As soon as Yun-Jung revealed her face, she burst into sorrowful tears. Her feelings at that moment must have been incredibly complicated. Even though she knew she was in the wrong, she stubbornly held out with a youthful defiance. But over time, she must have felt increasingly like an outsider within the group. On top of that, when even I—someone she considered her last stronghold—didn't come looking for her and left her be, that probably pushed her into even greater despair.
I brought both arms inward to help her up and pulled her into an embrace. She cried even more pitifully, and I continuously patted her back to comfort her.
"Aaah... Oppa... I'm sorry... I'm so sorry... Ughhh..."
"There, there. My sweet Yun-Jung. It's okay now, stop crying. That's it…"
"Oppa, I'm sorry… sob sob I was wrong…"
Yun-Jung kept repeating, "I'm sorry." Those words probably carried a lot of layered meanings. Honestly, on the way there, I had thought that if she kept insisting she'd done nothing wrong, I might have to scold her pretty harshly. But the moment I saw her reaction, that intention melted away like snow.
Though Yun-Jung was usually loud and quick-tempered, she also had a surprisingly pure side to her. I gently whispered that everything was okay, softly comforting her.
Who knows how much time had passed. I felt like it was the first time I'd ever seen Yun-Jung cry for this long. I carefully wiped the tear tracks off her flushed, swollen face and spoke to her in a calm, gentle voice.
"Have you cried your heart out now?"
"..."
She didn't answer, but I could feel her head nodding a few times against my chest.
"Haha. Where did the fiery woman who was cursing up a storm just a while ago go? Now there's only a little crybaby left."
"…I-I wasn't yelling at you… I thought you were him…"
So she was talking about An-Hyun when she said that guy. Curious about what exactly had happened, I decided to probe a little.
"Still… scratching and hitting him like that was a bit much, don't you think?"
"Nooo… hic… it's because he kept saying nonsense… hic…"
"I see. What did An-Hyun say to you?"
She was still hiccuping, not quite done crying. But at my question, Yun-Jung lifted her face from my chest, her expression full of hurt, and finally began to speak.
"He just barged in and started saying… 'Aren't you ashamed, acting like this in front of everyone?'… then he said I was just jealous of him for getting a rare class or whatever…"
"And then?"
"And then… he said that because of what happened with Go Yeon-Joo the other day, you probably saw me in a really bad light… that I should hurry up and go to you… hic And then he suddenly kicked off the blanket and started dragging me out without listening to anything I said… I was already feeling terrible, and then that just pushed me over the edge…"
"I see… I only told him to bring you back—I didn't know all that happened."
"Mmhh…"
As I responded to her gently, Yun-Jung looked a bit more at ease and buried her face back into my chest. I let out a quiet, amused sigh as I looked at her damp, tousled hair.
Strictly speaking, An-Hyun hadn't said anything wrong. But he was utterly clueless when it came to reading women. Instead of trying to ease into the topic delicately, he just threw blunt words at her without a second thought—especially to someone like Yun-Jung. On top of that, since he'd gotten that rare class, he'd been flaunting it—maybe not overtly, but enough to rub people the wrong way. So it was no wonder Yun-Jung had taken it badly.
I gently stroked her silky hair and began to speak in a calm, even voice.
"He was harsh with his words, sure… but you do know it wasn't all nonsense, right?"
"Yeah… Honestly… the moment he said it, I couldn't even argue. I wanted to say something, anything, but… no words came out. And yet the frustration just kept building and building… so I ended up lashing out with swearing and… hitting him…"
Her response came in a dry, almost hollow tone. Then, in a small, miserable voice, she continued.
"I know, I really do sound ridiculous and pathetic… I act all high and mighty in front of everyone, but when it comes down to it, I behave like this. Just like An-Hyun said—how could anyone take me seriously now? Instead of congratulating a teammate for their success, all I showed was ugly jealousy…"
"It's okay. The fact that you realize it—that's enough for now. If you're genuinely thinking that way, then you've already taken the first real step forward. Admitting and confronting your own flaws… that's the very first step on the path to growth."
"You really think so? You always say such nice things…"
Hearing the downcast tone in Yun-Jung's voice, I felt the moment was right. I gently lifted her head so her eyes met mine, and spoke with a serious expression.
"I'm not just saying it to make you feel better. Yun-Jung… do you truly want to become stronger?"
Maybe it was the sincerity in my voice, but she nodded without hesitation.
"Yeah. I don't know what you think, but… I want a rare or even a secret class too. I feel like I've barely been useful in fights lately… and if things keep going like this, I'm scared I'll get left behind for good."
"It's true that rare and secret classes have advantages—especially secret ones. Each of them comes with a unique ability, so the power gap is definitely real. But that doesn't mean regular classes are just weaker by default. It all comes down to how you use your skills, your stats, your class traits… and how you combine them with the world mechanics in Hall Plain."
"…You really think that's enough…?"
"They say that out of the current Top 10, two of them are using normal classes. Sure, the other eight have rare or secret classes—but that just means those two managed to break through a narrow gate by honing their strengths to the limit. If I were you, I'd look up to them as role models and push through, no matter how narrow the path gets. And don't forget—your class, Mercenary, actually has a lot of potential. More than you think."
After the failed expedition to the Steel Mountains, the battle among the vagrants, and the first civil war, there would be significant changes in the lineup of the Top 10. But for now, what I said was still true. In fact, there were players who had earned fame even with standard classes. I could remember more than a few from the first cycle.
Of course, players with rare or secret classes were far more common among the elite, but that didn't mean Yun-Jung had no potential. Not at all. And honestly, I wasn't expecting her to reach the level of the Top 10 anyway. I'd be satisfied if she simply grew into a high- or upper-tier player who could back me up in the future. I'll say it again: considering she was still in her zero year, her stats were by no means lacking.
I reached into my coat and pulled out the demon sword, Sculepf. The moment she saw the blade, rusted red, a look of curiosity lit up on Yun-Jung's face. Outwardly, it looked like a simple curved shortsword that could be swung one-handed—but it was, without question, a terrifying weapon classified as a demon sword.
It was the demon sword of the high-ranking demon Belphegor. Though it appeared rusted, it possessed exceptional durability and razor-sharp cutting power. Wounds inflicted by it caused continuous bleeding due to the blade's curse, and the more blood it drank, the redder the blade would grow, radiating an increasingly lethal aura.
I'd debated for a long time about whether or not to give it to her. No matter how powerful it was, it was still a demon sword. The more one used Sculepf, the more their mind would deteriorate. And in the end… they could become a madman—consumed by the desire to kill and the thirst for blood.
Even so, there were two reasons why I was giving it to her now.
The first was that I could control Sculepf. Whether it was because I was a Sword Specialist or due to the influence of my True Name—the sword's rightful master—I couldn't be sure. But from the moment we met, Sculepf had submitted to me. Considering demon swords usually hunger to consume their wielder, the faint vibration it gave off in the room earlier was practically nothing. The moment Yun-Jung showed even the slightest sign of instability, I was prepared to discard the blade immediately.
The second reason had to do with the synergy—the compatibility—between Yun-Jung and the demon sword. Yun-Jung was someone who could be endlessly soft and loyal toward people she liked, yet had an intense aversion, even hatred, toward those she disliked. That trait had already shown itself more than once in battle. And it was precisely that aspect I wanted to tap into. If Sculepf could draw out that side of Yun-Jung's personality in a balanced way, then it could bring out far more efficiency and power in her than she currently had.
"Oppa… this ugly-looking dagger is… what exactly…?"
Before she could even finish her sentence, Sculepf let out a low hum—"Wuuung!" Startled, Yun-Jung flinched and pulled her head back. I let a faint smile slip across my lips as I watched her reaction.
"It's something I picked up from the Ruined laboratory. A demon sword once wielded by the demon Belphegor—its name is Sculepf."
"A demon sword? Sculepf…?"
As Yun-Jung tilted her head and reached out her hand toward it, I casually pulled the sword back out of her reach. She stared at me with confused eyes, and I began to explain without delay.
"Listen carefully. Sculepf is a type of demon sword. Demon swords are often infused with dark magical energy—things like sorrow, desire, curses, calamity. That kind of power is undeniably strong, but it always comes at a cost. It affects the mind of the one who wields it. Sculepf, for instance, won't be satisfied unless it drinks blood in the heat of battle."
"..."
"But that doesn't mean demon swords are automatically evil. Holy swords are similar in that sense. They also demand a price from their players every time their powers are invoked. In the end, the difference between a holy sword and a demon one is razor-thin. If you can dominate this sword, Yun-Jung, you'll absolutely grow—far more than where you are now. But if you can't control it, if you let it drag you around instead… then that power will eventually destroy you."
Of course, I was here as a safeguard against that possibility. But Yun-Jung didn't know that. Her lips pressed tightly together, her expression hardened, and her outstretched hand froze midair. Watching her carefully, I continued in a level, dry tone.
"That's why I hesitated. I couldn't make up my mind on whether to give Sculepf to you or not. But seeing how much you've been struggling lately… in the end, I decided to at least talk to you about it. So now the choice is yours. You can take the sword and gamble with it—or you can keep going like you are now, gaining more experience before challenging something like this."
"A… gamble?"
"Yeah. The moment you take hold of Sculepf, whether you like it or not, a part of who you used to be will be lost. If you're okay with that… if you still want to push through and find a breakthrough somehow—then go ahead. Do whatever your heart tells you."
"…Oppa…"
Seeing Yun-Jung call out to me with that uneasy expression, I smiled softly. Then, without a word, I placed Sculepf gently on the table. Turning slowly, I spoke in a calm voice.
"This isn't something I can decide for you. And I'm not saying you have to make a choice right this second, either. There's still time before we move out, so think it over—slowly."
I could feel her eyes on my back, almost like she wanted to reach out and stop me. But I kept walking toward the door with steady steps. Just as I was about to leave the room, I paused and glanced back over my shoulder.
"I'd like to see the bright, cheerful Yun-Jung I used to know. So I hope… that tomorrow morning, I can see you smiling again."
"…Mmh."
Yun-Jung's eyes shifted back and forth between the demon blade resting on the table and my face. It was her first major decision since entering Hall Plain. She was probably feeling incredibly anxious. I could see her fidgeting with uncertainty—and so, I decided to offer just a little more reassurance.
"Whatever choice you make, Yun-Jung… I'll respect it. I promise."
And with those final words, I turned and walked out the door.
*
The second-floor hallway of the inn Modest Lady was cloaked in deep darkness. As I made my way down the stairs, I mulled over what had just happened.
From the start, I had achieved the goal I had in mind—bringing Yun-Jung back to her place among us. As for Sculepf, I felt it was best to leave the decision entirely up to her.
She could take it—or not. Either was fine. I was genuinely curious to see what choice she'd make with the time left to her.
Just as I was about to ascend the stairs, lost in thought, I suddenly paused mid-step. One foot on the stair, the other still on the floor, I turned my gaze toward a shadowed corner.
There was no one there. At least, not visibly. But my finely tuned senses weren't so easily deceived.
Even though I was staring directly at the spot, the hallway remained dead silent, as if holding its breath. After a long moment with no response, I finally spoke up in a quiet, measured voice.
"…Come out."
Silence. Total and unmoving silence.
Despite my words, the chilly stillness hung heavy between the stairwell and the corridor. On the surface, the hiding job was quite impressive—but not enough to escape the perception of my third eye.
I let out a quiet sigh, reached into my coat, and pulled out a cigarette. Instead of heading up the stairs, I turned and descended again, slowly walking toward the space where I knew her mouth was.
Without a word, I held out the cigarette toward her.
"..."
She probably never expected that I'd be able to pinpoint the exact location of her face, down to the position of her lips. But just as I suspected, something invisible stirred faintly in front of me—and a moment later, I felt the subtle tug of someone gently biting down on the cigarette's tip.
.
.
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