…Of course, it’s not entirely fair to say that Han So-young, the “Iron-Blooded Queen,” was wrong in her choice. Even back during the “Sleeping Dragon Mountains” incident, forbidding access to hard-to-conquer areas was definitely a valid strategy.
But who could have known? That decision would come back to haunt us a year later in the form of this disaster. Looking back, maybe it would have been better to push through the difficulties and conquer those areas, no matter how tough it was.
So, this incident feels like a warning. Perhaps Atlanta is sending a message to users who fail to recognize the differences between the old and new continents. At least, that’s what I think.
—Excerpt from the “First City Assault Incident Log,” Central Library, Atlanta.
“Oppa…”
The woman who entered was Lee Yoo-jung. I felt a bit surprised, but seeing the hesitation in her eyes, I could guess why she came. She shuffled over and stopped in front of my desk.
“What’s up? Here to start another knife fight today?”
“Uh, no… that’s not it…”
I meant it as a light joke, but Yoo-jung’s reaction was unexpected. She flinched, lowered her head, and muttered in a barely audible voice. Her eyes narrowed sadly, lips trembling as if she might burst into tears any moment. Damn, I didn’t mean to make her cry. She must still be troubled by what happened back then.
“I’m joking. Anyway, what is it?”
“Hmm… you look really busy.”
“Huh? Yeah, it’s been hectic. But I’ve handled most of the usual stuff.”
“Ah… but, um, is this something you really have to do?”
“…?”
“You seem really unhappy about it… like you don’t want to do it at all.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“No, it’s just… can’t you skip it? I know I’m not in a position to say this.”
Yoo-jung finished with a shaky smile. I sighed inwardly. She’d been circling around the subject for a while, hesitating. Her lips kept moving as if she wanted to say something but couldn’t. I shook my head and spoke.
“That’s not how it works. Like I’ve said a hundred times, the Mercenary Clan is the leading clan now. Do you know how we got here?”
“Hm?”
“We’re no longer a small mercenary group tucked away in some corner of the city. We’re out in the open now. If we just pick and choose what we want to do, how long do you think we’ll survive in this world?”
“Hmm? I guess… maybe not long?”
“Exactly. If rumors start spreading that the Mercenary Clan changed after becoming the top clan, or that we’re no longer anything special, all the money we’ve invested in the city will go down the drain. Got it?”
“Y-yeah…”
…Yeah, right. She didn’t understand a thing. I thought I’d given her enough time to get it, but Yoo-jung still looked hesitant. Finally, she decided to speak up.
“No.”
“Huh?”
“You came here asking to join the expedition.”
“…Hehe. Caught me, huh?”
She looked momentarily stunned but admitted it a beat later, though her smile was awkward.
“Oppa, I’m really confident I can do well…”
“No. You’re not coming. Go back.”
“…Why?”
“This isn’t something you can handle. Honestly, I don’t even know what to do this time.”
“Oppa…”
“Yoo-jung.”
I cut her off immediately. She bit her lip nervously. I slowly stood and continued.
“I understand you want to build your track record. But—”
“That’s not it!”
Just as I was about to step out onto the terrace for a smoke, her voice suddenly rose, ringing in my ears. I glanced back to see Yoo-jung breathing heavily. Then, she let out a shaky breath.
“It doesn’t matter anymore. Track record? I don’t care if I don’t get one.”
“Huh?”
“I don’t know, I don’t know. But lately, my chest feels so tight, I just want to break through it. I want to prove something to myself. I don’t understand anything, but I feel like I have to do something.”
“……”
Her words were a bit off-target, but I could tell she wanted to speak clearly. Probably, the words just wouldn’t come out right. So she threw out whatever she could. But her soft, reddish eyes held a desperate plea—as if begging me to understand her, just this once.
“I don’t want to act recklessly like Ahn-hyun. I just want to try again, within the limits you allow.”
Her voice was fragile, and I chuckled dryly.
“Is that a threat?”
“No. It’s a request. Anything you want me to do, I’ll do it. I’ll obey you completely. Even if I have to start from the bottom…”
For some reason, Yoo-jung couldn’t finish her sentence and sniffled. I lit my cigarette and stared out toward the terrace, lost in thought. …Start from the bottom, huh? Well, that’s a first coming from Yoo-jung.
Honestly, since Hyung’s spot is empty, we do need one more person. I’ve been thinking about this for a while. The problem is, I can’t just pick anyone. If it were just about ability, I wouldn’t be so worried.
I didn’t pick Ko Yeon-ju because we don’t need more close-combat fighters, and we need someone who can lead the clan while I’m away. I didn’t pick Vivian because her abilities are too unique and might disrupt the team.
So, we need someone skilled, proficient in elemental magic, and who won’t upset the expedition’s balance. But the reality is, there’s no one like that. It’s better not to bring anyone than to pick the wrong person. Right now, at least the minimum team synergy is intact. But since the location requires exactly 15 members, we’re stuck in a dilemma.
That’s why Yoo-jung’s words caught my attention.
“…Are you serious?”
“Hm?”
“You really mean you don’t mind starting from the bottom?”
“Uh… yeah!”
Maybe she sensed hope in my voice. Yoo-jung’s eyes grew huge as she shouted. I exhaled a long stream of smoke and slowly closed the distance.
“You might not be able to fight. You’ll be stuck doing all the grunt work. Are you okay with that?”
“I-I’m fine!”
She nodded so vigorously it was almost frantic.
“Can I really trust you? Just so you know, this expedition isn’t about picking the strongest. We prioritized team synergy. You sure you can handle it?”
“If I do anything that bothers you, you can kill me right there.”
“Seriously? Why would I kill you?”
“No, really. If you tell me to die somewhere, I’ll go and do it. For real.”
I wanted to ask if she planned to die in bed, but I held back. The mood was too serious for jokes.
Alright then. It’s better to keep the current synergy intact than to ruin it by bringing in the wrong person. The others can focus solely on the expedition and preserve their combat power, while Yoo-jung will handle everything else.
“Fine. Get ready. You’d better steel yourself.”
“O-oppaa!”
When I finally gave her the go-ahead, Yoo-jung’s face lit up with a bright smile. How that smile will change in the coming days remains to be seen.
…Was this really the right call?
The fog was thick, but the air was cool and still. At dawn, fourteen users gathered at the South City Gate, including me. Han So-young had arrived earlier than I did, and Seon-yul showed up right on time.
The gate guards eyed us nervously. None of us said a word, but we all wore thick robes. They probably thought we were some shady group plotting something sinister.
“Is everyone here? Looks like one person’s missing.”
“Here she comes.”
I looked away from the guards and asked. Kim Han-byul replied with a hint of annoyance. Following her gaze, I saw Yoo-jung sprinting toward us, panting, with three Chaos Mimics clinging to her. Her red hair bounced, and the Mimics near her waist swayed with every step.
Soon, the faint cries of a baby Chaos Mimic echoed as Yoo-jung arrived.
“Oh, last place? I hate people who’re late.”
Seon-yul teased with a smile, twisting her hair.
“…S-sorry. I was checking the supplies.”
Yoo-jung glanced at me nervously and bowed awkwardly. Seon-yul giggled.
“Just kidding, just kidding~. But seriously, the Dawn Gladiator playing pack mule? This expedition’s gonna be interesting.”
She grinned and shrugged. Then, wrapping an arm around Yoo-jung, she said, “Let’s be friends, okay? You’re totally my type.” She didn’t seem malicious, but her hand sneakily brushed a sensitive spot. I looked away, catching Kim Han-byul smirking nearby, while Yoo-jung desperately tried to suppress a smile. She looked at me as if to say, “Do I really have to put up with this too?”
“Well then…”
After giving Seonyul a subtle glance, I quietly cleared my throat and looked around. That’s when it hit me—I was relying on my brother far more than I had realized. Even at this very moment, just before departure, I found myself missing him. How reassuring it would have been to see him standing there in his dark wizard’s coat, gazing off into the distance, but breaking into a faint smile the moment he caught my eye. That’s how much his absence weighed on this expedition.
No, I can’t think like that. Get a grip, Kim Suhyun!
I shook my head sharply, suddenly aware of Han So-young’s piercing gaze. She probably just read my thoughts.
It’s time. The number of users with us is nothing to scoff at. Honestly, I can’t guarantee this expedition will succeed, and I’m not even sure if this is the right path to take.
But I do know one thing: I can’t just sit here and do nothing. It’s not entirely my fault, but the damage is done. If we want to escape the disaster looming ahead, this might be our golden hour. Yes, this is the perfect opportunity. We have to succeed—no matter what.
“We’re departing.”
With that resolve, I announced our departure and turned away. Everything was ready, so without hesitation, I stepped through the main gate.
“Wishing for the safe return of all users!”
From behind, the shout of a resident guard echoed, marking the true beginning of our expedition.
The first day’s march went surprisingly well. We moved steadily across the crimson wasteland, forming a typical defensive formation centered around Lee Yujeong. Until the sun began to set, we encountered no monsters—only the occasional caravan returning from exploration. The stabilization was incredible. It was clear how much attention users had poured into Atlanta.
But on the fourth day, after leaving the city behind, we came face to face with the first area we had to cross: an endless, vast green plain stretching as far as the eye could see.
And then…
“Suhyun. Wait a moment. Something’s wrong.”
Im Hanna knelt down on one knee, her eyes fixed on the ground as she called out to me.
Her voice marked the end of our uneventful march over the past three days.