All eyes were on me, but I kept a calm expression. Showing panic here would mean falling right into Go Yeon-Joo's scheme. After letting out a light scoff, I began to explain calmly. I briefly outlined the events so far, mentioning that my deal with her had ended as of yesterday and that she had officially joined our newly formed clan. The fact that we had a brief sparring session to test each other's skills was just a minor anecdote.
My companions showed varied reactions to my words. Some were surprised by the fact that there had been such a deal between me and Go Yeon-Joo, others were shocked that she was officially joining our clan, and then there was the clueless resident who was simply amazed by the lavish food she brought, paying no attention to my story. I felt a bit disappointed that no one seemed to care that I had beaten the Top 10, though I had somewhat sugarcoated that part myself.
Since I explained things slowly and in detail, I expected the food to arrive mid-conversation, but surprisingly, it came near the end. Go Yeon-Joo arrived with a cart piled high with dishes. The disheveled look she had earlier was gone, replaced by a bright, smiling expression as she set the food down one by one.
"Wow, player Go Yeon-Joo! I heard from Hyung. Welcome to the clan!"
"Hm? Haha, looks like Su-Hyeon already spilled the beans. Thanks anyway."
Despite no one giving her permission, Go Yeon-Joo spoke informally, but no one dared object. Given her seniority and current status, it was only natural. The kids didn't seem to mind her casual tone either—a huge improvement compared to the initial friction. An-Hyun, in particular, was excitedly pointing at the food and chattering away.
"What's this meat? It looks so perfectly grilled, my mouth's watering just looking at it. And what's this sprinkled on top…?"
"Oh, that's an herb called Pagra. It gets rid of the meat's gamey smell when eaten together, and it's especially great for male stamina."
"W-what? Oh, uh, I see. Then this dish…?"
"That's thinly sliced potatoes stir-fried on a griddle with melted cheese on top. Not modern cheese, mind you, but cheese from the Hall Plain. It's especially great for male stamina."
"…"
"And this is a fresh, crisp vegetable salad. Give it a try. It's especially great for male stamina."
An-Hyun seemed to give up on asking further questions. Undeterred, Go Yeon-Joo kept talking. Every time she placed a dish down, she glanced at me and subtly pushed those three dishes closer to me, making it clear her actions were deliberate. I hadn't expected her to reignite the tension like this, and I was genuinely flustered this time.
"Haha… the table's practically groaning under all this food."
As an awkward atmosphere settled, player Shin Sang-Yong gave a sheepish laugh, trying to lighten the mood. Amid the narrowed gazes of some companions, I looked at Vivienne, who was blissfully happy about the abundant food, and mentally retracted my earlier comment about the clueless resident.
With that, we—or rather, I—barely managed to finish the meal, navigating the morning's fiasco. Go Yeon-Joo's persistent recommendations of those specific dishes sparked a surge of anger in me, but I vowed to pay her back properly someday and chewed each bite thoroughly.
After finishing the late breakfast-cum-lunch, the first topic the group brought up was the Chaos Mimic. The kids were itching to open it right away, but I shook my head. Even if we opened it, we'd need to let the smoke clear before retrieving the contents, and I also needed to grab the sword and the remaining elixir bottle. Of course, I couldn't mention that last part. So, I firmly stated we'd open it only after the chaos had fully dissipated. Even if we started venting the smoke now, it'd likely take until evening, so the opening would have to wait.
Seeing the kids' disappointed faces, I gave a wry smile and shared some uplifting news. I told them they'd get a day off today. I'd entrust a bit of spending money to player Jung Ha-Yeong, so they didn't have to train today if they didn't want to. That seemed to cheer them up, and their expressions brightened. I had my own ulterior motives, of course. Anticipating their return later, I quietly asked Ha-Yeong to come to my office after the meal.
*
The table and chair in the third-floor private room, where I hadn't sat in a while. I looked down at the record I had just scribbled. Whenever things got complicated, I had a habit of writing them down and organizing them afterward—a kind of ritual.
Issuing two performance certificates. Submitting the expedition report. Opening the Chaos Mimic and handling its rewards. Applying for clan establishment. Recruiting Go Yeon-Joo. I drew two heavy lines through the last item, Go Yeon-Joo's recruitment. Then, I scribbled with the quill pen, adding one more item at the top.
Information gathering. I needed to find out what was going on with the Vagrant Extermination Plan and the movements of the Golden Lion Clan. By now, Go Yeon-Joo was probably diligently collecting information, so I'd likely hear something by tomorrow evening at the latest. Before that, sending the kids out to get a rough sense of the city's atmosphere wouldn't be a bad idea.
Knock, knock.
Just then, as I was twirling the quill pen and lost in thought, I heard a knock at the door. "Come in," I replied, and the office door creaked open slightly. The player who stepped inside was a refined beauty with short hair.
"Su-Hyeon-ssi, you called for me?"
"Yes, Ha-Yeong-ssi. Come closer."
At my call, she closed the door firmly. There was a faint click as something locked. As I tilted my head in curiosity, she approached the table, pulled a chair right next to me, and sat down.
Ha-Yeong's face was remarkably calm, almost as if it were crafted. A strange feeling washed over me, but I decided to start with some preamble. I reached into my pocket, pulled out a prepared money pouch, and spoke.
"Ha-Yeong-ssi, I called you because I have a favor to ask."
"Looking after the kids?"
"Haha… something like that. Would you like to explore the city a bit today?"
"It doesn't sound like it's just for sightseeing."
Seeing her sharp as ever, I nodded. It was time to get to the point.
"You're right. We've barely been in Mule for a day, but the city feels too quiet."
"Hm, I'm not quite following."
"It seems like players are starting to arrive. If that's the case, there should at least be some rumors floating around. Even if we set aside the Vagrant Extermination Plan, there should be talk about the Golden Lion Clan's march to the Iron Mountains or the excavation of dungeons. But I haven't heard a single thing."
"Hmm. It could be because we just arrived. The Golden Lion Clan might still be in the middle of their campaign. But if it's about dungeons, that's a big deal, and the lack of any reaction is definitely suspicious."
As expected, her mind worked quickly. She pinpointed exactly what was bothering me. I slid the record toward her and continued.
"Exactly. That's why I'm planning to visit the temple right away. The two dungeons aren't as far as the Cave Of Wailing, and it doesn't make sense that they couldn't investigate them in three weeks. Something else is going on."
"I see. So, you want me and the other players to wander the city and gather information."
"Right. But since it's under the guise of a day off, don't push yourselves too hard. Just relax, eat something nice, and get a feel for the city's vibe."
"That's not too difficult. But…"
Ha-Yeong hesitated, her eyes fixed on the record, specifically the crossed-out line at the bottom. After a moment of reluctance, she lowered her gaze with a sullen expression, clutching the money pouch.
"No, it's nothing. I'll head out then."
"Wait a second."
"Eek…"
As she started to rise, I grabbed her arm and gently pulled her back down. She hadn't expected me to do that and sat back down with a flustered look.
"What's wrong? You don't look happy."
"…"
Ha-Yeong avoided my gaze without a word. But as I kept staring at her, she finally bit her lip tightly.
"I'm sorry."
"Sorry for what?"
"For… for doubting you this morning. And then feeling relieved after hearing your explanation."
"What's that about? It was just a one-on-one spar. I haven't done that yet, so don't worry."
"Yet…"
Ha-Yeong repeated the word 'yet' with a sad smile. Realizing I'd misspoken, I opened my mouth to correct myself, but she quietly shook her head, stopping me. Then, she spoke calmly.
"I guess I still haven't let go of the emotions from the modern world. This is the Hall Plain. These things are bound to happen. I know I'm being overly sensitive, and I'm sorry for making you worry unnecessarily."
"No…"
"It's ridiculous jealousy, isn't it? I seduced you, and I chose to be with you. From the kids' perspective, I'm just as bad. And I have no right to hold you back…"
This wasn't like the usual Ha-Yeong. She seemed composed on the surface, but her rambling words betrayed the tangle of thoughts in her head. What should I say in a moment like this? As I pondered, a conversation from my first life between two players suddenly came to mind.
I quietly looked up and gazed at Ha-Yeong. The woman who always appeared calm and intellectual was now standing before me, her face flushed, looking flustered and unsure. Her expression seemed sad, yet that sadness and her every gesture somehow stirred a pleasant feeling within me. And then it happened.
Thump.
Just once, but I could feel the beat of my heart in my chest. At the same time, unfamiliar yet not unpleasant emotions spread through my entire body. No, perhaps not unfamiliar—maybe these were emotions I had lost? Without thinking, acting purely on reflex, I reached for the drawer. I had carefully placed Horrence's orb in there last night.
But my hand couldn't muster the strength to pull the handle.
I could sense Ha-Yeong's anxiety. If it had been Go Yeon-Joo, she would have laughed it off breezily. But in this regard, Ha-Yeong was still a player who hadn't fully shed the shadows of Earth, of the modern world. Moreover, having shared her first experience with me, she seemed to place even greater significance on it.
In other aspects, she was a player who had adapted admirably, but it was clear that certain sensitive areas—her 'reverse scale,' so to speak—weren't so easily healed. She was undoubtedly confused by the gap between modern values and the reality of relationships in the Hall Plain.
"…"
It wasn't that I couldn't muster the strength; I chose not to. It was an act of my own will. I released the handle. For now, I wanted to ride the wave of these emotions coursing through me.
Ha-Yeong, realizing she was rambling, had clamped her mouth shut. Hoping the conversation I recalled between those two players would prove effective, I gently reached for her shoulder. She trembled as my hand approached, as if she wanted to flee, but in the end, she didn't shy away from my touch.
And the moment I placed my hand on her shoulder and pulled her gently toward me…
"Ah…"
Like something out of a dream, she melted into my arms. I slowly stroked her trembling body and her hair, then spoke.
"Ha-Yeong, do you remember the day we first shared our feelings?"
"How could I forget that day? I remember it."
"You said back then that you wanted to be one of the people I cherish."
"And you said you weren't cruel enough to push away someone who likes you, who relies on you, who wants to lean on you. You said you didn't care about people who dislike you or others outside your circle. You're too busy looking after those close to you. You asked if that was a bad thing."
As I recalled her words, she recited what I had said next, word for word. The fact that she remembered so precisely showed how vividly that day was etched in her memory. It must have been a profoundly significant day for her. I held her even tighter and continued.
"Yes. Let me say this now. Like I said back then, I can't push away someone who wants to rely on me. If something like this happens again with you, I might do something that disappoints you."
It took surprising courage to say those words. Honestly, I had even braced myself for the worst—seeing her cry. But I was already hiding so much from my companions. Even if some lies were unavoidable, a lie was still a lie. For the things I could be open about, I wanted to be honest with those who entrusted themselves to me, especially when it came to complicated matters like relationships.
But Ha-Yeong, her face buried in my chest, immediately shook her head.
"No, no. I already knew. Not to be the cherished one, but one of the cherished. From the moment you said that, my head understood. It was just my heart that struggled to accept it. I'm so sorry. This is the Hall Plain, and I… I showed you an ugly side of myself over something so trivial…"
"Ha-Yeong."
"…I showed you."
She seemed to be blaming herself too harshly, and I intended to cut her off. But she stubbornly finished her sentence. I calmed my racing heart, gently pulled her out of my embrace, and looked directly into her eyes.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. She was no longer pretending to be calm. Instead, she gazed at me with a face full of longing. Bolstered by her expression, I put more strength into my voice and spoke.
"I'll make a promise here and now. Like I said that day, as long as you want me, I will never neglect or abandon you. So… just this once, and from now on, will you keep believing in me?"
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