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Does the soul really exist?

If souls exist, do they have weight?

If they have weight, can we feel it?

It can be felt.

Kenneth’s soul is slowly fading from Jinseong’s senses. The last breath he exhales makes his body momentarily lighter, and one of the bonds that comprised him breaks. Just like when one leg of a pot that held its contents with three legs is lost, it tips over, spilling everything onto the ground; this is what death is.

Kenneth has died. He can no longer move or live.

However, the wish he left behind lingers, whispering softly to him.

The color of that emotion resembles neither the burning flame nor the wind that feels like it will slice through flesh.

It does not resemble the trembling earth nor the towering waves.

It is warm, like the sun’s light, a breeze that cools the sweat.

It is the earth that gives a pleasant sensation to the soles of the feet, and water like a mother’s embrace.

Its name is love.

Kenneth whispered love until the moment he died.

He sang of love and cried for love, wishing for the world to be filled with it.

Sublime and noble indeed.

And this noble being sought to sacrifice himself to achieve a noble purpose.

How could a god not be moved by such an irreplaceable sacrifice?

He was neither captured nor compelled.

It was not borne of fanaticism nor cursed intent.

It should suffice for the gods to be pleased with this, differing greatly from other human sacrifices.

And so, the god responded.

The god answered his wish.

Sizzling.

First, the lava cooled.

The scorching lava that swallowed Kenneth without a trace.

It seemed as if someone poured forth cold air, and the lava cooled at an abnormally fast rate, hardening into stone while cradling the ashes of Kenneth’s bones and flesh, forming a scar that crossed the slope.

However, this scar is stitched up, thus it will no longer bleed lava resembling blood.

Thus, the wound of the mountain is stitched and allowed to heal.

And since the wound has healed, the boiling heat has calmed down.

The volcano, once boiling like a foul-tempered goddess, begins to settle slowly.

The most beautiful goddess summons coolness, so it’s only natural that the cold reaches the ground, healing like someone who suffered from fever and then received a cold compress. Thus, everything begins to return to normal.

Crunchy.

The ground freezes.

Deep inside the earth freezes.

The cold descends, reducing the pressure of the earth.

It lowers the temperature of the magma, even affecting the gas.

The mysterious power of magic affects the magma, gas, and volatile substances, gradually calming the volcano.

Though it is called a special ability, it is incomprehensible.

It truly cannot be a scene that doesn’t appear miraculous.

Who could doubt this miracle upon witnessing the anger of the volcano subside and calm?

From this moment on, the volcano’s danger has remarkably diminished.

As long as no one does something incredibly foolish or maliciously attempts to explode the volcano, it should be safe for a while.

The sacrifice of one shaman has granted humanity a long reprieve.

Rescue.

This shaman has saved America.

Volcanic debris, explosions, magma, the calamity that follows, and the madness that exploded alongside the volcanic eruption of countless people…

One person has stopped it all.

Of course, one could say it wasn’t completely prevented…

Yet, can we not appreciate even the imperfect thwarting of disaster?

Even a rickety hut serves its purpose as a home.

It distinguishes between inside and outside, protects from rain and wind, and keeps beasts and insects at bay.

This magic is akin to that.

It wasn’t perfect, but like the hut, it succeeded in making at least a distinction, and from there, everything else would be far easier.

Building a house is hard, but repairing it or reinforcing the walls isn’t that difficult, right?

It can be understood in this way.

What a wonderful thing it is.

Kenneth’s final deed succeeded.

However, even if it was successful, the problems do not end here.

The ritual conducted by Kenneth and Jinseong was nearly equivalent to the Great Ritual of Magic.

The Great Ritual of Magic demands a tremendous cost.

It requires the wealth that the state must attach itself to in order to lessen the burden of the cost to a manageable level, or else one must sacrifice people. And if that isn’t possible, one must pay a price that is far beyond the endurance of any individual…. It’s a price incomparable to regular magical rituals.

Given such a powerful spell, how great must the cost be?

It would be an understatement to say it is terrifying.

Furthermore, depending on how one thinks about it, Kenneth’s death may not have been a price paid but rather the act of casting the spell through his death.

If that is the case, Jinseong would obviously have to bear the cost of this powerful ritual all by himself.

That would truly be a horrifying thing.

…If indeed Jinseong is to pay the price of this magic.

“PADMAJUNG NESA SWAHA! PADMAJUNG NESA SWAHA! PADMAJUNG NESA SWAHA! PADMAJUNG NESA SWAHA! PADMAJUNG NESA SWAHA! PADMAJUNG NESA SWAHA! PADMAJUNG NESA SWAHA! PADMAJUNG NESA SWAHA! PADMAJUNG NESA SWAHA! PADMAJUNG NESA SWAHA! PADMAJUNG NESA SWAHA! PADMAJUNG NESA SWAHA!”

It is often said that what is seen from one perspective may not hold true from another.

Even if one stands atop a peak to admire a view, how can the view of the west and east be the same?

That is what perspective is.

From another angle, this ritual can also be seen as Kenneth performing it and dying in the process.

Who is the one who lived in the place where this volcano is located?

It is Kenneth.

Who fought hard to repel the intruders entering the volcano?

It is Kenneth.

Who received respect and gifts from the intruders who charged at him?

It is Kenneth.

Since ancient times, prisoners belong to the general, and tributes given are the property of the lord.

People are property, and that fully belongs to their masters, who must take responsibility.

So, what should one call a person who fought and then helped another?

Did they change and become enlightened after the fight?

Did they express respect towards their rival at the end of the battle?

“PADMAJUNG NESA SWAHA! PADMAJUNG NESA SWAHA! PADMAJUNG NESA SWAHA! PADMAJUNG NESA SWAHA! PADMAJUNG NESA SWAHA! PADMAJUNG NESA SWAHA! PADMAJUNG NESA SWAHA! PADMAJUNG NESA SWAHA! PADMAJUNG NESA SWAHA! PADMAJUNG NESA SWAHA! PADMAJUNG NESA SWAHA! PADMAJUNG NESA SWAHA!”

That could indeed be the case.

It surely could be.

However, if the one who helped Kenneth was Jinseong, there would be a possibility of that.

But, Park Jinseong is not here.

The one wearing the mask may become the very same being behind it.

An imitator can become that person.

Believe it.

The masked face represents the personality of the person.

The mask hides the essence behind it, imitating and acting.

Thus, a person can become anything by wearing a mask.

Even a ghost, a deity, or another person.

By donning a mask and mimicking, a person can achieve that.

Thus, Park Jinseong does not exist in this place.

There is only a deity who committed wrongdoings and then surrendered to Padmasambhava.

Look.

The guardian spirit of Heaven’s Platform is here.

Just as it is in the story, frozen eyes surround the area, and the snow melts to form puddles, which bubble and boil, cooking all flesh without turning it into a hideous skeleton form, right? A smooth skeleton emerges, devoid of flesh, doesn’t it?

How can one deny that face?

How can one assert that this being is not the guardian spirit of Heaven’s Platform!

Thus, just as that being committed wrongdoings and then surrendered.

After surrendering, he became the guardian spirit of Heaven’s Platform and the God of Auspiciousness, offering his help.

Certainly, the assistance he provided to Kenneth belongs naturally to Kenneth, because he is a slave or prisoner, and thus he must follow his master and do what he ought to.

From ancient times, a slave has been the property of his master.

And so, all responsibility lies with the master.

 

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