[Protagonist’s POV]
"Is this the right way...?"
After parting with my guide, I followed the direction he’d pointed, but my unease wouldn’t settle. The lower floors had been bustling, but up here, it was eerily quiet.
In other words...
"That means only important people are up here..."
Gulp.
The realization hit me fast, but it only made my throat burn drier. For an ambitious youth, this might’ve been a golden opportunity. But me? I was just a humble fortune-teller who wanted a quiet life. Meeting high-ranking, influential figures was the last thing I desired.
I feared they’d nitpick something trivial—or even if they didn’t, just getting entangled with them could spell trouble. I didn’t need to meet them to know that’s how this world worked.
"If you’re going to guide me, at least see it through to the end...!"
He’d said something about me coming alone, then ditched me. Whoever summoned me clearly wasn’t overflowing with goodwill.
"...Wait."
On second thought, this could work in my favor. My goal had been to live quietly and retreat to the mountains, but now, with stopping the world’s end half-added to my mission, I’d inevitably hit limits relying on myself alone. So, since I was here, I should make the most of it—to aid my goal of averting doom.
First, I needed to know...
"Why the hell did the Martial Alliance summon me?!"
Realizing I had to start from square one without a needle or thread, I clutched my head for a moment. As I trudged down the straight corridor, I spotted a door slightly ajar. Heart pounding, I peeked inside cautiously—
"You’ve arrived? I’ve been waiting."
Startle.
A man’s back faced me, speaking without turning around.
"Are you the one they call the Faceless Money-Grubbing Ghost?"
"Y-Yes..." I stammered.
"Haha, no need to be so tense. She didn’t call you here to harm you," he said, finally turning to face me.
He appeared to be a middle-aged man, perhaps in his thirties or forties.
"My apologies for the late introduction. I’m Namgoong Yeon, the current—albeit inadequate—Leader of this Alliance."
His self-introduction left my jaw hanging open for a while.
++++
Stammer, stammer.
"G-Greetings, Alliance Leader..." I managed.
"No need to kneel. I’m not His Majesty the Emperor. I don’t make first-time visitors bow—it might look like I’m challenging the imperial authority otherwise," he chuckled.
Oh, right.
I’d started to kneel out of habit, but at his words, I carefully straightened up. Meeting someone this high-ranking so suddenly had thrown me off.
"...But challenging authority over that?"
The Alliance Leader must have a lot of political tightropes to walk, I figured. Natural, given his position at the pinnacle of the righteous martial world.
"Uh... Why are you speaking so politely to me...?" I ventured.
"Haha, my strategist scolds me for it sometimes. Says a leader should use a more dignified tone. But old habits die hard. Don’t mind it—it’s just how I am."
"O-Okay..."
"Disappointed I’m not the stern Alliance Leader you imagined?"
"N-No! Not at all!"
He was different from what I’d pictured, sure, but not disappointing. I’d expected a gruff, elderly figure, but his mild-mannered, middle-aged demeanor actually put me at ease—if anything.
"Ah, you’re probably dying to know why you’re here. You look pretty stiff—nervous?" he observed.
"Haha... Well... It’s my first time here..."
"I didn’t summon you, by the way. Someone else did."
"Huh...?"
"Blue Thunder Sword, Yeo So-cheon. Know her?"
Twitch.
Her name jolted me.
++++
’Why the hell are you here?!’
I was beyond flustered—
I’d wondered who summoned me, and a name I never expected popped up—
Ever since we parted that day, I’d been agonizing over where to find her—
"S-She called for me?"
"Yes. She said someone who accomplished something huge deserves personal praise. Not just me—she’s summoning the leaders of the Nine Great Sects and the heads of the Five Great Families too."
"Huh...?"
Hold on—
Hold on hold on hold on hold on—
"What... did I do...?"
"I didn’t hear the details, but they say you’re the Sword Empress’s lifesaver. A skilled fortune-teller who resolved a life-threatening issue for her..."
"...Huh?"
My brain stalled—
It sounded familiar—
The Sword Empress’s words when she gave me that pendant—
[’...You might not realize it, but I owe you. A debt as big as saving my life.’]
She owed me a life-saving favor—
Honestly, I don’t even know what that means—
Fortune-telling’s vague—small predictions can shift fates massively, so I’ve got no clue how I earned that debt—
But now I’m dragged here because of it—
’Sword Empress?! What did you do?!’
She probably didn’t mean for this, but I couldn’t help screaming internally—
My earlier resolve to save the world was fading fast in front of these big shots—
Keeping my sanity was hard enough—where’s the room for resolve?
The Alliance Leader wasn’t enough—now the heads of the Nine Sects and Five Families too? My mind blanked ages ago—
And the root of this mess boiled down to one person—
’Yeo Socheon...!’
She’d set this up to screw me over, no doubt—
It wasn’t weird she knew what the Sword Empress told me privately—
Blessed by the heavens, she could dig up info like that effortlessly if she wanted—
Unlike me, she’s got martial prowess and status to spare—no need to hold back on using intel to protect herself—
Meanwhile, I’ve let good info rot plenty of times, too cautious to act—jealousy was inevitable—
And now, with her screwing me like this—
’I’ll get revenge...’
I swore it—vengeance would be mine—
But first, surviving this mess—
"...Guess getting dragged here suddenly feels pretty inconvenient, huh?"
"Uh..."
"...Haa."
Yeah—if I saved the Sword Empress’s life, that’s a big deal for the righteous faction—worthy of praise—
But the problem? These are the top dogs running sects and clans—
Already busy as hell, and Yeo Socheon forced them here—
’...First impressions are already shot.’
I couldn’t expect them to look at me kindly—
Sure, some might see me favorably as her lifesaver—
But forced here? That’s the issue—forced—
Praise is only good when it’s wanted—shove it down throats, and even legit praise sours—
"...When are they arriving?"
"They’re already here. I just stepped out first to greet you."
"..."
Feeling the weight pile heavier on my chest, I followed the Alliance Leader’s lead—