Memorize Chapter 235

In the dead of night, a woman sat on her bed, her upper body raised, hands covering her face. As she slightly bowed her head, her jet-black bob tilted forward, not fully blending into the darkness. A dry sigh slipped through the gaps of her fingers, barely audible.

“Ha… Su-Hyeon…”

Her hands fell from her forehead, arms dangling limply. Her head remained bowed. The face revealed as her hands dropped was meant to exude intellectual beauty, but patches of shadow dulled its radiance. Another slow sigh escaped her lips.

The absence of the Clan Lord. Though her tenure as acting leader was less than a month out of the three, she keenly felt her inadequacy. With each passing day, the clan’s morale sank, and unease clouded the members’ faces.

Some forced smiles, but they lacked vitality. Even the Shadow Queen’s return couldn’t lift the mood once it had fallen into the mire. It was just one person’s absence, but the void was too vast for her to fill.

She thought she’d done her best, but her limitations were clear. Now, all she could do was wait.

“Come back soon…”

Muttering words that would go unheard, Ha-Yeong lay down slowly. Closing her eyes, she hoped for tomorrow and began to drift into sleep.

*

“Wow.”

Hangeol, using a warp gate for the first time, let out an exclamation, his eyes darting around in wonder. The sight before me wasn’t unfamiliar, yet it stirred a sense of nostalgia.

Monica, a small southern city under the jurisdiction of the representative clan IstanTel Law. Breathing in the surrounding air, I stepped out of the warp gate. Compared to major cities, its scale and development were modest, but compared to a small city like Mule, the well-maintained streets were a world apart.

“Hyung—er, Clan Lord. Where are we going?” Hangeol asked.

“Love House.”

“Huh?”

“It’s a place.”

I gave a wry smile, dodging the question. The name “Love House” sounded odd. I suddenly regretted telling Go Yeon-Joo not to meet me after the ceremony and to focus on her tasks. Still, I should be grateful it was a “house” and not a hotel.

Monica, the southernmost small city, sat closest to the Iron Mountains. Its policies focused on expedition preparedness, making it ironic that it hadn’t joined the recent one. Thanks to Han So-Young’s deft management, though, the city remained a steady draw for players.

The sun was high, and a fair number of players roamed the streets. After three months, my title as Mercenary Lord no longer drew crowds. Some glanced my way, but that was it.

We walked in silence. Hangeol was captivated by the novel sights, while Han-Byeol kept stealing glances at me. As I recalled the location of Love House, I turned to her.

“Han-Byeol.”

“Yes?”

“I’ll be honest—I don’t get why you came to me.”

“…”

Even with the Mercenary Clan’s recent rise, we paled compared to established clans. Han-Byeol, a Secret Class Jewel Mage, likely had plenty of gemstones, but she couldn’t know our clan’s inner workings. So why choose me and the Mercenary Clan? I was genuinely curious.

She hesitated, not responding. After waiting a moment, I spoke first, sensing her discomfort.

“What I said before was just from my perspective.”

“…”

“Other clan members—like the kids, especially Yun-Jung—might feel differently. You get that, right?”

“Yes, I understand. Don’t worry, oppa.”

Her sharp mind grasped my meaning instantly. Seeing her nod, I let out a sigh of relief. Their relationship was already strained, but her willingness to adapt opened a path forward.

Quickening my pace, we reached the central plaza. After gauging directions, I turned left down an open street.

*

The Love House, where my clan was staying, was primarily a tavern but doubled as a high-end inn with a peculiar reputation. I’d never stayed there in my first life, but I recalled players mocking it as a Monica landmark.

Standing before the Love House, I took a deep breath and knocked. After a brief wait, light footsteps approached, and the door swung open. A young girl with a youthful face peeked out.

“Who are you?”

“Hello, I’m a visitor to the Love House.”

“Huh? A visitor? Sorry, but men aren’t allowed here.”

“I know. My party is staying here. Could you call them for me?”

The girl stared at me blankly. Then, a voice called from inside, “Sun-Young, who is it?”

“No idea. Some guy says he’s a visitor.”

“Oh? Ask who he is.”

“Okay. So, who are you?”

“The Mercenary Lord.”

“The Mercenary Lord?!” Her eyes widened.

The sound of footsteps grew louder as someone approached. The slightly ajar door opened wider, revealing a woman who greeted me with a radiant smile.

“Welcome, Mercenary Lord. We’re delighted to have you at the Love House.”

“Thank you.”

“The Shadow Queen already informed us. Would you and your companions like to come inside?”

“Yes, thank you.”

‘She’s beautiful.’

As we followed her in, I couldn’t help but notice her beauty. Around my age, she had neatly styled long hair and refined features that exuded elegance. Her gentle demeanor carried an air of grace, like a delicate flower. And her chest, compared to her slender waist, was…

Maybe even bigger than Go Yeon-Joo’s.

Dismissing the silly thought, I met the piercing gazes of those inside. The first-floor tables were occupied entirely by women. Han-Byeol remained unfazed, but Hangeol, unaccustomed to the attention, clung to my side.

The woman leading us stopped and pointed to the right. “This table’s free. Would you mind waiting here?”

“Sure. Are my clan members here?”

“The Shadow Queen, Jung Ha-Yeong, and Shin Sang-Yong are out. The others are likely on the third or fourth floor. I’ll call them now.”

“Oh, I can go up by myself.”

“Right, that’s an option too…”

As we started toward the stairs, both the woman and I froze simultaneously. The little girl from earlier, who’d darted off, was panting halfway up the second-floor staircase. Behind her stood An-Sol and Vivienne, mouths agape. Seeing them brought an involuntary smile to my face. I waved in greeting, and the two, who’d been about to rush down, glanced at each other and hesitated. But An-Sol was the first to act.

“Waaa! Orabeoni!” She cried.

“Sol, slow down…” I cautioned.

“Orabeoniii! Ahh!”

“Ugh.”

I knew this would happen. Bounding down like a skyhopper, she predictably tripped on the last few steps. Sighing, I lunged forward, sensing someone following me. In a split second, I shifted left to make space. An arm shot out from my left, and a beat later, a woman caught An-Sol’s right arm.

“Bbi-a!” An-Sol’s signature squeal rang out as the woman and I locked eyes.

‘Quick reflexes. Decent speed too.’

“Thank you,” I said.

“N-No problem. That was impressive,” She replied, genuinely astonished.

I was mildly surprised myself, but her reaction was even stronger. Smiling lightly, I released An-Sol’s arm, only to regret it immediately.

“Orabeoni! Orabeoni! Orabeoni!” 

“Okay, okay.”

An-Sol shook off the woman’s grip with surprising force, startling her into stepping back, and flung herself into my arms. As she rubbed her face against my chest, I patted her head and glanced back at the second floor. Vivienne was watching us intently.

Then came Vivienne’s turn.

“Waaa! It’s Kim Su-Hyeon!” She shouted in a steady voice, charging toward me. She tripped at the exact spot An-Sol had, aiming straight for me. Holding An-Sol, I sidestepped right, and Vivienne crashed into the floor.

“Oh no! Vivienne-ssi!” The woman exclaimed.

Vivienne didn’t respond, clutching her forehead and writhing like an octopus. After a moment, she sprang up, visibly furious.

“Kim Su-Hyeon, you!”

“Vivienne, long time no see.”

“Yeah! It’s been a while! Hehe… Wait, no! Why didn’t you catch me?!” She demanded.

“Lower your voice. You’re not the only one here.”

“Then at least hit me or something!”

“?”

How did she leap to that conclusion? Sighing, I shook my head, catching the woman’s puzzled gaze. Ignoring Vivienne’s attempt to subtly bump her hip against me, I activated my Third Eye.

---

(Player Status)

1. Name: Im Hanna (Year 3)  

2. Class: Normal Archer (Expert)  

3. Nation: Babara  

4. Clan: None  

5. True Name · Nationality: Unyielding Delicate Flower · South Korea  

6. Sex: Female (24)  

7. Height · Weight: 168.7 cm · 52.4 kg  

8. Alignment: Lawful · Belief  

[Strength 72] [Resistance 84] [Agility 92] [Vitality 68] [Magic 88] [Luck 90]

< Ability Comparison >

1. Kim Su-Hyeon: 544/600  

   (12 stats points remaining)  

   [Strength 96(+2)] [Resistance 92] [Agility 98] [Vitality 72] [Magic 96] [Luck 90(+2)]  

2. Im Hanna: 490/600  

   (0 stats points remaining)  

   [Strength 72] [Resistance 80] [Agility 92] [Vitality 68] [Magic 88] [Luck 90]  

‘490? Not bad.’

As I reviewed her status, Im Hanna bowed politely. “I’m late with introductions. I’m Im Hanna, a year 3 player managing the Love House. The Shadow Queen told me about you. Please, call me Madam Im.”

“I’m Kim Su-Hyeon, Clan Lord of the Mercenary Clan, year 0 player.”

“Ugh, Orabeoni, Orabeoni, Orabeoniii,” An-Sol cooed, still clinging.  

“Ugh, Kim Su-Hyeon, Kim Su-Hyeoon, Kim Su-Hyeeoonn,” Vivienne mimicked.

Embarrassed by their antics, I noticed Im Hanna stifling a laugh. They hadn’t even glanced at Kim Han-Byeol or Baek Hangeol behind us, completely fixated on me. Honestly, my attempts to push them off lacked conviction. After so long, the familiar yet strange sensation brought a fleeting comfort.

Sighing, I turned, still holding them. There stood Kim Han-Byeol, visibly tense, and Baek Hangeol, quietly watching An-Sol.