Memorize

As expected, the people who opened the inn door and entered were Jung Ha-Yeong and Shin Sang-Yong. When I turned to look at them, it was hard to say they looked well, even as a polite remark. Shin Sang-Yong seemed fine, but Jung Ha-Yeong, perhaps burdened by considerable emotional stress, had become noticeably pale. Still, her clear, bright eyes suggested her spirit hadn't completely withered.

Jung Ha-Yeong had an inexplicably compelling aura. It wasn't merely about her appearance. My subjective judgment, honed through ten years of enduring the Hall Plain, told me that this woman was genuine. It was a complicated feeling, one that made me think I absolutely had to hold on to her, though I couldn't explain it in words.

Of course, I couldn't let my thoughts show. Maintaining as neutral an expression as possible, I stood and greeted them.

"I heard you came by this afternoon."

"Yes, but I was told you had gone outside the city with your party."

"It wasn't an expedition, just a brief trip to gain some combat experience. In any case, I apologize for making you come all this way for nothing."

"Oh no, please don't say that. If anything, we feel bad for inconveniencing you."

Polite. She lowered herself without losing her grace. Her dignified response made me nod in acknowledgment. Quick-witted Yun-Jung had already pulled over two more chairs. After exchanging brief introductions with Jung Ha-Yeong and Shin Sang-Yong, we all sat down.

For a moment, Jung Ha-Yeong and Vivienne exchanged glances. But before long, Vivienne turned her gaze away. The atmosphere grew slightly awkward, so I quickly suggested they eat, but they politely declined, saying they had already eaten.

"Have you managed to sort out your feelings?"

"To be honest, no. Losing my younger sister isn't something I can just process so simply. Even now, I'm overwhelmed with grief, sorrow, and anger."

At Jung Ha-Yeong's candid response, the others inhaled sharply. Vivienne, in particular, lowered her head deeply.

Her straightforwardness made me purse my lips. Still, I didn't find such honesty bad. If she had lied to hide her pain, I might have been disappointed instead. I noticed Shin Sang-Yong gently poke her robe, prompting Jung Ha-Yeong to let out a faint, sad smile before continuing.

"After we parted ways, I went back to the inn where my sister and I had last stayed. I hugged the robe Ji-Yeong had worn and cried my heart out. I think I cried for nearly an entire day."

Her expression now was calm and composed, so much so that it made her claim of crying seem almost unbelievable. The others looked at her with pity, but I felt something else—an unplaceable chill creeping down my spine.

I, too, had lost a close family member—an older brother—during in Hall Plain before. Back then, I had turned into a raging beast for a week, slaughtering countless opposing players, leaving rivers of blood in my wake before finally calming down. Even now, I couldn't forget him and her, which was why I stood here again.

Her demeanor stood in stark contrast to mine. If Jung Ha-Yeong's composure was an act, then she was undeniably a terrifyingly talented individual. But since the moment they arrived, I had been using my third eye. It told me her emotions were genuine.

I stared at her in a daze for a moment, tempted to ask, "How on earth can you control your emotions like that?" The words bubbled up to my throat but never escaped.

Quietly meeting my gaze, Jung Ha-Yeong eventually turned her head to look at Vivienne.

"I… we killed your subordinates and your children. And you killed my younger sister and my companions."

"…Yes."

"I won't apologize for killing your subordinates and your children. Nor do I feel sorry about it. Humans are inherently like that. But I do want you to admit that you wronged my sibling and my companions—and sincerely apologize for it."

"...."

"I still can't fully accept everything. However, if the kindness you showed us, and the words you spoke to us, were genuine… If you've returned to having a human heart instead of a monster's, then prove it to me with sincerity now."

Jung Ha-Yeong's voice carried a solemn determination. Shin Sang-Yong, sitting beside her, glanced back and forth between her and me, visibly uneasy. The soft charisma emanating from her as she spoke had me unconsciously forming a faint smile.

And then, in stark contrast to her resolute demeanor, Vivienne lowered her head far too easily.

"I'm sorry. I'm truly sorry."

"…?"

"I remember everything I did when I was a monster. I was aware of my actions, and my will played a part in them. But if I had been human, if I had retained even a shred of human intelligence back then, I would never have done those things.

I don't hold any grudges against you for coming into my dungeon and killing my subordinates. I no longer even consider them my subordinates. But for what I did to your companions, to your younger sister… I have no idea how I can possibly seek forgiveness.

I sincerely apologize. I know a single apology isn't enough, but I hope you can at least see my heart for what it is now."

Vivienne's expression was different from usual. Gone was the usual clueless look; in its place was genuine remorse. Even Yun-Jung, who typically chided Vivienne, stared at her with her mouth slightly agape. I, too, was quietly impressed by this unfamiliar side of Vivienne before turning my gaze back to Jung Ha-Yeong.

"...."

Jung Ha-Yeong remained silent. She opened her mouth as if to speak, then closed it, only to repeat the action again. It seemed like she wanted to say something, but her voice was caught in her throat. In the end, she closed her eyes, appearing to wrestle with the storm of emotions swirling within her.

For a moment, an awkward silence filled the air. But it didn't last long. Jung Ha-Yeong soon opened her eyes and, in a dry voice, broke the stillness. Vivienne remained with her head bowed.

"Lift your head."

"I'm sorry. I'm truly sorry."

"I don't know what's in your heart. But at least your outward demeanor leaves me at a loss for words. Lift your head. And Su-hyeon, I apologize for speaking so harshly to your companion earlier. However—"

I raised my hand to stop her. Jung Ha-Yeong noticed the gesture and gently closed her mouth.

"There's no need to say more. While I am currently defending Vivienne, that doesn't mean I condone her actions. And I fully understand and sympathize with your feelings, player Jung Ha-Yeong."

"…Thank you."

After finishing her words, Jung Ha-Yeong didn't look at Vivienne again. Instead, she gave me a polite bow before letting out a deep sigh.

*

After we wrapped up the incident, Jung Ha-Yeong, Shin Sang-Yong, and I headed up to the room I shared with An-Hyun. The conversation we were about to have was sensitive and could easily lead to misunderstandings if overheard by others, so we intentionally moved to a more private setting. As soon as I opened the door to my room, the sight of scattered journals and maps densely covered with notes greeted us.

Jung Ha-Yeong and Shin Sang-Yong both widened their eyes in surprise as they stepped inside under my guidance.

She asked for my permission and then began to examine the journals and maps I had been working on. Watching them curiously pore over the materials, I chuckled silently to myself. The map they were inspecting detailed how I discovered the ancient alchemist's dungeon and documented my ongoing search for the ruins of a research lab.

If they were as sharp as I expected, they would quickly grasp the extent of my abilities as an explorer.

"W-w-wait. You're telling me… you found the ancient alchemist's dungeon like this?" Shin Sang-Yong stammered.

"Fundamentally, yes, I used methods like these. Though, I'll admit, a bit of luck played a role as well."

"W-wow. This is incredible! To come this close with nothing but these records, no leads, no solid information… W-wow."

Shin Sang-Yong couldn't stop exclaiming in awe. Normally a bit reserved and awkward when dealing with people, he seemed to be the type who became passionate when it came to subjects he was genuinely interested in.

Jung Ha-Yeong, too, stared at the map with a lively expression before looking back at me with admiration.

"This is remarkable. Did you really investigate all of this on your own?"

"It's just foolish work, really."

"That's one way to put it. But don't sell yourself short. This kind of method might occur to someone, but executing it is a whole different matter."

"Unnie, is what Su-Hyeon oppa did really that impressive?"

Yun-Jung, ever the shameless one, had latched onto Jung Ha-Yeong. She had been itching to strike up a conversation with her, and now, she finally wedged her way in. It was the first time I had seen Yun-Jung be so forward and friendly right from the start. Jung Ha-Yeong looked momentarily flustered but soon smiled warmly and continued speaking.

"Many players call methods like these 'impossible as catching a star in the sky,' 'finding a needle in a haystack,' or just plain luck, like hitting the lottery. But what Su-Hyeon did was more like finding a stone in the sand or winning a regular raffle—a methodical way of significantly raising the odds."

That was… a peculiar compliment. Yun-Jung, however, turned to look at me with fresh curiosity, her mouth slightly open.

"Heh…"

"You asked if it was impressive? Yes, it is. Su-Hyeon has been working very hard," Jung Ha-Yeong added with a note of gravity. Her last words had weight to them, underscoring something deeper.

After gazing thoughtfully at the group for a moment, Jung Ha-Yeong turned her focus back to me. The way she looked at everyone—there was a certain warmth and understanding in her gaze. And in that moment, I felt as though I could glimpse a bit of her inner world.

There was something familiar about her. It took me a moment to place it, but I realized she shared some striking similarities with Kim Han-Byeol.

Of course, she wasn't an exact replica, nor were their personalities entirely the same. But there were parallels. The difference was that Jung Ha-Yeong seemed to have experienced the world earlier than Kim Han-Byeol, which had made her someone capable of swallowing her pride when necessary. If Kim Han-Byeol were to gain more life experience, she might grow to be like Jung Ha-Yeong. That was just my speculation, though.

After glancing through my journals and notes for a while longer, the two eventually settled down in a circle in the middle of the room. It was a slightly comical sight, but given that this wasn't a particularly luxurious inn, there weren't enough chairs for everyone. And sitting on the bed didn't seem appropriate either.

Jung Ha-Yeong and Shin Sang-Yong exchanged a glance, nodding to each other before turning their attention back to me.

"We came here today partly because of Vivienne, but also because we have a request for you, Su-Hyeon." Jung Ha-Yeong began.

"I'm listening." I replied calmly.

Jung Ha-Yeong paused, falling silent. I wasn't sure why, but it seemed like she wanted Shin Sang-Yong to take over. Sure enough, I saw him adjust his glasses, signaling that he was about to speak.

"W-we owe player Kim Su-Hyeon a great debt. You saved our lives, and, um… I mean…" Shin Sang-Yong stammered, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. Seeing his struggle, Jung Ha-Yeong let out a faint, bittersweet smile.

I maintained a composed expression, speaking in a gentle tone to ease the tension.

"Please, feel free to speak openly. In such a situation, anyone would have acted the same."

"Ah, thank you. Whew. I get nervous easily, and when I do, I tend to stutter. It's been a habit of mine for as long as I can remember, and it's hard to break. Haha. Anyway…"

After clearing his throat, Shin Sang-Yong continued, this time with more composure.

"Su-Hyeon, you might not fully understand this yet since you're still in your first year, but not everyone would act as you did. While some may spare a life, others might use that as leverage to make… um, inappropriate demands. It's also common for those who save others to claim all acquired items as their own spoils of war. That's just the way things are in the Hall Plain. So, it might sound odd to you, but for us, what you did is truly something to be deeply grateful for."

Of course. The reason they were so grateful was simple: I hadn't said something like, 'Be thankful I spared your life, now get lost,' or worse, 'Hmm, the girl's not bad-looking. Wake her up, guys. Let's have some fun. If she wants to live, she can pay me with her body.'

If I'd been the person I was before—especially if I'd been alone—there's a good chance I'd have stripped them of everything, down to their underwear, and left them with nothing. That was just how things worked. If there hadn't been others watching, or if I didn't find Jung Ha-Yeong interesting enough to consider recruiting her, I might have simply abandoned them altogether, leaving them as they were, for the sake of convenience.

I had to admit, though, that I found Shin Sang-Yong likable. Despite being in his second year, he wasn't lording his experience over us first-years. Instead, he was speaking cautiously and politely, almost like an older brother patiently teaching a younger sibling how to navigate the world.

As I recalled their character traits as revealed by my Third Eye, I decided to wait for him to continue. I was curious to see what he would say next.

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