00588 Everyone has a time in their life when they shine.
The answer lay in the spell Helena had memorized.
“Convertimini, Et Fulgentibus Saeculum.”
This incantation was a top-tier mental magic, specifically targeting the human brain.
Among practitioners, it was generally believed that mental anguish beyond certain limits couldn’t be resolved by magic.
But Helena was different. She didn’t rely on conventional rules; she possessed the “mind’s eye that gazes upon the heavens,” allowing her to reach the very source of magic itself. What others deemed impossible didn’t necessarily apply to her.
The brain—a vast network of countless neurons and synapses.
The human body is a marvel, but the brain remains the most complex mystery, with much still unknown.
People often say,
“Humans are creatures blessed with the gift of forgetting.”
But how exactly does the brain store memories and forget?
When external information is perceived, it undergoes a process of storage, maintenance, and recall, reconstructing the memory.
Some memories fade quickly, while others are deeply engraved, influencing a person’s entire life.
A crucial point is that the place where memories are first stored and where they are recalled and re-stored is the same.
But memory alone isn’t enough. When a person recalls a memory, they must also recall the associated sensations for it to hold meaning.
Helena’s magic touched precisely these two aspects.
Sensations are expressed as signals by neurons and travel to the same brain region where memories are stored.
In other words, it’s the interplay between memory and sensation.
That’s why Baek Hyung-sik is suffering so intensely right now.
Helena’s magic directly penetrated his mental world, restoring and reconnecting the neural pathways Father had damaged. It dredged up every memory—both those consciously remembered and those long forgotten—matching them with their corresponding sensations.
Through this process, the lost personality was naturally revived, and the lost ‘I’ was resurrected.
The memories and sensations from when he was human.
Baek Hyung-sik was probably on the brink of madness. The collision between his original personality and the newly imposed one, combined with the flood of forgotten memories, forced him to relive his entire life in an instant.
“Graaah! Grrrrraaaah!”
“Hyung-sik! Hey, Baek Hyung-sik! Snap out of it!”
Suddenly, Baek Hyung-sik shook off Joo Hyun-ho’s grip. Twisting his body as if to say “don’t touch me,” he clawed at his hair.
At that moment—
“Hyung-sik…?”
A hoarse yet calm voice drifted in.
“Uh, uh?”
Baek Hyung-sik’s agonized screams abruptly ceased.
The chaotic atmosphere that had reigned moments before was replaced by an almost unbelievable stillness.
Slowly, Baek Hyung-sik’s head turned.
Joo Hyun-ho followed the movement, turning toward the source of the voice.
“Gasp?!”
Joo Hyun-ho’s eyes widened in disbelief.
There, sitting up with only her upper body raised, was a woman.
Long silver hair cascaded down her shoulders, her expression gentle and kind, her eyes soft and warm.
And within those eyes, a clear, serene silver gaze.
It was none other than Ko Eun-sol. Helena had cast the spell not only on Baek Hyung-sik but on Ko Eun-sol as well.
“Uh… uh…?”
Baek Hyung-sik’s eyes trembled uncontrollably as he looked at Ko Eun-sol. His face was struck by a profound shock, and a pained groan escaped his lips.
Ko Eun-sol smiled softly.
With a faint smile on her lips, she raised a trembling arm.
Once, twice, three times—though her arm kept falling midway, she finally succeeded in lifting it and beckoned to Baek Hyung-sik with a tender, loving gesture.
At first, Baek Hyung-sik shook his head, hesitating and stepping back with a face full of confusion and guilt.
“It’s okay. It’s really okay…”
But the moment Ko Eun-sol nodded and said it was alright, Baek Hyung-sik’s steps came to a sudden halt.
“I know it’s not your fault. So come here.”
Her words carried the weight of someone who understood everything.
“Uh… ugh…!”
The steps that had been retreating now moved forward for the first time.
“Hyung-sik!”
Joo Hyun-ho snapped back to reality and shouted urgently.
“Kill her! Go kill her! I said kill her first!”
It was a desperate, almost pitiful scream.
But Baek Hyung-sik showed no intention of doing so. Instead, with eyes that seemed to yearn for something, he slowly walked toward Ko Eun-sol.
“Baek Hyung-sik! What are you doing?!”
Unable to hold back any longer, Joo Hyun-ho dragged his feet as he rushed forward and grabbed Baek Hyung-sik’s arm.
That was the moment.
“Ughhh!”
Smack!
As if warning him not to interfere, Baek Hyung-sik swung his arm fiercely, striking Joo Hyun-ho’s face with his elbow.
Joo Hyun-ho, stunned by the sudden blow, stared at Baek Hyung-sik in disbelief.
But Baek Hyung-sik kept moving forward.
Seeing this, Joo Hyun-ho’s face twisted in anger.
“Ugh…!”
Thud!
Then, as Baek Hyung-sik steadily closed the distance to Ko Eun-sol, he suddenly stopped. His body shook violently back and forth.
Ko Eun-sol, waiting for him, narrowed her eyes and stared straight ahead.
Before anyone could react, a hand suddenly burst through Baek Hyung-sik’s left chest.
The culprit was Joo Hyun-ho.
Of course, Joo Hyun-ho didn’t fully understand what was happening, but instinctively sensed that things were going wrong. When Baek Hyung-sik ignored his warnings and even caused harm, he attacked from behind.
Since Baek Hyung-sik had been saved out of necessity rather than genuine friendship, Joo Hyun-ho showed no hesitation. In the worst case, he might even be attacked himself.
Bang! Bang!
Two more explosions echoed as Baek Hyung-sik’s body trembled violently.
When Joo Hyun-ho slowly withdrew his hand, Baek Hyung-sik collapsed helplessly. Though still alive, his back heaved weakly, and blood foamed at his lips.
“You stupid bastard!”
Joo Hyun-ho spat out curses, clearly displeased.
But soon, his brow furrowed deeply. Despite gasping for breath, Baek Hyung-sik began to move his arm with effort.
Dragging himself forward as if determined to reach Ko Eun-sol, he crawled inch by inch.
Joo Hyun-ho watched the scene in stunned silence.
After a while, Baek Hyung-sik finally reached Ko Eun-sol.
He looked up at her with choked sobs.
Ko Eun-sol, still smiling gently, embraced the trembling Baek Hyung-sik.
“You’ve been through so much pain, haven’t you?”
“Ugh… I’m sorry… truly…”
“Yes, yes. It was really hard. It’s okay… it’s okay…”
“Guh… sob… sob…”
Baek Hyung-sik’s sobs mingled with soft moans, while Ko Eun-sol gently patted his back, whispering reassurances.
Though his speech was clumsy, her response showed she understood everything.
Meanwhile, watching this entire scene, Ahn Hyun’s mouth hung open in stunned silence. A hoarse, flute-like sound escaped from between his lips.
He felt his entire body emptying out, and suddenly, he wanted to cry.
Of course, Ahn Hyun knew nothing of the circumstances. All he saw was a dying woman and a monstrous being on the verge of death reunited.
But the genuine plea for forgiveness from the man, and the woman’s words of comfort and absolution—
The sincere emotions exchanged between them stirred something deep within Ahn Hyun’s heart. For reasons he couldn’t explain, the negative feelings he’d felt earlier began to fade away.
“Damn it, what a mess. Two fools about to die soon.”
Suddenly, Joo Hyun-ho ground his teeth and spat out.
“Just yesterday, you were whining about how good it’d be to get laid…”
“Joo Hyun-ho.”
Before he could continue his tirade, Ko Eun-sol’s low voice cut him off sharply. It was a solemn tone, unlike anything before.
Slowly, she opened her eyes and, cradling Baek Hyung-sik, spoke.
“Have some shame, you hopeless fool.”
“W-what? What the hell are you saying, you crazy—”
“You’ll regret this. Mark my words.”
“…!”
Joo Hyun-ho fell silent, unable to respond to Ko Eun-sol’s words, which felt like a death sentence.
Having said that, Ko Eun-sol withdrew her gaze calmly, as if there was nothing more to see.
She knew too. She knew that her regained memories and restored self were the result of outside intervention.
Though her body was growing cold, and she recalled even the things she wished to forget, with her lost self returned, her once-strong spirit had revived.
Ko Eun-sol bowed gracefully to Ahn Hyun and Shin Jae-ryong, who stood there stunned.
“Though I’m near death… thank you for your help. Thanks to you, my final moments won’t be so bad.”
“…”
“And I’m sorry I couldn’t do more. But I believe you two will win.”
“…”
Neither Ahn Hyun nor Shin Jae-ryong responded.
Or rather, they couldn’t.
They only managed a faint nod in reply.
Soon, Go Eun-sol smiled faintly and slowly lowered her head. Her hair slipped down, veiling her face with a sorrowful grace. Was she trying to see Baek Hyung-sik one last time before she died?
It was then. Perhaps feeling the strands brushing against his face, Baek Hyung-sik slowly opened his eyes. With a weary expression, as if recalling something, he struggled to look around at those present.
“S-sorry…”
Then, he pointed weakly at Joo Hyun-ho.
“B-b… bomb… device…”
The moment he finished speaking, his barely raised arm dropped limply. From the moment Go Eun-sol bowed her head earlier, she hadn’t moved a muscle.
After a brief glance upward, Baek Hyung-sik, resting his head on his thigh, closed his eyes peacefully. Neither of them moved again.
“……”
“……”
A heavy silence settled.
Amid it, Shin Jae-ryong, having grasped the situation, clutched his side and approached Ahn-hyun. Somehow, one of the monsters had broken away.
That left only the wounded monster remaining. Shin Jae-ryong planned to hold it off as long as possible so Ahn-hyun could escape.
But when he saw Ahn-hyun’s resolute back, Shin Jae-ryong found himself unable to speak.
“Hoo.”
Ahn-hyun took a deep breath and exhaled.
A strange lingering feeling began to fade, leaving an emptiness spreading through his body. Yet that emptiness was slowly being filled with something else.
I believe you’ll win.
Go Eun-sol’s words washed away all the negative emotions, and suddenly, a raw courage surged within him.
At last, Ahn-hyun felt as if he understood.
In that moment of lightness, having let everything go, a sudden clarity came over him.
He closed his eyes calmly.
Suddenly, Kim Soo-hyun’s words echoed in his mind.
No matter how scared you are, don’t back down. Face that fear head-on, plant your feet firmly on the ground.
Keep analyzing the fight. Don’t be driven by instinct alone—think it through. If you don’t give up, a chance will come. A chance to turn the battle around.
“Yes, hyung.”
Ahn-hyun answered as if Kim Soo-hyun were right beside him. His legs straightened naturally.
Why do you keep trying to imitate me? You’re not a swordsman. You’re a spearman. A qigong spear master, no less.
Use the distance! Why do you use qigong like that? Ahn-hyun, when spear and sword clash, the spear has the advantage. That means spearmen have their own way of fighting.
He had heard those words long ago.
They were, in essence, the answer.
What would hyung have done?
No, wait.
What would hyung have done?
No, that’s not it either.
The premise itself was wrong. So no answer could come.
If not Kim Soo-hyun, but Ahn-hyun.
If Ahn-hyun, the qigong spear master, what should he do?
That was the real question Ahn-hyun had been searching for: What can I do?
Just then—
“Hey, you hopeless loser over there.”
Still with his eyes closed, Ahn-hyun spoke.
“…What?”
Joo Hyun-ho, who had been standing dazed, turned sharply toward him, his voice low and tense. His eyes burned with a barely suppressed murderous intent—a very bad sign.
But Ahn-hyun only smiled.
“Crazy, huh? Laughing? The guy who was crying just now, thinking he was going to die, now all fired up just because one guy’s gone?”
It was true. Though Baek Hyung-sik’s death had eased the situation somewhat, the future was uncertain.
Only two enemies remained, and Shin Jae-ryong was injured. Though the monster was badly wounded, how much fighting power it still had was unknown.
Still, Ahn-hyun didn’t wipe the smile from his face.
“Yeah. I’m a loser too.”
“……”
“Maybe not as hopeless as you, though.”
“…Hah.”
Joo Hyun-ho let out a disbelieving sigh, then immediately raised a hand and began chanting a spell. A terrifying energy began to swirl around his raised hand.
With his eyes still closed, Ahn-hyun slowly aimed his spear.
Unlike before, he didn’t grip it tightly enough to shatter it. The spear was held loosely, as if it might slip away with the slightest touch, yet he calmly targeted Joo Hyun-ho.
“So…”
At that moment, Ahn-hyun’s eyes snapped open.
“Let’s see how this fight goes.”
A single tear traced down his cheek.
But his lips still curled into a smile.
“After all, we’re the same kind of losers, aren’t we? You pathetic bastard…”