952

 Finally, the <Dungeon of the Deep Sea> conquest team composition was completed.

People who checked the team roster generally showed reactions of understanding.

In common parlance.

"There's no weak link in the lineup."

Therefore.

"It's a bit of a flaw that there aren't many Pandora Clan members who played active roles in the <Dungeon of the Abyss> conquest... But it can't be helped. We should be satisfied with this much."

"The current roster is enough. And if all the big names leave, who will protect the security here? We should see it as the <Monarch > and the Fairy Lady wisely composing the team."

"Phew, that's a relief. I was worried they might be using the volunteers as sacrificial pawns for political purposes. But looking at this composition, they're not sacrificial pawns."

"My friend! What do you mean sacrificial pawns... The Pandora Clan Lord had firmly stated from the beginning that he would participate in the conquest, how could they have intended to use them as sacrificial pawns?"

"I'm convinced. The Pandora Clan Lord really intends to conquer it. With this composition... It's possible."

People couldn't help but have even more expectations for the success of the conquest.

As it continued to be a topic of conversation day after day.

"Instructor! Why didn't you apply for the conquest team? If it was you, Instructor, your selection would have been certain!"

"..."

<Whisper > Kim Min-ji.

She, an early member of Pandora Clan and also a senior executive, had recently been receiving questions that seemed to look down on her.

'Another provocation.'

To assess the level of students about to graduate from the Player Academy and further recruit talent.

Kim Min-ji, who had visited the academy as a guest instructor for a semester, was currently teaching students in the Ranger division.

But from their first meeting, an unlikeable female student suddenly sneered at her.

'I heard this batch's promising student, but her personality is completely rotten?'

Kim Min-ji inwardly snorted.

Without any sense, she wouldn't have been so rude to her, who came to meet students borrowing the name of Pandora Clan.

Unless she had a grudge against Pandora Clan or no desire to join it.

Of course, even that would be foolish.

The influence of Pandora Clan, evaluated as the best in the player industry, could never be ignored.

If she just set her mind to it.

More precisely, if she tattled to Noh Eun-ha.

'It would be nothing to bury her. Does she not want to be a player? No, does she not want to live in this country?'

So it was just laughable.

'Ah, I'll let it slide. I can't seriously go after a kid. As much as I'd like to grab her by the hair and shake her... There are eyes watching around.'

She finishes her calculations.

Kim Min-ji, who had been quietly staring at the female student, opened her mouth.

"I have to teach you all here. How could I go there?"

Her voice was tinged with composure.

It was the composure that only those in possession could have, as a high-level authority figure.

"..."

Meanwhile, as if it wasn't the reaction she wanted, the female student's face crumpled.

She openly clicked her tongue.

Naturally, Kim Min-ji couldn't help but be greatly irritated and displeased by her attitude.

'Look at her?'

One of Kim Min-ji's eyebrows twitched.

She could still tolerate it with a generous heart, but...

"I really envy you, Instructor."

"What do you envy?"

"You're so lucky, Instructor. Because you're childhood friends with <Monarch >, you easily entered Pandora Clan and became an executive..."

"..."

"It's different for our generation now, you know? How hard is it to enter Pandora Clan. Ah, I'm so envious. If only I had a childhood friend like <Monarch >."

The female student didn't back down and finally crossed the line.

Not knowing that.

"Well, they say luck is also a skill, what can we do? Anyway, you're really lucky, Instructor! You're my role model!"

"Is that so?"

The female student finally wore a triumphant expression as if she had successfully baited her.

That face further provoked Kim Min-ji.

'This one won't do.'

A person who just got lucky by having <Monarch > Noh Eun-ha as a childhood friend.

A parachute player who entered Pandora Clan through connections alone without proper skills.

And so on.

Kim Min-ji was well aware of how she was viewed and evaluated by the public eye, and how she was being mocked.

Especially after Pandora Clan's continuous success and conquering the <Dungeon of the Abyss>.

—You say I'm lucky and that's good? What do they know about me! Why are they talking such nonsense...

When she first learned about this, she couldn't help but feel upset.

She was emotionally hurt.

She even had difficulty breathing because she felt so wronged and indignant.

Her self-esteem took a nosedive after showing that side to her friends, and she fell into depression for a while.

But when you hit rock bottom, you find the strength to rise.

—Fine! I'm ordinary, so what!

As can be seen from the fact that she acknowledged her ordinariness during her Player Academy student days.

Kim Min-ji was a strong person.

And she became even stronger.

She decided to be confident regardless of public opinion.

Even so...

'I can't just ignore it when they keep messing with my dignity.'

She didn't want to be looked down upon.

Again, the female student in front of her had crossed the line.

Kim Min-ji decided to respond.

'This works out well. Today's class was going to be sparring with instructors giving feedback anyway. With daggers as weapons...'

Raising the corners of her mouth.

Kim Min-ji naturally brought it up.

"If I'm your role model, how about getting feedback from me? Don't go to other instructors."

"Ah, really? It's an honor for me if you're willing to teach me, Instructor."

The female student responded eagerly.

Her eyes curved like a fox's.

"But will you be okay, Instructor? If you happen to lose to me while sparring..."

It would be an awful sight, wouldn't it?

The female student conveyed the rest with her eyes.

Her face was full of arrogance, confident in her own skills.

"I'm fine. Shouldn't you be the one worried?"

Kim Min-ji replied calmly.

No, she provoked.

"What? What should I worry about?"

"It would be unsightly if you lose to me."

"..."

The female student, who had been grinning, flinched as if she didn't expect such a direct statement.

She became serious.

She takes out two daggers from her pocket.

"You'll regret it."

"Don't worry, I won't regret it. Rather than wrestling with words, why don't you come at me? Or should I come first?"

"...No. I'll come. I'm the student after all. But..."

Not in the sparring match?

The female student said as she rushed at Kim Min-ji with the wind.

'You need to get thoroughly beaten by me to know your place!'

She was considered the most promising among her peers aiming to become Rangers.

There's no way Kim Min-ji, who had no notable skills, could be a match for her.

Surely she would be defeated by herself and become a laughingstock in front of the instructors and students.

Until now...

'You think you can beat me!?'

The female student believed without a doubt.

However.

Whoosh! Thud! Flop!

"...Huh?"

After exchanging a few moves.

The female student was neutralized by Kim Min-ji, her legs swept and shoulder pinned, lying flat on the ground.

'Why am... I lying down?'

The female student's eyes trembled.

Soon, Kim Min-ji's head poked into her view, which was filled with the vast sky.

She was looking down at her.

"Do you understand where you made a mistake? Or do you want to try again?"

"...Yes. Let's do it one more time."

The idea that she lost to someone like Kim Min-ji was unbelievable.

It must have been a mistake.

This time she'll do well.

The female student, now wide awake, got up to spar with Kim Min-ji again.

The second sparring match began and...

"..."

"You fell for the same technique again? Want to try one more time?"

The female student was lying down again.

The results of the third, fourth, and fifth matches were no different.

By this point.

"How on earth..."

Having been defeated repeatedly in front of everyone, the female student couldn't help but feel shame.

Her face turned red.

Having lost the will to spar any further, she just stared blankly at the sky.

Kim Min-ji helped her up and whispered quietly so others couldn't hear.

It was a warning.

"Do you understand now? The difference between you and me."

"..."

"Don't act cocky from now on. If you do it again, I can make it so you can't even set foot in Seoul."

"...!"

"If you were a promising student like Kaede, maybe, but with that skill level you dare to challenge me? Be careful."

<Whisper > Kim Min-ji.

She, who didn't have many notable achievements in Pandora Clan, was known as an ordinary player.

But that was only ordinary by Pandora Clan standards, not by overall player standards.

Her efforts and experiences over a long time were enough to make her reborn as a top-tier player in the industry.

That fact...

"They're worse than me but talk about luck? They should use that time to work harder..."

The world was unaware of.

* * *

When clan members leave for Italy, there will be a power vacuum for a while.

Of course, they say they composed the conquest team considering the power balance, but...

Still, it's worrying.

Therefore.

"Min-ho and others are there, but you never know. So just in case, can you take care of our clan?"

Eun-ha contacted <Sword Saint> Choi Eun-hyeok.

He, who was active in northern Gyeonggi, sighed over the phone.

[How long has it been since we went to the <Dungeon of the Abyss>, and now the <Dungeon of the Deep Sea>... Didn't the kids say anything?]

"They did say something..."

[It's clear they all tried to dissuade you.]

"But it's necessary. For the future."

[Is it related to Yu-seong who came from the future? I heard about it before, but I'm curious what he looks like.]

"Come and see this time. Before we leave for Italy."

[Hmm... I should. You said your conquest will take more than 6 months. It's already hard to see each other, so I should see you when I can.]

"Please take care of the clan too. Rest well while you're at the clan after a long time."

[I think... Pa-rang hyung and others won't let me rest quietly, will they? I won't just go there and end up working like last time, right? No... I decided not to participate in clan activities except for the Uijeongbu development, so why does this keep happening? I was planning to travel around the country as soon as my contract expired, but am I going to be tied to the clan like this?]

Choi Eun-hyeok complains.

Eun-ha gave a bitter smile and then jokingly replied.

"It hurts my feelings when you say that? Do you want to leave the clan that badly?"

[It's not that I want to leave... I just have a strong desire to continue my master's will by stepping away from the secular world for a while. Good deeds.]

"What do you mean secular world at our age... Can't you do those good deeds while being a clan member?"

[Well, that's true, but...]

"In fact, you could do even more good deeds using the clan's influence."

[...]

The sound of Choi Eun-hyeok swallowing, heard over the phone.

Eun-ha calmly closed his eyes and waited for him to speak.

Eventually.

[What are you trying to say?]

Choi Eun-hyeok asked in a voice filled with wariness.

Eun-ha answered immediately.

"Just stay in the clan. We won't let you go."

[I appreciate the sentiment, but I...]

"There will be many situations where you'll need the clan's help. And you, you're going to take the kids you're working with now too, right? Won't you need even more support?"

[...]

Last year, there were clan members who tried to betray Pandora Clan under Lee Cheon-seo's leadership.

At that time, Eun-ha, who couldn't tolerate betrayal, executed some of them and spared the lives of the rest in exchange for putting them into the Uijeongbu development work.

And Choi Eun-hyeok went to Uijeongbu to take care of them, even falling out with Eun-ha.

"I hear some of those kids want to stay in the clan."

[Ah... That's right. In a way, it's also an opportunity to secure key positions in Uijeongbu.]

"Aren't you worried about those kids? Don't you need to take care of them?"

[...So you're saying I should stay in the clan.]

"That's right."

Eun-ha affirmed.

He continued speaking.

"We'll guarantee your free activities, just leave your name in the clan. And lend us your strength occasionally... It probably won't be bad for you. You'll receive the clan's support and be able to take care of your kids."

[...]

Choi Eun-hyeok was silent.

He must be contemplating.

Eun-ha guessed.

'Please say yes.'

Eun-ha hoped with an anxious heart.

Soon.

[Sigh... You really mean just leaving my name?]

Choi Eun-hyeok said with a sigh, as if he had no choice.

Hearing the answer he was expecting, Eun-ha quickly opened his mouth.

"Of course! Let's write a new contract as soon as you come this time."

* * *

Choi Eun-hyeok decided to stay in the clan.

Eun-ha, who informed his friends of this news, raised the corners of his mouth.

'As expected, the kids are happy.'

Messages were pouring in from the group chat where his friends had gathered.

Just then, Choi Eun-hyeok, who had read the chat, appeared.

The group chat became even more lively.

Eun-ha also joined in the flow.

In the midst of this.

Bang!

"...Huh?"

Suddenly, the office door opened.

"Hey! We're here! Have you been well!?"

"..."

Former Twelve Seats, <Yamma > Kang Hyeon-cheol.

He came in waving his hand at Eun-ha.

Eun-ha couldn't help but be dumbfounded by his sudden appearance.

What was even more dumbfounding was.

'He even brought his kid?'

Kang Hyeon-cheol's son, Kang Dae-han, was in his arms.

Soon, the child dangling in the air greeted Eun-ha.

"Poop!"