“Hey, what are you up to?”
Yujeong poked her head in to confirm I was there before stepping inside. Her voice was low, tinged with dissatisfaction. The way she looked at me with that sulky expression was a clear sign she was about to start pestering me again. I set down the document I was holding in my left hand and sighed.
“What is it now?”
My curt tone made Yujeong’s face fall immediately, but she still pouted and spoke up.
“You keep bragging about how you let Sol practice different skills. Tossing and catching coins by herself… it’s not like she’s showing off or anything.”
“There’s nothing to brag about. Besides, Sol isn’t the type to boast about that.”
“I’m serious. She keeps tossing and catching coins…”
“She’s practicing a binding spell. I told her to do it.”
I cut her off without much thought, and her face clearly showed her disappointment. Just as I was about to pick up the document again, her grumbling voice reached my ears.
“You’re so unfair. You only told Hyun and me to do sensory training.”
“That’s because it’s necessary. For close combat types, sensory training is enough at the start.”
“But still…”
Despite having explained it before, Yujeong continued to whine in a drawn-out voice. My already cluttered mind felt even more tangled.
“There’s no ‘but still’ about it. Sol’s basic magic stats are higher than yours. For support types, that’s enough. And the coin practice wouldn’t help you much anyway.”
Four days had passed, and Sol held the record for the longest sensory training among the kids. After I guided her, she was making full use of her vast magical reserves. Even though she struggled with the instructor’s teachings, her skills improved in just one day after my guidance, and she looked at me as if I were some kind of deity.
In my first run, I reached the level of a Sword Master with 48 magic points. I was confident in my mana management skills, and I shared some of that knowledge with Sol. Given the efficiency of the techniques I taught her, it might seem like I was favoring her a bit.
Yujeong seemed quite frustrated about being surpassed by Sol. She often came to me at the inn, demanding private lessons for herself. It was manageable once or twice, but her constant requests were exhausting.
“I just taught her a bit about mana control. Anyway, go back to your sensory training. Look at Sol. Once she set her mind to it, she’s been practicing diligently.”
“Ugh, you always favor Sol. And I’m going to take a break too.”
With a dissatisfied sigh, Yujeong plopped down next to me. I shrugged and turned my attention back to the map. She watched me for a moment before picking up a piece of paper lying around.
“Ancient… Alchemy’s… Revival and… Demise? What’s this about?”
“Nothing much. Just put it aside.”
I circled a part of the map with my pen as I read through the ancient alchemy document. Yujeong glanced at the map, covered in circles, and asked in a small voice.
“What’s all this? And what are the circles on the map for?”
“Records. Map analysis.”
“Come on, I’m curious about what you’ve been up to lately.”
Yujeong’s voice was insistent, clearly frustrated by my short answers. Without looking up from the map, I replied.
“I’m investigating records. Just hunting monsters around the city isn’t efficient. I’m looking for clues about places from ancient records of the city of Mule.”
“Really… Can you find clues from this?”
“Finding a star in the sky might be easier.”
I grimaced, but Yujeong chuckled lightly. The records related to alchemists and research labs were piled high on the table.
Sometimes, when I had a lead, I’d look through records for more detailed information. But searching for clues in records was a foolish endeavor. The sheer volume was overwhelming, and there was no guarantee the events were even real. It was a foolish pursuit, yet here I was, doing just that. I was convinced the alchemist’s dungeon and the lab were in Mule, or I would have headed straight to the Cave of Wailing.
I spoke in a weary voice.
“If it were that easy to find, it would have been discovered long ago. We just have to try everything we can.”
Yujeong’s eyes lit up with interest. She offered to help, and I accepted her offer, knowing full well what would happen in five minutes.
As expected, five minutes later, Yujeong started glancing at me, then used Hyun and Sol as an excuse to escape, claiming she needed to train. Her personality and patience were ill-suited for this tedious process.
Watching her leave, I chuckled and turned back to the map and records.
How many more days passed? The once-clean map was now filled with circles. At first glance, it seemed chaotic, but there were a few areas with clusters of circles. I had a rough idea of where to go, even if I wasn’t sure until I got there.
Feeling a sense of completion, I sank into my chair. The window showed the dark night had settled in. Thinking of the kids, I used my senses to detect their steady breathing from the next room. They must have finished their training and gone to sleep. A smile crept onto my face as I thought about their progress.
In just a week, they had reached the level I had set for them. Sometimes they seemed eager to leave the city, but they followed my lead, prioritizing training.
The reason they listened to me was simple. They weren’t without their own thoughts. They often joked, “If you listen to oppa (or hyung), good things happen,” because they believed my decisions were always right. From the academy to now, they had never regretted following my advice.
This training had its share of complaints, but it yielded clear results. Even though it was just sensory training, their magic and other stats improved evenly. Seeing Hyun excited about gaining two magic points in just eight days made me a bit envious.
I had joined the academy for the four-point mission reward, but despite my intense physical training, I hadn’t gained a single point, which was disappointing.
But my stat issues weren’t something I could solve immediately, so I set them aside. Turning back to the topic at hand, I felt it was time to leave the city. However, there was still one last issue to consider.
The composition of the caravan.
Hunting monsters around the city was fine with any group composition. But for exploration or conquest, forming a balanced caravan was basic knowledge in Hall Plain. We had plenty of close combat types, but a ranger and a priest were essential for a caravan.
Yet, I wondered if they were truly necessary right now. We had Sol as a priest. A mage was optional, and I could guide the group as a ranger. With my third eye and memories of Mule, getting lost was nearly impossible.
However, if the current setup became a habit for the kids, it could be problematic. There would be opportunities for more challenging explorations or expeditions. Even if I could cover many roles now, I couldn’t always look after them. They would learn a lot from their first expedition, but it would be troublesome if they accepted the current setup as the norm.
Knock, knock, knock.
While I was deep in thought about the caravan, a quiet knock came at the door. Sensing a woman’s presence outside, I looked up and spoke softly.
“Yes, who is it?”
“It’s me. You know it’s me anyway.”
”…”
Without waiting for my permission, the woman opened the door and entered. Knowing her identity, it was hard to see her as just an innkeeper. Honestly, I couldn’t understand why someone of her skill was in Mule.
The woman had appeared in Mule briefly, vanished, and then reappeared in Hall Plain as an enemy of my clan.
I still remembered what she had said back then.
“If I had met her first, I might have joined her. She’s that captivating.”
Judging by her words, she likely didn’t belong to any clan yet.
The memory of the Ragnarok siege flashed through my mind. The woman had been executed by the princess of our allied forces, but her terrifying power was still vivid in my memory.
She wore her usual languid smile, her slightly drooping eyes and the tear-shaped mole under one eye exuding a decadent charm. She spoke to me in a gentle tone.
“Hello. Mind if I come in for a moment?”
She was already inside, so what was the point of asking? I nodded reluctantly, my face betraying my unease.
“It’s late. What brings you here at this hour?”
The woman didn’t answer, but she slowly closed the distance between us. I knew she was someone who could take my life in an instant if I let my guard down. I couldn’t afford to be careless, so I subtly began to gather my magical energy.
Her face still wore a languid smile. Then, in a flash, her eyes turned a shade of gray. I, who had been on high alert from the start, instinctively activated my third eye.
『Unique ability detected: Lure Eyed.』
『Third eye activated. Lure Eyed ability identified.』
Oh, great.
“Do I really need to keep track of time when I’m trying to seduce a man I like?”
“There are kids in the next room…”
She was playing games. I’d encountered this kind of attack so often in the shadows that I was almost bored of it. I knew all the countermeasures, but I decided to play along, letting my eyes glaze over and my cheeks flush, curious to see what she’d do next.
“Don’t worry about that… But today is the last day of your room rental. What are you going to do?”
She wouldn’t come at night just to ask that. She must have another motive. This was likely a test to see if I was truly under her spell. I replied casually, adding a touch of hesitation for effect.
“I’m planning to leave the city tomorrow morning…”
“Leave…?”
At my words, she glanced at my table. Her expression shifted subtly, as if she had pieced together my intentions from the map lying there.
“User Kim Soo-hyun.”
“How do you know my name…?”
She took a step closer, now just an arm’s length away.
“The new user, the super rookie from the User Academy.”
She took another step forward. I remained seated, and she stood directly in front of me, her eyes now a deep gray, staring intently.
“Despite everything… you’re still a newbie, not even four months in.”
Her hand reached out, gently cupping my face. I felt her soft touch on my left cheek and deliberately let out a ragged breath, feigning a bit of a gasp.
“That day, I was really surprised. Even though I used only a weak spell, I never expected a fledgling fresh out of the academy to break it.”
“That was…”
“I’ve been watching you, trying to figure you out, but you’re a mystery. It’s the first time I’ve encountered someone like you, and it’s confusing. But the more I see you, the more I feel there’s something different… something you’re hiding.”
Oh, really?
Thinking I was completely under her spell, her movements became bolder. Just as her hand was about to leave my face, I quickly caught it. Her smile widened at my reaction.
“My instincts are never wrong.”
I deliberately leaned into her embrace, like a child seeking comfort from their mother. Honestly, during my first run, I had wanted to be held by this woman at least once. Whether she knew my true intentions or not, she seemed satisfied, pulling me closer. I buried my face into her chest.
“Hoho.”
I savored the softness and the fragrant scent of her skin. She watched me with a serene smile, her hand gently stroking my hair. Then, her hand paused, and her voice whispered in my ear.
“Are you hiding something? From the kids, maybe…?”
“A little… yes.”
“Then why not share your secret with me…?”
“Well…”
As I showed a hint of resistance, she pulled me closer, her voice soothing.
“It’s okay… just tell me.”
Her coaxing voice made me open my eyes slightly. After pretending to ponder for a moment, I spoke quietly, as if reluctantly giving in.
“The truth is, I…”
“Yes, you?”
She looked at me with an eager expression, and I calmly replied.
“I like shadows.”
”…What?”
I glanced at her shadow cast on the floor. Her shadow caught my eye. At her puzzled response, I smiled slightly and said,
“Your shadow is quite beautiful.”
When I looked back at her, her face had turned to stone, a mask of fear.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Hello, this is Ro Yujin.
Haha, it seems the weather is getting warmer.
Finally, the kids are ready to leave the city. The protagonist’s journey is about to begin in earnest. And… weren’t you all curious about the woman at the inn? If you were sharp, you might have figured it out this chapter. More details will be revealed in the next one, so stay tuned. :)
『Reader Comments』
Ailillia: Congratulations on being first! Did you win two days in a row? You’re really fast. :)
HumanLife: Don’t worry. Your day to reclaim first place will come. Until then, keep striving for past glory!
GradeRown: Hehe. :)
LikeTheWind: Thank you. Honestly, I’d love to respond to everyone, but then the post would be half story, half comments (…).
SuccessfulPasserby: Right? If it were that easy to level up, the balance would be… ㅇㅅㅇ.
DevilShrine: I always try to take comments to heart. Thank you.
BoredTraveler: Yes, I’ve read your comment thoroughly. Thank you for your detailed questions. It must have been a lot of work to write. :) You’ve touched on the core issues of Memorize and the Hall Plane. To explain, I’d have to delve into <a lot> of details.
Why angels sent users to the Hall Plane.
What the Zero Code means.
How the Hall Plane began.
The length of the content aside, I’d need to explain those three major points, as well as the guild’s purpose, the method of achieving goals, return, continental wars, etc.
The upcoming first alliance war is also related to what I’ve mentioned. Revealing all this would spoil future developments. If I did, you wouldn’t enjoy the story as much.
So, for now, I can only ask you to wait and see how things unfold. But if I can give one hint, think about <survival>. Users in the Hall Plane can only return if they survive.
If you’re really curious, send me a message. I’d love to copy-paste the settings, but that might not make sense, so I’ll try to summarize and send it to you as soon as possible (if you want).
POWERED: Yes, graduating from the academy is classified as a mission reward. Achievements in the Hall Plane must impact the main stream significantly.
WhiteTimothy: I’m glad you’re enjoying it again. :) To answer your question, achievements refer to events that significantly impact the main stream. In simple terms, the more achievements you accumulate, the more you prove yourself as a <capable user>. There are rewards for that, and more opportunities open up (for users who solve certain achievements…).
Blami: A priest can serve two gods. They can be divided into combat priests & support priests. They also play a role in connecting with angels. :)
Comments, comments, comments! I always read them all repeatedly. Please don’t be too disappointed if you’re not in the reader comments. If you’re really curious, send me a message, and I’ll reply! (Please leave lots of comments! And recommendations… ☞☜)
That’s all for today.
I hope you always read my work with a relaxed mind.
Favorites, recommendations, comments, critiques, and questions are always welcome.