Twisted Beliefs
The auditorium was instantly alive with a festive atmosphere. The joy of finally graduating from the academy was palpable, and Park Hwan-hee’s speech had everyone in high spirits. The Golden Lions and allied clans didn’t try to rein in the exuberant new members. In fact, some even joined in the celebration.
As I turned my head, thinking of the instructors from the Southeast, I saw a stark contrast. There were new users around them too, but only a few dozen. I caught a glimpse of Seo Jin-woo, who briefly met my gaze before leading his clan members outside. It seemed he was planning to join those who were leaving the Golden Lions.
I felt the urge to follow quickly, but first, I needed to see Baek Han-gyeol’s conclusion.
“What do you think, Hwan-hee oppa? Didn’t I tell you? Our Han-gyeol would come back eventually.”
“Yes, thank you. Thank you, Yuna, and thank you, Han-gyeol. Hahaha!”
”…”
I watched as Park Hwan-hee and Cha Yuna shared a warm reunion, while Baek Han-gyeol observed them silently. I recalled our meeting last night. Despite his tendency to escape reality and his dependent nature, his actions so far seemed within the bounds of normalcy.
When Park Hwan-hee beamed at him, Baek Han-gyeol suddenly extended his hand. They shook hands, and Cha Yuna looked on with satisfaction. After the handshake, Baek Han-gyeol finally spoke.
“Hyung, your speech was moving.”
“Oh, you’re calling me hyung again.”
“Yeah. And congratulations.”
“Congratulations? Hahaha. Well, thank you for trusting me and coming back. We may have taken different paths for a while, but I won’t let go again. Thanks for the congratulations.”
“Huh? That’s not what I meant by congratulations.”
For a fleeting moment, Park Hwan-hee’s smile vanished. The surrounding noise was still loud. As Park Hwan-hee leaned in closer, trying to hear better, Baek Han-gyeol shouted, releasing all his pent-up frustration in a single outburst.
“Congratulations on dating Yuna noona!”
Baek Han-gyeol’s voice was loud, but it couldn’t compete with the overall noise in the auditorium. However, those around Park Hwan-hee heard it clearly, and silence fell swiftly. Park Hwan-hee’s eyes widened, but he quickly composed himself and spoke.
“Han-gyeol, what are you talking about? Yuna is your girlfriend, not mine.”
“Let’s get it straight. Cha Yuna is my ex-girlfriend. And now, she’s your girlfriend.”
“Y-Yuna is my girlfriend? What are you talking about? Yuna and I aren’t like that.”
“Really? Then why were you two…?”
It was an abrupt, baseless revelation. But the timing was impeccable, and the effect was undeniable. A quiet murmur began to ripple through the previously frozen silence.
Curious about Cha Yuna’s reaction, I watched her face change rapidly. She looked as if her heart had stopped, then her face turned pale as she opened her mouth. But Baek Han-gyeol wasn’t finished.
“I once followed noona when she left the dorm. And that day, I saw you and Park Hwan-hee… together in the bushes.”
“Baek Han-gyeol! Stop spouting nonsense!”
“Han-gyeol! It’s not true! It’s a misunderstanding!”
Murmurs spread.
“What is he saying?”
“Isn’t he that pathetic guy who always waited for his girlfriend outside the dorm?”
“Does that mean it’s true?”
“No way. Hwan-hee wouldn’t do that.”
Thanks to the connections Park Hwan-hee had built, people weren’t too shaken. As Park Hwan-hee and Cha Yuna denied the accusations, the mood shifted towards believing Baek Han-gyeol was just talking nonsense. Baek Han-gyeol, glaring at Park Hwan-hee with murderous eyes, then turned his gaze to Cha Yuna.
“I’ve thought a lot about you, noona.”
“Our Han-gyeol. Han-gyeol, calm down, okay? Listen to me. I’m your noona. I can explain everything.”
“At first, I thought it was all my fault. I tormented myself with guilt. Because you’re my noona. You wouldn’t abandon me. Even if you did, it must be because I did something wrong.”
“H-Han-gyeol. Please, listen to me…”
“But someone told me to think from my perspective, not yours. To face reality head-on. To see things as they are. So, when I thought about it that way…”
Baek Han-gyeol paused, closing his eyes. His eyelids trembled, indicating he hadn’t fully processed his emotions. But he didn’t keep them closed for long. Opening them wide, he spoke with a voice full of bitterness.
“I started to hate you. I began to resent Park Hwan-hee and Cha Yuna to the point of loathing. I realized I hadn’t done anything wrong. This is all your fault, noona.”
“R-Resent? How can you say that to me…! Sob!”
“Baek Han-gyeol. This is your last warning. Stop this nonsense. If you keep going, I won’t stand by.”
Cha Yuna finally broke down in tears, and Park Hwan-hee dropped his gentle tone. The users around them all glared at Baek Han-gyeol, signaling him to stop. But he didn’t back down.
“A misunderstanding? A misunderstanding?! Don’t lie! If you really left because you hated me, I could understand. But that’s not it. You used me while being with him!”
“No! It’s not true! Sob!”
“So you’re going to keep lying. Then answer me. Didn’t you tell Park Hwan-hee you loved him while you were with him? Whispering that you’d bring me back, saying you loved him?”
“No! But I didn’t say I loved him! I was only doing it for you…!”
“Cha Yuna!”
Cha Yuna finally snapped, unable to hold back any longer. Park Hwan-hee’s sharp voice cut her off, but it was too late.
”…”
She hadn’t said she loved him. True. But in a moment of panic, she inadvertently admitted to something else. If that was his plan, it was impressive. I couldn’t help but be amazed.
With that, a heavy silence descended once more. The stillness that had crept over the auditorium during the confrontation now enveloped the entire space. Everyone was focused on the three of them. Park Hwan-hee’s face was twisted in anger, and Cha Yuna, covering her mouth in shock, looked helplessly between Park Hwan-hee and Baek Han-gyeol.
Having said all he wanted, Baek Han-gyeol took a deep breath. Exhaling, he spoke with a voice tinged with relief.
“Ha~. Don’t say you did it for me. It’s disgusting. Anyway, I feel better having said everything. Oh, wait. There’s one more thing.”
”…”
“I’m leaving. So, live well.”
“Han-gyeol! Wait! Han-gyeol!”
At that moment, as Baek Han-gyeol turned to leave, Cha Yuna, like someone who had lost her mind, lunged at him, crying out. But he calmly extended his hand, and a shimmering barrier appeared in front of him.
“Aaah!”
Thud!
Cha Yuna, who had charged at him with a fierce determination, was repelled by the barrier and thrown back. Watching her tumble, an SSUN clan member who had been rushing to intervene stopped in his tracks. There had been no preparation, no incantation. Yet, a new user had used a fairly advanced reflection spell, leaving him stunned.
Realizing it was my turn to step in, I decided to stop watching.
“Han-gyeol.”
“H-Hyung. This is…”
“It’s okay. Don’t say anything right now. You’ve been through a lot, and you’ve done well. And remember, this is a public space. You should call me Clan Lord, not hyung.”
“Y-Yes! Clan Lord!”
Baek Han-gyeol gave me a faint smile. It looked sad somehow. I gently patted his head and glanced at Park Hwan-hee. His face was contorted beyond recognition. I had intended to thank him for getting rid of a nuisance, but it seemed unnecessary.
The once lively auditorium was now filled with an unpleasant noise. Park Hwan-hee hadn’t mentioned that Baek Han-gyeol had power. He likely wanted to keep the attention on himself until he had Baek Han-gyeol completely under his control.
Moreover, the reflection spell isn’t taught at the user academy. If it becomes known that he deliberately hid this fact, he might find himself in a difficult situation.
“Damn it… Stupid woman…”
“What?”
“Sigh. Gather everyone immediately. We’re leaving.”
“O-Okay.”
Park Hwan-hee, realizing the situation wasn’t in his favor, growled in frustration. The new recruits followed him reluctantly, their faces a mix of confusion and unease.
“H-Hwan-hee oppa? Or should I say, Han-gyeol?”
“Shall we go too?”
“Yes, Clan Lord.”
With a firm voice, Han-gyeol took my hand, and we turned away. Behind us, Cha Yoo-na’s voice called out, alternating between pleading and demanding. But neither Park Hwan-hee, who was walking in the opposite direction, nor Baek Han-gyeol, who was beside me, looked back.
‘Poor girl, left all alone. Tsk tsk.’
Han-gyeol’s pace quickened, as if he couldn’t stand hearing his name called. Matching his stride, I headed towards the auditorium’s exit. We had resolved one issue, but another awaited, making me anxious.
As we reached the entrance, a heart-wrenching scream echoed from behind.
Finding the location of the second confrontation wasn’t difficult. As we left the auditorium and headed towards the main gate, two groups stood in a tense standoff. One side clearly outnumbered the other, yet neither seemed willing to back down, the air thick with tension.
Among the Golden Lion clan members, I spotted Kim Han-byeol’s back. Facing us were the Southeastern clan members, led by Jo Seong-ho. Behind them, several others in Golden Lion attire stood, nearly twenty in total.
It seemed the first confrontation had taken longer than expected, as Do Yeong-rok and Jo Seong-ho were already deep in a heated argument.
“I’m tired of your antics. I wondered why there were no new recruits this time, and it turns out you were up to your usual tricks.”
“What nonsense are you spouting? The new recruits joined of their own accord. They wanted to act independently, and we respected that. Isn’t that right?”
“Your smooth talk is impressive. I see now who manipulates public opinion for the Golden Lions. You say you respect their wishes, but these people here have declared their departure because they find your actions unacceptable. What do you say to that?”
“Ridiculous. That’s just your twisted version of events. Go ahead, bark all you want. Do you think I’ll even blink?”
Baek Han-gyeol, startled by the fierce scene unfolding, clung closely behind me. As we closed the distance, one of the silent Golden Lion members stepped forward.
“User Do Yeong-rok, we can no longer trust you. We were uneasy about the reckless expeditions, and you’ve only continued to disappoint us. We even doubt your sincerity in mourning the Grandmother’s death. Wouldn’t it be better to admit everything and make a clean statement?”
“I don’t recall who you are, but you sure have a lot to say. Did someone give you a script? It’s laughable to see those who clung to the Golden Lions when things were good now trying to leave. Why don’t you just admit it? You’re looking for an excuse to leave now that things are tough. Isn’t that your true intention?”
“You never fail to disappoint. I lost respect for you after the corruption scandal, and now I have no regrets.”
“Believing such rumors is absurd. But then again, there’s no need to listen to those who switch sides so easily. We don’t need cowardly users like you in our clan, and frankly, I’m glad you’re leaving. I have no intention of stopping you, so just go.”
“Fine. Then I, along with 19 other members, will leave the Golden Lions as of now.”
“Go ahead, I don’t care. Just don’t think about crawling back.”
Do Yeong-rok’s words seemed to sting, as the members behind him began to remove their clan attire in discomfort. Han-byeol, who had been silent, joined them, shedding her robe with the Golden Lion emblem and stepping away.
As she walked across the front, many eyes followed her. It wasn’t long before Seong Yu-bin’s incredulous voice rang out.
“Kim Han-byeol! What are you doing?”
“I’m leaving the Golden Lions too. I’m one of the 19 members I mentioned.”
“What? Are you crazy? This isn’t a joke! Come back!”
“It’s not a joke. Check the list.”
Han-byeol replied coldly, not stopping her stride. As I passed by the Golden Lions, intending to join her, Seong Yu-bin’s voice caught me.
“Mercenary Lord!”
“Yes?”
“What’s going on? Where are you going?”
“Pardon?”
Feigning confusion, I shrugged. “The ceremony just ended, and we were told to leave. I heard it loud and clear. Oh, and I did manage to recruit one person. Haha.”
I lifted Han-gyeol’s hand with a smile, watching as a mix of emotions played across Seong Yu-bin’s face. He seemed smart enough to grasp the situation quickly.
“Ho… hoho… hohoho… Kim Han-byeol! You traitorous bitch! You can’t do this to us!”
“Traitor? That’s harsh. And what’s wrong with what I’m doing?”
“Shut your mouth before I rip it open. How dare you mock me? Black Lions! What are you doing? Grab her now!”
Seong Yu-bin’s voice boiled with anger as he pointed at Han-byeol. Just as the Black Lions, clad in black armor, moved forward, two users from the Southeastern clan stepped out to meet Han-byeol. They were Seo Jin-woo and Yeon Hye-rim.
The Black Lions hesitated, glancing back at Seong Yu-bin. Taking advantage of the moment, Han-byeol slipped through to the other side, leaving Seong Yu-bin fuming.
“Kim Han-byeol! You haven’t forgotten the contract you signed when you joined, have you?”
“Don’t worry. Go ahead and bill me.”
“What? What did you say?”
“I’ll pay it all back. I’m not planning to run away, so go ahead.”
“Oh my, how pathetic. Who makes someone sign a contract to join a clan?”
Han-byeol’s cold retort was met with a sarcastic comment from Na Seung-hye, who seemed to have been waiting for this moment, still holding a grudge from being put on hold as the top candidate.
“Enough!”
In the tense standoff, Do Yeong-rok shouted, glaring at Seong Yu-bin before turning his gaze to Han-byeol.
“You wretched girl. Do you think you’ll get away with this?”
“I just want to leave quietly. Please let me go.”
“Not a chance. You’re different.”
“Wait a minute. You were just saying you’d let everyone go. Why the sudden change of heart?”
Seong Hyun-min stepped forward, pointing out the inconsistency. Do Yeong-rok signaled for him to stay out of it, but Seong Hyun-min merely snorted. As I joined them, he continued.
“Why are you only trying to stop Kim Han-byeol when you’re letting everyone else go? Mercenary Lord, do you know why?”
“Hmm. I can’t quite recall. But.”
I paused, then looked at the Black Lions.
“If they take one more step forward, I might remember.”
Laughter rippled through the crowd. Seeing the smirks, Do Yeong-rok’s anger flared, his breath coming out in harsh puffs.
The standoff dragged on, with Do Yeong-rok’s expression shifting as he scanned us all.
After a tense silence, his voice, laced with fury, finally broke through.
“Take those traitors and get out.”
“Heh. So you’re backing down again.”
“I said get out now. And don’t think about setting foot in Barbara again. You’re banned from entering as of today.”
“Heh heh. We weren’t planning on coming back anytime soon, so don’t worry.”
“What?”
“Nothing. Until we meet again, take care. Let’s leave this stinking place.”
Jo Seong-ho didn’t push further. Whether he felt it was enough or decided it was time to retreat, his final words left a lingering impression.
With the standoff resolved, we turned and headed towards the academy’s main gate. Behind us, the sound of a slap echoed, but I deliberately didn’t look back.
The academy’s main gate wasn’t far off. Just as I was about to step through it, a memory of something Ansol had once said to me flashed through my mind.
“I don’t want to… We shouldn’t be here… Let’s go together… Please…”
“Come to think of it, I’ve heard there are quite a few same-sex couples among the vagrants.”
I had no idea what lay ahead for Park Hwanhee, but if he insisted on heading west, I decided to mourn his future a little. Hoping his rear end would remain intact, I finally stepped out of the academy gates. A liberating breeze wrapped around me, signaling my newfound freedom.
As soon as Hanbyeol emerged, she was immediately surrounded by a crowd almost as large as mine—mostly scouts, of course. Even amidst the chaos, she didn’t forget to thank those who had helped her.
With everything finally over, I bid farewell to those I’d grown close to. Some, like Seong Hyunmin, seemed eager to chat a bit more, but they nodded in understanding when I mentioned I’d left my clan unattended for too long. Promising to visit the city again soon, I quickly made my exit.
Outwardly, I maintained a calm demeanor, but Baek Hangyeol’s eyes betrayed a swirl of emotions. Occasionally, he seemed on the verge of speaking, only to sigh instead. I figured it was best to give him time to sort out his thoughts.
As we walked past the square and down the street, the warp gate came into view. Lost in thought, I glanced back at Hangyeol, who was diligently following me, and memories of the kids and my clan members surfaced. The thought of seeing them soon brought a gentle smile to my face.
“Um, Clan Lord!”
I was about to enter the warp gate when Hangyeol’s sudden call made me stop. He pointed behind us with a finger.
“There’s a scary lady who’s been following us since earlier.”
“A scary lady? Who… Oh.”
‘Actually, I noticed her back in the square.’
Turning slowly, I saw Hanbyeol watching me from a distance. I stood there, waiting as she gradually closed the gap between us.
“Uh…”
“You’re late.”
“I was just saying goodbye to everyone.”
“Did you come to say goodbye to me too?”
I teased, and Hanbyeol hesitated, scuffing the ground with her foot. Watching her, I nodded slightly and began walking into the warp gate. She seemed surprised at first but quickly realized I was moving slowly on purpose, and I sensed her catching up.
“Oppa.”
“Southern city, Monica. Three people.”
“Oppa…!”
“Let’s go in first. We can talk once we’re inside.”
With that, I said nothing more, wrapping my arms around their shoulders as we stepped into the activated portal. As the cool flow of magic enveloped me, a thought suddenly crossed my mind.
‘Oh. Come to think of it, Yeon Hyerim asked to come along too.’
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Here it is. Sorry for the delay. I was running out of steam towards the end… I’ll take a short break and then update the notes. Thank you. (__)
(20:42) I’m really sorry, everyone. I wanted to update by midnight, but I don’t think I can manage it. My eyes hurt, I’m sleepy, and I’m exhausted. The weekend update is 85KB. (That’s eight chapters! Argh!)
Instead of taking a complete break, I’ll update the survey, character settings, and other things. I have a lecture tomorrow morning, and if I stay up all night again, I think my pace will really suffer. I need some downtime to respond to comments and such… I was planning to stick to the regular update schedule, but it’s just not feasible. I’m sorry.
I ask for your generous understanding. (__)