Chapter 71

“Shit, shit… Why is everyone acting like this?”

“You… crazy bastards! You’re all devil spawn! You sons of bitches!”

“Please… everyone, stop this… Byeong-ok, why are you suddenly acting like this?!”

“Let’s just hurry and enter the dungeon. That’s all I have to say.”

“You son of a bitch! Dieeeee!”

“Hmm…”

A man charged at Jo Chan-ho, swinging his sword, but there was no way he could win.

“Ahhhh!”

The man who charged had his arm cut off and rolled on the ground, screaming in pain.

“If you don’t want to end up like this, just enter the dungeon. We’ll go in after you. This is a notice.”

Everyone was terrified by Jo Chan-ho’s actions and words. It was natural to be scared after seeing someone’s arm get cut off so casually.

But as people hesitated to enter the dungeon, those beside Jo Chan-ho began to intimidate them.

The people who had been hiding, afraid of fighting, had no way to resist.

“You bastards! Get in! If you don’t, I’ll kill you!”

“Get in! Do you want to die?!”

“Sigh…”

From behind Jo Chan-ho, I saw my past self, trembling but trying to ignore the situation.

I knew that even if I had stepped forward, it wouldn’t have changed anything, but seeing it still left a bad taste in my mouth.

And so, the dungeon expedition began.

About 40 people entered the dungeon.

“Damn it!”

“Ahhh! Save me!”

With monsters ahead and Jo Chan-ho’s group behind, those without combat skills had no choice but to fight the monsters and began to die.

After more than half of the group died, we finally cleared the boss room, and the scene began to change.

The next scene showed me in the Hwashin Clan’s office.

‘…So this is after I became the Clan Master.’

This was a busy time after I became the Hwashin Clan Master. It must have been about a year after entering Eras.

Knock.

“…Clan Master, I have an important report.”

My past self, with a tired face, asked the man.

“Ah, yes. What is it?”

“…It’s about the Myth Clan Master. She’s dead.”

“…What?”

‘This must be when Yoon Yeon died.’

I remember this incident being a huge event in the Neutral Country.

Even though the three major clans had just changed, the newly established Myth Clan had fallen, which was a major event.

“Details are unclear, but… based on what we know so far, it seems there was a spy within the Myth Clan who was colluding with the Outlaw Clan.”

“A spy?”

“Yes. The Myth Clan’s expedition was actually a trap set by the Outlaws. The Myth Clan Master… not even her body was left. Someone burned it…”

“…If there’s no body, how do we know she’s dead? Is there no chance she’s still alive?”

“…There were traces of burning, and her remaining clothes and bloodstains were found nearby.”

“I see. What about the spy?”

“…That’s… we still don’t know who it is, only that they escaped…”

The spy from the Myth Clan was never revealed in the first round. It was only discovered that they had joined the Outlaw Clan, and after that, there was no news.

‘Many speculated that they might have died.’

“…I see. What about the Myth Clan now?”

“Many members have left, and the remaining ones are divided over the clan’s interests. It’s effectively fallen.”

“That’s unfortunate…”

“But from our clan’s perspective, it’s not a bad situation.”

“That’s true. Oh, by the way, how are the clan promotions and recruitment going?”

“Ah… it’s not going terribly, but honestly, it’s not great. Probably because of the stigma of being a once-fallen clan…”

“Hmm…”

“Actually… I tried to recruit the Priest of Protection from the Myth Clan, but… another clan already got to them.”

“Ah… I see. That’s a shame. You’re talking about that young boy, right?”

“Ah, yes. Do you know him?”

“Yes, I remember seeing him during the tutorial.”

“Come to think of it, Clan Master, you were in the same training facility as the Priest of Protection, right?”

“Yes, that’s right. He was definitely skilled… what a shame.”

“…I’m sorry, Clan Master. I should have done more to recruit him… It’s my lack of ability.”

“No, it couldn’t be helped. You did your best.”

“Yes, then…”

Looking back now, if we had successfully recruited Yoo Hyun back then, many things would have been different. The two sisters wouldn’t have died, and Yoon Seong wouldn’t have been broken.

‘…But this time is different.’

The second round is different. I’ll do my best to ensure everyone gets a happy ending.

In fact, the situation in the second round is very good.

‘But… when is this going to end?’

It felt like a lot of time had passed, but there was no sign of it ending.

‘….This is…’

As the scene changed again, what unfolded before my eyes was an unforgettable memory.

“Congratulations on joining, Lee Yun-seong.”

“…Thank you, Clan Master.”

This was when Yoon Seong joined our clan.

Yoon Seong looked quite different back then. His face was gaunt and emotionless.

Unlike now, where he shows some emotion, Yoon Seong in the first round seemed emotionally numb.

“By the way… have we met before? Your face seems… familiar somehow?”

“…We probably saw each other during the tutorial. I was in the same batch as the Clan Master.”

“Ah… I’m sorry. That was rude of me…”

“It’s fine, Clan Master. Don’t worry about it.”

Even though this wasn’t real, I bit my lip hard.

In the first round, I didn’t even remember Yoon Seong back then. He didn’t stand out during the tutorial, so I didn’t remember him, and seeing myself not remembering him made me angry.

‘Yoo Ju, you idiot.’

And so, the scenes of me spending time with Yoon Seong began to pass by.

Yoon Seong was incredibly skilled in administrative tasks, so he often worked beside me, and over time, we grew closer.

“Ah… Yoon Seong, thank you.”

“Not at all, Yoo Ju. You must be tired, so have some coffee while you work.”

His thoughtful care and kind demeanor. His excellent skills. I was gradually becoming captivated by him, and it was somewhat embarrassing to watch.

Although Yoon Seong wasn’t great in combat, his other abilities were outstanding, and over time, the entire clan began to acknowledge him.

After many scenes passed, what appeared next was the moment he brought the Sword Monarch to the clan.



“…My name is Wi Ho-yeon. Nice to meet you.”

“Welcome to the clan. We’re really glad to have you.”

After recruiting even the Sword Monarch, his standing within the clan rose, and everyone treated him well.

As time passed, scenes of blushing faces started to appear.

“…I, I like you, Yoon Seong…”

“……”

It was none other than me confessing to Yoon Seong.

‘Are you really showing this kind of thing?’

Back then, I was extremely nervous. More nervous than when hunting a Legend Grade Boss Monster, so no further explanation is needed.

“Um, um… After spending time together… I really like your personality, Yoon Seong… Ah, and your face is so… um…”

I was so nervous that I couldn’t even string my words together properly.

‘…It was my first confession ever, so it’s natural. But it’s still embarrassing.’

“…I understand what you’re saying. I’m really happy about it.”

“W-what does that mean…?”

My face lit up with anticipation for the response that would follow.

“I feel the same way about you, Yoo Ju.”

“Ah… Ah… Sniff… Sob…”

I was so happy that I started crying.

“W-why are you crying all of a sudden? Y-Yoo Ju?”

“Sob… It’s just… I’m so happy…”

‘This is so embarrassing…’

“Please stop crying. You’re making me flustered.”

“Okay… Sniff… But, Yoon Seong…”

“Yes, go ahead.”

“Now that we’re… d-dating… how about we drop the formalities?”

“…Hmm…”

“D-do you not want to?”

“…No, let’s drop the formalities.”

“Okay! Hehe…”

“….”

“Um… Y-Yoon Seong… Can you call me by my name?”

“…Alright, Yoo Ju.”

“Hehe…”

‘…I really liked him that much.’

Even looking back at those memories doesn’t make me feel good. Because I know how it all ended.

The scene changed, and I couldn’t help but feel my eyes waver.

I couldn’t bear to watch it soberly, so I bit my lip tightly.

‘…Don’t show me this kind of thing…’

A scene resembling a battlefield came into view. Corpses were scattered everywhere, and flames were rising.

“…Cough…”

“Y-Yoon Seong… No… Sob…!”

“…Cough… Run… away…”

“No, no… Don’t give up, Yoon Seong…! I-I’ll save you somehow… Please…”

“Cough… I… I messed up… Just you run away… quickly…!”

“H-how can I leave you…! Please… You can survive. I’ll save you… It’s because of me…”

I was in a state of panic back then. I couldn’t keep my composure. Yoon Seong ended up like that because he was trying to protect me.

“Cough… Seo Yoo Ju…! Get a grip… You need to survive…!”

“Ah… Ah… I’d rather die together…”

“…And… cough… It’s not because of you… Don’t feel guilty.”

‘You idiot, how can I not feel guilty…’

Yoon Seong had expressed concern about my decision being dangerous. But I made a fatal decision based on everyone’s positive opinions except Yoon Seong, and that’s how we ended up in this situation.

“No… It’s because of me… Because of me, Yoon Seong, you…”

“You two look pathetic.”

Suddenly, a woman wearing a hood spoke up.

“You, you…!”

“The great Seo Yoo Ju, crying her eyes out… That man looks like he’s about to die. Well… I made him that way.”

‘You bitch…’

The target of my revenge. The reason I started my second playthrough came into view.

I don’t know her name. In the first playthrough, no one knew her name or face. She was only known as the leader of an S-class criminal organization. I even heard that she took the position by killing the previous leader.

Because of her and the criminal clan’s schemes, Eras was in chaos and always engulfed in war.

I saw my past self, weak and barely standing, holding a spear. Of course, there was no chance of winning against her. The odds were 0%, but it was a reflexive action driven by the thought of protecting Yoon Seong.

“You… you…! What kind of person are you? Why, why are you doing this to our clan?”

“…People always want to believe only what they see. Just like you, Seo Yoo Ju. Even if I explain, you wouldn’t understand. Unfortunately, I can’t explain it to you…”

“What, what nonsense are you spouting…? Are you trying to justify what you’ve done? You’re just a lunatic… Do you know how many people have died because of you…?”

“…So? Are you going to attack me? In that exhausted state?”

“I can still…”

“…Seo Yoo Ju!”

“Ah…?”

“Please… please run away… cough… Listen to me…!”

“No! I, I’ll protect you… I’ll go back with you!”

Just as my past self was about to charge at her, some of our clan members arrived at the scene.

“Clan Master!”

“Ah…! Everyone…!”

“What… is this, Lee Yoon Seong?”

“Good timing, everyone. That woman…!”

“Cough… Everyone… please listen to me. Take the Clan Master and run away.”

“Lee Yoon Seong, what are you…? Run away? What about you…?”

“I… have no chance of surviving. If the other outlaws arrive, it’s over. Hurry…!”

At Yoon Seong’s words, the clan members bit their lips. They had been through life and death together, so it was natural for them to be sad.

“…Forgive us, Clan Master.”

They must have made up their minds, as they grabbed me and started to run away. My past self, with no strength left, couldn’t possibly break free from them.

“No! No! What are you all doing?! Let go of me!!”

“Please… we can’t let Lee Yoon Seong’s sacrifice be in vain. Clan Master, please…!”

“Yoon Seong, Yoon Seong is still there!! Let go of me! No, Yoon Seong!!”