Chapter 70
Chapter 70
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Clan
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Clan.
Level 4.
From this point on, the way people treat you starts to change little by little.
Because they can wield sword aura... or as they say in the East, the ability you gain only after reaching the pinnacle: sword aura.
You can use sword aura starting from level 5.
'Becoming level 4 means...'
In other words, it's the same as saying you can reach level 5.
And it means you've become a promising talent.
That's why clans, kingdoms, empires, and the like come knocking.
'...Why is it so quiet around me?'
But things were quiet for me.
It got to the point where even Volkan and Lucia's visit—and the time I smashed that scarecrow—felt noisier by comparison.
'Because of Volkan or Lucia?'
They might think those two have already claimed me.
As I was lost in those thoughts, Ermé spoke up.
"Shall we go ahead and make ours?"
"W-what do you mean, make? Just because we've stably hit level 4, you don't mean... s-surely not..."
Rozante's face turned beet red, clearly lost in some wild misunderstanding.
'What the hell is she even thinking?'
As I glanced at Ermé, thinking she must be entertaining weird ideas too...
*Lick.*
Ermé was staring at me, running her tongue over her lips.
"......"
◇ For members of the opposite sex with dangerous tastes: Affinity boost ◇ '......'
Is this... okay?
Am I really okay like this? Just as those doubts swirled in my mind...
"You lot finally going to form a clan?"
Volkan wedged himself right between us.
Oh, right. There was that.
Clan.
A sub-organization of the Adventurer's Guild that anyone could set up on their own.
Think of it like those guilds you see in games.
'We kept saying we would, we would... and now we're finally doing it.'
Suddenly, the others perked up with interest.
"A clan? Don't you need a total of ten members to form one?"
"What? We can fill the spots anytime."
"True, we're starting to get some recognition around here anyway."
"What's the benefit of a clan?"
"Not much different. But with ten clan members, you can always pull together a Labyrinth party whenever."
"Nice."
Teresa nodded with her usual blank expression.
"Th-then the clan name's important. Got anything in mind?"
Glasses pushed his spectacles up the bridge of his nose and declared,
"Labyrinth screams romance, right? How about Marcel Note, named after the legendary clan Argonaut—the epic of the great knights and sages who first pioneered the Labyrinth?"
"Rejected. Don't want Glasses' name in it."
"Haa... You people have no romance in your souls."
"How about Banquet of the Wine God, to honor the divine blessings of alcohol?"
"You're the only one who likes booze, Rozante. Rejected."
"......"
Is our clan's naming sense... really going to be okay like this?
"...You're joking, right? No, you're not. Wait, you're seriously suggesting those batshit names?"
Volkan gawked in horror, as if he'd just realized Glasses wasn't actually made of glass.
Honestly, at this rate, I was getting worried.
'That prankster old coot's gone dead serious.'
What a terrifying bunch.
As I watched them with growing concern, Ermé puffed out her cheeks and huffed,
"Our clan will only take the absolute elite of the elite. So the name has to matter. All those silly ones are a no-go."
"Silly? We were dead serious."
"I was joking."
"Rozante, not you too!"
Ignoring Glasses' shock at Rozante's backstab, Ermé cleared her throat.
"Ahem. Truth is, I've already decided on the clan name."
"What is it?"
"The clan name is......"
*
On the way back to the inn.
I felt peculiar stares.
Gazes that seemed to be appraising me.
'...As expected.'
No way a level 4 like me wouldn't get scouted by any clan.
Of course, there's my bond with Ermé—and if she's who I suspect...
'Gotta stick with her to the end.'
As those thoughts crossed my mind.
Someone approached me.
It was the guy who'd been giving me those weird looks earlier.
His chest bore some kind of engraved emblem, marking him as clan-affiliated.
'Black Spear.'
First time seeing the insignia.
"From Dawn Shadow Clan. Name's Seomunyeol."
Black hair, black eyes. Dressed in rare Eastern garb around here.
But when the hell did this asshole see me to start using informal speech?
"Reason for approaching me?"
"Been keeping tabs on your moves lately. Figured you'd fit right in with our clan."
He grinned sleazily.
"Join your clan?"
"Ah, not optional. Consider this a hard invitation."
What the fuck is this guy's deal?
I stared at the man as he grinned and laid out his pitch.
Didn't seem strong.
His aura felt about on par with mine while suppressing Tuma.
And yet.
'He's forcing a clan invite?'
Why?
What the hell does he have to back that up?
These types always lean on something.
Of course.
'Most of it's laughable bullshit—you only figure it out after they eat a fist.'
I eyed the man before me.
No clue why, but he was trying to drag me into his clan by force.
'...This could be fun.'
Just about the first time something like this has happened since arriving here.
I cocked my head, as if daring him to keep talking.
"Still clueless about your situation? Refuse Dawn Shadow Clan, and things get risky for you starting now."
"For me?"
"And your party too."
Now he's taking my party hostage?
'Hmm.'
Should I just end him?
Killing him outright didn't sound half bad.
Handle the mess first, then head to the guild master—something told me it'd sort itself out.
But that'd put me in the guild master's debt.
'...A hassle, but.'
Thinking he could mess with my party and walk away unscathed was laughably naive.
I fixed him with a stare.
He clapped my shoulder and said,
"Think it over. Actually, no need. Join the clan right—"
The man froze mid-sentence.
Nothing dramatic. His eyes had locked onto Ermé.
"Yuseong, who's that guy?"
"W-w-witch?"
Witch?
What the hell had she done to earn a moniker like that?
"Calling me a witch to my face? How rude."
Ermé shot Seomunyeol a chilling glare. First time I'd seen that look on her.
'...She's such a sweetheart.'
A little materialistic, sure—but she does whatever I ask, gives up anything for me.
Sometimes she gives so freely I wonder if she has leftovers.
No prickly personality, full of charm... and witch? I couldn't wrap my head around it.
"P-party with a witch?"
"Hey, who are you to keep calling me witch?"
"—Looks like she's not thrilled about it." 'Yeah. If it's some slanderous nickname...'
"—Well, from your perspective, you might not know." '...?'
What the hell was that supposed to mean?
"Looks like you're from some shady clan."
"Dawn Shadow Spear, or something."
"Ah, that clan?"
Ermé flashed a sweet smile.
But her eyes burned with unmistakable murder.
'Wishful thinking if you call it a misread.'
No way it was.
"Dawn Shadow Spear's fairly well-known. Got a level 6 as their leader, and their rep's—"
"Level 6?"
Sounded impressive.
But level 6 brought Veronica to mind.
'......'
Maybe level 6 wasn't all that special.
"S-sorry for the offense. A witch in the party, huh."
"......"
A ridiculous feeling washed over me.
Ever since arriving in Cradle, Ermé and I had always been in the same party.
'And he's trying to recruit me without even knowing that?'
Un-fucking-believable.
As I shot him a look with that in mind, he was shivering, face ashen white.
'Something behind him?'
I glanced over.
"...Hi."
Vivid red hair. Matching red eyes.
A woman in a dress, holding an umbrella.
But her expression was off. Her smile froze the instant she spotted me.
Then her cheeks flushed, her breathing growing ragged.
"Ah, things were already dicey, but this..."
Something told me this was a bad sign.
"Wh-what brings you here?"
"Rumors about Yuseong are spreading like wildfire all of a sudden. Hawon Gate's trying to contain it, but it's everywhere—got worried and came."
Her eyes roamed my body as she spoke. Not inspecting—just devouring.
'...Gotta find a house for real.'
My chastity was in genuine peril.
"Ex-exe-exe, Exe—"
"Keep quiet, or I might just kill you?"
*Gulp.*
Seomunyeol started hiccuping at Lucia's words.
Makes you think she's terrifying.
'She's not, though.'
"—That's... nah, forget it. Just stay put. Might be safer for you that way." 'What the hell does that mean?'
I shot a questioning look at a sighing Rishiel, but she just shook her head.
As I puzzled over it.
Someone else was heading our way.
*Thud thud.*
A woman storming over with a furious scowl, kicking up a racket.
Only one woman around here who'd pull shit like that.
Veronica.
"C-crazy... why's that psycho bitch...?"
"Hey!"
The lunatic shrieked the moment she saw me.
I let out a deep sigh at the sight of her.
"Why didn't you tell me? You formed a clan!"
"Why would I tell you?"
"No, I'm cooperating with you all nice and smooth!"
"You're not joining the clan."
"Damn straight! Why the hell would I?!"
She bellowed right back at me.
What is her deal?
As I mulled that over, Ermé sidled up and whispered,
"Try inviting her."
"What?"
"To join the clan."
"Hmph. If you ask, I might not say no."
"......"
Truth be told, having Veronica would make things solid.
'Solid, yeah—but a massive pain in the ass.'
So I didn't bother inviting her.
Didn't want to.
"Clan members handle some lodging and food, right? From now on, you're in charge of my meals."
"No way you're actually swayed by food bribes?"
Ermé looked flustered for a second, then nodded like it made perfect sense.
"That's six members already."
"Could be seven? Don't forget me."
"...Lucia's welcome."
"No fair! You welcome that Villainess but treat me like this?!"
"......"
Veronica exploded right after I welcomed Lucia.
'So now eight?'
"—...Huh? Why're you looking at me?" The moment I glanced at Rishiel, thinking that.
"Hah? And what's this?"
Veronica growled, glaring daggers at Seomunyeol.
*Drip drip.*
Seomunyeol trembled beside her, liquid trickling down his legs.
'Ugh, nasty.'
But I got it.
'Veronica's scary as hell.'
Never met a bigger nutjob.
She can't wield her holy power properly because I stole her chastity, and she still screeches at me about it.
'Gotta be certifiably insane.'
No doubt about it.
"So what's with this punk?"
"Was strong-arming Yuseong into joining his clan."
"Ah, uh, er..."
"Hah?"
Veronica stared at Seomunyeol in utter disbelief.
"You let a cheap nobody like this strong-arm you? Are you brain-dead? Which clan?!"
"Th-that's..."
"Dawn Shadow Spear Clan~"
Ermé gleefully ratted him out to Veronica.
Veronica clutched her forehead like she had a migraine.
"This loser's stirring shit? Unbelievable. Give him a taste of Holy Kingdom justice?"
"I really wanna see that!"
I watched the scene unfold, thinking.
She's a handful as an enemy.
'Honestly still a handful as an ally.'
But damn, she made things feel secure.