Chapter 227: Misunderstanding Breeds Misunderstanding
Chapter 227: Misunderstanding Breeds Misunderstanding
“We’re breaking up.”
“Yuna…”
Baek Hangyul gazed at Cha Yuna with sorrowful eyes, but her expression was resolute. The tenderness she once showed when they held hands, faced each other, and smiled warmly was nowhere to be found. Baek Hangyul tried to step closer, but Cha Yuna retreated just as much. In the end, he had no choice but to stop.
“I’m tired of this now, too.”
“I’m sorry. But…”
“I don’t want to hear it!”
“Yuna…”
Baek Hangyul called after her faintly, but Cha Yuna coldly turned away. She began walking slowly down the empty hallway. When Hangyul made no further attempt to stop her, however, she halted and turned her head halfway. Her gaze caught him still standing there, watching her.
“That you want to break up… I know it’s a lie. You would never do that to me.”
“Ha… Hangyul. Do you really trust me that little?”
“I trust you. But I don’t trust Park Hwanhee. And that feeling will never change. I’ll rescue you from that bastard, no matter what.”
“That’s cruel. I accepted what Park Hwanhee said. Doesn’t that mean you don’t trust me in the end? Do you even know what my days have been like lately?”
Cha Yuna’s voice trembled on the verge of tears. Still, when Baek Hangyul didn’t move, she bit her lip hard.
“This is the Hall Plain. It’s not the modern world.”
“Right. And that’s why Park Hwanhee is dangerous. Because we went through that together.”
“Let’s stop. I don’t want to keep saying the same thing. Hangyul, I want you to face reality.”
“…”
“You’re going to rescue me? I’ll be the one waiting. Please, just don’t disappoint me anymore.”
With those final words, Cha Yuna started walking again. Her pace was faster than before, and she soon rounded a corner, disappearing from view.
“Haaa. Face reality…”
Baek Hangyul let out a heavy sigh. He stared for a moment in the direction Cha Yuna had disappeared, then turned with heavy steps. The path he took was the opposite of hers.
*
Two weeks had passed since Ko Yeonju’s departure. During that time, I made recruiting Baek Hangyul my highest priority. Although I had said I would give up on all the new recruits, I was determined to secure 〈Aegis〉, so naturally he received most of my attention.
Fortunately, my efforts didn’t seem to be in vain, as Baek Hangyul finally began to show interest in the Mercenary Clan. I had been waiting for the right opportunity, worried that it would seem strange if I brought it up first, but he saved me the trouble by broaching the subject himself.
“How are things with your girlfriend?”
“She told me she wanted to break up a little while ago.”
“What? And?”
“Of course, I know she didn’t truly mean it. I know her better than that. But she told me she wanted me to face reality.”
Reality. In a way, she wasn’t wrong. During the first playthrough, I couldn’t get any clan offers from the Academy. Since I couldn’t stay there forever, I remember growing extremely anxious as the training weeks came to an end.
As I was lost in thought, Baek Hangyul’s determined voice reached my ears.
“Soohyun.”
“Yeah?”
“What kind of clan is the Mercenary Clan? Are there specific requirements to join?”
“A small, elite clan. And yes, of course there are.”
Baek Hangyul tilted his head at my words. It seemed he didn’t quite understand, perhaps because my explanation was too brief. I dropped the cigarette I was smoking, crushed it under my foot, and continued.
“It means I have no intention of accepting just anyone. As the name suggests, we’re a Mercenary Clan. And in the Hall Plain, being a mercenary means being neutral.”
“Neutral…”
“That’s right, neutral. To maintain neutrality, the most important virtue is skill. As such, we can’t just accept any riffraff, can we? So, I plan to only select top-tier Users or those who have the potential to become top-tier.”
“Th-Then I guess I can’t join.”
Baek Hangyul lowered his head, crestfallen. Yet the way he stole glances at me showed that he was waiting to see how I would react. I gently stroked his bowed head, then smiled and spoke.
“Why do you think that?”
“You know my Academy grades. They’re not that outstanding…”
“Haha. Of course, Academy grades are the most important factor when evaluating new recruits. But that’s not everything.”
“Then what else is there?”
“I just told you. I’ll also accept people with the potential to become top-tier Users. I taught you briefly before, remember? I realized then that you were more than capable. With a little effort, you can reach a very high level. If you want to join, the Mercenary Clan will gladly welcome you.”
At my words, Baek Hangyul lifted his head. A bright smile spread across his face. He still hadn’t told me that he possessed an Awakened Secret Class. Nevertheless, he seemed moved that despite his currently unimpressive public record, I showed such an unwavering attitude toward him.
He probably overheard my conversation with Kim Hanbyul. That must have been the biggest factor.
Soon after, Baek Hangyul began to ask a barrage of questions with great enthusiasm. Among them were questions about his girlfriend, but since I had already thought that part through, I was able to answer without hesitation. (Though honestly, I had no desire to let Cha Yuna join.)
I explained the roles of noncombat Users within the clan and reassured him that they were far safer than the combat personnel. After hearing my sales pitch disguised as a conversation, Baek Hangyul spoke with the look of someone who had finally resolved one of his worries.
“Soohyun, is that true? You’re not lying, are you? Can Yuna and I really join your clan?”
“Of course. I’m the Clan Lord. You think I wouldn’t have that much authority?”
“Wow! Thank you!”
Baek Hangyul, leaping with joy, pulled me into a tight hug. He was definitely a man, but his appearance was so feminine that it didn’t feel all that strange… Anyway, Baek Hangyul was genuinely thinking of his girlfriend. Her words about facing reality must have made him think about life after the Academy, and I was likely the first person who came to his mind.
He kept bowing and thanking me until I was about to get angry, at which point he finally started running toward the female Users’ dormitory.
Watching him recede into the distance, I took out another cigarette. The pack felt considerably lighter, a sign that I would need to restock soon.
*
The Academy had passed its 11th week and was now in its second half. The completion ceremony was truly just around the corner. Accordingly, the controlled atmosphere had softened considerably, and it was not uncommon for instructors to promote their own clans during training.
In the meantime, signs of the dormant conflicts between clans began to reappear. Just because things had been quiet didn’t mean their disputes had been resolved. At first, they had clashed so fiercely they would argue in front of the new recruits, but as time went on, it would be more accurate to say they had started ignoring each other by cutting off support for their respective instructor duties.
However, now that the promotion period had begun, conflicts arising from the clans’ differing positions—in other words, clashes—were inevitable. In particular, the failure of the Golden Lion and their friendly clans’ Steel Mountains expedition was excellent fodder for gossip from the opposing side, and it had already become public knowledge among the new recruits.
From my perspective, all of them—or at least most of them—seem to be wasting their efforts.
And that was the truth. I didn’t know how much influence Park Hwanhee had over the 252 new recruits, but I was sure he had already won over all the promising Users.
In any case, it wasn’t my place to interfere with what they did, so I just quietly prepared to reel in Baek Hangyul. My only other small wish was for Baek Hangyul and Cha Yuna to split up so Park Hwanhee would take her.
Entering the 11th week, my instructor duties expanded to include lectures. I found myself leading Mental Training sessions more frequently. The main purpose was to introduce my contributions to the Northern Continent as a Year 0 User. This inevitably led me to use my actual experiences as examples, but since I couldn’t reveal them as they were, I would tell them a slightly dramatized version.
“It’s a bit of a joke, but they say that beginner’s luck is always followed by a harsh trial. I believe my clan members and I were fortunate that things turned out well. But we won’t be satisfied with this; we will humbly continue to contribute to the stabilization and development of the Northern Continent. Now, you all seem quite bored, so I think it’s best we take a short break from the lecture. We will have a 10-minute break.”
“Yes~.”
My Mental Training session was scheduled for the morning. After briefly combining the story of exploring the Ancient Alchemist Vivian’s Dungeon with the idea of beginner’s luck, I announced a break. In the next session, I planned to tell them about my encounter with the Vagabonds.
A few Users responded with disappointed expressions—Baek Hangyul among them, showing an almost excessive amount of disappointment—while others looked pleased. Since this was less a rigid lecture than a story based on real experience, it was not actually that boring.
However, no User would appreciate it if I dragged it on, and I also wanted to step outside for a cigarette, so I used a suitable excuse to call for a break. Anyway, just as I was about to leave the classroom, a voice I recognized echoed through the room.
“Instructor Kim Soohyun. If it’s not too much trouble, I’d like to ask a question.”
I stopped and turned my head to see Park Hwanhee, who had raised his hand and was just getting to his feet. His expression was polite, and his overall demeanor was respectful. But knowing it was all an act, I stared at him with a cold gaze.
“Is your question related to the lesson?”
“No, it is not. But it is a question I have been wanting to ask.”
“…Very well. Go ahead.”
Once he had my permission, Park Hwanhee glanced around the room. Then, with a faint smile playing on his lips, he posed his question.
“I would like to know more about the Mercenary Clan you lead.”
“About the Mercenary Clan?”
“Yes. Starting this week, various instructors have been promoting their affiliated clans and sharing a lot of information. I heard that you, Instructor Kim Soohyun, are a Year 0 User like us. In a way, since you are in a similar position, I would like to know what makes your clan different from the other established clans.”
Look at this guy.
On the surface, there was nothing wrong with his words, but his tone made it sound as if they were the ones choosing and evaluating the clans. However, since I knew his true intentions all too well, I could only scoff internally.
“It sounds as if you’re interested in the Mercenary Clan.”
“Haha. Of course. The other instructors have mentioned it several times.”
“I see. Then you must already have heard plenty. In that case, I decline.”
“Ye… Huh?”
He must not have expected my refusal, because Park Hwanhee stammered with a flustered look. I savored the sight of the smile vanishing from his face before continuing in a low voice.
“The Mercenary Clan has no plans to promote itself at the User Academy. Our method is to approach individuals who meet our standards, speak with them directly, and scout them after gaining their consent.”
“Ah… I see.”
“I apologize for being blunt, but User Park Hwanhee does not meet our clan’s joining standards. No, to be more precise, you fall short. Well, regardless, thank you for your interest. I hope that was a sufficient answer.”
Park Hwanhee gave no answer. Instead, he sank back into his seat with an expression as if he had bitten into something foul. Murmurs quickly filled the classroom. Listening closely, I caught comments such as, “What? Isn’t Park Hwanhee practically guaranteed to graduate at the top? But he doesn’t meet the standard?” and “I heard that Instructor graduated at the top of his class too. The cutoff must be incredibly high.”
I tilted my head, asking if there were any more questions, but Park Hwanhee avoided my gaze, his face stiff. When I glanced to my left, I saw Baek Hangyul snickering with a look of smug satisfaction.
I was about to leave the noisy classroom behind when, just as I took a step, the door in front of me opened on its own. Through the open doorway, four or five Users filed in.
Each of them exuded an extraordinary aura. What was peculiar was that they were all wearing identical black plate mail. On their right chests was the emblem of a glistening golden lion.
These are the Black Lions. Why would a subordinate military unit suddenly barge in here?
While I was pondering this, they bowed their heads to me and spoke in gruff voices.
“Mercenary Lord. We are the Black Lions, a subordinate unit of the Golden Lion Clan. This may be sudden, but we must ask you to come with us for a moment.”
“That’s rather abrupt. The training session isn’t over yet.”
“Our apologies. You may end the training now. All other instructors have also been summoned, and one of us will remain to supervise. The situation is urgent.”
“I’d like to hear an explanation as to why I have to go first.”
The Users who had identified themselves as the Black Lions glanced aside with troubled expressions. The classroom had fallen completely silent, and every new recruit was watching us. The man at the front eventually approached me, leaned in, and whispered in my ear.
“A message from Senior Executive Park Hyunwoo. The Shadow Queen has returned.”