The much-anticipated meeting, which had drawn the attention of many, ended in a disappointing stalemate, leaving only unresolved tensions in its wake. As a result, some clans, including those who had traveled all the way to see Barbara, returned to their cities empty-handed.
Meanwhile, the User Academy, which had paused its activities during the meeting, resumed operations. The meeting of clan leaders had a significant impact on the Academy, leading to the suspension of several instructor positions held by the Eastern, Southern, and Northern clans. These vacancies were quickly filled by users from the Golden Lion and allied clans.
The official reason for the changes was complex, but in simple terms, only users from clans that had passed internal audits were allowed to teach new recruits. Notably, half of the suspended instructors were from the Eastern clan, suggesting a strategic move to pressure them into accepting the audit and gradually reclaim control over the Academy.
Despite the potential for conflict, the Eastern clan instructors chose to step down quietly. In fact, the suspension affected not only the Eastern and Southern clans but also the Northern and some Western clans that had not yet undergone audits. Given the general disapproval from ordinary users since the Golden Lion refused the audit, it seemed wise to comply for now.
However, the clans excluded from the expedition were not about to take this lying down. After the third meeting, words left by Seojin Woo, Seong Hyunmin, and Na Seunghye hinted at their intentions to retaliate. Though it was unclear what they planned, it was only a matter of time before their actions became apparent.
I knew from past experience that they were not the type to sit idly by.
The User Academy had entered its 13th week. Although the total training period was 100 days, it often concluded before the 14th week. However, due to the meeting-induced pause, the training was extended to the full 14 weeks.
As I had anticipated, the Mercenary Clan seemed unaffected by the direct consequences of the Grandmother’s murder. While their participation in the educational aspect was canceled, they continued to manage control and daily life training.
After finishing my afternoon duties, I returned to my quarters, where the sound of running water suggested Kim Hanbyul was showering. As I lay on the bed, turning away, I heard a rustling sound beneath me. Startled, I sat up to find several sheets of paper crumpled under my side. Picking them up, I recognized the familiar handwriting of Go Yeonju, who often reported to me in this manner. Glancing at the bathroom, I began to read the densely written pages. The ink was still fresh, indicating the report had just been completed.
“Seventeen members of the Golden Lion Clan declare their departure? And a revelation from executive Shin Taeseung?”
The headline alone made my eyes widen. As I flipped through the pages, my reading pace quickened. By the time I finished the fourth page, I couldn’t help but let out a dry laugh.
“Hah.”
The report contained intriguing information. In short, it detailed the departure of Shin Taeseung, a mid-level executive of the Golden Lion Clan, along with 16 members. They had also exposed past conflicts between Do Yeongrok and the Grandmother, highlighting Do Yeongrok’s role in opposing and eventually ousting her.
An additional note claimed, “Do Yeongrok, who currently leads the Golden Lion, is using the Grandmother’s murder to restore his reputation after the failed Iron Mountain expedition. He has already negotiated with the Western and Northern clans, while the Eastern and Southern clans are the true victims.” This statement amused me. I had wondered how they would make their move, and this was as direct as it could get.
‘Was the earlier commotion because of this?’
Just then, the door swung open, and I turned to see a woman wrapped in a towel emerging from the bathroom. It wasn’t Kim Hanbyul, but Go Yeonju. She smiled at me, her wet hair clinging to her skin.
“You’re not laughing at my body, are you? I assume you’ve read the report?”
“Yes, I did. I didn’t expect you to come all the way into my quarters.”
“I wanted to see you. I finished early and had nothing else to do, so I wrote it up. Doesn’t it remind you of the old days?”
‘Nothing else to do?’
Her words were cryptic. She began dressing, and I couldn’t help but glance at her bare form.
“Yah.”
Once fully dressed, she leapt onto the bed beside me, her scent enveloping me as she nestled into my arms. I closed my eyes, feeling a momentary peace amidst the chaos of recent events.
We lay in silence, not discussing the report further. Everything she wanted to say was already written. Yet, I sensed a weariness in her relaxed body.
After a while, I gently stroked her hair and spoke softly.
“Are you okay with what happened to the Grandmother?”
“The Grandmother? Yes, I’m okay now.”
“You seemed very upset back then.”
“Of course. She guided me a lot when I first entered Hall Plain. But I’m really okay now.”
She paused, then rolled over to look me in the eye.
“I’ve experienced the deaths of many acquaintances. It’s sad, but it won’t affect my actions.”
“Is that so? I understand.”
It was a typical response from Go Yeonju. Relieved, I exhaled deeply and incinerated the report with a flick of magic. She watched silently, then whispered in my ear.
“Don’t you have any questions?”
“No, I don’t.”
“Suhyeon, the situation is incredibly complex. Things are changing so rapidly that it’s hard to predict what will happen next.”
“I’m aware of the situation. Is there something you want to say?”
“Yes, there is.”
She remained atop me, resting her face against my chest, making me feel a tickling sensation.
“Suhyeon, I think it’s best to withdraw now. You may want to stay neutral, but others won’t let you. Especially in times like these, it’s wise to be cautious. Things have escalated to the point where anything could happen. Staying here might lead to more harm than good.”
“Ha, the great Go Yeonju is worried about me? That’s refreshing.”
“I’m worried because I care. Let me help you. Leaving Barbara now seems like the best option.”
“I won’t leave until the Academy’s graduation is complete.”
My firm response made her pause.
“I intend to see how this all unfolds. By then, I’ll have a clearer understanding of the internal dynamics, which will be crucial for future decisions.”
“But—”
“And that’s not the only reason. I still have unfinished business here. If I leave abruptly, what will others think? I don’t want to render all my efforts meaningless. I don’t want to consider these three months a waste. I want to finish what I started.”
“You might get caught up in something.”
“I assure you, that won’t happen.”
Realizing she couldn’t change my mind, Go Yeonju sighed. I decided to add one more thing.
“User Go Yeonju, as the Clan Lord, I have an order for you.”
“Go ahead. As a clan member, I’ll follow the Clan Lord’s command.”
“Drop everything you’re doing and return to the southern city of Monica. Although User Jeong Hayeon is there, the clan members have been left unattended for too long. Go back, rest, and prepare for my return.”
”…You’re telling me to relax while you’re here? You want me to withdraw?”
“Yes. And I won’t entertain any objections on this matter. No further discussion.”
There was no longer any need to keep Go Yeon-ju here. Sure, having her around made things easier. She had been my link to the outside world, keeping me informed of the situation. But now, it was enough. I had shown enough goodwill to the other clans. With no further risk of things worsening, it was time for me to make my own decisions and take action.
Go Yeon-ju lifted her head, and for a moment, our eyes locked in a heated exchange. Her gaze swept over me, then dropped away. Slowly, her lips parted.
“Take care of yourself.”
“I’m confident I can handle myself, so you don’t need to worry. But I’ll take your words to heart. If you truly trust me, I hope you’ll follow my lead now.”
“That’s not fair. How can I not trust you when you put it like that?”
“I’m not sure what’s unfair about it, but I’m glad you trust me.”
Finally, Go Yeon-ju seemed to relax a little. “I trust you,” she said. Her worried expression faded, and she forced a smile. I returned her smile genuinely.
It felt strange to smile sincerely. In a situation like this, I should be tense, but why did I feel so exhilarated?
Inside the Golden Lion Clan House, Do Young-rok sat comfortably in a luxurious chair, a satisfied look on his face. He patted the head of someone kneeling before him and spoke in a languid voice.
“That guy was trouble from the moment the mercenaries clashed with the beechwood. Don’t take it to heart. Think of it as someone who was bound to leave, leaving. He wasn’t even qualified to be an officer.”
“Sluurp. Sluurp.”
“Stay composed in times like this… Ahh… Ugh!”
Do Young-rok’s voice trailed off into a groan as he straightened up. The woman with her head in his lap made a satisfied swallowing sound.
Once she had finished, she looked up at him, licking her lips.
“Smack smack. But are you sure it’s okay? Technically, he’s a traitor. We could capture him.”
“No. We need to maintain our stance as victims. We have to show our anger over the death of our matriarch. Just deny everything he said. There’s no need to escalate things unnecessarily.”
“Need, huh… That’s a lie. You wanted him gone anyway, didn’t you?”
“Why do you think that?”
“Because you want to lead the Golden Lions without unnecessary baggage… Wait, ah!”
Do Young-rok grabbed the woman’s waist and lifted her. He aimed himself between her slightly parted legs and thrust her down hard. She jumped, but he forced her back down, making her gasp deeply. Watching her reaction with satisfaction, he began to move his hips.
“Heh heh. It’s always a pleasure being inside you. Oh, right. Ever since the matriarch died, it’s been a winning game for us. As long as the allied clans don’t turn against us, we’ll regain control.”
“Still, ahh, giving them, ahh, to SSUN, ahh, was such a waste!”
“The SSUNs took the biggest hit this time. We needed to appease the other clans’ dissatisfaction. Now that we’re here, nothing else matters. If the matriarch hadn’t botched the assembly order, we wouldn’t have had to do this. Anyway, things are going better than expected, and more than half the public opinion is on our side. We can recruit new members, and as long as we have Barbara, new recruits will keep coming.”
“Ahhh! Wait! Please, wait!”
At the woman’s plea, Do Young-rok paused his movements. She relaxed for a moment, then stretched her legs up to wrap around his waist, pulling him closer as she caught her breath. As she calmed down, Do Young-rok patted her back with a satisfied expression.
“Oh, speaking of mercenaries, how’s that going? Did we manage to recruit them?”
“Not yet… They’re still holding out…”
“They seem to fit better with the eastern and southern sides. But do we really have to? They seem too valuable to give away. There are other good options.”
“Options that are only good for us. Anyway, he promised to wrap things up by the end of this week, so let’s wait a bit. As you said, there’s no need to give anyone a reason to complain… Ahh… He’s already under the spotlight of all the clans.”
The woman, Seong Yu-bin, exhaled sweetly. Once she caught her breath, she continued in a more composed tone, casting a sly glance at Do Young-rok.
“And what’s so special about him? Am I not enough for you?”
“Heh heh. Is Seong Yu-bin jealous of a young girl?”
“I don’t know. I just don’t like her.”
“Of course, I love your fiery style, but sometimes a bit of aloofness is appealing too. Anyway, fine. Since you insist, I’ll wait a bit. But make sure we see results by the end of the week.”
“Okay. I’ll pay more attention. If she’s hesitating because of her virginity, we can deal with that. Let them play their games, and let’s get back to ours.”
“You’ll be crying out soon enough, pretending to be tough.”
Do Young-rok grinned and thrust his hips upward again. In response, Seong Yu-bin began to move her hips on her own. For a while, the sounds of their passion echoed through the clan lord’s chamber in the Golden Lion Clan House.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Hello, this is Ro Yu-jin.
I apologize. This week has been incredibly busy. I don’t think I’ll get any sleep tonight either. Some of you might have noticed, but I’ve been feeling more exhausted lately. I agree that I need a break, but honestly, I’m scared to take one. I’m afraid if I stop, I won’t be able to start again, or taking breaks will become a habit. I’ve only taken breaks when absolutely necessary, and it’s not exam season right now. So, I ask for your understanding. I have to finish a group project for tomorrow, so I’ll be pulling an all-nighter. As such, I hope you can excuse me from replying to comments until Friday. (I do read all your comments, though.) I’m writing this in a rush, so it might be a bit disorganized. I’m sorry. ㅜ.ㅠ I’ll do my best to keep going.
Also, as previously mentioned, the User Academy will proceed as planned. I’ll try to finish it by this weekend, whether by increasing the volume or doing a double release. Thank you.
PS. Someone wrote a review for a different novel with the same name. No matter how upset you are with the author, I think it’s bad manners to do that to another work.