Flashback.
“The Steel Mountain Range…?”
“Yeah. The Steel Mountain Range.”
After replying, I studied Jin Suhyun’s expression. She didn’t seem overly shocked, but she wasn’t exactly calm either. More like dazed. I guessed she had a rough idea but hadn’t really given it much thought before.
“The central administration mentioned it last time. They said we should start preparing soon.”
“How soon are we talking about?”
“Well, it depends on the situation, but maybe as soon as six months? Probably no later than a year before the order to move out comes.”
“Six months to a year…”
Jin Suhyun tilted her head with a vague look. I smiled inwardly. Yeah, it’s hard to be sure.
“That’s about right. Taking on the Steel Mountain Range isn’t like excavating some other ruins. It’s not something one clan can handle alone; the entire Northern Continent has to pool its strength.”
“Come to think of it, I heard there was an attempt before.”
“That was just a rough gathering of people. Honestly, it was child’s play compared to what’s needed. Not even close.”
“R-Really? If you say so, I guess that’s true… hmm.”
Jin Suhyun furrowed her brow, clearly deep in thought, clutching her head. I tried my best to look curious, tilting my head slightly. …I really envy Ansol’s ability to put question marks floating above his head in moments like this.
As I watched quietly, Jin Suhyun suddenly straightened up.
“Hyung! Hyung!”
“Uh, yeah?”
“If this happens, it’s better to join, right?”
“That?”
“The Steel Mountain Range expedition. If the order comes within a year like you said, wouldn’t it be best to participate?”
“Oh, that goes without saying. Sure, the risk of death is high, but that’s always a given. Besides, this time, I think the chances of success are pretty good.”
That was true. Because this time, I was going.
“Honestly, the Northern Continent is almost saturated now. There’s nothing left to exploit.”
“Oh, I think I get it. That’s why I went out to the unexplored areas.”
“Exactly. It’s the same with Barbara. Just like when we pioneered a region and discovered Barbara, conquering the Steel Mountain Range means a whole new continent will open up. Imagine it—completely uncharted territory. Just stepping outside the city, ruins would stretch out like sausages on a string.”
“Whoa…”
True to her passionate nature, Jin Suhyun didn’t seem to care about the high risk of death. She just marveled and nodded along enthusiastically.
But that enthusiasm faded quickly. As I kept laying out the sweet prospects, I saw her slowly grow sullen.
“So, it’s better to join. Those who participate get priority rights. And…”
I trailed off at the right moment.
“Rumor has it that if the expedition succeeds, ability points will be awarded as well… Jin Suhyun?”
“Y-Yeah?”
“What’s wrong? You suddenly look down.”
“Oh, did I?”
She gave an awkward smile, sniffed, and even smacked her lips.
“Hmph. It all sounds great, but… well, it’s not really about you, hyung. I just suddenly got worried about something.”
“Worried?”
“Yeah. Listening to you, I really want to join, but my situation is a bit complicated. Is it okay if I join as an individual?”
“Oh.”
I made a face that said I hadn’t thought of that.
“Hmm. Now that you mention it, it’s probably more likely they’ll select clans rather than individuals. Especially big clans.”
“Yeah, I thought so.”
“To be honest, that’s true. You only have two members, including yourself, right?”
“Yes.”
“Then… it might be tough. Not impossible, but your chances of being selected would be pretty low.”
“……”
Disappointment and anxiety were clearly written across Jin Suhyun’s face. Having once been a clan leader herself, she knew how hard it was to grow into a major clan in less than a year. She wanted to join, but the circumstances just weren’t right.
Of course, this was exactly the part I was aiming for. From here on, I could proceed just like I did with Woo Jungmin.
A long silence followed. After a while, I spoke quietly.
“Actually, it’s not entirely impossible.”
At that, Jin Suhyun’s shoulders twitched noticeably. She really did have a good reaction.
“First, you have to decide. Will you join the Steel Mountain Range expedition, or take a step back to regroup and build strength?”
“Of course I want to join the expedition. The vision is clear. So, what’s the method?”
“Simple. To cut to the chase, try pushing for a clan merger. That’ll open the door.”
“A merger?”
Jin Suhyun paused, thinking deeply. Then, with an awkward expression and a somewhat bitter tone, she said as if she’d expected me to say this.
“Uh… so you’re saying I should join your clan?”
I calmly gathered my thoughts. I’d expected this reaction. This was the crucial part.
“Oh, did it sound like that? Sorry. Our clan can’t just absorb yours.”
“…What?”
Jin Suhyun asked with a displeased look, as if to say, ‘No, that’s not it.’ I smiled gently and shook my head.
“Mercenaries are a mercenary clan. We don’t really do mergers.”
“What do you mean…?”
“Simply put, we’re mercenaries by status. More precisely, free mercenaries. We register members as clan members, but it’s a different concept from other clans. Sure, some join because they like being mercenaries, but others come to gain experience or earn gold.”
“Oh, but that’s okay?”
Now that she understood a bit, Jin Suhyun asked again. I nodded without hesitation. I had great examples in Woo Jungmin, Seon Yuun, and Won Hyesoo.
The problem was, they weren’t planning to leave; they’d come to see themselves as mercenary clan members through and through.
“Yeah. It’s fine. I accept anyone as long as they’re willing. Like I said, we’re mercenaries. From that perspective, there’s no better environment. It’s all about mutual support.”
“Mutual support…”
Jin Suhyun muttered softly as I quickly continued.
Feeling satisfied, I stretched and stood up. Jin Suhyun’s gaze followed me.
“Anyway, I probably said too much. But think carefully about the merger. If you want, I can introduce you to some good clans. Well then…”
Just then—
“W-Wait a moment, hyung!”
Suddenly, Jin Suhyun jumped up and grabbed my hand. When I glanced at her, her eyes looked urgent, almost desperate.
“Huh? What is it? I’m tired.”
A moment later—
“Sorry, but could you tell me a bit more about the free mercenaries?”
I couldn’t help but smile inwardly.
After finishing communication with Salmun, I headed to the place where the clan members were waiting.
On the way, a strange mix of emotions churned inside me. I’d already made up my mind, but still, a hollow feeling lingered.
It was a mix of regret, anxiety, and disbelief.
…Honestly, if it weren’t for Jegal Haesol, I wouldn’t have gone this far.
Soon, I spotted the clan members ahead and shook my head firmly. It might not be the best, but it was the next best thing. At least when it came to handling things, Salmun was as trustworthy as Go Yeonju.
Yeah. It was practically over, so what else could I do now? Whether it was guilt or regret, I didn’t want to be stuck in it any longer.
With that thought, I calmed my pounding heart and looked ahead.
Cha Heeyoung was clinging to Ahn Hyun’s side. Nearby, Jin Suhyun and Maeng Ara were also there. They must have arrived while I was away.
Thankfully, since I’d given them a heads-up, Ha-yeon was chatting with a relaxed expression, and Jin Suhyun didn’t seem awkward at all. In fact, she waved both hands excitedly as soon as she saw me.
In contrast, Maeng Ara looked deeply troubled. Her gaze held a trace of resentment when she looked at me.
In truth, bringing Jin Suhyun into the clan meant I had to accept a guardian as well. But I’d considered it carefully before proceeding. Unlike Lee Hyo-eul, Maeng Ara wasn’t much of a threat, and many of the angels had already sided with me.
“Hyung! We’re here!”
Jin Suhyun called out, and I raised my hand in response before speaking.
“Looks like everyone’s here.”
“Yes. Oh, Shin Jaeryong said he’d be a bit late. He had to stop by the central administration, but he said he’d catch up with us afterward.”
Ha-yeon’s reply made me chuckle lightly.
“Being the chief instructor is a curse. Anyway, let’s get going. It’s chaotic with so many users.”
It really was. The place was filled with noise. The graduation ceremony had brought in hundreds of new users. And outside, there were probably crowds of users trying to recruit those who hadn’t received offers.
Everyone seemed to share my feelings, nodding quickly. I left the user academy and headed toward the warp gate.
Aside from the fact that there were a lot of users, the journey went smoothly. Driven by the desperate urge to reach Monica as quickly as possible, I kept up a brisk pace, while An Hyun kept sneaking glances at me. When we finally reached the warp gate, he even hesitated openly, but I said nothing and paid the usage fee for both of us.
Once we arrived in Monica, I had to make an important decision.
I chose to put some distance between myself and Jin Suhyun and An Sol, who were trailing behind. Not just a little, but as far away as possible—almost as if we weren’t traveling together.
“Ahem! That building over there is our mercenary guild’s forge! It’s got a great reputation and brings in a solid income.”
“Wow! So you get your equipment from there?”
“No, no. That’s just a branch store, a shop that sells gear. The main forge is inside the clan house. They don’t sell equipment there; they specialize in crafting weapons exclusively for clan members.”
“Whoa!”
“And that building? That’s the Love Tavern. Hanna and Yujeong run it together, but watch out—Hanna’s food is fine, but Yujeong’s cooking… ouch! Hey, why are you hitting me? It’s true! Uh, uh? Y-Yujeong? Onii-san!”
“Wooooah!”
…When did they get so close? Well, it’s not necessarily a bad thing. Being sociable just means they adapt quickly.
Still, it was embarrassing. And I wasn’t the only one feeling that way—Seon Yuun and Cha Sorim were walking beside me, probably thinking the same.
As the mercenary clan house came into view, a sudden thought crossed my mind, and I spoke to Cha Sorim.
“User Cha Sorim.”
“Yes?”
“Sorry I couldn’t come back sooner.”
“…hic.”
Sorim hiccupped quietly, looked at me demurely, blushed, and slowly started backing away.
Her reaction was so gentle and natural that I couldn’t help but laugh quietly to myself—by the time I did, she had already disappeared.
I wanted to tease her more, but I quickly dropped the idea. We had arrived at the clan house.
I sensed dozens of people lined up inside and stepped forward.
The front gate was wide open.
As expected, dozens of clan members stood in neat rows on either side of the gate. In the center, a gaunt-faced Jo Seungwoo greeted me with a warm smile.
“User Jo Seungwoo. You look…”
“W-welcome. We’ve been waiting for you, Clan Lord.”
At that moment, the clan members bowed their heads in unison. The noisy chatter that had been coming from behind them abruptly stopped. I was relieved they had some sense and gestured upward—a signal to raise their heads.
“You’re all out here. I came straight after the graduation ceremony.”
“Yes. We heard the details from User Jeong Hayeon yesterday.”
“Good. So nothing unusual happened?”
“Ah, about that… actually…”
Buzz.
Just as Jo Seungwoo was about to continue, I suddenly felt a surge of magical energy from his side. I instinctively reached out but hesitated.
Quick on the uptake, Jo Seungwoo cast a block field and pulled out a communication crystal as the field formed.
Communication from Salmun? Could it be they already finished?
I channeled my magic into the crystal.
(Mercenary Lord.)
“What is it? Already done?”
(We’d like to ask you the same thing. This isn’t a joke, is it? What were you thinking when you took on this request?)
“What do you mean? What was I thinking?”
(Hmm… Well, the Mercenary Lord isn’t one to joke around. Ah, is it okay to say now?)
“It’s fine. We’re inside the block field.”
The crystal fell silent for a moment. When I brought it closer, the figure wrapped in black cloth moved away.
(Understood. We’ve definitely found the chick you mentioned. Je Gal Haesol, right?)
“Correct.”
(Then get inside the clan house quickly. It seems even the Mercenary Lord doesn’t know yet. Check it out and contact us again.)
“…Why? I just entered the clan house.”
(That’s good. You’ll find out soon enough. And be careful. That woman’s no ordinary person. We approached cautiously but almost got caught.)
“…What? You guys?”
(That’s all we have to say. Goodbye.)
“Wait…”
Before I could finish, the communication cut off. Standing there dumbfounded, I felt the block field slowly dissipate.
A moment later, Jo Seungwoo glanced at the crystal and spoke with concern.
“Are you alright, Clan Lord? You don’t look well.”
“…It’s nothing. I’m fine. By the way, what were you about to say earlier?”
“Oh, right. A guest came by a little while ago. They wanted to see you, so I showed them in.”
“A guest?”
When I asked, Jo Seungwoo nodded lightly as he looked around the main building.
“Yes. They were wearing the User Academy uniform.”
---------------------------= Author’s Note =---------------------------
Safe at 1 AM!
I personally dislike stories where Je Gal Haesol survives and becomes a major antagonist. -_-a If I had written it that way, I’d probably have gotten a ton of hate. Or I’d have had to create some unavoidable circumstances. Haha.
Of course, such stories do exist, but if I were to write one, I’d probably have used Yu Hyunah as the subject first. ㅋ_ㅋ