Memorize

In the middle of a deep and peaceful sleep, I felt someone shaking my body. Letting out a low groan, I opened my eyes to find An Sol's clear gaze staring down at me. The dim dawn light revealed the pitch-black forest scenery around us. Perhaps because we were in the heart of the woods, a cold chill crept over my entire body. After briefly circulating my energy to awaken my senses, I rose from my stiff position. My head felt refreshingly clear, which put me in a good mood.

"Anything unusual?"

"No, nothing at all. Did you sleep well too, orabeoni?"

When we're with others, An Sol calls me 'oppa,' but for some reason, when it's just the two of us, she always calls me 'orabeoni.' It was a bit awkward but not so unsettling that I felt the need to correct her, so I just let it slide. Watching her bow her head politely as she greeted me made me think she must have been raised with excellent manners.

Returning Sol's greeting with a soft smile, I turned to wake up Hyun and Yun-Jung, only to feel a tugging at the hem of my clothes. When I looked back, Sol was fidgeting, her lips slightly parted as if she wanted to say something. Sensing she had something on her mind, I spoke as gently as I could.

"Yes, Sol? Is there something you'd like to say?"

"Orabeoni… I…"

Avoiding my gaze, she stared at the ground. Then, biting her lip, she lifted her head with a determined expression. I had no idea what she was about to say, but her seriousness made me brace myself for her words.

"...I need to... go to the bathroom."

"..."

"I'm too scared to go alone... Can you come with me?"

"...Just go ahead and do it."

Shaking my head in exasperation, I tried to decline firmly. However, Sol wasn't backing down this time. Despite my refusal, she clung to my clothes, her grip tightening. As I prepared to scold her for being so childish, her trembling, tearful eyes caught my attention.

In the end, I decided to give in this time. Still, I couldn't help but feel puzzled whenever I looked at An Sol. It had been over three months since we entered the Hall Plain, which meant Sol was already twenty years old—a full-fledged adult. Sure, she looked young for her age, but she had to have some level of mental maturity. Yet, her occasional childish antics made her seem like a complete kid.

I wasn't the only one who found her behavior odd at times. At first glance, it might be easy to overlook, but after spending some time with her, both Yun-Jung and I had noticed her quirks. Yun-Jung had once directly asked An Hyun about it, but he had deftly avoided the question, almost as if he was hiding something about Sol. I resolved to ask him again when the opportunity arose. For now, I set those thoughts aside and walked with Sol away from the campsite.

"This spot should do."

"..."

"Sol?"

"Orabeoni… you won't leave me and go somewhere else, right?"

"I'll stay right here. Don't worry. Just go and take care of it."

"You have to promise. I mean it. You promised, okay?"

After making me promise two or three more times, Sol finally let go of my clothes, though her face still showed some apprehension. As I watched her hesitantly step deeper into the bushes, I pulled out a cigarette from my pocket and lit it. Taking a slow drag, I heard the rustle of fabric as she undressed, followed by the sound of trickling water. The situation felt incredibly awkward. Did she not feel any embarrassment about having a man standing nearby? Or maybe she didn't even see me as a man. Neither possibility was particularly flattering, so I took another drag from my cigarette to distract myself.

By the time the cigarette was almost burned out, the sound of her finishing up reached my ears. Soon after, the soft crunch of footsteps on grass signaled her return. When she saw me waiting as promised, her face visibly brightened, which was a relief, I suppose.

"Thank youuu."

"Seriously, you need to stop acting like such a baby. You can't keep this up."

"Hehe, I'm sorryyyy."

Watching her giggle with an unbothered expression, I let out a small sigh and turned to leave—only for Sol to suddenly leap into my arms. The abruptness of it startled me, and I accidentally dropped my cigarette. What was with this sudden display of affection?

As if she found my flustered reaction amusing, Sol pressed her face against my chest with a warm smile, rubbing her cheek against me like a cat.

"Orabeoni."

"Mm, yes?"

"To be honest... yesterday, you were a little scary."

"...I see."

So, she did feel that way. I had suspected as much. Stabbing that knife into the vagrant's neck without hesitation might have come across as cruel. However, since Sol didn't seem to be trembling or visibly fearful while nestled against me, I quietly waited for her to continue. After lingering in my embrace for a moment, she finally spoke again, her voice cautious.

"But... Orabeoni, you're always strong and kind. If it weren't for you, I probably..."

Her words trailed off as if she couldn't bear to finish the thought, and she closed her eyes. Watching her like this, I sighed inwardly. Yet, I couldn't deny the strange feeling growing inside me as I held her.

The woman clinging to me now was destined to awaken as the Priestess Of Brilliance, a legendary player known across the entire continent. Stories circulated even in high-ranking circles about how the Odin Clan, a group comprising the strongest players, had once vied to recruit An Sol into their fold. Her reputation was unmatched.

Even though I had worked hard and gained my own share of recognition, I couldn't compare to her in terms of raw talent or prestige. She stood at a height I could barely fathom from my current position at that time. And yet, here she was, leaning on me for support, seeking comfort. That realization sent a peculiar sensation coursing through me.

Caught up in that feeling, I found myself tightening my arms around her. Sol let out a surprised gasp but soon relaxed, her expression softening warmly. My left hand rested on her back, while my right stroked her ebony-black hair. As I held her gently, I murmured softly.

"Should I have let that woman go yesterday instead? Is that why I scared you?"

Sol shook her head vigorously at my words, the motion tickling my chest. I chuckled inwardly, glad to see the reaction I'd been hoping for. Her earlier unease melted away completely, replaced by a serene, faintly smiling face. It seemed my touch comforted her, as she opened her mouth to speak again in a quiet, content tone.

"Mm… no, I won't be scared anymore. Hyun-oppa said so. He told us that if we want to survive, we need to be like Su-Hyeon-hyung. He told us to stay sharp and focused, that if it weren't for you, we'd all be dead. He said we should stick close to you and follow your lead no matter what… So, I'm going to trust you, Orabeoni. So please… don't abandon me."

Did Hyun really say something so thoughtful? If so, it meant I had firmly secured my place in their hearts. What had once been blind dependence was now transforming into steadfast trust as we journeyed through the depths of this Forest Of Midnight.

"I won't abandon you. But Hyun got one thing wrong. It's not about simply doing as I say—it's about all of us thinking together and working hard. And… this kind of clinging—"

"I know. I understand. But… just for now, I want to stay like this for a little while."

Though a part of me wanted to hold her a little longer, I wasn't someone who couldn't control myself. I gently began to loosen my embrace, but Sol, unfazed, buried her face in my chest again and nodded firmly.

"I'll work hard too. I'll do my best—enough to make you proud of me. So, please…"

"Please?"

"Can't we stay like this a bit longer?"

"..."

"And… Could you stroke my hair? Please, hurry."

Interpreting my silence as agreement, Sol began rubbing her cheek against me again, insisting softly yet persistently. Watching her, I gave a small shrug, then raised my hand and complied.

As my fingers gently ran through her hair, I couldn't help but feel that something had shifted between us. From today onward, it seemed clear that Sol's perception of me had deepened and changed in some significant way.

*

"How's your body holding up?"

"Feeling great! When I checked this morning, my Resistance stat went up by 1. It's almost unbelievable how quickly I'm recovering. I even feel more agile than before."

"Hmm. That's good, but since you're in close combat, make sure to keep an eye on your Resistance stat. Otherwise, you'll end up as fragile as glass."

"Heh, got it."

An Hyun let out a satisfied chuckle, clearly pleased with his improved stats. Beside him, Yun-Jung pouted a bit, though her expression still hinted at happiness for him. Watching him, I couldn't help but feel a pang of envy myself. I'd love to raise my own stats, especially Vitality.

When someone suffers injuries that exceed their stat limit, there's a risk their Resistance decreases. However, if the damage is only slightly beyond their limit—or just below it—healing properly can lead to an increase in the Resistance stat. It's like how a cleanly broken bone fuses back stronger when it heals. The body adjusts to injuries, becoming more resilient.

Leaving An Hyun to twirl his spear and revel in his recovery, I began breaking down our camp. After a quick breakfast, we set off again, heading toward the alchemist's dungeon.

I was certain that the traces we'd seen at the forest's edge didn't belong to vagrants. I'd been tracking those same signs, and they were still present, leading deeper into the forest. It seemed whoever left them had ventured quite far in.

The later sections of the Forest Of Midnight were nothing to take lightly, even for seasoned players. For this group to push so deep suggested there was something important driving them forward. I suspected that something might be the dungeon of the ancient alchemist, Vivienne.

"Feels like we'll be swarmed by another horde today."

An Hyun, who had been keeping watch, stepped forward and struck up a conversation. It was probably on his mind after yesterday's encounter with the wolf pack. Even as he spoke, he maintained his vigilance, which I appreciated.

"That was definitely one of the more dangerous fights so far. Packs like that aren't unheard of, but they're not exactly common either. Anyway, once we're done with this expedition, let's get you some proper gloves."

"Gloves? Oh, you mean armor? I'm still wearing the standard gear we got at the Player Academy, though…."

"That's just leather. It won't offer much protection. Since you're a spearman, something like chainmail or scale armor might be better—more flexible and suitable for movement than plate mail."

"Ah, I see. I know a bit about weapons, but I'm clueless when it comes to armor. Still, thinking about yesterday's fight, it does seem like having better gear would make a difference. The less I have to worry about defense, the more I can focus on attacking with my spear. But… wouldn't that kind of equipment cost a fortune?"

I nodded in agreement. Proper armor from a reputable blacksmith would be far beyond what most beginner players could afford. For novices, just scraping by to cover daily needs was hard enough. The fact that we'd managed to acquire new weapons for this first expedition was, by rookie standards, practically extravagant.

"That's true. Unless we hit some jackpot along the way, even as seasoned players, there's no guarantee of steady, significant income. In the end, we'll have to start saving diligently from now, preparing piece by piece."

"If it comes to that, we still have the GP we got from the initiation ceremony. So don't stress too much!"

"No, absolutely not. Like I've said before, that's our last resort. GP is not to be touched unless absolutely necessary. We'll need it later for something, I'm sure. For now, we work with what we have."

"Hyung, money really is the root of all problems, isn't it?"

Hyun clicked his tongue and muttered with the air of someone far older than his years. I couldn't help but chuckle at his prematurely jaded tone and nodded in agreement. Among us, Hyun had adapted most quickly to the realities of Hall Plain. His recognition of his own shortcomings in battle and his thoughtfulness about the future were admirable traits.

After a brief chat, I activated my Sense and Third Eye abilities. The traces left by the group that entered before us were becoming more pronounced. If the pace held, we'd likely catch up with them by tomorrow—or the day after at the latest.

Of course, I had no intention of joining forces with them. If we were lucky enough to discover the dungeon first, I'd claim first rights. Veteran players typically respected the concept of discovery rights. But even if they reached it first, I wasn't particularly worried.

'If my memory is right... They fail spectacularly and all end up dead. No, not just dead—it's more complicated than that. Three people... no, maybe just one? It's a long story, but…'

The Alchemist's Dungeon wasn't supposed to be discovered yet. It would only come to light two years later, after I uncovered the Cave of Wailing and other ruins in quick succession. But if the caravan ahead of us stumbled upon it now, I was almost certain they'd meet their end.

They'd likely fail to clear the dungeon, leaving their remains as grim reminders of their attempt. If that happens, there is no need to rush. I could camp nearby, wait for a few days, and then explore it myself. By then, the traps and monsters near the entrance would likely have been dealt with, making my approach easier. Looting their equipment would also net us some valuable gains.

Having finished my mental calculations, I quickened my pace. The sooner we cleared the dungeon, the sooner we could move on to the Ruined Laboratory and the Cave of Wailing. My companions, unaware of my thoughts, simply struggled to keep up with me as I surged forward.

.

.

.

.

You can read advance chapters and view R-18 images of the characters on pat reon page.

pat reon.com/GreenBlue17

200 Power Stones for 1 extra chapter.

5 New reviews for 1 extra chapter.

Goal refresh every week.