Chapter 29
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Demonstration Ceremony (1)
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Seo Yu-ju returned.
Everyone was so curious about the results that they couldn't hold back and asked her first, before she even opened her mouth.
"Yu-ju sis, how'd it go? We can all join the same clan, right...?"
Since Seo Yu-ju had only said she was going to resolve the clan joining issue, none of us—including me—knew which clan she was aiming for.
Our goal was for everyone to stick together and join the best clan possible, even if it wasn't one of the top three.
Seo Yu-ju smiled brightly as she replied.
"It's all sorted out. Don't worry. We can all join the Incarnation Clan."
Everyone marveled at the news she brought. It was just that hard to believe that all of us could join Incarnation Clan, one of the top three clans.
An Tae-woo asked in disbelief.
"...You're saying Incarnation Clan accepted me and everyone else?"
An Tae-woo looked utterly stunned at the idea of joining Incarnation Clan.
While the others were thrilled at the fact that we were all joining Incarnation Clan, I... couldn't understand Seo Yu-ju's choice.
'......Why Incarnation Clan?'
I'd thought she wouldn't join one of the top three or a major clan. After all, it would be hard for her to pursue her own goals there.
In a large clan, rank and seniority couldn't be ignored. Even with her knowledge from the first round, unless she was the clan master or a high-ranking executive, she wouldn't be able to act freely.
'What is she thinking? And even if they wanted to recruit her, accepting all nine of us?'
Considering the effort and cost of properly training even one clan member, it would've been impossible with words alone. There had to be some conditions attached, I figured.
'No way they'd take me and An Tae-woo without any strings attached.'
It bruised my pride to admit it, but my talent was truly abysmal.
To put it in perspective, among the trainees in Ha Yu-ri's lectures, I ranked second from the bottom purely by grades. My theory scores were decent, but my practical skills were just devoid of any talent.
For example, if others raised their mana stat by 3 after a month of training, I'd only gain 1. And that wasn't compared to geniuses like Yu-hyeon or Ha-eun—it was against people with utterly average talent.
An Tae-woo seemed to follow the lectures diligently, but his stat growth, as seen in his status window, was minimal.
Sure enough, Seo Yu-ju addressed my curiosity.
"But... there are conditions. I'm really sorry to Yun-seong and Tae-woo, but the benefits won't be the same for everyone. I truly apologize to the two of you..."
Seo Yu-ju bit her lip and bowed her head, genuinely sorry toward me.
Her apology made me uncomfortable, so I spoke up right away.
"No, Yu-ju. Please lift your head. Getting all of us into Incarnation Clan is a huge achievement. I'm fine with it."
".....Still, I really..."
As Seo Yu-ju tried to apologize again, An Tae-woo asked her with a slightly resentful expression.
"May I ask exactly what the differences in benefits are?"
"....Well, the most basic difference will be in annual salary."
"And 'well' implies there are other differences too."
".....Yes. If I had to guess, there's a high chance the standard gear we receive will differ as well."
"......."
"For people like me and the others, we'll get hero-grade armor and weapons... but for Tae-woo and Yun-seong, I think it'll be rare-grade gear."
An Tae-woo made it obvious he was deeply dissatisfied. I suspected he was hurt by the unequal treatment compared to the others.
'Well... I don't mind.'
Because Seo Yu-ju, with our connection from the first round, wouldn't mistreat me. She'd surely make it right later.
Looking at the others' faces, they seemed angry that my treatment was worse than theirs.
In the end, Yu-rim spoke up.
"...I'm not saying this to Yu-ju unnie, so please don't feel bad. I just... can't understand why Incarnation Clan can't see Yun-seong oppa's value."
"Yu-rim, I'm okay. I can improve my treatment through my actions once we're in. For now, I'm grateful we can all join together."
"....Yun-seong oppa. Why do you always undervalue yourself like this? You don't deserve this kind of treatment..."
Did I want to undervalue myself? No. I was doing this because I could raise my value after joining the clan.
After hearing my conversation with Yu-rim, Seo Yu-ju cautiously spoke to me, still concerned.
"....Um, Yun-seong. Should I go back to Kang Sung-jun and renegotiate...?"
"No need. I'm more than satisfied with this outcome, Yu-ju."
".....But..."
This conversation wasn't going to end, so I cleared my throat and addressed everyone.
"Everyone... you're misunderstanding something. I'm grateful you think highly of me, but Incarnation Clan is one of the top three. The fact that all nine of us can join is already incredible. Demanding more would be crossing the line."
Kang I-seo got a bit angry at my words and bristled.
"Hey! We're just thinking of you...!"
I cut her off coldly.
"We've only been on this continent for three months."
"......"
"You keep getting offers from clans, so maybe you've lost perspective... but we're rookies here. We could die anywhere, anytime if we're unlucky."
Even Hyun-jin, who was about to chime in after I-seo, shut his mouth upon hearing me.
"We felt like hotshots in the tutorial, but here? We need to watch our step. I'm thankful you're looking out for me, but making Yu-ju go back to Kang Sung-jun over something this minor? Just know the results could end up worse than this."
".....Got it."
"Good. Sorry if I came off cold... but let's end this here."
In the end, everyone nodded in agreement. As silence fell due to the atmosphere I'd created, Seo Yu-ju spoke up.
"Everyone's too tense now. Yun-seong didn't say that because he dislikes you all, so cheer up. Anyway... tomorrow's the demonstration ceremony, so let's prepare."
The demonstration ceremony was a chance for everyone to showcase their value to various clans. Close-combat classes would spar with instructors, magic-focused jobs would demonstrate spells, and so on. Usually, people joined the clan that made them an offer afterward.
In our party's case, we'd decided on a clan before the ceremony. Since all the clans already knew our party's value, waiting for the demonstration wouldn't change much.
Anyway, now that joining Incarnation Clan was set, I needed to tell Yoon Yeon I'd be declining her offer.
If she heard through the grapevine that I'd joined Incarnation Clan without a word from me, she might get angry at us.
Not that I thought she'd explode over it, but it was better to inform her in advance just in case.
I approached Seo Yu-ju quietly to say I'd be heading out to see Yoon Yeon.
"....Yu-ju. I'll go see Instructor Yoon Yeon for a bit."
The moment she heard Yoon Yeon's name, Seo Yu-ju's eyes widened, and she replied in a panicked voice.
"Why Instructor Yoon Yeon...? Wait, don't tell me... Yun-seong, are you joining Mythos Clan separately?! I knew it, I need to go see Kang Sung-jun again...!"
Seo Yu-ju started rambling as if in a panic.
"No, that's not it! Calm down...!"
"I-I'll do better! Please come with me...!"
"Please calm down! I have no intention of joining Mythos Clan."
"....Huh?"
"Whew... I'm not joining Mythos Clan. I just thought I should personally tell Instructor Yoon Yeon I'm declining her offer."
Realizing her mistake, Seo Yu-ju's face flushed with embarrassment.
"Oh... right, got it. Ahem, ahem..."
"....I'll be back."
"....Okay."
It didn't take long to reach Yoon Yeon's bedroom. I'd originally planned to go to her office, but there was a problem.
'Damn... Not knowing her office location but knowing her bedroom? What a mess...'
I didn't know where her office was.
I'd asked a few people I passed on the way, but no one knew.
'Damn... She won't break my neck for showing up at her bedroom, right?'
It was the only way I had to reach her. I wasn't even one of her lecture students.
As I stood quietly in front of the door for a moment, her voice came from inside.
"Don't just stand there in front of the door—come in."
"......."
I opened the door and entered. There sat Yoon Yeon on the bed, wearing only a robe over her bare skin. Her damp hair suggested she'd just showered.
I was momentarily flustered but pushed the feeling aside and spoke to her.
"...I've come to give you my answer regarding the offer you mentioned last time."
"Hm... A rejection?"
I flinched inwardly. I hadn't expected her to guess it right away.
".....How did you know?"
"What other reason would you have to visit me at this hour? You've decided on a clan and came to tell me. You're the type who cares a lot about others' feelings, after all."
"...I'm sorry. I'm truly grateful for the clan offer, but I'll have to decline."
"No need to apologize. It's your choice. From my side, it's a bit disappointing, but what can you do."
"......"
She chuckled lightly and added.
"Don't be so stiff. I'm not the type to get mad or annoyed over something like this."
I felt embarrassed that she'd seen through my worry about her potentially harming me.
"Ahem..."
"Mind if I ask why you declined? I'm just curious. Pure curiosity—no need to overthink it. I want to hear a rookie's perspective on our clan."
She seemed genuinely curious about the real reason I'd turned down her offer.
From her expression, if I pointed out any issues with her clan, she'd probably try to fix them.
'....Honestly, that's admirable.'
People in high positions often become arrogant, eventually stopping short of seeing their own flaws.
But not everyone starts that way. The position changes them.
They climb up by self-improving, heeding advice, and caring about others' views.
But once they're up there, not only do they change—the people around them do too.
For better or worse.
When positions shift, even old equals hesitate to point out flaws to those above.
Soon, no one calls out their issues, only yes-men remain, and arrogance creeps in unnoticed.
Hearing constant affirmations warps the brain into self-conviction.
For someone like Yoon Yeon in a high seat to seek out flaws in herself or her clan—that alone was no small feat.
That's why I respected Yoon Yeon as a person, separate from her being Mythos Clan's master.
And I realized one crucial fact.
In the first round, I had a high chance of joining her clan. Because the person herself was that appealing.