Memorize Chapter 253

After calming An-Sol, I took out five Mind-Clearing Pills and distributed them to the group. I considered taking one myself but, honestly, it felt unnecessary. No matter how strong the field effect was, I doubted it could pierce through Mind’s Eye and Blessing of the War. So, just to be safe, I tucked the pill into my pocket. Out of the original twenty, fourteen remained.

An-Sol looked better than when she’d collapsed, but her complexion still wasn’t great even after taking the pill. I reassured her to steady herself, and only then could we finally tackle the last slope ahead.

“Wow! This is the Plateau of Delusion?”

“Whoa… it’s huge!”

Upon reaching the top, An-Hyun and Yun-Jung let out simultaneous gasps at the vast expanse stretching before them. I hadn’t been to the Plateau of Delusion often myself, so I took in the surroundings with a fresh sense of curiosity.

“It’s endless,” Go Yeon-Joo remarked, shading her eyes with one hand as she scanned the area.

I turned to look at the clan members behind me. The top-grade Mind-Clearing Pills seemed to be working, as most showed no signs of distress yet.

'But we’re still at the entrance.'

Noticing An-Sol licking her dry lips repeatedly, I spoke in a calm tone.

“Is everyone feeling alright?”

“No issues here. Same as usual,” An-Hyun replied.

“I’m fine too!” Yun-Jung chimed in.

“The Mind-Clearing Pill’s effect is great. It calms the mind naturally and helps with focus,” Kim Han-Byeol added.

Go Yeon-Joo was a given, so I didn’t need to ask her. The concerns were Baek Hangeol and An-Sol. Baek Hangeol looked fine, giving a slight nod to indicate he was okay. An-Sol, however, still seemed shaken from earlier, her face noticeably darker compared to when we started. Catching my gaze, she forced a smile and spoke.

“I-I’m fine, Oppa. It’s a bit tough, but… I can handle it. I’ll let you know right away if it gets too hard. I’m sorry.”

“Alright. An-Hyun, keep an eye on Sol’s condition. If she shows any strange reactions, let me know immediately like before.”

Though she said she was fine, it was clearly a forced smile. An-Hyun replied, “Yes,” and quickly moved to her side. As he patted her head, I broadened my gaze to address everyone.

“As you can see, the Plateau of Delusion is vast. But we don’t need to explore every inch of it. We’ll stick strictly to following the traces, and distance-wise, we can reach the Gorge of Hallucination in a day.”

The sun was now high overhead. The reason many players avoided the Plateau of Delusion was the inability to camp here. Camping in a place with an ongoing field effect would be madness, meaning a nighttime march was all but confirmed.

Once we entered the Gorge of Hallucination, we’d stop using Mind-Clearing Pills and rely on Kim Han-Byeol and Baek Hangeol’s abilities. It would put more strain on them, especially Baek Hangeol, but since he hadn’t fought yet, he should have conserved enough stamina. Finding the ruins in the gorge would be quick, and we’d likely get a chance to rest beforehand.

After quickly calculating in my head, I turned forward. The endless, sprawling plain, dotted with swaying grass, greeted us.

“Let’s move out.”

With that, we took our first steps toward crossing the Plateau of Delusion to reach our final destination. As we stepped into the plateau, a thought flashed through my mind.

'Come to think of it, the hunters haven’t shown up yet. In that case…'

---

“Hyung, I’ve got a question.”

“Hm?”

We were in the middle of marching when An-Hyun, who had moved back to the front after Sol said she was okay, spoke to me quietly. I responded without taking my eyes off the traces, and his voice continued softly in my ear.

“For the first few days of the expedition, it felt like we were fighting a lot. But since entering the Mountain of Delirium, it’s weird how there’s been almost no combat.”

“It’s not that strange.”

“Oh, really?”

“Didn’t I tell you to read the records before we left? You didn’t read them closely, did you?”

Teasing him lightly, An-Hyun gave an embarrassed “Hehe” laugh.

Strictly speaking, monsters do appear in the Plateau of Delusion—only one kind, the Black-Headed Eagles I mentioned to the group earlier. Since they primarily inhabit the Mountain of Delirium, they might have some resistance to the field effect. But from a general perspective, the field effect doesn’t discriminate between humans and monsters. However, it doesn’t manifest immediately—it takes effect gradually over time. The clever ones sometimes exploit this brief window.

As I explained this step-by-step, An-Hyun tilted his head with a puzzled look.

“But we wouldn’t go down that easily, right? If they’re exploiting that window, wouldn’t they need to take us out instantly?”

“Not necessarily. Think about what I told Han-Byeol earlier.”

“?”

“I said they swoop down, right? They pick a target from the air, dive at high speed, and snatch prey with their beaks or talons. Then they soar back into the sky at the same speed to escape the field effect.”

Only after this detailed explanation did An-Hyun nod with an “Oh” of understanding. I sighed inwardly. At times, he could be impressively sharp, but other times, he came off as clueless.

'Still, this type can become quite capable with proper training… He’s got a lot to work on, though.'

Unaware of my thoughts, the group was no longer just “players.” They were now “Mercenary Clan members,” a title that better suited their identity. This meant they needed to quickly develop a sense of responsibility as clan members. Improving their skills was urgent, but that wasn’t something that could be resolved quickly. Reaffirming my resolve to get the clan settled after the expedition, I was about to pick up the pace when—

Keeeyoooo!

A sudden cry made me look up, and I saw a large bird circling leisurely in the sky. It was about two meters long, with a jet-black head, glossy dark brown feathers from beak to tail, and hooked talons glinting below.

“Speak of the devil.”

I muttered, and as if on cue, I heard Kim Han-Byeol chanting a spell. Her quick response was commendable, but I waved my left hand to stop her.

“Oppa?”

“Magic’s fine, but hold off for now.”

“But…”

“Look, there’s only one. Perfect timing. An-Hyun, Yun-Jung, I’ll show you how melee fighters deal with these in the Plateau of Delusion. Watch closely. Seeing it once is worth more than a hundred explanations.”

The group’s eyes sparkled with anticipation as I announced I’d demonstrate. Drawing my Sun-Moon Divine Sword, I stepped away from the group slightly. These creatures were clever, so standing alone might draw them to me, but there was a surefire way to pull their attention. I raised my gleaming sword, reflecting the sunlight.

Keeeyoooo!

From the Black-Headed Eagle’s perspective, a flashing light was likely shining right at it. As expected, it worked—the bird’s cat-like eyes glinted at me, and it began circling gracefully in the sky. Its speed gradually increased, then it shot off toward the opposite side of the plateau. Or so I thought for a moment.

The Black-Headed Eagle, which seemed to disappear, suddenly made a sharp U-turn and came hurtling back toward us at breakneck speed.

'It’s coming.'

I lowered the sword I had raised. Glancing to the side, I saw Go Yeon-Joo tossing and catching a dagger, ready for any surprises. Though I’d provoked the creature, Black-Headed Eagles typically lurked from a distance, ambushing prey they spotted. Being clever, it could veer off in another direction at any moment.

Kraaaah!

The Black-Headed Eagle descended in a smooth arc, and as expected, it aimed to snatch with its talons. I waited calmly, calculating the trajectory it would take to charge in.

'Two steps to the left and a half.'

My calculations should outmatch the bird’s. Moving to the predicted spot, I fidgeted with the hand gripping the Sun-Moon Divine Sword. Its semicircular wings, bulging belly, and extended talons grew larger in my view.

When less than a meter remained, I angled the sword, previously aimed at the ground, upward in a straight line. Stepping forward with my right foot, I stamped firmly, grounding myself. Preparations complete. Now, I just had to wait.

Crack! Skrrreee!

The Black-Headed Eagle, charging with momentum, had its talons sliced clean off, and unable to stop, it barreled into my blade. Its speed was impressive, but unfortunately, it couldn’t match my stats or abilities.

The impact wasn’t negligible. I leaned forward, putting more weight on my front foot. The blade of the Sun-Moon Divine Sword transmitted the sensation of cutting through tough flesh. Hot blood sprayed my face and soaked my Coat of Plate. When the sensation faded, I heard two heavy thuds behind me as the creature’s halves hit the ground.

'What a hassle.'

Confirming the neatly bisected corpse, I walked back to the group. Wiping my face with a cloth from Baek Hangeol, I spoke calmly.

“That’s how it’s done.”

“Uh, what?”

“See? Pretty easy, right?”

No response came.

*

As time passed, the harsh sunlight softened into a gentler glow. The sun was setting, painting the plateau with a rosy hue as the breeze rustled the grass.

I surveyed the Plateau of Delusion at dusk. We were in the middle of the vast plain, surrounded by nothing but grass. I wasn’t sure how far we’d come, but it felt like being adrift in an endless sea, guided only by the traces of the previous expedition.

The clan’s mood was quiet. The relentless march since entering the plateau, with no proper rest, left everyone visibly fatigued. I considered a break but shook my head. Maintaining tension was better, even if it meant pushing them. Resting would relax their guard, and for those with weaker mental fortitude, the field effect could exploit that gap.

If the Mountain of Delirium triggered consciousness disturbances through fear, the Plateau of Delusion materialized pathological misjudgments or convictions. It was a broad effect, manifesting one’s delusions or mental distortions, linked with the delirium effect, into reality.

Simply put, without the Mind-Clearing Pill, Mind’s Eye, and Blessing of the War, and assuming the worst, we might’ve encountered a demon lord from hell by now.

I monitored the group’s condition in real-time. They seemed fine at the entrance, but the deeper we went, the stronger the effect became. I wanted to use Baek Hangeol’s ability, but his magic wavelength required rare gems, so we hadn’t brought many. For now, we’d rely on Mind-Clearing Pills as long as possible. Resolving to push forward, I stepped out briskly.

Then—

“O-Oppa, wait.”

“Hm?”

Turning at Yun-Jung’s voice, I saw An-Sol gasping, struggling to breathe.

“Sol, what’s wrong?”

“Move.”

Seeing An-Sol’s face, I sensed something serious stirring within her. I quickly approached, pulling another Mind-Clearing Pill from my pocket. Calmly opening her mouth, I placed the pill inside.

As the pill melted on her pale pink tongue, her breathing gradually stabilized.

“You okay?”

“S-Suddenly… something… up ahead…”

I didn’t know what she saw, but she panted, unable to finish. Waiting for her to calm down, she shook her head vigorously, refusing to elaborate.

Her reaction felt oddly familiar, as if…

'Did she see something tied to her trauma?'