The city was gradually reclaiming its tranquility, though it was still a work in progress. The streets remained noisy, a reminder of the chaos that had yet to fully subside.
As I passed by a tavern at the end of the main road, I saw groups of users clinking their glasses together, engaged in heated discussions. I could guess the topic without straining to listen. In the past, I might have clicked my tongue, thinking it better to just sleep through it all. But now, my mind was consumed by a single, overwhelming fact.
The portal to the Start Inn had opened.
In the realm of Hall Plain, the significance of the Start Inn was beyond question. Whether viewed from the perspective of the entire continent or within a clan, the arrival of new users was a sensitive matter. Among those who entered, at least one was likely to develop into a high-level user.
There’s a saying tossed around in the Northern Continent: “One well-raised user is worth more than ten.” While numbers can be a strategy, a single competent user is far more valuable than a dozen mediocre ones.
Take me, for instance. When I first left the Morning Sun Inn, I encountered a female user with pigtails—Kim Da-hye, I think her name was. Even if there were a hundred users like her, they couldn’t match me. Recruiting promising new users held that kind of significance.
I’ve only heard stories, but they say Hall Plain existed long before the User Academy was established. Back then, users entered in droves, far more than today, and there were times when thousands entered without any rites of passage. It’s unimaginable now.
Of course, these are just tales passed down without any living witnesses. But over time, the intervals between portal openings have lengthened, and the number of incoming users has sharply declined. This only increased the value of new users. Initially, they might be treated harshly to help them adapt, but as time goes on, they’re treated well for good reason.
A gentle night breeze wrapped around my hair, and the dizziness clouding my mind seemed to lift a little. I quickened my pace, passing the streetlights and the bridge I had hurried over earlier. The wind helped calm my nerves, and I felt a semblance of lost reason returning.
As I strolled through Barbara’s night streets, I recalled the information about the Start Inn I had seen with my third eye.
Start Inn
Rite of Passage Participants: 587
Survivors: 252 (Day 7)
Deceased: 335 (Day 7)
Completed: 2 (Day 5)
Consider this: there are five Start Inns, and typically, each sees about ten to thirty survivors. Based on recent figures, roughly a hundred users would enter Hall Plain anew.
Now, let’s focus on the rite of passage. There are two ways to pass: reach the warp gate within seven days or survive for seven days. With 587 participants, 252 survived after seven days, and two completed it by Day 5. At least 200 will enter, and two proved their worth in just five days—a remarkable feat.
The situation hinges on whether the boss monster revives. Seraph said the boss monster in the rite of passage is unbeatable, meant to be fled from with sacrifices. If there’s no boss monster, it makes sense that 252 survived, as the difficulty would be much lower. But the fact that only two passed the warp gate by Day 7 is troubling.
If there is a boss monster, it raises questions. It’s hard to believe 252 survived, and some completed it by Day 5. Perhaps they fled with sacrifices, or maybe there was a way to deal with the boss monster.
I shook my head vigorously. None of it seemed realistic.
Every angle had its flaws, and no perfect answer emerged. Coupled with the current flow of Hall Plain, my mind tangled again, and anxiety resurfaced. My compulsive tendencies flared up.
I like to plan. While sometimes unavoidable, I need to prepare for every possibility to feel at ease. But when faced with unpredictable situations, frustration and anxiety rise. Yet, there was no clear solution, which only added to the frustration.
In the end, I had to prepare with limited information. If a twisted future approached, I had to somehow turn it to my advantage. It was no easy task.
Lost in thought, I found myself at the Morning Sun Inn. I debated whether to smoke a cigarette or just go in. As I fumbled in my pocket, I closed the distance to the inn. That’s when I saw a familiar user at the entrance.
I dropped the cigarette I had barely grasped and moved closer. There, in a thin gown, arms wrapped around herself, was a short-haired woman pacing. It was Jeong Ha-yeon.
“Ha-yeon.”
At my call, she turned with a start, then relaxed upon recognizing me.
“Oh… Su-hyeon. You’re back. Were you out?”
“Yes. Were you waiting?”
“Well… you weren’t around, and I got a bit worried.”
I’m not someone who usually warrants concern. But it wasn’t unpleasant to be worried about.
“There was a bit of a commotion. I went to check on things.”
“Oh, I heard. The Start Inn portal opened.”
“Yes, you heard right. Phew.”
It was a meaningless sigh, a product of my tangled emotions. But she seemed to interpret it differently, looking at me with gentle eyes before stepping closer.
“Su-hyeon.”
“Yes?”
“You don’t look well.”
“Huh? It’s nothing…”
I averted my gaze, unable to meet her eyes. Both Go Yeon-ju and Jeong Ha-yeon had an uncanny knack for sensing my mood. Seeing their clear eyes filled with concern and care made me feel guilty. What was this guilt?
“I told you before, Su-hyeon, you push yourself too hard.”
“Ha-yeon, it’s not like that. It’s a misunderstanding.”
“You seemed better lately, but today it seems to be back. What’s making you so uneasy?”
“My mind’s just a bit cluttered. I’m not uneasy.”
I tried to sound gentle, but she didn’t seem convinced. Narrowing her eyes, she took my hand and led me inside.
“Let’s go in. You need to rest.”
“Alright. You should get some rest too.”
I agreed, not wanting to worry her further.
Once inside, we headed straight upstairs. I had my own room, a bit of a privilege. As we reached my door, I was about to bid her goodnight when she opened the door and pulled me in.
“Ha-yeon?”
She didn’t respond, just released my hand and knelt on the bed.
“Ha-yeon, this is my room.”
“I know. Come lie down.”
Following her gesture, I saw her calm thighs. I blinked in confusion, and her words followed.
“You probably won’t sleep well alone. I’ll give you a lap pillow, so… sleep here.”
She stammered through her words, finally finishing. Her eyes lowered, lips pouting slightly. Her eyelids trembled, and her earlobes flushed a soft red.
“Um…”
Feeling a bit awkward, I scratched my head and slowly approached her. I wasn’t sure if it would work, but I didn’t want to hurt her feelings by saying, “No.” It was clear that Hayeon was just as embarrassed.
“I sleep fine without this, you know.”
“Don’t lie. It’s not like we haven’t done this a few times.”
“Oh, was it more than a couple of times?”
“Hehe, including the lab, it’s been three times.”
As I mumbled and rested my head on her lap as she requested, her playful voice responded. Lying on her thighs, I felt an unexpected comfort in my neck.
“Alright, close your eyes.”
Her voice, once teasing, softened into a gentle tone. Her soft hand covered my eyes. I blinked a few times on purpose, and her palm twitched slightly, tickled by my lashes.
Lying there, I soon felt her careful fingers stroking my hair. I couldn’t help but smile inwardly. It was comforting, sure, but I wasn’t a child. This wasn’t going to put me to sleep.
Still, I was grateful. After watching
… … …
Lost in thought, I realized my body had become incredibly relaxed. Her hands over my eyes and the gentle strokes on my head felt dreamlike. It was as if I were floating in the middle of the ocean, slowly sinking into its depths. Honestly, it felt nice.
But I couldn’t stay like this forever. She needed to sleep too. Just as I was about to tell her she could stop, I felt something strange near my head. As I opened my eyes, my vision was blurry.
Startled, I blinked repeatedly, and with each blink, my sight returned to normal. Once I could see clearly, I gasped.
“Hayeon?”
I called out to her, but there was no response. In fact, her face wasn’t above mine at all. I sat up quickly, and the blanket that had been covering me slipped down.
Feeling a bit disoriented, I took a deep breath and looked around slowly. When my gaze reached the window, I saw the bright sunlight streaming in.
”…”
Could it be… did I really fall asleep?
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Hello, this is Royujin.
Today, I have some updates regarding changes in the story settings.
Order Change: The sequence has been changed from “Draft Notice → Western Continent Uprising → Declaration of Independence” to “Draft Notice → Declaration of Independence → Western Continent Uprising.” Although the two parts are closely linked, I thought it best to inform you just in case. (All necessary revisions have been completed. Note that the current section and the protagonist’s predictions have been updated. Future developments may include additional changes due to potential disruptions.)
Class Change: I plan to change Han So-young’s class, which was initially set in the basic settings. The internal settings will remain the same, with only a name change, so there won’t be any major changes. I mentioned this once before, but I’m currently trying to find which chapter it was in. :)
『 Reader Comments 』
Sensitive: Congratulations on being first! You’ve broken Kuroshion’s winning streak. Impressive, haha.
BrokenFan: Pat, pat. I can’t get first place either. I’ve given up. It’s easier that way. Sigh. ㅜ.ㅠ
Repil: I anticipate that Hanbyeol’s journey will be quite challenging. :) Will they eventually join, or will it fall apart? Stay tuned!
FlameHeart: NO. Neither of the two users. By the way, one of them has appeared in the Hall of Plain. Haha. They’re just not famous enough yet.
Hawthorn: There is a planned character for Ahn Hyun’s fiancée. They haven’t appeared yet. Haha. Please wait a little longer. :)
Lapir and Jint: Many of you might be curious. The truth is, no one has guessed it perfectly yet. Hehe. I’m quite proud(?).
PotatoChip: Continuous updates! Sounds good. Once today is over, I can tackle the urgent assignments. I’ll try to do it over the weekend. (__)
Gag: Hahaha. Wow. I can see how you might think that. It was tempting! But unfortunately, no. :)
sch6469: Thank you for the coupon. (__) I think the action will start in earnest tomorrow. Look forward to the next chapter! Suhyeon and the group are finally taking off… haha.
Sunset: Oh, you guessed Suhyeon’s dilemma in the next chapter correctly. Impressive. :D
Your recommendations and comments are the driving force behind continuous updates. (This is the truth.)
I always read all the comments repeatedly.
Please don’t feel too disappointed if you’re not mentioned in the comments.
If you’re really curious, send me a message, and I’ll reply!
That’s all for today.
I hope you always read my work with a relaxed mind.
Favorites, recommendations, comments, ratings, critiques, and questions are always welcome.