Swift as a Torrent
“I find Mr. Shin’s proposal a bit difficult to accept.”
Shin Sang-yong’s expression was one of expectation. The others, however, looked at me with wide eyes. Accepting such a proposal without hesitation was something only novices would do. I knew they weren’t novices, but I still preferred not to create any room for underestimation.
“We have a clear goal right now. Making Vivian your advisor, Mr. Shin, could significantly hinder our progress.”
“Of course, I understand. I didn’t intend to make such a request lightly.”
I met Shin Sang-yong’s gaze steadily.
“After the failure of this expedition, I have nothing left. Sure, I can still get by, but that’s about it. More than anything, I feel like I’ve hit a wall. I was lucky to survive this time, but I doubt I can rely on luck again. So… I want to join Mr. Kim Soo-hyun’s group.”
I noticed Jung Ha-yeon sigh beside me. Shin Sang-yong was indeed a pure-hearted person. He seemed to lack the ability to speak indirectly, which could be endearing but also made him an easy target for exploitation.
When I didn’t respond immediately, he hurriedly added, “Even among users of my year, I consider myself quite capable. I can be of help with my traditional magic skills. At the very least, I won’t be a burden. And…”
He paused, then continued with a determined tone, “While traveling with you, I won’t expect any personal gain. I’ll be content with seeking advice from Vivian and receiving occasional guidance. In return, I’ll do my utmost to help achieve your group’s goals.”
Though he had nothing to offer immediately, he staked his future on his current abilities. Suddenly, the thought of the Chimera Alchemist book crossed my mind. It felt like a bolt of lightning struck my brain, and I turned my gaze to Vivian.
“Vivian.”
“I’ll do whatever Soo-hyun tells me to.”
Vivian’s immediate response was endearing, but it wasn’t what I wanted to ask. I was about to inquire about the minimum requirements to become a Chimera Alchemist but decided to hold my tongue.
The Square of Harmony was undoubtedly a remarkable unique ability. If used well, it seemed highly compatible with the Chimera Alchemist. And though it was just my speculation, Shin Sang-yong might be able to regenerate lost special abilities if he became a Chimera Alchemist.
I’ve heard that when advancing to a secret or rare class, abilities can sometimes evolve. Though it’s a different case, each class requires certain special and latent abilities.
Typically, users can learn one special ability and four latent abilities. Those with unique abilities lose one slot for latent abilities. I, for instance, retained all my special and latent abilities thanks to achievement rewards.
But there are exceptions. For example, if someone becomes a Spirit Summoner, they must learn summoning skills. If all their ability slots are already filled, the class is essentially incomplete. However, Shin Sang-yong’s situation is different. His special ability evolved into a unique ability for some reason.
If he unlocks a latent ability and advances to a rare class, there’s a slim chance he might generate a special ability. It’s all hypothetical, but…
I couldn’t just hand over a book that could advance him to a rare class based on a good impression. Since he requested it himself, it wouldn’t be too late to observe him a bit more and decide if he’s trustworthy.
Regardless, Shin Sang-yong’s proposal was very appealing. We could essentially have a capable user on loan, with Vivian as a mentor. And as long as I had the Chimera Alchemist book, recruiting him into our group wouldn’t be difficult.
I turned my gaze to Jung Ha-yeon. Initially, I planned to include her in the deal if Shin Sang-yong made such a proposal, but that was no longer necessary. To be more precise, I no longer needed to use Shin Sang-yong as bait to recruit Jung Ha-yeon. With the Square of Harmony, Shin Sang-yong had instantly become as valuable as Jung Ha-yeon.
Of course, she remained an attractive user. But I had no reason to cling to her. By my standards, I’m still the best in Hall Plain. If I were desperate for Jung Ha-yeon, I wouldn’t have let Kim Han-byeol, a secret class, go so easily.
Jung Ha-yeon’s face showed deeper contemplation, perhaps understanding the intent in my gaze.
Shin Sang-yong’s declaration of “doing his utmost” and Vivian’s “I’ll do whatever Soo-hyun tells me” carried significant meaning. In essence, Shin Sang-yong was pledging to follow my lead as soon as he joined our group, and I demonstrated my position through Vivian’s response.
He had a good reason to hone his skills in the less mainstream field of alchemy. But Jung Ha-yeon didn’t.
With her skills, she could join a verified caravan or apply to a clan. Although she seemed uninterested in joining a clan at the moment, the future was uncertain.
Taking advantage of her moment of hesitation, I activated my third eye. I wanted a closer look at her information.
Player Status
Name: Jung Ha-yeon (2nd Year)
Class: Normal Mage Expert
Nation: Babara
Clan: -
True Name · Nationality: Drop of the Lake · South Korea
Sex: Female (26)
Height · Weight: 166.5cm · 42.8kg
Alignment: Lawful · Good
[Strength 34] [Endurance 38] [Agility 40] [Stamina 32] [Magic 87] [Luck 80]
Achievements (0)
Special Abilities (1/1)
Latent Abilities (4/4)
Traditional Magic (Rank: A Zero)
Magic Circuit Application (Rank: B Plus)
Rapid Casting (Rank: B Plus)
Magic Resistance (Rank: B Zero)
After closely examining Jung Ha-yeon’s abilities, I smiled inwardly. Her latent abilities followed the mage’s standard, and the Blessing of the Lake was a rare special ability that highlighted her traits. She likely had a knack for water-related magic.
I was particularly pleased with her mastery of Rapid Casting and Magic Circuit Application. These skills required exceptional memory and calculation abilities, and she had achieved a B+ rank in both. For someone I met in the small town of Mule, she was indeed a big catch.
The others watched anxiously as Jung Ha-yeon and I exchanged glances, waiting for her response. They seemed to think that since I had initially expressed interest in recruiting her, her decision would determine Shin Sang-yong’s fate.
After a brief pause, her tightly closed lips slowly parted.
“Good morning.”
“Oh, leader. G-good morning. Haha.”
As I opened the door and stepped out, I saw Shin Sang-yong yawning as he climbed the stairs. I greeted him, and he responded with a bright smile. His polite words made me smile slightly as I spoke.
“You don’t have to call me ‘leader.’ It feels a bit embarrassing.”
“But you are the leader. Did you just wake up?”
“Yes. But it seems you’ve been up all night again, Mr. Shin.”
“I’ve been busy lately. Reviewing what I’ve learned from my mentor and my personal training keeps me on my toes.”
Shin Sang-yong looked genuinely happy, and I found myself a bit envious of his enthusiasm as I nodded.
“It’s good to be diligent, but make sure to maintain your condition. We’re heading out for another expedition tomorrow morning.”
“I was planning to get some sleep on time today. But hearing that from you, leader, feels a bit strange.”
He was pointing out my even more hectic schedule. I had nothing to say, so I just chuckled. We both burst into laughter, a rare and pleasant moment.
Seeing him yawning repeatedly, I stepped aside to let him pass. After he bowed and entered the room I had just left, I turned around. The thought of finally having a group that felt like a real team made me hum a little tune.
As I moved towards the lobby, I saw the familiar sight of empty tables and Go Yeon-ju dozing off. She looked so peacefully asleep that I tried to make as little noise as possible and found a seat. I thought about the recently joined Shin Sang-yong and Jung Ha-yeon.
In the end, both decided to join our group, but unlike Shin Sang-yong, Jung Ha-yeon had set a condition. She agreed to contribute to the group without expecting any personal gain, just like Shin Sang-yong, but…
“If I ever want to leave, I hope I can do so freely. That’s my minimum condition.”
I agreed immediately. We weren’t an official clan yet, and it was common for caravan members to leave midway. The conditions were so favorable for us that I told Shin Sang-yong he could leave anytime if he wasn’t satisfied, but he only nodded a couple of times, showing no intention of leaving anytime soon.
Originally, we planned to set off on our expedition the day after they arrived, but I decided to change my mind and stay in the city for a few more days. This was my way of accommodating Shin Sang-yong, who was eager to start learning immediately.
The person who benefited the most from this decision was none other than Vivian. With Shin Sang-yong respectfully calling her “Master” and the noticeable decrease in Yu-jeong’s teasing, she was in high spirits. Lately, she even showed glimpses of the cheerful demeanor she had in the dungeon.
Watching the two of them, I felt immensely satisfied. Perhaps I was exaggerating a bit, but seeing them manage their tasks independently, after always having to clean up after the others, was truly moving.
Shin Sang-yong and Jung Ha-yeon joined us at the same time, but their approaches were completely different.
Shin Sang-yong lived each day with intense rigor. Although he had already reached a certain level and our professions were entirely different, leaving little for me to teach him, he still woke up at dawn to meditate.
You could tell from his attitude whether he was doing it to impress me or if it was a habit he had maintained diligently over time. Some might see it as foolish, but I found it endearing. He wasn’t a genius, but he was desperately trying to climb higher. In many ways, it reminded me of my first playthrough, which might be why I felt such an affinity for him.
In contrast, Jung Ha-yeon’s life was a model of meticulousness. Honestly, her schedule was so precise, down to the second, that even I found it overwhelming. She adhered strictly to her times for waking up, eating, sleeping, and personal time. Yet, she also showed a surprising flexibility when needed.
In a way, their lifestyles starkly illustrated one aspect of the whole plane. Despite their efforts, the likelihood of becoming top-tier users was slim. The others seemed to have learned a lot from them. While they trained hard, these two lived each day with a palpable sense of urgency.
Seeing the kids’ attitudes gradually change since their arrival, I felt optimistic. You can never have too much determination.
“Come to think of it, it’s about time they came down.”
Just as I finished speaking to myself, I heard a door open upstairs, followed by the steady sound of footsteps. With a wry smile, I pulled my chair back with a loud scrape. It seemed like a good time to wake up Go Yeon-ju, who was still sound asleep.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Hello, this is Ro Yu-jin.
As many of you predicted, Shin Sang-yong and Jung Ha-yeon have joined the protagonist’s group, concluding the “New Face” chapter. Why did Jung Ha-yeon join the protagonist’s group? Haha.
Anyway, now that we’ve rested enough, it’s time to head back to our adventures. The title of the next chapter is “Swift Progress.” Thank you to everyone who has shown interest and support for Memorize. :)
『 Reader Comments 』
Apple Juice: Congratulations on being first! This is the famous “comment first, read later” strategy! Haha. I hope you enjoyed this chapter as well.
Shin Yu-jin: From the next chapter, I’ll try to speed things up a bit. (?!)
Vegemil: I’ve been meaning to revise the introduction, but I haven’t gotten around to it yet. How should I go about it? ㅜ.ㅠ
Dangryong: Questions are always welcome. There’s a saying that a woman’s heart is like a reed. Haha. To clarify, at first, there was a slight interest in Ahn Hyun (not a crush), but after the protagonist took the lead, her interest shifted clearly towards him. You can see the difference in how she treats other male users compared to Su-hyun. However, she’s naturally assertive but not great with romance, so she can’t express herself as boldly as her personality would suggest. :)
Amish: Thank you for pointing that out. I’ll check it out. If it’s really bothersome, I’ll fix it immediately; otherwise, I’ll address it during a future remake.
Fallen Pigeon: Haha. It seems different readers connect with different characters. Some find them awkward, while others feel a strong connection. I’ll work harder to improve. Please continue to show your interest and support.
Refill: Yes, about four people have mentioned it. So I’ve been thinking about revising the introduction, but when I try, I feel lost. How can I revise it so that it’s well-received? ㅜ.ㅠ
Human Life: Oh no, I didn’t hit anyone. But you pretended to get hit. I’m not a bad person. Sob sob.
Ramude: A harem mercenary group, huh. Haha. I also don’t know how many women will end up with the protagonist. After the popularity poll, I’ll decide whether to go for a pure romance or a harem. If it’s a harem, I’ll also decide on the number of members.
Lati Doll: Oh, you’re making me too curious. If I can’t sleep tonight, it’s all your fault, Lati Doll. So please tell me soon! (Begging strategy!)
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