Misunderstandings Breed More Misunderstandings
“It’s not a lie. Please, believe me.”
“Hangyeol, hold on a second.”
Sensing the tremor in his voice, as if he might burst into tears at any moment, I softened my tone to reassure him. His eyes were glistening with unshed tears, making me question if he was really a man, but my intuition told me he wasn’t lying. Regardless, it was time to get down to the real business. I cleared my mind of any irrelevant thoughts and spoke slowly.
“First of all, I believe you.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really. But that’s not the main issue right now, is it? According to you, Park Hwanhee tripped you up, and you barely made it out alive. Fine. Let’s say Park Hwanhee is as two-faced as he seems. So what?”
“What do you mean?”
“What do you want to do about it?”
My question hit the nail on the head, and I already knew the answer. I’d heard it during a previous conversation between Park Hwanhee and Baek Hangyeol.
Hangyeol looked up at me with sad eyes, but he seemed to grasp my point and replied in a low voice.
“I’m not sure. I want revenge, but…”
“You can’t, can you?”
”…”
“I understand how you feel. But it’s too late to make an issue of it now. This place is a whole different plane, and you know what Park Hwanhee’s reputation is like.”
One of them is well-regarded by the instructors and is at the center of the new recruits. The other, despite having the most potential, is seen as just another user because he keeps to himself. Personal grudges are fine, but in the current situation, Hangyeol was lucky not to be dragged down by Park Hwanhee, let alone seek revenge. It might sound harsh, but that’s the reality. The gap between them had grown too wide to bridge now.
Having brought him back to reality, it was time to ask what he truly wanted.
“What do you really want right now? Did you just need someone to hear your side of the story?”
Hangyeol pondered my words, then let out a deep sigh and spoke as if pouring out his heart.
“I don’t know.”
“Think back to the first question you asked.”
“My girlfriend… Yuna…”
At my prompting, Hangyeol gazed into the distance with a pained expression, then began to reveal the feelings he’d kept hidden deep inside.
It was just as I suspected. Initially, Cha Yuna had hated Park Hwanhee with a passion, but over time, she began to change. She started to open up to his repeated apologies and sincerity, and eventually, she spent more time with him than with Hangyeol.
“It sounds like you’ve broken up.”
“We had a big fight, but we haven’t broken up. She keeps asking me to befriend Park Hwanhee again and support him.”
“Support him?”
“Well… there are a lot of new recruits around him. She wants me to join them.”
Throughout our conversation, Hangyeol kept glancing at Kim Hanbyeol. It seemed their first meeting hadn’t gone well, and I could understand why he might feel that way, given Hanbyeol’s somewhat overbearing approach.
“So, you absolutely don’t want to rebuild a relationship with him.”
“Yes. But Yuna’s words keep bothering me. We haven’t spoken recently, but the last thing she said was, ‘Can’t you trust me?’ We’ve been through so much together. I can’t help but wonder why she said that.”
“You can’t trust Park Hwanhee, but you can trust Cha Yuna.”
“Yes.”
Hangyeol’s voice was heavy with emotion. Silence filled the room as he clutched his cup, then cautiously asked me a question.
“What do you think, hyung? I know Yuna cares about me. We’re not speaking right now because I’m angry, but I feel a bit guilty. Maybe I’m too suspicious, like she said…”
‘This is serious.’
Hangyeol’s dependency on Cha Yuna was excessive. It was clear I needed to help him reduce it. After a moment of thought, I decided on a course of action.
“Hangyeol.”
“Yes.”
“Can I share something with you?”
“Yes! I’d love to hear it.”
“Do you know what the word ‘connection’ means?”
“Connection. I’ve heard the word a lot, but I’m not sure what you’re getting at.”
I smiled at his honest answer and began to speak in a gentle, coaxing tone.
“I’m just like you, a zero-year user. I went through the initiation six months ago, and now I’m leading a clan. Half of my clan members went through the initiation with me.”
“Oh, right! I heard you graduated top of the academy and got an offer from the Golden Lion, but you turned it down for your juniors!”
“Where did you hear that?”
His eyes sparkled with admiration, making me sweat a little. I cleared my throat and continued calmly.
“I won’t go into all the details. But I want to say that those people gave me their trust, and I wanted to repay that trust. Throughout that process, nothing happened to break our trust. As a result, we formed a strong connection, just like now.”
“Oh…”
I heard a small sniffle from beside me. When I turned, I saw Kim Hanbyeol staring at me with a stony expression. She bit her lip and looked away when I tilted my head in curiosity. I was intrigued by her reaction, but I had more pressing matters to address, so I turned back to Hangyeol. He was nodding thoughtfully, as if digesting my words.
“Do you think you can form a good connection with Park Hwanhee?”
“But Yuna…”
“Don’t assume your girlfriend is always right. You can make your own judgments, and you are doing that now. Why do you keep tying your thoughts to your girlfriend? Do you think listening to her will help you form a good connection with Park Hwanhee? Can you guarantee he won’t use you again? I doubt it. Once someone betrays you, it’s easier for them to do it again.”
“But Yuna…”
‘There he goes again with Yuna. Is she his mother or something?’
Seeing his lingering attachment to Cha Yuna, I decided to be more direct.
“And since we’re on the topic, it seems like your girlfriend has already left you.”
“We haven’t broken up yet.”
“Whatever excuse you use, she’s already gone. That’s undeniable. No matter how long you’ve been together or what you’ve been through… Honestly, if I were you, I wouldn’t trust someone who left like that. Think about it objectively. Based on your experiences, do you think her actions are right?”
Hangyeol pursed his lips, then shook his head weakly. I pressed on, raising my voice for emphasis.
“Your dilemma isn’t about whether to follow Cha Yuna’s words. I don’t know why she sided with Park Hwanhee, but if that’s the case, shouldn’t you focus on stabilizing yourself and waking her up?”
“But she said if I don’t listen, I shouldn’t talk to her again.”
“Then it’s simple. Break up. From an outsider’s perspective, Park Hwanhee seems suspicious. Instead of being used again by following her words, wouldn’t it be better to let go or try to save her?”
“So you’re saying I should stick to my beliefs no matter what.”
“Exactly. If she truly cares about you, she won’t ignore your genuine feelings. But we’ll have to wait and see.”
I concluded with a firm statement. Hangyeol didn’t say anything more, but as time passed, I could see determination growing on his face. It seemed my words had helped him steel his resolve. I felt relieved, knowing that my role as his mentor for the past eight weeks, or rather six, was finally paying off.
Eventually, Hangyeol stood up, as if he’d made a decision, and spoke.
“Thank you, hyung.”
“Haha, no need to thank me.”
“No, really. It was a random thing to bring up, but you listened, believed me, and gave me sincere advice. Without you, I…”
“It’s nothing. I’m just glad I could help. You’re making too much of it.”
He chuckled and glanced at the door, then spoke again.
“I’m going to see Yuna right now. If I wait, I might lose my resolve, so I think it’s best to talk to her now.”
“It’s a bit different, but they say even a tree that doesn’t fall after ten chops will eventually fall. Even if she doesn’t change her mind, keep conveying your true feelings. If she really cares about you, she’ll understand.”
“Yes, hyung!”
Hangyeol bowed politely and left the room. Just as the door was about to close completely, a cold voice echoed in the room.
“Oppa.”
“Huh? What?”
As I was about to collapse onto my bed, exhausted from a long conversation, I was caught off guard by the sound of someone calling me “oppa” after such a long time. Turning my head, I saw Kim Hanbyeol still seated, her eyes fixed on me. Her expression was dark, a tangled web of emotions playing across her face. After a moment’s hesitation, she spoke quietly.
“Do you really believe what that kid says?”
As soon as Hanbyeol finished speaking, the door clicked shut. I glanced at it briefly before responding, my voice louder than usual.
“Hangyeol? Of course, I believe him!”
“Why? From what I see, there are quite a few odd things about what he says. I can’t imagine you haven’t noticed.”
“Well, I guess it depends on the person. But as far as I know, Hangyeol isn’t the type to lie.”
I quickly moistened my lips, realizing I hadn’t done so earlier. Curious about something that had been on my mind, I turned back to her.
“But why are you asking all of a sudden? You seem a bit off today.”
“It’s just… surprising. It’s strange to see you treating a new user so well. His grades aren’t impressive, and he doesn’t seem to have any standout qualities. I don’t see why you’d take him under your wing.”
“Grades? Hanbyeol, that’s not why I’m helping Hangyeol.”
“Then why?”
“I just… I feel sorry for him, seeing him struggle. It makes me want to help. He reminds me of the kids. For various reasons, I guess.”
At that, Hanbyeol’s expression turned icy. Disappointment, betrayal, and hurt flickered across her face. She looked up at me with trembling eyes and spoke in a dry voice.
“You wanted to help him? You met him for the first time at the User Academy, without any initiation.”
“Yeah, but there’s something about him. He’s so pure and innocent. He reminds me of Sol in a way. I just don’t want him to suffer. I want to be there for him if he needs it.”
“Ha…”
“Why the sigh?”
“Then what about me… what about me…”
Hanbyeol trailed off, her words hanging in the air before she bit her lip and fell silent. I shrugged, then turned my attention to the door, sensing someone outside.
Sure enough, I detected a user with their ear pressed against the door. As soon as my conversation with Hanbyeol ended, Baek Hangyeol cautiously moved away and walked down the corridor. Watching him slip out of range, I couldn’t help but smile to myself.
The forest was shrouded in an eerie twilight, the dense trees and underbrush swaying as a sticky breeze seeped through. Despite the early hour, the wind was warm, carrying a faintly fishy scent that sliced sharply through the air.
Rustle, rustle.
Suddenly, something unseen began to take shape. Emerging from the thicket was a figure, grotesque in appearance.
It had a human form, but one arm was missing. In its remaining hand, it held a large, menacing scythe, its curved blade dripping with a viscous liquid that smelled like the wind.
The figure swung its foot, catching the dripping liquid before it hit the ground. As it fully emerged from the brush, several others followed in its wake.
“Phew.”
The first figure sighed, turning to look back. It swayed slightly, struggling to maintain balance with only one arm.
After steadying itself, a low voice emerged.
“How many survived?”
“Seven, including you.”
“So how many did we lose?”
“We sent eight as bait through the uncharted area. Two more died in the last fight.”
The voice asking the questions was rough, while the one answering was thin and reedy. Silence fell for a moment. The man with the rough voice surveyed his companions with a weary expression.
“The eight in front were bait, so they don’t matter. But losing Hyunjoon and Jinkyung is a shame.”
“Damn it. Boss, look at us. We’re all wrecked! How did one person do this to us? It’s embarrassing.”
“Are you sure that old hag was injured? Was the intel reliable?”
“Crazy, right? Who knew she’d attack like it was do-or-die? Just thinking about it gives me chills.”
Complaints erupted, voices overlapping in a chaotic mix of male and female. The leader listened to the grumbling before letting out a long sigh.
“We underestimated her and got complacent. Not dealing with her quickly was a mistake. But the intel was solid. She’s a legend in the northern continent, so some damage was inevitable.”
“A legend, huh. Ha! Her last expression was priceless. Didn’t see the betrayal coming, did she? Ha ha!”
“But boss, why the sudden rush? Weren’t we supposed to wait and watch a bit longer?”
The woman who had answered earlier asked, and the man called the boss replied in a tired voice.
“Park Hyunwoo seems to have caught wind of something.”
“Those guys? They were barking up the wrong tree. Couldn’t we have waited for a better opportunity?”
“No. New intel came in. The Shadow Queen is about to make a move. It’s been reported that she’s meeting with the Mercenary Lord and Park Hyunwoo.”
At those words, a commotion erupted among the group.
“Shit, the Shadow Queen’s coming? We almost got screwed!”
“Why? If she’s alone, that’s good, right? I’ve always wanted to shut her up with my—”
“Idiot. The Shadow Queen wouldn’t come alone.”
“I was worried, but it’s a relief we dealt with it in advance.”
“Did you erase all traces?”
A voice from one of the previously silent figures spoke up, and the chatter ceased instantly. The leader clicked his tongue and stepped forward.
“We’re heading back.”
“Why!”
“Because it’s the Shadow Queen. We need to throw some of the bodies far away and not just erase traces but obliterate the whole place. I should’ve said this earlier, but I was too injured to think straight. Sorry.”
“Damn that bitch. If I ever meet her, I’ll make her beg for mercy.”
“Stop it. There’s already… who was it again? Anyway, rumors say she hooked up with the Clan Lord.”
“Shut up, you idiot! You got your ass handed to you two years ago, and now you think you can take her? She’s not someone you can handle.”
“Screw you! I can say what I want!”
As two voices mocked him, the man protested indignantly. Laughter rippled through the group. The leader, who had been chuckling along, quickly regained his composure and spoke in a stern voice.
“Alright, enough about Hyungu’s love for the Shadow Queen. Let’s get in formation.”
“““““““Yes.”””””””
The leader’s serious tone immediately sobered the group. They lined up swiftly, exuding a sharp aura. The leader walked through their ranks, then looked up at the pitch-black sky.
“Once we’ve cleaned up, we’ll leave this place.”
“Are we going back there?”
“No. We’ll wait elsewhere. We can only hope those guys handle the rest, but… we need to be prepared for anything.”
With that, the leader slipped back into the thicket, followed by the others, their footsteps silent as they vanished into the darkness.
All that remained was the metallic scent of blood, slowly dissipating with the breeze.
Opiturob19: Opiturob19, I must remind you again, I’m a guy and so are you. I’m not into same-sex relationships!
Hyunoh: Thank you. Thanks to you, Hyunoh, I got to watch a great video. It made my heart flutter the whole time. Somehow, it reminded me of my first love. T^T
Sosikga: It was short but intense for some reason. Let’s burn together. T^T
GameMaster: Sigh. You’re going through a lot. A training camp, of all things! Ugh! Sorry, I almost threw up for a second there. It’s hot out, so take it easy, okay? Just to reiterate, the best thing is to come out of the military healthy. :)
『 ReReply (Episode 224) 』
HanbangMode: Congrats on being first. :) I think this is the first time I’ve seen you in the top comment spot. Haha. Your username made me think of siege mode for some reason. (?)
FallenPigeon: Oh, I see. There are a few more details, but overall, you’re correct.
lovejin: Thank you. Your comment really gave me a lot of strength, lovejin. I’ll try to pay more attention to pacing next time. Haha. Lately, I’ve been seeing comments about how I’m too swayed by comments. I was actually worried I was being too stubborn recently, so it’s quite a dilemma. :)
ekar: Your point about being swayed by comments really hit home. I thought I was sticking to my guns, but maybe not. ㅜ.ㅠ Even if they’re negative (excluding personal attacks, of course), I believe every reader’s comment is valuable. While I might be too firm in some areas and too easily swayed in others, everything is aimed at ensuring “Memorize” doesn’t fall apart and continues to grow. I’ll keep working hard. Thank you for the valuable advice. (__)
IUSeolriSoheeJiyeongTaeyeonSuzy: Hahahaha. Your username is really pretty! Haha. Reading your comment sparked a thought in me. Oh, how embarrassing~.
Your recommendations and comments are the driving force behind continuous updates. (This is the truth.)
I always read all the comments repeatedly.
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With that, I’ll take my leave for today.
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