Memorize

The woman gently set down the meal and retreated with a modest gait. Her movements were clearly different from just a moment ago. The food laid out on the table consisted of a vegetable salad, toasted bread, cream stew, and a meat pie. To be honest, I had ordered Course A, but it felt somewhat ambiguous to call it a course meal. Still, I remembered it being cheaper than the other dishes and reasonably tasty.

It certainly wasn't a lively atmosphere for chatting and eating. Nevertheless, since the food was served, An-Hyun, who had been licking his lips, was the first to pick up his spoon. I also scooped up a generous portion of the steaming cream stew and pushed it into my mouth. The rich and mild texture spread throughout my mouth, and I soon felt it melting on my tongue.

"Oh… this is really delicious! It really seems to melt away." An-Hyun exclaimed excitedly. An-Sol also picked up a piece of bread and cautiously took a bite. Soon, Sol's eyes widened in surprise, and she began to chew faster. Watching both of them enjoy their meal brought a sense of satisfaction to my heart. However, there was one person who had yet to touch her food.

Yun-Jung wasn't someone who usually ate a lot (let's make an exception for alcohol), but she definitely wasn't the type to nibble at her food either. However, now she was merely swirling her chopsticks around, seemingly not eating at all. Her eyes were dazed, and her gaze seemed scattered, suggesting that she had experienced a severe shock internally. Given that she was directly subject to the mana discharge filled with murderous intent and was in close proximity, she must have felt something entirely different from the others.

Having gone through a similar experience in the past, I could somewhat understand Yun-Jung's feelings at that moment. Humiliation. Disdain. Self-loathing. Helplessness. It was a dirty feeling known only to those who had experienced it. Since this was a situation I had somewhat intended, I felt a twinge of guilt. Being overwhelmed by magical power essentially proved that one's skills were inferior to the other player's.

However, it was ultimately a process that had to be endured. I believe that all these experiences contribute to the growth and development of the kids. No one knows how many situations similar to this they will face in the future.

Now, we were all legitimate players who had stepped into the vast world of the Hall Plain. It wasn't just about comparing with new players; we had to compete with countless existing players as well. In that sense, the kids were still like chicks—newly hatched ones at that.

The kids did not yet understand hunger. They didn't know how to act carefully, nor could they distinguish when to step forward and when to hold back. Simply put, the kids lacked a sense of desperation. Of course, I could say that part of this was my fault as well, as they had been frolicking within my enclosure since the rite of passage.

Even if it was just luck for now, if they continued with this attitude, would they be able to survive in the Hall Plain for the next ten years or more? I would answer "no" with a 99% probability. Even I, who had always tried to act cautiously and avoid stepping forward, had to cross countless danger zones.

Right now, it was literally the Maginot Line. The killing among players, known as PK, was the last line of defense. In the northern continent, there was still a tendency, albeit subtle, for existing players to avoid killing each other. At least for now. That's why the vagrants are currently being universally rejected.

However, soon after the First Alliance War broke out, the situation took a complete turn. In the late stages, regardless of the circumstances, PK (player killing) became common, and the lines between allies and enemies became clearly blurred. Moreover, it became increasingly common for yesterday's enemy to become today's ally, and yesterday's ally to turn into today's enemy. We had to survive in this rapidly changing Hall Plain.

To ensure survival, I planned to teach the kids survival skills moving forward. For that, I first needed to tighten up their loose minds. That's why I came to the inn called 'The Virtuous Lady', which I thought could provide a lot.

After finishing the meal, I rented two double rooms. Counting the remaining gold, I had a total of 6 gold and 40 silver (+1000 gold) when combined with my weekly earnings. The cost for the meal and room rental was 20 silver per week, so I paid a total of 40 silver.

After dropping off my things in the assigned rooms, I quickly gathered the kids in Hyun's room. An-Hyun was fidgeting with his hands, his face full of excited anticipation, seemingly itching to get out of the city as soon as possible. Yun-Jung's expression was still stoic, while Sol was watching his older brother closely.

Unaware of the mood, Hyun spun his arms around and spoke up.

"Hyung, so from now on, the four of us are going to act together in Mule, right? We'll hunt monsters, explore dungeons and caves, and find treasures."

I let out a sigh internally. Why had I been sighing so much since meeting these kids? I looked at An-Hyun, who was as excited as if he was playing a video game. I didn't plan on heading out right away. However, I could see that An-Hyun also desperately needed some mental training. Despite my different reaction, he didn't stop talking.

"Then let's start by forming a clan. What should we name it? Honestly, a name like Golden Lion is just too lame…"

"I can't make one."

"Other… Huh? You're not going to make one? Why not?"

"It's not that I won't make one; I can't make one."

I propped my head up with one hand and let out a clear sigh this time. An-Hyun was enthusiastic about combat training, but during classes on the history or lore of the Hall Plain, he could often be seen dozing off. If he understood that, he wouldn't be suggesting we form a clan right now. Only then did An-Hyun look at my face and close his mouth.

After a brief pause, I spoke in a low voice.

"We currently lack the conditions to officially form a clan with just the four of us."

"Conditions? I thought you only needed one person to form a clan."

It wasn't about the number of people. He had only memorized easy-to-remember things. I clicked my tongue inwardly and continued. I planned to address whatever needed to be clarified. Once we had developed into somewhat experienced players, I wouldn't hold back if I saw this kind of behavior again.

A clan can be simply defined as a gathering of players with similar goals.

Moreover, an official clan wasn't something anyone could just create. The residents, who received divine guidance from angels, manage all matters related to clans at the clan registration office in each city. While this makes it fair, it also means it is quite strict.

That said, there was only one method available to us at this moment. That was to build up our achievements. While accumulating accomplishments would be great, it would take time to influence the mainstream of the Hall Plain.

Unlike achievements, performance has a much broader scope.

Caravans and expeditions must submit performance reports after completing actual missions. The performance reporting process involves visiting the shrine assigned to each city to report on the tasks undertaken. After reviewing the reports, the shrine's officials may decide to assemble an inspection team themselves or request confirmation from a representative clan if they deem it important.

Each of these processes can be seen as contributing to our performance. Every minor detail—such as where a monster appeared, whether a dungeon or cave was discovered, and the content of the exploration—could all potentially connect to our performance.

Once we feel we have accumulated enough performance, we can apply for the approval to establish an official clan, and this process must include a review. With numerous applications submitted daily, and knowing that only a handful are approved each month, it's easy to guess that the review process is quite stringent. Thus, the strength of clans that have established themselves as official cannot be taken lightly.

"Oh…"

As I calmly explained these facts, An-Hyun made a curious expression and said "ho-oh." What kind of "ho-oh" is that? Just looking at Sol, it seemed like she already understood. Eventually, I saw An-Hyun nodding in understanding, and I stepped forward towards the kids. When I noticed the three of them focusing on me, I turned my gaze to Yun-Jung and spoke.

"How does it feel to have taken your first steps into the Hall Plain?"

"…Not very pleasant."

Yun-Jung replied in a subdued voice. I nodded a couple of times and continued.

"Frustrated?"

"…I feel wronged. Frustrated."

Yun-Jung answered my question directly. She had just realized her own helplessness. Of course, considering that she might grow strong enough to rival me in the future, there was some handicap involved. Still, I felt confident about the effectiveness of this realization, so I tightened my resolve.

"I've always told you guys. The Hall Plain is a world full of variables. You never know when or where something will happen. What do you think would have happened if that woman was a vagrant?"

With my straightforward words, everyone fell silent as if they had swallowed honey. But it wasn't over yet.

"Stay alert. Excessive tension can be toxic, but you always need to be on your toes in the Hall Plain. We're not here for a picnic or treasure hunting. We're here to survive and return to Earth. Do you all understand?"

A solemn silence surrounded An-Hyun, An-Sol, and Yun-Jung. An-Hyun lowered his head with a startled expression, while Yun-Jung and Sol wore glum faces.

"You need to understand your frustration. But there's no reason to feel wronged. That simply means you're that weak. If you feel wronged, train and build your strength. If you don't want to experience the humiliation you just felt again, grit your teeth and focus your mind."

I took a moment to look at everyone's faces. It seemed they were beginning to become aware of their current positions, even if just a little. And that meant it was time to slowly unveil my first plan for their growth.

I opened my mouth with a slightly softened voice.

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