Chapter. 11. Wizards of Wizards (25)
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Tinnitus –
It was tinnitus, but it was tinnitus that tore out my eardrums.
The pillar of light rising above the altar was a clear symbol of death, and the closer I walked toward it, the more clearly I felt that my end was approaching.
Tuk.
Start from the extremities of the body, such as fingers and toes.
The fingers fell off one by one like rotten fruit, leaving only a blunt hand like Doraemon. The gun that had fallen with his finger caught his foot and he fell down helplessly. I didn’t know, but people couldn’t stand easily without toes. This may be why, unlike the battlefield that is already far away, there are no traces of people or mutants around the Happy Blind residence, which is close to the culprit of the incident.
[husks. No matter how much you think about it, isn’t there a reason why we have to do this?]
Hyde. Ah, I wish I could let you go. The brother born from my broken brain was strangled by my stubbornness and was forced to face death.
[It’s not like that. I’m talking about you. In the end, our goal is to survive. Of course, if the box had been left alone, everything from here to the 40th district would have been devastated. The world will be filled with Type 2.5s who are several times more agile and unique than Type 2s, and some of them will have big ears and bright eyes, so it won’t be possible to hide in a shelter like before. You could die miserably while being chased around like a refugee with nothing. But… it’s still better than this, right? Wasn’t it our way to cling to a glimmer of hope rather than crawling toward certain death?]
The guy’s voice was urgent and worried, reflecting that sense of crisis. Cute guy.
Patter.
“Ughhhhhhh-” As
I crawled forward little by little with my convulsing body, something fell again. Nose and ears. My eyeballs are drying out and it stings to the point where I want to dig them out. While the skin was charred and burning, only the left arm and the dark, hard parts that grew from it were gaining vitality. At that connection point, pain struck me as if an iron pillar was being pushed into raw flesh.
“That’s right…D. Yes my mauaa.”
Fighting.
tongue.
[….Shit! Then go back! If you have a hard time, the country will find its way back! Why are you obsessed with that damn thing even though you’re such a brat!]
Why. Why? This guy is asking really difficult questions.
‘That’s right… because I want to live.’
People who are about to die think a lot. The life I have lived so far. Something I was happy about. Something I regret. All sorts of memories come rushing in in droves as the end approaches.
People who prepare for death every day become more thoughtful. I was always afraid, but at the same time, the thought that today might be the day I had been waiting for constantly occurred to me. At least when that moment comes, you have a vague idea of what to do.
Nod.
I thought about this every time I scratched the hard, angular joints of my left hand with my hook-like fingertips. When this thing, growing at a rapid pace, covered my entire body. How will I face that moment of death?
The end of life that I vaguely thought of was revealed by that life-eating light. Just like a gemstone that has been cut by a chisel and hammer emits its light. The essence of existence created by all the experiences of life and the determination to suffer that even he could not have imagined.
Some people have beliefs, some people have life. Some might call it the soul… the decision of life.
As the end approached, everything became clear.
The professor delivered his last words in a space that was most familiar to both of them, instead of having his tongue cut out.
‘I am… a man named Professor Park. I don’t remember anything until I was 3 years old. When I was about four years old, I remember liking the aquarium near the semi-basement room where our family of three lived. ‘He was a stubborn child in kindergarten, and during his school days, instead of hanging out with friends, he fell in love with books and movies. He was taken to the battlefield without knowing anything, slaughtered countless people, survived, and came this far.’
[okay. Even though it was rough, I lived with all my might. I know everything.]
‘Then what is Professor Park to Ian? We first met in the underground bunker in Area 45. He’s a little tasteless, but he’s very intelligent, and he’s constantly telling lame jokes and always asking ridiculous questions.’
‘For the Vex? ‘He is a member of the 14th Special Operations Unit, which is the most precious and painful memory in my memory. The partnership that started out of a sense of indebtedness has moved on to something similar to friendship, and it would be better to call him Hepburn, a friend he would never want to lose again.’
‘What about Dana? He was a long-time Internet friend, and after years of observation, I gave him a passing grade in personality, and after a strange first meeting, I guess he was the person for whom the feelings that sprouted without my knowledge blossomed. And countless others. President Ezel Young, Brother Montclar, Cynthia 47 Everyone in the chat room probably remembers [Professor Park] in their own way.’
Patter. Sigh!
The skin that had been scorched and burned fell off, followed by the flesh and muscles. Instead, something like a black crystal quickly grew in its place and began to fill the empty space in an instant. I don’t even feel sick anymore. I didn’t even feel the emptiness of the lost senses.
My consciousness also faded, like an echo heard somewhere far away.
‘That’s all [me]. In the first place, the expression [I] is just a word that is unnecessary if there is no other object to distinguish from me. If I run away alone from here and hide outside of Orpheus’ range, biologically I will survive. What good would that do? 90% of the memories that define Professor Park must have already disappeared from the world. It would be better to burn the part that only I know and leave 90% of the memories that will remain in the world. ‘Maybe that’s how I truly survive.’
I had that thought one day. In the look on the boy’s face as he saw the blood pouring from his father’s eyes and nose welling up inside the gas mask in the thick gas after being thrown out to carry out a rubbish order given by a general for public gain.
Just for the sake of putting a leash on a person, he addicted his mother to a drug that was close to poison, and at the end of the escape, he told everything to himself, and his mother died with a comfortable smile.
The professor could see himself being dominated by that memory. No, the expression ‘domination’ would not be appropriate. The words growth or completion would be appropriate. Although their bodies died and returned to dust, their memories were still shaping someone’s life.
It just occurred to me that human life is not defined solely by the beating of the heart and the movement of the brain.
Crack, crack, crack!
Strength came to my knees where the cartilage had melted. A black body rose from within a human body that had melted like a shell, and a light soaring as if piercing the sky was captured in the eyes of a completed soul that completely revealed its true intentions.
‘One thing… I’m worried…. This death… the area of death chosen by mutant cells. Hyde… I was wondering if it would reach you too.’
[I… I think I’m okay.]
A
smile appeared on the lips that were burning in response to that answer.
‘That’s what I said…. You are like my mental illness…. No. Either it was created by a strange shock in the game… or it was born based on my memories. From the moment I stopped thinking completely the same way as you, you were already complete as an object… Hyde.’
Crackling. Gradually, clang! Crack!
Hyde felt sad that in this ritual space, his body was only shaded in black except for his mutated left arm and mouth. Because it meant that there was no way to let out these shocking, cold, and warm feelings coming from within, rather than simply looking into memories. All he could do was scratch the back of his hand until it was chipped away as he watched his only family disappear before his eyes.
‘Can I ask you one favor…?’
[….As many as you want.]
“Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
its her… her her her her her her her she her she her her she her her her her her her her she her her her her she her time she her time her time her. As strength returned to the monster’s body, the professor’s consciousness became blurred.
‘If I disappear… many people… will be lost. I want you to catch them then. Because you have all my memories. Tell us how you remember your friends, lovers and people. And so that they don’t get lost…. hold their hand.’
Patter.
[Is that… like a will?]
‘I gave him an amazing body… I guess I could say it’s the price of inheritance.’
[This damned clown… keeps telling jokes like that until this moment…]
‘Because I’m on my way to remain as myself. Until the end… I have to be myself.’
Knock. Knock. Knock. Knock.
Again. Again and again. Knock. Again.
Other sounds mixed in among the endless sounds of water drops in the black space. Hyde’s body has suddenly become a monster just like the one outside. The torn yellow eyes were clearly those of a monster, but they were capable of shedding human tears.
Kuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu During while while
the monster’s large body stood up.
‘I have work to do… should I stop here?’
The professor’s voice was peaceful until the end.
‘Thank you so much. ‘Hyde.’
[….Thank you for your hard work. Professor.]
Hook!
The professor’s appearance disappeared in front of Hyde like a candle going out. All that remains is a small flickering flame.
and.
『Kaaaaaaaa!!!!!』
Kwaaak!
On all fours, the monster’s claws dug into the wasteland, leading the behemoth forward.
from now on. Toward that light that remains vivid in all my blurry memories.
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Chiiing-
I couldn’t come to my senses because of the memories that were so strong. The last memory of ‘Professor Park’, a human being who was like a lighthouse illuminating the burning darkness so vividly that it almost hurts my eyes.
There was confusion in the eyes of the monster sitting on the familiar sofa.
“Then the original is….’
[I told you to stop using the damn original! The direction of the human Professor Park’s life was not determined by things like that body! okay! Maybe the ‘human Professor Park’ will disappear from the world and what remains here will be the ‘warrior Professor’! But do you really look at that memory just now and think it’s important?]
“Well… um…”
[No? Just say so. If you don’t understand what I’m saying even after doing this, I’ll crush your brain, physically reset it, and then rip out all the memories hanging there. It is obvious that he will become an idiot, but he will be 100 times better than the idiot he is now.] I
feel awkward answering. The memory of that last moment, which remained in my mind like a painting, was still burning brightly and clearing away the hazy fog, and as time passed, it reminded me of how much I had been immersed in useless worries.
[Dongtae’s eyes have returned to dog eyes. How are you sobering up now? You can think of it as a miracle. You can think of it as an opportunity. Only one piece of the puzzle that made up Professor Park was going to disappear from the world, but the same piece remained and took its place! It’s stuck. In the end, ‘Professor Park’ still remains intact in the world. You, you idiot.]
The dark red monster must have noticed that the professor, who was slowly coming back to his senses, was embarrassed, and grinned as he patted the bloody monster’s head, which had already recovered all of its wounds.
[I kept my promise, shell. At Professor Park’s request, I held Professor Park’s hand as he was lost and wandering.]
An interesting thought occurred to Hyde’s mind as he grinned.
[Maybe what you look like right now is the right answer.]
‘…What?’
[Andrei Gedroits. If you think about it, Orpheus is also a product from GC (Gedreuts Company), which contains all of Gedreuts’ human technology. Not to mention the game you’re playing right now. This means that maybe Data Soul is a program prepared for moments like this.]
‘Isn’t that… going too far? That old man is not God. ‘It’s impossible unless the world predicts everything that will happen.’
[Hmm… Is that so? Then it’s just that a ‘miraculous thing’ has happened.]
Hyde, who chuckled and slapped the monster’s back, stretched out his left arm forward.
[I almost forgot this. Welcome back, Professor Park, welcome back from the afterlife. I thought I would see you again only after I died. I’m lucky – cancer is good. Right?]
….sigh.
‘The transfer of the inheritance… should we postpone it for a while?’
It was still quite confusing. I couldn’t tell if he was completely alive or if he had died and been replaced.
But at least there was something I realized through the memories I received from Hyde.
That means nothing.
‘I’m crazy. No, it’s really crazy. Who am I and what’s so important about whether I’m real or fake? Now that I can afford to live, have I started to have idiotic thoughts? No matter how much malware or something like that covered my brain…’
The more I thought about it, the more embarrassed I felt. This too will all be broadcast. What would Bex or Ian Edgell think when they see this? That bastard is sitting there philosophizing because his stomach is full. If I just give him a gun and drop it in front of him, he won’t need any medicine – wouldn’t he be saying the same thing?
‘I can’t thank Hyde enough. ‘For freeing me from this terrible [condition].’
The professor decided to take it easy. In any case, this was all part of the necessary process. Even now, I can still feel the infectious agent poking at the base of my head, so it seems like I’m still 100% eroded, but I guess I’ve overcome it once it’s hit me hard, so I don’t think it’s strange anymore.
‘Tsk. I should at least leave a thank you note. From maintaining the body to counseling for the mentally ill. Hyde is going through a lot of trouble.’
Just as I was about to say my last heartwarming greeting, feeling shy and ashamed, yet grateful for the presence of Hyde, who was like a brother to me.
Boom!! Bubbly, bubbling!
“Cough gasp?! Huh?”
[What is it? [Suddenly.?]
Foam began pouring out of the professor’s mouth, and Hyde’s eyes began to fill with astonishment.
Jump up!
[ah! Your body!]
“Grrrrrrr my mgrrrrrrrr?”
Gurgling!
Pure white lightning that goes beyond shaking the black space and now strikes enough to split it in half.
[Shoot! I got a little emotional and forgot that I didn’t have time! Actually, I just remembered it and thought I could just leave!]
That’s right. my body Anyway, if there is no brain connected to the connector, GG will end. I realized something grand about existence and self, but when I started to feel out of breath, I thought, ‘Fuck, I’m falling!’ Thoughts filled my head!
“Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! “That’s it!”
[Hey sorry! I’m going out! See you next time!]
“Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Cheek! “Off!”
Instead of shaking hands, Hyde roughly shook hands and hurriedly disappeared into the other side of consciousness separated by white lightning.
‘Ugh I can’t breathe…!’
In the brightly lit black space, the professor felt his heart stop in real time and lost consciousness.
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