Attention ------------------------------------------------------------------------
I always thought about him.
That night. I turned away instead of following him.
Six months had passed since we parted ways after the graduation ceremony. A lot had happened during that time, yet he still occupied a corner of my heart. Every time I tried to think of him, memories of that night would inevitably follow. Recalling our conversation from that night made my chest ache, and I found myself closing my eyes tightly.
“Can you guarantee the success of the march to the Steel Mountains? You said you’d recommend me for a leadership position, but have you thought about what that really means? More importantly, do you truly trust the members of the clan you’re trying to join?”
“And you, oppa…?”
Are you someone I can trust? I tried to continue speaking, but it felt like something was lodged in my throat, preventing any sound from escaping. No matter how hard I tried, I instinctively wanted to avoid thinking about that time. I wrestled with regret for a while, but eventually, I fell silent. All I could do was reminisce about the times we spent together. That was my only solace now.
When we first began the initiation. When the team was on the brink of disbanding due to a dispute with a man whose name I can’t even remember now. When we lured the monsters into that nightmarish forest. When we argued in front of the cabin. When he faced the boss monster alone, allowing us to escape. And when he returned, alive and well, against all odds. And when we entered the Hall Plain.
Perhaps that’s when things truly started to go awry. I tried to recall memories after the Hall Plain, but aside from that night, there was little I could remember. It made sense, given that I had deliberately avoided thinking about it.
“It’s hard…”
It’s hard. The words slipped out before I could stop them. What will happen now? Everything feels so confusing. I hugged my shoulders tightly, burying my head, but it was no use.
Then it happened.
“Kim Hanbyul! Kim Hanbyul! Where are you? Are you not coming out of your room?”
The door burst open with a loud bang, and a woman stood there, breathing heavily, her face full of anger. It was Seong Yubin. The moment I saw her, I almost cursed out loud, but I managed to hold my tongue and avoid a scene.
“Ugh, the smell of cigarettes. Have you been smoking? While all the clan members are busy outside, you’re just relaxing here, smoking?”
”…”
“Oh my, look at you glaring at me with those eyes. Are you going to eat me alive? Lower your gaze right now.”
”…I was just about to head out.”
Seong Yubin. She was one of the users who didn’t look kindly upon me after joining the Golden Lion through Park Hyunwoo’s introduction. After the expedition, the structure was disrupted, and Seong Yubin temporarily became my supervisor and instructor. Things were relatively calm when Park Hyunwoo was around, but in his absence due to injury, she bared her fangs at me, excessively so.
“Honestly. You were spoiled from the start. What good is a secret class if you can’t even see a way forward?”
Ignore her. Staying here will only sour my mood. Just as I was about to leave the room, she called out.
“Hey.”
”…Yes.”
“Just a heads up. Do it right today.”
”…”
I turned to see Seong Yubin’s face, full of a mocking smile. Her lips curled slightly, as if she found great amusement in the opportunity to berate me. She scanned my face with her eyes, then continued in a voice dripping with malice.
“Do it right. Got it? And don’t expect Park Hyunwoo from me. I’m Seong Yubin, not Hyunwoo oppa. You’ve had it easy, haven’t you? Enjoyed the special treatment?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Really? Then I’ll just have to show you. Follow me. There’s a mountain of work to do.”
With that, Seong Yubin strode past me, her shoulder bumping into mine, causing me to stagger a couple of steps.
“Stop dawdling and move quickly. You’re so slow.”
She threw one last remark over her shoulder before leaving the room. Swallowing the shame boiling up from deep within, I bit my lip and followed her.
The sun was slowly setting. I had been told to arrive before nightfall, so there was still plenty of time. With the warp gate, the distance between cities didn’t matter much, but I was still in Barbara. I needed to arrive on time, even if I didn’t rush. It wouldn’t do to be late to a gathering of the city’s most influential figures and leave a bad impression.
I decided to bring only Go Yeonju with me. Given the significance of the event, no clan members were eager to join. After entrusting Jeong Ha-yeon with the others, I instructed them to pack just in case. I needed to see how the summons would unfold, but unless something went drastically wrong, I planned to proceed as originally intended.
In a way, it was a good opportunity. I could witness firsthand how the summons operated. I walked through the streets, imagining what kind of users would attend and what conversations would take place. At the center of those thoughts was Han So-young.
Barbara, being a large city, was well-organized. However, its vastness made it easy to get lost if one wasn’t careful.
But that didn’t apply to me. Barbara was a familiar city. During my first round, I wandered everywhere trying to secure a caravan, and as I grew stronger, I explored its underbelly. I knew the geography well. The clan house was close to the user academy. I could find the Golden Lion’s clan house with my eyes closed.
Soon, familiar buildings came into view, and I recognized the streets. Crossing the bridge past the bustling district, I entered the plaza with Go Yeonju by my side, heading towards the central path. Beyond the plaza lay the bustling district lined with numerous buildings, and at its heart was our destination.
In any city, the plaza plays a crucial role. The large bulletin board was plastered with countless advertisements, but the most prominent was today’s clan promotion record. It was enlarged and posted for all to see. A group of users gathered around it, and upon noticing us, began to murmur.
I worried that the plaza might be crowded with users, but fortunately, it was relatively quiet. It was the time when users returned from morning explorations, but considering it was a major city, the number was indeed small.
The plaza is where users typically gather to find daily caravans or companions. However, the fewer users today suggested that the Golden Lion clan had restricted access due to the opening of the
It felt like just yesterday that I sat here as a novice user, and now I was invited to a summons as the lord of a clan. Even though it was unexpected, it was a bit of a surreal feeling.
Some users began to gather around, seemingly unwilling to let the moment pass. However, Go Yeonju, who was walking beside me with her arms crossed, glanced around, and they stopped closing in. I continued walking towards our destination without looking in any other direction.
As we passed the row of shops, a white marble building emerged on the left. Looking up, I saw a statue with beautiful wings engraved on the roof. It was Barbara’s temple. It was much larger and wider than the temple in Mule. The thought of Seraph briefly crossed my mind, but I quickly shook it off. I didn’t want to dwell on it.
Turning right past the temple, I finally saw the towering buildings reaching for the sky. Among them were the Golden Lion’s clan house and the user academy’s emblem.
I paused for a moment to look up at the sky, feeling a gentle tug on my arm. Turning, I saw Go Yeonju smiling faintly at me.
“Suhyeon.”
“Yes.”
“Are you nervous?”
“No. Why?”
Go Yeonju opened her mouth to speak, “You’ve been quiet for a while.” I replied, “Maybe it’s because I’m walking with such a beautiful woman.” Go Yeonju burst into laughter.
“Oh my, I can’t live with you. But since you’re joking, I guess you’re not nervous. Hmm.”
To an outsider, it might have seemed like nothing more than a pretty woman’s laughter. However, a ripple of murmurs spread around us. The user walking arm-in-arm with me was
Of course, this was also a kind of display. If the morning’s actions were to show the clan’s prestige, now it was to demonstrate the personal relationship between me and Go Yeonju. Many users would find it hard to believe that a 10th rank user would join a 0-year user’s clan, so it was her way of showing consideration.
As we strolled down the street, laughing, we soon found ourselves near our destination. The grand entrance of the clan house loomed before us, exuding an air of majesty. Though the gates were still closed, preventing us from seeing inside, there was a palpable sense of activity within. Occasionally, sharp shouts echoed off the walls, reaching our ears. I could have strained to make out the words, but I chose not to.
“Shall we go in?”
“No, let’s wait a moment. There’s no need for us to be the first ones in.”
Go Yeon-ju shook her head and turned to face me, lightly brushing her finger across my nose. As she blew gently on her fingertip, I realized how unusually quiet everything around us had become.
Turning back to the gate, I saw it slowly opening. A group of users began to emerge through the widening gap. Focusing my gaze, I recognized the leader—a mage in a deep red robe. I remembered seeing her in the plaza before. Seong Yu-bin, was it? And behind her…
Before I could take a closer look, they marched toward us in neat rows. I quickly activated my third eye.
Name: Seong Yu-bin (3rd Year)
Class: Normal Mage Master
Nation: Barbara
Clan: Golden Lion
True Name & Nationality: Sweet Lips, Stomach with a Hidden Sword · South Korea
Sex: Female (24)
Height & Weight: 170.5cm · 48.5kg
Disposition: Ambition · Obscene
[Strength 44] [Endurance 38] [Agility 56] [Stamina 50] [Magic 94(+1)] [Luck 70]
[Strength 96(+2)] [Endurance 92] [Agility 98] [Stamina 72] [Magic 96] [Luck 90(+2)]
(12 stat points remaining.)
[Strength 44] [Endurance 38] [Agility 56] [Stamina 50] [Magic 94(+1)] [Luck 70]
(No stat points remaining.)
“Are you with the Golden Lion Clan, responding to the summons?”
“Yes, I’m Kim Soo-hyun, Lord of the Mercenary Clan.”
Though she already knew, it was a formal greeting. Seong Yu-bin bowed politely before continuing.
“Thank you for responding to the Golden Lion Clan’s summons. And the person beside you is…?”
Given her pride as a member of the Golden Lion Clan and her impressive stats, she was likely a high-ranking officer. Yet, contrary to my expectations, she approached us with humility from the start.
She paused, glancing sideways, and I finally understood her demeanor.
The Mercenary Clan was newly established and had no significant ties with other clans. In essence, our diplomatic slate was blank. A savvy user could infer much from our clan’s name and nature.
Seong Yu-bin resumed speaking.
“Are you the one known as the
“Yes, though you already know that. But I don’t recall seeing you before. Who are you?”
Go Yeon-ju stepped forward, responding to her question. My role ended with the initial greeting. Seong Yu-bin wasn’t the clan lord, appearing to be a mid-level officer. Hence, someone of similar rank from our side stepped forward. Of course, Go Yeon-ju’s proactive stance had other reasons.
“It’s an honor to meet you. I’m Seong Yu-bin, a third-year user of the Golden Lion Clan. I’ve heard much about the
“Oh, I think I’ve heard about you from Hyun-woo a few times. But he’s not here today?”
“User Park Hyun-woo was injured after returning from an expedition. It’s not serious, so he plans to attend the assembly.”
Despite Go Yeon-ju’s informal tone, no one dared to show any displeasure. Or perhaps they couldn’t. Although I slightly elevated my speech, I had no intention of criticizing her manner. She was in a position to do so, even if the other party was a Golden Lion officer.
“Oh, really? I thought he might have gotten a big head after becoming a senior officer post the Iron Mountain expedition. Hoho. Now, lead the way. How long do you plan to keep us standing here?”
At Go Yeon-ju’s casual remark, Seong Yu-bin flinched. She hadn’t expected us to know so much about the Golden Lion’s internal affairs. She glanced up at Go Yeon-ju, seeking permission, and Go Yeon-ju gave a slight nod. Seong Yu-bin then closed the distance between us and bowed.
Only then did I notice a familiar figure standing behind her. With sleek, jet-black hair tinged with a faint blue hue and a face devoid of emotion, it was the jewel mage, Kim Han-byeol.
I lifted my gaze to her, but she stood quietly, avoiding eye contact. I sighed inwardly and turned back to Seong Yu-bin.
“Thank you for responding to the Mercenary Clan Lord’s summons. Please, come inside. I’ll guide you personally.”
Seong Yu-bin spoke in a soft, almost whispering tone. Her initial formality had vanished, replaced by a playful smile, like a cat showing affection.
And behind her, I finally felt Kim Han-byeol’s gaze. She still avoided my eyes, but it seemed she was glaring at Seong Yu-bin’s back. Her face was slightly flushed, giving me an odd feeling. The shouts from inside the clan house earlier flashed through my mind.
“Thank you for the warm welcome. Please, lead the way.”
“Alright, let’s go,” I chose a more neutral response.
Go Yeon-ju fell in step behind me, and Seong Yu-bin moved to my side. The group behind us formed a semicircle, lining up neatly behind Seong Yu-bin and me. Even in decline, the discipline of a once-dominant force in the northern continent was evident.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Hello, this is Ro Yu-jin.
I couldn’t do a continuous update this Sunday. Thanks to that, I could finish the midnight serialization more leisurely, but I feel nothing but sorry for the readers who were waiting. With exams over and most assignments done, I think I relaxed too much. I lay down for a nap in the afternoon and ended up sleeping for four hours. ㅜ.ㅠ Please scold me. Boohoo.
PS. Many coupons came in for the 200th episode. I sincerely thank those who sent coupons to Memorize. Thank you. Bow. (__)
MT Bear: Haha. Thank you for saying my novel is a source of vitality. It’s a pleasant compliment. :) Your first comment on this meaningful 200th episode will be memorable. Congratulations on being first. Please continue to show interest in Memorize!
Peaceful: Hmm. It’s hard to say what will happen with Kim Han-byeol, but releasing her quickly would be difficult. If she were to be recruited, there would likely be significant friction within both the Golden Lion and Mercenary Clans. Hahaha.
Byun Satto: Thank you for the manuscript fee. (__) I also like the word “consistent.” Of course, as a novel, it can’t always be at its peak, and there must be crises. But I want to show the protagonist overcoming those crises. Please continue to support us. :D
Let’s Play Yeok: Yeok, it’s been a while. Haha. It’s nice to see many familiar faces for the 200th episode. I’m sorry for what happened to An Sol. ;ㅇ; However, I plan to lead it in a positive direction. Please wait for that time. ^^
Yauro: Haha. There have been many events while serializing Memorize. The biggest crisis was probably when my parents found out. Fortunately, it turned out well. ㅜ.ㅠ
Repil: Yes. I was too hasty in my previous note. Han So-young had a significant impact on the first protagonist. It might be nice to occasionally reveal their past relationship in side stories. Haha.
Nickname Duplicate: I cautiously predict there will be much debate surrounding Kim Han-byeol again. When she left Kim Soo-hyun, the comments were quite divided, almost as much as with An Sol. Of course, this time, Kim Han-byeol’s future is decided. I’ll proceed as planned.
Archangels La: Oh, I didn’t know there was such a tradition. Haha. Then I’ll be the first author to break that tradition. (Thud thud!)
천성녀: Thanks for the advice. I realized I might be overusing the word “user.” I’ll try to cut back on it in the future. (Thinking back to when I wrote “user Go Yeon-ju” in the bedroom scene still makes me cringe. Haha.)
서비스: Hmm, that could be true. Still, I plan to make the most of knowing the future. While I’ll need to analyze the changes myself, it might be interesting to compare and contrast with future references. :D
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