Preparations for Takeoff

The woman placed the meal on the table with a gentle touch and retreated with a graceful step, her demeanor markedly different from before. The meal consisted of a vegetable salad, grilled bread, cream stew, and a meat pie. Although I had ordered the A-course, it felt a bit lacking to truly call it a course meal. Still, I remembered it being reasonably priced and quite tasty compared to other options.

It wasn’t exactly the kind of atmosphere where you’d chat happily over a meal. Yet, hunger is the best seasoning, and Ahn Hyun was the first to pick up his spoon. I followed suit, scooping a generous portion of the steaming cream stew into my mouth. The rich, savory flavor spread across my palate, melting away almost instantly.

“Oh… this is really good! It just melts in your mouth,” Ahn Hyun exclaimed, his enthusiasm infectious. Ahn Sol picked up a piece of bread and took a cautious bite, her eyes widening in surprise as she chewed faster. Watching them eat with such relish brought a smile to my face. However, one person still hadn’t touched her food.

Yoo Jung wasn’t one to eat excessively, except when it came to alcohol, but she wasn’t a picky eater either. Yet now, she was merely stirring her chopsticks around, her eyes vacant and unfocused. It seemed she was deeply shaken, likely due to the intense magical energy she had been exposed to earlier. Being so close to the source, she must have felt something far more profound than the others.

Having experienced something similar in the past, I could empathize with Yoo Jung’s feelings to some extent. Humiliation, disgrace, self-doubt, helplessness—emotions only those who’ve been through it can truly understand. I felt a twinge of guilt, as this situation was partly orchestrated by me. Being overpowered by magic essentially meant acknowledging one’s inferiority to the other user.

But it was a necessary step. I believed that all these experiences would ultimately strengthen the kids. Who knows how many more situations like this they’ll face in the future?

We were now full-fledged users in the vast world of Hall Plain. We had to compete not only with new users but also with countless existing ones. In that sense, the kids were still like fledglings, barely out of the nest.

They didn’t yet understand hunger, didn’t know how to be cautious, and couldn’t distinguish when to step forward and when to hold back. In short, they lacked a sense of urgency. Admittedly, part of the blame lay with me, as they had been sheltered within my protective circle from the start.

Even if luck had been on our side so far, maintaining this attitude wouldn’t ensure survival in Hall Plain, which could last over a decade. I would bet 99% on the answer being no. Even I, who always tried to be cautious, had to cross countless lines of danger.

We were at a critical juncture. The last line of defense was the prohibition of user-on-user killings, or PK. Although the Northern Continent still had an unspoken rule against users killing each other, this wouldn’t last forever. That’s why vagrants were universally shunned.

However, once the first Allied War broke out, everything would change. In the chaotic later stages, PK would become unavoidable, and the lines between allies and enemies would blur. Yesterday’s enemy could become today’s ally, and vice versa. Surviving in such a volatile Hall Plain was crucial.

To ensure survival, I planned to teach the kids the skills they needed. But first, I needed to tighten their loose spirits. That’s why we came to the inn, “The Modest Lady,” where I believed we could learn a lot.

After finishing our meal, I rented two double rooms. Counting the remaining gold, I had a total of 6 gold and 40 silver (+1000 gold) after combining it with my weekly pay. The meal and room rental cost 40 silver for a week.

After settling into our assigned rooms, I gathered the kids in Hyun’s room. Ahn Hyun was clenching and unclenching his fists, his face full of eager anticipation, itching to venture outside the city. Yoo Jung still looked downcast, while Sol was watching her sister’s mood.

Oblivious to the tension, Hyun swung his arms and spoke up.

“Hyung, so from now on, the four of us will act together in Mule, right? We’ll hunt monsters, explore dungeons and caves, and find treasures.”

I sighed inwardly. Why did I keep sighing since meeting these kids? I looked at the excited Ahn Hyun, who seemed to think this was a picnic. I had no intention of going out immediately. But before that, Hyun also needed some serious mental training. Despite my unusual reaction, Hyun continued talking.

“Then let’s start a clan. What should we name it? Honestly, something like ‘Golden Lion’ is too cheesy…”

“We can’t make one.”

“What? Why not?”

“It’s not that we won’t; we can’t.”

I rubbed my forehead and sighed openly this time. While Hyun was enthusiastic about combat training, he often dozed off during lessons on Hall Plain’s history or settings. If he knew, he wouldn’t be talking about starting a clan now. Seeing my expression, Hyun finally fell silent.

After a pause, I spoke in a low voice.

“We don’t meet the conditions to form an official clan.”

“Conditions? I thought you could start a clan with just one person.”

The conditions weren’t about numbers. He had memorized only the easy parts. I clicked my tongue inwardly and continued. I intended to address everything that needed addressing now. If they showed such ignorance after becoming more experienced users, I wouldn’t be so lenient.

A clan can be simply defined as a group of users with similar goals.

However, forming an official clan wasn’t something just anyone could do. Residents who received divine revelations from angels managed all clan-related matters at registration offices in each city. This made the process fair but also strict.

So, the only option available to us was to build a track record. Achievements would be ideal, but they were far off, as they involved influencing Hall Plain’s main stream.

Unlike achievements, track records covered a wide range of activities.

Caravans and expeditions had to report their accomplishments after completing missions. This involved visiting temples in each city to report their tasks. Temple officials would review the reports and, if deemed important, either form an inspection team or request verification from a representative clan.

Each step in this process could be considered a track record. Details like where certain monsters appeared, whether a dungeon or cave was discovered, and the contents of explorations could all potentially contribute to a track record.

Once we felt we had built a sufficient track record, we could apply to establish an official clan, which would involve a mandatory review process. Although numerous applications were submitted daily, only a handful were approved each month, indicating the review’s rigor. Consequently, the prowess of officially recognized clans couldn’t be underestimated.

“Wow…”

As I calmly explained these facts, Ahn Hyun expressed his amazement. Wow, indeed. Sol seemed to already know this, judging by her expression. Watching Hyun nod in understanding, I stepped forward, drawing the attention of all three. I turned my gaze to Yoo Jung and spoke.

“How does it feel to take your first step into Hall Plain?”

”…Not very pleasant.”

Yoo Jung’s voice was heavy with discontent. I nodded a couple of times before continuing.

“Frustrated?”

”…Yes, frustrated.”

Yoo Jung’s immediate response indicated how acutely she felt her own powerlessness. Considering that her opponent would grow to rival my current self, there was some handicap involved. Still, the impact was undeniable, and I spoke with more conviction.

“I’ve always told you, Hall Plain is a world full of variables. You never know what might happen. What if that woman earlier had been a vagrant?”

My blunt question left them speechless, but I wasn’t finished.

“Stay alert. While excessive tension can be harmful, in Hall Plain, you must always be on guard. We’re not here for a picnic or a treasure hunt. We’re here to survive and find a way back to Earth. Do you understand?”

A solemn silence enveloped Ahn Hyun, Ahn Sol, and Yoo Jung. Hyun looked down, chastened, while Yoo Jung and Sol appeared somber.

“Feeling frustrated is good. But there’s no need to feel wronged. It just means you’re not strong enough yet. If you don’t want to experience such humiliation again, grit your teeth and toughen up.”

I paused, looking at each of their faces. It seemed they were beginning to grasp their current situation. This meant it was time to introduce the first plan to help them grow.

With a slightly softer tone, I began to speak.