Demotion
Finally, we returned to the Mercenary Clan House.
To my surprise, the clan members greeted us with an unexpectedly grand welcome.
I had anticipated a warm reception, but the extent of their enthusiasm was overwhelming, leaving me feeling somewhat bewildered.
The initial cheers and applause were fine, but they showed no signs of stopping. Once the commotion finally subsided, they all stood there, grinning at me in a way that made me wonder if they had collectively lost their minds.
Despite my slight concern, standing there awkwardly wasn’t an option. So, after thanking the clan members who had accompanied me for their hard work, I headed straight for Hayeon. She was the only one who seemed to have a semblance of normalcy on her face.
“Was everything alright while I was away?”
“Yes, it was quiet… Oh.”
At that moment, Hayeon smiled softly and glanced over my shoulder. As she stepped back, I turned to see Sunyoon and Ansol, both looking exhausted.
Sunyoon spoke first.
“Clan Lord, some of the users we rescued would like to meet you.”
“Huh? Why? Didn’t we provide them with all the equipment they needed?”
“It’s not about the equipment. They want to thank you for saving their lives… and they seem interested in joining the clan.”
“Tell them to forget it and go home. Oh, and let the clients know to bring Kim Soo-jung here soon. We’ve completed the request, so we need to collect the remaining payment.”
I refused without hesitation. They claimed to want to repay a debt of gratitude, but their true intentions were obvious. Unless there was a user worth scouting, which there wasn’t, as I had assessed each one on the way back, they were all mediocre at best.
Watching Sunyoon bow and turn away, I shifted my gaze to Ansol. Her eyes held a certain longing.
“What is it?”
“Brother, what are you planning to do today?”
It was only after hearing her question that I understood Ansol’s feelings. This expedition had been a long journey, lasting over two months. More than physical exhaustion, everyone was likely yearning for a warm meal and a soft bed.
“No, we’ve been through a lot, so it’s best to rest today. Take the day off and relax. Let everyone know.”
“Really?”
Since Ahn Hyun and Han Kyul also needed to recuperate, I nodded slowly. Watching Ansol dash off, I couldn’t help but smile wryly. It seemed I had pushed them quite hard.
After a moment, I turned back to Hayeon.
“I’m feeling a bit tired myself today.”
“You’ve worked hard, Clan Lord. I instructed them to prepare a meal and clean your room, so you can head straight in.”
With Hayeon’s words, I calmly walked toward the door. I could sense her cautiously following beside me. As I glanced up at the sky, the sun hung high, still casting its bright light, but it seemed it would soon set.
Lowering my gaze, I suddenly felt a pang of emptiness.
Come to think of it, Yumi was nowhere to be seen. Yumi had a peculiar talent for predicting my return whenever I went out. She was often at the front gate to greet me, but today, she was absent.
“Where’s Yumi?”
“Oh, Yumi? She’s quite busy right now.”
“Busy? With what?”
“Hehe… you might be surprised when you see.”
Surprised? What could that mean?
Though puzzled by Hayeon’s words, I decided not to press further, assuming Yumi was fine. I gently opened the door and headed to the dining hall. I, too, was craving a warm, delicious meal. After all, the food here was far better than anything outside.
The meal was indeed satisfying. Not just good, but excellent, thanks to the skilled chef who had taken over from the Night Flowers.
After finishing my meal, I left the dining hall and settled into a chair in the first-floor lobby. The fireplace in front of me crackled with a warm, red glow. As the heat enveloped me, I closed my eyes and let my thoughts drift.
Over the past two years, the Mercenary Clan had taken on countless requests and uncovered numerous relics. Naturally, this brought in results, but we hadn’t just stored them away. Since our main income source, the relics, was limited, we couldn’t rely solely on expeditions forever.
Externally, we invested in shops, inns, and taverns, or established branches in other cities. Internally, we used funds to improve the welfare of clan members by building the Mercenary Academy, renovating buildings, and setting up a forge.
The dining hall was where we focused the most effort. As meals are a crucial part of daily life, and because the Night Flowers’ cooking skills were notoriously poor. (It was so bad that starting the day with their meals left you feeling drained.)
Eventually, we reassigned the Night Flowers to house management and overhauled the dining hall. The current managers were a couple with experience running a restaurant in the modern world.
Meeting this couple was… well, a stroke of luck.
While visiting Eden for business, I stumbled upon a quaint restaurant where I met them. What was unusual was that they weren’t non-combat users. In fact, they were once renowned combat users.
Initially curious about their lifestyle choice, I learned that the husband opposed his wife engaging in intense battles after she became pregnant.
They stopped all activities after their child was born and used their savings to open a restaurant.
Their culinary skills were exceptional, and after a brief conversation, I recruited them and acquired their restaurant. The couple appreciated the favorable conditions and safer environment for raising their child, while we enjoyed high-quality meals, making it a mutually beneficial arrangement.
“Ugh, brother…”
Perhaps it was the delicious meal, but when I turned to the source of the drowsy voice, I saw Ansol settling into the chair next to me. Her face was full of contentment, and she gently rubbed her belly with her left hand, looking thoroughly satisfied.
“What is it?”
“I’m so, so full…”
“Feeling better now?”
“Yes. Being able to enjoy a drink by a warm fireplace… it’s pure bliss…”
Ansol smiled brightly and took a big sip from the large cup in her right hand. Watching her gulp down the drink, I marveled at how her slender neck could handle it. The cup was almost tilted vertically.
“Ahh! Cough, cough!”
Ansol set the cup down with a light cough.
At that moment, the quiet atmosphere around us suddenly became lively, as if the warmth from the fire had spread.
Looking around, I noticed the clan members had gathered in groups, chatting excitedly. Their eager faces and the questions they asked suggested they were curious about the expedition.
After listening to the surrounding conversations for a while, I turned back to Ansol. With her belly full, she was nodding off, her head bobbing up and down. I gently shook her shoulder.
“Ansol, you should go to bed.”
“Mm… huh?”
Ansol twisted her shoulder slightly, then lifted her head, looking at me with sleepy eyes. Her face was flushed from the fireplace’s warmth, and her eyes flickered with a faint light. Suddenly, her lips parted.
“Brother…”
“Yes?”
“Our brother…”
“Yes.”
Ansol’s lips moved as if she wanted to say something. I waited patiently for her to continue.
But in the end, she seemed to give up, standing up with a faint smile.
”…It’s nothing. Really, nothing.”
“Is that so?”
I watched Ansol stagger away as I lit a cigarette. She had mentioned “our brother,” referring to Ahn Hyun. I was curious about what she wanted to say, but I quickly dismissed it. I had already made my decision regarding Ahn Hyun, and there was no room for reconsideration.
After a moment, I decided to finish my cigarette before heading in. I closed my eyes and sank deeper into the chair.
Tomorrow would be a busy day.
The next morning, the Mercenary Clan House was bustling with activity. Just as everyone was finishing breakfast and starting to discuss the expedition’s results, an unexpected summons was issued. And not just any summons—a full assembly.
Whether they had participated in the mountain expedition or not, the clan members were curious about the results, but they all filed into the meeting room without a word. They instinctively understood why Clan Lord Kim Su-hyun had called for the assembly.
To explain briefly, the Mercenary Clan’s structure concentrated all authority in Kim Su-hyun. While there were representatives for each division, they were merely acting on his behalf.
In essence, the Mercenary Clan had no official positions for senior officers or officers.
So, to clarify, this only applies to ‘clan members.’ Mercenaries, except for the clan lord, treat all clan members equally, regardless of their tenure or skills, and have similar speaking rights. This structure suits the elite nature of the mercenaries quite well.
As such, the concept of a ‘second-in-command’ is practically non-existent, though there are users who are implicitly acknowledged among the clan members.
If we were to name the three users Kim Su-hyun favors the most, they would be the Shadow Queen Go Yeon-ju, the Mage of the Blue Moon Jung Ha-yeon, and the Qi Spear Master Ahn Hyun.
As the clan grew, it became difficult for Kim Su-hyun to personally look after each member like in the caravan days, but Ahn Hyun was an exception. Kim Su-hyun mentored Ahn Hyun whenever he had the time and took him along on every outing. Moreover, Ahn Hyun was always included in the distribution of rewards after excavations.
As a result, Ahn Hyun amassed user information that no one could ignore and established a solid position within the clan.
One might expect him to become arrogant, but Ahn Hyun’s reputation within the clan remained quite positive. Unlike Yoo Jung, he had no rebellious attitude and was easygoing by nature.
Furthermore, instead of showing hostility to new clan members, he welcomed them with open arms, ensuring they felt included. This attitude meant that, despite some favoritism, there was little envy or jealousy directed towards him.
Given Ahn Hyun’s standing, the recent incident he was involved in sharply divided opinions within the clan. Some called for ‘no exceptions in punishment,’ while others argued, ‘but it’s Ahn Hyun.’
Kim Su-hyun’s decision on how to handle the situation was a matter of intense interest for all the mercenary clan members.
“Wow, I had a feeling yesterday wouldn’t just blow over. I wonder what’ll happen to Ahn Hyun.”
“I saw him heading into the meeting room earlier… But isn’t the clan lord being a bit harsh? He just got back.”
“Harsh? I think it’s fair. Even if it’s Ahn Hyun, a mistake is a mistake. I’d be really disappointed if the clan lord just let it slide.”
“Who said he didn’t make a mistake? But shouldn’t we hear his side too…?”
The gathering was set to take place in the large meeting room on the fourth floor. As the mercenary clan members climbed the stairs, they engaged in a heated debate about Ahn Hyun.
“What do you mean, hear his side? We’ve already heard everything on the way here!”
“Cough, cough, cough!”
At that moment, a harsh coughing sound echoed from below the stairs. Instinctively turning around, they saw an elderly user struggling up the steps. Dong-seok immediately stopped talking and rushed over.
“Oh dear, Elder Man-seong! You’re not well, what brings you here…?”
“What do you mean, what brings me here? I came because of the summons… But what are you all doing here? Blocking the way when I’m already struggling to get up. Cough!”
After another bout of coughing, Lee Man-seong looked up. The clan members on the stairs all averted their eyes. Lee Man-seong clicked his tongue and sighed deeply.
“The decision will be made by the clan lord anyway, so what’s the point of all this chatter? Let’s just get moving. Looks like we’re the last ones.”
Without another word, Dong-seok helped Lee Man-seong, and the clan members quietly made their way to the fourth-floor meeting room.
As Lee Man-seong had predicted, nearly all the users were already gathered in the large meeting room. In the center stood Ahn Hyun, Jung Ha-yeon, and Baek Han-gyeol, looking like defendants, while over fifty users were seated at the tables on either side.
Shortly after, Kim Su-hyun nodded a greeting to Lee Man-seong as he took his seat. Once he confirmed that everyone, except for Go Yeon-ju, was present, he began to speak.
“It seems everyone is here. Let’s start the meeting.”
A solemn and heavy atmosphere filled the room. The clan members all cast awkward glances at the three in the center. Ahn Hyun, Jung Ha-yeon, and Baek Han-gyeol were not only skilled but had been with Kim Su-hyun since the early days of the mercenaries.
Kim Su-hyun spoke up.
“Since everyone is aware of the situation, let’s proceed without further explanation. User Ahn Hyun?”
“Y-yes!”
At the mention of his name, Ahn Hyun stammered in response. The term ‘User Ahn Hyun’ felt strangely distant. But before he could dwell on it, Kim Su-hyun continued.
“This is your first and last chance. Make your case.”
As soon as he spoke, a small commotion arose. Being asked to make a case without any preamble implied that Ahn Hyun’s guilt was already assumed. The clan members, tense, recalled Kim Su-hyun’s words from two months ago as he left the meeting room.
‘I warn you all for the last time. If such an incident occurs again, no matter who it involves, it will be difficult to avoid responsibility.’
‘The statement I just made applies to this incident as well.’
After taking a deep breath, Ahn Hyun cautiously began to speak.
“First of all, b-brother. I really appreciate you saving me…”
“User Ahn Hyun?”
”…I’m sorry. Clan Lord.”
“Yes. User Ahn Hyun. I don’t recall asking for your gratitude. I asked you to explain why you did it, why this happened, and to convince me. Do you not understand what I’m saying?”
”…….”
The man in front of him, with his steady yet cold gaze, felt unfamiliar. Ahn Hyun swallowed hard and glanced at Ha-yeon. When she nodded, he bit his lip slightly.
“Saying it was a momentary lapse would be an excuse. I’m truly sorry. I believe no explanation can justify this situation, and I take full responsibility. I’ll accept any punishment you deem fit. However…”
“Hmm. Is that so? You have no intention of making excuses and will accept the punishment. Then you won’t have any objections to the planned disciplinary action.”
Kim Su-hyun raised an eyebrow as he spoke. Ahn Hyun lifted his bowed head abruptly. It wasn’t because he was interrupted. The punishment being disciplinary action was much lighter than he had anticipated.
“Y-yes!”
“Very well. Then User Ahn Hyun will take responsibility for this incident and be placed under disciplinary action. I will not entertain any objections to this decision.”
As Kim Su-hyun’s words fell, a much larger wave of murmurs swept through the meeting room.
Then, it happened.
“However, this disciplinary action is not the usual kind. There are three conditions attached, three restrictions that apply specifically to User Ahn Hyun.”
The room, which had been buzzing, fell silent and solemn once more.
Ahn Hyun, who had momentarily relaxed, tensed up again. Disciplinary action meant to be cautious in words and deeds. He didn’t know what the punishment would be, but as long as it was within the realm of disciplinary action, he thought it would be manageable.
Kim Su-hyun picked up the document in front of him, then looked up at Ahn Hyun.
And then, it happened.
“First. Ahn Hyun’s position as a clan member is revoked. As of this moment, Ahn Hyun will no longer be recognized as a member of the Mercenary Clan.”
Kim Su-hyun’s distinctively low and cold voice resonated through the quiet meeting room.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Ah, this is driving me crazy. Han So-young is way ahead in the polls. This won’t do. There’s a high chance she’ll get all the votes, so I need to bring her down a notch. She’ll make an appearance soon anyway. I’ll try to portray her in a way that might lower her votes. Haha. (This might be a joke.)
There are still two restrictions left, and you might think the punishment for Ahn Hyun is excessive. However, I have plans for the future, so I hope you’ll keep watching. :)
Have a great day, and I hope you enjoyed reading.
PS. Thank you to everyone who voted. I plan to continue the polls, so please cast your precious vote!