22 - RIP, My Birthday Was June 11th

My birthday was June 11th. I'm not entirely sure, but what does it matter? I just picked that date because it was the record of my first virtual reality login. It might've been a bit earlier in reality, but it wouldn't make much difference.

Coincidentally, the day I was rescued from the capsule was exactly June 11th too. In other words, exactly seven years later, I finally saw the light of the world. But June 11th wasn't anything special just because it was my birthday.

I couldn't pinpoint No Seola's exact date of death, so I decided to make the day her soul departed my own birthday. That way, I'd remember her forever as I went on living.

The columbarium was packed with urns holding ashes. Knowing all these people were gone from the world made my heart heavy. Would their souls live on eternally in their families' memories? Or was death the absolute end?

If they weren't lucky, maybe they'd reincarnate in some fantasy world. I stood there for a long time, praying that Seola could find eternal rest.

"No photo, huh."

The other niches had flowers or family photos decorating the urns, making them look nice. Seola's spot felt so stark and lonely by comparison.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Next time, I'll bring a gift or something."

I left the columbarium with a pang in my chest, wondering what Seola would have liked. A full moon hung high in the sky by then.

Professor Cheon Kyujin got out of the car to greet me.

"Your mother would be pleased. To have such a spirited daughter."

"You think so?"

"Of course."

While I'd been visiting Seola, Professor Cheon had stopped by a street vendor nearby and bought some red bean buns. He handed one to me.

"It's hot. Blow on it before you eat."

"This is good. Could work for dinner."

"You didn't order lunch today, did you? Haven't eaten anything all day?"

"How'd you know...?"

Did he hear my stomach growl right before I got in the car?

"No payment notifications came through. Thought it was a glitch at first, but you really didn't eat anything."

"I don't eat much anyway. Potions fill me up."

"I might sound like an old fogey saying this, but you need to eat properly to grow up healthy. Anyway, that thing you're drinking isn't medicine—it's a mana potion?"

"Yeah, wanna try some?"

"I thought only combat mages drank those. Guess pharmacies sell them too."

Tell me about it. But chugging it like that...

"Cough! C-cough! Hic, cough cough!"

For a Potion X rip-off, it was a bit too harsh. Good thing the driving system was AI-powered; thirty years ago, that would've caused a major accident.

Professor Cheon coughed nonstop, barely catching his breath, and kept up the residual hacking even after.

"Ahem... You drink cough this every day?"

"Professor, you're overreacting. It's not that bad."

"Even so..."

It was nasty, sure, but the potion's effects gave a euphoric high. I agreed the aftertaste was tough, but Professor Cheon showed an even stronger aversion.

"Looks like I need to find you better potions. Ahem."

We got home around 8 p.m. Neither of us had eaten dinner, so we'd stopped at a chicken place on the way and picked up a whole fried chicken.

He ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠set two plates and two glasses on the table, then pulled a refreshingly cold beer from the fridge.

"Pour me some too."

"Huh?"

"Wait, is there an age limit for drinking in Korea?"

He was pouring only for himself, which felt unfair, so I asked for a glass. Then I vaguely recalled the laws here.

"Have you drunk before?"

"No way. I meant water."

Smelling alcohol after so long made me crave it. Old memories bubbled up. But right now, I needed to focus on the seductive fried chicken legs in front of me.

"Weren't bored all day?"

"Nah, kept myself busy. Messed around with the capsule in my room a bit. Anything special for you, Professor?"

"Just signing off final grades for my undergrads and writing end-of-term reports. Checked on the lab kids' research in between."

"This chicken's amazing. Thanks for buying it."

"Hey, no need to thank me... Don't be so formal!"

Why didn't this kind of food exist in my previous world? Was culinary progress inevitably tied to the fall of empires and the rise of the bourgeoisie? Silly thoughts like that crossed my mind. If I'd known, I should've toppled the Kaizen Empire a day sooner.

"Nami, what was your old school like? Sad to leave your friends behind?"

"Not really... Had one close friend, but she transferred. Been solo since. Do I even have to go?"

"Unfortunately, it's compulsory education. If you're okay with it, I'd love for you to enroll in an academy. What do you think?"

"Academy?"

What did that mean? Wasn't an academy just a school? I looked puzzled, so Professor Cheon explained Korea's academies.

"Compared to regular schools, think of them as magic-specialized high schools. As you know, your elementary school didn't teach much magic."

"Just tracing runes on paper at best."

"Magic's an expensive field. That's why schools founded by major magic foundations worldwide are called academies. Around here in Gangnam, Seferon Academy from the Seferon Foundation is the most famous."

"Cool. There are that many nationwide?"

"Eight in total in Korea."

By my past life's knowledge, that was like each magic tower building one in the capital. Even mighty Kaizen Empire only managed two due to budget constraints—and they were always overflowing with talent from around the world.

"If I have to go... academy sounds better."

At least they wouldn't charge mana taxes on campus. I'd search it up later.

"That's what I thought. Plus, Nami, your transmutation circles use some unique syntax. Grading them was tough—even the AI struggled translating. Academies teach international standard rune grammar too."

"Doesn't matter much to me, but yeah, for pro texts, I should learn it."

"Right?"

"Did you go to an academy, Professor?"

"Well..."

Professor Cheon set down his half-eaten chicken leg and drifted into reminiscence.

"I went to Seferon Academy up to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠middle school. But it wasn't for me, so I left for regular high school."

"Not your aptitude, yet you're a professor at Korea University."

"Haha, yeah, you never know what the future holds."

Seemed like there was a story there, but I didn't pry. Lately I'd learned Korea University was Korea's top institution, worthy of the national name. Professor Cheon wasn't just ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠any prof—he was vice dean of the magic studies department and head of the theoretical transmutation lab. Higher up than expected.

"Cough! Ahem!"

Even if he was the type to noisily devour chicken necks. Still, he was a good guy.

Academies... modern magic...

It sparked my curiosity. How advanced was magic here compared to my past life? Had they solved any of the Seven Riddles of the Magic Towers? Those folks who just drew circles all day had racked their brains over them.

Professor Cheon's academy suggestion lingered in my mind for a while.

"What do I need to do to enroll in an academy?"

"Huh? Thinking academy? Yo, jungle gank incoming, Skinny!"

"It's a transfer, apparently no prep needed."

Ever since Professor Cheon suggested Seferon Academy last week, Nami hadn't been able to shake it from her mind. Sia and I ducked into our base for a breather.

"High school transfers are brutal! Especially high school—you need rec letters and three interviews, I hear."

"What about middle or elementary?"

"Easier maybe, but no transfers without recs. You going? Or a friend?"

"Dunno. Sia, we're getting dived. Enemy mid too."

"Huh? Diving four at this timing?"

"Whoa, insane dudes! Gotta swarm hard to dive with no minions?"

"Anyway, transfers just need recs, right?"

"Uh... yeah. Entrance stuff's changed lately, dunno details. Never saw a transfer in my three years there."

"Whoa, didn't know? Never mentioned?"

"Nope? Didn't hide it."

"Academy's great. But suuuuuper tough. Sleep 6 hrs during exams? Flunk city, no cap. College was easier."

"Wanna die?"

"Game over."

Sia joined late and surveyed the not-so-fierce battlefield.

"Diamond-Master tier? Looks like gold plat farming."

Nami agreed. The enemy team felt underleveled for masters.

"Asteria's OP."

Still, Nami wanted to defend them a bit.

Couldn't sway opinion.

"Whoa, first 47-win streak ever. Kinda get why Riot banned duos now."

Sia scrolled past games. Her smurf 'HyejiMoonRises'—made for sniping low-tier streamers—had shed yellow garb for shiny Diamond I. Nami's ID eyed Master promos.

"Master undefeated for 500k?"

Big donor upped to 500k total on Master—Sia's eyes widened.

"If they'd pledged 500k upfront, no need for extras, right?"

"Don't say that out loud!"

Sia clamped Nami's mouth.

"Promos tomorrow, but... Nami, free tonight?"

"Two more hours."

"Win streak might squeak it. Let's hit Master today!"

Sia changed the stream title. Her eyes burned with resolve.