Memorize

"I think Mr. Shin Sang-Yong's proposal is a bit difficult to accept."

Shin Sang-Yong had an expression I had already anticipated. However, the others were all looking at me with wide, round eyes. Accepting such a proposal without hesitation was something only novice players would do. I knew they weren't such people, but I still wasn't willing to create a situation where we could be underestimated.

"We currently have a single goal. Having the invaluable talent Vivienne serve as Mr. Shin Sang-Yong's advisor could seriously hinder the achievement of that goal."

"Of course, I understand. I wasn't intending to make such a request recklessly either."

I fixed Shin Sang-Yong with a steady gaze.

"With the failure of this expedition, I have nothing left. Of course, I can still manage to make ends meet for now, but that's all. Above all, I keenly feel that I've finally reached my limits. I may have survived this time by sheer luck, but I doubt I can keep counting on such fortune going forward. So… I want to work with you and your group from now on."

Beside me, Jung Ha-Yeong let out a sigh. Indeed, Shin Sang-Yong was a deeply earnest person. He was getting to the most critical part, but it seemed he didn't know how to approach it tactfully. In a positive sense, he was pure, but negatively speaking, he was the kind of person who could easily be taken advantage of.

When I didn't respond, he hurriedly added to his words.

"For what it's worth, I believe I'm still relatively capable for someone of my experience level. I'm confident I can contribute with my expertise in traditional magic alone. At the very least, I won't be a burden. And…"

After hesitating for a moment, he continued in a resolute tone, as if making up his mind.

"While traveling with you all, I won't expect any gains for myself. I'll be content just receiving occasional guidance and advice from Vivienne. It's not much of a condition, but in return, I promise to do everything in my power to help achieve your group's goals, sparing no effort."

He didn't have anything to offer immediately but staked his future on the potential of his current abilities. Suddenly, I remembered that I had a book on Chimera Alchemy. In that instant, it felt like a lightning bolt struck my head, and I immediately turned my gaze to Vivienne.

"Vivienne."

"I'll do whatever you tell me to."

Vivienne responded instantly when I called her. It was a commendable reply, but that wasn't what I wanted to ask. I had been about to ask what minimum requirements were needed to become a Chimera Alchemist, but I ultimately decided to hold my tongue.

The Harmonious Magic Square is undoubtedly an exceptionally unique ability. If utilized well, it seems to have a high compatibility with the Chimera Alchemist class. And, though this is purely my speculation, Shin Sang-Yong might be able to generate a new unique ability if he becomes a Chimera Alchemist.

While I've only heard this secondhand, it's said that abilities rarely evolve when upgrading to a Secret Class or Rare Class. Although this case is somewhat different, each class has minimum requirements for specific unique or latent abilities.

Typically, players can master one unique ability and four latent abilities. Those with special abilities, however, lose one of their latent ability slots. I have a special ability myself, but I retained one unique and four latent abilities thanks to achievement rewards.

There are exceptions to this rule. For instance, if someone acquires the Spirit Summoner class, they must master summoning techniques. But if all their slots for unique, latent, and special abilities are already filled, the class is effectively incomplete. Shin Sang-Yong's situation, however, is unique. For some reason, his unique ability evolved into a special ability.

If he unlocks one latent ability and then upgrades to a Rare Class, there's a small chance that a new unique ability could be created. Of course, this is purely speculative.

Still, I couldn't just hand him the Rare Class book on a whim simply because he left a good impression. Since he personally requested it, I'd watch him a bit longer, and if I deemed him trustworthy, I could pass it to him then. There was no need to rush.

Regardless, Shin Sang-Yong's proposal was very appealing. He was a player with reasonably good stats, and his offer effectively amounted to renting him out for free on the condition that he worked under Vivienne. Plus, as long as I held the Chimera Alchemist book, recruiting him into our group would be no issue.

I turned my gaze to Jung Ha-Yeong. Originally, my plan was to pair Jung Ha-Yeong and Shin Sang-Yong together if Shin made a proposal like this, effectively tying the two of them into our group. However, that was no longer necessary. To be more precise, there was no longer any need to use Shin Sang-Yong as bait to recruit Jung Ha-Yeong. With the Harmonious Magic Square, Shin Sang-Yong had instantly elevated himself to a player of the same value as Jung Ha-Yeong.

Of course, she was still an attractive candidate as a player. However, there was no longer any reason for me to chase after her. In my estimation, I was still the best in Hall Plain. If I had been desperate enough to cling to someone like Jung Ha-Yeong, I wouldn't have let someone like Kim Han-Byeol, a Secret Class player, leave so easily in the first place.

It seemed she understood the intent behind my gaze, as her expression grew visibly more conflicted.

The statements "I'll do my utmost" from Shin Sang-Yong and "I'll do whatever Su-Hyeon says" from Vivienne carried significant implications. To summarize, Shin Sang-Yong had effectively declared that he would completely follow my lead the moment he joined our group. Meanwhile, through Vivienne's response, I had reaffirmed my position within the group.

Shin Sang-Yong had a strong justification for aligning himself with us, as he wanted to hone his skills in alchemy, a less mainstream discipline. But that wasn't the case for Jung Ha-Yeong.

With her level of skill, she could easily join a well-established caravan or apply to be part of a clan. Although she currently seemed to lack affiliation with any clan, her future decisions were unpredictable.

Taking advantage of her moment of hesitation, I activated The Third Eye. I wanted to take a closer look at her information.

Name: Jung Ha-Yeong (2nd Year player)

Class: Normal Mage Expert

Affiliated Nation: Babara

Affiliated Organization: -

True Name · Nationality: Drop of the Lake · Republic of Korea

Gender: Female (26)

Height · Weight: 166.5 cm · 42.8 kg

Disposition: Lawful · Good

[Strength: 34] [Resistance: 38] [Agility: 40] [Vitality: 32] [Magic Power: 87] [Luck: 80]

Blessing of the Lake (Rank: A +)

Traditional Magic (Rank: A Zero)

Application of Magic Circuits (Rank: B +)

Rapid Casting (Rank: B +)

Anti-Magic Resistance (Rank: B Zero)

I carefully analyzed Jung Ha-Yeong's abilities and smiled inwardly. Her latent abilities followed the textbook for mages, while her unique ability, Blessing of the Lake, showcased her distinctive talents. She likely had significant expertise in water-related magic.

What stood out to me even more was her mastery of Rapid Casting and Application of Magic Circuits. Both abilities require exceptional memorization and computational skills, and she had achieved a B+ rank in each. For a player I encountered in the small city of Mule, she was undeniably a big catch.

As Jung Ha-Yeong and I silently exchanged glances, the others around us watched with tense expressions, waiting for her answer. Since I had initially hinted at accepting Jung Ha-Yeong, they seemed to believe her decision would influence how I treated Shin Sang-Yong.

After a brief moment, I saw her tightly sealed lips part slightly, as if she had made up her mind.

*

"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. When I greeted him, he responded with a cheerful smile. His polite tone made me smile faintly as I spoke.

"You don't have to call me 'Leader.' It feels a bit awkward every time I hear it."

"But you are the Leader. Did you just wake up?"

"That's right. It seems you pulled another all-nighter, Mr. Shin."

"I've been quite busy lately. I'm constantly reviewing what I learned from my mentor and squeezing in personal training. There's barely enough time to breathe."

Shin Sang-Yong had an expression of genuine enjoyment on his face. For a moment, I felt a tinge of envy at his enthusiasm and nodded.

"It's good to work hard, but make sure you maintain your condition. We're planning to head out for another expedition tomorrow morning."

"I was already planning to sleep on time today. But hearing it directly from you feels... oddly satisfying."

He was subtly pointing out how much tighter my schedule was compared to his. I didn't have much to say to that and could only chuckle. The two of us ended up laughing together—a rare, lighthearted moment.

Feeling sorry for him as he kept yawning mid-conversation, I stepped aside to let him head in. He gave a polite bow and entered the room I had just come out of. Watching him disappear inside, I turned away and started walking. The thought of finally having a group that felt like a proper team made me hum softly.

As I moved toward the lobby, the quiet tables and the sight of Go Yeon Joo dozing off caught my attention. She looked so deeply asleep that I made an effort to move silently before settling into a spot. As I sat, my thoughts turned to the newest additions to the group: Shin Sang-Yong and Jung Ha-Yeong.

In the end, both had decided to join us, but unlike Shin Sang-Yong, Jung Ha-Yeong had set additional conditions. While she also promised to contribute to the group's efforts and refrain from seeking personal gain during her stay, there was more to her terms.

"Could you promise me one thing? If I ever want to leave, I'd like to be free to do so. That's my minimum condition."

I agreed without hesitation. We weren't a formal clan yet, and it was common—practically routine—for members of a caravan to leave part way through. Honestly, their conditions were so favorable for us that I even told Shin Sang-Yong he could leave anytime if he wasn't satisfied. But he only nodded once or twice, showing no intention of leaving anytime soon.

Initially, I had planned to go on an expedition the day after they joined us, but I decided to delay for a few more days in the city. It was a small gesture of consideration for Shin Sang-Yong, who was eager to dive into learning and improving himself.

The one who benefitted the most from this arrangement was none other than Vivienne. Shin Sang-Yong treated her with utmost respect, even calling her "master," and, most importantly, Yun-Jung's constant pestering had significantly diminished. As a result, Vivienne started to show glimpses of the cheerful side she had displayed in the dungeon.

Watching both of them over the past few days had left me extremely—no, profoundly—satisfied. Perhaps I was exaggerating a little, but after constantly cleaning up after the others, seeing individuals who could manage themselves efficiently felt like a revelation.

Though Shin Sang-Yong and Jung Ha-Yeong had joined at the same time, their approaches to daily life were polar opposites.

Shin Sang-Yong lived every day as if he were racing against the clock. Already an accomplished individual and in a profession completely different from mine, there wasn't much I could teach him. Yet he would wake up at dawn for meditation, rigorously sticking to his self-imposed routine.

His attitude revealed a lot. Whether this was something he was doing to impress me or a habit he had cultivated over time, it was clear he was earnest. Some might call it foolish, but I found it admirable. He wasn't a genius, but he was clawing his way upward through sheer effort. Perhaps his struggles resonated with me because they reminded me of my efforts.

In contrast, Jung Ha-Yeong lived a meticulously regimented life. Honestly, her precision was almost overwhelming. Every activity—waking, eating, sleeping, or having personal time—was done on the dot. During her waking hours, her focus was almost frightening. Yet she also showed a surprising degree of flexibility, adapting her schedule when necessary, which made her disciplined lifestyle seem less rigid.

In a way, their contrasting lifestyles revealed the harsh reality of Hall Plain. Even with such effort, there was no guarantee they'd reach the upper echelon of players. The others in the group seemed to have taken notice as well. While they trained hard, Shin Sang-Yong and Jung Ha-Yeong lived each day with a palpable intensity that was almost desperate.

Seeing the gradual changes in the others' attitudes since their arrival, I felt optimistic. A sense of urgency is never too much.

"Speaking of which, they should be coming down soon." I murmured to myself.

Right as I finished speaking, I heard the sound of a door opening upstairs, followed by the rhythmic clack of deliberate footsteps. Smiling faintly, I pulled my chair back with a loud scrape. It seemed like a good time to wake Go Yeon Joo, who was still fast asleep nearby.

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