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Memorize Chapter 257
🕑 Added 2025-09-17 09:30:02 +0000 UTC“Ugh… Does that mean we have to climb up again?”
An-Sol muttered with a pout, her face falling as the thought hit her mid-sightseeing. Go Yeon-Joo nodded quietly, then a spark of realization crossed her expression. She began patting An-Sol’s head gently, a sly smile tugging at her lips as she whispered in her ear.
“This time, you’ve got to beat that kid. Fighting spirit, okay?”
“Huh…?”
“Think about it. If you lose… your precious Oppa will be swept into a world full of guys. BL, was it? Boys Love?”
“!”
'Please don’t stir up trouble… And why are you getting so fired up, Sol?'
The moment Go Yeon-Joo spoke, the question mark hovering over An-Sol’s head morphed into an exclamation point. Her fists clenched, eyes blazing with determination. I could only sigh as my head throbbed. Still, I quashed their plans with a simple, “We’ll each climb up on our own.”
After a brief survey of the scenery, we took time to regroup. It was just a quick check and realignment of our formation, but nothing refreshed the mood quite like it.
“No signs of corpses…” Kim Han-Byeol said cautiously, her expression tinged with concern, likely recalling the crystal ball’s message.
“It’s too early to call this the entrance. The real one might appear as we climb. And…”
As I trailed off, the group’s relaxed faces tightened with tension.
“We don’t have to fully trust that man’s words.”
“What? But…”
“Take it as a reference, not gospel. From now on, we trust only what we see and experience.”
I spoke with conviction, stepping to the front of the group. Enhancing my vision, I confirmed the traces were still there, including some older ones—almost too many.
'Maybe the claim that the vagrant is still alive is true.'
I pondered briefly but decided we’d only find answers by pressing forward. In truth, reaching this point was far ahead of my first life’s timeline. Sorting my thoughts, I gave the signal to begin exploring the ruins.
“Let’s move.”
*
After crossing the magical barrier into the ruins, I confirmed the field effect no longer applied. That meant we didn’t need to waste gems here.
The ancient magical city of Magia. No player knows the full extent of Hall Plain’s history, but ancient records suggest Magia experienced both prosperous and near-apocalyptic times. For its residents, the present might feel like decline. Yet, Magia was a city built by mages in its heyday, essentially a city-sized mage tower.
After about an hour of tracking, we found stairs leading to the entrance. Worn and weathered, they were sturdy enough to climb without worry. The only issue was their length, which seemed to demoralize the group.
“If you lived here, you wouldn’t need to work out, Hyung,” An-Hyun groaned, weighed down by his heavy gear.
“We’re almost there. Hang in there.”
I reassured him and surveyed the gorge and city’s layout. The city, built along the steep gorge, was a breathtaking sight, like a natural fortress. Its structures hinted at the advanced magical prowess of ancient Hall Plain.
“Phew, we made it. I thought I was gonna die.”
“Hey, look down there.”
“Huh? Whoa.”
“This is intense. So this is what dizzying feels like.”
We finally reached the top of the endless stairs. As the group massaged their thighs and chattered, I looked ahead. Not far off, a wide entrance led inside. The closer we got, the stronger the dissonance I’d felt upon crossing the barrier grew.
Everything was still. The city lacked any trace of vitality—not just from living beings but from objects too, which typically carry their own inherent energy. Yet, as we approached the entrance, the sense of deadness intensified. There were two possible explanations: either someone deliberately manipulated the space, or an event caused dark energy to overpower vitality.
'For Magia, the former seems more likely.'
We advanced cautiously, already preparing—drawing weapons or chanting spells in advance.
'The moment we stepped into the ruins, we were met with heaps of corpses. Scattered everywhere, half-rotted, we instinctively knew something was wrong.'
'And upon entering the city, we were shocked. Dozens of people were waiting for us.'
No corpses or people here. The city’s interior was vast. The buildings, tall and grand, were spaced far apart, not densely packed. As I studied ancient murals on the walls, Go Yeon-Joo’s quiet voice came from behind.
“No corpses… So either that man was wrong, or he lied. We’ll need to go deeper to know. Where to next?”
“Oppa, what about over there? Looks like it’s full of expensive stuff,” Yun-Jung chimed in, pointing to a grand, dome-shaped building resembling a cathedral, exuding opulence.
“Wow, it’s huge.”
“That building… Yeah, even the windows look like crystal,” Kim Han-Byeol added.
Her comment sparked the group’s interest. Crystal windows suggested treasures, and while it’s natural to crave rewards at the end of an expedition, Magia wasn’t so forgiving. Unable to explain the full context, I redirected their attention.
“Entering there’s fine, but let’s focus on exploring the city first.”
“Su-Hyeon, have you picked a destination?” Go Yeon-Joo asked.
“Yes. Our first target is right there.”
“Where… Oh?”
Looking far ahead along the street we were walking, another gorge came into view. Unlike the long, natural Gorge of Hallucination, this one felt artificial, as if deliberately carved. At the center of the roughly 80-meter-wide gap stood a straight bridge connecting to another area.
“I didn’t expect a bridge. Is the city split in two?” Go Yeon-Joo remarked.
“Something like that. This place was once called a paradise for mages. The buildings here seem like living quarters for regular residents, but across the bridge is likely where those dedicated to magic gathered.”
The implication was clear: bigger rewards awaited across the bridge, so we shouldn’t waste time. My words sparked excitement in some clan members’ eyes. An-Hyun, listening quietly, spoke up with a sudden realization.
“So, the mage who kidnapped the hero and the fairy queen might’ve been the leader here?”
“Could be,” I nodded.
“Heh, I knew it. Ahem!” An-Hyun puffed out his chest, turning to An-Sol and Yun-Jung, who pouted in response.
'…Is getting my approval that thrilling?'
I sighed lightly and activated my detection. Nothing registered—no creatures, not even an ant. It felt like we were wandering alone in an abandoned city. Knowing better, I moved forward slowly.
The first hurdle, the stairs, we’d cleared without issue. Two points remained, with the final goal being the tower. Before that, we needed to cross the second point: the bridge.
*
The first hint of something odd came about 30 minutes after heading toward the bridge. Even at our slow pace, we should’ve reached it by now. Yet, the bridge seemed to stay just out of reach.
'As expected. They’re not letting us pass so easily.'
There was no direct harm, but given the opponent, I couldn’t afford to be careless. I immediately activated my Third Eye, and let out a dry laugh at the sight that came into view. I had intentionally kept it off at the entrance because I thought the view would be too different from what the clan members could see, but this was the only way to avoid the high-level tricks.
Ignoring everything else, I focused on the bridge. A wide, circular path-blocking barrier enveloped it, similar to the one at Vivienne Ancient Alchemist’s Dungeon, but far more sophisticated. One wrong step, and we’d be sent back to the start.
Carefully, I took one step at a time. As a result, we adjusted our formation, walking single-file, as the path allowed only one person at a time.
While everyone focused, following my exact steps, I stayed alert as the bridge slowly drew closer. Detection was active, but I halted abruptly.
A cold, eerie sensation brushed the back of my neck. Goosebumps rising, I scanned ahead.
'Someone’s there.'
Pausing, I sensed the clan peering curiously behind me. Though detection picked up nothing, my instincts—honed through countless battlefields—screamed unease. Then—
Click, clack.
Footsteps sounded, but only after they began. Despite the empty space ahead, a figure appeared out of nowhere. Pushing aside the shock, I observed her: long, straight hair, a tear-shaped mole under her eye, and a cat-like face. She looked like an Earthling or player, but her outfit resembled a maid’s uniform.
“Hello~,” She said, stopping a short distance away.
Her smile was unnervingly wide, almost blinding. Lifting her skirt slightly, she bowed politely. Murmurs rose from the clan members behind me. Raising a hand to calm them, I scanned her information.
*
<Player Status>
1. Name: Kwon So-Ra (Year 4)
2. Class: Normal Mage Expert
3. Nation: -
4. Clan: -
5. True Name · Nationality: Forced Puppet · South Korea
6. Sex: Female (25)
7. Height · Weight: 168.2 cm · 52.8 kg
8. Alignment: Marionette · Evil
[Strength 45] [Resistance 38] [Agility 51] [Vitality 39] [Magic 71] [Luck 63]
(No remaining stat points.)
(Under powerful mental magic, brainwashed for over a year. Her mind is effectively dead.)
(Her body is akin to a vegetable. Without sustaining magic, she wouldn’t survive a day.)
(An elixir could fully restore her body, but her mind is beyond recovery.)
*
“Welcome to the magical city of Magia! That’s what my master told me to say! Not that I care, uninvited guests. Hehe.”
She straightened, her faint smile revealing dull, gray eyes that lacked focus.
