Memorize

I didn't feel any excitement despite successfully completing the dungeon exploration. I tried my best to return to my regular routine as quickly as possible, as if nothing had happened. Reflecting my efforts, the kids also seemed more focused on honing their skills rather than getting carried away with excitement.

Under normal circumstances, the success of the expedition would have spread throughout the city, drawing crowds of curious players. That thought did bother me, but ironically, the temple's decision to temporarily withhold the expedition report turned it into a secret known only to us.

For now, this seemed like a good thing. It meant we didn't have to waste time on unnecessary distractions. Of course, I didn't intend to bury the achievement forever. Discovering the dungeon of the ancient alchemist Vivienne was an accomplishment that deserved high recognition. It would significantly boost our reputation when making a clan, and letting it go to waste was out of the question.

The kids' daily routine was a repetitive cycle. They started the morning with sensory training, followed by my personalized guidance for each of them. In the afternoon, we headed out of the city to practice techniques and formations against monsters, returning to the inn before evening for individual maintenance time.

After dinner, while the kids used their personal time to rest or train further, my busiest hours began. There was an overwhelming amount of work to do. Sorting and selling the day's loot and poring over records to locate the ruins' laboratory were part of my daily tasks.

Organizing items from the dungeon and planning new equipment for the kids were also priorities. Additionally, I frequently had one-on-one discussions with them, often about which formations would be most effective or what roles suited them best. It was my responsibility to manage all these details.

The kids were involved enough to be summoned frequently, yet none of them ever showed annoyance. They understood how busy I was. While they had the freedom to secure enough rest or sleep if they wanted, I didn't have that luxury.

Even after finishing everything, I didn't go straight to bed. I used the early hours of the morning for personal training. Although it was nothing fancy—just swordsmanship, meditation, and physical conditioning—it was essential for maintaining, not improving, my skills.

After finishing my training, I would sleep for an hour or two at most before starting the day again. Sometimes, I didn't even manage an hour of sleep. The kids were astonished and worried when they saw my schedule, but I dismissed their concerns with a simple, "It'll be better for me if you grow up quickly and start helping me." Honestly, I didn't find it particularly difficult. Compared to the days when I was pushed to my limits in the Fairy Forest or even in hellish situations, my current life felt like paradise.

The intensity of the kids' training had increased significantly compared to when we first arrived in Mule. Despite that, I never heard a single complaint. They even began trying to join me during my early-morning training sessions. I had to firmly convince them to go back and rest. While my body had already reached its peak and could handle the strain, the kids were still growing, and adequate rest and sleep were just as important as their training.

Their attitudes had clearly changed. Our expedition to the Forest Of Midnight had been a mix of adventure and gamble. While I, Kim Su-Hyeon, had been their trump card, they had experienced plenty of dangerous moments firsthand. It seemed to have left a deep impression on them. Unlike before, when they sometimes felt like they were reluctantly following orders, they now showed a burning desire to learn and improve, which filled me with pride.

When it came to teaching, I found that it was more effective for me to train An-Hyun and Yun-Jung personally, while Vivienne was better suited for teaching An-Sol. Although An-Sol seemed a bit dissatisfied, she accepted my decision since Vivienne was also a mana player like herself. I also hoped that their training together would help them grow closer.

I was in charge of managing the items we obtained from the dungeon. For now, I decided to store the jewels, potion pouches, and books in a general warehouse. While I was tempted to sell the jewels, I knew how rare it was to acquire such high-quality gems all at once, so I decided to hold onto them for potential future use.

As for the rest of the items, I sold them all—everything from the gear we took off vagrants to the jewels obtained from goblins. Once everything was accounted for, we managed to earn nearly 150 gold. Additionally, the byproducts we gathered from hunting monsters brought in anywhere from 50 silver to 1 gold per day. At this point, we no longer needed to worry about covering our inn fees. This alone proved we had risen beyond the level of novice players.

However, where there's income, there's also expenditure.

The top priority was upgrading the kids' equipment. While their weapons didn't need replacement, they certainly needed improvement. I had a little less than 700 gold left on hand, but I decided to invest at least 100 gold per person—An-Hyun, An-Sol, Yun-Jung, and Vivienne.

Vivienne's skills were already well-established, so there was no need to spend a lot on her. She herself only selected a magic robe (27 gold) to keep her warm and enhance mana activation, along with a staff (63 gold) that improved magical energy circulation.

An-Sol also didn't require much equipment. Still, to be cautious, I got her a thin chainmail shirt to wear underneath (38 gold) and a priest's robe (46 gold) to enhance the efficacy of holy spells. I also wanted to upgrade her staff, but she clung to it as if her life depended on it.

"N-no… I don't want it…. I like this one. I really do…."

"Why? I'll get you a better one. While it's not bad, this one—"

"Nuh-uh… no! This is the first thing you bought for me…."

"...."

When I tried to take it from her by force, her eyes welled up with tears, and I had no choice but to give in. Eventually, I managed to convince her to upgrade it by embedding a gem into it. The gem, which cost 61 gold, greatly enhanced mana activation. True to her nature, when I waved the shiny gem in front of her, she hesitantly handed over the staff.

However, An-Hyun and Yun-Jung, being melee fighters, required more robust armor, which naturally meant higher costs.

An-Hyun, in particular, played the dual roles of close-range damage dealer and tank, making gloves and armor more critical for him than for the others. While I wanted to equip him with heavy armor right away, a decent full set would cost at least 900 gold. Thus, I decided to build his gear piece by piece.

First, I purchased lightweight enchanted chainmail (124 gold), a breastplate (48 gold), and leg guards (39 gold) for him. The unexpected cost led me to redirect some of the gold I had planned for my own equipment toward Hyun's. During the process, Hyun jokingly called me "Dad," which earned him a light smack but also provided some amusement.

Yun-Jung, as a melee dealer, needed gear that prioritized mobility while offering decent protection. I bought her a thin and lightweight ringmail shirt (92 gold) to wear underneath and a suit of leather armor (71 gold) made from processed monster hide. Normally, leather armor would cost about 50 gold, but the additional treatment with a special potion to maintain its durability while softening it added over 20 gold to the price.

Yun-Jung protested that it was too expensive and unnecessary, but when I insisted and applied the potion, her cheeks flushed red. Though she outwardly declined, it seemed she secretly appreciated the gesture.

With that, the total expenditure came to about 520 gold. Over 500 gold coins were spent in an instant, leaving just over 100 gold remaining. However, I didn't feel regret. Seeing how satisfied the kids were with their new gear made me feel like it was worth every coin, and a warm sense of pride filled me.

Once they were all outfitted, they no longer looked like fledgling chicks. While they still didn't resemble seasoned veterans, they at least had the appearance of proper players, equipped with decent armor and weapons. Watching them, a smile crept onto my face. Yun-Jung sidled up to me and spoke teasingly.

"Oppa, aren't you going to cry?"

"Why would I cry?"

"You know, like parents do when they see their kids wearing school uniforms for the first time. 'Ah, my babies have grown so much. Sniff sniff, I'm so moved.'"

"Stop it."

Smack!

"Ouch! Ack… geez."

She pouted and rubbed her forehead while I sighed. To be honest, I did feel a little sentimental. It felt like just yesterday that they were stumbling through their rites of passage, and yet here we were. Even I hadn't expected us to make it this far together.

When we first arrived in Mule, they had been little more than wide-eyed rookies, wearing the academy-issued clothes and gawking at everything around them like clueless chicks. But now, at least on the surface, they looked like real players.

Yun-Jung, excited about her new gear, was waving her daggers enthusiastically in front of me, practicing her swings with little "yah yah" sounds. Watching her with an affectionate smile, I couldn't help but think, Is this what it feels like to be a parent, watching your kids grow up?

As our group laughed and chatted excitedly, I noticed a few other players casting envious glances our way. Judging by their equipment, they seemed to be at a similar level to us, but their circumstances were vastly different. They didn't even have proper weapons, let alone armor. Their worn and tattered clothing suggested they were still relying on the basic outfits issued by the Player Academy.

For them, acquiring gear was still a distant dream. Their daily focus was likely on scraping together enough to eat and survive—typical of players unable to join a clan. It wasn't their fault; the fact that we could afford this kind of equipment in under a month without the backing of a clan was almost a miracle.

As for us, I decided to plan for one final upgrade before leaving Mule, which allowed me to close the chapter on the equipment issue for now. Solving that major problem lifted a weight off my shoulders.

Though I wouldn't call the gear "high-quality" (at least by my standards), it was functional and decent enough. With their new equipment, the kids' training efficiency and hunting speed skyrocketed. Beyond the physical improvements, the new gear seemed to serve as a motivational boost.

Their motivation even bordered on eagerness, as they began clamoring to go on another dungeon expedition. However, I shut that down immediately. Even seasoned players avoided diving into another expedition without careful preparation. After any exploration, it was crucial to reflect on one's performance, identify weaknesses, and make adjustments.

From every angle—team size, equipment, experience, and skill—we still had a long way to go. Particularly in terms of experience and skill, the kids were far from ready to jump into another dungeon without first addressing the issues revealed during the last one. Like reviewing a game of Go to understand mistakes, it was vital for them to face their shortcomings and work on improvement. The more each member improved individually, the stronger our group as a whole would become. I made it clear that we wouldn't embark on another expedition until those issues were resolved.

And so, after returning from the dungeon, we fell into a routine that felt like a hamster running on a wheel—repeating the same daily training regimen. Yet the kids, perhaps as if to show off that they were in their prime growth period, improved visibly with each passing day.

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