Memorize

An Hyun appeared deeply conflicted by Park Dong-Gul's offer. If someone else had proposed forming a team, he might not have struggled so much. An Hyun instinctively distrusted Dong-Gul, sensing an unspoken, dark undertone despite his smooth words.

Regardless, Dong-Gul had the upper hand. Despite his manipulative approach, he managed to bring two of the three minor players (An Sol, Lee Shin-Woo, and Lee Bo-Rim) into his fold.

An Hyun's anxiety had already reached its peak. Although he couldn't abandon his sister, the outcome of her actions had been made clear by the open area incident. To make matters worse, An Hyun's options were effectively removed. Dong-Gul's strategy had left him in a dilemma, unable to act decisively.

If things continued to tilt in Dong-Gul's favor, the likelihood of An Hyun, An Sol, and Yoo Jeong being left behind increased significantly. Dong-Gul, however, was oblivious to this, not understanding that his actions might lead to his downfall. While I and others present assessed people's tendencies and stats to judge survival potential, Dong-Gul neither had that capability nor desired it.

From the start, Dong-Gul and I had different criteria for forming a team. I sought allies who would be useful in the Hall Plain, while Dong-Gul wanted a team he could control according to his preferences.

In this context, the situation could actually work to my advantage.

Ultimately, whether the balance of power shifted depended on Kim Han-Byeol's decision. With me absent, everyone's attention naturally turned to her. After a period of calm contemplation, she glanced around and then stood up, though she still seemed uncertain as she lightly bit her lip.

"I think we should also bring the person who's watching over us."

After a long period of thought, her statement wasn't a direct choice. Those who had been anxiously awaiting Kim Han-Byeol's decision finally let out a collective sigh of relief.

Dong-Gul, acting as if he had made a significant concession, responded with, "Ah, right." He then spoke in a tone that suggested he was willing to allow it.

"Alright… bring him along. While you're at it, give him a rundown and tell him to make his choice. We don't have much time, so get it sorted out. Oh, wait a moment."

As Kim Han-Byeol was turning to leave, Dong-Gul stopped her with a polite smile.

"You and he can be of help. So, make sure to communicate well with each other. I won't hold it against you. After all…"

He glanced briefly at An Hyun before trailing off with a deliberately vague remark.

"Anyway, you're both welcome. I hope you make the right choice."

Dong-Gul's performance was reaching its peak. Lee Shin-Woo, already convinced of Dong-Gul's strength, gave Kim Han-Byeol a small encouraging gesture. At this point, Dong-Gul had practically emerged as the victor. Whether anyone liked it or not, he had achieved his intended goal.

Even if the start was tangled, it seemed that age was not wasted. Lee Shin-Woo and Lee Bo-Rim were unaware that they were being manipulated or perhaps had succumbed to the value of their lives despite knowing the risk.

As Kim Han-Byeol approached, I slowly closed my eyes. I was feeling both a headache and a sense of relief. I could have interfered with Dong-Gul if I wanted, but doing so would have negated the purpose of my departure. More importantly, this situation, though unintended, might turn out to be a win-win for both of us.

Dong-Gul had eliminated the obstacles to his leadership, An Hyun and Yoo Jeong, and I could secure three out of the four individuals I had targeted. It was frustrating to see talented individuals being swayed by smooth talk, but that was their issue, not mine. If I could successfully bring in the remaining person, things might resolve more quickly than expected.

*Rustle, rustle.*

While I had my eyes closed, I heard the sound of grass being brushed behind me. I didn't need to turn around to know who it was. I quickly got up and readied my crossbow on my left arm. Seeing Kim Han-Byeol reminded me of the 'she' from before, stirring up an inexplicable feeling within me. As I aimed the crossbow forward and pretended to carefully survey my surroundings, I soon heard a soft voice calling out to me.

"Hey…"

"Hm?"

Startled, I turned around to find Kim Han-Byeol looking at me with calm eyes. I deliberately rubbed my left arm and made a pained expression before speaking.

"I've heard crying a couple of times, but it doesn't seem to be around here yet."

"Thank you for your hard work. The discussion is nearly over, so you should come with me now."

"Well then, let's go right away."

Just as I was about to turn around with a natural expression, Kim Han-Byeol, as expected, grabbed hold of me.

"Just a moment."

As I turned back, Kim Han-Byeol opened up with a hesitant expression.

"Well… the discussion took an unexpected turn."

"Unexpected turn?"

"Yes. Here's what happened…"

Kim Han-Byeol nodded at my question and began to explain what had transpired. While I wanted to guess her inner thoughts as she spoke, she presented the key points in a very objective manner. Normally, in such situations, discussions tend to become biased one way or another, but I found myself genuinely impressed by her impartiality.

"So this is the current situation. What… what do you plan to do?"

After Kim Han-Byeol finished her explanation, she immediately asked which side I was leaning toward. Although I had already made up my mind, I pretended to be unsure, tilting my head thoughtfully.

"I didn't expect the discussion to go that way. I'm still undecided."

"I feel the same way."

"How do you feel about what that man said?"

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