Memorize Chapter 224

“Let’s break up.”

“Noona.”

Baek Hangeol gazed at Cha Yuna with sad eyes. But her expression was resolute. The warmth they once shared, holding hands and smiling softly at each other, was nowhere to be found. He tried to approach her, but with each step he took, Cha Yuna stepped back just as far. Eventually, he had no choice but to stop.

“I’m tired, Hangeol.”

“I’m sorry, but…”

“I don’t want to hear it!”

“Noona…”

His faint plea tried to hold her back, but Cha Yuna coldly turned away. She began walking slowly down the empty hallway. When he didn’t pursue her further, she stopped abruptly, turning her head halfway. Her gaze caught him still watching her.

“You know I don’t mean it when I say we should break up. You know I wouldn’t do that to you.”

“Haa… Hangeol. You really can’t trust me?”

“I trust you, noona. But I don’t trust Park Hwan-Hee. And I never will. I’ll do whatever it takes to save you from that guy.”

“That’s too much. I’ve accepted what Park Hwan-Hee said. So you’re saying you can’t trust me either? Do you even know what my days have been like lately?”

Cha Yuna’s voice trembled with emotion. When Baek Hangeol didn’t budge, she bit her lip hard.

“This is Hall Plain. It’s not the modern world.”

“Exactly. That’s why Park Hwan-Hee is dangerous. We went through that together.”

“Let’s stop. I’m tired of repeating the same thing. I just wish you’d face reality, Hangeol.”

“…”

“You’re going to save me? Fine, I’ll be waiting. But please, don’t disappoint me anymore.”

With those final words, Cha Yuna started walking again. Her steps were faster than before, and she soon disappeared around the corner of the hallway.

“Haa… Face reality…”

Baek Hangeol let out a heavy sigh, his voice thick with emotion. He stared in the direction she’d gone for a moment before turning and walking away in the opposite direction, his steps heavy.

*

Two weeks had passed since Go Yeon-Joo set out. During that time, I made recruiting Baek Hangeol my top priority. I’d said I’d give up on all the new recruits, but I was determined to secure Divine Shield, so naturally, he got most of my attention.

Fortunately, my efforts weren’t in vain. Baek Hangeol finally started showing interest in the Mercenary Clan. I’d been waiting for the right moment, worried that bringing it up first might seem suspicious, but he broached the topic himself, easing my concerns.

“How’s it going with your girlfriend?”

“She told me to break up a while ago.”

“What? And?”

“Of course, I know she didn’t mean it. I can tell. But she said she wants me to face reality.”

Reality, huh. In a way, she wasn’t wrong. Back in my first life, I couldn’t get any clan offers at the academy. Since I couldn’t stay there forever, I remember feeling increasingly anxious as the training weeks drew to a close.

As I mulled this over, Baek Hangeol’s determined voice cut through.

“Hyung.”

“Yeah?”

“What’s the Mercenary Clan like? Are there specific requirements to join?”

“An elite, small-scale clan. And yes, there are requirements.”

He tilted his head, probably because my answer was too brief to fully grasp. I flicked away the cigarette I’d been smoking, crushed it underfoot, and continued.

“What I mean is, we don’t take just anyone. As the name suggests, we’re a mercenary clan. In Hall Plain, being a mercenary means staying neutral.”

“Neutral…”

“Right, neutral. And to maintain neutrality, the most important quality is skill. We can’t take in just anybody. So, we only accept top-tier players or those with the potential to become top-tier.”

“Then… I guess I can’t join.”

Baek Hangeol lowered his head with a somber expression. But I noticed him sneaking a glance at me, as if curious about my reaction. I gently patted his bowed head and smiled.

“Why would you think that?”

“You know my academy grades. They’re not exactly outstanding…”

“Haha. Sure, grades are important for judging new recruits. But they’re not everything.”

“Then what?”

“I just told you. We also take people with the potential to become top-tier players. I felt it when I briefly trained you before—you’ve got what it takes. With a bit of effort, you could reach great heights. If you’re interested in joining, the Mercenary Clan would welcome you.”

At my words, Baek Hangeol lifted his lowered head. A bright smile spread across his face. He hadn’t yet told me about his secret class, Divine Shield, but despite his outwardly unimpressive standing, he seemed genuinely touched by my consistent support.

‘Probably hearing my conversation with Kim Han-Byeol had the biggest impact.’

Soon after, Baek Hangeol began enthusiastically bombarding me with questions. Some were about his girlfriend, but since I’d already thought through that issue, I answered smoothly. (To be honest, I didn’t want Cha Yuna to join, though.)

I explained the roles of non-combat players in the clan, reassuring him that they were much safer than combat roles. After hearing what was essentially a promotional pitch, Baek Hangeol looked like he’d finally resolved one of his worries and spoke up.

“Hyung, is that for real? You’re not lying, right? Can Yuna noona and I really join your clan?”

“Of course. I’m the Clan Lord—don’t I have that much authority?”

“Wow! Thank you!”

Baek Hangeol jumped with joy and hugged me tightly. Despite being a guy, his delicate appearance didn’t make it feel strange… Anyway, it was clear he genuinely cared about his girlfriend. Her words about facing reality probably made him think about life after the academy, and I must’ve been the first person who came to mind.

He kept bowing and thanking me until I got annoyed enough to shoo him off, and only then did he dash toward the female players’ lodging.

Watching him grow smaller in the distance, I pulled out another cigarette. My lighter mood suggested I’d need to restock soon.

*

The academy had passed the 11th week and was now well into its second half. The graduation ceremony was just around the corner. The atmosphere had softened compared to before, and it wasn’t uncommon for instructors to promote their clans during training.

Meanwhile, signs of rekindling tensions between clans began to emerge. The quiet period didn’t mean conflicts had been resolved—not at all. Early on, clans clashed fiercely, even arguing in front of new recruits. Over time, they ignored each other by cutting off support for instructor duties.

But with recruitment in full swing, conflicts arising from differing clan stances were inevitable. The failure of Golden Lion and its allied clans’ Iron Mountain expedition was juicy gossip, especially for one side, and had become common knowledge among the new recruits.

‘To me, it looks like most of them—hell, nearly all of them—are wasting their time.’

That was the truth. I didn’t know how much influence Park Hwan-Hee had over the 252 new recruits, but I figured he’d already snatched up most of the promising ones.

Regardless of what they did, it wasn’t my place to interfere, so I quietly focused on securing Baek Hangeol. My small hope was that his relationship with Cha Yuna would fall apart, and Park Hwan-Hee would take her instead.

As the 11th week began, my instructor duties expanded to include mental training sessions. These were mainly about introducing my contributions to the North Continent as a year 0 player. I had to draw on real experiences, but since I couldn’t reveal everything as it was, I spiced things up a bit.

“It’s said, half-jokingly, that beginner’s luck always ends with a harsh trial. My clanmates and I believe we got lucky and came out okay. But we’re not satisfied—we’ll stay humble and keep contributing to the North Continent’s stability and growth. Alright, you all look bored, so let’s pause the lecture. We’ll take a 10-minute break.”

“Yes~.”

Today’s morning session was mental training. I’d briefly talked about exploring <The Ancient Alchemist’s Dungeon> and beginner’s luck before announcing the break. Next, I planned to share my encounter with the vagrant.

Some recruits looked disappointed (Baek Hangeol was overly dramatic about it), while others were visibly relieved. Since the lecture was based on real experiences rather than dry theory, it wasn’t actually boring. But dragging it out wouldn’t win anyone over, and I wanted to smoke outside, so I used the break as an excuse.

Just as I was about to leave the classroom, a familiar voice echoed through the room.

“Instructor Kim Su-Hyeon, if it’s not too much trouble, I have a question.”

I stopped and turned to see Park Hwan-Hee raising his hand and standing up. His expression was polite, his demeanor respectful. But knowing it was all an act, I fixed him with a cold stare.

“Is it related to the training?”

“No, but it’s something I really want to ask.”

“…Alright, go ahead.”

With my permission, Park Hwan-Hee glanced around, then spoke with a faint smile.

“I’d like to know about the Mercenary Clan, where you’re the Clan Lord.”

“The Mercenary Clan?”

“Yes. This week, several instructors have been promoting their clans and sharing details. I heard you’re a year 0 player like us. In a way, you’re in a similar position, so I’m curious how your clan differs from established ones.”

‘Look at this guy.’

On the surface, it seemed harmless, but his tone implied they were the ones choosing and evaluating clans. Knowing his true intentions, I just snorted.

“Sounds like you’re interested in the Mercenary Clan.”

“Haha, of course. Other instructors have mentioned it several times.”

“Is that so? Then you must’ve heard enough already. I’ll pass.”

“Wha… What?”

He clearly hadn’t expected my refusal and stammered, his smile vanishing. Savoring his flustered expression, I continued in a low voice.

“The Mercenary Clan has no plans to promote at the player academy. We approach those who meet our standards, have a conversation, gain their consent, and then recruit them.”

“Oh… I see.”

“Sorry to say, but player Park Hwan-Hee doesn’t meet our clan’s standards. No, ‘falls short’ is more accurate. Anyway, thanks for the interest. I hope that answers your question.”

No response came from Park Hwan-Hee. Instead, he sat back down with a face like he’d bitten into something sour. The classroom buzzed with the recruits’ murmurs. Listening closely, I heard things like, “What? Isn’t Park Hwan-Hee basically guaranteed top rank? And he doesn’t meet their standards?” or “But that instructor graduated top of the academy too. Their bar must be insanely high.”

I tilted my head, signaling for more questions. Park Hwan-Hee, his face stiff, avoided my gaze. Turning to the left, I saw Baek Hangeol chuckling with a smug expression.

As I moved to leave the classroom amid the commotion, the door suddenly swung open just as I took a step. Four or five players filed in, each exuding an imposing aura. Notably, they all wore dark plate mail, with a gleaming golden lion emblem on their right chests.

‘Black Lion? Why’s their armed division barging in?’

While I was puzzled over this, they bowed to me and spoke in gruff voices.

“Mercenary Lord, we’re from Black Lion, under Golden Lion. This is sudden, but we need you to come with us.”

“No context, huh? I still have training time left.”

“My apologies. You can end the session here. All other instructors have been summoned, and one of us will stay to oversee the recruits. It’s urgent.”

“I’d like an explanation first.”

The players identifying as Black Lion looked troubled and glanced to the left. The classroom had fallen silent, with all the recruits watching us. The man at the front stepped closer and whispered in my ear.

“It’s a message from Executive Park Hyun-Woo. The Shadow Queen has returned.”