Prelude: Loss, Victory, Loss, Victory, Victory
There are many paths to reach Barbara, but the quickest is undoubtedly the straightest route.
Indeed, the eastern travel route is almost a straight line. The estimated travel time, considering only the pure movement, is about three weeks.
Currently, the East is traversing the “Wilderness of Secrets.”
The “Wilderness of Secrets” is the first area encountered after leaving Princica, once known as a treasure trove of ruins. Over six ruins have been excavated here alone.
Of course, as time passed and more users flocked to the area, it quickly stabilized, and interest waned. But as the saying goes, the darkest place is under the lamp.
The “Wilderness of Secrets” is vast and expansive. It takes an average of 11 days to cross it, giving a rough idea of its size.
However, the width isn’t the important part. According to my memory, there are still two unexplored sites in the “Wilderness of Secrets.”
“The Lost Paradise and the Tower of Valhalla.”
I once considered settling here. Ultimately, the scales tipped towards the “Magic City of Magia,” but “The Lost Paradise” and “The Tower of Valhalla” were ruins that needed to be claimed.
“Stop marching!”
A booming voice from the front snapped me out of my thoughts. I could hear the heavy breathing of those around me.
“We’ve reached the midpoint! We’ll take a long break here!”
The command echoed, and users around me dropped their loads with audible thuds.
“They seem quite exhausted.”
The current pace of the Eastern march was fast enough to be considered a forced march. Although the participants were of high caliber, the goal was to cross the “Wilderness of Secrets” in just seven days. It wasn’t surprising that some users were running out of stamina.
Given that it was still early in the journey, a certain level of forced marching was acceptable.
I considered checking on the others but quickly dismissed the idea. Checking in once or twice was fine, but frequent visits might draw unwanted attention from the users in that unit.
So, I decided to find a suitable spot and began walking towards the outskirts. A user bustling around quickly approached me.
“Mercenary Lord, it seems we’ll be resting and eating now.”
“I’m fine. My stomach’s a bit off.”
“Oh, is it bad? I can fetch someone from the 4th unit.”
“No need to call a priest. I’ll just get some fresh air in a quiet spot.”
“Understood. But please don’t wander too far.”
I nodded a couple of times to reassure him.
Watching the user scurry off, I turned and found an open space without any interference. It wasn’t hard to find a secluded spot in the vast field, but given the wartime situation, it was best to stop where I could still be seen.
“Phew. Finally, some peace.”
I sat on a lone rock in the deserted field and stretched.
The sheer number of users around made the march feel stifling at times. Moreover, constantly observing users with my third eye was straining my eyes. The only solace these days was the occasional cigarette during breaks.
“Oh, Mercenary Lord. Here you are. Mind if I bum a smoke?”
”…”
Why did the phrase “It’d be perfect if you weren’t here” suddenly come to mind?
I was about to pull out a cigarette when I turned to see Kim Deok-pil grinning and holding out his hand.
“No cigarettes.”
“What? Really?”
“Yes. All out, thanks to someone.”
“Ah, I’m out too. Oh well, here, take this.”
Kim Deok-pil scratched his head in disappointment and handed me a thick cigarette.
‘Is this a mast?’
Feeling a bit awkward, I cleared my throat and handed him the cigarette I had in my pocket. It was much thinner but longer than the one he gave me.
”…Wow.”
“I did have one.”
We stared at each other for a moment before lighting up our cigarettes in camaraderie.
“Oh, Mercenary Lord. Did you hear? The North and South have finally made their move.”
“Yes, I heard in yesterday’s meeting.”
“Oh right, there was a meeting yesterday. Damn it. They call meetings every other day. Why not just wipe out the entire continent and be done with it?”
Kim Deok-pil spat on the ground, clearly frustrated with the endless meetings. He looked at me for agreement, but I just shrugged. I thought to myself that he truly lived up to his nickname, “Vagabond Slayer,” and chuckled inwardly.
“Hey, why’s she here?”
Suddenly, Kim Deok-pil’s eyes widened, and he looked up. Following his gaze, I saw an unexpected figure.
In the field ahead, “Sword Queen” Nam Da-eun was walking across.
Sensing our presence, Nam Da-eun glanced our way before quickly disappearing.
After a moment of silence, Kim Deok-pil spoke in a low voice.
“Her personality hasn’t changed.”
“Personality?”
“You didn’t know? Sword Queen, Nam Da-eun. She’s famous for her misandry. And there’s something shady about her past.”
I knew about her personality, so I asked nonchalantly, but the shady past was news to me.
“That’s the first I’ve heard of it.”
“Really? Well, you’re a newbie, so… It’s a story only a few know.”
Kim Deok-pil paused, then continued slowly.
“She’s made a name for herself as the Sword Queen, but there’s a rumor she was originally a vagabond.”
This was news even to me, who had been active in the first round. I listened intently to Kim Deok-pil’s story.
“She wasn’t always cold and man-hating. When she first entered Hall Plain, she was quite cheerful and talented enough to top the user academy.”
“Then why…?”
“That’s the mystery. Our Reverse Clan even made her an offer, but on the day of her graduation, she rejected all offers and followed a man, leaving everyone disappointed.”
“A man?”
Kim Deok-pil flicked away his cigarette.
“Yeah. Lee Kang-san. You might have heard of him?”
‘Traitor Lee Kang-san.’
I immediately recognized the vagabond Kim Deok-pil was referring to. He was a formidable figure who would later become a key member of the Murder Brigade.
“He’s quite notorious among the vagabonds. He defected from the users, and I’ve fought him a few times. Barely escaped with my life each time.”
“Then why is Nam Da-eun here now…?”
“After disappearing, she reappeared in Barbara about a year later with the heads of a few vagabonds. She claimed she followed him without knowing the truth and wanted to return as a user.”
“Then it seems she’s genuinely reformed. She even has a clan now…”
My opinion seemed reasonable, but Kim Deok-pil shook his head with a serious expression.
“There’s something off about it. And if you’re talking about the Cheondun Clan, they were nearly wiped out in the recent Iron Mountain expedition. Plus, the clan’s nature…”
Kim Deok-pil suddenly stopped talking, his face twisting in frustration as he stood up.
“Damn it. No rest for the wicked.”
I was puzzled for a moment but soon understood. A woman was running towards us from the group of users in the distance. She was the messenger who had called meetings several times since our departure.
“I should let the Sword Queen know.”
With Kim Deok-pil’s resigned mumble, I calmly stood up.
The day was filled with meetings and marching, and night had fallen. We couldn’t march at night, so it was time to sleep. Around us, a campsite for nearly 5,000 users had been set up.
While on watch, I quietly surveyed the entire campsite.
The moon shone brightly in the middle of the night, casting a silvery glow over the areas the sentries couldn’t quite see. Whenever I went on expeditions, I always used a sleeping bag, but seeing the tents neatly arranged across the vast field was quite a sight.
Crackle! Crackle, crackle!
Suddenly, the sound of a campfire crackling reached my ears from somewhere nearby.
“If you’re sleepy, you should get some rest.”
At that moment, the person standing watch with me spoke in a cheerful voice. I glanced over to see a woman with a round face and a hint of baby fat, giving her a cute appearance.
Her way of speaking was rather unique, I thought, as I replied quietly.
“I’m not really sleepy.”
“Oh, but I can see the sleepiness in your eyes.”
”…”
“Actually, I’m feeling a bit uncomfortable.”
When I didn’t respond, she continued in a slightly hesitant tone. It seemed she felt guilty about something even though I hadn’t said anything.
“What’s bothering you?”
“Well… it’s just that you’re the Mercenary Lord.”
“Yes.”
“I heard that most other clan lords don’t stand watch. It’s a bit surprising.”
‘Yeah, right.’
Despite her words, I knew she was just unhappy about having to stand watch with me. I chuckled softly and replied.
“That’s incorrect information. For example, the Goryeo Lord has never skipped a watch.”
“Well, that’s true, but other clan lords sometimes find ways to avoid it.”
“That’s their business. I have no intention of doing that. So let’s focus on our watch.”
”…Okay.”
Was her name Noh Yumi? She answered sullenly and let out a deep sigh.
I closed my eyes and let my thoughts drift to the recent meetings that had been taking place. We were nearing the end of our journey through the ‘Wilderness of Secrets.’ Despite numerous meetings, there was still one issue we couldn’t reach a consensus on. It was…
Rustle.
‘Huh?’
Just then.
“Mercenary Lord.”
”…”
Just as it seemed she might quiet down, she started chattering again.
“Mercenary Lord! There’s someone behind us!”
“What…?”
Her words were enough to startle me. Instinctively, I gathered my magic, sensing someone quietly standing behind me.
Honestly, I had been lost in thought and hadn’t activated my magic detection. But the fact that my basic instincts hadn’t picked up on them meant they were incredibly skilled.
I quickly turned around. As I did, the figure’s details came into focus.
Long hair. An oval, slender face. Full lips. A slim waist and long legs.
And cold, serene eyes staring directly at me.
“Mercenary Lord.”
It was the first time I heard her voice.
Before I could respond, her lips parted slowly.
“Can we talk for a moment?”
Nam Da-eun’s voice, though devoid of inflection and dripping with coldness, was undeniably beautiful.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Haha. Yesterday, I mentioned in a comment that I might hand over Lee Yoo-jung to Ahn Hyun, and I received a storm of comments.
Hmm. After some thought, I plan to delete the previous afterword content once the e-book revisions reach that point. This is to avoid spoilers, and there are no other reasons.
In other words, the content will remain unchanged. (I said I was ‘considering’ it, not that it was confirmed, but the reaction was overwhelming. Haha.)
Personally, I’d like to explore romances involving characters other than Kim Soo-hyun. I’d like to write one-on-one romances, harems involving other male characters (like Kim Yoo-hyun and the Haemil clan members), and reverse harems involving other female characters.
Anyway, there will be no further changes to this plan. That’s final.
PS. I’ve planted a spy in today’s content.
『 Comments 』
Nodens: Congratulations on being first. You’ve finally made it. Congratulations again. I’m envious. I can’t seem to do it… ㅜ.ㅠ
tawt: Thank you for the coupon. Haha. I’m always sorry for not being able to update continuously. ;ㅅ; I’ll try my best.
명박짱의양양합일: It’s already a fallen clan. The reputation and fame of the Sword Queen remain, but their actual power is somewhat lacking.
초요: I’ve thought about it a lot. I think the three-week journey might be tedious, so I plan to focus on events in the middle. Once the events are over, we’ll arrive at Barbara! How does that sound? :D
오뭬: Got it. Lee Yoo-jung will be with Kim Soo-hyun. -_-a
감자띱: Poor Ahn Hyun, right? It can’t be the main focus, but I’d like to write some sweet content about those kids occasionally. Haha. I’ll think carefully and write about it.
시드엘: Sounds good. Ahn Hyun + Baek Han-gyeol. They awaken to a forbidden love… Ah. Just kidding. It’s a joke, a joke! :)
석양s: You’re right. I also aim for Kim Soo-hyun’s harem, and it’s already like a harem, but I absolutely refuse to have a tentacle-like harem with dozens of women. It’s best to keep it manageable, where each character’s charm can shine. :)
hohokoya1: Oh dear. You’ve been through that. ㅜ.ㅠ Next time, if you see such comments, just let them be and move on! I’m sorry about that. (__)
10.갸루루루루: Yes. I looked it up on Naver, and the meaning was there. So I borrowed it.
Thank you for always reading. I hope you enjoy the story with a relaxed mind.