An Unexpected Encounter (2)
“Hello! Is there a Kim Su-hyeon, a zero-year user, here by any chance?”
The moment I turned my head towards the voice and saw who it was, I froze. I almost blurted out, “Why on earth are you here…?” but managed to hold my tongue. My mind, however, was still reeling from the shock, making it hard to maintain my usual calm demeanor.
“If you’re looking for Kim Su-hyeon, that’s this person right here. And who might you be?”
“Oh, so you are here! What a relief. I’m Yu Hyeon-a, the newly appointed leader of the Beech Clan, the representative clan of this small town, and a third-year user. Nice to meet you! And this is Cha Seung-hyeon, the user I trust the most.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Cha Seung-hyeon, a third-year user.”
As Vivian pointed me out, Yu Hyeon-a sighed in relief, and the friendly-looking man beside her greeted us with a clear voice. It was only then that I managed to regain my composure. I wanted to snap Vivian’s pointing finger, but given the situation, I quickly collected myself and turned my attention to Yu Hyeon-a.
She had light, flowing hair with a hint of chestnut and large, blinking eyes that gave her an innocent look. Her face was so gentle that it made me want to hug her protectively. I swallowed hard but kept my emotions in check with the help of my inner sense. She seemed to possess a natural charisma.
Soon, she said, “I’d like to talk inside for a bit. May I come in?” Without waiting for my response, she confidently walked inside.
I could only watch her with a blank expression as she smiled brightly.
Yu Hyeon-a, known as the “Holy Queen,” and Cha Seung-hyeon, the “Martial God,” were both famous users in my memory. Not just famous, but they were pivotal figures in the history of the whole plane. Although it was far in the future, Yu Hyeon-a would grow into a major power, one of the top three forces on the continent, which had splintered into various factions.
She was blessed with good fortune, gathering many talented users under her wing, including Cha Seung-hyeon, known as the “Martial God,” who could rival the user with a strength stat of 101, and Ban Da-hee, the “Crazy Woman,” among others. Recruiting a user with a magic stat of 101 happened later, and since only Cha Seung-hyeon was present, it seemed Ban Da-hee wasn’t brought along.
To cut to the chase, the two users before me never saw the end of the whole plane. They were active for a relatively long time but met tragic ends. Cha Seung-hyeon died in a siege due to conflicts with other allied forces, and Yu Hyeon-a, blinded by revenge, was defeated in a trap set by the allied forces. Her end was particularly tragic; I heard she committed suicide after being unable to endure continuous abuse as a captive.
At the time, their forces were strong, pressing us with a user boasting a magic stat of 101. They were winning battle after battle until they suddenly retreated, which seemed odd. Once the situation was clear, Han So-young quickly allied with the opposing forces, and together, they crushed Yu Hyeon-a’s now-empty shell of a force.
This is roughly what I remember about Yu Hyeon-a, the “Holy Queen.”
Personally, if I were to sum up Yu Hyeon-a as a user, I’d call her a “fool.” Think of her as an upgraded, final evolution of Liu Bei from the Three Kingdoms. Naively kind, swayed by emotions, and missing opportunities, she was a clan leader who only ended up benefiting others. From the perspective of her colleagues or subordinates, she was a frustrating person.
Though it’s a personal opinion, she didn’t seem to have the capacity to lead a large force. Without her talented subordinates, Yu Hyeon-a couldn’t accomplish anything. It was pitiful to see her and her followers constantly being used and tossed around before they finally established a force. It was a wonder she managed to survive through it all.
Her only saving grace was her luck in attracting talented users. Without them, she would never have built a force.
For now, I decided to set aside why Yu Hyeon-a was in Mule. The important thing was to avoid getting entangled with this walking disaster. She had a knack for attracting trouble, surpassing even Kindaichi and Conan, so it was crucial to steer clear of her. If Yu Hyeon-a was here, it wouldn’t be surprising if a group of vagrants suddenly decided to invade Mule.
“What are you thinking about so deeply? Oh, thank you.”
Yu Hyeon-a, who had been smiling at me, bowed her head as Go Yeon-ju brought her tea. Behind her stood Cha Seung-hyeon, and my companions were gathered around the table. As she took a sip of tea and smiled contentedly, I discreetly activated my third eye to check their basic user information.
User Information
Name: Yu Hyeon-a (3rd Year)
Class: Normal Sword Expert
Nation: Barbara
Clan: Beech
True Name · Nationality: Tread a Thorny Path · South Korea
Sex: Female (23)
Height · Weight: 168.8cm · 46.2kg
Alignment: Lawful · Pure
[Strength 71] [Endurance 75] [Agility 73] [Stamina 78] [Magic 80] [Luck 99]
Attribute Comparison
[Strength 96(+2)] [Endurance 92] [Agility 98] [Stamina 72] [Magic 96] [Luck 90(+2)]
(12 attribute points remaining.)
[Strength 71] [Endurance 75] [Agility 73] [Stamina 78] [Magic 80] [Luck 99]
(No attribute points remaining.)
This is why I say luck is an inscrutable attribute. While the other stats didn’t catch my eye, her luck did. Considering the events she went through in the first round, it was puzzling. I couldn’t fathom what she’d done to earn such a true name, but perhaps her high luck would help her navigate the thorny path ahead. Of course, that’s just a relative perspective.
“Hehe. You’re making me blush, staring at me like that.”
As I gazed at her, Yu Hyeon-a blushed and looked embarrassed. I silently repeated the word “patience” to myself and slowly opened my mouth.
“No, it’s just that we arrived in the city with the caravan yesterday, so there’s a lot we don’t know yet. It seems like a lot has happened, and suddenly having the representative clan leader visit is a bit overwhelming.”
Though my words carried a hint of criticism, Yu Hyeon-a seemed pleased with the title of representative clan leader. She smiled broadly and bowed her head again. As she did, her ample chest followed the motion, but I quickly averted my gaze as her clear voice continued.
“Then let me formally introduce myself. I officially took over as the representative clan of Mule two weeks ago. I heard from the temple residents that you’ve discovered not one, but two relics. As the leader of Mule’s representative clan, I wanted to express my gratitude and ask you some questions, so I took the liberty of visiting.”
Listening to her speak in a stiff, textbook manner, I sighed inwardly. It was obvious she had rehearsed what to say before coming here.
For some reason, I felt a tightness in my chest, making it hard to breathe. I wanted to escape this situation and relieve the pressure. Taking a deep breath, I replied in a calm voice.
“It was just luck. So, you’ve seen the exploration report submitted to the temple…”
“Yes! I was really surprised. The exploration report submitted by User Kim Su-hyeon was so well-done that even Seung-hyeon here was impressed. Thanks to you, it seems like the investigation will be much easier. Thank you so much.”
Her constant expressions of gratitude were quite grating. However, hearing that the investigation was complete allowed me to breathe a sigh of relief… Wait a minute. Did she say it seems like it will be easier?
“Hold on a second. Didn’t you say three weeks ago…”
“I have a rather bold question for you, User Kim Soo-hyun.”
Just as I was about to bring up the investigation, Yoo Hyun-ah abruptly changed the subject, and for a moment, I wanted to slap her. If we weren’t surrounded by others, and if Cha Seung-hyun wasn’t here, I might have actually done it. Unaware of my inner turmoil, she continued speaking with a bright smile.
“What do you think of the small town of Mule, User Kim Soo-hyun?”
”…”
Her sudden, nonsensical question left me speechless, and I looked around in disbelief. I rubbed my forehead in frustration. If you want to have a conversation, you need at least a semblance of consistency, even if you disregard logic. But her random, disjointed remarks were throwing my mind into chaos.
“I don’t have any particular thoughts. I’m just a novice user who happened to unearth a few relics. If you’re here as the representative of a notable clan, wouldn’t it be better to consult your subordinates or colleagues?”
“That’s true. But, to be honest, Mule and our clan are in a very difficult situation right now.”
”…”
“Due to the Golden Lion Clan’s expedition to the Iron Mountains, Mule, which is just a frontier town, hasn’t been able to develop. I’m not blaming the Golden Lion Clan. They trusted me, a mere third-year, with a significant responsibility. I’m disappointed I couldn’t join the expedition, but I plan to do my best until they return. However, we don’t know when that will be, and Mule’s current situation is dire. Most skilled users joined the expedition, and those who remain aren’t willing to come to Mule. They’re waiting for news from Barbara or the southern cities. As you mentioned, I have some influence, but I feel inadequate to lead a small town.”
Then why did you take the position? It seems to me they entrusted it to you because it would be easy to reclaim later. As I silently countered her words, a realization hit me.
I remembered Yoo Hyun-ah had indeed come to Mule as a representative of a clan, but it wasn’t now. It was after the civil war that followed the expulsion of vagrants from Barbara. Around that time, before the second civil war began, Mule, which had grown beyond a frontier town, was taken over by another clan. The period was so brief and insignificant that I hadn’t remembered it immediately. It wasn’t that the future had changed; it had simply been accelerated.
“You understand and empathize with us!”
Yoo Hyun-ah’s sudden enthusiastic voice snapped me back to reality. She must have mistaken my surprised expression for agreement. I still couldn’t fathom what she was trying to say with her roundabout way of speaking, but it didn’t change my feelings.
“I’m sorry for bringing up such a difficult topic out of the blue. But our situation is truly desperate. I believe that if we can just hold on until the Iron Mountains expedition ends, better days will come.”
“Oh, yes. It sounds like you’re going through a lot. By the way, about the investigation you mentioned earlier…”
“User Kim Soo-hyun.”
Which is sharper, the Ilwol Divine Sword or the Mu Sword? Her habit of interrupting me was infuriating. But what annoyed me even more was her persistent smile. She seemed oblivious to her mistakes and how her words might be perceived.
Since it had come to this, I decided to listen quietly. After all, didn’t Liu Bei eventually persuade Zhuge Liang to join him after three visits? People like her don’t listen to interruptions, so it seemed better for my sanity to hear her out and then refuse outright.
“Yes?”
After a moment of contemplation, she looked at me with eyes full of determination. A sense of foreboding washed over me. Her next words confirmed my fears.
“If it’s alright with you, I’d like to enlist the help of you and your caravan members for this investigation.”
“What did you say?”
“Oh, I know it’s sudden. But hear me out. It’s not a bad idea. If you’re interested…”
”…?”
Yoo Hyun-ah smiled softly, then glanced at my companions standing behind me. With renewed confidence, she continued.
“How about joining the Beech Clan, the representative clan of Mule?”
As soon as her question ended, I responded without a moment’s hesitation.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Hello, this is Ro Yujin.
Just to ease any concerns, given the flow of the story and the protagonist’s character, there will be no “pushover” moments. Quite the opposite, in fact. So please don’t worry too much. :)
PS. If anyone can come up with the best continuation of Soo-hyun’s response in the comments, I’ll take a break from exam prep and post another chapter on Saturday. :D
PS2. For those who might be confused: 1. Both mimics are currently open. 2. The user with Strength 101 and Cha Seung-hyun are different people. They are not the same person. (Cha Seung-hyun = Martial God, Strength 101 User = Unmatched.)
『 Reader Comments 』
Kuroshion: Congratulations on being first! :) It seemed like you were away for a bit, but you’re reclaiming the top spot again. Hahaha.
LonelySolo: After this chapter, we’ll wrap up the loose ends and head to Barbara. Please be patient. Haha.
Salmon: Yes, there are users like that. You can look forward to encountering many more users in the future.
Blami: Haha. I’ll leave it to the readers’ imagination. :) Just kidding, I’ll explain the items that haven’t been detailed yet in the upcoming chapters. Hahaha.
BrownEar: Duplicates are possible. However, if you hit the limit, consuming more won’t have any effect.
GradeRown: NO. 101 is manageable, and 90 is somewhat usable.
Techno: Hmm. Yes, after the exams, I’ll organize and post everything one by one. It should be possible before the 200th chapter. I’ll also share other settings.
CryingSword: Haha. While writing today, I found Yoo Hyun-ah’s character quite annoying too. Honestly, I wanted to write, “And then he drew his sword and cut her down.” Hahaha.
MentalMath: The elixir hasn’t been consumed yet. I’m planning to ask Vivian for a concoction. :)
MonsterSlayer: You guessed correctly. That’s the right answer. She was the clan leader of Mule. Haha.
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