Chapter 235: Baek Hangyul and Kim Hanbyul
Chapter 235: Baek Hangyul and Kim Hanbyul
Right. To be honest, I didn't pay much attention to Kim Hanbyul when I first entered the User Academy. Of course, a long time ago, I had considered recruiting her. That was because if the future unfolded as it was originally meant to, she was highly likely to meet her end in Barbara. Still, she was a Secret Class. I'd once decided it would be better to take her under my wing, despite the risks, rather than let her fall into the hands of some Vagabond.
However, I gave up on that idea the moment I felt the future had been twisted. If the Matriarch hadn't been assassinated and had successfully mediated peace on the Northern Continent, recruiting Hanbyul would have become fraught with difficulties.
She wasn't just some low-ranking clan member; she was a cadre candidate, a Secret Class who had made a name for herself during the Vagabond Extermination Plan. It was obvious that a fledgling clan like mine would draw unfavorable attention for snatching away a talent they had painstakingly nurtured. Moreover, we'd be up against the Golden Lion Clan. There was no guarantee they would stand by idly, so I decided she wasn't worth recruiting at the risk of their retaliation.
However, after speaking with Hanbyul, I felt the matter was worth reconsidering. From last night until dawn, she and I engaged in a heated discussion. It would be more accurate to say it was a time for her to unload the worries she had kept bottled up inside, and for us to address them one by one.
At first, Hanbyul brought up her moral responsibility as a clan member and the contract she had signed. I was able to easily dismantle her argument by pointing out that no matter how much they had invested in her, an absurd order like that could never be justified. The sexual bribery that frequently occurred within their ranks—though it had been exposed before—was a clear and shameful secret of the Golden Lion Clan.
The contract wasn't an issue either. It might have sounded binding, but from what she described, it was merely a contract to prevent members from taking the benefits and running. Contracts between Users held little real power in the first place, and the financial aspect would be a non-issue as long as she repaid what she owed.
As I explained everything step by step, Hanbyul seemed to agree. Or perhaps, she already knew all of this. But the inner feelings she revealed next were a more difficult matter, one too ambiguous to be judged rashly.
Her Secret Class was Jewel Mage. To put it bluntly, a Jewel Mage was a money pit. Since they primarily used jewels as catalysts, they were no different from an ordinary Mage without them. The budget required to maintain the class at its full potential was so high that it was inefficient compared to nurturing several regular Users.
Hanbyul said that few clans besides the Golden Lion Clan could afford to support her. Even if she did leave and join another, she explained, her situation wouldn't be much different. And when she added that the Golden Lion Clan would never let her go quietly, I got a sense of her inner turmoil. She was afraid of having to handle the aftermath all by herself.
And that wasn't all. Hanbyul expressed doubt about whether she could adapt to a new clan, even if she accepted all the risks. It sounded like she had suffered greatly from envy and jealousy in the Golden Lion Clan, and she seemed to believe any other clan would be the same. She confessed that she'd even thought it might be better to just endure her current situation than to go through that pain all over again.
You could call it a victim mentality, but her concerns weren't something I could completely dismiss. Her words gave me much to consider—not about her feelings, but about how to handle the matter of Kim Hanbyul going forward.
My own nature provided the answer. Should I save her or not? I mulled it over for a moment and decided that, for now, I would get her out.
The situation had changed. The future I thought had been twisted was returning to its original path, and members were now leaving the Golden Lion Clan in droves. Among them were cadres and even the female User who had exposed the sexual bribery scandal, creating something of an opportunity. The only thing was, no one had reached out to Hanbyul, as she was known to be a close associate of Park Hyunwoo and Sung Yubin.
That left the most important question. There were still some complications, but what mattered most was Hanbyul's own will. If she didn't want to leave, there was no reason for me to force the issue. But if she truly wanted out, then it was a different story.
And so, to help her find an answer to her turmoil, I asked her one question.
‘Personally, I don't think staying with a trash clan that treats sexual bribery as normal is a good choice. I also think you're being a bit shortsighted. Not every clan is like the Golden Lion Clan, you know.’
‘…….’
‘I'm not saying your worries are completely baseless. So just answer me this one question: Do you still have any lingering feelings for the Golden Lion Clan? Do you want to stay, even if it means enduring all that humiliation and shame?’
“This way, please.”
Just as the image of Hanbyul's face flashed in my mind—her eyes filled with a tragic resolve as she looked at me after my question—a waitress's voice cut through my thoughts. I snapped back to the present. Glancing to my right, I saw Seo Jinwoo ascending the stairs with a hardened expression, followed by Sung Hyunmin.
With a faint smile, I raised a hand in greeting. As they saw me and returned the gesture, I settled my thoughts on Hanbyul.
Kim Hanbyul's answer to my question had been, “No. To be honest, I want to leave now.”
And the moment I heard her answer, a brilliant idea flashed into my mind. It was a way to kill two birds with one stone.
*
“I was quite surprised to receive your invitation. I never dreamed the Mercenary Lord would invite us first.”
“Haha. Thank you for the invitation, Mercenary Lord.”
Seo Jinwoo muttered in a gloomy tone, and Sung Hyunmin quickly cut in with an awkward laugh. By then, our table was already laden with an array of delicious food and fine liquor. I picked up one of the bottles, uncorked it, and tilted it toward them.
“Yes, it's been a while. Things have been moving so quickly lately, there's been a lot on my mind.”
I poured them drinks, my tone gentle and placating. Seo Jinwoo remained sullen, but Sung Hyunmin accepted his glass with almost excessive politeness. Still, Seo Jinwoo wasn't completely without manners; he immediately took the bottle and filled my glass in return.
“Still, I must admit I'm a little disappointed. I was starting to think you'd forgotten about us, Mercenary Lord. Speaking of which, you must be busy these days. I hear you're getting invitations from other clans left and right.”
“U-User Seo Jinwoo.”
Seo Jinwoo was grumbling nonstop, clearly resentful about being put on probation despite being one of the Ten Strong. Sung Hyunmin, flustered, tried to quiet him. I just gave a reassuring nod and raised my glass.
“I think there's been a misunderstanding. It's true that I received invitations, but I refused them all.”
“What? Why?”
“I had no desire to get close to them… and frankly, I just wasn't interested.”
I could have been more diplomatic, but these two were veterans who had seen it all. They would understand the hint. Sure enough, the moment I spoke, Seo Jinwoo's perpetually gloomy expression shifted. A glint appeared in his weary eyes, and Sung Hyunmin, who had been forcing a smile, now watched me with an intent gaze.
I swirled the wine in my raised glass, and they slowly lifted theirs to meet it. A moment later, the sharp clink of crystal rang across the table.
“My schedule has been packed with control support assignments, so I couldn't find the time. I also had a complicated personal matter to deal with. In any case, I haven't forgotten either of you. I'm still grateful for all the help you gave me when I first arrived at the Academy.”
“Ahem! Not at all, Mercenary Lord. Please forgive my disgraceful behavior. With the way things are, I've been in low spirits. If my attitude offended you in any way, I sincerely apologize.”
“Yes. As User Seo Jinwoo said, given the circumstances, the stress has been immense.”
Seo Jinwoo and Sung Hyunmin immediately straightened up and addressed me. I hadn't come here to argue either, so I replied, “Then let this be an occasion to clear up any hard feelings.”
The atmosphere instantly became amicable. After some pleasant conversation, Seo Jinwoo and Sung Hyunmin began to voice a reasonable amount of their frustrations. I played along, careful not to overstep. Still, I felt the need to choose my words carefully, as I had a strong sense this was their way of vetting me.
“I don't look on their actions favorably either. Anyone can see they've gone too far.”
“I knew you felt that way. It's comforting to hear that from you, Mercenary Lord. I feel much better already.”
“Haha, I'm only speaking the truth. Honestly, I can't wait for my time at the Academy to be over. I miss my clan members, and I'm worried about how things are going back home.”
“Ah, that's right. Your clan is still getting established. If I may ask, what are your plans for the future?”
“Well, nothing is set in stone, but we'll likely be based somewhere in the southeast. My clan members are already waiting for me in the south.”
“Hahaha! Excellent. It may be a bit forward of me to say this in a private setting, but our eastern city are quite nice, you know.”
Seo Jinwoo and Sung Hyunmin both broke into cheerful laughter. It seemed they had fully understood my position. As we continued to build rapport, Sung Hyunmin spoke up, his voice subtle.
“Mercenary Lord, you mentioned earlier you had a personal matter to deal with, didn't you? If you don't mind my asking, I'd like to hear about it. Perhaps we could be of some help.”
“Ah, yes. In fact, it's been giving me a headache lately. I was feeling frustrated and thought about getting a drink, and you two came to mind.”
He caught on instantly. Sung Hyunmin immediately grasped my unspoken intention: I was turning against the Golden Lion Clan and needed their help. Seeing them listen with a completely different attitude than before, I slowly began to speak.
“Well... I understand that members have been steadily leaving the Golden Lion Clan.”
“They are. Very courageous Users, who can distinguish right from wrong and aren't afraid to call it out.”
“Do you happen to need new clan members? If you wish, I could introduce a few to you.”
I immediately shook my head at Seo Jinwoo's offer. Of course, anyone from the Golden Lion Clan would be above average, but that wasn't what I was after. I took a deep breath, facing the two Users who were waiting for me to continue. After making them promise to keep it a secret, I recounted in detail the events of last night and my conversation with Hanbyul.
They listened with rapt attention, completely absorbed in my story. I finished by telling them that Kim Hanbyul wanted to leave the clan. It didn't take long for them to react.
“Hah. Using an executive for sexual services? A video-recording crystal? A last resort? Did I hear you correctly?”
“Unbelievable. Even for the Golden Lion Clan….”
“It's the truth, without a single shred of falsehood.”
I had to be sharp from this point on. I'd decided to get Hanbyul out, but I had no intention of shouldering all the risk myself. I needed to create an escape route, or at the very least, have some powerful backing.
Seo Jinwoo spoke, his expression grave.
“Kim Hanbyul. I've certainly heard the name. But we never dared approach her, since she's known to be a close associate of Park Hyunwoo and Sung Yubin.”
“Yes. She wants to leave as well, but given her position, it won't be easy. That's why I'd like to borrow your help.”
“Hmm.”
My directness made Seo Jinwoo clear his throat. He glanced around before leaning forward and whispering.
“Mercenary Lord. I'm not doubting you, but the matter is very serious. Is what you said really true?”
“It's true. Why would I lie about it here?”
“Do you have any evidence?”
“I asked her about that. Unfortunately, she says there isn't any. Apparently, they aren't allowed to bring any magical items with them when they meet with the executives these days.”
“Cautious bastards.”
Seo Jinwoo clicked his tongue and exchanged a look with Sung Hyunmin. He glanced at me, then gave a slow nod. The moment felt much longer than it was. Finally, Seo Jinwoo began to speak in a low voice.
“Since you've shown your hand first, I believe I can trust you with this. In truth, another mass departure is scheduled for the day we graduate from the Academy. The number of people leaving will be comparable to the first wave.”
So they plan to stir up trouble once before they leave.
“In that case….”
“We'll have to meet her, of course, but adding her name to the list of defectors will be simple. But... would it be alright if we spread this story around a bit? To be blunt, Seo Jiyoon's case yielded some very good results. Landing a follow-up blow would be a huge help.”
“User Seo Jinwoo. That's a bit... The Mercenary Lord is involved, isn't he?”
“Ah. Right. But it's such a waste.”
I swallowed hard as Seo Jinwoo glanced at me, then answered.
“Actually, both User Kim Hanbyul and I want to keep this as quiet as possible. She especially feels very strongly about it.”
“But she won't be able to avoid some criticism that way. Her departure is bound to attract attention. It might be better to make it public and frame it as a case similar to Seo Jiyoon's.”
“The Golden Lion Clan is too good at manipulating public opinion. Besides, Kim Hanbyul is in a very fragile mental state right now. After everything she's been through, she seems to have developed a bit of a victim complex. She's prepared to endure some criticism, but I don't want her to get caught up in any more rumors than necessary. And….”
I hesitated for a moment, but decided to say what was on my mind. I had planned to save this card for later, but I needed to play it to get what I wanted and ensure their full cooperation.
“I don't know which clan she'll end up in, but I truly hope she adapts well.”
“What? So she's not set to join the Mercenary Clan?”
“Nothing has been decided for certain. But she's like a little sister to me, someone I went through the Rite of Passage with. I couldn't just look the other way. In any case, I plan to let her make the final decision.”
My meaning was clear: don't tarnish a sensitive, high-value asset. They seemed to understand the signal in my words, because their eyes lit up simultaneously.
“I understand. I know what you mean. In any case, having an executive on our side will only increase the impact, so this is a welcome development. As you wish, Mercenary Lord, we'll proceed in a way that lets her departure fly under the radar as much as possible.”
“Thank you. Then I will arrange another meeting with Kim Hanbyul soon.”
“Yes. We'll be waiting for your call then.”
Seo Jinwoo finally looked away from me and began speaking with Sung Hyunmin, right in front of me.
“Do you think they'll really let her go quietly? Kim Hanbyul is a bit of a tricky case.”
“It'll be one of two things. Either they keep playing the victim and let her go quietly, or they'll eventually crawl out of the woodwork. Frankly, it doesn't matter which. As long as we don't make a huge public announcement, we can still drop hints that we know the whole story.”
Sung Hyunmin looked to me for agreement, and I nodded. I would escalate the situation, and they would be my shield. The conditions for a win-win scenario were set. I couldn't say I didn't feel a little bad for them, but as Ahn Sol always said, what's good is good.
After our meal, we left the pub, all smiles. On the way back to the Academy, I felt as if a heavy weight had finally been lifted from my shoulders.
I had done everything I could. Now, all that remained was to put on a little act and wait.