Pyo Hyemi, a member of the Mercenary Clan, had been a user in the Hall Plain for just over two years. She was 22 years old, a standard mage class, and if anything, she was known for her somewhat flirtatious-looking face and lively personality.
In a way, Pyo Hyemi could be called the Mercenary Clan’s very first user. Her solid grades at the User Academy caught the eye of Jeong Hayun, who was an instructor there at the time. Recognizing her decent magical sense and potential, Jeong offered her a spot in the Mercenary Clan.
After joining, Pyo Hyemi went through a six-month apprenticeship and was now an official clan member, actively participating in various missions.
She was quite content with her daily life, not overly ambitious but diligent in following orders. Her flirtatious streak was a minor flaw, but in the Hall Plain—where things were openly more liberal—it wasn’t much of an issue.
Then, one day, a small change came to Pyo Hyemi’s routine. Or perhaps, it was a significant change.
It might indeed be significant. After all, considering the massacre of the Northern Continent expedition three years ago, joining the campaign to conquer the Steel Mountain Range was hardly an everyday affair.
When the initial roster was announced, Pyo Hyemi felt a twinge of confusion. Of the 31 selected users, 29 had over three years of experience. Zero- and one-year users were excluded from the start, and only two two-year users were chosen—Pyo Hyemi and one other.
But when you considered that the other two-year user was Baek Hangyeol, known as the “Shield of the Gods,” Pyo Hyemi’s selection seemed odd to anyone looking in. Compared to Baek Hangyeol, she was clearly the less accomplished user.
At first, she was thrilled. Being chosen for the Steel Mountain Range meant her skills were recognized.
But soon, she realized she couldn’t just be happy about it. As part of her preparation, she looked up records about the Steel Mountain Range—and it wasn’t some simple relic exploration or routine quest.
There were barely any notes on what monsters appeared or which areas were relatively safe. Instead, the records were filled with reports of disappearances and deaths. Seeing that, she even began to doubt why she had been selected at all.
Eventually, Pyo Hyemi found herself caught in a deep dilemma over whether to participate.
It was understandable. The Steel Mountain Range was a place even veteran users avoided. For a two-year user like her, the pressure was immense. Pride in being selected was one thing, but pride wouldn’t save her life.
Moreover, Pyo Hyemi was someone who was content with her simple daily routine. So it was natural for her to think, “Do I really have to go…?”
The departure date was fast approaching. News had already come that the eastern forces had begun their march toward the Steel Mountain Range.
One restless night, unable to decide, Pyo Hyemi was suddenly summoned by Kim Soohyun. When she arrived at his office, she was met with a surprising proposal.
A languid afternoon.
“Phew.”
Pyo Hyemi climbed the stairs briskly and stopped in front of the office on the fourth floor. She took a deep breath and stared at the firmly closed door.
Today, she had been summoned by Kim Soohyun.
Though any clan member could freely meet the Clan Lord, outside of official events, Pyo Hyemi had rarely seen Kim Soohyun. This was only the second time they met one-on-one since her joining. Kim Soohyun had been away for a long time, and there hadn’t been much reason to meet. Pyo Hyemi had always believed in not reaching for things beyond her grasp.
After a moment of staring at the door, she suddenly inhaled deeply and flung it open. Immediately, she realized her mistake—normally, she should have knocked and waited for a response, but her nerves had gotten the better of her.
“Oh, h-hello! You called for me?”
But the damage was done. Resigned, she closed her eyes and bowed deeply at a 60-degree angle.
“Yes. You’re here… Hm? User Pyo Hyemi? No need for formal greetings. Please, have a seat.”
Kim Soohyun’s voice was calm, as if he had expected her arrival.
Pyo Hyemi peeked up to glance at his face, then quietly sat down.
No sooner had she settled than Kim Soohyun spoke.
“So, the reason I called you here today… Well, I think you already know.”
“Y-yes. You made me an offer last time, and I was so surprised I asked for a few days to think it over, and then…”
Getting straight to the point, Pyo Hyemi nodded quickly and began explaining in detail. Kim Soohyun chuckled lightly.
“Ha ha. No need to go on like that. And don’t be so nervous. Just speak freely about what you’ve been thinking.”
“I-I’m sorry…”
Inwardly, Pyo Hyemi scolded herself. She even wanted to bang her head in frustration.
Still, though she was told to relax, it wasn’t easy. Meeting one of the most renowned users from the Northern Continent for some secretive matter was nerve-wracking.
After a moment, she finally gathered her courage and spoke cautiously.
“I’ve been thinking about it, and… so, I’d just be lending my name, right?”
“More precisely, your appearance. Officially, User Pyo Hyemi will be participating in the Steel Mountain Range campaign. But you’ll be living under someone else’s identity until the campaign ends. In other words, you’ll take on the appearance of User Jegal Haesol.”
“Yes, yes. But is that really possible? We don’t even know how long the campaign will last. Maintaining someone else’s form for that long… I’m a bit worried. What if the magic suddenly wears off? That would be disastrous.”
“I understand your concerns. But according to Helena, it should be possible for at least six months. I also find her words quite credible.”
That was it. Kim Soohyun’s plan for Jegal Haesol’s proxy was polymorph magic—and Pyo Hyemi was chosen as the target. She was the most likely candidate to decline participation, so she was the perfect choice.
Of course, this wasn’t something Kim Soohyun could do himself. It was a limited polymorph, not a perfect one.
But Helena was different. As a dragon once called the source of magic and the apex of the End Dragons, Kim Soohyun believed she could perform flawless polymorph magic.
His prediction was spot on. After consulting Helena, he received a positive answer: no problem for at least half a year.
“Hmm. Then it seems there’s no major issue…”
“Exactly. There’s almost no risk. The only thing left is your decision. Of course, this is a request, not an order. And if you cooperate, as I mentioned before, you’ll receive a potion that boosts all your equipment and magical power by one point.”
Pyo Hyemi swallowed hard.
All equipment and a potion.
As a clan member, she could usually get decent gear, but there were limits. The best equipment was kept under strict security and only handed out personally by Kim Soohyun to those who truly earned it.
What Kim Soohyun was saying was that she’d be given a full set of A-grade gear. The potion was a bonus on top of that.
She had been agonizing over whether to join the Steel Mountain Range campaign—wondering if it was worth risking her life. And now, Kim Soohyun had dangled this tempting offer.
It wasn’t a bad deal. Officially participating meant future privileges, and the rewards were eye-catching.
If she accepted now and kept a low profile for a few months, her future daily life could improve significantly.
With that in mind, Pyo Hyemi slowly nodded. Though it had taken time, she had made her decision.
“Yes. I’ll do it. Thank you for your consideration.”
“Good. Since I trust you, we won’t draft a formal contract. But… you understand, right?”
“Of course. I’m involved in this, so I’ll keep it absolutely secret.”
“I like that. Then let’s wrap this up. I’ve already informed the personnel department about the equipment, so stop by on your way out.”
Pyo Hyemi stood up, tilting her head in curiosity. They’d already told personnel? So they knew she’d agree?
But soon, she decided it didn’t matter. It was better to be swift and certain than to procrastinate.
Bowing her head, she quickly left the office. Only then did a slight sense of relief wash over her. The burden of indecision was finally lifted.
“Yeah. Sometimes, it’s best to just go with the flow.”
Muttering to herself, she stuck out her tongue playfully and turned to leave. Just then, a faint movement caught her eye.
Footsteps.
Someone was climbing the stairs, looking down the hallway where Pyo Hyemi stood.
The roster announcement was complete. The proxy participation for Jegal Haesol was just settled.
With that, all preparations were done.
“Well then…”
Now, all that was left was to truly leave.
Just as I was about to get up and stretch, the door suddenly clicked open. Wondering if someone had changed their mind at the last moment, I quickly turned around—and saw not Pyo Hyemi, but an unexpected visitor.
“You are…”
The woman looking at me wore a face heavy with gloom. It was none other than Maeng Ara, the Guardian of the Northern Continent.
Her visit was quite sudden, but I had expected she might come by at least once before the Steel Mountain campaign.
I spoke calmly.
“What’s the matter all of a sudden? You didn’t even knock.”
“…Please take him out.”
She barged in and immediately demanded that I remove someone. I had a hunch what she meant. I stared at Maeng Ara for a moment, then quietly pointed to the sofa—the very spot Pyo Hyemi had been sitting earlier.
“What do you mean by that? Anyway, sit down first.”
“No.”
“Seriously? Then stand.”
“Fine.”
Maeng Ara blurted out instantly, then blinked in confusion. Yeah, she probably realized how strange that sounded even as she said it.
I chuckled softly at the absurdity, and Maeng Ara looked at me, unsure what to do.
But only for a moment. She pouted and then spoke up again.
“Ah, anyway! Please take our Suhyun oppa out of this selection!”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“How can I? He’s the clan lord.”
“Eek! Jin, Su, Hyun, oppa! Not Kim Suhyun!”
“Oh, sorry. My mistake.”
She emphasized each syllable carefully. I stifled a laugh inside. I’d known all along, but I’d thrown it out there as a joke. Still, seeing her bite her lip and her eyes glistening, I figured pushing further might make her cry. Best to stop here.
“Alright. Then let’s talk properly. So you want Jin Suhyun excluded from this selection, right?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Umm…”
“As far as I know, Jin Suhyun really wants to participate in this campaign. That’s why he even joined our clan in the first place.”
“Umm…”
Maeng Ara kept biting her lip, but there was a determined light in her eyes—she was clearly intent on getting Suhyun out.
I pressed on.
“Or has Suhyun’s mind changed? Did he tell you he doesn’t want to join?”
She shook her head.
“Then tell me. Why exactly do you want him out? There has to be a good reason for me to even consider it.”
“…Because I can’t trust you.”
When Maeng Ara finally spoke, her words hit me like a punch I hadn’t seen coming.
Suddenly, a cold weight settled in my chest.
“Why do you think that?”
“Because I know.”
“Know what?”
“The incident three years ago. When users came to Mule seeking your help, and you killed them instead. You don’t seriously expect me to believe you don’t know about that, do you?”
Ah. So that’s what she was talking about.
Watching Maeng Ara, who now seemed almost desperate, I slowly rubbed my forehead and lit a cigarette.
She said she couldn’t trust me—and she knew about the Mule incident.
That meant she’d either heard it from someone or looked it up herself.
“I’m curious. Who’s your assigned angel?”
At that, Maeng Ara’s eyes widened in shock.
“W-How did you…?”
It was obvious. Connecting the dots with the past incident, it meant there was an angel who didn’t exactly like me. I’d gotten a hint from Seraph’s words, and it seemed my guess was right.
Maeng Ara said,
“I-I can’t tell you that. But! I know a lot more. Like how you’re hostile toward angels…”
“Ah, enough. Don’t act like you’re doing me a favor by telling me some trivial stuff. So what? What do you want me to do?”
“W-What do you mean?”
“I mean, what do you want? You say I’m hostile to angels. Fine, I admit that. But is that really such a terrible thing?”
When I said it so confidently, Maeng Ara looked utterly dumbfounded. I shook my head. I just couldn’t understand her.
“Why? Why are you hostile to angels? They’re helpers, right? They assist users…”
“Oh, so you like angels? You think you have to obey them no matter what?”
“That’s not it. But isn’t it unnecessary to be so hostile?”
“Then why? Why should I like the ones who threw us, who were living peacefully on Earth, into this miserable world?”
At that, Maeng Ara suddenly shut her mouth and looked displeased.
Seeing that, I began to feel more certain. No, now that she openly said she was hostile to angels, the mastermind behind this was clear. Judging by her reaction, she was probably just testing the waters…
I wet my lips quietly.
“Look, I fell asleep on a train returning home after being discharged from the military three years ago. When I woke up, I found myself in this world. So you want me to like the angel who brought me here? Sorry, but I can’t do that.”
“Y-You were discharged from the military and on your way home?”
Maeng Ara stammered, clearly flustered. I nodded strongly, then flinched slightly when I noticed her expression.
“Come to think of it… my oppa must be in the military right now…”
“…I see. But please don’t look at me like that. It’s like you’re looking at a trapped animal. It’s unpleasant.”
Maeng Ara let out a small “Hah?” and shook her head quickly, as if trying to pull herself together.
“U-Um. Fine. Then what about the murder incident in Mule you mentioned earlier…”
“That’s already been settled. And those guys, after forcing their way in to steal what little they could, almost killed our people. Would you just stand by if you were me?”
“What? They tried to kill them?”
“Did you… even read the case files?”
When I snapped at her, Maeng Ara looked at me blankly, utterly confused. It seemed she’d only heard one side of the story.
Lighting my cigarette, I let out a long sigh.
“User Maeng Ara. No, Guardian of the Northern Continent. I honestly don’t know what you want to say. Did you come here to ask me to exclude Jin Suhyun? Or did you come on the angels’ orders to probe me?”
“That’s not it!”
“Quiet. I know you don’t look kindly on me after the last incident. But that wasn’t my intention. You should know that much.”
“But—”
“But nothing. And to be honest, you say you can’t trust me, but have I ever done anything wrong to Jin Suhyun? Since he joined our clan, I mean.”
“Ugh, well…”
Jin Suhyun? No problem. If anything, he adapted too well. Since joining the mercenary clan, he’d been more active than anyone, quickly regaining his old self. Maeng Ara must know that.
Seeing her at a loss for words, I decided to press a little more.
“You’re something else. You wanted him to join the Steel Mountain campaign, and I let him. So why are you taking it out on me?”
Maeng Ara slumped her shoulders. Thinking that was enough, I half-turned my chair to gaze out the window. Her reflection stared back at me, her voice now softer.
“I know you care about Jin Suhyun. But the burden all users share when joining a campaign is the same for everyone. Even I, standing at the very front of the vanguard, bear it just as much—if not more. You understand what I mean?”
“……”
“Anyway, unless he wants out himself, I can’t exclude Jin Suhyun. You don’t qualify to participate, so just wait quietly. Or keep your watch, and fulfill your duty as a guardian.”
“…You knew?”
Of course. The Guardian of the Northern Continent isn’t exactly a leisurely position.
Swallowing the words telling her to leave since there was nothing more to say, I finished my cigarette.
A moment of silence passed.
After a while, I heard footsteps approaching.
Glancing over, I saw Maeng Ara place a document on my desk. It was a clan withdrawal form. Her eyes, now filled with deep sadness, met mine. Was she feeling like she’d lost Jin Suhyun?
“I don’t know.”
Maeng Ara spoke again.
“Whose words are true? What’s the real truth? Honestly, I still don’t know.”
“Don’t you think you’re just being stubborn?”
“Maybe. But one thing’s for sure—I’m still very worried about you. No, I’m worried about Suhyun oppa, who’s by your side.”
“After all I’ve said, if you still feel that way, there’s nothing I can do.”
“Yes. On the surface, there are reasons, and they sound plausible at first. But… I can’t quite put my finger on it. On the surface, you say Suhyun oppa wants to participate, but even that seems to me like there’s some ulterior motive.”
“Ulterior motive? You think I have some evil plan?”
Maeng Ara suddenly fell silent and stared at me intently.
After a pause, she spoke softly.
“It feels like you grant people’s wishes to achieve your own goals… like a devil.”
With that, she left the office without looking back.
After Maeng Ara left, I crushed out my nearly burnt cigarette and calmly opened the user information.
Name: Kim Suhyun (3rd year)
True Name • Nationality: Masung (魔性: a devilish nature that deceives or beguiles people) • Master of the Sword • South Korea
Recalling Maeng Ara’s words, a faint smile escaped me.
A devil, huh…
Maybe it’s not all bad.
After all, it’s not always the righteous who have to defeat evil.
---------------------------= Author’s Note =---------------------------
Sorry for the delay today! Before wrapping up, I wanted to properly conclude Jeogal Haesol’s participation and Maeng Ara’s part, but this section turned out much longer than expected. Because of that, Vivian, who I planned to bring back after a while, ended up fading into the background. (Sorry, Vivian.) I’m not sure if I’ll include her again in the next chapter.
It took me about eight hours today. Ah, I still need to revise the e-book and adapt the visual novel, but both projects feel a bit stalled at the moment. Honestly, I don’t know how I managed to keep up with serialization during last year’s midterms. Haha.