Chapter 76: A Bountiful Year for Mages
Chapter 76: A Bountiful Year for Mages
When I opened my eyes blearily, cool air and warm sunlight mingled inside the room. After tapping my head a few times and rubbing my shoulder, I sat up. Bright sunlight streamed through the window. In the past I would have complained that my body felt heavy, but I had not experienced that since beginning the second run. With high Durability and Magic Power, ordinary wounds and fatigue could be handled by natural recovery.
I twisted my neck, and a series of cracks echoed through the room. I shivered at the thrilling sensation of my bones popping into place, then carefully got out of bed. Ahn Hyun must have been exhausted, as he was sleeping like the dead. Next to him, the man named Shin Sangyong lay quietly with his eyes closed. The anesthetic Vivian had injected back when she was a spider should be wearing off soon. He would most likely wake up sometime today. I counted the day's tasks on my fingers and stretched my arms out wide.
Looking out the window, I saw the sun had already risen, shining brilliantly in the sky. The whole world was bright. It was the perfect clear day to pack a lunch and go for a picnic. Extending my senses to the next room, I could hear the even breathing of four Users. I quickly put on my basic gear, checked my pockets, and left the room.
As I descended the creaking wooden stairs, the inn’s quiet lobby came into view. There wasn't a single User in sight. This would only become more common the sooner the Golden Lion Clan launched their expedition to the Steel Mountains. Fools. I muttered a quiet curse and took a seat.
Ko Yeonju was dozing on a chair in the wide-open kitchen. I deliberately scraped a chair back and plopped down, and I saw her head snap up in surprise. As a User who had reached the ranks of the Ten Strong, if she didn't wake up from that much noise, it would be fair to assume she was only pretending to be asleep.
But that didn't seem to be the case, as Ko Yeonju staggered toward me with bleary eyes. It seemed like there were a few more Users here yesterday, and she must have overworked herself because of it. Still, with her level of stamina, she shouldn't be this exhausted from simple inn work. Did something happen? I tilted my head in curiosity, but since it was none of my business, I opened my mouth to greet her.
“Good morning.”
“Yeees… Good… morning… to you.”
She nodded, gracefully hiding the yawns that tried to escape. My eyes were drawn to her loose clothes and smooth legs. Feeling a little embarrassed for no reason, I turned my gaze to the menu. It was morning, so something simple would be best. After a moment of scanning the menu, I placed my order.
“Just the simple Course A for today…”
“Haa… hup. You’re so stingy. It’ll take a little while to make a fresh one.”
“I don’t know what’s so cheap about it. Anyway, you can just give me whatever was left over from yesterday.”
“I love you.”
At my kindness, Ko Yeonju’s face showed genuine relief. She winked and opened her mouth. I could just let that last comment slide.
“Sounds like you had a rough night yesterday.”
“Don’t even ask. Yesterday was tough, and today was tough. Users were flocking in until dawn. There were more than a few drunk guys hitting on me. I had to kick them out one by one. And collect payment for the food and damages. I'm so tired. My body is aching all over.”
As if she'd been waiting for me to ask, Ko Yeonju eagerly plopped down in the chair across from me. I gave a bitter smile. The mention of "damages" made me offer a silent prayer for the Users from last night. May their lower halves still be functional…
But why on earth did she sit across from me? I just wished she’d hurry up and bring my food. Despite my thoughts, she continued to vent in front of me. The Users were too forward. Being born beautiful was a sin. And so on.
Well, then. You could just not dress like that. Your cleavage is more than half-exposed, and your legs are barely covered up to your upper thighs. How could anyone just ignore that? Aren't you enjoying it, maybe? All sorts of thoughts flooded my mind. The words I wanted to say rose to the tip of my tongue, but I forced them back down. Instead of replying, I just shrugged and pulled a cigarette from my pocket.
Ko Yeonju stared intently at my reaction, her eyes narrowing. Pouting, she continued in a disgruntled tone.
“Oh my. How mean. Do you hate talking to me that much?”
“Huh? We were having a nice chat. What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“I’m very perceptive, you know. You were just thinking you wish I’d hurry up and bring your food, weren’t you?”
“N-No, I wasn’t.”
After my stammering response, Ko Yeonju, who had been chatting away, stood up with a pout. I could only manage a forced, awkward smile as thick beads of sweat ran down my face.
“You gave me the cold shoulder yesterday, too. Hmph. Do you think I act like this with just anyone?”
“I was just a little tired then…”
When I retorted with a stung expression, Ko Yeonju narrowed her languid eyes and snorted. With nothing else to say, I put the cigarette to my lips and lit it.
“I’m really hurt. Fine. The innkeeper will go get your food now.”
“It’s a misunderstanding. But could you warm up the food a little, please?”
“How ridiculous. You're making me look like I was just waiting for you.”
Muttering to herself loud enough for me to hear, she spun around so fast it made a whooshing sound. Ko Yeonju started walking toward the kitchen. One step. Two steps. Three steps. Four steps. As I silently watched her back, I took a long drag from my cigarette. The fragrant smoke filled my throat.
When I didn't stop her, Ko Yeonju finally turned back around. Seeing me enjoying my cigarette, she let out a deep sigh.
“Soohyun. Do people often tell you you’re dense?”
“Pardon?”
“When a woman says this much, don’t you get the hint?”
“…First, the food.”
I cruelly betrayed her expectations. Seeing that I was still demanding food, she rolled her eyes before stomping back toward me, closing the distance between us. Just in case, I braced myself for anything, but Ko Yeonju simply reached out a hand and deftly plucked the cigarette from my lips.
“Ah.”
“The Demure Lady is a nonsmoking establishment, sir.”
“It wasn’t when I came by yesterday afternoon. Most of the Users were smoking.”
At my words, she gave a soft smile and immediately refuted me.
“It’s non-smoking in the mornings, sir.”
“…That’s harsh.”
As I spoke with a sullen look, Ko Yeonju brought the cigarette she’d taken from me to her own lips. When I stared at her, she simply shrugged, just as I had done. Then, I watched as she took a vexing drag from it.
“Hoo. It’s the owner’s prerogative. I’ll enjoy this.”
She blew a seductive breath of smoke in my face and turned back toward the kitchen. Watching the female User walk away, swaying her hips, I took out another cigarette. This time, though she clearly knew, she didn't stop me.
*
Bread. Soup. Meat stew. The simple Course A. It was simple. But who would eat a huge meal in the morning for no good reason? If anything, this was just the right amount. I took a spoonful of the meat stew, put it in my mouth, and smiled at the tender texture of the meat. She said she’d bring leftovers, but it was obvious she had made it fresh.
I glanced over at Ko Yeonju, who was watching me with a sulky expression from a distance, and saw her diligently reading some kind of record. When did she turn her head? I couldn't claim to know her well, but I knew she was unreserved with people she liked. Did that mean she liked me? A strange sense of pride washed over me, and I felt my mood lift.
“Tsk, tsk…”
Suddenly, I heard Ko Yeonju click her tongue as she read. It was undoubtedly some kind of bulletin detailing the Golden Lion Clan’s movements. Which meant she was thinking the same thing I was. Getting ahead of myself and wondering if this could be an opening to recruit her, I lowered my head to focus on my food again. It was then.
Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.
I heard the sound of someone quietly descending the stairs. Ahn Hyun and Lee Yoojung didn't make that kind of sound when they came down. And Ahn Sol’s steps were a little more cautious than that. But these footsteps sounded somewhat hesitant, yet possessed a restrained grace. It varied from User to User, but these were typically the footsteps of a mage.
The tapping sound soon stopped. It seemed they had reached the bottom of the stairs. Without turning around, I raised a hand and gestured for them to come over. As if they understood my signal, the hesitant footsteps began to slowly approach my table.
Sensing a presence behind me, I offered a greeting in a low voice.
“You’re awake. Are you feeling alright?”
“…I’m a little weak, but I’m okay. In that case…”
“Yes. My party and I found you in the dungeon and rescued you.”
A clear voice reached my ears. It was definitely the female mage from the rescued group. After seeing Jung Hayeon standing beside me, I pointed to the chair in front of me. Following my finger, she gently sat down and bowed her head.
“First, thank you for saving me. I’m Jung Hayeon, a second-year User. My Class is Normal Mage.”
Instead of small talk, she first expressed her gratitude and then stated her name and class. She was a User with at least a basic sense of courtesy. Her first impression passed my test, and I took a moment to look at her face.
A beauty with an obviously kind face was staring at me with vacant eyes. Honestly, Ahn Sol, Lee Yoojung, and Kim Hanbyul were so pretty and uniquely charming that they set a high bar, but the woman before me, Jung Hayeon, was quite attractive in her own right.
A short haircut that didn't touch her shoulders, and innocent, wide eyes. Yet there was also an elegant grace and an intellectual air about her. She had an aura that seemed like a mix of Kim Hanbyul, Ahn Sol, and Vivian. She was the type who would immediately place first in a popularity poll among the upperclassmen and her peers if you dropped her into a university orientation.
“I’m Kim Soohyun, a zero-year User. My Class is in the Swordsman line.”
At my mention of being a Year 0 User, Jung Hayeon’s eyes widened. But when I mentioned I had a party, she nodded in understanding and waited for me to continue.
Her attitude was growing on me, and my expression softened. A faint smile touched my lips. If she had been pushy from the start, I’d planned to give her a vague answer and tell her to get lost, but Jung Hayeon knew her place all too well. I spoke to her in a gentle voice, making sure to include the information she wanted to know.
“My party rescued you from the dungeon yesterday, so… you must have been unconscious for at least two or three days. You must be thirsty and hungry, so please, eat first.”
“You’re very kind. Thank you for your hospitality. I’ll gratefully accept.”
I called Ko Yeonju over and ordered another Course A. While it took her a while before, this time she brought the food out in less than five minutes. It was obviously cold, looking like yesterday's leftovers. I let out a faint smile.
As I started eating again, she also carefully picked up her spoon. She had stumbled a few times on her way over, and she must have been quite hungry, because she ate without hesitation. She only looked up again after she had finished a bowl of soup and a bottle of water.
“I’m sorry… but may I ask what happened to the rest of my party?”
“Mm. Of course. I’ll tell you everything. But why don’t you finish your meal first…”
I deliberately changed the subject. I could have just said, “Everyone but Shin Sangyong is dead. The archer and the priest were torn to shreds. Your sister, Jung Jiyeon, became a monster's semen receptacle and was turned into a host body for birthing its spawn. Her belly was even swollen, probably because she was pregnant.” That would have been easier for me. But I changed the subject as a gentle consideration for her. My intention was to let her regain her strength after eating, since telling her the truth right now might send her into shock.
Having survived in the Hall Plain for two years, she must have understood the implication behind my words to some extent. Her face turned pale and her lips trembled, and soon, a single tear rolled down her cheek. Seeing the beauty's tears, I added calmly.
“It might be a small comfort in this tragedy, but it wasn't a total wipeout. There’s still one other person upstairs who hasn’t regained consciousness. So…”
My words seemed to give her a sliver of strength. And perhaps she finally grasped her situation. Jung Hayeon nodded once and wiped the tear from her cheek.
When I glanced over, Ko Yeonju was looking at Jung Hayeon with a pitying expression. When our eyes met, she shook her head. It seemed she was pretending not to care while listening to everything. I sighed inwardly.
For a while, the only sound between us was the clinking of our spoons. But she only picked at her plate, either because the soup had sated her hunger or because she had lost her appetite. Seeing Jung Hayeon with her head bowed low, I judged that the time had come and slowly began to speak.