◈ Episode 217

Extraction of preserved data.

From the professor's perspective, it was a transplant or restoration. When the work began, the professor sat in an empty movie theater and watched scenes from the past.

But at some point, the professor's consciousness became mixed up with the past. He inherited all the emotions he had felt at that time, and it gradually became difficult to distinguish between the present and the past.

As if you were experiencing it yourself.

Thus, the professor regained all his memories.

"...At the beginning, yes. There was discord."

The professor spoke in a dry, cold voice.

"One day, Helena pointed out the dangers of research. She said that if we go any further, something might happen. It's not that I didn't understand the argument. I had a vague sense of it."

It was more of a process of organizing the memories that had poured out rather than explaining them to someone.

"But that's a denial of all the efforts of the lab, and most importantly, of Leila. Helena loves Leila like her own daughter, and yet she's trying to throw it away, saying she has no choice."

The differences of opinion between the two were not easily narrowed.

And the professor happened to overhear the conversation between Kushan and Helena.

"...Helena tried to erase my memories."

For the absurd reason of putting the brakes on research.

"What's even more ridiculous is that Helena had the ability to do that. It was an act that not only erased my memories, but also my personality. I couldn't just sit by and accept that…"

At that time, he asked for help from the Emperor of Shiran, with whom he was actively interacting.

"The Emperor secretly brought Helena to create 'that thing' outside. It's a device that was miraculously created through the synergy of Shiran's technical skills and Helena's spells."

"Are you saying that Helena cooperated in harming you?"

"There's nothing strange. I created a situation where we had no choice but to cooperate."

Shiran had a lot of hidden knowledge from the beginning. Among them were drugs that affected the minds of prisoners and common torture devices. From then on, the situation got out of the professor's control.

As a result, Helena was not dead, but she could not be said to be alive either.

The emperor coveted the professor's research results. The professor was stripped of his memories and abandoned in a remote place. Ironically, he was spared only biological death. He might have to be 'retrieved' in case of emergency.

What the Emperor did not expect was that it took so long to interpret the data.

"Maybe it was the Emperor's trick to find me in the lab."

Any plausible purpose can come to mind.

"That person has never seriously opposed rap. He didn't interfere for a long time even after Heinz turned his back on his country and became a Kushan. He must have only thought of its utility at all times."

The professor took a deep breath after finishing his story.

Kim Lee-Hyeon looked down at the professor without saying a word and then asked a question.

"So how about now?"

"What do you think? What is it?"

"Do you think the old you has been wiped out like you thought?"

The professor was silent for a while.

She hesitated for a moment, her lips moving as she answered.

"I can't really explain it. Everything just feels vague and confusing. The me of the past few years, the me of before that, and even the me of now all feel distant."

He lowers his head and covers his face with both hands.

"...It's all my karma."

This was the secret of the Cellbrox Lab. In the past, the lab had been conducting research that could not be revealed to the outside world, hurting each other, and helping to drag the continent into a pit.

In the latter half of Polaris, the professor cannot be seen as a pure player. His actions unrelated to the user are uncovered, and he considers himself a sinner like Kushan. As a character.

The professor took a deep breath, then raised his head and looked straight at Kim Lee-Hyeon.

"Hyeon. I have a favor to ask of you."

"say."

"I wish you wouldn't tell Leila about Helena."

It was something that the professor of the past would not have said. In some ways, she was a more delicate person than Leila, and she would not have been able to bear the guilt of hiding the truth.

This is not the case anymore.

I guess you could call this growth.

"The distant past, the recent past, and now. Even though we are different in many ways, the one thing that remains the same is that I cherish that child."

"Then don't you think you should tell me even more?"

"That kind of thinking may exist. But sorry, that's not me."

The professor said that he wanted to be treated with the same care as he cared for Leila.

"Even if it sounds shameless… this is my true feelings."

"Well, okay. I don't want to make a fuss for nothing either."

Kim Lee-Hyeon accepted the professor's request.

It is not a delusion that Helena tried to exclude the professor. In fact, the Helena that appeared in the flashback was not the embodiment of maternal love and the saintly gentleman that Leila knew.

'I got cursed at quite a bit.'

This is a character who was bullied in the community.

As a researcher, his abilities are the worst among the main figures in the lab, but he is a boss who nags at his professors because they are too good, and tells them to do well. Even though his motives are understandable, it is difficult to avoid criticism of his means.

Even if the professor had stopped his research as Helena said, there is no guarantee that things would have gotten any better. Either way, the disaster would have continued, and the emperor would have continued to be abusive.

'After all, it all depends on your perspective.'

But there is one thing I can say for sure.

If we could end the disaster right now, it would be an act infinitely closer to 'good'.

A professor must prove his goodness through his actions.

"There is a way to remove the crack."

Determination flashed across his deep, clear eyes.

* * *

Shiran Palace.

Maximilian once again faced Kim Yi-hyeon and the professor. The professor's impression was noticeably different from last time. Not only had his body become thinner, but the atmosphere he gave off had also changed.

It wasn't that important, compared to what she said.

"There is a device that can induce a rift near Shiran."

"...Inducing a crack? What exactly does that mean?"

"That's a literal expression. The cracks are a visual manifestation of the continent's erosion, or pollution. It's just that parts of the continent are already eroded, even if you can't see them, and cracks can appear anywhere."

The professor continued his explanation.

"Let's assume. The continent is currently polluted to a level of 100. And each rift has a pollution level of 5. Also, in the lab, we have confirmed that when a rift disappears, the pollution in the area is purified."

"Then, hmm. In the worst case scenario, cracks could appear in twenty places simultaneously. If one disappears, the contamination level will be reduced by 5, is that correct?"

"That's the correct perception."

Maximilian's complexion brightened at once.

"So that means if we just close the cracks like we are doing now, all the contamination will be purified."

"In theory, that's true, but...."

The professor glanced at Kim Lee-Hyeon and declared.

"It's realistically impossible. We wouldn't be able to keep up with the cracks' creation."

"Yes. You never know when or where it will explode. In the meantime, contamination will continue. The rate of contamination will be faster than the rate of purification. That's why there's no end to it."

"Oh, is that so?"

Even now, there is news that the response is delayed. Leila alone is not enough, and even if Kim Yi-hyun is added, the limitations are clear. That is why other means were sought in the game.

"So, I plan to utilize the induction device I mentioned."

A much more extreme, all-or-nothing gamble.

"We artificially open one large crack so that we can relieve the shame all at once."

Maximilian's eyes widened at the professor's words.

"...Is such a thing possible?"

"If the guidance device functions as I designed, then yes."

Design. It was obvious what it meant.

"I had some sort of deal with the Emperor a while back, and in return I was involved in the creation of the device. At the time, the rift did not exist, so I had another purpose."

The puzzle began to come together in Maximilian's head.

"Over the past 40 years, Shiran has suffered surprisingly little damage from disasters."

In a calm voice, as if reciting recorded data.

"It was embarrassing to call it control, but some manipulation was possible. It was like turning the concept of a lightning rod upside down. The entire continent, except for Shiran, shared the burden."

A buried truth, not recorded anywhere, was pushed out.

"As Laura has surmised, there is a high probability that the Emperor and the rift have a connection. The device could be a trigger for the rift, even if it is used in a different way than its original purpose."

"What on earth is it for?"

"At that time, the Emperor acted to seize the long-neglected Cellbrox Lab. Also, the Emperor was a human who knew the value of the Lab and Leila as much as I and Kushan."

Those two facts alone give us an idea.

The global threat of the crack. And the only way to deal with it. Just like Kim Yi-hyun did the other day, it was a condition that could shake the lifeline of the continent.

"Of course, at this stage, it's just speculation."

Even as she said that, the professor had no doubts about my claim. The emperor she knew was a madman who had been obsessed with Shiran's prosperity since long ago.

"That, that kind of crazy thing…."

Maximilian was astonished. This was not the work of a human being. The emperor's greed was like that of a devil, and the professor's knowledge was far beyond the reach of humans.

"Let's get back on track at this point."

As the explanation neared its end, Kim Yi-hyeon intervened.

"This is an unprecedentedly dangerous operation. Even if we can resolve the rift itself, Lab and Dustborn's forces alone won't be able to deal with the parasites. That's why we need troops to clear the way."

"Are you asking me to take on that role in my home country?"

"It's not a request for solitude. It's a request for you to be one of them. I would be more grateful if you could package this issue well and deliver it to Harrenhal and Cadillac."

It was a request I couldn't refuse.

This is the darkness of Cellbrox Lab and the darkness of Shiran. If it were revealed to the world, Shiran's status would be thrown into the abyss. The throne was stained with deception, even more than Maximilian had imagined.

"...You said there was a large crack. Where does it open?"

"The most eroded place on the continent would be a good candidate."

The professor blurted it out as if he was declaring something.

"It will become the territory of the old Shalem."

The first parasite was discovered and killed,

A ruined country destroyed by repeated disasters.

The place where all of Polaris' stories began.

* * *

April 15, 2048.

Kim Yi-hyun stood in front of Shiran's helicopter. The destination was Shalem, Cellbrox Lab. He sent a gathering order to the scattered operation teams through Shiran's contact network in response to the crack.

The professor will join later. The existence of the crack induction device has already been confirmed. Since the professor is the only person who can handle it, she will operate the device with her own hands on the day of the event.

It's a burden you have to carry yourself.

"...Now, when it's all over, what should I do?"

On the helipad, the professor asked with an anxious face. In front of Kim Yi-hyun, he often showed the same appearance as before he regained his memories. This must be because he had strong trust in the other person.

However, Kim Lee-Hyeon didn't really have any advice to give.

"Anything can be done. Even if the disasters and the cracks are all over, the continent won't be safe. Too many people have died, and there's no way to purify the already polluted land."

There is no vaccine or cure for parasites that has been developed yet. Depending on the situation, there is a risk that the continent will become even more of a cesspool. The scars left by the disaster are endlessly deep.

"I honestly think that Leila is the only one among you who can say that you have been wronged. As you said yourself, both you and Kushan have a strong sense of karma. I think you should take responsibility."

If I had to pick someone who would be more wronged than Leila, it would be the professor before he lost his memory. The same goes for 'Kim Yi-hyun' and 'Yoo Da-hee' who simply liked games but ended up here.

"But what? Even if someone else tells you, it's just a hassle."

All I can tell you is to decide for yourself.

"First, do your part well. Please."

Kim Lee-hyeon boarded the helicopter, leaving the professor behind.

'This will be the last.'

For the professor who has now realized his karma, this may be only the beginning. However, the main story of Polaris is coming to an end. For the drifter Kim Lee-hyun, it was the final destination that tied up the past years.

Of course there is hesitation.

'The scale should be appropriately large.'

Hundreds of millions of lives have been swayed by a few people, and until now, the survival of the continent is in the hands of a very small number of people. It is a weight that is difficult to feel.

Every time something like this happens, I think about it.

'I guess it's a crappy game anyway.'

This shit smell isn't so unfamiliar anymore.