Chapter 294: Turning Point
Chapter 294: Turning Point
The next day, the Clan House was bustling from the morning.
A visit had been requested by the Istantel Low Clan and a priestess. In other words, the representative clan and the Temple of Monica were coming. The fact that they were coming together, in particular, gave it an unusual air, making it hard to consider a simple visit.
However, there was someone who was actually pleased. Perhaps because she preferred things to be tidy, Jung Hayeon was in her element the moment she heard the news. Honestly, it didn't seem like many people would be coming, so hosting them in the fourth-floor VIP room would have been sufficient. But she took the lead, opening up the grand conference hall—which had been closed ever since we moved into the Clan House—and directed a massive cleaning effort. As a result, the hired staff had to rush around busily, just two days after they had started.
By the time all the preparations were complete, the sun was already high in the sky. But even as the sun began its slow descent to the west, casting a deep twilight over the garden, there was still no sign of them.
The staff had all gone home for the day. A few of the more perceptive 'Flowers of the Night' offered to stay if needed, but frankly, it was more helpful without them. In any case, even though I'd been told yesterday they might be a little late, I couldn't shake the feeling that the anticipation had fizzled out for nothing.
Sinking into the plush sofa, I slowly looked around the VIP room. The high ceiling adorned with beautiful patterns and the ornate interior decorations created a luxurious atmosphere. In the center of the room was an elegant round table, with three sofas arranged in a circle around it.
While a few people seemed quite satisfied with the day's big clean-up, I just felt like I'd wasted a day for nothing. Even though I was in the VIP room, I felt like I needed a smoke. After a moment's hesitation, I ended up pulling one out from my pocket. The walls of the VIP room were engraved with magic circles enchanted with air-purifying spells, so I figured it would be fine as long as no one else was around. Just as I raised a flint to light it…
Crash! Stomp, stomp, stomp! Fling!
“Oppa! It's an emergency!”
“Pfft! Cough, cough!”
It always happens like this.
Back in the modern world, it was always the moment I bought a fish cake skewer from a street stall at the bus stop that my bus would arrive. I coughed hard, expelling the smoke caught in my throat. Looking toward the wide-open door, I saw Lee Yoojung, her face frantic as if she'd just rushed upstairs.
“What's the emergency? Catch your breath first.”
“N-No! Oppa! The people who were supposed to come yesterday are here! But Yeonju-unni is fighting…!”
“What? A fight?”
“Quickly! The atmosphere is totally murderous! It's complete chaos right now!”
I shot to my feet and ran into the hallway. The only thought in my mind was to get to the first floor as fast as possible. As I descended past the fourth, third, and second floors, a palpable, suffocating killing intent pricked at my entire body. To feel such a dense killing intent before I even arrived… it was on a level you'd only expect from two of the Ten Strong clashing.
Running at full speed, I cleared the stairs in an instant. But with one flight of stairs left, from where I could partially see the first floor, I was forced to stop.
There were several Users on the first floor. And in the center, surrounded by them, two women were facing off, so close they could feel each other's breath. The source of the killing intent was right there, emanating from Ko Yeonju and Yeon Hyerim.
“I was wondering where that rotten mop smell was coming from. So the Princess of Filth decided to show up?”
Whether she knew I had arrived or not, Ko Yeonju, who had been standing with her arms crossed haughtily, suddenly pinched her nose with one hand and scowled. Her tone was dripping with sarcasm.
“Isn't that smell coming from your own shadow? Besides, the 'Princess of Filth'... That's rich, coming from the Queen of Whores.”
Not to be outdone, Yeon Hyerim, with her hands on her hips and her back ramrod straight, shot back just as fiercely.
At that, the two of them let out subtle laughs. It was a laugh like rolling pearls, yet the gazes locked between them were radiating a thick, viscous killing intent. I thought they'd managed to hold it in during the Call to Arms and at the User Academy, but it seemed to have finally exploded.
It was as clear as day that a disaster would occur if I let this continue, so I started moving again, hurrying down the stairs. Just then.
“Yeon Hyerim!”
A sharp, cold, yet somehow familiar voice rang through the lobby. As I descended, a space that had been out of my line of sight from above finally came into view. Standing at the first-floor entrance were Han Soyoung and the female priestess I remembered seeing once before.
“Step outside for a moment.”
“C-Clan Lord.”
“I won't say it twice. Go wait outside, or head back first.”
“……”
Before I could even step in, someone else took charge and resolved the situation. Han Soyoung's 'command' carried an undeniable, frosty sharpness. The 'Princess of Execution' bit her lip hard, but after shooting a sharp glare at Ko Yeonju, she took a few steps back. As Yeon Hyerim finally spun around, Ko Yeonju gave a languid sneer. Or rather, she was about to.
“Hoho. Run along, little girl…”
“User Ko Yeonju.”
“Wh-Clan Lord?”
“What do you think you're doing right now?”
As if only then sensing my presence, Ko Yeonju turned around in a fluster.
Walking slowly toward the center, I spoke in a low voice.
“Return to your quarters.”
“…Understood.”
Perhaps because Yeon Hyerim had backed down first, Ko Yeonju answered more meekly than I expected.
An awkward atmosphere quickly filled the lobby. I immediately turned my gaze to Han Soyoung. Since things had turned out this way, I decided to escort them myself.
*
In the end, I personally escorted Han Soyoung and the priestess to the VIP room, which managed to calm the commotion for the time being. Things could have escalated badly, but Han Soyoung's swift response and my timely arrival brought the incident to a close. Of course, it didn't simply end there.
“I'm sorry. I sincerely apologize for the disturbance caused in the Mercenary Clan House.”
“It's alright. It seems there's some issue between User Ko Yeonju and User Yeon Hyerim.”
“You saw right through it. If I'd known this would happen, I wouldn't have brought Hyerim… I'll be sure to have a firm word with her about today's events, so I hope you can be generous and let it pass.”
“It's really fine. I will also give Ko Yeonju a warning.”
Han Soyoung's appropriate measures and preemptive apology. Considering her status as the Clan Lord of the representative clan, one could see this as a considerable concession. I had no intention of making a big deal out of it either, so I readily accepted her apology. In any case, now that sufficient apologies had been made, it was time to get to the main topic.
“I was surprised when I first received your message. I never imagined the two of you would come together.”
“We originally planned to arrive a bit earlier, but we had to stop by a few other places, which caused a delay.”
“I… see. In that case, may I ask the reason for your visit?”
“Of course.”
Han Soyoung replied politely and turned her head to the side. Following her gaze, I saw the female priestess quietly sipping her tea. She was feigning her usual expressionless face, but her fingers were trembling. It seemed the aftereffects of being exposed to the killing intent of the Ten Strong at close range still lingered.
After a moment, the priestess let out a long breath and gently parted her lips.
Frankly, the story the priestess began to tell was within my range of expectations.
The investigation team had confirmed Mercenary's achievements, and our clan rank would rise accordingly. Also, while following our trail, they had discovered clues pointing to the high possibility of a 'herding' tactic, and had also found traces of Vagabonds around the Delirium Mountains.
The one interesting point among all this was that they couldn't find any trace of the Vagabonds having returned to Monica.
“Does that mean they weren’t Vagabonds disguised as Users, but natural-born Vagabonds?”
“No. Before the investigation team departed, I made a separate request. I asked them to check for any traces that Vagabonds might have followed the Mercenary members from the city. There were too many tracks to be certain, but it's possible they entered from the side through another gate.”
“So they left the city, but never returned… is that what you're saying?”
“It's not certain, but in my personal opinion, I believe that's the most likely possibility.”
Having spoken for a while, the priestess, seemingly thirsty, lifted her teacup to her lips again.
I fell into silent thought. Thinking about it calmly, it wasn't anything to tremble over. Whether they were disguised or not, Vagabonds were the type to wander all over the place anyway. Still, there was something unsettling about letting it go just like that.
The chance they're still waiting is low… but I'll have to keep several possibilities in mind.
In any case, this much was a significant gain, so I nodded calmly.
“You must have been busy enough with the investigation team, so thank you for looking into this separately. But there was no need for you to come all this way… I could have visited you instead.”
“Ah, actually, there's one more thing I need to tell you. The thing is…”
“?”
“Herse. Just a moment.”
So the priestess's name was Herse. Aside from adding a clarification or two, Han Soyoung had been listening quietly until now. But when she spoke up, Herse's eyes glinted brightly as she gave a slight nod. Somewhere in her gaze was a hint of unidentifiable desperation.
Han Soyoung seemed to compose her breathing for a moment before looking me straight in the eye and speaking. Judging by the atmosphere, the previous topics had just been a prelude; the real discussion was about to begin.
“Mercenary Lord. I'll take it from here.”
“I’m listening.”
“I'll be direct. Does the Mercenary Clan happen to possess an Elixir?”
“Pardon…?”
The question was so sudden that I couldn't help but frown slightly. When I asked back in a questioning tone, Han Soyoung seemed to interpret it in her own way and showed a disappointed expression.
“I see you don't have one… I suppose… Ah, I'm sorry.”
“Ah, wait a moment. Why are you suddenly looking for an Elixir?”
In an instant, Han Soyoung's face became clouded with fatigue. I wondered if the reason she was late today was that she'd been going from clan to clan searching for an Elixir. She shook her head at my question, her expression genuinely apologetic.
“I find myself constantly apologizing. I'm sorry, Mercenary Lord. I'd like to explain the reason, but there are complicated circumstances involved, so I can't go into detail.”
“Mercenary might be able to help. Was someone from the Istantel Low Clan injured during the investigation?”
“No, the investigation was completed successfully. It's not needed for the Istantel Low Clan, but a request that came from the eastern city. There's a User in an eastern clan whose life is in grave danger, to the point that they need an Elixir. That User is someone I know well.”
“I see. I'm curious, but are you unable to tell me anything at all?”
Han Soyoung paused as if in thought, then quietly opened her mouth.
“There's a newly founded clan called the Haemil Clan. They're the ones who need the Elixir. That's all I can tell you…”
“What? The Haemil Clan?”
The moment she said that, I felt my heart drop.
*
The night deepened. I went to my private quarters on the fourth floor of the main building and lay in bed, trying to sleep, but sleep wouldn't come.
Elixirs. Currently, Mercenary possessed a total of three. I originally had two vials, but I used one on Vivian, and later obtained two more from a Chaos Mimic. Their uses were already decided. One for me, one for Kim Yoohyun, and one for Han Soyoung.
If Han Soyoung's life had been in danger, I would have given it to her without a second thought. But the User who needed it wasn't Han Soyoung. My mind had been a tangled mess ever since our conversation ended. I squeezed my eyes shut and slowly replayed the conversation we'd had.
‘The Haemil Clan.’
‘Kim Yoohyun? Do you know the Haemil Clan's Lord?’
‘No. The User who needs it isn't Kim Yoohyun.’
‘It's a User who was attacked by a Banshee. They say an Elixir is the only way to save their life now. And that they have less than two weeks left…’
When I first heard her mention the Haemil Clan, the first person who came to mind was my older brother, Kim Yoohyun. I immediately asked, and was relieved to hear it wasn't him. But that didn't clear up my complicated feelings.
In the first playthrough, I was just an ordinary User at this point in time. My life consisted of finding one-day caravans in the plaza, busy just trying to make it from one day to the next. It was much later that I happened to meet my brother and join the Haemil Clan.
Of course, I remember the general course of my brother's path. For the next few years, the Haemil Clan would enjoy a string of successes, eventually becoming one of the top clans. However, I didn't know the detailed inner workings of the clan from the time before I joined. In other words, I had no idea who in the Haemil Clan needed an Elixir right now.
Why on earth won't she tell me…? Who could it be?
The more I thought, the more sleep seemed to flee from me. I tossed and turned for a while, but eventually gave up on sleeping and sat up. It seemed like I wouldn't be able to sleep unless I went down to the underground training ground and worked up a sweat.
With a restless heart, I got out of bed and had just grabbed the Sun and Moon Divine Sword.
Creeak…
Just then, I heard the sound of my door opening cautiously.