Ecstasy
Looking back, I realized that Go Yeon-ju was truly a versatile individual. It wasn’t just her abilities as a user that impressed me. Despite joining us last, she had seamlessly integrated herself into our group, steadily finding her place. Even as a member of the
Just yesterday, she effortlessly put two boastful users in their place by subtly revealing her status as a
I quietly closed the door behind me, carrying some documents and a teacup, and descended the stairs. By the time I reached the lobby, the tables had been restored to their original state. I felt a twinge of guilt, remembering how her welcome party had fizzled out the night before. Sipping the steaming tea, I opened the inn’s entrance, planning to have a smoke.
”…”
But as soon as I stepped outside, I paused. There was a small staircase leading to the ground, and on it sat a user with narrow shoulders and long hair. The light ash-gray hair was enough for me to recognize her without seeing her face. Instead of speaking from behind, I sat beside her and greeted her.
“Good morning. You’re up early.”
Having been thinking about her, the words came out naturally. Go Yeon-ju glanced at me with weary eyes, then buried her face again, acknowledging my greeting.
“Good morning. But I didn’t wake up early by choice.”
“Hmm. Is something wrong?”
“I was waiting. I knew you’d likely come here for a smoke in the morning. Oh, and why didn’t you offer me one? That’s not fair.”
She snatched the cigarette from my lips, something I was used to by now, and I simply took out another one.
Sss. Sss.
We lit our cigarettes simultaneously and exhaled smoke together. As the smoke dissipated into the air, I spoke again.
“Come to think of it, the welcome party ended abruptly last night. Did they leave alright?”
“Yes. They begged to meet again and clung to me, but I just sent them away. They seemed quite upset, wiping away tears as they left.”
“I see. You did well.”
“Don’t mention it.”
An awkward silence settled between us. It was the first time I felt such awkwardness in our conversations. Perhaps she had some grievance with me. Or maybe it was more of a playful complaint? The thought of the
“Why are you smiling?”
Noticing my smirk, she spoke with a slightly pouty face. “Oh, nothing,” I replied, and she gave me a disapproving look before finally revealing her true feelings.
“I went through all that trouble to make you stronger.”
“Pfft.”
“And you waste it on something else? Oh, stop laughing, really. Haha.”
She couldn’t help but laugh herself, and we both ended up laughing together for a while before dropping our cigarettes to the ground.
“But you can’t just barge in like that. I locked the door and even cast a silence spell.”
“Hmph. Such things are powerless before the
“That’s not the point. The decent thing would be to pretend you didn’t notice.”
“Ha. Who was it that sneakily stole all the energy I had gathered? I couldn’t just let it go. Oh, and that female user’s moans were quite something, weren’t they? Not what I expected from her appearance. Oh, Su-hyun~ Oh~.”
Watching her mimic Ha-yeon’s moans from last night, I pondered for a moment. I thought she had only seen me enter the room in the morning, but it seemed she knew even before that.
I cleared my throat, cutting off her imitation. She giggled and poked my side.
“Don’t take it too seriously. Even if the welcome party was a bust, I prepared good drinks and wore something nice, only to end up alone listening to moans. So, forgive me for teasing you a bit.”
“I’ll forgive you. But knowing you saw that makes me uneasy.”
“Oh, why? It was the most beautiful sex I’ve ever seen.”
“Cough! What, what did you say?”
This time, I genuinely choked. Expecting another joke, I turned to see her unexpectedly serious face. Her expression held a hint of envy, but overall, she seemed quite lonely. Feeling awkward, I decided to change the subject.
“Hmm. Hearing that makes me feel strange. Anyway, I understand. By the way, I’m curious now.”
“Hmm? Curious about what? My measurements? 3….”
“I’m curious why they came to Mule. And how things are progressing.”
Go Yeon-ju tilted her head and pursed her lips, but to me, it just seemed like she was being playful.
“Hmm~. I can’t quite remember.”
“Oh, come on.”
“Oh, come on, what? In situations like this, I can’t remember well. But maybe if you come to my room late at night, I might recall.”
Seeing her maintain her playful demeanor, I sighed deeply and stood up. Staying any longer would only mean falling into her pace, so it was best to leave. Besides, after the way they left yesterday, I doubted they’d stay quiet. There was a chance that
Go Yeon-ju quickly grabbed my hand, speaking in a pleading tone.
“Oh, my dear. Don’t go. I was wrong.”
“I’m off to work. Let go.”
“Oh, I see. Then earn lots of money, dear. I’ll make something delicious and wait for you.”
”…Leave the teacup.”
Noticing the documents in my hand, she quickly regained her composure and changed her tone. She was truly an enigmatic woman. Why was she so clingy today? Her earlier lonely expression flashed in my mind.
Feeling a bit unsettled, I picked up the teacup I had set down and, with her following to see me off, headed towards the temple. It seemed I really would have to visit her room tonight. Not for anything else, of course, but purely to gather information. Really.
I barged into the temple and, quite literally, turned it upside down from the morning. Not that I caused a scene. I simply demanded to see Seraph and mentioned the events of the previous day, seeking advice. The priest, sweating profusely, apologized to me.
While the priest was partly at fault, I knew there was little they could do, so I didn’t push too hard. However, I did manage to secure a temporary certificate through what could be considered a veiled threat.
A temporary certificate is just that—a temporary document issued when forming an expedition team is tricky due to distance or difficulty. It’s quite challenging to obtain unless you’re a clan with a certain level of reputation.
Thanks to the previous display of Vivian’s spirit and Belphegor’s heart, and the temple’s clear mistake, we received it swiftly. Of course, if our exploration turned out to be a sham, everything would be nullified, and we’d face penalties, but that was never going to happen, so it wasn’t our concern.
I then went to the clan registration office, submitted the documents and temporary certificate, and requested priority status changes for the members. The
Status changes are quite restricted, but since we were forming a free mercenary-type clan, it wasn’t a major issue. Having done all I could, the remaining task was for each member to apply for their status change, wait for confirmation, and then pass the document review. After that, we’d have an interview led by the resident in charge, and only upon passing would our clan application be approved.
It was a system that could be seen as simple or complex, but it ensured that clans couldn’t be formed without merit.
With a bit of peace of mind after setting up a smokescreen for Mi-yeon, I leisurely made my way back to the inn. The others had already woken up and eaten breakfast, so I had no choice but to have a late breakfast that doubled as lunch by myself. After finishing my solitary meal, I explained the situation to those who needed to change their status and gave simple instructions to the remaining members. (Though, to be honest, the tasks were mostly just training or free time.)
Finally, I called Vivienne, asking her to come to my room when she had a moment, and with that, the meeting was adjourned. I headed back to my room to start organizing my equipment.
I had over 80,000 gold coins and more than a thousand gems in my possession. However, I didn’t want to waste them just because I had a lot. As I rummaged through the equipment I had taken from the vagrants, I noticed some items I hadn’t checked yet. Among them, the one that caught my interest was the Sun and Moon Divine Sword. It seemed like a promising replacement for the cumbersome sword I had been using, and I had high hopes for it.
『Sun and Moon Divine Sword』
Description: A sword imbued with the power of the sun and moon over many years. When the sun is up, it absorbs sunlight, causing the blade to emit intense heat and take on fiery properties. When the moon is out, it absorbs moonlight, giving the blade a chilling aura and enhancing its cutting power. The sword is also crafted to dispel evil and corrupt energies, making it particularly effective against demonic forces, though its power is modest compared to
“Nice.”
I muttered simply, raising the Sun and Moon Divine Sword towards the ceiling. As I slowly examined it, I drew the blade from its jet-black scabbard, revealing a sleek, razor-sharp blade that reflected light with a shy gleam. Its first impression was one of remarkable elegance.
The double-edged blade was engraved with intricate, antique patterns on both sides, showcasing a beauty akin to a high-quality piece of craftsmanship. When I swung it experimentally, it sliced through the air with a clean sound, fitting comfortably in my hand. Satisfied with its performance, I sheathed it back with a contented smile. Just then, I heard a voice calling from outside.
“Kim Soo-hyun! I’m coming in!”
A lively voice rang out, likely from someone I had briefly summoned during my meal. “Come in,” I replied, and the door swung open to reveal a vibrant young woman.
As expected, it was Vivienne who entered, her cheeks flushed and breathing slightly labored, as if she had rushed over.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Hello, this is Ro Yujin.
Ah, I guess I should stick to my usual brand of cigarettes. I tried something different, and it just didn’t suit my taste. Haha. It’s a fiery Friday and Saturday, but that’s okay. We still have Sunday left. I hope all of you have a wonderful weekend! :)
『 Reader Comments 』
FoldedWingBird: Oh! Congratulations on being first. It’s quite impressive to see you at the top, FoldedWingBird. Haha.
Shapiron: Thank you. Sniff. But I’m happy when I’m writing, so it doesn’t feel like a hardship. Hahaha. :)
Blami: Hehe. It seems many are looking forward to the scene with Go Yeon-ju. If I wrote, “And when I woke up, it was morning,” I’d probably get a lot of flak, right?
CheonGeopHyeolShinCheonMuJon: Uh. Scary. Please don’t do this. It’s frightening. Sniff.
OffToLove19: Haha. I slipped my nickname in as a little joke. :)
HyunOh: Haha. There’s a reason why talents gather under Yoo Hyun-ah. Here’s a hint: think back to when you first saw Kim Han-byeol. There’s a reason Soo-hyun was surprised then, and it’s the same now. (I appreciated your comment. As always, it was spot on.)
qklcnw: That’s right. Actually, it’s not Ro Yujin, but Ryo Yujin. It’s definitely not me. Hehehe.
VegemilGoon: Yes, Sir! Nice to see you. :) It feels like it’s been a long time. Haha.
UrDREAM: Correct. Now that I think about it, the ability to manipulate shadows is quite convenient. No secrets. Sniff.
LikeTheWind: Girlfriend! Yes! Girlfriend! Haha! Just kidding. I’m definitely envious. Hahaha. Ha… Sniff.
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