A strange energy began to stir within the Mercenary Clan House. After the last meeting, I had ordered that no more requests be accepted, which led to an increase in clan members staying on-site.
But that didn’t mean the clan members were just idling away. Quietly, each was engaged in some kind of activity, in their own way. The fact that the foolish duo who usually made the clan noisy had gone silent was clear evidence of this.
Of course, separate from that, some members were taking more direct action.
“I want to join too.”
Glancing up, I saw a woman leaning forward on the desk with both hands, her upper body fully inclined. Her slightly raised eyebrows gave her a mildly annoyed look. It was none other than Jegal Haesol.
“Why don’t you sit down first? I get what you mean.”
Jegal Haesol promptly plopped down—not on a chair, but right on my desk. Then, as if to show off, she stretched her legs out fully. I let out a light sigh.
“Are you planning to teach the kid something weird? Sit on the sofa over there, not here.”
At that, Jegal Haesol, who was just about to flaunt her legs, startled and averted her gaze. On one side of the desk, Maru and Dodo were struggling to lift their legs too… Wait, why are you copying her?
After a moment, Jegal Haesol sat quietly on the sofa, crossing her arms firmly and looking me straight in the eye, as if silently demanding I say something.
I pulled out a cigarette, pretending to light it, and activated my Third Eye.
Name: Jegal Haesol (0 years)
Class: Normal Mage (Expert)
Nation: Freelance Mercenary
Clan: Mercenary (Clan Rank: S Zero)
True Name / Nationality: One who awakened her own qualifications / Genius Child / Republic of Korea
Gender: Female (29)
Height / Weight: 168.7 cm / 48.7 kg
Disposition: Rationality / Observation
[Strength 43] [Endurance 47] [Agility 57] [Stamina 41] [Mana 95] [Luck 94]
(Remaining Ability Points: 6)
<Achievements (0)>
<Unique Ability (1/1)>
<Special Ability (1/1)>
<Potential Abilities (2/3)>
Traditional Magic (Rank: B Plus)
Ancient Magic (Rank: D Zero)
(Remaining Ability Points: 0)
“Huh.”
I exhaled a smoky breath instead of the admiration that wanted to escape. Setting aside other stats, I was amazed she had already secured a mana stat of 101. The Mercenary Academy had played a big role, of course, but still, it was impressive. And her magic-specialized abilities were no joke either.
After gathering my thoughts, I spoke calmly.
“For now, I’m positively inclined toward Jegal Haesol’s participation.”
“I don’t understand. Why… huh?”
Jegal Haesol’s voice was suddenly puzzled, as if she hadn’t expected that. Or maybe she thought I’d refuse.
But I was sincere. If I could bring her to the Steel Mountains, she would definitely be an asset—by any means necessary.
The biggest problem was that this wasn’t entirely up to me.
“Of course, this is just my personal opinion.”
“Clan Lord, I really want to join, and I’m confident I can help.”
“Jegal Haesol, the Steel Mountains operation isn’t something anyone can join just because they want to. The Central Management Organization has already made it clear that zero- and first-year users cannot participate, and that rule has never changed. Even during the chaotic operation three years ago, that one rule was strictly enforced.”
“Why? Why is it based on years of experience rather than individual skill? Honestly, I’m confident I can hold my own against most mage users right now. If you don’t believe me, I can show you.”
“Jegal Haesol, you’re a special case. But generally, user status is determined by years of experience. Especially for an event this massive, the organization prioritizes the group’s stance over individual desires.”
“But—”
“I don’t think you misunderstand what I’m saying.”
“…”
I cut her off sharply, signaling that there was no point in arguing further. This was a matter that couldn’t be resolved here and now.
Jegal Haesol fell silent, though her disappointment was clear.
A brief silence passed.
“…So, you’re saying there’s no way after all.”
Her voice was a little deflated. For some reason, she really wanted to participate. Seeing Jegal Haesol, who usually smiled brightly, look so down was oddly refreshing.
I finished the cigarette and spoke quietly.
“The important thing is, no matter how much we talk here, it’s just armchair theorizing. I can’t give a definite answer right now.”
“Tch.”
“But as I said before, I’m positively inclined toward your participation. I’ll personally petition the Central Management Organization.”
“You’re going to petition them yourself?”
Jegal Haesol’s pout disappeared instantly as she asked again. I nodded lightly.
“The Barbara summons is scheduled for next week. Before then, the organization will be too busy. As soon as it’s over, I’ll bring it up. I’ll ask if there’s any way to make an exception for you.”
“Really?”
“Of course, whether they accept it is uncertain. But since you want to join so badly, I’ll do everything I can to help.”
“…”
Jegal Haesol fell silent for a moment, then stared at me intently. Her rapid blinking seemed both reluctant and, in a way, embarrassed. Ah, maybe a bit of both?
After watching me for a while, she slowly stood up. With an awkward expression, she spoke carefully.
“Tch, that’s cheap.”
“…?”
“Saying it like that makes me feel bad. Like I’m just throwing a tantrum.”
“Ha ha. Not at all.”
I barely swallowed the words that almost escaped my throat. I wanted to say, “Isn’t that exactly what it is?” but it wasn’t worth picking a fight.
“But I do appreciate you looking out for me. Thank you, Clan Lord.”
“Looking out for you? As clan lord, it’s only natural to support the requests of clan members. So don’t feel too sorry.”
Jegal Haesol stopped just as she was about to leave. She turned her head slightly and winked one eye.
“Dummy. That’s what ‘looking out for you’ means.”
With a gentle wave, she disappeared—probably using that ability again.
A moment later.
“Dad.”
Maru, who had been silent until now, spoke calmly.
“Yeah? What is it?”
“That lady’s acting weird.”
“It’s okay, Maru. The world’s big, and there are a lot of crazy… weird people.”
“No, that’s not it.”
Maru pointed to where Jegal Haesol had vanished, then tilted her head with a very strange expression.
“I think she’s just trying to get your attention.”
“Well… maybe.”
…No way. That Jegal Haesol?
I shrugged.
Time flew like an arrow.
East, West, South, North. After organizing each region in sequence, as expected, the Central Management Organization soon announced the summons.
The venue was, naturally, Barbara. But this wasn’t an open summons—only clan lords from participating clans could attend (though they could bring one assistant).
The grand auditorium was dark and silent. A quiet stillness filled the air.
The lights were deliberately dimmed, casting shadows over the vast hall, which could easily hold a thousand people. It felt almost like an open-air theater.
I took a seat as far back as possible and scanned the surroundings.
The only brightly lit area was the central stage where the Central Management officials would appear. It seemed designed to focus attention.
Around it, hundreds of users were gathered in clusters.
Half of them would likely end up as cannon fodder (though they wouldn’t see it that way), but this was a gathering of the top users from each region, and some well-known names caught my eye.
Anyway.
I didn’t know when it would start, but I watched the stage with a slight tension. It wasn’t just the atmosphere of the summons; the reason my left hand trembled and my heart tightened was the user sitting right beside me.
Han Soyoung.
We had bumped into each other by chance, but I never expected to sit next to her. Being here with her felt strange—like we were at a theater in Daehangno watching a play together.
Just as I was caught up in this pleasant feeling—
“By the way, Suhyun, are you really not thinking of coming to the West?”
A whisper broke the mood. No need to look to know who it was. If Han Soyoung was on my left, then my older brother was on my right.
I sighed and shook my head.
“I told you already. The lineup’s finalized. There’s nothing we can do now.”
“But still… I feel like we could still change it.”
“If we do, we’ll just get flak for it. You’re joining as a mercenary, and if you get sent to the West after being rated at 40% strength, what do you think the users will say?”
“Hmm~ Really? Is that really the reason?”
Suddenly, I felt an arm sneak around mine. I tried to shrug it off, signaling ‘What are you doing?’ but my brother just leaned in closer, his face almost brushing mine. Then, with half-lidded eyes, he looked at me and—unexpectedly—grinned.
“What’s with that smile?”
“Nothing. I think I know what you’re really up to.”
“My ‘real plan’?”
“Yeah. You’re so desperate not to go there because you want to protect your girl, Istantel Low Road…”
At that moment, I jabbed him hard in the ribs. He gasped and doubled over, and I quickly whispered, “Are you crazy? Where did that come from all of a sudden?”
“Ah, no, that’s not what I meant… cough cough.”
I knew exactly what he was implying. Since he knew about my first run, he had a rough idea of what Hansoyoung meant to me.
Technically, he wasn’t wrong…
Wait. If someone who didn’t know the situation overheard that, it’d be a huge misunderstanding.
I glanced anxiously at Hansoyoung, but she was staring expressionlessly at the stage as usual. She glanced at me briefly, then turned away to quietly chat with someone else. Had she not heard? That was a relief.
Feeling reassured, I took a deep breath and glared fiercely at my brother, clenching my fist. One more stupid comment like that, and I wouldn’t let it slide.
A moment later—
“Let’s begin the assembly.”
A simple voice, amplified by magic, echoed through the great hall.
I focused on the central stage, thinking this was finally starting, and saw a man walk out, looking a bit nervous.
I felt a twinge of surprise. Normally, for a gathering of this caliber, Lee Hyo-eul would be the one to appear. So who was this unfamiliar guy? I wasn’t the only one wondering; murmurs rippled through the crowd.
The man reached the center and bowed his head.
“Greetings. First, I want to thank you all for gathering here despite your busy schedules.”
Who is this guy?
“I’m sure many of you are wondering why I’m the one standing here today. I’ll explain that shortly, so please bear with me.”
The chatter gradually died down. The man swallowed nervously and spoke in a low voice.
“Before I begin, let me introduce myself. I’m Juho, an eight-year veteran user.”
Eight years—that’s a long time to survive.
“Three years ago, I participated in the Steel Mountain Range as part of the Golden Lions and was one of the ten percent who returned alive.”
…A participant from three years ago. That didn’t matter much, but his courage was notable.
Emotions run deep and linger long. Those still holding grudges against the Golden Lions would surely look at him with suspicion. That’s the danger of a label.
“The reason I’m here today is to make a proposal to all the clan lords present.”
“Cut the preamble and get to the point! What’s the reason for this assembly?”
“Wait—are you the one in charge of this gathering?”
Suddenly, irritated voices started breaking out from somewhere. Sensing the hostile atmosphere, the man wiped his shiny forehead anxiously.
“Alright, I’ll get straight to the point. Last night, I proposed a plan to conquer the Steel Mountain Range, and many at the meeting thought it had a good chance of success. After thorough discussion, before revealing the core plan today, I want to propose this here…”
“Yeah, yeah, just get on with it!”
“…I propose that we launch a large-scale fire operation against the Steel Mountain Range!”
At that instant, the complaints and grumblings stopped abruptly. I felt the same way. A large-scale fire attack on the Steel Mountain Range?
Someone shot up their hand and stood.
“I’m Jo Seong-ho, Lord of Goryeo. A large-scale fire attack? What kind of nonsense is that?”
“Exactly as I said. To be precise, I’m suggesting we burn it down completely before we even enter.”
“Wait, what?”
“What is a mountain range? It’s made up of grass and trees, right? So it’ll burn fiercely. Since it’s the area we’re going to conquer and will need to clear paths through anyway, why bother going in and struggling? We just burn it down.”
No one could misunderstand that explanation.
The users exchanged glances, then one by one stood up to ask questions.
“Hold on. Is that even feasible? The Steel Mountain Range is huge!”
“We don’t need to burn the entire area. Just the paths we’ll use. The point is, we can create a safe zone from the outside without suffering through the initial entry.”
“That’s ridiculous! It’s a dangerous plan! What if the fire gets out of control?”
“As someone said earlier, the Steel Mountain Range is vast. If the fire spreads, that’s actually better.”
“That easily…?”
“And even if it does get out of control, what’s the worry? We can gather thousands of mages from across the Northern Continent. If a thousand stand by, they can use wind magic to redirect the flames or water magic to extinguish them.”
The noise that had quieted down surged back, spreading rapidly and filling the hall with uproar.
“And the creatures living in the mountains? They’re our enemies anyway. No matter the process, if we burn the Steel Mountain Range to the ground, isn’t that a successful conquest?”
The man’s earlier nervousness was gone. Gaining confidence as his words took hold, Juho answered questions with increasing passion and volume.
Having experienced the Steel Mountain Range on my first run, I knew the general strategy.
But that only meant I knew where monsters appeared and where to go.
Knowing the strategy didn’t mean it was without risk.
Still, watching Juho’s fiery speech, I rested my chin on my hand.
A large-scale fire attack on the Steel Mountain Range…
“…Genius.”
---------------------------= Author’s Note =---------------------------
Kim Suhyun: (thinking) …She probably didn’t hear that. Good.
Hansoyoung: (glances sideways, whispering) Hyerim, what do you mean by ‘your girl’?
Yeon Hyerim: Huh? ‘Your girl’? Why?
Hansoyoung: Just curious. When a guy calls a woman ‘your girl,’ does it mean something special? Or is it just ‘she’s a woman’?
Yeon Hyerim: Ah, it’s nothing. (holds up her pinky) It just means this.
Hansoyoung: (mimics) This?
Yeon Hyerim: (casually) Yeah. In other words, a girlfriend.
Hansoyoung: !
Suhyun really did accidentally reveal his true feelings. Haha.
Anyway, it’s the start of a new May. Haha. I’m surprised we’re already halfway through the year. Time flies.
Everyone, let’s give it our all this May! And today’s Labor Day, right? A sweet holiday for all the hardworking office workers. Hehe.
…If anyone’s working today, my sympathies. (__)
P.S. I purposely didn’t include the ‘swordless sword’ last chapter. Suhyun needs to have a sword he can always wield. And he chose that sword as his swordless sword. :D