Memorize Chapter 236

Following Im Hanna’s guidance, we ascended to the fourth floor. The moment we entered the room she led us to, I couldn’t help but pause in surprise. The spacious room was not only generously sized but also adorned with luxurious furniture, giving it the air of a royal suite in a high-end hotel. The attention to detail was evident in every corner.

Curious about the reason for such hospitality, I tilted my head briefly, but her gesture to come inside prompted me to step forward. As I sat in the chair she pulled out, her gentle voice came from behind.

“This is a room the Shadow Queen or Ha-Yeong-ssi used occasionally. They maintained it themselves, saying the Clan Lord would return someday.”

“I heard you reserved the entire fourth floor. We’re planning to purchase a clan house soon, so this wasn’t necessary… but thank you. I’ll make sure to settle the payment.”

“Oh, no need. We’ve already received equivalent help and are still benefiting, so feel free to use it without worry.”

Her mention of “help” piqued my curiosity, but I decided to wait until Go Yeon-Joo returned to learn more. Im Hanna left to fetch the others, giving me a moment to observe my clan members more closely.

Han-Byeol had been quiet since entering the Love House, her tense expression betraying her anxiety about meeting the others soon.

Vivienne’s attention was entirely on me. I suddenly wanted to ask about her elixir progress but held back. It seemed better to wait until after greeting the incoming clan members and address everything at once.

As I mulled over these thoughts, my gaze shifted from Han-Byeol and Vivienne, and a sudden weight pressed against me. Looking down, I saw An-Sol clinging tightly to me, staring intently ahead. Curious about what she was fixating on, I looked up…

“Why are you two acting like that?”

I was dumbfounded. An-Sol and Hangeol were locked in a staring contest, their eyes devoid of any friendliness—more like they were facing a lifelong rival or sworn enemy.

At my words, An-Sol whipped her head away with a huff. Hangeol maintained a stoic expression but seemed faintly displeased.

After sneaking glances at Hangeol, An-Sol spoke in a sharp tone. “Orabeoni, there’s someone new here.”

“Yeah, I brought two new people. The one in front of you is a new player who just joined. Take a good look at the other one—you know her.”

Only then did An-Sol’s interest shift to the newcomers. As her gaze landed on Han-Byeol, her expression hardened instantly.

“Hello,” Han-Byeol said with a faint smile.

“Uh…” An-Sol replied.

“Long time no see.”

“Uh… yeah…”

An-Sol nodded reflexively but looked thoroughly unenthused. Her face practically screamed, Why are you here? Han-Byeol, likely picking up on the same vibe I did, gave a bittersweet smile.

“…”

“…”

An awkward silence hung in the air. Vivienne glanced between Han-Byeol, An-Sol, and Hangeol before shrugging at me. I shrugged back, and she flattened her eyes, pouting. Sensing the odd atmosphere, she wisely stayed quiet.

*

Im Hanna must have spread the word quickly, as clan members began trickling into the room. Excluding those already present, the first to burst in was An-Hyun. Amid my guessing whether it was him or Yun-Jung, the door flung open, revealing An-Hyun drenched in sweat.

“Hyung!”

“Long time no see.”

“Hyung! It’s really you! You’re back!” 

“Yeah.”

No one would doubt they’re siblings—his antics are just like An-Sol’s.

Chuckling inwardly, I waved. An-Hyun charged as if to hug me but stopped short under An-Sol’s glare. A good thing, too. Scanning his sweat-soaked body, he gave an awkward smile and moved to Han-Byeol’s side.

“Haha, sorry, hyung. I was training and got all sweaty.”

“Good attitude. Is there a place to train here?”

“Yeah… huh?”

As he pulled out a chair, he froze, noticing Han-Byeol. She quietly met his gaze and bowed slightly.

“H-Hi.”

“You… Kim Han-Byeol?”

“Yes, it’s been a while—”

“What’s with you? Why are you here?”

Unlike his warm greeting to me, An-Hyun’s tone turned hostile. As Han-Byeol faltered, he looked at me. I signaled for him to sit. Smacking his lips, he roughly pushed the chair back and moved to the opposite side of the room. Han-Byeol’s head bowed lower. The clan’s sense of betrayal toward her ran deeper than I’d expected.

An-Hyun acted nonchalant—perhaps deliberately ignoring her—and started chatting with me about various things. As I responded casually, the door opened again, and Go Yeon-Joo, Jung Ha-Yeong, and Shin Sang-Yong entered together.

I’d met Go Yeon-Joo periodically, but it was my first time seeing Jung Ha-Yeong and Shin Sang-Yong since Babara, so I was genuinely glad. Smiling warmly, I greeted them, and they bowed in return. Their calm demeanors, unlike the excitable younger members, were refreshing.

“Leader—no, Clan Lord. It’s been a while,” Shin Sang-Yong said.

“Haha, Player Shin Sang-Yong, good to see you. How’s your class progression?”

“Thanks to you, I’ve made great strides. Haha.”

Shin Sang-Yong smiled kindly, his handshake gentle but heartfelt.

“Su-Hyeon-ssi, welcome back. I’m so relieved you’re safe,” Jung Ha-Yeong said.

“Player Jung Ha-Yeong, thank you for managing the clan in my and Go Yeon-Joo’s absence.”

Ha-Yeong and I didn’t exchange many words, but our gazes conveyed enough. Her eyes, filled with tender relief, showed genuine gratitude for my safe return. After briefly glancing at the newcomers, she and Shin Sang-Yong quietly took their seats.

With most of the clan gathered, one person was still missing. Glancing at the door, I turned to An-Hyun. “An-Hyun, where’s Yun-Jung? Isn’t she here?”

“Oh, I think I saw her go to her room earlier. Not sure. Should I get her?”

As An-Hyun answered, the sound of rapid footsteps echoed through the corridor. Speak of the tiger, and it appears. The clan members burst into laughter. The sprinting stopped, and the door flew open as Yun-Jung leaped inside with agile grace. Her wet hair, fresh from a shower, flicked water droplets everywhere.

“Oppa! They said you’re back!”

“Yeah, you’re the last one.”

“I was just washing up… Oh, it’s really you, oppa!”

“Hi.”

“Kyah!”

Ignoring everyone else’s stares, she vault gioia over the table and wrapped her arms around my neck. I appreciated her enthusiastic welcome, but it struck me how similar all the kids’ reactions were. Tickling her chin as she nuzzled me, she giggled and squirmed, reminding me of a playful cat.

Finally prying Yun-Jung off, she eagerly tried to sit beside me, only to find An-Sol and Hangeol already occupying both sides. Disappointed, she turned, then noticed Hangeol and spoke with curiosity. “There’s a new face here? Oppa, who’s this pretty girl?”

“She’s a new player I brought in.”

“Oh, a new clan member? Then the other one is…”

Hangeol, shocked at being called a girl, shook his head frantically. Realizing my mistake, I was about to clarify when Yun-Jung’s gaze landed on Han-Byeol, and her mouth clamped shut. Her crescent eyes widened, her face brimming with shock.

But that shock quickly turned to disbelief.

“Oh…”

“Hah, unbelievable.”

“Yun-Jung, sit down.”

The lively atmosphere from my return fizzled out with Yun-Jung’s reaction. She bit her lip, clearly wanting to say more, then scoffed and plopped down next to An-Hyun. The other clan members, unaware of the context, looked at her strangely, but An-Hyun and An-Sol remained impassive.

“Hoho, congratulations on your return. How do you feel?” Go Yeon-Joo asked.

“Not bad.”

The awkward tension lingered briefly, but Go Yeon-Joo’s words helped restore the mood. Scanning the table, I checked the clan’s state. Those meeting my gaze radiated trust. Some seemed eager to share their stories but held back, glancing at Go Yeon-Joo. Clearing my throat, I spoke calmly.

“It’s been a while since we’ve all been together. I’m relieved to see you all looking healthy.”

“You’ve had it tough, Clan Lord. We’re the ones thrilled you returned safely from that chaos,” Go Yeon-Joo replied.

Everyone nodded in agreement, and though it felt a bit embarrassing, their concern warmed me. Trying to keep a neutral expression, I continued, “Chaos, indeed. I’m happy to see you all and would love to catch up more. I’m sure you feel the same. But…”

Pausing, I clasped my hands and propped my chin. “I don’t feel entirely at ease bringing this up right away, but I believe you’ve heard some things through Go Yeon-Joo. The situation in Hall Plain is turbulent. With an unpredictable future, I think we need to move diligently rather than linger.”

“I understand, but we’ve had a planned schedule with breaks. You just got back—maybe rest for three days, or at least one?” Go Yeon-Joo suggested.

“Forcing rest now wouldn’t feel like rest. My mind’s uneasy. I appreciate the concern, but there’s no time for us to relax. That’s my stance.”

“Sigh, alright.”

Go Yeon-Joo had clearly solidified her role as second-in-command in my absence. No one else spoke, but her words carried the clan’s sentiments. Her and Ha-Yeong’s constant urging for me to rest suggested they saw me as overly driven. But my choice of Monica as our next city had purpose.

“Let’s get to the point. Before leaving Babara, I assigned tasks to some of you. I’d like to hear about your progress first, but…”

I paused, glancing at the two newcomers who hadn’t yet blended in. Introducing them first seemed appropriate. Deciding it was better to face the tougher one head-on, I chose Han-Byeol.

“Before that, let’s introduce the new faces. This woman in front of me left the Golden Lion. We went through the Rite of Passage together, parted ways after the Player Academy, and now our paths have crossed again. Han-Byeol?”

At my call, she lifted her head, bracing herself. I nodded for her to stand, and she rose hesitantly. All eyes turned to her. Whether due to her deep scars or the pressure of facing the kids, she couldn’t muster her old confidence, stirring a pang of sympathy in me.

“Everyone here is a Mercenary Clan member. You’ll be sharing meals with them, so a brief introduction would be good.”

“Yes. Hello, I’m Kim Han-Byeol. As the Clan Lord said…”

She trailed off, unable to continue despite the expectant gazes. Her lips remained sealed.

“Player Kim Han-Byeol? The Secret Class Jewel Mage from the Golden Lion?” Ha-Yeong asked, raising her hand.

“Yes,” I confirmed.

“Clan Lord, may I ask a few questions out of personal curiosity?”

“Go ahead.”

Seeing Han-Byeol struggle, Ha-Yeong stepped in. Whether she felt kinship over leaving the Golden Lion, was intrigued by her class, wanted to guide her, or sensed something from Yun-Jung’s attitude—perhaps all four—Ha-Yeong was clearly helping.

As Ha-Yeong prompted her, Han-Byeol was about to speak when Yun-Jung, who’d been glaring, finally snapped. “Sniff, ugh, what’s that smell? It’s disgusting.”

“Huh? Sorry, it must be my sweat. I was training. But ‘disgusting’ is a bit harsh,” An-Hyun grumbled.

“No, no, it’s not your sweat. Yours is bad, but not this bad.”

“Compliment or insult? What?”

“Hmm, this smell…”

Yun-Jung pinched her nose, twisting her lips, but her eyes remained uncreased. Lowering her hand, she sniffed toward Han-Byeol, then smirked openly. “Smells like a traitor.”