Chapter 124: Deprived of status
by Afuhfuihgs“Don’t explain. I heard and saw everything from beginning to end. Including what you said about Lee Hyun-seung.”
Yoo Han-beom had been watching the entire situation unfold from afar.
Right after Kim Hee-ra called for the Artemis Guild elders’ meeting, Yoo Han-beom received a report from the Fifth Elder.
“Guildmaster Yoo Han-beom, Lady Kim Hee-ra has convened an elders’ meeting.”
“I see. Then why wasn’t I informed?”
“I’m not sure about that part. But judging by how quietly it’s being held, it seems there might be something going on.”
The Fifth Elder reported to Yoo Han-beom immediately after receiving the order to convene the meeting. Usually, it was Yoo Han-beom himself who called the elders’ meetings.
Kim Hee-ra occasionally held meetings, but it was rare for her to do so so quietly like this.
Yoo Han-beom, the guildmaster of Artemis, thought to himself,
‘Is there a reason they’re trying to keep this from me?’
Information was being deliberately withheld. If it weren’t for the Fifth Elder, Yoo Han-beom might not have even known the meeting was happening.
‘I should go and check it out.’
Sensing something strange, Yoo Han-beom headed toward the elders’ meeting room.
When he arrived at the meeting room, Yoo Han-beom quietly opened the door just enough to hear the entire conversation from the beginning. Of course, he carefully used magic to prevent any light from spilling inside.
-How can someone be so shameless? Are some people just born to lie without a shred of guilt?
He heard Baek So-yoon’s voice. After that, Baek So-yoon argued emotionally with Kim Hee-ra, but Yoo Han-beom did not intervene.
‘Could it really be…?’
He was curious. Was what Kim Hee-ra said true? Did Lee Hyun-seung really try to kill her first and plan a rebellion?
He did not want to believe it. To be honest, Lee Hyun-seung was one of the few talented individuals Yoo Han-beom recognized as fit to be his successor.
The very reason he brought Lee Hyun-seung into the Artemis Guild was partly because he was curious about his growth limits. But more importantly, it was because of his ability to manage those around him.
Not by crushing them with money or power, but by building emotional bonds based on trust. Bonds so strong that could not be broken by money or force, creating comrades who would willingly risk their lives without fear of betrayal.
Yoo Han-beom had hoped that Artemis Guild might develop such an atmosphere.
But if Kim Hee-ra’s claims of rebellion were true, then Lee Hyun-seung must be eliminated.
‘Could it really be a rebellion…?’
At that moment, Yoo Han-beom gripped his throbbing head with his hand.
-Footsteps
-Footsteps
Baek So-yoon slowly approached, glancing quietly at Yoo Han-beom outside.
‘….’
When Yoo Han-beom quietly met her gaze, she grinned slyly and, holding a dagger, walked toward Kim Hee-ra.
-Wait… Are you crazy? You really think you’ll get away with this? Since you’re going this far, I won’t hide it. The claim that Lee Hyun-seung staged a rebellion is a lie. But that doesn’t justify you trying to kill me.’
Yoo Han-beom heard Kim Hee-ra’s voice confessing. Baek So-yoon kept her dagger aimed at Kim Hee-ra but kept her eyes on Yoo Han-beom.
[You heard all this, right?]
Her eyes and actions said that clearly.
Even then, Yoo Han-beom intentionally stayed outside. He wanted to see how Kim Hee-ra would respond.
How would she react when her life was in danger?
“Baek So-yoon Elder, you will be punished for what you have done. Please… calm down for now. If you cause a disturbance here, you will only get yourself into trouble.”
‘Pathetic.’
In the end, she couldn’t solve anything on her own and resorted to threats based on the little power she had.
Back to the present.
“Don’t explain. I heard and saw everything from beginning to end. Including what you said about Lee Hyun-seung.”
When Yoo Han-beom spoke, Kim Hee-ra answered, sounding flustered.
“Y-You saw the entire situation just now, so why didn’t you help me? I almost got killed by that woman…?”
“I already said this earlier. Elder Baek So-yoon, unlike you, already knew I was here. If you really planned a rebellion, you wouldn’t have just tried to scare her—you would have stabbed her right away.”
Irritation welled up inside Yoo Han-beom as he spoke.
First, Kim Hee-ra had failed to notice his presence.
No matter how urgent the situation was, even if Yoo Han-beom used a light-blocking spell to prevent any light from entering, it was negligence to not notice that the elders’ meeting room door was open. What if someone else was eavesdropping? Then all the meeting’s details would leak out.
Second, Kim Hee-ra didn’t properly understand the personalities of the elders she was dealing with.
If Elder Baek So-yoon truly intended to kill her, she would have done so long ago. Baek So-yoon wasn’t the type to issue mere warnings. If she wanted to kill, she would have done it outright. Kim Hee-ra should have sensed something was off from the moment Baek So-yoon started giving those strange warnings. Baek So-yoon’s blatant actions were only possible because Yoo Han-beom was right there watching.
Lack of ability. Poor judgment.
-Click-
These actions were impossible to believe coming from someone who held the authority to run the Artemis Guild.
With a dark expression, Yoo Han-beom spoke to Kim Hee-ra.
“You must have known that I had a great interest in Lee Hyun-seung, didn’t you? I recognized his ability, and even expected that he would have a positive influence on our Artemis Guild. After all, he not only stopped the mana-devouring maim in the class extermination battle, but also defeated Hileon, who invaded Broad Academy. His growth potential is certainly high. So why would you try to kill someone like him?”
“T-That is…”
-Kraaaaash!-
Unable to hold back any longer, Yoo Han-beom slammed his staff hard against the ground and shouted.
“Speak clearly! How much more do I have to get angry for you to open your mouth?”
“Lee Hyun-seung… insulted both Yoo Hee-yeon and me right in front of us.”
“Explain the situation clearly.”
“The imperial knights came to Broad Academy and conducted a detailed mana scent examination. The real culprit who stalked Hee-yeon was revealed. Since the two mana scents found on the phone belonged to Hileon, it was confirmed that Hileon was the culprit. In that situation, Lee Hyun-seung shouted that he was not the culprit and mocked Yoo Hee-yeon. Then he even challenged me. He’s just a regular guild member, yet he acted like that toward me. It’s absurd.”
“So, in short, he used his power to retaliate just because of his own feelings?”
“That’s not what I mean!”
“Then should I understand that you lacked the ability to retaliate on your own and tried to get someone else to do it for you?”
Yoo Han-beom threw down the reports from the scene onto the floor.
They contained detailed records, including how Kim Hee-ra first attacked Lee Hyun-seung, but her magic was nullified and she was counterattacked.
Those were the very documents Baek So-yoon had handed Yoo Han-beom as she left moments ago.
-Step
-Step
Yoo Han-beom slowly approached Kim Hee-ra. She muttered, looking flustered as if wondering how he knew.
“W-Wait a moment… there’s been a misunderstanding…”
She had attacked Lee Hyun-seung first, failed, then, annoyed by being countered, tried to brand him a rebel and have him killed. That was the only truth of this incident.
-Freeze-
Yoo Han-beom stopped right in front of Kim Hee-ra and spoke toward her.
“Do you know the kind of people I despise the most? They are those who have no ability but want everything. Those who cause others to suffer because of their own stupidity, and those who have no skills yet try to stand above others. I hate people like that.”
“Y-You’ve said enough! How dare you talk to me like that!”
-Whoosh!-
Kim Hee-ra raised her hand to slap Yoo Han-beom’s cheek. But—
-Crushed grip-
Yoo Han-beom grabbed her wrist firmly. Then, looking at her face, he said.
“From today, I’m stripping you of the authority to convene the elders’ meeting. You have no qualification to command the elders. Furthermore, I am seriously considering revoking part of the Artemis Guild management rights that were granted to you.”
“N-No, that’s nonsense…!”
The Artemis elders were the group of the strongest in Artemis. To take away Kim Hee-ra’s right to summon their meetings meant cutting off her access to the guild’s core forces. And if her guild management authority was also revoked, Kim Hee-ra could become an empty shell.
“Y-You need to think rationally. Are you really going to treat me like this just because of that brat? Do you think I took all the dirty work for Artemis alone? No, absolutely not. If I hadn’t done the dirty work behind the scenes, do you think this place would have grown this much? Do you even know that the more my honor is damaged, the more your own, as the guildmaster, is weakened? Get a grip. You’re not usually this emotional…”
Yoo Han-beom spoke quietly.
“As you said, the Artemis Guild is rotten in many places. I let it slide for the sake of the guild’s growth. And this is the result.”
He turned his back and added.
“It’s time for reform. Times have changed, and if we continue like this, when my power weakens, what remains will be a terrible end and collapse. I won’t let that happen.”
Kim Hee-ra collapsed with a thud, muttering.
“Why… because of that brat, why am I being treated like this…”
-Click click-
Blood dripped from her bitten lips.
Artemis Guild Headquarters.
Yoo Han-beom and Lee Hyun-seung were facing each other.
Yoo Han-beom explained everything that had happened so far to Lee Hyun-seung.
Then he said.
“As you heard, something disgraceful happened inside the guild, and because of that, you almost suffered serious harm. The person responsible has already been punished, but I doubt that will be enough to make you feel better. If you want something, say it.”
After some thought, Lee Hyun-seung answered.
“I don’t want much. I can make most weapons myself, and I have enough money, so I don’t want any additional punishments either. If Lady Kim Hee-ra were punished too harshly, the guildmaster’s reputation would suffer, and I don’t want that.”
He didn’t add, “I’ll be the one to bring down Kim Hee-ra and Yoo Hee-yeon myself anyway.”
“…”
Yoo Han-beom remained silent for a moment, then quietly replied.
“Thank you for thinking about it.”
It was very unusual for Yoo Han-beom to say ‘thank you’ to anyone. Even more than apologizing.
Yoo Han-beom looked at Lee Hyun-seung with interest—as if saying, you can ask for anything you want.
Lee Hyun-seung smiled slightly and said.
“As compensation for this incident, if possible, please let me participate in the upcoming Artemis Guild labyrinth expedition.”
The labyrinth expedition.
This Artemis Guild expedition was essentially a journey to eliminate Hileon. Fighting the enemy was the greatest opportunity to make a name within the guild. It was a chance he could never miss.
After a moment’s thought, Yoo Han-beom replied.
“If you want, you may. I’ll let you know when the schedule is set.”
Lee Hyun-seung thought to himself.
After this expedition ends, power, status, and even those pathetic connections—
Kim Hee-ra and Yoo Hee-yeon would lose everything.
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