The night was alive with the soft chirping of insects, the round moon hanging high in the sky, casting its glow over the campsite. Beneath the star-studded heavens, I sat on the wide expanse of grass, smoking a cigarette.
Technically, it was my turn to stand watch. But when the shift changed, I had asked my fellow guards for a brief reprieve and slipped away. I had something else to attend to.
Taking a deep drag, I glanced to the side. There stood Go Yeon-ju, and before her, a man knelt, looking up at her with a weary expression. His face was gaunt, his eyes a dull gray, as if the life had been drained from them.
“So, you’re saying that out of the eight, only two don’t blame Baek Seo-yeon?”
“They don’t show it openly, so I’m not sure if it’s outright blame. But there’s definitely some discontent. I feel it too.”
“Right, right. Must be tough, joining the pursuit team and coming back empty-handed. So, who are those two to Baek Seo-yeon?”
“Lee Hae-in and Lee Ga-in. I know Lee Hae-in has been with her since the initiation, and Lee Ga-in was personally recruited by Baek Seo-yeon. I don’t know the details, but they’re close enough to be considered her confidants. They’re a bit eccentric, but that’s why people follow them…”
Go Yeon-ju smiled, satisfied, and turned to look at me. I nodded, and she blinked a couple of times before waving her hand lightly. The man’s eyes regained their focus, and he immediately bowed his head to the ground, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
“Good work. Leave him here and head back.”
“What about you, Su-hyeon?”
“I’ll gather a few things and follow.”
Go Yeon-ju hesitated for a moment but then turned and walked away briskly. The man was still trembling. I gave him a quick once-over before heading back to the campsite.
The camp was quiet under the blanket of night. The guard on duty glanced at me but quickly returned his gaze to the fire upon recognizing me. I moved carefully, gathering what I needed without waking the others: a bowl of leftover stew, a bottle of clean water, and a healing potion. Just as I was about to head to where the guards were gathered, a young voice stopped me.
“I want to go too.”
It was the young assassin girl who often played with An-sol. She seemed bored, her face lit by the fire. I refused her immediately.
“No.”
“Why not?”
“You’re too young.”
Since capturing the vagrants, we had switched to a four-person, three-shift watch. But tonight was special, so we had separated the vagrants. We couldn’t leave the camp unguarded, and the young assassin had drawn the short straw.
“I’ll send someone to keep you company soon. Play with them.”
“No way. They’re boring. I want to go.”
“If you keep whining, I’ll stop you from playing with An-sol.”
“That’s not fair.”
The assassin girl sat back down, pouting. Her sulky expression was rather endearing. I activated my third eye, checking her status.
Name: Gu Ye-ji (1st Year)
Class: Assassin (Normal, Assassin, Runner)
True Name · Nationality: Still a Pure Girl · South Korea
Gender: Female (15)
Alignment: Neutral · Good (True · Good)
[Strength 52] [Endurance 65] [Agility 81] [Stamina 63] [Magic 67] [Luck 58]
(4 ability points remaining.)
“First year, huh… Not bad.”
“You’re leaving me out. I hate you.”
Ignoring her grumbling, I turned to the fallen vagrant. He was still on the ground, unable to lift his head. After two weeks of abuse from the users, he was understandably exhausted.
“Get up.”
I almost kicked his head but changed my mind, offering my hand instead. He blinked in surprise, then sniffed the air as the aroma of the warm stew reached him. I pretended to take a bite, then glanced at him.
“Want a taste?”
He hesitated, his throat bobbing as he swallowed. I brought the spoon closer.
”…”
He didn’t take the bait immediately, just looked between me and the spoon with a conflicted expression.
Silence stretched between us. I checked his status with my third eye, then spoke calmly.
“Not hungry?”
Just as I was about to withdraw the spoon, he closed his eyes and took a bite. His face lit up with an indescribable expression—relief, perhaps, or gratitude. Go Yeon-ju’s cooking was exceptional, and they’d only been given enough to survive until now.
“Once you’re done, let’s go back to your spot.”
”…Thank you.”
I chuckled at his gratitude and turned back toward the guards.
Thank you, huh. I wondered if this was really a situation that warranted gratitude.
After about five minutes of walking, the clearing and its lights came into view. Eight vagrants knelt in a line, looking pitiful after days of mistreatment. If they weren’t vagrants, it might have been a sad sight.
Since I had disrupted their magic circuits, I hadn’t laid a hand on them. More accurately, I had allowed the users to act as they pleased.
Baek Seo-yeon was a notorious vagrant from the first round, and she was indirectly connected to me. I knew her personality and traits, and I had a plan. That’s why I hadn’t stopped the users. Their actions aligned with my goals.
Now, it was time to take the first step of my plan.
“Su-hyeon, you’re here. But why did you bring stew?”
Go Yeon-ju acknowledged me as I entered the clearing. I nodded and sent the vagrant forward.
The users didn’t react much, likely because Go Yeon-ju was present. As the vagrants placed the bowls and water before them, all eyes turned to me. I glanced at the users, who seemed puzzled by my actions.
I spoke calmly, leaving no room for objections.
“Tonight, Go Yeon-ju and I will watch the vagrants. The rest of you, please return to the camp and stand guard.”
There were four users present, including me and Go Yeon-ju. The other two, a one-armed user and a female priest who had been assaulted, seemed disappointed to miss out on tormenting the vagrants. As they turned to leave, I stopped one of them.
“Priest, could you stay a moment?”
“Uh, sure?”
The female priest looked confused but nodded reluctantly. Once the one-armed user had left, I surveyed the scene. It was quiet. Special guest and helper Go Yeon-ju, the priest for backup, and nine vagrants. The stage was set.
I moistened my lips and stood before the vagrants. They looked up at me with pale faces. Just as I was about to speak, a cold voice cut through the air.
“Stop this nonsense.”
I turned to see Baek Seo-yeon glaring at me.
“Nonsense? What do you mean?”
She glanced at the stew and water, her voice icy.
“I know what you’ve been doing, taking one of us each night. If you think you can win us over with food, forget it. We won’t follow you, you devil.”
“That’s your opinion. And calling me a devil is a bit harsh. I don’t recall doing anything to you.”
“Ha. You killed our comrade and destroyed our magic circuits. You’re the reason we’re in this mess, and you have the nerve to act innocent?”
I didn’t respond immediately. Instead, I took out a cigarette, letting the moment linger.
“That’s quite amusing. You were the ones who attacked the city and chased us down. And now you’re the ones captured as prisoners. Tell me why I shouldn’t have destroyed the magic circuits to transport you as prisoners without killing the enemy in this situation.”
”…”
Baek Seoyeon glared at me with eyes full of murderous intent, but it didn’t bother me. Humans are naturally adept at self-justification.
“Sure, I might have turned a blind eye, but I didn’t interfere. And yes, I did use the Shadow Queen to extract information at night. Frankly, I think you vagrants deserve it.”
I paused to gauge the reaction of the vagrants. Interestingly, some of them seemed to harbor a glimmer of hope.
The vagrants had endured severe hardships. For nearly three weeks, they hadn’t slept, suffering under the tyranny of their captors. Food and water were rationed to the bare minimum. Their minds were corrupted by the nightly allure of temptation, accelerating their ruin. And now, with the city almost within reach, they must be feeling a growing sense of unease.
In this situation, the highest authority capable of deciding the fate of the vagrants had convened. I, who had shown no interest until now, was giving off a subtle nuance. The vagrants might be clinging to the faint hope that they could survive.
“But recently, I heard something different. Apparently, some of you have your own circumstances. Like being kidnapped or becoming vagrants due to unforeseen reasons…”
“Pfft. What a joke. So, you’re saying you’ll spare those with special circumstances?”
“Baek Seoyeon. I’m not finished yet.”
“Oh, really? Sorry. But let me add just one thing. Cut the crap. Who would believe your dark intentions…”
“Shut your mouth.”
At that moment, as soon as I spoke, Seoyeon’s shadow rose and sealed her lips tightly.
“From now on, if you interrupt without my permission, you’ll die.”
I watched as the vagrants flinched at the threat in my eyes. Slowly, I released the tension and focused on those who seemed dissatisfied with Seoyeon. Their eyes were now filled with resignation.
“Listen carefully. I’m not saying I’ll overlook your circumstances. I don’t care about them, and they don’t erase your crimes. As soon as we return to the city, I plan to put you all on trial according to the rules.”
”…”
“But among you, there might be some who are genuinely wronged. Or perhaps some vagrants who wish to regain their status and start anew. In any case, I’m offering you a chance.”
A brief silence followed. Well, not exactly silence, as Seoyeon was struggling to speak.
“Then… are you saying you’ll spare us?”
A weary, cautious voice broke the silence. I turned to see the man who had earlier taken a spoonful of stew. Seoyeon’s muffled protests were audible, but I ignored them. This was the crucial moment. Instead of trying to persuade them with empty words, I needed to present the facts and open up possibilities.
With all eyes on me and the man, I slowly shook my head.
“Unfortunately, I can’t promise that. As I said, I plan to put you all on trial.”
“Uh…”
“But first, let me introduce myself. I’m Kim Suhyeon, leader of the Mercenary Clan. And over there is the Shadow Queen, Go Yeonju. Have you heard of us?”
“Yes. I’ve heard of both of you.”
The vagrant’s tone shifted to a respectful one. Confident, I continued.
“But if you’ve changed your mind, there might still be a way. To put it bluntly, for those vagrants who reconsider, I’ll do my best to defend you. Both the Shadow Queen and I.”
“Then…”
“The rest is up to you. If there’s an injustice, it will be revealed. If there’s a crime, you’ll need to make amends significant enough to cover it.”
“By amends… do you mean selling information?”
“Think carefully. We’ve already gathered most of the information about this war. But we don’t claim to know everything. As for Seoyeon, execution… well, if she’s lucky, that’s all she’ll face. You’re not at her level. You can either be tortured and mind-controlled for information until you die, or you can choose to switch sides and grab the lifeline. Oh, and while it might not be much, I can assure you a relatively normal life as prisoners until we reach the city. And…”
I paused, then added in a low voice.
“You might have noticed, but the magic circuits are still intact. With some time and the temple’s help, they can be fully restored.”
“Wait a minute…”
“That’s all I have to say. I won’t bring this up again… So decide. You can either choose to die a pointless death, suffer and die in vain, or…”
I paused, pushing the now-cold stew and a bottle of water closer.
“Listen to me and eat.”
At that moment, the man who had first spoken to me lunged forward, burying his face in the bowl without hesitation. As he devoured the stew, Seoyeon watched in disbelief, while the other vagrants looked on with conflicted expressions. I watched the scene with satisfaction.
“Is there more?”
”…”
“If not, then…”
“Wait, please!”
I looked down with a sense of wonder. The stew and water bottle, once full, were now empty, needing no cleaning. Turning my head, I saw the man smoking a cigarette with a relieved expression, and a female vagrant who had joined later, drinking water fed by Go Yeonju, stew still smeared around her mouth.
In the end, only two people had taken my offer. The remaining seven stayed put. Some seemed tempted, but they were still wary of Seoyeon’s furious, muffled protests.
This wasn’t enough. To be honest, despite my grand words, I intended to eliminate them all eventually. Information from Seoyeon was far more valuable than a hundred vagrants. But knowing how resilient she was, breaking her spirit through conventional means would be difficult. So, I decided to proceed with my second plan.
“Go Yeonju. Unseal Seoyeon’s mouth for a moment.”
“You idiots! Are you really falling for that nonsense? How could you…”
“Seal it again.”
“Mmph! Mmph! Mmph!”
I stood up, creating enough space, and addressed Go Yeonju.
“Go Yeonju. What’s the current situation with food and water?”
“Both are scarce. We can resupply food, but we’ll need to secure water soon.”
“Then we might need to reduce the number of mouths to feed. Since two have switched sides, the others might not be necessary…”
I deliberately let my words trail off, glancing at the vagrants.
“Go Yeonju. I’ll need your help.”
“Of course, but you’ll have to repay me with interest.”
“How?”
“In bed.”
I shook my head at Go Yeonju’s occasional suggestive jokes. She laughed and approached me.
“How can I help?”
“I have a simple game in mind.”
“A game?”
“You’ll see. First, tie the legs of those two and place them in the open space.”
Go Yeonju tilted her head but followed my instructions. Soon, two women were placed between me and the vagrants, their legs bound by shadows. One was known to be Seoyeon’s confidante, Lee Gain, and the other was the woman who had responded to my offer.
“And then?”
“This will do. Keep them like that until the game ends.”
I finished speaking and drew my sword, the Ilwolshingeom. Approaching the kneeling vagrants, the moonlight glinted off the blade, casting a cold light on their faces. I placed a hand on the shoulder of a random man.
“Listen carefully. You’re on the left woman’s team.”
“W-what… Oh, oh!”
Thunk!
A light stab to the stomach, and the man collapsed with a scream. I quickly moved to the next target, Lee Haein.
“You’re on the right woman’s team.”
“Ah…!”
Thunk!
Lee Haein gasped, blood spurting from her mouth as she was stabbed in the abdomen.
I sheathed my sword and took out a healing potion I had prepared. Shaking it for all to see, I spoke softly.
“The game is a battle royale. From now on, you two fight.”
“W-what.”
“Fight. If you win, I’ll save this vagrant. If you win, I’ll save this vagrant.”
I pointed to the man and Lee Haein, then looked at Seoyeon.
“Mmph! Mmph! Mmph!”
Seoyeon was thrashing, eyes wide with rage. I put the potion back in my pocket and continued slowly.
“By the way, in their current state, they’ll die in ten minutes. If one wins, one lives. If not, both die.”
Baek Seoyeon couldn’t hold it in any longer and sprang to her feet. But almost immediately, she found herself collapsing back into her seat, as if Go Yeonju had cast some kind of spell.
“Mmmph! Mmmmmmmph!”
Meanwhile, I Ga-in and the other women in the group exchanged helpless glances, unsure of what to do.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Ah, I’m really sorry. I tried my best to finish the reunion part by 1 o’clock, but once again, I failed to manage the length. It seemed possible when I planned the plot, but when I actually start writing, things just don’t go as expected. I’m truly sorry for not keeping my promise this time. I’ll change the subtitle for this part. I sincerely apologize and ask for your understanding. (__)
P.S. I’ll take a break from replying to comments today and combine them with the next update. It’s my mother’s birthday, so I went out for dinner and got home late. My head is spinning from writing in such a rush. ㅜ.ㅠ