Barbara
East, West, South, North.
Among the four divisions guarding these gates, the one leading the charge was the Eastern Gate Division, commanded by General Han.
While traversing the “Forest of Constellations,” the Eastern Gate Division encountered a group of users who appeared to have fled from Barbara. This unexpected meeting forced them to halt their march. They communicated through the crystal orb, designed for seamless inter-unit communication, expressing their intent to await further instructions on how to handle the users and whether to continue their march.
The Western Gate Division responded promptly, advising, “Guide the users to us for now. We’ll pause our march here. Maintain vigilance until further communication.”
Soon, the users from the Eastern Gate Division arrived, escorting the escapees from Barbara.
“One, two, three, four, five, six, seven… Just seven?”
Counting them one by one, a vague suspicion began to surface. The number itself might not be significant, but there was an undeniable sense of unease that had lingered since the first encounter.
“Should I bring Ansol?”
Just as I was lamenting the absence of my lucky charm, the questioning from General Goryeo began.
“I hear you fled from Barbara. You look exhausted… I’m sorry, but I have a few important questions.”
“Haha, it’s fine. We’re a bit tired, but we’re just relieved to meet fellow users. We’ve heard a bit from those ahead. I’ll answer your questions as best as I can.”
The man in the center of the seven users replied. His appearance was shabby, and his face showed signs of fatigue, yet there was a genuine sense of relief.
I squinted, scrutinizing him closely. His clothes were torn in places and seemed deliberately dirtied, which caught my attention.
“Thank you for understanding. Could you first share some basic user information? And if you belong to a clan, I’d like to know that too.”
“I’m Baek Geon-ung, a fourth-year user. I’m currently unaffiliated. My previous clan disbanded after the Steel Mountain Expedition.”
As Baek Geon-ung introduced himself, General Goryeo scanned the gathered users, seemingly checking if anyone recognized him. However, the users here were all of notable status or reputation.
In contrast, Baek Geon-ung seemed like an ordinary user, making it unlikely that he had interacted with them unless there was a special connection.
After confirming the users’ unanimous lack of recognition, General Goryeo continued.
“I see. Can you briefly describe the current situation in Barbara? For instance, the state of the ongoing battles…”
“The situation… To be honest, we left the city about a week ago, so I can’t provide details on the current battles. I’m sorry.”
“What? What do you mean you don’t know the situation?”
“Exactly as I said. We left the city roughly a week ago, before the invasion began.”
This implied they had left Barbara before any invasion occurred.
“But your clothes are in that state?”
Barbara was known for its stability, arguably the best in the northern continent. If they left a week ago, they must have passed through the city’s outskirts. It was rare, if not impossible, for clothes to be so damaged under such circumstances. My initial suspicion grew stronger.
“Let me tell you about the situation before we left…”
As Baek Geon-ung continued, I activated my third eye.
“What?”
The moment I checked his user information, I felt a surge of intensity in my gaze.
“Where to begin… First, the warp gate was cut off by the Golden Lion’s unilateral decision. The East and South seemed unlikely to change their stance, and users were steadily leaving. I suspect it was an attempt to forcibly secure defense personnel.”
“Hmm. But I heard not only the warp gate but also communication was cut off. How did that happen?”
“Ah, that… I heard similar phenomena occurred in other cities that were invaded. However, Barbara wasn’t invaded, yet… Honestly, I don’t know the reason. But whenever we tried to communicate, the flow of magic became extremely unstable.”
Baek Geon-ung shook his head calmly, as if he truly didn’t know. His story continued.
The Golden Lion seemed to have tried various means to bolster the city’s defense, but the northern stronghold had already turned its back, and more people were leaving through the gates each day.
In this situation, Baek Geon-ung tried to hold out, but when he saw the invaders approaching, he fled the city without hesitation.
“I admit it was a cowardly act. But I didn’t think the city could hold. Once, it was a city with over ten thousand residents… When I left, there were barely a thousand left.”
“Hmm… I understand. So you don’t know anything beyond that.”
“Yes…”
Baek Geon-ung added with a voice full of regret. General Goryeo nodded with a calm expression. It seemed he had anticipated the situation in Barbara, led by the East and South, and wasn’t particularly surprised.
“Understood. We need to decide what to do with these people… It seems best to return to the city for now. It’s dangerous here.”
“Ah, I have a request regarding that.”
“A request?”
“If you’re heading to Barbara, could we possibly…”
At that moment, Baek Geon-ung stopped speaking.
Because I stepped forward.
With all eyes on me, I slowly walked toward General Goryeo.
“Hmm? Mercenary Lord, do you have something to say?”
“Yes, General Goryeo. Do you remember the incident with the spies we dealt with last time?”
“Ah, of course. Thanks to the Shadow Queen’s abilities, we were able to root out even those who didn’t confess under Baek Seoyeon’s interrogation… But why bring that up now?”
“I had a sudden thought. If it’s not too much trouble, may I ask these people a few more questions?”
I was no longer a fledgling. I was a key player in preparing for this war and the leader of the rising Mercenary Clan. In the past, such actions might have been seen as presumptuous, but now I was in a position to speak up.
General Goryeo looked momentarily puzzled but then nodded, indicating I should proceed.
I began my questioning.
As always, I started with a direct approach.
“Let me be clear. I find you highly suspicious.”
“What?”
“The distance from here to Barbara is about five days if you hurry, a week if you take your time. There’s nothing inherently wrong with your story… But the timing seems too perfect.”
“I’m not sure what you’re implying.”
“You claim to have left just before the city was invaded, but that’s uncertain. The invasion could have happened much earlier, or the city might have already fallen. Do you understand what I’m getting at?”
Murmurs spread among the surrounding users. Most seemed shocked by my sudden accusation, questioning if I was spouting nonsense. But I had anticipated this reaction, and with certainty and a trump card in hand, I had spoken out. I wanted to resolve this swiftly and decisively.
“Oh my, Mercenary Lord?”
A polite yet composed voice called out to me. It was Seonyul, the tarot card magician. She folded her arms and spoke in a low tone.
“Are you suggesting they’re vagrants?”
“Yes. We’ve captured all the spies. With no contact from them, they might be curious about our situation. So they disguised vagrants as users to extract information.”
“Hmm. That’s quite a bold assumption. No evidence, just a hunch… Is it a stretch?”
Seonyul chuckled lightly, her tone dripping with sarcasm. Baek Geon-ung, thinking he had an ally, quickly regained his composure and spoke.
“Haha. I understand. Given the circumstances, it’s natural to be suspicious. I’ll clarify…”
“No. Actually, I thought similarly to the Mercenary Lord, despite thinking it was a stretch. That’s why.”
It was then. Seonyul, who had initially challenged my words, suddenly calmed her expression and changed her stance.
“Wh-what? What do you mean…?”
“We’re not fools. Your story sounds plausible at first, but there are too many inconsistencies. For example, the communication crystal. Even if it didn’t work in the city, you could have used it once you left. We just used it successfully moments ago. Did you try using it?”
Oh. I was going to mention that.
Even though it felt forced, I had hoped to make a big reveal and follow it up with an explanation, so I was a bit disappointed.
“Oh, no. We don’t have a communication crystal.”
“Ah, I see. Then let’s do a simple body search. If you were spies, you’d likely have brought a communication crystal, wouldn’t you? Mercenary Lord?”
When someone I thought was an ally suddenly turned hostile, Baek Geon-ung’s usually calm demeanor vanished, replaced by a look of utter confusion.
‘Hmm. Quite the act they’ve got going.’
I couldn’t help but be impressed as I watched Seon-yul wink at me. Though I still found her unpredictable.
“How could you do this to us?”
A woman who had been quietly listening from the back suddenly shouted in a sharp voice.
“Do you have any idea what it took for us to leave the city? We were terrified the whole way here, thinking we’d finally found allies, only to be treated like vagrants…”
Her face was a picture of genuine distress. But with my third eye, I could see it was just an emotional ploy to escape the situation.
“How… how could you do this? We barely survived, and now… sob… sob…”
How could I not know?
‘I’ve seen all your user information.’
“Ahem. I understand what the Mercenary Lord is saying. But I don’t think it’s right to accuse them based solely on suspicion. The timing could be coincidental, and they might not have thought of bringing a communication crystal. They could genuinely be innocent users.”
Though I felt a bit slighted, the Goryeo Lord’s words were the most appropriate for the situation.
With the Goryeo Lord’s support, Baek Geon-ung seemed to have a sudden realization and spoke up.
“Ah! Wait a moment! There are many people here. I believe someone among them might recognize at least one of us seven. Actually, I saw a familiar face among those we first encountered! If we go to them, we can prove our innocence.”
“Oh, that’s a possibility. But just in case, we’ll conduct a body search and temporarily confiscate any communication crystals…”
A last-ditch effort, perhaps. While it might seem like a solid plan, it had a major flaw. Although spies from the East, South, and secretly the North had been dealt with, the central spy was still at large.
In other words, Baek Geon-ung and his group were likely vagrants disguised as users.
I quickly shook my head and spoke quietly.
“No, that’s not necessary. We have evidence.”
“What? Evidence?”
The Goryeo Lord’s voice was filled with curiosity, but I didn’t hesitate to call out a name.
“User Go Yeon-ju.”
“Yes, Clan Lord. You called?”
Go Yeon-ju stepped forward promptly, as if she had been waiting for my cue.
“Ah.”
I heard the Goryeo Lord gasp beside me. Go Yeon-ju had been sent on many missions, so she likely knew what I was about to do.
“I doubt all seven of them can resist your ability.”
“Hmm~.”
I gestured towards the tense vagrants while looking at Go Yeon-ju. She drew out her words with a relaxed hum.
“Hoho. I think so too.”
And then, with her signature languid voice, Go Yeon-ju’s eyes turned a soft shade of ash gray.
The sun was setting, casting a deep twilight over the plains. The dimming light indicated that evening was approaching.
As I surveyed the area, I noticed the neatly arranged tents, suggesting that preparations for camping were complete. Normally, we would march as long as time allowed, but since leaving the ‘Forest of Constellations,’ we had ceased rapid marches.
That’s because we were nearing Barbara.
The remaining distance could be covered in two days at a leisurely pace, so conserving energy for the upcoming battle was crucial.
As I turned my head, I saw users engaged in serious discussions outside their tents. In the center of the camp, seven people were tied to wooden posts. Bloodstains were visible, and they were motionless, indicating they were already dead.
These seven were the vagrants who had disguised themselves as users three days ago. Using Go Yeon-ju’s unique ability, ‘Eyes of Temptation,’ I easily uncovered their true identities. They were captured and revealed most of what they knew.
Though they were small fry, and there wasn’t much to gain, there were two useful pieces of information.
One was that Barbara had already been occupied. The other was…
Wooong…
At that moment, the sound of a sword resonating caught my attention. I turned to see Nam Da-eun, the Sword Queen, standing quietly behind me.
“The Mercenary Lord has achieved another feat.”
Her voice was cold and aloof, almost making me think she disliked me. But knowing it wasn’t her true feelings, I shrugged it off.
“I was just suspicious. It’s not worth calling an achievement.”
“You’re modest.”
Wooong.
I tilted my head. Though I had helped recommend clan members, we usually just exchanged nods and avoided each other. Her sudden approach was a bit surprising.
‘Why is she acting like this all of a sudden? It’s a bit overwhelming.’
As I pondered how to respond, Nam Da-eun spoke again.
“There’s a meeting tonight. Just among the team members.”
“I see.”
A straightforward purpose and a simple reply. As the uncomfortable silence stretched on, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had done something wrong.
Determined to shake off this inexplicable guilt, I decided to respond more earnestly.
Wooong!
“I’ll definitely attend the meeting.”
”…”
Nam Da-eun nodded at my confirmation. We exchanged glances, holding each other’s gaze for about ten seconds.
Then, as if she still had something to say, Nam Da-eun’s lips moved slightly. She lowered her eyes and, with a small voice, shyly extended her hands.
“Mer… Mercenary Lord. Could you…?”
”…Yes?”
“Please… help me… please…”
”…Again?”
Clearly embarrassed to ask, Nam Da-eun kept her eyes on the ground, nodding slightly. In her delicate hands was the sword that had been resonating so persistently.
‘Still unresolved, huh.’
I sighed inwardly and carefully took the sword.
Wooing wooing.
Suddenly, the sword began to emit a strange sound.
Startled, I dropped it.
Wailing.
Then, a sorrowful cry echoed.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Nam Da-eun: Seol-ah, why are you acting up? Hmm? Please calm down.
Seol-ah (the sword): No, no. I want to go to Dad. I miss Dad. Waaah.
Nam Da-eun: D-Dad? Why are you bringing up Dad all of a sudden?
Seol-ah (the sword): Sniff. Dad is the sword’s master, and Mom is the sword’s queen. So why aren’t you two married?
Nam Da-eun: …M-Married? What a thing to say…!
Seol-ah (the sword): Whine! I want a sibling! Get married and make me a sibling! Whine whine!
PS. Just a skit.
『 Reader Comments 』
Kuroshion: Congrats on being first. Haha. You’re watching the World Cup! I can’t watch it regularly, but I enjoy the results. :)
ChupaChupsStick: You can definitely hit over 101! It’s possible!
NaturalNatural: The sword’s master can earn love and obedience from all swords. (Seriously.)
Thanatos: Pahaha! I imagined it and burst out laughing. That won’t happen! Hahaha. You’re amazing. I was feeling a bit down today, but your comment cheered me up. :D
Taeil: You’re heading to the military! Stay healthy! I’ll be waiting with lots of chapters piled up!
SunsetS: Special team members will appear tomorrow. There are men too! And other people’s romances will be used as seasoning, not the main dish. Hehe. I’ve thought of lots of fun things!
RedCat: Ah, I see. To speed up the plot, I had to skip some parts. Honestly, I’d love to write without skipping anything. But if I did, it might take 1000 chapters to finish. ㅜ.ㅠ I’ll try to be more mindful!
[Dark] Demon Sword Style: I’ve failed the promotion test 11 times. In Bronze. Hahaha.
Lea: Go Yeon-ju, Im Han-na, and Jung Ha-yeon! I like older women! I want to be spoiled. Hehe.
Celestial Maiden: Gasp! If there were hundreds, wouldn’t Su-hyeon die of exhaustion?! Hahaha.
Thank you for always reading. I hope you enjoy the story with a relaxed mind.