Demotion
“Business, you say… Come on, let’s not be so uptight with each other. I was just joking about the killing part, you know? With Go Yeon-ju around, do you really think I’d go that far? Hahaha.”
He relaxed the tension in his eyes and spoke in a soothing, gentle voice, trying to calm the situation.
Since he was the one asking for a favor, it was time to ease up after tightening the reins. After all, the person he was dealing with was Salmun, who ruled the underworld of the whole plane.
“Alright, let’s call it a request, not business. Our Mercenary is a mercenary clan too. Handle this well, and we’ll make sure you’re well compensated.”
(Hmm. A request, you say… Does it have anything to do with your recent trip to the mountains where the dragon sleeps?)
“Yes. The An Hyun and Baek Han-gyeol incident… You must have heard about it, right? Some unheard-of caravan approached us with a request, but the whole process seemed fishy.”
(Hmm… Fishy, you say…)
The voice from the crystal ball was much calmer now. Changing the term to “request” seemed to have eased Salmun’s mind, given that they operated under a similar system.
After a moment of contemplation, a rough voice spoke.
(The real client is likely not Kim Soo-jung, but a user named Song Hee-sun. She’s a second-year user and a member of the Southern Free Union. Her clan is the Baekhwa Clan, led by a user named Min Baek-hwa. It’s a fairly large clan, given that it supports a significant part of their finances.)
Listening to the man’s words, I couldn’t help but be impressed. He was spilling information as if he knew exactly what I was going to ask, even though I hadn’t even gotten to the main point yet.
I knew this much already, but it was a testament to Salmun’s still formidable information network.
“Right. I know up to that point. So, you’re saying there’s a high chance the Southern Free Union is up to something… But honestly, it’s hard to believe the Baekhwa Clan would do such a thing.”
(That’s correct. User Min Baek-hwa is known for her benevolence, but she’s not the type to pull off something like this. She’s someone who only looks out for herself and her clan. So, it’s unlikely she acted alone. She might be an accomplice, a bystander, or simply unaware. It’s one of the three.)
“There’s a good chance another clan is involved… But why would they attack us? We haven’t had any conflicts with them.”
(That’s just one side of the story. Mercenary Lord, there’s no such thing as an unprovoked attack. If they’re doing this, they have their reasons. It could be a grudge, or they might be using you as a scapegoat. Especially for a neutral clan like Mercenary, that’s even more likely.)
Understanding what he was getting at, I nodded.
“Is that so… Well, it’s pointless to argue about it now. Anyway, got it. Any other information?”
(For now, I can only provide surface-level details. We’ll have to investigate further. So, what would you like us to look into first?)
When asked to specify my request, I spoke without hesitation.
“Go Yeon-ju has been active for the past two to three weeks. I’ll inform her separately, so you just need to assist her. You understand?”
(What? The Shadow Queen? But she’s supposed to be in the mountains where the dragon sleeps…)
The man responded in a surprised voice, and I couldn’t help but smile inwardly. The fact that Salmun was unaware meant Go Yeon-ju was executing my orders flawlessly.
“Ah, I sent her back secretly as soon as she arrived at the mountains.”
(Well… I was wondering why you were requesting us…)
The man muttered in a voice that was both exasperated and displeased.
And then it happened.
“Then…”
(In that case, we won’t be taking on this request.)
Just as I was about to say “please take care of it,” the man declined. I thought I might have misheard, but I hadn’t. My face involuntarily scrunched up, and I spoke quietly.
“Are you kidding me?”
(I’m not joking. If the Shadow Queen is already active, there’s no room for us to intervene.)
“What? What do you mean by that?”
(Exactly what I said. Mercenary Lord, aren’t you underestimating the Shadow Queen?)
That wasn’t the case. I was well aware of Go Yeon-ju’s capabilities. Even so, I reached out to Salmun because I didn’t want to rely solely on her.
“I get what you’re saying, but isn’t it better to be sure?”
(This is… How should I explain this… Mercenary Lord, as a side note, do you know how many members Salmun had at its peak?)
I shook my head. I wanted to ask what he was suddenly talking about, but I swallowed the words. I knew the man in the crystal ball wasn’t one to speak lightly.
(At our peak, we had 24 members. After the Shadow Queen left, we were down to 19, including her, so 18. And thanks to someone a year ago, we’re now down to just 7.)
”…You don’t have to beat around the bush.”
(To cut to the chase, even when we were at our peak, with 23 members excluding the Shadow Queen, gathering information was only comparable to what she could do alone. That’s the kind of presence she is.)
”…”
I scratched my head. So, they’re saying that since Go Yeon-ju is already active, they aren’t needed?
(That’s not all. The Shadow Queen takes great pride in her work in this field. Our involvement would likely upset her.)
“I know her well…”
(Oh, of course, she’d smile in front of the Mercenary Lord. Though, honestly, that’s hard to believe… Anyway, but not with us. There will definitely be repercussions.)
“How can you be so sure?”
(I trained her. How could I not know? We’re afraid of you, but we’re also afraid of the Shadow Queen.)
”…Tsk.”
I lowered the crystal ball weakly. There wasn’t much more to say after all that.
Realizing the change in view, a couple of coughs came from below.
(Ahem. First, receive the Shadow Queen’s report, and if you find it lacking, then request us again. But if she can’t find the information, we won’t be able to either. Please keep that in mind and contact us.)
“Are you telling me to contact you or not? Anyway, got it. I’ll be in touch later.”
Emphasizing the word “request” seemed like a way to maintain some pride. With that thought, I cut off the magic without hesitation. The crystal ball made a small noise and gradually returned to its dull color.
I sighed briefly and tucked the crystal ball into my pocket. I felt a bit bewildered. I hadn’t expected Salmun to back down so easily.
I didn’t know much about Go Yeon-ju’s pride, as she always seemed gentle and soft-spoken, but I was well aware of how ruthless Salmun could be.
Salmun.
A cruel, vicious group with a strong sense of pride. Though I’d never clashed with them directly, there were rumors that even the Murder Brigade avoided them.
And yet, they’re saying they’re unnecessary because of Go Yeon-ju?
I couldn’t quite grasp it yet, but I’d heard Salmun’s stance, and the connection was severed. So, I decided it was best to return and hear the information Go Yeon-ju had gathered before deciding on Salmun’s involvement.
With that, I calmly turned and walked toward the campsite.
The desert around me had fallen into complete darkness, creating an eerie atmosphere.
As I walked aimlessly, a thought suddenly crossed my mind.
What kind of life did Go Yeon-ju lead in the early days of the whole plane? What kind of past does she have that she never speaks of it?
I’m curious. So very curious.
I considered asking her once, but then I erased the thought from my mind. It wasn’t that I lacked curiosity, but I knew I wasn’t in a position to ask.
Because I, too, was hiding my past.
I chuckled to myself and looked up.
In the distance, the lights of the campsite began to come into view again.
When An Hyun first opened his eyes, the world appeared blurry and indistinct.
He couldn’t see clearly. There was just a small, weak light flickering as if it might disappear at any moment, and some kind of noise in the background. That was all.
“Ugh…”
A sudden wave of dizziness hit him, and An Hyun immediately closed his eyes. He tried to move, but his body wouldn’t respond. Instinctively, he opened his mouth, but only a dry sound escaped. His mind was slightly awake, but no coherent thoughts formed.
Everything was just a jumble.
Eventually, when the splitting headache subsided a little, An Hyun cautiously opened his eyes again.
It was better than before, but still not normal. He could distinguish objects, but the whole world seemed to sway, like looking through water.
The first things he saw were the dark night sky and two women.
Kim Han-byeol and Vivian.
Kim Han-byeol was looking down at him with a surprised expression, while Vivian had her head turned, speaking loudly to someone.
Eventually, feeling a wave of exhaustion wash over him, Ahn Hyun closed his eyes gently. His mind struggled to stay alert, but his body was crying out in fatigue. Unable to resist the encroaching darkness, he finally succumbed and let his eyes fall shut.
How much time had passed? How long had he been out?
Though he drifted in and out of consciousness, once Ahn Hyun awoke, he clung to awareness with all his might.
Then, suddenly, he felt something strange. Or perhaps it was more accurate to call it a peculiar sensation. It was faint, but he felt as if his body was being gently rocked.
Ahn Hyun slowly opened his eyes, and then widened them in surprise.
Just moments ago, he had seen the night sky, but now it was not the dark of night that greeted him. Instead, it was a bright morning world, with the scenery slowly passing by in one direction.
Instinctively, he turned his head and realized he was being carried on someone’s back.
“Hmm?”
A curious voice reached his ears, and with that, the world around Ahn Hyun began to shift again. Against his will, he found himself looking up at the sky, feeling a soft surface beneath him.
“Ah…”
He tried to speak, but all that came out was a dry croak.
His mouth felt parched, and he desperately sought water. As if understanding his need, something round was pressed into his mouth, and a cool liquid trickled in.
The liquid felt like a lifeline, and Ahn Hyun drank it eagerly. His dry mouth was soothed, and the burning thirst gradually subsided.
As a refreshing sensation coursed through his chest, the rational part of his mind awoke, slowly reclaiming his thoughts. With clarity returning, he began to perceive his surroundings more clearly.
“Hey, hey! Ahn Hyun! Are you okay? Can you see me?”
“Ahn Hyun! Are you conscious? Ahn Hyun!”
“Look at him, waking up just as we reach the city gates. This damn thunderhead.”
“Hey, stop picking on my brother!”
Ahn Hyun blinked up at the bright world, seeing a head of red hair and a pair of red eyes staring down at him. Though they seemed fierce at first glance, the trembling eyes were filled with concern.
At the same time, familiar faces came into view: Lee Yoo-jung, Shin Jae-ryong, Heo Jun-young, Ahn Sol…
“Hyung! Hyung! Are you okay now? You’re awake, right? Say something, hyung!”
When Baek Han-gyeol’s face appeared, Ahn Hyun finally snapped back to full awareness.
Blinking a few times, he struggled to speak.
“Han…gyeol?”
“Yes, it’s me! Hyung, it’s me.”
“How…?”
“You don’t have to worry anymore. Su-hyun hyung saved us!”
Su-hyun hyung? Saved us? As Ahn Hyun pieced together his thoughts, he instinctively tried to sit up, only to fall back down. Though his mind was clear, his body had only just begun to recover and wasn’t fully responsive yet.
“Stay down, thunderhead.”
“Clan Lord! Ahn Hyun has regained full consciousness!”
At the mention of “Clan Lord,” Ahn Hyun gritted his teeth without realizing it, fighting to keep his eyes open.
“Ugh…”
With great effort, he lifted his head, and saw a man looking down at him. It was a face he had longed to see, one he had missed dearly. Though the expression was impassive and cold, there was a warmth in the eyes that occasionally shone through…
“Hyung…”
Ahn Hyun slowly, very slowly, raised his hand.
And then it happened.
“Well, that’s a relief.”
Ahn Hyun’s hand, which had been rising slowly, stopped abruptly.
“Anyway, now that we’re in the city, let’s head back to the Mercenary House. Everyone’s waiting.”
‘Well, that’s a relief.’
‘Anyway, now that we’re in the city…’
The words were spoken in the usual calm tone, yet they rang clearly in Ahn Hyun’s ears.
Before he could process it, Kim Su-hyun’s gaze pierced his chest. The look was icy, devoid of the warmth it once held, as if he were looking at a stranger.
Ahn Hyun hadn’t expected a celebration for waking up. He knew he had made mistakes.
But he had always been the first to receive Kim Su-hyun’s attention. The sudden change in demeanor brought a wave of unfamiliar, overwhelming sorrow crashing into his heart.
Yet, Kim Su-hyun continued speaking, seemingly indifferent.
“By the way… Have you contacted the Crystal Sphere? They’ll be surprised.”
“Yes, yes? Oh… I just informed User Jeong Ha-yeon.”
As Kim Su-hyun turned his head to chat with someone else, Ahn Hyun’s trembling hand fell limply to his side.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
The second round of voting begins now!
Feel free to suggest better dialogue in the comments. :)
< Player Status >
Name: Kim Su-hyun (3rd Year)
Class: Sword Specialist (Secret, Sword Specialist, Master)
Nation: Free Mercenary
Clan: Mercenary (Clan Rank: AA - Double A)
True Name • Nationality: Demon • Master of the Sword • South Korea
Sex: Male (27)
Height • Weight: 181.5cm • 75.5kg
Alignment: Moderation • Chaos
[Strength 96(+2)] [Endurance 94(+2)] [Agility 98] [Stamina 92(+2)] [Magic 96] [Luck 90(+2)]
(Remaining ability points: 6 Free points)
Heart imbued with Fire Justice.
No impurities in the body. Magic flow doubled.
Heart engraved with the mark of an ancient priestess.
Consumed Eve’s Blood.
< Achievements (6) >
< Unique Ability (1/1) >
< Special Ability (1/1) >
< Latent Abilities (4/4) >
Melee Combat (Rank: EX)
Unyielding (Rank: A Plus Plus)
Insight (Rank: EX)
Blessing of the Battlefield (Rank: EX)
(Remaining ability points: 1 Special, Latent point)
『Authority: Conclusion (A sword specialist can cut or slice through anything.)』
< Recent Ability Comparison >
(Before) [Strength 96(+2)] [Endurance 92] [Agility 98] [Stamina 92(+2)] [Magic 96] [Luck 90(+2)]
(After) [Strength 96(+2)] [Endurance 94(+2)] [Agility 98] [Stamina 92(+2)] [Magic 96] [Luck 90(+2)]