전생검신 94권 13화

Al Karda didn’t show any expression at my answer. For a brief moment of silence, he seemed more focused on the game itself rather than my response, and the tension broke after what felt like about twenty breaths.

“Do you think that’s the right answer?”

What does that mean?

I couldn’t help but feel puzzled by his question. Depending on interpretation, that rebuttal could mean several things.

But since I had my own confidence, I answered in a calm voice, “Yes.”

Al Karda replied, “I can argue that your answer of ‘Tsukuyomi’ is wrong. Do you know why?”

“Yes. That so-called master has already forgotten his own name, and it’s hard to call ‘Yuso’ or ‘Tsukuyomi’ his real name.”

“Even knowing that, you presented Tsukuyomi as the answer?”

Realizing this was a crucial moment, I spoke with conviction. “There’s no reason it can’t be the correct answer.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m sitting here.”

“……”

With a cold stare, Al Karda looked at me. But I didn’t flinch; I faced him head-on. From my previous experiences, I felt that lacking this kind of confidence would lead to total failure in dealing with this absurd Otherworldly Presence.

After a moment, he opened his mouth. “So you argue that if there’s no reason it can’t be correct, then it must be correct? That’s quite some sophistry.”

“It’s sophistry, but it could also be common sense, don’t you think?”

“Ha……”

Al Karda wore a wry smile for a brief moment.

“Alright… I’ll acknowledge it as correct.”

“……!”

I did it!

I proclaimed victory over what felt like a tougher trial than I expected.

‘See, I was right!’

Compared to the trials I had faced thus far, this one made me feel an entirely different thrill, as I realized I had to think critically this time. Had I faltered, I could have easily slipped into a deadly predicament from which there would be no escape.

Al Karda continued, “Let me ask again for clarification. What was your reason for believing that the master is both Yuso and Tsukuyomi?”

“……Because the memories overlapped.”

“How did they overlap?”

I answered Al Karda’s question clearly. “Just before I came to this unknown space after peeling off Tsukuyomi’s mask, I experienced his memories vividly.”

“……”

“But when I observed those memories in the third person, it dawned on me that at that moment, my soul and Tsukuyomi’s just happened to occupy the same space. It was Tsukuyomi’s memories from the start. Since the master’s memory was exactly the same, it could only mean they are the same person, right?”

That’s right.

The master’s memory is identical to Tsukuyomi’s memory!

Isn’t that irrefutable evidence?

Then Al Karda spoke again. “Then let me ask one more thing. Why do you think the 1st and 3rd perspectives overlapped when you looked at Tsukuyomi’s memories?”

“……?”

Huh?

That was a question I never saw coming…

I was startled but racked my brain over Al Karda’s inquiry.

‘Huh? Why did they overlap?’

Even though I found it intriguing earlier, I had no idea what caused that phenomenon.

“Uh, well… you see…”

No matter how hard I thought, I couldn’t figure out why Tsukuyomi’s perspective and mine coincided at that moment. I was sweating profusely with worry, and while I was deep in thought, Al Karda suddenly threw me a book.

Thud!

I reflexively caught it, and Al Karda said, “Read that book.”

“……? Huh? Why all of a sudden?”

“……”

“Oh, okay.”

Under Al Karda’s silent pressure, I reluctantly started flipping through the book page by page. I couldn’t read the title since it was in some unknown language, but the content was written in Middle Plain’s language, so I had no trouble comprehending it.

‘Is this a diary?’

The content of the book was a diary or memoir of someone who referred to themselves as ‘I,’ reflecting on their past memories. The specific circumstances weren’t clear, but it seemed this someone had diligently documented their daily life. As I flipped through several dozen pages, Al Karda said, “The book is written in the first person. Are you yourself the first person reading it?”

“……”

What does that mean……?

I could not grasp the intention behind the question and shook my head blankly.

“No.”

“Why not? The subject of the diary is ‘I.’”

“Well… the person reading it is a different existence from the author, right? So it has to be the third person?”

“Exactly. The subject and object of the memory are different existences. And that distinction involves observation.”

With that statement, Al Karda continued coldly, “In other words, distinguishing between self and other is an important element in memory. The type of memory differs depending on whether one is the observer or the one being observed. But what do you think would happen if that distinction did not exist?”

“Excuse me? If no distinction exists?”

“For example, this…”

Flash!

A sudden flash of light engulfed me, and I realized I was in an entirely different space.

*

‘Huh…’

My name is Ning Caichen. Today, I’ve come to Zhejiang Province to exorcise demons.

Creeeak…

The abandoned house was filled with spider webs. I cringed as I removed the webs stuck to my hat.

I didn’t want to exorcise demons, but I had no choice. My family, the Ning clan, has been a line of exorcists for thousands of years, and I, too, earn my living by doing this.

“Damn. Those f*cking ghost bastards…”

I grumbled as I glanced at the swarm of ghosts in front of me. I had heard that many ghosts were infesting a certain abandoned house in Zhejiang, and indeed, their presence was no joke. Who would have thought a single house would have over a hundred ghosts? I had never seen anything like it in my thirty years as an exorcist.

“I’ll have to catch them one by one.”

I took out the peach wood sword, effective in exorcising spirits. This sword, passed down through the Ning clan, had incredible effects against ghosts. Just then, as the holy spirit energy from the peach tree enveloped the sword, it happened.

[Wait a moment!]

“Gah?!”

Suddenly, a breathtakingly beautiful ghost swooped in front of me!

My jaw dropped as I saw the ghost, who I could tell must have been a peerless beauty in her lifetime. I almost sliced her with the peach wood sword, completely unaware she’d be so bold. I panicked and stammered, “W-who are you?”

[I am Nie Xiaoqian, who was called a beauty in life. I have an urgent request for the eminent exorcist…]

I looked at Nie Xiaoqian’s face again. Even on second glance, her beauty was mesmerizing, and I was momentarily lost before snapping back to reality.

“Are you asking me not to exorcise you? I’m sorry, but I’ve been commissioned to do this, and if you do not reach liberation, you’ll merely become a monster or a ghost, which would be a more miserable fate.”

[That’s not it. Do you know why so many ghosts are gathered in this narrow abandoned house?]

“Hmm? Do you know the reason?”

Nie Xiaoqian pointed towards the distant horizon. A faint blue light was emanating from the direction she pointed, and she spoke in a fearful tone, [Not long ago, a meteor fell from the stars, and a terrifying presence sleeps within it, causing all the ghosts to flee here to escape. We feel safe here because this abandoned house protects our souls from that evil presence.]

“……!”

Only then did I pay serious attention to the bluish light. My mind had been preoccupied with thoughts of pig’s feet after this mission, so I hadn’t noticed this earlier. Then, sensing what lay beyond the horizon, I muttered to myself.

“Hmm… Demon Ki! If it fell with the stars, that must be a powerful Otherworldly Race or a divine bloodline.”

[What’s that?]

“They aren’t creatures like you ghosts or monsters; they exist on a different dimension. If that’s the case, even a thousand gold coins wouldn’t be enough as payment… Maybe I should pass on this mission…”

Suddenly losing confidence, I muttered. Because my parents always reminded me to avoid Otherworldly Races or divine bloodlines at all costs. Exorcists renowned across the Central Plains are nothing but playthings against them and would need to seek help from Great Immortals to face them. It’s natural, but no matter how skilled I am as an exorcist, I would surely be outmatched if I faced what’s lurking there.

Nie Xiaoqian shed tears.

[There are many wronged ghosts who died unfairly in this place. It’s not that we desire exorcism forcefully; we can receive proper offerings so we may ascend peacefully, and I beseech you to extend that kindness.]

“Ugh… That sounds annoyingly expensive…”

I felt my heart weaken at Nie Xiaoqian’s tears, but the sheer hassle was unavoidable. Then, a thought flickered through my mind.

“You mentioned that this abandoned house protects against demon Ki, right? Then surely, there must be a divine artifact within this house that resists magical energies.”

[Please retrieve that artifact for us. And defeat the demon lurking within the meteor.]

“Uh… Let’s assess the situation first…”

If it looks life-threatening, make a run for it…

I fumbled my words while following the spiritual energy and rummaging through the abandoned house. After a while, I discovered a hidden basement, where I sensed an ancient seal. Upon seeing the ancient seal, I was shocked.

“No way, this is?!”

Holding onto the hope, I brought out the Ning clan’s spirit talisman.

To my surprise, the rock of the seal rumbled open as if I had inserted a perfectly sized key. Nie Xiaoqian, following me, marveled, [You’re incredible, Exorcist. To open the ancient seal so effortlessly.]

“……This seal contains our Ning clan’s ancestral ‘Pasha Flag’ sorcery. I learned this from a young age, so there’s no way I couldn’t open it.”

[Wait? Could this abandoned house be…?]

“I’m guessing the one who created this seal was our Ning clan…”

Inside the sealed space, there lay a book.

I picked up the book and gasped.

“Of course…”

The Yue Shi Chun Qiu.

The legendary grimoire that was said to have been brought by the Ning clan’s strongest exorcist from the estate of the world’s wealthiest man, Lü Buwei, was right here!

Upon acquiring the Yue Shi Chun Qiu, I felt the weight of destiny upon me and sighed.

“I’ll have to change my name.”

[Why the sudden change?]

“This is one of the most powerful grimoires in the world. If word spreads that I acquired the Yue Shi Chun Qiu, every Great Demon, Sorcerer, and Immortal will target me. I better change my name and go into hiding…”

[Is that so…]

After a moment, Nie Xiaoqian smiled.

[How about Yan Chika?]

“Yan Chika…? Who is that?”

[It was the name of a friend of mine in childhood.]

“……Hmm.”

Eventually, I nodded.

“Sounds good. I’ll live as Yan Chika from now on. And I’ll deal with the demon from that meteor with the power of this Yue Shi Chun Qiu.”

*

Flash!

I felt myself jolted back to reality amidst the blinding light.

“Gah!”

W-What did I just see?

Could this be the memory of the book’s owner?

No way…

I looked down at the book with trembling hands and said, “Is this… the memory of a human named Ning Caichen?”

To my guess, Al Karda replied, “That’s right. How does it feel to temporarily be Ning Caichen?”

“……”

“Is it first-person but also not first-person?”

I shook my head heavily.

“……No. I was just Ning Caichen himself.”

This is not an objective observation of memory. I had completely lost my sense of self as Baek Woong and had been Ning Caichen himself. Thirty years old Ning clan exorcist Ning Caichen—nothing more, nothing less.

In response to my answer, Al Karda said, “Ning Caichen changed his name to Yan Chika. So is he no longer Ning Caichen?”

“It depends on how a person thinks…”

“That’s precisely why I recognized your answer as correct.”

Al Karda continued, “The ‘master’ is not his name. He used a pseudonym, and he recognized it as such. However, ‘Yuso’ and ‘Tsukuyomi’ are names he’s accepted as his own throughout his life. Hence, I’ll acknowledge your answer as Tsukuyomi.”

“……!”

So that’s it…!

I started to grasp the meaning behind Al Karda’s words.

‘If someone recognizes a pseudonym as merely a pseudonym, it is meaningless. But if, despite being a fake name, the person believes it to be real, does that make it real…?’

……

There seems to be some hidden intent behind this…

As I pondered, Al Karda spoke. “Now, do you understand why the first-person and third-person perspectives overlapped when you viewed Tsukuyomi’s memories?”

“……”

I instinctively sensed that this was what Al Karda truly wanted to convey. I deliberated on what he had said so far and took a moment before finally speaking.

“Is it because I… perceived Tsukuyomi as a fake?”

“That’s correct.”

Al Karda fixed his cold gaze on me.

“Once you removed Tsukuyomi’s mask, you recognized that you and Tsukuyomi were entirely different beings, and you knew the name Tsukuyomi was a fake. Boundaries emerged in your perception, preventing you from immersing yourself completely in those memories in the first person, just as you did a moment ago.”

“……”

“This is not a rule limited to [names]. The important thing is the boundaries.”

With that, Al Karda glanced at the Go board for a long moment and then made his move.

Thud!

Al Karda made a move that seemed obvious and elegant, as if he had anticipated it. I had roughly expected that he’d place his piece there. Yet, at that moment, an immense feeling of emptiness hit me.

‘Was I really struggling over such a trivial move…?’

Wasn’t that a misjudgment?

At least by making a move, I thought I could prolong the game, but isn’t it possible I’d face an even worse defeat?

Just as my mind grew complicated, Al Karda said, “Even so, I’m surprised you guessed the master’s name. I thought it would be a challenge for your intellect.”

“……”

Now, I’ve reached the level where an Otherworldly Presence has to call me dumb.

Just as I was feeling cringeworthy, something unexpected was said.

“I’ll reward you for achieving something miraculous.”

“Excuse me?”

I couldn’t believe my ears at the following words.

“For this trial, choose a dimension and time; I shall present a question fitting for that space-time.”

“……! Huh?”

“Didn’t you hear…?”

At Al Karda’s words, I fell into serious contemplation.

“Choose the dimension and time you wish to visit.”