“Welcome to the Mercenary Road.”
“Thank you for the warm welcome.”
“Not at all. We’ve been expecting you. This way, please.”
As soon as Baek Han-gyeol arrived at Monica’s temple, a female priestess greeted him. Her words made it clear that they had been informed of his visit in advance.
The atmosphere here was distinctly different from Mule. The woman, who had been granted ‘authority,’ exuded an aura unlike any other resident. Her eyes were hollow, and her complexion pale, yet her gaze was sharp. What Baek appreciated most was her businesslike demeanor. Some might find it off-putting, but people like her were thorough in their duties.
Unlike the bustling entrance filled with users, the interior grew quieter as they moved deeper inside. Once seated at a table, the priestess spoke in a cold voice.
“Would you like something to drink?”
“No, thank you. I’d like to proceed with the report right away.”
“Very well, let’s hear it.”
Baek Han-gyeol felt a bit intimidated. The priestess’s icy demeanor made him wonder if he had done something wrong. As he chuckled at his own nervousness, he noticed the priestess readying her pen and paper to take notes. He began his verbal report.
Expedition reports were crucial. They were documented and sent to the library, categorized appropriately. Future users visiting places like the Mountain of Delirium or the Canyon of Hallucinations would likely consult these records. Incorrect information could endanger lives, so honesty was paramount. Inflating achievements for the sake of reputation could backfire if an investigation revealed any falsehoods.
In a way, Baek found himself in a similar situation. Many renowned clans had failed to conquer the Canyon of Hallucinations, yet a newly ranked D Zero clan had succeeded. Normally, the priestess would have interrogated him thoroughly, but she simply took notes, likely due to the influence of Istantel Low and the users currently receiving treatment at the temple.
Despite Baek’s unease, he continued his report with a sense of warmth.
”…And so, the unicorns dropped us off at the edge of the Plains of Lamentation, allowing us to return to the city. That’s all.”
After about an hour, the report was complete. The records were neatly stacked, and despite the amount of writing, the priestess showed no sign of fatigue. She took a deep breath and looked up.
“Thank you for the detailed report.”
“You’ve worked hard.”
“It’s my job. However, there are a few points I find hard to accept…”
“Which parts?”
“You already explained them during your report. You mentioned feeling like you were being herded?”
Baek nodded calmly. The priestess, with a serious expression, twirled her pen.
“Other parts can be verified with testimonies from Istantel Low and the surviving users. But this…”
“It’s not a lie. There should be traces along the path we took.”
“I’m not saying it’s a lie. It’s just not something we can overlook lightly. And the Mercenary Road is a clan entrusted by Istantel Low. Challenging them is a direct affront to Monica’s authority. Especially these days…”
The priestess paused, then continued in a low voice.
“I’ll conduct a separate investigation on this matter and report to Istantel Low. Of course, I’ll also inform the Mercenary Road.”
“Oh, no. You must be busy enough already. There’s no need to go that far…”
“Istantel Low is very interested in the Mercenary Clan. Don’t worry about it. It’s something that needs to be done. Anyway, congratulations on completing the mission and the successful expedition. The investigation team will be formed by today or tomorrow at the latest. With results like these, you can look forward to the outcome.”
‘She talks really fast.’
Baek had prepared himself for potential objections, but the rapid pace of the conversation left him feeling slightly deflated. Still, he decided to take it as a positive sign of interest. Having said all he needed to, he was ready to wait quietly for the results.
“Understood. We’ll be on our way then. Han-gyeol, let’s go.”
“Wait a moment.”
Just as Baek was about to rise, the priestess’s words stopped him. Han-gyeol, who had been following his lead, paused awkwardly.
“I received a message from Istantel Low this morning.”
“Yes?”
“They’d like a visit from the Mercenary Road if you have time.”
“Haha… Alright.”
Baek had planned to visit eventually, so he nodded readily. The priestess’s slight smile hinted at the relationship between Istantel Low and the temple.
“Today might be difficult. I have other matters to attend to. I’ll visit tomorrow.”
“Understood.”
After completing the expedition report, Baek took Han-gyeol to the tavern “Fly, Chick.” Initially, they had planned to grab street food and explore the clan house, but the report ended earlier than expected, so they decided on an early dinner.
The tavern’s interior was luxurious, with staff reminiscent of Western butlers. Han-gyeol, unfamiliar with such places, appeared cautious. A waiter soon brought their order, placing it on the table with a polite gesture. After tipping him a silver coin, they began eating and chatting.
“An-hyun and Yoo-jung have been praising you a lot.”
“Hehe, you too, hyung… Ah, sorry.”
“It’s fine. You’re part of the family now. You can call me hyung when it’s just us.”
“Thank you.”
“No need to thank me. But you seemed really tense earlier. Was the priestess that intimidating?”
Han-gyeol, tearing bread and dipping it into soup, shivered at the memory of the female priestess.
“She just gave me chills for no reason. Her demeanor was so imposing.”
“Haha. Residents with authority are like that. You can’t judge them by their attitude alone. They’re definitely there to help us.”
“But won’t that attitude cause friction with users?”
“It’s possible, but it’s unlikely unless someone is really reckless. We’re inseparable from the residents. The friendlier we are, the easier it is to operate. What do you think happens if we’re not?”
“It becomes inconvenient.”
‘Of course, only for those who are useful.’
Baek thought of Mule as he mused silently. Han-gyeol, cheeks puffed with food, nodded along. Being alone with Baek seemed to remind him of the academy, revealing a side of him not seen since joining the Mercenary.
Han-gyeol was beautiful. The thought struck Baek strongly. His eyes sparkled like the Milky Way, his nose was perfectly shaped, and his appearance was gentle. Even the way he chewed his food with his pink lips was endearing. The waiter had even glanced over, wishing them a pleasant time.
“Hehe. It’s delicious, hyung.”
“Really? Eat up.”
“Yes, you too, hyung.”
Baek had brought Han-gyeol out for no particular reason. He was the last to join them and had to embark on a tough expedition right away. Though he pretended to be fine, the scent of Earth still clung to him. It was admirable that he tried not to show it, but Baek felt the need to support him a little, especially since he had great potential as the awakened secret class ‘God’s Shield.’
“So… How’s it been since joining the clan? Any difficulties?”
“No, it’s fine.”
“I know it’s not, so tell me. You can say anything to me.”
“Uh…”
Encouraged gently, Han-gyeol hesitated, glancing at Baek. It was clear something was on his mind.
“It’s not that it’s hard, but…”
“I’m a bit disappointed. I didn’t think Han-gyeol would hide things from me.”
“No, hyung! I just didn’t want to cause trouble…”
“Solving that is part of my job.”
Han-gyeol remained reluctant to speak, but after some coaxing, he finally sighed and opened up.
“Actually…”
After the meal, Baek sent Han-gyeol back first. Though his tasks were done, he didn’t plan to return to the Love House immediately. Since he was on the way, he decided to stop by the clan house to see how much it had changed.
As I arrived at the clan house, the first thing I noticed was the transformed entrance. The old rusty gate had been replaced with a sleek, polished wooden door that gleamed in the light. Stepping inside, I was greeted by a stunning garden, a harmonious blend of towering trees, vibrant flowers, and lush grass. It was as if a piece of nature had been transplanted here, boasting a breathtaking landscape.
But it wasn’t just the scenery that impressed. The layout was thoughtfully designed, with paths branching out in various directions, considering both residence and movement.
The building itself had undergone a remarkable transformation. It exuded a refined elegance, looking both like a part of nature and a luxurious retreat nestled within the garden.
I wanted to explore inside, but unfortunately, the entrance was draped with a curtain, indicating that the interior renovations were still underway. After admiring a pristine pond in a corner of the garden, I turned back towards the entrance. While hiring staff and furnishing the place would complete it, the clan house was already impressive for a first step.
The sky was gradually darkening. After reporting on the expedition, having a meal, and touring the clan house, quite a bit of time had passed. Before it got any darker, I headed straight to the Love House, where the clan members were waiting. There were more tasks I could find if I looked, but I was eager to wrap up the day and get some rest.
As I pushed open the door to the Love House, I paused, taken aback by the scene before me. Sensing the door open, Go Yeon-ju rushed out from the first floor to greet me.
“Suhyeon! Welcome back. We’ve been waiting for you.”
“Oh, yes. But hold on a second. What is all this…?”
In the center of the first floor, the task I had assigned to Ha-yeon was in full swing. The spoils from our latest expedition, along with treasures from Mule, were neatly displayed. Most of the goods had already been appraised, with glowing scrolls placed atop each piece of equipment.
“Hey, check out the options on this staff! Order of Ordo? This is insane. Hahaha.”
“And what’s with this outfit? It’s so revealing.”
“Yeah, you better not wear it.”
“You crazy jerk. Are you trying to provoke me? Just because I’ve been holding back lately doesn’t mean you can push me around.”
The first floor was bustling with activity. Tables had been pushed aside, and the clan members were engrossed in examining the equipment. Meanwhile, the residents of the Love House, including the night flowers and Im Hanna, watched with envy.
“Why did you lay all this out on the first floor?”
“Well, Suhyeon’s room is the biggest, right? But there wasn’t enough space to lay out each piece of equipment…”
“Go Yeon-ju.”
I narrowed my eyes at her, and she stuck out her tongue sheepishly, her eyes darting around.
“Actually, it was Hanna’s request.”
“Madam Im?”
“Yes. Some of the kids working here have the potential to become combat users. She wanted to motivate them…”
“Hmm.”
‘Though, honestly, none of them seem particularly promising. Except for Im Hanna.’
Among the survival users, some had already given up due to low stats or fear for their lives. I had already assessed the Love House’s residents with my Third Eye. While there might be one or two who could make it with effort, they weren’t worth recruiting into the mercenary ranks. That’s why I hadn’t paid them much attention.
“Aww, Suhyeon~. You’re not mad, right? Please?”
”…Putting everything back will be quite a hassle.”
Seeing my expression harden, Go Yeon-ju linked her arm with mine, trying to charm me. I sighed and nodded. As I turned my head, I noticed the night flowers sneaking glances at me. Some looked shocked, likely taken aback by the sight of the Shadow Queen acting cute.
Finally, I locked eyes with Im Hanna, who stood quietly behind them. She bowed her head apologetically, and I nodded to show it was fine before slowly making my way to the equipment display.
“Kyuu!”
The baby unicorn, frolicking among the equipment, noticed my arrival and bounded over, clearly enjoying the lively atmosphere. As I picked up the unicorn, the clan members, previously absorbed in the gear, began to notice me one by one.
“Hey, it’s him!”
“Kim Suhyeon! It’s Kim Suhyeon!”
“Oppa, when did you get here?”
“Leader!”
Even An Hyun, Vivian, and Lee Yoo-jung were excited, but why was even the usually calm Shin Sang-yong so animated? As I calmed the unicorn nuzzling against me, the clan members quickly surrounded me.
“Hyung! Hyung! Look at this gear! It’s amazing! The Order of Ordo is just…”
“Kim Suhyeon! Give me that one! I want it!”
“Oppa~. Can I have my Scurep back now? And also~.”
“Alright, alright. Let’s talk after I take a look.”
After shooing away the noisy ones, I finally reached the equipment display. There, Jung Ha-yeon and Kim Han-byeol were diligently casting Goods Appraisal spells on the remaining items. They started to rise when they saw me, but I gestured for them to continue.
“Sorry, there are so many difficult items to appraise…”
“It’s fine. I know it’s tough, but please hang in there a bit longer.”
“Okay. We’ll finish the appraisals first. We’re almost done. Han-byeol, let’s continue.”
“Yes.”
Their lips were chapped from chanting spells, and their sweat-drenched hair clung to their cheeks. As they resumed their incantations, I began to inspect the appraised equipment. Or at least pretended to. No matter how good the Goods Appraisal was, my Third Eye was far more accurate. So I activated it immediately.
『Caligo Abraxas』
(Description: “The bird breaks out of the egg. The egg is the world. To be born, one must destroy a world.” This is the sword Abraxas, once wielded by the ancient hero Lloyd. It appears to be an ordinary sword, but when infused with sufficient magic, it reveals its true power. According to legend, when unsealed, it was said to have “sliced the world in half.” Though merely a legend, its latent power was strong enough to defeat a demon king. However, it has been forcibly corrupted by an evil sorcerer. Originally named the Holy Sword Abraxas, it now bears the name Caligo (Darkness), taking on the nature of a cursed sword.)
『Paradisus Plate Mail』
(Description: A breastplate blessed by an archangel. It has the ability to convert all “physical” damage inflicted on the wearer into “magical” damage and reflect it. The reflected damage varies but can be up to 20%. If the damage exceeds what can be absorbed, the reflection effect does not occur.)
『Orthros Long Boots』
(Description: In the distant past, a “star” fell in the ancient kingdom of Hall Plane. The suspicious king brought the star to his palace, where the best magicians and blacksmiths of the time analyzed it and crafted equipment from its fragments. These boots, made from a piece of the star, were completed at dawn on the 1000th day, earning the name Orthros. Though they appear crude and heavy, they are enchanted with lightweight magic, flexibility to fit the user’s feet, and automatic adjustment magic. Additionally, they are imbued with the ancient high-level magic Rapid, allowing the wearer to move with unmatched speed and agility, if they can control it. They are also known as Rapid Star, combining Rapid and Star.)
『Brilliant Flash: Laura Phylis』
(Description: A bow crafted from a branch of the World Tree Yggdrasil. Wrapped in blessed leaves and submerged in the Fairy Lake for over a century, it has become a legendary weapon imbued with a “divine artifact.” It requires no string or arrows, creating arrows of brilliant light using only magic. The arrows, akin to a “flash,” earned it the name Brilliant Flash.)
『Yggdrasil’s Leaves Clothes』
(Description: Clothing made from the leaves of the World Tree Yggdrasil. Not just any leaves, but those that bloom once every ten years at the tree’s peak. The fragrance of these leaves offers numerous benefits, including maintaining peak concentration in critical situations and strong resistance to mind-affecting magic. It also absorbs “water” magic. The only drawback is that it cannot protect areas it doesn’t cover.)
『Rhiza Boots』
(Description: These boots are crafted from the roots of the World Tree, Yggdrasil. They have the effect of making the wearer feel lighter, and this effect is amplified when in a forest. If a human, rather than a fairy, wears these boots, they will gain agility and jumping ability similar to that of a fairy.)
“Suhyeon, what do you think? There are some pretty amazing things here, right?”
As I read the messages floating in the air, I barely managed to swallow my excitement. Next to me, Go Yeonju’s voice was filled with awe.
I knew I would eventually acquire such equipment, but actually having them in my possession felt entirely different. Yet, this was just the beginning. There were still headbands, two mysterious daggers, the ability to inherit a class, the results from Mavolo’s lab, and not to forget, the Fairy Queen’s Tears.
With my heart pounding, I turned my attention to the remaining items, using my third eye to examine them.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Hello, this is Royujin.
Phew. Writing the equipment descriptions ended up being 3KB. Assuming I upload at least 11KB, dedicating 30% to equipment descriptions seemed excessive, so I decided to increase the overall length. In the next installment, I’ll need to describe about 6 to 7 pieces of equipment. The rest don’t seem necessary. From the next chapter, I’ll try to reduce the descriptions a bit. Adding legends and records to each piece of equipment… OTL
PS. I’ve added English as well. Thank you for the valuable advice. (__)
『 Reader Comments 』
Miwolya: Congratulations on being first. I thought it would be better to split the equipment descriptions. If I include the remaining descriptions… it might exceed 50% of the main content. ㅜ.ㅠ
FallenWing: Please understand… It’s not that I’m not doing continuous updates, but I really can’t at the moment… OTL If I had more time, I’d post reader comments at midnight, but I’m barely keeping up with the serialization… ;ㅅ; Sob sob…
BurningPotato: Eh, kyu kyu. Isn’t it cute? If you say “Kyu kyu~,” it sounds really cute. Haha.
Brikio: There are some cringeworthy parts, but also a lot of strange sentences. Haha. I’ll delete the odd parts and the random jokes in the rite of passage. I’ll also make the scene where Hanbyeol leaves a bit smoother.
Offitlove19: Oh, I see. Offitlove19, you have a point. When setting Ansol’s personality, the range was quite narrow back then. I’ve diversified it since. I’ll consider this during the e-book editing. Thank you.
QubeGaeGaeKki: Thank you for the coupon. (__) Yes, when you give coupons to authors, they receive royalties, and your novel usage period might extend.
CheonnyangBoeun: E-book editing isn’t easy. ㅜ.ㅠ Honestly, the beginning is really… Haha.
Parnal: Hmm~. Maybe after creating the clan house and taking the elixir, it will appear? I think it might come up at the end of this rest + settling chapter.
I’mHappy: Correction completed. Thank you. (__)
Yurikenne: Huh? I’m curious about the meaning of your last comment. I request a precise, detailed, and thorough explanation. I’m curious!
Thank you for always reading. Your recommendations and comments are a great source of strength.
I hope you always read my work with a relaxed mind.
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