A Burdened Heart
Two Years Ago
Barbara, Northern Continent, Former Golden Lion Clan House
“The Northern Continent has always been lenient with vagrants. Without any need for flowery language, the focus has been on reintegrating them as users or bringing them back to the cities.”
I paused, taking a moment to scan the room. Though I had spoken up just as the meeting was about to conclude, I was relieved to find no hostile glares directed my way. Instead, curious eyes were fixed on me.
‘Did they think I was mute?’
To be fair, I had attended every summons by the Guardians but remained silent throughout the meetings. So, my sudden proposal must have come as a surprise to them.
“But everyone here knows the outcome of that lenient policy all too well. For instance, just look at the spies hidden within each clan. Not to mention the war they incited by involving the Western Continent.”
A heavy silence settled over the room. Though now common knowledge, the incident had been a shocking revelation at the time, especially for those who knew the users involved. If I had discovered that a comrade I had fought alongside for years was a vagrant, I would have been equally stunned.
“I want to draw attention to the plan the Golden Lion Clan had before the Iron Mountain expedition.”
“The plan to eradicate the vagrants, you mean?”
Realizing the gravity of the topic, Seon-yul responded in a serious tone. I nodded in agreement.
“Yes. Although it ended inconclusively, considering there was a spy within the Golden Lion, it shows how determined they were to push the plan. Whatever else, I believe the Golden Lion had the right idea with that plan.”
A tense silence enveloped the room, and the curious gazes turned sharp. Clearing my throat, I continued calmly.
“The war is over, but not all vagrants have disappeared. Their leaders escaped quickly and are likely hiding somewhere, plotting their return.”
“So, are you suggesting we start another war against the vagrants?”
A user with a bold ‘秀’ on his chest spoke up, his serious gaze suggesting he understood my point. I was momentarily at a loss for words.
’…Is he an idiot?’
I had merely used it as an example. The Northern Continent was just beginning to recover from the war’s wounds. Another war? Ridiculous.
I shook my head immediately.
“I’m not suggesting we start a war. The current situation isn’t favorable for that, and the vagrants have lost much of their strength, so they’d likely avoid conflict.”
“Oh, I see.”
“But we can’t just leave the vagrants be. We should seize this opportunity to root them out completely.”
After explaining further to the stammering user, I added one more point.
“In other words, we need to abandon the lenient policy towards vagrants and respond with equal force. Or perhaps, in the same way.”
“In the same way, you say. It seems you have a plan, Mercenary Lord.”
Since I was allowed to speak, Lee Hyo-eul had maintained a serious demeanor. Now, with a slight smile, she seemed eager for me to get to the point. I decided to meet her expectations.
“Vagrants have committed unspeakable atrocities against users. Murder, robbery, rape, and even displaying mutilated bodies as trophies. They’ve even kept people as sex slaves, killing them when they grew bored. As a result, vagrants have become synonymous with terror among users.”
“Hmm… So, are you suggesting we do the same to the vagrants?”
“Vagrants see users as prey. But after this war, their presence has diminished significantly. Now is the time. They’ve given up being users. So why should we treat them as such? It’s time for the vagrants to become the prey.”
“So, you’re suggesting we turn vagrants into a kind of achievement for users?”
Exactly. I smiled inwardly. Lee Hyo-eul had grasped the core of my proposal.
In the Hall Plain, users gain achievements through hunting, exploration, and relic excavation. Lee Hyo-eul suggested making vagrants an achievement.
This implies that users can handle vagrants however they see fit. Whether it’s targeting their equipment, destroying their circuits to enslave and trade them, conducting human experiments, or simply killing them.
Lee Hyo-eul seemed deep in thought, her expression conflicted. She knew, as did I, that now was the perfect time to implement my plan, with the war just ended.
‘I need to persuade her a bit more.’
Just as I was about to emphasize my point to the hesitant Lee Hyo-eul, a slow clap echoed through the quiet meeting room.
The one applauding was none other than Jo Seong-ho, the new clan lord of Goryeo. As I looked at him in surprise, he spoke calmly.
“That’s quite an idea. A very, very good idea, Mercenary Lord.”
His voice was steady, but his eyes burned with cold vengeance.
‘Come to think of it, the former Goryeo lord… died during the war with the allied forces.’
Jo Seong-ho had been close to the former lord, which explained his enthusiastic support.
“Indeed, it’s an intriguing proposal. Turning vagrants into an achievement… And achievements belong to the user who earns them. Fascinating. Heh.”
The ‘Cursed Sorcerer’ Kang Tae-wook also voiced his support. I had expected as much from him.
With two votes of approval already, I turned my gaze to Lee Hyo-eul, silently asking for her stance.
The Guardian of the Northern Continent seemed to have gathered her thoughts, though she still appeared somewhat uncertain.
“The Mercenary Lord’s proposal is… well…”
Finally, Lee Hyo-eul moistened her lips slightly.
A young woman lay slumped over a table.
She looked to be in her mid-twenties. Her back and hips twisted awkwardly against the chair, her chest pressed against the table. Supporting her head with one arm, she stared blankly at the torn records before her, her eyes vacant.
“Oh! Not many people here today.”
“How lucky!”
Just as the woman continued to gaze into space, a group of men entered the tavern, claiming a table. Their loud, celebratory chatter suggested a successful hunt.
One of the men, rubbing his belly, called out loudly.
“Strange. I don’t see any staff around.”
“Let’s call the owner. Madam Im! Madam Im!”
Despite the burly man’s loud calls, there was no response. A smaller man beside him tilted his head in confusion.
“What’s going on? Is she not here today?”
“Well… then there’s no point in being here. We came to see the flower of Monica, but without the flower…”
“Just eat quietly. The food here is quite good.”
“You dry soul. You might not care as long as your belly’s full, but I do. Visual pleasure enhances the taste of food.”
The burly man, despite his size, spoke with surprising delicacy, his eyes scanning the tavern wistfully. The man labeled ‘dry’ snorted.
“Sure. But your real goal is her body, isn’t it? I’m sure Madam Im knows that and won’t give you the time of day.”
“Mind your own business. They say no tree is too tall to be felled with ten strokes. And on a day like today…”
The burly man stopped mid-sentence, his gaze fixed on the woman slumped over the table.
”…It’s a day for more than just the tongue and eyes to enjoy. Right, friends?”
Intrigued by his gaze, the smaller and ‘dry’ men turned their attention to the adjacent table. They both shook their heads.
“She’s pretty, but why does she look so fierce? Like a cat about to scratch. Still, her figure…”
“Forget it. She looks like a combat user. Let’s just eat quietly.”
With her full chest, slender waist, and firm hips, the woman exuded a captivating beauty. Her sharply arched eyebrows gave her a fierce look, but even that was part of her charm.
“The things these guys don’t know. Me? I like women with sharp features. There’s a thrill in conquering them, you know? And the sounds they make in bed are something else.”
The burly man clicked his tongue, waving his hand dismissively as he boasted.
“Yeah, right. You just like women, period.”
Just then, as the scrawny man was about to chide him, the woman shot a sharp glance at the men. The wiry man caught her gaze and quickly tried to intervene, but the burly man was already on his feet.
“Hey, let’s just—”
“Watch and learn. I’ll show you how it’s done.”
Ignoring his friends, the burly man swaggered over to the woman’s table. The scrawny man watched with interest, while the wiry man looked uneasy.
The burly man’s shadow loomed over the woman’s table.
“Hey there, miss—”
“Get lost.”
The woman didn’t even bother to look at him, her voice flat and uninterested as she stared into space.
The burly man hesitated for a moment, blinking in surprise, but then he tried again.
“Wow, playing hard to get, huh?”
“I said get lost. I’m not in the mood, so don’t push it.”
“Aw, our little kitten’s in a bad mood, huh? Come on, don’t be like that—”
“Hey.”
Finally, the woman looked at him. She slowly stood up, tilting her head to look up at him.
“Did you stuff your ears with crap? If you’re here to eat, just eat and leave quietly, okay?”
“Aw, even when you’re mad, you’re cute~.”
”…I’ll let your little commentary slide, but seriously, just leave. Okay?”
“And if I don’t?”
The burly man still wore a smug grin. He reached out, placing a hand on her shoulder, and began to squeeze. The woman straightened, a look of disbelief crossing her face.
“Wow, are you out of your mind? My brother warned me not to cause trouble again.”
“Brother? You got in trouble with your brother? Then it’s fine. You can get in trouble with me too. Hahaha!”
Amused by his own joke, the burly man laughed heartily. The woman closed her eyes, letting out a deep sigh.
“This is just ridiculous…”
As if taking her sigh as a cue, the burly man’s hand began to slide downwards.
Whoosh!
“Stop playing hard to get, I’ll pay you well—ugh!”
In an instant, the woman vanished from in front of him. The burly man gasped, feeling a sharp pressure under his chin that forced his mouth shut.
“Really, I try to stay calm, but these trashy guys… Do you have a death wish?”
A low whisper tickled his ear.
The burly man realized his chin was trembling slightly, and he felt something soft against his back. Glancing down, he saw a red-tinted dagger lightly tapping his chin. The woman had moved behind him in the blink of an eye.
He swallowed hard.
“Uh, Geun-chan?”
“Miss, let’s not.”
A beat too late, the two men stood up simultaneously. They knew their friend had crossed a line, but they couldn’t just stand by. Yet, they too seemed unable to follow the woman’s movements, their eyes and hands trembling slightly.
Then it happened.
Flash!
A brilliant light exploded onto the table where the men had been sitting, sending splinters flying. The two men, who had been about to approach, froze in their tracks.
“What the—?”
Turning their heads, they gasped. Behind the counter stood a woman with a bow, watching them intently.
The wiry man stammered.
“M-Madam Im?”
“Yes, gentlemen. It’s been a while. Hehe.”
Im Hanna had arrived. She smiled sweetly, then conjured another flash of light. The men were flustered.
“Wait, it’s a misunderstanding.”
“Yes, yes. But could you please sit back down for now?”
“But that woman—”
“I’m sorry, but we have a strict no-disruption policy here. Please, take your seats.”
Hanna’s firm response left the man speechless.
As the men reluctantly sat back down, Hanna turned to Yu-jeong, still smiling.
“Yu-jeong, put the dagger down, will you?”
“Sis! These jerks started it—”
“Jerks? You shouldn’t use such language. Have you forgotten what Clan Lord Su-hyeon said?”
”…Damn it.”
Recalling Su-hyeon’s warning about causing trouble again, Yu-jeong reluctantly lowered her dagger. As she stepped back, the burly man exhaled deeply, rubbing his neck.
The scrawny man, awkwardly watching, cautiously spoke up.
“Do you know her?”
“Her? You mean Yu-jeong?”
“Y-Yes.”
“Of course. She’s a fellow clan member.”
Hanna replied smoothly, like a flowing river, and the wiry man sighed. Realizing they were dealing with mercenaries, the burly man’s companions glared at him, regret etched on their faces.
“Haha, it’s just that the staff seemed absent today, so we were looking for Madam Im…”
“Oh dear. Love Tavern is closed for a week for renovations. There’s a notice outside.”
As Hanna explained, the men exchanged glances, shrugging as if they hadn’t seen it.
The wiry man, showing some sense, quickly pulled the burly man along, bowing his head.
“We apologize for the disturbance. May we leave now?”
“Yes, I think that’s a good idea.”
“Thank you. Sorry again.”
With Hanna’s permission, the group quickly gathered their things and fled outside.
As the door slammed shut, Hanna clicked her tongue, shaking her head. Yu-jeong sat down with a disgruntled expression, grumbling.
“So annoying… Where were you, sis?”
“Sorry, sorry. I got an urgent call from the main branch. Had to step out for a bit.”
Hanna waved her hand apologetically, and Yu-jeong’s eyes widened.
“Urgent call? What was it about?”
“Well… Han-gyeol’s back.”
At Hanna’s words, the irritation vanished from Yu-jeong’s face.
“Han-gyeol? Really?”
“Yes. But…”
“Wow, he took his sweet time coming back. What about Ahn-hyeon? And the clients, are they safe?”
Yu-jeong asked urgently, and Hanna paused. But as Yu-jeong grew impatient, Hanna closed her eyes and spoke.
“No.”
“What?”
“No one else returned. Only Han-gyeol made it back.”
”…What?”
Yu-jeong stood up from her chair, her brow furrowed in disbelief.
“Sis, what do you mean? They didn’t come back?”
“I don’t know the details. I just got the message… Anyway, Ha-yeon wants us to gather immediately, so we’ll find out more then.”
”…Alright. I’ll head over first.”
“And, also!”
But Yu-jeong didn’t wait to hear more, swiftly leaving the room.
Hanna, who was about to mention Han-gyeol’s strange condition, smiled wryly and closed her mouth. They’d find out soon enough.
“Sigh. I should clean up and head over too.”
Hanna opened her eyes, bending down to pick up the chair Yu-jeong had knocked over.
As she straightened up to put the chair back, her gaze fell on the table. Her eyes lingered on the torn pieces of paper scattered across it. Hanna calmly began piecing them together.
Clan… Qi Gong Master, God’s Shield missing for a week… Mercenary Clan’s first mission failure?
Mercenary Lord Kim Su-hyeon. Where and what is he doing now…
The limits of a mercenary clan…
Mercenary Clan…
Articles about the Mercenary Clan flooded the table.
“The limits of a mercenary clan? What a joke.”
Hanna muttered, tidying up the table.
Despite her earlier urgency, her slow movements betrayed a hint of worry.
In a secluded valley in the west.
It was the crack of dawn, the sun not yet risen, but the valley was bustling. Or rather, it was about to be.
Tap, tap, tap, tap!
A strong wind swept through, stirred by the commotion at the far end. The torches planted around the valley flickered in the gusts.
The source of the wind was a man. He leaped with each step, running as if his life depended on it. His face was contorted with urgency, his breath ragged. But he didn’t stop; instead, he pushed himself to run even faster.
How long had he been running? Eventually, the man saw a cluster of tents near a stream, and outside, another man was nodding off.
As soon as he spotted the people, the runner shouted loudly, “W-we’re in big trouble!”
“Huh?! Oh, geez… you scared me!”
The man by the campfire jerked his head up, his long hair whipping from side to side. His eyes were wide with surprise, but the drool at the corner of his mouth suggested he’d been dozing off in the warmth of the fire.
The long-haired man wiped his mouth and scolded in a thunderous voice, “You scared the hell out of me, man! Can’t you see everyone’s asleep?”
“The, the pursuit team is here!”
Ignoring the reprimand, the runner got straight to the point.
“Pursuit team?”
The long-haired man tilted his head in confusion but soon scratched his head in understanding, a gesture full of annoyance.
“Ugh… another pursuit team… this is driving me crazy.”
“The scouting team sent a message…”
“Yeah, yeah, I got it.”
The long-haired man waved his hand dismissively, then looked up at the panting man, his brow furrowing.
“Why are you so worked up? It’s not like this is the first time we’ve been chased.”
“But…”
“Calm down. You were so laid-back about the pursuit teams before… what’s gotten into you today?”
“Well, it’s just that—”
The man couldn’t hide his anxiety as he glanced around. Just then, another man emerged from the tent.
”…Ugh. What’s going on?”
Covered in hair and with a protruding belly, the new arrival wasn’t a pleasant sight, but the runner’s face lit up with relief.
“Mr. Lee Kang-san! We’re in big trouble! We’ve spotted a pursuit team.”
“Pursuit team? Yawn.”
Lee Kang-san rubbed his eyes and nodded nonchalantly. “I figured they’d show up sooner or later… So, what’s the scouting report?”
“Well… we’ve lost contact.”
Lee Kang-san stopped mid-yawn.
”…Lost contact?”
“Yes. Communication’s been cut off.”
The runner swallowed hard and continued, “The last contact was ten minutes ago. It’s likely they were taken out by the pursuit team.”
”…Did we get the last report?”
“Yes. The team consists of about ten people. Their emblem is a deep red background with a sword and shield.”
“What? Only ten people… wait a minute. A red background with a sword and shield?”
At that moment, both Lee Kang-san and the long-haired man turned their heads simultaneously.
The runner, realizing the gravity of the situation, spoke without pausing to catch his breath.
“It’s… it’s the Mercenary Clan! It’s definitely their assassination squad!”
His voice was almost a wail.
“Damn it… this is… insane…”
Simultaneously, Lee Kang-san’s expression changed drastically, and the long-haired man let out a low groan.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
The timeline of major events in Part 2 is as follows:
Kim Soo-hyun defeats Mammon (a few months ago).
Ahn Hyun and Baek Han-gyeol depart after receiving a mission (1 month and 2 weeks ago).
Ahn Hyun and Baek Han-gyeol are reported missing (2 weeks ago).
Baek Han-gyeol returns to Monica alone (present).
The Mercenary Clan’s assassination squad attacks the vagrants (present).
It’s been two years, and we’re diving straight into the events without much explanation, so it might be a bit challenging to grasp the situation.
Part 2 starts with a chain structure. Various events unfold and are resolved, eventually coming together. However, instead of glossing over things, I’ll occasionally explain why these events are happening. I thought starting with a detailed explanation would slow down the narrative too much. :)