A Moment of Calm
The Mercenary Clan’s house is always bustling. Or perhaps “busy” is a better word?
Officially, there are 57 registered clan members. Not a huge number, but the Mercenaries have a unique title as a mercenary clan. This means clients are constantly coming and going, and occasionally, people with various intentions, like joining requests or interviews, show up.
Today, I had an unexpected visitor. Someone at the counter sent up a user requesting a meeting.
I felt a mix of anticipation and concern. It’s not common for someone to request a meeting with me. For about a year now, most tasks and requests have been handled by the lower ranks, so if something reaches me, it means it’s quite significant. In other words, it’s a matter that can’t be decided lightly by those below.
However, the moment the visitor opened the door, I was able to set aside both my anticipation and concern.
“Hello, hyung.”
”…Who decided you could call me that? Or should I say, Lord Su?”
It was Park Hwanhee, the new lord of the Su Clan, who had come to visit.
With a slight bow, Park Hwanhee offered a sheepish smile and shook his head.
“Haha. Lord Su, really? That’s embarrassing.”
“Ah, I see. My apologies. Now that I think about it, you’re representing the newly formed alliance…”
“Oh, come on. It’s just a title. Just call me Hwanhee or little brother.”
“Hmph.”
I scoffed, indicating he shouldn’t even dream of it. Park Hwanhee laughed awkwardly and gestured to a sofa, as if asking if he could sit. Since I couldn’t just turn him away after he’d come all this way, I reluctantly nodded.
“So, how does it feel to sit in that seat?”
“Uh? Well… It’s comfy. Looks expensive…”
Hwanhee tilted his head for a moment, then patted the sofa. I closed my eyes gently.
”…Not that seat.”
“Oh? Then… Ah, I see. It’s just okay. It’s still just a formality, you know? But there’s some pressure.”
“I see… Well, it’s not just a clan, but an entire alliance. It makes sense. Anyway, do your best.”
“If I do well, will you be nice to me in the future?”
“Don’t push your luck.”
“Why not? Hahaha.”
Seo Ji-hwan kept his promise. As agreed, he dissolved the alliance and formed a new Koran Alliance with the Su Clan, the Merchant Guild, and the Baekhwa Clan. Park Hwanhee was elected as the representative of the alliance. Although it was still a temporary position, with Park Tae-jin gone for good, the role would naturally solidify over time.
After listening to Hwanhee’s complaints for a while, I decided to cut the conversation short. I had a feeling the topic was going in circles.
“Alright, alright. But why did you come today?”
“Well… Uh?”
“Why did you come? I’m the Mercenary Lord, and you’re the Su Lord. Do you not understand the significance of this meeting?”
“No… I just wanted to say hello… And, you know, while I’m at it…”
While he’s at it.
Hwanhee, who had been chatting away, suddenly lowered his voice and looked slightly embarrassed. Knowing his personality, this reaction was unusual, but I had a hunch about why he was here. So, I pointed to the door.
“Get out.”
“What? Get out?”
“Yes. Go up to the 7th floor. Han-gyeol should be in the room on the far left, based on the stairs.”
“Uh… How did you know?”
Hwanhee blinked in surprise, looking caught.
“Your intentions are obvious. You want to see him, but it’s awkward because of what you did. So, your clan lord told you to come and see him. You made this excuse, didn’t you?”
”…That’s scary.”
As expected, Hwanhee stood up with a wry smile.
“You should’ve done better. Tsk. By the way, I don’t care what excuse you make, but I can’t guarantee Han-gyeol’s reaction.”
“That’s something I’ll have to deal with. Anyway, thank you.”
After bowing again, Hwanhee turned to leave. At that moment, I remembered I had something to discuss as well.
“Park Hwanhee! Wait a moment.”
“Yes? Yes, yes.”
“I’d like to meet user Seo Ji-hwan sometime. Arrange a meeting at a suitable time.”
“Ji-hwan? You mean Uncle Ji-hwan…?”
Hwanhee seemed to ponder for a moment, then smirked and spoke in a sly tone.
“Wow, hyung. Now that the alliance is broken, are you planning to make it a subordinate clan…?”
“Watch your mouth. Not a subordinate clan, just a partnership.”
“Haha, just kidding, just kidding. Hahaha.”
“That brat…”
Before I could get up, Hwanhee dashed out the door, still laughing. That guy, really, he’s both likable and unlikable at the same time.
Clicking my tongue, I shook my head and slowly opened a drawer. Inside were numerous communication stones, and I picked one, pressing it gently. Seeing Hwanhee reminded me of another person I hadn’t received a report from yet.
After a short wait, I heard the sound of footsteps echoing down the hallway. The woman who entered was Go Yeon-ju. Judging by her quick response, she must have been in the main building. Her clear, bright eyes caught my attention.
“Soo-hyun! Did you call for me?”
Her voice carried an inexplicable sense of anticipation, and her eyes formed a pleasant curve. Was something good happening?
I tilted my head and spoke.
“User Go Yeon-ju, could you give me a report on Woo Seol-hee?”
“Huh? Didn’t Hwanhee tell you?”
”…Did you meet him?”
“Yes, on the stairs.”
“I see. Anyway, no, I didn’t hear from him.”
“Hmm. I see. Woo Seol-hee… Well, we’re still handling it…”
Go Yeon-ju crossed her arms thoughtfully, which only accentuated her already ample chest. As I swallowed hard, my eyes were drawn to the deep, enticing cleavage. She gave a playful smile.
“Do you want to know?”
”…What?”
“Do you want to know what happened to Woo Seol-hee?”
“Of course. We agreed to report on the progress, didn’t we?”
I replied in a flat voice. Go Yeon-ju shrugged as if she had no choice and began to approach me step by step.
“Well, if you really want to know… Hoho.”
“What on earth…”
I was about to ask what she meant, but I stopped short. Go Yeon-ju crouched down right next to me, then crawled under the desk. Watching her hips sway side to side, I couldn’t help but think of a puppy.
“Wait a minute. What are you doing?”
“What do you mean? I’m here to report.”
Go Yeon-ju answered nonchalantly. She crawled all the way in and peeked out, meeting my eyes. At the same time, she reached out and started pulling down my pants.
“I asked for a report, not… Wait, why are you taking off my pants? Go Yeon-ju!”
“Oh my, a puppy? That’s a great idea! Soo-hyun’s puppy. Hohohoho!”
“This is an office. If you don’t stop, I’ll really get angry.”
“Oh, don’t be mad, master! Woof!”
”…”
“Woof woof?”
I was so taken aback that I lost my words. Seizing the opportunity, Go Yeon-ju deftly pulled down my pants, revealing more than half of what was beneath. It was only then that I managed to regain my composure.
“User Go Yeon-ju…!”
“Woo Seol-hee is currently in a brothel. As punishment for her loose tongue, she’s experiencing life as a prostitute. In other words, she’s paying off her debt with her body.”
Just as I was about to get angry, Go Yeon-ju finally began her report. I was left speechless once more. She had suddenly gotten to the point, and the content was unexpected. (I wondered if Go Yeon-ju had orchestrated this situation deliberately.)
But still, Woo Seol-hee in a brothel?
“What do you mean? Woo Seol-hee is in a brothel?”
“Yes. It’s hard to understand, right? So, I’ll show you exactly what she’s doing.”
Even as she spoke, Go Yeon-ju continued to remove my clothing, eventually succeeding in pulling down my underwear. The sight of my arousal standing tall left me covering my face in disbelief. In broad daylight, in the office, no less.
“User Go Yeon-ju… Can’t we just do this at night? It’s still daytime…”
“What does it matter? This is an official report, after all. Hmm.”
Regardless, Go Yeon-ju clasped her hands together. As I watched her gaze at me with dreamy eyes, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of exasperation and intrigue.
“Oh my… It’s always so impressive. Smooch.”
Go Yeon-ju, with a face that seemed to say she was utterly smitten, planted a deep kiss at the end of the man’s lips. It was already a sensitive area, and the warmth and softness of her touch made the blood rush even more. I couldn’t help but let out a faint moan, resting my hand on the crown of her head. Even her hair felt soft.
Whether she found the situation amusing or was just trying to tease, Go Yeon-ju slowly pulled away, looking up at me with a slightly flushed face. Her voice, somehow sultry, continued.
“Let me introduce myself. I’m Su-hyun’s puppy, and my name is Shadow. My breed? A Go Yeon-ju Terrier.”
”…Not a Yorkshire Terrier?”
“Of course not. A Go Yeon-ju Terrier. And my favorite food is… sausages.”
”…”
As soon as she finished speaking, Go Yeon-ju suddenly opened her mouth and buried her head against the man. Her lips moved as if savoring the taste, and I could feel the long, round flesh being moistened by her touch.
Eventually, as Go Yeon-ju’s cheeks began to hollow, I closed my eyes, feeling the sticky, enveloping sensation spread through my body.
Time passed, and evening descended with a deep twilight.
The dining hall was so quiet it felt almost solemn. Looking around, I saw at least fifty clan members. It was rare for so many to dine at the same time, as there was no set meal time, and everyone came whenever they pleased.
Dinner had already ended. There were no plates on the tables, only the occasional tea or drink. The clan members pretended to sip their drinks while watching me. Or rather, they were watching the table where I sat with Heo Jun-young across from me.
“Come to think of it, where’s Yeon-ju?”
“Oh… She said she’s skipping dinner. Apparently, she had a big lunch.”
Ignoring the whispers of Hanna and Da-eun at the same table, I focused on Heo Jun-young. He sat quietly, eyes closed, sipping his tea. Next to him, An-sol chuckled, her eyes gleaming with mischief.
“Hehe. Jun-young oppa, you can’t escape today.”
”…Slurp.”
“Come on, come on! Show us that red box you’ve been hiding! Or else, you’ll be in big trouble!”
”…Sip.”
Despite An-sol’s persistent demands, Heo Jun-young remained unfazed, continuing to sip his tea as if to say, “Bark all you want, I’m ignoring you.”
An-sol seemed to realize this, clenching her fists in frustration. Then she turned to me, her eyes sparkling with expectation. Not just An-sol, but all the clan members in the dining hall were looking at me the same way.
Unable to resist their gazes, I felt pushed to meet their expectations.
“You rascal.”
”…”
Finally, Heo Jun-young’s demeanor changed. His hand paused mid-sip, and he squinted at me. But the disappointment in his eyes made me realize it wasn’t the best choice.
“Don’t look at me like that. I was just joking.”
”…That’s a relief. I almost got really disappointed.”
I quickly changed the subject.
“You still have that box, right?”
“The box? You mean Pandora’s box?”
“Yeah, the red one.”
“Oh, I still have it. Haven’t opened it yet.”
“By the way, I’m curious. How did you get it?”
“Hmm.”
Heo Jun-young set his teacup down with a clink. Crossing his arms, he leaned back in his chair and began to speak.
“At first, I asked for a Chaos Mimic. After hearing about it from you guys, I wanted to see what it was all about.”
”…A Chaos Mimic? So you were just curious?”
When I asked, puzzled, Heo Jun-young nodded calmly. I immediately spoke up.
“So you wanted to satisfy your curiosity… Isn’t that a bit greedy?”
“Ganesha was quite troubled by it. But it wasn’t a big deal to me. If I got it, great; if not, oh well.”
“Then why the box… It’s not a Chaos Mimic.”
“I made a deal.”
A deal. Now that I think about it, I remember a yellow light when Heo Jun-young emerged. Recalling some of the conversation, I listened intently.
“I was a bit annoyed at the time. It was ridiculous that a god was hesitating over a mere Chaos Mimic. So I told him to be more generous. I was about to leave when…”
“When?”
“Ganesha suddenly burst into laughter like a madwoman. After laughing for a while, she proposed a deal. She said she’d give me a similar box. But unlike the Chaos Mimic, this one could contain good or bad things, depending on the situation. She asked if I wanted to test my luck…”
“So that’s how you got Pandora’s box?”
Heo Jun-young nodded in agreement, and I chuckled. In a way, it seemed like both Ganesha and Heo Jun-young were provoking each other. Though, it was probably better than dealing with An-sol or Vivian…
‘You little brats!’
Suddenly, Ganesha’s angry voice echoed in my mind, and I couldn’t help but smile.
Now that I understood the situation, it was time to get to the point.
“So that’s what happened… Anyway, you don’t plan to keep it forever, right?”
“Of course not.”
“Then how about opening it here and now? I’m curious, and it seems the other clan members are too.”
“Now?”
He raised an eyebrow, and I replied firmly.
“Yes, now.”
“Hmm… Well, if you’re curious. Sure.”
Heo Jun-young agreed surprisingly easily, leaving me a bit taken aback.
”?”
“Why? The box isn’t here. I need to go get it.”
“Oh, right… Okay, we’ll wait.”
“Alright then.”
Without hesitation, Heo Jun-young stood up and left the dining hall. Instinctively, I looked for Jo Seung-woo, but soon realized it wasn’t necessary. Every clan member was staring at the door Heo Jun-young had exited, looking equally dumbfounded.
“Wow! The clan leader did it!”
“Finally, the box will be opened!”
“I was dying of curiosity!”
“May you two have a beautiful love!”
But soon, realizing it didn’t matter much, they cheered and raised their hands in celebration. Wait, what?
The clan members all rushed to my table, turning the once-quiet dining hall into a frenzy. It felt like a Saturday night at a club with all the noise.
Eventually, I had to threaten not to open the box unless they quieted down, and the clan members seemed to restrain themselves somewhat.
As the chaos gradually subsided, Heo Jun-young returned. He carried a large box that completely obscured his upper body and set it down on the table with a thud. It was so big it covered half of the six-person table.
By then, the table was surrounded by layers of clan members.
Heo Jun-young gently caressed the box and spoke calmly.
“I’ve thought about opening it a few times. But… every time I tried, I remembered Ganesha’s laughter.”
“Ganesha’s laughter?”
“Yeah. It felt… ominous.”
Thinking it over, I decided to use my third eye to examine the box. As before, it exuded a foreboding aura. Yet, strangely, there was a faint sense of luck.
『Pandora’s Box』
(Description: A forbidden box containing hope. However, whether that hope is good or ominous is yet to be determined. The outcome depends on the user who opens it. But Ganesha, in a mischievous attempt to tease a presumptuous human, has increased the likelihood of something ominous emerging.
Chance of hope: 27%.
Chance of despair: 73%.)
…What is this oddly precise probability?
Reading the description, I realized one thing: Ganesha is a goddess with a surprisingly petty side.
“Jun-young! Let’s just open it! We can talk after!”
“Open it! Open it! Open it! Open it!”
“Oppa! Can I open it? Please?”
“No! I want to open it!”
With the box in sight, the dining hall’s excitement reignited. Amidst the various chants, only Heo Jun-young remained calmly silent. Then, as our eyes met, he pushed the box toward me.
“Kim Su-hyun. You decide.”
“Huh?”
“Whether you open it or choose someone else to, it’s up to you. I have a feeling I won’t like what happens if I open it.”
”…Are you sure?”
Heo Jun-young shrugged, as if to say it was truly up to me. Looking at him, I realized he had a surprisingly good intuition.
Before long, the chants that had been directed at Heo Jun-young began to shift towards me. I hesitated for a moment, then decided to place my hand on the box first. I checked it once more.
“Pandora’s Box”
(* If opened by user Kim Soo-hyun:
Chance of hope emerging: 41%.
Chance of despair emerging: 59%.)
The odds had changed?
The probability of hope emerging still hadn’t surpassed fifty percent, but it had increased by 14% compared to Heo Jun-young. Right. Now that I think about it, they did say the outcome varies depending on who opens it. So what influences it? Could it be luck?
As soon as that thought crossed my mind, I quickly looked up, scanning the room for someone. I spotted An-sol, who was practically bouncing with eagerness to open the box. Feeling as if I were under a spell, I spoke up.
“An-sol.”
“Y-yes?”
“You open it.”
“Oh… Brother!”
An-sol’s face lit up instantly, almost on the verge of tears as she hugged the box tightly. She must have really wanted to open it. But that wasn’t the point right now. I immediately turned my attention back to the box, keeping my third eye activated.
And then, I saw it.
“Pandora’s Box”
(* If opened by user An-sol:
Chance of hope emerging: + ???%.
Chance of despair emerging: - ???%.
The probabilities were marked with pluses and minuses, followed by question marks. And there was a new line of text below.
I stared at An-sol in awe.
A lucky charm. That’s what she is.
“Brother! Are you sure I can open it?”
I nodded vigorously and shouted without hesitation.
“Of course!”
And moments later.
“Here we go! Heave-ho!”
With a spirited shout, An-sol opened the box.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
“Kim Soo-hyun’s Memoirs.”
(Excerpt: Perhaps it all started back then. When Hannah reported on the Koran Alliance. That’s when this absurd custom began. Maybe Hannah bragged to the other women. No, she must have. Otherwise, I can’t fathom why the custom of reporting with their bodies emerged…)