Year Four.
People generally have an uneasy feeling about the number four. I’m not exactly sure why. Maybe it’s like how seven is considered lucky, while four is associated with death in some cultures. Regardless of common superstition, I personally don’t dislike the number four. The An siblings grumbled nervously when we hit our fourth year, but I felt something closer to anticipation. Because, so far, good and bad things have alternated every year.
Looking back, the zeroth year was actually quite enjoyable. Or rather, worry-free. It was a whirlwind period—sweeping through ruins, founding the clan, and soaring to new heights. Then, as the first year rolled around, war suddenly broke out. The second year saw another major leap forward, mainly thanks to the mercenaries. But the third year was rough—internal clan turmoil, the grueling conquest of the Steel Mountains, and other hardships.
So I’m looking forward to this fourth year. Coincidentally, the chaos caused by the sudden introduction of the ranking system has started to settle down. I wonder if we can ride this momentum and get through year four without any major incidents, like in years zero and two.
…Of course, that’s just wishful thinking.
Only I knew quietly that I had reached the fourth year. Anyone could get there with time—it wasn’t a big deal.
Still, somehow the clan members found out and came to congratulate me casually. (I suspect either An Hyun or An Sol couldn’t keep it to themselves.)
In the middle of it all, Ko Yeon-ju said something a bit unexpected.
“Darling? How about we throw a festival for old times’ sake?”
“A fe… festival? Why a festival all of a sudden?”
“Not all of a sudden. We’ve always had a festival at least once a year, haven’t we?”
“Hmm.”
“Come on, don’t be so stiff. The mood’s pretty good right now, and you’ve been pushing us too hard lately.”
“…Alright.”
At first, I was skeptical, but her persistent persuasion won me over. It wasn’t reluctant agreement—Ko Yeon-ju had a point. After all the harsh discipline, it was time to offer some rewards. And really, there was plenty to celebrate. No, more than enough.
Once I gave the go-ahead, Ko Yeon-ju beamed with delight and winked.
“Great. A festival means events, right?”
“As long as they’re reasonable, sure. Just do as you see fit.”
The festival came together faster than I expected. I didn’t pay much attention, so I don’t know the details, but I heard the clan members responded with overwhelming enthusiasm. One even raised both hands in celebration. It seemed like they hadn’t had a chance to relax properly in a while. Ko Yeon-ju’s timing and advice were spot on.
By afternoon, word came that everyone had gathered in the office and the festival had just begun.
When I descended to the first floor, I was stunned by how lavishly the central plaza had been transformed.
The central plaza wasn’t just a resting area or passageway—it served many purposes. The huge circular space was bustling with over a hundred people, yet still spacious enough to feel comfortable. The crystal decorations on the walls sparkled brilliantly, and on one side, a long table draped in pristine white cloth was laden with delicious-looking food and drinks.
The clan members were dressed casually, scattered all around, filling the plaza with lively chatter. Maids wheeled carts loaded with food and drinks through the crowd. It wasn’t like the usual village festival—it felt more like a royal banquet.
Soon, the clan members noticed my arrival and turned their gazes toward me one by one, but I waved them off lightly. I wanted to keep this good vibe going. In other words, I was telling them to keep eating, drinking, and having fun. After all, this festival was for their enjoyment—I didn’t want to embarrass anyone with awkward speeches like “Let’s all stay strong!” or “To our success!”
Apparently, they understood. As soon as I sat down, some clan members sprang into action. Vivian even summoned the demon beast squad in a strategic move. She barked orders at the bewildered beasts, making them carry dishes as she darted between tables piled with food. I watched with a mix of amusement and disbelief, then slowly turned my attention to observing the scene.
The festival’s primary purpose was to have fun, but for me, it was also an opportunity—a chance to gauge the clan’s state. More precisely, to see the relationships between members. It’s rare to have such a natural, all-in-one glimpse.
First, I looked for the four new members. They had already been accepted as mercenaries; only their ranks remained to be decided, which had been officially approved at a previous meeting.
Ha Seung-woo was surprisingly sociable, clinking glasses and laughing heartily with Woo Jung-min and Seon Yu-woon. Those two weren’t exactly the easiest to get close to, so I had to admire his acting skills. Well, he’d have to keep up the act going forward.
Ha Seung-yoon was a bit odd. Flushed and breathing heavily, he was trailing someone like a lovesick puppy—first Ko Yeon-ju, then Nam Da-eun, then Im Han-na, then Cha So-rim. Suddenly, he threw his hands up and shouted, “This is heaven!” It looked ridiculous, but I figured it wasn’t too strange and decided to stop paying attention. Next, I’d check on Sarah.
That’s when—
“Hey!”
A sudden sharp shout pierced my ears. Reflexively, I turned toward the source, feeling a flicker of surprise.
To my astonishment, Sarah was in the middle of a heated argument with Vivian.
“I called dibs on that first!”
Why was she so upset? Vivian glared fiercely, shouting as if ready to tear her apart.
“I saw it first! You just snatched it away!”
“What?”
Sarah held a bowl of food calmly, her expression composed—completely opposite to Vivian’s.
“Just hand over the bowl already! You know how much I love that! You can’t even get it at the restaurant!”
“What?”
Vivian shrugged repeatedly, clearly not understanding.
“Ugh! You don’t get it! What do you call this in your language? Oh, right—cutting in line! You did a really bad thing! Cut, ting, in!”
“Bird touch?”
……
Suddenly, Sarah’s expression struck me as oddly innocent.
“Mercenary Lord? Excuse me for a moment.”
While Vivian was yelling, a maid approached cautiously and placed a dish in front of me. It was a beautifully prepared plate, clearly the chef’s specialty. A thought crossed my mind.
“Are those two fighting over this food?”
“Ah… yes.”
The maid smiled wryly and nodded. She explained that the ingredients were scarce and the dish was labor-intensive, so only a small amount was made. Now I understood the situation. It seemed they’d set aside a portion for me, and the leftovers on the table were extremely limited. No wonder Vivian dashed out so quickly earlier.
“Want some? Want some? Waaah!”
The shouting grew louder by the second. Sarah deliberately teased Vivian by taking bites with a sly grin, causing Vivian to burst into a pitiful cry. I took the dish back and asked Vivian to quiet down. The maid chuckled and turned away. Within five seconds, Vivian’s tearful cries miraculously ceased.
“G-Gumgum…”
“Shut your mouth.”
“Th-thanks… you’re the only one…”
“……”
Vivian took the dish, her eyes glistening with gratitude as she looked at me. I knew she had a big appetite, but this was something else. I sighed and shook my head, then resumed my observations.
After checking on Elizabeth last, I slowly stood and walked through the plaza. As clan lord, I couldn’t just sit all day. I answered the occasional greetings from clan members while keeping my eyes open.
If there was one thing that bothered me during the festival, it was Lee Yoo-jung. She hadn’t skipped the festival, but unlike before, when she would have been just as lively as anyone else, today she sat quietly in a corner with her head down. The An siblings and Im Han-na approached her, but she didn’t respond.
She wasn’t a rookie anymore, so I didn’t feel the urge to comfort her. I turned my attention away and watched Maru and the two young leaders running around, laughing heartily.
Meanwhile, the once tranquil sky gradually deepened into a dusky shade. As time passed, the atmosphere in the square grew more and more charged. Everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, so it was about time for some entertaining spectacle to begin.
Just then, as if on cue, Ko Yeon-ju appeared and asked if it was alright to start the event.
The event, in this case, was none other than deciding the ranks of the four new members who had recently joined. The rules were simple: a space would be cleared in the center, and new clan members would engage in light sparring matches with existing members. Opponents would be chosen on the spot, and the new member’s rank would be determined based on the opponent’s rank and the outcome of the fight. Of course, the final judgment was mine.
At first, I wondered if it was appropriate to call this an event, but when I was told it wasn’t a life-or-death battle, I agreed. It was a good chance to gauge their skills, and honestly, there’s nothing quite as exciting as watching a fight.
So, two people signed up for the event. Why only two? Because Ha Seung-woo had already given up—anyone who does so automatically gets placed on the F-rank list—and Elizabeth was going to remain a non-combat user. That left only Sarah and Ha Seung-yoon to participate in the ranking matches.
A little while later, the murmurs in the square quieted down as clan members began to move aside, making space along the walls. Soon, a blonde woman stepped slowly into the center. It looked like Sarah was the first to take the stage.
“All right, everyone, please quiet down. With the clan lord’s permission, we’ll begin immediately.”
Ko Yeon-ju took charge of the event, her voice amplified as she scanned the crowd. Since I had handed over (or rather, passed off) the entire festival from start to finish, I leaned back comfortably in my chair. From somewhere, a chubby baby Pegasus fluttered over and flopped onto my lap. I gently stroked its round belly. Judging by its heavy panting, it must have eaten a lot—definitely put on some weight.
“Among the wizard class, who would like to spar with user Sarah Jane?”
“I will!”
Before the sentence was even finished, someone shot their hand up. Curious who had such confidence, I looked over to see Jegal Hae-sol, holding a glass in one hand, her cheeks slightly flushed, wearing a bright smile.
Wait, hold on. Is she crazy?
“Hm? User Jegal Hae-sol…?”
“Rejected!”
I blurted out hastily. Jegal Hae-sol looked displeased but lowered her hand obediently after I gave her a sharp glare. Here was a rare, genuine wizard, and yet she seemed determined to get stomped.
“Right. This is a ranking match, after all. Jegal Hae-sol is still a rookie with zero years’ experience, so it’s probably not appropriate. Anyone else?”
“Then may I?”
Thankfully, this time Jung Ha-yeon stepped forward. Ko Yeon-ju glanced her way, and I nodded in approval. Aside from their main elemental affinities, they were similar types of wizards, so it promised to be a good match.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone around, Jung Ha-yeon and Sarah faced each other.
After exchanging brief greetings, Ko Yeon-ju counted down.
“3, 2, 1, 0!”
The sparring began, and since it was just a skill test, it didn’t last long. The result was a decisive victory for Jung Ha-yeon.
It was expected. Sarah was certainly a strong wizard, but Jung Ha-yeon was a seasoned practitioner of traditional magic. Not only that, but with her secret class and high magical stats, defeat was unlikely. She countered every attack with a well-balanced combination of spells, leaving Sarah with no way to break through.
Still, Sarah made a strong impression with her superior incantation skills and flashy fire magic. She put up a respectable fight against Jung Ha-yeon, earning a high score from me. In the end, I assigned her a solid C rank—the highest a newcomer could hope for.
As the crowd applauded, Sarah stepped back with a mix of surprise and disappointment. Then the second challenger, Ha Seung-yoon, strode into the center. I’d heard he’d been eagerly awaiting this event, and it showed—he didn’t look drunk at all. The dazed look from earlier was gone, replaced by confident eyes. He already had his hands on his hips, fidgeting as if itching to prove himself.
“User Ha Seung-yoon’s class is mercenary, right? Then among the mercenary class…”
At that moment, Ko Yeon-ju, who had been smoothly running the event until now, suddenly faltered. She made a face like she’d just realized a mistake. There was only one mercenary in the Mercenary Clan, and that one was currently…
“Ahem. Correction. Even if not the same mercenary class, anyone with a melee-type class…”
She tried to finish her sentence but stopped short again.
Because—
“…”
Yoo Jeong-jeong, who had been quietly sitting in the corner all this time, was slowly rising to her feet.
And the bowed head that had been lowered so deeply was now gradually lifting.
---------------------------= Author’s Note =---------------------------
Phew. Just barely finished before morning.
I think I need to get some sleep now. Luckily, it’s the weekend. Haha.
Wishing all my readers a wonderful start to their day. :)