Memorize

"Oppa, what are you doing?"

Yun-Jung poked her head in to make sure I was there, then quickly stepped inside. Her voice had a heavy tone, like she was upset about something. Her sullen expression looked like a signal to me that she was about to start pestering me again. I put down the document I was holding in my left hand, sighed, and spoke up.

"What is it now?"

The curt tone of my voice made Yun-Jung's face fall immediately. But, even as she pouted, she managed to start speaking anyway.

"Sol said she's allowed to do different training than us, but she keeps bragging about it! Throwing and catching coins all on her own… It's not like she's showing off or anything."

"There's nothing to show off about, and Sol isn't the type to be arrogant about that sort of thing."

"I'm serious! She keeps throwing and catching coins..."

"She's practicing the restraint spell. I told her to do that."

As I casually interrupted her explanation, Yun-Jung's disappointment became obvious on her face. Just as I was about to ignore her and pick up my document again, I heard her muttering under her breath.

"Oppa, you're being too harsh. You told Hyun and me to only do detection training."

"I told you to do it because it's necessary. For close-combat trainees, just working on detection in the beginning is enough."

"Still…"

Despite my earlier efforts to be clear, Yun-Jung continued to whine in a drawn-out voice. My already cluttered mind felt even more jumbled.

"What's all this about 'still'? Sol's basic magic power is higher than yours to begin with. For support types, that level of training is enough. Plus, the coin training wouldn't be much help to you anyway."

As of four days ago, the title for longest detection time among the trainees belonged to An-Sol. Since I'd stepped in to guide her, she'd been able to fully tap into her vast reserves of magic power. No matter how much she'd struggled under the instructor's teaching, the fact that her skills improved within a day of my help made her look at me like I was some sort of deity.

In the first round, I had reached the level of Sword Master with just 48 magic power points. So when it comes to magic power efficiency, no one's more confident than me. I'd shared a bit of that know-how with Sol, and since the technique is as efficient as I know it to be, I may have shown a bit of favoritism toward her.

Yun-Jung seemed pretty frustrated about being overtaken by Sol. Lately, whenever I returned to the inn, she'd frequently come by, pestering me to give her private lessons, too. A few times, I could smooth things over, but it became exhausting as her requests continued.

"All I did was show her a bit about mana control. Anyway, go back and keep working on detection practice. Just look at Sol—she's giving it her all now that she's made up her mind."

"Pfft. You always praise Sol. And I'm taking a break too, you know."

Letting out a dissatisfied sigh, Yun-Jung ambled over and settled herself beside me. I shrugged and returned my focus to the map. Watching me, she picked up a stray piece of paper nearby.

"The Revival and Decline…of Ancient Alchemy? Oppa, what's this about?"

"It's nothing special. Just set it aside in the corner somewhere."

I circled a spot on the map with my pen as I read through the document on ancient alchemy. Seeing the map filled with circles, Yun-Jung spoke up again, her voice small.

"What is all this? And what are those circles on the map?"

"Records. Map analysis."

"Oh, come on. I'm just curious about what you've been up to lately."

Yun-Jung sounded frustrated with my short responses, pestering me with an eager tone. Still without lifting my eyes from the map, I explained.

"I'm investigating some records. Hunting monsters around the city isn't efficient. I'm looking for clues about locations based on records from the ancient city of Mule."

"I see… But do you really think you'll find anything with this?"

"It'd probably be easier to pluck stars out of the sky."

I grimaced at my own words, but Yun-Jung chuckled lightheartedly, unbothered. I had piled up a significant amount of documents on alchemists and research labs, and they cluttered the table.

Sometimes, when you have some leads, it's worth combing through records to refine your knowledge. But searching for clues this way, with nothing concrete to go on, feels almost foolish. There are simply too many records, too much vast information, and it's impossible to be sure if the events they describe actually happened. Following records blindly is a reckless decision.

And yet, here I was, following that reckless path. The only reason I was even doing this was because I was convinced the alchemist dungeon and ruined laboratory were located in Mule. Otherwise, I would have gone straight to the Cave of Wailing.

With a tired voice, I continued.

"If it were easy to find, someone would have uncovered it all by now. For now, all I can do is try whatever I can."

My response seemed to spark Yun-Jung's curiosity, and her eyes lit up. She offered to help, and I accepted her willingness without any objections. After all, I knew exactly what would happen in five minutes.

Just as expected, five minutes later, Yun-Jung started glancing at me nervously. Then, she made a quick excuse, mentioning An-Hyun and An-Sol, and slipped out, claiming she needed to get back to training. Given her personality and patience, there was no way she'd last through this dull process.

I watched her go with an amused chuckle, then turned my attention back to the map and records.

'

How many more days had passed, I wasn't sure. By now, the once-clean map was covered in circles. At first glance, they looked scattered, but a few specific locations were densely clustered with markings. While I couldn't be certain until I checked them out in person, I had a good sense of where to start.

Finally, feeling that my analysis was complete, I sank into my chair. When I glanced out the window, night had already fallen. A thought of the kids crossed my mind, so I activated my detection ability, and soft, even breathing from the next room told me they'd finished their training and were fast asleep. Thinking about the progress they'd made brought a slight smile to my face.

In just a week, they'd shown the dedication to reach the level I'd set for them. Though they sometimes seemed eager to leave the city, they had followed my insistence on prioritizing training.

The reason they were so willing to listen to me boiled down to one thing: they trusted my judgment completely. The kids weren't thoughtless; in fact, they often joked that "if you listen to Oppa (or Hyung), things work out, even in your sleep." They believed in my decisions, because from the rite of passage to the Academy and up to now, following my lead had always proven beneficial.

This training, too, had sparked a few complaints, but the results were clear. Despite focusing only on detection exercises, their magic power and other stats had increased evenly. I couldn't help but feel a little envious seeing Hyun's excitement over his two-point magic power increase after just eight days of training. 

Initially, I'd entered the Academy aiming for the four-point stat boost from mission rewards, but despite my intense physical training, I hadn't gained even a single point in Vitality. It was a little frustrating, but my stat limitations weren't something I could resolve immediately, so I pushed those thoughts aside.

Returning to the present, I felt it was nearly time to leave the city. However, there was one remaining issue I needed to carefully consider: the composition of our group.

Hunting monsters around the city could work with almost any group configuration, but for serious exploration or conquest, the group's balance was crucial. It was common sense in Hall Plain that while we had an excess of melee types, a well-rounded party would require a ranger and a priest.

But did we really need those roles right now? That was the thought that crossed my mind. A priest was indispensable, but we already had Sol. A mage would be a nice addition but wasn't strictly necessary, and as for a guide, I could lead the others myself. With my "Third Eye" ability and my memories of navigating Mule, there was practically zero chance of us getting lost.

However, if this current setup became ingrained as a habit for the group, it could become a problem down the line. There would undoubtedly be tougher expeditions or conquests in our future. Even if I could cover many of our needs now, I wouldn't always be there to look out for everyone. This first exploration would teach them a lot, but it wouldn't help if they got too comfortable with an unbalanced team setup.

"Knock, knock, knock."

Just as I was deep in thought about the group composition, I heard a soft knock on the door. I spread out my detection field and sensed a woman standing quietly outside. Lifting my head, I spoke in a low voice.

"Yes? Who's there?"

"It's me. Not like you don't already know, right?"

"...."

Without waiting for permission, she opened the door and walked in. Of course, given who she was, she was hardly just an innkeeper. To be honest, I still couldn't fully understand why someone with her level of skill was lingering in Mule.

She'd appeared briefly in Mule, only to vanish again as mysteriously as she came. When she reappeared in Hall Plain later, she was fighting as part of an enemy clan against mine.

I still remembered what someone had said about the woman standing in front of me.

'If I'd met her first, I might've ended up under her command. That's just how captivating a player she is.'

From what I could guess, she likely hadn't yet committed to any particular clan.

The image of the 'Ragnarok Battle' flashed through my mind. In the end, this woman was executed by the "Executioner Princess" of our side. But the terrifying power she'd displayed during that battle was still vivid in my memory.

The woman now wore her usual languid smile. She had an alluring, decadent charm, with slightly drooping eyes and a beauty mark under one eye. Her voice was gentle as she spoke to me.

"Hello. Mind if I come in for a moment?"

She was already inside, so the question felt meaningless. I gave her a reluctant nod, still a bit wary.

"…It's late. What brings you here?"

The woman didn't respond, but she kept closing the distance between us. I couldn't afford to let my guard down; if I did, even for an instant, she could easily take my life. With this in mind, I subtly began channeling my magic power, ready for whatever might come.

Her face still bore that relaxed smile. Then, for a brief moment, I noticed her eyes shift to a faint shade of gray. Already on high alert, I reflexively activated my 'Third Eye'.

「Unique ability detected: 'Eyes Of Temptation' has been activated.」

「'Third Eye' is now active. 'Eyes Of Temptation' has been seen through.」

Wonderful.

"Oh my… do I really need to worry about the time when I'm trying to charm a man I like?" She said, her voice smooth and teasing.

"The kids are in the next room…" I replied, feigning a dazed expression and letting a bit of a blush creep onto my face, pretending to be under her influence. Having dealt with this kind of allure ability plenty of times in the shadows, I knew how to play along to see where this would go.

"Don't worry about that…" She said, her tone dripping with confidence. "By the way, tonight is the last day for your extended stay in this inn, so what will you do?"

There was no way she'd come here in the dead of night just to ask that. She had another purpose, no doubt. This question was probably just her way of confirming whether her charm had taken effect. I answered calmly, adding a touch of hesitation for effect.

"I… plan to leave the city in the morning."

"Leave…?" At my words, her eyes swept over the map on my table, and I saw her expression shift, becoming more intrigued. She must have pieced together my intentions, at least in part.

"Player Kim Su-Hyeon," She said, her tone suddenly more formal.

"H-how do you know my name…?" I stammered, trying to match her surprise with a hint of unease.

The woman took a step closer, mentioning my name, her tone as smooth as silk. Now, we were close enough that a mere stretch of my arm would let me touch her. She continued to speak, lowering her voice as if sharing a secret.

"This time, we have a fresh face—a prodigy from the Player Academy."

Without hesitation, she took another step forward until we were directly facing each other. She looked into my eyes with that unsettling, gray-tinted gaze, as if trying to peer right through me.

"No matter what anyone says... you're still a newbie who hasn't even been around for four months yet, aren't you?" She continued, reaching out to cup my face. Her fingers brushed softly against my cheek, her touch unexpectedly warm and gentle. I played my part, deliberately letting my breath grow shallow, eyes unfocused as if spellbound.

"That day... I was truly surprised. Even though I used a little magic, I never expected a fledgling straight out of the academy to have any resistance against it."

"That was…" I started to respond.

"So I looked into you, watched from a distance... but you're a complete mystery. It's frustrating. The more I see you, the more I feel this... this alarm sounding within me. You're hiding something, aren't you?"

Is that so?

Perhaps she was fully convinced that her skill had taken hold, as her movements grew bolder. Her hand lingered on my face, tracing gentle lines across my cheek, as though savoring the moment. Just as she seemed about to withdraw her hand, I quickly reached up and grasped it, as though clinging to her touch. Her smile deepened, clearly pleased by my reaction.

"My instincts are never wrong, you know."

In response, I leaned into her embrace, as if seeking comfort, almost like a child nestling into their mother. To be honest, part of me—the memory from the first life—had always been curious, tempted to experience this closeness. Whether she sensed my true thoughts or not, she looked down at me, pleased, and pulled me closer, wrapping her arms around my shoulders. My face pressed against her, enveloped in her warmth.

"Oh…" She murmured, amused.

I could feel her soft curves against me, inhaling her faint fragrance as I closed my eyes for a moment, keeping up the act. Her hand ran over my hair, gently brushing through it, then abruptly paused. Her lips drew close to my ear, and she whispered in a low, smooth tone.

"Do you have something you're hiding? Maybe from the kids...?"

"A little..."

"Then, why not tell me what you're hiding... just to me?"

"Well..."

At the moment I showed a faint refusal, the woman pulled me close again. Then, in a soothing voice, she continued.

"It's okay... just tell me."

As I heard her coaxing voice, I slowly opened my eyes. After pretending to contemplate for a moment, I quietly began to speak as if I couldn't resist.

"Actually, I..."

"Yes, yes. What about you?"

Looking at the woman with an excited expression, I calmly replied.

"I like shadows."

"...What?"

I glanced at the woman's shadow reflected in the room. The shadow on the floor came into my view. In response to her question, I smiled slightly and answered.

"Your shadow is really beautiful."

After finishing my words and turning my gaze away again, I could see the woman's face stiffened to an almost frightening degree.

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