Good.
A satisfied feeling welled up inside me, and I nodded lightly. Although only six monsters had appeared, judging by the continuous flow of the battle, it had been a decent fight. We had executed the countermeasures exactly as Han Soyoung had requested.
This battle proved that those methods really worked. And just not panicking like before was already a big improvement.
For now, I decided to be content with that.
After the fight ended, I ordered everyone to hold their positions for about ten minutes. It was to reorganize our formation and collect the bodies. As I watched Seon Yuun in front, shaking his head while lifting a gruesomely torn corpse, Ko Yeonju suddenly approached me with a curious look.
“This is strange, Suhyun. Why did they only send six this time? It wasn’t a large-scale attack like before.”
That was simple.
“It wasn’t an attack. They were scouts.”
“Scouts?”
“Yes. Those creatures are intelligent—and very cunning. They’re on a whole different level from mindless beasts that just charge in. After last night’s defeat, they came out to see what had changed on our side. And if they had the chance, they might have even tried to kidnap someone.”
“Oh.”
Ko Yeonju finally understood, nodding with a small gasp.
“So that’s why you said not to let any of them escape earlier.”
“Exactly. From now on, we must never give them any information. The method using shadows this time was excellent.”
I quietly replied as I watched the users trudging back.
Soon after, a report came in that some bodies were too badly mangled to retrieve. With that, I announced the resumption of the march.
Time passed endlessly. After easily dealing with the six monsters, the Southern Expeditionary Force, now brimming with confidence, continued advancing over the hills.
But the monsters didn’t attack again. For some unknown reason, not a single one appeared during the march until the sunset glow faded. Of course, we couldn’t march through the night, so the Southern Expeditionary Force eventually decided to set up camp in a suitable spot.
After everyone finished dinner, the users scattered. Some stood guard, some went into their tents to sleep, and others gathered in the large central tent. It was the commanders’ meeting, now a routine event.
But tonight’s meeting didn’t last long.
“Well, that’s all for today’s meeting. Thank you all for your hard work. Get a good rest tonight.”
When Han Soyoung declared the meeting adjourned, light applause followed. Everyone rose with smiles on their faces.
It was a stark contrast to before. Just two days ago, people would glare and argue, their faces flushed with anger. Now, some even shook hands or exchanged words of encouragement.
Yes. The atmosphere of the expeditionary force had definitely changed.
It was only natural. No longer did we have to fear unknown monsters. The countermeasures Han Soyoung announced had proven effective in this morning’s engagement. The Southern Expeditionary Force, which had been faltering since the first monster appearance, was now making progress in the campaign and running smoothly again.
After all the users left the tent, Han Soyoung turned her gaze to the empty space on her right—the seat where the Mercenary Lord had sat. But as soon as the meeting ended, Kim Suhyun was nowhere to be seen.
Han Soyoung stared quietly at the spot where Kim Suhyun had been sitting.
Then, suddenly—
“It feels so empty.”
“Unni, the meeting’s over, right? I’ll start cleaning up.”
Two loud voices came at once. Startled, Han Soyoung turned to see a tall, slender woman stretching vigorously and a little kid yawning so wide it looked like his mouth might tear. It was Yeon Hyerim and Park Dayeon.
“I’ll organize the records. You put the chairs away.”
Taking Han Soyoung’s silence as agreement, Yeon Hyerim began gathering the scattered papers on the table. Soon, Park Dayeon finished yawning and shuffled over to the chairs.
Just as Han Soyoung was about to get up to help, Park Dayeon glanced over.
“Oh, wait. Soyoung unni, did you say thank you?”
“Huh?”
Han Soyoung’s eyes widened. Park Dayeon pushed a chair in with all her might, bracing her stomach.
“To the Mercenary Lord. I ran into him coming in. He said he’s on guard duty tonight.”
“…Oh?”
“Yeah. But that guy is seriously impressive. He completely changed the expedition’s mood in just one day. Anyway, unni, it feels weird to just keep quiet. You should go find him and say thanks.”
“Why? What’s there to thank him for? What’s so impressive?”
The answer came not from Han Soyoung but from Yeon Hyerim. Park Dayeon grabbed a chair and started walking again.
“The dawn attack yesterday. He handed over the bodies to us.”
“So?”
“Yeah? So what?”
“I was pissed. Because of that, I couldn’t sleep and spent the whole night investigating.”
Park Dayeon looked at Yeon Hyerim with disbelief. Then she sighed deeply and covered her forehead with her hand.
“…Hoo. Forget it. I won’t say anything.”
“You’re at it again. Stop teasing and explain.”
“No, seriously, don’t you get it? Who dealt with the monsters and collected the bodies after yesterday’s attack?”
“The Mercenary Clan.”
“Right. So that’s a success, isn’t it? But they handed all that success over to us, and we did the investigation and the announcement. And what we announced actually worked today. Of course, the Mercenary Clan proved it. So all of this was the Mercenary Lord’s concession and achievement for us. Got it? Understand?”
“No. So what?”
What Park Dayeon meant was that the Mercenaries did the hard work, but the Istantel Row took the credit.
But Yeon Hyerim shrugged, clearly clueless.
Park Dayeon sighed again. “Yeah. I was a fool to expect anything from someone whose head’s only filled with fighting,” she muttered, then turned away, giving up on explaining.
At that moment, Park Dayeon’s eyes went wide.
“Huh?”
Han Soyoung was gone. The empty chair sat there, abandoned.
Meanwhile, at the same time—
Having left the tent while they were arguing, Han Soyoung was slowly walking somewhere.
According to Park Dayeon, Kim Suhyun was on guard duty tonight.
That was true. Though Kim Suhyun was the clan lord and deputy commander of the Southern Expeditionary Force, no one was exempt from guard duty. Even Han Soyoung had to take her turn.
Of course, there were some perks. Unlike others who patrolled the perimeter, the guard on duty sat quietly in the center of the camp. If anything happened, the guards would take orders from the commander in the center.
Tap, tap, tap! Tap, tap, tap!
In the center, a campfire crackled, sending sparks flying. Around it, a man sat on a log, intently studying something.
That man was none other than Kim Suhyun.
Han Soyoung quietly observed him. His focused expression stood out more than anything.
Even after the meeting, he was still reviewing the campaign.
The way his eyes, lit by the firelight, scanned the map was so serious it could make any woman’s heart flutter. There’s a saying, after all: women fall for a man who’s focused on something.
“Hm?”
At that moment, sensing a gaze, Kim Suhyun glanced up from the map. When he saw Han Soyoung standing quietly, his eyes widened in surprise.
“Oh. Istantel Row Lord?”
Han Soyoung hesitated for a moment but then calmly approached the fire and took a deep breath. Kim Suhyun’s gaze followed her.
“I’m surprised. What brings you here…?”
“I wanted to say something to the Mercenary Lord.”
“Say something?”
“Yes. If it’s not rude, may I sit for a moment?”
Rude? Of course not. Kim Suhyun immediately nodded and scooted over to make room. He even draped his cloak over the log.
Han Soyoung steadied her suddenly pounding heart and carefully sat down in the spot he made.
And then—
“……”
“……”
A moment of silence passed.
No, it wasn’t just a moment.
After Han Soyoung sat, a long silence stretched between them.
She had said she had something to say, but Kim Suhyun fidgeted nervously, glancing sideways, while Han Soyoung sat with her knees tightly together, staring quietly into the fire.
“Um…”
Finally, unable to hold back, Kim Suhyun spoke first. At that moment, Han Soyoung’s tightly sealed lips parted slightly. Kim Suhyun instinctively closed his mouth and stared at her intently. His eyes caught the delicate movement of her pale throat as she swallowed.
“Mercenary Lord.”
After a long hesitation, Han Soyoung’s voice broke the silence softly. Kim Suhyun tensed up in response.
“Um…”
“Y-yes. Please, go ahead…”
“Don’t you think it’s really pathetic?”
“…Excuse me?”
Kim Soo-hyun was caught off guard before he could even finish his sentence.
But Han So-young remained calm, almost indifferent. Instead, a faint sadness flickered across her face as she slowly turned to gaze at Kim Soo-hyun.
“While we were strategizing to take the Steel Mountain Range, I kept thinking. What if Mercenary Lord hadn’t been with the Southern Expeditionary Force…?”
“…”
“Honestly, until yesterday, the situation for the Southern Expeditionary Force was pretty dire. It was something I should have fixed somehow. I should have. But the Supreme Commander just stood by, doing nothing but watching.”
“…”
“I spent day after day agonizing over it with no results… but Mercenary Lord solved it all so simply.”
“…”
“Lately, I’ve been feeling how much my abilities fall short. So I thought, maybe the position of Supreme Commander should belong to Mercenary Lord, not me…”
“No. That’s not true.”
At that moment, Kim Soo-hyun, who had been silently listening until then, cut her off sharply. His voice was firm.
Then, raising his voice even more than before, he spoke.
“In my personal opinion, I think Istantel Low Lord is mistaken. In other words… it’s a needless worry.”
A sharp criticism Kim Soo-hyun had never voiced before.
He continued.
“Istantel Low Lord, the Steel Mountain Range is not a place anyone can conquer alone.”
“I know that. Of course, I do. But with a position like this comes responsibility. I have to bear that responsibility…”
“Yes, that’s right. And Istantel Low Lord shared that responsibility. You trusted me enough to appoint me as the vanguard and gave me the authority to match. Didn’t you do that because you expected something from me in this campaign?”
“…Yes.”
Kim Soo-hyun’s voice now carried a hint of frustration. Han So-young reluctantly accepted it.
No one can conquer the Steel Mountain Range alone.
Both Kim Soo-hyun and Han So-young knew that.
That single statement contained all the advice and comfort Kim Soo-hyun could offer.
Only then did Kim Soo-hyun’s stern expression soften, and a gentle smile appeared.
“I’m glad you understand.”
“Mercenary Lord.”
“No. I won’t listen to the same words anymore. And let’s pretend I didn’t hear what you said earlier. Surely, you didn’t mean it sincerely.”
“…”
This time, Han So-young fell silent because those words were true.
At first, she had come intending to thank Kim Soo-hyun, just as Park Da-yeon had suggested. But the moment she saw him standing there, she couldn’t help but let out a weak voice. Even she didn’t know why.
Or maybe she did, but was pretending not to.
Usually, she built an impenetrable fortress around herself, but in the end, Han So-young was still a woman. When times were tough, she wanted to lean on someone, to be comforted. The Iron-Blooded Queen was just a title she gained after entering Hall Plain; it didn’t define her true self.
After a brief silence, Han So-young turned her gaze back to the campfire. Her lips moved slowly, almost imperceptibly. She probably didn’t realize it, but Kim Soo-hyun, still watching her, suddenly looked dazed.
Han So-young spoke.
“Do you know?”
“Y-yes?”
“Every time I see Mercenary Lord, I feel both grateful and sorry.”
“Uh… um…”
“If I think about it carefully, at some point, I realized I’ve only been receiving. Mercenary Lord keeps giving, giving, and giving. And I just keep taking, taking, and taking.”
“Oh. I… it’s just…”
“I know. I know very well that Mercenary Lord truly cares for me and cherishes me. …But maybe that’s why I feel even more sorry. Because I’m always the one receiving.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. So sometimes, I think about this. No, I’m sure of it.”
“…?”
Han So-young suddenly stopped speaking, then exhaled deeply. After a brief pause, she looked Kim Soo-hyun straight in the eyes.
“I want… I want to do something for Mercenary Lord too…”
That was, in a way, a bombshell. It was the most she could express. She had built an impenetrable wall no one could cross, yet the woman who would later be called the Iron-Blooded Queen said this? Any other man would have never dared dream of such a thing.
If Kim Soo-hyun had been a bit more perceptive, or if his feelings toward Han So-young had been even slightly different, he might have understood the meaning behind her words.
But it was Kim Soo-hyun.
Crackle, crackle!
The fire blazed, casting a warm glow on Han So-young’s flushed cheeks. Kim Soo-hyun, who had been lost in thought, suddenly showed a flicker of surprise. Looking at Han So-young, who seemed to be silently hoping for something, he cautiously spoke.
“Um, Istantel Low Lord… this might be a bit sudden, but do you still have the comb I gave you last time?”
“The comb? Yes. I always carry it with me.”
Though it was an odd question, Han So-young answered immediately.
She had changed. Before, she might have said she left it behind or didn’t even realize she had it. Now, she told the truth—that she always carried it.
Because she thought it would make Kim Soo-hyun happy.
When Han So-young actually pulled out the comb, a bright spark lit up Kim Soo-hyun’s eyes.
“Well then, Istantel Low Lord, I have a sincere request.”
A sincere request?
Han So-young tilted her head, sensing a shift. Until a moment ago, Kim Soo-hyun had exuded firm confidence, but now he seemed unusually cautious.
She nodded, silently urging him to speak. Kim Soo-hyun wet his lips and spoke in a slightly trembling voice.
“I… um… your hair…”
“Hm?”
“I mean, could I… could I comb your hair just once?”
“…What?”
Han So-young’s voice was filled with disbelief. For the first time, the beautiful Ami had closed the distance between them.
It was inevitable. She had finally mustered the courage to speak her true feelings, and this was the response? Not some grand gesture, but a simple request to comb her hair.
Should she be angry? Or just laugh?
Before she could decide, her heightened senses sent her new information.
It was a desire.
Yes. Desire.
But not a filthy lust or carnal craving. For some reason, it didn’t feel unpleasant. If anything, it was a strong yearning—just wanting to try it once.
A flood of thoughts rushed through her mind, but Han So-young quickly made up her mind. She had already said it, and the longing behind it was so earnest and heartfelt that she nodded in agreement.
Kim Soo-hyun took the comb and slowly stood behind Han So-young. For some reason, she felt a trembling presence behind her. A strange mix of embarrassment and shyness welled up inside her.
Is this really okay? What am I doing right now? I haven’t even properly styled my hair lately… Her mind was filled with silly imaginings.
“Well then.”
Kim Soo-hyun’s low voice broke the silence. Handling the comb as if it were the most precious treasure in the world, he placed it gently on the crown of her head.
A soft touch. Then, carefully bending the comb, he ran it smoothly from the top of her head down.
The glossy strands caught in the comb glided softly, neatly arranged.
And then—
“Ah…?”
Her eyes widened involuntarily, and a strange moan slipped from Han So-young’s lips. Instinctively, she covered her mouth quickly.
But before she could think further, she felt the gentle gathering of her hair. The touch of a stranger’s hand—something she had never allowed before.
Again, the comb swept through her hair with a refreshing stroke.
“Haa… umph!”
Another moan escaped. Han So-young fought to keep her face composed, trying to remain expressionless. But Kim Soo-hyun kept combing.
Combing.
“Ugh…!”
Combing.
“Hup…!”
Combing.
“Hng…!”
Han So-young desperately swallowed her moans.
But Kim Soo-hyun was simply combing her hair.
So why was she reacting like this?
It was because of Han So-young’s heightened senses—and the emotions Kim Soo-hyun held while combing her hair.
Her heightened senses absorbed all sensory information, whether she wanted it or not. The stronger the other’s impure desires, the more pain she felt.
But the opposite was also true.
“Stronger.”
“Your hair will get damaged.”
Back in the first campaign.
Since entering Istantel Low, Kim Soo-hyun had combed Han So-young’s hair countless times. Each time, Han So-young would rest her head on his chest with a contented smile. Whether the combing was good or bad, those moments were precious memories Kim Soo-hyun cherished deeply. Memories only the two of them shared.
After losing Han So-young, Kim Soo-hyun often recalled those memories. Each one was a driving force that kept him sane and going.
So, I vowed that if I ever brought her back to life, I would comb her hair again and again. But that wish never came true. Though I somehow succeeded in reviving her, that desire veered off in a subtle, unexpected direction.
And yet.
That very wish—one I hadn’t even dared to think about until today—finally came true. And it happened so suddenly. As a result, all the emotions I’d been fumbling with and clinging to for years since the first time—right now, at this very moment—erupted more powerfully than ever before.
Longing. Yearning. Devotion. Sorrow. Tenderness. Grief. Melancholy. Heartache. Regret. Affection. Anguish. Despair. Disappointment. Frustration. Discouragement. Pessimism. Resignation. Hope. Joy. Ecstasy. Rapture.
All these feelings overflowed, eventually converging into a single, heartfelt wish for her well-being—pouring straight into Han So-young. Warm waves of pleasure and endless sweetness flooded through her entire body, flowing like…
No. What words could possibly capture this?
In this very moment, all the emotions Kim Soo-hyun had carried since losing Han So-young—through everything he’d been through—were being passed on to her, one by one.
This man… what on earth…
The moment she thought that, Han So-young clearly felt something inside her, something that had been tightly bound, slowly unraveling and slipping away without resistance. As if to prove it, the expressionless face that had always been so stoic finally began to crumble, bit by bit.
With a face on the verge of tears, Han So-young looked back at Kim Soo-hyun. Her whole body trembled.
Only then did Kim Soo-hyun notice something was off. He stopped his restless hands.
“…Istanbul Row Road? Are you alright?”
Han So-young said nothing. She just shook her head gently, her eyes glistening. Kim Soo-hyun was taken aback.
“I-I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you hated it that much… I truly am sorry.”
Just as Kim Soo-hyun was about to pull his hands away in embarrassment, Han So-young suddenly grasped his hand firmly. For a fleeting moment, confusion flickered in his eyes, and hesitation in hers.
The truth was, she was still embarrassed. But now, a different feeling was pulling her more strongly than shame ever could.
“Ah… uh… …please.”
Her voice was barely a whisper, tinged with a delicate shyness. Kim Soo-hyun’s confusion deepened.
“Pardon?”
“…please.”
“I-Istanbul Row Road? Sorry, I didn’t catch that. Could you say it again?”
“Co… comb… please.”
“You want me to comb your hair?”
“Keep… keep combing, please!”
Finally, Han So-young couldn’t hold back the rising embarrassment and blurted out loudly:
“It feels so good… so please, keep combing… keep going…”
Since she’d started, she shouted once more.
And then, after a moment.
Like a sweet kiss, the comb began to move slowly and gently.
“Ah… ah…!”
The sensual sweetness flowing back in made Han So-young’s waist twist softly.
She no longer tried to hold back her voice.
---------------------------= Author’s Note =---------------------------
I wrote this all through the night. It’s been a long time since I’ve been this focused. I feel like I burned the midnight oil, but strangely, I’m not tired at all.
Anyway, ah. I finally wrote this part. It’s a plot thread I planted back in episode 200, and it took quite a while to bring it back. But now I feel relieved. Really. Hahaha!