Chapter 121: Can you take responsibility for that?

One day earlier. Baek Soyoon’s office.

“Elder Baek Soyoon. The investigation using the mana database regarding Lee Hyunseung’s stalking case will take place tomorrow.”

“Hmm… is that so?”

Baek Soyoon had already told Pyo Gangwoo to inform her as soon as any information related to Lee Hyunseung came in.

So, as soon as Pyo Gangwoo obtained the relevant details, he reported them to her.

Baek Soyoon hummed with interest and asked,

“But where did you get that information? This should be a top-secret matter handled by the government.”

“I have an acquaintance within the royal family. I’m sorry, but I cannot disclose who it is.”

Baek Soyoon gently patted Pyo Gangwoo’s head.

“Well~ It’s not important who gave the information anyway. So, there’s no news about it spreading around yet, right?”

“Yes. While it can be roughly predicted that the mana trace analysis will be conducted, no one except the royal officials will know it’s happening tomorrow.”

“I see. Then don’t pass that information on to the Artemis Guild.”

“To Guildmaster Yoo Hanbeom as well?”

“Of course.”

“Understood.”

Pyo Gangwoo didn’t ask further and agreed with her.

---

The next day. Baek Soyoon headed toward Broad Academy, curious about how things would unfold.

‘Lee Hyunseung… Someone like him wouldn’t really stalk anyone.’

Two mana traces. Those presumed to be from the real culprit. The identity behind those was Baek Soyoon’s main concern.

Of course, she also kept observing Lee Hyunseung’s whereabouts.

‘From a distance, he just looks like an ordinary person…’

Baek Soyoon watched Lee Hyunseung from afar.

To her eyes, he was just a normal adult laughing, chatting, and mingling with those around him.

‘Interesting.’

The Lee Hyunseung Baek Soyoon saw was strange enough to be called a sociopath.

Even after being caught up in a terrorist incident, he showed no flicker of guilt toward the dozens of Hileon remnants he had killed.

Only days had passed since then, yet his expression seemed more like happiness than remorse.

Baek Soyoon felt a subtle kinship with him.

For her, killing someone was nothing extraordinary in daily life.

To her, killing someone was as natural as eating, sleeping, or talking.

‘No matter how you look at it, he’s a talented person…’

Lee Hyunseung was neither intimidated by someone like Baek Soyoon nor hesitated to counterattack boldly.

He showed no fear of being attacked and did not hesitate to kill if necessary.

And he had the ability to handle all of it.

If even one of these were lacking, it would be called recklessness.

But since Lee Hyunseung acted based on excellent skills and situational awareness, his behavior felt like bold determination.

And Baek Soyoon liked people with such determination.

She took in every one of Lee Hyunseung’s actions with her eyes.

Before long, the royal family came to the academy.

• “Leditian Royal Family has come to announce the results of the mana database investigation. Open the gates!”

Soon after, Kim Heera arrived at Broad Academy.

After the royal knights left, Lee Hyunseung and Kim Heera confronted each other, and Kim Heera shouted threats before leaving the scene.

Baek Soyoon, who had witnessed everything, muttered,

“Ah… that woman keeps acting in ways I don’t like…”

From nearby, Pyo Gangwoo, hiding unseen, cautiously poked his head out and quietly spoke.

“Mrs. Kim Heera must not be killed. Even if you’re an elder, killing her…”

“I know~ I’m not planning to kill her, so don’t worry.”

Secretary Pyo Gangwoo was uneasy, but seeing Baek Soyoon’s grim expression, he kept silent and slipped back behind the structure.

While talking with Pyo Gangwoo, Baek Soyoon glanced again at Lee Hyunseung and thought with surprise.

‘Is he really looking at me?’

Lee Hyunseung’s gaze was fixed precisely on Baek Soyoon, who was hundreds of meters away.

‘Since when did he notice?’

Baek Soyoon reviewed if she had made any mistakes. But there was no error in any part.

‘I’ll have to ask him later.’

She was curious how Lee Hyunseung detected her energy but put it aside for now and waved at him.

She thought she should respond properly since he was staring so intently.

“What are you doing, Elder…?”

Pyo Gangwoo asked, and Baek Soyoon replied.

“Lee Hyunseung found me.”

“Th-that can’t be…”

Pyo Gangwoo looked at Baek Soyoon in shock, and she shrugged.

“It’s strange even to me. The last time I got caught like this was by Yoo Hanbeom. Anyway, since he found me, I should reward him.”

–Swish

Baek Soyoon stopped waving and turned to walk away.

She said to the hidden Pyo Gangwoo,

“Let’s go, to the guild.”

---

Artemis Guild headquarters.

Kim Heera was striding fiercely, her face showing anger.

‘That damn brat. How dare he embarrass me like that in front of everyone?’

Lee Hyunseung was just a rookie member of the Artemis Guild.

Whether he had ties to the royal family or not, they wouldn’t protect him inside the guild.

The guild’s punishments and rules were independent, and even the royal family couldn’t interfere with that.

So, Kim Heera decided to repay the insult she suffered.

It was cowardly, but she planned to use her reputation and connections built within the Artemis Guild.

She shouted to her secretary.

“Summon the elders immediately. We need to hold an elders’ meeting.”

“Understood. Should I notify the guild master too?”

“No. Let the elders talk first, then we’ll inform him.

I have the authority to call the elders’ meeting myself.”

When a serious matter arose in the guild, the elders could be summoned to discuss and deliberate.

This was called the “elders’ meeting.”

The elders were the strongest in the Artemis Guild in terms of force, so Yoo Hanbeom called them first when big incidents happened.

Of course, not just anyone could summon the elders.

Only the guild master Yoo Hanbeom, vice guild master Pyo Gangwoo, and Kim Heera could convene the elders’ meeting.

Kim Heera was recognized for her contributions to founding and operating the guild.

Though she didn’t possess overwhelming strength, she held most of the authority in the guild, including calling elders’ meetings.

–Creak

Opening the door revealed a dark, empty room.

Kim Heera sat in the center, waiting for the others.

Shortly after.

“Did someone call?”

Second Elder Hwang Munhyuk was the first to arrive in the room.

He quietly stood beside Kim Heera, who was seated in the center, staring at her.

–Creak–

Soon after, Third Elder, Fourth Elder, Fifth Elder, and finally First Elder Baek Soyoon gathered.

All five elders were assembled.

–Bang!–

The door shut, and a brief silence filled the room.

Kim Heera, sitting in the middle, spoke in a cold voice.

“I’ve called this elders’ meeting because a rebellion has broken out within the guild.”

At her words, the elders flinched in surprise.

Hwang Munhyuk asked.

“There was a large-scale purge during the last rebellion. What fool dares to rise up again?”

“It’s the new member, Lee Hyunseung. That brat committed insubordination. Not only did he insult me in front of everyone, but he even tried to kill me.”

“…”

The expressions of Fourth and Fifth Elders turned serious.

Then, Third Elder Nam Taehwan questioned.

“Do you have evidence?”

Kim Heera smiled slyly.

“Of course. He openly did that outside the academy. There are more witnesses than we need.”

Fifth Elder spoke in a low voice.

“We must… punish him.”

While they talked, Baek Soyoon remained silent, smiling faintly at Kim Heera.

“Ha ha.”

Unable to hold it in, she burst out laughing.

Kim Heera glared at Baek Soyoon and asked sharply.

“Elder Baek Soyoon, why are you laughing? Don’t you understand the situation? This is insubordination—a rebellion. Do you realize how serious this is?”

Baek Soyoon tilted her head and answered.

“I just laughed because it sounded ridiculous. Is that a problem?”

“…!”

At that moment, Second Elder Nam Taehwan shouted irritably at Baek Soyoon.

“First Elder! Behave yourself. Tolerate that kind of nonsense only when the time and situation call for it.”

“Ha…”

She sighed, and Nam Taehwan raised his hand toward his sword.

Baek Soyoon noticed and whispered quietly.

“If you want your arm cut off, then draw it.”

Her eyes glowed red, and soon Nam Taehwan’s hand began to tremble.

He instinctively took a step back.

A tense silence filled the room.

As all the elders turned to look at Baek Soyoon at once, she ignored them and coldly stared at Kim Heera.

“Do you really take responsibility for saying that Lee Hyunseung was the one who committed insubordination first?”