Butterfly Effect
Suddenly, a wave of melancholy washed over me. I knew why. The Kim Soo-hyun my brother remembered wasn’t the one who had spent ten years in the Hall Plain, but the Kim Soo-hyun of the present. Even I barely remembered that version of myself.
“Soo-hyun?”
I looked up at the sound of my brother’s worried voice. He was watching me anxiously, probably wondering if he’d said something wrong. I quickly composed myself and shook my head.
“If you came on the day I was discharged from the military… when exactly did you enter the Hall Plain?”
“Not even a year ago. According to user information, I’m still in my first year. What about you?”
“A little over two years. So, you’re about two years behind me. Back then, I was…”
“You were there. I remember clearly. I was still in the military then, right? I sent letters, and you visited with our parents. You even called the day before my discharge to say you couldn’t pick me up because something came up.”
”…I see. How are Mom and Dad?”
I nodded and studied my brother’s face. He seemed a bit bitter but not overly shocked. He must have heard about it at least once during his two years here.
“Sigh, I really don’t understand what’s going on.”
“There’s nothing we can do. Even when we ask the angels, they always say the same thing: ‘We can’t tell you. Don’t worry.’”
The rain was getting heavier, pounding down like a waterfall. My brother still had his hand on my head, as if afraid I’d disappear if he let go.
“Honestly, I still can’t believe it.”
”…Me neither.”
“Even after being summoned here, I thought about you a lot. Wondering if you finished your military service, if you were eating well, going to school, making good friends…”
“Come on, hyung. I’m not a kid.”
Embarrassed, I brushed his hand off my head. I tried to sound cheerful, but the worry on his face didn’t fade.
“There were times I wanted to see you when things got tough. But now that we’re here, I feel guilty. Like maybe my thoughts somehow…”
“That’s nonsense. Stop being so dramatic.”
We both smiled. My brother placed his hand back on my head. I wished he’d stop petting me like that.
“Sigh… Anyway, I’m really sorry and grateful.”
“You don’t need to apologize, and what are you grateful for?”
“For everything. For coming to help me, for meeting me here, and for just being alive.”
“Why do you keep saying stuff like that? It’s weird.”
Every time he said things like that, I felt awkward and embarrassed. Just as I was about to twist away from his hand, he spoke again.
“Have you been through a lot?”
That one question made me freeze.
His words seemed to acknowledge the hardships of living in the Hall Plain. It wasn’t entirely wrong, but there was a difference between what he thought and what I considered difficult. It was something I couldn’t easily talk about.
‘Or should I just tell him…?’
I hesitated. The fact that I was on my second round was a secret I hadn’t shared with anyone. But my brother was different. He wouldn’t dismiss it as nonsense. He’d listen, empathize, and maybe even help with my plans.
“Soo-hyun, why don’t you tell me how you’ve been living in the Hall Plain? You were so gentle as a kid, you couldn’t even hurt a bug. I’m curious.”
I met his gaze. His eyes were warm, a stark contrast to the coldness he showed others.
After a moment of silence, I felt compelled to speak.
“Hyung. Listen carefully. I’m going to tell you everything.”
“Alright. I’m all ears.”
“Actually…”
“There you are!”
Ding!
Just then, a lively voice interrupted us as the terrace door opened. I turned to see Jin-ha peeking in.
“Sorry if I’m interrupting. But Clan Lord, are you hungry? None of us have been eating well lately, worrying about Unni. Everyone’s gathered except Ga-hee.”
“Food? Jin-ha, I thought I said I was talking with my brother.”
My brother’s warm demeanor vanished in an instant.
“Why don’t you both come? Your brother and his friends are in the dining room. You can talk over a meal.”
“Soo-hyun too? Oh, right… I didn’t think of that.”
‘What?’
As soon as I was included in the meal, my brother’s attitude changed completely. But that wasn’t the issue. The title “young master” Jin-ha casually used left me speechless. Her mischievous smile suggested she did it on purpose.
“Soo-hyun, I’m sorry. I was so curious I forgot about you. Are you hungry? Let’s eat first and talk later.”
“No, it’s fine. I already ate at the Clan House…”
“Jin-ha, tell the chef to prepare a lot of meat. Soo-hyun loves meat. And some noodle dishes too.”
“Okay~. Take your time, young master~.”
My brother grabbed my arm and started pulling me along. Jin-ha smiled slyly and skipped down the hallway. Watching her, I suddenly remembered that in the first round, she was one of the many women who admired my brother.
In the dining room, just as Jin-ha said, about ten users were gathered around the table. I recognized some from earlier, including Go Yeon-ju, Kim Han-byeol, and Ahn Sol. Their expressions seemed more relaxed, as if they’d accepted that my brother and I were siblings.
As the food arrived and we began eating, the Mercenary Clan members had removed their hoods.
Whether they already knew or Go Yeon-ju had revealed it herself, the Hamil Clan members weren’t particularly surprised to see the Shadow Queen. Just a casual “Oh, it’s the Shadow Queen.” After all, each of them was confident in their abilities, and technically, the Hamil Clan’s current standing was higher than the Mercenary Clan’s.
“I didn’t get a chance to thank you earlier. Thank you for saving Hyo-eul, young master.”
“I heard you’re not a priest class… How did you purify her, young master?”
As everyone chatted and ate, Jin-ha and Hye-rin’s voices reached me. Their gentle tones suggested they were relieved Hyo-eul was safe.
But I was mistaken. When I turned to escape my brother’s insistence on feeding me, I saw the two women locking eyes, a silent tension between them.
“Soo-hyun seems uncomfortable answering. Don’t ask strange questions.”
‘Right. I forgot my brother was oblivious to these things.’
I sighed as my brother intervened. Somewhere, I thought I heard Go Yeon-ju sigh, but I dismissed it as my imagination.
“By the way, Soo-hyun. I don’t think I’ve heard much about you yet.”
“Huh?”
“The story you were about to tell earlier. Like how you passed the rite of passage. You graduated from the User Academy, right? And what happened after, how you met your companions. I have so many questions.”
“Well… it’s just…”
I mumbled, trying to dodge the topic. I couldn’t reveal everything here. But seeing the determination in my brother’s eyes, I knew I’d have to say something. So, I turned to the clan members sitting to my left. It was my usual tactic to change the subject.
“Go Yeon-ju. You probably know, but the Hamil Lord is my brother. I could introduce him, but maybe you’d like to do it yourself?”
“Of course. I was hoping to.”
Her words made me a bit uneasy, but I nodded. Go Yeon-ju put down her utensils and smiled gently, not her usual seductive smile, but a demure one.
“Hello. I’m Go Yeon-ju, a user with the Mercenary Clan. I’m embarrassed to say, but I’m sometimes called one of the Ten Strongest.”
“I see. If you’re one of the Ten Strongest… you must be the Shadow Queen.”
“Yes, that’s right. Brother-in-law.”
“Pfft.”
Clatter. Clatter. Clatter. Clatter.
As soon as Go Yeon-ju finished speaking, I spat out the water I was drinking. I wasn’t the only one caught off guard. The sound of utensils dropping echoed in the dining room. Silence followed, stretching on for what felt like an eternity.
The story picked up again just as a clattering sound began at the end of the table.
“Junseong.”
“Don’t say it. I already know what you’re going to say, Uncle.”
“Those brothers must have saved a country in their past lives.”
“I said, don’t.”
Junseong, his brother, and Taewon spoke in low, somber tones, idly toying with their chopsticks.
“Ahem!”
His brother cleared his throat dramatically, gulped down his water, and set the glass down with a loud thud. He spoke in a voice that was slightly uncomfortable to hear.
“Calling me ‘brother-in-law’ seems a bit premature.”
“If it bothered you, I apologize. But others have been calling our clan lord ‘young master.’”
“I’ll make sure to correct that.”
“Heh.”
His brother shot a sharp look at Jin-ha and Hye-rin, who both shrank back, lowering their heads.
After barely getting through Go Yeon-ju’s introduction, it was Kim Han-byeol’s turn. A few people from the Haemil Clan recognized her. It wasn’t surprising, given how much she was advertised as a jewel mage back in the Golden Lion days. Though she looked anxious throughout her introduction, she seemed relieved when no one asked why she left the Golden Lion for the Mercenary Clan.
With the introductions going smoothly (for which I was quite grateful to Kim Han-byeol), it was finally An-sol’s turn.
“Hello~. I’m An-sol. I’ve been with my brother since the rite of passage~.”
As An-sol spoke, the anxiety that had just settled down began to rise again. Why did she keep focusing on me? I asked for introductions, not a rundown of our relationship.
I pressed my temples, trying to stave off the headache. This needed to end before another storm hit.
“Oh, you’ve been together since the rite of passage?”
“Yes~! From the very start until now, always together~.”
When she said “always together,” she closed her eyes and puckered her lips, which must have looked quite cute, as the sisters let out little squeals.
“Always together, huh? I’m curious. Could you tell us a bit about how our brother has been doing?”
“Brother, wait. Why are you asking her that? I should be the one—”
“Su-hyun is really amazing~.”
“Haha, of course. But how exactly is he amazing? Could you elaborate a bit more?”
His brother raised a hand, signaling he was fine, and showed keen interest. An-sol flashed a triumphant smile at Go Yeon-ju before continuing, waving her hands animatedly.
“During the rite of passage, he lured monsters away for us~. At the User Academy, he was the top student~. Oh! He even got an offer from the Golden Lion but turned it down to look after us! And after leaving the academy, he explored ruins and even established a clan house~!”
Please, stop. I couldn’t help but hang my head. I felt like I’d burned out without even fighting.
After the stormy meal, we settled into a more relaxed tea time. Thanks to An-sol’s “performance,” the atmosphere was much lighter. Not that it was any comfort to me.
Even then, my brother insisted he would protect me, telling me not to worry. Fortunately, Jin-ha and Hye-rin managed to talk him down, allowing us to return to the main topic.
“I’d love to stay and monitor the situation, but I have responsibilities to attend to. Anyway, the curse of the Banshee has been lifted. You could say a life has been saved.”
“Su-hyun, why don’t you join my clan? You know how dangerous the Hall Plain is. I’m really worried—”
“Sigh…”
My brother repeated himself, and I let out a weary sigh. Jin-ha and Hye-rin quickly whispered to him.
“Clan Lord! What’s gotten into you today? It’s the Mercenary Clan, the Mercenary Clan! And he’s the Clan Lord!”
“Su-hyun is my brother. My own flesh and blood. You can’t understand how I feel—”
“Let’s be realistic. In less than a year, they’ve discovered four ruins and have five secret classes and four rare classes. Not to mention the Shadow Queen—”
“I know that.”
“Do you really? You’re basically asking the Mercenary Clan to join Haemil. Even if he’s your brother, it’s quite disrespectful with other clan members present.”
His brother seemed to have more to say but closed his mouth when I shot him a sharp look.
“I’m sorry, Mercenary Lord. Our Lord is just really happy to see you. He’s not usually like this, so we’re a bit taken aback too.”
“It’s fine. Even back home, he was always worried. I understand. Anyway, as for the treatment, while the curse is lifted, there are still severe aftereffects. With continuous care, recovery is possible.”
“I see. Don’t worry. We have capable priests who can handle the aftereffects.”
“Combining holy spells with medicine and treatment should speed up recovery. I’ll leave that to you.”
“Yes. Now, about the reward for the treatment… Could you tell us roughly how you did it?”
Jin-ha trailed off, glancing at his brother. She was leading the conversation, likely because, despite being an archer, she was meticulous and quick with numbers, handling Haemil Clan’s internal affairs.
“Su-hyun, you mentioned earlier that you have a secret class as a sword expert, not a priest. So what power did you use to heal?”
The reward issue was tricky. If it were someone I didn’t know, I’d try to get as much as possible, but I didn’t want to do that in front of my brother. Honestly, I would have done it for free. But I couldn’t go against what I’d said in the meeting before coming here. So, the best approach was to be straightforward and make a modest show of it.
“Think of it as an unconventional power. If I push the output beyond what my body can handle, it strains me, but for simple healing, it’s not too taxing.”
“What?”
“I mean, it’s fine for healing.”
“Hmm… A sword expert. So, a melee class…”
His brother seemed deep in thought. He tapped the table with his finger, then turned to Jin-ha, who swallowed nervously.
“Baek Jin-ha. Remember the sword we got from the King’s Tomb? Bring it here.”
“The King’s Tomb… You mean Victoria’s Glory? Eul’s wearing it as an earring right now…”
“The Banshee’s curse is lifted, so it doesn’t matter.”
His brother casually dismissed it and turned to me.
“Su-hyun, you said using that power strains your stamina, right?”
“Huh? Yeah, but I can adjust the output.”
“Great. I once discovered a relic called the King’s Tomb. It’s a sword called Victoria’s Glory that boosts stamina. Since you’re a sword-wielding class, it’ll suit you perfectly. It has other options too, so you can look forward to it.”
‘No-sword, Sun and Moon Divine Sword, Caligo Abraxas… I already have three swords…’
But the idea of boosting my stamina was tempting. Plus, the fact that it could transform into an earring was appealing.
“By the way, don’t you have a helmet?”
“Huh? No, it’s uncomfortable and unnecessary.”
“That’s not good. Melee classes should always protect their heads.”
“Well, it’s not like—”
“And you’re not wearing armor. Tsk, your gear is lacking overall.”
If the Glory of Heaven and the Glory of the Sun had personalities, they might have been offended.
His brother clicked his tongue as he assessed my equipment, then stood up and approached me.
“This won’t do. Baek Jin-ha, bring Victoria’s Glory. Su-hyun, come with me to the storage. We need to upgrade your gear.”
”…”
As he firmly grasped my hand and pulled me up, I remembered.
The days when my brother protected me.
And the fact that my brother had a serious brother complex.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Hello, this is Ro Yujin.
Finally, Kim Yoo-hyun’s true nature is revealed. He was originally a cold, charismatic, and composed man. But when it comes to his younger brother, Kim Su-hyun, he’s an exception. A severe case of brother complex! However, in the next chapter, we’ll have to say Bye Bye for the story to progress. :) Just to clarify, Memorize is not a BL story. Kim Yoo-hyun cherishes Kim Su-hyun dearly, but only as a brother. Both have normal romantic interests. So don’t worry about BL! Unless readers start teasing me as RoXMi, I won’t be writing BL! :D
PS. I’m planning to wake my brother up at dawn. He was in the Air Force, so I’m thinking of playing the sound of marching (is that right? The sound at the beginning…) and saying, “Wake up, wake up. Sergeant X, wake up.” I’ll let you know his reaction in tomorrow’s note. Hehe.
『 Ririple 』
Hwieul: Congratulations on first place! It’s been a while since we last saw you, Hwieul. :) How have you been? Haha. I hope you enjoy this episode too!
Uiver: Happy birthday! Happy birthday to you~. Happy birthday to you~. Happy birthday, dear Uiver~. Happy birthday to you~! Wow! Clap, clap, clap! As a gift, here’s a kiss from me -3-. (Smooch, smooch!)
Astrain: You got it exactly right. Yes, Kim Yoo-hyun has a brother complex!
Pineiro: Correct! Kim Soo-hyun was a bit of a nuisance character in the first round. But he’s someone who changes through various events. :)
J.F: Exactly. That’s why Kim Yoo-hyun finds it awkward with Kim Soo-hyun, and he still treats him based on his memories from the present.
DeluxeSandwich: I’m still pondering over that part. Even if it’s not possible right now, perhaps one day I’ll be able to reveal it.
Ronoé: Thank you for your comment. (__) And belated congratulations on your second child! Loyalty!
Goraon: Thank you for the coupon. (__) I’ll strive to repay you with even better content in the future.
Melis: You have a keen eye. I didn’t expect anyone to catch that. :)
Doyoung: Thank you for binge-reading, and for leaving so many comments. I’m truly grateful. First, you’re right about the early parts. Back then, many advised me not to be swayed by comments and to write with conviction. I value readers’ comments, but I believe the ultimate responsibility lies with me. Writing and deciding the direction of the story is entirely my prerogative. As for relationships, well, one thing’s for sure: it won’t turn into a harem situation (like having dozens of women). I’ve calculated the population of Whole Plane myself, and it seems appropriate to be between 40,000 and 60,000. This part involves quite complex settings. The number of users entering through the Inn of Beginnings is highly variable and irregular. Sometimes as few as 100 come in, but at other times, over 2,000 have entered. And you’re right about the last part. Someone else pointed that out before. Survival-type users are likely to last a long time. I’m slowly revising from the first episode, and I plan to address that part. (Users generally don’t prefer childbirth. Even if they form relationships, they often use contraception.) I hope this answers your questions. Thank you. (__)
Thank you for always reading. Your recommendations and comments are a great source of strength.
I hope you always read the story with a relaxed mind.
Recommendations, comments, critiques, and questions are always welcome.