Memorize

After I nearly lost consciousness, our party stumbled out of the dungeon, trembling with unease. Amidst the chaos, there was a near-disaster where we almost left behind two fallen players. Thankfully, Vivienne pointed them out, allowing us to carry them out one by one. Judging by their still-unconscious state, it was clear Vivienne must have pulled some mischief midway through. When I glared at her sharply, her shifty avoidance of my gaze only confirmed my suspicion.

"Oppa, are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Don't worry too much."

"Still…"

While we were walking through the forest after leaving the dungeon, An-Sol approached me with a worried expression. She kept glancing at me, unable to hide her concern. Though her genuine worry warmed my heart, my mind was in disarray. The correlation between Hwajung's power and my Vitality had deviated far beyond my expectations.

An-Sol kept trying to speak to me, but I shook my head while hoisting another player onto my back. Perhaps overhearing our conversation, Yun-Jung, who was leading the way, turned her head and spoke up.

"Oppa, if it's too much, let me carry them. The mana reversal phenomenon from last time is still bothering me… I can't help but worry."

"I'm fine. Just focus on keeping an eye out ahead. Since Hyun and I are already carrying one player each, you're the most important person right now. Of course, if push comes to shove, we can just set them down, but we have to be prepared for sudden ambushes."

"Ugh… Do you think I don't know that? I'm just worried about you!"

"The area is safe. Since this is a shortcut to Mule, we should be able to reach it by tomorrow." Vivienne interjected.

Yun-Jung shot her a glare before turning her head away. Seeing her misdirected frustration made me want to console her a bit, but my mind was too preoccupied. After using my power, I had nearly collapsed from exhaustion. The intensity was far too severe to dismiss as mere dizziness.

I didn't expect it to be this severe. Honestly, if this sort of thing were to happen repeatedly in the future, it wouldn't be something I could dismiss lightly anymore. Of course, I still had some unused stat points, but my subtle desire to invest them in strength, agility, or magic left me undecided.

Perhaps sensing my deep thoughts, An-Hyun silently followed behind me. On his back was a female player who appeared completely unconscious, her body limp. Watching An-Hyun grow day by day, I resolved once again to help him find a Spear Master. Then, I returned to my earlier train of thought.

No matter how much I mulled it over, dealing with my stat points felt beyond my current capacity. If I were to dump all the remaining points into Vitality and calculate the maximum points I could potentially earn in the future, I might just be able to reach 90. But that was it. The allure of having 101 stat points was simply too great to give up so easily.

After deliberating on this and that for a while, I shook my throbbing head and emptied my mind. Since it wasn't an issue I could resolve immediately, it seemed wiser to focus on the present situation. What mattered now were the items we had obtained in the dungeon, the two rescued players, and returning to the city for Vivienne's treatment. And after a brief rest, there was also the preparation for exploring the Ruined Laboratory. Even without my stat dilemmas, there was a mountain of tasks awaiting us. While I had managed to start things off on the right foot, the world of Hall Plain was one where a single misstep could lead to losing everything.

At any rate, I decided that once we returned to Mule, I would take the day to rest and clear my thoughts.

I cleared my mind and glanced absentmindedly at the group one by one. Suddenly, I felt an intense longing for a woman. At least when embracing someone, I could let go of all other thoughts. It had been a long time since I had savored the comforting warmth of mutual affection and intimacy.

Yun-Jung's sharp expression caught my eye, her slightly furrowed brows accentuating her fiery personality. Below them, her long, straight hair framed her face, and the curve of her chest stood out prominently. Her hair hadn't been this long during the Rite of Passage, but the longer style suited her well. Then there was Sol's innocent face, her pale, slender neck catching my attention, as well as her small, delicate lips. As I began to shift my gaze to Vivienne, I snapped out of it. What was I thinking about these girls?

Was I just frustrated? It seemed like I needed to embrace someone soon to relieve this pent-up tension. I felt disgusted with myself for the first time in a long while. Letting out a sigh, I adjusted the player slipping down on my back. Come to think of it, I still didn't know who these players were.

Since leaving the dungeon, my mind had been preoccupied with Hwajung and my stat issues, leaving no room for other thoughts. I had even refrained from taking the lead to avoid further distractions. Although I hadn't found a solution, having at least compartmentalized the issue for now, I activated the Third Eye. Perhaps thanks to some rest and ample healing, the lightheadedness I felt earlier didn't return this time.

< Player Information (Player Status) >

1. Shin Sang Yong (2nd Year)Class: Normal Mage ExpertNation: BabaraClan: NoneTrue Name / Origin: Seeker of the Truth of Magic Squares · Republic of KoreaSex: Male (28)Height / Weight: 183.7cm · 69.2kgAlignment: Lawful · True

[Strength: 40] [Resistance: 42] [Agility: 45] [Vitality: 40] [Magic: 85] [Luck: 60]

2. Jung Ha-Yeong (2nd Year)Class: Normal Mage ExpertNation: BabaraClan: NoneTrue Name / Origin: Water Drop of the Lake · Republic of KoreaSex: Female (26)Height / Weight: 166.5cm · 42.8kgAlignment: Lawful · Good

[Strength: 34] [Resistance: 38] [Agility: 40] [Vitality: 32] [Magic: 87] [Luck: 80]

I had glanced at their stats absentmindedly, but my eyes widened in surprise. Both were mages, and for second-years, they seemed… quite capable. Initially, I had wondered what sort of reckless bravado had driven them into the depths of the Forest Of Midnight, but after checking their stats, I could understand.

Suddenly, I felt it was a good decision to come to Mule. Initially, it was just a place I had operated in before (though, to be fair, there's hardly a place I haven't worked in), and my main goal was to find the rare class for Hyun. But unexpectedly, I had been reaping unexpected rewards, both in terms of talent and resources.

I glanced over at Sol. Her blank expression as she trudged along made me wonder—could this all be connected to her luck?

Feeling the warmth of the person I was carrying on my back, I started pondering how to handle the two newcomers. If I recruited them, they would both be quite useful. I especially liked that they could immediately contribute to our strength. Although it's said that the second year marks the beginning of one's limits, their stats weren't fully developed yet. Beyond the fourth or fifth year, improving one's stats becomes nearly impossible, but for now, there is still some room for growth depending on the individual.

Their abilities were promising, and their alignments were decent. I'd have to discuss it with them once they regained their composure, but they both seemed like strong candidates for recruitment.

It seemed we had been walking for an entire day since leaving the dungeon. Despite the exhausting march, everyone managed to keep up without falling behind, thanks to the Vitality training from the Player Academy. More importantly, the path Vivienne had shown us was incredibly efficient—a true shortcut. Considering she had lived in the forest for over a century, it wasn't surprising that she had such extensive knowledge of the area. This incident seemed to have slightly changed how the others viewed her.

We started our return late in the afternoon, and after walking all day, we arrived just as the sun was setting. Only when I raised my head to see the plains we had first crossed did I let out a sigh of relief. The others, perhaps also recognizing the area, quickened their pace toward the familiar sight.

The group had been quiet during the journey. I had a lot on my mind, so I didn't talk much, and An-Hyun, carrying another player on his back, seemed too exhausted to do anything but breathe heavily. As a result, Yun-Jung and Sol wore anxious expressions, and Vivienne quietly observed everyone's mood. While the subdued atmosphere wasn't necessarily bad, it did feel a bit uncomfortable.

Leaving the dense forest behind, we hurried along the path that cut through the plains. In the distance, Mule came into view.

Perhaps because of the time of day, scattered groups of players could be seen here and there. As we got closer to Mule, the number of people steadily increased. It seemed we had arrived just before nightfall, perfectly timed. Despite many players having already moved toward Babara, the number of those remaining suggested there were others who shared my line of thinking.

The others, too, seemed a little overwhelmed by seeing so many players after such a long time. Not knowing where to rest their gazes, they fidgeted awkwardly.

In a low voice, I finally spoke.

"We're no different from those players. Don't look like beginners; walk in confidently."

With a tired voice, I urged the others to stop dawdling. Vivienne, in particular, was startled and lowered her head after realizing her surroundings. It seemed the bustling city and its players, whom she hadn't seen in a long time, had caught her off guard.

I noticed several gazes turning our way. Vivienne had initially been in a state of undress, and though we managed to dress her in the undergarments and robe taken from Jung Ji-Yeon, it wasn't a perfect fit. The robe was tight on her taller frame, accentuating her figure in an almost indecent way. Her beauty and body didn't go unnoticed, as some rough-looking male players stared openly, their gazes uncomfortably lingering.

I sighed and gave Vivienne a look. She immediately brightened and clung to my side.

"Hey, can you not stick so close?"

"Can't you see how tired he is right now?"

What is even happening here? I glared at Yun-Jung and Sol, both of whom were grinding their teeth, their eyes practically shooting daggers at Vivienne. Vivienne shrank under their intense looks, lowering her head. An-Hyun, observing the whole scene, clicked his tongue and spoke up.

"Yun-Jung, Sol. What's gotten into you two? This is embarrassing. I get how you feel, but don't gang up on her so much, especially after what Hyung just said. It's kind of pitiful to watch."

As soon as An-Hyun finished speaking, their jealousy flared even more. An-Hyun—the clueless idiot. Vivienne, on the other hand, lit up at his defense, grinning brightly at him. It was like pouring oil on an open flame.

Although An-Hyun's straightforward and cheerful nature was one of the reasons I brought him along, hoping he'd get along well with Yun-Jung and Sol, this rocky start didn't inspire much confidence.

The surroundings were lively with chatter. Some players complained about wasted efforts, poor paths, and exhaustion, yet their mouths never stopped moving. Among the crowd, there were also those with somber expressions, likely mourning the loss of comrades during their expeditions.

The sun had set by now, and the city walls of Mule, which had seemed distant just moments ago, loomed large ahead of us. The resident guards who had greeted us on our departure were still stationed there, saluting as they watched players return.

We passed through the gates, finally stepping into the city.

The first expedition was complete, and we had made it back to Mule.

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