Chapter 284: The Mercenary Clan Settles In
Chapter 284: The Mercenary Clan Settles In
It seems she jumped to conclusions and worried for nothing again.
Han Soyoung quickly changed the subject before I could ask any more questions. Seeing her sit there, feigning ignorance, made me want to laugh. In urgent situations, she showed an unreserved, iron-blooded demeanor, but in times of peace, she would occasionally act like this. In a way, it was a cute side of her you didn't often see.
In any case, I had to keep my lips sealed, as there was a high chance I'd burst out laughing if I opened my mouth. It was quite an awkward situation. By the time the nape of Han Soyoung's milky-white neck turned slightly red, I managed to swallow the laughter that had risen to my throat.
I was about to speak, but as if embarrassed by the situation, Han Soyoung spoke first.
“I was very worried until you returned. Your arrival seemed later than expected…”
“We were able to pick up the trail quickly. However, I made the executive decision to press on, as returning to the city from there would have caused too much of a delay. I apologize for causing you concern.”
“There’s no need to apologize. After reading the expedition report, it’s clear the Mercenary Lord’s judgment was correct. As the representative clan of Monica, I express my deepest gratitude.”
“I only did what needed to be done. Such high praise is more than I deserve.”
Praise and humility were exchanged. As they were, the initially tense atmosphere gradually warmed. Talking with Han Soyoung like this stirred a strange feeling in me. In the first playthrough, I was a mere clan member, and she was the Clan Lord. Her fame and position were so far above mine that I wouldn't have dared to even look at her. While we still weren't complete equals, we were at least both in the position of representing a clan.
As my pleasant conversation with Han Soyoung continued, my eyes fell on the two women sitting on either side of us. Park Dayeon looked like she was dying to join the conversation, while Yeon Hyerim was giving me a pouty look. I had greeted them when I first came in, but I’d been speaking almost exclusively with Han Soyoung since then, which was likely the reason.
“In any case, you’ve worked hard. The investigation team has already been formed and is scheduled to depart tomorrow. The Princess of Execution, Yeon Hyerim, here, will be leading it.”
“Hmph.”
“Yeon Hyerim?”
“Y-You did well, Mercenary Lord. I’ll take care of the rest.”
When Han Soyoung narrowed her eyes, Yeon Hyerim immediately changed her attitude. I let out a faint smile to show that it was fine. In any case, dispatching an investigation team the very next day was certainly swift work.
“Now then, we should finalize the matter of your compensation.”
“You can give us what was originally decided. We’re satisfied with the 30% discount.”
“I can’t allow that. And I did say the original reward would depend on your performance.”
“That’s right, that’s right.”
I could sense an unyielding will in Han Soyoung’s tone. To top it off, Park Dayeon chimed in her agreement. She opened her mouth wide, as if seizing the opportunity to jump in.
“Regarding that part, I…”
“First, we will provide the renovated Clan House free of charge.”
But Han Soyoung was a beat faster. Park Dayeon, her mouth still open, looked back and forth between me and her before making a crying face and pretending to yawn. I could hear Yeon Hyerim snickering beside her.
“F-First? Isn’t that a bit much?”
“Not at all. Even if you had only saved a single User, that would have been an invaluable contribution beyond compare. But you, Mercenary Lord, saved seven lives and conquered the Canyon of Illusions, one of our biggest headaches. If anything, the Clan House feels insufficient. Let’s see… Dayeon-ah?”
As if finally giving her a chance, Han Soyoung called to Park Dayeon in a low voice. Park Dayeon, who had been puffing out her cheeks and pouting, instantly changed her expression when she saw me looking. The thought that putting Ahn Sol and Park Dayeon together would be quite entertaining crossed my mind. Ah, I almost laughed again.
Damn it, this is harder than a battle. I can't let my guard down.
“I am Park Dayeon of the Istantel Low Clan.”
“I recall meeting you once before. It’s a pleasure.”
“Yes. We certainly did. A pleasure to see you again.”
Her expression and tone were quite haughty. I heard a sound from the side like Yeon Hyerim trying to stifle a “Pfft.” Oh, please don't laugh. I'm barely holding it in myself, so please.
I continued to compose myself. Park Dayeon glared at Yeon Hyerim, who had her head down and was covering her mouth, before turning her gaze back to me.
“By any chance, from this expedition, do you happen to have the equipment of the deceased Users?”
“Yes, I do.”
It could be a decent side income, but it couldn't be the main reward. Most of the equipment we had collected were sub-items; the main gear was severely damaged from their battles with the Vagabonds. In other words, it would be difficult to get a good price for them. And even the sub-items were rarely in perfect condition.
Anyway, by my own calculations, getting 8,000 gold for all of it would be considered a very good sale. That’s how poor the condition of the equipment was.
“We received a request from our subordinate clans to help with the recovery. Three clans, especially Rapids’ Edge Clan, are in a very difficult situation, so they said it was hard for them to ask you directly.”
“I understand. I don’t intend to ask for much, and I’m willing to hand them over for a reasonable price.”
“That’s very generous of you. Originally, the plan was for each clan to contribute 4,000 gold, and the Istantel Low Clan would add another 4,000 to purchase the equipment. But before that, I have something to ask. The renovation work will be finished soon, but now it’s time to decorate the interior, isn’t it?”
“That’s right.”
“Does Mercenary happen to have any Users with knowledge of architecture?”
A User with knowledge of architecture. Shin Sangyong came to mind for a moment, but I quickly dismissed the thought. He was a researcher in the real world, not an architect. After pondering for a moment, I shook my head, and Park Dayeon’s eyes sparkled. I could feel the faint tapping of her feet on the floor.
“Then how about this? the Istantel Low Clan has members who specialized in architectural planning and interior design back on Earth. They were heavily involved in designing our current Clan House as well.”
“Hmm. I see what you’re getting at.”
As I nodded once or twice, Park Dayeon grinned.
“It’s difficult for us to support special-purpose rooms like workshops, but! We can help with the basic furniture and interior design for the reception room, dining hall, living quarters, and so on. We often take requests from other clans, so I guarantee you won’t regret it. If you accept this proposal, we will first give you 4,000 gold. Then, instead of us paying for the equipment, that 4,000 gold will cover the interior costs. Would you like to take a look at this?”
Park Dayeon fired off her words like a machine gun and then, with an elegant hand gesture, passed me a few documents. I read through them slowly, running various calculations in my head.
To be honest, it wasn't a bad offer. In fact, after reading the first line, it seemed a bit excessive. Just installing an alarm spell on the fence and engraving a magic circle throughout the Clan House to limit external magic interference was easily worth 3,000 gold. Considering the various other spells beneficial for daily life and the list of high-end furniture, the total cost far exceeded 4,000 gold.
Hmm…
I had a rough idea of what she was up to. To put it simply, without all the complicated talk, they were staking a claim on Mercenary. If a representative clan from another city had made this offer, I might have thought it over, but since it was the Istantel Low Clan—or the Haemil Clan, which my brother would later lead—there was no reason to refuse. Moreover, if we established a strong relationship with the Istantel Low Clan while settling in Monica, it would also significantly reduce the number of people who might try to cause trouble.
“Or… should we just give you the gold?”
Her voice was a little more cautious than before. After looking over the documents a bit longer, I smiled slightly and replied.
“Haha. No. How could I refuse when you’re offering to take care of such a troublesome part for us?”
“Hoho. Not at all. So, is it a deal? Ah, I’m sorry. Will you accept the proposal?”
“Of course. I gratefully accept your goodwill.”
As I handed the documents back, Park Dayeon laughed breezily and wore a triumphant expression as if to say, ‘See? I told you so.’ In any case, this more or less wrapped up the business regarding the expedition. The achievements we gained there were immense, but the rewards that came with the commission were nothing to scoff at either.
Han Soyoung, who had been listening quietly, spoke up when she realized things had gone well.
“An excellent choice. I will take special care to ensure it is to the liking of you and your clan members, Mercenary Lord.”
“If there’s anything you don’t like, just tell me. I know those guys well, so if I say something, they’ll change it without a second thought. Sir.”
Yeon Hyerim spoke arrogantly with her legs crossed, but she quickly corrected her posture when Han Soyoung glanced at her.
It would have been nice to stay a little longer and chat, but I decided it was time to leave. the Istantel Low Clan would be busy with the investigation team departing tomorrow, and I had a few things to take care of as well. And so, I slowly began to rise from my seat.
“Understood. Then I will return now and send over the equipment immediately.”
“We would appreciate that.”
Han Soyoung also rose to her feet and began to approach me, one step at a time. She stopped in front of me and gently extended her hand. I looked at it for a moment before carefully extending my own to accept the handshake. Her hand was cold, yet I felt an unidentifiable warmth from her touch.
“I look forward to working with you. I have high expectations for the Mercenary Clan.”
She didn't say much, but those few words were enough for me to understand her intentions. After we slowly released our hands, I looked directly into her eyes. Han Soyoung's black, crystal-like eyes were deep and serene as they gazed at me.
*
Time passed, and we were now one day away from the completion of our Clan House. We had already packed all our belongings. As this was our last day at the Love House, the clan members and I were gathered on the first floor, eating snacks and chatting. Of course, since all the Flowers of the Night were out for business, Madam Im had subtly joined the gathering.
“Hehehe. It’s finally getting finished tomorrow. I’m so excited.”
“Hmph. To be honest, I wanted to do some shopping in the city.”
“Give it a rest. It’s better to leave it to the professionals. Besides, the furniture is top-of-the-line and super cheap. Why waste money shopping around? Hayeon said so, didn’t she? That we saved a ton of money.”
“Ugh, stop nagging! Who said anything? Anyway, I’ll see it tomorrow, and if I don’t like it, I’m going to demand they change it immediately.”
Some of the clan members were chattering about the Clan House being completed tomorrow, while…
“Kkyu-kkyu-kkyu-kkyu!”
“Aww, so cute~!”
“Wow! Wow! Good job, Uni~!”
“Haha…”
The rest of the clan members were gathered together, watching the baby unicorn dance.
And I was sitting in a corner, receiving a report from Ko Yeonju. She had requested to report on the Warp Gate restriction I had asked her to look into earlier.
“So Golden Lion is just picking a fight for no reason.”
“Yes. It’s a completely one-sided complaint. Monica and Coran are a bit better off. I heard it’s really serious in Khan and the eastern cities. Goryeo has protested strongly several times, but they’re shamelessly turning the tables on them.”
“What’s the reaction from the Users?”
“It’s hard to say who to blame. After all, the items Vivian ordered did arrive two days ago, right? So it’s not a complete ban, and Golden Lion’s media play is still effective. And although it’s cooled down a bit, those bastards are still clinging to their justification. Well, they said they’d lift the restriction immediately if their demands are met, but who’s going to accept that? Tsk.”
Ko Yeonju finished with a click of her tongue. I nodded silently as I listened, then let out a long sigh. I couldn't predict exactly how things would unfold, but an unsettling aura was in the air. It was very faint, but it was an aura I absolutely could not ignore. My head began to ache slightly as I considered all the possible scenarios. Just then…
“Soohyun. Don’t think about it so hard. We don’t know what will happen yet, and the clan house will be finished tomorrow. How about you just take things one step at a time as they come?”
Sensing that I was lost in deep thought again, Jung Hayeon comforted me with her clear voice from beside me. She wasn't wrong. It's not like I could just storm into Barbara and demand they reactivate the Warp Gate, nor did I have any intention of doing so.
As Jung Hayeon said, if there was nothing I could do right now, it might not be a bad idea to just watch how things play out.
After tapping the table for a moment, a thought occurred to me, and I looked at Jung Hayeon.
“Come to think of it, I never asked about your Secret Class. How is it?”
“It’s great. My special ability evolved, my Latent Abilities evolved, and my stats went up. Thank you, Soohyun.”
“It’s nothing. Did you not get a unique ability?”
“Unfortunately, no. But I’m more than satisfied.”
Jung Hayeon smiled bashfully and gently took my hand. I could feel Ko Yeonju’s disappointed gaze from the side, but I immediately activated Third Eye.
〈Player Status〉
1. Name: Jung Hayeon (Year 2 User)
2. Class: Mage of the Blue Moon (Secret, Mage of the Blue Moon, Master)
3. Nation: Free Mercenary (Free)
4. Clan: Mercenary (Under performance evaluation.)
5. True Name · Nationality: Water Droplet of the Blue Moon · Republic of Korea
6. Sex: Female (26)
7. Height · Weight: 166.5cm · 52.8kg
8. Alignment: Lawful · Good
(Before) [Strength 34] [Durability 38] [Agility 40] [Stamina 32] [Magic Power 87] [Luck 80]
(After) [Strength 36] [Durability 40] [Agility 41] [Stamina 34] [Magic Power 91] [Luck 81]
(You have 0 remaining stat points.)
〈Achievements (0)〉
〈Special Ability (1/1)〉
1. Blessing of the Blue Moon (Rank: A Plus Plus Plus)
〈Latent Abilities (4/4)〉
1. Ancient Magic (Rank: A Plus)
2. Applied Magic Circuits (Rank: A-)
3. Rapid Incantation (Rank: B Plus)
4. Magic Resistance (Rank: B Plus)
She’s grown a lot.
Above all, the fact that her Magic Power had surpassed 90 and that her special and Latent Abilities had evolved was certainly encouraging. But it wasn't over yet. I needed to check the overall growth of not just Jung Hayeon, but all the clan members. And during this time of reorganization, we needed to assimilate everything we've gained as much as possible. Only then could we decide on our next course of action, whatever it may be.
First, we wait for the completion of the Clan House tomorrow. It was clear that both I and the clan members would be busy for a while in the process of settling in. Slowly organizing what needed to be done next, I gently closed my eyes. The surrounding noise still buzzed in my ears.