Baek Hangyeol and Kim Hanbyeol
To be honest, when I first entered the User Academy, I didn’t pay much attention to Kim Hanbyeol. Sure, there was a time long ago when I considered recruiting her again. If the future unfolded as expected, she was likely to meet her end at Barbara. Given her status as a Secret Class, I thought it might be better to take her under my wing, even if it meant taking some risks, rather than leaving her to a vagrant.
However, when I sensed that the future had twisted, I abandoned that thought. If the Grandmother hadn’t been killed and had successfully mediated peace, maintaining peace on the Northern Continent, recruiting Hanbyeol would have been fraught with difficulties.
She wasn’t just any low-ranking clan member; she was a Secret Class who had made a name for herself during the vagrant eradication plan. If a newly established clan like ours suddenly took her away, it would undoubtedly attract unwanted attention. Moreover, the opposing party was the Golden Lion Clan. There was no guarantee they would sit idly by, and it wasn’t worth the risk of retaliation.
But after talking with Hanbyeol, I realized it was worth reconsidering. From last night until early this morning, Hanbyeol and I engaged in a debate of sorts. It was a time when she unloaded the worries she had been harboring, and we addressed them one by one.
Initially, Hanbyeol brought up her moral responsibility as a clan member and the contract she had signed. I easily countered by pointing out that no matter how much they had nurtured her, such unreasonable orders couldn’t be justified. The frequent internal scandals involving sexual favors were a blatant disgrace to the Golden Lion Clan.
The contract wasn’t much of an issue either. At first glance, it seemed binding, but upon closer inspection, it was merely a contract to prevent her from leaving after benefiting from their resources. Contracts between users held little weight, and as long as she repaid the costs, there would be no problem.
After I explained this step by step, Hanbyeol seemed to agree. Or perhaps she already knew this much. However, the next issue she raised was more ambiguous and difficult to judge.
The Secret Class Jewel Mage. To put it bluntly, a Jewel Mage was a money pit. Since they primarily used jewels, without catalysts, they were no different from ordinary mages. The budget required to maintain the class’s abilities was extremely high, making it inefficient compared to nurturing several regular users.
Hanbyeol mentioned that not many clans other than the Golden Lion could afford her, and even if she left for another clan, the situation wouldn’t be much different. Moreover, she doubted the Golden Lion would let her go easily, revealing her fear of facing the aftermath alone.
That wasn’t all. Even if she endured everything and joined another clan, she expressed doubt about whether she could adapt well there. It seemed she had suffered a lot of jealousy and envy within the Golden Lion, and she assumed other clans would be no different. She confessed that she had considered enduring here rather than repeating that pain elsewhere.
It could be seen as a victim mentality, but it wasn’t something to dismiss entirely. Her words made me ponder deeply—not about her feelings, but about how to handle Kim Hanbyeol’s situation moving forward.
The answer lies in her disposition. Should I save her or not? After a brief deliberation, I decided to extract her.
The situation had changed. The future, which I thought had twisted, was returning to its original course, and members were leaving the Golden Lion in droves. Among them were executives and a female user who had exposed the sexual favors scandal, creating an opportunity of sorts. However, no one had reached out to her, known as a close associate of Park Hyunwoo and Sung Yubin.
That left the most crucial issue: Hanbyeol’s will. If she didn’t want to leave, there was no need for me to exert effort. But if she wished to leave, it was worth reconsidering.
To address her current feelings, I posed a question.
“Do you really think staying with a trashy clan that sees sexual favors as normal is a good choice? It seems like you’re only seeing things in black and white. Not all clans are like the Golden Lion.”
”…”
“Well, your concerns aren’t entirely unfounded. So, can you answer this one thing? Do you still have any attachment to the Golden Lion? Do you want to stay despite all the humiliation and disgrace?”
“Please, this way.”
As I recalled Hanbyeol’s face, her eyes filled with a solemn resolve, the waitress’s voice snapped me back to reality. I turned to see Seojinwoo, with a stern expression, and Seonghyunmin following him up the stairs.
I greeted them with a gentle smile and a raised hand. As they returned the gesture, I concluded my thoughts about Hanbyeol.
Her answer to my question was, “No. Honestly, I want to quit now.”
And upon hearing her response, a brilliant idea struck me—a way to catch two birds with one stone.
“I was really surprised when I received the invitation. I never imagined the Mercenary Lord would invite us first.”
“Haha. Thank you for the invitation, Mercenary Lord.”
Seojinwoo mumbled in a gloomy tone, and Seonghyunmin awkwardly interjected with a laugh. Our table was now laden with a variety of delicious dishes and fine drinks. I picked up one of the bottles, opened it, and poured a drink for them.
“Yes, it’s been a while. Things have been quite hectic, so I’ve had a lot on my mind.”
I spoke in a soothing tone as I poured them drinks. Seojinwoo remained sullen, but Seonghyunmin accepted the drink with excessive politeness. Seojinwoo, not entirely without manners, soon grabbed the bottle and filled my glass in return.
“Still, I’m a bit disappointed. I thought the Mercenary Lord had completely forgotten about us. Aren’t you quite busy these days? I hear you’re getting invitations from other clans almost daily.”
“User Seojinwoo.”
Despite being a 10th-level user, Seojinwoo seemed quite upset about being put on hold, grumbling incessantly. Seonghyunmin tried to calm him with a flustered expression. I nodded a couple of times, signaling it was fine, and raised my glass.
“There seems to be a misunderstanding. It’s true I’ve received invitations, but I’ve declined them all.”
“Why?”
“I didn’t feel like getting close to them… I just wasn’t interested.”
I could have been more diplomatic, but these two had been through enough to understand the implications. As soon as I started speaking, Seojinwoo’s perpetually gloomy expression changed. His previously bored eyes lit up, and Seonghyunmin, who had been forcing a smile, began to look at me with a more focused gaze.
As I swirled the glass in the air, they slowly raised their glasses in response. Soon, the sharp clink of glass meeting glass resonated across the table.
“I’ve been tied up with tight control support, leaving no room for breaks. I’ve also had some personal issues to deal with. But I haven’t forgotten the help you both provided when I first joined the academy.”
“Ahem! No, Mercenary Lord. I apologize for my earlier behavior. Given the current situation, I’ve been feeling a bit down. If my attitude was offensive, I sincerely apologize.”
“Yes, as User Seojinwoo said, the situation is quite stressful.”
Seojinwoo and Seonghyunmin straightened up and addressed me. I wasn’t here to fight, so I responded, “Then let’s use this opportunity to clear any misunderstandings.”
The atmosphere quickly turned amicable. After some light conversation, Seojinwoo and Seonghyunmin began to express their grievances to me. I nodded along, maintaining a respectful distance. However, I felt the need to be cautious with each response, as it seemed like they were verifying something.
“I don’t view them favorably either. Anyone can see their actions are excessive.”
“So you think so too, Mercenary Lord. Hearing that from you is quite comforting.”
“Haha. I’m just stating the facts. Honestly, I’m just waiting for the academy to end. I miss my clan members and worry about how things are going.”
“Oh, right. You’re in the process of establishing yourself. Could you share your future plans?”
“Well, nothing is set in stone yet, but I might be active in one of the southeastern regions. My clan members are currently waiting for me in the south.”
“Hahaha! That’s great. It’s a bit forward to say this in a casual setting, but our eastern city isn’t too bad either.”
Seojinwoo and Seonghyunmin laughed heartily, indicating they had accepted my stance. As we continued to strengthen our camaraderie, Seonghyunmin spoke up in a subtle tone.
“Mercenary Lord. Earlier, you mentioned you had a personal issue. If it’s not too intrusive, I’d like to hear about it. Perhaps we could help.”
“Ah, yes. It’s been weighing on me lately. I was thinking of drowning my frustrations in a drink when I remembered you all.”
As if reading my mind, Seong Hyun-min immediately grasped my intention to turn away from the Golden Lion and seek their help. Noticing their newfound attentiveness, I began to speak slowly.
“Well, I’ve heard that members of the Golden Lion clan have been leaving one after another recently.”
“Indeed. They’re brave users who can discern right from wrong and aren’t afraid to call out what’s unjust.”
“Do you need new clan members? I could introduce a few if you’d like.”
I shook my head at Seo Jin-woo’s suggestion. While Golden Lion members were at least above average, that wasn’t what I was after. Taking a deep breath, I asked them to keep what I was about to say confidential, then recounted the events of the previous night and my conversation with Han-byeol.
They listened intently, and when I finally mentioned that Kim Han-byeol wanted to leave, their reactions were swift.
“What? Using an officer for sexual favors? Altering video records? A last resort? Did I hear that right?”
“Incredible. Even for the Golden Lion…”
“Every word is true.”
I needed to stay sharp. I was determined to get Han-byeol out, but I wasn’t about to shoulder all the risk alone. I needed an escape plan or at least some support.
Seo Jin-woo, wearing a serious expression, spoke up.
“Kim Han-byeol. I’ve definitely heard that name. But being so close to Park Hyun-woo and Seong Yu-bin, I never dared to approach.”
“Yes, she wants to leave, but given her position, it’s not easy. That’s why I need your help.”
“Hmm.”
Seo Jin-woo cleared his throat at my directness, glanced around, then leaned in to whisper.
“Mercenary Lord, I’m not doubting you, but this is a serious matter. Are you sure it’s true?”
“It is. Why would I lie about this?”
“Do you have any evidence?”
“We discussed that too. Unfortunately, there isn’t any. Recently, they haven’t allowed any magical items during meetings with the officers.”
“Crafty bastards.”
Seo Jin-woo clicked his tongue and exchanged a glance with Seong Hyun-min. After a moment that felt much longer than it was, Seo Jin-woo nodded and continued in a low voice.
“Since you’ve shown your true intentions, I suppose I can trust you. There’s a large-scale departure planned for the day we graduate from the academy. It’s comparable to the first wave of departures.”
“Planning to cause a stir before leaving, huh?”
“In that case…”
“Meeting her should be easy enough, but can we spread the word a bit? To be frank, the Seo Ji-yoon incident was quite beneficial. If we can follow up with another hit, it would help a lot.”
“User Seo Jin-woo, that’s a bit… Mercenary Lord is involved too, isn’t he?”
“Ah, right. But it’s such a tempting opportunity.”
Seo Jin-woo glanced at me, and I swallowed hard before responding.
“Both Kim Han-byeol and I want to keep this as low-key as possible. She especially insists on it.”
“But some criticism is inevitable. Her departure will draw attention. It might be better to make it public and create a situation similar to Seo Ji-yoon’s.”
“The Golden Lion’s manipulation of public opinion is too strong. And Han-byeol is under a lot of stress lately. She’s developed a victim mentality from all the pressure. She’s prepared to face some criticism, but I don’t want her caught in unnecessary scandals. And…”
I hesitated but decided to continue. I had planned to keep this to myself, but to achieve what I wanted and to engage their active support, I had no choice.
“Wherever she ends up, I hope she adapts well.”
“What? Isn’t she joining the Mercenary Clan?”
“Nothing’s been decided. She’s like a younger sibling to me, and I can’t just ignore her. Ultimately, the choice is hers.”
In other words, I was asking them not to tarnish a delicate situation. They seemed to understand the message, their eyes lighting up in unison.
“Understood. We get what you’re saying. Having an officer involved will amplify the impact, so it’s actually welcome. But as you said, we’ll handle it discreetly.”
“Thank you. I’ll arrange another meeting with Kim Han-byeol soon.”
“Alright. We’ll be waiting for your call.”
Finally, Seo Jin-woo turned his attention away from me and began discussing with Seong Hyun-min.
“Will they really stay quiet? Kim Han-byeol’s situation is a bit tricky.”
“It’s one of two things. They’ll either play the victim and let it slide, or they’ll eventually come out. Honestly, it doesn’t matter which. As long as it’s not a public scandal, we can hint that we know the situation.”
I nodded in agreement with Seong Hyun-min’s assessment. I would provide the leverage, and they would act as the shield. It was a win-win situation. Though I felt a twinge of guilt, I decided to follow An-sol’s advice: sometimes, it’s best to let things be.
After finishing our meal, we left the pub with smiles. As we headed back to the academy, I felt as if a heavy burden had finally been lifted.
I had done everything I could. Now, all that was left was to wait and see how things played out.