Chapter 40

00040 Make an Offer =========================================================================

After enlisting in the training camp, the instructors fired the first shot of the grueling training from the very next day. And by the end of the first week, the Northern Continent User Academy had proven its notorious reputation for extreme harshness. Out of 130 people, a staggering 17, or over 10%, dropped out of the training. Notably, 15 of them were users of the melee and ranged combat classes.

To reiterate, the Northern Continent is under the jurisdiction of users from South Korea. One thing that differentiates it from other continents is the mandatory military service system. As a result, it was not uncommon to find adult males who were veterans or had some military background.

Perhaps for this reason, the Northern Continent User Academy, which boasted the longest history across the entire continent, reflected a strong military atmosphere. Training aside, even basic living activities, including meals, were strictly controlled, often suppressing the users' freedom.

If it were simply a matter of "the training being tough," one could perhaps endure it with perseverance. However, what truly discouraged the new users was the content of the training. The intensity of the training, which made actual military guerrilla training seem like child's play, caused most users who had proven their qualifications to vomit on the first day, unable to handle the training and ultimately giving up.

Among these, the most notable training was the special weekend training. The date calculation in Hol Plain follows the same method as on Earth, with Saturday and Sunday every seven days being the weekend. This weekend training was the true reason new users left the academy. It also explained why most combat-class users dropped out.

The training involved users fighting each other in 1:1 battles.

Of course, this training excluded mages and priests. The basic principle of mages is to draw out and manifest mana in reality, but in the early stages, it was difficult to draw out and control it, and there was a considerable amount of knowledge to learn. Even dedicating 13 weeks entirely to it, mastering the basics would be a distant goal. Priests were excluded for similar reasons, as they primarily used healing and combat support spells and had few offensive spells.

It would be a huge mistake to think that these user battles were mere sparring matches. They were given sharp weapons and had to actually fight and inflict a certain level of injury on their opponents. Of course, vital areas like the head and heart were protected by sturdy armor, but the rest of the body was left exposed for the fight.

Of course, every effort was made to ensure safety during the battles. Renowned users served as instructors, always ready to intervene in case of unexpected attacks, and skilled priests were on standby.

Despite this, the actual mock combat training was still difficult to accept. In fact, most users cursed it as a crazy training regimen. However, I had a high opinion of this training. It addressed the one concern I had during the initiation ritual with Ahn Hyun and the others.

In Hol Plain, no one knows when, where, or what might happen. Once you leave the city and venture a certain distance, no place can be considered safe. You might fall into a trap, be attacked by monsters or bandits, and the unexplored regions are even more dangerous.

Such situations require users to make quick judgments and react swiftly. The difference between life and death can depend on how quickly one responds. If, in a critical moment, you hesitate and can't bring yourself to stab someone, it can lead to a frustrating situation. Therefore, this training, which familiarizes the body with both inflicting and receiving injuries, is a crucial part of the process.

The only concern was that I could not afford to be injured in the mock combat training. This meant I had to win every battle. Given my durability, it was impossible for the inexperienced users to break through it.

I easily defeated weaker opponents, but facing stronger ones was a bit more challenging. For example, when I fought with Woo Jeong-min, I maintained a defensive stance throughout, and then won by landing a counterattack at a critical moment.

Given this situation, it was inevitable that I would gain some fame. Although it was only among the new users, it wasn't a big deal. The instructors and other users generally agreed that the level of the new users was high, and among them, Kim Su-hyun stood out as particularly capable. Since this was within acceptable limits, I accepted it willingly.

There is a saying, "A sharp awl will eventually poke through a bag." It means that a person with outstanding abilities will eventually stand out. At first, I thought I had to hide myself due to a compulsive notion stemming from old habits and tendencies.

"If this continues, you'll act the same way in the same situation. And there's a possibility that the same situation will repeat itself."

"User Kim Su-hyun. You can't do anything alone."

Acting the same way and being unable to do anything alone—these words from Han Byul and Seraph shook me. This time, I didn't want to lose Yu Hyun, her, and Han So-young. I wanted to step out confidently and help them. This time, I wanted to see a happy ending, not a sad one.

In Hol Plain, one's strength is measured by how many comrades you can trust and rely on. History and my experience prove this. Even a user with 101 points in strength, who dominated an era, ultimately fell to the power of a coalition. Therefore, to gather such comrades, one must have a certain level of ability and reputation.

I realized that my thoughts had changed from the beginning. Now that I had entered Hol Plain, I was willing to act when necessary. From the moment I made this decision, my actions began to change.

No matter how tough the training, I approached it with enthusiasm and without a single complaint. I obediently followed the instructors' strict controls and maintained a polite attitude. As my consistent performance in training improved, the instructors began to look at me with approval. (Incidentally, the user who was initially assigned as my dorm instructor had become my early shuttle.)

As word of User Kim Su-hyun spread, my relationships with other users also improved. More and more users wanted to be friends or form good relationships with me. I didn't reveal everything at once but gradually showed potential, step by step. In other words, I was promoting myself as someone with potential.

Humans are adaptable creatures. While the adaptation period may vary, the fact that one has adapted is significant. The survival rate of users who adapt is much higher than those who do not.

In the second, third, and fourth weeks, a certain number of users still dropped out. However, as the fifth, sixth, and seventh weeks progressed, the number of dropouts decreased, and by the eighth week, not a single user dropped out. The remaining users were the cream of the crop.

Of course, not all remaining users would necessarily survive, and not all who left would necessarily die. The variables in Hol Plain are too diverse to determine survival based solely on the user academy. However, it was a matter of probability and possibility.

For example, when checking the entry conditions for clans after graduating and entering Hol Plain, one common requirement is graduation from the user academy. I even heard that some clans give bonus points to users who graduated from the Northern Continent User Academy.

The users who left would likely regret the 4 points of unclaimed ability values they could have received after surviving for two years.

Ahn Hyun and the others overcame my initial concerns. Not only did they complete the training without a single dropout, including Sol, but the experience of the forced march after leaving the city, which was a trap, seemed to have helped.

Contrary to my prediction that Ahn Hyun would become a swordsman because he handled a sword, he chose a spear as his main weapon. When I asked about his class, he unsurprisingly chose Lancer. Given his high basic physical abilities, he could excel with any weapon, but I felt a bit of regret.

During the initial incident in the open field when Sol was in danger, he threw a sword and cut off one of the Deadman's arms. I had been highly impressed by his sword sense. If he had chosen the same path as me, he could have significantly contributed to becoming a Sword Master. However, since he was more interested in the spear, there was nothing I could do.

Still, I was curious why he chose Lancer. His answer was quite surprising.

"I couldn't pull myself together when I thought you were dead. Honestly, they were so frustrating. When I asked about your condition, they kept dodging the question and talking about user settings and other nonsense... When he told me to become a swordsman, I told him to get lost. In a fit of anger, I said I'd use a spear."

Sol, who was listening, added that at first, her brother had insisted on being a mage. She laughed, saying it was the first time she saw the angel flustered. I sighed inwardly at their casual conversation.

Sol's choice didn't surprise me. As Ahn Hyun mentioned, she took a long time to set her class, but Sol took even less time. Given her aversion to hurting others and her reluctance to wield weapons, the role of a priest was a perfect fit for her.

Yoo Jung chose a dagger as her main weapon, the same type she used during the initiation ritual. Interestingly, she chose dual daggers, which are used with both hands. When I asked about her class, she proudly said she chose Mercenary.

Indeed, with her balanced abilities, including magic, she could excel in any melee class. If I were to recommend, I would have suggested Assassin, but the idea of a Mercenary who can handle various weapons also seemed appealing.

With the new users' information now open and accessible, the academy often had users asking about each other's abilities. I gathered the group and sternly warned them not to reveal their abilities or detailed information to anyone, including the instructors.

I especially warned Sol multiple times. She didn't understand why but smiled happily. After the boss monster incident, I noticed a subtle change in how the group treated me.

However, one person seemed to be moving in a different direction from us. As I gained some recognition in the academy, Ahn Hyun, Sol, and Yoo Jung subtly showed pride. Despite not having done anything themselves, their behavior indicated that they no longer saw me as an outsider. However, Han Byul was an exception.

Han Byul was gradually distancing herself from the group. When we first met after training, I asked her what class she chose, and she coldly replied,

"Didn't you just tell us not to reveal our information to other users?"

I hadn't told her not to reveal her class, which is something that can't be hidden. I smiled awkwardly, but I couldn't help feeling a bit hurt. Sensing my discomfort, she later quietly mentioned that she chose a mage class, but I only nodded in response. Of course, I could have used the Third Eye, but I didn't activate it, as I had a good guess given her talent in magic.

Han Byul often skipped our group meetings. While mages have a lot to study and practice, this was true for other classes as well. The group only met once a week for one or two hours, but Sol often told me that even this was difficult for Han Byul.

"Brother, just ignore her. She's in a different dorm from me and Sol, and we hardly talk. Just let her do as she pleases. Honestly, I never liked Han Byul from the start."

"That's a bit harsh. Still..."

"Still what? I heard that she talked to someone. You know, the user who was explaining things in front of the inn when we first came out. The male user. Someone saw them talking. She's a traitor."

Seeing Yoo Jung curse Han Byul as a traitor, I smiled bitterly. It seemed that my initial premonition was becoming a reality. Receiving an offer from the Golden Lion Clan wasn't something to criticize. By the eighth week, I had received offers from over five clans, including the Golden Lion Clan.

Still, her behavior of distancing herself from us was suspicious. She rarely spoke, even when she participated. Once, she initiated a conversation with me, asking what I planned to do after graduation. I brushed it off, saying I was still thinking about it.

After that day, I could see Han So-young and Han Byul as separate individuals. I decided not to worry about Han Byul anymore. While I wanted her to join us, if she didn't, it was fine. I would not hold back those who wanted to leave and would thoroughly vet and accept those who wanted to join. I aimed for a small, elite group and didn't want just a large number of people.

There is a word, "Inn." It refers to the relationships formed between people. I believe that relationships are not mere coincidences but can be cultivated. Therefore, I believe in the word "Inn." I have experienced the powerful bond that can form through such relationships.

I decided to treat Han Byul as an "Inn." If our paths were meant to cross, we would meet; if not, I would let her go. I thought it was foolish to cling to uncertain relationships when I had the ability to form many more.

Once I shed Han So-young's shadow, things that were previously invisible became clear. Objectively, it was more beneficial to focus on users who had already been verified in the first round rather than on Han Byul, who relied on potential. While there might not be many new users with similar potential, there were certainly some out there.

============================ Author's Note ============================

Hello, I'm Ro Yu-jin. I hope everyone had a gloomy Monday.

In Chapter 39, I addressed the issue of author's notes. Fortunately, I was able to talk to a Joara staff member. The conclusion was that while attaching author's notes to the serialized content could be problematic, writing in the comments section was not an issue, regardless of the length.

However, I felt the need to be more careful about the content of the author's notes. I saw a comment that mentioned how revealing future developments could spoil the story. Thinking from the reader's perspective, I agreed.

Therefore, I will not write anything other than the serialized content in the author's notes. I will also think more carefully before writing comments and replies. For future developments or potential spoilers, I will not comment. I understand this might be frustrating, but I hope the questions will naturally be resolved as the story progresses. If you are really curious, please send me a private message, and I will let you know. (Just don't share the information with others, please.)

I couldn't sleep and was very anxious for a whole day, but I'm glad it ended on a positive note. I hope you continue to show interest in Memorize!

『Replies to Comments』

1. YeokAnolja: There are several ways to increase ability values, such as training, elixirs (potions), fortuitous encounters, and mission rewards. In extremely rare cases, equipment can also have ability value boosts. However, except for training, the others are like picking stars from the sky. And...using Sol in that way would indeed be interesting. :)

2. GradeDown: Honestly, I initially wanted to write the user academy part in a school-like setting. I had many interesting ideas related to personal achievements (like college entrance exams) and clan recruitment (like the English Premier League). However, this would require about 200K to 250K words, so I decided to skip it quickly.

3. Ayliria: Wow. Rereading from the first chapter to understand the story...that's a level of passion I deeply appreciate. (I was genuinely moved. Sob.) I will strive to provide even more enriching content in response to your interest. Thank you. (__)

4. LatyIn: That's the basic rule. However, as you can see from today's content, the training is much tougher than you can imagine. Incidentally, the knowledge covers basic background information about Hol Plain and specialized knowledge.

5. SikhanGalchi: Hahaha. What a unique dream. If it's not too much to ask, do you remember your ability values and class from that dream? I'm curious. :)

6. CrossDie: The staff said it's fine to write in the comments section. Honestly, I enjoyed writing this 40th chapter a lot. Yesterday, I was struggling until 11 PM, making repeated revisions, but today I had a bit more leeway.

7. zjekfksqlc: Thank you for the valuable advice. While it's impossible to satisfy every reader, I will try to move in the direction most readers want, while also considering the opinions of a few. Each reader is very important to me.

8. SaramInsaeng: You always help me a lot. I am always grateful for that. Your suggestions, like "This should be answered" or "Summarize the questions," are naturally included in the replies, and I also want to include small comments. I don't want to miss any of them. :)

9. YuunChamgi + Blami: It's been a while! Did you have a good trip? Hahaha. I felt the need to listen more carefully. Many readers pointed out aspects I hadn't considered.

10. dsdqwe: No, I'm not upset at all. Really. The issue of author's notes has been a long-standing concern, and I wanted to resolve it in the previous chapter. I deeply appreciate the valuable advice from readers like dsdqwe. I will pay more attention to the length in the future. Thank you. (__)

11. Toranoanal: Hmm. The ranking is low. I thought being in the top 20 would be enough. Hahaha. I'm not very familiar with the best index calculation, but...it seems that readers find the works with higher rankings less entertaining. I also read about five works on my smartphone as soon as I wake up in the morning. The lack of consistent updates and the small number of published chapters also play a role. I will work harder to address these issues and strive not to disappoint Toranoanal's discerning taste.

12. yji5502: Thank you for writing such a long comment on your phone. I appreciate your valuable advice. I felt a lot from your comment. As mentioned earlier, I will avoid any potential spoilers or elements that could reduce immersion. Please look forward to it.

13. AedokjaC: Thank you? :)

14. hohokoya1: If you don't mind spoilers, please send me a private message.

15. CriaSen: Yay. CriaSen, you're the last comment. I really laughed a lot when I read your comment today. Hahaha. You used to recommend Han Byul as a heroine, but your opinion has changed. :) Han Byul is not a one-time character. Many episodes are planned for her, and I hope this chapter has resolved some of your questions. Of course, this is