After witnessing the clandestine meeting between Park Hwan-hee and Cha Yuna, I felt the need to reassess their relationship. Although my suspicions were based solely on intuition without concrete evidence, their interactions hinted at something more.

Thinking about Cha Yuna’s boyfriend, Baek Han-gyeol, gave me pause, but I decided it was best to observe for now. If I handled this carefully, I could shape the situation to my advantage.

With the recruitment of Baek Han-gyeol somewhat settled, it was time to gather more detailed information. Strictly speaking, I hadn’t yet grasped the essence of the new recruits’ plans.

Despite these undercurrents, my daily routine remained unchanged. I continued to juggle my duties as a supervisor and instructor, focusing on monitoring the new users’ activities.

Thus began my seemingly quiet yet internally intense life at the academy.

The third week passed without incident, except for a postponed dinner with Park Hyun-woo. It wasn’t my decision; the message came through Kim Han-byeol from the Golden Lion.

It seemed Park Hyun-woo and Sung Yu-bin were increasingly distracted by other matters, neglecting the academy. My curiosity piqued, I probed Han-byeol, but all I got was, “I’m sorry, I really don’t know.”

Her response seemed genuine, not a refusal to share information. Since the meeting was only postponed, not canceled, I decided to wait.

Regarding Park Hwan-hee’s plan, I couldn’t pinpoint anything suspicious. There was a sense of unease, though. The new recruits were unusually organized, yet their actions were typical of new users. There was nothing to latch onto.

The answer was clear: most of the plan was already in motion. The keyword was “deal,” as mentioned by Park Hwan-hee. These recruits were moving with surprising speed and precision, suggesting they had backing from another clan.

Park Hwan-hee was smart. He wouldn’t risk forming a faction with just new recruits. I considered which clan might be supporting them, but there were too many possibilities, so I dismissed the thought.

Ultimately, I decided to focus solely on Baek Han-gyeol, abandoning the others. Without solid evidence, I couldn’t confront those with a clan backing them. Some users showed promise, but none compared to Baek Han-gyeol. I resolved to protect the “Shield of God” at all costs.

The academy’s internal situation seemed increasingly complex. Park Hwan-hee’s recruits, the supporting clan, the unsettling movements from the Golden Lion, Kim Han-byeol, and the relationship between Baek Han-gyeol and Cha Yuna.

Yet, I felt this wasn’t the end. These were just symptoms of a larger, unknown issue that was about to erupt.

Oddly, I found this exciting. Destruction isn’t the only path. This invisible, fierce power struggle was familiar and almost welcome. I was confident I could survive any situation.

But survival wasn’t enough. I needed to ride the wave, turn the situation to my advantage, and gain as much as possible.

That was my ultimate goal at the User Academy.

The dinner with Park Hyun-woo, which was more of a strategic conversation, was rescheduled over a month and a half into my instructor duties. While Park Hyun-woo and Sung Yu-bin were busy, Kim Han-byeol seemed relatively stable. Yet, when the topic resurfaced, she still seemed wary.

I agreed to the meeting, reassuring her. It wasn’t just about the incident with the Beech Clan; I hoped to glean information about the Golden Lion’s internal unrest.

Finally, at the end of the seventh week, I met with Park Hyun-woo again. He looked noticeably worn out, suggesting a lot had happened.

In a tired voice, Park Hyun-woo began, “I’ve received reports on your activities as an instructor at Mercenary Road. You’ve been the most active among the supervisors and lifestyle instructors. It’s almost embarrassing for our clan’s instructors.”

“I just wanted to honor the recommendations I received. Your praise is a bit overwhelming.”

Our conversation started on a warm note. As we slowly ate, we continued our discussion.

“Thanks to you, Han-byeol has learned a lot. She talks about Mercenary Road so much, my ears are about to fall off.”

“I’m the one who’s grateful. She’s made my duties much easier.”

“You’re as humble as ever. I see why other clans speak highly of Mercenary Road and the Mercenary Clan. By the way, I haven’t had the chance to ask how you’re doing. Is everything comfortable, like your accommodations?”

His question, knowing full well the answer, was both annoying and pitiful for Han-byeol. I swallowed my food and replied in a low voice.

“Initially, it was awkward due to the gender difference, but we’ve managed by being considerate. There’s no need to worry.”

Even I could sense the subtle edge in my tone. Park Hyun-woo tilted his head slightly, then nodded with an ambiguous expression.

“I see. Things were chaotic, and we assigned rooms as usual without much thought. I’m glad it’s not too uncomfortable. Please continue to look after Han-byeol.”

‘He won’t change the room arrangement, no matter what.’

I sighed inwardly. The bitterness in my heart grew as I recalled Han-byeol’s sharp and bright demeanor during the initiation period. How did she end up in this situation?

“Oh, there’s something I need to inform you about.”

During the awkward tea time after our meal, Park Hyun-woo rummaged through his belongings, looking for something to change the atmosphere. He handed me a rolled-up document with the Golden Lion’s emblem, indicating it was an internal report. I accepted it and began to read.

As I read the title, my eyes narrowed.

“Report on the Conflict between the Beech Clan of Northern Town Mule and the Mercenary Clan. Compiled by Sung Yu-bin.”

“This is….”

“Please, continue reading. We can discuss it afterward.”

I glanced at his friendly smile before returning to the document. It detailed the conflict with the Beech Clan in Mule. As I read through it, I reached the conclusion section, which contained a single line.

“Confirmation of Beech Clan’s Aggression. (Mercenary Road Clan’s Self-Defense Justified.)”

‘Did Sung Yu-bin intervene? Or is there more to this…?’

The matter resolved itself without an investigation. After a moment of thought, I returned the document and asked in a curious tone.

“The conflict with the Beech Clan is true. We did kill two of their sub-clan members. But we weren’t investigated….”

“Investigations are for when evidence is hard to find. It wasn’t a major incident, and there were plenty of traces, so it was easy to uncover the truth. But personally, I have a few questions. If you don’t mind….”

“Go ahead. The Mercenary Clan has nothing to hide.”

“Ha ha. I’m not suggesting an investigation. The fact that you were attacked first is justification enough. We found several traces indicating lethal force. But still, was it necessary to kill the Beech sub-clan members?”

“Yes, it was.”

Despite my firm answer, Park Hyun-woo remained calm. The decision was already made, and he seemed to have accepted it. This conversation felt more like a formality, as if he was personally curious about the details.

“Our first encounter was after exploring the Cave of Wails and returning to Mule.”

We had prepared statements to present our case favorably. In truth, there was little preparation needed. Simply recounting the events as they happened would likely clear us of any wrongdoing.

The investigation into the ruins had been delayed, and the invitation to join had been extended without considering the full context. There was a subtle hint of envy for the achievements we had made. They had even threatened the newcomers, who were barely in their first year, to a life-threatening degree. Then there was Bandaehee’s provocation towards Go Yeonju, and the actual attack on the Ten Strongholds. After being subdued, they spat in my face, among other things.

As the conversation wrapped up with a mention of Cha Seunghyun, I noticed Park Hyunwoo letting out a dry laugh.

“Ha… I had no idea such words were exchanged. That user’s mental state is questionable, to say the least. Oh, and you say that Bandaehee was executed by the Shadow Queen herself?”

“Yes. Despite demanding a formal apology, she spat in my face. She even threatened to kill both me and Go Yeonju someday. Upon hearing that, Go Yeonju, who was restraining her, immediately drove a dagger into her.”

“There’s nothing more to see or hear, then. Understood. We’ve already reached a conclusion internally regarding that matter, so there’s no need for further concern. In fact, we should be the ones apologizing for failing to control our subordinate clan. Sigh. How did such a clan become a representative one…?”

“No, it’s fine. You were in the middle of an expedition at the time, so it’s understandable that you couldn’t pay attention.”

“Haha. Thank you for understanding.”

‘They must want something.’

The Golden Lion was being unusually deferential. Of course, even if I had pressed further, the situation was already in our favor. Moreover, with the involvement of the Shadow Queen, Go Yeonju, and the justification acknowledged by Park Hyunwoo, we had enough leverage.

However, despite it being an internal matter of their subordinate clan, they chose to handle it quietly rather than making it public. This was a clear gesture of goodwill on their part. It meant the Golden Lion wanted something from me.

Park Hyunwoo picked up the records again, sipping his tea with a calm demeanor. Then, straightening his posture, he spoke.

“Let’s wrap up the matter of the beech tree here… and move on to another topic. Or should I say, the main topic.”

”…”

“The reason I invited the Mercenary Lord here today is because I have an urgent request.”

‘Here it comes.’

I had a feeling this was coming, but I maintained a nonchalant expression, as if wondering what the Golden Lion could possibly want from me. He noticed my reaction, gave a faint smile, and continued slowly.

“Um. You remember granting the Shadow Queen an access pass some time ago, right? Since then, I believe she’s visited the academy two or three times. If it’s not too much trouble, could you let me know when her next visit is scheduled?”

“Why are you interested in that?”

My question was a natural one for a clan lord to ask. However, unlike before, Park Hyunwoo hesitated to answer. He closed his eyes, looked at me, then closed them again, clearly wrestling with some internal conflict.

In reality, Go Yeonju had visited twice during the seventh week and was scheduled to visit again in the eighth week. During her second visit, there wasn’t much to do, so I simply received her report, spent a little time with her, and sent her back.

I took a sip of tea, showing that I had nothing to lose. The refreshing sensation spread through my body. After a few more sips, Park Hyunwoo’s tightly sealed lips finally began to part.

“Mercenary Lord, what I’m about to tell you must remain confidential.”

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

Hello, this is Royujin.

I apologize to my readers. I’m not feeling well today. ㅜ.ㅠ I’ll skip the author’s note this time and combine the replies with the next chapter. I ask for your understanding.