Chapter 332

M E M O R I Z E

Ahn Sol was extremely dissatisfied with the current situation. It was nice that she'd been chosen as an attendant over her sister, Lee Yu-jeong. But even after the call to arms had ended, she was still being treated like a useless lump. The only thing she'd done since entering the conference room was stare at the floor, enduring the gazes of the other Users.

She could sense the serious atmosphere, but she didn't understand any of the difficult conversations. A strange sense of sorrow just welled up in her chest. Feeling sulky, Ahn Sol stuck out her lower lip. She turned her head, steeling herself to throw a tantrum for the first time in a while, and searched for Kim Soohyun.

Or rather, she was about to.

CRASH!

"You son of a bitch!"

"Clan Lord! Calm down!"

"How the hell am I supposed to calm down? A so-called executive...!"

"First, we need to confirm it. And it's not just us. For now..."

A rough, grating voice echoed through the room, accompanied by the harsh sound of something slamming onto the floor. Ahn Sol flinched in surprise, her timid heart already pounding. She reflexively glanced toward the source of the noise and immediately grimaced. A crowd of people had gathered in the center of the conference room, every single one of them radiating a ferocious aura.

A sense of unease began to creep over her. Covering her hiccuping mouth, Ahn Sol quickly started searching for Kim Soohyun again. The dissatisfaction that had filled her heart had already melted away like snow. All she wanted now was to grab onto Kim Soohyun's sleeve as quickly as possible and soothe her anxious heart.

A moment later, she found him talking to a woman she disliked for some reason. She tilted her head in confusion for a second as she saw Soohyun's brother approaching him with a look that screamed, "How dare you," but she decided to hurry over and join them. Just then...

"Hey, you."

A gentle voice, one that didn't seem forced but still felt somewhat clumsy, flowed into her ear. Ahn Sol froze mid-step. When she slowly turned around, she saw Lee Hyo-eul smiling warmly at her.

"M-Me? Hic?"

"Yes. You there. Are you by any chance Ahn Sol of the Mercenary Clan?"

Although she'd said "by any chance," Ahn Sol knew instinctively. Judging by how the woman knew her clan and name precisely, she had sought her out on purpose.

Ahn Sol cautiously nodded. Then, steeling herself, she raised her guard. For a moment, she felt that she had truly grown a lot.

"My, my. Why are you so scared? It's me. Lee Hyo-eul. We met once before, remember?"

"Yeees..."

Though her face seemed to say, "I won't hurt you," Lee Hyo-eul's eyes were blazing with a strange desire. Ahn Sol swallowed hard and took a step back. In response, Lee Hyo-eul took two steps forward with surprisingly quick footwork. Ahn Sol was flustered.

Clearing the distance in an instant, Lee Hyo-eul gripped Ahn Sol's slender shoulders and gave her an intense smile.

"So... how about you and I have a little chat...?"

"H-Hic."

Lee Hyo-eul's tone revealed a fierce determination, as if she would never let this opportunity slip away.

.

"A pleasure to meet you. I am Kim Yu-hyeon, Lord of Haemil."

"It's my first time meeting you. I'm Han So-yeong, Lord of Istantel Row. It's a pleasure."

Crackle!

After a brief exchange of greetings, my brother and Han So-yeong's hands brushed against each other. It wasn't a handshake; their fingertips had merely touched lightly before pulling away.

As I watched the two of them stare at each other with icy eyes, I felt incredibly awkward. Their words were polite, but their eyes were burning with cold fire. I was starting to regret introducing them.

"It wasn't this bad in the first playthrough..."

This was a bolt from the blue for me, as I had hoped to use this opportunity to connect my brother and Han So-yeong, building a foundation for a future alliance between Mercenary, Haemil, and Istantel Row. To be honest, I had even considered letting my brother have Han So-yeong.

Strictly speaking, my brother's attitude was the problem. The moment he arrived, he'd been subtly glaring at Han So-yeong with a look that said, "Who is this thieving bitch?" Of course, a sharp woman like her wouldn't miss it. She naturally met his gaze with an equally cold one, and the atmosphere had soured as a result.

As I was lost in thought, I heard my brother clear his throat beside me. I felt him grab my right arm.

"Ahem. Soohyun. Do you have a moment?"

"Huh? I'm busy right now. I was just talking with the Lord of Istantel Row..."

"You brat. You haven't been calling your own brother lately, and you won't even let me visit the clan house. Your big brother is truly hurt."

""

My brother put a heavy accent on the words "big brother," as if to make sure someone overheard. But before I could say anything, I felt a light touch on my left arm, not to be outdone.

"Lord Mercenary. I'd like to continue our earlier conversation. Just the two of us."

"Oh, dear. This is a bit urgent."

They were speaking to me, but in reality, they were sending messages to each other through me. To put it bluntly, Han So-yeong's words meant "Get lost," and my brother's reply was "I don't want to."

A moment of silence passed. Not even ten seconds had gone by, but it felt like a full minute. And with every passing second, the atmosphere grew heavier. Han So-yeong was second to none when it came to charisma, but my brother was no pushover either.

Though their faces looked calm, the air was thick with tension, no different from a battle. Feeling as if I were caught between two colliding blocks of ice, I sighed inwardly. Why on earth were they going to such lengths over me?

It was in the midst of this uncomfortable standoff.

"By the way, Soohyun. You escaped from Mule not too long ago, right?"

The one who broke the silence was none other than my brother. A faint smile played on his lips,

deliberate voice.

"A few of the people who participated in the rescue team are here. It'll only take a moment, so won't you come with me? They said they wanted to see you. They were curious to hear about how you captured Baek Seo-yeon as a prisoner."

"Wow... that's so childish."

My very first thought upon hearing my brother's words was how petty he was. Of course, there was nothing wrong with the words themselves. But there was no way he would bring that up in this situation for no reason. Simply put, he was using participation in the rescue team as a pretext to push Han So-yeong away.

Although Istantel Row was a representative clan, Mercenary was technically a free Mercenary Clan and had no obligation to participate in the rescue. Of course, he probably didn't mean it as an accusation, but depending on how one took it, it was enough to make Han So-yeong falter. It must have been incredibly unfair from her perspective.

At first, Han So-yeong's face showed a flicker of, "What is wrong with this guy?" (Even I was a little surprised by that.) But something must have bothered her, as I felt the hand gripping my arm slowly loosen. She quickly composed herself and let out a soft sigh. After staring at my brother for a moment, she spoke in a cold voice.

"I see. Then let's talk next time. Enjoy yourselves."

Han So-yeong turned and slowly walked away. Just as her figure was about to disappear completely, I heard my brother whisper in my ear.

"Soohyun. Be careful. I was watching from a distance earlier, and it was quite a spectacle."

What on earth was I supposed to be careful about? Feeling utterly baffled, I turned my gaze to my brother and saw that his expression was quite serious.

"What was such a spectacle?"

"Didn't you see? While talking to you, she suddenly linked arms with you and deliberately showed off her chest. And why did she suddenly lower her eyes like that? It's obvious just by looking at her. That clingy, sultry act gives her away. Now that you're starting to get famous, she's trying to seduce and use you."

"What nonsense you are spouting?"

Even if he was my brother, after what had just happened, there was no way I could respond kindly.

"You said that woman is the lord of Monica's representative clan, right? This won't do. Soohyun. I was going to just let it be, but I think it would be better for you to come to Princica. I have a really bad feeling about this."

But my brother, with the gall of a thief crying thief, launched into a passionate tirade.

"Her breasts are just uselessly big... I can see right through her. I really can."

Watching my brother shake his head and click his tongue, I calmly nodded.

I see. So I should just tell my clan members. "We will be leaving because Han So-yeong's breasts are uselessly large." Is that it?

I let out a deep, heartfelt sigh. Then I violently shook off my brother's hand, which was still gripping my arm.

"S-Soohyun?"

"We need to talk later."

"Why are you suddenly...?"

"I'm not kidding. And I'm not in the mood for it."

My brother just blinked his innocent eyes, as if he'd read the sincerity in my gaze.

I shot him one last sharp glare before hurrying off in the direction Han So-yeong had gone.

.

With that, the call to arms was completely over. We had returned from Princica to our clan house in Monica. It had been a summons full of twists and turns, but in the end, I had managed to convey everything I had originally intended. There were no problems. All that was left was for them to sort themselves out internally and wait for them to execute their original plans.

Yes. That was all. But...

"Slurp/ Hehe."

I had to press my hand to my forehead as I watched Lee Hyo-eul sip her drink in front of me. I had originally planned to leave her with my brother after the summons. But she had pleaded with me, saying she had something she absolutely had to tell me in private, and even made the groundbreaking(?) offer to never pester me about joining Mercenary again if I just listened. So, she had tagged along.

And then, the first thing she said upon arriving was truly a spectacle.

"So. You're saying Ahn Sol has a talent for being the Guardian of the Northern Continent?"

"Yup, yup. That's right."

"So what?"

I was already upset because of my brother, so I couldn't help but feel annoyed that another problem had cropped up. But Lee Hyo-eul just smiled brightly and replied as if everything would be fine as long as she passed the Guardian role on.

"Well. I've already explained all the details. You can hear it from her. No, from the future Guardian-nim. Hoho."

I had already suspected as much, but hearing it directly left a bitter taste in my mouth. I had planned to think it over slowly after talking with Seraph, but it seemed Lee Hyo-eul had made the first move.

Feeling like I was facing one problem after another, I pressed my temples and turned my head to Ahn Sol, who was sitting demurely beside me. Her face didn't have its usual cheerful expression. Instead, it was a grim face, filled with a sense of mission I had never seen before. Lee Hyo-eul had undoubtedly wrapped her around her finger with sweet words.

Ahn Sol's eyes met mine, and she spoke in a clear voice, so unlike her.

"Oppa. I know you must be flustered to hear this so suddenly. But please, just listen to me for a moment. Okay?"

Hearing those words, I made an immediate decision. If Lee Hyo-eul had seduced Ahn Sol with some ridiculous nonsense, I would fight the angels themselves before I let them take her.

But first, I needed to hear Ahn Sol out and respect her personal wishes. That was the line I had drawn in the sand.

"Oppa. Let's talk just the two of us. I think that would be better."

At the tug of Ahn Sol's hand on my sleeve, I calmly stood up. I gave a silent nod and obediently followed where she led. We didn't walk far. Ahn Sol left the office where Lee Hyo-eul was, stopped in the hallway, and firmly closed the door behind us. Then, with a determined look on her face, she spoke.

"Oppa. I'll tell you first. I want to be the Guardian of the Northern Continent. She said I'm incredibly talented."

"Ahn Sol, being a Guardian isn't such an easy role. Honestly, I am surprised you're bringing this up so suddenly. So, tell me calmly. How much have you heard and what do you know about it? Hmm?"

"Oppa. Shh! She can hear youuu!"

Just then, perhaps because I had spoken a little too loudly, Ahn Sol placed her index finger to her lip and glanced at the office. It was a useless gesture, since closing the door meant nothing if someone enhanced their hearing with magic.

But for me, who had been determined not to lose her, Ahn Sol's reaction was a bit unexpected.

Ahn Sol let out a cute little sigh and continued in a whisper.

"I know. I know everything. But Oppa, for now, can't you just play along with me? I have a good idea."

"What on earth are you talking about? I can't just play along for no reason. I'm your Clan Lord. I can't permit this without a valid reason."

"O-Oppa..."

Ahn Sol looked momentarily touched by my words. But it was only for a moment. She waved her hands as if she already knew everything and continued in her low voice.

"Hmph. Can't be helped. Now, now, Oppa. Calm down. And listen. I'll tell you everything. So-i heard the details, and apparently, the Guardian of the Northern Continent has a lot of special abilities."

"....."

"As for what they are."

Ahn Sol then began to explain in detail the perks she had heard about from Lee Hyo-eul.

The main points were about unique, special, and potential abilities. The Search abilities, which were divided into various branches like Insight and Exploration, were certainly useful from an objective standpoint.

However, she was overlooking the most crucial point. Becoming the Guardian of the Northern Continent meant she couldn't be tied down to one place. Moreover, she would have to operate while keeping her identity as secret as possible and helping others, and I couldn't imagine Ahn Sol being able to fulfill that role. I'd be thankful if she just stopped chirping like a baby bird.

About five minutes later, her explanation was finished.

"What do you think? It's amazing, right?"

Ahn Sol looked up at me with a triumphant expression, as if asking for my opinion. But I shook my head and replied.

"I understand what you're saying, but it's not as easy as it sounds. Most importantly, you'd have to leave Mercenary. Do you think Ahn Hyeon would allow that?"

I even brought up Ahn Hyeon to try and change her mind. But her head was already in the clouds, and she gave a completely unrelated answer with a bright face.

"Honestly, I feel like I've been nothing but a burden until now. And besides me, you and Unmi all have special classes..."

"You want to become a Guardian because you have a normal class?"

"Of course, that's part of it, but it's not the main reason. Think about it! If I become a Guardian, I can help you as much as I want, Oppa. What if I use my Search and Exploration abilities to give you every single remaining ruin? What do you think will happen then?"

"Right. But it's not as easy as it sounds. It's not something you can do as you please. Do you think the angels would tolerate that kind of behavior?"

"Hehe. Why not? That's my choice."

At that moment, watching Ahn Sol grin and look at me with such confidence, I was at a loss for words. It seemed she thought the role of Guardian was something akin to a children's game. Heedless of my reaction, she continued.

"The most important thing is to become the Guardian first. What are they going to do if I decide to stick right by your side, Oppa? Right?"

"No. What I'm saying is, it's not as easy as you..."

"Hehehe. Don't worry. If they say I absolutely can't, I'll just quit. Anyway, now you and I... no, this Mercenary Clan, only has to soar to new heights."

By now, Ahn Sol wasn't listening to me at all. She was already happily flailing around, lost in the rosy future she had laid out for herself. In other words, her eyes and ears were closed. Doggy-paddling through her own delusion, perhaps.

".....'

Pausing for a moment, Ahn Sol clenched her right fist. Then, she threw a powerful straight punch in my direction and shouted.

"You, Oppa, are the strength!"

Next, she thumped her chest with her left hand and continued.

"I am the ability!"

And finally, she balled her left hand into a tight fist, and, trembling as if exerting all her might, delivered the grand finale to her delusion.

"The luck of the Hall Plain is with uss!"

"PFFFFFT!"

At that moment, from the inside of the office, came the sound of someone forcefully spitting out liquid.