Chapter 105
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 105
Chapter Title: Rewards
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Seo Yu-ju and I were emerging from the royal palace treasury, each carrying an item we'd selected.
She had chosen a spear, and I had picked a bow.
Call of Light: Lumen (Legendary Grade)
A legendary spear said to summon light for its wielder. Legends claim the power within it eradicates evil and bathes the world in radiance. Equipping it increases the user's Strength and Agility by 2, and Mana by 4. Additionally, depending on the user's prowess, the weapon's innate power can be unleashed.
'...Nice.'
It was obviously an incredible weapon at a glance.
I was a Dark Sorcerer, so the part about eradicating evil rubbed me the wrong way a bit, but Seo Yu-ju wasn't about to stab me with it anytime soon, so it didn't matter.
Pioneer's Bow: Pioneer (Legendary Grade)
The bow of the pioneer. It is said that whoever wields it will forge their own destiny and open new frontiers. It corrects arrow accuracy and infuses arrows with the weapon's unique mana. Equipping it increases Agility by 4 and Mana by 4.
This was the bow I'd chosen. I'd originally considered a shield for Uncle Ho-won, but I decided it was better to reward clan members who hadn't received anything yet, so I went with this bow instead.
'Kang I-seo already has the Sharpshooter trait, so it should pair perfectly with her.'
Back in the room where the clan members were gathered, I handed the weapon to Kang I-seo. She looked utterly stunned, like she hadn't dreamed she'd be the one receiving it.
"Uh...? W-What's this?"
"...Your weapon from now on."
"M-Me? This is my weapon?"
"Yeah, you idiot."
It must have been a huge shock. Normally, she'd explode in a fit of curses at being called an idiot, but now she just stared blankly at the weapon.
"Congrats, Noona."
"Congrats, I-seo Unnie!"
"Uh... Why me? I didn't even go on this commission..."
"Well... Jae-hyo said from the start he didn't need any rewards, and you're the ones along with Ha-eun who haven't gotten any shares of achievements so far."
"Then someone else's..."
She seemed pretty burdened by the idea of receiving it herself.
I got it. Despite her fiery appearance, Kang I-seo was considerate and quick to yield in situations like this.
"I looked at the others, but by my standards, this bow was the best item out of everything."
"....."
"Just take it, man. It's impossible to swap it out now that we've already brought it."
"...Okay. Thanks..."
With the rewards distributed, there was no reason to stay in the palace any longer. The palace side had said they'd handle the subjugation operation themselves.
The palace didn't seem eager to beg help from outsiders.
Obviously, the moment they asked outsiders for aid, they'd have to offer compensation in return.
After handing the bow to Kang I-seo, Seo Yu-ju addressed everyone.
"Alright, time to head back. The palace provided a carriage, so we'll take it on the way home too."
It was time to go. Back home.
The group boarding the carriage was shocked to see Sharis already seated inside.
Seo Yu-ju knew the situation because I'd explained it, but the others didn't, so their reaction was natural.
It would be weirder not to freak out over some stranger they'd never seen plopped down in their carriage.
Besides, while they'd seen Sharis before, it had been in disguise.
Her current appearance was her true form, so it was no surprise they didn't recognize her.
"Uh... Bro... There's a stranger in the carriage."
"W-Who are you? Yun-seong oppa, is this the wrong carriage...?"
"No, this is our carriage. Everyone, get on board first. I'll explain on the way."
They boarded hesitantly, looking bewildered by my words.
Soon the carriage set off, and everyone except me, Seo Yu-ju, and Sharis exchanged awkward glances.
"First off... This is Sharis. She's a native, but she'll be joining our clan from now on."
"....Huh?"
They all stared at me like they had no idea what was going on.
Who could blame them? Introducing a new clan member out of nowhere—and a native with a familiar-sounding name, at that.
"Oppa... Sharis? Like the maid from the mansion? Are you a namesake or something?"
Yu-rim's question gave me pause on how to respond.
It wasn't a namesake; she was that Sharis the maid. But explaining it all sounded like a headache.
"...Uh... No, not a namesake. She's that Sharis the maid."
"Huh?"
The group looked like their brains had collectively frozen.
I took my time explaining everything slowly—from Sharis's true identity to what had gone down at the palace.
At first, they looked incredulous, but once they grasped Sharis's identity, they started stealing glances at her, gauging her mood.
The maid they'd seen at the mansion was a far cry from her current demeanor and bearing, so it was understandable.
Sharis hadn't spared a single glance at me or the group since earlier. She just stared out the window with a sour expression.
"Sharis. I get that you're in a bad mood, but if you keep sulking like that, it'll make everyone else uncomfortable. Cheer up a bit?"
She snorted and let out a sigh before speaking in a cold tone.
"Hah... You'd be in a good mood? And why should I care if others are uncomfortable?"
'...This attitude is a problem.'
She could act like this when we were alone, but with the whole group here, it was an issue.
I didn't want everyone watching me and Sharis's every move.
"Sharis the maid."
"Don't call me maid all of a sudden..."
She trailed off as our eyes met, unable to continue.
Eventually, she slowly lowered her gaze.
'That's right. Behave yourself, got it?'
I'd warned her explicitly before sending her to the carriage. No bitchy attitudes.
Right now, she was magically bound to me—like a slave contract.
I could control her life and death, and if I wanted, inflict all sorts of pain.
Even alter her senses.
'Magic sure is convenient.'
Of course, I had no intention of torturing or abusing her, but if she kept getting snippy, I couldn't predict how I'd react.
'I'm not exactly patient.'
She knew that, which was why she hurriedly averted her eyes and quieted down.
With Sharis behaving, the group gradually started chatting among themselves as time passed.
A few days after we returned to the clan house, the palace made a big announcement about the incident.
Word spread that our clan had captured the drug distributor, naturally boosting our standing and reputation.
Of course, everything about Sharis remained classified. Nothing related to her was revealed.
Interestingly, while the players' views improved as expected, our reputation among the natives skyrocketed too.
Probably because we'd actively resolved an issue tied to the neutral nation.
In truth, we'd successfully shed the image of a declining clan.
The expedition's success, clearing the commission, and even the truth behind Mythos Clan's outlaw spy claim.
My own reputation rose accordingly, and now when people heard "Eternity Clan's Seo Yu-ju and Lee Yun-seong," plenty nodded in recognition.
'Very successful.'
It had been a long journey since the Library of Records.
This was just the beginning, but the explosive growth was inevitable—and thrilling.
No other clan had grown this rapidly in such a short time. Eternity Clan was unique.
Now, the thing to focus on was Sharis.
'Where should I put her to use?'
She was combat-capable, but without expeditions, I had no clue where to assign her.
'She doesn't know office work and can only do menial chores like back when she was a maid. Hmm...'
I could have her do chores, but wasting such high-caliber talent on that felt like a shame.
"...Is menial labor really the only thing you know how to do?"
"So what do you want from me? Should I experiment with dark magic here?"
'Her mouth is as foul as ever...'
"Your tone is pretty shitty."
"...We're alone. You said only to act up when others are around."
"Sigh... Fine. By the way... No feelings for your old comrades?"
The reason for my question was simple. The palace's subjugation operation was coming up soon.
"Comrades? Don't lump me in with those lunatics. Neither they nor I ever saw each other that way."
"Still, you all served the same demon or whatever."
"Doesn't matter. You outsiders have this misconception—you think demons are evil and angels are good. Drop that prejudice. It's useless."
"What do you mean?"
"Sigh... Demons and angels are just different in appearance and name. They're both higher beings, nothing more. Only a tiny fraction of demons interfere with the middle realm, and even fewer are outright mad."
She was saying demons and angels were essentially the same.
'This bears close attention.'
"Then why does the Holy Kingdom reject dark magic and demons? Doesn't that contradict what you're saying?"
"...Because it's a nation dominated by the angels' side. The Holy Kingdom rejects dark magic and demons, sure, but they only hunt those that actually harm the middle realm."
"Don't they kill all dark sorcerers?"
"Demons and dark sorcerers are different. Dark sorcerers can only be those whose personal karma leans heavily evil. Demons aren't inherently evil, but dark sorcerers are composed solely of near-villainous types for that reason."
'Damn... So that's why there was no sorcerer option in my job selection? Ha Yu-ri's words back at the training facility were true?'
I'd dismissed Ha Yu-ri's comment as dark sorcerer hate, but it seemed like the truth.
"...So you and I are villains?"
"Don't drag me into it—it creeps me out. I can wield dark magic, but I'm not technically a dark sorcerer. You... You're not a full villain yet, but you carry the potential to become one."
I guess I'd thoroughly rubbed her the wrong way.
She spoke with such disgust that it was impossible not to feel a sting.
"...Alright, got it."
I'd stumbled onto facts I hadn't known until now.