Chapter 348

People call the shaman a genius.

In reality, the mindset and behavior of shamans often stray from the common sense of ordinary people, making it understandable to label them as such when witnessed.

However, the bizarre behaviors stem from the distinct ideologies and spirits that shamans establish for themselves.

Yet, the man in front of Jinseong was firmly rooted in the mindset of an ordinary person… no, specifically that of an elite official, steeped in elitism and self-preservation.

It’s not that this is necessarily bad.

Earlier, Jinseong had referred to it as pride, but if it doesn’t go overboard, it can become a virtue of leadership. If it’s confidence rather than arrogance, it can evoke trust in others.

However, that does not benefit Jinseong.

Leading people as an elite? Feeling pride in his group or affiliation?

What good does that do Jinseong?

Park Jinseong is an outsider.

When he talks about affiliations and groups, he finds himself in a situation that brings disadvantages rather than benefits.

Coupled with the exclusive tendencies of the Japanese people and the fact that he is a foreign shaman, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Self-Defense Forces were mobilized to attack Jinseong right away.

That’s why Jinseong sculpted the man.

It undeniably benefits the man but also serves Jinseong’s interests.

It awakened a strong individualistic tendency within him, igniting his consciousness as a typical shaman.

His own ideology.

His own mindset.

His own rules.

Moving forward stubbornly like the horn of a rhinoceros, he teaches the shaman’s way of judging and deciding solely according to his will within the world he creates.

This approach brings no harm to anyone.

Jinseong would awaken the shaman’s eyes, helping the man avoid becoming just a component lost in a group, and Jinseong could pick up benefits thanks to the man, making it mutually advantageous.

This is a win-win.

“A nation is an illusion. It appears to exist, but it doesn’t. As I mentioned earlier, for something to exist, conditions are required, which is not true existence. What truly matters are the beings that constitute the nation—people. A nation can only exist through their recognition, agreement, and promises. If they vanish or their perceptions change, then if promises are broken and new ones take their place, the illusion of a nation will be replaced by another illusion.”

That’s why Jinseong sculpted.

“The Buddha’s last words were that everything born, existing, and formed is destined to break. To claim that nothing can ever be destroyed is impossible.”

What the man had deemed valuable,

The ‘common sense’ learned through ample education,

He sculpted it entirely into the shapes the man desired.

“The same goes for a nation. Even seemingly eternal agreements will fade in time, and something else will take their place. Think of a thousand years ago. Think of hundreds of years ago. Who would have guessed that a nation, once filled with barbarism and countless divisions, could unite like this? Just as one could not imagine the future of today from back then, we too cannot envision our future from now. Thus, a nation is an illusion. What’s important is the people comprising it. And those people are beings like me, like you.”

He swung the hammer in loyalty to the state and forged gold.

“In the past, the distinction between the ruling and the ruled was strict in the West. The rulers claimed they had blue blood running through their veins, believing their existence was fundamentally different from the filthy and lowly ruled. But I ask: Is that truly the case? Was the blood of the king who had his head cut off at the guillotine really blue? Did blue blood flow from the orifices of a noble who suffered painful death on a skewer? No, it did not. Their bodies bled red, no different from the ruled they scorned.”

“…”

“Between people, there is nothing remarkable, and there is no hierarchy. Just as the rich do not come into this world with jewels, the lowly do not emerge exuding foul smells; the weight of life itself is equal. It is merely humans and society that assign weight and change the clothing. Thus, to rid oneself of pride, it must be firmly understood: one must acknowledge that their life holds equal value to that of others and remember that one is simply someone who can perform better than others.”

He wielded the weapon of words to shatter the notion of the chosen people.

“It is natural for perspectives to change depending on where one stands. It is equally normal for those with talent to be treated well. However, when it becomes a given, pride begins to grow in the heart, creating stark distinctions between oneself and others. It leads one to look down upon those below and consider the less talented as inferior, elevating oneself in the process. If the lower figure moves up, they fail to realize that they can rise to the same or an even higher level, and they overlook that those without talent can learn and those lacking can improve. That is the bane of pride, akin to shutting one’s eyes and plugging one’s ears.”

He made the man realize that he is not a precious existence; he is merely one person.

Thus, Jinseong imparted enlightenment to the man.

That he was no inherently different being from birth, not a chosen one, and that being precious was not an inherent trait.

He repeated this.

Repeated.

And repeated again.

Time was abundant.

The dreams made using Seitani flowed far slower than reality.

At least, there was no worry about being pressed for time.

*

Repeat.

Repeat.

Once again.

And at the end of this repetition, finally.

“I feel as though my vision has cleared.”

The man opened his eyes.

In the direction Jinseong desired.

With no hint of wariness, the man looked at Jinseong. Gratitude and bewilderment intertwining in his gaze.

After a moment of contemplation, the man spoke.

“I’ve led a life akin to riding an escalator.”

The first thing he said was about himself.

It was an introduction of sorts.

A recounting of his life.

“My family was well-off. While not rich enough to compare to actual wealthy folks or power holders, they were well-off enough not to struggle with sending me to a private school. Thus, I enrolled in an affiliated elementary school of a prestigious university, and that’s where the rails of my escalator ride began.”

The man stared intently at Jinseong as he spoke.

“Graduating from the prestigious university’s elementary school, I entered the affiliated middle school as if I were on an escalator. From there, I proceeded to the affiliated high school. Getting a good education and building solid connections, I achieved excellent scores and entered a renowned university. I continued to perform well there too.”

The man’s life was that of a meticulously painted elite.

Having received a good education since childhood, consuming fine resources, building strong connections.

He smoothly traversed the path laid before him towards elite status and eventually gained entry into a place that couldn’t even be compared to a typical official.

Onmyōdō.

He could enter a place that even the elite career group who passed the national public service exam admired. What’s more, he didn’t just join as a staff member; he became part of their family.

He learned Onmyōdō, became one of them, and became an entity alongside them.

In a way, it might be said that it was a bond deeper than that of family.

Though they did not share blood, they were tightly connected through Onmyōdō.

Perhaps due to the nature of magic that requires a cost for each use, Onmyoji held each other dear, empathizing with one another’s pain, solidifying their bond as a community. Moreover, the extreme self-preservation among Onmyoji prioritized protection and safety.

Naturally, it was a structure that could not help but grow strong bonds.

Add to that a sense of superiority, and it’s only natural that the man developed a mindset of being the best and the highest as an Onmyoji.

“Therefore, I’ve lived with a belief that I am superior to others. My background was relatively good, leading me to think that my genes were different from those of others. This belief grew stronger after entering the Onmyōdō.”

Yet now, things were different.

“However, after hearing your story… I feel as if I have been bound by something. It feels like I’ve emerged from a dark cave, or like I’ve stripped away the cumbersome garments that bound me and am feeling the cool breeze on my skin.”

The man asked.

“Was pride what restrained me?”

Jinseong answered.

“Indeed.”

The man nodded as if he understood Jinseong’s response.

“By shedding pride, my vision has broadened. My thoughts have expanded alongside my vision, and I feel as if I’m looking at the horizon from the surface of a calm lake. And within this broadened thought, a question has arisen.”

A question.

A very natural question.

“Why did you talk to me?”

Jinseong simply smiled at the man’s question.

He just smiled.