Namgung Mir (4): Princess Carry and the Traitors' End

Thud, thud. Namgung Ryun watched the boy casually sharpening his sword with an indifferent gaze. He stretched his neck as if it were no big deal, then glanced around anxiously, checking for any chips or cracks. He inspected it like a precious shrine artifact, meticulously wiping away even the slightest trace of blood. It was hard to believe this was the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠same guy who'd unleashed that absurd strike just moments ago—his attitude was so laid-back.

Sheathing the sword carefully, he turned his eyes toward Namgung Ryun. Their gazes met. In the depths of his unfathomable, darkness-like pupils, a faint light glimmered.

"…!!!"

Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump—

Namgung Ryun struggled to hide her flushing face as she became acutely aware of her heart pounding like mad. He never rejoiced in victory over mighty foes, nor in unleashing forces that warped the terrain itself. Yet when he confirmed her safety, a genuine smile lit his face.

'H-He’s so cool…'

Way too cool. She hadn't told anyone—not that she didn't want to, but the chance never came. Her ideal type was old-school and girly: a person who pressed forward through any adversity. A hero who marched on with countless deaths at his back, swallowing bloody tears inside, yet never shedding his human side. That was Namgung Ryun's dream guy.

'Ugh… ugh…'

She'd been a little aware of him since they first met, but after that awesome display, her heart ached even more. Realizing where her thoughts were headed, Namgung Ryun hurriedly shook her head. No matter how handsome he was or how great his abilities, she wasn't some loose woman who fell head over heels that easily.

'Th-This is fine. It's just admiration. Admiration for the strong.'

Respect and esteem for a superior. Yeah, that had to be it. The leader of a massive top-10 guild wouldn't fall so simply. As she squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head vigorously in her little solo act, Choi Siwoo approached, scratching his head awkwardly.

'…Why’s she like that?'

She seemed lost in some wild fantasy, but he wasn't surprised. He knew Namgung Ryun only looked cool and suave on the outside—she was a total klutz deep down. Honestly, he liked it. Moments like this were getting rarer as time passed.

—"It hurts… it hurts so much. Please, just kill me, okay?"—

—"I want to live. But I want to die. It's too hard… please…"—

'……'

Closing his eyes, Choi Siwoo reflected. The future had changed. He wouldn't have to witness her wailing in agony, clinging to him like a child and sobbing uncontrollably. A swell of emotion rose in his chest. Of course, he knew the truth: even after handling dozens, hundreds, thousands of such incidents, they still had to defeat the final enemy, the calamity. They couldn't relax until every lurking shadow was purged.

So, he'd allow himself just a tiny bit of happiness. Choi Siwoo dreamed of a future bending to his will.

A moment later, Choi Siwoo gathered mana in both hands. Whoosh! With a roaring sound, two additional arms sprouted from his back.

"Guild leader, step back. You might get hurt."

"Uh… y-yeah."

Crunch—!

Namgung Ryun took a step back and quietly clasped her hands. Choi Siwoo was using his raw strength and heat to shatter the cage. The boy, who had to be exhausted, showed no sign of it as thick sweat poured down like rain.

'Ugh… ugh…'

Her clueless heart kept racing. As he reached through the widened gap, her heartbeat hit its peak.

"Turn around, guild leader."

"……Yeah."

Namgung Ryun, about to grab his outstretched hand, stumbled. Was it the heavy restraints? As she flailed in panic, Choi Siwoo caught her gently.

"Excuse me."

"Wha—wahk?!"

Her surprise was short-lived. Namgung Ryun stared blankly ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠at the boy cradling her princess-style.

Thump, thump, thump—

'Ah…'

With her hands and feet gathered like a hamster, Namgung Ryun had a gut feeling.

'This is bad.'

She couldn't explain it precisely, but… something huge had happened. She'd be tormented by him in all sorts of ways for a very long time.

Just as everything seemed wrapped up…

"Oh, right."

"Huh?"

As if remembering something crucial, Choi Siwoo glanced at Pafnir's sprawled corpse.

"Guild leader, are you interested in the dragon's 'heart' by any chance?"

"…Y-Yeah… huh?"

Choi Siwoo smiled faintly, mouthing 'payment' as he continued.

"I'm interested in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the dragon's 'language' myself."

"…Wha?!"

Ten days later. In the deepest conference room of Namgung Mir.

A balding middle-aged man hurriedly wiped his streaming cold ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sweat. And he wasn't alone. Most of the men and women gathered exchanged uneasy glances, wondering if this was really okay.

All except one. A woman in a pristine suit sat silently sipping her coffee, her face as cold as if carved from ice.

Finally unable to hold back, the middle-aged man spoke lowly.

"L-Look here, Vice Guild Leader Jeon Dam-bi. We can really trust this, right?"

"…Of course."

"F-For real? I can't relax with just words."

At the man's attitude, the woman called Jeon Dam-bi flashed a momentary look of contempt before hiding it.

"Don't worry. You can guess from how she hasn't shown up to recent meetings. We have testimonies from the background checks on her affiliated heroes too."

"B-But if we're caught, it's trouble. For our plan to replace the guild leader to succeed, that stubborn bitch Namgung Ryun has to stay out."

The others nodded in agreement. Jeon Dam-bi repeated mechanically, "It's fine."

After ten minutes, their faces lit up as if nothing had happened. Her absence from the official meeting meant there really was a problem.

"Let's get this started."

"Hey, hold on. There are procedures… ahem. First, let's purge those wasting money on pointless resistance."

Ugly ambitions unfolded. Jeon Dam-bi watched it all, thinking of just one word.

'Pigs.'

Gluttonous pigs stuffed to bursting. Some hesitated till the end, but they'd lose reason to the sweet feast before them and become pigs anyway. As things progressed too smoothly, she felt deflated.

'…Is this really the end?'

Years of planning. The operation to topple Namgung Mir's peskiest leader, Namgung Ryun. It had worked brilliantly, proceeded effortlessly, and victory was at hand.

…That's why it felt off.

'……'

The silent meeting left only one final signature: elevating 'Jeon Dam-bi' to guild leader.

"Come on, sign it, Vice Guild Leader. No, Guild Leader."

"……"

Jeon Dam-bi raised her mana-infused ballpoint pen from her pocket. A drop of ink fell from the tip.

Just as everything was about to end—

Bang—!

The conference room door burst open as armed heroes poured in.

"Nobody move!"

"Drop what's in your hands!"

"Wh-What?!"

"Who are you?!"

"Th-Those emblems on your shoulders… Inspectors from the Hero League?!"

The panicked board froze at the sight of the last woman entering. Click, click. Namgung Ryun appeared, her scar completely gone, striding in with firm steps.

"…Looks like you all had quite the fun party without me?"

"What?! H-How?! You should be wandering the brink of death from the dragon's curse!"

"D-Did you fool us all this time?!"

Namgung Ryun smirked and gestured. The inspectors pulled out investigation reports packed with the board's embezzlement and corruption.

Their faces drained of color as they screamed and flailed to escape. But soon, all were arrested and dragged away by the inspectors.

All except one.

"…Vice Guild Leader Jeon Dam-bi."

"……"

Namgung Ryun eyed Jeon Dam-bi, who slurped her instant coffee mix without a hint of surprise. A faint smile played on her lips, narrowing Namgung Ryun's brows.

"Aren't you arresting me, Ms. Namgung Ryun?"

"……I can't drag off someone with no corruption."

"Couldn't you frame me? Someone in your position could fabricate charges."

"……I don't pull dirty tricks like that."

"……"

Jeon Dam-bi gave a bitter smile and stood.

"No can do, Guild Leader. You gotta cut 'em all down clean."

"…What?"

"Snip snip."

She mimed scissors with her fingers, her face icy cold.

"You have to defend that seat by any means. Because you're justice."

"……"

Namgung Ryun pulled a strange face, as if she couldn't grasp the gravity behind those words.

"So… is the fixer for this the gentleman behind you?"

"…!"

Whipping around, she saw Choi Siwoo, impeccably dressed, stepping forward. Namgung Ryun clicked her tongue in exasperation.

"…I told you to come after it was done. Things could've gone wrong."

"Sorry. But seeing your face in person puts my mind at ease."

Placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder, Choi Siwoo approached Jeon Dam-bi and extended his hand.

"I'm Choi Siwoo. A friend of the guild leader."

"Jeon Dam-bi here. Was vice guild leader, but just got fired. Honored to meet a hero of the great incident."

Namgung Ryun sighed in disbelief at the two chatting so casually.