Noah
In the Charity Holy Mark re-election exam, Noah was the one who'd told me that my father and Seong Yu-da had built the Ark. From the way he spoke to me, he seemed to be on the side of the Voodoo Cult, but lending the Ark to Romanica clergy like this made him seem not entirely our ally either. He stood before us with that same calm, leisurely smile I'd seen once before.
I startled at Noah's sudden appearance and took a step back. But no matter how far I retreated, Noah didn't grow distant—in fact, he drew even closer.
"Welcome to the Ark. As you may have guessed, I am Noah."
Noah said. Seong Yu-da and I stared at him with dumbfounded expressions. It was hard to make sense of the situation. We'd never entered the Ark.
I'd just been following Seong Yu-da up the mountain path, and at some point, I'd fallen.
Noah alternated glances between Seong Yu-da and me, then flashed a gentle smile.
"You've already been inside the Ark. For quite some time now. I played a little trick so you wouldn't realize it."
"......When did this start?"
"Not long after you entered the mountain, I suppose."
Noah extended his hand as he spoke. I took it and stood, looking around. No matter where I turned, there was nothing but an endless expanse of pure white space.
Seong Yu-da rose to his feet as well.
"I can guess why you've come to the Ark.... But first."
Noah fixed his gaze on me and continued.
"The two of you will never enter the Ark together again after today."
"......"
"I'll show you the memories Do Myeong-jun left behind."
Noah beckoned us to follow and began walking. Seong Yu-da and I trailed after him.
Pling.
With one step, a clear sound rang out—like a single water drop falling into a still lake, pure and beautiful.
As the sound echoed, something materialized in the empty space. Like paint spreading across a canvas, the landscape gradually filled in.
I blinked, and a new world had been created.
An impenetrable sea, illuminated by a massive blue moon. Glimmering reflections danced on the gentle waves. And at the center stood a man.
Pling.
The clear sound rang again, and the scene shifted.
A forest battered by raging winds, thunder, and lightning. The storm howled fiercely. Trees bent like reeds in the gale. Rain pelted my face, making it hard to even open my eyes.
At the center, a man stood firm against the tempest.
Pling, pling, pling...
When I finally managed to open my eyes, the landscape had changed yet again—to a parched wasteland under a scorching sun. To a night sky dense with stars ready to pour down, and a mountain cabin gazing up at it. To an underwater realm where whales, fry, and mermaids frolicked.
With every step, the Ark invited us to strange, beautiful places.
And in the center of them all was a man.
"Ah......"
Then, Seong Yu-da let out a gasp. When I glanced back, tears streamed down his face. Whether from awe at the spectacle or sheer shock, his expression was unreadable. His mouth hung half-open, tears simply falling without a word.
"Do Myeong-jun wanted to leave his memories in tangible form, so he created the Ark. All those fantastical scenes you just saw—they're landscapes from Do Myeong-jun's memories."
I thought of the man who remained steadfast at the center through every shifting vista. If Noah was telling the truth, that was my father.
Noah snapped his fingers. The view packed with my father's memories reverted to pure white space.
"Showing one's memories perfectly to another, while simultaneously viewing theirs."
His words brought Jeong Yun-ah to mind. Just before her treatment, I'd lost consciousness alongside her. And through her memories, I'd glimpsed her life.
It had happened involuntarily, via the Retrograde Staff, Poteau Mitan.
"Enabling the unfiltered transmission of memories not through words or writing, but as substance itself. That was Do Myeong-jun's wish—his dream."
If Noah was right, then with the staff's aid, I'd briefly reached the pinnacle of spellcraft my father had so desperately sought.
And perhaps, in that moment when I'd peered into Jeong Yun-ah's memories, she'd glimpsed mine as well.
Noah turned his gaze from me to Seong Yu-da and spoke.
"Now, then—Seong Yu-da's memories next."
"Wait, I—!"
Snap.
Before Seong Yu-da could finish, Noah snapped his fingers. The white space flooded with purple light in an instant. The violet glow enveloping everything gradually dulled, then plunged into pitch darkness.
I blinked, and the darkness was gone. In its place appeared unfamiliar scenery—and a familiar face.
"I'm sorry."
My father, looking at me with a somber expression. Beside him stood my mother.
"......Yu-da."
This was Seong Yu-da's memory.
*
"Why are we friends?"
Do Myeong-jun had asked once. At first, Seong Yu-da took offense. People didn't need a reason to be friends. Just as there wasn't always a reason to dislike someone.
But upon reflection, he truly couldn't pinpoint why.
"Come to think of it, we don't have a single thing in common."
Do Myeong-jun and Seong Yu-da were polar opposites.
Seong Yu-da, who heard "pretty" more than "handsome." Do Myeong-jun, often called scary-looking.
Seong Yu-da, earnest and upright, beloved wherever he went. Do Myeong-jun, always stirring up trouble.
Above all, their religions differed. Seong Yu-da hailed from a prestigious Romanica family, the ancient Purification Clan. Do Myeong-jun was the son of the Voodoo Cult's first leader.
"Because we went to Florence together."
"Nah, I only dipped my toes into Florence because we were already friends."
Do Myeong-jun said. Seong Yu-da pondered, then nodded.
They had attended Florence together. As a place to train Romanica clergy, someone unable to wield Divine Power like Do Myeong-jun shouldn't have even been admitted.
"......I never even hoped you'd get in. You forced your way through."
But Do Myeong-jun was interested not just in Voodoo, but Romanica too. He wanted at least to audit Florence. And Seong Yu-da had abused his clan's influence to sneak him in.
"So what? It was fun going to school together."
"......The problem was you couldn't graduate."
Unable to handle Divine Power, Do Myeong-jun scored near zero on practicals—spell use was forbidden. Plus, his penchant for antics earned him demerits galore, leading to expulsion before graduation.
Seong Yu-da recalled their Florence days and chuckled softly.
"Still, it was fun. Thanks to you."
"Yeah. I had fun too. Learned not all Romanica folk are saints."
"......Rumors say Voodoo still does human sacrifices. Such a barbaric faith."
"Human sacrifices? What era do you think it is? Romanica still offers live sacrifices, from what I hear."
"Live sacrifices? Didn't you attend Florence? Oh, right—you didn't graduate."
"Hey...... That was because I couldn't use spells. I never planned to enroll anyway."
Religious differences always sparked bickering. But they got along. When debates heated up, Do Myeong-jun would apologize first, defusing things.
Seong Yu-da vaguely knew Do Myeong-jun yielded to him. But he never yielded in return.
Voodoo was a minor faith compared to Romanica. Seong Yu-da was a top graduate; Do Myeong-jun, an expelled troublemaker.
He caught himself subconsciously ranking them, then shook his head. Dividing friends by status was lowly.
To change the subject, Seong Yu-da spoke.
"......Come to think of it, I've never seen you use spells."
"Oh, have I not?"
Do Myeong-jun frowned, as if struggling to recall, then continued.
"Guess I never showed you on purpose. They wouldn't work on you anyway."
"When will you? I'm curious how amazing they must be for you to keep bringing it up."
"Once I perfect a spell strong enough to dismantle you unreasonable Purification Clan folks."
"Guess I'll never see it in my lifetime."
"We'll see about that."
Do Myeong-jun chuckled. Seong Yu-da did too.
Seong Yu-da figured Do Myeong-jun's spells weren't that impressive. He'd seen the first leader—Do Myeong-jun's father—use them. Nothing flashy like blessings or miracle recreations. Just a few intoxicated folks collapsing.
Do Myeong-jun's couldn't be much different. Probably even feebler.
That must be why he never showed them—embarrassed by their pitifulness.
Seong Yu-da misjudged.
"Sorry, I'm a bit late."
Someone approached them then. Seong Yu-da's gaze was unwittingly drawn.
Even from Florence days, post-graduation, and now—he couldn't help it.
Ise-hwa. Senior-junior to both, she'd also graduated top of Florence, like him.
She peered at them with narrowed eyes and spoke.
"Long time no see, Yu-da sun...... Oh, you're Yu-da senior."
Her habit of squinting stemmed from poor eyesight. Seong Yu-da found it alluring. He'd thought so since ancient times but never voiced it.
He was Purification Clan. His marriage was preordained. He couldn't let his heart stray.
Every time he saw Ise-hwa, it wavered—but he reined it in.
"What're we doing today? Drinks?"
Ise-hwa asked, eyes sparkling. Seong Yu-da chuckled at her cuteness.
"A girl aiming to be a priestess, talking booze the moment we meet......"
"Why not? Doctrine allows it."
"Still no booze. I don't drink."
Do Myeong-jun interjected. Ise-hwa nodded belatedly.
"Right."
"I still don't get why people drink. Memories fade when you're drunk. If you won't remember, why bother?"
"Who knows...... Maybe that's why."
Seong Yu-da brushed it off. Do Myeong-jun had always abstained—hated losing memories to intoxication. He favored sweets like candy or chocolate instead.
"It's cold out. Let's duck into somewhere quick. Brr, real winter now."
"Yeah, anywhere for n—"
Vrrr—!
Ise-hwa shivered as she spoke, Seong Yu-da replying—when a vibration sounded from somewhere.
Do Myeong-jun pulled out his phone. He answered with a smile at first.
But as time passed, his face hardened.
Seong Yu-da and Ise-hwa, chatting amiably, sensed the mood and fell silent.
When the call ended, a deep shadow cloaked Do Myeong-jun's face.
"......Father."
He continued in a trembling voice.
The Voodoo Cult's first leader—Do Myeong-jun's father—had died.
(To be continued in the next chapter)