Leaving and Meeting Again ------------------------------------------------------------------------

The walk back was filled with thoughts. Ko Yeon-ju, sensing my mood, refrained from her usual playful banter and quietly followed behind. As I pondered how to handle the upcoming tasks, it wasn’t until the inn, “Morning Sunlight,” came into view that I finally thought of my clan members.

Before entering the inn, I turned around. As always, Ko Yeon-ju, with her languid expression, was staring at me with wide eyes.

“Yeon-ju.”

“Yes, Su-hyeon?”

“I asked them to wait before leaving the inn, so they shouldn’t be asleep yet. Could you go in first and gather everyone?”

“The office… I mean, should I call them to that room?”

“If you mean the room I use alone, yes. I’ll finish my cigarette and come in. Please tell Jeong Ha-yeon to pack everything.”

“Sure. Take your time and come in slowly.”

Yeon-ju replied in her gentle voice. Only after watching her open the door and go inside did I let out a short sigh.

Despite the late hour, the street in front of the inn was bustling. It seemed the city’s users were aware that the portal of the “Inn of Beginnings” would soon close, and new users would enter. Even for those not directly participating, the arrival of untainted newcomers was a rare spectacle.

The soft, mild scent of smoke filled my throat. I took a long drag from the cigarette and sank into deep thought.

The future had changed. Or rather, the possibility of change had increased. Non-participating clans responded to the Golden Lion’s summons and achieved their goals. Thanks to the matriarch’s efforts, many rising tensions were significantly eased. In itself, this wasn’t a bad thing. It meant that the relationships wouldn’t spiral into chaos, preserving the last line of defense we’d barely maintained.

Thus, the northern continent no longer needed to shed unnecessary blood. A world reminiscent of the chaotic Warring States period among clans wouldn’t come. After the User Academy, the world would continue as it had, exploring outside the city, uncovering ruins, and banding together against vagrants.

However, there were a few things that bothered me too much to simply accept and move on. The most puzzling was the matriarch’s condition and the reactions of those around her. Son Bun-rye’s body was nearly collapsing. When Seong Yu-bin expressed concern about the matriarch’s health, Park Hyun-woo immediately shouted her down, as if trying to hide something. Why on earth…?

“Ah.”

Suddenly, I felt warmth between my index and middle fingers holding the cigarette. Lost in thought, the cigarette had burned down to my skin. I dropped it to the ground, rubbed it out, and turned to open the inn’s door. No matter how much I pondered, there were too many uncertainties to make hasty assumptions.

Inside the inn, I noticed the curious glances of users occupying a few tables. Ignoring their inquisitive stares, I headed straight up the stairs. Once on the third-floor corridor, I opened the door to my room and saw my companions gathered in a circle by the bed.

On a long, rectangular altar stood a massive warp gate, forming a giant oval. I watched the pale blue spheres floating in the open center for a moment before lowering my gaze. In front of the gate, the mercenary clan members were looking at me with regretful faces.

It felt like about three hours had passed since returning to the inn. I summarized everything and highlighted the key points, but there was so much to convey. The summons was relatively simple to explain, but discussing future plans and actions took considerable time. I had to distinguish between what could and couldn’t be shared.

“Please take care of the clan while I’m away.”

“Of course. But don’t take too long; you need to come back soon.”

“Don’t worry about us. Just take care of yourself, Su-hyeon.”

Ko Yeon-ju and Jeong Ha-yeon responded in their distinctive ways. After exchanging farewells with the other clan members, I turned my attention back to Ko Yeon-ju.

“Yeon-ju, you remember what I told you, right?”

“Of course.”

“Your role is crucial. You’ll need to be very active from now on.”

“I’ll do my best not to disappoint.”

Hearing her confident assurance, I felt a bit more at ease. As I looked away, I noticed Vivian sulking behind Yeon-ju, sucking her fingers. Without me and Yeon-ju, she was arguably the strongest in terms of the clan’s actual combat power. So, I decided to give her some words of advice as well.

“Vivian.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeon-ju will be busy running around, and Ha-yeon will be organizing the clan. While it’s unlikely, if something happens, you’re the only one who can respond quickly.”

”…Got it.”

Vivian replied a beat late, her cheeks puffed and lips pouting, clearly displeased. I could guess why, but there was no time to cater to her whims.

“Alright, you all should go now. I’ll come to you in three months.”

“Yes. Until we meet again, Lord…”

Though it was a temporary farewell, the clan members seemed hesitant, especially the younger ones. Just as Ko Yeon-ju was about to step forward to accept my farewell, An Sol, who had been on the verge of tears since leaving the “Morning Sunlight,” finally burst into sobs. As she ran towards me, I was about to step aside when Ko Yeon-ju’s earlier words flashed through my mind.

“Brother!”

Before I knew it, I instinctively caught An Sol as she threw herself into my arms. Looking up at me with tear-filled eyes, she began to mumble incoherently. I sighed inwardly and patted her back.

“Don’t go… Brother, don’t go…”

“Sol, it’s not like you’ll never see me again. It’s only three months. The more you cry, the harder it is for me. Come on, stop crying.”

“No… I can’t stay here… Take me with you…”

“I’ve already committed, Sol. If you keep…”

Her persistent whining was starting to irritate me. Just as I was about to scold her, her last words struck a chord. I can’t stay here?

“Hey, kid. Just so you know, you have five seconds to get over here. Neither you staying here nor the Lord coming with us is an option. If you keep whining, it won’t be fun.”

“Hey! Have some shame. Do you think you’re the only one who’s sad? He said there’s no choice. Stop being annoying and come here.”

Ko Yeon-ju and Lee Yu-jeong’s sharp voices cut through the air. As I tried to gently pry An Sol off before the situation got worse, she spoke again in a tearful voice.

“It’s not that… I’m scared…”

“Scared…?”

Her words sent a chill through my mind. I’d been uneasy since the summons, and her words seemed to ignite a growing sense of suspicion.

At that moment, standing before the warp gate, I felt a massive surge of mana behind me. It seemed I wasn’t the only one who noticed.

“Leader, it seems the new users are almost done entering. No… it seems they’ve already finished.”

“Right. I should get going.”

Feeling uneasy, I replied to Shin Sang-yong. An Sol clung to me, refusing to let go. Then, suddenly…

“Wait a moment.”

A sudden clarity hit me. Thoughts of everything I’d experienced flooded my mind. I gently wiped Sol’s tears and knelt slightly to meet her eyes, speaking in a gentle voice.

“Sol.”

“Yes…?”

“If you’re feeling uneasy, there’s probably a reason. I don’t know what it is, but it’s too late to change my decision now. But don’t worry. I won’t ignore your words. I’ll stay alert and cautious. Even if others don’t, I believe you. Can you trust me too? If you do, please stop crying.”

“Sniff… But… I don’t want to…”

“An Sol! You’re making it hard for him. Ugh, why are you like this today? I’m sorry, brother. I’ll take her.”

“Sniff… Sniff…”

Finally, An Hyun stepped forward, unable to watch any longer. Despite her tears, Sol’s eyes were clear and bright. It was hard to see them as merely the eyes of a whining child.

“Brother. See you in three months. And I’m sorry.”

“Let go… Let go…!”

Ansol burst into tears again, flailing her arms wildly. But Ahn Hyun easily overpowered her resistance and began dragging her away. Watching the unfriendly stares directed at her from behind, I let out a long sigh.

For a moment, my resolve wavered. But there were things that needed to be done. No matter how accurate Ansol’s instincts were, we had already concluded our discussion at the assembly, and leaving Barbara was not the right choice. Still, I needed to keep my wits about me.

“No, it’s fine. You have nothing to apologize for. Just don’t overdo it, listen well, and take care of Sol. Though I’m sure you’ll manage just fine.”

“Yes, don’t worry, brother. I’ll do my best.”

Even as she was being dragged away, Ansol didn’t stop flailing her arms, hitting Ahn Hyun repeatedly. It seemed like we’d just keep staring at each other if I stayed, so it was better for me to leave first. I picked up the magical backpack at my feet and raised my voice a little.

“I’ll be off now!”

“Take care, Suhyun!”

“Yes, see you later!”

“Kim Suhyun, you idiot! You didn’t even spank me!”

“Brother! You have to come back alone! Don’t come back with two or three!”

“Leader! I’ll be waiting! Until then, I swear…!”

The clan members waved at me, and I waved back before turning away. I could feel their gazes on the back of my head, but I ignored them and quickened my pace.

It wasn’t a permanent farewell, just a temporary departure, so I didn’t feel too uneasy. To be honest, I felt a bit relieved. In my first life, I was used to being alone. The taste of freedom after so long was refreshing.

There was one thing that lingered in my mind, though. Ansol’s words before we parted kept echoing inside me. Of course, I couldn’t take her words at face value. Her Luck 101 ability was acknowledged, but it was an ability I couldn’t fully understand. I couldn’t grasp the source of her anxiety. Was it a premonition of danger, or the unease she felt when she first spent the night with Go Yeonju, or something else entirely unknown to me? Her anxiety was much more multifaceted than mine, so there was no guarantee it aligned with my thoughts.

The information I had was too scarce. One was the state of the matriarch from the Golden Lion Clan and Park Hyunwoo’s reaction. The other was Ansol’s sense of unease. The problem was that both were vague and broad, making it difficult to form a plan.

I decided to think positively. Even if it was an unrecognized anxiety, there was no need to tremble in fear already. In the past, I had faced and dealt with the anxieties she sensed quite smoothly.

Of course, I couldn’t be complacent. As I assured Ansol, there was a need to be cautious. As a last resort, I could quickly withdraw, but that was truly a last resort. Instead of being idle, it was better to gather as much information as possible.

With this resolve in my heart, I continued walking. According to Shin Sangyong, by now, the new users should have entered the . The Golden Lion Clan was supposed to guide them to the plaza, and other clans would recruit the necessary personnel before the plaza speeches ended. Although many veteran users had died, the accumulated experience would ensure smooth guidance.

The distance from to the was considerable, but starting from the warp gate made it much closer.

As I passed through the empty plaza, a question arose in my mind. It was understandable that existing users were absent since access was strictly controlled during the induction of new users, except for those involved. However, only a handful of people were managing the plaza.

That question was answered when I arrived at the .

“Dammit! Where am I? Where?! Let go of me! Let go?!”

“Please stay calm! Just stay calm!”

“Where is this? Where?! This isn’t Earth! You lied! Who are you?!”

“Why aren’t you controlling them faster?!”

The was, in a word, chaos. Shouts and struggling users were everywhere, and the Golden Lion Clan members were rushing around trying to maintain order. The new users were visibly confused, and the controllers, though busy, seemed somewhat clumsy.

They must have gone through the induction process and received explanations from the angels. Occasionally, there were those who couldn’t accept reality despite that. However, no matter how many people were entering, this was excessive. Just as I clicked my tongue and was about to move on, a gruff voice I heard upon arrival hit my ears hard.

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

Hello, this is Royujin.

Ah, I’m sorry. I had an appointment this evening. I got home around 10 PM. Fortunately, I had written a bit before going out, so I wasn’t too late. ㅜ.ㅠ Also, dear readers, I have a habit of writing slowly, so I’ve tried to speed things up a bit this time. (Of course, I’ll take my time on parts I deem necessary.) I’ll try to keep up the pace, but if you notice anything awkward, please let me know. Your valuable feedback is the foundation for my growth. Thank you. (__)

PS. Thank you sincerely to everyone who gave coupons. (__)

『 Reader Comments 』

1. FoldedWingBird: Oh my, FoldedWingBird! Congratulations on being first! Haha, I was really surprised. How did you manage to be first right after I posted? We must be soulmates. (Just kidding.)

2. qklcnw: Studying for exams! The process is tough, but the feeling after finishing is truly exhilarating. I hope you get great results.

3. sigma815: Yes, I’m aware of the shortcomings in that part. I’ll consider adding content during the e-book revision or include it in a future side story or flashback. (For now, I’m focusing on progressing the story.)

4. Lancelot du Lac: Haha, please be patient. Suhyun’s voice is limited in the assembly. As a new clan leader, he also needs to manage his image. I’ll make sure the User Academy progresses without frustration.

5. RaccoonWings: Thank you for the coupon. I’ll repay you with even better content. (__)

6. LatiDoll: Oh, you caught that part. Haha. What kind of relationship was it, I wonder? It might be fun to unravel Suhyun’s story from the first life occasionally.

7. Resite: Wow, such high praise. Thank you. I was at a loss for words after reading your comment. (__)

8. MyungbakJjang’sYangYangHapil: Hmm, I was startled by the mention of 육xx. I can assure you that will never happen. -_-+

9. HarujionS: I’ll leave Kim Hanbyul to your imagination. You’re right about Ansol. Ah, I mentioned Kim Hanbyul not in a negative sense, but to encourage you to imagine. (In case any readers misunderstand…)

10. BraveMan: I’ve calculated that part. I’ll gradually reveal it as the story progresses. A tip: don’t use the User Academy as a benchmark. If you look at episodes 37 and 197, you’ll understand the future developments more easily.

Your recommendations and comments are the driving force for continuous updates. (This is the truth.)

I always read all comments repeatedly.

Please don’t feel too disappointed if you’re not mentioned in the comments.

If you’re really curious, send me a message, and I’ll reply!

I’ll take my leave for today.

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

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