Chapter 2: The Soul That Remembers

‘This is pretty random.’

Even Jegal Hyeon himself wouldn’t have expected that the Soul-Refining Reincarnation Art would continue while he was eating.

Moreover, he certainly never imagined that memories would keep flooding in one after another.

‘Is it because there was no mana where Kim Seonggeon was?’

For some reason, memories extended beyond Jegal Hyeon to reach Kim Seong-geon.

Perhaps even more memories could have come through.

The important thing was that the memories flowed in so naturally.

It was random, but there was no point in debating whether it was good or bad.

Subjectively, centered on me, the memories of both men coexisted together.

To put it in terms of where Kim Seong-geon was, all of it—everything—was connected and unified in less than a minute.

“I’ll go in first.”

The merging happened before the meal was even finished.

Still, I seemed to clearly understand what I had to do.

For now, I said I would train in magic and entered the training ground.

One table and one chair.

On the side, a large bookshelf held a few incomplete magic books.

The training ground consisted of a spacious area for practice.

It was a bleak space.

Suddenly, many things had happened.

Because it was so natural, there was no pain, but I had to sort things out.

‘Thanks to Jegal Hyeon’s Soul-Refining Reincarnation Art, I’ve come to remember two past lives…

My personality has merged.

Two identities mixed centered around me.

Jegal Hyeon lived fiercely to heal his body.

Kim Seong-geon was the same, except he was more optimistic.

And that personality bears an eerie resemblance to my current self.

‘Maybe it’s because our souls are the same.’

That’s my speculation.

Both personality and memories feel completely fused now.

The more I recall, the more natural it feels.

The sensation is quite strange.

For example, when I remember myself from yesterday, I think, ‘That was childish.’

I see myself as a child. Even the me from just yesterday.

I suddenly became an adult. Yet, I don’t feel particularly sad or strange about it.

“I am who I am.”

That optimistic emotion may have been passed down from Kim Seong-geon to my present self.

This is something that can’t be changed. Fortunately, it’s not a problem.

Anyway.

‘I remembered my past lives… but…’

Whether a priest or a mage, this is a shocking event to know about.

Other-dimensional beings are common theory among magicians.

But the problem is that discovering dimensions inhabited by intelligent races is considered nearly impossible.

‘They say they’re concealed behind barriers.’

The only relatively close dimensions are a few.

The Demon World, where demons dwell, and the Spirit Realm, the home of spirits, are the most well-known nearby dimensions.

Aside from these, many other dimensions are inhabited by monsters or Phantasmal Beasts.

Even if they possess intelligence, they aren’t beings closely akin to humans.

There is almost no information on other dimensions beyond these.

But both of my past lives were in other dimensions.

‘If I can find the dimensional coordinates, that would be a huge deal. But that’s not the important part.’

The key is that because of these past memories, I’ve gained knowledge of things that don’t exist in this world.

I am the second son of the Count of Ophern.

Born into a Knight Family, but my body was too weak to learn the family’s swordsmanship.

Because of that, I became a retainer to my father and have been learning magic from Geirn, a 5-Circle mage.

A 5-Circle mage can secure the rank of count anywhere, and even obtain high positions in places like the Magic Tower.

Human limits are known to be at 7 Circles, and even 6 Circles are rare—maybe one or two in a kingdom.

Still, Geirn lives as a retainer of our family, owing a debt to my father from his youth.

Because of learning from such a person, I can at least use 1 Circle magic.

I have decent mana affinity, but my mind can’t keep up, so progressing beyond that is difficult.

Even so, I learned many things. That’s how I became aware of multi-dimensional knowledge.

Anyway, knowing that is a huge event.

But.

‘So what am I supposed to do?’

I’m the second son of a count.

The eldest brother will become Master of the House.

The second sister will either marry or remain a spinster knight; knowing her personality, she might even take a son-in-law to continue the family line.

‘Then what about me?’

I’m the second son.

No right of succession.

The eldest brother’s position as a knight is secure.

So I have two choices.

‘Work under my brother, or’

‘Go independent on my own.’

‘Is it because of Kim Seonggeon’s memories…? I’m already worrying about getting a job… Memories are scary like this.’

Of course, my father’s decision will come much later.

For now, I’m stuck as the second son with no clear path.

‘It’s better to be certain. Stability is good for anything.’

I nodded to myself thinking so.

‘Well, then… first I need to establish myself as a mage to some extent.’

***

After that, opening a shop or working under my brother could be options.

‘Thinking about it, it might actually be a blessing that I was born with magic talent.’

It wasn’t all bad.

Being a mage is one of the top professions in this world.

Even a 4-Class mage is respected wherever they go.

So it wouldn’t be bad. Being recognized as a mage alone would be great.

“So, how about it, Jegal Hyeon? This life isn’t so bad, is it?”

I asked the memories of Jegal Hyeon inside me, though it was mostly pointless.

It was an act of self-affirmation.

If I asked his memories, “Becoming a mage is decided. But this frail body is displeasing because of the past life memories.”

Then the solution is:

“…I have to learn Mugong first.”

The aura practiced by knights in this world.

It’s a martial art similar to Mugong from the strong martial world, but when I think about it, ‘It’s clearly inferior to Mugong from the strong martial world.’

As a member of the family, I did learn the higher-grade aura cultivation method that led to the existence of our count family.

‘But still, it’s probably like second-rate Mugong compared to the strong martial world. The difference is due to the concentration of qi—this world’s natural environment has far more qi than the strong martial world.’

Places known as Land Veins or Spiritual Lands in the strong martial world have abundant qi, but here it’s widespread.

That’s why even with our family’s second-rate aura cultivation, it’s possible to become a Sword Master.

In other words, I can change my body as much as I want.

Inside Jegal Hyeon’s knowledge, who learned every Mugong possible from the Jegal Clan to heal his body, there are all sorts of Mugong theories.

Compared to a body suffering from blocked meridians, this body is strong enough.

‘The potential is overflowing.’

If the Mugong from the Jegal Clan made for their own people doesn’t fit, it can be reformed and remade from scratch.

‘Starting from the basics and steadily advancing to the end!’

The root of the Soul-Refining Reincarnation Art that Jegal Hyeon wanted to master even if he died!

‘I might even be able to learn the Soul-Refining Reincarnation Heart Technique.’

“Good.”

I muttered alone and nodded.

That’s how I firmly finalized my plan going forward.

“Haah. What a relief.”

I didn’t know what on earth was happening while eating. But well, it wasn’t bad.

“Well, even so… for now…”

I looked around and let out a deep sigh.

“I have to learn Mugong and study. It’ll be busy.”

Realizing my past lives made me understand that the current me was a child. At the same time, I realized one more thing.

I’m a fool right now.

First of all, I decided to start Mugong training.

My body is weak.

Not as sickly as Jegal Hyeon, but prone to minor illnesses and muscle doesn’t grow well.

So in Mugong training, I need to cultivate internal strength first.

Ki.

In other words, the energy called aura in this world can be gathered to change this frail body.

‘It all starts with knowing myself. So, exploration.’

The target of exploration was none other than myself. I began to think carefully about myself and started analyzing attentively.

What I discovered was surprising.

‘Whoa. The lower dantian is open? No, maybe not?’

I had already learned 1 Class magic.

‘What is a mage? Someone who controls mana with will and uses magic.’

Controlling mana with will is, in fact, a state only achievable by masters of the strong martial world’s Hua Jing (Fire Classic) called Will-Energy Harmful Person.

Advancing beyond that to Will Thought Will Qi (의념의기) leads to the Transcendent Realm (현경), the next level of Hua Jing, and ultimately reaching the Sword of the Heart (심검) state.

‘No, it’s not completely open… Ah, I see. The mana circle in the heart amplifies the will.’

I nodded.

Mages have mana circles that form in the heart.

One circle means 1 Circle magic.

Two means 2 Circle magic.

With each additional circle, mana power increases exponentially, magic becomes stronger, and higher-class magic can be used.

This circle amplifies willpower to control surrounding mana.

‘Hmm. There’s this secret to why mages use magic. Interesting. Then it should be easier.’

Using mana circles, one draws in surrounding mana—that is, qi—and stores it in the dantian. This eliminates the need for breathing.

The fundamental of internal strength heart technique is to absorb qi from the atmosphere through breathing—a necessary process.

But using mana circles is faster and more efficient than breathing!

‘My body is… as expected, not great. Is this the karma of my soul? I’m always born weak.’

However, my talent for mana is exceptional.

To borrow Jegal Hyeon’s phrase, I was born with Qi Sense.

‘Still, my mind is ordinary, so I haven’t advanced to 2 Class yet.’

My teacher said I would have to work my whole life to reach 4 Class, and even then, only if luck was on my side.

Magic isn’t just about mana talent.

Anyway, that aside, the important thing is that I have talent.

‘Shall I try an experiment?’

“For now… So Cheon Seonggong.”

Goooooo.

The mana circle activated.

The surrounding mana was drawn toward me and absorbed through my skin.

Thump thump thump thump.

Blood flow, breathing rhythm, and at the same time, mana spread throughout my body.

Following the Qi Channels and Eight Extraordinary Meridians, mana circulation began.

‘Maybe it’s because I’m in the Will-Energy Harmful Person state, the qi is completely following.’

And there’s a lot of qi.

I could feel my training time shortening more than expected.

After that, I focused my mind and observed the flow inside me.

When internal energy circulates through the Qi Channels and Eight Extraordinary Meridians in the whole body, it’s called Great Zhou Tian.

This happens only when internal energy quantity increases and internal energy control reaches a high level.

Most start with Small Zhou Tian and gradually build internal strength.

However, with the mana circle’s power, Great Zhou Tian was achieved in an instant.

My body grew hot. Black sweat began to appear.