“What is this? Then I won’t do it.”
Ansol was thoroughly displeased with the current situation. Being chosen over her sister, Lee Yujeong, for the mission was a win, but despite the end of the assembly order, she felt like a borrowed barley sack—utterly out of place. All she had done since entering the meeting room was endure the stares of the users while staring at the floor.
She sensed the gravity of the situation but couldn’t grasp the complex discussions. All she felt was an inexplicable sadness welling up inside her. With a pout, Ansol turned her head, determined to find Kim Suhyeon and throw a tantrum for the first time in ages.
But just as she was about to look for him—
Bang!
“You damn bastard!”
“Clan Lord! Please calm down!”
“Do I look like I can calm down? That so-called officer…!”
“First, we need to verify. And it’s not just us, you know. For now, let’s…”
The harsh noise of something striking the floor echoed, accompanied by a gruff voice. Ansol flinched, her shoulders tensing, her heart already racing with fear. She instinctively glanced toward the source of the commotion and immediately frowned. The center of the meeting room was crowded with people, all exuding a menacing aura.
“Hiccup!”
Anxiety began to creep in. Covering her mouth to stifle her hiccups, Ansol quickly resumed her search for Kim Suhyeon. Her earlier dissatisfaction had melted away like snow. All she wanted now was to find him, grab his sleeve, and soothe her anxious heart.
Soon, she spotted Kim Suhyeon talking to a woman she inexplicably disliked. She hesitated for a moment, watching an older man approach Kim Suhyeon with a “How dare you” expression, but decided to join them quickly. Just then—
“Hey.”
The voice was gentle, yet there was an awkwardness to it, as if the speaker wasn’t used to being kind. Ansol paused mid-step. Turning slowly, she saw Lee Hyoeul smiling warmly at her.
“Me? Hiccup!”
“Yes, you. Are you Ansol from the Mercenary Clan?”
Though she added “perhaps,” Ansol instinctively knew. The woman knew her name and clan, which meant she had come looking for her.
Ansol nodded cautiously, steeling herself and raising her guard. She suddenly felt she had grown a lot.
“Why are you so scared? It’s me, Lee Hyoeul. We met once before, remember?”
“Y-yes…”
Her face said, “I won’t hurt you,” but Lee Hyoeul’s eyes burned with a strange intensity. Ansol swallowed hard and took a step back. Lee Hyoeul quickly closed the gap with two swift steps, leaving Ansol flustered.
Reaching Ansol, Lee Hyoeul placed a firm hand on her slender shoulder, her smile deepening.
“Shall we have a little chat, just us girls?”
“Hiccup.”
Lee Hyoeul’s tone was laced with an unyielding determination, as if she wouldn’t take no for an answer.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Kim Yuhyeon, Lord of Hamil.”
“Pleasure to meet you. I’m Han So-young, Lord of Istantel Low.”
Zap!
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, my brother and Han So-young barely brushed fingertips, not even a proper handshake.
Watching them stare coldly at each other, I felt incredibly awkward. Their words were polite, but their eyes burned with icy intensity. I regretted introducing them.
‘It wasn’t like this the first time around…’
I had hoped to connect my brother and Han So-young, paving the way for future cooperation between the Mercenary, Hamil, and Istantel Low clans. But this was like a bolt from the blue. Honestly, I was even willing to let Han So-young have my brother.
To be fair, my brother’s attitude was partly to blame. He had looked at Han So-young as if she were a thief the moment he arrived. Of course, she noticed and returned his gaze with equal frostiness, leading to the current tension.
Lost in thought, I heard my brother clear his throat beside me. I felt him grip my right arm.
“Ahem. Suhyeon, do you have a moment?”
“Huh? I’m busy right now. I was just talking with the Istantel Low Lord…”
“This kid. You haven’t been in touch with your big brother lately, and you don’t even come to the clan house. I’m really hurt.”
”…”
He emphasized “big brother” as if for someone else’s benefit. But before I could respond, I felt a light touch on my left arm.
“Mercenary Lord, I’d like to continue our conversation. Just the two of us.”
“This is a bit urgent.”
They were ostensibly talking to me, but in reality, they were communicating through me. To put it bluntly, Han So-young was saying, “Get lost,” and my brother was replying, “No way.”
A brief silence followed. It hadn’t even been ten seconds, but it felt like a minute. The atmosphere grew heavier with each passing second. Han So-young, known for her charisma, was formidable, but my brother was no pushover.
Though their faces remained calm, the tension was palpable, like ice clashing with ice. I sighed inwardly, wondering why they were making such a fuss over me.
Amidst the uncomfortable silence, my brother spoke up.
“By the way, Suhyeon, you escaped from Mule recently, didn’t you?”
He seemed to have found a good angle, a faint smile playing on his lips. He glanced at Han So-young and continued in a clear voice.
“Some of the people who participated in the rescue are here. Would you like to join me for a moment? They want to see you and hear about how you captured Baek Seoyeon.”
‘Wow… that’s really petty.’
My first thought was how childish it was. The words themselves were fine, but he wouldn’t have brought it up without a reason. In short, he was using the rescue as a pretext to get rid of Han So-young.
Even though Istantel Low was a leading clan, the Mercenary Clan was a free mercenary group with no obligation to participate in the rescue. He wasn’t implying she should have joined, but it was enough to make Han So-young hesitate. It was unfair to her.
Han So-young initially looked at him as if to say, “What kind of person is this?” (I was a bit surprised too.) But something seemed to bother her, and I felt her hand slowly slip from my arm. She adjusted her expression and sighed softly. Then, she looked at my brother and spoke in a cold voice.
“I see. Let’s talk another time. Enjoy your time.”
With that, Han So-young turned and walked away slowly. As she disappeared from view, my brother whispered to me.
“Suhyeon, be careful. It was quite a sight from afar.”
What was he warning me about? Feeling exasperated, I turned to see my brother looking unusually serious.
“What was so spectacular?”
“Didn’t you see? While talking to you, she suddenly crossed her arms and pushed out her chest. And why did her eyes suddenly lower? It was obvious she was trying to seduce you because you’re becoming famous.”
“What nonsense.”
Even though he was my brother, having just experienced the situation, I couldn’t help but respond sharply.
“Isn’t she the Lord of Monica’s leading clan? This won’t do. Suhyeon, I was going to let it go, but I think you should come to Princia. I have a bad feeling.”
But my brother continued his tirade.
“Her chest is unnecessarily big… it’s obvious.”
Watching him shake his head and click his tongue, I nodded slowly.
Right. So I should tell the clan members, “I’m leaving Monica because Han So-young’s chest is unnecessarily big.”
I let out a deep, heartfelt sigh and forcefully shook off my brother’s hand from my arm.
“S-Suhyeon?”
“Let’s talk later.”
“Why are you suddenly…?”
“I’m not joking. I’m not in the mood.”
Reading the sincerity in my eyes, my brother blinked in confusion.
I shot him a sharp look and hurriedly walked in the direction Han So-young had gone.
With that, the summons had officially ended. We found ourselves back at Monica’s clan house in Princica. Despite the chaos and chatter surrounding the summons, we managed to convey everything we intended. There were no issues. Now, all that was left was to wait for them to sort out their internal affairs and execute their original plans.
Yes, that was all. But…
“Slurp! Sniff.”
I had to pinch the bridge of my nose as I watched Ihyo-eul sip her drink in front of me. Originally, I had planned to leave her behind with my brother during the summons. However, she had pleaded that she had something important to say, promising that if I listened, she wouldn’t pester me about joining the mercenaries again.
And then, as soon as we arrived, she said something utterly ridiculous.
“So, you’re saying Ansol has the talent to be the guardian of the Northern Continent?”
“Yep, that’s right.”
“And what am I supposed to do with that information?”
Already upset about my brother’s situation, this new problem only added to my frustration. But Ihyo-eul just smiled, as if everything would be fine once the guardian role was passed on.
“Well, I’ve explained everything in detail. You can hear it from her. Or should I say, from the future guardian. Hoho.”
I had a hunch, but hearing it directly left a bitter taste in my mouth. I had planned to think it over slowly after talking with Seraph, but Ihyo-eul had beaten me to the punch.
Feeling like I was climbing one mountain only to face another, I pressed my forehead and turned to Ansol, who sat quietly beside me. Her face wasn’t its usual bright expression. Instead, it was filled with a solemn determination I hadn’t seen before. Ihyo-eul must have sweet-talked her into this.
Ansol met my gaze and spoke in a clear voice that was uncharacteristic of her.
“Brother, I know this is sudden and probably overwhelming. But please, hear me out for a moment. Please?”
Hearing her plea, I made a decision. If Ihyo-eul had lured Ansol with empty promises, I would fight the angels themselves to keep her from being taken.
But first, I needed to listen to Ansol and respect her wishes. That was my boundary.
“Brother, let’s talk just the two of us. I think that would be best.”
Feeling Ansol tugging at my sleeve, I stood up calmly. I nodded and followed her lead. We didn’t walk far. Ansol left the office where Ihyo-eul was, stopped in the hallway, and closed the door firmly. Then, with a determined look, she spoke.
“Brother, I’ll be honest. I want to be the guardian of the Northern Continent. They say I have exceptional talent for it.”
“Ansol, being a guardian isn’t a simple role. Honestly, I’m surprised by this sudden talk. So, tell me calmly. How much do you know about it?”
“Brother, shh! They’ll hear us!”
It was then that Ansol put a finger to her lips and glanced at the office. Even with the door closed, anyone could enhance their hearing with magic, so it was a pointless gesture.
But I was taken aback by Ansol’s reaction, as I had been determined not to let her be taken.
Ansol let out a cute sigh and continued in a whisper.
“I know. I know everything. But brother, can’t you just go along with me for now? I have a good idea.”
“What are you talking about? I can’t just agree without a reason. I’m your clan lord. I can’t allow it without a valid reason.”
“Oh, brother…”
Ansol looked momentarily touched by my words, but it was fleeting. She waved her hand as if she knew everything and continued in a low voice.
“Sigh. I guess I have no choice. Brother, calm down and listen. I’ll explain everything. Sol heard that the guardian of the Northern Continent has many special abilities.”
”…”
“Like what, you ask…”
Ansol began to detail the special privileges she had heard from Ihyo-eul.
The main points were about unique, special, and latent abilities. The various exploration skills, like insight and detection, were objectively useful.
However, she was overlooking the most crucial point. Becoming the guardian of the Northern Continent meant she couldn’t be tied to one place. Moreover, she would have to keep her identity hidden while helping others, and I doubted Ansol could handle that role. It would be a miracle if she didn’t cause a commotion.
After about five minutes, her explanation ended.
“So, what do you think? Isn’t it amazing?”
Ansol looked up at me with a triumphant expression, but I shook my head.
“I understand what you’re saying, but it’s not as easy as it sounds. More importantly, you’d have to leave the mercenaries. Do you think Anhyun would allow that?”
I tried to sway Ansol by mentioning Anhyun, but her mind seemed elsewhere as she responded with a bright face.
“Honestly, I feel like I’ve been a burden all this time. And besides, everyone else has special classes except me…”
“Are you trying to become a guardian because you’re in a regular class?”
“That’s part of it, but it’s not the main reason. Think about it! If I become a guardian, I can help you as much as I want. If I use my exploration abilities to find all the remaining relics for you, what do you think will happen?”
“Like I said, it’s not as easy as it sounds. It’s not something you can do on your own. Do you think the angels would allow such actions?”
“Hehe. Why not? It’s my choice.”
At that moment, seeing Ansol’s confident smile, I was at a loss for words. She seemed to think the role of the Northern Continent’s guardian was akin to a game of tag. Unfazed by my reaction, she continued.
“Getting the guardian role is the most important thing. If I say I’ll stick by your side, what can they do about it? Right?”
“No, I mean, it’s not as simple as you make it sound…”
“Hehehe. Don’t worry. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll just quit. Anyway, now all that’s left is for you and me, or rather, this mercenary group, to soar.”
By now, Ansol wasn’t listening to me at all. She was lost in her rosy vision of the future, swimming in her delusions. Her eyes and ears were closed, metaphorically speaking.
’…’
Ansol paused for a moment, clenched her right hand, and then, with a determined punch in my direction, she shouted.
“Brother is strength!”
Next, she pounded her chest with her left hand and continued.
“I am ability!”
Finally, she clenched her left hand tightly, trembling as if to emphasize her point, and concluded her delusional speech.
“The luck of the whole plane is with us!”
“Pffft!”
At that moment, a loud spitting sound came from inside the office.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
It’s about time Ansol’s true personality was revealed.
PS. Wow, the response has been explosive! Haha. It’s been a while since I’ve received such a reaction. The comment section was getting a bit dull. I’ll hold back my own comments for now. :D
PS2. No replies today. (I’ll do them next time.) No e-book proofreading either. (Sorry, editor.)