episode_0150

‘This is just…’

Teumullen momentarily lost his train of thought.

In front of his eyes, something unbelievable was happening.

The simulation device, ‘Alma,’ was not a particularly impressive machine.

To be precise, it was a device similar to a high-performance speaker.

The only difference from a speaker was that, in addition to sound, it could make you feel all five senses, including sight.

Alma had no computational capabilities whatsoever; it only had the function of interpreting the input data and outputting it as is.

‘How is data that wasn’t inputted coming out as output…’

Just as an outsider cannot interfere with the sound coming out of a speaker, it was a natural fact that a third party could not participate in the results of Alma.

One should simply observe quietly and not have any influence to be considered normal.

However, that man was blatantly breaking that common sense.

His hand touched the image of the past.

He was embracing the girl, comforting her as if going back to the past…

Unlike the past that had slowly deteriorated alone with no one around.

Now, there was a man silently patting her head by her side.

‘What have you done…’

There was only one possibility.

He had taken control of Alma.

Now, Alma was no longer just a device that outputted input data through illusion magic.

It had evolved into a simulator.

Of course, since Alma had no computational device, fundamentally, simulation was impossible.

In other words, something else was playing the role of a computational device.

And since a while ago.

So, when the man began interacting with illusion magic.

It felt like something inside his bag was emitting a strong magical wave.

It had to be that.

I still don’t know what it is, but it was helping the girl connect with her past through Alma.

‘Excellent. A real-time interactive illusion simulator. This could be a money-making opportunity.’

Although I compared it to a speaker, the amount of data handled by ‘Alma’ was so vast that it couldn’t be compared to single-channel audio data.

To implement all five senses, including magic and sensory perception, it would require reading all the information engraved in the brain.

But a device that could interact with this much data?

If such a thing existed, products like illusion simulators would have been on the market long ago.

An unparalleled computational device that doesn’t exist in the world.

Above all, Teumullen’s interest was piqued by the unknown computational device.

If he could complete the illusion simulator, he could earn a lot of money.

In a crowded market of people struggling with one-dimensional pleasures like drugs, there would surely be countless people looking to escape reality and find a simulator.

‘Huh? But no matter how exceptional the computational device is, is it possible to operate it in the midst of all this?’

However, there was another strange point.

Although a computational device is supposed to handle all computations automatically, that wasn’t the case in reality.

The operator also had to demonstrate strong concentration through meditation in order to operate it.

But the man seemed uninterested in operating the device and was solely focused on comforting the girl.

It was absurd to think that the illusion body of the girl from the past was operating the device.

So, could it be that the spider inside the man’s clothes…?

‘Oh no. I’ve seen too many strange things in a day, my mind is starting to go crazy.’

He dismissed the strange suspicion.

The idea of a spider operating the device was laughable.

Surely the man’s ability to operate the device was so exceptional that it was almost supernatural.

There was no other way to explain it.

‘What…?!’

Right at that moment.

Another extraordinary event unfolded.

Data was being overlaid.

In real-time, the girl’s brain memories were being altered.

Just like in the past, as if there was a man there.

The past where the girl’s heart crumbled in loneliness.

Transformed by the man’s healing.

It wasn’t a radical and destructive transformation like brainwashing or hypnosis.

A transformation with the other party’s consent.

The girl knew that this memory was a transformed memory, and she would clearly remember what the memory was like before the transformation.

It wasn’t deceiving the girl.

It was covering up painful memories for the girl.

So that just remembering, just talking about it, could leave behind not painful memories, but bittersweet reminiscences.

The courage to look back on the past.

Just by giving that, the man seemed satisfied, smiling contentedly.

“So, you’re using Alma as you please…”

A memory copier in a fantasy simulator.

At this point, it seemed that the man’s understanding of Alma had already far surpassed Teumullen.

No. Perhaps he didn’t even know that he had come with the intention of using Alma from the start.

A mischievous and cunning act beyond imagination that made a wry smile involuntarily appear.

He had only been exploited and used without receiving anything in return.

For some reason, it wasn’t that unpleasant.

Perhaps because this side was also trying to extract information from the man.

“Yeah. I believe you. You’re not a great demon.”

Teumullen decided to conclude.

The man who treated a mere bloodsucking girl, who was nothing special except for regaining her sanity, so preciously.

Acknowledging that he was neither a great demon nor someone who sided with the enemies of the other world.

“Let’s finish here. Have you just used up the ten days’ worth of mana from the White Tower?”

Teumullen muttered to the machine inside and turned off the power.

But Alma, who had lost control, seemed to resist by releasing mana for a moment.

Finally, she stopped the casting of the illusion magic.

…

“Sob! Sob, nooo! Mom! Dad… Nooo…”

“…”

Mijung, who clutched her chest and cried uncontrollably.

It was a sorrow that had been suppressed deep inside her chest for a long time.

A sorrow that she had never even thought of revealing outwardly.

Mijung, who could not think of any way to overcome the guilt other than pressuring herself as an unforgivable sin.

The parties involved were dead.

I forgave them on their behalf.

Until now, I thought I didn’t have the right.

I didn’t even ask.

But this time, after looking into Mijung’s past.

Seeing that gruesome sight and feeling the emotions, I could finally understand Mijung’s perspective.

I still don’t have the right.

I can’t say that I completely understand Mijung.

Yet, daringly, excessively.

I forgave Mijung on my own.

It’s okay.

You can forgive yourself now.

I whispered to Mijung, stroking her.

“Let’s finish here. Have you just used up the ten days’ worth of mana from the White Tower?”

The surroundings crumbled.

And the figure of Mijung, who clung to me, gradually changed.

“Sob… Sob… Ugh…”

The blood-soaked crying bloodsucking girl disappeared.

In her place, a clean bloodsucker who cried without tears remained.

Before I knew it, we were back inside the ‘Alma’ surrounded by white panels.

“Mijung.”

“….Yes.”

Mijung’s voice was hoarse and faintly changed.

The Mijung I know.

The familiar Mijung.

Although she hasn’t completely shaken off the trauma of the past.

It’s Mijung who faces the past and slowly recovers.

“No one blames you. The guilt you’ve been carrying for over ten years. You can let it go. You did nothing wrong. You have no responsibility. You shouldn’t have to suffer like this.”

“······But, when I close my eyes, I can hear it. The sound of resentment.”

Although I have a body that can live without sleep, I can sleep if I want, seeing that sleep magic or spells work.

It seems that the reason Mijeong has been refusing to sleep is because of this.

Because she is afraid of her dreams.

Because she is afraid of the past coming back to haunt her, overwhelming her.

“Close your eyes.”

“······Okay.”

“Can you hear it now?”

“······No.”

“Then what comes to mind?”

“······Yujin. Yujin who protects me, holding me, telling me it’s not my fault. Yujin who reassures me.”

Now, my presence is etched in Mijeong’s mind.

By remaining in the painful past, I made it possible for her to look back.

Now, the me inside Mijeong will protect her.

I will eliminate both her self-blame and resentment.

And around that time.

I feel a surge of power in my body and my senses accelerate.

[Skill ‘Guardian Knight’ activated.]

[Stats]

[Strength: 20(x5) *Guardian Knight effect active]

[Stamina: 45(x5) *Guardian Knight effect active]

[Magic: 50(x5) *Guardian Knight effect active]

[Agility: 28(x5) *Guardian Knight effect active]

[Luck: 10(x5) *Guardian Knight effect active]

The Guardian Knight has been reactivated.

It seems that Mijeong is starting to have the perception of being ‘protected by me’ again.

Now, she seems to understand the meaning of that perception.

She seems to know why she can always activate the Guardian Knight.

The ‘protection’ Mijeong receives is not physical.

I have been ‘protecting’ Mijeong from her past.

Without questioning or interfering, I prevented any unwanted thoughts from arising.

But now, the meaning has slightly changed.

I have remained in Mijeong’s memories.

I have cared for Mijeong by intervening in her past.

In an impossible past, I am still protecting Mijeong.

I am protecting her from her painful trauma.

Perhaps the ‘me’ in Mijeong will forever remain to care for her.

[Hidden Achievement Unlocked]

[Evolution condition for skill ‘Guardian Knight’ satisfied.]

[Skill ‘Guardian Knight’ evolves.]

Then, a system window appears before me.

The stat window flickers as new abilities are applied.

[Enhanced Skill: Guardian Knight]

[Stats]

[Strength: 20(x7) *Guardian Knight effect active]

[Stamina: 45(x7) *Guardian Knight effect active]

[Magic: 50(x7) *Guardian Knight effect active]

[Agility: 28(x7) *Guardian Knight effect active]

[Luck: 10(x7) *Guardian Knight effect active]

Now, the amplification is a whopping 7 times.

I had been contemplating ways to increase my power for a while.

Thanks to this, my overall strength has significantly increased.

With this level of power, I should be able to keep up with Kali’s speed, perfected by Luna.

Perhaps facing Tran Silvia and Hogak······

That’s a bit too much.

Anyway.

With this level of power, it seems certain that I can now defeat the main body of Velfegor.

“I’m back.”

“······Okay.”

“And goodbye.”

“······.”

Mijeong, who used to be blissfully happy without remembering the past, is no longer here.

I erased her with my own hands.

I decided to bury that child in my heart and quietly bid farewell.

That’s the end of it.

Surprisingly, it wasn’t a big deal.

Facing the past is.