An Unexpected Encounter
Everyone’s eyes were on me, but I kept a calm demeanor. Showing any sign of panic would mean falling right into Go Yeon-ju’s trap. After a light, dismissive snort, I began to explain the situation. I briefly recounted the events, mentioning that my dealings with her had concluded yesterday and that she had joined our newly forming clan. The fact that we had a small spar to test each other’s skills was just a minor detail.
The group reacted in various ways. Some were surprised by the deal between me and Go Yeon-ju, others were shocked that she was officially joining our clan, and then there were those who were more interested in the feast she brought than in my story. It was a bit disheartening that no one seemed to care that I had defeated a top-tier opponent, but I suppose I had downplayed it myself.
I had expected the food to arrive while I was still talking, but surprisingly, it came just as I was finishing. Go Yeon-ju brought in a cart piled high with dishes, her earlier disheveled appearance replaced by a bright, cheerful smile as she set the food down.
“Wow, User Go Yeon-ju. I heard from my brother. Welcome to the clan.”
“Oh? Haha, so Soo-hyun already told you. Thank you.”
Despite speaking informally without anyone’s permission, no one objected. Given her seniority and status, it was only natural. The others didn’t seem to mind her tone, which was a significant improvement from the initial awkwardness. An-hyun, in particular, was excitedly pointing at each dish, chattering away.
“What kind of meat is this? It looks so perfectly grilled, it’s making my mouth water. And what’s sprinkled on top…?”
“Ah, that’s an herb called Pagra. It removes any unpleasant smell when eaten with food and is especially good for men’s vitality.”
“Uh, I see. And this dish…?”
“Thinly sliced potatoes stir-fried on a grill with a bit of melted cheese on top. Not modern cheese, but one from the Hall Plain. It’s also particularly good for men’s vitality.”
”…”
“And this is a fresh, crunchy vegetable salad. Try it. It’s especially good for men’s vitality.”
An-hyun seemed to have given up on asking further questions. Yet, Go Yeon-ju continued, deliberately pushing the three dishes closer to me each time she set one down. I was caught off guard by her unexpected provocation.
“Haha… The table’s about to break under all this food.”
As the awkward atmosphere lingered, User Shin Sang-yong awkwardly laughed, trying to lighten the mood. Among the narrowed eyes of some of the group, only Vivian seemed genuinely happy with the feast, making me reconsider my earlier judgment of her as a foolish resident.
After the morning’s little incident, we—or rather, I—managed to finish the meal. Despite my rising anger at Go Yeon-ju’s persistent offers of those particular dishes, I resolved to repay her in kind someday, chewing my food with determination.
Once we had finished our brunch, the first topic the group brought up was the Chaos Mimic. They were eager to open it immediately, but I shook my head. Even if we opened it, we needed to let the smoke clear before retrieving anything, and we still needed to bring the sword and the remaining elixir. I couldn’t mention the latter reason, so I firmly stated that we would open it after the chaos had dissipated. Even if we started now, it would take until evening for the smoke to clear, so the opening would have to wait until then.
Seeing the group’s disappointed faces, I offered some good news to lift their spirits. I announced that they would have the day off, with a small allowance left with User Jung Ha-yeon, so they didn’t need to train today. This seemed to cheer them up, and I had my reasons for this decision. Anticipating their return, I asked Ha-yeon to meet me in the office after the meal.
Sitting in the special room on the third floor for the first time in a while, I looked down at the hastily scribbled notes. Whenever things got complicated, I had a habit of writing them down to organize my thoughts.
Issuing two performance certificates. Submitting the exploration report. Opening the Chaos Mimic and processing the results. Applying to establish the clan. Recruiting Go Yeon-ju. I crossed out the last item about recruiting Go Yeon-ju with two lines. Then, I added a new entry at the top with my quill.
Information gathering. I needed to find out about the current plans to eliminate the vagrants and the movements of the Golden Lion Clan. By now, Go Yeon-ju was probably gathering information, so I expected to hear from her by tomorrow evening. Before that, sending the group out to get a feel for the city’s atmosphere seemed like a good idea.
Knock, knock.
While I was lost in thought, twirling the quill, a knock came at the door. “Come in,” I responded, and the office door opened slightly. The person who entered was a beautiful woman with short hair and a composed demeanor.
“Soo-hyun, you called for me?”
“Yes, Ha-yeon. Please, come closer.”
She closed the door firmly behind her, and I heard the click of a lock. As I tilted my head in curiosity, she approached the table, pulled a chair close to mine, and sat down.
Ha-yeon’s face was remarkably calm, almost as if it were a mask. Despite a strange feeling creeping over me, I decided to start with the preamble. I reached into my pocket and pulled out a prepared pouch of money.
“Ha-yeon, I called you because I have a favor to ask.”
“Is it about looking after the group?”
“Haha… Something like that. Would you like to take a stroll around the city today?”
“It doesn’t sound like just a simple stroll.”
Admiring her sharp intuition, I nodded. It was time to get to the point.
“Yes, you’re right. We haven’t even been in Mule for a full day, but the city is eerily quiet.”
“Hmm. I’m not sure what you mean.”
“It seems like users are starting to arrive. There should be at least some rumors or stories. Even if we set aside the vagrant elimination plan, there should be talk about the Golden Lion Clan’s advance into the Iron Mountains or the excavation of ruins. But there’s nothing.”
“Hmm. It could be because we just arrived. The Golden Lion Clan might be in the middle of their campaign. But if there’s no buzz about a ruin excavation, which should be a big deal, that’s definitely suspicious.”
As expected, her mind worked quickly. She pinpointed the issue I was concerned about. I pushed the notes toward her and continued.
“Exactly. That’s why I’m planning to visit the temple right away. The two ruins aren’t as far as the ‘Cave of Screams,’ and it doesn’t make sense that they haven’t been investigated in three weeks. There must be something else going on.”
“Ah, so you want me and the others to gather information while strolling around the city.”
“That’s right. But remember, it’s supposed to be a day off, so don’t push yourselves too hard. Just relax, enjoy some good food, and get a feel for the atmosphere.”
“That shouldn’t be too difficult. But…”
Ha-yeon hesitated, her eyes lingering on the crossed-out lines at the bottom of the notes. After a moment, she lowered her gaze and clutched the pouch.
“No, it’s nothing. I’ll head out now.”
“Wait a moment.”
“Ah…”
I gently grabbed Ha-yeon’s arm as she was about to stand, pulling her back into her seat. She seemed surprised by my unexpected action, sitting back down with a startled expression.
“What’s wrong? You don’t look well.”
”…”
Ha-yeon avoided my gaze, but as I continued to look at her intently, she eventually bit her lip.
“I’m sorry.”
“Sorry for what?”
“I… I doubted you this morning, Soo-hyun. But after hearing your explanation, I felt reassured.”
“Oh, is that all? We just had a one-on-one spar, nothing more. So don’t worry.”
“Nothing more… yet.”
Ha-yeon repeated the word “yet” with a sad smile. I realized I had misspoken and was about to say something when she quietly shook her head, stopping me, and spoke calmly.
“I guess I haven’t let go of my feelings from the modern world. This is the Hall Plain, after all. Things like this are to be expected. I feel like I’m overreacting, and I’m sorry for causing you unnecessary worry.”
“No…”
“It’s silly jealousy, really. I was the one who seduced you, and I wanted to be with you. From the others’ perspective, I’m just as bad, and I have no right to hold you back…”
This wasn’t like the usual Ha-yeon. She seemed composed on the surface, but her rambling suggested her mind was in turmoil. What should I say in a situation like this? As I pondered, I suddenly recalled a conversation between two users from my first playthrough.
“I had another fight with Hye-ran. Why is she like this? She just gets angry for no reason. It’s really exhausting.”
“You idiot. That’s your fault. Do you think Hye-ran is just some passing acquaintance? She’s your girlfriend.”
“What are you talking about? What did I do wrong?”
“Even if it’s just a casual relationship, there’s a limit. Saying ‘why are you making a big deal out of nothing’ is no different from treating her like a one-night stand. You know what a one-night stand is, right? That’s how you treated Hye-ran.”
“What nonsense. Why would I treat Hye-ran like that… So what should I have done?”
“If it were me, I would have just pulled her close. That’s all it takes. Whispering ‘I love you’ would be the cherry on top.”
“You’re crazy. You want me to do something that cheesy? Just thinking about it makes me cringe.”
“Haha. You really don’t understand women, do you? Now I see why you’re always fighting with Hye-ran. Just break up already. Why are you even dating? Poor thing.”
I quietly lifted my head to look at Ha-yeon. She always seemed so calm and intellectual, but now she was blushing, unsure of what to do. Her expression seemed sad, yet somehow it made me feel good. And then it happened.
Thump.
It was just a single beat, but I felt my heart pounding in my chest. Along with it came a wave of unfamiliar yet not unpleasant emotions spreading through my body. Or perhaps they weren’t unfamiliar at all, but rather feelings I had lost. Without thinking, I reached for the drawer where I had carefully placed Horrence’s orb last night.
But I couldn’t bring myself to grip the handle.
I could sense Ha-yeon’s anxiety. If it were Go Yeon-joo, she would have laughed it off. But Ha-yeon was still struggling to shake off the shadows of Earth and modern life. Especially since she had shared her first experience with me, it seemed to hold even more significance for her.
In many ways, she had adapted well, but there were clearly parts of her that hadn’t healed. She was confused by the gap between modern relationships and those in Hol Plain.
”…”
It wasn’t that I couldn’t muster the strength; I chose not to. It was a conscious decision. Eventually, I let go of the handle. I wanted to ride the wave of emotions coursing through me.
Ha-yeon seemed to realize she was rambling and clamped her mouth shut. Hoping the conversation I remembered would help, I gently reached for her shoulder. She flinched as if she wanted to escape but didn’t pull away.
And when I placed my hand on her shoulder and pulled her closer—
“Ah…”
As if by magic, she fell into my arms. I stroked her trembling body and hair gently, then spoke.
“Ha-yeon, do you remember the day we first shared our feelings?”
“How could I forget? I remember.”
“Back then, you asked if you could be one of the people I hold dear.”
“And you said you couldn’t turn away someone who wanted to lean on you. You said you didn’t care about those who disliked you or others, that you were too busy caring for those around you. You asked if that was a bad thing.”
As I recalled her words, she recited what I had said next. It was clear she remembered that day vividly. It must have been significant for her. I held her tighter and continued.
“Yes. Let me say it again now. Just like I said then, I can’t turn away someone who wants to rely on me. If something like this happens again, I might disappoint you.”
Saying this took more courage than I expected. I was prepared for the worst, even seeing her cry. But I was already lying to my companions in so many ways. Even if they were necessary lies, they were still lies. I wanted to be honest with those who trusted me, especially about complicated matters like relationships.
But Ha-yeon, with her head buried in my chest, shook it vigorously.
“No, no. I knew. Not being the only one, but one of the cherished ones. I knew it in my head from the moment you said it. It was just hard to accept in my heart. I’m really sorry. I’m from Hol Plain, yet I let my emotions get the better of me…”
“Ha-yeon.”
“…and showed you a side of me I shouldn’t have.”
She seemed to be blaming herself too much, so I intended to interrupt her. But Ha-yeon insisted on finishing her thought. I calmed my racing heart and gently pulled her away to look into her eyes.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. She was no longer pretending to be calm. She just looked at me with a face full of longing. Encouraged by her expression, I spoke with more conviction.
“I promise you again, right here. As long as you want me, I will never neglect or abandon you. So… just this once more, and from now on, will you trust me?”
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
(I’m taking a break from replies today. I’ll combine the replies for episode 168 with those for 169 and post them together in episode 170. I appreciate your understanding.)
Hello, this is Ro Yujin.
Ah, I’m really sorry. It’s 11:59 PM now. I used to finish writing with time to spare, but lately, I’ve been racing against the clock to finish before midnight. Today was just… it’s 12:00 now. I’ll get ready to post soon. :)