Chapter 33: Baek Jemin's Original Sin

[Translator – Aren]

The task of cleaning up the vomit splattered across the center of the makeshift chapel was voluntarily taken on by Hamza.

"Cleaning, cleaning~."

Hamza, the turban-wearing honorary Korean, hummed a spectacularly off-key tune while diligently mopping the floor. Meanwhile, I wiped my mouth with wet tissues and discussed things with the other members of Supreme Archmages.

Honestly, every fiber of my being wanted to keep this information to myself, but I possessed enough cold self-awareness to know that brooding over it alone wasn’t going to get me anywhere.

I finally understood why wizards in novels always tried to hoard secrets. It wasn't even such a big deal. I just didn’t want to tell anyone. I didn’t want other people knowing what I knew!

But I, Baek Jemin, overcame this wicked wizardly instinct through years of cultivating virtue and selflessness.

As a result, our Supreme Archmages were able to discuss what we’d learned about Tongue-branch magic together. Of everyone present, Pastor Park Yohan looked the most troubled. With his arms crossed and one hand stroking his chin, he kept letting out deep sighs.

"Downgrading…A spell that reduces the language of gods or monsters into human language so it can be spoken aloud?”

"Does that give you any ideas?”

"No. I’m just thinking it’s incredibly heretical. Makes me want to burn every scrap of research material I’ve got.”

Apparently our pastor wasn’t marveling at the mysteries of magic. What had caught his attention was something else entirely.

Pastor Park removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes while sighing over and over. For the time being, our Alteration-type trio decided to wait for the opinions of the pastor and the monk, since they were the most educated people present.

"A perspective that sees the past, present, and future all at once. Even if it was only a few seconds…If that’s what you get after downgrading it, then it’s a power no human being should be able to handle.”

"Much like the Buddhist scriptures, then. One could say it serves a similar role to the Gospels of the Christian faith.”

"What the hell are you talking about, monk?”

"Neither Buddha, nor God, nor the prophets typically leave writings behind themselves.”

Monk Cheonghwi calmly gestured for everyone to settle down as he shared his thoughts.

He argued that Downgrading could simply be another term for Interpretation.

"Shakyamuni Buddha left teachings during his lifetime, but he never personally wrote scriptures. Likewise, Jesus, whom Christians revere as a holy fighter, did not personally write the Gospels. The Buddhist sutras and Christian scriptures passed down today were both transmitted through the hands of disciples.”

"Are you questioning the inerrancy of the Bible? You, a monk?”

"Isn’t it because neither the sutras nor the Bible can be fully understood through reading alone that countless schools of practice arose from their interpretations? Christianity itself has divided itself many times for the same reason, has it not?”

Having been unwillingly thrown into a theological debate, I couldn’t have been less interested.

Sensing the mood, the pastor and the monk quickly returned to the original topic. Tongue-branch magic. Specifically, their theories about it. And on this point, both men agreed completely.

"No wonder the journal described the Tongue-branch as the most dangerous. Acceptance and Change can produce completely different results depending on the order they’re applied in. The process of deciding what to accept and how to change is absurdly complicated and varied. In other words…it’s far more dangerous than the other Alteration-type branches. It doesn’t seem to have a fixed answer.”

"Perhaps the entire Alteration-type magic system is some form of spiritual cultivation. Esoteric arts have always been methods of training oneself and ultimately becoming one with the divine. If this magic system was built upon underlying philosophy, then that would be only natural. Up until now, Alteration-type magic has relied upon the caster’s intuition and instinct. Perhaps from this point onward, it requires knowledge and understanding.

But then Monk Cheonghwi took his argument one step further.

He quietly examined the three of us before revealing his theory.

"This is still only speculation on my part…but do you remember something Baek Jemin-ssi said before?”

Slowly gesturing with one hand, Monk Cheonghwi continued.

Human spiritual energy is, fundamentally, the act of focusing one’s consciousness and sense of self. It is the power gained through thought, or through using thought to overcome physical instincts.

Science often categorized this as reason. Yet many religions and esoteric traditions that emphasized spiritual discipline arrived at similar conclusions. That one should overcome bodily instincts in order to cultivate composure and willpower. In that sense, faith itself naturally fell under the category of spiritual energy, which means that from another perspective, magic may simply be a method for refining and directing human consciousness.

"Standing wholly on one’s own through the overwhelming strength of the individual self, free from the dictates of environment and innate nature. Or pursuing a state where one is no longer swayed by external factors and ultimately seeks union with the divine. In a sense that is the common thread shared by all religions and esoteric traditions. TheLeft-Hand Pathbelieves that above and below are fundamentally the same, and therefore one may ascend. TheRight-Hand Path believes that above and below are the same, and therefore one may become one with them. The basic premise is that if a human can subjugate their own body through sheer will, then a stronger will should also be capable of influencing the material world, which is merely a stronger form of matter.”

In this framework, the Alteration-type magic system clearly belonged to the Left-Hand Path.

Its tendency was to prioritize the transformation of the practitioner rather than orthodox methods like religious commandments, social customs, or union with the cosmic order represented by divine providence.

According to the monk’s theory, it likely shared a similar structure with the internal alchemy traditions of Eastern Daoism. Just as Daoists sought transcendence through alchemical practices and breathing techniques that cultivated the self, Alteration-type magic appeared to be built on a similar foundation.

However, he added that even Daoism ultimately pursued harmony with nature. In other words, something closer to the Right-Hand Path. Likewise, many Western esoteric systems fundamentally sought union with the divine. Alteration-type magic, by comparison, felt incredibly alien, and that made it all the more dangerous.

The monk admitted that he couldn’t say much more without knowing the philosophical and ideological foundations of this system. Still, the fact that the magic activated solely through human suffering, with no rituals, ceremonies, or incantations required, had led him to one conclusion.

"Viewed solely as a means of cultivating the practitioner, it appears close to the Right-Hand Path. Yet the fact that a caster can affect others through nothing but their own suffering aligns more closely with the Left-Hand Path. Even so, it relies on neither talismans nor incantations nor any external medium. That concerns me greatly. Since the Tongue-branch symbolizes human adaptability, acceptance, and change, and since every source we’ve encountered warns against its side effects, we must approach it with exceptional caution.”

The reason for this lengthy explanation turned out to be surprisingly simple.

I noticed all the eyes fixed on me and glared right back.

"You’re all worried that I’d secretly use a dangerous spell with severe side effects that shouldn’t be handled carelessly, aren’t you? Come on, I am Baek Jemin.”

-Bang, bang, bang!

Thumping my chest, I stood proudly, sweeping my gaze across my fellow Supreme Archmages members.

Even Hamza had stopped mopping to watch. I reassured them with incredible confidence.

"I won’t use it secretly.”

At that moment, Shin Nain approached alongside Lee Sejun and placed a hand on my shoulder.

"Jemin-ssi, I can hear it. You’re saying you’ll use it openly where nobody can stop you. So Sejun and I will keep an eye on you.”

"..."

"In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, united beneath Him, so that none among us shall stand alone. Amen!”

* * *

March 12, 2028.

About 11 days had passed.

During that time, my MPC reserves had dwindled back down to 14, including the emergency savings I’d been hoarding. The reason for that being that I had finally bought the AR-15 I’d been eyeing for so long.

Lieutenant Shin Hangi at the military gear store seemed to have fully embraced the spirit of a salesman by now. With a bright smile, he handed over my new rifle and proceeded to demonstrate everything. How to load and hold it. The weapon’s internal mechanisms. Even how to field-strip and reassemble it.

"You don't have to return the K2 you were issued. The ammunition’s the same caliber anyway, so just draw ammo from the supply and you’re good to go. Now you can customize it however you like!”

"All the attachments cost MPC too.”

"Of course they do. Even South Korean Special Forces guys buy their own accessories with their own paychecks. You think we’re handing out free upgrades to civilians?"

The military’s penny-pinching side was so quintessentially Korean Army that it was oddly comforting.

Lately I’d started wondering whether this was even the same military I once knew anymore, but I suppose even after the world ends, at least one thing ought to stay the same. After tightening the sling they’d thrown in as a ‘free bonus’ on my sleek new rifle, I felt considerably more at ease.

There was, however, one thing I absolutely couldn't wrap my head around. And it wasn’t Lieutenant Shin Hangi’s nor the AR-15’s fault.

"I’d like a headset with active noise cancellation, please.”

"Hmm~. Do you think a Heart-branch can handle a rifle with recoil that heavy…?”

Shin Nain and Lee Sejun refused to leave me alone.

Instead of spending his MPC on more firepower, Shin Nain bought himself a headset. Meanwhile, after browsing through various firearms, Lee Sejun firmly shook his head and walked away empty-handed.

I found myself asking the barehanded Lee Sejun a question.

"What’re you saving your MPC for? Don’t tell me you’re hoarding 100 so you can desert?"

After all that talk about loyalty and duty, if he was secretly dreaming of becoming Suwon’s first runaway wizard, I was prepared to rip his heart out on the spot.

Leave the magic behind if you’re going to run!

Fortunately, Lee Sejun wasn't such a weak-willed coward.

"No, Jemin-ssi. What exactly do you take me for?”

"Then what are you saving up for?”

"Have you ever seen one of those revolvers that can supposedly kill a bear with a single shot? Like on YouTube or something?”

Looking slightly excited, Lee Sejun pulled out his phone and showed me several pictures from his gallery.

I’d never paid much attention to them. A bear dies if you shoot it in the head anyway, right? But after seeing the photos, I was genuinely startled.

"Is this some kind of blunt weapon, Sejun-ssi?”

"It's an S&W 500. It’s basically an absurdly powerful revolver. The kind of gun an ordinary person, hell, even a trained person, could never properly use…”

At that moment, our eyes met properly for the first time.

My longing for magic met his longing for firepower. And at last, we understood one another completely.

I humbly admitted that I’d underestimated Lee Sejun far too much. At the same time, a surge of friendship welled up within me, leaving me no choice but to support his dream.

"I sincerely wish for the boundless growth of Lee Sejun-ssi, the Heart-branch Wizard.”

"Honestly, Jemin-ssi, hearing praise from you feels kind of weird.”

That was when the Nutcase-branch wizard, Shin Nain, approached.

Apparently quite pleased with his new headset, he wore a broad grin as he tapped the side of it and declared,

"Heathens, it is time to train in the Holy Alteration-type Battle Arts bestowed upon us by the Lord.”

At some point, this lunatic had started calling the Alteration-type magic system the Holy Alteration Battle Arts. Meanwhile, Lee Sejun had been undergoing examinations here and there, and ever since he had returned from Pyeongtaek, it was obvious from the swagger in his shoulders that he was feeling pretty pleased with himself.

He spent most of his time grinning and pretending to flex his biceps.

"Eyes, ears, hands…But isn’t the kind of magic that’s actually useful in everyday life the real magic?”

"Our human catapult has really grown up."

"Once we’ve killed all the monsters, I’ll be the strongest. Just you wait and see.”

The true value of the Heart-branch magic lay in the fact that it was subtle, yet undeniably reliable.

If you had to classify it, it was essentially a passive ability. Rather than possessing flashy and powerful effects like the Ears-, Eyes-, or Hand-branch magic, it provided steady, practical benefits.

Heart-branch Stage 1 was High-Efficiency Metabolism. That was why he could sprint at full speed for over 30 seconds without getting tired. In fact, despite appearing to have limits, it was clearly a magic that continued to grow.

Heart-branch Stage 2 was Physical Enhancement. His muscle density, respiratory capacity, organ efficiency, and even resistance to aging had all begun improving noticeably. If I had to compare it to something, it was probably similar to the body-reforging process or “cleansing the marrow and washing the veins” from wuxia novels.

The effects weren’t flashy or eye-catching, but they steadily delivered results.

Considering that Lee Sejun had originally been a sergeant, he already processed decent physical specs to begin with. Heart-branch magic was less about granting abilities and more about forcibly expanding the natural limits of those physical capabilities.

After realizing this, Lee Sejun had started hitting the weights and focusing on increasing his strength. His goal was to use his enhanced muscles to carry heavier weapons and turn monsters into mush with bullets. 

Shin Nain, on the other hand, had gotten a little distracted from his own specialty.

That bastard had independently taken on missions and somehow awakened Eyes-branch magic while wandering through the fog. He’d even traveled near the 1st blockade line by himself. Honestly, his dedication to the study of magic made me feel a little ashamed of myself.

"If Jemin-ssi can see 10 seconds into the future, then I’ll see 1 hour into the past. I simply need to continue refining myself.”

"What’s the point of looking at the past? What matters to people is the present and future.”

Shin Nain had achieved Eyes-Branch Stage 1.

Rather than future sight, he’d gained past sight. Lee Sejun responded by kissing the bicep hidden beneath his combat uniform and openly looking down on him. If it had been me, I’d have punched him right in the mouth for that.

But Shin Nain merely smiled humbly, clasped his hands together, and shook his head.

"The sins of heretics can only be cleansed through repentance and true faith. Think about it. If one could expose every sin a person has ever committed, how easy would it be to bring them into the Lord’s embrace?”

That was when I remembered that Shin Nain was an Ear-branch wizard.

Ear-branch Stage 1, Mind Reading. Shin Nain constantly heard the inner voices of nearby people 24 hours a day. If he concentrated, he could selectively listen only to the sounds he wanted.

Ear-branch Stage 2, Understanding Monster Voices. As if that weren’t enough, even when monsters disguised themselves, he could hear the instinctive cries buried within their minds and identify them. It wasn’t quite as powerful as the Spirit Sight possessed by those shaman wizards, but since it didn’t attract aggro, it might actually be the superior detection ability.

Why, then, was someone like that so pleased about gaining past sight?

A chill ran down my spine. Without meaning to, I found myself recalling the most heinous crime I’d ever committed. 

"Baek Jemin-ssi, so when you were in elementary school, you defecated in a urinal and then pretended you knew nothing about it, leaving the cleaning-duty student to deal with it? You were truly a wicked child. Repent. When Judgment Day comes, the Lord shall place you among those on His left!”

"All the toilet stalls were occupied! What was I supposed to do, huh? Crap on the floor?! I was being considerate, goddammit!!!!”

I’d always wondered why this bastard, who spent more than 20 minutes listening to shitty hymns while controlling his sphincter, was so detestable to me. Now I knew. It was because of those traumatic childhood memories.

Because of shitheads like him, hogging stalls like this, innocent victims like me and the poor cleaning-duty student had suffered.

I looked toward Lee Sejun, hoping for sympathy, but he’d long since started subtly distancing himself from both me and Shin Nain.

Left with no other option, I treated Shin Nain’s demands for repentance as background music while reviewing everything I’d learned so far.

Tongue-branch magic, Stage 1, Downgrading.

According to my theory, the reason every wizard used different magic was because none of us could utilize magic at 100% efficiency. Personal aptitude functioned much like the aperture of an old camera.

Magic itself was broad and powerful by nature, but individual wizards, limited by poor understanding and the natural restrictions of the human race, could only access fragments of that power according to their innate talents.

And Downgrading was the ability to manipulate that aperture at will.

My Eyes-branch Stage 1, 10-second Future Sight, had transformed into the ability to perceive the past, present, and future simultaneously. All because I’d spoken the single word ‘Time.’

Tongue-branch Stage 1 wasn't a standalone spell. Rather, it was a kind of magical zeroing-in process. A way of focusing an overwhelmingly powerful spell more precisely so that it produced the exact effect the caster desired.

And this process of calibration tended to become more accurate when moving from broad concepts toward increasingly specific ones.

Take ‘Time,’ for example.

Time was a word broad enough to encompass the past, present, and future.

But after invoking time, if I then chose the past from among those three possibilities, I could suddenly use past sight, which I ordinarily shouldn’t have been capable of using.

Obviously, if you just said ‘Time—Past,’ you’d end up all the way back in the age when Earth was a ball of boiling magma 4 billion years ago. This was basically the same thing as prompting an AI or giving instructions to a complete idiot employee.

You had to be perfectly precise if you wanted the result you were aiming for.

So if I wanted to properly use Tongue-branch Stage 1, I had to phrase it like this:

Time, Past, One hour, Me.

The moment I did, I could hear gears meshing inside my head as the scenery before my eyes began to change.

-Click, click, click…

It was like an eye exam at an optometrist’s office. The way they swap lenses one after another while asking which image looked clearer. Every filtering condition I added changed what I saw.

If I simply said "Time," I saw the past, present, and future simultaneously and immediately felt like vomiting. At that point, I had to quickly specify "Past."

And the instant I said "Past," I couldn’t afford to hesitate before narrowing the timeframe. Otherwise I’d start hurtling backward through evolutionary history before I knew it, starting at the Jurassic and Cretaceous eras.

Finally, unless I specified a particular subject, the spell simply showed different points in time at my current location. Observing other people wasn’t easy. On the other hand, locations and landmarks were manageable. If they were close enough, I could observe them from a distance.

I wasn’t calling this 100% Magic Efficiency for no reason.

Eyes-branch Stage 1 wasn’t merely future sight.

Its true function was the ability to see whatever one wished to see. Past, present, or future and peering hundreds of meters or even several kilometers away. And, if my guess was correct, perhaps even the opposite side of the continent.

Provided, of course, you paid the price.

Naturally, the greater the precision and the farther away the target, the stronger the backlash became.

-Pop!

My taste buds split apart as dark red blood welled up from the cracks. In some places it burst out like popped blisters. Needless to say, it hurt like absolute hell. Dunking my tongue in chili oil would probably feel refreshing compared to this.

I immediately canceled the spell and stuck out my tongue as blood dripped steadily from it, tears streaming down my face.

The vow I’d once made, that I’d only cry at my parents’ funeral, had been thoroughly annihilated by the blade-like pain slicing through my tongue.

"Uuuuugh….Huugh…Aah owaah aaah…”

"Ugh! That’s disgusting! Damn it, Jemin-ssi, put your tongue back in your mouth!”

"Uh…Uuugh huh..."

"Ah, fuck.”

Grumbling, Lee Sejun handed me the bottle of water he was carrying.

I hurriedly poured water over my tongue, swallowed, and sat there crying my eyes out from the stinging pain. And while I did, a thought occurred to me. If Eyes-branch Stage 1 was already this bad, then what would happen if I used Tongue-branch Stage 1, Downgrading, to force Eyes-branch Stage 2 to operate at its true performance level?

I’d die.

Baek Jemin the Great might literally go into shock from the agony of his tongue exploding.

As a proud and courageous man, however, I was fully prepared to let out a mighty, thunderous scream the instant I felt pain.

For quite a while afterward, I sat there swishing water around my mouth, cooling my tongue and tasting blood. Then Shin Nain clicked his tongue and put his earbuds back in.

"Jemin-ssi, take it easy. The pastor said someone is coming from Pyeongteak tomorrow.”

"Wewieeh?”

One of Shin Nain’s few virtues was that he somehow understood me perfectly even when I spoke like an idiot.

"Yes. Apparently a mystic was so impressed by our accomplishments and achievements that they’re personally coming here to share their knowledge.”

I stuck out my tongue, slick with a mixture of saliva, water, and blood, then panted.

A real mystic was coming? Not charlatans like us?

So…

One of those people who split 25 into 2 and 5, then add them together and insist it means something?

I couldn’t help feeling quite skeptical.

The world might have fallen into ruins, but still. To think we, the Supreme Archmages, would have to rely on those eccentric researchers like that.