Chapter 198: An Opportunity Arrives
Chapter 198: An Opportunity Arrives
The dazed feeling wouldn't go away. I stared blankly out the window for a moment before suddenly twisting my body from side to side.
Crack, creak!
My whole body screamed in protest. Still, as I forced my bones to twist, I felt a bit of vitality seep back into me—though it was more of a feeling than a reality, of course. In any case, that small burst of energy helped me clear my head. I stretched wide, shook myself off, and stood up.
A wave of embarrassment washed over me. I’d grumbled that I wasn't a child who'd fall asleep like that, yet I actually had. Wondering how I was going to face Hayeon today, I walked toward the door with heavy steps. Or rather, I was about to.
Knock, knock.
“Oppa. I'm coming in.”
The door burst open along with a bright voice that signaled the start of the morning. I turned my head to see Yoojung stepping into the room, one eyebrow slightly raised. She had evolved far beyond her usual three-step combo of clattering, banging, and bursting in.
“Oppa, did you sleep well? What’s with you sleeping in today? Anyway, good morning. And we have a huge problem.”
“…Which one should I answer first? Just pick one, will you?”
Yoojung burst into laughter at my blunt reply to her barrage of words.
“Hahaha.”
“Stop laughing. What do you mean, a huge problem? That the Inn of Beginnings portal opened?”
“Huh? The portal’s open? What are you talking about?”
“Hmm?”
I had spoken calmly, as if I already knew everything, but it was Yoojung who tilted her head in confusion. Her reaction told me I was on the completely wrong track. Soon after, she thrust her right hand out in front of me. In it was a small stack of A4-sized documents, which she fluttered once or twice as if urging me to look.
I quickly took them from her and began to read calmly. The first thing that caught my eye was the title, written in large letters at the top.
Announcing the Launch of the Mercenary Clan.
“……”
The moment I read the title, I instinctively held my breath. This was the report on the clan promotion I had been waiting for with bated breath. It seemed the Residents of Mule, judging that the rescue efforts were more or less complete, had quickly released what they’d been preparing.
“Oppa, oppa. How did these promotional reports get to Barbara overnight? This is insane. They’re all over the plaza bulletin board and scattered on every street corner.”
“They must have prepared the promotional materials in advance. And what do you think transport magic is for?”
“Aha! Right. Anyway, hurry up and read it. It’s full of so much praise that even I’m blushing. Yeonju-unni was surprised when she saw it too. She said it’s rare for a new clan to receive such a positive write-up, so ours must be an exception.”
The way she called her “Yeonju-unni” bothered me for a moment, but I gave a noncommittal reply and quickly read through the report. They had clearly put a great deal of care into it; every sentence flowed smoothly.
About the time it would take to drink a cup of tea passed. In that time, I managed to read all the documents. Bribing Conrad Douglas had been an excellent choice. For just a few hundred gold, I would enjoy a substantial promotional effect worth far more than that. The report I was holding was just that good, listing our clan’s strengths one after another.
Of course, there were some weaknesses mentioned. For example, the fact that a Year 0 User was the Clan Lord, that it was a small-scale clan with only eight founding members, and that more than half of them were Year 0 Users. However, Douglas used various reasons to spin these weaknesses into strengths.
It was written in great detail how a group of this size had excavated three ruins in the short span of three months (of course, we hadn't received the exploration certificate for the Cave of Screams, a fact that was briefly mentioned), how we possessed two Secret Classes and three Rare Classes, that the Shadow Queen—one of the Ten Strong—was among them, and that we had dealt with the high-ranking demon Belphegor.
There were parts that subtly promoted Mule, but it was minor enough that I could overlook it.
“I see. They certainly get the job done.”
“Huh? Who does?”
“The Residents in charge of clan establishment. They’re different from those guys at the temple.”
“Ah. That’s true. Anyway, I told you we have a huge problem!”
Just how huge and what kind of problem was it that she was making such a fuss? From the moment I decided to step into the light, I was prepared to reveal my identity to some extent. As I narrowed my eyes slightly, Yoojung must have read my expression, because she quickly continued.
“Oppa. Just come downstairs. Everyone except Oppa is in the first-floor lobby.”
“Mm, alright. I get it.”
Yoojung then left the room and gestured for me to hurry up. I threw my Coat of Plates on over the gear I was already wearing and followed her, walking calmly down the hallway. I was just about to head down the stairs.
“Hey, hey. Here he comes.”
“Is that User coming down behind the girl the Mercenary Clan’s Lord?”
“Looks like it. They say he’s a Secret Class. Oh my god, oh my god. Look at his gear. It’s no joke. And he’s handsome, too.”
“What have I been doing with my life? Dammit. I guess some guys have all the luck, whether it’s back home or here.”
A murmur spread.
As I descended to the first floor, I understood why Yoojung had been in such a panic. The lobby of the Morning Sunlight Inn was teeming with Users from Barbara. They had clearly come out of curiosity after seeing the reports on the plaza bulletin board or scattered on the streets. Yoojung, walking ahead of me, began to move unnaturally. She scurried over to a table with quick, short steps.
In the very center of the lobby, the clan members, led by Ko Yeonju, were gathered around a table. Next to them, the User who appeared to be the innkeeper was placing food on the table with an extremely cautious attitude before hastily retreating.
It was then. Spotting me as I reached the first floor, Ko Yeonju uncrossed her elegantly crossed legs and immediately rose to her feet. The kids and the other clan members, who had been glancing around nervously, also scrambled up from their chairs to follow her lead.
A moment later, I had walked right up to the table. Ko Yeonju, who had been standing silently in attendance, bowed her head respectfully and spoke.
“Greetings to the Clan Lord. Did you have a restful night?”
“Greetings to the Clan Lord.”
As Ko Yeonju spoke, the other clan members bowed their heads in unison, their voices joining as one. I felt a little awkward inside but didn't let it show. This was, after all, a kind of performance. I simply gave a calm nod and moved to the seat Ko Yeonju had prepared for me.
The reaction to the performance was immediate. In itself, the action wasn't particularly unusual. But when you added the variable named Ko Yeonju into the mix, it became incredibly significant.
Gasps of astonishment rippled through the Users who saw her bow her head to me. The murmurs not only swept through the entire first floor but also spread in an instant to the Users outside.
“Hey. Is it real? Is it? Is that User really the Shadow Queen of the Ten Strong?”
“Watch your mouth, you idiot. They can hear you.”
“It must be. The clan establishment officials wouldn't lie.”
“Wow. You’re right. Then that means the User who just came down really did tame the Shadow Queen. How did this even happen? I can’t believe it.”
A cacophony of voices flowed into my ears. I scanned my surroundings for a moment before turning my gaze to the clan members.
Ko Yeonju paid no attention to her surroundings, her eyes fixed only on me. Instead of her usual fluid movements, her posture was disciplined and modest. Jung Hayeon and Shin Sangyong appeared relatively calm, but the way they kept sipping water suggested they were quite nervous.
Vivian had her nose held high in the air. After a haughty glance around, she scoffed and was about to sling an arm around my shoulder. But at Ko Yeonju’s sharp glare, she flinched and meekly clasped her hands together.
Ahn Hyun was trying his best to look solemn, but his lips were trembling. Yoojung had seemed composed on the way up, but now that the performance had started, a hint of tension showed on her face. As an aside, Ahn Sol looked like she was about to burst into tears at any moment. Now, it was my turn to appear relaxed.
“Good morning. The sun is already high in the sky. Did anything unusual happen?”
“There are three items to report. The Inn of Beginnings portal has opened, the promotion for our clan has begun, and finally, the Golden Lion Clan has issued a Call to Arms. The promotion seems to have started at dawn today, and the Call to Arms was likely issued after the portal opened. For the record, I have an additional report regarding the Call to Arms, but…”
Ko Yeonju paused and glanced around. I understood her meaning at once.
“A lot has happened while I was asleep. I understand. Let’s discuss the details after we eat. Everyone, let’s eat…”
The moment I finally spoke, the noisy surroundings fell silent in an instant. It wasn't that I wasn't awkward in this situation either; I was just faking it with ten years of experience and maturity.
Even though I had spoken, no one picked up their utensils. I had hoped they wouldn't do this part, but it seemed this little act was also included in the performance. I sighed and picked up my spoon. Then, as if on cue, the clan members picked up their own spoons without a hint of delay.
Another wave of murmurs erupted. As I took a spoonful of the clear soup before me, the thought that this act was overkill wouldn't leave my mind.
*
The southern city of Monica.
Inside a room adorned with a lavish interior, two women sat facing each other. A deep silence filled the space. The air was so calm and serene that even the most boisterous person would fall silent upon entering.
One of the women possessed a beautiful and refined figure, so stunning that one would hardly dare to gaze at her directly. Her eyebrows were elegantly arched, and her beautiful eyes were like black crystals. Her long, blue-black hair was neatly arranged, gleaming with a silky sheen. Her tightly closed, cherry-like lips hinted at some unknown resolve, and a strange confidence that seemed to draw people in flowed from her eyes.
Her beauty was so perfect it could be called nation-toppling. But if one had to find a single flaw in this otherwise perfect jade, it would be her expression. An icy, cold chill cast a shadow over her entire face. Of course, even that expression suited her perfectly, but if she were to smile even once, she could surely melt the hearts of countless men.
She sat with her long legs slightly crossed, intently reading something. In her slender fingers, which looked as if they were carved from jade, were several A4-sized documents.
A little time passed. Finally, having finished reading, she tossed the documents forward and opened her mouth.
“The Mercenary Clan Lord. A Year 0 User named Kim Soohyun. I’m sure there was a User with a similar name somewhere in the east.”
The white, glossy teeth revealed between her parted lips brightened the room. Her voice, which echoed softly, held an undeniable dignity, yet it was also tinged with a subtle sensuality. The other woman, who had been sitting with her arms crossed, silently tapping her fingers, reacted to the voice and glanced up to speak.
“Ah. That User is Kim Yoohyun. Yoo, not Soo. The middle syllable is different.”
“Right. Was that User also a Secret Class?”
“He is. A mage-type Secret Class. The Thunder Emperor.”
“That’s right. He was definitely called the Thunder Emperor. Hmm. I’d like to meet them both.”
“Don’t even think about it.”
“Why?”
The woman who had answered paused and shook her head. As she did, her light blue hair swayed gently. Her face, too, boasted incredible beauty. The sharp bridge of her nose and her slender jawline were so stunning they could be called a masterpiece, radiating a powerful charm. However, it was a great shame that this woman also wore a cynical expression.
“First, Kim Yoohyun. Even though he’s only a Year 2 User, he’s no longer someone we can mess with. He just hasn’t established a clan yet, but his position is already rock-solid.”
“Is that so? Is he stronger than you, then? Stronger than the person right in front of me, the Princess of Execution, one of the Ten Strong?”
“Han Soyoung.”
For a moment, an uncomfortable silence flowed between the two.