A New War Begins
The night had deepened.
The sky was painted in a dark, somber hue, but the full moon hung high, casting a bright glow over the campsite.
Chirp. Chirp.
Crackle! Crackle, crackle!
The soft sounds of crickets chirping and the crackling of the campfire filled the air. Listening to these sounds, I flicked the cigarette I was holding into the fire, hearing it sizzle as it was consumed by the flames.
I continued to gaze at the sky. It wasn’t that I was trying to absorb the tranquility of the desert. The countless stars adorning the night sky were breathtaking, and staring at them brought a sense of calm to my mind.
After a while, I reached out beside me, feeling the rough texture of a document. As I brought it closer, the firelight revealed a map, one side glowing red from the flames. I quickly scanned it.
There were several routes to the mountain range where the dragon slept. We had chosen the path through the Red Desert, the Magnetic Wasteland, and the Swampy Marshlands.
The return journey was the same.
Our current campsite was in the Red Desert. It had taken us a week to exit the dragon’s mountain range, and three more weeks to reach this desert. In other words, the city was not far off.
“Brother? Aren’t you going to sleep?”
It was then that Hanbyeol’s voice broke the silence. I had just finished estimating the remaining distance, so I calmly folded the map and tucked it away. Hanbyeol’s face appeared, partially blocking the sky.
“Yeah. I should.”
I sat up, but as I was about to stand, a thought crossed my mind, making me frown.
When I turned to look, Hanbyeol flinched and took a few steps back.
“But why aren’t you sleeping? Tonight’s first watch is supposed to be Vivian and Cha Sorim.”
”…I switched with Sorim.”
“Again? You were supposed to be on the last watch with me. Why did you switch again?”
“Just… because…”
Hanbyeol’s voice trailed off, barely audible. It seemed she felt guilty. But I didn’t feel like pressing the issue, so I just sighed and stood up.
In truth, Hanbyeol hadn’t done anything wrong. She had used her precious opportunity to help alleviate my fatigue. I was endlessly grateful for that.
I wanted to talk to her, to express my gratitude and ask why she made such a wish. That was all.
But Hanbyeol seemed unwilling. She treated me the same as always, but whenever the topic of her wish came up, she would avoid it.
I even tried pairing us for watch duty to create a chance for a private conversation, but Hanbyeol would always switch shifts to avoid me. This had been going on since the mountain range.
Not that we hadn’t talked at all. I had once dragged her aside to discuss her wish, but that conversation ended without much progress.
I had said everything I wanted to say.
Thanks to her, a new option had opened up for Eve’s lineage. It was a safer and more efficient choice than the uncertain ones we had before. I was grateful for that, among other things.
But Hanbyeol’s response was vague. She seemed to understand my gratitude, but she wouldn’t say a word about her conversation with Ganesha.
By now, I had somewhat given up. Hanbyeol’s persistent silence left me with no other choice. Besides, I had promised not to pry into her wish, so I couldn’t force her to talk.
Still, I wanted to try one last time.
Once we reached the city, things would get hectic. There were countless important tasks that required my attention.
I wanted to confirm Hanbyeol’s true feelings before that, but it seemed our relationship hadn’t developed to the point where she felt comfortable opening up to me.
Feeling a sudden stiffness in my body, I stretched with all my might. Then, I couldn’t help but chuckle bitterly. I prided myself on being perceptive about women, yet at times like this, their hearts seemed utterly inscrutable.
Lowering my arms, I spoke quietly.
“Talking to you is really tough.”
“Oh, brother, it’s not like that…”
“It’s fine. I’ll just assume you have your reasons. Anyway, I’ll be going now… Let’s talk when you’re ready.”
”…Okay.”
With Hanbyeol’s small voice as a farewell, I turned and walked away.
As I was about to leave the campsite, I saw Vivian yawning as she came out, likely preparing for her watch. She rubbed her eyes and widened them when she saw me.
“Oh? Kiwoo? Oh… Are you on the first watch too?”
”…No, I’m on the last watch. I’m heading to bed now.”
“Ah… Then why are you heading this way? Your sleeping bag is over there.”
“Just taking care of something before I sleep.”
Vivian pointed to the right, then nodded sleepily, likely interpreting my words as needing to relieve myself.
But that wasn’t it. I wasn’t going to take care of a bodily need; I had something else to do.
After sternly reminding her not to fall asleep, I left the campsite, leaving Vivian behind.
From the dragon’s mountain range to the Red Desert, I had gathered all the information I could.
But it was only what I could do for now, having confronted Hanbyeol and the awakened clients. The results weren’t much different from my initial thoughts.
Still, there was some progress. I had discovered the identity of the user who paid Kim Sujeong for the request.
Her name was Song Heeseon. A former actress who crossed over to the Hall Plain two years ago. She was attractive but not particularly skilled. However, after completing the User Academy, she received an offer from a clan in the Southern Free Union. The clan lord knew Song Heeseon from their time as fellow actors in the modern world.
“I think that’s enough.”
I had distanced myself from the campsite. Looking back at the distant glow of the fire, I reached into my pocket. Feeling a small, round object, I pulled out a communication crystal.
Unlike the usual shiny crystals, this one was dull and dark.
I stared at the crystal for a moment, then looked up at the sky. It was late, but the people I needed to contact were active regardless of the hour. They operated in the shadows of the Hall Plain.
Before entering the dragon’s mountain range, I had given instructions to Go Yeonju. But I couldn’t rely solely on her. Once we reached the city, I had my own plans to set in motion, and this was the first step.
With that in mind, I infused the crystal with magic.
Crackle! Crackle!
The crystal glowed brightly, emitting a grating sound. As expected, it wasn’t long before the noise subsided, and a figure appeared.
The crystal remained dark, indicating that the person on the other end was also shrouded in black.
“It’s been a while.”
(…I didn’t expect to hear from the Mercenary Lord.)
The voice was low and rough, like metal scraping against metal.
Satisfied that the connection was established, I continued calmly.
“Why? Is there a rule that says I can’t contact you?”
(That’s not what I meant. I thought there was no need for further contact. Our relationship was settled when we released the Shadow Queen.)
Settled by releasing the Shadow Queen, huh? I recalled the incident from a year ago and shook my head with a smirk.
“No, no. Go Yeonju walked out on her own three years ago. Isn’t that right? And… don’t you owe me a life debt?”
(A life debt?)
“Yes, a life debt. If I remember correctly… I spared some of you at Go Yeonju’s request instead of wiping you all out. That’s why we have this communication network. Since you still have it…”
(Ha. You call that massacre a debt…? And as for the debt you speak of, we consider it repaid. I have nothing more to say. I’ll be disposing of this crystal today. Goodbye…)
As the man was about to cut the connection, a heavy feeling settled over me.
Just before he could disconnect, I spoke quietly.
“If you hang up…”
(…?)
“…you die.”
(…)
The figure in the crystal froze, silenced by my words.
A tense silence hung in the air.
The man didn’t say a word, but the slight distortion of the crystal ball suggested he was biting his lip.
I glared at him steadily and continued speaking slowly.
“No matter how well you hide, I doubt I won’t find you. If you’re so confident, feel free to hang up.”
And then.
(…What do you want?)
Finally, the man’s voice came through, and I allowed myself a small smile.
Late at night, near the campsite.
“Hey, Jewel. Listen to me for a second. I think that…”
”…”
“Oh, right. By the way, I’m really worried about Ahn Hyun. He still hasn’t woken up… But we’re almost at the city, right? That means Kim Su-hyun will be making a public appearance after ages… What do you think, Jewel? What do you think will happen?”
”…”
Vivian’s endless chatter about various topics made Hanbyul want to plug her ears. Her mind was already a tangled mess, and Vivian’s nonstop babbling made her feel like she was about to explode.
“Yoo-hoo! Right? Don’t you think so too?”
”…Sigh.”
Hanbyul let out a thin sigh. She was tempted to shut that pretty mouth of Vivian’s, but she knew it wouldn’t stop her. So, she decided it was best to just block it all out and let her mind wander.
Her thoughts drifted to the person who had been causing her so much inner turmoil lately.
Kim Su-hyun.
The Mercenary Lord.
Her brother.
‘It’s so hard to have a conversation with you.’
‘I’ll just assume you have your reasons for not talking.’
Kim Su-hyun’s words suddenly came to mind, and Hanbyul lowered her head, feeling dejected.
She knew why Kim Su-hyun was acting the way he was, and she was aware that her own actions weren’t right.
So why did she keep avoiding him?
It was a question she had been asking herself and pondering over for a long time. Yet, she still hadn’t found an answer.
The reason Hanbyul was avoiding Kim Su-hyun was simple.
First, she didn’t want him to discover the exact nature of her wish, a feeling she couldn’t quite understand. Second, she hadn’t yet defined her feelings for him.
Hanbyul had made two wishes to Ganesha. In case the first wish wasn’t granted, she wished for Ganesha to reveal her feelings to her. She thought it was a wish only she would know.
But things took an unexpected turn.
Both wishes were granted, but only halfway.
Ganesha informed Su-hyun that Hanbyul had made a wish for him. While Ganesha couldn’t define Hanbyul’s feelings, it paved the way for her to find the answer herself.
And so, Hanbyul was left in a state of confusion.
She didn’t want her true feelings to be exposed, yet she desperately wanted to understand this inexplicable emotion.
In such a contradictory situation, Kim Su-hyun kept probing about what wish she had made, adding to her confusion.
And that wasn’t all.
She was curious about how Kim Su-hyun would react if she ever told him. Hanbyul was quite perceptive. She had already noticed how the women in the Mercenary Clan viewed Kim Su-hyun and what they thought of him.
It wasn’t just one or two women. In a world like Hall Plain, where user information was highly valued, it wasn’t uncommon for a capable man to have multiple women, or vice versa.
While it might seem like an outdated notion in this world, Hanbyul was a woman who had lived in the modern world. She wasn’t sure if she could accept Kim Su-hyun’s attention being divided among other women.
Moreover, she didn’t know how Kim Su-hyun felt about her, or if she even had the right to insert herself among the other women. As a latecomer, she couldn’t help but feel self-conscious.
Yes, everything was uncertain.
“Ugh… I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know! You idiot! You fool!”
Unable to contain her frustration any longer, Hanbyul shouted and grabbed the water bottle next to her. Her chest felt like it was boiling over, and she needed to cool down before she burned up.
Hanbyul tilted her head back and gulped down the water. As she lowered the bottle, she found herself locking eyes with Vivian, who had gone silent.
Vivian blinked several times, quietly sucking on her finger, looking worried that she might have upset Hanbyul.
Realizing her outburst, Hanbyul wiped the water from her lips and spoke.
“Sorry, Vivian. I wasn’t yelling at you.”
“Heh… Really? That’s a relief. I almost got hurt.”
”…Want some water?”
“Sure. I was getting thirsty from all the talking.”
Hanbyul handed the bottle to Vivian, who eagerly unscrewed the cap.
Watching Vivian drink happily, Hanbyul suddenly felt a pang of envy. Vivian’s ever-cheerful face seemed to know no worries or cares in the world.
As she watched, a thought crossed Hanbyul’s mind, and she spoke softly.
“Vivian… I have a question.”
“Gulp… Gulp…”
Vivian didn’t answer. She couldn’t, as she was still drinking. But she must have heard, as she glanced at Hanbyul and nodded for her to continue.
After a moment, Hanbyul began tracing letters in the dirt, repeating the words in her mind. She first wrote them facing herself, then erased them and wrote them facing the other way so Vivian could see more easily.
“A, m, o, r. And N, u, n, t, i, o, s…”
“Ahh, refreshing. What is it? What’s your question?”
Vivian asked, handing the bottle back. Her voice was slightly excited, as if thrilled that Hanbyul had asked her something.
“This.”
Having finished writing, Hanbyul pointed to the ground as she took the bottle.
Amor Nuntios.
This phrase had appeared when Kim Su-hyun’s Eve’s lineage condition was updated due to Hanbyul’s wish. It was a term neither of them understood at the time, but it had left an impression on her, prompting her to remember it. She thought Vivian might know, so she asked.
“Hmm… It’s hard to see. Hold on.”
Perhaps because it was dark, Vivian leaned in closer, placing her hands on the ground to get a better look at the letters in the sand.
Hanbyul waited quietly, lightly shaking the bottle in her hand. She could feel a slight sloshing at the bottom, indicating there was still a bit of water left. Her chest still felt parched, so she tilted the bottle to her lips to finish it off. There was just enough for one last sip.
As she filled her mouth with water, Vivian suddenly lifted her head, having reached the end of the writing.
“Aha. Amor Nuntios. That’s it. Hmm. It’s a term with some history… In short.”
Vivian paused for effect, then smiled triumphantly. Hanbyul tilted her head, forgetting to swallow the water.
”?”
“Love message. Or you could say love messenger…”
And at that moment, water sprayed forcefully from Hanbyul’s mouth.
“Poof!”
“What the…? Ahhh!”
“Cough! S-sorry…! Cough, cough!”
“Hey!”
Vivian shouted, having leaned in to read the letters only to be hit directly by the spray of water. Getting splashed by water from a bottle was one thing, but being sprayed with water from someone’s mouth was another, and it was understandably unpleasant.
“But… Cough! Could it be… Cough! That this… Cough, cough!”
“What! What! This what! Oh, seriously!”
It was then.
While Hanbyul was choking and worrying if Kim Su-hyun knew, and Vivian was fuming, drenched in water.
“Ugh…”
A groan came from one side of the campsite.
It was the sound of a user who had been unconscious until now.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Reader: What is your wish?
Roh Yujin: If you ask what my wish is, it’s to update the next chapter on time.
Reader: Then what is your next wish?
Roh Yujin: If you ask what my next wish is, it’s to update Kim Su-hyun and Kim Yoo-hyun’s user information in the next chapter’s note.
Reader: Then what is your next wish?
Roh Yujin: If you ask what my next wish is, it’s to complete the character dialogue for the next chapter and hold a vote.