This was an hour earlier.
The Empire was coming to see Cain.
...Which meant, it was a highly stressful situation.
Because 『World Forgery』 is a [Taboo].
If discovered, the Empire would immediately issue a kill order, and [Constellation]-class beings would be dispatched to eliminate me. I’d be staring at a game over screen within two hours.
The worst-case scenarios in which I’d be exposed fall into three categories:
1. Someone on par with me who specializes in [Illusion Arts].
2. A high-level priest with intense divine power.
3. A [Constellation]-level martial master.
Those three types could potentially see through a [Taboo].
Category 3—[Constellations]—can detect mana quality purely by physical intuition, but they’re way too important to show up just to watch a tree, so I dismissed them.
‘Granted, “Stellar Constellation⁺₊⋆” Agion did compliment me...’
Think of it this way: a walking Tsar Bomba strolls onto Seoul University’s campus. The government would go into a full-scale panic. That’s what a category 3 appearance would be like—so I ruled them out.
There are other theoretical threats too, like Sombania’s national treasure-class prodigies... but they’re so unlikely I can ignore them.
If the Empire had brought someone from category 1 or 2, I’d be in deep trouble.
‘I’ll need to prepare in advance.’
So while I had time to myself, I brought out the pre-built Cain and began final calibration.
‘Right—first, the mask.’
I needed a disguise... Somehow, an elephant came to mind. So I crafted a plush elephant mascot head and fitted it on him.
Large, floppy ears. A long, soft trunk. It could even move.
“Not bad.”
Why an elephant though?
No clue.
Anyway. Originally, I’d planned to act as Head Professor Cain myself. I’d transmit mana into the illusion and inject [Action Variables] in real time.
But if they brought someone from category 1 or 2, they’d definitely notice the mana inconsistency.
And I couldn’t solve this whole thing with just one [Action Variable].
Human interaction is a complex, multidimensional system.
‘No problem.’
There was another way.
I’d create a real Cain Head Professor.
A forged human.
Now that my Forgery proficiency had hit 90%, I didn’t just gain [Time Forgery] and [Memory Forgery]. I’d also evolved my understanding of formula [Fusion].
‘Now... fuse ultra-high-level [Phenomenon Forgery], [Perception Forgery], and [Memory Forgery].’
At this point, I’m like a physicist refuting Einstein.
You don’t need to understand it all, but the general process goes like this:
⋮
─── Dante’s Brain Dump (Unnecessary Info) ───
1. I build advanced sensory and central processors via [Form Forgery]. So Cain can see, hear, and feel like a human.
2. I use [Phenomenon Forgery] to simulate inference capability. So Cain can think like a human.
3. Then I program “interaction with external entities” as an [Action Variable]. So Cain can talk and act like a human.
If I stopped here, even as a genius, Cain would still stutter and lag like a choppy animation. Not because my skill is lacking—but because the [Illusion Construct] is too heavy.
Trying to pack too much into Cain’s tiny body.
It’s okay.
4. I apply TTA (Temporal Anti-Aliasing) through [Perception Forgery]—to smooth over the animation stutters and make motion natural.
Imagine replacing a single 1-meter stair step with 10 smaller 10cm steps.
‘But the downside of TTA in [Perception Forgery] is ghosting.’
Cain’s movements might leave afterimages.
I considered adding a subroutine to blur the afterimages.
‘Wait. This isn’t working.’
The routine was too resource-heavy.
Cain was already too computationally dense.
‘If I add this, he’ll lag worse. Then I’ll need more corrections. More corrections make it heavier. More lag. More fixes. And so on...’
A vicious cycle.
Is there really no way out?
‘Hmm... ah.’
Suddenly, I had a breakthrough.
If the bed is too short...
Cut off your legs.
‘Just make Cain a naturally slow kid.’
If he’s supposed to be fast, the lag looks bad.
If he’s slow by nature, the lag looks natural.
‘That works.’
Lastly—
5. I use [Memory Forgery] to implant the memories of me making exam problems into Cain, linking to the perception, inference, and interaction modules.
Forged Human Complete: Head Professor Cain.
─── End of Dante’s Brain Dump ───
⋮
At last, Cain was complete.
Unlike Spongebob-level doodle clones, this one had deeply embedded [Action Variables] under my full control. There would be no issues.
“Raise your head, Head Professor Cain.”
I pressed the power-on trigger.
“......”
Cain, who’d been sitting limp with his head bowed, blinked. Light flickered into his eyes.
Slowly, he raised his head and looked at me.
With those big, round eyes.
We stared at each other in silence.
“......”
“......”
And that’s when I realized—I had made a mistake.
An unexpected problem.
“......”
Those vacant, wide eyes staring at me.
“...You.”
It wasn’t a technical issue.
He recognized me as his creator. He correctly inferred that I was the controller. He reached out to interact. His movements were slow but not janky.
And yet...
Cain suddenly reached out and wrapped both arms around my neck.
“......”
Completely unexpected motion. Tiny arms applying pressure. I felt warmth from his soft little forehead against my cheek.
He was hugging me.
I grabbed the boy by the nape and pulled him off. His little arms drifted downward, lost.
“......”
That alone was enough of a problem.
Then Cain smiled.
Slowly. Blankly. Sweetly.
And whispered softly,
“...Hello.”
This was the problem.
First, he had no moral pollution—he was freshly made. Second, his slow motion perfectly matched this innocent temperament. Third, humans are selfish and aggressive due to instincts for survival and reproduction. But Cain had none of that.
Ezekiel had been right. How the hell could this be a professor?
“...?”
When I didn’t answer, he tilted his head.
This wouldn’t do. I couldn’t present this Cain to the Empire’s professors.
‘Not much time left.’
But I’d prepared a number of [Action Variables] already, so I began training him.
“Cain. That’s your name.”
“......”
He nodded.
Slow but proud.
“From now on, we begin education.”
“......”
“Listen well. The most important thing when dealing with others—is to only say what’s necessary.”
“......”
“Answer.”
“Yes...”
“What kind of words?”
“...Necessary, words...”
“Correct. Same goes for actions. Only do what’s needed. Understood?”
“Yes...”
Good. I continued training through mock interviews in preparation for the real meeting.
“Did you make the tree yourself, Professor?”
“Yes...”
“How did you make it?”
“...Worked hard...”
“And how did you reach such an advanced level at your age?”
“With... diligence and discipline...”
Good. Passing grade.
“How old are you, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“One...”
“Okay, but you need to act much older than that.”
“Two...?”
“No, much older.”
“Um... ... ...a thousand?”
“What? Hah. Actually, that works better. Mystique is preferable to full transparency.”
“I can be... a thousand...?”
“Yes.”
“......”
He nodded, satisfied.
It was the first setting he had ever inferred on his own—and he’d gotten my approval. Of course he was proud.
Time to try harder questions.
“I’d like to ask about the circuit expansion. You implemented a [Beta Extension Formula] which isn’t commonly used—why?”
“......”
Cain stared at me blankly, then mumbled.
“...B-because... for e-everyone to work together... little illusions... wouldn’t be enough...”
“If you truly built the structure yourself, could you recreate it here?”
“Yes...”
His words were clumsy, but he could draw the circuit just fine—because my own memory of making the exam questions had been fully implanted.
“Whoa. That’s incredible.”
“......”
Clap clap clap!
While I clapped, Cain relaxed and smiled again.
With this, the core education was complete.
‘The Empire’s head professors didn’t come out of pure curiosity.’
Most likely, they were sent by someone very high up—the Academy Director or the Dean of Illusion Arts.
“Head Professor Cain.”
“Yes...”
“There are many in the Empire who are curious about you. Could you share a few words with them?”
“......”
Cain blinked, scratched his cheek with a tiny hand, then fidgeted with his fingers.
I hadn’t programmed a specific [Action Variable] for this situation. So he had to come up with something on his own—something to say to unfamiliar people.
After a long mental journey, he answered—with something I never would’ve expected.
“I love you...”
I exhaled.
Of course the freshly made human says something bizarre.
I told him to only say necessary things—and here he was talking about love...
Still, aside from that line, everything else had gone smoothly. So I let it slide.
“Alright. That’ll be the end of your training. When you meet the Empire’s professors, say only what’s necessary. Got it?”
He replied with cheerful energy.
“Yes...!”
.
.
.
.
.
───────
< Report to His Majesty, the Great Emperor of Hattengraj >
Time: Imperial Year 502, January 23rd, 5:13 PM
Submitted by: Head Professor Hashiroa Crumicien (Primary) and Head Professor Seoshi Ryu (Secondary), Illusion Arts, Empire Academy
Subject: Cain, Head Professor of Assassination Illusion, Hiaka Academy
To the great and legitimate ruler of the continent and world, his Majesty the Emperor of Hattengraj,
We humbly submit this report from the Empire Academy.
Today, Professors Hashiroa and Seoshi visited the long-rumored Cain, Head Professor at Hiaka Academy.
Although Hiaka Academy strongly refused photography, we secretly took a few shots—but the professor wore a mask, and we regret that we cannot share his face.
Below is a timeline of our encounter, followed by expanded thoughts and commentary in (▼View More). Please refer to these # Nоvеlight # sections for details that may interest Your Majesty.
1. Our first impression was one of shock. Cain appeared to be a boy no older than six. Barely a meter tall. Wearing an elephant mascot head. It was hard to believe someone that small could be called “Head Professor.” (▼View More)
2. The child kept playing with the trunk of his elephant mask, and when we asked his age, he said “a thousand.” We almost walked out on the spot. However... after conducting interviews and decorating the [Cain Tree] together, our perception slowly began to change. (▼View More)
3. Cain’s illusion arts were, frankly, unbelievably advanced for someone his apparent age. His “thousand-year-old” claim started to feel plausible. We wondered if he might be an immortal. He is certainly the top talent in Hiaka, and possibly within the top ten across the entire continent. (▼View More)
4. His illusionary style focused heavily on “form mimicry”—yet it was like nothing we’ve seen before. It had elements reminiscent of the Habanero family’s 『Glass Butterfly』, but Professor Seoshi said it felt more akin to the legendary “Abraxas” style. (▼View More)
5. The “Cain Tree” does appear to be his work. Though shy in general conversation, Cain was precise and confident when discussing its creation. When we failed to understand, he even tested our abilities. (▼View More)
6. This was the most shocking part: Despite our failure, Cain patiently explained his insights and shared the circuits behind the magic—the kind of proprietary knowledge that would cost millions of Hika from mages like Gyulgyul, Luna, or Agion. He asked for nothing in return. No arrogance, no conditions. (▼View More)
7. We apologize, Your Majesty. At this point, we were no longer observers—we became excited scholars.
8. For the next 30 minutes, we cautiously shared our research issues. Cain listened kindly, and even proposed novel solutions to multiple unsolved problems. (▼View More)
9. At one point, while working side by side at a tiny desk, Professor Seoshi remembered his son who passed away last year and had to pause. Cain hugged him. Then said, “I love you.”
10. It was pure comfort. Though the day was bitter cold, Cain removed his mascot head and gently pressed his cheek against Professor Seoshi’s to share warmth. It was then that we saw Cain’s face—and were deeply, deeply shaken. (▼View More)(▼View More)(▼View More)
11. That concludes our reflections on the encounter.
12. One potential suspicion remains: That Cain is in fact an [Illusion Construct] controlled remotely. But to our senses, there was absolutely no sign of that.
13. This marks the third such genius in 50 years, after “Shadowless Constellation○” and “Black Abyss Constellation⚉.” It appears that once again, the heavens have poured fortune into Hiaka.
14. If Hiaka and the Empire ever begin academic exchange, Cain’s mere presence would be a massive boon and source of inspiration. But I believe that’s not enough. Long-term, the Empire should consider making him one of our own. Even if it costs billions, we must bring him here. (▼View More)
15. Head Professor Cain... is far too good for Hiaka.