Part 2, Chapter 4: Living Not as Damien, But as Myself
"I am Seung-chan. But I must survive in this world."
He clenched his fist.
Now it was clear.He was no longer Damien.
But the problem remained—
"In this world, I must live as Damien."
His name was Damien.His face, Damien's.To everyone else, he was Damien.
Even if he claimed to be Seung-chan,no one would believe him.
Then what must he do?
To survive in this world,to live in it—
What did he need?
1. Ancient Texts – The One Who Reads the Past
"In the records of the past, lies the truth."
He realized this wasn't the Murim.This was a world of magic.A world of gods and mages.
But more importantly—
"What is the history of this world?""How was it created?"
He needed information.Knowledge for survival.
His first mission:Seek the records.Ancient tomes.Forgotten wisdom.Books that held the laws and lore of this world.
"Where did I come from?""Why do I exist here as Damien?""What must I do to live on?"
He needed answers.
2. The Fantastical Encounter – The Chosen One
"I accept the power of this world."
He knew how Murim worked.The strong trained in powerful martial arts.
Then—what was the greatest power in this world?
He had seen the mages.He had seen knights blessed by gods.
And he understood:
"If I don't resist this world's laws, I can become even stronger."
As he had once mastered martial arts,he could also master this world's powers.
If he embraced its magic,he could become powerful in an instant.
He would become a fusion of warrior and mage.A living weapon.An overwhelming force.
But—
That was dangerous.
If he accepted this world's power,he would be absorbed into it.
"I am Seung-chan. But must I now obey this world's rules?"
So now—he had a decision to make.
Part 2, Chapter 5: A Time for Preparation
Damian (Seung-chan) began organizing the items needed to perform a spell he'd discovered in an ancient tome.
"This spell... it's not something ordinary."
It wasn't typical magic.It was closer to a rite—one that summoned lost memories, or perhaps retrieved what had once been forgotten.
[Items Required for the Spell]
A Magical Conduit – An object to focus and sustain the flow of mana.
A Mirror – To reflect memory and unveil hidden truths.
Blood – The strongest vessel of life's energy.
Damian gathered the necessary components from the village.But during the process, he couldn't shake the feeling that something—or someone—was watching him.
"Am I just imagining things?"
No.He'd already seen others in the village with the same face as his.At first, he thought it was a coincidence—perhaps a twin.But now, another possibility crept in.
Seeking Solitude
To cast the spell, he needed a place free from interference.He left the village, passed through the forest, and headed toward a cave deep in the hills.
It was a place shrouded in legend.Where ancient sorcerers once communed with the gods—or perhaps where forbidden traces left by divine beings still lingered.
The cave looked like a ruined relic, but strange remnants remained on the walls, as if letters had once been etched there and later erased.
After setting everything up, Damian began to chant the spell.The moment he spoke the words, the space around him subtly shifted.
"...What is this?"
The faded symbols on the walls began to glow faintly.And then—he felt a presence behind him.
Someone was watching.
"This spell is beyond what you can handle." 🚪
Damian turned his head slowly.Standing there was... a being he could not identify.
Next Chapter: Fragments of Memory
But Damian didn't hesitate.Stopping now would render everything meaningless.
"I will reclaim my memories."
The vial of blood in his hand began to glow faintly.The mirror trembled.The space around him warped.
[Essence of the Spell]
To recover lost memories,magic and soul must be in perfect harmony.But the spell demanded equivalent exchange.Something must be lost to gain what was forgotten.Damian did not yet know this truth.
The Spell Begins
As the spell forcibly activated, a torrent of memories flooded Damian's mind.
Martial arts and sword forms mastered in the Murim.The battles he'd fought, the deaths he had faced—and the strange rebirth that followed.
He remembered being Seung-chan.He remembered being Lee Hyun-do.And now... he was Damian.
His hand trembled.Confusion set in.Was any of this real?Or just a mirage?
And as the spell progressed, a creeping sense of dread began to spread.
An Unforeseen Variable – Intruders
Something dark stirred nearby.
"Krrrr..."
Damian looked up instinctively.From the shadows of the cave, strange beings emerged.
They were not human.In fact, they didn't seem of this world at all.
This spell wasn't exactly forbidden—but it was far from safe.
Damian still didn't understand the price he was about to pay.
And in that instant—the beings lunged at him.
Crack—!
Damian rolled aside by pure instinct.Survival reflexes took over.But with his martial skills not yet fully restored, he couldn't mount a proper defense.
Incomplete Memory Transfer
Bits and pieces of martial arts forms surfaced in his mind.But they were incomplete, fragmented.
"Heaven... Earth... Man...""The Samjae Sword Form."
He moved as his body remembered—not as his mind willed.
Yet even that was enough.The strange beings recoiled in response.
"They... fear the Samjae Sword Form?"
But time was running out.The memory transfer remained incomplete.He couldn't fully wield his power—yet.
What he did know was this:
⚔ He was stronger than before.
Aftermath – Survival, For Now
The creatures didn't vanish completely.They would return.
Damian stared into the mirror.His reflection still looked unfamiliar.
But one thing was certain.
"I've grown stronger."
And yet—without his complete memory,he remained torn between who he was as Seung-chanand who he had become as Damian.