Chapter 111
The mana expansion space located at the lowest level was, simply put, a space where mana could be expanded infinitely without any repercussions—in a way, it could be called a space of nothingness. Usually, these were created by the Combat Division or various guilds for practice purposes, and building such spaces required passing extremely stringent government evaluations. The spaces where Department Head Kim Guhyeon and the Combat Division used to practice before were all made of mana expansion spaces.
“It’s not bad at all.”
The professor, who had opened the door using a staff member, commented with a satisfied expression.
“Though I have no idea what kind of training would be done here.”
“It was probably used by his personal forces.”
As soon as the door opened, a desolate desert spread out before our eyes. From the sand that was difficult to walk on to the swirling dust. Assuming this was the last training location, I pressed the reset button next to the door. Instantly, the desert disappeared, and an empty blue space appeared.
“How about it? Do you have a specific space you’re comfortable with? If so, I can set that background for you.”
“No, this is fine.”
The professor snorted and strode into the space first.
“It’s definitely large enough to create a Gate without any issues. That’s insane. They must be swimming in money.”
“Are we going to summon a Gate right here?”
“Yes. To be precise, a fake Gate.”
“A fake Gate?”
“The Gate that your brother or whatever appeared from.”
“Are you referring to the artificial Gate?”
“Think of it as something similar.”
“Similar…?”
“It’s not a real Gate, right? There’s no field when you go in. It’s just a passage where the dead come out.”
The professor slowly walked around the space, surveying the area. Though it all seemed the same to me, each spot somehow felt subtly different.
“You need to consume the orb. Only then can you summon it.”
“Yes. That’s how necromancy works.”
“…?”
“What we’re doing now isn’t necromancy.”
“What? It’s not necromancy?”
“Right. We’re creating a fake Gate and a fake corpse.”
“…Didn’t you say you were a necromancy researcher?”
“To be precise, I used to research it.”
“And then?”
“You’re quite picky. So many questions.”
The professor glared at me. I opened my mouth in disbelief.
“If you consume the orb and summon the real thing, you will certainly die.”
“…”
“Even doing it this way, the chance of death exceeds 50 percent. But that’s still better than 100.”
Having found a spot, the professor threw something that looked like a small pebble. The space expanded as far as the pebble flew. The pebble was clearly not an ordinary stone but something ominous. As the professor gradually infused it with mana, the pebble began to grow. The expanding pebble no longer resembled a stone but looked more like a balloon.
“What I researched was alchemy. To be precise.”
A vortex began to form in the center of the expanding pebble. My hair fluttered in the wind. I silently watched the vortex as it spread its domain.
“You’ll transfer your power to the fake and then eliminate it. That’s our goal now.”
“Is that… possible?”
“Whether it’s possible or not, we’ll know when we try.”
“How can you be so irresponsible? What if it doesn’t work?”
“You’ll die, what else?”
“…”
Seeing my cold expression, the professor laughed loudly and slapped my back. There was nothing I could do now, but this person definitely wasn’t someone I’d get along with.
“The Gate creation will be completed soon.”
“Yes. Then my brother will appear.”
“It will take about 30 minutes.”
“30 minutes?”
“What, surprised it’s so quick?”
I was actually surprised it would take so long, but I didn’t show it. The professor looked at the forming Gate with a satisfied face.
“Want to leave any last words? I’ll pass them on later.”
“You say such things so casually.”
“I can’t ask while crying, can I?”
“Yes, fine. Just tell him to live well.”
“Is that all?”
“What more should I say?”
“That you love him, or like him, or that you hope to fulfill your love in the next life.”
“…Ah, yes…”
“Or that you’ll see him again soon.”
The professor’s expression became meaningful. Looking at that face, I realized she knew more about me than I had thought. Still maintaining my expressionless face, I asked her:
“How did you know?”
“Know what?”
“That I can see him again even if I die.”
“Your brother said so, didn’t he?”
“What?”
“Your brother had the same ability, or maybe ‘ability’ isn’t the right word. Anyway, he had the same condition. Wouldn’t he have sought me out? I did extensive research on such a rare talent because I didn’t want to miss out. But I was young then and didn’t know much.”
“Then… Professor, you remember all of my past?”
“People might not remember, but objects do. I work with objects, don’t I?”
“How is that possible…”
“Your brother tried everything he could. After realizing he couldn’t do anything more, he went mad. After that, he mercilessly killed everything in the world, observed, and made things miserable. As if that was his only pleasure in life.”
“So that’s why he killed me too.”
“I heard he killed two siblings, so that was you. I warned him. I told him that accumulating such sins would only worsen his condition. But your brother laughed and never came to see me again.”
“My brother’s goal was ultimate happiness. And that happiness was not dying.”
“There’s no one in this world who doesn’t die.”
It was the exact same thing I had said to Han Jaemin. The professor stared at the growing Gate expressionlessly, as if looking at a painting in a frame.
“Your brother died only when he realized that dying was happier than living.”
It was too cruel. The fact that Yu Dohyun had struggled endlessly in the mire until he realized that dying was happier than living. I thought it was a cruelty that humans couldn’t bear. And it was horrifying that he passed on that power, which had caused him so much suffering and pain, to his own younger brother.
“Why did this happen to my brother? Why did he…”
“Mana is something you’re born with. It’s not given equally to everyone. Just as your brother was born with exceptional mana control, it was simply a part of some power given to him.”
“But why was it only given to my brother?!”
“Ask God.”
The professor sighed deeply and stroked my cheek. It was a touch full of sympathy and pity, but I didn’t welcome it at all.
“Do you feel sorry for your brother?”
“…”
“I feel most sorry for you.”
“Why do you pity me?”
“Because you’ve experienced things you shouldn’t have had to. This wasn’t your destiny.”
“…”
“Don’t pity your brother. Think of him as vicious for the rest of your life. Only then will your anger be resolved.”
The hatred for Yu Dohyun had been there for a long time. The difference between Yu Dohyun and me was simply whether we had expressed that hatred outwardly or not.
That’s when it happened. A loud bang and explosion sound came from very close by. The professor and I simultaneously looked at the entrance to the room.
“They’ll be here soon.”
The professor’s movements became busy. She took another pebble from her pocket and threw it into the Gate. The Gate swallowed the pebble as if it were a living being. It was a creepy sight, but I continued to watch the Gate without showing any reaction.
“You’ll meet him soon.”
“…”
“Your brother. A fake one, of course.”
