It was a crisp morning. I’d heard rain during the night, but it didn’t seem to have poured heavily—just the occasional drip or two falling from the window frame.
Thinking the weather wasn’t too bad, I sat up in bed.
After a more meticulous wash than usual and slipping into the carefully chosen outfit I’d agonized over last night, I called out, “Hyung! Let’s do our best today!”
“Shut up, man,” came the gruff reply.
Ignoring Ahn Hyun’s raised fist, I stepped out of the dorm. The breeze was just right, making for a surprisingly pleasant morning.
Today marked the last weekend of the training period—and also the day I was supposed to meet Han So-young.
I vaguely remembered setting this meeting a few weeks ago, but due to various circumstances on both sides, it had been postponed repeatedly. Now, with the promotional period approaching, I finally had a good excuse to bring it up again.
Recalling how readily Han So-young had agreed with a simple “Sounds good,” I slipped my hand into my pocket. My fingers brushed against something smooth and slender.
Originally, I’d planned to gift her Cordelia, one of the spoils from the mountain range where the dragon had fallen asleep. But knowing Han So-young’s personality, she’d probably refuse such a sudden, grand gesture outright. So, I decided to start with a small, light gift to ease any pressure, saving the bigger one for when she was more comfortable.
Since I’d set it aside for this very moment, I quickened my pace down the hallway. I’d arrived quite a bit earlier than our meeting time, but waiting could be part of the fun, right?
Yet, as I reached the building’s entrance, I was taken aback.
Far from the waiting being a bore, Han So-young was already there—waiting for me. And not only that, but her appearance startled me all over again.
Her forehead was exposed, hair swept back neatly, tied up tightly with the ends falling like a well-groomed tail. She wore slim, dark silk pants that clung to her legs, revealing their shape, and just a hint of her slightly flushed ankle showed. Her loose white shirt caught the sunlight, giving off a fresh, crisp vibe.
It was such a different look from the Han So-young I knew that I almost doubted it was her. Yet somehow, this new image blended seamlessly with her usual charisma, creating a unique charm—like a perfect mix of Yu Hyun-ah and Han So-young.
“Mercenary Lord?” she called softly, sensing my presence as she turned calmly toward me.
Only then did I snap out of my daze, quickening my steps to catch up and steady my breathing.
…For a moment, I worried I might have gotten the time wrong.
But checking my watch, I saw we still had over thirty minutes before our appointment.
After the usual greetings, Han So-young and I stepped out and began strolling slowly through the sunlit streets of the User Academy. We weren’t silent, exchanging light conversation as we walked.
Honestly, when meeting Han So-young like this, the places we could go and topics we could discuss were limited. We weren’t close enough to sit and whisper sweet nothings, and the User Academy didn’t offer many options. So, we stuck to the essentials, each mindful of our own positions.
But that was fine.
“One trainee suddenly raised their hand and asked me what my relationship was with Istantel Low Road,” I said.
“I see. I’ve been caught off guard a few times myself. I tried to ignore it, thinking it was best, but maybe that wasn’t the right approach,” Han So-young replied, listening quietly and occasionally sharing her own thoughts or stories about Istantel Low.
Sure, the topics we could cover were limited—strategies for the dragon’s sleeping mountain range, the establishment of the Mercenary Academy, incidents involving trainees with magical talent.
But even that was more than enough happiness for me. Walking side by side like this…
It was one of the things I’d longed for ever since Han So-young died in the first round.
As we chatted softly, I noticed our words gradually dwindling.
This was a signal—not that we’d run out of things to say, but that it was time to get down to business. In other words, to shift the conversation toward the promotional period.
Looking at Han So-young’s lips pressed together, I decided to break the silence.
“By the way, the User Academy enters its tenth week starting tomorrow, right?”
“Yes.”
“Well… then, I’ll cut to the chase. Among the current trainees, who is Istantel Low considering?”
“Hmm.”
She let out a faint sigh, then stopped walking. Slowly, she lifted her head to gaze at the sky.
Her face looked deep in thought. As I stared blankly, her eyes suddenly flicked down to meet mine. I quickly averted my gaze.
After a moment, her voice came, thick with a certain weight.
“I’m thinking of one or two, maybe three. All of them are trainees with magical talent.”
“Oh. That’s almost the same as us. Mercenary is also considering two trainees with magical talent.”
“That’s not good news.”
“I think it’s too early to say for sure. Could you tell me which trainees you have in mind? I’d like to avoid a recruitment war with Istantel Low if possible.”
Han So-young lowered her head again. Her eyes, endlessly deep and unreadable, fixed on me.
“The trainee who came in through the Secret Class, Kim Hee-chul, and Je-gal Hae-sol.”
Secret Class, Kim Hee-chul, and… Je-gal Hae-sol?
“Je-gal Hae-sol?” I asked, surprised.
She nodded calmly.
“Yes. Do you have an overlap with that trainee?”
“Hmm.”
“That’s okay. In a way, it’s unfortunate, but on the other hand, it’s a relief.”
“Excuse me?”
“If Mercenary Lord has marked them, it means at least my judgment wasn’t wrong.”
“Haha.”
What Han So-young meant was that all the users I’d recruited so far had gone on to grow well and perform admirably.
A flood of mixed emotions washed over me. Je-gal Hae-sol’s official record wasn’t particularly impressive. I never imagined Han So-young would consider recruiting him.
Then, a sudden thought crossed my mind. I spoke up immediately.
“Why is Istantel Low considering recruiting Je-gal Hae-sol? His performance isn’t exactly stellar.”
“Well, I guess it’s just a feeling. Not everything is visible on the surface.”
A feeling.
An uninformed user might think she was being deliberately vague. But I didn’t. With my third eye, I had a sense of what Han So-young meant.
According to her user profile, she has a power called ‘Extrasensory Perception.’ It allows her to detect subtle changes in the environment without relying on physical senses, gathering information through the mind. It applies broadly to living and non-living things alike—almost a more enviable ability than a third eye. I think it’s ranked EX?
It’s likely that Han So-young’s interest in Je-gal Hae-sol is connected to this extrasensory ability.
With that in mind, I fell into thought.
…Maybe this could be a good approach after all.
Until now, I’d been planning to kill Je-gal Hae-sol if I couldn’t recruit him, assuming no one else would want him.
But if Han So-young recruits him?
That could be a good thing. Mercenary and Istantel Low are currently allied clans.
So, if Je-gal Hae-sol goes to Istantel Low, it would at least be helpful, or at worst, harmless.
Just then, I felt a steady gaze fixed on me. I must have been lost in thought for too long. But having sorted things out somewhat, I faced Han So-young and said,
“Then let’s do this.”
“…?”
“For our two clans, we’ll let Istantel Low have first dibs on recruiting Je-gal Hae-sol. If they fail, then Mercenary will try. How does that sound?”
“Are you saying you’re conceding?”
Her voice cut sharply, but I shrugged slowly.
“Call it what you will. I just don’t want to fight with Istantel Low over this.”
“As I said before, I’m fine with it. I see this as friendly competition.”
“You misunderstand. I’m not giving up in the promotion period. I’m just offering the first chance. The choice ultimately belongs to the trainee, right?”
“…Now that you mention it, that’s true. Then there’s no reason to refuse.”
Han So-young accepted immediately, no hesitation. It wasn’t like her to be otherwise, but it showed just how much she wanted to recruit Je-gal Hae-sol.
Just then—
Right when I thought we’d smoothly settled a potentially sensitive issue—
“Mer—, hmm. Mercenary Lord.”
“Yes?”
“Th-thank you for your kindness…”
“…?”
Suddenly, Han So-young’s expression, which had been neutral until then, shifted strangely.
She was still looking straight at me. But then her lips twitched, and soon they began to tremble. It was as if she was forcing muscles in her face that usually didn’t move to obey her will… Why was she acting like this all of a sudden?
As I blinked, caught in this strange, inexplicable feeling, the corner of her mouth—those twitching lips—suddenly curved into a faint smile, tilting to one side.
In that moment, it hit me like a hammer blow. I stared at Han So-young, stunned.
It was awkward and clumsy, far from perfect, but it was unmistakably a smile.
In other words, Han So-young was smiling at me.
“Is… Is that the Istantel Low Road?”
That was the first time Han So-young had smiled in all our encounters. I couldn’t believe it and asked again, and just as quickly as it appeared, her smile vanished. Then, in a small voice, she said,
“Oh, my legs hurt from walking so long. I want to sit down for a bit.”
She turned her head sharply and started walking briskly ahead.
I followed her with my eyes, then suddenly remembered and shoved my hand into my pocket. Gripping the long object tightly, I hurried after her.
Drip.
A single raindrop fell from the sky. The light rain that had stopped earlier in the dawn was starting again.
Before long, countless raindrops pattered down, leaving faint wet spots on the dry ground.
The rain soaked through Han So-young’s neatly tied hair and trickled down her face, but she didn’t seem to care at all. Instead, she walked slowly, as if she had nowhere to rush.
“I thought it might help to keep your hair tidy since it’s long. I also added a bit of magic to it, so it should be convenient to use.”
In her hand was a long, pure white object—a comb.
It was a gift from Kim Soo-hyun, whom she had just parted from. Made from the bone of a dragon slain in the mountain range where the dragon once slept, it was a special comb. Crafted carefully by a renowned mercenary clan blacksmith, it was a beautiful piece any woman would covet.
Today, Han So-young had met with Kim Soo-hyun. Of course, it wasn’t a date between lovers, but an official meeting between clan leaders. In that sense, it was neither fun nor sweet.
But did that mean it was meaningless or boring? Han So-young could confidently say no. In fact, she had enjoyed the time. Though the conversation was strictly business, just meeting Kim Soo-hyun was meaningful to her.
This was all thanks to one of Han So-young’s abilities—her extrasensory perception.
Suddenly, a group of trainees appeared across from her. They were running to escape the rain that had just started, but upon seeing Han So-young walking toward them, they slowed down.
“Ah! Instructor Han So-young! Hello!”
“Oh~ Instructor Han So-young! Instructor Han So-young!”
Han So-young only nodded slightly at their calls. Suppressing the shivers running through her body, she passed by them without a glance.
Her extrasensory perception was both a blessing and a curse. It was certainly a blessing to have so many uses, but it also forced her to receive unwanted information.
Take those trainees, for example. Their rain-soaked white shirts clung tightly to their skin, revealing every curve of their bodies. Their gazes naturally fixed on her, and Han So-young involuntarily absorbed the information carried in those looks.
No. She had to.
Dark desires—lust, craving, lechery, all manner of filthy urges.
Standing in the increasing rain, Han So-young closed her eyes gently and thought of Kim Soo-hyun.
In truth, Han So-young’s special feelings for Kim Soo-hyun stemmed from that extrasensory perception.
It had been that way since the first time she met the Golden Lion’s summons. Setting aside other women, every time she met him, she sensed the same kind of information.
The first time that changed was when she met Kim Soo-hyun at the Golden Lion’s summons.
“I’ve heard much about the Istantel Low, the leading clan of the southern small city Monica. It’s an honor to meet you. I am Kim Soo-hyun, mercenary clan leader.”
The information she sensed then—no, the feelings she picked up through her extrasensory perception—were unforgettable.
It wasn’t just one or two feelings.
Worry, concern, anguish, apology, regret, respect, admiration, sorrow, pity—all of it.
From Kim Soo-hyun’s gaze, there was none of the ugly lust she’d just sensed from the trainees. Only endless worry and a tender desire to protect.
And it was true in reality, too. At first, Istantel Low had taken care of the mercenaries, but later, the mercenaries took care of Istantel Low—by far the greater extent.
Han So-young still didn’t understand why Kim Soo-hyun looked at her that way. But whether she understood or not, it didn’t feel bad to receive those feelings.
After all—
Even if he didn’t express it well.
Even though he stood at the top of Istantel Low, burdened with responsibility.
Beyond all that, knowing there was a man who cared for and looked out for her was undeniably comforting. Though she had closed her heart with extrasensory perception and steeled herself, Han So-young was still a woman at her core.
By the time Han So-young reached the entrance to her quarters, the rain had stopped again. It seemed to have been just a brief shower. She stepped inside.
The quarters were empty. After a quick glance around, Han So-young closed the door firmly and sat before the polished mirror. She carefully untied her hair, letting it fall down. Then, holding the comb in her hand, she gazed at it for a moment before slowly brushing her hair in the mirror’s reflection.
The comb absorbed the moisture, gently smoothing through her hair.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Han So-young: I wish I could express myself better…