Memorize

Despite a considerable amount of time passing, we were able to continue moving without any interruptions. As we ventured deeper into the Forest Of Midnight, the dark green hues of the leaves and underbrush began to lighten slightly. This was a clear sign that we were approaching the midpoint of the forest. By significantly increasing our marching speed compared to yesterday, it seemed we could pass the midpoint sooner than anticipated.

"That's strange. I'm pretty sure I dreamed about running into a whole lot of monsters today." An-Hyun remarked, tilting his head quizzically.

"Hah... hah... Dreams are usually the opposite of reality, right?" Yun-Jung panted, her breaths heavy. "Hey, I'm sorry, but can we take a break? It's already been half a day, and we haven't stopped even once."

An-Hyun tilted his head in puzzlement, while Yun-Jung struggled to catch her breath. An-Sol said nothing, but her pale face and lips, visibly bitten multiple times, betrayed her exhaustion. While they had followed without complaint, it seemed they had been silently enduring the strain. Sensing the need for a decent break, I nodded and paused, scanning our surroundings. As soon as I gave my approval, the sound of someone plopping onto the ground echoed behind me.

The caravan's trail was still visible, and the lack of monsters suggested that the distance between us and the caravan was shrinking. It was also possible that the caravan had already dealt with the monsters ahead. However, two questions lingered in my mind.

First, if they had knowledge about the Alchemist's Dungeon, was there any reason for them to clear out all the monsters along the way? Second, if they had indeed eliminated the monsters, why were there no signs of the bodies? These were questions stemming from my perspective, but there were numerous potential explanations to consider.

After pondering for a while, I clicked my tongue and decided to clear my mind. No definitive answers would come from overthinking it now. The best course of action was to follow the caravan's trail and reach the Alchemist's Dungeon as quickly as possible. In the worst-case scenario, they might not even have targeted the dungeon but merely stumbled into the area. However, considering my memory and the circumstances, the odds of them failing rather than succeeding were higher.

Besides, we didn't have much to lose. Even if things went awry, we'd still gain valuable combat experience, which made the venture worthwhile regardless.

As I organized my thoughts and tried to take a moment to rest, a faint commotion broke out among the group that had already settled down. Turning to see what was happening, I caught An-Sol casting an awkward glance in my direction, silently asking for help.

"Why are you curious about useless stuff? Just focus on taking care of yourself." An-Hyun said with a scoff.

"You idiot. Haven't you ever heard that knowledge is power? You ignorant fool." Retorted Yun-Jung, her voice brimming with irritation.

"Yeah, sure, knowledge is power. But when you say it, it doesn't quite fit. For you, ignorance is bliss."

"What did you just say?"

An-Hyun and Yun-Jung were in the middle of a heated spat, trading jabs back and forth. Observing the situation, I realized they were arguing about the current hot topic: the Golden Lion Clan and the Iron Mountain Expedition. While I agreed with An-Hyun's perspective in the present context, I thought it wouldn't hurt to talk to them about it once, especially for the sake of their understanding.

"Hey, moron. Do you honestly think we're capable of participating in an expedition with our current skills? We'd just get ignored, sit on the sidelines, and suck our thumbs while watching everyone else do the work."

"Who said I was planning to go? I'm just curious why everyone's so obsessed with expeditions and marching off like that. Why are you twisting my words?" Yun-Jung shot back.

"I told you, because you're wasting your time being curious about pointless things. Didn't Su-Hyeon hyung already say we should focus on our current situation? Or are you secretly feeling inferior to Kim Han-Byeol or something?"

"What the hell is this?! You little—"

Just as the atmosphere started to grow tense, I casually stepped in and sat down between them. Yun-Jung, who had been on the verge of unleashing a tirade, froze in her tracks upon noticing me and quickly clamped her mouth shut. An-Hyun, too, awkwardly scratched his cheek, avoiding my gaze.

I quietly observed them for a moment before speaking in a calm voice.

"It's not a problem to be curious. In the Hall Plain, information is almost as valuable as life itself. Of course, if you're asking out of mere curiosity or because you want to join an expedition, then it could become an issue."

At my words, Yun-Jung's face brightened. It seemed like she appreciated me taking her side. An-Hyun, on the other hand, pouted and immediately turned sulky. Yun-Jung, with a triumphant smile on her face, briefly flaunted her victory before turning to me and asking,

"Oppa, what exactly is the Iron Mountain Range that everyone's making such a fuss about? Every player I meet at the inn is talking about it."

I took a moment to gather my thoughts before answering her question.

"Currently, the Hall Plain is limited to the eastern, western, southern, and northern continents. To advance into the Central Continent, we need to take the Iron Mountain Range."

"Well, then why don't we just take it?"

"You idiot."

An-Hyun immediately spoke the words I was about to say. I chuckled at Yun-Jung's question and continued.

"If it were that easy to conquer, we would've already done it. The mountain range is home to monsters far beyond anything we've encountered so far—beasts that we can't even begin to imagine."

"So if we get past the Iron Mountain Range, can we enter the Central Continent? And what exactly is there in the Central Continent?"

Yun-Jung's endless questions made me hesitate for a moment. However, seeing the curious expressions on An-Hyun and An-Sol's faces, I realized there was no need to be cautious. Since we were resting, and this information wouldn't hurt, I decided to explain slowly.

"I don't know the details either. Whether the Central Continent will be immediately accessible after crossing the Iron Mountain Range, or if there will be another preparatory continent, we'll have to see. However, what has been confirmed so far is that there's a large city called Atlantis in front of the Northern Continent. It's mentioned in ancient texts. Though it's just from ancient literature, the idea of a new metropolis has sparked players' interest, and they're all eager to get there."

"Atlantis... So, what's so good about taking a big city? If we take it, will we be able to return home?"

"No. No one knows that. But... before we go any further, let me ask you something. Yun-Jung, what do you think is the most important thing for an individual to survive in the Hall Plain?"

Yun-Jung closed her eyes to think for a moment, then started twisting her hair with her fingers and answered.

"Strength. Ability. Stats."

"Exactly. So, an individual's abilities are the most important thing. Having strength doesn't guarantee survival, but it does increase the chances of survival."

"Yeah, yeah. So, if players gain Atlantis, will they be able to gain strength?"

Looking at Yun-Jung, who was nodding, I continued.

"Something like that. The Northern Continent is getting increasingly stablize. A single continent doesn't have an endless supply of dungeons. Most of the expeditions have already been completed. Of course, Mule was discovered recently, but due to factors like the Iron Mountain Range and the small towns, there's relatively less interest. Once cities like Mule stabilize, there won't be much left to do. All that'll be left is hunting the occasional monster. And it's the same on the other continents. Eventually, the players on the Northern Continent will reach a point where they can no longer grow in strength or abilities. Even if it's uncertain whether they can return home, without power, who knows what will happen? Plus, we won't be able to train new players who might become a useful force."

I had spoken at length, but it still didn't feel like enough. I cleared my throat, then, seeing how intently the others were listening, I continued.

"So, if we manage to cross the Iron Mountain Range and establish a foothold in Atlantis, we'll be securing a place with potential for further growth. New monsters, new expeditions, new dungeons, new equipment, and so on. What's more, right now, our stats are relatively low, so we might be able to increase them more easily. But later, when we reach our limits, it'll become incredibly difficult to raise our stats. I heard that when the large city Babara was established a few years ago, all the players who participated in the expansion had their stats boosted as a reward. And they got to claim all the expeditions with decent rewards. That's why everyone is trying so hard to cross the Iron Mountain Range."

Of course, after taking Atlantis, there will still be challenges ahead. Then, we'll have to compete with players from other continents. Atlantis, known as the New Continent, surrounded by Ragnarok, and the Central Continent's large city Terra. I shuddered at the thought of the sacrifices made for the Zero Code within Terra.

As soon as I finished speaking, the others stared at me with their mouths open. They were clearly shocked. After blinking a few times, An-Hyun snapped out of it and spoke in a slightly urgent tone.

"So, hyung. Then wouldn't it have been better for us to stay in the big city? I mean, I'm not doubting your choice. But listening to you talk about it, the benefits seem enormous. If we could level up a bit in Babara and join an expedition, even as part of the crew..."

"Exactly. How arrogant must Kim Han-Byeol be thinking of us by now? Ugh, just thinking about it pisses me off."

So it was Kim Han-Byeol after all. An-Hyun and Yun-Jung seemed uneasy, but only An-Sol stared at me with unwavering eyes. Her gaze was full of trust, and after what happened this morning, she seemed to believe in me without question. Part of me worried that she might become a fanatic, but another part felt an unexpected sense of anticipation.

I cleared my throat to quiet them down.

"Hmm. As I said before, listening to instructors from other clans, not the Golden Lion Clan, at the Player Academy, I think going on an expedition or even joining one right now is foolish. At least, that's my opinion. Of course, I can't be certain, but I trust their words more."

The others seemed a bit relieved, but their unease hadn't completely gone away. Honestly, it was frustrating. If only I could tell them exactly how the expedition got wiped out and how the Golden Lion Clan fell apart afterward, I would. But with a heavy sigh, I knew I had to provide them with a sound enough reasoning if I wanted to make them understand. For now, though, I had to keep up some kind of cover.

"Ugh. Listen carefully. But remember, this is just my opinion, so don't take it too seriously. Right now, the Golden Lion Clan seems to think that the northern continent is somewhat stabilized, and that's why they're rushing to prepare for an expedition. But, in my view, it's far from ideal."

"Oppa, but after stabilizing, isn't an expedition possible? Even if it's a gamble, if they succeed, they hit the jackpot, right?"

"That's true. The problem is that the stakes of that gamble are the lives of the players."

As soon as I mentioned 'lives,' Yun-Jung immediately closed her mouth. The atmosphere had grown significantly heavier compared to earlier.

"I was interested, so I read the records of when they captured the big city Babara. After reading them, the first thing I felt was despair. If Babara was like that, how tough do you think Atlantis is going to be? I don't think it'll be easy. To succeed in the expedition through the Iron Mountain Range, they have to reach a stabilization point on the continent they're currently controlling. They need to fully stabilize it, maximize the strength they can muster, secure a decent number of new players, and then they can think about going on an expedition. The northern continent is still in progress, not fully stabilized yet. Even looking at Mule, we can say the expedition is still premature. Many people probably think the same way. The Golden Lion Clan still doesn't seem to have learned anything, even after seeing what happened with the previous Lord... tsk."

"Huh? The previous Lord?"

Realizing my slip-up, I quickly caught myself. Thankfully, I had already made up a cover story about reading the records, so I was able to steer the conversation away. But I mentally noted that I needed to be more cautious with my words from now on. I composed myself for a moment, then casually nodded toward An-Hyun and continued.

"Apparently, he was the person who played the biggest role in capturing Babara. You've probably heard of him at the Player Academy. Quite impressive, right? To think that someone with just a regular knight class could create the Golden Lion Clan, the current top clan, and achieve that kind of accomplishment."

Seeing the others nodding along with my words, I felt a sense of relief.

"Before they captured Babara, the entire Hall Plain was based in the western cities of Halo, small towns like Beth and Dorothy. They stabilized the eastern cities and then went for Babara. But eventually, the wounds he sustained during that campaign couldn't be treated, and he passed away."

"Yeah, they say if he had still been around, they would have already entered Atlantis."

I barely managed to stop myself from saying something harsh. The truth was, entering Atlantis would have been possible only after the Golden Lion Clan's disbandment and several internal conflicts. While I acknowledge the accomplishment of capturing Babara, there's no guarantee that even if that person was still alive, he would have been able to conquer the Iron Mountain Range.

"Anyway, to survive in the Hall Plain, personal strength is important, but having knowledge in many different areas is just as crucial." I stood up, shaking off my legs after a long break. "We've had a decent rest, but I think it was a useful one for all of you. Now, let's get moving."

"Anyway, now you know the general situation, so just keep it in mind. Right now, there's no point in getting involved in the expedition. Forget about it cleanly. For now, we focus on what we can do."

At my words, An-Hyun looked at Yun-Jung with a smug expression, as if he'd won some small victory. Yun-Jung, with a slightly annoyed expression, nodded and stood up, following my lead.

It was almost time to use the Third Eye. If my guess was right, we'd probably be able to discover the Alchemist's Dungeon within one or two days. I could feel the excitement building.

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