A bright, sunny morning.
“Soyii ba-u-ha-hu-yo? (You said a guest has arrived?)”
Just as I was about to enjoy a leisurely cup of warm tea after breakfast, I heard some unexpected news.
“Yes. There are four visitors in total—two teams of two each. …Haha.”
Shin Jaeryong spoke calmly but ended with an awkward laugh, trailing off. I had a feeling I knew why, and my mind started racing.
To my right, Ko Yeonju, who had come early this morning, was carefully serving tea herself. To my left, Im Hanna was gently and meticulously flossing my teeth. The catch? Both of them were dressed as maids.
Granted, their maid outfits were surprisingly elegant and suited them well, but still, it was undeniably an embarrassing situation. At least Nam Daeun seemed to still feel some shame—she had turned her back, staring indifferently out at the terrace, though her hands desperately tried to cover her exposed shoulders and calves. Meanwhile, Jung Hayeon stood in the corner, covering her face with both hands, repeatedly exclaiming, “Oh my, oh my.”
“Let’s just talk on the way…”
“Master, please don’t go.”
Just as I was about to get up and escape, Ko Yeonju gently grabbed my arm and spoke wistfully.
“You said they came in two teams of two?”
Ignoring her, Shin Jaeryong gave a bitter smile and nodded.
“Yes. One team is from the Northern Continent, and the other… well, the other team is from the Western Continent.”
“Are you really going to abandon us? Have you grown tired of us now?”
“…But the other team is made up of users from the Western Continent…”
“Sniff, sniff. Fine. Let’s go. Just get them out of here already!”
In the end, I shook her off forcefully. Ko Yeonju screamed and collapsed dramatically, playing the forsaken heroine with teary eyes, though her lips twitched into a smile. I sighed deeply and grabbed Shin Jaeryong’s arm.
“Let’s go. We’ll talk on the way.”
As soon as we stepped out, laughter burst from inside the room.
“…I envy you, Clan Lord.”
“You might envy me now, but if you experienced it firsthand, you wouldn’t feel that way.”
Shin Jaeryong spoke frankly, but I just shook my head.
It was all my fault. I shouldn’t have brought it up in the first place. Normally, an EX-rank user is assigned four personal maids, and I thought it would be convenient to have some around, so I asked Ko Yeonju to pick four suitable candidates. But then she pounded her chest confidently and shortly after, she and three others showed up dressed as maids. Not alone, but as a group. It was probably some kind of warning. The more I thought about it, the more ridiculous it seemed.
‘Seriously. How do they see me?’
Anyway, instead of dwelling on this, I decided to focus on training… Ah, those four must have trained a lot. Damn it.
Anyway, I shook off the thought and decided to get back on track.
I think I know who one of the teams is. If they’re from the Western Continent, it’s likely Sarah Jane. The other person is probably a companion she brought along. As mentioned before, they must have come to settle things with the comrades who fled with them.
Putting that aside, the other team…
“You know Shin Jaeryong personally?”
“Oh, just acquaintances. He once supervised city restoration projects, and I’ve seen these users several times during those. I think they came to inquire about joining.”
“Oh? What do you think? Even roughly?”
“They seem decent. The two are probably siblings. The younger sister sometimes grumbles, but she’s diligent and meticulous. The older brother is the opposite… hmm…?”
At that moment, as Shin Jaeryong was speaking while slowly descending the stairs, he tilted his head.
“Hmm. That’s strange. I’m trying to recall… Anyway, I remember them as calm and very earnest. They seem to be mages, and their abilities looked quite good.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Especially their understanding of each element was impressive, which helped a lot during the city restoration.”
“Hmm…”
Honestly, their visit was a bit unexpected. While Missionary is undoubtedly the top clan, the number of users who inquire about joining is surprisingly low compared to its reputation. I once wondered why, and I think it’s because the image of ‘elite few’ is so deeply ingrained. People assume they have to be Rare or Secret Class and give up before even trying. Of course, the high entry barrier plays a part too.
So I was curious. Of course, they might have just come on a whim wanting to join. But on the other hand, it could mean they have some skill and confidence to challenge us. From what Shin Jaeryong said, it seems closer to the latter.
“Well, we’ll find out when we talk to them. Did you say they’re in the reception room?”
He confirmed, and I hurried down the stairs.
The castle’s reception room is on the first floor, and to get there, you pass through the garden, the central courtyard, and a long corridor. It’s a deliberate design. The reason I poured an astronomical amount of gold coins into decorating the castle this time was because I agreed that Missionary, as a leading clan, should have the proper dignity.
In other words, it’s a showpiece. The idea is to lead visitors through the most lavishly decorated spaces in sequence, both to intimidate and inspire awe.
A little later.
As I opened the door and stepped into the reception room, I saw four users stiffening up. They looked around blankly, then suddenly turned their heads in surprise—clearly nervous. The black-haired woman even stumbled to her feet and nearly tripped.
“Oh dear, are you alright?”
“Ah, ah… I’m sorry…”
“Hahaha, it’s fine. Everyone, please just sit down.”
“……”
The woman quickly sat down. After taking the seat of honor, she slowly shifted her gaze. As expected, Sarah and a companion sat to the left. The companion was a woman with striking silver-gray hair and an exotic appearance.
After asking the siblings for their understanding, I exchanged a brief nod with Sarah.
“Welcome.”
“Oh, hello.”
“It’s been a while since last time.”
“Yes, that’s right. I remember what you said then. So I took care of things and shamelessly came back.”
“Shameless? I was the one who told you to come. Anyway, I imagine a lot has happened in the Northern Continent.”
“Definitely. We were prepared, but the welcome was worse than we imagined. So we’re quite exhausted. But it’s okay.”
Sarah responded with a beautiful smile. Maybe she had practiced what to say on the way here. Her hesitant speech was a bit awkward but not off-putting. Then I looked at the woman beside her.
“Oh, this is Elizabeth Jessica. A friend I brought along.”
Sarah quickly introduced her, and Elizabeth bowed politely. Hmm. She didn’t seem like an exceptional user. Just because she’s a friend doesn’t mean I can accept her blindly.
“I’m jealous… That foreigner must already be a scouted user… Wow… Scouted by Missionary…”
“Quiet… We’re talking here…”
I suddenly overheard the siblings whispering. For now, I decided to overlook Elizabeth. Both of them looked quite tired, and since we had already had a brief talk, there was no need for a long discussion.
Sarah came to see me, and Elizabeth could stay behind. If Sarah is wise—and if my judgment isn’t wrong—she must have brought Elizabeth for a reason.
With that in mind, I spoke quietly.
“Hmm. Understood.”
“Oh, then…”
“I’d like to talk more, but we have other guests arriving. You look tired, so why don’t you rest for now?”
“Oh, may we?”
Sarah’s face lit up with relief, her eyes sparkling as if she had high hopes. Glad I didn’t push it, I called Shin Jaeryong and instructed him to escort the two.
“We’ll see you soon.”
“…Thank you.”
Sarah bowed politely and followed Shin Jaeryong out. Elizabeth glanced at me once but quietly left the reception room. Only then could I turn my attention to the remaining two.
“Sorry, I had a prior appointment with those two…”
“Oh, no. We came without an appointment. It’s an honor to meet you like this.”
“Thank you for saying that. By the way, aren’t we already acquainted?”
“Oh, haha…”
The man with kind eyes smiled awkwardly, glancing sideways. The woman who had fallen earlier was blushing deeply, nervously biting her lip. It seemed less embarrassment and more guilt for having treated me like a beggar before.
“The bread you gave us was delicious. Honestly, I was really hungry then.”
“Th-thank you. It was just some simple bread…”
I wasn’t looking to pick a fight. What mattered was their level. The man seemed to understand my meaning and bowed deeply, almost touching his forehead to the floor.
I smiled warmly.
“Then let me introduce myself properly. I am Kim Suhyun, Clan Lord of Missionary.”
“Yes! I’m Ha Seungwoo, and this is Ha Seungyun, my younger brother. Neither of us belong to any clan.”
Ha Seungwoo, Ha Seungyun. Definitely siblings.
Now, let’s get to the point.
“I see. So, user Ha Seungwoo, you came to inquire about joining?”
“Yes, yes, that’s right. But it’s not just that…”
“Hm?”
“No, no! I mean—!”
Was he really that nervous? The user Ha Seung-woo stammered, shaking his head back and forth. The more he did, the redder Ha Seung-yoon’s face became, her head bowed low. Seeing them like this, I couldn’t help but recall the first time I met Shin Sang-yong. Finally, after Ha Seung-yoon nudged him with her elbow, Ha Seung-woo managed to calm down.
After taking a couple of steadying breaths, Ha Seung-woo spoke more composedly.
It was a simple request. The two of them wanted to join the Mercenary clan, but no matter how long they waited, no recruitment announcements had been posted. So, despite the imposition, they had come here in person.
Then, hesitantly, Ha Seung-woo added, “If you’re not recruiting right now, could you tell us roughly when you might post an announcement?”
“Hmm… a recruitment announcement, huh…”
I fell silent, thinking it over. Honestly, I hadn’t planned to recruit new clan members anytime soon. I recognized the need to replenish, but that was something I intended to consider only after the ongoing internal reforms were complete. The winds of change needed to settle firmly before we could prepare to welcome new blood.
“To be honest, the Mercenary clan isn’t planning to post any recruitment announcements for the time being. We’re currently reorganizing the entire clan structure, and only once that’s finished will we be ready to consider new members.”
“I see…”
Though spoken calmly, a deep disappointment flickered in the siblings’ eyes.
“Then… when do you think that might be? Even just roughly…”
At that moment, Ha Seung-yoon, who had been quietly bowing her head until now, finally mumbled something. Her sharp, slightly narrowed eyes gave her a catlike, irritable look, but the way she fidgeted made her seem a little endearing.
Of course, there were exceptions. Just like Sarah had come through a scout, the Mercenary clan’s doors were always open to users with good standing. Naturally, that meant their user information had to be solid.
So, I activated my Third Eye.
Starting with Ha Seung-yoon.
Name: Ha Seung-yoon (2nd year)
Class: Normal Mercenary (Expert)
Nation: Atlanta
Clan: None
True Name & Nationality: Prodigy • Female Lesbian • South Korea
Gender: Female (26)
Height & Weight: 174.6 cm • 58.8 kg
Disposition: Sharp • Meticulous
[Strength 84] [Endurance 82] [Agility 90 (+2)] [Stamina 88] [Mana 92 (+2)] [Luck 78]
<Achievements (0)>
<Special Abilities (1/1)>
<Potential Skills (4/4)>
Dual Dagger Mastery (Rank: A Plus)
Close Quarters Combat (Rank: A Minus)
Frenzy Activation (Rank: S Zero)
Divine Sword Unity (Rank: C Plus)
[Strength 84] [Endurance 82] [Agility 90 (+2)] [Stamina 88] [Mana 92 (+2)] [Luck 78]
[Strength 83] [Endurance 79] [Agility 92 (+2)] [Stamina 84] [Mana 90] [Luck 88]
‘Look at this.’
The moment I read her user info, I straightened up without realizing it.
A second-year mercenary. Just two years in. And not only are her stats impressive, but her abilities are truly exceptional. Special ability Mind’s Eye, plus Close Quarters Combat and Frenzy Activation—all perfect for a mercenary specializing in close-range battles. And Divine Sword Unity on top of that? At just two years?
Yeah. This is what a true mercenary looks like. Her balance is almost too perfect. This is exactly the kind of growth I wanted for Lee Yoo-jung.
‘Where did a user like this come from?’
I had half expected something good, but this was beyond my expectations. My eyes sharpened. I couldn’t help but admire her silently. What’s even more terrifying is that she’s still an Expert, not yet a Master. That means she still has room to grow here.
“Uh… uh…”
I don’t know what I did wrong, but Ha Seung-yoon now had tears welling up in her eyes, her lips pouting. Her face was still bright red.
“I’ve really worked hard… I’m confident I can do my best…”
She muttered through her pout as I stared at her. No one would refuse someone like her. She’s more than welcome—more than welcome, in fact. The Mercenary clan, which has lacked a proper mercenary class until now, finally has a chance to add a new option. Why would I turn that down?
“Ha, haha. Me, Mercenary Lord…”
Only then did I manage to look away.
“Actually, up until now, our Seung-yoon has been trying really hard to join the Mercenary clan. She’s always admired the Mercenary Lord and the Swordmaster in the clan and wanted to be part of it. So she’s turned down offers from other clans.”
He spoke as if he was pleading for Ha Seung-yoon to be accepted.
Ha Seung-woo. Shin Jae-ryong valued Ha Seung-woo more than Ha Seung-yoon. If the younger sister is this good, what kind of user info does this guy have?
I immediately focused on Ha Seung-woo. My Third Eye was already active.
Soon, Ha Seung-woo’s user info appeared in the air.
And then—
“Uh… so…”
“…!”
“Mercenary Lord?”
“…”
Wait a minute.
This guy is…