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Memorize - Episode 45
045 Preparations for Taking Flight
The woman gently set down the meal and retreated with modest steps. It was a markedly different demeanor from earlier. The food laid out on the table consisted only of vegetable salad, toasted bread, cream stew, and meat pie. Honestly, although we ordered Set A, it felt somewhat ambiguous to call it a course meal. Still, I remember it being cheaper than other dishes and tasting decent.
It certainly wasn't an atmosphere for cheerful chatter while eating. Nevertheless, hunger is the best sauce, so Ahn Hyun picked up his spoon first, licking his lips. I too scooped up a spoonful of the cream stew with white steam rising from it and pushed it into my mouth. A rich and mild flavor spread throughout my mouth, then seemed to melt smoothly on my tongue.
"Oh... This is really delicious! It really seems to melt in your mouth."
As Ahn Hyun made a fuss, Ahn Sol also picked up a piece of bread and carefully took a bite. Soon after, Sol's eyes widened as if surprised, and she increased the speed of her chewing. Watching the two eat earnestly, I felt inwardly pleased. However, one person still hadn't touched the food.
Yoo-jung doesn't usually eat a lot (let's make an exception for alcohol), but she's even less of a nibbler. However, now she was just idly stirring her chopsticks without really eating. Seeing her blank eyes and scattered gaze, it seemed she had received a severe internal shock. Well, being the direct target of a mana release filled with killing intent and at close range, she must have felt something on a different dimension compared to the others.
Having experienced something similar in the past, I could somewhat gauge Yoo-jung's current feelings. Humiliation. Disgrace. Self-loathing. Helplessness. A dirty feeling only those who have experienced it would know. Since this was a situation I had somewhat intended, I felt a bit sorry. After all, being overwhelmed in terms of mana proves that one's skills are inferior to the opponent.
But it was ultimately a process they had to go through. I believe all these experiences will become blood and flesh for the kids. Because no one knows how many similar situations they will encounter in the future.
Now we were full-fledged users who had stepped into the vast world called the Hollow Plane. We have to compete not just with other new users, but with numerous existing users as well. In that sense, the kids were still no different from chicks. Newly hatched chicks at that.
The kids don't know hunger yet. They don't know how to be careful, and they don't distinguish between when to step forward and when not to. To put it simply, the kids lacked the emotion of desperation. Of course, I could be partly blamed for this. They had frolicked freely within my protective fence since the Trial of Passage.
Even if luck has favored us so far, if they maintain this attitude, can they survive in the Hollow Plane, which might last over 10 years? I would answer no with 99% probability. Even I, who always tried to be careful and not step forward, had to cross countless dangerous lines.
Right now, it was literally the Maginot Line. PK, killing between users, was maintaining the last line. In the Northern Continent, there was still a tendency, albeit implicit, to avoid killing among existing users. For now, at least. That's why vagrants are commonly ostracized at present.
But soon after the First Allied War breaks out, the situation will reverse 180 degrees. In the extreme latter part, even without unconditional PK regardless of who it is, the boundary between allies and enemies will be clearly divided. Furthermore, it will become commonplace for yesterday's enemy to become today's comrade, and yesterday's comrade to become today's enemy. They must survive in such a rapidly changing Hollow Plane.
For survival, I planned to teach the kids survival skills from now on. To do that, I first needed to tighten up their loosened minds. That's why I came to the
After finishing the meal, I rented two double rooms. Counting the remaining gold, including my wages, we had a total of 6 gold and 40 silver (+1000 gold). The meal + room rental cost 20 silver for a week, so I paid a total of 40 silver.
After letting them unpack briefly in their assigned rooms, I immediately gathered the kids in my and Hyun's room. Ahn Hyun kept clenching and unclenching his fists. His face was full of excited anticipation, seeming eager to go outside the city as soon as possible. Yoo-jung's face was still downcast, and Sol was watching her sister's mood.
The oblivious Hyun swung his arms around and opened his mouth.
"Hyung. So from now on, the four of us will act together in Mule, right? Hunting monsters, exploring dungeons or caves. Discovering treasures too."
I inwardly sighed. Why do I keep sighing since meeting these kids? I stared intently at Ahn Hyun, who was excited as if going on a picnic. I had no intention of going out right away. But before that, Ahn Hyun also seemed in desperate need of solid mental education. Despite my different reaction from usual, Ahn Hyun didn't stop talking.
"Then let's create a clan first. What name will you choose? Honestly, names like Golden Lion are too cheesy..."
"We can't."
"Something else... What? You're not creating one? Why?"
"It's not that we're not creating one, it's that we can't create one."
I put my hand on my head and sighed openly this time. Although Ahn Hyun was enthusiastic about combat training, he was often seen dozing off in classes about Hollow Plane history or settings. If he knew that, he wouldn't be suggesting creating a clan now. Ahn Hyun finally closed his mouth upon seeing my face.
After a brief pause, I opened my mouth in a low voice.
"The four of us currently lack the conditions to create an official clan."
"Conditions...? I thought I heard that even one person could create a clan."
The conditions aren't about the number of people. He only memorized the easy stuff. I inwardly clicked my tongue once and continued. I intended to address everything that needed to be addressed now. Later, when they become somewhat skilled users, if they show this kind of behavior, I won't be so lenient.
A clan can be simply defined as a gathering of users with similar goals.
Moreover, an official clan wasn't something just anyone could create. Residents who received divine revelation from angels, not users, manage all aspects of clans within clan registration offices in each city. As such, while it's fair, it could also be considered strict.
So the only option available to us now was to build up achievements. Of course, it would be even better to accumulate accomplishments, but that was far-fetched at this point as it involves affecting the main stream of the Hollow Plane.
Achievements, unlike accomplishments, have a very wide range of application.
Caravans and expeditions must always report their results after completing any mission. Result reporting is the process of reporting the assigned mission by visiting the temple deployed in each city. After reviewing the report, if deemed important, the temple officials either organize an inspection team themselves or request the representative clan to verify the facts.
Each of these processes could be considered an achievement. Whether monsters appeared in a certain place, whether a dungeon or cave was discovered, what the exploration contents were - every little detail could potentially be linked to achievements.
When you feel you've accumulated enough achievements, that's when you apply for official clan establishment approval, which of course includes a mandatory review process. Although numerous applications are made daily, knowing that the number of approvals per month can be counted on one hand gives you an idea of how rigorous the review is. And as such, the power of clans that have risen as official clans couldn't be entirely disregarded.
"Hooh..."
When I calmly explained these facts, Ahn Hyun muttered "hooh" with a curious expression. What's with the "hooh". Even looking at Sol, it seems she already knew these facts. Eventually, seeing Ahn Hyun nodding as if he understood, I stepped forward in front of the kids. As the three gazes focused on me, I turned my gaze to Yoo-jung and opened my mouth.
"How does everyone feel about taking their first steps into the Hollow Plane?"
"...Not very pleasant."
Yoo-jung answered in a dejected voice. I nodded once or twice and continued.
"Are you angry?"
"...Frustrated. Angry."
Yoo-jung answered immediately to my question. That's how acutely she had realized her own powerlessness just now. Of course, considering that the opponent would grow to rival my current self later, there was some handicap. Still, thinking that the effect was that certain, I put more strength into my voice.
"I've always told you. The Hollow Plane is a world with many variables. You never know what will happen where. What do you think would have happened if that woman had been a vagrant?"
At my relentless words, everyone became dumb as if they had eaten honey. But it wasn't over yet.
"Be tense. Excessive tension is poison, but you should always be tense in the Hollow Plane. We're not here for a picnic, nor are we here to search for treasure. We're here to survive and to return to Earth. Do you all understand?"
A solemn silence surrounded Ahn Hyun, Ahn Sol, and Lee Yoo-jung. Ahn Hyun lowered his head with a stricken face, while Yoo-jung and Sol looked gloomy.
"It's good that you know you're angry. But there's nothing to be frustrated about. It just means you're that weak. If you're frustrated, train and build your strength. If you don't want to feel that kind of humiliation again, grit your teeth and keep your mind strong."
I looked at everyone's faces for a moment. By now, they all seemed to have realized their current position to some extent. And that meant it was time to bring out the first plan to grow the kids.
I opened my mouth in a somewhat softened voice.
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