The Scale Will Grow ------------------------------------------------------------------------
“They say the scale will grow…”
Knowing a bit about the future, I could take this in stride, but my brother’s expression was far too serious to dismiss it lightly.
“Sigh… Suhyun. Honestly, I’ve been debating whether to tell you this. It might sound like I’m justifying myself, or maybe even making excuses… You might not fully understand, but that’s where I am right now.”
My brother, uncharacteristically, was speaking in a roundabout way. Yet, I had a vague sense of why he was bringing this up now. A bitter taste rose in my throat.
“Still, I think it’s better to say it in advance. Even if you end up disappointed in me, or in the people you’ve met so far…”
“I won’t be disappointed.”
I cut him off firmly, my voice low. His eyes widened in surprise at my unexpected response.
Swallowing the nausea that threatened to rise, I managed to speak again.
“I know what kind of world Hall Plain is… how it operates. So let me say it again. No matter what you say, I will never be disappointed. At least not in you.”
“Suhyun.”
He called my name, then fell silent, gazing at me intently. I met his eyes without flinching.
I almost felt like laughing. Disappointment in Hall Plain? I had long since transcended such feelings. As a ‘user,’ harboring such emotions was a sign of naivety. Just surviving and protecting those I care about is challenging enough; anything beyond that feels like a luxury.
I know all too well that Hall Plain is far from a beautiful place. Perhaps even more than my brother does.
A long silence stretched between us. His gaze was ambiguous and complex, a mix of pride and a hint of melancholy.
Finally, he let out a long breath.
“When… did you grow up so much?”
Not “now,” but “when.” Somehow, that subtle difference pierced my heart.
“Hearing you say that makes me feel a lot better. Thank you. And I’m sorry.”
“There’s nothing to be sorry about.”
“Alright… then let’s get back to the topic. Do you know that the Golden Lion recently requested support?”
The sound of fingers tapping on the table resumed. It was a habit of his when deep in thought. Though he said he felt better, his face clearly showed he was still pondering how to proceed.
“Yeah. I heard about it. Honestly, it sounded a bit funny.”
“I thought so. The East and South are planning to make an official statement soon.”
“An official statement? What are they going to say?”
“We’re planning to cut off the warp gate to Barbara by the end of this week. The remaining northern cities have agreed to join us.”
“The North too?”
He didn’t specify the official stance, but his response was enough for me to infer the situation.
Cutting off the warp gate wasn’t surprising news. But the North joining in was unexpected.
After finishing, he watched my reaction. But having already made up my mind, I maintained a calm expression, signaling him to continue.
“And…”
Tap, tap.
Just then, the Block Field he had set up emitted a soft sound. Turning my head, I saw a waitress awkwardly standing there, likely with our ordered food.
“In the South, I’m not sure, but in the East, there was a suggestion to just let the invaders go. If they came purely for revenge, there was no need to provoke further conflict.”
”…”
“But thanks to you, we learned their true intentions, and it seems everyone’s thoughts have shifted a bit. We can’t just sit back and take it anymore. So, we scrapped our original plan and devised a new operation.”
“The disappearance of the spies probably helped too.”
I nodded calmly, giving a subtle nod to my brother to acknowledge the waitress still waiting.
“An operation, huh? Sounds intriguing.”
“The operation is called ‘New World.’”
“New World?”
“Yes. It means we’re going to show the invaders from the Western Continent a whole new world.”
Receiving my signal, my brother glanced sideways and continued in a low voice.
“We’ve decided not to let a single one of the invaders return. We’re going to wipe them out completely.”
“I originally hoped you wouldn’t get involved… but I guess that’s not possible, right?”
“Anyway, think it over. You’re free mercenaries, so you’re not bound by anything. And if you do make up your mind, I’d like you to tell me first.”
“Sigh.”
Lost in thought, I set aside the records I was holding and sank into my chair. It’s complicated. I’ve been reviewing the records submitted by the clan members, but yesterday’s conversation with my brother keeps distracting me.
“Things are going well… I suppose it’s a happy dilemma. Heh.”
“Suhyun, are you feeling overwhelmed?”
Just as I was about to close my eyes with a wry smile, a gentle voice reached my ears. I lifted my head to see a woman with a serene appearance sitting quietly on the sofa across the table.
Blue eyes and blue hair. It was Jeong Hayeon.
“Did I come in at a bad time for you, Suhyun?”
“It’s just a bit complicated. It’s not because of you, Hayeon.”
“Oh, that’s a shame. I was thinking of setting up a regular tea time for just the two of us, but I guess I’ll have to put that on hold for now.”
“Hahaha. No, tea time with you is quite relaxing.”
I chuckled awkwardly at Jeong Hayeon’s words, which were filled with a hint of affection. (In truth, I had completely forgotten she was there. Of course, I didn’t voice this fact.) I took a sip of the tea she had brought, only to find it had gone cold, so I downed it in one go.
“Phew. That’s a relief. But… what’s got you sighing so much, Suhyun? Is it about equipment issues?”
Jeong Hayeon walked over and leaned in, asking softly. Instead of answering, I shook my head. She glanced at the pile of records on the desk, then slowly turned around. After a moment of hesitation, she began to lower herself onto my lap. I chuckled inwardly and adjusted my legs to make her more comfortable.
“Mm.”
“Mmm…”
As we exchanged soft murmurs, I felt a gentle pressure on my thigh and her light blue hair tickling my neck. Her scent was fresh and cool, like a refreshing breeze. Breathing in her fragrance, I gently stroked her stomach.
“There seem to be a lot of requests… Oh! But surprisingly, there’s not much overlap?”
“Indeed. It’s a small blessing.”
Jeong Hayeon flinched slightly but maintained a calm voice. However, the slight tremor in her body and the way her words faltered hinted at her true feelings.
“Grandfather Lee Manseong requested an appraisal of the jewels in the warehouse… and Shin Jaeryong applied for the newly acquired Riatris staff. Given his excellent priestly abilities, it seems like a good choice.”
“Yes. But I noticed you also submitted a request, Hayeon.”
I whispered softly in her ear, and she giggled, nodding.
“Yes. I applied for the Nephronethis mirror we recently acquired. I wanted to try it out… Huh?”
As she scanned the records, her gaze stopped on one in particular. Following her eyes, I saw an equipment request form filled out far more densely than the others.
『Equipment Request Form (Clan Member: Im Hanna)』
Brilliant Flash: Laura Phylis
Clothes Made from Yggdrasil’s Leaves
Rhiza Boots
Medium of Twilight (Rare Class)
Five Colors of Righteousness - Black: Winter Tights of the North
(Note: The right arm section is partially torn. Except for this part, there are no physical defects. Originally, it had a strength-enhancing effect (+2, limited to strength below 90), but due to its binding function, the effect cannot be expected until it is released.)
“Hanna is quite the ambitious one, isn’t she?”
“What do you think, Hayeon?”
“Me? Hmm~. Personally, I’m in favor. Hanna is a good person and skilled too. What about you, Suhyun?”
“Well… I’m not sure yet. The other items are fine, but I’m not sure if she can even wear the leaf clothes or the winter tights…”
I recalled Im Hanna’s user information as I replied, though my mind had wandered to thoughts of her ample chest, surpassing even Go Yeon-ju’s. It was a comment made out of genuine concern, but when I snapped back to reality, I realized Jung Ha-yeon was giving me a sharp look. I quickly cleared my throat a couple of times and decided to change the subject.
“Anyway, the real issue is the Twilight Priestess. We can lend out other equipment, but it’s not so easy with a rare class.”
“That’s true. Once you acquire it, that’s it. But I trust you’ll make the right decision, Su-hyun.”
If it were Go Yeon-ju sitting on my lap, she would have seized the opportunity to tease me. But Jung Ha-yeon, with her gentle nature, simply smiled kindly and played along. I breathed a sigh of relief internally.
“Yes. I’ll think it over a bit more and have a separate conversation with user Im Hanna.”
After a moment of savoring Jung Ha-yeon’s scent, I subtly lifted the hand holding her, signaling it was time to get up. She showed a hint of disappointment but thankfully complied.
“It was nice.”
Her voice was barely a whisper, tinged with a touch of regret, clearly meant for me to hear.
“I agree. But I need to finish this today. I can’t delay any longer…”
“Even though I understand it in my head, why does it feel so cold in my heart?”
Jung Ha-yeon pouted, feeling misunderstood, but I was well aware of her increasing displays of affection lately. And I knew why.
“We can do it again when there’s a chance.”
“When will that be, though? You’re going to be so busy.”
I shrugged and returned my gaze to the records, speaking almost absentmindedly.
“Tonight.”
”…What?”
A brief silence followed. Jung Ha-yeon’s startled voice reached me, but I continued without looking up from the records.
“I told you. I plan to finish this tonight, even if it means staying up. I’ll be in the office until dawn.”
The baby unicorn had been feeling unusually lonely lately. Sensitive to emotions, its once sparkling eyes were now dull, and its tail, which usually swayed cheerfully, hung limp.
The baby unicorn felt neglected. Once praised for being cute and pretty, now the humans seemed too busy to play. It understood they were occupied, but the fact that they no longer included it in their joyful gatherings was a huge blow to the young unicorn.
Though people occasionally sought it out, the unicorn, already deeply hurt, often hid away. Yet, a part of it hoped to be found and was willing to concede if they did.
“Kyuu…”
Unable to suppress its sadness, the baby unicorn let out a forlorn cry.
Humans are mean.
With that thought, the unicorn trudged down the empty hallway late at night.
It was heading to a place that exuded an ancient energy—strong yet comforting, warm yet pure.
Thinking of falling asleep in its master’s arms tonight, the unicorn’s slow steps quickened.
Arriving at the source of the energy, the unicorn hesitated. The door, usually firmly shut, was slightly ajar, a faint light spilling into the dark corridor.
Inside, the energy was unmistakable, but there were two presences, not one.
After a moment’s hesitation, the unicorn approached the door with determination. It nudged it open with its horn.
Creak…
The door opened, revealing the room’s interior to the unicorn.
As expected, there were two figures inside. One was its master, radiating ancient energy, and the other was a human woman with a scent of water.
Just as the unicorn was about to rush in for some affection, it paused, sensing a gentle heat.
Its master sat in a chair, while the woman knelt before him.
Is she being scolded?
The unicorn tilted its head, observing the scene.
The woman, usually clad in cumbersome clothing, was now bare-chested, her head moving slowly up and down in front of the master. It seemed like she was holding something in her mouth, but her hair obscured the view.
Then, she tucked her hair behind her ear, revealing what she was doing. She pursed her lips and slowly sucked on something, her tongue flicking out briefly before her hair fell back into place.
In that fleeting moment, the unicorn saw what was hidden.
Overcome with embarrassment, the young female unicorn covered its eyes with its right foreleg.
“Kyuu!”
A short cry echoed through the quiet hallway.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
The journey of a young unicorn growing up.txt
Yes, the baby unicorn is female. I’m thinking of naming her Yumi. (Ouch!) @[email protected]
Friday is here. Just endure today, and the golden weekend and Chuseok are upon us. Haha. (Professor! Why assign homework now? Do you really not want students to enjoy Chuseok?)
Ah, that was just my inner thoughts. Please don’t mind it. Ahem.
『 Reader Comments 』
Devaran: Congrats on being first. Professor! Please stop with the assignments! I’m begging you! (?!);ㅇ; Just kidding! (__)
Isulmyoru + Trader: Thank you for the coupon. :) I’ll work even harder on my writing. :)
asldkfjalskdfj: Ah, sorry. I must have been seeing things. I’ve corrected it!
Thanatos: Haha. Look forward to it. I’ll work hard on the final part of the first volume. :)
Rising Phoenix: It will be coming out frequently soon. I need to wrap things up a bit. Haha.
Chiuu Hyun: The volume is quite overwhelming. Even though it’s a report, I’m not sure how many A4 pages it will be. Hehe.
Off to Love 19: Haha. Just because I consider feedback doesn’t mean I’ll incorporate everything. I add what I think fits. :)
Astrain: Think of it as being advantageous to the northern continent from the perspective of the guardians, beyond the east and south. Plus, if there’s protagonist bias, even better. (?)
Smoked Snail: What will happen? Haha. I’m worried too, but I’ll continue to serialize with confidence!
DaMam: The personnel are like the clan lord’s secretary. :)
Thank you for always reading. I hope you enjoy the story with a relaxed mind.