Chapter 400
17
Dear All,
I hope this message finds you well.
To be honest, I'm unsure of exactly who I'm addressing, primarily because my current state of existence is rather indeterminate.
Once, I was the Void, then the Shrine Maiden of Shadows, followed by being Cheon-hwa, the Undertaker, and now back to being Cheon-hwa.
The confusion of identity is substantial enough to be celebrated as a grand festival.
It's often said that when absurdity reaches its peak, it becomes art. Thus, 'I', as I am now, must have far surpassed Leonardo da Vinci.
The world is a dismal stew of oddities and voids.
With only a few years remaining before these global trends take over, I, Cheon-hwa, have embraced the spirit of an early adopter.
Yet, the world inherently seeks balance.
When one moves quickly, another lags behind.
That's just the way of the world.
So even amidst the chaos of my identity crisis, there is one thing I can confidently assert.
"This wretched Senior is astonishingly late. Seriously."
"? Sis?"
For almost five years now, I've been in this dream.
Yet, that infernal senior Undertaker hasn’t shown as much as a hair at the mansion of the cult.
**18**
On the porch of the mansion annex, I looked up at the neatly severed line of the sky above the eaves and murmured forlornly.
"You're late, Senior. Will I turn into a monster at this rate?"
Nearby, Yo-hwa, who was doing push-ups, turned her head slightly to comment.
"You know what? Sis, sometimes you're quite the fool."
"Oh dear. My dear sister, if I'm a fool, by the nature of our twin DNA, you must naturally rank as one too. Why then, do you spit your contempt upwards?"
"Oh, sorry. Misspoke. You're always foolish, Sis."
"Unbelievable."
I suffered a small shock.
Where did the child who once wept and wailed vanish, saying, 'I hate chocolate ice cream that you bring me! I never want to eat it again!'?
"Well, maybe it's your fault for feeding me chocolate mint ice cream for over half a year while calling it chocolate. Don't you think?"
"This is all father’s fault."
I replied, pouting.
"As the esteemed child of a renowned household and successor to the cult, my life's downturn started the moment we were forced into formal speech. It's saddening."
"You've also kept up this manner of speaking, Sis!"
"Unforgivable, Father. It seems I must repay him sooner, for my sister's return to sanity."
"...When I marry, I’ll never have children. Leaving such DNA to future generations would be a sin against humanity."
Well.
Despite becoming thoroughly 'Cheon-hwa' in both appearance and spirit, a part of me still remembers the 'Undertaker.'
Some time ago, I had a conversation about this with the tutorial fairy.
"Hoo-hoo, Comrade Secretary-General. I've been following your orders to extend the time in this dream, but this is getting dangerous."
"What exactly is so dangerous?"
"Hoo! The only way to extend our time here is to dream within the dream. You've reached the fourth level.. a dream within a dream within a dream."
"A dream within a dream? I see. It seems I’m further descending into an unconscious world, patrolled by those pink creatures."
"Exactly!"
Holding a fan in my hand, I folded it and pressed it firmly against my chin.
"It doesn't matter. Continue."
"Huh?! Is that really okay?!"
"Yes. The unconscious world has seven stages."
I smiled.
"We won’t need more than three years to wait for the new 'tutor.' Our goal is to endure until then. There's no need to wait any longer."
"Three years might indeed keep it within five stages."
There was another calculation.
Although I hadn't shared it with the fairies, I actually wanted to grow closer to Go Yuri.
'This is Yo-hwa's dream. But since Go Yuri appeared, it’s no longer just Yo-hwa’s dream.’
I suspected, no, I was convinced, that the 'data' forming this dream might have seeped in from Go Yuri.
'Data I could never access otherwise.'
Thus, using Go Yuri, I could utilize it for 'memory restoration.'
I will unearth not just Yo-hwa's memories but also Go Yuri's.
An incredibly dangerous plan.
‘I would never have attempted such a strategy in the past... But now, having learned more about Go Yuri through SG Net's insights, it's worth a try.'
A challenge worth undertaking.
"Are you really okay, Secretary General?" the fairy asked, eyes wide with concern.
"Secretary General. You have changed a lot, not just in appearance."
"Hmm."
"In dreams, the ego tends to dissolve. You've proven your resilience by withstanding this, yet I'm worried!"
Nod.
"It’s all right. I have my memories."
"Oh."
"Instead, I ask you fairies to devote your full strength to maintaining Yo-hwa's identity."
"Eek! We're already allocating 60% of our resources to that. You want to reduce the Secretary-General's portion further?!"
"Yes."
My eyes narrowed involuntarily.
"Stumbling upon those pink figures was amusing, but we mustn't forget our original purpose."
"......"
"Yo-hwa. Our goal is to repair the abyss-like holes in my sister's unconscious by embedding 'memories with her sister.'"
However, it's fine by me to lose a bit of 'myself.'
As mentioned, my [Perfect Memory] will ensure I return to my original self once I awaken from this dream.
"But still..."
"Proceed. It's an order from the Secretary-General."
"Ah! A-alright, as you say!"
The fairies scattered hastily.
"......."
I closed one eye and gazed up at the sky.
Unbeknownst to those living in this dream world, the sky has remained unchanged for the past four years.
The hue of the sky, the shape of the clouds, the intensity of the light—fairies began systematically erasing resources deemed unnecessary for maintaining this world.
"Indeed. This feels just like the days spent with Yo-hwa while subduing the Void."
Back then, the world had also progressively shrunk, eventually compacting to the size of the Student Council Room at Baekhwa High School.
"Back then, I was desperately trying to kill the Void. Now, I’m trying so hard to restore it... No, not the Void, but Cheon-hwa."
Such is the complexity of life.
Unlike the unchanged sky, time continues to slip by unpredictably.
"Hoo. Secretary-General, now even the fourth level can't hold time... Though it’s embarrassing, we will have to proceed to the fifth stage!"
"Go ahead."
"But, given the unsettling alignment between you and this young lady, some unusual events might occur……."
Curious.
"Unusual events?"
"It’s our first time experiencing this, so we cannot be certain! But you, Secretary-General! I am confident you will remain unfazed and overcome any crisis!"
The nature of this 'unusual event’ became apparent soon enough.
"……?"
Surrounded as usual by fairies, I entered a dream within a dream, and upon opening my eyes, the eerie silence was palpable.
"Fairies?"
Silence.
The dream imps that usually clung to me incessantly with their troublesome cries were nowhere to be seen.
"Fairy number 264?"
No response.
"......."
Indeed.
It appears that the one wielding full authority with the fairies in this dream has always been 'The Undertaker,' not the young 'Cheon-hwa.'
"Does this mean I'm the only one left to remember the true reality?"
"Sis? What are you doing over there?"
I turned towards the voice.
Yo-hwa, my one and only sister, exuded an animated presence amidst the emptiness of this dream within a dream that was otherwise only roamed by shadows.
Her curious gaze, with her head tilted slightly, breathed life into her eyes. Yes.
"Well, then, it doesn't really matter."
"...Ah. Another monologue time, huh? Sorry for interrupting your precious adolescent angst. I'll just do some strength training."
"I wish you would stop abruptly switching between formal and informal speech."
"No way. You should try it sometime. It's fun."
"Really? Then maybe I will. We've read the scriptures, right? Just don't forget that next week Father plans to personally ask about them."
"Love you, Sis! This time, you take the test for me, pretending to be me! I’m off to exercise for my long, lazy life! Bye! Love you!"
"......."
What a naughty sister.
Where has the once adorable sister vanished to? I feel like filing a lawsuit in the universe for damages.
Time flowed regardless of my grumbling.
By now, accessing the 'Undertaker's' memories was beginning to feel taxing unless I put in extra effort.
"Look at this, Yo-hwa."
"Yes?"
"A funny article."
Snap. Father flicked the newspaper with a snap of his fingers.
I mean, 'newspaper'? Everyone these days, even elders, are glued to smartphones as a second life. Father.
I really should hurry and perform traditional filial duties from the Goryeo Dynasty on the Korean peninsula soon.
"There's only one perfect score student this year. And the interview is quite intriguing."
"......?"
Curious how interesting a perfect score student’s interview could be, I took a look.
――――――――――
Q: What is your religion?
A: "Taoism. My friends give me strange looks whenever I say I practice Taoism, but it's true. Taoism deeply links to self-discipline and mental cultivation."
――――――――――
……
"What do you think, Yo-hwa?"
Father smiled, seemingly satisfied.
"Your sister always worries about the limited appeal of Taoism, but see? Even a student from afar, not one from our sect, openly claims to practice Taoism!"
It seemed Father craved affirmation for his perceptive judgment.
Well. Given he’s convinced I am the sister, 'Yo-hwa,' simply with minor makeup tweaks, it’s evident Father’s eyes compare well with peep holes in terms of function.
"Fascinating."
I decided to indulge in the role of a caring sister and fulfill Father's expectations.
Recently, within the sect, the number of followers siding with 'Cheon-hwa' has been rising.
Naturally, despite my identity struggles, the support of my 'main character' knowledge and experience supplements me.
Even though Father wields absolute power over the sect, granting me several years has inevitably led to his eventual downfall.
Father himself must feel uneasy already.
That's why he's been seeking more companionship with 'Yo-hwa' rather than 'Cheon-hwa,' projecting closeness to those around us.
"Even an outsider bringing new perspectives can bring a fresh breeze to the sect. Ahem!"
"Hahaha."
It seems Father wants to publicize that he holds the power to appoint a successor. But is he aware?
The mere act of clinging to the power of succession is already a defensive move. It’s unbecoming of the 'Guru,' the divine representative and sect’s sovereign.
Above all, my sister could never be a rival.
Imagining a future where the assets of Baekhwa High School and the sect pass on to Yo-hwa—well, it would require me willingly sealing myself as a divine offering to suppress divine sorcery. Hence, improbability.
Ahahaha. Time Seal Mage Joke!
Time easily flowed.
"Young Miss Cheon-hwa. Young Miss Yo-hwa."
One day, during a tutoring session.
Once a week, from childhood, we had been exposed to various 'external knowledge' by our tutor—our beloved teacher, Go Yuri—who now closed the scriptures with a delicate sigh.
"I'm sorry, but I won't be able to continue our classes starting next week."
"What?!"
Yo-hwa, who had been leisurely enjoying a chocolate ice cream bar, was visibly shocked.
"What do you mean, Teacher?"
"I'm truly sorry. There's been a change in my family circumstances."
Go Yuri's expression was one of sincere regret, evident to anyone who looked at her.
"From next week onwards, my replacement will take over the lessons."
"A replacement...?"
"Hehe. You'll need to start seriously preparing for your college entrance exams. The person taking over will be able to teach you much better in that regard."
I narrowed one eye slightly.
"You seem to know this person well, Teacher?"
"Yes, indeed.”
Go Yuri smiled warmly.
"Very, very well."
"..."
"They've even achieved perfect scores on entrance exams themselves, so you needn't worry about their abilities!"
What can be concealed?
A week after Go Yuri's unexpected resignation, the person who arrived at our mansion's study room was none other than—
"――Hello. Pleased to meet you. Young Miss Cheon-hwa, Young Miss Yo-hwa."
Someone with a face I knew all too well.
"My name is ■■■."
The Undertaker.
"I've been thoroughly briefed on your academic progress by your previous teacher."
Before the world fell to ruin.
Before the Void came, the person who was ‘me.’
"Both of you have made excellent progress."
"..."
"However, since your parents aspire for you both to attend Seoul National University, you will need a learning companion. Your grades are not an issue. Just between us, I've been informed that your school is in quite... a 'unique situation.'"
The man smiled faintly.
No matter how much I dug through data, I could never trace his whereabouts. He only emerged when I explored Yu Ji-won’s past to fill an empty canvas—a missing person of this world.
A person shrouded in mystery, unknown to all.
"Shall we begin our first lesson?"
Finally.
He had revealed himself before me.