Chapter 23

“Welcome.”

“……..”

I was expecting a reception room or an office, but what I saw in front of me seemed more like this woman’s bedroom than her office.

Fortunately, there was a table and chairs, but I was extremely flustered by the fact that she had called me to her personal bedroom.

The woman looked at my expression, chuckled lightly, and then spoke.

“Don’t be so nervous. Make yourself comfortable, relax.”

I wanted to shout, ‘How can I relax in this situation?’ but I held back the urge.

“…. Uh… what should I call you…?”

“Didn’t Kang Seong-jun explain earlier? Just call me Instructor Yeon.”

“Ah, yes. Instructor Yeon. So, what did you want to see me about…?”

The woman sat on the chair, crossed her legs, and spoke.

“You really don’t know?”

No. If this continues, it will only flow into the situation she wants. I had to pull myself together.

Calming my trembling heart, I asked her directly.

“… I’ll be honest. What do you want from me?”

The woman chuckled at my question and spoke nonchalantly.

“Your eyes are a bit more bearable now. Honestly, I was almost disappointed earlier. Your eyes were too scared.”

“…. Instructor, try to see it from my perspective. Isn’t it only natural?”

“That’s true. Anyway, you asked what I want? I don’t want anything. I was just curious about you, the newbie, so I called you over.”

‘… And you expect me to believe that?’

“………”

“Hmm… You don’t believe me, do you? Why would I bother with a newbie? It’s just personal curiosity about Lee Yun-seong.”

“Didn’t I… see your status window?”

“Ahaha… Is that why? Let’s call it even. I also saw Lee Yun-seong’s status window, didn’t I?”

Nonsense. There’s no way the value of my status window, who just arrived here, is the same as someone who’s at the top here.

“…….”

“Lee Yun-seong, you’re quite the suspicious type, huh? Well, being suspicious here is a good thing. It reduces the chance of getting backstabbed.”

“…. There’s no way the value of my status window is the same as yours.”

Frankly, if I were to sell this woman’s information, there would be a truckload of people willing to buy. I don’t know if she has a clan, but those who are hostile to her would welcome it with open arms.

“Oh, you’re quite sharp for a newbie? Honestly, I didn’t have high expectations after seeing Lee Yun-seong’s status window. The stats were quite pitiful… Ah, sorry if that made you uncomfortable. I’m just being honest.”

“I don’t really care. I know better than anyone that I have no talent.”

“Hmm… Anyway, I hope you believe that I won’t harm you. I mean, I’m not going to go around blabbing about my status window, right?”

“I’m not that stupid.”

“Right. That’s what I’m saying.”

“Just… that’s it?”

“…. No. Originally, I didn’t want anything, but now I’m starting to want something.”

‘…. Suddenly? Just a moment ago, you said you didn’t want anything…!’

“Honestly, I thought you’d be ordinary except for the ability to see others’ status windows. Of course, Lee Yun-seong’s unique trait is highly valued. Anyway, you think well, and I like your cautious personality.”

“……”

“Hmm… By the way, did you hear properly about what I do besides being an instructor?”

“…. No. I didn’t hear. You were talking in my head at that time.”

“Ah… I thought so. I’m the Clan Master leading the Myth Clan. The Myth Clan isn’t one of the top three clans, but it’s just below them.”

It was unexpected. Honestly, I thought she led one of the top three clans. Her stats were comparable to Kang Seong-jun’s.

‘…. Is she hiding her true strength?’

“The clan names are a bit confusing, right? Kang Seong-jun leads the Hwashin Clan. I lead the Myth Clan. They’re not related at all, so don’t get the wrong idea.”

“… I understand. So, why are you suddenly talking about clans?”

“…. Honestly, your stats aren’t much, but my intuition tells me to grab you.”

‘What kind of nonsense is this…’

I couldn’t understand what this woman was thinking.

‘Suddenly an offer to me? What did she see in me? If she saw my status window, she should think the opposite, right?’

“You look baffled. Well, it’s understandable since it hasn’t even been a day.”

“First of all… thank you for thinking highly of me. But honestly, I don’t understand Instructor Yeon’s thoughts. Of course, it’s a good offer from my perspective, but I don’t know what value you saw in me to suddenly do this.”

“In this continent, military power is the most important, but it’s not everything. Actually… it might sound arrogant, but I alone am enough for military power. I’m not someone who loses out anywhere.”

Arrogant but true. If you see this woman’s status window, you can’t dismiss her words as mere nonsense.

Considering Kang Seong-jun is the head instructor, his position is likely at the very top, but judging by the status window alone, this woman’s military power seemed almost on par with his.

“I tend to value people who are desperate or lacking. This is my personal opinion, but… people need to lack something to live desperately, hard, with all their might. And, they achieve something by living like that.”

“… Do I seem like someone who lacks something? Are you talking about military power…?”

“Well, lacking military power could be one kind of lack. But after talking with Lee Yun-seong today… I felt it was more about you as a person than your military power.”

Suddenly, I felt uncomfortable. I barely held back the urge to get up and leave. But I failed to control my expression, and my words came out cold.

“… What do you know about me to say such things?”

I regretted it as soon as I said it.

The woman chuckled at my reaction and replied.

“The fact that you reacted like this is proof enough.”

“…….”

“Hmm, I guess I was too rude. It’s been a while since I took an interest in a newbie… Sorry if I upset you. Anyway, my business is done. You can go now. Think about the offer. I might change my mind later.”

“…. Then I’ll take my leave. As for the offer… thank you, but I’ll think about it.”

“Ah!”

I wanted to curse inside at her reaction, as if she had just thought of something to say.

I turned my gaze back to her, and she spoke.





“From now on, call me ‘nuna’.”

“….Huh?”

Yoon Yeon continued with a mischievous expression.

“It’s a privilege, a privilege.”

‘Crazy woman.’

“….I don’t need it.”

Bang.

I closed the door and left her bedroom.

******

After leaving Yoon Yeon’s bedroom, I almost stopped breathing for a moment. Because Yoo Ju was standing in front of me.

“………”

“…..Yoo, Yoo Ju?”

“….Why are you coming out of there?”

‘What? Did she follow me?’

I definitely didn’t feel any presence on my way here. Could it be…

‘Did she hide her presence on purpose and follow me? Wondering where I was going?’

My brain froze in the sudden situation. Even though I didn’t do anything wrong, I felt a strong urge to say something.

“W-well… The instructor said she had something to tell me.”

“….Yoon Yeon, that woman?”

“Huh?”

‘Did I… hear wrong…?’

“No, Instructor Yoon Yeon called Yoon Seong? At this hour? And in her own bedroom?”

“….I didn’t know it was her bedroom until I went in. But… we just sat on chairs and talked.”

“What did you talk about?”

‘Damn, I didn’t do anything wrong, but why…’

“That… It’s not something I should tell Yoo Ju…”

“What did you talk about?”

I suddenly gasped for air.

It felt like a mouse in front of a snake.

‘Damn… I have to… say something…’

“…..A-about the clan offer… she made me a proposal…”

“….You didn’t accept it, did you?”

“….N-no, no… I just said I’d think about it…”

Suddenly, the atmosphere eased. The tension that had been running through my body disappeared in an instant. Just as I was struggling to adapt to the sudden change in the air, she smiled slightly and spoke.

“You did well. These kinds of things… you must consult with me. We’re comrades, right?”

“….Yes, of course.”

‘Damn, what was that just now…’

“Let’s go back to the dorm together. Everyone’s already resting.”

“Yes, yes…”

With that, the situation was settled, and Yoo Ju and I returned to the dorm. When we got back, everyone was out in the living room talking instead of going to their rooms.

“Ah… Yoon Seong, why are you so late? We were discussing our future plans…”

“Haha… Sorry, Hyeon-jin. So, what were you talking about?”

“Of course, about the education we’ll receive.”

“Hey, Cha Hyeon-jin. You think too much. They’ll probably just handle the education on their own.”

“….Nuna. Isn’t it that you don’t think enough rather than me thinking too much…?”

“What? Hey! Come here! You…!”

“Ah! My hair! Let go of my hair!”

They were so full of energy, running around the living room.

‘And they’re 26 and 20 years old…’

Seeing them, Yoo Rim was sternly educating Yoo Hyun.

“Yoo Hyun… You must never act like that when you’re their age, okay?”

“….Yes, nuna. I… don’t want to be like that…”

Uncle Ho-won sighed deeply, covering his face with his hand as he listened to Yoo Rim and Yoo Hyun’s conversation.

As the situation calmed down, Yoo Ju gathered everyone’s attention, glanced at me, and began to speak.

“Ahem, ahem… I have something to say. Yoon Seong has received a clan offer.”

Hearing Yoo Ju’s words, everyone made surprised expressions.

“Huh? Hey, Lee Yun-seong. Really? Already?!”

“Wow… Yoon Seong! Is it true?”

‘….Are they trying to make me refuse the offer because they don’t want me to join the Myth Clan?’

Yoo Ju telling everyone about the offer seemed like she really didn’t want me to join that clan.

She probably wanted to use the others to pressure me into refusing the offer. After all, I’m the only one who’s received an offer from the Myth Clan so far.

“….No, it’s not certain yet. I just received a casual offer, and I only said I’d think about it.”

“Bro! But getting an offer is still a big deal! The Clan Master must have recognized your skills! So, which clan is it?”

“….It’s a clan called Myth Clan. It’s slightly below the top three clans but still ranks just below them.”

“…Hey, Lee Yun-seong. Are you… planning to join? Should we aim to join there too?”

They seemed to take it for granted that they would go with me. Their reactions made me feel a bit better. It meant they valued me that much.

I shook my head and said.

“No, there’s still three months left, so we can decide after seeing what offers everyone gets. No need to make a fuss this early.”

“Yeah, that’s true. Hey… but stop switching between formal and informal speech. Honestly, we’ve been through life and death together, so isn’t it a bit much to still use formal speech with me? Just use informal speech like now.”

I couldn’t keep using formal speech with Kang I-seo forever, so I nodded and agreed.

“…Alright.”

“Brat… Much better.”

“…Anyway, don’t worry about me getting a clan offer. I want to go with all of you.”

Hyeon-jin, Yoo Rim, and Yoo Hyun seemed deeply moved by my words. Yoo Ju looked quite satisfied.

Honestly, I was really scared in front of Yoon Yeon’s bedroom earlier.

‘….One wrong word and something could have happened.’

Yoo Ju smiled quietly at our close-knit group and spoke.

“Tomorrow, we’ll probably record our jobs and then receive training. It’s late now, so everyone should get some rest. Good job, everyone.”