The spinning plate fell to the floor and shattered into pieces. However, Go Yeon-Joo didn't seem to have any intention of cleaning it up. At some point, her expression had turned cold. It was no longer her usual lazy and relaxed face—she was glaring at me sharply.
I met her piercing gaze calmly and took a drag from my cigarette. Adding a hint of kindness to my voice, I spoke again.
"…It doesn't matter since we're in Mule anyway."
"Player Kim Su-Hyeon."
"Yes."
Go Yeon-Joo spat out the cigarette she had been holding between her lips and stared at me intently. After a moment of silence, a slight smirk tugged at the corner of her mouth.
"You… are interesting."
"I, too, wonder why the Shadow Queen is in a small town like this."
"You're unmistakably a rookie… but the way you talk, the way you act, and your aura—it's like you've been through hell and back. You're so intriguing that I might lose sleep over it."
She chuckled as she finished speaking, then slowly moved closer to me. Without hesitation, she sat in my lap. Soon, she let out a dangerously seductive laugh and leaned her body against my chest.
Watching her rest her head against me, I whispered in a low, deliberate voice into her ear.
"What do you find so interesting?"
At my question, Go Yeon-Joo slowly traced her fingers over my body. In response, I let my hand graze against her ear and the nape of her neck. To an outsider, it might have looked like two lovers whispering sweet nothings, but the truth was far from that. If either of us made the wrong move, the hands that now seemed gentle could turn into deadly weapons in an instant.
As my touch, laced with killing intent, ran over her skin, I saw her throat bob slightly.
"From the moment I first saw you. A rookie using Break? Does that even make sense?"
"And?"
"The ones you keep around you—they're not ordinary either. When they first arrived, they were like little chicks. How did they grow so much in such a short time? As if a seasoned veteran personally trained them with expert precision…"
"Hah. You've got sharp eyes. But you're still lacking."
"Don't joke with me."
At my modest response, Go Yeon-Joo snapped sharply and abruptly turned her body. In an instant, she lifted both hands and draped them over my shoulders, facing me directly. Her posture had become even more provocative, even more enticing.
For a split second, I wondered if she was using Eyes Of Temptation again. Without hesitation, I activated my Third Eye.
"Hoho. No need to be so wary. I never use the same trick twice on someone it didn't work on."
"How about backing off a bit? This is getting a little too much for me."
"Oh my? Do you know how many players would kill for a chance to touch my chest or my hips?"
"I have no interest in touching a flower laced with poison. One wrong move, and I'll get stung."
For a brief moment, a flicker of loneliness passed across her face. It was barely there—just a fleeting second—but I caught it. Did I say something wrong?
Go Yeon-Joo said nothing, simply kneading my shoulders with the hands she had draped over them. Surprisingly, her massage was quite good, almost relaxing.
"You…"
Silence lingered between us for a while. Just as she was about to say something—
Both of us instinctively turned our heads toward the staircase. The sound of a door opening on the third floor was followed by footsteps descending.
Go Yeon-Joo wet her lips slightly, looking almost disappointed, before slowly rising to her feet.
"You ordered six servings of Course A, correct, sir?"
At the sudden shift in her tone, I let out a quiet chuckle and gave her a slight nod.
"Yes. Please make sure it's served warm."
"Of course. But in return, make some time for me someday."
"Hmph."
"Oh, come on. Don't be so cold."
Go Yeon-Joo playfully winked before turning away. As always, her movements were sensual, each step deliberately enticing. Watching her retreating figure, I let the surge of magic that had been coiling inside me slowly subside.
Go Yeon-Joo was not someone I could afford to lower my guard around.
*
The first person to come downstairs was An-Hyun. As he descended, he subtly peeked around the corner, likely checking if Go Yeon-Joo was still around. When he saw that she wasn't, he looked visibly disappointed. However, he quickly straightened his posture and confidently took a seat at my table.
"Hello! I'm An-Hyun, a Rare-Class Energy Spearman."
"…You'll have to announce it soon enough, but don't go around blabbering too much."
"Heh. Sorry, hyung. I just can't help it—I'm too excited!"
Despite my scolding, An-Hyun simply smiled, his mood unshaken. I, on the other hand, watched him with cold, calculating eyes. He was seeing Hall Plain differently now. At first, he probably hadn't thought much of it, but inheriting a Rare-Class had effectively secured his future. In Hall Plain, a high-tier class wasn't just an advantage—it was power and authority.
And from that moment on, players started getting consumed by that power. The goal of survival and returning home began to fade. In a way, Hall Plain was no different from a modern online RPG—raising stats, acquiring better equipment, grinding for strength.
"Except you can't save or reload."
"Huh? What was that, hyung?"
"…Nothing. Just talking to myself."
I shut my mouth as An-Hyun tilted his head in confusion. For now, it's fine. Even if his excitement was nothing more than misguided vanity, it would still help him grow. Of course, if he ever crossed the line, I'd be the one to rein him in.
While An-Hyun and I continued our conversation, Go Yeon-Joo moved gracefully between tables, serving our food. One by one, the rest of our party began to trickle in. An-Sol, Yun-Jung, Vivienne, An-Hyun, and Shin Sang-Yong took their seats, and in an instant, the table was filled with chatter.
As the discussion buzzed on, Shin Sang-Yong—who had been deep in debate with Vivienne—suddenly glanced around and spoke with a hint of concern.
"Jung Ha-Yeong-ssi is… a bit late."
"Huh? She wasn't in her room when I woke up this morning."
Yun-Jung murmured, causing Shin Sang-Yong to furrow his brows slightly.
"R-Really? That's strange. She's usually extremely punctual… Could something have happened?"
This guy… he's sharper than I thought.
Just as he finished speaking, I sensed her presence upstairs. After quickly moistening my lips, I pointed toward the second floor.
"She's coming down now."
Right on cue, the door to the second floor opened, and Ha-Yeong stepped out. The others nodded in acknowledgment, but their expressions quickly turned awkward.
She was gripping the handrail tightly, descending the stairs one step at a time—each movement slow and deliberate, as if she were still in pain from yesterday.
Finally, she reached the table, carefully pulling out a chair and lowering herself into it with a hand on the table for support.
An-Sol, her face filled with concern, spoke up.
"Are you feeling unwell?"
"It's just… my lower abdomen hurts a little."
"…That time of the month?"
At Yun-Jung's blunt remark, An-Sol and Ha-Yeong both looked flustered. Ha-Yeong quickly glanced at me, an apologetic look in her eyes, but I shook my head. She had likely wanted to hide her discomfort, but the throbbing pain must have been too much to completely suppress. She was probably in enough agony that even standing or walking properly felt unbearable.
"If the pain gets worse, I can at least try healing you."
"I'm not sure if it'll help, but I'll ask you later if it gets bad."
The others all cast worried glances at Ha-Yeong. For a moment, I wondered if they might react coldly or brush it off, but no—they were still good-hearted at their core. I felt relieved that I had made personality a key factor when choosing my companions.
I was the first to pick up my spoon, and like clockwork, the rest followed suit.
It was just a simple Course A, but for breakfast, this was the perfect amount. I dipped a piece of warm bread into the steaming soup. As I took a bite, the rich, nutty aroma filled my mouth.
Go Yeon-Joo—sharp, skilled, and an excellent cook.
The thought crossed my mind that she'd be a great addition to our group. With that, I moved on to my next target—the stew.
After finishing our lively breakfast, the table was left spotless. The group now sipped on warm tea, their expressions visibly relaxed. Just yesterday, everyone had been constantly on edge, focused on survival and fighting off monsters. But for the first time in a while, they were finally soaking in a peaceful atmosphere.
Breaking the silence, Shin Sang-Yong hesitantly spoke up.
"S-So, Leader… Do you have any plans for what's next?"
Shin Sang-Yong adjusted his glasses and waited for my response. I took a moment to gather my thoughts.
The upcoming schedule…
I had already mentioned that we'd be taking an extended break, but there were still tasks to complete before leaving Mule. Ideally, I wanted to wrap up everything before our departure since I planned to leave quickly after conquering The Cave Of Wailing.
The one good thing this time was that I didn't need to analyze old records or rely too much on the Third Eye. In my first life, the caravan I was part of had been the ones to discover The Cave Of Wailing, so I still remembered most of the route. Even if I didn't recall every detail perfectly, I could use the Third Eye to locate it once we got close.
However, there was one major issue—the distance.
If we started from Mule, a rough estimate suggested that simply reaching the cave would take around 10 days. That meant:
10 days to get there10 days to returnPlus additional time spent exploring the cave
At the very least, this entire journey would take more than three weeks.
Right now, it has been just under a month and a half since we arrived in Mule. That meant our rest period needed to be at least two weeks long but no more than four weeks. If we timed it correctly, we'd return just as the vagrant Annihilation Operation ended and the Golden Lion Clan returned from the Iron Mountains.
By the time I finished piecing everything together in my head, the room had gone silent. I looked up to find everyone watching me expectantly.
I took a slow sip of tea, then finally spoke in a calm voice.
"As I mentioned before, we'll be taking an extended break this time."
"That's fine by me."
Shin Sang-Yong let out a good-natured laugh, his usual warm smile spreading across his face. Seeing the subtle expressions of relief on the others, it was clear that they had been feeling the strain of our relentless pace. However, just because this was a rest period, that didn't mean we would be idling around. This time needed to be used as efficiently as possible to prepare for the next expedition.
"Our maintenance period has three main objectives: improving personal skills, preparing for the next exploration, and establishing a clan."
"A clan… establishment?"
Ha-Yeong, who had been absentmindedly rubbing her lower abdomen, suddenly widened her eyes in surprise. While the others remained indifferent—having already heard about this—both Shin Sang-Yong and Ha-Yeong were new to the group, making this the first time they were learning about my plans.
As expected of someone with quick thinking, Ha-Yeong immediately mulled over my words before nodding slightly and murmuring to herself.
"I see… It's definitely possible. No, actually, it's almost a certainty."
"We've successfully completed two expeditions. If our request for approval gets denied, that would be the real surprise. In any case, this might be new information for you two, but…"
I glanced between Shin Sang-Yong and Ha-Yeong.
"We'll need to have a separate conversation about this later."
Both of them nodded in acknowledgment.
Eventually, I would explain what kind of clan I intended to create, its purpose, and whether they wanted to be part of it. But realistically, the decision had already been made. With Vivienne tied to Shin Sang-Yong and Ha-Yeong tied to me, it was safe to assume that both of them were already members in all but name.
All that remained were the formalities.
"Anyway, we'll discuss this in more detail later. First—An-Hyun, An-Sol, Yun-Jung."
"Yes, hyung."
"Yes, oppa."
"Mm, oppa."
The three of them responded like little chicks chirping, making me continue without hesitation.
"During this period, your primary goal is to improve your skills. Unless I call for you specifically, your first priority is training, and your second priority is… also training. Keep that in mind. Especially you, An-Hyun…"
I trailed off for a moment before shifting my gaze to Vivienne.
She had been happily sipping her tea but had just burned her tongue, now fanning her mouth and mumbling "Ahh, hot, hot!" under her breath.
Letting out a sigh, I continued.
"Vivienne."
"Ehp—hot—huh?"
"I know you're busy teaching Shin Sang-Yong, but whenever you have time, help An-Hyun decipher the records he has."
"Hmm? Oh, if it's just basic deciphering, that's no problem. It's not like I'm going to be teaching him how to use a spear or anything."
Vivienne responded in a casual tone, as if it was no big deal. Satisfied with her straightforward answer, I nodded once before shifting my gaze toward Ha-Yeong.
"Ha-Yeong…ssi I'd like you to mentor Sol. Your classes may be different, but the fundamentals of mana manipulation are similar. Sol still has a long way to go."
I had almost called her by name, but I changed my wording at the last second so the others wouldn't find it strange. She didn't seem to mind.
"Leave it to me."
"Y-yes…."
Hearing their obedient responses, I was about to relax when Yun-Jung, who had been silently waiting, suddenly spoke up.
"Oppa, what about me?"
"Huh?"
I turned to her, puzzled, but she immediately pouted, showing clear signs of disappointment.
"An-Hyun has his class and his book, so that makes sense. Sol has a mentor too… but what about me? Am I just supposed to train alone?"
Listening to the frustration in her voice, I fell into brief contemplation.
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