Chapter 200: Attention
Chapter 200: Attention
〈Reminiscence〉
“A little harder.”
“It’ll damage your hair.”
Despite my concern, Han Soyoung kept her eyes tightly shut and didn’t answer. Her glossy hair was so close it almost brushed against my chest. If she leaned back just a little more, if I took just one more step forward, it would surely touch me. But I didn’t have the courage to make the first move. All I could do was wait.
“……”
Did I breathe too hard? Perhaps from the tension, my breath slightly ruffled the top of her hair. I lifted the comb and once again brushed down the stray strands. With every stroke, I could see her slender, white neck tremble slightly. Her face showed no change, but if you looked closely, you could see an expression of pleasure.
“How have you been lately?”
After I had been combing for a while, her gentle voice flowed out. I continued to brush her hair as I replied in a calm tone.
“Just okay.”
“I wish you’d come out into the light now.”
“I like it where I am now.”
“……”
It was a question I had heard several times, and a reply I had repeated just as many. Han Soyoung let out a soft sigh and then tilted her head back slightly. As I finally felt her hair touch my chest, a joy swelled inside me like a balloon.
“For some reason, when I’m with you like this, when you’re combing my hair, I can’t think about anything. I feel at ease, and the words I’ve kept locked in my heart just come pouring out. Why do you think that is?”
“How can you ask me that?”
“Heh. You have a point. Maybe it’s because we share a similar pain.”
She smiled. It had been a long time since I’d seen her smile, and it looked so pure, so radiant. Drunk on her fragrance that filled my lungs and her brightly shining smile, I felt my head spin for a moment.
I gently reached out and covered her smooth forehead with my hand. She opened her eyes slightly to look up at me, then closed them again. I carefully stroked her hair, wishing this happy moment would last forever.
*
I wasn’t expecting anything special. The summons from the Golden Lion Clan reeked of a copy-pasted template. Of course, the basic details had all been changed. For example, “To Lord Kim Soohyun of the Mercenary Clan,” or, “We respectfully request the accompaniment of the 〈Shadow Queen〉 Ko Yeonju.”
I had fully expected the request for Ko Yeonju’s company, but the sentence added at the end of the document made me laugh: “As the current situation is chaotic, we ask that you please minimize the number of your accompanying party.” After a quick read-through, I tossed the document onto the table. The others, their eyes gleaming, immediately swarmed it and began bickering over who would get to read it first.
“What did it say?”
“User Ko Yeonju’s prediction was correct. It’s a summons.”
“I see. Was there anything else of note?”
“It seems they sent it in a hurry, as though they didn’t want to give us time to think. It says to gather at Golden Tiger Hall, the Golden Lion Clan House, before this evening. Other than that, there was only the request for your accompaniment.”
I deliberately left out the part about minimizing the number of companions. It didn’t really matter to me. After all, the most important person was the clan’s lord. Anyone else accompanying them was just for show, aside from serving as bodyguards. There was no need to drag a whole entourage along; Ko Yeonju alone was more than enough to serve that purpose. Well, the clans without one of the Ten Strong would probably be scowling a little.
“A request for my accompaniment. I had a feeling, but still. Was there any mention of the incident with the Beech Tree Clan?”
At her words, the atmosphere among the clan members grew quiet. Shin Sangyong, who had been calmly sipping his tea, and Vivian and Ahn Sol, who were craning their necks to see the document Lee Yoojung was holding—all the clan members turned their gazes to me. I let out a small sigh and shook my head.
“That incident was not mentioned.”
“I see. I wonder why they’re being so considerate all of a sudden? Not that it matters if they mentioned it.”
“The Beech Tree Clan doesn’t seem to be a high priority for them. They’re probably having a hard enough time coordinating everything with all these incidents popping up one after another. That’s not a bad thing for us.”
“True. In any case, the fact that we received a summons is highly unusual. Personally, I’d like to recommend that you attend.”
Ko Yeonju once again urged me to attend. I sank back into the plush chair and closed my eyes. A summons from the Golden Lion Clan. I had only known that the clans had simply refused the summons. But the portal at the Inn of Beginnings had opened, and that had become a variable, twisting the future in all sorts of ways. I had only planned on observing the summons from a distance; I never imagined I would be included, so I couldn’t make a decision easily.
Ko Yeonju said that most of the clans would answer the summons. And her words sounded quite credible. However, their reason for coming wouldn’t be to deal with the Golden Lion Clan’s expedition, but for the Inn of Beginnings. In other words, they would be answering the summons while harboring the conflicts that had been escalating for some time.
After mulling it over for a while, I was finally able to make up my mind. I had come to Barbara in the first place to observe the flow of the Hall Plain. Things had gone a bit off the rails at the end, but it was too early to judge whether it was for the better or worse. The events that would arise from this summons were still unverified, but they were undoubtedly a new opportunity.
“Alright. I will answer the summons.”
“An excellent choice. Don’t worry. As long as I’m with you, no User will be brave enough to disrespect our Lord.”
Ko Yeonju responded with a bright smile as I spoke, my eyes flashing open. I nodded once or twice, and my thoughts suddenly drifted to two other Users. My brother had likely not received a summons. He was probably making a grand name for himself in the east by now, but it would be a while before he established his own clan. Of course, it might be possible if the Golden Lion Clan showed a bit more flexibility, but just looking at the clans that had been summoned, it was clear they had already made huge concessions.
But Han Soyoung was different. She was the official representative of a clan in the southern city of Monica. If they had sent a summons to all the representative clans of the cities, there was a high chance she would participate. As I briefly recalled my memories of her, I felt a flutter of excitement, but at the same time, a pang in a corner of my heart.
After losing my brother, I had become a blood-soaked madman. If I had remained in that state, I would have died one way or another. It was Han Soyoung who had extended a hand to save me once more. And…
“……”
“Soohyun? Soohyun!”
“Hm? Yes.”
“What were you thinking about? I called your name several times, but you didn’t respond.”
I just gave a faint smile at Hayeon’s question, not offering a detailed answer. Now that I had made my decision, I was about to get up and move when a thought flashed through my mind. I turned back to Hayeon and spoke.
“User Jung Hayeon.”
“Yes.”
“I have a favor to ask.”
“Don’t worry about the other clan members. We’ll be waiting at the Morning Sunlight Inn.”
Hayeon answered immediately, but that wasn’t what I wanted to ask.
“Ah. Of course, I’m asking you to do that as well. But besides that… do you happen to have a comb?”
“What? A comb?”
“Yes. A comb for brushing hair.”
“Ah, no. I don’t have one. Why are you suddenly looking for one?”
My question must have seemed random, as Hayeon asked back with a look of confusion. I didn’t answer this time either. The image of Han Soyoung’s beautiful, flowing, jet-black hair flickered before my eyes. I shook my head to clear the thought and stood up. It was probably just past noon.
There was still some time left, but it wouldn’t hurt to prepare in advance.
“Most of the Users should be gone by now. Let’s head back to the inn. There are a few things to prepare.”
Of course, that preparation included buying a comb.
*
〈Northern Continent — Metropolis Barbara, Golden Lion Clan House〉
“Are you saying the Golden Lion is going to bow down to some insignificant newborn clan?”
“Watch your mouth. Who said anything about bowing down?”
“Then why in the world haven’t you issued a warrant for their arrest? They’re no different from the Vagabonds who committed crimes in Mule, yet they’re operating openly in Barbara… Ugh!”
Unable to listen any longer, a middle-aged man with a magnificent mustache kicked out hard. With a thud, the young man standing opposite him went rolling across the floor.
“Watch your mouth. Committed crimes? According to the report from the Ranger you took with you, there were traces of a mutual battle. And it’s highly likely the Beech Tree side attacked first. Don’t go spreading baseless rumors.”
“Damn it! I can’t believe it. Hyuna—there’s no way Hyuna would…”
“That’s why I’m saying we should hear them out first. We can listen and then judge, can’t we?”
“Ha. What’s the point of listening to what those bastards have to say? Do you have any idea what condition the Beech Tree Clan’s Lord is in right now?”
The man lying on the floor lifted his head, his eyes blazing despite having been struck. But the reply that came back was laced with an icy chill.
“I heard. It’s an unfortunate incident, but it can’t be helped. I never had high expectations for her in the first place.”
“What do you mean by that?”
The man who had been sprawled on the floor shot to his feet. At the mustached man’s words, his eyes shone fiercely.
“Tsk, tsk. Get a grip, my friend. Did you really think we entrusted the representative clan position to them for real?”
“B-But you definitely handed over the duties…”
“That was just a formality. We were planning to take it back as soon as we returned from the expedition anyway.”
“Wh-What…!”
“Shin Tae-seung.”
Just as the young man was about to speak again, the middle-aged man’s sharp voice cut him off.
“Look at the situation rationally. The expedition failed, the portal opened, and we’ve issued a summons. We have more than a few problems to deal with. There are plenty of others baring their fangs at us. And it’s not like the Clan Lord is dead. We don’t have the luxury to care about a mere squabble between clan members.”
“I’ll do it! That’s why I asked for permission to use the Crystal of Truth!”
“Don’t be ridiculous! The circumstances aren’t even clear, and more importantly, the Shadow Queen is involved. On top of that, they have two Secret Classes and three Rare Classes! The other clans are already drooling over them. What do you want us to do, mess things up from the very start?!”
“Kuh…”
“I’m well aware of your romantic feelings, but you need to separate your public and private life.”
The User named Shin Tae-seung ground his teeth. He glared at the middle-aged man with hatred before storming out of the room, slamming the door behind him. The middle-aged man watched him go for a moment before letting out a long sigh. Then, without turning around, he spoke.
“Hmph. What an unsightly display.”
“……”
“It may not have anything to do with you, but don’t go around thoughtlessly repeating what you just saw.”
“Understood.”
A cold voice echoed in the room. A female mage stood demurely beside the desk, as if she had been watching the entire situation from the beginning.
“Good. You may leave now. The other clans will be arriving soon, so make sure the preparations are flawless. Well, I’m sure the executives will handle it just fine.”
“Yes.”
“Ah, wait a moment. I heard from Sung Yubin that you know that man, right? The lord of the newly founded Mercenary Clan.”
The footsteps that were about to exit the door stopped. The foot that had been pointed outside turned back toward the inside of the room.
“…Yes.”
“Kim Soohyun, was it? That man’s value is extremely high. Do your best to follow the orders from above.”
“…I will take my leave now.”
“Right. You must be busy, so go on.”
The middle-aged man stretched widely with a weary expression.
At last, the footsteps that had paused at the door began to move again. But they carried a force greater than necessary, a force that only she herself could feel. The female mage, who had been pressing her feet firmly into the marble floor as she walked, clenched her fists tightly.