The place where I applied to establish a clan sent a messenger. They wanted me to come for an interview immediately. Honestly, it was surprising. The residents known for their strictness were the ones granted the authority to approve clan establishments. I expected the document review to take several days, but it seemed like it was approved almost instantly.
I was puzzled for a moment, but it wasn’t entirely incomprehensible. We had excavated three ruins in just three months—one per month. Such an unprecedented achievement likely earned us some special consideration. Another possibility could be the pressure from Go Yeon-ju, who went to apply for a status change, but regardless, the expedited timing was certainly not a bad thing. So, I followed the messenger with a light heart.
Upon arriving at the place responsible for clan establishments, I encountered a pot-bellied resident. He was the one I would be dealing with, and I couldn’t help but feel a sense of triumph upon seeing him. He was a resident I remembered.
“Ah, you’re the rookie who discovered three ruins, right? Kim Soo-hyun, was it? Have a seat,” he said, speaking informally, which I didn’t appreciate. But these people took immense pride in their authority. Since they could influence the
“When the
Conrad Douglas stroked his protruding belly and rough beard as he spoke. Compared to when I first established the
The most challenging hurdle was the performance evaluation. Since it was a part of the
“Everything sounds good, but honestly, it’s hard to believe. Not that I’m doubting the
“May I address that point?”
“Go ahead.”
Enduring Douglas’s grating tone, I spoke calmly.
All the details were in the certificate based on the report. His skepticism indicated some dissatisfaction. Trying to resolve that dissatisfaction would be futile. No matter how much I explained, he’d just nitpick and delay the decision. Instead, I needed to redirect his dissatisfaction elsewhere.
I didn’t say much. I pointed out the barrier at the
As expected, Douglas reacted strongly to my words.
“What? Is that true? They complained about the difficulty and passed the responsibility to the representative clan without properly finishing the job?”
“That’s why I received a temporary certificate. I asked for understanding… I mean, it was just a day or two away, but I had to get a temporary certificate.”
“Is that something a resident with authority should say? I’m embarrassed for them. Tsk tsk.”
There aren’t many residents with granted authority. Among the notable ones are the temple and those responsible for clan establishments, and they don’t get along well. To be precise, the residents with clan establishment authority tend to dislike those from the temple. It stems from a difference in perception regarding their granted authority.
Douglas seized the opportunity to vent his grievances about the temple residents. He complained about their lack of responsibility despite their privileged status, and how he never liked them. I occasionally chimed in, encouraging his rant.
“Moreover, the performance certification significantly impacts clan establishment. Even if the authorities are divided, they were granted equal authority, yet they handled it so carelessly. I was quite disappointed.”
“Ahem! Ahem! Let’s not generalize too hastily. Although we were granted equal authority, this is entirely due to their negligence. I understand your feelings. You waited three weeks, and they couldn’t even form a proper investigation team. I have nothing more to say.”
He nodded solemnly and cleared his throat, turning his attention back to the performance certificate. His expression was serious, but I could tell it was just a façade.
With achievements like these, it was more than enough. I could have pressured him by mentioning the
Instead of taking a confrontational approach, it was more effective to exploit the subtle rift between the residents. By laying the groundwork and leaving room for them to prove their difference, all I had to do was watch how they took the bait.
Conrad Douglas seemed to be making an effort to give the impression of reconsidering. Eventually, he let out a meaningless “Hmm, hmm,” and turned his gaze to me.
“Upon reviewing it again, there’s nothing particularly wrong. The temporary certificate is a bit concerning, but given the circumstances, it can’t be helped. But are you aware? If any falsehoods are found in future investigations…”
“I understand there are penalties. In severe cases, the clan could be forcibly disbanded, and we wouldn’t be able to establish another for some time. I’ve heard it’s quite difficult to establish one again even after the period passes.”
“Seems like you’ve done your homework. Good. If you’re willing to accept all that, no one will oppose.”
I looked at him with a surprised expression, though it was just an act. When I gave him a look that said, “Oh, you’re different from those temple folks,” a smug smile appeared on Douglas’s face.
“You know you’ll need a thousand gold for the initial fee, right? You might as well pay it now.”
”…Are you saying…?”
“What do you mean, ‘are you saying’? As I’ve been telling you, we’re not like those temple folks. We strictly adhere to the principles and execute the authority granted by them. If it aligns with those principles, there’s nothing to worry about. That’s the attitude of a chosen resident.”
His confident words reassured me. I expressed my gratitude to Douglas, and he waved it off, insisting it was his duty. I handed over the prepared thousand gold, then reached into my pocket once more. Though not as much as the thousand gold, I pulled out a fairly hefty pouch of coins.
”…What’s this?”
He was about to hang the pouch on a large scale when he glanced at the additional pouch I offered. I replied with a calm demeanor.
“It’s not much. About 200 gold.”
“Oh, you user! What do you take me for? We chosen residents always handle things fairly, even without such things. Take it back!”
Despite his words, his eyes kept darting to the pouch. He clearly wanted it but was hesitant due to his earlier statements. I chuckled inwardly and shook my head with a straight face. Given their significant influence on the initial clan promotion, it was necessary to keep them on our side. Besides, I had nearly 100,000 gold, so 200 gold was nothing to fret over.
“It’s not meant that way. Consider it a donation.”
“A donation? Ah, you mean a city development donation? That’s something you should give to the temple.”
“True, but to be honest, I feel more inclined to donate here than to the temple.”
I paused after saying that and observed Douglas’s face. He looked a bit dazed, but the corners of his mouth were subtly lifted. After confirming his reaction, I added another comment.
“Since I plan to leave Mule soon after establishing the clan, I trust you’ll use it wisely. But I feel more at ease with the clan establishment managing it than the temple.”
“Haha, leaving Mule soon, are you?”
“Yes, but since the achievements were made here in Mule, it seems only right to give something back, even if it’s just a token gesture.”
In truth, it was more than just a token. But surely, he would understand what I was getting at. A flicker of hesitation crossed his face, but then he cleared his throat and reached for his pocket. Seeing this, I couldn’t help but smile inwardly with satisfaction.
“Well, if you put it that way, I understand. Given the circumstances, it’s only natural to be wary. But I hope you don’t think all the residents with authority are like that.”
“Of course not. Anyway, I’ll be on my way. Please take care of the clan establishment matter.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure to clear up any doubts. I’ll show you what it means to handle things properly. I won’t stray far.”
“Hahaha.”
We both shared a hearty laugh.
After exchanging farewells, I finally left the place, feeling much lighter at the thought that all I had to do now was wait for the right moment.
A day had passed since I applied to establish the clan. Ever since I turned Yu Hyun-ah away at the door, I couldn’t help but wonder what kind of trouble she might stir up. But since I had already requested a change in status and applied for the clan as a free mercenary, no clause could hinder us.
I had expected the process to be tied up for a while, but thanks to Douglas’s assurances, the results might come as soon as tomorrow.
“Well, I’ve sorted out most things… I should probably visit the old man before leaving. Then again, with Hanbyul’s situation uncertain, it might be best to wait and see how things unfold.”
Though no one was around, I muttered to myself. I crossed out "
In one corner of the drawer lay a dirty cloth bundle. It was an item that could be inherited as the rare class ”
I pushed the records aside and picked up the bundle.
“Hmm?”
As I untied the top, a deep crimson gem with a dark blue hue was revealed. At the same time, I quickly activated my third eye. Although various setting messages popped up, I decided to read the basic information first.
“Oh, it’s for an archer. That’s unexpected.”
After skimming the information, I found it surprising. I had assumed it would be for a mage, given the “priestess” title, but it turned out to be an archer class. Not that I was disappointed—quite the opposite. We needed to recruit an archer soon, and with the Bow of Exorcism in our possession, it seemed like a perfect match.
I then turned my attention to the setting messages that had appeared.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Hello, this is Ro Yujin.
Half of the workweek is over. Tomorrow’s Thursday, so the weekend is almost here. (Though it’s not all fun and games for me. ㅜ.ㅠ) Hahaha. I imagine many of you are exhausted from work, studies, or various other things. If my novel can offer you a brief respite, I’d be truly happy. The joy of writing comes from having readers like you. :)
PS. Thank you to everyone who has given recommendations, comments, ratings, and coupons. I can’t wait to see the tree grow tall with all your support. ㅋㅋㅋㅋ.
『 Reader Comments (Episode 178) 』
Hwi-eul: Congratulations on being first! It’s been a while since I’ve seen you in the top spot. Hahaha. Kuroshion and 破天魔痕 have been dominating lately, but it seems you’re also among the elite. :D
ThatGiraffeDrawing: Whoa. It’s not the dad’s bedroom. ㅜ.ㅠ Suhyun is still a healthy young man at 24.
HumanLife: Thank you for the coupon. (__) That friend was really good at math. In a way, I was envious. I couldn’t stand not having an answer. ㅜ.ㅠ
GaHanna: Thank you for the encouraging comment! Many people skip, but I’ll try to make it so even they will want to read next time. :)
DevilShrine: Both are older sister types. And if you think about Han So-young, well, Suhyun’s taste?! Just kidding. Actually, it’s my taste… (Ouch!) @[email protected]
『 Reader Comments 』
破天魔痕: While writing the 178th comment, I was curious who would be first for the 179th. (I saw it but forgot.) Congratulations on being first! What’s your secret?
LifeAfterDeath!!: My condolences. (__) If my writing can be of any comfort, I’m truly grateful and relieved. I’m sure you’ll find a much better place!
BrokenFan: Actually, it’s not a younger sister, but there’s someone similar to an older sister. She was really fun to tease. I was often told, “You should be scolded, shouldn’t you?” Haha.
PotatoChip: No! True names and potential aren’t directly related! But if you broadly interpret potential, you can’t say there’s no connection. :)
Ludinia + BecauseILove: That concept was inspired by military boot camp or ranger training. When responding, you don’t say “Yes?” but use your rank or trainee name. Of course, the meaning changed when applied to Whole Plane, but originally, it was set up that way in the user academy to instill the identity of a
Resite: I read your comments on episodes 178 and 179. Thank you.
Masterpiece: Thank you for the precious encouragement. I gained a lot of strength from your and others’ supportive comments. :) Of course, it’s hard to satisfy everyone, but I’ll strive to move in a better direction.
Your recommendations and comments are the driving force behind continuous 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!
I’ll take my leave for today.
I hope you always read my work with a relaxed mind.
Recommendations, comments, ratings, critiques, and questions are always welcome.