Just as expected. Less than an hour after the meeting ended, a group of clan members stormed into my office. I had anticipated this, so I calmly scanned the room.
‘Surprisingly few.’
I thought at least half of them would come, but there were only about seven. What surprised me most was that Lee Yoo-jung wasn’t among them.
Bang!
“Clan Lord! What kind of rating is this? On what basis did you assign these ranks?”
Kim Dong-seok, leading the charge, slammed his hand on the desk and shouted without preamble. His attitude was combative. He’d come in boldly, and his words matched that energy.
“Hmm. Do you dislike the clan member ranking system? Or are you unhappy with your own rank?”
“Neither!”
Kim Dong-seok shook his head vigorously, somewhat unexpectedly.
“Well, actually, it’s the latter. I’m a D rank, but if the rankings were assigned fairly, I’d accept it.”
He emphasized the word ‘fair’ sharply. I smiled quietly and crossed my arms.
“So you’re saying the rankings aren’t fair?”
“Yes!”
“Why?”
“Do you really not know? Just look at the EX rank—it’s incomprehensible. Absolutely incomprehensible!”
“EX rank… Are you dissatisfied with my rank?”
“Clan Lord, I’m not joking right now. Who would dare question your rank? That’s a given. But there’s another EX rank besides you, right? An-sol is EX rank? Ha! An-sol is EX rank, and I’m D rank?”
Kim Dong-seok’s face flushed with anger as he spoke, spitting as he went.
“Sure, An-sol is a talented priest, but EX rank is just too much. To be blunt, if you take away uncertain hunches and miracles, what’s left? And yet, she’s EX rank?”
“Hmm…”
“If you’re favoring certain clan members with generous ranks while giving others stingy ones, we can’t help but feel relatively deprived!”
“Yes, yes. I understand what you’re saying.”
I cut him off, gesturing for calm. Park Da-som, standing beside me, gave a subtle poke with her index finger, signaling to tone it down. Still, everyone who had come in seemed to agree with Kim Dong-seok’s point.
I had expected An-sol to be a sticking point, and the complaints I’d anticipated were voiced. Still, I felt a twinge of bitterness.
An-sol’s abilities were truly, truly extraordinary, yet her childish behavior seemed to undermine her evaluation. I wondered if the reaction would be the same if An-sol’s personality were more like Jung Ha-yeon’s.
Swallowing my slight regret, I spoke quietly.
“Before I explain, let me ask one thing. Do you all know the exact meaning of EX?”
Kim Dong-seok, who had been breathing heavily, blinked rapidly. It seemed he didn’t.
“EX stands for ExtraOrdinary. If you think of it in terms of user information and ability ranks, it means astonishing, incredible. But in our ranking system, it’s different. It signifies a transcendent power beyond normal explanation, and a role no one else can replace. …Like this.”
As I spoke, I summoned the power of fire. A crackling flame burst forth, engulfing my left hand in clear blue fire.
“…So only users with such power can reach EX rank?”
Kim Dong-seok stared blankly, his voice dull. He seemed less angry now, more incredulous.
I shook my head slowly.
“Having transcendent power is an advantage, yes. But power alone doesn’t guarantee promotion. Didn’t I say? The rankings announced today are based on user information, but also include your contributions to the clan’s development.”
“No, but…”
“If you still don’t understand, let me give you an example. Who was the priest that healed all our allies and turned the tide of the war two years ago?”
“Th-that would be…”
The question caught Kim Dong-seok off guard. The usually combative man stammered for the first time, clearly trying to think of something to say, but did he have an answer?
“Who purified the dragon and thousands of souls with a single spell in the sleeping mountain range, and even obtained the Sword of Oath? When the Hell Grand Duke appeared recently, who dodged that devastating blow once, saved you all, and played a decisive role in sending you back? …That was An-sol.”
“……”
“Then, Kim Dong-seok, can you do what I just described?”
“……”
Of course not. Not only Kim Dong-seok, but no mercenary could replace An-sol. This was an undeniable, absolute truth.
Kim Dong-seok stood there, mouth agape, speechless. He seemed completely stunned.
Right. That figures. If he were an S rank user, maybe he could argue, but as it stood, Kim Dong-seok had no grounds to protest.
“Um… Clan Lord… I understand what you’re saying…”
At that moment, Park Da-som, who had been quietly standing, raised her hand slightly.
“An-sol’s abilities are undeniable, but… you know how childish she is. Think back to when the Clan Lord wasn’t here. Are we supposed to listen to An-sol then?”
Hmm. That was a more constructive question.
“I think there’s a misunderstanding. Of course, higher ranks carry more influence in various matters. But this authority focuses on benefits and treatment, not complete control over the command structure. As I said in the meeting, the mercenaries will continue to evolve until fundamental problems are solved. That includes establishing a new command system.”
I explained patiently, and Park Da-som let out a small breath and nodded.
Hmm… I think they roughly understood.
I clasped my hands together and smiled.
“Any more questions?”
Outside the city, south of Atlanta.
Seventh-floor quarters in the central castle.
“Hmm…”
Warm morning sunlight streamed through the window, gently touching An-hyun’s face. He let out a small sigh and opened his eyes.
Knock knock.
He thought he heard a strange sound but didn’t open his eyes. He wanted to savor the lingering drowsiness after just waking up. Compared to the days during the Steel Mountain campaign when he slept outdoors without fail, the soft bed supporting his body now felt like heaven.
But.
Knock knock knock.
“This won’t do.”
Muttering to himself, An-hyun slowly sat up. His eyes were still heavy with sleep, but a faint smile played on his lips.
In truth, An-hyun was in a very good mood. Not just today, but for several days since the clan member ranking system was implemented, he’d been feeling upbeat. He had expected to be ranked C or D at best, so suddenly receiving a B rank was thrilling. It was like expecting a grade of 4th place and getting 2nd instead.
He still remembered the thrill of seeing his name on the B rank list. That feeling came with a sense of responsibility—to work even harder to live up to the trust placed in him.
So, he got out of bed, threw open the window, and stretched deeply, welcoming the fresh morning air.
Click.
“Oh! You’re awake?”
“……”
At the sound of the door opening, An-hyun froze.
Turning his head with a creak, he saw a woman enter. Though dressed as a maid, she was elegantly attired. She was a woman who had worked as a ‘flower of the night’ before, and after being introduced by Ko Yeon-ju, had joined the mercenary clan as a non-combat user.
Of course, none of this registered in An-hyun’s mind at the moment.
“…Who are you?”
“My name is Park Hae-yeon. I work as a maid for the mercenary clan.”
“…Why?”
“Starting today, I will be your personal maid, User An-hyun. I look forward to working with you.”
The woman named Park Hae-yeon smiled calmly, clasped her hands neatly, and bowed politely. But An-hyun screamed. He was completely naked, wearing nothing but his underwear. It was a disaster caused by his habit of sleeping without clothes.
The maid kept her head bowed, staring at the floor for a while. An-hyun, who had been screaming, finally looked at her and hurriedly grabbed some clothes.
After bowing for so long, the maid stretched her back with a groan, then gave An-hyun a sly wink, as if looking at a cute little brother.
“Then, may I have a moment to explain things to you?”
Her gaze was strangely seductive, perhaps because of her past as a ‘flower of the night.’ An-hyun nodded awkwardly and looked away.
A little later.
After hearing the maid’s explanation, An-hyun finally understood the situation.
Starting with the newly revamped system for non-combat users, from today onward, every clan member ranked B or higher would be assigned a personal maid to assist them. In a week, he would move to the sixth floor’s B rank exclusive quarters, which included better living spaces and a private research room.
Finally, the maid relayed a message from Kim Soo-hyun, asking him to visit the office around lunchtime today. She reached into her bosom and pulled something out.
“Today, I’ve come to greet you, and starting tomorrow morning, I’ll be at your service in earnest. I’m leaving these two—one for calling me, and the other for communication. Please don’t hesitate to use them whenever you need.”
After gently placing the two orbs on the bed, the maid clasped her skirt with both hands, gave a slight bow, and quietly exited the room. Only after she carefully closed the door behind her did Ahn Hyun finally let out a deep breath. Though he had been given some explanation, his mind was still a whirlwind. It felt as if a sudden storm had just swept through.
Yet, amid the chaos, there was one thing he felt with absolute clarity. It was absurd, but strangely, he didn’t feel bad at all. Rather, it was an awkward yet refreshing sensation—a new kind of awareness. In truth, after the clan member ranking system was implemented, he hadn’t noticed much change for several days. But now, he was beginning to feel it gradually, physically. At the same time, curiosity stirred within him. If a B rank received this kind of treatment, what kind of respect would an A rank get? An S rank? Or even an EX rank?
“Well… being treated well does feel good,” he thought.
With that in mind, Ahn Hyun quickly got to his feet.
“Was it lunch? I should get there on time.”
After a quick wash, he opened the door with a bright smile and stepped into the hallway. His steps felt almost weightless, as if he were walking on air.
---------------------------= Author’s Note =---------------------------
Yes, that’s right. This part isn’t about killing off a certain character—in fact, it’s about saving them. Of course, their revival will come with its own set of challenges.
Kim Suhyun will always be the crown jewel of this Memorize world, but personally, I hope the gems that make up that crown will shine beautifully as well.