Chapter 43

00043 Preparations for the Emergency

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The cities of Hol Plain have a web-like structure. Since the locations of the cities on each continent vary, each city performs similar yet distinct roles. While they may seem to be operating independently when viewed individually, it is not entirely wrong to say that they are organically linked, performing necessary tasks from a broader perspective.

The northern continent, where I and my companions currently reside, also has numerous cities. Taking the central city of Barbara as a reference, there are four general cities located in the east (Prinsica), west (Hailo), south (Kan), and north (Pamela). Each general city has two smaller cities under its jurisdiction, positioned in the directions of the diagonals, forming a mutual support and reliance structure.

To provide a more detailed explanation, the smaller cities under the general city of Prinsica in the east are Eden in the northeast and Dana in the southeast. The smaller cities under the general city of Hailo in the west are Dorothy in the northwest and Beth in the southwest. The smaller cities under the general city of Kan in the south are Coran in the southeast and Monica in the southwest. And the smaller cities under the general city of Pamela in the north are Muel in the northeast and Montana in the northwest.

One major city. Four general cities. Eight smaller cities. In some cases, such as the Southern Free Federation, which was established by mid-sized clans in the southern general city of Kan, multiple clans jointly manage a city. However, generally speaking, each city is managed by a single representative clan.

As mentioned earlier, the clans managing the cities are obligated to perform roles befitting their locations. This is unimaginable in the western continent, which advocates endless freedom, but the current northern continent has a single, strongest clan, the Golden Lion Clan, which makes this possible.

For example, the general and smaller cities in the south, such as Kan, Coran, and Monica, have set the conquest of the Iron Mountain Range, which is the gateway to the central continent, as their current policy. In other words, they serve as a forward base for crossing into the central continent.

On the other hand, the northern cities, such as Pamela and its subordinate cities, Muel and Montana, border unexplored territories. It is already known that the city of Atlanta lies beyond the Iron Mountain Range in the central continent, but the resources to occupy it are not yet sufficient. In contrast, the northern unexplored territories are truly unknown.

Pamela, along with Muel and Montana, located at the northernmost point, are responsible for guarding the unexplored territories and maintaining stability in the surrounding areas. Originally, they also had roles in exploration and conquest, but these are currently prohibited, as I heard from the instructor. Moreover, based on the information Hanbyeol shared that night, I was confident that what I remembered would soon come to pass.

Initially, I planned to go to the small city of Montana in the northern continent, but I decided to change direction and head to Muel. There were several reasons for this change, but the biggest one was undoubtedly Ahnhyun.

I vaguely remembered hearing that a rare class, the "Qi Gong Blade Master," was discovered in a cave in Muel. I didn't know the specifics of where or how it was obtained, but if I could acquire a rare class, it would be a significant boost to our strength, so I decided to check it out.

"Our first destination will be Muel."

When I said we would go to the small city of Muel, everyone's faces showed a look of surprise. Since other users mostly operate in major or general cities, the idea of going to a small city seemed unexpected. Ahnhyun, curious about the reason for going to Muel, asked with a curious expression.

"Brother, isn't Muel located at the northernmost point? And I heard it's the most recently developed city among the discovered ones, so the surroundings are dangerous. Also, because of the frequent appearance of vagrants, it's said to be dangerous unless you have a certain level of skill."

Ahnhyun's points were correct, generally speaking. I wanted to cultivate the ability to judge the flow of Hol Plain, but that required experience, which takes time. Still, I found it commendable that he had such thoughts, so I reached out and patted Ahnhyun's head. Hyun looked up with a blank face but didn't push my hand away.

To explain the rationale for going to Muel, I first needed to explain the current movements of the Golden Lion Clan. Ahnhyun and Yujung seemed to have some sense of the atmosphere or rumors, so it didn't take long to explain. Thinking of Sol, who had been quiet, I turned my head to see her looking at my hand and Hyun's head with a wistful expression. I quickly withdrew my hand.

To advance into Atlanta beyond the Iron Mountain Range, there were numerous issues that needed to be resolved within the northern continent. While there are various factors, they can be summarized with the single word "stabilization." This includes whether all the surrounding monsters have been cleared, whether there are no dangerous areas within the territory, whether there are no unexplored areas, and whether the interference of vagrants can be prevented in advance.

Stabilization is a term of significant importance within Hol Plain. If a continent under one's jurisdiction is fully stabilized, even if an expedition fails, one can regroup. In other words, it means that a solid foundation must be established before attempting to advance into the central continent. The problem is that users' views on stabilization vary widely.

The decline of a once-strongest clan in the entire continent was due to the Golden Lion Clan making hasty decisions. There were cities like Muel, which had just begun development, and it was difficult to consider the northern continent as stable, even in theory. Despite this, they prepared for an expedition as if they were being chased by something.

Recalling the first cycle, I sighed inwardly, remembering that they inadequately implemented the stabilization policy, one of the failure factors. The only significant policy they had was the victory in the battle that took place in the western general city of Hailo (a large-scale battle between the Golden Lion Clan and the SSUN Clan, the representative clan of Hailo, against vagrants).

However, they were too complacent. Since users are scattered and wander around, they are called vagrants, possessing a cockroach-like resilience. A single victory was not enough to be complacent, yet they prematurely celebrated and marched into the Iron Mountain Range. This complacency led to a disastrous outcome.

The first expedition to the Iron Mountain Range would take place about six months after I entered Hol Plain. Considering that 13 weeks have passed since the user academy, we have about three months until the expedition. Including the period for the expedition's return and the observation by various clans, we have roughly 100 days. During this time, I need to establish a foothold and build strength.

The small cities of Muel and Montana in the northern region are well-suited for my plans. There are signs that efforts to clear vagrants as part of the expedition preparations are gradually beginning. Sensitive users would notice that a warlike atmosphere is starting to spread across the northern continent.

I also thought that vagrants would be hiding more in the shadows, moving secretly, gathering stealthily before causing trouble in the western continent. Assuming my predictions are correct, the upcoming turmoil will occur in the west and south. Since the focus of power is shifting in that direction, the east and north can be considered relatively safe from their threats.

"There's nothing left to gain in the well-known cities. While they are not perfectly explored, they are mostly developed. And with many users, the competition is intense. Established clans also make it difficult to operate."

"But I've heard, as you said, that a large-scale expedition might happen soon."

Shaking my head at Ahnhyun's words, I explained that we currently lack the qualifications to participate in the expedition. It would be more beneficial to start from the bottom and steadily build up rather than getting caught in the crossfire of a conflict.

"Who can guarantee that the expedition will succeed? Even the major city of Barbara, where we are now, took four years of preparation and numerous sacrifices to be developed. Crossing the Iron Mountain Range, which is even more challenging than the conquest of Barbara, is a daunting task."

"Hmm... Is that really the case? I guess it makes sense, given your perspective."

"Brother, does that mean there's still a lot to gain in Muel?"

The kids still seemed reluctant to let go of their hopes. While I understand their confidence after ranking high in the user academy, I cannot allow this. I added more emphasis to my voice.

"Don't worry about the vagrants. Most users and vagrants are focused on the upcoming expedition. And I've heard that Muel is currently experiencing slow development due to users suddenly leaving. Their departure means more opportunities for us."

Of course, I couldn't tell them everything, so my explanation included some speculation. While I know the future and can speak with confidence, whether they will accept it remains to be seen. I looked at them with a serious expression.

Ahnhyun was pondering my words with a serious face, and Yujung was deep in thought. Ansol, who had been quiet, seemed to have a complaint, but I ignored her and looked away. Then, Yujung raised her head and spoke in an unusually serious tone.

"Brother."

"Yes."

"I have a question. Can I ask?"

"Sure, go ahead."

I nodded, thinking that it was better for them to be curious or express their thoughts like Hyun rather than just following orders. Yujung moved closer to me and gently held my hand. Instead of asking her question, she brought my hand to her lips. Her lips parted, revealing her white, even teeth. And then...

"Ouch."

Yujung bit my hand provocatively.

"..."

"..."

"..."

Ahnhyun and Ansol, along with me, froze.

"Ask... So, you asked."

I looked at Yujung, who was grinning and playfully biting my hand, with a bewildered expression. She soon burst into laughter and released my hand. Ahnhyun looked disappointed, and Ansol seemed embarrassed, checking her surroundings.

I maintained a calm expression but felt a bit annoyed. We were in the middle of an important discussion about our future journey, and this behavior seemed insane. If it were someone else, like Lee Jiyoung, I would have frowned immediately. But it was Yujung.

I had observed her for a while, and she had a tendency to intensely dislike people she didn't like, like Park Donggeol. Conversely, she showed affection to those she liked, which I understood. I managed to suppress my anger, but I felt the need to teach her to consider the time and place. Sensing my mood, Ahnhyun spoke up before I could.

"Hey, what were you thinking, biting while I'm having an important conversation?"

"Sorry, really sorry. Ah, brother, I'm truly sorry. But your face was so serious, I couldn't help it."

"Of course, it's serious. It's a matter of life and death."

Ahnhyun's stern response made Yujung roll her eyes and continue. She seemed in a good mood.

"At the training camp, you always said you were thinking when we asked. I didn't expect you to be thinking about this. Honestly, I never even considered it... But since we decided to follow you, I agree. I agree."

Ahnhyun nodded in agreement, muttering that he never expected such thoughts from me. He was kicked by Yujung and glared at her, but she stared back, making him look away and turn to me.

"Brother, I also think going to Muel is a good idea. How do you plan to travel there? Since it's at the northernmost point, walking would take a long time."

I was relieved. At least Ahnhyun asked a normal question, which helped restore the serious atmosphere. I sighed inwardly and responded calmly.

"It's best to go as quickly as possible. There might be other users with similar ideas, so it's better to have fewer competitors. Less skilled users might abandon the expedition and move to unexplored areas. Let's use the warp gate."

Every city has a warp gate, and the cost varies by distance, with closer destinations being cheaper. Since Muel is at the northernmost point, it would cost about 2 gold per person (1 gold = 100 silver = 10,000 bronze).

Ahnhyun looked concerned.

"The warp gate costs are expensive, I heard..."

I was about to say, "You got paid, didn't you?" but paused and continued.

"From what I heard, to encourage users to explore, the warp gate fees for frontier cities are reduced. While this policy is ending soon, it's still in effect. Have you all saved some of your pay?"

The three of them looked at each other. I hoped they hadn't spent it all. They soon smiled at each other, and Yujung extended her hand to me, holding a pouch.

"The money we've saved from our pay. I think it's about 7 gold and 80 silver."

"…Why should I manage this? It's your money."

"Not 'yours,' but 'ours.'"

Yujung corrected me immediately. Ahnhyun, looking embarrassed, supported her.

"Brother, it's better if you manage it for us."

"And I tend to make impulse purchases."

Yujung interjected, sticking out her tongue. I looked at them, feeling a new, unfamiliar emotion. It was a strange feeling, and I tried to suppress it, tossing the pouch in the air and catching it. The weight of the gold coins felt heavier than usual.

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

* Some readers might have exclaimed, "What?" while reading today. There are two reasons for including the Yujung scene. First, to balance the intense atmosphere, and second, because I saw some comments criticizing Yujung. Please don't hate her too much! She's a witch to those she dislikes but a mere kitten to Suhyun.

* I've decided on the name for the protagonist's group, but the names of other city clans seem a bit too cheesy. If you have any good clan names, please recommend them.

* I ask for a bit more careful reading this time. This chapter contains a lot of background and basic flow of Hol Plain.

『Replies to Comments』

1. Airelia: Congratulations on first place. You've achieved a two-peat. Haha. I just saw your comment about the modern mage. It's currently on hiatus... I can only apologize. I'm considering it for my next work. Thank you for pointing out the typos!

2. Blami: Form is emptiness, emptiness is form... (?) That's right. The first and last chapters are the same. Haha. The only difference is that the first cycle is definitely a replay.

3. PersonLife: There are countless types of points. Ability points, special and potential ability points, and GP points. You can focus on these three main types.

4. GradeRown: It might be easier to think of classes in terms of stages rather than professions. For example, Sword Master: Sword Beginner - Sword Expert - Sword Master - ???. Also, common classes can evolve into secret or rare classes later on. While overlapping classes are possible, they are rare because special and potential abilities can become problematic.

5. Yuun: ...More applause! Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap! (tt)

6. CriaSen: To be honest, Suhyun is a cheat character. Beyond his own abilities, knowing the future allows him to make risky choices without hesitation. In the first cycle, he would have joined the Golden Lion Clan without hesitation, though he didn't even receive an offer.

7. Toranoanal: I find it impressive to see people who consistently update daily. In the past, I had a buffer, but now that it's gone, no matter how much I struggle... I'm trying to do my best within my capabilities, even if it's just one chapter a day.

8. Qyubi: The protagonist is very realistic. He's not the type to say, "Hmm, you have potential. Train more and come back for a rematch." He would eliminate the enemy before they could rise. He left Yujung and the others alone because there were many eyes watching and he wanted to observe them a bit more. Their rise to fame with the Red Fang Clan is still far off. Haha. It will naturally resolve as the story progresses. Please wait a bit.

9. SolSolSpringBreeze: Your ID is so pretty. I really like it. "Sunken eyes" means "deep-set eyes" in English, similar to "deep eyes."

10. YeOkAnNolla: Haha, no, thank you for your question. Of course, more companions will join. Look forward to who will join in the future. And thank you for recommending a clan name. Haha.

I would like to reply to everyone, but there are more comments than I expected. I've shortened my replies and have responded to all the private messages. Please check them.

I always read all the comments, so please don't be too disappointed if you're not mentioned in the replies. If you have any specific questions, feel free to send a private message.

I'll end here for today.

I hope you always read the story with a comfortable mind.

I welcome pre-reading, recommendations, comments, critiques, and questions.