Chapter 111: A Dark Past
Chapter 111: A Dark Past
Three days to reach the destination after setting out. Two days exploring the Ruined Laboratory. Three days returning to Mule. We completed the round trip in eight days. It was just past noon when we arrived. Other Users returning from expeditions around the city glanced at us as they passed, probably wondering where our entire ragged-looking party had been.
But despite our shabby appearances, everyone’s faces were bright. Perhaps because we had gained so much from this expedition, their expressions were lively, giving off the air of triumphant generals returning home. Soon, when the still-shabby North Gate came into view, Yoojung spoke with an excited expression.
“Ugh… we’re finally back. I want to get inside, eat some warm food, wash up, and just collapse into bed.”
“Heehee. Me too…”
As Ahn Sol replied with a grin, Ahn Hyun, who had been listening to their conversation, put on a stern expression. With his shoulders squared and neck held stiff, I could guess what he was thinking. I decided to tease him a little.
“Ahn Hyun. What are you going to do first when we get back?”
I moved next to him and spoke casually. He answered with a serious face.
“I plan to start training immediately, of course. The idea of just eating, playing, and sleeping right after an expedition is a mistaken one.”
“A very admirable attitude. Just what I’d expect from a Rare Class.”
“Hehe. This is just standard, wouldn’t you say?”
Ahn Hyun nodded as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. Beside us, Yoojung and Ahn Sol were glaring daggers at him. After seething for a moment, Yoojung could no longer stand his pompous expression and finally spat out a harsh remark.
“Yeah, right. Like you’re actually going to train. You’ll probably just stuff your face like a pig.”
Despite Yoojung’s sharp criticism, Ahn Hyun’s face was the picture of composure.
“Hmm. I smell an ordinary User nearby—and an especially ugly stench of jealousy at that. I think I’d better move over between you and Vivian, hyung.”
As Ahn Hyun retorted in a lofty tone, I could see sparks fly from Yoojung’s eyes.
“Crazy bastard. Fucking idiot.”
“I hear the cry of an animal driven mad by jealousy. Hyung, by the way, the weather is quite clear today. Hahaha.”
“Alright, alright. Both of you, that’s enough.”
At my words, Ahn Hyun nodded with a relaxed expression, while Yoojung chewed her lip and ground her teeth. I only meant to poke them a little, so I stepped between them and waved my arms. Shin Sangyong and Vivian watched the kids with small smiles.
I briefly turned my gaze to Jung Hayeon. Ever since we left the Ruined Laboratory, she had been in a daze. The others didn't speak to her, and she rarely spoke first. Even Yoojung, who had been so close to her, was now treating her as if she wasn't there.
Honestly, it wasn’t a good atmosphere. For better or worse, I had already decided she would be a member of the clan I would form. While it might be too much to expect us to act like a family for now, we should at least get back to the atmosphere we had when we first met in Mule and set out on the expedition. Moreover, since I planned to apply to establish a clan after this expedition, she would also be a founding member.
In any case, it seemed best to let everyone rest today and talk to her separately tomorrow or sometime later. Not only were we back from one expedition, but I had a mountain of things to do before we left for the next one. Still, they were all tasks that could be handled one by one with enough time, and I had planned for a long stay in the city for maintenance and preparations.
Twisting my weary body, I passed through the North Gate. Hearing the guards salute with a booming greeting, I set our first destination as the inn.
In the small city of Mule, I always sought out the same inn: The Demure Lady. Its facilities were nothing special, but it was not needlessly crowded with Users—apart from those who came to flirt with Ko Yeonju—and the food was good. Plenty of inns met those superficial requirements. My real reason for going there was to recruit Ko Yeonju or kill her. Come to think of it, the time to deal with her was drawing near.
In the worst-case scenario, I might have to fight her alone. Hoping it wouldn't come to that, I climbed the stairs of the inn we had just reached.
As I pushed open the tightly shut wooden door, I saw the back of Ko Yeonju cleaning a table.
“Gulp.”
That was the sound of Ahn Hyun swallowing. As if she’d already sensed our presence, she finished wiping the table with a clean sweep and turned around leisurely. A moment later, she recognized my face and offered a welcoming greeting.
“Oh my. It’s been a while.”
“It has.”
Entering The Demure Lady, I drew a sharp breath at how few Users were inside. The Vagabonds would probably be purged on a large scale before the month ended. The operation was likely still in the planning stage, but Users who had caught wind of it were already beginning to leave the northern cities.
Ko Yeonju was still wearing revealing clothes. A V-neck-like top that exposed more than half of her chest and shorts so short they barely covered her smooth thighs. She clasped her hands together, looking genuinely pleased to see a long-awaited customer.
“Would you like to eat first… or bathe? Or perhaps… me?”
I cut off Ko Yeonju’s immediate proposition with a weary tone.
“We’ll eat, then wash up. We'll take three special rooms for two weeks. For the meal, the usual.”
“Tch.”
I thought I heard her click her tongue, but I decided to let it go. While receiving a silent, protesting glare from Ahn Hyun, we took our seats at a nearby table. Soon, everyone sank into their chairs with such force that they creaked, and one by one, they let out long sighs.
“Haa… But Soohyun.”
“What is it?”
“Why did you get three rooms? Two should be enough.”
“One is for some things I need to do separately. A special room has enough space to work in.”
Vivian tilted her head at my words. I planned to use one of the special rooms myself. I had a lot to take care of, but more importantly, I needed a space to work.
After seeing the elixir in the wooden box, a certain possibility had occurred to me. If my thoughts were correct, I should be able to raise my Stamina stat by at least one point.
As various thoughts surfaced, I immediately shook my head. I had decided to rest and focus on recovering today, yet here I was, thinking about work again. It seemed I hadn't been able to shake the habit of always pushing my body to its limits during the first run.
The others were already resting their heads on the table. It seemed the accumulated fatigue from the battles and the forced march on our return had hit them all at once. I let them be, since we were safe inside the city.
A little while later, I saw Ko Yeonju approaching with our food.
“Oppa. Just one drink.”
“…Just a little.”
I figured a light drink wouldn't hurt, so I granted Yoojung's request. As if her words had tempted them, the others also ordered drinks to their liking. It was only natural that I joined in, as I wanted to soothe my dry throat as well.
The meal was over quickly. The party ate the food in front of them in silence, moving fast. It seemed they were all eager to fill their stomachs and go upstairs to rest.
After eating, the female Users chose to bathe, while the men went straight to their rooms. Watching them, I paid Ko Yeonju and opted for a quick wash myself.
After washing up, I left one room empty and entered the special room where Ahn Hyun and Shin Sangyong were staying. I found the two of them snoring away. Ahn Hyun, the one who claimed he would train, was even drooling and had committed the atrocity of kicking off his blanket. I clicked my tongue, quietly pulled the blanket back over him, and lay down comfortably on the remaining bed.
*
“Haa.”
After telling myself ‘just a little longer, just a little longer,’ I finally forced myself to get up. I glanced at the window and saw that it had already grown dark outside. I lay back down and tried my best to fall asleep, but less than a minute later, I was out of bed again.
Habits ingrained over many long years are a frightening thing. Even if you try to fix them, you act unconsciously. I had tried to get a full night's sleep for the first time in a long while, after being used to sleeping only an hour or two, but now my body was moving on its own. The bigger problem was that while I recognized this as an issue, one corner of my mind considered it a necessary process.
Had it been three or four hours since I lay down? It was more than I usually slept, but in terms of actual time, it was a severe lack of sleep. I had a feeling that if I kept this up, I'd get seriously hurt one day.
Stats aren't everything. You work when you have to, but you must rest when you can, so you can function properly when it matters. Even though I knew this, I ended up grabbing the sword I had propped up nearby. It felt like the only way to soothe this restless feeling inside me was to either move my body or calm my mind.
My gaze shifted, and I saw Ahn Hyun had kicked off his blanket again, his stomach exposed. I shook my head, pulled his shirt back down, and covered him with the blanket once more. Even I had to admit I was acting like a parent, and the thought left a bitter taste in my mouth.
Leaving the two soundly asleep, I turned the handle and opened the door. The sound of the door opening seemed unusually loud today. I gently closed it again and immediately walked toward the still-unoccupied special room.
On this floor, our party occupied all the special rooms. The reason was simple: no other Users had a reason to use a special room right now, and more accurately, there were no Users currently in Mule who could afford one.
Figuring I could at least meditate if swinging my sword was too much, I pushed open the door to the other special room I had rented. And…
“Huh.”
“I knew you’d come.”
“…What are you doing here alone?”
As I spoke with a dumbfounded expression, Jung Hayeon tilted her head slightly.
Inside the special room I intended to use for work, Jung Hayeon was sitting, looking as neat and tidy as ever. She must have brought food separately, as a bottle of alcohol and a side dish of stir-fried vegetables were on the table. As I stared at her face for a moment, Jung Hayeon shrugged and spoke.
“Why are you looking at me like that? Am I not allowed to do this?”
“…I don’t think that’s the issue. But well, I suppose there’s no reason you can’t.”
“Hehe. Don’t be so stiff. Come in and sit down. I was just thinking how pathetic it is to drink alone. You came at the perfect time.”
Judging by her outward behavior, she didn't seem like the usual Jung Hayeon. For now, I obediently pulled out the chair opposite her and sat down. After confirming I was seated, she took a light sip of the drink she was holding.
“I got kicked out.”
“……”
“…Just kidding. They’re not like that. So don’t make that face.”
A hint of intoxication laced Jung Hayeon’s voice. When I immediately scowled at her words, she corrected herself with a grin. Then, as if complaining, she continued.
“Still, the atmosphere is a little uncomfortable. Though I’d have nothing to say if you told me I’m reaping what I sowed.”
Hmm. So that’s how it was. She said there was an unspoken, uncomfortable atmosphere. It seemed I would need to talk with Yoojung soon. But that wasn't what was important right now.
Initially, Jung Hayeon had clearly said, “I knew you’d come.” In other words, she had anticipated that I would come to this room. The time I had spent with her was short, but I did have a consistent routine. Even so, predicting I would come here tonight was a guess that was more of a gamble.
As I remained silent, Jung Hayeon filled an empty glass to the brim and offered it to me. I accepted the glass with a reluctant expression. Before drinking, I asked her in a calm voice.
“What were you planning to do if I didn’t show up tonight?”
“Well, I thought there was a definite possibility. If you didn’t come, I could just sleep alone, which would be nice and easy. No matter the outcome, it wouldn’t be bad. That’s the way Hall Plain mages think.”
Her words carried a seductive tone, unlike her usual clear voice. As I continued to just hold the glass, Jung Hayeon gave a slight nod, as if urging me to drink. After analyzing the contents of the glass with my Third Eye, I downed it in one gulp.
“You’re bold. That’s not a weak drink…”
Seeing her beat around the bush again, I cut her off in a low voice.
“For the record, I don’t like it when people beat around the bush.”
“…Drinking makes me a little sentimental, I guess. Please understand, it’s just the alcohol talking.”
Despite my cold words, she simply offered a beautiful smile. But my eyes, staring at Jung Hayeon, were merely indifferent. I knew instinctively. She claimed to be drunk, but it was a lie. That was definitely not the face of a drunk person. Which meant she was acting for some reason.
It was she, not I, who spoke first.
“…Kim Soohyun-ssi.”
“Go on.”
“Do you have time tonight…?”
Jung Hayeon called my name, then rested her chin on one hand. Soon, she spoke to me with a sleepy gaze. A dark night. A room with just the two of us. A single table between us. I could hear her soft breathing and the occasional sweet sigh she let out.
After staring into my eyes for a long moment, she slowly parted her lovely lips.
“If you have time… will you listen to my story tonight?”