Memorize

A tiny sandwich was impaled on the slender fork. From the pierced surface, hot liquid oozed out, steaming as it dripped down the fork. It looked like some kind of coagulated dairy product, the glossy yellow liquid shimmering. I wasn't sure if it was worth the steep price, but it definitely looked delicious.

I brought it to my mouth and took a bite, feeling something burst inside. A sweet yet tangy flavor filled my mouth instantly.

Seeing me eat, the others quickly reached for their own sandwiches. It's a sandwich, after all—small or not, it's still a sandwich. An-Hyun grabbed his and shoved it down his throat in one go. He chewed voraciously, and I saw his Adam's apple bob up and down. It looked like he barely chewed before swallowing.

"Wow, it's super tasty, but it's not even enough to tickle my stomach."

An-Hyun smacked his lips and picked up a cookie. The clan members also started eating their sandwiches, comparing them to Go Yeon-Joo's cooking. After a brief tasting session, the verdict was thankfully positive. They all agreed that Go Yeon-Joo's food was delicious. She scoffed, "Oh, please. You were just whining about the inn earlier," but a faint smile played on her lips.

I set down my half-bitten sandwich and lightly nudged Ha-Yeong. She was chewing when she turned to me, startled. I gave her a subtle look, and after a moment, she nodded once or twice, understanding my intent. She swallowed, then parted her lips slightly.

"───. ───. ───."

No need for words—she knew what I meant. It wasn't telepathy; it was just that she was so experienced and well-adapted to these situations. Her internal skills might be slightly lacking, but those were things I could cover for her.

Having memorized the incantation, her clear voice calmly resonated around the table.

"Block Field. Reverse."

"Oh."

Block Field with Reverse. As I've said before, Block Field can block all sound from going in or out. But Ha-Yeong had tweaked the external part using an advanced application of her magic circuits. The intangible barrier she'd cast now allowed external sounds to come in while keeping internal sounds from leaking out. It was a subtle difference between players who'd mastered advanced techniques and those who hadn't. In battle, that small difference could mean life or death.

"Player Go Yeon…"

Before speaking, I mentally organized the upcoming events. Right now, we were at the stage where the Golden Lion Clan and their allied clans had suffered a massive loss of power due to the failed Iron Mountains expedition. Next would come the weakening of control over the Northern Continent, including the great city of Babara, followed by a conscription order and the rise of vagrants exploiting the chaos. We had about a month before that gap opened.

Snapping out of my thoughts, I looked up to see Go Yeon-Joo staring at me blankly. She'd probably reacted to me calling her name, only for me to pause mid-sentence. I quickly continued.

"Joo."

"…Yes, go ahead."

"I need information on the Iron Mountains expedition."

"I was already planning to look into it. But it'll take some time. What specific information do you need?"

"The status of the participating clans and a tally of their losses. I don't need minor details—just the big picture. Even though it'll come to light soon, I need to get ahead of the information. The sooner, the better."

"Hmm. Got it. I'll move as quickly as I can."

Go Yeon-Joo responded in her brisk tone and gave a playful wink. Seeing her reaction, I felt a sense of reassurance deep down.

The Golden Lion Clan was about to make a series of blunders. One of them was trying to downplay the damage from this expedition—a desperate move to maintain their control, but it was like putting a bandage over a gaping wound. This behavior would later significantly influence other cities' leading clans to break away. While it wasn't the direct cause, it provided a convenient excuse.

Having entrusted Go Yeon-Joo with this critical task, I turned to the other clan members.

An-Sol was crying. An-Hyun had probably swiped her cookie. I handed her my share, and her tears stopped. Vivienne's eyes sparkled as she stared at my half-eaten sandwich. When I passed her the fork, she dove in like a possessed woman, eagerly licking the oozing yellow liquid.

Just as I calmed the atmosphere and was about to get to the main point, I overheard something.

"Hey, you didn't even finish eating. Why are you getting up?"

"Shut up. I told you something's off. It feels like the Block Field was breached."

"You said there was no trace, didn't you?"

"I don't know. Either I'm imagining it, or there's no trace at all. Let's get out of here. If it's the latter, staying feels too risky."

A group of players heading toward the entrance caught my eye. The one leading them felt oddly familiar. It wasn't their face—I couldn't see it clearly due to long hair draped beside neatly trimmed bangs. But the aura they gave off felt familiar. I activated my Third Eye again.

Player Status

Name: Heo Yuri (Year 4) 

Class: Normal Mage Master 

Nation: Babara 

Clan: Reverse 

True Name · Nationality: Mad Flame Jester · South Korea 

Sex: Female (25) 

Height · Weight: 165.5cm · 45.5kg 

Alignment: Aggressive · Sharp 

< Stats > 

[Strength 55] [Resistance 48] [Agility 64] [Vitality 56] [Magic 92(+1)] [Luck 52] 

< Stat Comparison > 

Kim Su-Hyeon: 544/600~ 

(Remaining Stat Points: 12) 

[Strength 96(+2)] [Resistance 92] [Agility 98] [Vitality 72] [Magic 96] [Luck 90(+2)] 

Heo Yuri: 367/600~ 

(Remaining Stat Points: 0) 

[Strength 55] [Resistance 48] [Agility 64] [Vitality 56] [Magic 92(+1)] [Luck 52] 

Heo Yuri. Reverse Clan. The moment I read the lead player's info, I let out a dry laugh. I thought they looked familiar, and sure enough, they were someone I remembered.

The Reverse Clan persists into the latter half of Hall Plain. They're a distinctive group in their own right. They don't have any standout players reaching the top 10, and Secret or Rare Classes are few and far between.

But there was a time I wanted to join them. If Han So-Young hadn't scouted me, I'd have applied without hesitation. Why? Because the Reverse Clan is defined as a gathering of hardworking players.

They proved that even ordinary players could become strong. One famous anecdote is their clash with the Odin Clan from the Southern Continent. Odin had some of the most elite players at the time, yet Reverse fought them toe-to-toe without backing down.

They were fiercely aggressive. At the heart of that aggression was their elite unit, the Assassination Squad, whose reputation was known even to players from other continents. Rumor had it that even Vagrant avoided them at all costs.

Suddenly, I wondered why they were here. A flurry of complicated thoughts crossed my mind, but they quickly exited through the entrance. I stared at the doorway for a moment before shaking my head calmly. If they were Reverse, they weren't enemies. We'd allied with them in the past, and even reflecting on my first life, there was nothing particularly troubling about them.

My goal is to build a clan like Odin—small and elite. The biggest drawback of such a clan is the lack of numbers. The solution? Form alliances with other clans to bolster our forces. The Reverse Clan is perfect for that. With plenty of ordinary players and their eventual reputation as a combat powerhouse, they're an ideal fit.

I chuckled softly, glanced at the spot they'd left, and turned back to the table. Meeting old acquaintances unexpectedly had made me nostalgic. Contact with them would come later, so this encounter was premature.

Anyway, it was time to explain to the clan why we came to Babara.

Having founded the Mercenary Clan, we needed a base for our future activities. With enough funds, most would think of Babara. But I had no intention of setting up here. I knew all too well what would happen to this city after the civil war. The only reason we came was to gauge the current situation.

I looked at Vivienne, who was smacking her lips while sucking on her fingers, and slowly began to speak.

"Let's pick up the conversation we couldn't have in Mule. Listen carefully, everyone."

"""Yes."""

The kids responded in unison. I double-checked the Block Field just to be safe, then continued in a low voice.

"As you've all heard, the Golden Lion Clan failed the Iron Mountains expedition. For now, I plan to observe how things unfold. To do that, it's best to be at the center of the action, where things are most sensitive. We won't need much time—just one week. We'll stay in Babara for a week, then head to another city. Of course, I don't intend to waste that week. Any questions?"

Ha-Yeong immediately raised her hand. I nodded, granting her permission to speak.

"Player Go Yeon-Joo is gathering information. You said we won't be idle for the week, so what will the rest of the clan be doing during that time?"

"Good question. There are a few unresolved issues from Mule. Once we move to another city, we'll start full-scale operations. Before that, I plan to address those issues. We'll likely spend the week sorting them out."

"Unresolved issues…?"

"Those involve personal matters, so it's tricky to discuss them openly. But they're problems we absolutely need to resolve. Since I can't talk about them in front of everyone, I'll address each clan member individually."

There were several reasons for coming to Babara. The biggest was, as I mentioned, to closely monitor the flow of Hall Plain. Recruiting new members, sorting equipment (like binding the Mimic), and registering the clan emblem were secondary tasks.

So much has changed since my first life. Too many things happened in Mule, so there's no guarantee the future I know will unfold as expected. In other words, things could shift unpredictably. At this critical juncture, with the situation potentially changing rapidly, I needed to observe these shifts and adjust my plans accordingly.

My head was filled with complex thoughts. I let out a deep sigh and glanced out the window. The sunset's glow was slowly fading, replaced by the creeping dusk. I stretched lightly. It was about time for players who'd gone exploring outside the city to return. Rather than scrambling for a crowded inn later, it'd be better to move now.

After laying out a few more precautions, I slowly stood up. As I did, the clan members followed suit. At the counter, I saw the first waitress, looking glum. I felt a bit bad for her, but I wasn't about to tip again.

"Four gold, seventy silver."

"Thank you! Come again!"

Still thinking it was a steep price for snacks, I paid and headed for the entrance. As I opened the door of Breeze, the cool evening breeze wrapped around me before slipping away.

At that moment, a fleeting thought of Kim Han-Byeol crossed my mind.

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