“What do you mean? Then I won’t do it.”
The Mercenary clan had grown to over ten members, yet the meeting room still felt spacious. Even the small meeting room on the third floor had plenty of space left. I wondered when we would ever need the large meeting room on the fourth floor.
Lost in these trivial thoughts, I placed the documents I was holding onto the table. Instantly, I felt the eyes of the clan members seated around the table turn towards me.
“Clan Lord, where is the messenger from?”
”…It’s an invitation to a gathering. It’s a call for the entire East and South, and they’ve asked for Mercenary to attend this time.”
“Oh my… So, even the representative clans are participating? And Mercenary is included?”
“Not just included, invited.”
I answered Jeong Ha-yeon’s question with only the facts. While I couldn’t avoid telling Go Yeon-ju, the angels had asked for secrecy, so I intended to keep my words to a minimum.
“Yes, but since we’re still managing the vagrants, it would look good for us to participate. Where is it being held?”
“In the Eastern general city, at the representative clan of Princia, the Goryeo Clan House.”
“I see. If it’s covering the Southeast, it must be quite a large gathering. Perhaps they’re finally discussing a proper solution.”
“Who knows? We’ll find out when we get there.”
‘A large gathering, they say. I suspect it might be smaller than expected.’
Though it was officially hosted by the Goryeo Clan, the real organizer was Lee Hyo-eul. I was aware of the underlying circumstances but couldn’t reveal them yet. The discussions in each city were likely concluded, and actions were already underway. The solution was already in place, and this gathering was focused on the vagrants I had brought along.
“Oppa, are there any accompanying members?”
Lee Yoo-jung asked, her eyes sparkling. Everyone seemed quite pleased that Mercenary had been invited.
“Yes, there are. But…”
I picked up the documents again. The invitation mentioned a limit on participants, similar to the previous gathering hosted by the Golden Lion. However, there was a valid reason this time, so no one would likely complain.
Naturally, the Mercenary clan had a few slots for accompanying members. Go Yeon-ju and Baek Seo-yeon were essential for this gathering, so their attendance was a given. The issue lay in the handwritten note at the bottom, requesting An Sol’s presence. It seemed to be written by Lee Hyo-eul herself.
‘It must be related to Jin Myung somehow…’
Recalling Lee Hyo-eul’s reaction when she saw An Sol last time, I couldn’t shake off a nagging feeling. As I pondered, I turned my gaze to her. An Sol was smiling blissfully, as if she had the world at her feet, showing no signs of worry. Watching her, two questions suddenly arose.
How did An Sol become the Priestess of Radiance in the first round? And why did she leave the Northern Continent for Odin?
Countless questions followed, but I decided to stop thinking about it for now. It wasn’t something I could solve at the moment, and I felt I needed to find a breakthrough through direct action.
On the day of the gathering.
It was my second visit to Princia since starting the second round. The first time was to meet my brother; this time, it was to attend the gathering.
Comparing the first and second rounds, the difference was like night and day. In the past, I was a user of little consequence, wandering aimlessly. Now, I was the Clan Lord, participating in a meeting of the leading users of the Northern Continent.
Feeling slightly awkward due to the disparity between the two rounds, I began my journey to the Goryeo Clan House.
From my memory, the distance from the warp gate to the clan house was about a 15-minute walk. However, it took us nearly 30 minutes to reach our destination. Baek Seo-yeon was so out of it that she could barely walk, which significantly slowed us down.
Though we were a bit late, we finally arrived at the Goryeo Clan House. As soon as we reached the entrance, users who had been waiting approached us and spoke in a polite tone. The emblem of Goryeo shone blue on their chests.
“Please state your identity.”
“Mercenary Clan Lord, Kim Su-hyun.”
Upon revealing my identity, a flicker of recognition passed through the users’ eyes. They examined me and my companions before bowing respectfully once more.
“Thank you for responding to the invitation. We will guide you personally.”
“Thank you. Are we very late?”
“Everyone has arrived, but someone just entered a moment ago. Still, it would be best to hurry. This way, please.”
Perhaps overwhelmed by the grandeur, which was several times larger than the Mercenary Clan House, I pulled the gaping An Sol along. We followed the guide who opened the main gate.
Despite the ongoing war, neither Princia nor Monica, nor even the atmosphere within the Mercenary Clan, felt like it was wartime. It was like watching a fire across the river—a fitting expression.
The intensified conflicts between clans after the Grandmother’s gathering likely affected the users residing in the city. Those who had experienced war might not be as affected, but I was curious about how they would react if they knew the reality of the invaded cities.
We passed through the vast grounds and entered a large building that seemed to be the main hall. We didn’t take any stairs. The Goryeo clan member led us to the right corridor on the first floor, guiding us to a door that looked over three meters tall. The word “Meeting Room” was engraved above it, casting a gentle glow.
“Hoo… Hoo…”
”…I’ll open the door for you.”
The user seemed to find An Sol’s nervous breathing endearing, holding back a smile as he spoke quietly. Knowing how important external reputation was, I decided to express my gratitude to the user who guided us.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
The user replied in a dignified voice and slowly grasped the handle. As the door creaked open, the heavy atmosphere of the meeting room enveloped me. Taking a deep breath, I stepped inside calmly.
As I entered, the vast meeting room came into view. Its structure resembled an open-air theater, evoking a similar impression. It was twice the size of the large meeting room on the fourth floor of the Mercenary Clan, yet only about thirty people were seated.
At the head of the room sat three individuals. Two of them, Lee Hyo-eul and Goryeo Clan’s diplomat Jo Seong-ho, were familiar faces. The third person, sitting with a stern expression, was likely the Clan Lord of Goryeo, though I couldn’t quite recall.
As I walked towards the center, I glanced around, noting that quite a few clans had participated in this gathering.
The representative clan of the Eastern general city Princia, Goryeo, and its subordinate small cities Eden and Dana, represented by the clans Dalbam and Han.
The representative clan of the Southern general city Khan, Blue Wolf, and its subordinate small cities Koran and Monica, represented by the clans Soo and Istantel Low.
Though not representative clans, notable clans like Haemil and Reverse were also present. It was a testament to Lee Hyo-eul’s influence over the East and South. Without stopping, I exchanged glances with familiar users like my brother and Han So-young.
As I reached the center and halted, Lee Hyo-eul, who had been sitting with her arms crossed, gave a subtle smile and spoke.
“Attention, everyone. Now that the star of today’s gathering, the Mercenary Lord, has arrived, let’s commence the meeting.”
Her sharp voice resonated through the air. There was no seat for me in the meeting room, just a lone chair in the center. As previously discussed, I wasn’t flustered and guided Baek Seo-yeon to the chair.
Just as I was about to seat Baek Seo-yeon, I paused. A document lay on the chair. Wondering what it was, I picked it up, noticing Lee Hyo-eul rising from her seat and approaching me.
“I’ve compiled the questions for you. Since only the Shadow Queen can ask questions, it’s more convenient this way, isn’t it?”
Acknowledging Lee Hyo-eul’s practical suggestion, I nodded. I handed the document to Go Yeon-ju and seated Baek Seo-yeon. (She kept slumping, so I had to adjust her posture a bit.) As I looked up again, I saw countless eyes fixed on me, all filled with keen interest.
Though there was a slight difference, there was no need to feel intimidated. I straightened my back and met their gazes head-on, speaking confidently.
“Hello. I’m Kim Su-hyun, currently residing in Monica and running the free mercenary clan, Mercenary.”
A light round of applause followed my brief introduction. At that moment, my brother’s face caught my eye.
He was looking at me with an expression of deep emotion, like a parent watching their grown child. I silently prayed he would remain quiet this time and passed the baton to Lee Hyo-eul, who had already closed the distance between us.
“As most of you have probably heard by now, there are quite a few who want to see for themselves. And indeed, many have.”
With a sudden shift, Lee Hyo-eul grabbed my arm and continued speaking.
“This person here is a user with whom I share a deep connection. She’s the younger sister of Hamil Road and the one who saved my life. But there’s something even more important. You’ve all heard the rumors. Mercenary Road was in Mule on the day of the first vagrant attack…”
“On that note, I have a question for Mercenary Road.”
A quiet voice interrupted. I glanced over to see a man on the left side of the southern line with his hand raised. The emblem on his sleeve bore the character 秀. Just as I was about to nod, Lee Hyo-eul stepped forward to intervene.
“Can’t you see I’m talking?”
“S-sorry. I was just really curious…”
“How many times have I told you to know when to speak up and when to stay quiet? Tsk. Anyway, I can’t allow questions right now. I’ll give you time later.”
“Yes, understood.”
Lee Hyo-eul snorted lightly. At the same time, she lifted Baek Seoyeon’s limp hair to reveal her face to everyone.
“Apologies. Let me continue. The woman seated here is Baek Seoyeon, a notorious vagrant. I’m sure none of you are unfamiliar with her. Mercenary Road, could you briefly explain to everyone here how you managed to capture this vagrant?”
“Yes. While leaving Mule and returning to the city, we were pursued by a group of vagrants. I engaged in battle with the users accompanying me, and we managed to defeat them, capturing several in the process. That’s all.”
I answered as simply as Lee Hyo-eul had instructed, though the explanation was anything but simple. The room, which had been silent, now buzzed with a subtle murmur. Given that they knew I was a rookie, their reaction wasn’t entirely unexpected. I listened closely to the whispers circulating the room.
“So the rumors were true? Not exaggerated?”
“Doesn’t make sense… I thought it was blown out of proportion too. But I met a user who escaped from Mule recently…”
“That damned woman. Finally caught.”
“Serves her right. That wretched vagrant.”
Even amidst the murmurs, there were those who glared at Baek Seoyeon with anger. It seemed she had made more enemies than I had.
After about a minute, Lee Hyo-eul raised her hand to quiet the room, releasing Baek Seoyeon’s hair as she spoke.
“Since many of you are eager for the facts, we’ll proceed with the verification process. Shadow Queen?”
“Yes, I’m ready.”
At Go Yeonju’s brisk response, Lee Hyo-eul winked and nodded slightly.
“Alright then. Please proceed with the questions as recorded. You can ask questions one through four all at once.”
“Understood. Just a moment.”
At Lee Hyo-eul’s request, Go Yeonju moved in front of Baek Seoyeon. I stepped back, moving next to An Sol, who stood with a worried expression. Go Yeonju lifted Baek Seoyeon’s chin, glancing around the room.
“Let’s begin.”
Holding the record with the questions in her left hand, she began reading in a languid voice.
“Question one. What is the total number of Western Continent users and vagrants invading the Northern Continent?”
“I’m not sure of the exact number… but I believe it’s around 15,000.”
Her hoarse voice, devoid of any strength, echoed through the room. The murmurs that had filled the meeting room fell silent, and Go Yeonju continued with the next question.
“Question two. Who is the user leading the Western Continent forces?”
“His name is Simon. I don’t know much about him, but he’s reputed to be the closest thing to a ruler in the lawless Western Continent.”
“Question three. Is the reason for the vagrants’ invasion of the Northern Continent revenge for the vagrant extermination plan?”
“That’s not it. Revenge is part of it, but it’s not the ultimate goal.”
Her unexpected answer stirred the room once more. Yet Baek Seoyeon’s response wasn’t finished, her pale gray eyes glinting.
“Then what is the vagrants’ ultimate goal?”
“That is…”
Baek Seoyeon paused briefly before finishing in a quiet voice.
“The Westernization of the Northern Continent.”
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Ah, the weekend is over. Ah, sob sob. I have to go back to school tomorrow. And lectures too… ;ㅅ; But it’s a new start in September, so I’ll do my best! I hope everyone, whether you’re working or studying, has a lively Monday!
Oh, there’s one more chapter left in the conscription arc. It will conclude in the next installment. :) Personally, I’m most looking forward to the scene involving Kim Su-hyun, Han So-young, and Kim Yoo-hyun. Hehe.
『 Reader Comments 』
UsainBolt: Congrats on being first. I think the subtitle gave away too much. Haha.
Heungyahongya: I counted, and you’re 12th.
Oricon: Hmm? No, the successor can be transferred. That will be revealed soon after the conscription arc ends. :)
Kkakkakyukkyu: An Sol’s true name is “The One Who Guides the Light.”
Ryumesiel: Yes! For those who find it frustrating, I recommend binge-reading!
Soshisjustawesome: Hahaha. That’s what Su-hyun thought too. They’re having a good time. Hahaha.
Monguhunter: After the conscription arc, a meeting with Seraph is planned. It will appear then. :D
Araoj: Don’t hate. ㅜ.ㅠ
Potatochip: Yes. I’ll clarify that part in this section.
ROK1198: Thank you for the coupon. I’ll work even harder. (__)
Thank you for always reading. I hope you enjoy the story with a relaxed mind.