Go Yeon-Joo was smiling at me, but she seemed to already know that Ha-Yeong was chanting a spell.
The moment her shadow on the floor wriggled, I quickly drew the sword strapped to my waist. With the clear sound of the blade being unsheathed, Go Yeon-Joo's shadow spun once in place and then rushed straight toward Ha-Yeong.
Ha-Yeong looked utterly shocked by the sudden attack. However, even in that moment, I could see the necklace around her neck emitting a white light.
"Target Designation: Silhouette. Overlap."
No matter what kind of attack came her way, she never gave up and always responded with the appropriate magic. Even when surprised, she did what needed to be done. Mages were required to maintain a cold, rational mindset in any situation, and Ha-Yeong was embodying that principle flawlessly.
The magic bursting from her necklace, combined with the high-speed chanting of her Anti-Magic spell, sent white light surging through the air. The light, once released, wavered like liquid before dissolving into the shadow. Although Ha-Yeong's spell only managed to momentarily halt the shadow, the two seconds she had bought were enough for my sword to reach Go Yeon-Joo's throat.
"...Hmph."
A chilling silence followed. Go Yeon-Joo remained seated with her chin propped up on her hand, but I didn't miss the flicker of surprise in her eyes. She had likely only meant to toy with us, but in the end, a second-year player had managed to land a hit on someone who had reached the
"Don't overdo it with the jokes."
I pressed my sword even closer to Go Yeon-Joo as her eyes darted around anxiously.
The last time I had ended up in her arms, she had chosen to retreat. And this time was no different. A confrontation of one against three, the situation already turning against her, and a sword brimming with killing intent right beneath her chin—there was no reason for her to push her luck.
As expected, she quietly withdrew her shadow and raised both hands in surrender. Seeing the shadow slink away, Ha-Yeong let out a sigh of relief. I glanced at her again, impressed, before slightly easing my sword. At the same time, I saw her throat bob as she swallowed.
Once I fully withdrew my blade, Go Yeon-Joo reached up and rubbed the back of her neck.
"Whew… Isn't it kind of low for a guy to interfere in a fight between women?"
"That's all you have to say?"
"…Sorry. I guess I took the joke a little too far."
She lowered her head in apology. I already knew she had only been messing around, and I hadn't been expecting an apology in the first place. So, I decided to let it go. To some, it might have seemed like a halfhearted gesture, but what really mattered was that someone ranked in the Top 10 had actually admitted fault.
However, Ha-Yeong, still staring at her with a look of disbelief, suddenly furrowed her brows as if sensing that something was off.
"Shadow… don't tell me…."
As Ha-Yeong muttered to herself, Go Yeon-Joo flashed a sly smile and spoke.
"Shall I introduce myself?"
"By all means."
At my permission, she straightened her posture and bowed politely toward Ha-Yeong and Shin Sang-Yong. But this time, it wasn't an apology. Instead, it was an assertion of dominance—a way to amplify her presence and make sure they knew exactly who she was.
"Greetings. I am Go Yeon-Joo, a fifth-year player known as the 'Shadow Queen.' Due to certain circumstances, I am currently running an inn in Mule. I sincerely apologize for my earlier rudeness."
"H-Huh?!"
"...."
As expected, Shin Sang-Yong nearly jumped out of his seat in shock. Ha-Yeong's eyes widened as well, though she managed to maintain her composure, avoiding the same undignified reaction.
Their gazes clashed in midair, and I caught the subtle curl of Go Yeon-Joo's lips.
"I did say I was sorry. Consider that my greeting."
"…So, is it normal for Top 10 players to greet people by attacking them?"
At Ha-Yeong's cold response, Go Yeon-Joo twisted her lips into a smirk and replied.
"Oh my, I never intended to kill anyone. Now, who was it that started chanting first?"
"Oh my, I don't think I intended to chant either."
Watching Ha-Yeong fire back without hesitation, Go Yeon-Joo's expression shifted to one of amused surprise—Oh? Look at this one. Ha-Yeong stood tall, while Go Yeon-Joo, still slightly bent forward, tilted her head up just enough to meet her gaze.
A tense silence filled the air. Then, it was Go Yeon-Joo who spoke first.
"Did my apology make me look like a pushover? And could you not look at me with those eyes? It's making me want to actually kill you."
"I don't know what makes you so confident when you've done nothing to be proud of. Your apology didn't even feel sincere."
At that, Go Yeon-Joo let out a chuckle and straightened her posture. Then, she pulled the dagger from her waist and began spinning it between her fingers with ease.
"Sincerity? Su-Hyeon seemed interested in you, so I was a little curious. But wow, you're still just a kid. What's there to argue about in Hall Plain?"
Ha-Yeong responded with nothing but a scoff, as if she had nothing more to say.
She knew Go Yeon-Joo had a point—Hall Plain was a world where strength and ability dictated everything. Especially for someone ranked in the Top 10, Go Yeon-Joo existed in a realm so high above normal players that they couldn't even dream of reaching her.
Ha-Yeong's attitude wasn't exactly what one would call normal in this situation. But there was one reason—one justification—that made it possible for her to act this way.
And Go Yeon-Joo probably had a rough idea of what that was.
"The mighty Shadow Queen has really fallen, huh? Getting talked back to by a kid. You do know why your head is still attached, right?"
"Of course. I wouldn't be acting like this if I didn't have something to rely on."
"For someone hiding behind borrowed power, you sure talk big! I'll let it slide this time for Kim Su-Hyeon's sake, but if you try this again, there won't even be scraps left for you. Hoho."
"So, are you denying the importance of caravans and clans now? If individual strength matters, then so should connections. Not that I know if we'll ever meet again. Fufu."
"Enough."
At this rate, an actual fight was going to break out, so I stepped in and cut things off.
Both women turned to me with faces full of dissatisfaction. Letting out a deliberately loud sigh, I made sure they both heard it.
Objectively speaking, Go Yeon-Joo was the highest-ranked player here. From a modern perspective, she was clearly in the wrong. But by Hall Plain's standards, they were both equally at fault.
However, considering I was still just a zeroth-year player, Ha-Yeong's attitude was excessive, no matter how I looked at it.
After several encounters with Go Yeon-Joo, I had made it clear that I was superior to her in skill, and she had, to some extent, accepted that fact. Given that, her mistake wasn't simply interfering despite my presence—it was taking her prank too far, to the point of making onlookers uncomfortable. Sure, Ha-Yeong had started chanting first, but the one who provoked us from the beginning, through her background investigation, was Go Yeon-Joo.
At the same time, Ha-Yeong had acted unusually. Despite being significantly weaker than Go Yeon-Joo, she refused to back down… you could even say she stood up to her. Expressing one's own will is fine, but if Go Yeon-Joo hadn't known my true abilities—or if I had been weaker than her—Ha-Yeong's attitude would've been a one-way ticket to getting herself killed.
Of course, she must have calculated the situation—the brief two-second skirmish had gone in our favor thanks to our teamwork, and she likely trusted in my strength. But even with that in mind, her behavior was difficult to fully justify. I could only assume it stemmed from an emotion that only women would truly understand.
If I had to pinpoint a reason, it was probably something Go Yeon-Joo had said when bringing up Ha-Yeong's background.
The moment Go Yeon-Joo muttered "Abandoned mage player," I saw Ha-Yeong's eyes sharpen, her gaze flicking upward like a blade being drawn.
Compared to her usual rational demeanor, Ha-Yeong's actions were definitely out of character. However, I decided to ask her about it later. I didn't believe she would act this way without a reason.
After organizing my thoughts for a moment, I turned to Go Yeon-Joo and spoke.
"Ms. Go Yeon-Joo, Player Jung Ha-Yeong is currently a member of my caravan. Conducting background investigations is already unpleasant, but deliberately leaking that information? That's hard to see as anything but ill-intentioned. I would appreciate it if you refrained from excessive behavior like this in the future."
At my words, Ha-Yeong's expression brightened while Go Yeon-Joo's face darkened. But before either could react further, I continued.
"And… as for player Jung Ha-Yeong, I'll speak to her about this myself later."
This time, the shift was reversed—Ha-Yeong's face fell, while Go Yeon-Joo let out a quiet chuckle.
With that, I had done three things: I stood up for Ha-Yeong, preserved Go Yeon-Joo's pride, and firmly established my position. In other words, I was telling them both to drop it here and avoid making any more trouble.
It seemed they found the situation amusing in its own way, as they both gave slight nods in acknowledgment.
Shin Sang-Yong, who had been fidgeting nervously, finally seemed to relax as the situation settled. He adjusted his glasses with a quick push and began carefully observing Go Yeon-Joo.
It wasn't every day that someone like him got to sit at the same table as a Top 10 player.
Noticing his gaze, Go Yeon-Joo spoke in a sultry tone.
"Stop staring so much. When you look at me like that, it gets me all excited."
"W-Wah…! I-I-I-I'm s-sorry! I didn't mean—!"
Shin Sang-Yong practically jumped out of his seat, bowing his head frantically. But even as he stammered out apologies, he couldn't help but steal glances at her. It wasn't hard to guess what was running through his mind.
Just the fact that a Top 10 player had personally spoken to him was enough to leave him starstruck.
Seeing his flustered reaction, Go Yeon-Joo's mood seemed to improve. She flashed a playful smile and continued.
"What is it?"
"I, uh… th-that is…."
"So?"
As Go Yeon-Joo kept pressing him, Shin Sang-Yong's face turned bright red, and he seemed completely at a loss. Eventually, he managed to squeak out a response in a voice as small as a mosquito's buzz.
"Well… It's just that… you're so different from the Shadow Queen I'd always heard about…."
"Hm? And what kind of image did you have in mind?"
"Uh-hum."
Clearing his throat awkwardly, Shin Sang-Yong quickly dodged the question.
Go Yeon-Joo, clearly amused by his flustered reaction, burst into a fit of laughter. Then, with a slow, deliberate motion, she reached up and loosened the ribbon tying up her elegantly styled hair.
"Ms. Go Yeon-Joo?"
Sensing she was about to do something weird again, I spoke up before she could go any further. In response, she simply winked at me playfully before raising a hand to grip the fabric of her top.
"For example… something like this?"
Riiip!
"Huh—?!"
"Eek!"
Go Yeon-Joo yanked at her clothes with such force that both her top and bottom tore away in an instant. The once neatly arranged outfit was reduced to nothing more than scraps of fabric fluttering to the ground.
Neither Ha-Yeong nor Shin Sang-Yong had expected such a bold move—both let out low, startled cries.
Go Yeon-Joo, now nearly bare, casually crossed one leg over the other.
Well, to be precise, she wasn't actually naked. The drastic contrast between her previous attire and what she now wore created an illusion of nudity, but she was still clothed—just barely.
Her thin tank top, cut so dangerously short that it barely covered anything, left her shoulders fully exposed and revealed more than half of her chest. The fabric was stretched so tightly across her body that it seemed like the slightest movement would make it snap.
As for her lower half, her shorts barely extended past her upper thighs, leaving her smooth, slightly plump legs fully visible. Not just thin, but softly toned—thighs that, for any man who saw them, would stir an irresistible urge to reach out and grab.
Her long, silvery-gray hair cascaded down her back, adding to the sultry, almost decadent aura she exuded.
Go Yeon-Joo twirled the dagger in her right hand before pressing it upright between her cleavage, right in the center of her chest. Then, with a slow, deliberate motion, she let a single finger push it downward.
The dangerously sharp blade, gleaming with a deadly sheen, slid between the tight valley of her breasts, cutting through nothing but the air itself.
The mix of danger and seduction was almost hypnotic.
Shin Sang-Yong swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing visibly.
Watching their reactions with quiet amusement, Go Yeon-Joo finally spoke in a low, sultry voice.
"Are you satisfied now?"
Her sultry voice dripped through the air like honey, thick and intoxicating.
Gone was the soft, polite tone of a mere innkeeper. This was the Shadow Queen speaking now—no honorifics, no restraint.
The raw, almost overwhelming allure radiating from her made both Shin Sang-Yong and Ha-Yeong hold their breath. I briefly worried Ha-Yeong might lash out again, but thankfully, she knew when to step back. Now was one of those times.
Go Yeon-Joo let out a slow, sweet sigh before turning to me, her eyes dark with amusement.
Then, licking her lips ever so slightly, she slid closer—so close that I could feel the warmth of her body against my arm.
"Let me pour you a drink."
"First, we should—"
"Oh, come on~" She pouted playfully, leaning in just enough for her breath to tickle my ear. "The night is long. Just take a drink first."
The warm whisper sent an uneasy shiver down my spine.
This wasn't just a simple gesture of gratitude for saving her pride earlier—no, the atmosphere she created was far too charged, too deliberately unstable.
One thing was clear: she was treating Shin Sang-Yong and Ha-Yeong very differently from how she was treating me.
In other words, she was telling me to step forward now.
Without waiting for my answer, she picked up a bottle with a slow, deliberate movement, her lips curving into a seductive smile.
Then, without hesitation, she pressed a small cup into my hand and—using both hands in an almost reverent manner—began to pour.
The soft trickle of liquid filled the silence.
Before I even noticed, Go Yeon-Joo had pressed herself snugly against my side. A sweet, almost intoxicating scent drifted from her lips, mixing with the subtle fragrance of her skin.
She wasn't just sitting close—she was touching.
Every slight movement of hers sent a teasing brush of warmth against my arm. Soft flesh, barely concealed by that dangerously thin fabric, met the cold, razor-sharp edge of the dagger still nestled between her collarbones.
That contrast—heat and chill, silk and steel—sent a strange sensation crawling up my spine.
Instinctively, my eyes flickered to Ha-Yeong.
Her expression was tense, eyes brimming with unspoken warning. This wasn't some petty jealousy—she was genuinely worried. Worried for me.
That realization settled something inside me.
With Ha-Yeong stepping back, the battle of wills between her and Go Yeon-Joo had shifted. The Shadow Queen had revealed her true colors, forcing Ha-Yeong to retreat—for now.
Which meant it was my turn to step forward.
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