When did everything start to go wrong? Where did it all begin to unravel?

One thing is certain: it wasn’t like this from the start.

In the world of Hole Plain, a person’s worth is measured by their user information. I was recognized for my high potential and had decent user information.

“Isn’t that user the top of this year’s User Academy? Nam Da-eun, right?”

“Yeah, I heard several clans have their eyes on her. Lucky her.”

Yes, when I first entered Hole Plain, I was indeed a user who drew attention.

But that didn’t last long. One single mistake, and everything crumbled.

Who should I blame for this? Myself? Or the perpetrator?

The answer was me. It was my fault for trusting someone too easily and making the wrong choice.

That one misguided decision forced my world to shift from the user side to the vagrant side.

At first, I couldn’t believe it. No, I refused to believe it.

“Traitor” Lee Kang-san.

When I first met him, he was the one who smiled at me more warmly than anyone else.

During our time at the User Academy, he took care of me to the point of being annoying, saying it would be tough at first.

“After this User Academy ends, I’m thinking of starting a new clan.”

“Da-eun, won’t you join me? I’d be really happy if you did.”

I agreed.

Back then, he was the only refuge I thought I could rely on in this harsh world.

…Or so I thought.

After the User Academy graduation ceremony, my expectations were thoroughly shattered. The moment I realized that my future colleagues were “vagrants,” my refuge quickly turned into hell.

Then came the persuasion and threats.

“Do you know what they call me outside? A traitor.”

“You’re no different. Why don’t you just give up and accept your fate? Vagrant Nam Da-eun. Hahaha!”

I had to endure unspeakable humiliation from the vagrants. With each passing day, I felt my body and mind deteriorating.

At first, I denied reality.

Then, I begged to be released.

Next, I screamed that it wasn’t true.

And finally, I surrendered and accepted it.

I decided to give up being a user and resign myself to the fate of a vagrant.

But I hadn’t completely given up. Deep down, I vowed to one day repay all the humiliation I had suffered.

To do that, I needed to gain strength.

From then on, I became the vagrant Nam Da-eun. Of course, it was all an act. Outwardly, I pretended to comply and follow, but inside, I was always sharpening a cold blade.

A year passed, and time went on.

Did they think I had given up? At some point, the vagrants’ suspicion of me began to wane.

At the same time, I underwent vagrant training. Skilled individuals began to teach me, and I gained plenty of practical experience. As I gritted my teeth and improved my skills, my living conditions and treatment gradually improved.

That wasn’t all. I also acquired the secret class “Sword Queen” through a relic and received a sword named “Seol-ah.”

It was around that time that I realized I was the user sacrificed for the vagrants’ grand executive training plan.

By then, I had learned a few things.

First, there was severe infighting among the vagrants.

Second, Lee Kang-san intended to make me a grand executive of the vagrants.

And third, he planned to use me for “some purpose” once I became a grand executive.

Time passed.

One day, I finally sensed the opportunity I had been waiting for. The long-standing surveillance on me was lifted, and simultaneously, Lee Kang-san received a “directive.”

“It’s a top-secret mission. We need to move with as few people as possible, so you’ll come along.”

Before long, Lee Kang-san, myself, and three others set out on the mission. Once we had distanced ourselves from the remaining vagrants, I finally drew the blade I had been sharpening in my heart for years.

The only regret was that I couldn’t kill Lee Kang-san at that moment.

But it was fine. Although I couldn’t kill Lee Kang-san, the city of users lay before me. Having fond memories of the city, I was confident I could return to how things were at the beginning.

As I entered the city with the heads of the vagrants I had slain, that’s what I thought.

But I was mistaken.

While I was acknowledged for bringing the heads of the vagrants, allowing me to return to the city…

However.

“Who was that user again? They look really familiar.”

“Oh, Nam Da-eun. I heard she’s the secret class Sword Queen?”

“Oh, right. The traitor?”

“Traitor? What do you mean?”

“Don’t you know? She disappeared with the traitor Lee Kang-san after graduating from the User Academy. Oh, come to think of it, should we call her the traitor’s mistress?”

“Really? Then that means she definitely sided with the vagrants… Why did she come back?”

The city wasn’t as warm as I had imagined.

In the city, Lee Kang-san was labeled a “turncoat.” I was no exception. The users’ gazes at me were no different from those directed at Lee Kang-san.

But it was okay. I was sure that if I worked hard, I could eventually shed this label. So I ignored the summons to return to the vagrants and killed the spy who delivered the message. It was my silent resolve never to go back.

However, shedding the “turncoat” label wasn’t as easy as I thought.

“Did you hear the rumors? That person… doesn’t it make you uneasy?”

“Why are they acting alone? Do they have some hidden agenda?”

At some point, strange rumors began to circulate. Rumors that I was a spy for the vagrants started to spread. The idea that I had defected as a ruse quietly permeated, and both users and clans began to be wary of me.

I instinctively sensed that the vagrants had leaked information about me. It was a ploy to make the users distrust me and simultaneously eliminate my place among them.

Of course, as long as I had the secret class “Sword Queen,” there were still places that occasionally reached out to me.

I still vividly remember the man I met regarding clan membership.

“Your user information is impressive, but… honestly, the rumors surrounding the Sword Queen aren’t good. There’s strong opposition internally. Well… what should we do about this…”

“If you’re really in a bind, there might be a way. What do you think, Sword Queen? Would you trust me just this once?”

His words were roundabout, but his eyes burned with a vile intensity. They were reminiscent of the eyes Lee Kang-san showed me after revealing his true colors.

In that moment, the wretched memories of the past resurfaced, and the man before me felt utterly repulsive. The emotions I had barely managed to bury upon entering the city exploded all at once.

Suddenly, a thought occurred to me. Though I had distanced myself from the vagrants physically, I was still a vagrant at heart. Influenced by the vagrants, unable to forget my time as one, and even the users saw me as a vagrant.

In the end, I managed to join a clan. But when I realized it was hastily formed to monitor me, I could only laugh bitterly.

It felt the same. Nothing had changed, whether here or there. I had barely returned to being a user, yet I was still under surveillance.

Only then did belated regret set in.

I had been too hasty. I should have waited a bit longer before leaving. Had I become an executive, I could have learned more critical information about the vagrants. At the very least, if I had known the list of spies among the users, I wouldn’t have been so tightly bound.

The vagrants were relentless and persistent. The spies spread rumors about me, restricting my activities, and never eased their watchful eyes. After being denied participation in what I thought was my last chance, the “Vagrant Extermination Plan,” I made a decision.

To “retreat.”

In truth, I had no other options. There was nothing I could do in that situation, and returning was a fate worse than death.

Still… I couldn’t continue living like this, so I decided to lay low and wait for another opportunity. With that in mind, I began a life of seclusion, avoiding the vagrants’ surveillance as much as possible.

The opportunity came sooner than expected.

One day, when the northern continent was abuzz with news of war, I heard that Baek Seo-yeon, one of the vagrant grand executives, had been captured as a prisoner.

A new request came to me. I received a summons to join the eastern forces in the upcoming war against the vagrant alliance on the western continent. It was the opportunity I had longed for since entering the city.

Upon moving to the eastern forces, I finally understood the situation. Baek Seo-yeon’s confession had exposed the “spies” hidden among the users. It seemed that some of the spies who had received orders regarding me had confessed a part of it as well.

Of course, that didn’t mean my innocence was completely proven. Most users still looked at me with suspicion. I understood. After all, when I was there, they must have thought of me as a complete vagrant.

But with the spies thoroughly rooted out, everything improved compared to before. I was no longer under surveillance, and my actions were no longer restricted. Prejudices remained, but at least the path to changing perceptions was open. That fact alone satisfied me.

Honestly, at first, I was bewildered. Overnight, the situation surrounding me had completely resolved itself.

At the same time, curiosity arose. Who could it be? Who accomplished so easily what I couldn’t achieve no matter how hard I struggled?

Who was it that pulled me out of this hell?

I think it was around then.

That I began to take an interest in the user known as Kim Soo-hyun, the leader of the Mercenary Clan.

“Honestly, when I first saw you, it was really strange. I didn’t feel any of the disgust I used to feel when I looked at men.”

“What was it about me?”

“Well, how should I put it…”

A chilly breeze brushed past the tip of my nose. The sound of the garden’s grass rustling against each other seemed to please Nam Da-eun, as a gentle smile spread across her eyes.

“I felt a sense of kinship.”

“Kinship?”

“Yes, kinship. Those eyes filled with deep wounds and sorrow. That’s exactly how it felt when you looked at me. Even though it was our first meeting, it didn’t feel unfamiliar.”

‘So, does that mean I have similar wounds and sorrows as Nam Da-eun?’

Nam Da-eun glanced back at me briefly, then spoke with a serious gaze.

“You must have found it strange, seeing a woman staring at you so intently when we first met at Princia.”

She did indeed stare at me back then, in the control room of the Goryeo Clan.

“I wanted to at least say thank you, but the words just wouldn’t come out. And I was curious. What kind of experiences must this person have had to have such eyes?”

“I never imagined you’d think that. I thought you might be interested in me. Haha.”

It was a joke to lighten the increasingly serious mood, but Nam Da-eun nodded slowly, as if to say I was right. She propped her chin on her hand and smiled softly.

“Yes, that’s right.”

”…Really?”

“I was curious, very curious. I wanted to know more about you, Kim Su-hyun, the Mercenary Lord. So I did some secret investigating. I wouldn’t have done that if I wasn’t interested.”

I touched my lips, wondering why things often didn’t go as I intended. Maybe it was better to just let things flow naturally.

“What impressed me most about you was during the User Academy. Despite being the top student and receiving offers from many clans, you chose to venture into the world with the friends you met during the rites of passage.”

“That was…”

“Regardless of what you thought, from my perspective, it was truly admirable. If I had been one of those kids, I would have been incredibly happy. Because that was the dream I had when I first entered Hall Plain.”

Nam Da-eun was still smiling. She had been smiling ever since I told her she had a beautiful smile, even while sharing her past.

“During the war, I tested you as a special assistant for the same reason. I wanted an excuse to talk to you.”

“I remember that duel.”

“So do I. It was unbelievable. A first-year user overwhelmed me with strength during our first exchange, and I almost lost Seol-ah.”

“Haha…”

“And then, to my surprise, I lost. But that wasn’t all. Seol-ah suddenly went crazy over you. Do you know how flustered I was?”

“The man you were interested in suddenly turned into a strange one.”

Nam Da-eun nodded as if to say, “How did you know?” At that moment, we both burst into laughter.

“Ahaha!”

“Hahaha!”

After the laughter subsided, I felt her head gently rest on my shoulder. But unlike before, I didn’t feel tense. Perhaps it was because of all the stories Nam Da-eun had shared. Now, a sense of comfort spread through me.

“At first, I was very confused. Why did I keep looking at this man? The feelings that started as simple curiosity became so complex that even I couldn’t understand them.”

“Is that why you started avoiding my gaze?”

“Yes. It was already complicated enough, and Seol-ah kept sending vibrations whenever I stood in front of you.”

“And how about now? Is it still complicated and unclear?”

Normally, I wouldn’t have dared to ask such a bold question. But now, it felt different. My heart was calm, and the words flowed easily. The initial awkwardness had vanished, replaced by a peculiar atmosphere between us.

Nam Da-eun shook her head.

“No, not anymore. I found a moment that helped me understand those feelings.”

“A moment?”

“It was in Barbara.”

I felt her head lift from my shoulder, and she took a deep breath as if preparing to say something important.

“After the meeting, when we met…”

“Yes, I remember.”

“When Istantel Low Road announced they wanted to recruit me in front of you, I felt strangely upset.”

”…I could tell.”

“And when you said you’d welcome me to the Mercenary, I felt genuinely happy. It wasn’t a lie; I was truly pleased. Experiencing such contrasting emotions, I finally…”

Nam Da-eun paused, then turned to look at me. Her eyes held a gentle light, as if she was about to say something significant.

I hesitated for a moment but then nodded slowly, giving her the silent signal to continue.

“While participating in the siege, I kept reflecting on that day’s emotions. And I became certain.”

”…Couldn’t it just be simple goodwill?”

Nam Da-eun shook her head and spoke in a calm tone.

“It’s more than goodwill. There’s one more thing.”

She said there was one more thing. Her lips curved into a soft smile.

Suddenly, I felt as if my breath had stopped.

In the garden, dimly lit by moonlight, the darkness had settled, but the reflected light from the pond shimmered brightly.

In the dark garden, within the brightly lit space.

“So…”

Finally, Nam Da-eun spoke.

“My heart races.”

And I, in a daze, asked, “Races…?”

Nam Da-eun nodded vigorously and gently took my hand, guiding it to her chest. I didn’t resist, letting her lead me.

I felt the soft sensation of her breast against my fingers.

Thump.

At the same time, a faint vibration traveled through my palm.

“When you said you’d welcome me to the Mercenary, my heart raced.”

Thump, thump.

Indeed, this feeling was unmistakably the sound of a racing heart.

“Every time I see you, hear you, or stand next to you, my heart races like this.”

“User… Nam Da-eun.”

“You asked why I chose the Mercenary, right? This is my answer, Clan Lord, and Su-hyun.”

As Nam Da-eun’s heartfelt confession continued, my mind went blank. It was a situation I had never experienced in both the first and second rounds of Hall Plain, leaving me feeling like a blank slate.

A feeling I hadn’t experienced with Ha-yeon or Go Yeon-ju. Yes, I was definitely excited.

I stared blankly at Nam Da-eun. She smiled brightly once more.

“What about you, Su-hyun? Does your heart race when you see me?”

I raised my remaining hand and placed it over my left chest to feel.

Thump.

Then, slowly, very slowly.

Thump, thump!

I felt my heartbeat gradually quicken. The rhythm in my left hand began to match the rhythm in my right.

“It wasn’t like this before, but…”

I swallowed and continued.

“It seems to have started racing just a moment ago. Strangely, it keeps getting faster.”

“There’s nothing strange about it. It’s a perfectly natural phenomenon.”

”…Is that so?”

“Yes, and it makes me happy.”

Nam Da-eun leaned closer, resting her face on my right shoulder. Her gaze was so captivating that I couldn’t help but be drawn in.

“Thank you, Su-hyun.”

“Thank you…?”

Instinctively, I withdrew my hand from her chest and instead lifted her chin, just slightly.

As her slender neck tilted upward, Nam Da-eun gently closed her eyes. Her long eyelashes, delicate nose, and softly pursed lips caught my attention.

I lightly held her chin with my thumb and forefinger. Then, as if entranced, I slowly leaned in, closing my eyes.

As our breaths mingled, I felt the warm sensation of her lips. A soft, sweet kiss. The overwhelming sweetness spread through my body, causing my lips to tremble. Her lips trembled as well.

It was then.

Clink…!

A faint noise echoed from one side. As I opened my eyes, I saw Nam Da-eun looking back at me with wide eyes.

We quickly pulled apart and simultaneously turned our gaze to the source of the noise, the fourth floor of the main building.

“Ahaha. Did… we get caught?”

Nam Da-eun’s awkward voice filled the air.

Bang.

Im Han-na quickly closed the door. She turned around and leaned against the wall.

“Haa, haa.”

Her breath was ragged. Her whole body trembled like a leaf, and her hands were inexplicably damp. And a strange sadness crept in. Im Han-na covered her face with both hands and sank to the floor.

“Why… am I like this…?”

A self-deprecating voice slipped through her delicate lips.

Eventually, the woman leaning against the window slowly closed her eyes.

A few months ago, Im Hanna had confessed her feelings to Kim Suhyun and even kissed him.

But that was as far as it went. Their relationship hadn’t progressed at all since then.

Im Hanna tried to understand. She thought, “He’s always busy. Maybe he’ll find time for me eventually.” So she waited, suppressing her hopes, but he neither came to see her nor showed any sign of wanting to talk.

Finally, tired of waiting, she decided to bring it up herself. With the festival coming up, she thought it was the perfect opportunity.

But was it fate playing tricks on her?

“Can you spare some time during the festival?” or “Can we talk for a bit?”

She wanted to say these things, but every time she tried, the moment slipped away. How could such simple words be so hard to utter?

During the festival, she finally managed to seize a chance, only to witness a scene she wished she hadn’t. Kim Suhyun was kissing another woman. And it wasn’t a one-sided kiss; he was actively participating.

It was a stark contrast to the hesitant kiss he had shared with her in the bathhouse.

Recalling the scene, Im Hanna smiled bitterly.

“Is he avoiding me on purpose?”

And then, she laughed sadly.

Deep down, Im Hanna knew. If it had been Jeong Hayun or Go Yeonju, it might have been different. But what she had just seen had nothing to do with her. After all, she and Kim Suhyun weren’t anything to each other yet.

“Well, I guess I’m not much better.”

Im Hanna wasn’t in a great position either. Jeong Hayun and Go Yeonju were already by Kim Suhyun’s side, and she had tried to wedge herself in between them. From their perspective, she had no right to complain.

Yet, why did she feel so disappointed and sad?

“Ah.”

Im Hanna let out a deep sigh and turned her head slightly to gaze out the window. The area around the pond was now deserted. The man and woman had already left.

“I should clean up…”

Im Hanna slowly got to her feet. The terrace was littered with broken glass and spilled liquid.

It was certainly rude to trespass, and Kim Suhyun, who liked things tidy, would surely dislike the mess. With that thought, Hanna weakly took off her jacket. She didn’t have the energy to go downstairs for a cloth.

Click.

Whoosh, whoosh.

As she opened the door and stepped onto the terrace, a biting cold wind hit her. Kneeling quietly, she began to wipe the floor with her neatly folded jacket.

Swish, swish.

As she gathered the shards and wiped the floor, her once-clean jacket quickly became stained with a deep purple. She could feel small pieces of glass pricking her skin, but it didn’t hurt.

Im Hanna focused solely on cleaning, her mind blank.

Then, suddenly.

Plop.

“Huh…”

A small droplet fell onto the unstained part of her jacket, leaving a mark.

Plop, plop, plop.

“Huh…?”

The marks kept increasing. One became two, two became three, three became four, and so on.

Only then did Im Hanna realize she was crying.

“Ha, haha… hahaha… sob…”

Another gust of cold wind swept over her, making her shiver. She flipped her jacket inside out and placed her hand on the side stained with liquid and glass.

“Sob… sob… sob…”

She cried quietly, afraid of being heard, and resumed her cleaning.

At that moment.

Click!

The terrace door opened, and someone stepped in.

---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=

Hello, this is Ro Yujin.

First of all, I’m sorry. I’m really sorry. I’m endlessly sorry. Once again, I’ve failed to manage the length. ㅜ.ㅠ

I intended to finish today, but things didn’t go as planned.

If I may offer an excuse, it was because of Nam Daeun. While reading comments, I noticed several readers felt there was a lack of development with her character, so I decided to include more of her story. I didn’t expect it to become this long.

Honestly, I considered wrapping it up quickly, but I wanted to finish it properly since I’ve come this far. I wanted to give it some meaning.

So, I won’t promise when it will end anymore. Although the side story is nearing its end, it’s better not to make promises I can’t keep.

Time keeps passing, and I’m anxious, but the writing doesn’t come out right. Some of you might have found the last chapter a bit scattered. I want to write with a more relaxed mind.

I’m sorry for repeatedly saying the side story will end soon and not delivering. To those waiting for part two, I sincerely apologize again. But please understand that I’m doing my best to finish it as quickly as possible.

I’ll move on to the next chapter right away. I’ll be back before the excitement fades.

PS.

1. I won’t be including warnings in the main text anymore. If you don’t want them, please feel free to skip over them.

2. I’ve been contacted by Joara. I’ve received the Diligent Serialization Award. I deeply thank all the readers. (__)

3. I can’t reply to messages right now. I’ll respond to them all once the side story is finished.