Upon reflection, it seemed words were insufficient, and actions were necessary.
“Mercenary Clan Announces Official Stance Following Dragon’s Mountain Campaign.”
“The Southern Expedition Clan within the Koran Alliance has unexpectedly reached an agreement with the Artemis Clan. If any of the deceased users had acquaintances, it has been decided that all of the deceased’s equipment (heirlooms) will be returned to them. The Mercenary Clan has transferred all equipment to the alliance almost free of charge, and the alliance has also announced that they will return the deceased’s equipment at no cost.”
“Mercenary Clan Lord Kim Su-hyun stated, ‘I don’t believe this expedition was accomplished solely by the Mercenary Clan’s strength. We sought help from the entire northern continent, and I think the results were achieved based on the sacrifices of many users who went before us. Therefore, this decision is a small gesture to console the users and their acquaintances who died in the Dragon’s Mountain.’”
“Southern Expedition Clan Lord Shin Hyuk said, ‘Honestly, I was a bit cautious when I first brought it up. Given the customs that are almost like laws in Hall Plain, I felt it was rude even as I spoke. But the idea that users within the alliance are not just clan members but family seemed to resonate with the Mercenary Lord. He graciously accepted my request, and I was deeply moved, which is why I volunteered to handle this matter.’”
“Is the Mercenary Clan and Koran Alliance preparing to establish a new relationship after a period of indifference?”
“Additionally, the Mercenary Clan has expressed no interest in the upcoming selection of the Western City representative clan. Mercenary Clan Lord Kim Su-hyun stated, ‘Our current focus is solely on the ancient magical city of Magia. We have no plans to participate in the selection process for the Western City and will soon visit the central organization to clarify our intentions.’”
“Su-hyun? Su-hyun!”
I was in the middle of reading the records when I heard a voice calling my name. I looked up to see my brother’s face, which seemed somewhat angry. Of course, he wasn’t actually sitting in front of me; his image was projected through a communication crystal.
Oh, right. I was in the middle of a call with him.
Yes, I definitely was. But the repetitive nature of our conversation had bored me, and I had absentmindedly started doing something else.
Regardless, my brother wouldn’t be pleased.
I quickly spoke up.
“Sorry, hyung. I got lost in thought for a moment.”
“Lost in thought? About what? Su-hyun, have you been listening to anything I’ve said?”
“Yeah, I heard you. But like I said, it wasn’t like that. I really did it with good intentions.”
“Oh, you frustrating little brother! Your intentions don’t matter at all. I was shocked when I saw your clan’s records today. Sure, the city is one thing, but how could you let them take advantage of you like that? The alliance is using you! Just thinking about it makes me angry. Those alliance bastards… How dare they exploit my brother?”
He slammed his desk so hard it made a loud noise, and I couldn’t help but smile wryly.
His anger stemmed from the recent official announcement in Monica’s square.
As promised to Woo Seol-hee, I declared that we would return the equipment of the deceased users for free, and the alliance responded with a similar statement. (Of course, we didn’t forget to mention our stance on the Western City.)
The announcement caused a bigger stir than expected, and reactions were mixed.
Some users welcomed the decision, calling it a noble act, while others criticized it, questioning the need to break tradition.
There were even some sharp users who speculated about internal dealings between the Mercenary Clan and the alliance.
For days after the announcement, the entire northern continent was abuzz, but our clan, the ones directly involved, remained quiet. We had already held a meeting before the announcement to explain the situation.
In reality, the alliance paid a significant amount for the equipment. We lowered the prices somewhat, but each piece was priced individually.
The loss from not getting full value was considered a promotional expense, and the equipment we handed over was all common gear that could be found anywhere.
In other words, we had already secretly kept the high-quality equipment. We promised to return the equipment, but we never said we had all of it.
While the clan members who knew the situation were calm, my brother, who didn’t, was not. As the records came out and the equipment was handed over, he called and has been venting his frustration and anger at the alliance ever since.
And I had to work hard to calm him down.
I understood his feelings, but with a packed schedule this afternoon, it was hard not to feel a bit annoyed.
Finally, I looked at him steadily and spoke softly.
“Okay, okay, I get it. But if you keep this up, I might really get mad.”
“You! …No, no, I’m sorry, Su-hyun. I went too far. Please don’t be mad.”
“Then really, stop it. We’ve already made the announcement, and the equipment was handed over today. I really did it with good intentions. The users’ reactions are positive too.”
”…Sigh. Alright, I understand.”
My brother’s greatest strength is his ability to read my emotions accurately. Realizing it was time to back off, he sighed deeply and then gave a faint, resigned smile.
“Well, you were like that even in the modern world. You had such a warm heart. You preferred sharing over keeping things to yourself, always helping others, and you couldn’t just walk past someone in need. Remember? That time you shared your umbrella with the old man selling things at the subway entrance on a rainy day.”
”…Huh? Oh, did I?”
“Yeah. But Su-hyun, let me just say this one last thing. Hall Plain isn’t the modern world. It’s a much colder and harsher place. I know you… were lucky, as you said. But you can’t always count on luck, right? So, from now on, take better care of yourself. You understand what I’m saying, right?”
“Uh… yeah, I will.”
His voice was endlessly warm, but I couldn’t shake the feeling of confusion and responded awkwardly.
But upon reflection, I realized it was understandable. Although I had told him the truth, I hadn’t revealed everything.
At the time, overwhelmed by a sense of melancholy, I had only shared the hardships, almost as if I were complaining. As a result, he still saw me as his kind little brother.
A brief silence followed.
I felt a bit embarrassed for a moment, but I managed to calm myself and organize my thoughts. I realized there was something I needed to ask him, and this seemed like a good opportunity.
Looking at my brother, who was now smiling with his chin resting on his hand, I quietly spoke.
“Oh, right. Hyung, there’s something I wanted to ask you…”
“Oh, sure. If you don’t want to say it yourself, I can go to the alliance and…”
“Hyung!”
“Sorry, sorry. Just kidding.”
”…Phew. It’s not that. You know the ruins information you shared recently? Have you explored it yet?”
“Not yet. We’re just getting ready to go. Why?”
Hearing that they were preparing, I clicked my tongue.
Over the past two years, I’ve explored countless ruins and places where treasures lay hidden. But the Mercenary Clan didn’t keep everything for themselves.
Knowing in advance what kind of equipment would be found, I categorized the ruins into three grades: A, B, and C.
The Mercenary Clan, along with the Haemil and Istantel Low Clans, shared the A and B-grade ruins, while occasionally passing on C-grade ruins to friendly clans.
Of course, C-grade ruins weren’t devoid of treasures, but they were often infested with monsters or were just small settlements, barely qualifying as ruins.
But what does it matter? As the saying goes, “A win-win situation is always good,” and those on the receiving end would be grateful for even that.
“Then could you possibly hold off on exploring it?”
“Hmm? Oh, sure. I’ll do that.”
”…Sorry. It’s not like I’m taking back what I gave. I just need it for a bit.”
“There’s nothing to be sorry about. Su-hyun, even if you take it back, no one on our side would complain. We’ve received so much from you already.”
He assured me not to worry, and his words put my mind at ease, allowing me to smile brightly.
“Thanks. Oh, I have to head out soon. I’m busy, so I’ll contact you later.”
“Alright, alright. I kept you too long. Oh, but do try to visit sometime. Pyorong really misses you.”
“Pyorong? What kind of name is Pyorong?”
“Hahaha.”
With his laughter as the last sound, I ended the call. After putting away the now warm communication crystal, I stretched and stood up.
The sun was already setting in the west, indicating that a lot of time had passed.
I had two plans for this afternoon.
One was to meet Han So-young at Istantel Low, and the other was to visit Barbara. But seeing how late it was, it seemed best to postpone the visit to Barbara until tomorrow.
It was then, as I was preparing to head to Istantel Low, that a thought suddenly crossed my mind.
I quickly pulled up the user information and opened the details about the power of the dragon.
Reflecting on it now, I realized I had only briefly checked it before, and with everything going on, I hadn’t had the chance to look into it in detail. In fact, I had planned to deal with my stamina and performance after resolving the current issue, so I hadn’t even thought about it.
『Dragon’s Blessing: The Power of the Apocalypse Dragon, Magna Carta. (2/5)』
(1. Limited Polymorph.
(Description: Dragon’s Polymorph. A type of transformation magic developed by dragons during the mythological era for their convenience. The caster can transform into any form they remember, whether living or non-living, and some dragons could even replicate the traits or abilities of the target. However, this is only true for dragons; users face several limitations.
Users can only transform into living beings they remember. Non-living forms are not possible. Additionally, only the appearance changes; the traits or abilities of the target cannot be acquired.
It can be used three times a day, with the count resetting every day.)
What caught my attention was the Polymorph. This power allows me to transform into the appearance of any creature I remember.
Though there were several limitations, which was a bit disappointing, I figured it could still be quite effective depending on how I used it.
With the thought of testing it out, I walked over to the window. Staring at my reflection, I suddenly thought of a particular user and spoke.
“Polymorph.”
In an instant, a dazzling light burst from my body. As an unfamiliar magical energy coursed through me, I felt a slight heaviness.
Moments later.
In the window stood a stunning woman with jet-black hair cascading down her shoulders.
A sharp nose and lips exuding allure. Her hair shimmered with a beautiful sheen as sunlight reflected off it, and a pair of eyes, like black onyx, gazed back at me.
I stared blankly at the reflection of Han So-young for a while.
This was satisfactory. For a dragon’s power, the effect was rather subtle, but I preferred it that way—clean and straightforward. It didn’t take long, nor was it painful. It was simply a magic that overlaid an already completed flow of energy to transform one’s appearance.
“The appearance is spot on… though the aura feels a bit different.”
Noticing the absence of Han So-young’s unique charisma, I took out Victoria’s Glory and looked at the window again. Only then did I see a semblance of her aura, albeit not perfectly identical.
Feeling inexplicably satisfied, I smiled and looked down. Come to think of it, I seemed a bit shorter.
And then. I noticed something that had always been flat—the chest area of Heaven’s Glory—now bulging prominently.
”…”
For a brief moment, I blinked at the sight, then instinctively raised my left hand to touch the front.
My hand hesitated for a moment.
And for some reason, it trembled slightly.
Forcing myself, I gently opened the front.
Suddenly, I swallowed hard.
And then.
The moment I saw the unfiltered, pure white, beautiful form of a breast revealed.
“Gasp.”
I let out a sharp gasp, quickly closing the front as if slamming it shut. Simultaneously, I hurriedly dispelled the Polymorph.
Looking at my original form in the window, I placed a hand on my face. Strangely, my face felt hot, my heart raced, and a sense of guilt washed over me.
After cooling my flushed face for a while, I glanced around like a thief.
Thankfully, no one was there.
Trying to calm my pounding heart, I quickly left the room. I vowed never to do such a thing again and quietly fell into thought.
Bigger than I expected…
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
I watched Kim Yuna’s short program yesterday. I thought her score was quite high, but reading various articles about the scoring left me feeling a bit bitter. I’m not well-versed in figure skating, so I can’t judge too hastily, but I do hope Kim Yuna wins the gold medal. :D
Besides Kim Yuna, another memorable athlete was a black skater from France, though I don’t remember the name. Watching the live comments on Naver videos, I saw many unpleasant remarks. Considering the effort it took to reach that level, it’s hard to understand such comments. Perhaps out of a sense of rebellion, I found myself rooting for them right after Kim Yuna. Haha.