Mercenary, Settling In
『Headband of Innocence』
(Description: One of the items symbolizing the Fairy Queen Margarita. It was a gift from a skilled dwarf blacksmith who was enamored by her beauty, and the queen was said to be very fond of it. Here, innocence refers not to a woman’s virginity but to a purity of heart, free from greed and impure thoughts.)
『Wings of the Elf Queen, Ripped, 12 Pairs』
(Description: The only twelve pairs of wings granted to the fairies upon ascending to the throne. They were forcibly torn by an evil sorcerer, rendering them useless. However, they still hold divine power, and if combined with something else, it might be possible to restore their former strength.)
『Moonlight Katana』
(Description: A katana favored by the famous ancient warrior of the Hall Plain, MoonLight Cats’ Obana Alcatraz. It leaves a trail of moonlight with each swing, hence the name ‘Moonlight.’ It has no magical effects but boasts exceptional sharpness and durability.)
『TyrFingr』
(Description: A cursed sword that cannot return to its sheath until it has drawn blood. TyrFingr is a fierce sword that is very particular about its owner. If it finds the owner unworthy, it will destroy them. However, if it accepts the owner, they will gain access to its formidable destructive power.)
『Magician of the Blue Moon, Secret Class』
(Description: Those who wish to carve their own creative path rather than follow established magic. Ancient magic was created and developed by such individuals. They pursue creation and change, walking the pure path of magic. They are the ‘Magicians of the Blue Moon,’ unwavering in their beliefs and uncompromising with reality.)
『Gladiator of the Dawn, Rare Class』
(Description: In the ancient Hall Plain, there were various beast tribes, among which the cat tribe was particularly aggressive and enjoyed combat. When gladiatorial games were widespread, cat tribe warriors became mercenaries and participated in the games. They fought through the night, and at dawn, the last standing gladiators were always the cat tribe mercenaries. They were called ‘Gladiators of the Dawn’ as they always shouted victory under the morning light.)
『Tears of the Elf Queen』
(Description: The genuine emotions of Fairy Queen Margarita are contained in these tears. Corrupted by an evil sorcerer, she poured all her emotions into these tears at her final moment. Consuming them grants 2 additional ability points, which can be allocated as desired.)
“Phew.”
I let out a deep breath, overwhelmed by the countless messages filling the air. After taking a moment to compose myself, I reviewed the rest of the spoils. The Fairy Queen’s Egg, Marvolo’s Preservation Orb, potions of various colors, a magic elixir (increases magic by 2 points if below 95), and the rotten fruit of Yggdrasil. And the equipment obtained from Mule. Thankfully, there was no elixir in sight. It seemed Go Yeon-ju had thought things through in her own way.
I glanced around, taking in the scene.
Clan members were swallowing hard, surrounded by the night flowers. Their eyes held a complex mix of emotions: envy, jealousy, greed, self-doubt, and more.
Monica is known as one of the safest cities in the northern continent. And since these items are meant to be worn, they can’t be hidden. We have legitimate rights to them, and public threats to take them are impossible. However, if overt actions are difficult, there might be covert moves beneath the surface. Even as the Shadow Queen, I felt this was a reckless move. This time, we might get by with the expedition’s publicity and the unicorn, but we must be cautious in the future.
The clan members were still squealing with excitement over the equipment.
‘They’re too excited.’
The excitement was over the top. While a little excitement can make things enjoyable, this was excessive. Moreover, the surrounding situation wasn’t to my liking.
After reading all the information with my third eye, I remained silent. As I stayed quiet, a few perceptive clan members began to quiet down. As the noise gradually subsided, Jeong Ha-yeon and Kim Han-byeol, having finished their appraisal, wiped their sweat and stood up.
“Jeong Ha-yeon, Kim Han-byeol. Thank you for your hard work.”
“It’s nothing.”
“You two can rest now.”
“What?”
Jeong Ha-yeon asked, eyes wide. Kim Han-byeol looked equally puzzled. It was understandable since the most important settlement was yet to come, and I was telling them to rest. As everyone’s attention turned to me, I spoke in a low voice.
“As you can see, we’ve gained a lot this time. And there are quite a few duplicates.”
For a moment, a subtle light flickered across the clan members’ faces. They must have felt it themselves. As users, it’s impossible not to desire good equipment. But if one person gets what they want, another must give it up. We needed to manage the distribution carefully to avoid discord.
“We won’t settle this today. We’ll postpone it until tomorrow morning.”
”…….”
“I’ll give you time to think. Or you can discuss it with someone you trust. Think it over tonight, and let me know at tomorrow’s meeting. If your reasoning is sound, I’ll approve it.”
‘The Order of Chaos will be the most challenging.’
It would have been simpler if there was a single class restriction. But with mages, alchemists, and priests involved, the situation was quite complicated.
As I finished speaking, a few clan members began to glance around. But I decided to trust them. They were aware of their circumstances and would prioritize discussion over unnecessary conflict. I briefly imagined An Sol, Jeong Ha-yeon, and Vivian pulling each other’s hair and shouting.
‘That would be amusing in its own way.’
Chuckling to myself, I turned to Go Yeon-ju, who had been watching me intently.
“Go Yeon-ju. Please take responsibility for the equipment laid out on the first floor. Ensure its management from now on.”
“I will follow the Clan Lord’s orders.”
“Then I’ll see you all tomorrow morning. I’ll head up first.”
Go Yeon-ju accepted my instructions with excessive formality. Passing her by, I headed straight for the stairs to the second floor.
The next morning, I found myself unexpectedly flustered. Though I had gone to bed early to rest, I usually woke up quite early. Rising from bed, I placed the sleeping baby unicorn on my head and stepped outside.
As I descended the stairs, shaking off the stiffness in my body, I was surprised to find all the clan members already awake. They had finished breakfast and were waiting for me to wake up.
That wasn’t all. After a quick wash and breakfast, I found my office filled with equipment. Most of them were craning their necks, waiting for my arrival.
“If only you were always this diligent.”
I made a light joke to ease the tension from yesterday, and a few chuckled briefly. They probably found it amusing themselves. Gently stroking the unicorn’s head as it whimpered in my arms, I took my seat at the head of the table.
“Let’s start with the settlement… User Jeong Ha-yeon.”
“Yes.”
“Please tell us the current funds of the Mercenary Clan. Separate the gold coins and jewels.”
“When we first arrived in Monica, we had about 88,000 gold. We had over 1,000 jewels. From this expedition, we secured about 7,000 gold, and we collected over 300 jewels from the ornaments. The confirmed expenses include the equipment and materials ordered by Vivian, which will cost around 10,000 gold. Excluding that, we still have over 80,000 gold and more than 1,000 jewels.”
Jeong Ha-yeon answered as if she had anticipated my question. The 7,000 gold must have come from Marvolo’s lab. Even after deducting living expenses, having over 80,000 gold left was certainly encouraging. Although there would be significant expenses ahead.
“User An Hyun.”
“Y-Yes! Yes, sir! I mean, Clan Lord!”
Startled when I called his name, An Hyun quickly responded. Honestly, I had been relying too much on Go Yeon-ju and Jeong Ha-yeon for internal clan affairs. It was time to get the others involved, starting with An Hyun.
“There must be unclaimed equipment from the expedition.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“How’s that being handled?”
“They’re all safely stored in the warehouse.”
“Can you give us an idea of what equipment we have and their estimated value?”
“Uh, well…”
Ahn Hyun scratched his head, trailing off. Just as Jung Ha-yeon was about to jump in with an answer, I subtly raised a hand to stop her.
“Find out by tonight and report back to me.”
“Yes, understood. I’m sorry.”
Ahn Hyun’s face flushed red at my reprimand, but it wasn’t from embarrassment. He seemed oddly pleased to have been singled out by me. It was a bit of a mystery.
Anyway, it was finally time to move on to the equipment. The user who knew this well was…
“User Go Yeon-ju.”
“Yes, Clan Lord.”
“There seem to be fewer visible items than yesterday.”
“Yes, based on my judgment, I left the items that couldn’t be assigned a clear owner in storage. They’re on hold, so to speak.”
“Well done. Could you share the list of those on hold?”
I should have asked sooner. With a short sigh and a nod, Go Yeon-ju responded smoothly.
The list of items on hold was quite extensive: three bottles of elixir, the Twilight Priestess, the Bow of Dispelling Evil, Pegasus’s Egg, the Fairy Queen’s Egg, the Torn Wings of the Fairy Queen, Mavolo’s Preservation Magic Orb, Vivian’s Potion Pouch, potions found in Mavolo’s lab, the Rotten Fruit of Yggdrasil, the Radiant Flash Laura Phyllis, clothes made from Yggdrasil leaves, and the Liza Boots.
While it made sense to hold onto Laura Phyllis, it was surprising to see the clothes and Liza Boots on the list.
“You held onto the Yggdrasil Leaf Clothes and Liza Boots too?”
“Yes. We decided to hold all the Fairy Queen’s equipment. Those two items, in particular, seemed more suited for archers, though other classes could use them.”
“Hmm. Were there no clan members interested?”
“No one wanted the Leaf Clothes, and everyone agreed to keep the Liza Boots with the Fairy Queen’s gear. But if you want them, Clan Lord, I can fetch them right away.”
I see. It seemed like Go Yeon-ju was being considerate, but I decided to let it go. After all, the items were merely on hold, and any clan member could request them if needed.
I took one last look at the items and equipment displayed in the room. There was quite a lot.
Caligo Abraxas, Paradisus Plate Mail, Orosros Long Boots, the Order of Ordo, the Headband of Purity, the Mage of the Blue Moon, the Gladiator of Dawn, the Toad Spirit, Tyrfing, the Fairy Queen’s Tears, the Legend of Hoplon, Mavolo’s Research Notes, and the Magic Elixir.
Most of these would find new owners today. As I pondered where to start, I decided to tackle the most contentious item first: the Order of Ordo. Just then…
“Clan Lord, may I have a moment? I’d like to request the floor.”
”?”
Go Yeon-ju was asking to speak. I wasn’t sure what she wanted to say, but since she formally requested it, it seemed important. Her expression was serious. I nodded, and she addressed the clan members.
“After you left yesterday, Clan Lord, we had a discussion among ourselves.”
“Yes.”
“While it’s good to distribute the items to us, we thought it would be right for you to have the first choice. So, we agreed not to claim any rights to Caligo Abraxas, Paradisus Plate Mail, Orosros Long Boots, Tyrfing, or the Fairy Queen’s Tears.”
“Haha…”
“We hope you’ll accept our request.”
The clan members nodded in agreement with Go Yeon-ju’s words. I couldn’t help but laugh at their reaction.
They were offering me five out of twelve items, meaning I could take those first and have priority over the remaining seven. Go Yeon-ju’s respectful tone was due to my significant contributions to the expedition. I had led the mission, discovered the ruins, and defeated Mavolo. The next most significant contributors were probably Go Yeon-ju, Baek Han-gyeol, and Kim Han-byeol.
I didn’t mind their gesture of goodwill. Smiling softly, I replied in a low voice.
“I’ll accept the rights to Caligo Abraxas, Orosros Long Boots, and the Fairy Queen’s Tears. However, I’ll return the Paradisus Plate Mail and Tyrfing and waive the priority choice.”
“But…”
“I won’t entertain any objections.”
With that, Go Yeon-ju fell silent.
I already had more swords than I needed, and the armor wasn’t particularly useful to me. Even if I had the right, it wouldn’t look good to hoard so much. Besides, it was better for the equipment to go to clan members who needed it. The items on hold were already under my jurisdiction, so I had more than enough.
“Now then…”
It was time to begin the real distribution. As if sensing my resolve, I heard the sound of someone swallowing nervously.
“I’m sure you all had your thoughts or discussions last night.”
”…”
“I won’t say much more. Let’s begin. The first item is the Order of Ordo. Clan members who wish to claim it may speak freely. If more than one person is interested, please resolve it through discussion.”
As soon as I finished speaking, a tense silence fell over the room. I could even hear the breathing of the unicorn sleeping below us.
But it didn’t last long. Slowly, very slowly, two hands rose into the air.
“Though I didn’t join the expedition, I couldn’t resist raising my hand. I hope you’ll understand.”
One was, as expected, Jung Ha-yeon. As a mage, the Order of Ordo was undoubtedly tempting. And the other person was…
“Sorry, I didn’t go on the expedition either. But can I still raise my hand? You won’t mind, right?”
It was Vivian.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Hello, this is Ro Yujin.
I went to the bathhouse today. Soaking in the hot water felt amazing, like my bones were melting. After a 15-minute sauna session, I came home and had a can of beer. It was so refreshing, like all my fatigue just melted away. Haha.
The equipment distribution has begun. Some of you might be disappointed, but the distribution won’t take too long. Probably by the middle of the next chapter? Maybe a bit past the middle. The only contentious item is the Order of Ordo; the rest already have their owners. :) What do you think? Will Jung Ha-yeon get the Order of Ordo, or will it be Vivian? (An Sol and Shin Sang-yong have already withdrawn.) The answer is already decided, but I’m curious about your thoughts~. :D
『 Reader Comments 』
HammerofWar: Congrats on being first. Haha. Baek Han-gyeol is male. TS, you say? Haha. It’s a bit intriguing, though.(?)
Blami: No. Spirit Summoners don’t exist in the regular classes. They’re in the rare, secret classes (evolution). Haha. But there’s more than one. They’re divided by element. Besides that, there are fairies.
Hwiya: The items from the previous chapter were good, but the ones in this chapter are relatively less so. Haha. (Except for the last three.) Hannah is probably deep in thought right now.
QuickDelivery: ㅜ.ㅠ Sorry. I’m not confident in English… Ahem, no, that’s not it. I thought adding English to this chapter would be too chaotic, so I left it out. Hmm~. The Toad Spirit felt a bit plain with just Korean, so I included the Chinese characters too. :)
Astrain: Strictly speaking, there’s no gender restriction. :)
Starland: That’s why I deliberately cut out the gender parts. ㅋㅋㅋㅋ. I’ll reveal those gradually later!
Um…: I don’t play LoL anymore~. I uninstalled it a while ago. ㅋㅋㅋㅋ.
BrokenFan: Of course~. I naturally keep such personal privacy matters hidden. The key is not to provide false information. Haha.
Hwang Geol: I’ll reply to that via message! User information updates for each character are coming soon. Haha.
TearsRiver: You noticed correctly. However, it doesn’t consume as much magic as you might think. :) Of course, there are times when it does. The more magic you gather, the stronger the power, and the consumption increases proportionally.
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I hope you always read with a relaxed mind.
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