Chapter 228: Catastrophe
Chapter 228: Catastrophe
Guided by the Black Lions, I arrived at the Academy's instructor conference room. The Users who had led me stopped at the entrance and carefully opened the door for me. As I walked straight into the room, I saw the instructors from the Eastern Clans filling about a third of the table to my left.
“Ah. The Mercenary Lord has arrived.”
The murmuring that had filled the conference room ceased, and a few gazes turned toward me. Sung Hyunmin, who had been speaking with Seo Jinwoo with a grave expression, immediately stood up and acknowledged me with a greeting. As I sat in the seat he offered, I heard Sung Hyunmin let out a long sigh.
“I was suddenly summoned in the middle of a Mental Training session. It’s a little disorienting.”
“Yes… It’s the same for us.”
“I see. Do you happen to know what this is all about?”
“Hoo…”
Instead of answering, he sighed once more. It didn't seem like he was unaware of the situation, but he wore an expression that suggested it was difficult to speak about. It was rare for the ever-composed Sung Hyunmin to show this much turmoil, which led me to guess that something significant had happened.
I steeled myself. I could already make a rough guess based on my conversation with Park Hyunwoo, my meeting with Ko Yeonju, and now Sung Hyunmin’s reaction. I decided to put my complicated thoughts aside for later; it seemed best to focus on the meeting for now.
As I sat and waited quietly, Users who hadn't been there when I first entered began to arrive one after another. The people who came in after me were mostly from the Southern Clans, and every single one of them had a look of displeasure on their face.
Finally, with Kim Deokpil trudging in while spewing coarse curses, all the instructors dispatched from the non-participating clans had gathered. I calmly observed their demeanor.
The Southern Clan instructors were all openly displaying their dissatisfaction. In contrast, some of the Eastern Clan instructors wore serious expressions. The reactions of the Southeastern Clans were subtly divided.
“Ugh, so annoying. I was finally getting a break with no training, so what the hell is this?”
“I knew it. Just when things were starting to quiet down, this happens again. They do whatever the hell they want.”
As Yeon Hyerim snapped in irritation, Kim Deokpil immediately chimed in, his gruff voice booming. Watching one or two others voice their agreement, I could reconfirm that the conflict had only deepened, not improved at all.
As the complaints about the Golden Lion Clan’s summons mounted, I sensed dozens of Users approaching from outside. Everyone in the room was accomplished enough to notice as well; the conversation stopped, and every gaze snapped toward the door. And then—
Bang!
Just as they seemed to reach the door, it was thrown open with a sound like it was about to break. As Sung Hyunmin’s expression hardened, a male User with streaks of white in his hair stepped inside. He scanned us with an arrogant gaze before opening his mouth, his voice a low growl.
“Hmph. Looks like everyone who’s coming is here.”
“……”
No one answered. But the moment the man who had just entered spoke, sharp auras began to rise from the left side of the room. The man, however, paid them no mind and strode across the center of the room, plopping himself down in the seat of honor at the head of the table with a loud thud.
“What are you doing? Not coming in? Ah, Shadow Queen, you may enter as well. Please place those items in the center. So that everyone here can see them.”
At the man’s gesture, the people waiting outside began filing in. Members of the Golden Lion Clan led the group, followed mainly by instructors from the western and northern clans. Ko Yeonju stood among them, carrying a long, broad wooden box in one arm and something wrapped in luxurious-looking cloth in the other.
With so many people entering at once, the sound of footsteps echoed loudly in the previously quiet conference room. I took this opportunity to quickly activate Third Eye on the man seated at the head of the table.
Player Status
1. Name: Do Youngrok (Year 7 User)
2. Class: Mage (Normal, Mage, Master)
3. Nation: Barbara
4. Clan: Golden Lion Clan
5. True Name · Nationality: Irredeemably Filthy · Republic of Korea
6. Sex: Male (56)
7. Height · Weight: 184.8cm · 88.3kg
8. Alignment: Despicable · Filthy (Low-Down · Stain)
[Strength 47] [Durability 54] [Agility 69] [Stamina 63] [Magic Power 93(+3)] [Luck 75]
Ah. Do Youngrok. I remember now.
I’d had a vague feeling, but seeing his Player Status finally jogged my memory. After staring at the information floating in the air for a moment, I turned my gaze back to Ko Yeonju.
I was relieved to see she wasn't injured anywhere. However, Ko Yeonju’s face was expressionless. As Do Youngrok had instructed, she placed the two items she was holding in the center of the room and slowly turned her head. Our eyes met, and she immediately came over and sat down next to me, gently resting her head on my shoulder. The strong scent clinging to her suggested she had endured a great deal over the past two weeks. I shifted to give her more of my shoulder so she could lean comfortably.
Soon, the Users from the Central, Western, and Northern clans who had entered all at once were seated at the table on the right. The non-participating clans in the expedition sat on the left, while the participating clans sat on the right, creating a stark contrast.
“Most of you probably know my face, but for those seeing me for the first time, I will introduce myself briefly. Ah, given the setting, I suppose I should speak a little more formally. I am Do Youngrok, a Senior Executive of the Golden Lion Clan and the man currently acting in place of the Clan Lord.”
“……”
“I’m sure you’re all curious. Why we’ve so suddenly summoned all of you while you were working so diligently at the Academy.”
“You must have had a good enough reason to call us. Isn’t that right, Mr. Do Youngrok?”
The battle of wills had already begun the moment he’d violently thrown open the door and arrogantly taken the head seat. No, the very fact that Do Youngrok of the Golden Lion was speaking in such a manner was tantamount to picking a fight.
Yeon Hyerim, already in a foul mood, answered Do Youngrok’s haughty display with open sarcasm. He gave her a mocking smile, then spoke in a low voice.
“Of course. A very good reason indeed.”
“User Do Youngrok. How about you calm down for a moment?”
“Hah. Calm down?”
“Your current attitude is quite unpleasant, as if you’re addressing your inferiors. I acknowledge your past achievements and status, but there are people here who stand on equal footing with you.”
“Ha.”
Following Yeon Hyerim, Seo Jinwoo also expressed his displeasure. One might expect even the Golden Lion to flinch when called out by two of the Ten Strong, but Do Youngrok only showed more hostility. Just as Seo Jinwoo’s expression hardened at his reaction, Do Youngrok shot up from his seat and strode to the center of the room. Without a word, he swept away the neatly folded cloth.
The moment the object beneath was revealed, an icy silence fell over the left side of the table.
“Do you know what this is?”
“That’s… the Matriarch’s… Don’t tell me.”
On the unwrapped cloth lay a faded robe, torn to shreds, and the staff the Matriarch usually carried, now broken into several pieces. As someone stammered in a voice of disbelief, Do Youngrok pointed to the wooden box and continued.
“And what do you think is in this box?”
“……”
“I’ll tell you the reason now. Yesterday, the investigation team dispatched to the Eastern Mountains confirmed the death of the Matriarch.”
“What? I don’t believe it! What kind of bullshit is this…?”
“Kim Deokpil, why don’t you come here and see for yourself? No, I’ll open it for you. All of you, open your eyes wide and look closely.”
After he finished speaking, Do Youngrok carefully opened the long wooden box with trembling hands. I suddenly felt Ko Yeonju’s breathing grow ragged against my shoulder. When the box was finally opened and its contents revealed, gasps erupted from the right table, which had been silent until now.
“Th-This can’t be!”
“Ah…!”
“Ugh…”
The Matriarch’s corpse was not intact. Even though it was only a part of her, it was too gruesome, too horrific to describe. After watching their reactions for a while, Do Youngrok closed the box again and wrapped it in the cloth. Cradling it preciously as if it were a sacred object, he spat out in a voice filled with rage.
“And you still expect me to be calm? With the Matriarch's... with the Matriarch's body right before my eyes, you tell me to calm down?”
Faced with Do Youngrok’s aggressive tone, Seo Jinwoo could only bite his lip with a dark expression. But he soon spoke in a somber voice.
“I, too, am deeply saddened by the Matriarch’s passing. I understand how you feel, but it would still be best for you to compose yourself.”
“‘Deeply saddened,’ you say? You say that so calmly. As if you already knew.”
“We also heard the news a step ahead through communications.”
“Is that so? I don’t recall ordering the investigation team to go blabbing about it everywhere. How did you find out?”
“After confirming the Matriarch’s death, the investigators entered a city under our management. Our Han Clan provided them with lodging, and that’s when we learned of it. I apologize that they spoke of it carelessly, but I would rather not be subjected to baseless suspicions.”
Sung Hyunmin added the explanation while Seo Jinwoo and Do Youngrok exchanged words. Do Youngrok studied him with a level gaze for a moment, remarked, “You certainly have a silver tongue,” and returned to his seat with the items still cradled in his arms.
Sitting once more at the head of the table, he let out a long sigh and buried his face in his hands. To any observer, he looked like a man grieving and enraged by the Matriarch’s sudden death. As an uncomfortable atmosphere settled over the room, a strange feeling suddenly washed over me.
But I thought I heard that the two of them were on terrible terms back when the Matriarch was active. I also heard he was the one who led the charge to oust her in the first place.
As I searched my memories of the first playthrough, something felt off. A few others seemed to be thinking the same thing, their faces twisting into subtle grimaces.
Soon, Do Youngrok took a couple of deep breaths and spoke in a slightly softer tone.
“Hoo… Fine. I apologize for speaking as if I were addressing my inferiors. That was not my intention, so I hope you can understand.”
“We understand. This is the Matriarch we’re talking about, after all. But do you happen to know the cause of death? Or were there any traces…?”
“I don’t know. The initial investigation team couldn’t find any traces at all. Fortunately, the Mercenary Lord showed us goodwill, and with the Shadow Queen’s help, we were able to find the Matriarch’s body. But that’s it. Further tracking was impossible. Who on earth, and why, would do such a thing…”
I wondered why he had suddenly calmed down, and then he mentioned me and Ko Yeonju. I instinctively sensed that we had been cleared of suspicion. Of course, I didn't take his words at face value, but it at least sounded like he had no intention of touching the Mercenary Clan.
It was then that a sharp voice cut through the air from the table where the allied clans were seated, while everyone else was just cautiously observing each other.
“Perhaps it was the work of a User who held a grudge against the Matriarch?”
“A grudge… What do you mean?”
“Well, maybe it was the organized work of certain parties who didn’t welcome the Matriarch’s return…”
“What did you say?”
A female User from the SSUN Clan trailed off, twisting a lock of her hair. Heo Yuri immediately flared up and shot back. Anyone who wasn't an idiot could have come up with the first statement. That meant her real point was in the words that followed.
“Was that remark aimed at us?”
“Oh my? What are you talking about? Did I say you did it?”
Sung Hyunmin quickly signaled for Heo Yuri to calm down. She eventually closed her mouth at his signal, but she didn't lower her glare from the front.
A tense silence, ready to shatter at any moment, filled the conference room. The one who broke it was Do Youngrok.
“Come to think of it, I believe I received a report that the Matriarch had returned and intended to pass judgment on the User Academy.”
“User Do Youngrok!”
“I’ve heard in detail from Park Hyunwoo about how the Academy has been run all this time.”
Seo Jinwoo, who had been patiently holding back, finally erupted in a furious roar at Do Youngrok's words. But Do Youngrok didn't stop. He swept his cold gaze over the left table and continued.
“Frankly, my only thought was that it was a complete mess. But I endured it. And I told others to endure it. I could tolerate the intense criticism of the Golden Lion and how you’ve been running the Academy to your liking. Honestly, it’s a case of the pot calling the kettle black, after all. And as a certain clan said, we failed the Steel Mountains expedition, so we had nothing to say even if we were called the main culprits for the negative impact on the Northern Continent. The reason I didn’t step in back then was to take some time for self-reflection.”
Do Youngrok skillfully poked at a sore spot, silencing Seo Jinwoo. On this matter, Seo Jinwoo and the other non-participating clans had no room for rebuttal. The reason he brought it up here was likely to seize control of the conversation. Which meant his true intentions were about to be revealed.
“But there is a limit. I’m revealing this now, but the Matriarch’s body was not in a normal state. Yet, to somehow heal the Clan Lord, she entered the Eastern Mountains with that incomplete body.”
“Her body was incomplete…”
“Yes. But the Matriarch is dead, and our hope of healing the Clan Lord has vanished. Furthermore, we have lost the clan’s remaining spiritual pillar. How should the Golden Lion interpret this blatant act of hostility?”
“The culprit must be caught and given a punishment that fits the crime.”
A female User from the SSUN Clan immediately answered Do Youngrok’s question. For a moment, the conference room was filled with murmurs. As the commotion slowly died down, he continued.
“In that case, I would like all the clans gathered here to help catch the one who murdered the Matriarch. I’m sure that if you are truly innocent, you wouldn’t possibly refuse.”
“…We agree on uncovering the mastermind and catching the culprit. However, as you said, the process must be preceded by a thorough investigation, and before that, we should refrain from making statements that could cause misunderstandings. For example, it would be best not to use the word ‘innocent’ yet. As of now, the culprit has not been identified.”
“Heh. Can I take that to mean you will cooperate?”
“Among the instructors here, there are some who do not have the authority to make such decisions. I believe we should at least have time to report this incident to our respective clans and ask for their opinions.”
Do Youngrok nodded at Seo Jinwoo’s logical words.
“Very well. Then I shall expect a positive answer. For your information, every clan under the Golden Lion Clan has already agreed to cooperate with the investigation. Park Hyunwoo! I am returning to the Clan House immediately. You will finish matters here.”
“Yes. Understood.”
Having said his piece, Do Youngrok rose to his feet and staggered across the center of the room, clutching the Matriarch’s remains. Just as he reached the door, he stopped, his staggering posture straightening up.
“I tolerated what happened with the User Academy, but I will absolutely not tolerate this. No, I will not stand for it. The Golden Lion will begin a thorough investigation into the Matriarch’s death and will spare no time or effort to uncover the mastermind. And the moment we do.”
Do Youngrok paused and turned his head halfway. Then, he continued, articulating each word in a voice that sounded like he wanted to chew someone up and spit them out.
“We will make them clearly understand that the fangs of the Golden Lion have not yet rusted.”
As his retreating back disappeared out the door, a chilling atmosphere descended upon the left table. Do Youngrok’s last words were nothing short of a declaration of war—a warning from the Golden Lion to the non-participating clans.