Chapter 285: Escaping Stamina Deficiency!
Chapter 285: Escaping Stamina Deficiency!
The sun, which had been high in the sky, was now beginning its descent to the west, painting the world in the colors of sunset. As the day waned, the sky was gradually brushed with shades of red, as if an artist were adding layers of crimson paint.
A warm breeze brushed against my cheek, and I instinctively looked up. The fluffy clouds drifting lazily across the sky were tinged with a deep red, creating a picturesque scene. It was a pleasantly warm day—not cool, but not too hot either.
About four hours ago, we had finally received word that the Mercenary Clan House was complete. It had taken a little longer than originally planned, but everyone’s face was alight with excitement. As the Clan Lord, I tried to maintain a calm demeanor, but it was impossible to quell the rising anticipation in my own heart.
We had already packed all our belongings before the message even arrived. After a brief farewell to Madam Im, we left the Love House, our home for the past four months.
When we said our goodbyes, Madam Im smiled as kindly as ever, but there was a hint of loneliness in her expression. I tilted my head in confusion for a moment, but a glance from Ko Yeonju prompted me to head outside. We were now on our way to the clan house.
The distance between the Love House and the clan house wasn't far. We walked at a brisk pace and reached the main gate in less than five minutes. The actual construction had finished around noon, but it seemed the cleanup had taken a considerable amount of time. In any case, we should be right on time. I took a deep breath, pushed open the wooden gate, and stepped inside.
“Oh.”
“Whoa.”
As soon as we entered, gasps of awe erupted from the clan members behind me. We had seen it before, but the garden, bathed in the light of the setting sun, possessed a different, fantastical charm.
Beyond the gently swaying bushes, two buildings stood under the deep twilight, casting long shadows. Their pale, ash-gray exteriors blended with the surrounding landscape, exuding a quiet yet magnificent presence.
There were many people inside. They were sitting casually among the garden bushes, laughing and talking as they admired the completed clan house. Just as another breeze blew past, cooling the sweat on their brows, someone spotted us entering the gate and shouted loudly.
“Chief! The Mercenary Lord is here!”
“Well, I’ll be! You’re here!”
A User who had been leaning against a tree in the distance shot to his feet. He looked around before striding toward the gate. As I watched the people following him, I recognized two familiar faces.
It’s been a while, Mr. Bongpal, Yehyun-noona.
“Haha! Welcome, Mercenary Lord!”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Kim Soohyun, Mercenary Clan Lord.”
“I’m Park Bongpal of the Istantel Low Clan! I was in charge of the architectural design for the clan house. Ah, and this is Shin Yehyun, who handled the interior design.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you for the first time. I’m Shin Yehyun.”
Mr. Bongpal greeted me with a friendly demeanor, while Yehyun-noona smiled shyly. Since they were both from the Istantel Low Clan, I had been in the same clan with them during the first playthrough. I remembered them as good people, so it would be a lie to say I wasn't happy to see them. Thinking that their personalities hadn't changed a bit, I firmly shook the hand he offered.
“My goodness. We finished two days later than scheduled. My apologies!”
“It couldn’t be helped, given the additional requests. It’s fine.”
“Haha! I appreciate you saying so. As for the extra features, we were a bit short on time, but we paid special attention to them. Of course, if there’s anything you don’t like, please don’t hesitate to tell us.”
“Um, Chief…”
While Mr. Bongpal and I were chatting, people who had been scattered about began to slowly gather. Judging by their rather shabby clothes, they seemed to be the Residents who had worked as laborers. When a Resident who appeared to be their representative cautiously spoke up, Park Bongpal, who had been talking excitedly, snapped his head around.
“Hm? Oh. The Mercenary Lord is here, so you can all head out now. Good work.”
“Hehe. Understood. But… now that the work is done, aren’t you going to have a drink with us?”
The Resident chuckled and mimed tipping back a cup, causing Park Bongpal to burst into a hearty laugh.
“Gahaha! Of course, we are! But man, I have to give these folks a tour first. So don’t worry about the money, just go on ahead and start drinking. I’ll join you as soon as I’m done.”
Monica was certainly different. In other cities, Residents were often treated like slaves or insects, but Mr. Bongpal here was friendly and approachable. Because of that, the Residents here held the Istantel Low Clan in high regard and were very supportive of them.
As I watched them with a warm smile, I gave Jung Hayeon a subtle glance. She understood my signal, gave a slight nod, and walked with graceful composure toward the gathered Residents. I watched Jung Hayeon’s slender figure as she passed by me. Her hair, now long enough to flow past her shoulders and down her back, shimmered as it reflected a faint blue light.
As Jung Hayeon approached, the boisterous Residents fell silent in an instant. They all stared at her with dazed expressions. Since inheriting the Secret Class ‘Mage of the Blue Moon,’ Jung Hayeon’s aura had become more mature and profound. Naturally, her beauty had blossomed along with it.
“Thank you for all your hard work. It’s not much, but please accept this small token of our gratitude.”
“Oh, my! Oh! No, no! It’s quite all right.”
When Jung Hayeon offered a small pouch she had taken from her robes, the Resident waved his hands in alarm. However, with a gentle touch, she softly took his hand and pressed the pouch into it. The Resident’s face flushed red, and he glanced around in every direction, unsure of what to do.
“Wow. That looks pretty hefty.”
“It’s 50 gold. It’s not much.”
“Man, there are quite a few of them, but 10 gold would have been more than enough.”
“I heard you all worked very hard in a short amount of time. I hope you can use this to relax and enjoy yourselves tonight.”
At my words, Park Bongpal chuckled, “Heh heh,” and shouted to the Residents.
“You lot! The Mercenary Lord has shown you his favor. Everyone, accept it gratefully!”
“Hooray!”
“Oh, my goddess. We’ll put it to good use!”
“Pardon? Hehe! I’m not a goddess. Heehee.”
Jung Hayeon covered her mouth with one hand as she laughed prettily, then turned and came back to my side. After Park Bongpal gave them a nod, the Residents began to run outside with cheers.
“Yahoo! Let’s drink till we drop tonight!”
“Hey, you, let me see your hand for a second. Is that the hand the goddess herself touched?”
“I-I’ll take the pouch… Just let me hold the pouch for a second.”
“You’ll jinx it, you bastards! Let go! I said let go! I’m never washing this hand again…!”
Park Bongpal let out a dry laugh, having noticed Jung Hayeon blush slightly at the Residents’ parting words.
“Er, they didn’t mean any harm. They’re just simple folk.”
“It’s fine.”
“Haha! Thank you. Well then… Hm? By any chance, is that the rumored unicorn the little lady is holding?”
“Huh? Y-Yes…”
“Kkyu-kkyu!”
Park Bongpal’s eyes widened as if he had only just noticed it, showing keen interest. However, he immediately gave an awkward laugh, so it seemed the baby unicorn had given him a cold response. He looked like he was dying of curiosity, but after reading the expressions of the clan members, he spoke in a cheerful voice.
“My apologies. I’ve only heard rumors about the unicorn; this is my first time seeing one. Anyway, I’ve kept you all standing for too long. Let’s start by looking around the garden. I’ll explain everything one by one.”
“The garden is fine. We stopped by once before and had a look around. We’re satisfied with it.”
“Is that so? That’s a relief. Then let’s head inside right away. It would be best to start with the main building. Hahaha. Ah, Yehyun, what about you?”
“I’ll go with you. I’d like to hear the Mercenary members’ opinions.”
Shin Yehyun answered demurely. Park Bongpal agreed and then gestured with his right arm toward the large building in front of us.
“Then, let’s go in.”
Soon, Park Bongpal and I were leading the way side-by-side, with the clan members and Shin Yehyun trailing behind us as we crossed the garden. Along the way, Mr. Bongpal gave us a detailed, if somewhat flippant, explanation.
“The spaces inside a clan house serve various purposes. They can be broadly categorized as purpose-oriented, communal, personal, and temporary. Purpose-oriented spaces are for specific activities, like workshops or training grounds. Communal spaces are areas everyone uses together, such as the dining hall or bathhouse. Personal spaces would be your quarters and offices, and temporary spaces are, as the name suggests, rooms left empty for now. We leave them vacant so they can be renovated later when a new space is needed.”
“I see.”
“Ah. And speaking of temporary spaces, this clan house was originally used by the Pistachio clan. It was a space where a total of 120 people lived—90 clan members and 30 employees. We not only renovated it but also expanded it, so there are quite a few temporary spaces. You probably won’t be short on rooms for a while. Hahaha.”
That was a given. The lot was large to begin with, but it was extravagantly spacious for just ten people. In any case, you can't have it all from the start; we could just fill it up gradually over time. I nodded nonchalantly, and Park Bongpal immediately continued.
“Both buildings have all four of the characteristics I mentioned, but they can be distinguished by which one they prioritize. Excluding the temporary spaces, the building in front of us now is strongly purpose-oriented. In contrast… hmph.”
Finally reaching the top of the stairs, Park Bongpal turned and pointed to the annex.
“The annex over there is more for personal and communal use. To give you a heads-up, the basement and first floor have the public bathhouse and recreational facilities, the second and third floors are for living quarters, and the fourth floor has been left as temporary space. Unfortunately, it seems the annex was originally built for lodging, so it doesn't have a rooftop.”
“I see. Then what’s the layout of the main building?”
At my question, Park Bongpal grinned, grabbing the door handle as he replied.
“Let’s head inside first. I’ll explain while you see it for yourselves.”
Park Bongpal pulled the handle with all his might, and the tightly shut door swung wide open. Following his lead, we stepped inside.
The first thing that caught my eye was that the solid walls of the first floor were now punctuated by massive window frames. They were filled with rectangular crystals, allowing us to see outside from within. It dispelled the previously stuffy atmosphere, making the space feel open and refreshing.
The ceiling was perhaps about four meters high. The first floor, with its smooth, polished floor, was quite long and wide. The ceiling was studded with pale, vermilion-colored Light Stones, giving the interior a clean and bright atmosphere.
A large, circular, red carpet was spread out in the center, surrounded by tastefully arranged sofas, chairs, and a fireplace, indicating that this was the lobby. Although faint traces of the old building remained, the complete interior and exterior renovation made these remnants seem rather quaint, adding to a classic atmosphere.
We can relax in the lobby, I see.
The clan members, seeing the interior that was incomparably different from before, let out a collective gasp of admiration.
“I’ll explain this part. Could you please look over here?”
Shin Yehyun, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up. She raised a slender finger and pointed to a spot next to the lobby.
“I heard the Mercenary Clan operates on commissions. If so, the first floor needs a reception desk to handle related business and provide information.”
Where Shin Yehyun pointed, a large, curved reception desk had been installed. Behind it, a deep purple curtain was draped beautifully around a pillar, and in the exposed space in the center, the word ‘Mercenary’ was engraved in shining gold.
“Next, I’ll tell you about the stairs. There are a total of four staircases on the first floor leading up and down. First, there are stairs leading to the upper floors at both ends of the first floor, and there are two more staircases beyond the lobby. One also goes up, but the other one goes down. To the underground training ground that the Mercenary Lord requested…”
As Shin Yehyun’s explanation continued and the clan members listened intently, Park Bongpal approached me and spoke in a low voice.
“As you know, this building has a strong modern feel to it. So we had to put a lot of thought into it. The architectural styles of the Hall Plain and the modern world are very different, you see. Well, to be honest, magic cores and magic circles were used in daily life, but still.”
“Speaking of which, are they integrated or individual units?”
“They’re individual. The integrated type is easier to manage, but the quality is much better with individual units. The downside is that maintenance is a hassle, but the magic circles have self-restoring properties, so you won’t have to worry much unless you intentionally damage them. Well, you’ll have to replace the magic cores periodically, though.”
I nodded calmly as I listened to Park Bongpal’s explanation. It wasn't a major concern anyway, as future employees would take care of it.
“Now, let’s head to the dining hall.”
Having finished her general explanation, Shin Yehyun took the lead and started walking. I followed her at a slow pace.
*
Over the next few hours, we were given a tour and explanation of the clan house's interior. As the building was so large, the details were extensive and complex.
To summarize briefly, the first floor, aside from the lobby and counter, could be divided into four main areas. To the left of the counter, the hallway primarily led to a reception room, a lounge, and a waiting room. To the right, it led to a large indoor plaza and the dining hall.
The most impressive of these was the dining hall. It wasn't just a typical rest-stop cafeteria; it looked as if an entire pub had been plucked up and placed inside. With dozens of tables and a spacious kitchen, it felt like a cafeteria. Park Bongpal boasted that the kitchen was fully equipped with ample food storage, plenty of cabinet space, and basic cooking utensils, so any chefs would surely enjoy cooking there.
The constant stream of explanations we heard while exploring every corner of the first floor began to dwindle after we went up to the second floor. This was because, as a purpose-oriented building, the second and third floors were meant to house corresponding spaces. In other words, this was where most of the temporary spaces were concentrated.
The plan was to use the second floor for information processing, internal affairs, and an equipment warehouse, while the third floor would house an alchemist's workshop, a mage's research lab, a library, and small meeting rooms. Therefore, with the exception of the small meeting rooms, we would have to purchase the specialized equipment for these empty rooms ourselves. As such, they only gave a brief explanation of where each space was located before moving on.
The only unusual thing that happened on the third floor was that Vivian gave up on the tour and went straight into the alchemist's workshop. She asked Park Bongpal where the workshop space was, then took Shin Sangyong and disappeared inside. Since she considered the workshop an extension of herself, it was clear she had little interest in the other areas.
Shin Sangyong looked like he wanted to see more, but at Vivian’s urging, he dejectedly followed her, dragging two bulging Chaos Mimics behind him with slumped shoulders.
After the third-floor explanation ended, we made our way to the long-awaited fourth floor. In short, the fourth floor could be considered the exclusive domain of the Clan Lord. The main spaces here were the office, the main conference room, and the VIP room. In other words, it was more of a personal space for me than a purpose-oriented one. As such, each room was spacious, and there were far fewer temporary spaces.
We quickly finished exploring the fourth floor and, after a final stop on the rooftop, our tour of the main building was finally complete.
*
Before we knew it, the sun had completely set, and a dark night had fallen. Park Bongpal and Shin Yehyun had finished explaining the main building and had even insisted on explaining the annex as well. With a final remark to let them know anytime if we found anything unsatisfactory after living here for a while, they left the clan house.
Before we came here, the others had been grumbling under their breaths, but after seeing the place, they sprang into action. To be honest, all the rooms looked almost identical to me. Nevertheless, they had all rushed off to claim a room first.
I had given them free time after that, so some were probably still wandering around exploring, while others might have gone to bed early. I had also returned to my office on the fourth floor of the main building and planned to let them explore to their hearts' content for a day or two. I let out a short sigh and looked around the office where I now stood.
The office was spacious and of high quality, perfectly to my liking. A soft carpet, a comfortable sofa, a long table, a fine-grained desk, and so on. Various pieces of furniture occupied the office, but my favorite was the terrace behind the desk.
Crystals similar to the ones on the first floor served as windows, and in the center was a wooden door leading out to the terrace. From there, I imagined I could get a panoramic view of the entire clan house, as well as the city of Monica. It would be the perfect place to step out and relax whenever my head ached.
As I gazed out at the terrace, I was debating whether to wait in the office or go up to the rooftop for a bit. Just as I made up my mind and was about to stand up, I heard the sound of someone running urgently down the hallway. The office door burst open. Annoyed, I turned my head to see Vivian, her face flushed and panting for breath.
“Pant, pant. Kim Soohyun! You were waiting up for me?”
“You told me to.”
“Heeheehee. I did!”
“Phew.”
“Hm? Why the sigh?”
The reason I was still awake so late at night was that I was waiting for Vivian. Before she went to the workshop on the third floor, she had thrown just two sentences at me.
‘Kim Soohyun. Tonight, I’m going all out for you.’
‘Don’t go to sleep, wait for me. You know, right? Today is the day we’ve been waiting for. Hehe. You’d better be looking forward to it~.’
Anyone who knew the situation would have just let it slide, but Park Bongpal and Shin Yehyun didn't. Park Bongpal had said, “What a fiery woman. I’m envious,” while Shin Yehyun had blushed and averted her gaze. The memory made my fists clench, but seeing her now, it looked like she was about to undertake a major task, so I managed to hold back. I didn't want to do anything to jinx it.
I slowly rose to my feet and looked at Vivian. She walked over quickly and began tugging at the collar of my shirt.
“Let’s go. Hurry, hurry. I have a good feeling about this.”
“Shouldn’t we be more prepared? In terms of preparation, and stamina?”
“For this alchemical refinement process, Shin Sangyong’s ability and the ingredients are what’s important. The equipment isn’t fully installed, but we have more than enough set up to perform the refinement.”
Vivian waved a hand impatiently as she replied, clearly in a rush. I pressed my throbbing temples and asked another question.
“What about stamina?”
“For your information, I’m at my peak during the night.”
“I meant Shin Sangyong, not you.”
“Hmph. He’s pulled a lot of all-nighters with me, so he’ll be fine. Anyway, we’re as prepared as we can be, so just follow me.”
Vivian pouted, dropped her hand, and spun around so fast it made a whooshing sound. As I watched her leave, I stepped out from behind my desk and followed her out the door. For her to be this confident, she must have had an ace up her sleeve.