A Meaningful Conclusion
Yujeong’s face was surprisingly calm, her tone suggesting it was no big deal.
But I could tell it was all a facade. Her eyes burned quietly with an inexplicable desire. A heart soaked in blood. Seeing Ahn Hyun and Ahn Sol so shocked, it was impossible for Yujeong to be devoid of emotion. She was just burying it deep inside.
Yujeong glanced at me, a slight smile playing on her lips, and spoke.
“When did she get the secret class? Was it when she was with us? Or after she joined the Golden Lion Clan?”
“From what I’ve gathered, she awakened before entering the User Academy. But I’m not certain. Only she would know the details.”
As Goyeonju casually added more information, Yujeong scoffed. I shook my head at Goyeonju, thinking she had a peculiar sense of humor at times.
“I see. I wondered what she was relying on to join the Golden Lion Clan, but she had her reasons. I never would have guessed. What a sly girl.”
“Indeed. It’s a bit disappointing, considering we’ve been through so much together since the initiation.”
Ahn Hyun chimed in, his words laced with envy. Despite having obtained a rare class himself, he seemed to harbor some resentment. I felt the need to defend Kim Hanbyul, just in case we might need to recruit her in the future. If perceptions hardened now, it would be a struggle to accept her later.
“Don’t be too harsh. If you look at the situation objectively, Kim Hanbyul’s choice was understandable. It was an offer from the top clan, the Golden Lion, compared to starting from scratch with us. I feel disappointed too, but let’s not dwell on it.”
“Are you siding with her, brother?”
“I’m not taking sides. I’m saying we should respect individual choices. There’s no need to react emotionally. What’s important now is us.”
“Hmm…”
I spoke gently to calm them down. Yujeong tilted her head with a sleepy expression, then nodded slightly with a soft hum. When Ahn Sol added, “If brother says so…” I felt a twinge of unease. Even Ahn Sol was speaking like that. Why were they so critical of Kim Hanbyul?
To be honest, I felt a bit betrayed back then too. When I realized she had obtained a secret class and didn’t follow me. But as time passed and I thought it over, there was no reason to blame her. Kim Hanbyul made a rational choice based on the circumstances. There was no reason for her to reject the clan’s offer and follow me.
Logically and objectively, that was the truth. But the others were still caught up in their emotions. Like me, time would eventually resolve their feelings. As they matured and learned more about the Hall Plain, I hoped their resentment would fade. For now, I decided to change the subject.
“Anyway, soon the Hall Plain will be engulfed in chaos centered around the western city, Halo. There will be large-scale battles between users and vagrants. The small town of Mule in the far north won’t be affected much, but the atmosphere will be tense for a while. So, we’ll be exploring outside the city for the time being. It’s not wise to get caught up in this turmoil.”
“Understood. With the warp gate active, it’s not entirely safe. But a large-scale battle will take some time. Do you have a destination in mind?”
I nodded at Hayeon’s timely question and spoke up.
“Our next destination is the Cave of Screams. After studying the library records, I believe it likely exists. We’ll head north from Mule’s gate to the plains, then continue east. This expedition will take some time, as the distance is considerable.”
The journey to the Cave of Screams was estimated to take about ten days. Even if the cave exploration itself didn’t take long, the round trip would take at least three weeks. Having been in Mule for nearly two months, we planned to leave before the first week of the third month ended. By the time we returned, the plan to eradicate the vagrants would likely be complete.
Hearing that the round trip would take three weeks, the group’s expressions shifted subtly. I worried they might be reluctant due to the longer duration compared to previous expeditions. But to my surprise, they all seemed excited.
Perhaps they were restless after the relatively long period of preparation. With their skills having improved, they were eager to test themselves. Relieved by their reactions, I continued speaking calmly.
“Therefore, I hope you can wrap up your current tasks within three days. The situation could change at any moment. The western city is already in a state of war. It would be wise to be ready to leave as soon as tomorrow.”
At that moment, Goyeonju raised her hand and spoke with a languid expression. Her subtlety left me speechless. Had no one else noticed?
“User Kim Suhyun, I have a question.”
“Yes, go ahead.”
“You said the round trip would take three weeks. It’s not exactly an expedition, but the duration is similar to a small-scale one. From what you’ve said, it sounds like you’re assuming we’ll definitely find the cave. What if we don’t?”
Hayeon and Shinsangyong nodded in agreement. Her question was valid. While I knew the locations of dungeons from future knowledge and found them easily, other users couldn’t even dream of such a thing.
However, the others seemed unfazed by her question. Having acted with me so far, they didn’t find discovering dungeons particularly difficult. Still, saying “I know the dungeon’s location, trust me” would lack credibility, so I decided to respond tactfully.
“User Goyeonju’s point is valid, but our primary goal is to avoid the Golden Lion Clan’s movements by leaving the city. We don’t want to get swept up in unnecessary chaos. That doesn’t mean we’re giving up on the Cave of Screams. We’ve researched with the intention of achieving both goals. We discovered the Ancient Alchemist Vivian’s Dungeon and the Ruined Research Lab using similar methods. The Cave of Screams is even more likely to exist than those two.”
“Hmm. A primary goal, you say. So, you’re asking us to trust you?”
“Yes, and…”
I paused, looking at Ahn Sol. She was fidgeting with her hands. Her innocent demeanor made me chuckle softly, and I continued in a relaxed tone.
“We have a lucky charm, just in case.”
“A lucky charm?”
“Huh?”
Goyeonju raised an eyebrow in question, and Ahn Sol, who had been playing with her hands, perked up at the mention of a lucky charm. Her curious eyes tilted as she looked at me, and I couldn’t help but smile. The others also began to look at Ahn Sol with interest, having witnessed her help in discovering the Ruined Research Lab.
With everyone’s attention on her, Ahn Sol pouted, while Goyeonju furrowed her brow in confusion.
“Sigh. I don’t know. If we fail, I’ll make sure to collect all the inn profits and maintenance costs, so be prepared.”
“Of course. Any other questions?”
“Yes, I have one more.”
What could she possibly ask now? Just as I was about to wonder, I noticed a slight smile on Goyeonju’s lips. At that moment, I felt Hayeon’s gaze and turned to see her giving me a wry smile. It seemed only she and I had caught on to something among the group.
I nodded, signaling Goyeonju to proceed, and she stood up with a sly grin.
“Why am I here?”
…
…
…
““““““Huh?””””””
All the users, except for Hayeon and me, widened their eyes at Goyeonju’s words, then slowly began to open their mouths in realization. Goyeonju, who had claimed to be preparing breakfast, had seamlessly integrated herself into our group, chatting and asking questions. Her entrance was so smooth that only Hayeon and I had noticed.
“Hoho. I’ll go get breakfast then.”
Leaving the bewildered group behind, Goyeonju sauntered off to the kitchen.
It was the night before the expedition. After declaring the end of preparations three days ago, I had also wrapped up various tasks. Rather than dealing with external matters, I focused on organizing the clan internally. I checked each member’s status and preemptively addressed any potential issues or conflicts. It was better to resolve them now than to have them explode during the expedition.
And I discovered a new tension brewing. Between Goyeonju and Ahn Sol. Though calling it a conflict felt a bit off.
I recently discovered something surprising: Ansol seems to have a tendency to avoid Goyeonju. She especially tries to avoid being alone with her. When Hayeon is around, Ansol appears relatively calm, but the moment Goyeonju approaches, she finds any excuse to leave. I hadn’t paid much attention to it before, leaving it to Hayeon, and it didn’t seem like a big issue on the surface. Yet, something about it left me uneasy.
I tried asking Ansol about it a few times, but each time she blushed, shook her head, and refused to answer, insisting it was nothing to worry about. It seemed like there was another reason beyond simple dislike. I wanted to resolve it, but since she was unwilling to talk, I decided to just keep an eye on things for now.
Meanwhile, Yujeong decided to continue training under Goyeonju until the day before our expedition. I suggested she rest today since we were leaving tomorrow, but she insisted on training until the end.
Goyeonju agreed to her request with a smile, promising to take it easy given the circumstances. Knowing Yujeong had grown stronger and with Goyeonju’s assurance, I couldn’t find a reason to object. The expedition was important, but with Goyeonju and me there, it was unlikely anything dangerous would happen. So, I allowed Yujeong to continue.
Still, I couldn’t fully trust Goyeonju’s promises, so I waited in a corner on the first floor for Yujeong to come out. Ansol would come down to heal Yujeong, giving me a chance to talk to her and check on Yujeong’s condition.
After waiting in the dim lobby for a while, I heard Ansol’s footsteps descending the stairs. She looked around nervously before perching on a table opposite the kitchen. She hadn’t noticed me in the corner.
A little more time passed, and then the kitchen door swung open. Goyeonju emerged, carrying Yujeong over her shoulder, who seemed to have fainted again. I sighed inwardly, wondering how this was taking it easy. I had anticipated this and prepared a high-quality healing potion. I felt for the potion in my pocket and watched them quietly.
Goyeonju looked at Ansol with a languid expression. She dropped Yujeong beside Ansol and spoke in a gentle tone.
“Ah, you’re here. It’s late. Are you here to heal this little one again?”
“Y-yes…”
Ansol nodded, looking thoroughly intimidated, and Goyeonju covered her lips with a soft smile.
“Don’t worry, I won’t bite. And there’s no need to heal her today. She’ll be fine by tomorrow. Just put her in her bed.”
“Okay… I’ll take her then.”
“Oh, leaving so soon? That’s a bit sad. Come here for a moment. I’m sorry about last time. I must have startled you. But I understand now.”
Goyeonju approached Ansol with a charming smile. I couldn’t fathom what had happened between them to cause such a reaction.
Ansol screamed and bolted.
”…”
Goyeonju watched Ansol dash up the stairs with a bewildered expression. I sighed and slowly stepped out from the corner. Her reaction was more intense than I had expected.
“Let’s talk about what happened another time.”
I said, hoisting the unconscious Yujeong onto my shoulder. Goyeonju just shrugged, looking unjustly accused.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Hello, this is Royujin.
With this, we’ve wrapped up the preparation phase. In the next chapter, our group will finally leave Mule and begin their expedition to the “Cave of Screams.” We’ve had a peaceful time so far, so it’s time to ramp up the tension. Though with Goyeonju around, I wonder if there will be any real danger. Haha.
I’ve also laid some new groundwork regarding Ansol. What could have happened between Ansol and Goyeonju to cause such a reaction? Even the protagonist doesn’t know. Hehe. The answer will be revealed after the “Cave of Screams,” but I’m curious if anyone will figure it out before then. If you do, your imagination is truly impressive. Oh, and just to clarify, it’s not a yuri or lesbian subplot, in case anyone’s imagination runs wild. :)
『 Reader Comments 』
LoveLike: Congratulations on being first! It’s been a while since we’ve seen a new first commenter. Haha. Please keep commenting!
Kuroshion: Wow, a former famous commenter has declared defeat. The competition for first place is fierce these days. ㅜ.ㅠ
LerryKool: You can earn more stat points, but it’s difficult and the amount isn’t much. If Suhyeon was sure he could get 20 more points, he wouldn’t be so worried. Poor protagonist. ㅜ.ㅠ
Ramude: Ansol had an abnormally high magic stat from the start, has been well-taught, and has high growth potential as a newcomer. Growth slows as stats increase, but the potential is still there. However, this doesn’t apply to the protagonist.
OffToLove19: Thank you! But I’m a guy. I didn’t expect to start a forbidden love like this. Hehe. Come here. (Thud thud.) Sorry. (__)
gkgngh: I, Royujin, apologize for not continuing the series. Please forgive me with episode 137.
BearLizard: I’ve already planned all the main characters, but I’ll gladly accept any suggestions. They might be used for supporting roles or combined with similar characters. :)
zjekfksqlc: Growth from obtaining rare or secret classes is greatly influenced by one’s potential. More details will come later, but know that this doesn’t apply to Suhyeon.
BrokenFan: Thank you! I’ll try to describe Hanbyeol in as much detail as possible. Hehe.
HmmHmm;;: Yes, the protagonist was strongly advised not to use them. If you look at the main text, you’ll see the phrase “4 points remaining.”
Your recommendations and comments are the driving force behind continued updates. (This is the truth.)
I always read all comments repeatedly.
Please don’t be too disappointed if you’re not mentioned in the comments section.
If you’re really curious about something, send me a message and I’ll reply!
That’s all for today.
I hope you always read my work with a relaxed mind.
Favorites, recommendations, comments, critiques, and questions are always welcome.