Ch.202197 – Seora’s Daughter

What exactly is reincarnation? How does it work?

If you look at it scientifically, there are countless issues to point out.

Sure, we could conveniently define the concept of a “soul” that easily transcends space and time, and everything would be solved. But that would be as simplistic as claiming the sun revolves around the earth.

Besides, dragons—beings known to traverse dimensions—strongly deny the existence of souls.

The more I contemplate this, the more I find myself buried in neuroscience theories.

It’s nearly impossible to perfectly replicate a human brain, let alone integrate different synapses without conflict.

And when would this integration even begin? At birth? During implantation? Or from the very formation of reproductive cells?

Therefore, reincarnation is an unscientific concept. That’s the best conclusion I could reach.

“This way.”

A hunched elderly woman at the columbarium reception desk guided us to the memorial chamber.

Contrary to my expectation of crowds, the columbarium was completely empty.

“Lisianthus, tulips, and dahlias. Correct?”

She commented on the bouquet in my arms. She seemed knowledgeable about flowers beyond just chrysanthemums.

“Yes. Pretty, aren’t they? They’re for my mother.”

The old woman nodded slowly, then returned the way we had come.

[No Seol-ah: February 21, 2022 – June 11, 2045]

I stood before the urn containing Seol-ah’s remains and took a deep breath.

Fourth shelf from the bottom.

I placed the bouquet in the previously empty space and carefully set up the group photo I’d brought from the hospital.

The stark space suddenly felt alive. My chest tightened, yet I couldn’t help but smile a little.

Thank you, truly…

I won’t disturb you anymore.

Enjoy your time with mother. Naya.

[IWC Schaffhausen – Reminiscence]

[Output Pressure (log): 7]

I took out the portable magic circle writer I’d received as a birthday gift.

I didn’t need bitter memories or faint recollections of the distant past right now.

I believed that facing her purely as Seol-ah’s daughter was the most respectful way to honor her.

[2nd Circle Cast: Cerebral Cortex Reconstruction]

[4th Circle Cast: Lateral Septum Activation]

[Encryption: Neurotensin Receptor 1]

[Limitation: Episodic Memory]

[Reverse Cast: Estasha Style 2nd Form – Schadenfreude]

* * *

Mommy, mommy!

Do you know what?

I have something to tell you.

I actually have memories from my past life?

I can’t remember everything clearly right now, but I was an incredibly strong, beautiful, and kind princess.

So, you know how everyone keeps calling me a genius?

They all look surprised when I solve difficult problems in a second, and they applaud when I cast complex spells.

The truth is, I’m not actually smart—I just have memories from my past life.

Still, it feels really good to be praised.

Are you upset that I haven’t visited in four months?

What else should I tell you?

Oh right! After I visited you last time, Professor Cheon suggested I attend the academy.

I had an interview and passed on my first try!

There was this mean man during the process, so I taught him a lesson with magic. I did good, right?

I’ve made so many wonderful friends at the academy.

My desk partner is named Si-hoo, and his parents make him study really hard. He doesn’t have past life memories like me, but he’s super smart and mature.

I think Si-hoo likes Yu-na? So I tease him about it all the time—it’s too fun to stop. What if they actually start dating? I’ll still keep teasing him.

Yu-na is a girl who’s a bit taller than Si-hoo, and interestingly, she has red hair. Apparently, that’s what happens to melanin after an Aura Heart transplant.

Yu-na is actually nice, but my friends kept disliking her, which was awkward at first.

Later I found out her mother was very sick. Yu-na was studying so hard just to get a scholarship.

Her sick mother reminded me of you, so I just used the Akashic Record to heal her!

I was a bit scared about damaging my Aura Heart, but fortunately it was a chemical formula I’d used often before. You would’ve been so worried if you knew, right?

But since I used magic, I had to pay for it, of course! So I bravely decided to earn money by streaming again!

I created an avatar that looked exactly like my past life, and people kept complimenting how pretty it was, which made me feel both good and a little jealous.

Will I grow up to look like that someday? But I’m the smallest one at our academy…

No way! My mom is the prettiest in the world, so I’ll definitely become much prettier than that princess!

While playing a game, I met an NPC named Adella, and there was something strange about her.

My heart would race whenever we met, and I felt like I couldn’t leave her alone, so I tried everything to save her.

I wonder why I felt that way back then.

I’m not sure, hehe.

Anyway, Adella successfully escaped the game and is now probably lazing around in my private room.

But during the rescue process, I saw the laboratory where you and I had been.

Were we really used in experiments to create artificial intelligence?

If the day comes when I learn the whole truth, I’ll definitely get revenge on the bad people who imprisoned you. I’m not scared at all.

But no matter how much I think about it, there’s no one around to help me. And even when I worked hard to gather evidence, no one would even look at it…

So I entered a gaming competition!

I thought if I became super famous, everything would be solved.

Why a gaming competition, you ask? Because it’s fun…!

Gaming is what I’m best at… and magic doesn’t feel like something I achieved on my own.

Actually, this is a real secret… I think what I wanted most was to see people praising me in the chat.

So many other things happened, but they were all experiences I wished I could have shared with you.

The pajama party with Yu-na and Ha-ru, the amusement park trip with Adella and Kariri—how wonderful it would have been if you were there for all those moments.

I feel like I’m overflowing with happiness,

With kind older sisters and brothers, and friends who love me so much,

It might be selfish… but I just… miss you, mom.

I want to play with you, sleep next to you.

I wish you could come to parent-teacher conferences, and praise me when I do well on tests.

Just like you said, I’ve fought tooth and nail to survive. I’m trying my best to live for your share too.

But without you…

My heart…

It hurts so much…

Why did you have to sacrifice yourself…

You must have been afraid of dying too.

How could you give up your life just because I’m your daughter…

If I had done just a little better, would you still be by my side now?

Even the smart older sister doesn’t know for sure.

Anyway, I’m sorry mom…

I promised myself I’d only show you happy things today, but I keep saying these things.

This is a photo I took today. The room is full, see?

So don’t worry too much, mom…

I’ve really lived hard these past four months and made so many friends!

Actually, in my past life… um, in my past life…

Right. I didn’t have many friends in my past life.

In fact, personality-wise, I was rather unpleasant.

I think the reason I’ve been able to meet such good people is thanks to Seol-ah.

I’m still reserved, but compared to before, my personality seems to have changed much more positively.

It’s because I was born as your daughter, thank you.

Being your daughter is my greatest pride in the world, and this feeling will never change.

Keep watching over me.

I’ll come visit you often, not just on birthdays.

I love you…

Once isn’t enough.

I truly love you.

* * *

“Why did you come out so early? Where’s NoName?”

The person walking wearily down the corridor was Lee Bo-reum.

While Professor Cheon and Bo-reum waited in the reception room, NoName had gone ahead to the memorial chamber with her flowers.

Bo-reum followed NoName after a short while, but her complexion now looked far from good.

“Ah… I just thought I might be intruding.”

Bo-reum could only fumble for an answer to Professor Cheon’s question.

The child who normally seemed impenetrable had been quietly and sorrowfully sobbing like a child her actual age.

Shocked by the scene, Bo-reum had left without looking back.

She nodded gratefully to Professor Cheon as he offered her a cup of Americano.

“Thank you… but sir, are you perhaps…”

“Hmm?”

Bo-reum tilted her head curiously.

“Aren’t you someone famous in our country…?”

Professor Cheon frowned at her words.

Wondering if she was mistaken, Bo-reum quickly searched on her phone.

She searched for something on VTube and showed him a video with 3,500 views.

“Isn’t this you…? The person in this video…”

[Re-upload – 2013] 4th National Martial Arts Competition High School Division Semifinals: Ham Cho-rong vs. Cheon Byong-ho]

Professor Cheon’s eyes narrowed as he saw the title.

“Is it not? It is… definitely.”

NoName emerged at precisely that moment.

“Sorry for taking so long. Should we go get dinner now? I’m starving since I barely ate lunch. Bo-reum, you’re coming too, right?”

“NoName says she’s hungry. Let’s hurry along.”

“Oh, yes…!”

Bo-reum looked at NoName, who was holding Professor Cheon’s hand.

Her expression hadn’t changed much from when she entered the columbarium to when she came out, but Bo-reum could tell her eyes were slightly wet.

“Is there anything you want to eat?”

“I… I’ll eat anything!”

“I’m not planning to be picky today either.”

“Then shall we walk around and find a place?”

“Yes, yes!”

Both girls nodded enthusiastically.

Leaving the car parked in front of the columbarium, the three entered a food alley.

Bo-reum was still concerned about NoName crying earlier.

Because Bo-reum kept asking if she was okay, NoName was starting to get annoyed.

“I’m really fine, so let’s just think about what to eat. I get tired when I walk too long.”

“Would you like to ride on my back if you’re tired?”

“No, Professor, how old do you think I am?”

“As of today, you’re eight.”

“Yes, I’m eight… but even at eight, that’s a bit…”

Since they couldn’t find any suitable restaurants in the first area they explored, they decided to move to the adjacent alley.

The sun was already setting, casting an orange glow across the buildings.

Young men and women enjoying dinner and drinks began stepping outside to smoke.

The laughter of crowds and music from bars created a cacophony of noise.

In the midst of this ordinary urban scene, a small anomaly occurred.

A pleasant-looking man raised his arm high and shouted.

“…im!”

The attention of people chatting in groups turned toward him.

“NoName!”

The person who pushed through the crowd to reach NoName’s group was someone more familiar from VTube videos than in real life.

“Who…?”

Professor Cheon stepped in front of NoName protectively.

The good-looking young man with a side part immediately bowed 90 degrees in greeting.

“Hello! I’m Han Yong-cheol, a Twissy streamer!”

“Streamer…?”

To Professor Cheon, who had a negative impression of internet broadcasters, NoName stepped forward to explain.

“Ah! You’re my teammate from the gaming competition. What a coincidence meeting you here.”

“Yes, that’s right! I’m not some weird person! But what brings you here…?”

“Just out for dinner.”

“Really? Here by chance? Wow, that’s amazing!”

She still didn’t understand why Han Yong-cheol was so surprised.

Bo-reum was the one who made the connection.

“Could it be… is the Twissy tournament after-party happening around here?”

With her extensive experience as a manager and as a viewer of other streamers, she was familiar with such events.

“Yes! It’s right in front! What an incredible coincidence. Would you like to join us, NoName? Everything’s completely free!”

“But I thought it was at a bar.”

“Bar? Oh… it’s not a bar! I mean, it looks like a bar from outside! But we don’t drink at all! Just a moment…!”

Yong-cheol hurriedly made some calls.

He returned with a bright smile to convince NoName.

“Will there be good food there?”

“Oh, we have everything! Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Western cuisine, even premium steaks and sweet desserts!”

“Sweet desserts?”

“Ah, you like sweet things! There’s a huge chocolate fountain machine, macarons, brownies, tiramisu, waffles, gelato… what else was there…?”

“Professor Cheon, let’s go. It’s free.”

NoName, who had been standing next to Professor Cheon, was suddenly beside Han Yong-cheol.

Her decision was incredibly quick.

* * *

[>>2051-1 Twish & LetterBox After-Party Chat<< (132 members)]

[Han Yong-cheol: Everyone looking at your phones right now, attention!]

[Han Yong-cheol: Get rid of all alcohol immediately!]

[Delete: ?]

[Han Yong-cheol: Hurry hurry hurry hurry.]

[Insert: You need to explain why. Don’t just tell us to throw things away.]

[Daltori: Why? What happened?]

[Han Yong-cheol: NoName is here.]

[Delete: For real? Not joking? She’s coming here?]

[Han Yong-cheol: yep]

[Boredman: When is she coming?]

[Han Yong-cheol: 10]

[Delete: 10 minutes? Didn’t you say you were going out for a smoke? How did you get all the way there?]

[Han Yong-cheol: 9]

[Han Yong-cheol: 8]

[Han Yong-cheol: Right in front of the place now.]

[IfSunnyFallsThenNightComes: KYAAAAAAAA!!!]

“NoName is coming?”

At this news, over a hundred streamers pulled out their phones and hurriedly started their broadcasts.

They were all professionals with strong work ethic.