Chapter 292: Vivian’s Awakening & Don’t Come Hoping for That
Chapter 292: Vivian’s Awakening & Don’t Come Hoping for That
The Vagabond stared at Simon with a puzzled expression. The only thing he’d heard during their second meeting was, “I’ll consider it if you kill the Matriarch.”
The Vagabond slowly began to tense up. The young man before him looked like a frail scholar on the outside, but on the inside, he was one of the titans who held sway over the lawless Western Continent. And among them, he was known as the most vicious of all—Simon, the ‘Butcher.’ That was the young man’s true identity.
“Protector of the Continent? I don’t know what that is.”
“Oh, dear. It seems that’s how it sounds. You could also call them the guardians of the continent. Or perhaps, the ones who lead.”
“The ones who lead…”
“A Leader? Well, it doesn’t really matter if you think of it that way.”
Simon nodded as if that was enough and began rummaging through the fountain again. The Vagabond knew the nature of the fountain the young man was searching. As a big shot in the Western Continent, Simon had many enemies, and he had a nasty hobby. He would collect the corpses of the opponents he found entertaining and store them in this fountain.
As expected, Simon hoisted another head into the air, a bright smile on his face. It must have been quite some time since the body was thrown into the fountain, because the head he held was a skull. Faded golden hair clung to it in sparse patches, and based on the bone structure, one could guess it had once belonged to a woman.
“This skull was once a guardian and leader of the Western Continent. She had a pretty name, too. Lawrence.”
“What does this skull named Lawrence have to do with killing the Matriarch? I don’t understand at all.”
“Since you’re a User, Wanderer, you must have an angel assigned to you as a helper, right?”
“Of course. Though it’s been a while since I’ve seen them.”
The Vagabond answered immediately. To get to the Summoning Room where his assigned angel was, he had to go through a portal in a temple inside a city. For a Vagabond merely wearing the mask of a User, it might have been possible, but the scythe-wielding man before him was officially a wanted fugitive. He’d be killed on sight if he even got close to a city, so entering a temple to meet an angel was out of the question.
“To put it simply, you can think of their role as the exact opposite of yours, Wanderer. A Leader has a much closer relationship with the angels than a regular User and secretly helps individuals or, on a larger scale, entire groups.”
“Hmm. I’ve been around for a while, but this is the first I’m hearing of it.”
“That’s to be expected. The existence of Leaders is an extremely confidential piece of information.”
“You have my interest. Could you tell me a little more? No, in as much detail as possible.”
The Vagabond’s tone was slightly softer than before as he plopped down on the ground. The earth was already muddy with blood, but he didn’t seem to mind in the slightest. With a look that said, ‘Why not?’, Simon gave a kind nod and calmly began his story.
About ten minutes passed. During that time, one man spoke, and the other listened in silence. When Simon finally finished his tale with a light sigh, the Vagabond, who had listened without a single interruption, finally spoke.
“You’re being pretty vague. Nothing you said was clear-cut.”
“I can’t help it. I only know the general outline, not the specific details. I only found out about this by a complete coincidence. Honestly, I’ll admit that about 88% of it is just speculation.”
“What’s with that needlessly specific percentage? Anyway, that means 12% of it is true… How did you find that out? If what you’re saying is true, it sounds like information that should be kept top secret.”
“I, too, once received this person’s help. I had an opportunity back then and was able to find a clue. Ah, but it would be troublesome if you were to spread this around. If the next Leader to appear finds out I’m targeting them, they might go into hiding. That would be a bit of a pain.”
A smirk.
Watching Simon lift the skull, the Vagabond felt a chill run down his spine. It wasn’t that he was repulsed, but for some reason, he couldn’t shake the thought that Simon had also killed this guardian named Lawrence.
Seeing the Vagabond nod reluctantly, Simon let the subtle smile on his lips fall.
“In a way, you’re right, Wanderer. They are very ambiguous Users. Primarily because they have to lead the unpredictable Hall Plain, which is governed by ‘Player Status.’ But one thing is certain: Leaders don’t act without a purpose. The fact that they’ve been granted special authority from the angels as Users means they have some connection to them.”
“A purpose…”
“Think about it rationally. Do you think the angels brought people here for no reason? I believe they brought us here for a purpose. And to achieve that purpose, they’ve put forth the Leaders as their more direct agents.”
“So they operate in secret to achieve the angels’ unknown objective. Alright, I think I get the gist of it. Then you, Simon, believe the Matriarch is the one leading the Northern Continent.”
Clap, clap.
As if that was the correct answer, Simon clapped his hands lightly a couple of times. The Vagabond lifted his dry-looking face, tilted his head, and continued.
“But isn’t it possible that she’s not? And even if she is, was it really necessary to kill her? I’m just asking out of curiosity.”
“I can’t be certain about the possibility. That’s why I called it insurance. And yes, it was necessary to kill her.”
“To ruin the Northern Continent?”
“Something like that. That would be ideal, but let’s just say it was to buy time. Because… I’m afraid of the Northern Continent’s Users.”
It must have been an unexpected remark, because for the first time, a change appeared on the Vagabond’s stoic face. Having said it, Simon seemed a bit embarrassed and scratched his head slightly.
“I don’t know what you’ll think, but it’s true. Quite a few Users from various continents come here to the West. Honestly, the Eastern Continent is full of worthless, idiotic slaves, and the Southern Continent is decent enough. But when I see Users from the Northern Continent, man, they’re just incredible. And to think that people like that were defeated and driven out of the North gives me a good idea of the overall level of the Users there. Is it really a gathering of monsters?”
“Of course not… So you’re saying you’ll stir up trouble, but you’re afraid of retaliation.”
“I told you it was for fun at first, but we agreed to your proposal because we have our own goals as well. That’s why we’re using you. Oh, my apologies. Were you offended?”
“Not at all. In fact, I’d appreciate it if you were that direct. Use us all you want. We’ll do the same to you.”
The two of them laughed at the same time. After laughing quietly for a long while, the Vagabond let out a long sigh and spoke.
“In any case, today’s talk was informative. I now fully understand why you wanted the Matriarch dead.”
“It’s merely a possibility. She might not be one, and even if she is, there’s no guarantee the Northern Continent will end up like the West. In the end, the ones who lead the Hall Plain are the Users.”
“So there are limits… I suppose so, since you said a new Leader could appear. Still, the possibility seems quite high. The things that have happened so far fit together too perfectly to be a coincidence.”
“I think so too. The failure of the Steel Mountains expedition, the return of the reclusive Matriarch, the Matriarch’s death, and the present. The period of her seclusion is a bit of a question, but considering the Northern Continent enjoyed its golden age during that time, it’s not entirely incomprehensible. She might not have had a reason to step forward.”
Simon dusted off his pants and stood up from the fountain. He stretched his arms wide, took a deep breath, and said in a cheerful voice.
“My butt hurts from sitting for so long. Shall we get up now? Let’s move to a different location.”
“Huh? Is there still more to talk about?”
“Haha. Of course. A lot more. Let’s go to my personal castle. I’ll treat you to some delicious tea. Please don’t refuse.”
“Hmm. Then I shall accept your invitation.”
The Vagabond staggered to his feet and planted them unevenly on the ground again. The two men slowly began to walk. The Vagabond walked while looking at Simon’s back. After about ten steps, Simon, who was leading the way, suddenly spoke.
“By the way… there’s one thing I’m curious about, too. Wanderer.”
“What is it?”
“An interesting thought just occurred to me. When you killed the Matriarch back then, which path did you take?”
“It wasn’t an easy one,” the Vagabond replied with a grin, his voice low.
*
“Well then, I’ll be counting on you again. I’ll contact you as soon as possible.”
“Likewise. You don’t have to rush, so please take your time preparing and get in touch then.”
“Thank you. I’ll be going now. I know the way out, so you don’t have to see me off.”
“Understood. Get home safely.”
Lim Hanna bowed respectfully, lowering her head. I watched her back as she walked lightly down the hallway, then slowly closed the door and sat on the sofa. Immediately, Ko Yeonju rushed over and plopped her butt onto my lap. I considered smacking her thigh but decided to let it slide, given her contribution in bringing Lim Hanna here.
“Soohyun. I have a question. Why didn’t you tell Hanna?”
“Hm?”
“Hanna, she’s an archer. The Mercenary Clan has a Rare Class for archers, and we have almost a full set of archer equipment.”
“……”
Before answering, I gently gripped Ko Yeonju’s waist and applied upward pressure—a signal for her to get up. However, she pushed down instead, pressing her body even closer against mine. Feeling her bottom press firmly against my thighs, I took a light breath.
“If Lim Hanna joins, we can lend her the equipment as a clan member. If she ever leaves the clan, we can just retrieve it. But a Rare Class is different. Once the Twilight Medium is inherited, it can’t be taken back.”
“Hmm~. Is that so?”
“Of course, we have the Shadow Queen’s guarantee, but I see this as a separate issue. Ahn Hyun and Lee Yoojung have been with me since the Rite of Passage, and Jung Hayeon and Shin Sangyong have been with me since our caravan days. But Lim Hanna is different. I’m not saying I won’t give it to her, but I need to observe her first.”
“Hoho. Soohyun, I think there’s a misunderstanding. I’m not questioning why you didn’t tell her. If you had brought it up out of the blue, I probably would have secretly followed Hanna and told her myself. You did well. Mwah. Mwah.”
As she spoke, Ko Yeonju began to press her lips against my cheek. Feeling the soft touch on my skin, I grumbled inwardly. I knew this was her way of showing affection, but sometimes both she and Jung Hayeon treated me like a child. Especially in bed.
Perhaps seeing my frown, Ko Yeonju burst into laughter.
“Oh my, why the long face? I’m quite popular, you know. You should be a little happier to receive a kiss from the Shadow Queen that countless men desire.”
“I’m not particularly happy.”
“Liar. Then what’s that hard thing that’s been poking my butt this whole time?”
“……”
When I couldn’t answer, Ko Yeonju giggled again and pulled my head into an embrace. As I quietly buried my face in her chest, I could hear her chattering excitedly, saying things like I was too cute and that she would sneak into my room at dawn soon. I opened my Player Status window, checked my Stamina stat, and slowly closed my eyes, making a silent vow.
Yeah, just you try it. I’ll… I’ll be ready for you that day.
*
The view of the Clan House garden from the terrace was beautiful and peaceful. The sun was high in the sky, casting a warm light over the entire garden. Savoring the rare feeling of comfort, I calmly sank into my thoughts.
Time had flown by since we began to seriously organize and refurbish the Clan House. My scolding at the meeting must have been effective, because the clan members, who had been cautiously testing the waters just a week ago, had done a complete 180. As if they’d never been hesitant, they were now competing to request necessary supplies. It was so much that our expenses for this week alone exceeded 7,000 Gold.
The matter with Lim Hanna and the Flowers of the Night had been resolved smoothly. She had ultimately quit her position as the madam of the Love House and was staying at a nearby inn with the other women. After handling the transfer of duties, she was apparently preparing the Flowers of the Night with the basic knowledge and attire required for their new roles as employees. The fact that she was covering all the costs with her own money showed me how much she truly cherished the former owner’s last wish.
In total, twelve of the Flowers of the Night were selected as employees. The reason I’d insisted on choosing them myself was so I could check their Player Status with Third Eye. The first round of cuts was based on their Alignment, and the second was based on their true names and stats. The ones who weren’t selected looked disappointed, but that was none of my business. Besides, Ko Yeonju had her own plans, so I intended to receive gradual progress reports on that matter.
Lim Hanna and the new employees are supposed to arrive tomorrow…
“Hey! How old are you?!”
“W-Why are you suddenly yelling…?”
“You said you were eighteen… A-And I’m twenty, you know? I’m older, so I’m right!”
“H-How does that make any sense?!”
Huh?
Just then, sharp voices rang out from below as I was sunbathing on the terrace. Curious, I peeked over the edge, focusing my vision and hearing, and saw an unexpected sight.
In the garden below the terrace were two people and one divine beast. The people were Ahn Sol and Baek Hangyul, and the divine beast was, of course, the baby unicorn.
Perhaps because of the nice weather, the baby unicorn was sprawled out under a large tree, fast asleep and purring softly. It occasionally smacked its lips, looking utterly blissful. In contrast, Ahn Sol and Baek Hangyul were in a standoff. Ahn Sol was so angry that she had her hands on her hips, her back ramrod straight, while Baek Hangyul stood there looking simple-minded but still wearing a disgruntled expression.
“His name is Uni, not Kkyu-kkyu! U-ni!”
“B-But he doesn’t have an official name yet. I’m just going to call him what I like.”
“…F-Fine. Let’s say that’s true. Then why did you laugh when you heard me call him Uni?”
“I didn’t laugh! I honestly thought it was weird, but… Soohyun-hyung-nim said Kkyu-kkyu was better, too!”
Shocked by his words, Ahn Sol’s hands fell from her hips. A moment later, with tears welling up in her eyes, she swallowed hard and shrieked.
“T-That can’t be true… No! Uni is better!”
“W-Well, I think Kkyu-kkyu is better.”
“No! It’s Uni!”
“It’s Kkyu-kkyu!”
……………….
“Waaah!”
Having finally lost the argument with Baek Hangyul, Ahn Sol burst into tears and collapsed to the ground. Watching her, I quietly took out a cigarette and put it in my mouth.
For some reason, it felt like I’d been sighing without cause a lot more lately.
*
Flip!
“Ooh!”
Flip! Flip!
“Oooh…!”
Flip! Flip! Flip! Flip!
“Oooooh………!”
In the Mercenary Clan House, inside Vivian’s private quarters.
Vivian was lying face down on her bed, her eyes burning with a fiery passion as she let out gasps of admiration. With an intensely focused expression, she carefully turned each page of a thick book. She would occasionally underline important parts and even fold the corners of pages. Anyone who saw her poring over the book with a Light Stone on despite the late hour would have thought, ‘What a diligent alchemist, so dedicated to her research.’
Just then, Vivian’s eyes flashed as if she’d discovered something, and she began to scribble with her quill pen in the notes she’d been keeping beside her.
“Butt spanking… Tying up tightly with rope… Shaving… humiliation slave… Puppy… Whip… triangular wooden horse… Alright, that’s enough for today! Phew~.”
Vivian muttered a series of words that gave off a dangerous scent. She set down her quill pen and carefully tucked her notes inside the book. Then, she snapped the book shut and gazed up at the ceiling with a wistful look.
After staring at the ceiling for a long while, Vivian murmured in a low voice.
“I’m so jealous.”
What could she be jealous of?
Eventually, Vivian slowly sat up, flipped over the pillow she had been lying on, and propped it against the wall. The back of the pillow, which had a man’s face drawn on it, was now visible. She knelt demurely before it, cleared her throat once or twice, and opened her mouth.
“M-Master Soohyun…”
She still seemed awkward as she stuttered. But soon, as if she had steeled her resolve, she put strength in her eyes and forced out the next words, squirming her body.
“P-Please… punish this lewd Vivian… Master Soohyun… as you wish… Kyaaaaaaaaaaah!”
The moment she managed to finish the sentence, Vivian clenched her fists and, with a high-pitched scream, started rolling around on the bed.
“I did it! I said it! Kyaaaah! I don’t know, I don’t know!”
With shrieks and squeals, she rubbed her head crazily against the pillow and kicked the blankets frantically with her legs. Vivian then quickly dove under the covers, and soon after, the blanket began to bulge and heave with thudding sounds. It seemed she was kicking the blankets violently from within.
The frenzy continued for about three minutes. After three minutes, as if she had run out of energy, the ceaselessly moving blanket grew still. A short while later, Vivian’s head popped out from under the covers, and she let out a hot breath. Then, with a look full of excitement, she raised the corners of her mouth into a wide grin.
“Uhehehe.”
A strange laugh, reeking of something dangerous.
And so, in a place unknown to Soohyun, Vivian’s dangerous awakening was steadily progressing.