Memorize

As we moved into the 9th, 10th, and 11th weeks of training, it seemed like the players were finally hitting their stride. The same people who struggled with simple long-distance runs in the first week were now casually running over 20 laps with smiles on their faces. Seeing everyone complete the training without a single dropout brought a satisfied smile to my face.

By this point, we had about 80 players left. Having over 80 graduates from the Player Academy is quite rare, and as we approached the final 13th week, the atmosphere within the academy started to shift.

The first noticeable change was in the instructors' attitudes towards the new players. Not all of the instructors were from the Golden Lion Clan. About 70% were members of major city clans, while the remaining 30% were selected from clans representing smaller towns and cities, coming here on assignment.

In the beginning, the instructors had been harsh, barking orders as if they were ready to kill. But now, they have become much kinder. It wasn't unusual for them to pull players aside one by one and treat them to a nice meal. In fact, it had become common to see them offering positions outright right after a training session. Of course, this only happened with players who had shown some level of skill.

There was even an obvious attempt at manipulation when new instructors were assigned as "lifestyle coaches." Attractive female instructors were placed in the male dormitories, while charming male instructors were assigned to the female dormitories. Anyone with half a brain could see what the intention behind these transfers was.

Since training ended earlier, I found myself spending more time with my group. Lately, every time we met, An Hyun, An Sol, and Yun-Jung had the same topic of conversation: what direction to take in the future. But no matter what, they all kept looking at me for guidance.

"So, what are you thinking of doing, hyung?"

"Oppa, how about you? You've probably gotten a lot of offers, right? Do you have any plans?"

"..."

While I appreciated their desire to follow me, I felt this wasn't the right approach. It's one thing to ask for advice, but blindly depending on me without thinking for themselves was something I needed to address quickly. I tried to convey my thoughts as tactfully as possible, but Yun-Jung still pouted in response.

"Who said I wouldn't? I just want to hear what you're thinking first," Yun-Jung replied.

"I'm still thinking about it. What if our thoughts don't align?" I asked.

"What do you mean? Of course, I'd follow you," She said confidently.

"Exactly! I trust you too, hyung. You've got this," An Hyun chimed in, nodding along as he listened. Lately, they seemed to treat me as if I was some sort of guaranteed solution. When I asked why they were acting like this, An Sol flashed a bright smile and said, "Because whenever we follow what Su-Hyeon oppa says, things always turn out perfectly, like magic!"

I could only shake my head with a wry smile. It seemed my efforts during the rite of passage and my growing reputation at the Player Academy had created a massive ripple effect among them. While I felt grateful for their trust, I wanted to hold back for now. I knew I'd have to speak up before graduation, but it still didn't feel like the right time.

As for Kim Han-Byeol, she had practically disappeared. From what I'd heard, she and Yun-Jung didn't even acknowledge each other when they passed by. Han-Byeol had shown enough potential to be ranked among the top female players, and it seemed several clans had their eyes on her.

Players with clear potential, like her, were likely reveling in the offers they were receiving, weighing their options. On the other hand, many players who hadn't received any offers were growing increasingly anxious as graduation approached.

Once they left the academy, there would still be opportunities to join smaller clans in smaller or mid-sized cities, even if a large clan wasn't an option. But, understandably, many players were still holding out hope for a spot in one of the larger clans. Rumor had it that some female players were even resorting to bold tactics, getting close to the instructors or seducing them in hopes of securing a place. It was clear that the competition was growing fierce.

Seeing these players growing more confident and relaxed, I couldn't help but scold them, reminding them that we were still in the training period, and they should focus on that for now. After all, there was a reason the Player Academy training lasted for three months. This period, approximately 90 to 100 days, was a golden window for rapidly improving one's abilities.

The others grumbled at first, but when I reminded them that there would come a time when they'd want to improve but couldn't, they quickly fell silent. I, too, focused even more on my training, setting an example. Back when I was striving to reach the level of Sword Master, I never skipped a single day of practice.

And so, time continued to pass, and graduation season gradually approached.

---

We had now reached the 13th week of training, with just one day left before graduation. The players were beginning to wrap up their lives at the academy. The instructors, who had been strict during training, were much more lenient during off-hours, allowing everyone to relax. During this time, the players either took care of personal matters or gathered in small groups to chat.

That day passed quickly, and before I knew it, night had fallen. Since it was the last day, the players who shared the same dormitory held a small gathering. The instructors, though reminding us not to go overboard, turned a blind eye to most of it. It wasn't just our dorm; other dorms were doing the same.

The gathering wasn't anything extravagant—just some dried meat rations and alcohol. But after going so long without alcohol, the players jumped at the chance, drinking and celebrating loudly. I exchanged a glance with An Hyun, and we both nodded, quietly rising from our seats. At Yun-Jung's suggestion, we had decided to slip away from the dorm and have a smaller, private celebration.

We managed to sneak out of the dorm unnoticed. Everyone was too drunk, shouting victory chants and hugging each other. Amid all the chaos, sneaking out was a piece of cake.

As I habitually reached into my pocket, I realized I had forgotten my cigarettes. I must've left them in the dorm. I told An Hyun to go ahead to the meeting spot while I went back to grab them. He laughed, asking why I couldn't just skip a smoke for one night, but as a heavy smoker, I couldn't imagine drinking without a cigarette afterward.

After sending An Hyun ahead, I returned to the dorm to grab my cigarettes and then headed back out. Our meeting spot was a secluded corner of the academic library. It was a bold move, but at this point, getting caught wouldn't be much of a problem.

The deep night sky spread a shadowy dusk over the academy grounds. I crossed the large, empty training field, hurrying toward the building where we were to meet. Just as I was passing the nearby restroom, however...

"Ahh… uhh… ahh…." 

Strange, heated moans seeped from the bathroom. My keen hearing didn't let me miss it. Curiosity piqued, I cautiously opened the tightly shut bathroom door. I tried to open it as quietly as possible, but the creaking of the door echoed around me. However, before I could worry about the noise, the sultry heat radiating from inside engulfed my entire body.

"Ahhh… ahh… hheung!" 

Inside was chaos. The first thing that caught my eye was a scattering of clothes and a player wearing an instructor's cap. Beneath him lay a woman, moaning softly. Her jet-black hair was spread out on the floor, and her long, shapely legs were splayed in both directions, flailing in midair. That face… I was sure I had seen it once or twice before.

The man on top of her was undoubtedly an instructor. Each time he thrust down with all his might, the woman's body wriggled like a fish, letting out unrestrained cries.

"Shhh…! Keep it down! Your moans are too loud!" 

"Ahh…! It's because the instructor is being too intense… Hheung… ugh…!" 

After every thrust, he rhythmically moved his hips. The instructor, seemingly exhausted, paused after a deep thrust and simply remained inside her. I watched as the woman writhed in ecstasy, tightly embracing him.

For a moment, they savored the lingering pleasure. Then the woman, with a blissful expression, opened her lips.

"Did we promise? You were definitely going to let me join your clan…" 

"Don't worry. After the graduation ceremony tomorrow, just wait for me. I'll come and get you." 

Once their conversation ended, they resumed their passionate movements. The lewd sounds filled the bathroom, echoing all around. From their dialogue, I gathered a rough idea of what was happening and quietly closed the door again. Unlike the West Continent, where such actions were forced, there was ultimately no way to completely prevent such occurrences. Even in the strictly regulated North Continent, as long as new female players were willing to use their bodies as bait for such encounters, it was inevitable.

I quickly thought that I needed to head to the meeting place and turned my body. 

"Ah." 

"..." 

I couldn't help but let out a gasp. Somehow, Han-Byeol was standing right behind me, staring at me intently. Despite how relaxed I had felt, I was surprised that I hadn't sensed her presence approaching so closely. I must have been too focused on the intimate scene I had just witnessed. I quickly composed myself and spoke in a calm tone. 

"You startled me. How long have you been there?" 

"I went to your dorm to talk, but you weren't there. So, on my way back, I saw you come out of your dorm again, and I followed you." 

"So you too…?" 

The question of whether she had seen everything was implied, but she seemed to grasp it. Her cheeks turned slightly red as she avoided my gaze, indicating that she must have seen it from the beginning. I felt a little caught, but since I hadn't done anything wrong, I decided to act confidently. For now, I needed to escape this awkward situation and let those two enjoy their time together.

I muffled my footsteps and slowly walked away, heading toward the academic library. She followed closely behind, matching my pace as we walked side by side under the cold moonlight. The earlier awkwardness created a brief silence between us. Han-Byeol was the first to break it. 

"The female player you just saw in there was probably Lee Ji-Young." 

"Lee Ji-Young… I think I've seen her once or twice." 

"Don't you know who she is?" 

Seeing Han-Byeol's wide-eyed reaction, I tilted my head in confusion. Well, it made sense that I didn't know her. She wasn't particularly talented, and we weren't close, so how would I know? She was fairly pretty, but honestly, compared to 'her', Sol, and Han-Byeol, she was just average. I responded with a nonchalant expression.

"I don't know. How would I? We've never even spoken a word." 

At my response, Han-Byeol's face shifted to one of relief. I found myself increasingly curious about Lee Ji-Young. Who exactly was she that Han-Byeol reacted to when I said I didn't know her? Before I could gather my thoughts, Han-Byeol's voice reached me again. 

"It's probably better that you don't know. Even among us, her reputation isn't that great. As you just saw… There have been rumors going around. I never thought I'd actually see it, though. But why were you in that place?" 

"We were having a small graduation celebration in the academic library. On my way, I heard some strange noises coming from the bathroom, so I opened the door and saw that. Anyway, now that we've run into each other, do you want to come along?" 

I wanted to say, "You'll come, right?" but our relationship had been distant, making it hard for me to say that outright. She lowered her head and stared at the ground. Suddenly, I thought her ears peeking out from her long, dark hair looked quite cute. While lost in this trivial thought, I noticed her lips parting slightly. 

"I… want to talk for a moment." 

Now that I thought about it, she did say she had something to discuss. Since I had no reason to hold back now, I nodded in agreement. It had indeed been a while since we had a conversation just the two of us. 

"I got an offer from the Golden Lion Clan." 

"...Okay." 

"They usually don't accept new players right away, but this time they said they would make an exception. Especially since my class is magic related, they said they could offer a lot of help with my growth. And… if I join, they'll recommend me as a candidate for a leadership position." 

At her words, I let out a strong breath, almost a scoff. I had expected them to come at me directly, but the follow-up statement genuinely surprised me. I couldn't grasp what she meant by them helping with growth, but the mention of being recommended for a leadership position made me question my hearing. No matter how talented Kim Han-Byeol might be, that was too much to offer a new player. 

Unless she had a secret or rare class… I suddenly halted in my tracks, struck by a thought that hit me like lightning. Han-Byeol, noticing me stop abruptly, looked at me with confusion in her eyes, but I ignored her and immediately activated my third eye.

As I processed the information displayed in front of me, my mind raced with questions.

Player Information (Player Status)

Name: Kim Han-Byeol (0 Years)Class: Jewel Mage (Beginner)Nation: -Clan: -True Name · Nationality: Born of Stars · Manipulator of Beautiful Light and Luster · South KoreaSex: Female (22)Height · Weight: 170.5 cm · 45.0 kgAlignment: Lawful · Chaos

Attributes:

Strength: 44Resistance: 52Agility: 64Vitality: 48Magic Power: 82Luck: 62

"Oppa…?"

I snapped back to reality at Han-Byeol's voice, nodding reflexively but feeling a mix of confusion and apprehension. Why? How? What does this all mean? I needed to gather my thoughts quickly.

'You told me not to reveal my information to other players.'

'Especially since it is a magic related class, it would help me a lot with my growth.'

It was clear that as a Jewel Mage, Han-Byeol would need significant support from her clan in the beginning stages. The cost of using jewels as magical catalysts was astronomical. However, that wasn't the main issue right now. The fact that Han-Byeol had obtained the class of Jewel Mage meant she hadn't revealed her information to me directly. Furthermore, the fact that she was recommended for a leadership position in the Golden Lion Clan implied that she had likely disclosed her class to them.

I bit my lip in an effort to suppress the inexplicable feeling of betrayal rising within me, but eventually, I let go of my tension. After all, I had decided to treat her as a connection, and if necessary, I was willing to let her go. However, the sudden surge of emotions made me realize that I still harbored some lingering attachment in the depths of my heart.

If I had known from the beginning that she was one of the secret classes, a Jewel Mage, my attitude might have been different. But I didn't want to rationalize my feelings from my own perspective at this point. That was something I despised more than anything.

I set aside my emotions and filled my mind with cold rationality. I took a moment to compose myself, focusing my thoughts. From now on, I would regard her not as a younger sister with whom I had shared experiences, but as an individual player.

"I heard the Golden Lion Clan made an offer to you as well," She said, still maintaining a calm demeanor.

I responded with a composed expression, "I did say I would think about it."

"Have you made your decision now?" 

"Yeah. I'm planning to decline. I have no intention of joining a clan."

"...Why?" 

The moment I uttered my refusal, I could sense her body tense up slightly.

I paused for a moment, then resumed walking. She fell in step beside me, both of us keeping our eyes locked on each other. There was an unspoken tension, filled with complex and subtle emotions reflected in our gazes.

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