A star suddenly splitting in two, or a teor tainted with a deadly elent crashing into the planet and unleashing an un-renown plague into the oceans—to be honest, the archmage had little interest in the actual arrival of such world-ending scenarios, where all living beings were dood to die. After all, he wasn't even sure if such biological threats would affect him anymore. After all, with his hardened exterior shell, he could probably go out into space unprotected and remain unhard.
[Damn it.]
But even the typically indifferent Archmage reconsidered when he witnessed the residents' reactions as the planet headed toward ruin. No matter how hard he thought about it, he just didn't want to go on serving as the Magic Master.
Because.
***
"Co to think of it, there's a saying on Earth, isn't there?"
"_ _"
"If you waste food, you'll be punished."
"_ _"
"They say that in the afterlife, you'll be forced to eat all the leftovers you threw away while alive. Sothing like that. White rice with at soup was a wish? I think there was an expression along those lines too."
Warm light. Dry air. The perspective returns once again to the room where the familiar environnt unfolds.
This place was a living space on Earth. The wall clock was already pointing to around 12 o'clock, and I, occupying the center of the studio apartnt, gulped down the cold green tea in front of in one swift motion until the bottom of the cup was visible. Since the explanation was nearly finished, I was just quenching my thirst for the last ti.
"Anyway, honestly, in today's world, are there really that many people in Korea who value food that much?"
What followed were food stories that matched the lighthearted tone he had started with.
"There's roughly so information in Kim Gyeo's brain. Even just after the war, when people were desperately poor, everyone cherished every single grain of rice. But now, the amount of food waste exceeds four million tons."
"_ _"
"But this isn't sothing I'm saying to bla anyone—it's actually a natural phenonon."
"_ _"
"My hotown also fell apart along roughly the sa lines."
"_ _"
"When I ca to my senses trapped in the core... it was like Earth at a ti when biotechnology was quite advanced."
Just as the value of food drops when it becos abundant, Alphauri soon turned into a scene no different from hell. The very advancent of magic, which I loved so much, beca the root of all this trouble.
With life becoming common thanks to artificial cultivation technology, and souls becoming trivial, no one felt sympathy for those bleeding anymore. Moreover, the concept that t a miserable end on that alien planet was not limited to this alone.
"If I had to make an analogy..."
It was a world where philosophy, art, and altruism had died. As history neared its end, for so reason, the planet's inhabitants obsessed solely over advancing technology. All forms of romance and beauty deed useless for survival were ruthlessly abandoned. Even describing it in words is horrifying, but imagine how terrible it was for soone who witnessed it all firsthand. Truly, the final events experienced in that sea were things I don't even want to recall. I shook my head and barely managed to continue speaking.
"These stories are a bit frustrating, so I'll keep this part as brief as possible. Do you know why my hotown fell apart?"
"_ _"
"The correct answer is resource depletion."
The resource crisis on Alphauri, when you really break it down, was a far more severe issue than Earth's theories about oil depletion—so much so that the two shouldn't even be compared in terms of scale or urgency.
"We were under different conditions than Earth. The only reason I even know basic biology or the fundantal physics of the world is just to apply magic more efficiently. And you see, mages by nature aren't particularly interested in exploring natural science. That's why our entire civilization ended up relying on a single resource."
A miracle where simply praying with sincerity could summon imagined creations into reality—
with such power flowing through the veins of the entire species, how could any living being resist the allure of magic? Magic had been a favored concept ever since the Alphaurins were in their most primitive form. Naturally, the rulers of that oceanic planet built most of their civilization upon that very technology.
But one day... so intellectuals uncovered a shocking secret about the world.
"The external mana that the planet generates is not infinite."
For the Alphauri, this was a terror so great it was like the world turning upside down.
"It's really hard to compare the situation to Earth."
Unlike the global warming disasters here, the Alphaurins realized the mana depletion only after the planet had already passed its natural recovery threshold.
The celestial energy called external mana follows a specific cycle, much like the lifespan of a living being. In the early stages, when mana has just begun to be produced, it can recover its power flexibly no matter how much is wasted.
However, after hundreds of millions of years, reaching what could be called middle age, every ti the planetary inhabitants extravagantly used high-level magic, the production system suffered so damage. Whether this should be called the old age of the magical era, I'm not sure. But at least from what I observed, after a certain critical point, the planet's mana stopped regenerating and just endlessly declined.
"Have you ever imagined a world without electricity, Seonwoo Yeon-ssi?"
Without knowing such a secret, the Alphauri recklessly wasted resources on pointless wars and endless conflicts. They waste everything. They had only just achieved the dream of extending their lifespans. And only then did the terrifying fear descend—that a world without mana might be coming.
"On top of that, imagine that every ti soone killed a person in South Arica—who had never even t them—the lifespan of electronic civilization for Koreans was extended by one month. What kind of world would that create?"
At least my hotown couldn't maintain its composure in the face of such resource depletion. Society beca more chaotic than anyone could have imagined.
"You really thought we wouldn't know about that population control plan?"
After regaining his mories, so ti passed, and he ca to understand the true aning behind the words shouted by a certain Alphauri pronouncer.
"Until then, the rulers had deliberately refrained from implanting the planet-dweller massacre plan into my mind."
Once he was able to resist to so extent, the first thing he did was try to protect all the planet's inhabitants. Killing Alphauri had many restrictions, but saving lives didn't violate any of the Golem principles, so it was sothing he could do.
But despite these efforts, it wasn't long before a horrifying scene unfolded beneath the sea. He should have realized it starting with the madness of that fire-elent mage's terror. After hundreds of wars, the Alphauri had lost so many altruistic individuals—aning the genetic pool had also passed a critical threshold.
The ti for self-purification had long passed. Therefore, upon hearing the news that mana might run out, both the rich and the poor—without discrimination—voluntarily joined in population control.
"_ _"
If it only that foolishness hadn't happened, Alphauri would have lasted several more years.
"_ _"
"Anyway."
I chose my words.
"At first, I thought I'd just settle for reality and live protecting my fellow people. But after seeing all that, all my motivation completely vanished."
"_ _"
"With the hope of grasping at even a lifeline, I tried to secretly let the outside world know that I was being unjustly imprisoned by the rulers... But well, if the response back then had been good, I wouldn't have ended up so disappointed with the world."
"_ _"
"I was feeling completely unsettled. Maybe because of that, I couldn't properly resist the new mind-control magic my superior had created."
"_ _"
"After that, I spent about ten more years serving quietly before suddenly regaining my sense of self again. That ti, seeing it as an opportunity, I didn't make a fuss but quietly crafted magic to try to ntally 'die' sohow. Oh, and by the way, self-harm is fundantally prohibited by the grand principle, but only limited to the physical body."
"_ _"
"Wow, but this leader's kid wasn't exactly ordinary either. I an, when I beca incapacitated at by myself from that stunt, it was like they'd been waiting for it—they triggered the 'reboot' chanism..."
After explaining to so extent, he looked straight ahead again.
"Oh, sorry about that. When I start talking about chanical stuff like this, most people usually get bored."
There was still no answer, but it didn't matter.
"I already condensed it to just the necessary parts, but ten minutes have already flown by. Thank you so much for staying awake and listening."
Yeah. Now, it doesn't matter at all.
"So then, this is really almost the conclusion."
I slowly got up from my seat. In one hand, I held the empty green tea cup and even shook it toward Seonwoo Yeon to emphasize my point, so the destination was clearly understood. The sink.
"Self-restoration, attempts at ntal annihilation, rebooting — basically repeating this cycle over and over. As the periods of awakening grew shorter, even the managers there half gave up on . They just used to watch the ceiling 24/7, checking if there were any intruders on the planet. Seriously, if that's the case, why not just scrap ? What's with the whole symbolism of being 'Number 1' anyway?"
"_ _"
"Oh, did you know? Back in my hotown, toward the end of civilization, virtual worlds beca all the rage among people."
"After they'd completely corrupted the physical body, all the focus of interest shifted to the mind, you know? So while I was still under control, I ended up developing this incredible illusion spell. I don't an for it to happen, but it led to an increase in dream addicts, which in turn made planetary managent a lot easier overall."
"_ _"
"To put it simply, there was nothing left to do. In the last ti period I rember, the living population had dwindled to just three digits, and the seas were filled with nothing but golems—it was a truly bizarre world..."
Clank.
I placed the cup I had brought into the kitchen sink. But around that ti, an unexpected voice rang out.
"That."
It was a single remark from Seonwoo Yeon, the first in a long while.
"But."
"Yes. Go ahead."
"Even after hearing the whole story... there's still sothing I can't understand. You were in that kind of... situation, but how were you able to escape to here? Wasn't everything under complete control?"
I readily answered.
"Oh, that."
It was a ti I'd rather not think about, so I ended up skipping over it. But you're right—I left out the part that actually needed to be told.
"Soone helped ."
I continued speaking with a calm expression.
Was it around the ti the world was about to collapse? Back then, that planet had a famous profession—an expert position responsible for overseeing golem design. The chief engineer. One day, an Alphauri from the new era, presumably holding that title, ca to and said this.
"* One who once saved the planet—how pitiful you've beco.*"
At the sa ti, he secretly restored all my mories—without the knowledge of any of the rulers. What he was really telling was this, even if I reduced myself to a ntal vegetative state, they would just reboot again.
Moreover, that engineer ticulously taught how to be [---] and how to protect my sense of self from indoctrination.
"*I found it in the historical records of the old era. They say you numbered Magic Master were actually living Alphaurins. This inhumane technology... it's ti to bring it to an end, don't you think?*"
That person... was the last remaining altruism on that planet. They helped greatly, purely out of kindness. I was so moved by the compassion shown by that gentle compatriot that I made plans to escape the ruined planet together—once I completed the reincarnation magic, I should start it with the Chief Engineer.
However.
"The ocean at the end of civilization wasn't full of selfish individuals for nothing."
In an anti-utopian society, sympathy usually becos a disadvantage for survival.
So let get straight to the point. That kind-hearted engineer was caught trying to interfere with a few of the remaining successful chanisms of reincarnation—and was executed on the spot. A tragedy and, but sadly, not even one that felt like a twist.
Afterward, I was subjected to all sorts of torture, and one of the rulers even ca to interrogate —dragging along the engineer's corpse, spine torn open in a grotesque display.
"Doesn't this red blood remind you of sothing?"
Fortunately, thanks to the trick the chief engineer had taught , I was able to lie—so there was no problem at all.
[Who is that?]
I resisted the even additional the ruler tried, just in case they might suspect sothing, using the unique protective spell the scholar had taught . It would have been great if we could have actually escaped together as planned.
"Thanks to so conscientious compatriot who helped , I was barely able to possess this corpse on Earth. But it's a pity that the original owner got caught and died."
"_ _"
"Wow, honestly, I was really shocked back then. Even when hundreds of millions were still alive, no help ca. But when there were barely a few hundred Alphaurins left, a helping hand finally showed up."
Shrug.
Now, I moved my shoulders in the body of an Earthling, which I had grown thoroughly accustod to.
Seonwoo Yeon showed a slight look of surprise at that movent.
"That's just how it is. But that's reality, isn't it? People with overly kind hearts often end up sacrificing themselves when crisis cos—and one die without a reward."
It was then, Seonwoo Yeon, who had been looking this way, suddenly muttered.
"...Could it be that the reason that person's expression doesn't change is because they're an alien...?"
It was a sowhat unexpected remark.
"Huh? What did you say?"
"Ah... it's just, you said the only person who ever helped you t a bad end. But your face... it doesn't look sad at all."
But it seed she had her own reason for bringing up that topic.
"Was that rude of ? S sorry, it's just... you went through sothing unimaginable, but you seem so calm, it's I couldn't help myself..."
The truth of a past life back then, but I was sealed up and liked carried good for a long, long ti—so long, in fact, that by Earth's standards, it would take probably over a thousand years just to asure it properly.
Yeah. Now that I think about it, all those people whose I used to make—complaining about that and such—were mostly just self-deprecating humor. Truth is, my past life wasn't exactly lighthearted or cheerful. But even so, it's not sothing to stay depressed about forever either.
"What's the big deal? I'm just explaining sothing that's already been dealt with, after all."
I made the Earth-style expression of widening my eyes in surprise. In response, the sa expression soon ca from the other side—Seonwoo Yeon was surprised right along with .
"It was hard back then, sure, but as you can see, I've settled in here pretty well. Uh... as for the engineer, it's just sothing that can't be undone, so I decided not to dwell on it. I'm sure he was satisfied just knowing he did sothing good. And for the record, this expression right now? I am *showing* how I feel."
"I had a hard ti back then, but as you can see, I've settled in here pretty well. Uh... about that engineer's matter that it's sothing that can't be undone, so I decided not to dwell on it. He probably found so satisfaction in doing what he could. By the way, this expression right now? I'm genuinely just the way I'm feeling."
Unlike , whose face had already returned to its usual blank expression, Seonwoo Yeon looked more and more shocked. By now, she should be getting the idea—but to be honest, I was still only halfway sure why she was reacting like that.
"By the way, what is went through really that big of a deal to talk about like that?"
"Yes?"
"Well, I was wondering if it was such shocking stuff that you'd say it was sothing you couldn't even imagine."
Glance.
I glanced briefly at the plate of Justitia resting in the center of the room, then looked away again. What followed were a few trivial, aningless remarks exchanged between us.
"It's different from my previous evaluations, so it's sohow interesting."
"Evaluation?"
"I always thought Earth must have gone through sothing like this too. Like, they didn't have enough ti or funds to develop AI properly, so they just cheaply stuffed humans into machines."
"They still do this on Earth?"
"Of course!"
"Really, has there never been a ti in history when inhumane acts were committed just to save costs?"
"_ _"
Honestly, there's no need to drag this out any longer, but since I've already finished the tricky part, a few casual chats for fun won't hurt.
"Anyway, I don't think what I experienced was particularly special. You don't have to look at with such concern."
I let the stray thoughts that conflicted with what I just said drift through my mind. Then, not long after, I spoke into my phone a joke that sumd up everything I'd explained so far.
"Seri, can you set an alarm for 7 A.M. tomorrow?"
The built-in app on the phone replied.
[Yes, Kim Gyeo. I have set the alarm for 7 AM tomorrow. It will ring in 18 hours.]
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