Chapter 270
Chapter 270
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 271
Chapter Title: Entering the Memory World
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"I'm better than Lee Seo-jun...?"
Choi Seo-yoon seemed surprised as well, glancing at me before turning her gaze to the burly guy.
"...Really?"
Really? What kind of response is that?
The burly guy let out an awkward laugh before replying.
"Yeah, the guy in the back looks too much like a freeloader. The one in front looks diligent, so I like him."
Why does this feel so offensive?
"Hmm. Anyway, both of you look so familiar... Where have I seen you before? Oh! Could it be!"
That's when it happened. A sharp-featured man in his thirties, dressed in a suit, approached from afar.
It was a face I'd encountered once last year at the Wizard Academy.
Sung Jin-hyuk.
An S-Rank Wizard and a villain dreaming of the Choi clan's downfall.
Sung Jin-hyuk approached us and said to Choi Seo-yoon,
"You've arrived? These must be the friends of the young lady the family head mentioned."
"Ah, yes. You've met this one before last year, right?"
When Choi Seo-yoon pointed at me, Sung Jin-hyuk stared straight into my eyes and nodded.
"Yes, we've met briefly."
Muttering that, Sung Jin-hyuk looked back and forth between me and Lee Seo-jun before saying,
"The family head wishes to see you. I'll guide you right away."
We followed Sung Jin-hyuk into the building.
Along the way, we spotted disciples of the Choi clan.
Every single one of them had the look of someone who'd committed shady deeds.
That said, they didn't actually commit illegal acts.
As Choi Seo-yoon had mentioned, it was just their intimidating appearances—the people themselves were known to be decent.
Of course, they lacked tact and valued loyalty to an extreme degree, which made their personalities rather intense.
As we entered the building, a sharp-featured handsome man greeted us.
It was Choi Jae-hyung, the head of the Choi clan and Choi Seo-yoon's father.
"Dad."
Choi Seo-yoon called out to Choi Jae-hyung with a tense expression.
Choi Jae-hyung nodded and turned his gaze to me and Lee Seo-jun.
"The guests have arrived."
Lee Seo-jun and I bowed our heads simultaneously.
"Hello."
"Thank you for coming. I hope my disciples didn't act rudely."
"No, they didn't."
"That's a relief."
I'd felt it when we met last year, but despite his stern appearance, Choi Jae-hyung spoke softly and politely.
Ironically, that made him seem even stricter.
I wonder why his disciples turned out with such personalities...
We followed Choi Jae-hyung to the dining hall inside the building.
I'd wondered when we'd meet Shin Hye-won, but since it was dinnertime and we were hungry, we ate first.
The meal lived up to the reputation of one of the Five Great Families—it was lavish.
Meat, vegetables, and a variety of side dishes delighted both eyes and palate.
"Senior, is the food to your liking?"
Once the meal was finished, Choi Seo-yoon asked me.
I glanced at Choi Jae-hyung, who was staring intently at me from across the table, before answering.
"Yeah, it was really delicious."
Choi Seo-yoon flashed a bright smile, looking relieved.
"Good."
At that moment, an elderly woman entered the dining hall and began clearing the table.
Still seated, I stared fixedly at the woman.
"So, you came to the Choi clan for a school assignment?"
Choi Jae-hyung asked in a more relaxed tone than before. Yet, there was a subtle edge to his voice.
Any other student might have shrunk back, but Lee Seo-jun met his gaze squarely and replied.
"Yes. We're here looking for someone named Shin Hye-won."
"That person has been with our clan for over 40 years. She was here even before I became family head. I'd like to hear the details of why you're seeking her."
"We're investigating someone who researched 'immortality' for a school project. In the process, we learned about a researcher named Kwak Mu-jin who went missing."
"...So it's about that after all."
Lee Seo-jun and Choi Seo-yoon wore puzzled expressions at Choi Jae-hyung's mutter.
That's when the elderly woman who'd cleared the table stood before us again.
Choi Jae-hyung glanced up at her and said,
"That's the person you're looking for."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Shin Hye-won."
Shin Hye-won bowed politely. Lee Seo-jun and I stood from our seats to greet her.
"Hello. You look a bit different from the photo, so I didn't recognize you."
Shin Hye-won smiled kindly at Lee Seo-jun's words.
"It's probably an old photo."
Lee Seo-jun nodded slightly.
"So, you've come because you want to hear about my husband?"
"Yes. If possible, we'd like to see his research records as well."
At the mention of research records, Shin Hye-won fell into thought.
"...I do have my husband's research records."
Lee Seo-jun's expression brightened.
"But I can't show them to you."
"Pardon?"
"I can tell you plenty about my husband, but I can't show you his research records."
"Why not?"
Lee Seo-jun asked.
"Because that thing caused many people to die."
"Pardon?"
Lee Seo-jun and Choi Seo-yoon were taken aback.
Since the flow matched the original story, I calmly observed the situation.
Shin Hye-won closed her mouth, as if she had nothing more to say.
"How did they die?"
At Lee Seo-jun's earnest question, Shin Hye-won showed a conflicted expression before letting out a deep sigh.
"...He stored his research records in a 'virtual world' through a mystery."
"A virtual world?"
"Yes, one created based on his own memories."
Lee Seo-jun looked shocked.
"But why did they die?"
"Because once you enter the world of memories, you can't escape."
...
"My husband always said not to enter the world he created, no matter what. He said if you did, you'd wander there forever."
Lee Seo-jun's face flushed with panic, clearly not having anticipated this development.
"But some wizards researching immortality insisted on checking the memories. I should have refused, but I wanted to find my missing husband, so I allowed it despite the risks. No one who entered the virtual world ever came out. Except for one person."
"...One person?"
At Lee Seo-jun's question, Shin Hye-won clamped her mouth shut.
Lee Seo-jun spoke first.
"...Was it Jin Cheon-woo by any chance?"
Choi Jae-hyung and Shin Hye-won's eyes widened as they stared at Lee Seo-jun.
Choi Seo-yoon also looked startled at the name 'Jin Cheon-woo.'
"...How did you know?"
Seeing their reactions, Lee Seo-jun sighed briefly before speaking.
"If it's related to immortality, the chances of Jin Cheon-woo being involved are high."
"...So you've investigated him separately."
Choi Jae-hyung, who had been listening quietly, interjected.
Lee Seo-jun nodded.
"I had a lot of personal curiosity, so I did some digging."
Muttering that, Lee Seo-jun said in a firm voice,
"Please. Let me enter the memory world too."
"Se, Senior!"
Choi Seo-yoon stood up, calling out to Lee Seo-jun.
But Lee Seo-jun's face was filled with determination like never before.
Shin Hye-won looked conflicted. After a long moment of thought, she sighed deeply, as if resigned.
"...Alright. I'll let you see my husband's memories."
"Really?"
"Yes. It's just a hunch, but you remind me of that person from 26 years ago. I have a strong feeling you might actually make it out."
"...26 years ago."
The person from 26 years ago was, of course, Jin Cheon-woo.
He was 21 at the time, and the organization Jaun didn't exist yet.
Shin Hye-won met Choi Jae-hyung's eyes. When he nodded, she said to us,
"Follow me."
We followed Shin Hye-won to somewhere in the estate.
We arrived at a room like a small storage shed. Shin Hye-won opened a safe shaped like a magic circle.
Whoooong.
As the safe opened, a single transparent orb appeared.
I activated Outsider's Privilege to inspect the orb.
［Virtual World Generator (Relic)］
Description: Creates a virtual world based on one's experiences. Once generated, the virtual world cannot be deleted or altered. Mana allows entry into the virtual world.
*An existing world has already been generated.
*Warning: You may become trapped in the virtual world.
Lee Seo-jun stared at the orb before asking,
"How long did it take Jin Cheon-woo to escape?"
"He came out before even three seconds had passed since entering."
"Yes, but he said he'd spent over a week in the virtual world."
"...The flow of time is different."
Muttering that, Lee Seo-jun asked,
"But Jin Cheon-woo couldn't find your husband's whereabouts?"
"Yes, he wouldn't say why. I told him if he couldn't find him, just say so..."
Lee Seo-jun nodded. Then Choi Seo-yoon approached with a worried face.
"Senior, I really think you shouldn't go."
Lee Seo-jun shook his head.
"Don't worry. No matter what, I'll come back out."
Lee Seo-jun smiled reassuringly, then gathered mana over his hand in front of the orb.
He turned to me.
"Kim Sun-woo. Well, I'll be off."
I chuckled.
"What are you talking about? I'm coming too."
I gathered mana in my palm and placed my hand on the orb.
At the same moment, my vision flashed.
When I came to, I was in a barren wasteland.
I slowly looked around.
Withered, twisted trees.
Monster bones scattered on the ground.
Eerie cries echoing from somewhere.
[You have achieved the 'Entering the Memory World' accomplishment.]
[You have obtained 5,000 points as a reward.]
That's when it happened. Something flashed before my eyes, and Lee Seo-jun appeared, yelling at me.
"Hey! What are you doing following me in!"
"...What? You gonna do the group project alone and leave my name out?"
At my joking remark, Lee Seo-jun looked utterly exasperated.
Right then, a new light flashed before us.
It was Choi Seo-yoon. Lee Seo-jun stared at her in disbelief.
Choi Seo-yoon gave an awkward smile.
"...I came too."
Lee Seo-jun looked at her and let out a silent, deep sigh.