Chapter 284: Memory Dive (5)

“Master... Master!”

Kai opened his eyes to the feeling of someone shaking him. What came into view was the inside of Roen’s house and Blizzard, looking at him with deep concern.

He slowly pulled his hand away from Roen’s forehead and stepped back. “Master, are you okay?”

Nodding in response to Blizzard’s repeated questioning, Kai asked, “How long was I like this?”

“A full day.”

“I see.”

Kai wasn’t particularly surprised.

The time I spent inside Roen’s memory world was also about a day.

In a way, it made sense.

“

Ugh

.”

As he tried to stand, slightly stumbling, Blizzard quickly supported him. With Blizzard’s help, he barely managed to sit on a chair, and looked at Roen with a blank expression. Roen was crying.

And I’m...

Kai instinctively ran his fingers under his eyes. There were no traces of tears.

“Did I cry at any point during the past day?”

“No. Roen has been crying continuously for the past few minutes, but... you remained completely fine.”

“I see.”

Even so, a lingering ache remained in his chest, which only made it all the more confusing.

Am I feeling this way because I got too immersed in Roen’s memories?

Or was it simply because he had witnessed something tragic, like watching a heartbreaking movie?

Uncertain, Kai slowly approached Roen.

“Roen.”

As he gently shook his shoulder, Roen, who had been shedding thick, hot tears, slowly opened his eyes.

Just as Kai was pondering what to say, Roen suddenly lowered his head. “

Oh

... I don’t know why these tears are flowing out all of a sudden...”

Wiping his eyes, Roen stood up energetically and said with a refreshed expression, “I must have lost my mind. Of all things, turning to drugs... If my late father had seen me, he would have scolded me harshly.”

“... How did your father pass away?”

“It was an illness. It would have been better if I had met you three months earlier.”

“I’m sorry.” Kai unconsciously bowed his head.

Startled, Roen immediately reached out to lift him up. “No, not at all! This isn’t your fault, please don’t do this.”

Then, he bowed deeply toward Kai. “Rather, thank you for enlightening someone as foolish as me. This is all thanks to you.”

“But I...”

Kai slightly bit his lower lip and watched Roen bowing over and over, and slowly closed his eyes.

He has no awareness that his memories have been altered.

Whether that was fortunate or unfortunate, Kai couldn’t decide.

As he remained silent, Roen said, “My father’s final wish was for me to study hard in the city and become a great scholar.”

“I’m sure you’ll become an excellent one. Have you decided where you’ll go?”

“

Hmm...

Not yet.”

“In that case, would you like to come to my territory?”

He made the offer out of guilt. Even if his intentions had been for healing, he had still tampered with Roen’s precious memories, reshaping them without consent. Roen, completely unaware of the truth, was overwhelmed with gratitude, repeatedly expressing his thanks. Watching him, Kai felt as if he had committed a grave sin and couldn’t bring himself to meet Roen’s eyes.

“N-now that I think about it, you’re a noble, aren’t you? I apologize for not recognizing sooner.”

“No need. It’s not as if I have

noble

written on my forehead.” Kai pulled a small pouch of gold from his pocket and handed it to Roen. “My territory, Arkan, is currently being developed into an academy city.”

“An... academy city?” Roen tilted his head at the unfamiliar term.

“I plan to turn an entire city into a massive academy. It will not only have the best instructors on the continent but also facilities for students, including recreational areas.”

“J-just hearing about it sounds like a dream. If I could study in a place like that...” Roen’s eyes sparkled with joy.

“I’ll inform the academy staff. I’m not sure when construction will be completed, but it won’t take too long. That money should be enough for your living expenses until then.”

“If I keep receiving like this...”

Overwhelmed by a wave of emotion, Roen fidgeted like a restless puppy.

Then, as if making a firm decision, he put on a somewhat determined expression and said, “Truly, thank you. I will never forget your kindness, Kai. I will work hard to become a great scholar, never allowing myself to slack off, so that one day, I can repay this debt. If you ever need my help, please call me anytime.”

Ding!

[Affinity with Roen greatly increased.]

[Roen sees you as his benefactor. He will spend his life repaying this kindness.]

Normally, this would have been a message to celebrate, but it did nothing to remove the heavy weight in Kai’s heart.

“Well, I should get going now.”

“

Oh

, the sun will set soon. It’s a humble place, but would you consider staying the night...?”

“It’s alright, I just remembered something urgent I need to take care of.”

“Ah, if you’re busy, I suppose there’s no choice.”

Roen, looking visibly disappointed, saw them off.

As Roen waved from a distance, Blizzard said, “Master, are you truly alright? You don’t look well.”

“Really?”

Kai headed straight for the lake. It was the same lakeside where, in Roen’s memories, he had washed his face to clear his mind. He had intended to check his reflection, but in the dark waters of the night, all he saw was emptiness.

“Blizzard, I need to go somewhere for a bit.”

“Go ahead.”

Blizzard, without hesitation, let him go.

Leaving Blizzard behind, Kai headed straight to the Celestial Garden.

Seated, Helik looked at Kai with a sorrowful expression, as if she had been waiting for him. “Kai.”

𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

“Helik.” Kai approached her, then collapsed into a chair, resting his head on the table. “I don’t know. I don’t know if what I did truly helped him, or if it was just for my own satisfaction... Am I a hypocrite?”

Helik didn’t answer, and instead reached out and gently stroked his hair. Kai could feel her small fingers combing through his strands.

“Kai, in the human world, there is a saying, Even an unjust law is still law.”

Kai remained silent, listening to her words.

“In the same way, hypocrisy can also be a form of kindness. Of course, if it is used as a tool to fulfill one's own selfish desires, then the story changes... But did you heal Roen with the intent of gaining something in return?”

Kai shook his head.

Seeing that, Helik let out a soft, childlike laugh. “There you have it. You are not a hypocrite. Even after showing kindness to Roen, you are suffering because you cannot fully accept the result. That is enough. Keep reflecting on your actions, and keep moving forward. Temper yourself so that tomorrow, you will be a better version of yourself than you were today.”

“H-Helik...”

He had always thought of Helik as a child, yet here she was, offering advice that struck deep. He looked at her with a hint of admiration in his eyes.

Noticing Kai’s admiring gaze, she straightened her posture with a proud tilt of her chin.

“I feel like you keep forgetting this, so I’ll remind you again. I am not a child. I am Helik, the Solarian God. And I have the most devoted followers!”

“For today, I accept that.”

“Exactly! For today—W-what did you just say?” Helik’s cheeks puffed up as she glared at Kai.

In response, he instinctively reached out and pressed them. A funny sound escaped as air was released from her inflated cheeks. Then he playfully stretched her soft, mochi-like cheeks.

“

Huuuuh...

”

“I knew I was right to seek your advice, Helik.”

“

Huhhhh...

”

“Thank you for not calling my kindness hypocrisy.”

As Kai took off his hands, Helik cupped her now-tingling cheeks and glared at him.

“

Ugh

... Stop stretching them. My cheeks will sag.”

“A god’s skin wouldn’t stretch that easily. And besides, you’re the Solarian God, Helik.”

“Th-that’s right. I am the Solarian God.”

Helik, who had instinctively nodded in agreement, cleared her throat and continued, “In any case, this is precisely why I warned you so many times about Memory Dive. That ability was originally created by demons. No matter how pure your intentions may be, you cannot defy the corrupt nature of its origins. Ultimately... it is you who will suffer and you who will be hurt.”

Meeting Helik’s worried gaze, Kai smiled.

“With a Solarian God who worries about me this much, do you really think I’d let it weigh on me?”

“... You’re really something else.” Helik let out a small sigh and shook her head. “Sharing another’s memories and accepting their emotions without any kind of defense mechanism... is far more dangerous than you might think. The demons were unaffected because they were created with hearts incapable of feeling in the first place, but...”

“I’ll be fine.” Kai said with certainty. “In the end, Roen will live a better, more productive life than before. The nightmares that haunted him daily, the regrets that consumed him, will never come for him again. That’s enough for me.”

“Are you really okay?”

“Yes. I’m actually not that virtuous. If it ever becomes too much for me, I’ll stop.”

Seeing Kai’s smile, Helik chuckled. “Really... You’re such a strange person.”

“If I were normal, I wouldn’t have done something as ridiculous as giving you candy and chocolates.”

“... I hope you stay strange forever,” Helik muttered, slightly turning her head.

***

For the next few days, Han Jung-Woo took things easy and enjoyed a relaxed lifestyle.

“Now that I think about it, I have been pretty busy.”

He had been pushing forward without rest, so he figured he deserved at least a short vacation. Therefore, he spent Saturday packing gifts and headed to his family home in Seongbuk-dong.

“What is all this?”

From the finest wine his father loved to clothes and handbags for his mother and sister, he had prepared it all.

Though surprised by the unexpected gifts, his family welcomed him with mixed expressions.

“It’s nothing. It’s just been a while since I last saw everyone.”

“So you did realize that.”

“

Ahem

. Even if you don’t visit often, I still hear news about you from time to time.”

Han Jung-Woo’s father spoke in a stern tone, but his mother immediately called him out.

“From time to time? Please. Your dad checks that online community, or whatever, every day after work, looking up news about you.”

“D-Dear... That’s...”

“And just a few days ago, he saw a hate comment and was about to mobilize the corporate legal team to sue the guy.”

“

A-ahem!

” His father, his face now as red as a tomato, quickly fought back. “You’re making

me

sound strange. Han Jung-Woo, did you know your mother has a new hobby?”

“A hobby?”

“Honey!” His mother shouted in surprise.

But his father didn't stop and continued, “She’s been printing out every online article about you, cutting them out, and making a scrapbook...”

“Are you

really

doing this right now?”

“

Ahem

. You started it first.”

The growing awkwardness was broken by Han Jung-Woo’s sister, Han Ji-Hye.

“

Sigh

. Both of you are being ridiculous.”

Dressed in the new dress her brother had gifted her, she leaned over and whispered, “Try to understand. Their businesses haven’t been doing well lately, so they have a lot of free time.”

“What about their businesses?”

Han Ji-Hye popped a piece of melon into her mouth and continued, “What do you think? It’s because of

MID Online

.”

Because of MID Online, huh... That does make sense.

Han Jung-Woo nodded.

His parents each ran their own businesses, and coincidentally, both were in the fashion industry. His mother managed a company specializing in golf wear and hiking apparel, while his father operated a business producing suits and dress shoes.

“Who even plays golf or goes hiking in real life these days? And Dad’s brand is high-end, but all the rich people are spending their money in

MID Online

instead of the real world.”

As both his parents let out deep sighs, Han Jung-Woo blinked and asked, “Then why don’t you both just do business in

MID Online

too?”