A Twisted Belief
In the dead of night, a woman sat up in bed, her upper body propped up as she cradled her face in her hands. Her head bowed slightly, and her short, jet-black hair, not yet fully absorbed by the darkness, fell forward. Through the gaps between her fingers, a dry sigh escaped her lips.
“Ha… Su-hyun…”
Eventually, her hands fell away from her forehead, and her arms dropped limply to her sides. Yet, her head remained bowed. Her face, now visible, was meant to exude an intellectual beauty, but shadows marred her pale complexion, dimming its radiance. Another weary sigh slipped from her lips.
The absence of the clan lord. Though her tenure in charge was less than a month during the three-month period, she acutely felt her inadequacy. With each passing day, the atmosphere grew more despondent, and unease was etched on the faces of the clan members.
A few forced smiles lingered, but they lacked any genuine warmth. Even after the Shadow Queen’s return, the mood, once sunk, was slow to recover. It was just one person’s absence, yet the void was too vast for her to fill.
She thought she had tried her best, but it was clear she lacked the necessary skills. Now, all she could do was wait.
“Please, come back soon…”
Murmuring words that would never reach their intended recipient, Ha-yeon lay back down. She closed her eyes, hoping for the swift arrival of tomorrow, and slowly drifted off to sleep.
“Wow.”
Han-gyeol couldn’t hide his amazement at using the warp gate for the first time, unsure where to focus his gaze. Though not unfamiliar, the sight before him stirred a sense of nostalgia.
The southern town of Monica, under the jurisdiction of the prominent clan
“Hyung. I mean, Clan Lord. Where are we headed now?”
“Love House.”
“What?”
“It’s a place.”
I dodged the question with a wry smile. The name “Love House” sounded odd. I regretted telling Go Yeon-ju not to come to the graduation ceremony and to focus on her work instead. Perhaps I should be grateful it’s a house and not a hotel.
Monica, located at the southernmost point, is the closest town to the Steel Mountain Range. As such, its policies are geared towards expedition preparations, making it ironic that I couldn’t participate in this expedition. Still, thanks to Han So-young’s exceptional skills, the town remained bustling with visitors.
Even with the sun high in the sky, a fair number of users roamed the streets. Three months had passed, and the mere presence of a Mercenary Lord no longer drew crowds. Occasionally, someone would glance our way, but that was it.
We walked in silence. Han-gyeol was captivated by the unfamiliar sights, while Han-byeol kept glancing at me. As I tried to recall the location of
“Han-byeol.”
“Yes.”
“Let me be honest. I don’t really understand why you came to me.”
”…”
To be frank, that’s the truth. Even though the Mercenary Clan had recently gained some fame, it was still far behind the established traditional clans. Moreover, she was a secret class jewel mage. While she might have many jewels, she couldn’t possibly know the internal workings of our clan. So why did she choose me and the Mercenaries? I was genuinely curious.
Han-byeol hesitated, not opening her mouth. I waited for her response, but sensing her reluctance, I decided to speak first.
“The things I said to you before were just from my perspective.”
”…”
“The other clan members. For example, the kids… especially Yu-jeong. They might feel differently. Understand?”
“Yes, I understand what you’re saying. Don’t worry, oppa.”
Being sharp, she quickly grasped my intention. Seeing Han-byeol nod, I breathed a sigh of relief. The two hadn’t gotten along well, but with one side willing to adapt, a breakthrough seemed possible.
We quickened our pace and soon reached the central square. After briefly orienting ourselves, we took a left turn and continued walking.
The
Standing before the inn, I took a deep breath and knocked on the door. After a brief pause, the door swung open with a creak, revealing a young girl with a youthful face peeking out.
“Who are you?”
“Hello. I’m visiting Love House.”
“Huh? A visitor? Sorry, but men aren’t allowed here.”
“I know. My companions are staying here. Could you call them for me?”
The girl stared at me with a puzzled expression. Just then, a voice from inside called out, “Seon-young, who is it?”
“I don’t know. It’s a man, and he says he’s visiting Love House.”
“Really? Ask who he is.”
“Okay. So, who are you?”
“I’m the Mercenary Lord.”
“The Mercenary Lord?!”
The girl’s eyes widened in surprise. Hearing her voice, I sensed someone approaching the door from inside.
The narrow opening gradually widened, and soon, a woman greeted me with a bright smile.
“Welcome, Mercenary Lord. Welcome to Love House.”
“Thank you.”
“I’ve already heard from the Shadow Queen. Would you and your companions like to come inside?”
“Yes, thank you.”
‘She’s beautiful.’
As we followed the woman inside, I couldn’t help but notice her beauty. She seemed about my age, with neatly arranged long hair and well-defined features that exuded a graceful charm. Her face appeared gentle, yet her every movement radiated elegance, like a delicate flower. Her figure was particularly striking, with a slender waist and…
‘She might even surpass Go Yeon-ju.’
Shaking off my idle thoughts, I accepted the curious stares from inside the inn. The first floor was filled with several people, all women. Han-byeol remained composed, but Han-gyeol, unaccustomed to such attention, clung closely to my side.
The woman leading us stopped and gestured to an empty table.
“This table is free. Would you mind waiting here for a moment?”
“Understood. Are the clan members here?”
“The Shadow Queen, Jeong Ha-yeon, and Shin Sang-yong are out. The others should be on the third or fourth floor. I’ll call them for you.”
“Oh, I can go up myself.”
“Ah, that’s another option. Then…”
Just as I was about to head to the stairs, both the woman and I paused. The young girl from earlier was halfway up the stairs, panting heavily.
And behind her, I saw An Sol and Vivian, their mouths agape. Seeing them brought a smile to my face. As I waved, the two hesitated, glancing at each other. But An Sol was the first to act.
“Wow! It’s oppa!”
“S-Sol, take it slow…”
“Oppa! Ah!”
“Oh dear.”
I knew it. She was hopping down the stairs like a pogo stick and inevitably tripped a few steps from the bottom. With a sigh, I moved forward, sensing someone following me. In a split second, I shifted left to make room, catching An Sol’s left arm while another woman caught her right.
“Eek!”
An Sol’s signature squeal echoed as the woman and I exchanged glances.
‘Good reflexes. Decent speed too.’
“Thank you.”
“Oh, it’s nothing. You’re impressive.”
Though I was a bit surprised, she seemed genuinely impressed. I chuckled lightly and released An Sol’s arm, only to regret it immediately.
“Oppa! Oppa! Oppa!”
“Yes, yes.”
Ansol shook off the grip on her other arm with a fierce motion, causing the woman holding her to step back in surprise. Without missing a beat, Ansol threw herself into my arms, rubbing her face against my chest as if it were the most natural thing in the world. I gently patted her head and glanced up at the second floor, where Vivian was watching us intently.
Soon, it was Vivian’s turn to make her move.
“Wow! It’s Kim Suhyun!”
Vivian charged at me with a determined shout, her feet landing precisely where Ansol had stumbled earlier. She was coming straight at me, so I instinctively moved to the right with Ansol in tow. Vivian crashed to the floor with a thud.
“Oh no! Vivian!”
Vivian didn’t respond. She was too busy clutching her forehead and writhing on the ground like a squid, clearly in pain. After a moment, she sprang to her feet, her expression one of pure indignation.
“Kim Suhyun, you!”
“Vivian. Long time no see.”
“Yeah! It’s been a while! Hehe… Wait, that’s not the point. Why didn’t you catch me, huh?!”
“Keep your voice down. You’re not the only one here, you know.”
“Then at least hit me or something!”
“What?”
How did we end up here? I sighed, shaking my head in disbelief, and met the eyes of a woman who seemed just as puzzled. Ignoring Vivian, who was subtly trying to nudge her way closer, I activated my third eye.
Name: Im Hanna (3rd Year)
Class: Normal Archer (Expert)
Nation: Barbara
Clan: -
True Name & Nationality: Unyielding Fragile Flower, South Korea
Gender: Female (24)
Height & Weight: 168.7 cm, 52.4 kg
Alignment: Lawful · Belief
[Strength 72] [Endurance 84] [Agility 92] [Stamina 68] [Magic 88] [Luck 90]
(12 stat points remaining)
[Strength 96(+2)] [Endurance 92] [Agility 98] [Stamina 72] [Magic 96] [Luck 90(+2)]
(No stat points remaining)
[Strength 72] [Endurance 80] [Agility 92] [Stamina 68] [Magic 88] [Luck 90]
“490? Not bad.”
As I examined the floating player information, Im Hanna politely bowed and introduced herself.
“Sorry for the late introduction. I’m Im Hanna, a third-year player managing this Love House. I’ve heard a lot about you from the Shadow Queen. Feel free to call me Madam Im.”
“I’m Kim Suhyun, Mercenary Clan Lord and a zero-year player.”
“Ooh, brother. Brother! Brother!”
“Ooh, Kim Suhyun. Kim Suhyun! Kim Suhyun!”
Caught between Ansol and Vivian, who were both clinging to me, I couldn’t help but feel a bit awkward. Im Hanna covered her mouth, laughing at the scene. Ansol and Vivian seemed oblivious to Kim Hanbyul and Baek Hangyeol standing behind them, sticking to me like glue. Honestly, I wasn’t putting much effort into pushing them away. It was a strange but not entirely unwelcome feeling, and I found a moment of comfort in it.
With a sigh, I turned around, still holding the two of them. There, I saw Kim Hanbyul looking tense and Baek Hangyeol watching Ansol with a curious gaze.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Hello, this is Royujin.
(We’ve started a popularity poll for the female characters. It’s currently up for voting, and I’d be very grateful if you could participate.)
Yes, this might seem like a breather episode, but it’s also the introduction of a new character. I like women. Oh, you can ignore that last comment. Anyway, the main story will now focus on the Ansol vs. Baek Hangyeol dynamic. Ah, sorry, I’m rambling today. Haha. :D
Thank you so much to those who gave coupons despite the break on Monday. (__)
PS. After much consideration, I’ve decided to keep the re-replies. Thank you.
『 Re-Replies 』
geranium1: Congratulations on being first. I think it’s the first time I’ve seen you in first place. Haha. It’s been a while since I did re-replies, so it feels a bit awkward. Anyway, enjoy this episode.
hohokoya1: Thank you for the message. I hope you do well on your exams and achieve what you aim for. I’ll have plenty of chapters ready for you on that day. :)
Darkside: You guessed Yujeong’s thoughts for the next episode. Impressive. Haha.
YoungjaeKiller: That’s correct, but here’s a tip: some of Hangyeol’s abilities can be used without incantations. Whether in battle or exploration, the divine shield will be very useful.
I’mHappy: In my opinion, no matter how skilled Park Hwanhee is, I’m not sure if he can handle the vagrants. They’re crazy, after all. Haha. Just my thoughts.
HappyDay: I’m currently adjusting the pace. Thank you for the valuable advice. (__)
Deadwood: The catfight will officially begin. But Suhyun… Oh, never mind. (Spoiler!)
Zikaf: Hahahaha. I’ll consider TS-ing Baek Hangyeol instead. Hahahaha. I laughed a lot at that. :)
BrokenFan: BrokenFan, I respect you. I was moved by the Ansol you posted. T^T
rlatjdwn512: The difference between A and S ranks is more pronounced due to the setting. Both professions are based on magic. Priests can be divided into combat and healing priests. However, the magic circuit operation method is different. If the priest’s keywords are <Exchange & Manifestation>, then the mage’s are <Process & Manifestation>.
Your recommendations and comments are the driving force behind continuous updates. (This is the truth.)
I always read all the comments repeatedly.
Please don’t feel too disappointed if you’re not in the re-replies.
If you have any pressing questions, feel free to message me, and I’ll respond!
That’s all for today.
I hope you always read my work with a relaxed mind.
Favorites, recommendations, comments, critiques, and questions are always welcome.