The time for nurturing has passed.
There’s an update today. I’d appreciate it if you could take a look.
We’ve decided to change Go Eun-sol’s name to Im Han-na. Thank you.
Guided by Ha-yeon, the next place we arrived at was, to be honest, rather unimpressive. The location wasn’t bad, given it was on a street with a plaza, but the plot was incredibly small, and there was only one building, which was barely worth calling a building. It was enough for nine people to live in, but the problem was that the surrounding shops were so tightly packed that expansion was impossible.
When Ha-yeon mentioned the price of the second location, I felt my mind leaning towards the first. There’s a saying that if the price is the same, you should choose the prettier skirt. Even with a difference of 10,000 or 20,000 gold, the first location was more appealing when considering future development.
“The question is whether to accept Istantel Row’s offer or not.”
After visiting both locations, I found myself deep in thought with Ha-yeon as we returned.
Ha-yeon seemed to hope I would accept the offer. If finances were an issue, we couldn’t miss this opportunity, but considering future plans, it wasn’t particularly lacking. However, as Vivian pointed out, accepting the offer could undermine the spirit of a free mercenary.
Moreover, it hadn’t even been three months since the mercenary group was established, and buying a clan house could attract unwanted attention. Unless there was a justifiable reason to accept such generosity, it was a risky proposition.
After weighing the pros and cons, it was clear the offer had more downsides. I felt sorry for Han So-young, but I decided to decline and purchase at the original price. Just then, a clear voice interrupted my thoughts.
“Soo-hyun, what are you thinking about so deeply?”
“Oh, I was just considering Istantel Row’s proposal.”
“Don’t think too much about work. You should relax a bit. We’ve already arrived at the Love House, and I’m starving. How about a late lunch? Madam Im’s cooking is quite good.”
“Really? I’m looking forward to it.”
I nodded lightly and followed Ha-yeon up the steps of the Love House, opening the door slightly.
As we entered, we ran into Ahn Hyun coming down the stairs. His eyes widened in recognition.
“Oh, hyung! You’re here?”
“Yeah. Where are the other clan members?”
“They’re all busy finishing up their tasks. By the way, did something happen with Vivian?”
“Vivian? Why?”
Feigning ignorance, I asked, and Ha-yeon stifled a laugh. Ahn Hyun scratched his cheek awkwardly.
“Well, you went out with her, and she came back crying…”
“Crying? That’s odd. Why would she cry?”
“I don’t know. She was limping up the stairs. Maybe she got hurt?”
I did kick her like a soccer ball, but I didn’t think she’d run off crying. As I crossed my arms and sighed, Ha-yeon, who had been laughing quietly, finally spoke up.
“Why did you do that all of a sudden?”
“She kept pushing herself on me. Didn’t you ever feel that way, Ha-yeon?”
“Sometimes, but you were too harsh. Maybe you should apologize?”
“I’ll think about it.”
Feigning seriousness, I replied, and Ha-yeon burst into laughter. Only Ahn Hyun looked confused, blinking in bewilderment.
After a late lunch with Ha-yeon, I decided to visit Vivian. While I intended to console her, my main goal was to help her with the alchemy issues she was facing.
Holding a unicorn horn in my left hand, I knocked on Vivian’s door.
“Vivian.”
“Who is it?”
“It’s me. I’m coming in.”
“Don’t come in!”
Despite her sharp response, I opened the door wide. Vivian lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, her eyes swollen and cheeks stained with tears. Feeling a pang of sympathy, I approached her gently.
“Are you okay?”
“Do I look okay to you?”
“No, you look like you’re in pain.”
“Then who do you think is responsible for this?”
“I have no idea.”
“What? You don’t know? Are you mocking me?”
“Yes.”
Vivian frothed at the mouth, then began to shout, her voice half-choked with tears. Though I couldn’t make out her words, the sentiment was clear: she felt wronged and upset.
“Don’t get too angry. It’s not good for your health.”
“[email protected]#$%^&*()_+”
“Okay, okay. I’ll massage it gently. Lift your hips.”
“What? Are you crazy? What are you doing?”
I set the unicorn horn aside and reached for her hips. Vivian flailed her arms in protest but eventually lifted her hips, as if making it easier for me.
”…”
I stared at her incredulously, and she quickly lowered her hips, her face flushed with embarrassment. I could tease her more, but I decided to stop. I’d already achieved my goal of lightening her mood. Now it was time to discuss the real reason for my visit.
Picking up the unicorn horn again, Vivian sat up, her demeanor shifting.
“Vivian, about what we discussed this morning.”
”…What?”
“You said your magic alone couldn’t handle Belphegor’s heart and Horens’ magic stone. How about this?”
“What is this… Oh, right! The unicorn horn! I forgot about this.”
Her voice, initially gloomy, brightened as she examined the horn.
“Wow! Can I really use this? It’s incredibly rare. If a wizard saw it, they’d go crazy.”
“As long as it works.”
Vivian studied the horn with a serious expression.
“True, there’s nothing better against demons or Horens. But the problem is whether it can balance the magic stone. It could end up as a 2:1:1 ratio instead of 2:2… Kim Soo-hyun!”
“Whoa, what?”
“How about purifying the heart and magic stone a bit? It’s much safer that way.”
“Reducing the power might lower the results.”
“Don’t worry. I can at least break even.”
Breaking even. The elixirs planned for the distillation had a total potential increase of +6 in stamina. It was comparable to the Tears of an Angel. But that wasn’t enough. Not nearly enough. I shook my head slowly.
“Vivian, breaking even isn’t enough.”
“What?”
“I’m sorry to pressure you, but this distillation is crucial for me. The priority is stamina. It has to be.”
“Okay, okay.”
“I don’t need other stat boosts. They’d be nice, but in my current state, they won’t help much. Purifying is fine, but we can’t deliberately weaken it. Think about mixing in the unicorn horn.”
Seeing the sincerity in my voice, Vivian’s expression grew serious. With the addition of the unicorn horn, the distillation now included two elixirs, Vivian’s magic, Belphegor’s heart, Horens’ magic stone, and the unicorn horn. All the valuable items from my explorations were now in her hands.
It was an alchemist’s dream distillation, but Vivian looked burdened. I felt a bit guilty for emphasizing it so much, but my lack of stamina was a pressing issue.
“The workshop construction costs 8,200 gold, right?”
“Yes.”
“If you need more, let me know. I’ll support you, no matter the cost.”
“No, this is more than enough!”
“Alright. I’m counting on you.”
I patted Vivian’s shoulder a few times and stood up. She clutched the unicorn horn, exhaling deeply, but soon her eyes burned with determination.
“Fine. I’ll do it again. Kim Soo-hyun, don’t forget your promise.”
“Of course, I won’t.”
Vivian dashed out of the room ahead of me, shouting loudly.
“Shin Sang-yong! Master is calling! Come out quickly!”
Hearing Vivian’s voice coming through the door, I couldn’t help but chuckle.
The night was deep. It felt like a lot had happened, yet it hadn’t even been a full day since I left Barbara. We had tentatively decided on the clan house, and Vivian’s research had entered a new phase. The unresolved matters among the clan members were slowly moving towards a conclusion.
However, there was still one thing left.
When I looked up, I saw Go Yeon-ju in front of me, her lips moving incessantly. She was reporting on the movements of Kim Yoo-hyun and the Western Continent, as I had requested earlier.
“Anyway, that’s all the information we have on the user Kim Yoo-hyun’s activities. Oh, I almost forgot to mention that they recently discovered a pyramid-shaped ancient ruin in the desert. It’s causing quite a stir in the small southeastern town of Dana.”
“I see. Have they found the king’s tomb now…?”
“Sorry?”
“Oh, nothing. Is there any other news about Kim Yoo-hyun? Anything at all.”
I quickly changed the subject, and Go Yeon-ju tilted her head in curiosity.
“Well, I’ve told you everything about his activities. As for personal information, he’s a second-year user and is known as a secret class mage, the Thunder Emperor.”
“A second-year user doesn’t sound too impressive.”
“Su-hyun, that’s not true at all. His achievements so far are enough to make even veteran users take notice. And although he hasn’t formed a clan yet, the users around him are all quite exceptional.”
“Is that so? Impressive. Haha.”
I nodded in agreement. Go Yeon-ju gave me a strange look, but what mattered to me was whether my brother was safe. Hearing that he was doing well was a relief.
I stretched, feeling my joints crack rhythmically.
“Alright. There’s nothing we can do about the Western Continent being out of reach. I asked about Kim Yoo-hyun out of personal interest. Thank you for your hard work.”
“Hmm. Now that you mention it, Kim Su-hyun and Kim Yoo-hyun. The names are similar. Is there any connection?”
“Heh, just a personal interest.”
I laughed it off, ready to call it a night. But then a thought struck me, and I spoke up again.
“Oh, User Go Yeon-ju. I have one more favor to ask.”
“It’s not a favor, it’s an order, Clan Lord. I’m ready to follow any command.”
“It’s nothing major. Could you send a messenger to Istantel Low tomorrow morning? Let them know I’ll be visiting in the afternoon.”
“Oh, are you planning to visit Istantel Low?”
“Yes. I heard from Ha-yeon that they’ve been very considerate while I was away. I have some personal matters to settle, and I want to express my gratitude.”
Ha-yeon had told me that they had helped with the clan house and even visited a few times. Although Han So-young might have her own motives, it was only right to visit the city’s representative clan in return.
“Understood. I’ll send a messenger first thing in the morning.”
“Yes. I’ll announce the details during breakfast tomorrow. You can go now. I’d like to rest for the day.”
“Well, I’m not sure if you’ll be able to rest.”
“What?”
I asked, puzzled by Go Yeon-ju’s sudden remark, and she gave me a mysterious smile. As she slowly stood up, there was a knock on the door.
“It’s all done. Don’t be impatient. I’m coming out now.”
Judging by Go Yeon-ju’s glance at the door, it wasn’t directed at me. As soon as the door opened slightly, she waved at me with a regretful expression.
“Sorry, I can’t stay with you today because I lost.”
“Wait a minute. What is this all about…?”
Just as I was about to ask, I saw Ha-yeon approaching us from the door. For some reason, I felt a sudden breathlessness. Ha-yeon met my gaze briefly before turning to Go Yeon-ju with a clear voice.
“Good thing. I thought you were stalling on purpose.”
“I may have lost today, but I won’t next time.”
“You tried to cheat using shadows. Did you think I wouldn’t notice?”
“Hmph. I don’t know about that. Su-hyun, sleep well.”
Go Yeon-ju stuck out her tongue playfully and dashed out of the room. As I sat there, dumbfounded, Ha-yeon gave me a shy smile and perched on the edge of my bed.
“Ha-yeon. What is this?”
“Oh, it’s nothing. Just…”
Ha-yeon paused and began to slowly remove her robe, revealing her pale shoulders. I was momentarily captivated, and her gentle voice continued.
“While you were away, Go Yeon-ju and I talked a lot.”
”…”
“By the way, I won today. The game was rock-paper-scissors. Can you believe she tried to cheat with shadows?”
Ha-yeon laughed prettily, making a fist, then scissors, and finally opening her hand to show paper. As she declared her victory and made a V-sign with her fingers, I felt my heart skip a beat.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Hello, this is Ro Yujin.
(I’m taking a break from replying to comments today. I’ll include important information in this note, so I ask for your understanding. I’ll combine today’s comments with the next chapter’s.)
(We’ve started a popularity poll for female characters. It’s currently up as a survey. Your participation would be greatly appreciated.)
As mentioned earlier, Go Eun-sol’s name will be changed to Im Han-na. Many thanks to GamjaTtib for suggesting such a great name.
I received a question: “Will the story continue to focus on human interactions rather than dungeon-like settings?” As you can see from the subtitles, the chapters are generally divided into four parts. As I mentioned in yesterday’s note, we’ll be leaving the city in the next chapter. The next chapter’s subtitle is “The First Request,” so those with sharp eyes might get a sense of what’s coming. So, the answer is no. There’s still a lot to explore…
The atmosphere in Noblesse has been quite tense lately. I tried to lighten the mood with today’s writing, hoping it would make you smile a few times. Also, I plan to continue publishing exclusively on Joara. Some of you have expressed concerns, but there’s no need to worry. :)
It seems there’s a misunderstanding. ㅜ.ㅠ It’s not exam period yet. There’s still time before finals. However, the scope is extensive, and assignments are piling up, so I’m preparing in advance. I still plan to maintain daily updates, so I ask for your generous understanding!
It seems many of you were surprised by the sudden turn of events. I hope you can calm down and enjoy the story with a relaxed mind. I’m always grateful and sorry for your support and for reading this humble work. (__)
PS. My inbox is overflowing with messages. Haha! I’ll read and respond to them one by one… :D