00193 Start Inn ------------------------------------------------------------------------
The unexpected relationship between the two, which I happened to observe in Mule, wasn’t inherently problematic. They didn’t despise each other; it was more of a one-sided avoidance.
However, even though An Sol wasn’t as deliberately evasive as before, she still found Go Yeon-ju intimidating.
Some clan members, myself included, tended to see An Sol as a child. But she was, in fact, a twenty-year-old adult. I had a hunch that delving into this matter might reveal why she sometimes acted childishly.
I had subtly broached the topic with An Hyun and An Sol several times, but they both remained tight-lipped, as if they had made a pact. They usually listened to me, so there seemed to be a deeper issue at play. If it was related to trauma, it wasn’t wise to push too hard. That’s why I hadn’t pressed them further.
But I couldn’t ignore it forever. With our clan preparing for more active endeavors, leaving it unresolved didn’t sit well with me. I planned to gradually bring it to the surface. Ideally, I’d hear it from them, but their reactions suggested that might be difficult.
So, I decided to start by asking Go Yeon-ju directly. She was busy gathering information I had requested. It seemed better to wait until she came to report back rather than interrupt her now.
With that decision, I could assess the internal tensions within the mercenary clan. Some issues remained unresolved, but they were matters to monitor over time.
Now, let’s turn our attention outward.
I came to Barbara to observe the flow of the Hall Plane from its most sensitive point. Specifically, I had two expectations: the promotion I left to the residents of Mule’s clan establishment and the Golden Lion Clan’s summons.
Regarding the clan promotion, there wasn’t much to worry about. It was progressing slower than expected, but the residents were likely waiting for the right moment, especially after hearing about the failed expedition to the Steel Mountains.
From a broader perspective, the Golden Lion’s expedition failure was unfortunate, but it could be an opportunity for others. For Mule, it was a chance to boost morale and attract attention by promoting our achievements.
For me, it wasn’t a bad thing either. In the first round, I operated mostly in the shadows, but in the second, I intended to step into the light. This would inevitably reveal some information, but as soon as we began our promotion, our accomplishments would stand out even more.
The next point of interest was the Golden Lion Clan’s summons. They had long played a leading role among the Northern Continent clans. Although not officially declared, they were recognized for their unmatched power and achievements, as well as their long-standing tradition. Their influence was evident in their handling of the User Academy.
Many clans harbored resentment towards their unilateral actions, but open conflict among users was rare. Tensions likely began with the announcement of the vagrant extermination plan and the Steel Mountains expedition.
If the expedition had succeeded in opening a path to Atlanta, participating clans would have secured a bright future. The Northern Continent was already saturated, and discovering a new continent full of opportunities meant priority access for the expedition participants.
The Golden Lion filled the expedition’s core with allied clans, which only fueled discontent among those left out. As the anticipation of success grew, so did the frustration of the excluded clans.
But the situation had reversed. The Golden Lion’s sluggish response to rescue requests from the Steel Mountains was likely due to these tensions. The rift had deepened beyond repair.
This is why I saw the summons as a critical juncture. Depending on how it unfolded, the future could follow its original course or take a new direction.
After the expedition’s failure was confirmed, the Golden Lion was reluctant to relinquish its grip on leadership. They announced the summons to assert their position, but less than half the clans responded.
They should have realized the situation by then, but their pride blinded them. Despite losing many elite users, they clung to past glories. The Golden Lion’s harsh warning to non-compliant clans only served as a catalyst for the pent-up grievances to explode.
The warned clans scoffed. In the past, they might have cowered, but now they openly expressed their dissatisfaction. Some even mocked the Golden Lion, like the Reverse Clan.
As tensions escalated, the vagrants made their move. Being based on the Northern Continent, they had a grasp of the internal situation. They leveraged the Western Continent users’ strength to advance through western cities towards the metropolis of Barbara.
The vagrants’ target was the Golden Lion. Having suffered greatly from the vagrant extermination plan, they were driven by a burning desire for revenge. The western city of Halo fell with little resistance, and they quickly moved on to Barbara.
The Golden Lion, caught off guard, urgently requested support. However, many allied clans had lost their leadership, making a proper assembly impossible. Users were fleeing to other cities or abandoning the cause altogether.
Clans in conflict with the Golden Lion ignored their pleas for help. In a seemingly coordinated move, they declared independence, cutting off all warp gates to Barbara. It was an extreme measure, hoping for the Golden Lion’s downfall.
I suspect the vagrants were well aware of these circumstances. While it wasn’t a formal alliance, the independent clans watched the Golden Lion’s collapse from a distance.
The vagrants’ thirst for revenge, the independent clans’ conflict with the Golden Lion, and their ambitions for Barbara aligned, creating an implicit understanding. The vagrants avoided other cities, and the independent clans stayed out of the fray.
Ultimately, the Golden Lion Clan, which stayed to resist in the city, was annihilated. Had the warp gates been open, they might have escaped, but the cities, accepting Barbara’s fall as inevitable, closed all gates.
The future would see the Western Continent users and vagrants splintering, leading to the formation of a punitive force, but that was still a ways off. For now, the priority was to gauge the direction of events following the summons.
I took a deep breath, organizing my thoughts.
Four days had passed since the initial rescue request. A rescue team was dispatched, but it was more for show. The Golden Lion and its allies wanted a proper rescue mission, believing there were survivors in the mountains, but the proposal was swiftly rejected. The spark had been ignited.
The atmosphere in the metropolis was as if doused with cold water, but beneath it, a fire was slowly growing, one that could reshape the Northern Continent’s landscape.
Go Yeon-ju returned with information about the Steel Mountains expedition six days after we arrived in Barbara. Even for her, a master of information gathering, this request was a stretch. She had to bypass the Golden Lion Clan’s suppression efforts to collect it.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
“Phew. It’s nothing. But I can’t understand them. These things will come to light soon enough, and the clans that sent rescue teams must have a sense of the situation.”
“It seems like a desperate attempt to hold onto their power.”
“Tsk, tsk.”
As Go Yeon-ju clicked her tongue, I lowered my gaze. In my hands were over ten pages filled with elegant handwriting. She had gone beyond the major points, delving into the finer details.
I skimmed through the records and shook my head slightly. There was just too much to go through. Even if I read each one carefully, I’d still need time to process it all. I wanted to let the Shadow Queen rest for now, but there was something I needed to ask about Ansol, as I had planned earlier. Deciding to read the records later, I looked up again.
Go Yeon-ju was in the middle of a dainty yawn, quickly covering her mouth with her hand when she noticed me watching. She shot me a look of mock indignation, and I responded with a light chuckle, glancing around the room. It wasn’t quite an office, but I had secured a private room at Barbara’s Inn Morning Sun for my use.
“Have you finished reading already?”
“No, I think I’ll need to take my time with it. But before that, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you, User Go Yeon-ju. And no, it’s not about your measurements.”
“Ugh.”
Go Yeon-ju pouted, a rare display of cuteness that I allowed myself to enjoy for a moment before continuing calmly.
“It’s about that time when Ansol ran away after seeing you. Didn’t that happen?”
“Oh, yes, it did. The way he screamed and ran off is something I can’t forget. It was a bit hurtful, honestly.”
“Since then, Ansol seems to have been avoiding you. To be blunt, I’d like to know what happened between you two.”
“Hmm…”
Go Yeon-ju’s reaction was unexpected. I was used to her confident demeanor, so seeing her flustered stirred a new feeling in me.
“It’s not really a big deal, but…”
She hesitated, her eyes darting around as if recalling the incident. Then she looked at me with a gaze that seemed to ask, “Do you really need to know?” I met her eyes with a firm look that said, “Yes, I absolutely do.”
Perhaps understanding my resolve, Go Yeon-ju let out a deep sigh. I caught a faint whisper in her breath, “I promised not to tell anyone…” She continued in a reluctant voice.
“Alright, but you have to promise not to let him know you heard it from me. I’m the only one who knows.”
I nodded, accepting her condition. Still, she seemed hesitant. What on earth had happened between them to make her react this way? My curiosity was piqued.
After a moment, Go Yeon-ju finally began to speak.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Hello, this is Ro Yujin.
I always thought it was “matdeukchanta,” but it turns out the correct term is “matdeukjanta” or “matdangchanta.” Haha. Thanks to the two people who pointed this out. (__) Yes, I’ve finally wrapped up the overall explanation for the new episode. Since “Memorize” is a regression story, I felt some background explanation was necessary before moving on to a new chapter. With this episode, most of the groundwork is done, so we can proceed with the story in the next one. :)
PS. Thank you to everyone who has given recommendations, ratings, comments, and coupons. I was surprised by the coupons that came in today. It seems like I get surprised a few times every month. (__)
『 Reader Comments 』
Sensitive: Oh, it’s been a while since you got first place. Haha. I’m thinking of aiming for first place at midnight this time. I’m not sure if I can actually do it, though. -_-a Enjoy this episode. :D
MT Bear: Ah, it’s been a while. Did your exams go well? I’m buried in assignments after exams. Haha. When will I ever have a leisurely day again? ㅜ.ㅠ
EyeSeeYou: Hahaha. Sol already has someone. Hahaha. I’m against this relationship! Ahem.
ads123: Wow. I read lomeaes’s comment and burst out laughing. ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ.
Parkasari: Yes, I still remember the first time I did team ranking. I was utterly defeated. ㅜ.ㅠ
Stormy Horse: Oh, that’s a great idea. I hadn’t thought of it. I’ll consider it. Hoho…
Idid + Dreaming of a Recluse: Thank you for the coupon. I’ll strive to repay you with even better content. (__)
Sardine: Oh, bibim noodles. I love them too. I buy Paldo Bibim Noodles, rinse them in cold water, add half a boiled egg, throw in some ice, and slurp them down. It’s paradise. I’m already drooling. Hehehe.
Want to Play: It’s possible. However, due to the protagonist’s stamina issues and other problems, it’s currently on hold. If the current abilities are further developed, the physical burden becomes extreme. :)
User Gandalf: Regarding that part, I won’t comment in the reader comments section. It seems like you’re looking for an answer focused on Kim Soo-hyun, but it would contain spoilers about Soo-hyun’s future growth. :) I ask for your understanding, User Gandalf! However, regarding “Do you need another realization to reach 10th level?” I can say it’s not absolutely necessary. Approach it from a probabilistic perspective. The 10th level is just a title; it doesn’t represent class, user information, or settings. :)
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I always read all the comments repeatedly.
Please don’t feel too disappointed if you’re not mentioned in the reader comments.
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That’s all for today.
I hope you always read my work with a relaxed mind.
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