Chapter 80 - Memorize | Novel Seeker

New Face ------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Hyung, can I ask you something?”

“Sure, what’s up?”

“Are you waiting for those users right now?”

The moment Ahn Hyun finished speaking, everyone froze. Even Yoo Jung, who was about to kick Ahn Hyun in the shin, stopped. Vivian, who was sitting next to him trying to intervene, and Sol, who was just watching, all turned their attention to us, as if caught in a spell. The only sound was the faint rustle of their breaths.

I looked at Ahn Hyun with a gaze that said, “What are you up to?” His eyes were lively yet respectful.

There was a time when the group had suggested going on an adventure too hastily and got a stern talking-to from me. Since then, they seemed to have kept such ideas to themselves. But now, Ahn Hyun was bringing it up indirectly. Essentially, he was asking, “Are we not setting out on our next adventure because you’re waiting for those users?”

I glanced at Ahn Hyun and the others with a thoughtful look before speaking in a calm voice.

“Yes, I’m waiting for those two.”

“Oh…”

As Ahn Hyun let out a short sigh, I observed the group’s reactions. Ahn Hyun nodded, Yoo Jung tilted her head in confusion, Sol’s expression was complex, and Vivian looked a bit downcast.

“Are you planning to add more to our group?” Yoo Jung asked.

I set down my spoon and interlocked my fingers, resting my chin on them before continuing.

“I was going to bring this up eventually, but now seems as good a time as any.”

“Are you talking about recruiting more members?”

“That, and also about the clan we’re going to form.”

I reached into my pocket and pulled out a cigarette. The surroundings were noisy—users chatting loudly, some getting into arguments, others being chased away for inappropriate behavior, and groups having serious discussions. I lit the cigarette and took a drag.

“But do you think they’ll actually come? We’re still newbies, and they seemed pretty experienced…”

An Sol trailed off, but most of the group seemed to agree with her. She wasn’t wrong, but she overlooked one thing: Vivian.

“True, but strictly speaking, we don’t really need another mage in our caravan.”

“Huh? I thought we were short on mages?”

“Not anymore. We have Vivian.”

The group’s eyes turned to Vivian, who had been quietly slurping her noodles. Caught in the act, she froze, noodles dangling from her lips. After a moment of awkward silence, I reassured her.

“Vivian, it’s okay. You can eat. Everyone, feel free to eat while we talk.”

But no one picked up their spoons. Vivian, looking embarrassed, quickly finished her noodles and set her spoon down. I reached over to wipe the food from her mouth, but she flinched slightly. Hearing Yoo Jung’s breathing grow heavier, I quickly withdrew my hand.

“You’ve all seen it before. Vivian is an exceptional mage. Remember that female mage we saw in the plaza after our initiation? Yu Bin, I think her name was.”

“The one who was always trailing after Park Hyun Woo?”

“Yes, she’s a well-known mage in Barbara, but even two of her couldn’t match Vivian.”

Ahn Hyun and An Sol looked at Vivian with newfound respect. Vivian straightened up, clearing her throat. Yoo Jung didn’t seem entirely convinced but didn’t argue further.

“Three close-combat fighters, one mage, one priest. Our caravan’s balance might be just right. Still, I’m waiting for those two mages because they’re perfect for the clan I envision.”

I paused, taking a long drag from my cigarette, watching the smoke swirl into the air. The group waited quietly for me to continue.

“The clan I want to create has two main traits: elite members and a mercenary nature.”

“Elite and… mercenary?” Ahn Hyun asked, puzzled. The others also looked confused. Explaining a mercenary-style clan was complex, but I decided it was worth a try.

“Elite means exactly that. When we form a clan, we’ll have opportunities to recruit members. Instead of taking just anyone, we’ll select only the top users or those with the potential to become top users.”

This was something only I could do. While top users could be recruited based on reputation, identifying those with potential required a keen eye, like mine. Some users showed promise early on, while others were late bloomers. The key was their abilities. I also remembered a few promising new users who would join soon, giving us a significant advantage in future recruitment.

“But for that, our clan needs to be reputable. If we’re seen as just a small clan, our offers might be rejected. That’s why I want to create a mercenary-style clan.”

Vivian and Sol listened intently, while Ahn Hyun and Yoo Jung seemed increasingly skeptical. They weren’t slow, but their minds seemed to stall with this kind of talk. I gave them a moment to process, taking another drag from my cigarette.

Impatient as ever, Yoo Jung spoke up first.

“Oppa, I don’t get it. What’s the connection between a mercenary clan and building a reputation?”

“Mercenaries are hired to complete tasks for payment. Currently, no clan has a similar nature to ours. Most are focused on missions designated by Barbara or related to the city’s roles. A mercenary clan would naturally draw attention.”

“But… it might not go as planned. Established clans might just laugh it off.”

I smiled faintly. By the time we left Mule, I planned to reveal that I was a swordsmanship expert and that Vivian was a Chimera Alchemist. We could create another Chimera Alchemist and, with some luck, turn Ahn Hyun into a Qi Spear Master. Would anyone ignore a clan with one secret class and three rare classes?

The answer was a resounding no. While we might not get many requests initially, clans would line up to merge with us. We planned to maintain neutrality and gradually expand our influence.

Sol, deep in thought, raised her hand.

“Brother, are you thinking of becoming a free mercenary?”

“Exactly.”

As expected, top student An Sol quickly grasped my intentions. She smiled awkwardly before continuing.

“I was wondering why you hadn’t registered as a citizen of the Northern Continent. Now I see. But I’ve heard that registering as a free mercenary means both the user and the clan face disadvantages compared to those registered as regular citizens.”

“It’s not really a disadvantage. We just don’t get certain benefits. Our lifestyle won’t change much. And those so-called benefits are mostly trivial. We don’t need to worry about them.”

Registering as a free mercenary and forming a free mercenary clan meant we wouldn’t be tied to the Northern Continent or any city within it. Regular users were obligated to respond to emergencies, but free mercenaries were exempt from such duties.

While we wouldn’t receive certain benefits, those benefits were mostly superficial. In the grand scheme of things, the freedom of being a mercenary was far more valuable.

And that future wasn’t far off. A month had passed since we arrived in Mule, and in two months, the Golden Lion Clan would lead an expedition to the Iron Mountains. The ensuing civil wars would render those benefits meaningless. That’s when the freedom of our status would truly shine, giving us the power and justification to act boldly.

We wouldn’t be bound to any continent or city. We could maintain neutrality while acting with confidence and purpose.

However, it wasn’t the right time to share all these details. Besides, the kids still lacked the ability to discern right from wrong. They were just beginning to grasp the basics of combat, and that was about it. Expecting them to respond to the world’s subtle currents was asking too much. Yet, if we failed to ride those currents, we’d eventually be left behind.

A brief silence settled over the table. The surrounding noise had diminished significantly. I glanced at Vivian, who gave me a knowing wink. She had judged the conversation important enough to shield it with a protective barrier, ensuring my words wouldn’t leak out. I responded with a bright smile.

“True. Honestly, it was the same when we first left Barbara. But you proved everyone wrong by succeeding. I might not know much yet, but I’ll trust and follow you, brother.”

Ahn Hyun exhaled deeply and spoke with determination. I nodded in agreement.

“Right. We still have time, so think it over slowly. The day will come when the value of being a free mercenary will shine. I’m certain of it.”

Yoo Jung nodded along, not fully understanding. Sol defying me was unimaginable, and Vivian, having signed the contract, would follow wherever I led. Ahn Hyun, on the other hand, seemed a bit flushed, perhaps excited by the idea of an elite few.

“So, did you think that woman had the potential to become a top-tier user back then?”

“Yes, her. And you all, too.”

“Huh… But what about that guy, Shin Sang-yong? I couldn’t quite figure him out.”

Recalling Shin Sang-yong’s details, I quickly brought his information to mind.

Name: Shin Sang-yong (2nd Year)
Class: Normal Mage Expert
Nation: Babara
Clan: -
True Name · Nationality: Seeker of the Truth of Magic Squares · South Korea
Sex: Male (28)
Height · Weight: 183.7cm · 69.2kg
Alignment: Lawful · True

[Strength 40] [Endurance 42] [Agility 45] [Stamina 40] [Magic 85] [Luck 60]

As I’ve said before, a mage’s battle is all about magic power. As long as strength, endurance, and agility aren’t disastrously low, magic is the top priority. That’s why I currently rank Jeong Ha-yeon above Shin Sang-yong.

Of course, having high magic along with other strong stats would be ideal, but that’s practically a cheat—like me.

Considering he’s in his second year, Shin Sang-yong’s stats are decent, showing potential to become a top user. However, I was still reserving judgment on him. I was using his true name as a benchmark for his ultimate value.

Seeker of the Truth of Magic Squares. It was the first time I’d encountered such a true name, making it difficult to judge. I regretted not using more effort to uncover his special and latent abilities back then.

Just then, I heard a soft voice calling my name.

“Kim Soo-hyun.”

I sensed the inn door opening behind me, followed by familiar footsteps. Speak of the devil, it seemed he had come back today.

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

Hello, this is Ro Yujin.

Haha, I think I spoke too hastily. I’m still too nervous to make contact. It was a sudden proposal, so I need more time to think. Tomorrow looks like it will be busy, too. And rest assured, there will be no hiatus due to publication. Hahaha.

Thank you for your interest and support, dear readers. Thanks to you, I’m continuing the series today. (My… my daily serialization!)

『 Reader Comments 』

HumanLife: Hahaha, I knew HumanLife would be first. It’s a reaffirmation of your reputation as the top commenter. Congratulations on being first. :)
MTBear: Save me… Five consecutive updates are too much. T^T
Hwanggeol: Of course, there will be no hiatus. Never. Never. Never!
Toranoanal: Hmm. I tried to express “thin” in a roundabout way, but it seems it didn’t resonate. Haha, thanks for pointing out the typo. By the way, 50 days overdue, wow. The fines must be enormous. -_-a
AllPurposeChair: Yes! Got it!
hohokoya1: Haha, I’m also thinking it over. It’s too burdensome to decide hastily. :)
WeepingSoul: Gosh, no. I have no knowledge in that area, but your help was invaluable. Thank you. (__)
Demodex: Thanks for pointing out the typo. I feel like I spoke too hastily, and it’s a bit scary. ㅜ.ㅠ
DevilShrine: Oh, I see. I only mentioned receiving a proposal, so it should be fine, right? ㄷㄷ
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