Alone in his house, Shin Haesung pondered.

He was undoubtedly gifted.

Not quite a genius, but certainly above the average student.

Effort and talent.

With these two, Shin Haesung had managed to get into Korea University, but…

It was around that time the first necromancy incident occurred.

A professor researching dark magic succumbed to necromancy, and that was enough to shake his parents.

“Stop with the magic!”

This was a full 25 years ago.

It wasn’t surprising that his parents harbored prejudices against magic.

It was only natural for them to prevent Shin Haesung from learning it.

“Your talent isn’t extraordinary. Achieving this much through hard work is already impressive. So, Haesung, I… I don’t want to see you get hurt… Please, give up magic.”

What did he say back then?

He must have said something harsh, but he couldn’t quite remember.

All that remained was his resolve not to become like his parents if he ever had a child.

‘…Though it didn’t quite turn out that way.’

Shin Haesung smiled bitterly.

He never did get Min Haejun’s recommendation.

He wasn’t too disappointed.

He believed he could achieve it through his own efforts.

The problem was, he was wrong.

“Indeed. Your achievements are just what one would expect from Professor Min Haejun’s assistant!”

Min Haejun. Min Haejun. Min Haejun!

No matter how hard he worked, Shin Haesung’s accomplishments were overshadowed by Min Haejun.

Even in death, that shadow never lifted.

“A home visit?”

A few days ago, Shin Haeryeong had called to inform him about a home visit.

He didn’t bother asking why.

It was probably because of what he said on open class day.

“…Dad, I…”

Shin Haeryeong hesitated, then simply said, “It’s nothing. Goodnight,” and hung up.

He didn’t want to see his daughter looking so downcast, but Shin Haesung thought it was necessary.

The shadow of a genius is darker than a child can comprehend.

When that moment inevitably comes, he hopes his daughter won’t despair as he did.

So.

*Ding dong.*

No matter what Lee Jaesang said, his mind wouldn’t change.

Shin Haesung watched Lee Jaesang on the door camera, his lips firmly sealed.

***

Waiting for the door to open, Lee Jaesang looked around at the apartment where Shin Haesung lived.

It was quite a neat place.

Looked pretty expensive too…

Does he have a lot of money?

‘…If I reveal I’m Min Haejun, maybe he’d sponsor my research?’

The thought crossed his mind, but he shook his head.

Who would believe such a thing?

No one would trust their daughter to a scammer spouting nonsense, so it would be a foolish move.

It wasn’t a scam or nonsense, but Shin Haesung would likely see it that way.

‘He better understand what I’m saying.’

As the door opened and he entered the building, Lee Jaesang headed to the 12th floor.

Apartment 1203.

Before he could even press the doorbell, the door swung open.

“Hello?”

“Thank you for coming all this way.”

As he sat on the living room floor, he noticed the expensive-looking furniture.

‘He’s doing really well for himself.’

His lips curled up, pleased at his friend’s success.

A moment later, Shin Haesung’s voice came from the kitchen.

“Is coffee okay?”

“Oh, yes. Anything’s fine.”

Lee Jaesang had expected instant coffee, but he heard the sound of beans being ground.

‘Right. He hated instant coffee.’

The first thing Shin Haesung did as an assistant was throw out all the instant coffee.

– “You shouldn’t drink sweet stuff with your health.”

The memory made him chuckle.

Back then, he had a range of expressions, but now he seemed as stoic as Team Leader Jin Siwoo.

It was a reminder of how long ten years could be.

Lee Jaesang’s eyes wandered.

He saw a picture of young Shin Haeryeong smiling brightly…

And surprisingly, there was a photo of his past self among them.

‘Was that when Haeryeong was four?’

Knowing she was Shin Haesung’s daughter, the name Haeryeong felt unfamiliar.

Was her previous name Minji or Minju?

“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

Shin Haesung placed the coffee down and sat across from him.

The rich aroma filled the air.

Lee Jaesang recognized the beans.

“Is this Jamaica Blue Mountain?”

“You recognized it right away. You must really like coffee.”

“Oh, yes. Well, I learned a bit.”

From you, he thought, but kept it to himself.

“Thank you for the coffee.”

As he took a sip, Shin Haesung spoke first.

“So, what did you want to talk about?”

He could have taken his time.

‘He’s lost his warmth, this guy.’

Setting his cup down, Lee Jaesang began.

“I think you know why I mentioned the home visit.”

“It’s about Haeryeong, isn’t it?”

As if expecting it, Shin Haesung continued.

“I’m sorry, but my opinion hasn’t changed.”

His words, delivered with a firm tone, carried weight.

“Is it because of what you mentioned before?”

“Yes. I don’t want my daughter to feel what I felt.”

A genius is like the sun.

He didn’t want to see Shin Haeryeong swallowed by the shadow of a genius like Lee Jaesang.

Even without saying it, the meaning was clear.

“I see.”

Lee Jaesang took another sip of coffee before continuing.

“Do you respect your child’s choices?”

“…I do. But sometimes, there needs to be limits.”

“I understand.”

Lee Jaesang’s lips curled into a bitter smile.

Had he forgotten his own experiences with his parents?

‘Of course not.’

He had resented them so much.

He couldn’t have forgotten.

‘That’s why I need to talk about his past.’

Looking into Shin Haesung’s eyes, Lee Jaesang spoke slowly.

“Let me tell you about someone I know.”

Even though it seemed out of the blue, Shin Haesung didn’t interrupt.

He didn’t think it would be a story that could change his mind anyway.

“This friend wanted to learn magic.”

Lee Jaesang’s gaze fell on the coffee cup.

As he gently swirled it, the ripples caught his eye.

“His parents were against it.”

He took another sip before continuing.

“They thought learning magic was dangerous. I believe they genuinely felt that way.”

“…There was a time like that.”

It used to be quite common.

Before it was revealed that necromancy only occurred with dark magic research.

Even if it wasn’t his own experience, Shin Haesung knew it was a frequent occurrence.

“Are you saying that just as their decision about necromancy was wrong, my decision now is wrong too?”

“No. I’m just sharing my friend’s story. It’s not about the times.”

Lee Jaesang set his cup down completely and looked at Shin Haesung.

“That friend promised his parents he’d show them his talent.”

Shin Haesung’s expression remained unchanged.

So far, it was still a general story that didn’t hint at being about him.

“So during college, he entered the Presidential Magic Contest on a friend’s suggestion. To prove himself and gain recognition.”

At this point, Shin Haesung flinched.

That contest was the one he and Min Haejun had entered together.

– “Why not? We can just win the contest!”

He remembered his friend’s confident face.

– “Show them your passion and talent. They’ll change their minds.”

When Min Haejun said that with a carefree smile, Shin Haesung had asked anxiously what if nothing changed.

– “What? That’s obvious.”

– “Obvious?”

– “It’s your life. Whatever you choose is right!”

He remembered laughing together at his friend’s bright smile.

…Why was he thinking of Min Haejun now?

He thought all he had was ten years of inferiority complex.

Was he a friend after all?

“…Are you listening?”

“Oh, yes. I was just lost in thought for a moment.”

“I see.”

Lee Jaesang smiled as if it was no big deal.

That expression was so similar, he thought.

“…What happened to your friend?”

Shin Haesung asked hesitantly.

He and Min Haejun had proudly won the grand prize.

His parents acknowledged him, and thanks to that, he graduated comfortably with their support.

“Unfortunately, he only got an honorable mention.”

To ensure Shin Haesung didn’t realize it was his story, Lee Jaesang altered the ending.

“But even that award became another motivation for him.”

“Another motivation?”

“Yes.”

Lee Jaesang smiled, lifting the corners of his mouth.

A person who didn’t win the prize and didn’t gain his parents’ recognition.

This could have been Shin Haesung’s past.

“Even though his parents opposed it, he didn’t stop.”

He worked part-time to save money.

Graduated college and achieved what he set out to do.

Describing another world’s Shin Haesung, Lee Jaesang looked at his friend’s face.

‘You would have done the same.’

The friend he remembered was that kind of person.

“I believe that choices are personal.”

“People with talent will feel limited.”

“Haeryeong? No way.”

Shin Haeryeong was a diligent student.

She practiced endlessly what she learned in class.

Spending most of her time in the study room, reading every day, Lee Jaesang was sure of it.

Above all.

“Sir, Haeryeong is a genius.”

This was the part that was misunderstood.

Shin Haeryeong was a genius.

Even as a high school student, her comprehension was extraordinary.

When it came to magical engineering, it was clear that in the near future, someone would surpass Lee Jaesang.

“Remember this. You might become my client someday. Or perhaps my student.”

Even the old man acknowledged it.

And he was notoriously hard to please.

“I’m not asking for immediate permission. But if she’s planning to drop out and prepare for the GED, could you give her a year to prove herself?”

“What do you mean…?”

“The Korean Magical Engineering Competition. It’s a contest for high school students. What if she wins first place there?”

Shin Haesung looked into Lee Jaesang’s eyes.

He saw a smile, teeth showing.

“Once you see her passion and talent, I’m sure you’ll change your mind. Even your father’s heart.”

Though everything else was different—his appearance, his voice—that smile was just like Min Haejun’s.

Over the past ten years, Shin Haesung had felt a myriad of emotions about Min Haejun.

There was jealousy and envy.

But above all, it was the longing for a friend.

Wasn’t he his best friend?

Shin Haesung saw the shadow of Min Haejun in Lee Jaesang.

He didn’t want to admit it, but his heart was slowly changing.

One year.

Wouldn’t it be worth checking for just one year?

Maybe his daughter could escape the shadow of a genius that he couldn’t.

With the help of a genius like Lee Jaesang.

Shin Haesung closed his eyes for a moment, contemplating, then spoke cautiously.

“Even if you regret it?”

“That’s a strange thing to say.”

Lee Jaesang grinned.

“I won’t let Haeryeong regret anything.”

“You’re quite confident.”

“Geniuses are like that, aren’t they?”

He still didn’t know Lee Jaesang well.

Just because he resembled Min Haejun in personality wasn’t a reason to trust him.

But.

“Could you give me some time to think?”

Shin Haesung was clearly wavering.

“If you allow it, I’ll take responsibility for Haeryeong. She’s a genius, and I’ll prove it.”

***

After Lee Jaesang left that night, Shin Haesung made a phone call.

After a few rings, a soft voice answered—it was Shin Haeryeong.

Judging by her hushed tone, she was probably in the library.

He glanced at the clock; it was well past ten.

Come to think of it, exams were next week.

“Are you studying?”

[…Yes.]

Her voice was tinged with anxiety.

It was his daughter who had informed him about the family counseling.

She must have known about today’s meeting.

She was anxious.

About what was discussed.

“Alright. Keep up the hard work.”

[Dad!]

Just as he was about to hang up, Shin Haeryeong spoke urgently.

But the words didn’t come immediately.

A brief deep breath.

A sigh.

And then, with a slight tremor.

“Dad.”

With a resolute voice, as if she had made up her mind, Shin Haeryeong spoke.

“I… want to stay at Shinhwa High.”

She liked her friends.

She liked her teachers.

She felt that if she learned there, she could become as great as her father someday.

Even as he listened to the sincerity in her slightly trembling voice, Shin Haesung remained silent.

“I want to make my own choice.”

“…!”

But the moment he heard those words, Shin Haesung’s eyes widened.

He remembered what he had said to his own parents when they told him not to pursue magic.

– It’s my life. I’ll make the choice. I’ll take responsibility. I will… I will choose.

Why had he forgotten?

He had been like that once, too.

Had ten years of jealousy made him forget such an important memory?

“Choice…”

After a moment of silence, Shin Haesung finally spoke.

“Yes. It’s a choice.”

A slight smile tugged at the corners of Shin Haesung’s lips.

He couldn’t overcome ten years of inferiority in just a few days.

But.

– I’ll take responsibility for Haeryeong. She’s a genius, and I’ll prove it.

What had he thought when he heard those words?

At first, he thought it was just bluster.

Nonsense.

But what was his next thought?

‘He’s just like him.’

Min Haejun always made grandiose claims.

And as far as he could remember, he never failed to keep them.

– I might die.

– You’re a genius. You’ll find a way….

– …Alright. I’ll try.

The ‘try’ he mentioned before his death was probably just to comfort his friend.

But other than that?

He was someone who turned bravado and bluster into truth.

‘A person who resembles Min Haejun…’

The shadow of a genius was too deep to escape.

And the size of his resentment was as great as his affection.

But if it was Lee Jaesang….

Shin Haesung made up his mind.

“If you want to learn from that teacher.”

His voice, which had paused, continued.

“Win first place in the Korean Magical Engineering Competition this year.”

As she pondered the meaning of his words, Shin Haeryeong soon understood.

The Korean Magical Engineering Competition was held once a year.

It took place in December, after the college entrance exams in November.

To participate in the competition… she would have to stay at Shinhwa High at least until December.

[Dad! Thank you!]

Shin Haeryeong’s affectionate voice was something he hadn’t heard in a long time.

She was a daughter who was always busy watching his reactions.

Though her voice was filled with joy, it lacked any expression of affection.

“Don’t overdo it.”

After hanging up, Shin Haesung looked at a framed photo.

It was a picture of Min Haejun, himself, and his daughter at a valley.

‘…Min Haejun. How are you?’

As if shedding a bit of the resentment from the past ten years, a faint smile spread across Shin Haesung’s face.

***

“…Research funding?”

“That’s right.”

Monday morning.

With only two days left until midterms, the principal suddenly called me in and said that.

“Oh. Is it because I did well in the open class?”

“The open class research funding will be allocated separately.”

“?”

I tilted my head, not understanding what he meant by research funding.

“Sometimes it happens. A parent who attends an open class decides to sponsor a teacher they like.”

“Oh.”

Come to think of it, there were quite a few wealthy parents among the students at Shinhwa High.

Businesspeople, politicians, and the like.

“Um… can I know who the sponsor is?”

“Of course. It’s Shin Haeryeong’s father.”

“Oh. …What?”

If it’s Shin Haeryeong’s father….

“Is he rich?”

“He?”

“Oh, no. I mean, Haeryeong’s father.”

The principal’s expression changed rapidly.

Was he looking at me like I was an alien?

“Do you know the Korean Association of Magical Scholars?”

“Yes, I do.”

It was an organization that commissioned research from promising magical scholars and provided research funding.

In my past life, I received quite a bit of funding from them.

They received government grants and also engaged in profitable ventures, so they were quite a wealthy organization….

Why are they suddenly being mentioned?

“Haeryeong’s father is the president of that organization.”

“Oh.”

I answered as if it were obvious, then looked at the principal and asked again.

“Professor Shin Haesung… is what?”

“I said he’s the president of the Korean Association of Magical Scholars.”

Realizing just how long ten years had been, I stared at the principal for a long time.