“Witch… you say?”
There is something that was heard from Muyoung the other day about those Existences.
Criminals who suddenly appeared in various places over a dozen years ago, said to possess an unimaginable power of Particle sensitivity.
They were called Witches because they were all Female. The collection of their dreadful atrocities was called the Witch Incident.
Due to the Witches, the Republic was on the brink of destruction in an instant. It took a year of pursuit to finally subdue them all, but by then, countless Magicians had been sacrificed.
Of course, knowing that fact doesn’t really evoke a sense of crisis.
It was only heard about these events a few weeks ago, and even though it was an incident that threatened the nation’s survival, it was all in the past.
“The Witches I know of? The ones who caused the Witch Incident?”
“You heard correctly.”
“…Weren’t all the Witches Magicians?”
But the main culprit of that turmoil was some Alien Monster, not even Human…
How should this fact be accepted?
“It’s hard to understand. Do they have some skill to disguise themselves as Humans?”
“More than that. These things eat their way into living brains, wear their skin, and pretend to be us. They use the intelligence and memories they absorb in the process.”
Despite the casual tone, the content is utterly horrific.
“Witches. What a fitting name. These things only attach themselves to Female Magicians and do such things…”
Then, with a Hand placed on the Water Tank where the Witch-like Monster swims, closing eyes and sinking into thought.
“It would have been better if they had just lived Obediently pretending to be Human…”
It was easy to understand his words quickly.
The acts committed by the Witches at the time were all horrific tragedies unimaginable for Humans.
Cities with populations in the thousands were reduced to Ruins overnight, and it was said to have happened several times.
It was shocking that Humans could do such things… well, if it was a Monster wearing skin that did it, it seems rather understandable.
If they wanted to blend in with Humans, they wouldn’t have done such things. Eating brains and whatnot seems already messed up from the start…
“…”
Listening to his story.
The initial shock seems to have settled down now.
It’s clear that Witches are a species that evokes an unprecedented sense of discomfort and fear. Just looking at their appearance and the acts they committed makes it immediately obvious.
However, we already know of the existence of Spirits, Alien life forms. Countless Magical Beasts, twisted beyond recognition by the influence of Particles, have also been seen.
Humans are no exception. Some become Magicians, others become furry Demons. Or the in-betweens become Mutants with protruding teeth and extra spines and arms.
Even Death is no longer a rest. When mutated spores land on a corpse, it rises and becomes a wandering Ghoul. The Force of cremation is also an expression of that fear.
Because of that, the main character couldn’t even witness the final moments of mom and Friends. Only able to cry at the place where the Ashes were buried.
Of course, now it’s thought it was better than seeing them wander as Ghouls.
Anyway, in such a world, what difference does it make if there’s one more Monster that mimics Humans? It’s just one more Existence to kill.
“You don’t seem as surprised as I thought?”
“I was surprised. But more than that, I’m curious why you’re telling me this now.”
The reason for coming to see him today wasn’t to ask about the identity of the Witches, but to resolve the Question that had been harbored all along.
“…The essence of Witches, the Heteromorphic Species, is a life form closer to Vessel particles than we are. They are believed to have arrived with a Meteorite full of Particles.”
Seemingly sensing such Gaze, Mok Jinwoo opened his mouth again to continue the explanation.
“You know, right? We can only use Internalization Particles through the Spring for Magic. This is the same for Dark Sorcerers and Demons. Even Magical Beasts are no exception.”
This is what was written in the Introduction to Magic Studies seen when first entering the Cradle.
“But unlike us, Witches can manipulate Neutral State Particles in the atmosphere. Do you know what this means?”
But… what is this?
“Unlike us Magicians, whose limits are set by the total amount of the Spring, they can theoretically exert infinite Magical Power.”
As he continues his explanation, a strange sense of incongruity wraps around the body.
“Witches can use very unique powers. Petrification, Illusion, Decomposition, Brainwashing, and so on…”
It should be hearing about Witches. But why is it so familiar…
“There are differences between individuals, but they all share the common trait of being Miracles that cannot be explained by Magic.”
“Miracles… that’s…”
“The Witches call those Miracles this.”
And the next moment.
The main character felt a shock as if hit on the head with a hammer.
“Divine Authority.”
***
“Wait a minute…! If it’s Divine Authority…!”
“That’s right. It’s the power you possess.”
“Wh, what…?”
So Flustered that words can barely come out. The main character’s Magic and Divine Authority were that of those Monsters? How should this be accepted? Was the main character actually a Magical Beast and not a Human? What is going on…
“Heh heh, I can see what you’re thinking.”
Seeing the main character’s Confusion, Mok Jinwoo raised the Corner of his Mouth in amusement.
“Well, no need to worry so much. You are definitely Human. That was all proven two years ago.”
Reflexively, the events of that time come to mind.
After being taken in by the Leader and the Sisters from the Ruins. They conducted a rather intensive Physical Examination, under the pretext of a health check. Especially focusing on the head area.
And on the last day of the examination. The Sisters who reviewed it were Cheering and jumping around.
At the time, it was not understand why…
“If you were a Witch, you’d be dead by now at Jaehyuk’s hands. He hates the very Concept of Witches. You only possess their power.”
The Leader killing the main character. It’s something completely unimaginable now.
Even so, there’s no feeling of resentment. If the reason is Acceptance, it seems possible to die happily.
Well, now it seems like Yeon Minha’s permission would be needed first…
“…Well, that made it more confusing. The Traces of those things, which we thought we had killed every last one of, were found in a skinny little kid. And a boy at that…”
“…Wait a minute.”
While listening to his words. Suddenly, something catches attention.
“The woman we faced in the First City last time. She clearly knew the identity of my Divine Authority. Saying something about Polaris’s power. Could she also be…?”
Mok Jinwoo nodded in Confidence.
“You’re probably right. She must be a Witch.”
“…No such Monster came out of the corpse. It just melted away cleanly without a Trace… Of course, that’s also strange…”
“That’s a characteristic of that species. That’s why we could only secure one specimen.”
Placing a Hand on the Water Tank again, he said.
“This is that only specimen. The Successor of Paechun, who participated in the subjugation at the time, froze it whole using even his Unique Magic. Thanks to that, we could research countermeasures later…”
“The Successor of Paechun…”
The current Successor of Paechun is that child. The Dangerous Older Brother mentioned since childhood wouldn’t be old enough to participate in the subjugation at that time.
Probably, the Successor of Paechun at that time no longer exists in this world. Perhaps they died during the Witch Incident.
‘The current head also harbors a particularly deep grudge against Jaehyuk…’
But why do the Principal’s words suddenly come to mind?
“…But didn’t you just say that all were killed 15 years ago?”
“That’s what we thought. That’s what we thought. No, it’s more accurate to say that’s what we believed.”
Mok Jinwoo answered with a Bitter Smile.
“One thing is for sure… we realized it too late.”
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He mumbled in a voice filled with regret, rummaging through a Pile of Documents in the Research Lab.
“Let’s see… it should be around here somewhere…”
“Realized it too late, what do you mean?”
“Great Cause, Unity, destiny… have you ever heard those Witches spouting such words?”
At his sudden Question, the main character searched the memory.
“…Yes.”
“Have you ever thought about their meaning? Or the ultimate goal of the Witches?”
“Not at all. No matter how dangerous they are, they are just Magical Beasts. But an ultimate goal…”
“Right. Though it’s somewhat refined linguistically, it’s just their savage nature wrapped in acquired knowledge. They probably don’t even know what it means.”
Still rummaging through the Documents, he answered.
“But their Danger must not be overlooked. They want to paint the land in their colors. To Terraforming the earth to suit their environment.”
“Terraforming… you say?”
“Witches can commonly exert a power called Erosion. The Sky Basin. Have you been there? I heard this year’s freshmen had their first practical training there.”
He nodded at his words.
“How was it?”
“…It felt like being on another planet, not Earth. The plants, the animals, the entire environment was unfamiliar…”
“Compared to the complete Erosion, even that would be just half the change.”
Mok Jinwoo answered briefly.
“Even now, Ordinary People without Particle sensitivity are completely prohibited from entering the Sky Basin. They would be poisoned within an hour by the Toxicity emanating from all directions. If the Erosion progresses further from that state, it turns into a Land of Death that not even Magicians can withstand.”
“…”
“And the Great Cause and Unity that the Witches speak of… that’s their intention to turn the entire land into that.”
“That… isn’t the goal too ambitious? From the start, there seems to be no land in the Republic rendered unusable by Erosion. They can’t even taint a Peninsula… let alone the whole land…”
“What if the Witch attacks are not just happening in our Republic?”
“What?”
“Found it.”
Finally, Mok Jinwoo, who had been searching through the Documents, let out an Exclamation. He blew the dust off it, examined it, and handed it over.
-Status of Overseas Communication Network
“What is this…?”
“Read it.”
He urged, looking at the main character who asked in bewilderment.
Flipping the front page of the document, it was clear that it was a record of the status and frequency of regular communications with foreign countries.
“Half of Mankind perished in the Ten Days of Burning of the Great War, and another half in the ensuing Falling Star. The number of Humans is not even 30 percent of what it used to be, and only about a hundred countries remain on the surface.”
“…”
“But somehow, we survived. After Mankind awakened to the power of Magic, we resumed exchanges with each other. The Sky may have been blocked, but the sea routes were still alive. Moreover, the use of Magical Beasts for communication, like the Crow, was developing day by day…”
-21xx: 87 countries
-21xx: 94 countries
-21xx: 103 countries
The document showed that the number of countries confirmed to have survived was increasing year by year.
“We were even able to restore Contact Lines with the Western Regions and the United States, which require crossing several large seas to reach. This was a great achievement. It meant that there was a Possibility of regaining the glory of the old days when the world was connected as one.”
Then. Mok Jinwoo suddenly stopped speaking. Then, with a somewhat somber Expression, he took out another document from his Embrace and handed it over.
“But… something started to change 15 years ago.”
“…”
The front page of the document he handed over also had the words ‘Status of Overseas Communication Network’ written on it. Judging by the date, it seemed to be more recent.
-21xx: 100 countries
-21xx: 97 countries
“One day, the number of countries we could no longer reach started to increase again. Well, no one paid much attention at the time. It could have been a delay due to Storms or Weather Changes, and the network was imperfectly connected from the start. The internal affairs of the countries were also a mess…”
-21xx: 88 countries
-21xx: 80 countries
“And two years ago, the Situation began to change rapidly.”
-21xx: 55 countries
Last year, the number of countries that could be reached had decreased by 25 in just one year. A very drastic decrease compared to before. It was a sign that anyone could see that the Situation was abnormal.
The main character turned to the next page. And checked the last, the most recent list of countries that had been reached.
-21xx: 21 countries
“…”
Suddenly, silence descends on the Surroundings. The sound of Air Bubbles rising in the Specimen Container was the only thing that pricked at the Nerves.
The main character put down the documents and stared at him without a word. Mok Jinwoo was also looking at the main character, as if waiting for an Answer.
“Now you understand… what that document means.”
Chapter 204
“Witch… are you referring to that?”
He had heard about these beings from Muyoung before.
The criminals who had suddenly appeared across various regions over a decade ago, possessing unimaginably powerful energy sensory abilities.
They were all women, hence the term “witch.” The atrocities they committed were collectively referred to as the “Witch Incident.”
Due to the witches, the Republic was driven to the brink of destruction in an instant. After a year-long pursuit, they were finally eradicated, but by then, countless magicians had already been sacrificed.
Of course, knowing these facts didn’t evoke any particular sense of crisis.
To begin with, these were events he had only learned about a few weeks prior and, although critical to the nation’s survival, they were events that had already passed.
“The witches I know? The ones who caused the Witch Incident?”
“You heard correctly.”
“…Aren’t witches just female magicians?”
But the ones responsible for the upheaval were not even human—they were some kind of slimy alien monsters.
How was he supposed to process this information?
“It’s hard to comprehend. Are you saying they have the ability to disguise themselves as humans?”
“Even worse. These things devour a brain alive, wear the skin, and impersonate us, using the intelligence and memories they absorb in the process.”
The content of this explanation was utterly horrifying, even if Mok Jinwoo’s voice remained calm.
“Witch. What a fitting name. These things only target female magicians for such acts…”
He placed his hand on the water tank containing the witch-like creature and closed his eyes, lost in thought.
“It would have been somewhat better if they had just lived quietly pretending to be human…”
He quickly grasped the meaning behind Mok Jinwoo’s words.
The atrocities committed by the witches at the time were unimaginable for humans. Entire cities with populations exceeding thousands were reduced to ruins overnight on several occasions.
The fact that fellow humans could commit such acts was shocking… but if the perpetrators were monsters wearing human skins, it began to make sense.
If they had wanted to blend in and live quietly among humans, they wouldn’t have carried out such atrocities. The very act of brain-eating was already beyond redemption.
“…”
As he listened to Mok Jinwoo’s story, his initial shock seemed to have somewhat subsided.
It was clear that these witches evoked an unprecedented sense of repulsion and fear. Just looking at their appearance and their actions made it evident.
However, they were already aware of the existence of spirits, alien creatures. They had seen countless magical beasts that had been horribly twisted by particle influence.
Humans were no exception. Some became magicians, others transformed into shaggy demons. Those who were in between turned into mutants with protruding teeth, extra spines, or additional arms.
Even death offered no respite. Corpses infested with mutant spores would rise again as ghouls, wandering aimlessly. The forced cremations were an expression of such fears.
He, too, had been unable to witness the final moments of his mother and friends because of this. He had only wept over the spot where their cremated ashes were buried.
Now, though, he thought it was better than seeing them rise and roam as ghouls.
In any case, what difference would it make if one more monster pretending to be human was added to the mix? It was just one more thing to kill.
“You don’t seem as surprised as I expected.”
“I was surprised. But I’m more curious about why you’re telling me this now.”
After all, he hadn’t come to Mok Jinwoo today to ask about the identity of witches but to resolve a lingering question he had.
“The essence of witches, heteromorphic species, are creatures even closer to Vessel particles than us. They are believed to have arrived with the meteorite filled with particles.”
Sensing his gaze, Mok Jinwoo continued to explain.
“You know, don’t you? We can only use internalized particles through springs for magic. This applies not only to dark sorcerers and demons but also to magical beasts.”
This was a fundamental concept written in the Introduction to Magic Studies, which he had read when he first entered the Cradle.
“But unlike us, witches can directly manipulate the neutral state particles dispersed in the atmosphere. Do you understand what this means?”
What was he trying to say?
“Unlike us magicians, whose magical power is limited by the total amount of our springs, witches can theoretically wield infinite magical power.”
The more Mok Jinwoo explained, the more an inexplicable sense of unease crept over him.
“Witches can also use unique and extraordinary powers, such as petrification, illusions, decomposition, brainwashing…”
He was undoubtedly listening to a story about witches. But why did it feel so familiar?
“While there are differences between individuals, they all share one common trait: their miracles cannot be explained through magic.”
“Miracles? That means…”
“Witches call these miracles this.”
And at that moment.
He felt as if he had been struck on the head with a hammer.
“Divine Authority.”
***
“Wait…! Divine Authority, you mean…!”
“Exactly. It’s the same power you possess.”
“Uh, uh…?”
He stammered, unable to form coherent words, overwhelmed by shock. Was his magic and Divine Authority the same as those of these monsters? How was he supposed to accept this? Was he not human but a magical beast all along? What on earth…?
“Ha, ha, I can see exactly what you’re thinking.”
Mok Jinwoo smirked as he watched his confusion with amusement.
“Well, there’s no need to overthink it. You’re undoubtedly human. That was already confirmed two years ago.”
Memories of that time flashed through his mind.
After being taken in by the leader and the older sisters in the ruins, they had conducted an intense physical examination on him under the pretext of a health checkup. They had focused especially on his head.
On the final day of the examination, the older sisters had cheered and jumped with joy after reviewing the results.
At the time, he hadn’t understood why…
“If you were a witch, you’d already be dead at Jaehyuk’s hands. He absolutely despises the very concept of witches. What you possess is only their power, nothing more.”
The thought of the leader killing him was unimaginable now.
Even so, he didn’t feel any particular resentment. If the reason was convincing, he might even accept it willingly.
Though, of course, he’d probably need Yeon Minha’s permission first…
“…Well, that’s why it was all the more confusing. Traces of things we thought we’d completely eradicated were found in a scrawny boy like you. And a boy, at that…”
“…Wait.”
Something caught his attention as he listened to Mok Jinwoo’s words.
“That woman we dealt with in the First City last time. She definitely knew the identity of my Divine Authority. She mentioned Polaris’s power. If that’s the case, could she also be…?”
Mok Jinwoo nodded as if to confirm.
“You’re probably right. She must have been a witch.”
“…But no monsters emerged from her corpse. She melted away cleanly, leaving no trace… Though that itself was strange…”
“That’s a characteristic of their species. That’s why we’ve only ever managed to secure a single specimen.”
Placing his hand back on the water tank, Mok Jinwoo spoke.
“This is that single specimen. At the time, the successor of Paechun used Unique Magic to completely freeze it. Thanks to that, we were able to study countermeasures, albeit belatedly…”
“The successor of Paechun…”
The current successor of Paechun was that person. The dangerous older brother, whom he had often mentioned as a child, wouldn’t have been old enough to participate in the subjugation back then.
It would be more reasonable to assume that the successor of Paechun at the time no longer existed in this world. Perhaps they had perished during the Witch Incident.
‘The current family head also harbors a particularly deep-seated grudge against Jaehyuk…’
But why did the principal’s words suddenly come to mind?
“…But didn’t you just say all of them were eradicated fifteen years ago?”
“That’s what we thought. Or rather, that’s what we assumed.”
Mok Jinwoo gave a bitter smile as he replied.
“The only thing we know for sure is… we realized it far too late.”
Mok Jinwoo, his voice heavy with regret, began rummaging through a pile of documents in the research lab.
“Let’s see… It should be here somewhere…”
“Realized too late? What are you talking about?”
“Have you ever heard them mention terms like ‘Great Cause,’ ‘Unity,’ or ‘Heaven’s Mandate’?”
At his sudden question, he tried to recall.
“…Yes, I have.”
“Did you ever think about what those terms mean? Or about the witches’ ultimate purpose?”
“Not at all. No matter how dangerous they are, aren’t they just magical beasts? An ultimate purpose for them sounds…”
“Exactly. While their language might seem refined, it’s ultimately nothing more than the barbaric instincts they’ve wrapped in acquired knowledge. They probably don’t even know what it all means.”
Still rummaging through the documents, Mok Jinwoo replied.
“But their danger, at least, must never be underestimated. They wish to stain the earth in their own colors, to terraform the surface to suit their environment.”
“Terraforming… you mean?”
“Witches universally possess the ability of erosion. You’ve been to the Celestial Basin, haven’t you? I heard this year’s freshmen conducted their first practical there.”
I nodded at his words.
“How was it?”
“…It felt as if I wasn’t on Earth but somewhere alien. The plants, the animals, the entire environment was so unfamiliar…”
“If you compare it to complete erosion, that’s only half the transformation.”
Mok Jinwoo answered simply.
“Even now, ordinary people without particle sensitivity are strictly prohibited from entering the Celestial Basin. They would be poisoned within an hour due to the toxicity emitted from all directions. If the erosion progresses further, even magicians won’t be able to survive—it’ll become a Land of Death.”
“…”
“And the Great Cause and Unity the witches speak of… it means they intend to transform the entire earth into such a place.”
“That kind of… isn’t that goal far too grand? I don’t think there’s any land in the Republic that’s become unusable due to erosion. They can’t even fully corrupt the peninsula, let alone the entire earth…”
“What if the witches’ attacks weren’t limited to our Republic?”
“What?”
“Found it.”
At last, Mok Jinwoo, who had been rummaging through the documents, exclaimed. He blew off the dust and examined it before handing it to me.
-Status of Overseas Communication Network
“What is this…?”
“Read it.”
He urged me as I looked at him, puzzled.
Turning the first page, I realized it was a document recording the status and frequency of regular communications exchanged with foreign countries.
“During the Ten Days of Burning, half. Then with the Falling Star, another half. Mankind was reduced to less than a third of its former population, and only about a hundred nations remained on Earth.”
“…”
“But, in the end, we survived. After mankind awakened the power of magic, exchanges between nations resumed. Although the sky was blocked, sea routes were still viable. On top of that, the use of contact beasts like crows improved day by day…”
-21xx: 87 nations
-21xx: 94 nations
-21xx: 103 nations
The document showed an increase in the number of nations confirmed to have survived as the years went by.
“We even managed to reestablish contact lines with the Western Regions and the United States, which are separated by vast oceans. This was a significant achievement. It meant there was a possibility of regaining the glory of the old world, which had once been connected as one.”
Then, Mok Jinwoo abruptly stopped speaking. With a somewhat somber expression, he pulled out another document from his embrace and handed it to me.
“But… starting fifteen years ago, we began to detect some changes.”
“…”
The front page of the document he handed over was also titled ‘Status of Overseas Communication Network.’ Judging by the dates, it appeared to be more recent.
-21xx: 100 nations
-21xx: 97 nations
“One day, the number of nations we could communicate with began to decrease again. At first, no one paid much attention. It could have been delays due to storms or weather changes, and the network was incomplete to begin with. The chaotic internal conditions of those nations also played a part…”
-21xx: 88 nations
-21xx: 80 nations
“And then, two years ago, the situation began to change drastically.”
-21xx: 55 nations
The number of countries we could communicate with had dropped by 25 in just one year. Compared to previous years, this was a shockingly rapid decline. It was an unmistakable sign that the situation was abnormal.
I turned to the next page and checked the most recent list of nations we were still in contact with.
-21xx: 21 nations
“…”
Silence suddenly enveloped the surroundings. The faint bubbling sound from the specimen container was the only thing that seemed to prick at my nerves.
I put down the document and silently looked at him. Mok Jinwoo, too, was staring at me, as if waiting for an answer.
“Now you understand what that document means, don’t you?”