Chapter 6

In the memory of a world that has perished, Chapter 6

Whirr—

Outside the laboratory filled with the noise of various experimental equipment and computers.

Inside the laboratory, the porters were unsealing the corpses, causing chaos around.

Between the inside and outside, a single glass wall stood, and Park Shinhyuk and Kang Yebin faced each other.

Park Shinhyuk, seeing Kang Yebin's rosy face after a long time, recalled their old memories.

-If I really go back, what should I do to easily persuade you?

The reason he came to find her first among the people he could seek out was not because she was the most trustworthy among the survivors or because he knew her well.

Rather, she would be the most helpful to him, and more importantly, he had prepared for this moment to prepare for the future her.

-Well? Back then, I was so dazed that just showing my face would have been enough, right?

-Be serious.

-If it were 20 years ago, showing the magic circuit might have made me faint?

If it were a quest, it would be the easiest difficulty, already well-prepared.

Indeed, just showing the prototype of the magic circuit made her eyes widen in shock, as she had said in the future.

Park Shinhyuk, with his gaze fixed on her who was staring at him intently, put his index finger to his lips.

Then he pointed to the other porters and researchers.

It meant to clear the area and talk quietly.

Kang Yebin immediately understood. She, too, kept her gaze on Park Shinhyuk and called out to the surroundings.

"Suddenly, I have an urgent matter. Everyone, please leave now."

"Huh? The cleanup isn't finished yet?"

"I'll take care of the cleanup, so it's fine. Thank you for your hard work."

The people looked at the two alternately with puzzled faces, but only for a moment.

At the laboratory director's dismissal, the porters and other researchers soon left the laboratory.

Only after the last person had left did Park Shinhyuk move.

He approached Kang Yebin and extended his hand for a handshake.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Park Shinhyuk, an E-grade inventory Awakened."

He shook her hand, which he had already shaken several times, with a weight that would instill trust and for a duration that wouldn't be burdensome.

-If I did this to my past self, it would leave a strong impression.

Just as her future self had taught him, exactly to her taste.

Kang Yebin, the current one, felt this most vividly. The most perfect first impression she could think of. Just by shaking hands, Park Shinhyuk's name seemed to be etched in her mind.

"I'm Kang Yebin, the laboratory director. Shall we sit down and talk? I have a lot to say, so it might take a while."

"Sure."

Normally, they would do some preliminary investigations and formalities.

But Kang Yebin, unable to contain her curiosity, immediately brought up the main topic as soon as they sat down.

"How do you do that? Circulating magic power in your body."

"Oh, the magic circuit, you mean?"

"Yes! That magic circuit—!"

She was excited. How could this be? The name of the technology she had come up with and the name he used were exactly the same, even though it was the first time she saw it.

It wasn't just this that made her feel they matched well.

"The beginning was by mimicking the magic organs of monsters. The reason was the question of why most monsters have strength that doesn't match their size."

"The output of muscle strength per unit area of monsters is clearly scientifically inexplicable. Similar to how Awakened surpass the limits of the human body—"

"There must be something non-scientific, like magic. So, I first tried to mimic the magic organs of monsters. Fortunately, I was confident in handling magic. One by one, I—"

"Applied magic organs that didn't fit me, or rather, humanity, to myself. Through trial and error, I—"

"Created a magic circuit that humans can use."

"A magic circuit that humans can use was completed."

They interrupted each other, but the conversation flowed naturally as if one person was speaking.

Kang Yebin shuddered at Park Shinhyuk's words, which were reciting what she would say in the future.

'How can our thoughts be so identical?'

Kang Yebin, the words she would utter in the future, sounded very plausible to her current self.

"You're a real genius. I thought I was the smartest."

"I was just lucky. I also think you're the smartest."

Modesty. Despite this, Kang Yebin couldn't hide her rising smile.

'Yes, I was on the right track!'

Just a bit slower than him. Still, it's good. The thrill of being recognized by someone she acknowledged was intoxicating.

She asked in an excited tone.

"When will you announce it? I can help with patent rights. Or, would you consider working at our laboratory? I can really~ do a great job. I can help you do what you want every day."

She liked this man more than any decent actor. His exceptional mind, which had thought of the magic circuit years before her, his boldness in realizing it, and his talent in handling magic.

"People will be enthusiastic. A lot of attention that one person can't handle will also be focused. When that happens, being part of a group is generally easier to handle—"

She wanted him by her side. She was curious about what he would do next and wanted to contribute if possible.

However, her expectations were dashed.

"I have no intention of making it public."

Park Shinhyuk's words dismissed her.

"Huh? Why...?"

She asked.

Why not reveal such an innovative technology? Did he not consider the impact?

Think about weapon development.

It doesn't stop with individuals. The impact of a thousand archers turning into a thousand gunmen has already been proven by history.

Does he not know this?

"That's not the case."

Side effects.

On the other hand, Park Shinhyuk recalled the side effects of the magic circuit. In the future, seven of the seven evils knew how to use the magic circuit. The same applied to the raiders and turncoats, who once made up nearly half of humanity.

Their weapons, amplified by the magic circuit, were turned against humanity.

"Even though all Awakened can become stronger, you won't make it public?"

That's why he won't.

He had already confirmed in the future that making everyone stronger was not the right way.

From this, he and the future Kang Yebin came to a conclusion.

"Clan."

When they return, they will only form a clan of people they can trust.

They will establish the strongest clan in the Hunter society, which will bring wealth and honor, and only share beneficial information within that clan.

"I don't plan to make it public, but I will form a clan and only share it with the members of that clan."

Kang Yebin, who didn't know this, felt her interest and affection for Park Shinhyuk plummet.

She couldn't view it positively, naturally.

"Clan...?"

He seemed to have a very narrow mind.

Technology monopoly? Ha. Well, greed could make someone do that.

But a clan? A group slightly larger than a college?

What does he want to do with just a few dozen people?

Predictable.

A guild is too big. There's a risk of the technology leaking. He probably wants to create a group he can fully control and manipulate.

A technology that could benefit all of humanity, and yet...

Therefore, when Park Shinhyuk made his proposal.

"And I want to recruit you to that clan, Ms. Kang Yebin."

"No. I have no intention of joining."

She didn't hesitate.

She immediately rejected it. He seemed like a man with only greed and no ambition, and she didn't want to stake her future on him.

"..."

A sharp rejection led to silence.

Their thought processes were similar, but their ideal utopias were completely opposite.

There was nothing more to say.

"Then..."

Kang Yebin, feeling uncomfortable, was about to say she would leave.

"Will you look at this? If you still refuse, I'll step back immediately."

Park Shinhyuk stood up with a determined face.

"No, there's no need to—"

He didn't even listen to her answer and entered the laboratory. He turned on the experimental equipment that other researchers had left off, one by one.

"?"

Kang Yebin found this strange. Clearly, this was the first time he saw the equipment.

It was a bit surprising to see him handle it so familiarly, so she sat back down.

'This narrow-minded person might have something useful to know.'

She was a little curious about what he was doing.

A person's character and intelligence don't always correlate.

As the laboratory director, Kang Yebin watched him for a moment.

The computer turned on, and his magic circuit was visualized on the monitor.

"Hmm."

The flow of magic power wrapping around his body, as displayed on the monitor, was visible.

"Huh? Magic stone?"

When Park Shinhyuk took a magic stone from his inventory and held it, the magic power contained in the stone was also displayed on the monitor.

Whoosh—

When he broke the magic stone, a massive flow of magic power radiating into the air was visible.

"What?"

The magic power emitted from the magic stone was absorbed into his magic circuit without any loss.

The weak but clear flow of his magic circuit, which had been weak, was now rotating explosively with the absorbed magic power.

Kang Yebin saw everything clearly through the monitor.

"Unbelievable..."

If he looked like an E-grade Hunter before, he now looked like a B-grade Hunter. Would you believe it?

It wasn't an illusion or a trick.

The monitor clearly showed the results analyzed by the magic power measuring equipment, indicating B-grade.

Is this possible? As revolutionary as the circuit. Storing the magic power of a magic stone in the body.

She looked at Gast's arm.

If I could do something like that, could I restore my entire body with just one arm?

She looked into the laboratory to ask how he did it,

But only Park Shinhyuk's stiff face caught her eye.

"..."

Was he thinking about something? He was even crossing his arms and rubbing his forehead.

'This person is definitely narrow-minded, right?'

Suddenly, she felt a sense of fear.

She looked around. With all the laboratory personnel gone, there was no one.

And now he completely overpowered her. If he wanted to, he could easily kill her.

Unsettling thoughts followed.

Why is he showing me this? Right after I sharply rejected his proposal. Is he upset?

Is he trying to make me submit?

Kang Yebin heightened her vigilance.

Who knows? Especially since he's an inventory Awakened, it wouldn't be strange if he suddenly had a weapon in his hand.

Then Park Shinhyuk came out of the laboratory with a strong presence.

"I still have something to show you. Don't worry, it's not dangerous."

His words were not reassuring. Dangerous. The word seemed to loom large.

Moreover, something was in his hand, a round object she didn't recognize.

She immediately refused.

"Don't! I clearly said no! I don't even know what it is, so don't!"

He didn't listen. He continued to approach her with an overwhelming presence.

"Don't! I clearly said don't—!"

He soon stuck something into her neck.

She didn't even see him extend his hand, only realizing it when she felt a prick on her neck.

"Don't! I said don't—!"

He didn't respond.

"What did you do!"

And instead of his response, a system message appeared.

"Wha—? Wh—?"

After a long time, seeing a system message, she stuttered, and at that moment, her vision went black.