00987 Epilogue 6. Memorize (End)
This is strange.
Truly strange.
Hmm… It’s confusing, but let me try to sort things out one by one.
This morning, I clearly reported my discharge and boarded the train home. I sat down, enjoying that light, floating feeling, and then I fell asleep. Okay, so far, everything’s perfect. But then…
“…”
Why do I open my eyes to find myself in a gray void? And why am I resting my head on the lap of a beautiful angel I’ve never seen before?
“Ah!”
The moment our eyes meet, the angel smiles gently. Wow, she’s stunning—so breathtakingly beautiful it sends shivers down my spine. Hehe…
Wait, no. This isn’t the time for that.
“W-Where am I?”
I jump up and ask, and the angel’s eyes widen in surprise. Then, with a casual tilt of her head, she seems almost amused.
“W-Who are you?”
I ask again, and she giggles softly. Wow, even her laugh is so graceful.
“This is the Independent Space, Hall Plain. I am Seraph, an angel.”
…Well, thanks for being straightforward, but honestly, I don’t understand a word of that.
Hmm. Let me cross my arms and think this through.
Ah, could this be a dream?
Smack!
I slap my own cheek hard, but I don’t wake up. So, probably not a dream. Damn, that hurt. I should’ve been gentler.
“Are you going to scream and run around next time?”
Gasp. How did she know?
“A ghost?”
“I am Seraph, an angel.”
Did I say something wrong? Her voice sounds a bit annoyed.
Okay, stay calm. Panic means losing.
“Alright, Seraph. I’m curious—why am I here?”
“I kidnapped you.”
Oh, I see. Well, that’s refreshingly honest.
“I get it. But can’t you just send me back?”
Of course, she says no…
“Yes, I cannot.”
Hey.
…What now?
What am I supposed to do here? Wait, are you trying to toy with me by dangling false hope?
“R-Really?”
“Yes.”
“Really? You’re really going to send me back?”
“Yes.”
“No backing out?”
“No backing out.”
I threw in a joke at the end, and she covered her mouth, giggling again. She really is beautiful. I want to marry her.
“…You know, fifteen years ago, you were so pure and lovely like this…”
Huh? Did I just hear her mutter to herself?
“Thank you. You brought back old memories.”
“Oh… well…”
Aw, getting compliments makes me awkward.
“But then, why kidnap me in the first place?”
“Oh, you should be heading back soon. The portal will close shortly. Also…”
She cut me off and slowly stood up. Her words were welcome, but I couldn’t help but stare in disbelief.
How to put it… When I was resting on her lap, she seemed to glow with light. But now, the parts that must be her wings have turned pitch black. Not just discolored—they’re fading away like ashes scattering in the wind. Yet, paradoxically, her halo grows brighter. It’s like watching a fallen angel on the verge of vanishing.
When the darkened area reached her shoulders, I found myself speaking without thinking.
“Are you… okay?”
“…!”
Her eyes widened, then she gave a faint, almost wistful smile.
“Don’t be alarmed. This was always meant to happen.”
“Meant to happen?”
“Yes. Because I wasn’t included in Suhyun’s request to return. More precisely, I made a separate request to Zero Code as an assistant, and thankfully, it was accepted. So, I’m not officially part of Zero Code’s request—I’m more like a hitchhiker.”
“…”
That’s complicated.
“As Suhyun’s goal has been achieved, and my vow to support Suhyun in every way has been fulfilled, I no longer have a reason to exist. It’s only natural to follow the course of fate.”
I didn’t understand a word, but I stayed silent. Somehow, it felt like she wasn’t talking to me.
Then she linked her arm with mine and led me toward a shimmering oval portal glowing with purple light. It looked like a portal straight out of a game. Fascinating.
“Is this where I go?”
She nodded, and I cautiously dipped my right foot inside. Surprisingly, it felt quite pleasant—like stepping into a calm, rippling sea.
“Wow! This is actually…?”
Wait, what’s wrong with her? Earlier, the discoloration was only up to her shoulders, but now it’s creeping up to her neck, chest, and arms. Why is it happening so fast?
“Human Kim Suhyun.”
But she spoke with a gentle smile.
“May I ask one favor?”
She gave me a slight push toward the portal as if urging me to go. Hey, wait a minute! You said you had a favor, but now you’re shoving me?
As my body was halfway through, I barely managed to look back. But the angel gently pushing me was already half-hidden behind her glowing halo.
“W-What favor?”
I barely got the words out.
“Please deliver this to User Kim Suhyun.”
Her calm voice echoed.
I squinted against the intense light, but I could just make out her lips moving faintly.
“To you…”
I can’t think of anything. I just focused on the sensations coursing through my body in a daze.
The splitting headache had eased to a bearable level. The dizziness that made the world spin was manageable. Though one thing wasn’t over yet.
—Suhyun…
It was Seraph’s voice.
Accepting this dissonance was beyond anything I could have imagined, just as Seraph said. My brother breaking furniture and vomiting everywhere wasn’t just an act. And whoever the user was who made an extreme choice—it wasn’t an exaggeration. Now I finally believed the simulation Seraph mentioned.
Having experienced it firsthand, I realized how naive it was to think, “I’ll just go back.” As User Kim Suhyun, accepting Human Kim Suhyun was this difficult. If I had returned to normal…
—Suhyun…
Seraph had been calling me endlessly since the dissonance began. But thanks to that voice, I managed to hold onto my sanity. Coincidence or not, whenever my consciousness threatened to slip away during the dissonance, Seraph’s clear voice called me back. As if telling me not to give up. To stay alert and savor every memory and experience from my human life.
—Suhyun…
Yes. I succeeded. I succeeded.
I could judge the success of the plan myself. Inside me now flowed a sea of familiar yet strange emotions. Above all, the feeling of sorrow—long forgotten—was clearer than ever. That was proof.
Whether this spark would blaze into a flame, flicker out weakly, or clash with the user’s nature and shatter my mind—it was up to me.
But at this moment, Seraph’s plan to make User Kim Suhyun the core, overlay Human Kim Suhyun, and breathe new life into this spark had clearly succeeded.
—Suhyun…
Then.
—Honestly, I hesitated a lot about whether to say this.
The Seraph who had only called my name now began to speak. I instinctively listened.
—If you’re hearing this message, it means you’ve successfully settled in.
Congratulations.
…No, you probably don’t deserve congratulations.
As I said before, I acted on my own judgment and did as I pleased.
…Yeah, I know that well.
Even if thanks to me you achieve what you want, I can never forgive this. I’ll wait five years, then when you return to Hall Plain, I’ll make sure to collect my due. Sincerely.
—I sincerely apologize and know I’m unforgivable.
But even if you hate me, even if you resent me, I have no right to complain.
Still, if you’re okay with it, before you go back, I want to say this.
Huh? Before I go back?
‘Yes. Because I wasn’t included in Suhyun’s return request. More precisely, I made a separate request to Zero Code as an assistant, and thankfully, it was accepted. So, I’m not officially part of Zero Code’s request—I’m more like a hitchhiker.’
‘As Suhyun’s goal has been achieved, and my vow to support Suhyun in every way has been fulfilled, I no longer have a reason to exist. It’s only natural to follow the course of fate.’
What is this memory? Oh, Seraph sent me to Earth while pulling the Earth-version of me into Hall Plain. Maybe this is a fragment of the conversation between that guy and Seraph…
Wait.
—Suhyun.
Actually, I wanted to stay in Hall Plain.
I wanted to wait happily for the day we’d see the Suhyun we longed for.
I wanted to watch the life you’d live after changing.
But now that the vow I made to Zero Code in the first round is over, that wish is impossible, and even as I send this message, it pains me deeply.
…Seraph?
—But Suhyun.
I want to remember you forever, and I will.
Seraph.
—And I…
“…”
—You…
“…You?”
Seraph…?
Speak.
Speak up.
Tell me.
I’m listening.
“Seraph?”
I barely managed to call her name aloud. But no matter how long I waited, Seraph’s voice never came. No matter how closely I listened, there was only silence. It was as if she couldn’t bring herself to finish speaking and just stopped.
Just in case, I opened the user info window. But the sparkling dot I saw earlier was nowhere to be found.
Is it really over?
Is this the end?
After all this?
An apology doesn’t just make things right.
At the very least…
“…Yeah.”
At that moment, I realized I was being more emotional than necessary. Even though my Sixth Sense was active, my feelings were boiling over more than usual.
But for some reason, I didn’t want to calm down. Instead, I clenched my fists tightly.
Honestly…
…I was angry.
“Hehe, sorry! I was just sulking a little because I felt hurt! But it’s okay, right? No! It has to be okay, right?”
“Come on, it’s fine. Say it’ll be fine. You’re the strongest, after all. There’s no way you could lose!”
Why?
“It’ll definitely be okay, I swear on my luck!”
“Right? Big brother. My big brother!”
Why hadn’t I noticed sooner?
“Alright! If that’s the case, maybe we can postpone the promise a little! Just finish up quickly and come back! Got it?”
“I’ll be waiting here…! Right here…! Okay?”
They already knew. That’s why they said those things.
“I want to talk with Suhyun a little more.”
“Isn’t it a bit much to just say what you want and only listen to what you want to hear before leaving?”
If I’d paid just a little more attention, I could have noticed.
If only I could have said at least one thing to ease their worries…
“User…?”
“Sorry I’m late…”
Suddenly, faint murmurs drifted from afar. Probably people out for late-night exercise.
“…”
I couldn’t just lie there forever. I had to get up.
Though dizziness still lingered, I forced my creaking arm to touch the ground.
Slowly, deliberately, I pushed myself up.
I could have gotten up quickly with a bit more effort, but I slowed myself on purpose.
Yet, nothing I expected happened when my feet touched the ground.
Only the faint echo of a voice calling “Suhyun, Suhyun” lingered softly in my ears…
Finally, as I exhaled deeply and lifted my eyes—
“…?”
Suddenly—
A brilliant light burst forth!
A dazzling glow bright enough to pierce the dark sky.
I wasn’t sure if it was a vision or a memory.
Though the radiant light almost obscured the figure,
Though it scattered like spray from a crashing wave,
The light before me was—
“Seraph.”
It was a Seraph.
It was—
“Seraph!”
Only for a fleeting moment.
‘Human Kim Suhyun.’
The scattering light said,
‘Please deliver this to User Kim Suhyun.’
Carried on the wind,
‘You…’
Flying away as if turning back,
‘I truly, truly loved you.’
The countless specks of light fluttered like butterflies, gently painting the night sky until I tilted my chin all the way up.
Before long, the light vanished completely.
The Seraph’s form disappeared.
But I remained staring blankly at the sky where it had been.
The emotions that had faded when I got up surged back again.
“Brother…”
A familiar voice.
The murmurs had vanished.
Instead, nearby, not only my brother and Hansoyoung but several others surrounded me from all sides.
Though I still couldn’t lower my chin, I managed to glance around.
But—
“Uh…”
Strangely, very strangely, my vision was blurry.
The scenery rippled violently, as if seen underwater.
“Big brother…”
Blinking quickly, I caught sight of Ansol.
But even that soon blurred again.
I wanted to smile. I wanted to shrug it off like it was nothing.
“…Ah.”
But why did my throat tighten?
I took a deep breath, then exhaled fully. Once, twice, again and again.
But the more I tried, the more my breath trembled uncontrollably.
“Mercenary Lord.”
Someone quietly approached.
It was Hansoyoung’s voice.
She slowly reached out and gently wiped my eyes with the sleeve she’d grabbed, as if brushing away tears.
The image of Hansoyoung in my sight soon blurred again.
“The feelings you’re experiencing right now, Mercenary Lord…”
Suddenly—
Plop.
I felt something fall from my eyes.
Huh? What’s this?
“There’s absolutely no need to be ashamed.”
Her soft voice made me close my eyes gently and lower my head just a little.
Plop.
And then I could clearly feel it.
Plop, plop.
Warm liquid streaming down from my eyes.
“Yes.”
The sensation of the tears flowing down my cheeks, past my jaw, and falling in an instant—
“That’s crying.”
Though brief,
“The moment you were curious about.”
A moment I never, ever want to forget again.
Maybe that’s why I couldn’t open my eyes.
Nor could I speak.
For a long while, I wept silently.
---------------------------= Author’s Note =---------------------------
Hello, this is Royujin.
Memorize began serialization on December 12, 2012.
It concluded on September 15, 2015.
First, I sincerely apologize for the delay in updates.
I wanted to finish with a bang right at midnight, but the epilogue got tangled up and flew away. ㅜ.ㅠ
To explain, part of the content was lost midway.
Not everything, but about half of Epilogue 5.
This has only happened twice before during serialization, and today was the third time.
I nearly lost my mind but managed to pull myself together and rewrite it.
Anyway, it’s been almost three years since I started this work, and now it’s finally complete.
As my first novel with Noblesse, my writing was inexperienced, and I feel I didn’t fully express what I wanted to convey.
While writing the epilogue, this became especially clear.
I wanted to portray Kim Suhyun’s regaining of humanity in a touching way, but ended up scattering meaningless hints and smoke screens, which only frustrated readers.
I regret not just keeping it simple and straightforward.
Of course, it’s important for an author to write with conviction, but if readers don’t understand, it’s meaningless.
As one reader said.
Still, despite its many flaws, I’m truly grateful and thankful for the love and support from all the readers.
Just to clarify, the Seraph hasn’t really left.
If you look at the beginning of Chapter 982, you’ll understand.
Haha.
Memorize is officially complete here, but as I mentioned before, two side stories are planned.
Side Story 1 was originally going to be in Ansol’s diary format, but I changed my mind and will set it in the present day.
Side Story 2 will be as planned—five years later, returning to the Whole Plain.
If there are any other side stories you’d like to see, please leave a comment.
IF versions are fine too. (For example—what if Satan had been summoned in Chaos Mimic?)
I have other projects to work on, and when I return to school next year as a graduating student, I can’t promise regular updates, but I’ll try to update occasionally.
I’m also considering my next work.
I’ve narrowed it down from three ideas to two.
One is a game novel, the other about modern-day magicians. I still need to think it over.
Oh, and the visual novel isn’t abandoned.
It’s currently in production.
I recently visited Joara and got a quick look. Hehe.
It might come out as early as December this year, or at the latest early next year.
Before writing this note, I wanted to say so much, but now that I’m writing, it feels a bit rambling.
My heart keeps pounding.
The side stories will start updating on Thursday, September 17. (I want to take a day off. ^^;)
They’ll probably be very light, so you can read them without pressure.
And a heads-up…
There might be some content that’s a bit… well, you know. (?)
Stuff I wouldn’t have a chance to write otherwise.
Ahem.
Well then.
Thank you all for being with me until now.
I wish all readers peace and happiness.
September 15, 2015, 5:38 PM
Royu ‘Jin’ signing off.