Murmurs filled the air.
After delivering a lengthy speech about the Flame Plan, Juho stepped down from the stage, his expression noticeably more confident than before. No sooner had he left than a woman walked onto the empty stage.
With a brief introduction, the woman revealed herself as Lee Hyo-eul—the long-awaited protector of the Northern Continent.
Moments later.
True to her reputation, the once noisy grand auditorium quieted down considerably.
Lee Hyo-eul scanned the room with her usual calm demeanor before speaking softly.
She pulled something from her pocket—a small, round crystal orb.
Snap!
With a crisp snap of her fingers, a translucent screen materialized above the center of the stage, magnifying the footage stored within the orb.
The image that appeared was none other than the Steel Mountain Range itself. I stared at it, feeling a strange mix of anticipation and unease.
…If only we could just get past those mountains.
A sharp, slightly irritated voice cut through the room.
Yet, no one raised their hand. It seemed people were holding back. Those who knew the truth kept silent, while those who didn’t probably sensed something odd about the sudden hush.
Still, the atmosphere remained somewhat unsettled, so I slowly raised my hand and stood.
Lee Hyo-eul immediately recognized me and frowned slightly—a look that said, “You’re a bit of a nuisance, even if you mean well.”
“Mercenary Lord Kim Su-hyun here. I have two questions.”
“First, as far as I know, the Steel Mountain Range is vast and deep beyond measure. I think the Flame Plan is a brilliant idea, but burning the entire area seems practically impossible. Considering the range of the mages’ spells, we’ll inevitably have to venture inside. What are your thoughts on that? And second, I want to understand the relationship between dividing the expedition into four regional squads and the Flame Plan we just heard about.”
Lee Hyo-eul’s expression brightened as she nodded, finally catching on to my intent.
At the same time, the remaining murmurs in the hall died down completely. It wasn’t anything extraordinary—just the two most pressing questions being addressed.
She turned away from me and gestured toward the screen.
As Mercenary Lord said, it’s impossible to burn the entire mountain range. To be precise, it’s possible, but it would take far too long. The bottom line is that sooner or later, we have to enter the Steel Mountain Range itself.
Before I get into the main details, let me clarify that the primary goal of the Flame Plan isn’t to burn everything to ashes, but to secure safe zones. …You’re probably wondering what exactly “safe zones” means, right?
She paused briefly, then continued in a low voice.
At that moment.
“Ah.”
“Hmm.”
I heard Han So-young and my older brother exhale in surprise. I felt the same. The moment I heard “fortress,” I could roughly guess what the Central Administration had in mind.
Some of you may have already guessed. Yes. Over the past few months, the Central Administration gathered survivors from three years ago and collected as much information as possible. The conclusion? The Steel Mountain Range cannot be conquered in a single strike.
This is precisely why the expedition was divided into four regional squads. While it’s partly to improve command efficiency, the real reason is rotation. Think of it as a sequential assault by region. The first squad advances to a certain point, builds a fortress there, then the next squad moves in for the second assault. This cycle repeats until the entire area is secured.
So, if I understand correctly: the first wave, the eastern squad, enters the mountains and establishes a fortress at a strategic point to secure a safe zone. Then the second, third, and fourth squads rotate through that fortress, taking turns pushing deeper while others rest and regroup.
Of course, since this is all theoretical and none of us have experienced it firsthand, things won’t always go as planned. The Steel Mountain Range isn’t an easy place, and we won’t know the exact conditions until we’re inside.
That’s why the fortress is so crucial. Both the Flame Plan and the internal assault require you to venture deep into hostile territory. I believe these fortresses will serve as the minimal shield protecting you from the dangers you’ll face.
Lee Hyo-eul’s words weren’t just about building fortresses.
Because the Steel Mountain Range isn’t a single ruin—it’s a massive region.
Considering it can’t be conquered all at once, the key to this expedition lies in maintaining the first wave’s position steadily. Lee Hyo-eul had grasped that perfectly.
What I liked most was that she didn’t treat the Flame Plan as a cure-all. As she said, the Steel Mountain Range is no easy target.
Looking at it that way, the Central Administration’s plan was quite sound.
First, secure as many safe zones as possible through the Flame Plan.
Then, strengthen those zones by building fortresses.
Finally, station relief squads in the fortresses to maintain maximum combat readiness through rotation.
In other words, they aimed to combine these three elements for maximum effect.
If Lee Hyo-eul’s plan works as intended?
The Northern Continent will be able to rotate three expedition squads at full strength, using the fortresses as bases. (The fourth squad is a reserve.) Moreover, they’ll have a continuous supply line stretching from the mountain range’s entrance to its far end. The potential efficiency is enormous.
Silence fell.
The grand auditorium had completely settled. You could even hear someone swallowing nervously.
Lee Hyo-eul scanned the audience with a calm expression, then smiled gently.
The assembly was over.
After leaving the grand auditorium, I fought back tears as I made my way to the Central Administration building. The tears weren’t from sadness, but because Han So-young had asked to discuss the plan over a meal.
Unfortunately, I had another appointment immediately afterward and had to decline. I wanted to postpone it, but the Central Administration had been so busy lately that I had no choice. Meeting Lee Hyo-eul herself had been difficult enough.
“So… you want me to allow a zero-year user named Jegal Haesol, who has this unique teleportation ability, to join? A rookie fresh out of the User Academy?”
Lee Hyo-eul slumped over her desk, her voice drained of energy. It was a stark contrast to her sharp tone on stage, but understandable.
The scattered papers and disarray around her office showed just how intensely she’d been preparing for the Steel Mountain Range assault. I couldn’t help but notice the dark circles under her eyes.
“Look, I don’t want you to judge him just because he’s a zero-year rookie. He may be new, but he’s a truly skilled user—on par with many veteran mages.”
“Hmm…”
Lee Hyo-eul sighed, half-turned her head, and began rifling through the chaotic piles of documents.
“Ugh… sleepy… User Academy… User Academy… where is it… Ah, here it is.”
She pulled out a record and studied it carefully.
Not long after, her eyes narrowed slightly. The name must have been unusual, so she found it quickly.
“Here it is. Jegal Haesol. …Huh? His graduation scores aren’t great? No, wait—they’re actually quite poor. This is near the bottom of the class.”
Her words left me speechless. The User Academy was the only place to evaluate a fresh recruit, and as she said, Jegal Haesol’s scores were far from impressive. But I couldn’t just dismiss him outright.
So, the only thing going for him is his transport ability?
“That’s just old data. He’s grown a lot since then. And think about it—this teleportation skill could be a huge asset for the supply base construction plan you mentioned.”
“That might be true… but isn’t it still experimental? I mean, can he really teleport a day’s journey in an instant? Or move dozens, even hundreds of people at once? Surely it can’t be that advanced yet?”
…That’s right. It definitely doesn’t reach that level yet. Before coming here, I asked Jegal Haesol, and he said the transport ability is still in its early development stages. Of course, there’s plenty of room for improvement, but for now, it simply can’t meet the standards Lee Hyo-eul mentioned.
Eventually, Lee Hyo-eul slowly sat up, his voice heavy with fatigue as he spoke.
“Mercenary Lord~. This user, Jegal Haesol… are you really sure you want to let him participate?”
“He’s strongly requesting it himself, and I’m inclined to agree.”
“Really? Really, really? Really, really, really?”
“……”
Lee Hyo-eul pouted with a pitiful look, trying to act cute despite the situation. I almost gagged, but swallowed it down and replied.
“Don’t joke around. And this isn’t a demand—it’s a request. How could I say no? I came to ask your opinion.”
“Ehh? A request?”
At that moment, his eyes grew as wide as saucers, then he stared at me blankly.
I wondered what was up with him, so I just watched quietly. After a moment, he seemed to regain some composure and spoke in his usual sharp tone.
“Hey. You know this is the first time you’ve ever asked me for a favor, right?”
Had I?
“Anyway, that’s not the point right now. I’d really like to get your answer here and now.”
“Hmm…”
When I pressed for a reply again, Lee Hyo-eul immediately fell into thought.
Honestly, the fact that he’s hesitating this long means the answer’s already decided. Given his personality, he’d be straightforward—either yes or no. But maybe having me right in front of him makes him a bit cautious. Or perhaps he holds Jegal Haesol in high regard.
We sat in silence for a moment.
Lee Hyo-eul clicked his tongue thoughtfully, then finally spoke.
“Sorry. No matter how much I think about it, it’s just not going to work.”
“…I see.”
“I do acknowledge that ability. But just based on that alone, granting your request is too risky.”
“Risk?”
I asked, puzzled. Lee Hyo-eul frowned slightly, as if disgusted, then nodded firmly.
“First, you know why we exclude zero- and first-year users, right?”
He pulled out a cigarette, lit it, took a deep drag, and exhaled slowly.
“Ahh. That’s better. Anyway, you’re not the only one who’s made this kind of request. Surprisingly, there are quite a few.”
“Quite a few?”
“Yeah. I get it. If you succeed in the raid, all the privileges go first to the participants. But honestly, understanding doesn’t mean I can just accept it. And you’re a clan lord yourself—you know how hard it is to respect individual wishes in a large-scale raid. Once a rule is set, the group’s interests have to come first.”
“……”
I expected this. Because what Lee Hyo-eul is saying now is exactly what I told Jegal Haesol before. His words are coming back to me in full.
“Mercenary Lord, I’ve rejected every request from unqualified users so far. If I grant your request here, what am I supposed to say to those others? More importantly, regardless of ability, do you think those users would just accept it and say, ‘Oh, I see~’?”
I paused to think, then shook my head quietly.
“Exactly. And you’re the only S Zero clan in the Northern Continent. With all eyes on you, it’s even harder to grant favors. You understand what I mean, right?”
That’s right. Humans aren’t exactly rational creatures. It’s obvious they’d rise up over any perceived unfairness.
“Honestly, I want to grant your request if I can. After all, I’ve benefited quite a bit from you, and I don’t think I’ve ever lost out by listening to you. But this time, the outcome is clear. That’s why you used the word ‘request’ instead of ‘demand.’”
“Hmm…”
“Mercenary Lord, I really want this raid to succeed. Even just dealing with the Steel Mountain problem is tough enough. I don’t want to create variables by stirring up trouble.”
“……”
That left me speechless. From Lee Hyo-eul’s perspective, he’s done well to lead the summons this far—he wouldn’t want to cause unnecessary conflict.
So, it’s a no.
I let out a deep sigh and slowly stood up. With Lee Hyo-eul speaking so firmly, I saw no other way. Forcing it through could even bring criticism down on the entire Northern Continent.
With that in mind, I decided to give up cleanly.
“Alright. I understand.”
“Huh? You’re leaving?”
“I’ve heard your position loud and clear. If it’s not possible, there’s nothing I can do. I’ll explain it properly to the clan members.”
“…R-right?”
Maybe he thought I gave up too easily. Lee Hyo-eul looked at me with a reluctant expression. I shrugged and turned away.
Then—
“Mercenary Lord.”
Just as I opened the door, Lee Hyo-eul’s voice stopped me.
I turned back calmly and saw him looking somewhat uneasy.
“Why?”
“Are you… upset because I said no?”
“Not really.”
“Then… just in case…”
Lee Hyo-eul suddenly fell silent.
He seemed to hesitate, then spoke in an awkward voice.
“Don’t do anything strange, okay?”
“Strange? What do you mean?”
“Like… back when we brought down the Koran Alliance…”
“Nonsense.”
I cut him off sharply and stepped out the door.
---------------------------= Author’s Note =---------------------------
While writing today’s chapter, a question suddenly came to mind for the readers.
What if you were a user living in the Hall Plain but couldn’t participate in the Steel Mountain raid? (The privileges related to Steel Mountain are definitely great—you get stat points and priority access to all rights concerning the new continent afterward.)
Now, imagine a zero-year user from the Mercenary Clan—a total rookie—was granted permission to join. How would you feel about that? Haha.