1. Name: Hanbyul Kim (0 years)

2. Height · Weight: 170.5cm · 47.7kg

3. Traits: Effort · Scar

(Before) [Strength 50] [Endurance 58] [Agility 70] [Stamina 52] [Magic 88] [Luck 68]

(After) [Strength 51] [Endurance 59] [Agility 70] [Stamina 53] [Magic 88] [Luck 68]

(4 ability points remaining.)

Her stats hadn’t improved much. It made sense, given that she hadn’t had much time to train since arriving in Monica and immediately setting out on expeditions.

“Effort, huh. That’s a pretty broad trait.”

I could guess what she was striving for. Her inner wounds seemed far from healed, but the fact that something had changed was significant. Hoping for Hanbyul’s continued growth, I dismissed the floating status window.

“How are things going lately?”

“Sorry?”

“With the clan life… or the recent expedition. How’s it been?”

“Oh… I’m happy.”

The word “happy” came from Hanbyul’s lips with a bright, unwavering tone. Hearing it made me nod instinctively. Compared to her time with the Golden Lion, she might truly be happy now. If she genuinely felt that way, that was enough.

“Come to think of it, you didn’t get any equipment this time, did you?”

“It’s okay, oppa. I’m already grateful for using the gems.”

“No need to apologize. Gem magic is great, but don’t neglect traditional magic. You know that, right?”

“Yes, oppa. I’ll train hard.”

Her earnest responses made her seem like a gentle lamb. We walked in silence for a while longer before I removed the TOPG from my left hand. I took off the ring on my ring finger and offered it to her.

“Oppa…?”

“Take it. It’s a ring with an Anti-Magic spell. Three uses, recharges daily. It might not be as good as the expedition gear, but it’s still useful.”

“Oh, no, oppa. If you’re offering it, I’m really okay. I…”

“Just take it. I don’t have much use for it anyway. You’ve seen my magic resistance, right?”

I shook the ring to urge her to take it, but Hanbyul hesitated. Even after a few gentle nudges, she only fidgeted with her hands. I tried to place it in her hand, but she resisted, so I ended up slipping it onto her ring finger myself.

“O-O-Oppa?”

“Sigh. All this fuss over giving a ring.”

“T-T-Thank you…”

For some reason, Hanbyul stammered, her ears turning bright red. She clasped her right hand over the ring on her left, clearly delighted. Watching her bow her head again, I shrugged.

“Is it really that nice?”

In the quiet underground training hall, I closed my eyes gently. Slowly clenching my fist, I summoned my magic, along with the energy dormant in my heart.

“Hello?”

Who are you?

“Idiot. You don’t even know what’s inside you?”

You startled me by speaking suddenly.

“Dummy! It’s because you were too weak for me to talk to you before. And I did speak to you when I first entered you, remember?”

Did you?

Now that I think about it, I do recall a faint whisper asking, “Should I stop?” during the process of accepting the fire spirit.

“Finally remembered, huh? You fool. Anyway, you’re finally somewhat useful. But be careful. You’re still lacking. See you next time~.”

With those words, the whispers in my mind ceased. I tried to speak again, but only silence greeted me. Puzzled, I opened my eyes to see a clear flame burning fiercely.

That’s enough for now. Since I’m still recovering, there’s no need to test it further.

As I calmly withdrew the fire spirit’s power, the flames gradually subsided. Even without the fire spirit, the remaining magic energy still clung to my fist with formidable intensity.

“Be careful.”

Murmuring softly to the front, I swung my fist with all my might in the intended direction.

Boom!

As my fist struck the air, a powerful explosion erupted in the empty space. The atmosphere rippled, and the resulting shockwave spread across the training hall’s walls. Feeling the subtle vibrations through my feet, I quietly caught my breath.

Looking ahead, I saw Ansol staring at me with her mouth agape. She blinked repeatedly in surprise, then swallowed hard.

“O-Oppa, are you okay?”

“Yeah. Much better than before. My body feels so light.”

“Wow, oppa, you’re amazing!”

“Well, maybe it’s thanks to your healing last night.”

Though the real credit belonged elsewhere, Ansol twisted her body shyly, a soft smile on her face.

As I slowly withdrew my hand and assessed my condition, I noticed a definite improvement. My once heavy body felt as light as a feather, and my sluggish recovery rate had begun to soar. If this was the effect with a stamina of 90, I wondered how much more significant it would be at 101.

“I should prioritize getting my stamina to 101.”

It was certainly something worth considering. As I pondered this, Ansol, who had approached unnoticed, tugged at my sleeve.

“Oppa, oppa, everyone’s waiting on the third floor.”

“The small meeting room? Is everyone there?”

“Yes!”

“Alright, let’s go.”

With a spirited reply, I left the underground training hall with Ansol.

Upon reaching the third floor and pushing open the meeting room door, I found everyone seated as Ansol had said. With only about ten clan members, the room felt spacious despite being a small meeting room.

After acknowledging the greetings from the clan members, I took my seat at the head of the table and looked around. Beneath my chair, I sensed the presence of a baby unicorn. I quickly lifted it onto my lap, where it settled down, folding its legs and closing its eyes.

Only after ensuring it was comfortable did I begin the meeting.

“Good morning, everyone. Well, it’s a bit late for morning… Anyway, you all know why I’ve called this meeting.”

“Yes.”

“It’s been several days since we moved into the clan house. I believe we’ve had enough rest. It’s time to settle in and start reorganizing.”

A quiet silence followed. Glancing down, I saw only a single record, far from the pile I had hoped for. The name on the submission was Go Yeonju. Clicking my tongue a couple of times, I looked up and spoke again.

“User Shin Sangyong, now that we have a clan house, don’t you think it’s time for a personal workshop?”

“Uh, no, it’s fine. I still have much to learn from my master… And how could I possibly have my own workshop…”

“I’m not saying you shouldn’t learn. That’s separate. Surely there are things you want to study on your own.”

“Ha ha, well, that’s true.”

Shin Sangyong scratched his head awkwardly, and I turned my attention to the next pair.

“Users Jung Hayeon, Hanbyul Kim.”

“Yes.”

“How about you two? Wouldn’t it be nice to have a lab in the main building, aside from your quarters in the annex?”

“A lab? Well… it would be nice.”

Jung Hayeon replied hesitantly, while Hanbyul simply blinked quietly.

“Same goes for the rest of you. Is there anything you need?”

When I directed the question to the others, they looked up like startled deer, glancing at each other uncertainly. I sighed softly.

Though it was a bit frustrating, I couldn’t entirely blame them. Go Yeonju aside, the others hadn’t experienced a normal clan life. Or perhaps they hadn’t experienced it at all. Having lived under constant pressure, this new life must feel unfamiliar. But it’s crucial they start adapting to it now.

“I distinctly remember telling you all to think about what you need and submit it during the meeting. Yet, it seems some of you are still clinging to the past. This is the Mercenary Clan’s house now—nothing more, nothing less. You no longer need to stay at inns, and you have ample space to train without worrying about others. We have more than enough room to accommodate everyone’s needs.”

”…”

“I understand that the sudden abundance might be overwhelming. Still, you should be able to think of books, equipment, or even spaces you need for personal training. If not that, then items necessary for clan life or spaces you’d like to have.”

”…”

“Of course, you don’t need to have everything at once like Vivian. You can’t expect to be full from the first bite. But this indecisive attitude needs to change.”

I didn’t show any signs of anger or raise my voice. I kept a calm and gentle tone, not wanting to disrupt the existing atmosphere. I believed the mercenary clan members would understand without me having to get visibly upset.

Picking up the records in front of me, I addressed the clan members one last time.

“We received the clan house for free and recently got 5,000 gold from Istantel Row. Our funds are close to 90,000 gold, and with the jewels, it’s at least 200,000 gold. What’s the point of letting this money sit idle? Should we play with interest? If you need something, just let me know. We need to organize internally so we can plan our next expedition or whatever else.”

“Um, then…”

Just as I was about to read the records, Jang Ha-yeon spoke up in a cautious voice. I nodded, encouraging her to continue.

“Do you have any personal spaces or items in mind, Clan Lord?”

“Personally? Well, I’ve set up a training hall in the basement, so that’s covered. As for items, I’d like to get some summoning stones.”

At the mention of summoning stones, a few clan members’ faces lit up with understanding. With summoning stones, I wouldn’t have to run around looking for people; I could call them easily. Though it’s one-way communication, it’s still quite useful for a clan lord.

“That makes sense. I’m planning to visit the magic shop today, so I can get them.”

“Then I’ll leave the summoning stones to you, Jang Ha-yeon.”

“Ah, how many should I get, and are there any specific conditions?”

“One for each clan member, so nine, and another nine for their counterparts. So, eighteen in total. Buy a few extra just in case. The range should cover the city; that’s probably the maximum.”

Jang Ha-yeon nodded with a thin smile, indicating she understood. I then turned to the records submitted by Go Yeon-ju. Though the content was longer than expected, it didn’t take long to read, thanks to her knack for organizing information clearly.

“It seems Go Yeon-ju wants to establish an information guild within the clan.”

“Oh, that’s a bit grand. It’s not at the guild level yet. Haha.”

When I looked up after reading, Go Yeon-ju waved her hand with a relaxed expression.

“I’d like to hear more about this record.”

“Yes, but not here. I’d like to discuss it in a separate setting.”

I immediately agreed to Go Yeon-ju’s request. If she wanted to discuss it separately, there must be a reason.

After flipping through all the records, I looked up to address everyone.

“Let’s conclude today’s meeting here. Does anyone have any personal matters to discuss with me?”

“Me!”

Vivian shot her hand up before I even finished speaking. I nodded, remembering I had something to discuss with her as well. The other clan members seemed to be nodding slightly, indicating they planned to carry out my instructions immediately.

“Alright. I’ll call another meeting soon, and I expect you to be more prepared next time. Also, Go Yeon-ju and Vivian, let’s meet in the office on the fourth floor. Go Yeon-ju, I’ll talk to Vivian first, if you don’t mind.”

“That’s fine with me.”

Go Yeon-ju smiled broadly, indicating she was okay with it.

With that, I declared the meeting over and stood up.

“Perfect timing. I needed to talk to you too.”

“Huh? Su-hyun? About what?”

As I leaned back in my chair and spoke, Vivian turned around after closing the door and asked. I pulled out a thick book from the drawer and placed it on the desk. It was the diary of Mavolo that Vivian had left behind.

“I wanted to give this to you. Remember how you were thrilled about acquiring the Order of Harmony last time? You left this behind.”

“Oh, sorry, sorry. I could’ve given it to Shin Sang-yong… But what’s this thick book about?”

“Take a look. It’s something we brought back from the Magia expedition. It seems to contain Mavolo’s research. He was quite skilled in alchemy, so I thought it might be of some help to you. You know who Mavolo is, right?”

Vivian thought for a moment, then clapped her hands and nodded vigorously.

“He was way before my time, so I don’t know much, but I recognize the name. I’m really looking forward to this… I’ll take a look now.”

Vivian quickly approached, picked up the book, and began to read with eager eyes.

Flip, flip, flip, flip.

As she turned page after page, her initially bright expression began to change subtly. Watching her, a thought crossed my mind, and I spoke up.

“You can read ancient languages, right? Later, Shin Sang-yong too…”

“Wait a minute. Su-hyun, what’s this?”

“What?”

Vivian tilted her head in confusion, then began to read aloud from the book.

“He stripped Margarita bare and whipped her. With each mark on her fair skin, Margarita let out a beautiful scream… What is this?”

“Oh, I forgot to mention. Margarita is the fairy queen. Mavolo kidnapped the hero and the fairy queen, remember? Turns out it was true. Tsk… Let me see. I’ll remove that part for you. There should be some useful information about potions later on.”

I said, getting up from my chair and reaching for the book.

“No, no! I’ll read it myself!”

Vivian’s eyes widened, and she quickly stepped back, clutching the book tightly.

“Really? There might be some unpleasant parts.”

“Unpleasant? No way. You brought it well. And these things need to be read carefully, line by line. You never know where a clue might be.”

“True. Then go ahead. But… didn’t you say you had something to discuss?”

Her reasoning made sense, so I nodded without much thought. When I asked about her business, Vivian’s eyes suddenly widened as if she remembered something.

“Oh, the wish! You promised to grant a wish if I made the elixir!”

“Ah, right. Thanks for the elixir. It helped solve some problems.”

“Hehe. I told you to trust me, didn’t I? Anyway, you haven’t forgotten the promise, right?”

“I haven’t. As long as it’s within my power, I’ll grant it. What is it?”

“I’ll decide after reading this.”

“What?”

I gave her a puzzled look, and Vivian stammered, looking flustered.

“No, I mean, give me some time to think!”

“Why did you come, then?”

“It was just to confirm! Anyway, I’m leaving now!”

“Hey, hey! Leaving is fine, but tell Go Yeon-ju to come in.”

“Got it!”

Bang. Scurry.

Vivian dashed out before I could stop her. I wasn’t sure why she was acting that way, but considering her unique nature as an alchemist, it was somewhat understandable. Alchemists are naturally curious, after all.

As I waited for Go Yeon-ju to come in, I lit a cigarette.

But at that moment, I had no idea. I couldn’t have predicted that giving Vivian the book would lead to unforeseen consequences later on.

---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=

Hello, this is Ro Yujin.

The weather is really humid today. It’s raining, hot, and the humidity is high. Plus, it’s Monday, which must be tough for working readers and students. Don’t eat too much cold food like I did, or you’ll regret it. ㅜ.ㅠ

I’ve read all your comments. It seems there’s no right answer when it comes to writing. Some people think one way, others think differently, and some have entirely different perspectives. It would be great to satisfy everyone, but that’s quite challenging. Haha. :)

I understand. I know what situations will arise and how the characters will develop, but you don’t, so it must be frustrating. Plus, with daily serialization and a slow pace, I can only apologize. I wish I could give you spoilers, but I regret doing that with Su-hyun and Yu-jung’s After. I don’t know what I was thinking back then. ㅜ.ㅠ

The remaining 6 points will surely come in handy later on. Not in Part 1, but definitely in Part 2. :)

I will continue writing without wavering, and I promise to take your comments into account. Your feedback is the foundation that helps me write better stories. :D

Thank you for always reading Memorize. I look forward to your continued support and constructive criticism. Thank you. (__)

『 Reader Comments 』

1. days0314: Oh, congratulations on being first! It’s been ages since Miwolya didn’t snag the top spot. Well, they are quite formidable. ㅜ.ㅠ Truly, you are first! Congratulations once again!

2. GanjiNamIsBack: Wow, Hawaii! I’m so jealous. I’ve had a fascination with Hawaii since I was a kid. ㅜ.ㅠ Is it really like that? (Huh?!)

3. Euaaki: Of course, Euaaki, you’re right. However, there’s a clear reason why Kim Suhyun chose Hwajeong. There will be stronger enemies ahead, and some can only be countered with Hwajeong. There’s a definite difference between authority and Hwajeong. :)

4. Grabity: I realize my description of the physical collapse rebound was lacking. I’ll add more details during the e-book revision. Thank you!

5. Sangheun: Haha, it seems Sangheun was quite frustrated. Even with stamina raised to 96, issues remain. But it’s better than at 90, right? Please see the last chapter as a shift in Suhyun’s priorities regarding his stamina stats. :)

6. CheongeopHyeolSinCheonMujon: Uh, CheongeopHyeolSinCheonMujon? I think there’s something in there? ?ㅇ?

7. BarleySun: Sorry. An episode wrapping up Part 1 is coming soon, so I need to sort out a few things beforehand. ㅜ.ㅠ I can’t give a definite answer, but I expect it by the end of July at the latest. :)

8. FreeSpirit: Well, FreeSpirit… drip… ;ㅇ;

9. Repil: It’s been a while since I’ve been impressed by Repil’s sharp comment. When Suhyun meets an angel next, I plan to introduce another one. Suhyun is getting a lot of attention right now!

10. Flute: Haha. Abilities can evolve. Yujeong is still in a rare class, but she has potential. Please watch her growth! Innate abilities can occur naturally! And even if someone obtains a secret class (or rare class), not everyone gains unique abilities! :)

Thank you for always reading. Your recommendations and comments are a great source of strength.

I hope you always read my work with a relaxed mind.

Recommendations, comments, critiques, and questions are always welcome.