The first thing I noticed upon arriving at the User Academy was how different the atmosphere felt compared to before.
Back when the academy was under the jurisdiction of the Golden Lion, it was as rigid as a military camp. Although things would loosen up a bit as the graduation ceremony approached, I remember it being quite oppressive until the latter stages.
But now, it’s unmistakably different. Just observing the trainees calling out to Go Yeon-ju earlier was enough to see the change. It feels much more open compared to before.
Personally, I don’t think this change is bad. However, since it’s still in the early stages, it’s too soon to make any definitive judgments. For now, I plan to just watch how these changes unfold.
“Su-hyeon, we’re almost there. Once we turn this corner, there’ll be a door on the left. That’s the room where Lee Hyo-eul stays.”
Before I knew it, we had arrived. The soft voice in my ear snapped me out of my thoughts, and I looked around.
“It’s more modest than I expected.”
“We have to keep up appearances as ordinary people. Anyway, I’ll wait here.”
When she said she’d wait outside, I turned to look at Go Yeon-ju.
“You can come in if you want.”
“Normally, I would, but I can’t take a Guardian’s invitation lightly. I’m an uninvited user.”
Go Yeon-ju replied firmly. Unlike me, she seemed to hold the concept of a Guardian in high regard. It made sense, so I told her I’d be back soon and turned down the hallway.
Lee Hyo-eul, the Guardian of the Northern Continent. Thinking of her, I recalled her aloof yet intelligent appearance.
‘If only she hadn’t tried to pass everything onto An Sol.’
Strictly speaking, Lee Hyo-eul and I didn’t have the best relationship. Or perhaps it was more accurate to say that I found her irritating.
But setting aside those feelings, I concluded that saving her was a good decision. Her stance on the Northern Continent and her handling of matters so far were commendable. So, I decided to soften my feelings towards her a bit.
Lee Hyo-eul was still a useful user, and since that incident, she had been reaching out to reconcile. Just looking at her request regarding Park Hyun-woo was proof of that. It was better to cautiously accept her help rather than let a momentary emotion dictate my actions.
With that thought, I stopped in front of the door. After taking a deep breath, I knocked quietly.
Knock, knock.
”…I’ve been expecting you. Please, come in.”
”?”
The odd tone made me pause for a moment, but I soon pushed the door open. As I stepped inside calmly, I was greeted by a sight that made me gasp involuntarily.
A pair of hollow eyes and dark circles greeted me, accompanied by a raspy, ominous laugh. The once pristine and intellectual figure was nowhere to be seen; instead, she looked like a patient on the verge of collapse.
I couldn’t help but ask about her well-being.
“Are you alright?”
She crumpled the papers in her hand and spoke in a low voice.
“Oh-ho-ho… Welcome, Mercenary Lord. It’s been so long, this girl is delighted to see you.”
”…Have you lost your mind?”
“Oh my, are you worried about this girl? Oh-ho-ho. I’m so happy, I don’t know what to do with myself…”
“Completely lost it.”
With that, Lee Hyo-eul buried her face in the towering piles of documents around her. She weakly raised a finger, probably indicating for me to sit anywhere.
After a brief silence, she lifted her head with effort and spoke softly.
“Ki, Kim Su-hyeon… It was you… Thank you for coming. Hehe…”
“I’m not here to help with your paperwork, so there’s no need to thank me.”
”…Could you at least pretend to offer help? I’ll definitely refuse, but just say it. Please.”
Her voice was so pitiful that I decided to humor her.
”…I’ll help you.”
“Thank you! Then let’s start with this…!”
She perked up and handed me the crumpled papers, but I immediately refused.
“Get lost.”
With a thud, she buried her head again. It seemed I had come at a bad time.
‘This mountain of paperwork has really done a number on her.’
I knew all too well how exhausting, frustrating, and mind-numbing paperwork could be, so I fully understood her plight.
“You look exhausted.”
Lee Hyo-eul nodded, her face buried in her hands. After a long sigh, she spoke in a weary tone.
“Sorry. I lost my mind for a moment.”
“You don’t have to do this to yourself. Aren’t you a Guardian?”
The documents piled on her desk were still overwhelming. Each one likely contained information about changes in the User Academy.
In any case, there were too many documents for one person. In other words, why are you here doing this?
“It’s necessary. And it’s best if I handle it. Haum. Da, da-eu o-eu-eu o i-eo. (I can’t trust anyone else~).”
She yawned and continued, slapping her cheek hard enough to make a sound. As she lowered her hand, her eyes seemed a bit clearer, despite the red mark on her cheek.
“Hmnya… Anyway, it’s good you’re here. Would you like some tea?”
“No.”
“Then let’s get straight to the point. You’ve heard the rumors, right? The Hamil Clan and Valhalla’s Tower have been discovered?”
“Why? Did the angels tell you to find out how they keep discovering ruins?”
“No, I don’t care about that anymore, so don’t be so cynical.”
‘You don’t care about that?’
I was taken aback and quietly observed her. Not caring could only mean one thing… Had she found a successor?
Sss, sss.
“Whew.”
While I was lost in thought, Lee Hyo-eul lit a cigarette. After a light puff, she continued in a much-improved tone.
“Anyway, you must have heard from So-young… After the successful exploration, the Northern Continent is buzzing. Can I take that as a yes?”
”?”
“The Ten Strong.”
I understood immediately. After a brief pause, I spoke quietly. I had already made up my mind about this.
”…Take it slow.”
“Cool. I wasn’t planning to announce them all at once anyway. I’ll introduce them gradually.”
Lee Hyo-eul seemed relieved, as if a burden had been lifted, and gave me an OK sign. Suddenly, a thought crossed my mind, and I spoke again.
“Why did you choose me? Surely there are others.”
“It’s not that there aren’t any, there really aren’t.”
”…”
“And I figured you’d make it to the Ten Strong eventually. I’m just speeding up the process. Well, I have my reasons too… But becoming one of the Ten Strong isn’t a bad thing. Especially for a clan that’s just starting out. Udadada~!”
As she stood up from her chair, a few crumpled documents fluttered to the floor. After a long stretch, she turned to me with a slightly sheepish look.
“Oh, right. You wanted to take Hyun-woo, didn’t you? He wants to join the Mercenaries?”
“Go Yeon-ju already discussed it with him. But I should meet him first.”
“I see… Alright.”
Lee Hyo-eul nodded a few times and then lightly placed her hand on a crystal orb in the corner.
“Hyun-woo is currently in the underground prison with the other captives.”
“Underground prison?”
“It’s a newly renovated prison. It’s located in the basement of the former Golden Lion Clan. I’ll contact them now, so you can head there directly.”
“Got it.”
I appreciated her straightforwardness and stood up with a light heart. Just as I was about to leave, her voice stopped me.
“Oh, wait! Kim Su-hyeon!”
”?”
“While you’re going to the prison, is there anything else you need?”
“Anything else?”
“For example, Seong Yu-bin or any of the Western Continent captives.”
‘Captives?’
Without a second thought, I shook my head slowly.
“I have no business with Seong Yu-bin, and are there any useful users among the captives?”
“By useful, you mean user information, right?”
“What else?”
“Previous buyers wanted sturdy or beautiful captives. What was it… White horse?”
In that moment, I confirmed a rumor that had been circulating. I had heard that some Western Continent captives were being sold as slaves for money, and it seemed to be true. Slaves likely meant those with their magic circuits destroyed.
“Anyway, not interested? If you want to buy, I’ll give you a good deal.”
”…I’ll just take Park Hyun-woo.”
Lee Hyo-eul looked at me with an expression that said, “I thought so.”
“Hmm. Ok. Good choice. Then…”
“Then?”
With a slightly brighter expression, she continued.
“Could you wait at the lodging for a bit?”
After parting ways with Lee Hyo-eul, I headed to her lodging with Go Yeon-ju.
The second request she had mentioned was to persuade the surviving Park Hyun-woo to join the Mercenaries.
Originally, I had planned to visit the underground prison directly, but there was no need for that now. Since I wasn’t interested in purchasing any slaves, there was no point in going to pick one out. It was more convenient and efficient to have Park Hyun-woo brought to me.
‘Park Hyun-woo.’
Knock, knock.
It was then. How much time had passed? As I lay on the bed that Go Yeon-ju had been using, I suddenly heard a knock at the door.
“Soo-hyun. I’ve brought him. I’m coming in.”
“Come in.”
I quickly sat up, and at the same time, the door opened. I saw Go Yeon-ju enter, followed by a man standing behind her.
It had been a while since I’d seen another user. It was Park Hyun-woo, a former executive of the Golden Lion Clan. I activated my third eye.
Name: Park Hyun-woo (5 years)
Class: Normal Sword Master
Nation: Barbara
Clan: -
True Name & Nationality: The One Who Leaves Shadows with the Sword • South Korea
Sex: Male (27)
Height & Weight: 179.2cm • 67.8kg
Alignment: True Neutral
[Strength 90] [Endurance 81] [Agility 73] [Stamina 87] [Magic 89] [Luck 60]
[Strength 96(+2)] [Endurance 92] [Agility 98] [Stamina 92(+2)] [Magic 96] [Luck 90(+2)]
[Strength 90] [Endurance 81] [Agility 73] [Stamina 87] [Magic 89] [Luck 60]
‘He’s made some progress.’
While his stats hadn’t changed, his swordsmanship had advanced to Master level. Park Hyun-woo’s player information wasn’t compelling enough for mandatory recruitment.
However, he fit well with the “elite few” approach of the Mercenary Clan, so I decided to bring him on board. With the addition of Park Hyun-woo to Nam Da-eun, Woo Jung-min, and Sun Yu-woon, the Mercenary squad would become even more formidable.
I heard that the discussions were nearly complete, and only the final interview remained. Not wanting to ruin the moment, I spoke as gently as possible.
“User Park Hyun-woo.”
“It’s been a while, Mercenary Lord.”
Gone was the clean-cut image of the past, replaced by a haggard face and a shadow of stubble.
A faint, bitter smile appeared on Park Hyun-woo’s lips as he glanced at me. I noticed it but chose not to comment. Comparing his past and present circumstances must have left a bitter taste.
Once we were seated, I quietly began.
“I heard you’ve been through a lot.”
“Yes… but things have improved recently. The Shadow Queen has been quite accommodating.”
Go Yeon-ju made a V sign with her fingers.
The surviving members of the Golden Lion Clan, especially the executives, were treated almost like prisoners. Officially, it was because they surrendered to the Allied Forces, but the underlying reasons were obvious. The emotional conflicts that had been brewing long before I arrived didn’t just vanish with the end of the war.
“User Park Hyun-woo, you helped a lot when you first joined the academy as an instructor. I’m glad I can return the favor in some way.”
Park Hyun-woo blinked momentarily, then lowered his head, perhaps recalling Han Byul.
“About that… I’m sorry. I have no excuses.”
“I don’t think you were the one leading those actions. And I’m not here to dredge up the past.”
I placed a hand on his shoulder and gently pushed. His bowed head slowly lifted, and his weary eyes met mine.
Without further delay, I decided to get to the point.
“I heard from Go Yeon-ju that the discussions are complete. But… I was told you wanted to meet me first?”
“Ah, that’s…”
Park Hyun-woo hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath as if gathering his thoughts.
“Honestly, life in prison was incredibly tough. There were things I felt were unfair, and being treated as a prisoner was humiliating. But with the guilt being undeniable, those who remained had no choice but to endure… Whether captured by the Allied Forces or by users from the same continent, it was hard enough to wish for death.”
”…”
“I thought there was no hope. I believed I’d either suffer in prison for life or be executed after a trial. In the midst of that despair, the message from the Mercenary Lord, delivered by the Shadow Queen, was a lifeline. It was something I had to grasp, but… cough! Cough, cough!”
Perhaps it was the length of his speech, or maybe his throat was too dry. Park Hyun-woo coughed harshly, and I quickly signaled Go Yeon-ju to bring him a drink.
After quenching his thirst (it was quite a large drink, and he downed it in one go, which was impressive), Park Hyun-woo continued.
“Thank you. Anyway… it was a lifeline, but I couldn’t just grab it without thought.”
“Why not?”
In response to my question, Park Hyun-woo gave a bitter smile.
“Leaving here wouldn’t change my situation. It wouldn’t just be my problem; the Mercenary Clan itself could become a target.”
I finally understood Park Hyun-woo’s concerns. He had acknowledged the Golden Lion Clan’s wrongdoings and feared what might happen after leaving prison.
After gauging my reaction, Park Hyun-woo spoke cautiously.
“So… it might seem presumptuous, but I wanted to ask the Mercenary Lord.”
“Whether the Mercenary Clan has the power to protect you?”
Park Hyun-woo looked momentarily stunned, then slowly nodded.
“Yes.”
I pondered for a moment. It didn’t take long. I had considered the issue Park Hyun-woo raised before but hadn’t given it much weight.
The Mercenary Clan resides in the northern continent but isn’t tied to any particular clan, officially maintaining neutrality. Moreover, we have strong ties with Istantel Low in the south and the Hamill Clan in the east. We’ve also built various connections with eastern clans.
With proper management, at least in the eastern and southern Monica, they would likely turn a blind eye.
Having organized my thoughts, I spoke with more conviction.
“I’ll answer your question like this: Yes, the Mercenary Clan has the power to protect User Park Hyun-woo.”
”…”
“Not only protect but also help you regain your footing. Of course, this will take some time.”
Park Hyun-woo must have already heard about the current state of the Mercenary Clan from Go Yeon-ju. Rather than boasting or explaining in detail, a confident statement would be more effective.
A moment passed. During that time, Park Hyun-woo stared intently at me.
“User Kim Soo-hyun… no, Mercenary Lord.”
He slowly stood and bowed deeply. The words that followed were, “Thank you.”
“From now on, I will serve you as the Clan Lord. I will become a mercenary of the Mercenary Clan and spare no effort.”
At that moment, I recalled something someone had said in Mule.
“Thank you! I will do my utmost to help achieve your goals, Soo-hyun.”
As if in a trance, I stood and extended my hand slowly.
“Welcome to the Mercenary Clan, User Shin… Park Hyun-woo.”
“Thank you for the welcome, Clan Lord.”
Just as we were about to shake hands, it happened.
Boom! Crash!
“Aaah!”
A massive explosion from outside shook the room, followed by a second wave of piercing screams.
Moments later, Go Yeon-ju, Park Hyun-woo, and I froze, exchanging bewildered glances.
It was then.
“Someone’s dead!”
“No, it wasn’t me!”
Urgent cries echoed through the open door.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Woo Jung-min, Sun Yu-woon, Park Hyun-woo… It’s heartwarming to see these characters joining the Mercenary Clan. Haha.
Ah, I’m glad today’s update isn’t too late. It feels like I’m getting back into the rhythm faster than expected. I’ll keep working hard without letting my guard down. For the day when updates happen at midnight!