A little while later.
Kim Hanbyul stood up as if nothing had happened, then sat back down quietly in her chair and straightened her clothes.
“Sorry.”
But she kept staring at me the whole time, and in the end, I had no choice but to apologize. There was an unspoken pressure in her gaze that I couldn’t ignore.
“…That’s harsh.”
Only then did Kim Hanbyul stop looking at me and lower her eyes slightly, pouting. I smiled inwardly.
“Jewel.” I thought it was a cute nickname, in its own way.
“Yeah. What’s this all of a sudden?”
“It’s hot, and I thought you might be thirsty…”
Her eyes flickered down to the table. The cup sitting there was covered in condensation, ice piled high inside. It looked really refreshing.
“Thanks.”
But I pushed the cup aside gently. I appreciated the gesture, but I wasn’t really in the mood to drink right now.
Kim Hanbyul glanced at the cup I’d moved, then calmly met my eyes.
“…You seem troubled.”
Troubled, huh.
Yeah, I was definitely wrestling with something. But it wasn’t something she needed to get involved in.
“Why? You want to fix it for me?”
Of course, I couldn’t say that so bluntly, so I softened my words.
“It’s about Haemil Road, isn’t it?”
Her immediate response made me glance away.
Kim Hanbyul kept her steady gaze fixed on me. …Has the rumor spread?
Reading my expression, she shook her head slowly, as if to deny it. I suddenly felt a pang of guilt.
“…Is it that obvious?”
“Very. And not just me—lots of people have probably noticed. Because you and Haemil Road are…”
“Hey, that’s just a rumor.”
“No, it’s not like that.”
“Hm?”
“You two are related by blood. Brothers.”
Damn. I get the feeling a thief always feels guilty.
“Considering the situation in the West, isn’t it natural for you to be worried?”
“Hmm.”
The situation in the West. I looked at Kim Hanbyul with a new sense of understanding.
Well, she’d grown up having to be cautious, and she was smart enough to read the situation.
I spoke quietly.
“So what are you trying to say?”
Even to my own ears, my voice was low.
“I just… I hope you don’t worry too much.”
Kim Hanbyul must have sensed it, because she quickly changed the subject.
Don’t worry.
It was a cliché, almost like saying “cheer up,” but at least I could feel the sincerity behind her words.
“Of course, I want to do that too.”
I picked up the cup I’d pushed aside earlier, swirling it in a circle as I continued.
“But not everything in life goes the way you want, right?”
“That’s true.”
“This is one of those times. It’s not about whether to do it or not. The question is how.”
“Uh-huh…”
What’s gotten into her?
Kim Hanbyul listened attentively, nodding just enough to show she was following along. It felt strange coming from her, of all people.
On the other hand, it was a little refreshing. Both that she was listening like this, and that I was talking like this. It almost felt like I was venting.
“But I don’t know how. Even now, talking about it, I’m still anxious. Like I said earlier, there are more than a few things holding me back.”
“Then why not solve those things?”
Her voice was calm.
I gave a bitter smile.
And just as I was about to say it’s not that easy—
“If you look at it plainly, the Northern Expedition has already left, and you want to help Haemil Road. Isn’t that what matters most?”
Kim Hanbyul’s voice came first.
“…….”
I finally turned fully toward her. When our eyes met head-on, Kim Hanbyul flinched slightly, then quickly spoke.
“Of course, I don’t know the full details of your situation, and this is just my guess…”
“Interesting. Keep going.”
I interrupted her and tapped my foot lightly.
The magical energy around us shifted instantly. It was a kind of interference field, the same ability I’d used before when talking with Maeng Ara, to prevent any sound from leaking out.
Kim Hanbyul glanced back at me with wide, startled eyes for a moment.
Then she met my gaze again, her pale, delicate throat rising and falling with a faint pitch.
“Anyway, it’s just a guess, but…”
“Skip the ‘guess’ part.”
“Well, if you connect the current Eastern campaign status with the West’s involvement…”
“Cut to the chase.”
“…I think there’s no need to worry about the East’s reaction.”
“Why?”
I asked immediately.
“Because right now, the East is the one who should be worried. Even if they don’t look kindly on your actions, would they dare openly oppose you? Would they risk isolating themselves just to save face?”
Kim Hanbyul answered without hesitation.
…Good. I was thinking along similar lines.
But that wasn’t the only problem.
The real issue was the remaining obstacles.
“Alright. But apart from that, the North doesn’t want my help. …More precisely, my brother doesn’t. And his reasons are very valid.”
“I see. But when you help someone, does the other person always have to know?”
“What?”
“If Haemil Road refuses, there’s nothing you can do. But that doesn’t mean there’s no way. You can help without them knowing.”
At that moment, I felt my eyes sharpen.
Help without them knowing. I understood what she meant.
Kim Hanbyul was basically saying I should take on the mercenary role as insurance.
“But then…!”
“Yes. Problems will arise.”
She was right.
Two problems remained: getting Han So-young’s approval and persuading the clan members. The latter was the harder one, because the clan members had no reason to sacrifice everything to help the North like I did.
But Kim Hanbyul said that was the only path left. And it was true.
“…What if I go alone, or just take the clan members who want to follow me?”
“Absolutely not. That’s the worst choice. If you do that, not only the clan members but also the Southern users will think you’re acting selfishly. Your trust and reputation will be shaken.”
“…….”
“…It’ll be tough, but you have to persuade the clan members.”
Kim Hanbyul said earnestly, but I shook my head. It wasn’t just tough.
“How am I supposed to convince them without any justification? It’s basically asking them to rely on sentiment or loyalty.”
“Is that not okay?”
“…….”
“Why not?”
It was a strange question to answer with a flat no.
Since the second round, I’d never acted without reason. Whatever I did, I tried to have a purpose. And I expected the clan members to do the same. That’s how this mercenary group was built.
But Kim Hanbyul’s next words surprised me again.
“You’ve made many sacrifices for the mercenary group. So why can’t the clan members do the same?”
“Sacrifices? Me?”
“Yes. Just recently, Hyun risked his life to save you and Mr. Jaeryong.”
“That was…”
“Or how you took in users who might have been lost without you and helped them grow.”
“…….”
…Never thought of it that way. I always saw those as steps toward my goal.
“Of course, your actions always had good reasons. And you brought about the best outcomes in any situation.
But not all clan members are like you. There’s no guarantee they think the same way.”
True. There’s no guarantee. But wouldn’t anyone think that way?
“What you’re worried about is how to motivate the clan members with the results you hope to achieve by helping the North.
But I think you shouldn’t judge the current situation just by results…”
I listened quietly. This time, I was the one listening to Kim Hanbyul.
“I hope you try sincerely to ask for help, so the clan members can understand and empathize with your thoughts.”
Sincerity. Sincerity.
“…….”
A moment of silence passed.
“Do you think the clan members… will really feel that way?”
My wavering heart barely let me speak.
“I don’t know. It’s not something I can answer for sure.”
Her reply was so realistic it almost felt cold.
“But… if it were me, I don’t think I could turn my back on you.”
But she didn’t stop there, continuing cautiously.
“…Because I always believe in you and want to respect your decisions.”
With that, Kim Hanbyul fell silent.
Silence settled again, and I quietly pondered.
Sincerity. Sincerity.
It’s easy to say the words. But to put true feeling into them—that’s harder.
And to make someone truly understand and empathize? That’s even harder. At least from my perspective.
But if this is the only way…
Then it happened.
Suddenly, the cup I’d pushed aside earlier was knocked over.
A strange, almost hypnotic feeling washed over me, and without thinking, I reached out, grabbed the cup, and took a sip. Each swallow sent a cool, refreshing chill through my chest, spreading throughout my body. It cleared my mind.
Slowly tilting my head back, the bright, sunny sky filled my vision. I closed my eyes gently.
My brother’s words flashed through my mind.
“I’ll do what I can. This feels like the right thing to do.”
…Yeah.
Alright, then. I’ll give it a try too.
I’ll push myself as far as I can.
Instead of staying powerless just because I left, I’ll make a decision I won’t regret.
There’s always a way. I just thought there wasn’t.
If there isn’t one, then even if it means crashing headfirst, I’ll create one.
Suddenly, my eyes snapped open.
Without hesitation, I sat up. I could feel a curious gaze from below.
I spoke quietly.
“Hanbyeol, I have a favor to ask.”
Time passed, and night deepened.
Dinner was over, and the day’s construction work had ended.
At this point, all that was left was to stand guard or retreat to the tents to sleep.
But there was one place where that didn’t happen. Or rather, couldn’t happen.
The mercenary clan members couldn’t finish their day and head off; they had to gather in front of a single tent. For one reason only: the clan lord had summoned them.
Murmurs spread.
The more clan members gathered, the louder the restless chatter became.
“Hyung, what’s going on?”
“No idea. I got called out suddenly too. And at this late hour, no less.”
“There’s nothing else to do now… Ah, could it be because of that?”
“Hm? That?”
Those who hadn’t caught on tilted their heads in confusion.
“…Looks like a decision’s been made.”
“Unnie, no way… that can’t be, right?”
“If that were true, we wouldn’t have been called together like this.”
“That’s ridiculous. Why us? There’s no reason, no justification.”
Some of the clan members who had caught on whispered among themselves.
But the chatter died down instantly the moment Kim Suhyun stepped out of the tent.
“…Looks like everyone’s here.”
After a brief scan of the gathered clan members, Kim Suhyun spoke calmly.
As some clan members stared at him tensely, the others’ faces stiffened with growing unease.
“Well, I suppose I should explain why I called you all here… Though I imagine some of you have already guessed.”
Sensing the heavy atmosphere, Kim Suhyun paused briefly.
“But I’m done hiding it, and I won’t beat around the bush. I’ll be straightforward.”
“……”
“I… want our mercenaries to serve as insurance for the third region’s campaign that the Northern Expeditionary Force is currently undertaking.”
At last, Kim Suhyun’s low voice echoed in the ears of the clan members.
---------------------------= Author’s Note =---------------------------
Apologies for taking a day off yesterday.
I received an urgent call from an acquaintance and rushed to the emergency room. They had a bad fall while biking down a fairly steep hill, but thankfully, their life is not in danger. The surgery went well too.
Even though their right leg is fully in a cast due to broken bones, they were grumbling about the bike being broken, the carbon frame, how it’s a discontinued pro model and parts are hard to find now—honestly, I wanted to call it whining. -_-a But after seeing that, I felt relieved and came back.
Anyway, I’ll resume regular updates starting today.
The third region campaign arc will begin from chapter 611.
Thank you all.