The First Request
The next morning, during breakfast, I found myself unable to meet the eyes of Go Yeon-ju and Jung Ha-yeon. There was no clear reason for it. I had broached the topic before, and it wasn’t something that would get me in trouble at Hall Plain. Yet, every time they smiled brightly at me, I felt a sharp pang in my chest.
After enduring the awkward breakfast, I called a meeting to inform the clan members about our future plans.
The morning was spent in meetings, and by lunchtime, we moved on to equipment checks.
Three elixirs, a Pegasus egg, the Twilight Priestess (a rare class), the Bow of Pasa, the Legend of Hoplon, three Chaos Mimics, and Vivian’s potion pouch. I didn’t bother with the gold and jewel pouches; they were already neatly sorted into large bags. Seeing them filled me with satisfaction.
“One, two, lift!”
An Sol struggled to organize the equipment as I instructed, her back straightening from its bent position. Beads of sweat dotted her face. She turned to me, holding out her hands with a triumphant “Ta-da!” Between her hands was a large, yellow egg, about twice the size of an ostrich egg. It was a Pegasus egg.
“Brother! Do you know what’s inside this?”
“A chick.”
“A chick? So it’s a giant egg?”
“Yes. We’ll ask Go Yeon-ju to fry it up for a party later. Let’s make a delicious egg fry. For now, just leave it there.”
“Uh…?”
Perhaps she expected something grand. An Sol clutched the egg tightly, shaking her head in disbelief. As we finished organizing the equipment, my eyes lingered on the Twilight Priestess and the Bow of Pasa.
‘Madam Im… or was it Im Hanna?’
Madam Im Hanna, who managed Monica’s famous Love House, was a user with decent skills, fitting perfectly with my plan to create an elite mercenary group. Her disposition was orderly and principled, which was quite favorable.
‘We do need an archer user at this point.’
I recalled Im Hanna’s gentle smile. After a moment of contemplation, I decided to leave the room where the equipment was stored. I needed to check if the messenger had been sent to Istantel Low and also wanted to ask Go Yeon-ju about Im Hanna. As I stepped into the hallway, I sensed An Sol following me with quick steps.
Go Yeon-ju wasn’t on the fourth floor. After a quick look through her quarters, I headed straight for the stairs. Descending the clean, spiraling steps, I soon reached the lobby.
The first floor was mostly empty. Thanks to Go Yeon-ju, we were an exception, but Love House was primarily a tavern for women, especially those who worked the night. Having entertained men from last night until dawn, they were likely all asleep now.
The lobby was quiet, but fortunately, I found who I was looking for. Go Yeon-ju was sitting at a table with Ha-yeon and Im Hanna, chatting happily. Occasionally, their laughter rang out.
“Oh my, Su-hyun? When did you get here?”
“Have you finished organizing the equipment?”
“Hello, Mercenary Lord.”
As I approached the table, Go Yeon-ju, Jung Ha-yeon, and Im Hanna greeted me in turn. I nodded slightly to Im Hanna and took the seat Go Yeon-ju offered. An Sol, who had been standing idly, was quickly ushered into a seat by Im Hanna, who stood up for her.
“Mercenary Lord, would you like something to drink?”
“No, I’m fine.”
“Sister, I want this. I want this.”
“This? Ah, just wait a moment, Sol. I’ll get it for you right away.”
“Okay!”
Im Hanna pinched An Sol’s cheek affectionately before walking away. It was a bit surprising. An Sol was usually quite selective about people, yet she showed no resistance, even calling Im Hanna “sister.”
‘Maybe it’s because they have similar dispositions… She seems perceptive enough. But why hasn’t Han So-young recruited someone like her yet? She must know.’
As I silently watched Im Hanna, I overheard whispers beside me. Turning my head, I saw Go Yeon-ju and Jung Ha-yeon leaning in close, whispering to each other. But their words were clear to me.
“He’s definitely interested.”
“Right? Even as a woman, I have to admit she’s pretty and has a great figure. She’s so elegant…”
“Sigh… That’s why I suggested we stay somewhere else. There’s already so much competition…”
“No, I vouch for her skills. We need an archer user right now. Su-hyun will be pleased. And I trust Su-hyun…”
As I stared at them incredulously, they seemed to sense my gaze and quickly pulled apart, looking in different directions with feigned innocence.
”…”
Honestly, it stung a bit. Especially after hearing about the rock-paper-scissors game last night, I felt a twinge of guilt. I decided to set aside my questions about Im Hanna for now. It seemed like the right thing to do.
‘I’ve changed a lot. Or is it just my appearance that’s changed…?’
Feeling a strange sensation I couldn’t have imagined in my first life, a bitter emotion welled up. It’s fine to become more rounded, but I mustn’t lose my edge. I thought about borrowing Horens’ magic stone from Vivian later and cleared my throat to get their attention.
“Ahem. Go Yeon-ju, how did the task I asked you to do last night go?”
“Oh, I sent the messenger. But I just received a reply.”
“A reply?”
“Yes. They said there’s no need for you to come; they’ll visit us directly.”
“I see. Thank you for your… What?”
Thinking I misheard, I asked again, and Go Yeon-ju shrugged. Her reaction confirmed I hadn’t misheard. A long sigh escaped my lips. Han So-young. She’s usually so composed and self-sufficient, but when it comes to recruiting talent, she loses all sense of reason.
I grumbled internally and asked Go Yeon-ju, “When did they say they’d arrive?”
“They didn’t specify, but I think they’ll be here soon.”
“Alright. I suppose I should head out now.”
“Wait, they’re coming here… Oh, I see. Do you need any company?”
Go Yeon-ju, quick on the uptake, seemed to understand my intentions. I shook my head at her offer of company.
“No need. I’ll go alone.”
“But it might be better if I accompany you…”
No. Taking the Shadow Queen along could lead to disaster, so she was one of the last people I wanted with me. I’d rather take Ha-yeon. I didn’t want to have a conversation with Han So-young in a tense atmosphere. I firmly replied, “No, thank you,” and stood up.
“Oh, Mercenary Lord…”
Coincidentally, Im Hanna appeared, carrying a tray with two cups. Despite my earlier refusal, it seemed she had made a drink for me as well. I was about to ignore it and leave, but not wanting to leave a bad impression, I stopped.
“I have to step out for a bit. Sol can have both drinks.”
“Oh, haha. Alright. Take care.”
“Then.”
As I opened the door to leave, I faintly heard An Sol protesting, “I’m not a pig…”
The agility of 98 is remarkable. With just a little effort, I could move faster than riding a bicycle.
Running instead of walking leisurely was the right choice. I managed to catch Han So-young just as she was leaving the Istantel Low Clan House with an attendant.
Entering the Istantel Low Clan’s premises after a long time brought back memories. It wasn’t exactly the same as when I was there, but it was close enough to my recollections. By now, they probably had over 200 members, but I only sensed about 20 or 30 presences inside.
For a leading clan, it might seem like a small number, but it was a testament to the high capabilities of each member. Most of them were likely busy, working tirelessly day and night, except for the maintenance staff.
“So, the Mercenary Lord intends to purchase the clan house at full price?”
“Yes. I appreciate the offer, but considering our clan’s nature, it seems more appropriate.”
“Why is that?”
“Because we’re a new clan.”
Han So-young listened to my response and then seemed to drift into deep thought. I took the opportunity to glance at Park Da-yeon, who was sitting across from me. It had been so long since I last saw her that I felt an overwhelming urge to rush over and greet her. But the moment I noticed her puffing out her cheeks in a pout, I hesitated.
After meeting them at the main entrance, I explained the situation and was led to the reception room. Park Da-yeon, who had initially seemed displeased, was now smiling brightly.
Park Da-yeon was responsible for the finances of Istantel Row. Her initial reaction, puffing her cheeks, was likely due to Han So-young’s decision to approach me directly and her dissatisfaction with the process of selling us the clan house. However, when I expressed my intention to purchase the clan house at cost, her face lit up immediately.
I thought to myself that her inability to hide her emotions hadn’t changed as I took a sip of the tea she had prepared. As I set the cup down, Han So-young, having finished her thoughts, fixed her gaze on me.
“I’m grateful that the Mercenary Clan has come to Monica. I wanted to extend some goodwill, as I mentioned during the previous summons.”
“I appreciate what you said back then, but that’s not why we came to Monica.”
“We can keep the purchase of the clan house strictly confidential. Even if it were to become known, no one could object since it has Istantel Row’s approval.”
“There are no eternal secrets, and a protruding nail gets hammered down. Besides, I understand there are many clans under Istantel Row here in Monica. If you show us undue favor, it might stir up discontent among them.”
I could sense Park Da-yeon tapping her feet on the floor. Somehow, it felt like she was excited. Her expression showed a sense of relief, probably because I had voiced what she wanted to say. Emboldened, I decided to add one more thing.
“As you know, we’re independent mercenaries, and our clan operates freely. The usual discount for existing users is 30%, but a 60% discount feels… excessive.”
“So, are you saying you’d accept a 30% discount as per usual practice?”
“No.”
“Then how about 29%?”
”…”
Suddenly, the situation struck me as quite amusing. The administrator was offering a discount, while the buyer was refusing it. I looked to Park Da-yeon for help, but she just shrugged with a playful sigh.
“Yes, Clan Lord. I’m also grateful that the Mercenary Clan has come to Monica. But these people are different from the existing clans, aren’t they? Excessive goodwill can be seen as greed.”
“Greed…? It is greed.”
“Oh, come on, sis… I mean, Clan Lord. Please, get a grip. As the Mercenary Lord said, you need to consider their perspective too. We have no reason to offer them a discount, nor do they have a justification to accept it. If we sell something worth 90,000 gold for 30,000, what would other clans think?”
“Reason…? Justification…?”
Han So-young tilted her head, her eyes rolling in thought. Park Da-yeon looked exasperated, tapping her feet impatiently. Watching Han So-young’s indifferent gaze, I couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly.
‘She’s sulking.’
Her face was expressionless, but the slight droop of her eyes was a telltale sign I recognized from when she was upset.
Han So-young stared at Park Da-yeon for a long moment. When Park Da-yeon finally lowered her head with a pout, Han So-young turned her attention back to me.
“Reason and justification, indeed. You have a point.”
“I’m glad you understand. I do appreciate your goodwill.”
“Yes. But the Mercenary Clan is a mercenary clan, right?”
“Yes? Yes.”
Her question made me tense up again. Han So-young wasn’t one to ask something she already knew. If she did, it meant she was up to something.
“Then you take on requests from users, don’t you?”
“Well, yes…”
“Have you received any requests so far?”
“Not yet. We haven’t been around long, and we don’t have a clan house.”
As I said this, a thin smile appeared on Han So-young’s lips. Her beauty made the smile almost breathtaking, but knowing her intentions, I felt a pang of regret.
And before I could say anything, Han So-young spoke quickly.
“Perfect timing. There’s something I’d like to ask the Mercenary Clan. It requires the power of the Shadow Queen. Ah… I suppose ‘request’ is a more accurate term.”
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Hello, this is Ro Yujin.
Just a quick note: I sometimes include sentences that reveal Su-hyeon’s character. I’m grateful when readers point these out. Su-hyeon is not a saint. While he’s not someone who antagonizes allies without reason, he can be quite different when dealing with those he considers ‘enemies.’ For example, his behavior during the expedition in Mule. Someone once commented on Su-hyeon’s nature, and I’m still pondering it. I might change his alignment from Lawful/Chaotic to Neutral/Chaotic when I revise for the e-book. Initially, it was set as external/internal, but it got a bit muddled when I diversified the alignments. T^T
PS. I apologize to those expecting an H-scene. Including one would have delayed the promise to leave the city in this chapter. :)
『 Reader Comments 』
Miwolya + Cheongeop Hyeol Sin Cheon Mu Jon: Congratulations on being first! I saw your comment about reading on a smartphone, so it might be tough to be first five times in a row due to various conditions (like when I post late). Enjoy this chapter! :)
Gyeomddaeng: Yes, the higher the grade, the more power can be extracted from the jewels.
Flute: Su-hyeon looks after Vivian because she gets things done when needed. :)
Chubby Cat: Recommendations? I’ve recommended “I Am a Supernatural” (by Northwood), “Named” (by Min Young-mo), and “Beast” (by Jabet). :)
Broken Fan: I hope you feel better soon. ㅜ.ㅠ Stay strong!
[DeepBLue]: Corrections made. Thank you. I’ll try to create potions without breaking the narrative. :)
Namgoong Cheonryong: Kim Yoo-hyun is Kim Su-hyeon’s older brother. He arrived two years earlier, so it would naturally cause a stir on Earth. I can say, “There was no uproar on Earth.” This involves a being that transcends angels… which is part of the current setting. Any more would spoil the ending, so I’ll leave it at that. Thank you.
Northwood: Thank you for the comment. Please continue your wonderful series!
NaSIS: Oh dear. Corrections made. Sharp eyes! Thank you. (__)
Toranoanal: You’ve been reading all along. ㅜ.ㅠ I’ve missed you. Sniff sniff…
Thank you for always reading. Your recommendations and comments are a great encouragement.
I hope you read the story with a relaxed mind.
Pre-selections, recommendations, comments, critiques, and questions are always welcome.