“Umm~ Just hearing a rough overview makes it sound quite serious~”
Anastasia, under Jinseong’s gaze, said that with a somewhat horrified expression.
However, it was not fear that caused it, but rather a feeling of disgust.
Racists.
And madmen who even go so far as to experiment on people.
The thought that such beings existed there filled her with revulsion.
Moreover, the idea that those lunatics would drool at the sight of them made it even worse.
Jinseong nodded, confirming that Anastasia felt a vague sense of disgust towards Africa.
It seemed he was approving of her sentiments.
He then turned to Agnes, who was looking at Anastasia and Ella with a worried expression, and spoke again.
“And besides this organization, there exists a more dangerous entity. Something far stronger and more perilous than these two organizations.”
The words that came from Jinseong’s mouth were shocking.
The implication that there were beings more dangerous than the organization that had sustained itself for so long while performing unethical experiments was unsettling.
“Unfortunately, the two organizations mentioned above are weak compared to what I’m about to discuss.”
“…Is that so?”
Agnes questioned Jinseong’s words, as if she couldn’t believe him.
How could the very entities that spread power across the entire African continent and purchased people for experimentation from human trafficking be the weakest ones?
It was hard to believe.
“That’s right. While the two organizations are a bit older and have a wider sphere of influence… if we’re judging by ‘strength’, it’s accurate to say they are the weakest.”
But Jinseong affirmed Agnes’s skepticism.
“What I next want to talk about is shamans operating on the African stage.”
“…Shamans?”
Agnes inadvertently frowned at the word ‘shaman.’
The thought of the peoples in Africa using witchcraft, having unpleasant entanglements, naturally stirred up ill feelings within her.
‘Those who can’t even properly use that witchcraft…’
Those who stubbornly cling to it without being true shamans.
Not engaging in meaningful practices like other shamans, but simply living for their own well-being.
Scam artists who just learn a few spells and trick people to make a quick buck.
‘…Wait a minute.’
Reflecting on that time, Agnes suddenly passed through a realization.
Jinseong couldn’t possibly refer to those scam artist-like individuals as a ‘threat.’
“Yes. Shamans.”
Just as Agnes was beginning to grasp something, Jinseong slowly began to speak.
His words subtly hinted that what she thought was correct.
“Africa, you see, is not a good place for technology to continue evolving. Special abilities are even less likely to thrive.”
Jinseong began explaining with a smile, addressing Agnes.
About the situation in Africa.
“Africa has been suffering for a very long time. It has groaned under external invaders and been swept away by internal conflicts. Numerous diseases born from a broken natural environment have caused people to die, and when living conditions become tolerable, plundering follows, leaving the inhabitants to struggle in the quagmire of poverty. Naturally, during this process, the existence of special abilities on the African continent has been diminished.”
War can promote technological advancement, but it also destroys it.
Libraries are wrecked, books are burned, and knowledgeable elders perish.
Gifted children are dragged off to become human shields for soldiers, only to be used as little more than meat to block bullets.
Thus, war erupts like flames, consuming everything.
It devours the skills of aging blacksmiths, leaving no trace behind, and the research that should have been inherited for future generations is turned to ash.
Education, which helps humanity remain human, rises in terrible anguish like smoke, creating a scenario where diversity is lost and people struggle solely for survival.
And this applies to special abilities as well.
No, it burns faster as if nourished by oil—it simply vanishes.
Special abilities are greatly influenced by inherent talent.
But an environment that is too harsh and dangerous fails to allow young shoots to flourish and bear fruit.
As a result, countless special abilities vanish without a trace.
Martial arts, passed down among tribes, are interrupted.
Warriors who fought to protect their homes die, and young men who should be learning martial arts are swept away by rebel threats, while children collapse, unable to endure hunger.
Meanwhile, villages are trampled, plundered, women are captured and left in horrifying conditions…
Thus, prosperous villages disappear.
What if they don’t vanish?
Wandering and wandering to escape crises, their numbers dwindle…
As their numbers decrease, so do the tribe’s skills, traditions, strength, and spirit…
Gradually they shrink, and continue to shrink.
What remains, after barely managing to survive, is nothing but dust.
No matter how much one scrapes together, they can never return to their old glory—a mountain of dust that has lost its past.
Thus, special abilities are cut off, continuously severed.
However, amidst this, some special abilities stubbornly persist.
And one of them is…
“But even while these abilities are dwindling, some continue on. Those related to tradition, transmittable through oral histories, easily revitalized if the methods are properly understood…”
It’s shamanism.
“Shamanism does not depend on innate talent. If one knows the right methods, anyone can use it. Shamanism can be transmitted through oral tradition, knowledge, or records. Because it doesn’t rely on talent, it’s easier to keep it alive. And because shamanism relates to tradition, many strive desperately to learn it in order to not forget their roots. Even if forgotten, its connection to tradition allows for easy revival.”
Shamanism is the easiest special ability to learn.
No talent in qi is required, nor martial talent.
A strong body is unnecessary, nor is genius-level intelligence.
No need for delicate craftsmanship, nor transcendent senses.
No bizarre affinity that allows one to summon creatures, nor the talent to sense the flow of magical energy through the five senses.
All that is needed is to know the method.
If one has the proper methods, a cost, and the resolve to pay that cost, anyone can do it.
Even a child.
An old person.
Anyone, regardless of age, gender, illness, or health can use it.
However, the cost is truly steep.
As the number of individuals knowledgeable in shamanism increases, so too does the severity of that cost.
What once felt like the prick of a young beast’s teeth will ultimately turn into a fierce blade that strips skin, and the terrible torture of that blade will become a merciless guillotine that falls upon one’s neck.
How can this not be deemed harsh?
Yet, such harshness can be moderated depending on the environment.
For instance, in an environment where those knowing shamanism continuously die, the number is forcibly controlled…
“Thus, proper shamans are few and far between in Africa.”
“…”
“Oh, of course, when I say ‘proper shamans,’ I’m not talking about those individuals Frau Laich might have encountered. They’re individuals who have barely grasped one or two forms of shamanism they’ve managed to preserve or restore, pretending to be mysterious and living in luxury. Those people cannot be called proper shamans. They’re more focused on tricking people than living as true shamans.”
“…”
“But that doesn’t mean they cannot be called shamans at all. The definition of a shaman is in many ways both a reflection of external perception and one’s own will, as they exist by making it their vocation, accumulating work related to shamanism. Hence, the shamanic restraints that proper shamans impose on those scam artists don’t reach them.”
What is a shaman?
They are those who live by making shamanism their vocation.
So are those in Africa shamans, or not?
Can they not proficiently use shamanism?
Then, could Jinseong, born in the so-called ‘magic desert’ of the Republic of Korea, not be considered a shaman?
Was Park Jinseong not a shaman when he dived into mercenary work after gathering various spells from here and there?
Do they use shamanism to earn a living?
Is that truly a problem?
By that logic, what does it mean to charge for divination?
To foresee the future and provide insights to power holders in exchange for riches—is that something one shouldn’t do?
To be praised by others?
To be supported and treated well by others?
Is there anything wrong with that?
Passing by on the street, helping someone in need and receiving thanks.
Saving a village in crisis and being praised by the villagers.
Is there any difference?
Shamanism is a technique.
Shamanism is a skill.
It isn’t something only chosen ones can use, nor is it something sacred.
It isn’t exclusive to the chosen few, nor is it divine.
It’s just a technique.
What truly matters is what one does with it.
And how they plan to achieve their goals with it.
Enjoying wealth and glory is not a sin.
Desiring honor is not a sin.
While being humble and honest could be virtues, wealth and honor themselves cannot be sins.
As long as it’s not excessive, what could be the problem?
However, their clumsiness and inexperience are indeed present.
It’s common to see them stripped of aspiration.
So, it’s undeniable that they fail to meet the mark of being called shamans.
Because this stems from their attitude.
Not everyone who uses shamanism can be called a shaman.
Can one who summons ghosts using divine objects be called a necromancer?
Can one who breathes flames using divine objects be called a fire sorcerer?
Can someone who uses artifacts to cast spells truly be called a wizard?
Even if a stuntman in an action film displays flashy martial arts, can we call him a warrior?
In the same vein, they too cannot be considered true shamans.
Their usage of shamanism is akin to imitation.
They may be capable of using it, but their grasp is dreadfully shallow.
Adding to that is a striking lack of curiosity, ambition, and the effort to understand—deficiencies that clearly render them insufficient to be claimed as shamans.
Just because one can perform simple repairs on a vehicle doesn’t mean they can be called an automotive engineer; the same goes for them and the title of shaman.
Thus, Jinseong concludes.
They cannot be considered proper shamans.
