As I slowly opened my eyes, the chilly air and warm sunlight mingled within the room. After patting my head a few times, I massaged my shoulders and sat up. Bright sunlight was streaming in through the window. In the past, I would have complained about feeling heavy, but ever since starting my return, I no longer felt that way. With my vitality and magic stats increased, minor wounds or fatigue could easily be overcome with natural recovery.
When I twisted my neck, a satisfying "crack" echoed through the room. The sharp sensation of my joints cracking made me shiver momentarily before I cautiously rose from the bed. Exhausted, An-Hyun was fast asleep, completely unaware of the world, and beside him, a man named Shin Sang Yong lay quietly with his eyes closed. The effects of the anesthesia that Vivienne had injected him with during her spider days should be wearing off by now. There was a high chance he would wake up sometime today. After mentally ticking off the tasks I had for the day, I stretched my arms wide.
Looking outside, the sun had already risen high into the sky, shining brilliantly. The whole world seemed bright—a perfectly clear day for a picnic with a lunchbox in hand. When I extended my senses to the neighboring room, I could hear the even breathing of four players. After equipping my basic gear and checking my pockets, I left the room.
As I descended the creaky wooden stairs, the quiet lobby of the inn came into view. There wasn't a single player in sight. The further the Golden Lion Clan pushed their expedition into the Iron Mountain Range, the more pronounced this phenomenon would become. Fools. Muttering a curse under my breath, I found a seat and sat down.
Go Yeon Joo was dozing off on a single chair placed in the fully visible kitchen. When I deliberately made a scraping sound with the chair and plopped down on it, I could see her head jerk up in surprise. Considering she was a player who had reached top 10 players, it was fair to assume that if she didn't wake up to this level of noise, she was intentionally pretending to be asleep.
But that didn't seem to be the case. Go Yeon Joo staggered toward me with half-open eyes. It seemed like she had overexerted herself yesterday, likely because there were more players around than usual. Still, with her level of Vitality, simple inn work shouldn't have been enough to tire her out. What could have happened? Curiosity made me tilt my head slightly, but since it wasn't my business, I simply opened my mouth to greet her.
"Good morning," I said.
"Y-yes... good... morning," She replied, stifling a yawn with a touch of elegance while nodding her head. Her disheveled outfit and smooth legs caught my eye momentarily. Feeling slightly embarrassed, I quickly turned my attention to the menu. It was morning, so something light seemed like the way to go. After scanning the options briefly, I made my decision.
"I'll go with the A-course today. Something simple."
"Haah... sniff. Cheeky. It'll take some time if I have to make it fresh," She muttered through another stifled yawn.
"I'm not sure what makes it 'cheeky,' but you can serve me whatever's leftover from yesterday."
"I love you," She quipped with a wink, her expression one of genuine relief. I chose to let the last comment slide.
"You must have had a rough night." I remarked.
"Don't even get me started. Last night was awful, and today's not shaping up any better. players just kept pouring in until dawn. Half of them were drunk and wouldn't stop harassing me. I had to kick every single one of them out, charge them for the food, and even get compensation for damages. My body aches all over." She said with a dramatic sigh, collapsing onto the chair opposite me as if she had been waiting for an excuse.
I chuckled wryly at her theatrics and offered a silent prayer for the unfortunate players who had crossed her path the previous night. May their lower bodies recover in due time.
But why on earth was she sitting right across from me? Shouldn't she be getting my breakfast by now? Instead, she continued to vent her frustrations, grumbling about how players were constantly hitting on her, how being born pretty felt like a curse, and so on.
Well, if that's how you feel, maybe don't dress like that? Her top revealed more than half of her cleavage, and her skirt was so short it barely covered her thighs. How could anyone not stare? Was she enjoying the attention? A flood of thoughts surged through my mind, and the words I wanted to say rose to the tip of my tongue. But I swallowed them down with effort, shrugging my shoulders in response.
Instead of speaking, I reached into my pocket, pulled out a cigarette, and lit it.
Go Yeon Joo stared at my reaction for a moment, her eyes narrowing. Pouting slightly, she spoke in a tone laced with dissatisfaction.
"Oh my. That's harsh. Do you really dislike talking to me that much?"
"Huh? What are you talking about all of a sudden? We were having a normal conversation." I replied, confused.
"I'm very perceptive, you know. You were just thinking it'd be nice if I went and brought your food right away, weren't you?"
"N-no, that's not it." I stammered.
Her sharp observation left me fumbling for words. She carried on, speaking softly yet pointedly, until she stood up with a slightly sulky expression. I could only respond with an awkward smile, beads of sweat forming on my forehead.
"Last time, you completely brushed me off, you know. Hmph. Do you think I act like this with just anyone?"
"I was just really tired then…" I replied, my voice tinged with guilt.
Go Yeon Joo scrunched up her slightly sleepy eyes at my excuse and let out a dismissive snort. Not having much to say in my defense, I simply lit the cigarette I had been holding.
"You're unbelievable," She said with mock indignation. "Fine. The innkeeper will now bring your food."
"It's really not what you think. But please make sure the food's warmed up." I added, attempting to sound earnest.
"Unbelievable," She muttered again, this time loudly enough for me to hear. "Now I look like someone who just sat around waiting to be told to go do something."
She turned on her heel with a dramatic whirl, the air seeming to follow her movement. Muttering something to herself, she walked off toward the kitchen. One step. Two steps. Three steps. Four steps. As I quietly watched her retreating figure, I took a deep drag from my cigarette, the fragrant smoke filling my throat.
When I didn't call out to stop her, she inevitably turned back around, a sigh escaping her lips as she saw me leisurely enjoying my cigarette.
"Mr. Su-Hyeon, don't you often get told that you're clueless?" Go Yeon Joo asked pointedly.
"What?" I responded, startled.
"If a woman says this much, shouldn't you get the hint by now?"
"...Food first." I replied, coolly betraying her expectations.
She rolled her eyes dramatically at my unrelenting demand and stomped her way closer to me. Bracing myself for whatever might come next, I watched as she calmly reached out and plucked the cigarette from my lips.
"Hey—"
"This is a no-smoking inn, sir." she said primly.
"It wasn't when I arrived yesterday afternoon. Most of the players were smoking." I retorted.
With a sweet smile that barely concealed her irritation, she countered smoothly, "It's a no-smoking zone in the morning, sir."
"That's unfair." I grumbled, my voice tinged with defeat.
As I sulked, she brought the cigarette to her own lips and took a long drag. I stared at her, dumbfounded, and she shrugged her shoulders just as I had earlier. Then, with deliberate ease, she exhaled the smoke in a languid stream, looking utterly unbothered.
"Hoo… It's up to the innkeeper. I'll enjoy it for you." She said, her voice playfully taunting.
With a mischievous glance and a teasing breath of smoke in my direction, she turned and sauntered back toward the kitchen, her steps light and swaying. Watching her retreating figure, I took out another cigarette and lit it. Curiously, this time, she didn't stop me.
…
The A-course was simple: bread, soup, and meat stew. True to its name, it was straightforward. But who needed a grand meal first thing in the morning? This was just right. I scooped up a spoonful of the meat stew and took a bite. The tender, flavorful meat brought a smile to my face. Though she claimed to have used leftovers, it was clear she had prepared this fresh.
As I enjoyed my meal, I noticed Go Yeon Joo watching me from a distance, her expression somewhat pouty. She seemed to be reading through a record, focused but occasionally glancing in my direction. When did she start looking over here?
I didn't claim to know her deeply, but one thing was clear: she wasn't shy about showing interest in someone she liked. Did that mean I was someone she liked? The thought brought an unexpected wave of satisfaction. I found myself smiling a bit more as I continued to eat.
"Click, click…."
I heard Go Yeon Joo clicking her tongue as she read through the record. Without even needing to glance her way, I knew what she was reading—a report chronicling the grand exploits of the Golden Lion Clan. That meant she likely shared my opinion about them, which could be a promising starting point for recruitment. Daydreaming about possibilities, I refocused on my meal, lowering my gaze to the table.
But then, the sound of deliberate footsteps echoed from the stairs.
Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.
It wasn't the sound of An-Hyun or Lee Yun-Jung—they moved with far less formality. And An-Sol's steps had a tentative quality to them, unlike these. This sound was restrained but carried a certain elegance. The kind of footsteps you'd typically associate with magic players.
The tapping ceased, indicating the person had reached the bottom of the stairs. I raised my hand behind me, gesturing for them to come over. After a moment of hesitation, the soft but steady steps approached my table.
As the figure stopped just behind me, I spoke in a low, welcoming tone.
"You're awake. How are you feeling?"
"…Still a bit weak, but I'm alright. So then…"
"Yes," I interrupted gently, turning to face her. "My companions and I found and rescued your group in the dungeon."
A clear, melodious voice reached my ears. It was one of the rescued players, a female mage, just as I'd suspected. Turning slightly, I saw Jung Ha-Yeong standing beside me. I gestured to the chair across from me, and she followed the direction of my finger, sitting down gracefully before lowering her head slightly.
"First of all, thank you for saving us. My name is Jung Ha-Yeong, a second-year player. My class is general mage."
Skipping unnecessary pleasantries, she got straight to the point, offering thanks and introducing herself with proper etiquette. She was, at least on the surface, a player with a strong sense of propriety.
Satisfied with the initial impression, I took a moment to study her face.
The woman before me had a kind and beautiful face, her dreamy eyes fixed on me with a quiet intensity. Truth be told, while An-Sol, Lee Yun-Jung, and Kim Han-Byeol were striking in their unique ways, Jung Ha-Yeong was no less attractive.
Her short, shoulder-grazing hair framed her innocent, doe-like eyes, and yet, there was an air of elegance and intelligence that set her apart. She had a presence that felt like a blend of An-Sol's innocence, Kim Han-Byeol's confidence, and Vivienne's poise. She was the type of person who could easily win first place in a university orientation popularity poll without even trying.
"I'm Kim Su-Hyeon, a zero-year player. My class is in the swordsman category."
At the mention of being a "zero-year" player, her eyes widened slightly in surprise. However, remembering that I had a group with me seemed to reassure her, as she gave a small nod and waited for me to continue.
Her respectful and composed demeanor only made her more likable. The subtle smile forming on my face betrayed my growing appreciation for her attitude. If she'd been too forward or demanding, I would've dismissed her curtly and moved on. But Jung Ha-Yeong had a clear understanding of her position, and I found myself speaking to her in a softer tone.
"Our group found and rescued you in the dungeon yesterday. You've likely been unconscious for two to three days. You must be thirsty and hungry. Let's get you something to eat first."
"How kind of you. Thank you for your thoughtfulness—I'll gratefully accept."
I called for Go Yeon Joo and ordered another A-course. This time, it took less than five minutes for the food to arrive. From the look of it, the dish was a reheated leftover from yesterday's service. A faint smile crossed my lips at the sight.
As I resumed eating, Jung Ha-Yeong carefully picked up her utensils. Despite her earlier unsteady steps, she seemed to have quite an appetite. She finished her soup and a bottle of water in no time, eating with the polite but earnest demeanor of someone truly hungry.
After polishing off her meal, she lifted her head and hesitantly asked, "I'm sorry, but… could I ask what happened to the rest of my group?"
"Of course," I replied gently, "I'll tell you everything. But how about finishing your meal first?..."
I deliberately changed the subject. Honestly, it would have been easier for me to say, 'Everyone except Shin Sang Yong is dead. The archer and priest were ripped apart, and your sister, Jung Ji-Yeon, ended up as a monster's plaything and became a host for birthing creatures. She was even visibly pregnant, with her belly swollen.' But I didn't say that. The reason I chose to redirect the conversation was a form of considerate tact. Dropping the truth on her right away might have been too shocking, so I intended to let her regain some strength through the meal first.
Having spent two years surviving in the Hall Plain, she must have had some idea of what my words were implying. Her face turned pale, and though she moved her lips as if to say something, all that followed was a single tear sliding down her cheek. Watching the tear fall from such a beautiful face, I calmly added:
"Fortunately, it wasn't a total annihilation. There's still one person upstairs who hasn't regained consciousness yet. So…"
My words seemed to offer her some small amount of relief. Perhaps it helped her regain some composure, as she gave a small nod and wiped the tear running down her cheek.
Glancing to the side, I noticed Go Yeon Joo watching Jung Ha-Yeong with a sympathetic expression. When she caught my gaze, she shook her head slightly, as if to say, 'This is tough.' Though she pretended not to care, it was clear she had been listening to everything. I let out a sigh inwardly.
For a while, the only sounds between us were the faint clinking of utensils. However, Jung Ha-Yeong seemed to have lost her appetite after finishing the soup, merely poking at the food on her plate without eating much. Seeing her sitting with her head bowed low, I decided it was time. Slowly, I opened my mouth to speak.