Desire: The Root of Blessing and Curse
"First, how much do you know about the Blessing of Darkness?" Tilia asked as she took the lead.
Jinwoo summed up everything Vertea had told him, everything he had witnessed, and everything he had experienced. "It is bestowed by the darkness. It can become a curse, and it makes no distinction between ally and enemy, good and evil. And as the incarnation of darkness, I am the exception to its curses."
Vertea stared straight ahead with her usual blank expression, revealing her displeasure through a faint shift in her features so subtle that only Jinwoo could detect it. She did not interrupt. Instead Tilia spoke.
"A very standard understanding. How dull."
"I wasn't trying to entertain you."
"Still, it's not entirely wrong. By 'standard' I simply mean that is what most people believe."
What rhythm am I supposed to follow here?
Fortunately Tilia had not been waiting for a reply. After confirming the extent of his knowledge, she continued without pause. "But tell me—have you ever considered where this blessing comes from, how it is granted, or what criteria it uses?"
"...It comes from overcoming adversity, doesn't it?"
"Yes, that is the starting point. But have you given any thought to the exact criteria or considerations it weighs before bestowing power?"
Jinwoo closed his mouth. He had no answer.
He had received the power. The ability to transform his own flesh into lightning—an impossible strength now rested in his hands. His physical abilities had risen, and the sensitivity of his micro-current had increased. He could sense things more broadly, more intricately. Had he faced the fake version of himself with the body he possessed right after waking, he would never have gained the upper hand. He would have been spotted the moment he crossed the hallway to find Alice and forced into battle then and there.
Without being drained by Koshei, every ounce of strength in a fully armed, complete Ha Jinwoo. It embarrassed him to admit it, but it was an experience he had no desire to repeat. The entire party swept away by that rifle, himself shattered by Astrape—that was the only outcome he could see.
Even so, he had never stopped to ponder what criteria that power had used to choose him.
"Most people never consider the criteria at all," Tilia said, hands tucked into the pockets of her robe as she walked. "The important thing is that they received the power. Whether they grew stronger by receiving a blessing instead of a curse, or whether they were tragically twisted by one—the result is what captures the eye."
"So? What is the criteria?"
"Desire."
The archmage looked at him. "Both curses and blessings arise from desire."
It was hard to believe. Just desire? When Jinwoo frowned slightly, Maribella spoke up.
"Isn't that ultimately nothing more than baseless speculation? A theory like that..."
"Of course it is. It is a theory I personally advocate. But do you truly believe there is anyone alive who understands blessings better than I?"
At the words of an archmage who had lived two thousand years—one of the only four Master-rank adventurers in the entire Labyrinth—Maribella closed her mouth and offered no further rebuttal. Eunha looked rather pleased with herself, though if Maribella had not spoken, Jinwoo would have raised the same objection. When he gave his daughter's waist a gentle tap and nodded, she met his eyes for a moment before turning her head away with a huff.
"It is not only my own experience," Tilia continued. "After thoroughly studying countless adventurers, heroes, monsters—every being that has ever existed in this Labyrinth—I reached this conclusion. The Blessing of Darkness is certainly granted to those who overcome adversity, but the form that power takes is always rooted in desire."
"Could you explain more precisely?"
"I suppose I was rather vague. Think of it this way."
The Scientist withdrew her hand from her pocket and waved it through the air. Jinwoo half-expected something to appear, but nothing did.
"You faced a powerful enemy. Conventional attacks—swinging a blade to cut, smashing, piercing—none of them worked. In that situation, what would you desire?"
"...Other means of attack."
"Exactly. Can you imagine yourself wielding such power? Or have you had a similar experience?"
It was not difficult. He only had to picture himself using magic, or himself steeped in lightning. And in fact he had already lived that exact experience. An enemy that refused to fall to any attack he possessed. To defeat it he had wished for something faster, something stronger. Whether consciously or not, he had obtained the power to become lightning itself and used it to wield Astrape and claim victory.
"Yes."
"That is desire. The power you craved. The power necessary to overcome that adversity—or, if you should face it again someday, the power that would let you reverse the outcome. That is the true nature of a blessing."
Jinwoo had only ever received one blessing. Even so, he could feel the persuasive weight behind her words. At the time he had needed strength. He had needed power, precision, speed. Knowing his physical abilities could never surpass those of a Holy Knight, he had wished to be faster, stronger. The result had been the power to transform into lightning.
"Then what makes it a curse?"
"That, too, is desire."
When Jinwoo frowned again, Tilia spoke while descending the stairs. "Blessing and curse are two sides of the same coin. A blessing that exceeds what one can bear becomes a curse. A curse one can accept becomes a blessing."
"Even transforming into a monster?"
"I see why you ask. Kiyara must have told you. She mentioned that someone in her friend's party recently received a curse."
When he stared at her, Tilia looked rather pleased. She clearly enjoyed imparting knowledge. "Yes. That too was both blessing and curse."
When Jinwoo frowned even more deeply, she waved a hand to silence him. "I know what you wish to say, but listen first."
At her firm tone he closed his mouth. Tilia continued down the stairs, returning casual waves to the mages who bowed as she passed. "What is the standard that separates blessing from curse?"
"...Whether it harms the one who receives it or not."
"A simple standard. Then why do those people believe they have been cursed?"
Jinwoo blinked. There was no way for him to know. At the same time, the question itself felt strange.
"Why do blessing and curse diverge?"
"The answer is simple. Because their desires were different."
They reached the first floor, and she led them across the plaza that had once been filled with students on field trips and experiential learning. She guided them to a place Jinwoo had seen before—a room packed with 3D printers and precision instruments. Close enough to feel the heat radiating from the smelter that forged superalloys, yet not directly touched by it.
She gestured for Vertea to set down the armor materials and rifle she carried, then finished her explanation. "Origin."
"...Origin?"
"Strong will, conviction, creed—call it whatever you like. What matters is what lies at its core."
She ran her fingers over a piece of the exoskeleton protective suit the fake Jinwoo had worn. "The purest aspiration at the root of one's desire. If that cannot be protected, the blessing will inevitably twist into a curse."
Eunha moved closer to assist the scientist, while Maribella took up position at Jinwoo's side.
"In that sense, the theory of the Dark Incarnation that I advocate is this: the Dark Incarnation is the one most qualified." Her deep navy eyes turned toward him. "In other words, the being who possesses the most steadfast creed and conviction, the strongest will, and who has never abandoned their origin."
Jinwoo could not understand. Not the claim that he was such a being, nor the idea that he could be.
"Before this place became the Labyrinth, among all the beings of Earth, the one who most firmly protected their own origin became the incarnation. Therefore we can say this."
She studied him with the gaze of someone examining a fascinating specimen. "It is not that he receives favor because he is the incarnation."
She pointed her index finger at him. "He is the incarnation because he receives favor. And those two things are profoundly different."
It sounded as though she were saying the common perception was completely backward. Jinwoo still could not relate. He possessed no great conviction, no unshakeable will, no sacred origin. He had been nothing more than an ordinary citizen content to live one day at a time. Even the word "hero" felt foreign to him; he had always considered it excessive. The idea that someone like him could be called the incarnation because he held some magnificent conviction... it was difficult to accept.
"You don't seem convinced."
"I'm not."
"Nevertheless, it is the most plausible theory."
Jinwoo had nothing more to say. As he remained silent, watching her, she gestured. The fragments of the protective suit floating in the air began to disassemble in an intricate display of magic whose principles he could not even guess at. After watching for a moment, she spoke again.
"So. What equipment do you desire?"
"...Pardon?"
"Armor? A shield? I doubt I can recreate the original form exactly."
The sudden change of subject—after the passionate lecture—left Jinwoo blinking in confusion. "You're not going to explain further or try to persuade me?"
Tilia gave him a sullen look. "Is it necessary?"
It was as if she were saying she had already provided the information; whether he accepted it was entirely his responsibility. He had never encountered this type of person before.
"...Master has always been like this. Please understand her, Dad," Eunha said, smiling brightly beside her teacher. She clearly was quite used to her master's attitude.
It felt as though Tilia had begun her explanation on a whim and ended it on one as well. Still, on some level Jinwoo could understand. There was no evidence he could offer. At least none within the range of his own comprehension. Magical proof, theoretical foundations—given the confidence and skill the Scientist displayed, she could surely provide them. But there was no guarantee he would understand any of it. In that case, simply stating the truth plainly was probably best.
He glanced at Maribella, who had opened her mouth beside him. "Since Father is a member of the Blood Clan, armor would naturally—"
"Would gambeson be possible?"
Red eyes turned toward him in blank surprise. "Father?"
"And is it possible to transfer magic?"
"From where to where?"
"Can the magic contained in this Jeokjo be transferred to this greatsword... or rather, this short sword?"
"It is not difficult."
"Father...?"
"Then could you do that for me? Preferably while preserving the original magic."
"That is a difficult request. But since the compensation I received is more than sufficient, I will do it this once."
"And while you're repairing the smartphone, could you take a look at these as well?"
"Guns. Very well."
Maribella's expression grew steadily darker, but it could not be helped. Jeokjo did not suit his hand. The sword containing that magic—the longsword left behind by the Blood Clan knight Korven—was essentially a two-handed weapon, designed with that premise in mind. In his life, the only two-handed weapons he had ever used, aside from axes, were firearms—rifles and shotguns. It was only natural he felt little attachment to Jeokjo. It was far better to keep one hand free so he could fire a gun whenever necessary.
Thus, contrary to his disappointed daughter's hopes, his requests could be summarized as follows: gambeson woven from composite materials mixing superalloy and ballistic fiber; engraving Jeokjo's magic into a greatsword so that it would produce an even longer, sharper blade of blood when stained; the repair of his smartphone; and the modification of firearms.
Fortunately the compensation he offered was more than enough. Regardless of Maribella's increasingly sour expression, Tilia accepted the weapons he handed over and immediately set to work.
"Once the work is finished, Eunha will deliver the items to the Blood Clan's church. You may return for now."
"Hm? Already?"
He had barely spoken with Eunha, and he had not managed to do anything particularly fatherly. When he looked at her with that regret in his eyes, Tilia blinked.
"Then stay."
The suggestion was offered so casually. For Jinwoo it was not a bad offer at all. He had already spent some time with Maribella, but today was his first meeting with Eunha. They had not yet shared any real, open conversation, so he felt a lingering disappointment. This was actually the more welcome suggestion.
Eunha's face bloomed into a smile as though it were the most natural thing in the world. In contrast, Maribella furrowed her brow.
"Father, as the head of the Blood Clan I cannot remain long in another territory."
The words left her lips a moment later. Even though her head was slightly turned, her eyes kept darting toward him, reading his expression. Ah, so there is that problem.
Feeling Vertea's gaze—oddly enough also studying him—Jinwoo said, "Mari can head back first. Dad will collect the items and return afterward."
His daughter was mature enough to be left alone, and he had lived long enough to take care of himself. He thought it was the right choice for everyone, but Maribella clearly disagreed. She crossed her arms, her face filled with dissatisfaction, and snapped at him.
"Are you telling me to abandon you and leave?"
"Huh? No, there's Eunha..."
"You want me to leave you—my own father—with that swindler?"
"No, given my age..."
"Absolutely not. Who knows what that liar might do? It seems I have no choice but to stay as well."
When Jinwoo glanced at Eunha, she wore a strangely serene smile.
"Wow, I've always thought it would be nice if big sister stayed with us. Looks like Dad, big sister, and I can all sleep together tonight."
Her voice somehow sounded cold. Feeling an inexplicable chill run down his spine, Jinwoo followed his daughters and left the room.