”…”

The moment I read the title, I held my breath. This was the promotional material for the clan that I had been eagerly waiting for. It seemed the residents of Mule had decided that the rescue operations were sufficiently wrapped up and had swiftly released what they had prepared.

“Oppa, how did these promotional materials get to Barbara overnight? It’s crazy. They’re posted on the square’s bulletin board and scattered all over the streets.”

“They must have prepared the materials in advance. And what’s the point of having transmission magic if you don’t use it?”

“Oh, I see! Anyway, read it quickly. It’s full of praise. Even Yeonju was surprised. It’s rare for a new clan to get such positive coverage.”

The mention of Yeonju momentarily irked me, but I brushed it off and continued reading. The content was well-crafted, allowing me to read through it smoothly without a hitch.

It took about as long as drinking a cup of tea to finish reading. During that time, I absorbed all the information. Hiring Conrad Douglas was a brilliant move. For just a few hundred gold, we were getting promotional value worth much more. The documents I held were filled with the strengths of our clan.

Of course, there were some drawbacks mentioned. For instance, the fact that a zero-year user was the clan lord, that the founding members numbered only eight, and that more than half of the members were zero-year users. However, Douglas had skillfully turned these into strengths for various reasons.

In just three months, this small group had unearthed three relics (though the Cave of Wails hadn’t yet issued an exploration certificate, which was briefly mentioned). We had two secret classes and three rare classes, including the Shadow Queen, one of the top ten, and had dealt with the high-ranking demon Belphegor. These achievements were detailed extensively.

There were subtle promotions for Mule interspersed throughout, but they were easy enough to overlook.

“Wow, they really did a thorough job.”

“Huh? What did?”

“The residents in charge of the clan’s establishment. They’re different from those in the temple.”

“Oh, right. But seriously, there’s a big problem.”

What could be so urgent and significant that she was making such a fuss? I had already decided to reveal our identity to some extent by coming out into the open. As I furrowed my brow slightly, Yujeong quickly continued, reading my expression.

“Oppa, come downstairs. Everyone except you is in the first-floor lobby.”

“Alright, got it.”

Yujeong gestured for me to follow her as she left the room. I put on my coat of plates over my gear and calmly walked down the hallway behind her. Just as I was about to descend the stairs, I heard whispers.

“Hey, he’s coming, he’s coming.”

“Is the guy coming down behind the girl the Mercenary Clan lord?”

“Seems like it. They say he’s a secret class. Wow, look at his gear. And he’s good-looking too.”

“What have I been doing all this time? Damn, whether it’s back home or here, only the chosen ones succeed.”

Murmurs filled the air.

As I reached the first floor, I understood why Yujeong had been so flustered. The lobby of the Inn was packed with Barbara’s users. They must have come out of curiosity after seeing the records posted in the square or scattered on the streets. Yujeong’s steps became awkward as she walked ahead of me. She quickly scurried over to the table.

In the center of the lobby, the clan members, led by Go Yeonju, were gathered around a table. Nearby, the innkeeper, looking cautious, was setting down food before quickly retreating.

It was then that Go Yeonju, noticing my arrival, gracefully uncrossed her legs and stood up. The other clan members, who had been glancing around nervously, also hurriedly followed her lead and rose from their seats.

As I approached the table, Go Yeonju, who had been standing quietly, bowed her head and spoke.

“Greetings to the clan lord. Did you have a restful night?”

“Greetings to the clan lord.”

As Go Yeonju spoke, the clan members echoed her words in unison, bowing their heads. I felt a bit embarrassed inside, but I didn’t show it. This was all part of the performance. I simply nodded calmly and moved to the seat Go Yeonju had prepared for me.

The reaction to the little show was immediate. The act itself wasn’t unusual, but with Go Yeonju involved, it took on a whole new significance.

Gasps of disbelief spread among the users who witnessed her bowing to me. The murmurs swept through the entire first floor and quickly spread to those outside.

“Hey, is it true? Is that user really the Shadow Queen from the top ten?”

“Watch your mouth, idiot. Everyone can hear you.”

“It must be true. The clan establishment officials wouldn’t lie.”

“Wow, so the guy who just came down really captured the Shadow Queen? How is this even possible? I can’t believe it.”

Various voices buzzed around me. After scanning the surroundings briefly, I turned my attention to the clan members.

Go Yeonju was focused solely on me, ignoring the commotion around us. Her usual fluid movements were replaced by a poised and dignified demeanor. Jeong Hayun and Shin Sangyong seemed calm, but their frequent sips of water betrayed their nerves.

Vivian held her head high, surveying the room with a haughty expression before attempting to drape an arm over my shoulder. However, a sharp glare from Go Yeonju made her quickly retract her hand and sit demurely.

Ahn Hyun was trying to maintain a serious expression, but his lips were trembling. Yujeong, who had seemed relaxed earlier, now showed signs of tension. As a side note, Ahn Sol looked like she was about to burst into tears. It was my turn to project confidence.

“Good morning. The sun is already high in the sky. Has anything unusual happened?”

“There are three main reports. The portal to the Inn of Beginnings has opened, our clan’s promotion has begun, and the Golden Lion Clan has issued a summons. The promotion seems to have started early this morning, and the summons was issued after the portal opened. I have additional details about the summons, but….”

Go Yeonju paused, glancing around. I immediately understood her meaning.

“It seems a lot happened while I was asleep. Understood. Let’s discuss the details after breakfast. Everyone, please enjoy your meal….”

As I finally spoke, the previously noisy surroundings fell silent. Though the situation was awkward for me too, I relied on my ten years of experience to maintain a composed facade.

Despite my invitation, no one picked up their utensils. I had hoped to avoid this, but it seemed even this was part of the performance. With a sigh, I picked up my spoon. As if on cue, the clan members followed suit with perfect synchronization.

A murmur rippled through the room once more. Even as I took a spoonful of the clear soup before me, the thought that this was a reckless move wouldn’t leave my mind.

In the southern city of Monica.

Two women sat facing each other in a room adorned with lavish decor. A profound silence enveloped the space, so serene that even the most boisterous person would find themselves hushed upon entering.

One of the women exuded an elegance so striking that it was almost intimidating to meet her gaze directly. Her eyebrows arched gracefully, and her eyes, like polished black onyx, were mesmerizing. Her long, blue-black hair was impeccably arranged, shimmering with a silky sheen. Her lips, cherry-like and firmly set, hinted at a certain resoluteness, while her eyes radiated an unusual confidence that seemed to draw people in.

Her beauty was so flawless that it could be described as enchanting. Yet, if there was a single flaw, it was her expression. A cold, aloof aura shadowed her features. Though this expression suited her well, one couldn’t help but wonder how many hearts she could melt with just a single smile.

She sat with her long legs crossed, engrossed in reading something. Her delicate fingers, as if carved from jade, held several sheets of paper the size of A4.

After a while, she seemed to finish reading and casually tossed the papers aside, finally speaking.

“Mercenary Clan Lord. A first-year user named Kim Su-hyun. I recall there was someone with a similar name somewhere in the east.”

Her voice, which filled the room, was imbued with an undeniable authority, yet carried a subtle allure. The other woman, who had been quietly tapping her fingers with her arms crossed, glanced up and responded.

“Ah, that user is Kim Yu-hyun. Not Su, but Yu. The middle character is different.”

“Right. Wasn’t that user also a secret class?”

“Yes, a mage-type secret class. Thunder Emperor.”

“That’s right. He was called the Thunder Emperor. Hmm. I’d like to meet both of them.”

“Don’t even think about it.”

“Why not?”

The woman paused, shaking her head slightly. Her light blue hair swayed gently with the motion. She, too, was strikingly beautiful, with a sharp nose and a delicate jawline that exuded charm. However, her face also bore a somewhat cynical expression, which was a pity.

“First, Kim Yu-hyun. Even though he’s a second-year user, he’s not someone we can easily approach. He hasn’t founded a clan yet, but he’s already well-established.”

“Really? So he’s stronger than you? The Execution Princess, one of the top ten?”

“Han So-young.”

An uncomfortable silence settled between them for a moment.

---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=

Hello, this is Ro Yujin.

Um, dear readers, I’m sorry, but I need to announce another change in the settings. It’s nothing major, just a name change. There was a user named <(Shin) Da-hyun> mentioned briefly in the first episode. I’m going to change this user’s name to <(Park) Da-yeon>. I feel quite uneasy about it. ㅜ.ㅠ From now on, I’ll try to come up with more unique names. I ask for your understanding.

『 Reader Comments 』

1. Miwolya: Congratulations on being first. Thank you for the message explaining how to comment first. Unfortunately, even if I try, I’m always late. ㅜ.ㅠ Sigh.

2. MT Bear: Haha. I’ll do my best to continue the series to protect MT Bear’s mental health.

3. Nickname Overlap: Thank you. I’ll try to make the content as enjoyable as possible to meet your expectations.

4. ]Radier[: The trend is gradually declining. Previously, the number of readers far exceeded 200 on average. (There were also shorter intervals between updates.) I’ll work on enhancing the content further.

5. Happy Together: Ah, when I tried to say “Go to sleep,” it got underlined as a typo. I’ll think of another expression next time. Thank you.

(Sorry, my head hurts too much today, so I’ll limit the comments to five. ㅜ.ㅠ)

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 send me a message, and I’ll respond!

For now, I’ll take my leave.

I hope you always read my work with a relaxed mind.

Recommendations, comments, ratings, critiques, and questions are always welcome.