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By me of course. Kang Changho stood still. Momentarily shocked before regaining his composure. After all the spell showed my true form. But I wonder what he saw to shock him so much.
'Maybe..' No.
And with a few words of exchange he left with the words "I'll help you whenever you need it." Therefore I requested him to find a pretty hard item but it doesn't matter.
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After that he somehow found the item I requested. It continued for a bit, till he distanced himself. And I just wanted to find him and ask why he was distancing himself as well and maybe—forcefully get the answer out of him.
And that's where I stand now.. Being knocked out by him to the sudden revelation of him being an Aulpharian as well.
'More specifically the chief engineer who helped me.' He had decidedly lured me by a story of his late-wife or some nonsense that's meaningless to him and I fell for it as I was undeniably—curious.
'But it wasn't so bad..' he warned me of the creator of the dungeons as he presumed I wanted to take them down. The kind image I had of the engineer chief was ruined though. Not that it mattered to him or not. But most importantly the ones behind the dungeons on Earth were the Aulpharians.
Momentarily I showed a flicker of emotion to which he laughed at heartidly.
"Haha.. But what I'm telling you is true Lemming." He seemed to find my reactions amusing but I paid no mind. Further on he explained of the drawbacks of his transmigration since it wasn't as efficient as mine. And so, his soul was merged in with Kang Chang Ho's. It seemed to really mess his emotions too when I offered a simple solution to his inability of other reserved powers leaving me quite flustered. As he got upset scrunching his eyebrows and pointing his finger at me accusingly.
"Yeah—but I'm an engineer! I can't whip out new magic out of nowhere I base my work off of already created magic so of course you'd have no problem saying that as an archmage!" Maybe the soul mixture really affected his emotions? I never really saw him have any expression other than slight irritation (often fake), and a cheeky smile. In a way.. I found it satisfying?
'Maybe he also feels the same when I show a genuine reaction to the barrage of shocking information thrown at me..' This engineer really turned out to be a bastard from the start. From being helped by him makes my mind put him as an angel apparently. As he babbled on I remembered the constant praise I found for him. Even before he helped me I found him a worthy person of his accomplishments.
'But he hasn't untied me..' With a flick I loosen my bindings. His reptilian eyes scanned the loose ropes before sighing.
"Ah those were pretty expensive too Lemming." He gave a sigh as he ruffled his hair.
I just rolled my same—sambagean eyes. "So, what do you want now?"
He straightened his posture. "Ah right, I brought you here to tell you not to get closer to the dungeon creators but now... Mm, now you can go?" He gave a slight smile. As I brushed off any dust on my pants.
His eyes twitched a bit, "You know my floors very clean right?" I looked around it was indeed very clean and well taken care of.
"Habit.." I murmured and put both hands in my sleeves. However in the end I gained one thing.
'I really lack knowledge in anything of this world..' Science wasn't developed well at my home land so... I'm stuck with this gap of knowledge. It was quite a hit to my ego as an all knowing archmage in my prime. But it's not like I already knew this.
And originally I was a bit upset to find that I wasn't the first to complete this spell but..
'If it's the engineer I don't mind.'
"Do you have any idea on how to fix your soul?" I asked after a bit of contemplation.
"..I've been searching for ways." Ah it seemed like a blow to his ego.
"Let me see your soul ■■■■." I stepped forward as he shook his head. I felt momentarily irritated at this reaction slightly.
"I'm not gonna mess with your soul Chief Engineer." I said with a dead panned expression.
He scoffed in response as he turned his head away, "Well, maybe but—."
I did so anyway. His reflexes certainly caught this but I was faster as I grabbed both his hands pinning him down. A gleam of light pulsated from his chest as he passed out. The light flickered but as well lit brightly at times. From his veins flowed a warm current of red light merged with blue.
I let go, as he regained his conscience I stood up.
He looked up irritated. "Lemming... Was that necessary?" He was certainly more lenient of this though. I gave a simple smile at his irritation. I wasn't exactly sure how it'd come off but it seemed to look normal enough.
"Oh, yes—it was kind of necessary." I helped him up. As I did I rubbed my chin with my index finger, "It looks pretty complicated but I'm sure I can help you."
"..Really?" He seemed more relaxed now.
I nod, "Now, do you want me to refer to you as ■■■■ or Kang Changho chief?"
"Ah, just continue with Kang Changho archmage."
'Just as me, do you want to continue having no attachment to your name despite your achievements ■■■■?' I found a bit of fondness at sharing something in common, maybe.
'But actually.. The spell to reverse his soul to his original state would be pretty complicated since I don't have all my original power back.'
'But it's fine.'
Now where we stood was quite awkward, with no more words to share a silence stood among us.
"Thank you Lemming.. Even if you're not able to I know you'll try." He looked down slightly.
I raised an eyebrow as I moved my eyes to face his. "I want to thank you." Ah this is actually quite awkward to say.. goodness. "Ahem, you helped me back then when I was.."
....I didn't want to exactly talk about it with someone who already knew about it. Trapped in that place being used and used repeatedly for my power and knowledge as a machine till I served no purpose to them. But I didn't let it show.
"You risked your life, to save mine." This, was an undeniable fact. I was truly greatful to the man standing before me.
"You really seem to see me as some kind of—angel Lemming." He laughed heartidly as he closed his reptilian eyes. "Just what kind of image of me do you have in your head?"
'A bastard, maybe, I don't know. After all you're my savior ■■■■.'
Still composed I responded, "That doesn't matter, I'm still indebted to you. I'm grateful that you helped me... engineer.." I truly was.
He gave a simple smile, "That doesn't matter Lemming. It was a waste to see someone so talented stuck in a place while being used as a machine for—other, lowly Aulpharians."
"I'll try to help you."
"Of course, thank you Lemming."