Ch.531Chapter 20. American Doblin (21)

Abilities are a form of technique.

If a technique can be understood by the human brain, it means others can use it, and in reality, abilities can be taught to others.

But who would dare teach their ability recklessly?

Just as Baek Seol-hee didn’t carelessly teach her duplication ability to me or Ymir, and just as Ymir only revealed her teleportation ability after sharing it.

Abilities are not techniques to be taught carelessly.

That’s why abilities are sometimes lost.

Despite being extraordinary powers, abilities sometimes disappear without being passed on to others.

How?

When an ability user dies.

When they die without creating a successor or teaching their ability to others.

Just as the techniques of intangible cultural heritage artisans are lost when the master dies without an apprentice, the same applies to abilities.

That’s why the government and the Association encourage ability users to preserve their abilities through various methods.

For instance, by leaving behind as many videos as possible of them using their ability.

Or by documenting the principles of their ability in writing or video in ways that cannot be stolen or spied upon.

Or by assigning junior ability users as mentees to learn the ability.

Nevertheless, ability users naturally hesitated to share their techniques.

It’s understandable.

Ability users are at most 25 years old.

Since ability users don’t have an average lifespan of 27 years and aren’t about to die immediately, everyone thought, “Do we really need to do this?”

No one expected that villains would frequently sacrifice themselves to take down heroes, or heroes would die in nuclear power plant explosions to save citizens, or that they would die alongside demons to kill them.

So what should be done about these lost abilities?

Should we just say “such a technique once existed” and move on?

Not at all.

The government and the Association tried everything to recover these abilities.

While resurrecting ability users was impossible, creating new ability users who mastered those techniques was entirely possible.

And humanity found a method.

“Mana powder.”

I materialized mana in front of Ymir, who was watching the TV battle with a stern face, and sprinkled it like powder.

“When people think of drugs, they usually think they’re bad. And they are. ‘Drugs,’ that is. But among substances with similar effects, there are also medicinal drugs.”

“So, it’s all in how you use the tool? The same applies to mana powder?”

“Yes. You caught on exactly.”

Mana powder is human remains.

Cremated bones, bone powder—consuming this recklessly creates ethical problems worse than drug use.

“Ymir. You’ve never consumed mana powder, and neither have I, but there’s analysis from others who have. From what’s taught at the Academy, what are the two main characteristics of mana powder?”

“One is that mana powder can increase your mana. And the other is…”

Ymir took a moment to gather her thoughts.

“You can learn the ‘ability’ of the mana powder’s owner, the deceased person.”

“That’s right. The purer it is, the more recently the person died, and the closer the remains are to 100%, the more completely you can inherit the ability.”

Mana powder mostly circulates and is used like a drug, giving it a bad image, but tools are ultimately defined by how people use them.

“Do you know what the prize is for the finals match happening on TV right now?”

“For such an intense battle in America, it would usually be a skill book, but based on what you’re saying, it must be mana powder.”

“Correct.”

Beeeep!!

The match had just ended.

The battle between two young ability users concluded with victory for the South American youth with bronze skin.

-Finally!! Argentina’s ‘Andres’ wins!! Along with the prize money of one million dollars and being named the top candidate for the Ability User World Cup, he’s gained something even more valuable!!

The commentator excitedly announced to the audience and everyone watching, making my explanation unnecessary.

-The chance to inherit the ability of S-class ability user, the late hero from Toronto, USA, [Salamander]!

BOOM!!

As fireworks exploded in the stadium, Andres received everyone’s acclaim as the winner.

But the ceremony was brief.

Something more valuable than the trophy, which was as large as a human torso, awaited him, and the stadium quickly transformed into an altar-like setting with agents moving about.

-Hero Association agents are preparing the ‘altar.’ Beneath the shrine spread in five colors, the soul of hero [Salamander] awaits the winner!

Rumble.

Another stage rising from beneath the finals stage resembled a temple-like altar.

-On the altar, Salamander’s mother holds the urn. Let us observe a moment of silence.

Under the commentator’s skilled guidance, the audience paid their respects to the middle-aged woman who had ascended the altar.

“Even if your child is an ability user, they’re still your child. Especially one who died as a hero saving citizens. Truly a ‘hero.'”

“……”

“But I wonder, did that mother wish for her son to be born an ability user and die young as a hero? Or would she have preferred him to live a long, healthy life even without abilities?”

It’s a dilemma.

As a citizen, she might feel proud, but as a parent, her heart must be breaking.

“It’s been a year since Salamander died. Others might think it’s a short time, but the bereaved family has made their decision. That Salamander’s death should have value for more people in the future.”

“It’s like letting go of your child again.”

“Similar. They must have made that resolution to offer it as a ‘prize.'”

To bid farewell to her dead son, she stood there on that altar.

-The winner Andres kneels before Salamander’s mother.

Andres, drenched in sweat, drops to one knee before the altar.

-I won’t say much, just this one request.

In the solemn atmosphere, Salamander’s mother calmly raised the urn above Andres.

-Please become a hero Michael would be proud of.

Whoosh.

What flowed from the urn was a transparent liquid.

Like holy water being poured in baptism—though in a much larger quantity—the liquid flowed over Andres, and light began to burst from his body.

-Ah, this is truly Toronto’s pride…! Salamander’s flame has returned to America…!

Whoosh.

Andres’ hair began to burn like red flames.

It was clearly the symbol of the former S-class hero, Salamander.

WAAAAAAAAAA!!

The crowd roared.

I turned off the TV, and Ymir’s serious face reflected in the black screen.

“Inheriting Salamander’s ability doesn’t automatically make him S-class. But what we need to consider is that abilities can be inherited through the remains of ability users.”

“…I understand your thinking, Teacher. And I also understand how the Syndicate plans to debut its executives.”

Ymir slowly stood up and faced me.

“They secured mana powder from S-class heroes who died in Korea, then used it in America to create new S-class ability users. That’s the plan, right?”

“That’s the first step.”

“First step?”

“If they just did that, Korea would raise objections.”

Naturally.

“Why is America arbitrarily taking Korean heroes and creating ability users?”

“The remains…”

“Some people have coffins in their graves and some don’t, but they all have one thing in common—there’s nothing inside the coffins. No remains, no belongings. In Taowu’s case, even Finland and Norway are involved.”

“America would become the villain to everyone.”

“Yes.”

Even if they obtained remains or mana powder, using another country’s ability user’s technique to create new ability users raises major ethical issues.

“People would curse them. Call them a dirty country. Saying ‘Fucking USA’ and all sorts of profanities.”

“And after taking all that abuse…”

“Surprise! They were actually the original people. All of them were political sacrifices of Korea, and they returned as American heroes for revenge.”

“I see… They’re aiming for a public opinion reversal.”

“Yes. Ideally combined with victory. If they defeat the ability users representing Korea, especially those sponsored by ‘Haeguneul’…”

“Hmm?”

Ymir shook her head.

“But Korea’s S-class users…”

“They can participate. But the narrative will be ‘they fought well despite losing.'”

Even Korea, despite its pride as the birthplace of e-sports, can lose.

“There’s no shame in losing to a stronger opponent.”

“That somehow sounds strange when you say it…”

“Let me rephrase then. There’s no shame in losing to Doblin.”

“But Doblin is different from the other executives. How will you handle that?”

“I have a good solution.”

I created a black mark under the left side of my face, then lightly tapped my head.

“Surviving a hydrogen bomb-level explosion was a miracle, but I developed amnesia and drifted to America.”

“…Teacher. An ability user with amnesia?”

“Ymir.”

I’m serious.

“Amnesia is a very common cliché in Korean dramas.”