As I opened my eyes, the first thing I felt was the cold surface of the wooden desk.

When did I fall asleep?

I lifted my head from where it had been resting and blinked a few times. Thankfully, my body, though chilled, moved without issue.

“…Haha.”

Papers scattered everywhere, books piled high. The familiar sight of my personal study greeted me.

I was alive. At least for now.

“Well, it’s nice to have some leisure.”

I chuckled softly and stood up.

– Creak

The chair back made a strange noise.

“Looks like you’re on your last legs too.”

The reclining chair had been a gift when I first became a professor. I had planned to replace it in about six months… but it seems that won’t be necessary.

“Not that I’ll need to anymore.”

Muttering to myself, I headed to the washbasin in the corner of the study.

– Creak, creak.

Every joint in my body seemed to make an odd sound. The mere six meters to the sink felt like an endless journey.

– Whoosh.

I splashed my face with cold water, and my mind cleared instantly.

“Whew…”

I pushed my damp bangs back and stared into the mirror. My face was pale, with dark circles hanging heavily beneath my eyes.

Who would call this a human face?

“A skeleton, that’s what it is. Haha.”

Even I had to admit, it was quite a sight. Somehow, I was still alive.

I shook off the water with a laugh.

– Knock, knock.

A knock at the door. It had to be him.

“Come in.”

A man entered. It was my assistant, Shin Haesung.

“…Did you sleep here again?”

“Well, it just happened.”

He grabbed a towel hanging by the sink and tossed it to me. With the towel draped over my head, I gave him a half-hearted glare.

“You’ll catch a cold. Dry off.”

“What’s a cold to a dying man?”

“You haven’t failed yet. Don’t talk like that.”

Unlike me, who was resigned to my fate, Haesung still seemed to hold onto hope.

“Haesung.”

“Yes, Professor.”

“…When it’s just us, you can call me by my name.”

“…”

He gave me a sharp look before sighing.

“Ha… Min Haejun. What the hell did you do to end up like this?”

“Beats me. Haha.”

“Is this funny to you?”

“Of course. You know my personality.”

“Ugh.”

Shin Haesung was my closest friend. He hadn’t been my assistant for long—just since the onset of my condition three months ago.

“…Is there no way to cure it?”

I shook my head at his question, smiling wryly.

“No. No one has ever escaped this condition.”

The condition was a kind of disease. Those afflicted grew weaker and eventually died. The time limit… was about three months, I think?

“That’s why you’ve been researching it.”

“For a whole three months.”

“Only three months.”

“No, a whole three months.”

I laughed heartily.

“It only took me two months to solve the seven great mysteries of magic.”

Since magic first appeared in 2000, no one had solved those mysteries. No one expected a twenty-year-old to do it. I wasn’t called a genius for nothing.

“So, yes, a whole three months.”

“…You’re something else.”

“True, I am. If I had just one more year, I might have found a way to stop it.”

“…Sigh.”

Haesung shook his head, exasperated by my laughter.

“Is it really impossible?”

“Yes.”

I slowly walked back to my desk and sat down. The piles of research papers were filled with results any magic professor would envy. But none of them held the answer I needed.

“Wow, I really did a lot of research, didn’t I?”

Everything on the desk was my achievement. My books lined the shelves, and the awards filled a whole section. All of it was my legacy.

“People will remember me as a genius magician.”

“They will.”

“And this latest research is groundbreaking?”

“Yes.”

For three months, I had worked tirelessly to find a magical cure for my condition. The results surpassed all my previous achievements, but I couldn’t find a way to stop it.

“Of all things, why this condition…”

Haesung lowered his head.

“It’s not uncommon.”

Even with death looming, a smile lingered on my lips.

“Professors researching dark magic often end up like this.”

Technically, I was researching ways to counter dark magic.

“I know, but it didn’t have to be you…”

“It’s fate, I suppose.”

I didn’t know what Haesung thought, but that was my honest belief. I had decided to research dark magic knowing the risks. For me, finding a way to defeat dark magicians was worth the risk.

‘And I did make progress.’

The foundation for dealing with dark magicians was based on my theories.

“What will you do?”

At his question, I leaned back in my chair.

– Creak.

“Hmm.”

I stared at the ceiling, pondering. The research I had done over the past three months was indeed remarkable, but…

‘It’s dangerous, isn’t it?’

Did I go too far in my desperation to live? Some of the experiments were bound to be ticking time bombs. If this got out…

‘It would be chaos.’

But I didn’t have time to sort out the safe parts.

So then.

“Haesung.”

Yes, the answer was clear.

“Let’s destroy it all.”

“What…?”

“The research from the past three months. It’s best to get rid of it.”

“Are you serious?”

Haesung asked with a serious expression.

“Yes. If this research is misused, the world could become a very dangerous place.”

They say people find hidden strength before they die. Maybe that’s why? The research I had done in the past three months could advance modern magic by twenty years if released. But if it fell into the wrong hands…

That couldn’t happen.

“This is your last legacy.”

“I know.”

“And you still want to erase it all?”

“Yes.”

Haesung opened his mouth as if to argue, perhaps to ask if I was joking. But seeing my resolute face, he sighed and held back his words.

“…You’re the worst friend.”

“And you’re the best.”

I laughed heartily. Haesung looked momentarily sad but eventually joined in my laughter.

“Oh, right. Speaking of which.”

After a good laugh, I remembered something and stopped.

“I promised to recommend you for a professorship, didn’t I?”

He had accepted the unstable assistant position under the condition that I would recommend him, knowing I might die at any moment.

“Forget it. You weren’t serious.”

“No, no. I can’t do that. You must be short on money with a kid to raise.”

I pulled out the recommendation letter I had prepared in the top drawer and picked up a pen.

“Ugh, this pen is ridiculously heavy. Bodybuilders would love it… Cough, cough.”

Ignoring the coughing fit, I picked up the pen again.

“Let’s see…”

I tilted my head to look at the document. The paper appeared slanted, but maybe it was my head that was tilted.

– Thud.

Suddenly, my vision went dark, and I found myself lying on the floor.

– Crash!

The old chair collapsed with a loud crash.

“…Stay… awake!”

Haesung rushed over, supporting my head and shouting something.

I should respond…

‘Hmm. What should I say?’

I wasn’t sure. Maybe it was just time to…

‘Go to sleep.’

With that thought, I closed my eyes.

***

I think I lived a life without regrets. Even though I died from a condition while researching dark magic, I was hailed as a genius. My achievements were undeniable, right?

…

“No, I still wanted to live a little longer.”

Suddenly, I felt a sense of unease. I was sure I had died, so whose voice was this?

“Wait a minute?”

I opened my eyes, and the first thing I felt was the warmth of a desk.

“What the…?”

Was it all a dream? I was sure I had died.

“I’m alive?”

I looked around. For a moment, I thought it was my study, but it wasn’t. My study wouldn’t have a mirror on the desk.

“…?”

I checked the mirror and furrowed my brows. The face staring back at me wasn’t mine.

Pale skin with a healthy glow and perfect features.

“Oh. I’m handsome.”

I made various expressions in the mirror, quickly grasping the situation.

“Is this… reincarnation? Or possession?”

It wasn’t rational, but those were the only explanations that came to mind.

“I’ve never heard of such magic.”

I pondered the cause, humming to myself, but then decided.

“Well, whatever.”

I accepted it.

“Being alive is what matters.”

Someone might say I was being overly optimistic, but what can I do? That’s just who I am.

“So, who am I now?”

It’s a second life, so whoever I am, as long as I’m not the dark magician I despise, it’s fine. Even if I were a beggar on the street, I’d be satisfied.

‘Still, I should find out who I am.’

I might run into someone who knows the original owner of this body as soon as I step out that door.

Hesitating now could mess everything up from the start.

“Well, it’s clear I’m a major in magical studies.”

The books crammed into the shelves made that obvious.

“And educational theory books too?”

This place was definitely a private room, and there was even a door with a lab nameplate next to it.

But I didn’t think I was a professor.

There was a yearbook from Mythos High School on the shelf.

“Oh. So, I’m a teacher this time?”

This could be good.

I was worried I’d have to learn something completely new.

But teaching isn’t that different from being a professor, right?

“Hmm.”

As I tried to piece together who I was based on my observations, I hit another snag.

“So, who am I, really?”

I mean, I know I’m a magical studies major.

But beyond that, I’m clueless.

If I dig a little deeper, I might at least find out my name…

But what about my age? My family?

Without that, I can’t pretend to be myself.

“Hmm…!”

After a moment of pondering, I reached a conclusion.

I probably can’t find out more than this, can I?

“So… it’s an unavoidable situation. That’s right.”

Even though no one was listening, I muttered to myself with a sly grin.

“So it’s okay to use a memory-reading spell. Yes, yes.”

Humming a little tune, I began sketching a magic circle on a piece of paper.

“Now, if I do this here…”

A smile crept onto my face.

What happened the last time I tried to use this spell in my past life?

I think I had a conversation with the department head.

– That spell is dangerous and forbidden. It could have side effects.

– Then I’ll test it on myself.

– No. You might ruin your body.

– Oh. If I solve that, the next person can use it safely, right? That’s a win!

– Listen to me!

– Ah! While I’m at it, if I combine two of them…

– Seriously! You’re banned from magic for a while!

It was something like that.

Well, I can see why the department head reacted that way.

The spell I’m about to use deals with ‘memory,’ one of the seven great challenges.

“Side effects, huh.”

That’s why I couldn’t use it before, right?

“Sure, there are side effects, but…”

I just came back to life; dying again from side effects would be ridiculous.

That’s not optimism; that’s just being brainless.

“But there’s no reason not to use it, is there?”

I grinned as I said that.

“I have a plan!”

I started adding a few more strokes to the completed magic circle.

“Now, draw here to reroute the mana.”

My theory was that the seven great challenges of magical studies were connected through seven different magical themes.

I only managed to complete four due to time constraints, but that was enough for now.

Especially since I knew exactly what the side effects of the ‘memory’ theme spell were.

I couldn’t solve the side effects back then.

“But not now.”

This time, I added a few irregular lines to the magic circle.

This was part of the research I did in the last three months before I died.

How to solve the side effects?

“Reroute the mana flow to release the mana directed at the body externally.”

If it had been published, it would have changed the landscape of magical studies.

It was a method of altering magic circles that would make every scholar call me crazy.

“Alright, it’s done!”

I was quite pleased with the circle drawn in the center of the A4 paper.

It was a form that defied conventional magic circles.

If the department head saw it, they’d probably look at me like I was insane, asking, ‘Does this thing even work?’

To think I can use a new spell like this.

“Whew. Being alive is definitely nice, isn’t it?”

I flexed my hand a few times.

“Hmm. Seems like I have enough mana.”

As a magical studies major, I shouldn’t be lacking in mana.

“Shall we give it a go?”

I grinned.

– Whoosh

The spell worked brilliantly.

I could access all the memories in an instant.

The mana that would have caused side effects was all released into the air.

And when this perfect spell concluded…

“…”

I couldn’t help but slap my forehead.

“Oh my.”

The memories recorded in my mind like a hologram.

Among them, the original owner of this body.

In other words, the real Jaesang Lee was…

“Of all things, a dark mage!?”

Astonishingly, he was learning dark magic.

From the leader of the Dark Cult, no less.

“I… I am!”

A dark mage!!!

And directly under the leader!!!

***

“Alright.”

Let’s sum this up.

For some reason, I’ve been given a second chance at life.

And I’ve become a magical studies teacher, so I can continue my research.

Up to this point, everything’s perfect.

But a dark mage?

“…”

According to the memories I just checked, it’s been ten years since I died.

Dark magic is still punishable by death.

In other words…

“…If I’m discovered, I’m dead.”

Sorry, but I’m not ready to die again!

So…

“I have to hide it.”

I must hide it thoroughly.

If I don’t keep the fact that I’m a dark mage a secret, this second life I’ve been given will be over.

“Yeah. I can do it. I’m sure I can keep it hidden!”

“Hide what, exactly?”

“…!”

A voice suddenly interrupted.

I slowly turned my head, my face frozen.

“I’m curious. What is it that you’re hiding?”

An old man was sitting on the guest sofa, smiling benevolently.