A Heavy Price to Pay
Drip, drip, drip.
On a dark, rainy night, I lay on my bed, staring out the window without turning on the lights.
The window frame, bathed in moonlight, glowed brilliantly, and raindrops occasionally tapped against the glass before sliding down. The moon was half-hidden by thick clouds, but the scene was beautiful in its own way. I’ve always loved rainy days.
“Su-hyun…”
A soft, wistful voice broke the silence. I turned my head to see a pair of blue eyes gazing at me. Her blue hair was splayed across the bed, framing a delicate nose and beautiful lips.
I took a small breath, admiring her serene features. The cool dawn air seeped in.
“Yes?”
“About today…”
“Yes…”
”…I really enjoyed it.”
Ha-yeon smiled shyly, like a bride on her wedding night. I had been a bit anxious about today, but it seemed my worries were unfounded. I returned her smile and slowly reached out to embrace her.
But Ha-yeon didn’t let me hold her easily. She grabbed my arm, stopping me, then climbed over me, pulling me into her embrace instead. A sudden, inexplicable irritation flared up, and I twisted my head in annoyance. Yet, Ha-yeon only held me tighter, soothing me with her gentle touch.
“Mmm…”
A satisfied sigh escaped her lips, and I looked up to see her eyes closed in contentment. I followed suit, closing my eyes and burying my face in her soft chest. Her warmth and the sweet scent of her skin were like a lullaby. Just then, she spoke again.
“Su-hyun, I have something to say.”
I was on the verge of sleep, but her clear, firm tone snapped me awake. Sleep fled instantly.
I didn’t respond right away. Instead, I reached out slowly, tracing my fingers over her stomach. Ha-yeon squirmed under my touch.
“Wait, Su-hyun!”
“No.”
“Don’t touch there. I told you I don’t like it… Ah, really…”
”…Sigh.”
I let out a light sigh. My fingers brushed against something smooth, not quite skin—a small jewel Ha-yeon had marked herself with long ago. She always felt embarrassed when I touched it.
I had hoped my touch would deter her from speaking, but her allowing it meant she was determined to say her piece. As I toyed with the jewel, I spoke quietly.
“Is this about Ahn-hyun?”
”…Yes.”
“I wish you wouldn’t bring it up. I wish you’d stop worrying about him.”
“But…”
At her protest, I tightened my hold around her waist. So slender, so fragile. How much had she endured, taking on such burdens? A wave of guilt and sympathy washed over me, and I whispered softly.
“Ha-yeon, in this world, where even taking care of oneself is a struggle, I know how hard you’ve worked.”
“It wasn’t hard. If anything, you’ve had it much tougher than I have.”
“I chose this path, but you didn’t. I’m sorry for making that decision today. I just wanted you to rest, to let go of all the burdens.”
”…”
“And I want you to take care of yourself now… So please, forget everything for a while and rest.”
“Su-hyun.”
“Don’t worry about your reinstatement. Once you’ve had a chance to clear your head, I’ll make sure…”
“Su-hyun! Today, in front of me, Hyun cried. He shed tears. I understand your feelings, but please, listen to me. Okay?”
Even after all this, she was still going to bring up Ahn-hyun. I clicked my tongue and pulled away from her embrace, sitting up.
My chest felt tight. After tonight, I wouldn’t see Ha-yeon for a while. I wanted to share only pleasant words, not troublesome ones.
Leaning against the wall, a bitter taste filled my mouth. My words came out more rigid than I intended.
“I’ll handle Ahn-hyun. I have my reasons. I didn’t make that decision lightly.”
“Su-hyun, I know. I’m not saying your decision was wrong, or asking you to forgive Ahn-hyun. I’m sorry. Please don’t be upset.”
Ha-yeon sat up and leaned against me gently. I wasn’t angry, or at least I hadn’t meant to be. I closed my eyes and spoke quietly.
“Ahn-hyun is diligent. He’s competent. He does what’s asked of him and sometimes surprises me with his insight. He could do much better if he thought things through a bit more.”
“I think so too.”
“But the recent incident in the Dragon’s Sleeping Mountains showed me he’s heading in the wrong direction.”
“The wrong direction?”
I nodded silently at her question.
From another perspective, I could understand Ahn-hyun’s actions. I’d always encouraged him to act independently. There were reasons for his solo actions, but they were likely along those lines.
If it hadn’t been the Dragon’s Sleeping Mountains, maybe things would have been different. But the problem was he took on the mission against my orders.
In Ahn-hyun’s actions, I saw a reflection of my past self from the first timeline. A single wrong choice had led to the deaths of my brother and countless comrades.
I couldn’t let Ahn-hyun follow that path. That’s why I made this drastic decision. I wanted him to understand himself better.
“Yes. The incident a year ago, and this one too. It’s not that he wasn’t given chances. But there’s been no improvement. If this continues… he might cause a disaster that endangers everyone.”
Did my sincerity reach her? Ha-yeon was silent for a while. As the rain against the window grew heavier, her clear voice broke the silence.
“Su-hyun, what do you think of your brother?”
Her sudden mention of my brother caught me off guard, but knowing Ha-yeon, I answered calmly.
“I admire him. I trust and rely on him.”
“Exactly. And it’s the same for Hyun.”
”…”
“Hyun went through the rites of passage with you and followed you since the academy. He admires, trusts, and relies on you. To him, you’re that kind of person.”
“Even so… what does that have to do with this?”
“Think about it from his perspective. How would you feel if your brother said those things to you?”
I fell silent, contemplating her words. I understood my brother’s intentions, but it would still hurt.
But I scoffed.
“This is Hall Plain. If he can’t handle this, he’s not cut out for it.”
“That’s not what I mean. You have expectations for Hyun, and if he meets them, you can meet again with smiles. It’s not like you’ll never see him again.”
”…So what are you trying to say?”
“Once a decision is made, it can’t be undone. But I think it’s important to watch over him and give him some breathing room. I want to create a situation where he can find his own path.”
Watch over him and give him breathing room? Create a situation?
Ha-yeon gently took my hand, speaking softly.
“Let me try. I’m not saying I’ll comfort or take care of Ahn-hyun. Just give me one last chance.”
I finally turned to look at her. Her face was filled with an earnestness I couldn’t quite understand.
After a long moment, I sighed deeply.
The night was still dark, and the sound of rain against the window was particularly fierce.
The next day.
The rain had poured relentlessly through the night, but as the morning sun rose, it stopped as if it had never been.
The sky was blue. The air was slightly humid, but the garden below glistened with the rainwater it had absorbed overnight. I stood on the terrace, looking down at the entrance of the Mercenary Clan House.
“Ha-yeon! I’ll visit often!”
“Ahn-hyun! Don’t be too disheartened! If you do well, we’ll see each other again!”
Ha-yeon and Ahn-hyun, about to leave through the gate, turned at the sound of encouragement. Ha-yeon remained composed, while Ahn-hyun looked worn out. As Ha-yeon had said, he must have been through a lot.
Despite everything, at least for this moment, it seemed both of them were genuinely moved. Even though it was early morning, all the clan members had risen to see them off. Even Vivian, who was notorious for her love of sleep, was there.
There were whispers about whether we were sending them off too quickly, but the decision had been made, and it was a statement of intent. Any member of the Mercenary Clan would understand the significance of my decision.
I watched the final goodbyes, lost in thought.
The conversation with Hayeon last night had led me to transfer both Hayeon and Ahn Hyun to the same region. Initially, I had planned to send them to different areas, but I ended up partially accepting Hayeon’s plea.
I wasn’t sure how things would turn out, but I decided to wait and see.
A little time passed. With their farewells complete, Hayeon and Ahn Hyun began to walk again.
Soon, the main gate started to open slowly. The two turned and walked calmly toward it. There was a certain melancholy in their departure. From the terrace, where the cold wind blew, I watched them until they were out of sight.
And then it happened.
”…Hmm?”
Ahn Hyun, having just stepped through the gate, suddenly turned around and looked up. Despite the distance, I could feel his gaze on me. I didn’t look away and met his eyes.
Then, unexpectedly, Ahn Hyun slowly bowed.
As the gate closed completely, I saw it clearly—Ahn Hyun bowing deeply, a full 90 degrees, in my direction.
”…”
I took out a cigarette, lit it, and stared at the closed gate for a long time.
After a while, as I finished my cigarette and the clan members began to disperse, I quietly returned to my office.
Just as I was about to close the window leading to the terrace, it happened.
Bang.
Thud!
As I shut the window, a strange sound followed. It wasn’t the sound of the window closing. It was a distinct noise.
I swallowed hard. Even though I hadn’t been paying attention or using my magic senses, I had my instincts—honed over more than a decade. And yet, someone had managed to slip past them?
Pushing aside my disbelief, I quickly turned to the door. And at that moment—
“Suhyun!”
A sultry voice called out, and someone suddenly embraced me. Gray hair fluttered before my eyes.
I let out a sigh of relief as I instinctively hugged back. It was Go Yeonju.
Go Yeonju, seemingly oblivious to her age, clung to me, rubbing her cheek against mine with abandon.
“Suhyun. Suhyun. I missed you so, so much.”
”…I missed you too. But why didn’t you make your presence known? You really startled me.”
“Uh-huh~. Sorry~. I’ve been living like I used to for the past two months~. It just slipped out~.”
“Okay, okay. I get it. But please, stop rubbing. I haven’t even washed my face yet.”
“Really?! Then, sniff~! Sniff~!”
”…”
Does she think she’s a puppy, or maybe Ansol? But she doesn’t really fit that image.
Despite my bewilderment, I was glad for Go Yeonju’s timely return. Then, my thoughts drifted back to the initial noise. The door hadn’t opened; it was still shut. So what was that sound? I glanced at my desk instinctively.
There, two orbs lay conspicuously. They were crystal balls, slightly different in hue from ordinary ones. Realizing what they were, I frowned slightly.
“Those are…”
They were recording crystals.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Roh Yujin: Reader? (Knocks) Do you wanna write a Yeoncham?
Reader: Go away, Roh Yujin!
Roh Yujin: Okay, Bye….
Q1. Is Ahn Hyun going to be used in the Shadow War?
No, that’s not the plan. While Ahn Hyun will undergo some mental maturation, he won’t be involved in the Shadow War. Given that Ahn Hyun grew up in the light, there’s doubt about how well he’d fare, and it doesn’t quite suit him.
Ahn Hyun’s growth will be more conventional, and the storyline for that is already in place. He’s a character I like almost as much as Hanbyul, so I’m putting some thought into it.
The upcoming content isn’t focused on Suhyun solving the case and punishing the culprit. It’s partly to speed up the narrative, and those with keen eyes might have already realized that the case is nearly resolved. I can’t reveal much now, but this part focuses on Suhyun tailoring the current situation to his liking.
Q2. When will the Iron Mountain appear?
Before starting Part 2, I mentioned that it would take place two years after the conclusion of Part 1, just before the Iron Mountain. By “just before,” I mean in terms of the current outline, not the actual storyline.
A lot has changed in those two years. The reason for including the part about the sleeping dragon and the Shadow War is to gradually reveal what has changed over those two years.
To summarize, once the part about the sleeping dragon and the Shadow War concludes, there will be a brief interlude (such as the opening of the Holy City or the Magic City Magia), followed by preparations for the Iron Mountain campaign.
I hope this answers your questions. :)