of the tea.
After finishing the sweet yet slightly bitter LaBin tea, I stripped off my clothes. I needed a shower first.
“Wow, unnie, you look amazing!”
“Not just pretty?”
“Pretty and amazing. Wow…”
Having been tipped off by Go Yeonju, Lee Yujeong came down wearing the new gear I had bought. The leather set was worth every penny. While practicality is prioritized in Hall Plain, appearance isn’t entirely neglected. Finding gear that’s both aesthetically pleasing and high-performing is rare.
“Oppa, how does Yujeong unnie look? Pretty, right?”
“Oh, uh? Heh, heh. They say clothes make the man, or woman in this case.”
Ahn Hyun was mesmerized by Yujeong’s feminine appearance. His gaze was fixated on her chest, accentuated by the tight shirt. He was so distracted that he only snapped out of it when Ahn Sol called his name. I wondered if Ahn Hyun judged women based on their bust size.
Even as he tried to look away, Ahn Hyun kept sneaking glances at her chest. Noticing this, Yujeong smiled knowingly. In the past, she would have called him a pervert or a creep, but since learning from Go Yeonju, she had changed significantly.
“Where’s Vivian?”
“She’ll be down soon.”
“I see. Ugh… I should’ve left the jacket. Did I overdress? It’s a bit warm.”
Yujeong stretched deliberately, showing off her chest, then took off her jacket and draped it over a chair. She crossed her arms under her chest and leaned her elbows on the table. It was subtle, but I could tell she was using the size adjustment feature. Her clothes seemed slightly smaller, emphasizing her already tight outfit. Her chest was more pronounced, and the shirt’s buttons strained further apart.
“Whew. It’s hot. Why is it so warm?”
Not stopping there, Yujeong undid a button with a sultry smile, revealing her cleavage. Ahn Hyun and Shin Sangyong quickly turned their heads, their faces flushed, coughing awkwardly. Watching them, Yujeong chuckled.
“Men will be men.”
“Hoho.”
Go Yeonju laughed pleasantly, looking proud as if her teachings had paid off. For a moment, I wanted to grab her and shake her, asking what exactly she had taught, but I held back.
While waiting for Vivian, I activated the third eye, focusing on the kids. They were the most important, so I needed to check their progress.
Name: Ahn Hyun (0 years)
Class: Rare Energy SpearMan Runner
Disposition: Amity · Moderation
(Remaining stat points: 4)
[Strength 62] [Endurance 60] [Agility 75] [Stamina 63] [Magic 59] [Luck 61]
<Special Ability (1/1)>
<Potential Ability (1/4)>
Before: [Strength 61] [Endurance 58] [Agility 74] [Stamina 63] [Magic 58] [Luck 61]
After: [Strength 62] [Endurance 60] [Agility 75] [Stamina 63] [Magic 59] [Luck 61]
Name: Lee Yujeong (0 years)
Class: Normal Mercenary Runner
Disposition: True · Desire
(Remaining stat points: 4)
[Strength 57] [Endurance 58] [Agility 76] [Stamina 55] [Magic 70] [Luck 53]
<Special Ability (1/1)>
‘Blood-Soaked Heart. A heart drenched in blood occasionally stirs murderous intent and desire beyond one’s control. Sometimes it freezes cold, other times it burns like a raging volcano. Unpredictable, it stems from a core desire to kill. It has effects that disrupt the senses and obscure vision, but its rank is too low for significant impact.’
Before: [Strength 48] [Endurance 52] [Agility 64] [Stamina 50] [Magic 68] [Luck 56]
After: [Strength 57] [Endurance 58] [Agility 76] [Stamina 55] [Magic 70] [Luck 53]
Name: An Sol (Year 0)
Class: Priest (Normal Priest Runner)
Alignment: Lawful · Good
(Remaining stat points: 4)
[Strength 21] [Endurance 22] [Agility 24] [Stamina 31] [Magic 87(+1)] [Luck 100]
<Recent Stats & Comparison>
Before: [Strength 20] [Endurance 22] [Agility 24] [Stamina 30] [Magic 86(+1)] [Luck 100]
After: [Strength 21] [Endurance 22] [Agility 24] [Stamina 31] [Magic 87(+1)] [Luck 100]
Seeing the kids’ progress filled me with satisfaction. An Hyun was steadily climbing the ranks. His balanced increase in strength, endurance, agility, and magic suggested he was training diligently across the board. I thought agility might be a challenge, but it seemed his practice in martial arts was paying off.
Yu Jeong’s stats were based on when she first joined the guild. Even so, her growth was remarkable. While her strength, endurance, and stamina lagged behind An Hyun’s, her agility and magic exceeded 70. Especially noteworthy was her magic surpassing 70 as a melee fighter, and her special ability
Judging by their specialized stats, you wouldn’t think they were just beginners. However, Yu Jeong’s drop in luck and change in alignment were concerning. It seemed both were consequences of wielding the cursed sword Skurep. Balance and Desire. Balance isn’t inherently bad, but managing Desire for synergy was crucial. For now, I decided to wait and see. I turned my attention to An Sol next.
An Sol showed the least growth among the three. That didn’t mean she wasn’t trying. Despite the +1 boost from her ring, her magic stat was on par with Ha Yeon. Her physical stats were lacking, but I knew how much effort mages and priests put into raising their magic stat even by a single point once it hit 80.
As I assessed their stats, I heard the sound of footsteps. Vivian had come down, panting as she rushed to the table, brushing back her damp hair before plopping down.
“Sorry, I’m a bit late. But what about breakfast?”
“We were waiting for you. I’ll bring it out now. It gets cold if I set it out too early.”
“Yay!”
Vivian’s delight brought a smile to Go Yeon Joo’s face as she stood up. She gave me a quick glance before heading to the kitchen, and I cleared my throat.
“Ahem.”
“Su Hyun, is there something you’d like to say?”
With a single cough, everyone’s attention naturally turned to me. Quick-witted Ha Yeon set the stage, and I nodded before addressing the group.
“It seems it’s time to wrap up our preparations.”
”…….”
Everyone seemed to take it in stride. Originally, we planned to leave after two and a half months, but it seemed better to move up the timeline. Since the exploration report and clan formation were delayed, it made sense to finalize our preparations, leave Mule, and take action immediately.
As I watched my companions waiting for my words, I spoke softly.
“We’ve received word that the Golden Lion Clan is finally making their move.”
This announcement elicited varied reactions. Ha Yeon and Shin Sang Yong’s faces hardened, while the kids remained relaxed, thinking it was just another expedition. Vivian, meanwhile, was eyeing the kitchen, licking her lips. I sighed and continued.
“Before that, there’s one piece of information I need to share. A new secret class has emerged within the Golden Lion Clan. And the user is someone we all know very well.”
“Who is it, Hyung?”
An Hyun tilted his head, curious. I glanced at Yu Jeong before answering.
“I said it’s someone you know. Think about it.”
“Hmm. If it’s someone we know… I have no idea.”
“Me neither. Who is it, Oppa?”
Just as I was about to answer the siblings’ questions, a cold voice cut through the air.
“It’s Kim Han Byul.”
The voice didn’t belong to An Hyun. I slowly turned my head toward the source of the sound.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Hello, this is Ro Yu Jin.
Yes, it’s the start of a new week, Monday. My heart is already fluttering with excitement. I felt a bit of a sore throat this morning, but I’m feeling much better now. It seems my body is still quite resilient. Haha.
Even if some of you are feeling down or struggling with the start of a new Monday (I completely understand), I hope you can find some comfort in reading my novel. It would make me truly happy if it could lift your spirits, even just a little.
Once this chapter wraps up, we’ll be heading to the
Enjoy today’s chapter comfortably. :)
PS. I’ve received a lot of coupons today. Thank you sincerely to everyone who sent them. (__) I’ll work even harder. (☞☜)
『 Reader Comments 』
MTBear: Oh, it’s been a while since I’ve seen you in first place. Congratulations on being first. Here’s some midnight healing for you. Heal! (Whack, whack.) Sorry about that. Haha. I hope you enjoy this chapter. :)
Ramude & Blami: Thank you for always leaving comments. (__) Ramude, you were first last time, but I couldn’t reply because I posted at midnight. ㅜ.ㅠ Blami, thank you for your constant support!
GameMaster: Yes, knowing the way and having the third eye will make it easier to find than any other dungeon. And Su Hyun has a secret weapon in An Sol. Hehe.
EyeSeeYou: Oh, it’s been a while since I’ve seen a fan of An Sol. Go Yeon Joo’s popularity has overshadowed the other female characters. ㅜ.ㅠ
SanIkerJIN: Haha. I can manage multiple updates when I have the time. I’m still managing to write somehow. If I ever need to take a break, I’ll announce it in advance. :)
BrokenFan: Hahaha. I laughed at the “slap” moment with Go Yeon Joo. Hahaha. Yes, Su Hyun coaxes, and Yeon Joo slaps. Thank you for always creating fan art! I look at it two or three times a day. :) Um… if it’s not too much trouble, could you please draw Han Byul when you have time? Han Byul is still my most beloved character. ☞☜
DevilShrine: Oops. Sometimes, DevilShrine, you have such sharp insights… Ahem. Well, with the team’s strength, they should be able to overcome most challenges. Haha.
What’sFun?: Haha. Thank you for the question. The “Will you take my spear?” moment happened in the first round. It’s unrelated to the second round. As for An Sol’s matter… yes, I’ll address that soon. We might resolve it when we return to Mule. However, it’s more of a service-related plot point than a serious one. Ahem. Thank you for the coupon. (__)
Kajimas: Haha, you’ve been possessed by the same mischievous spirit as me!
WantToPlay: Yes, acquiring it makes you stronger, but since the special and potential abilities are fully developed, you can’t learn the essential skills for summoning. So, the protagonist decided it was better to give it to a user who would become family rather than lose his original power. :)
Your recommendations and comments are the driving force behind multiple updates. (This is the truth.)
I always read all the comments repeatedly.
Please don’t feel too disappointed if you’re not mentioned in the comments.
If you have any pressing questions, feel free to message me, and I’ll respond!
With that, I’ll take my leave for today.
I hope you always read my work with a relaxed mind.
Favorites, recommendations, comments, critiques, and questions are always welcome.