Infiltrating the Superhuman Training Girls’ School of the Republic of China!

We moved to the cafeteria inside the school. Because the cafeteria is large, about half is used as a dining space, and the other half is used as a quiet café-like area.

I ordered Earl Grey tea, and Katerfeld ordered coffee. Even before the ordered drinks arrived, the spiritualist began to expound.

“So, to put it simply, the imperfection of language is most important. What is language? What is expression? It’s a complex story, but simply put, everything is a symbol. If there’s a real meaning we want to express, words and writing are just imperfect means of conveying that to others.”

“Is it like Platonic philosophy?”

“It’s different, different. I’m not trying to talk about the essence of the world, the truth of the world, or such things. Those are just theories, and I’m talking about facts. Even right now, look. I’ve conveyed my thoughts that I want to express in words, but you’re not immediately understanding my thoughts as they are, that is, the real meaning I wanted to say, right?”

“Well, it’s puzzling. It would be nice if you could explain more clearly.”

“The difference between clarity and ambiguity is just a matter of degree. A bat’s ultrasound. A wolf’s howl. They’re all expressions of something. But can you explain Plato’s philosophy with them?”

“That’s impossible. Explaining philosophy with ultrasound.”

“That’s because their expression system is too simple, right? Language is the most complex form of expression that exists on Earth right now. So by using the power of language, we can express the thoughts in our heads to others in the most complex form. But thoughts are even more complex than that. Language is just a symbol. It’s not the essence, it’s not anything. If you understand what I’m saying, you’ll understand why I say it’s meaningless to take exact notes of that sleep talk, right?”

“Well, let’s say I understand roughly.”

I nodded while sipping the teacup brought by the café worker.

“But I still don’t understand why you’re suddenly talking about this.”

Honestly, I’m not usually close to this woman, so I’m rather flustered by how talkative she is. For an agent, sociability is an essential virtue. I can manage conversation somewhat, but it’s still difficult to respond properly.

“When you think of occult magic or rituals, what comes to mind?”

“I think it’s bizarre and strange. I heard that until the 1920s, all such things were treated as nonsense.”

“Most of it is nonsense.”

“Except for rituals performed by superhumans? For example, like you?”

“The caster’s superpower isn’t important in magic. Ah, it is important, but it’s not the most important thing. The most important thing. Let’s talk about general perceptions. So, occult rituals. Haven’t you heard of such things? Like having to repeat the same spell exactly three times, or never stepping on a drawn line, or if you make a mistake, the ritual breaks and an evil spirit awakens.”

“I think I’ve seen all of those somewhere at least once.”

“It’s a misconception spread by novelists. I respect them. Folklorists, novelists. They’re all humans who play with language, so playing tricks with language as material. But it’s wrong. Because, you understand? Language itself is just an inaccurate symbol, um, how should I put it… Let’s say you can express about 20 percent of your thoughts through language.”

“Is it just that much?”

“Then let’s say you mispronounced about 5 percent of the phrases while reciting a spell. What’s the accuracy of the spell I have to recite then?”

“19 percent?”

“Not much difference, right? Ah, it’s all lies. The strict procedures in séances and such, they’re all just for show. What’s really important is how much you resonate with the meaning of the ritual. Separating the soul from the body, questioning the soul. And finding the truth contained within it all. It’s only possible in that context, after all.”

“You’re German, Ms. Katerfeld, right?”

“Well, yes.”

“Do you not believe in God?”

“The existence of souls and faith in God are not mutually exclusive. But if you ask if my thoughts differ from the church, well, I can only say they do differ.”

“The reason is…”

“The church, the Vatican. They’re all very strict about the Bible. Whether it’s typos, or mistranslations of content, anyway the Bible is inviolable. They believe the Bible shouldn’t deviate, the Bible shouldn’t be wrong. That’s why spiritual abilities are problematized religiously. Souls that should have returned to the Lord’s embrace communicating through my power. Even though the Last Judgment hasn’t come. But you know what? You understood what I said, right? Language, that is, written records, can’t even capture half of half of what a person says, even if it’s written down exactly as they said it. Even the real meaning contained in those words remains just as a symbol.”

“Even if it’s something that contains God’s words…”

“The King James Bible published in 1631. There’s a very famous typo. The fatal error of writing ‘Thou shalt commit adultery’ instead of ‘Thou shalt not commit adultery’ in the Ten Commandments.”

“That’s an absurd incident.”

“What does it matter?”

“…Pardon? Well, I’m not a Christian, but isn’t it not something to be dismissed as ‘what does it matter’ when such words are written in scripture?”

“Who would read that Bible and think, ‘According to the Ten Commandments, I should commit adultery’? Anyone would think, ‘Ah, someone miswrote that you shouldn’t commit adultery.’ There wouldn’t be a single person. Who would read that book and think, ‘From now on, I’ll commit adultery according to the Ten Commandments.’ So does that typo have any meaning? The meaning of the phrase changed, but it had no impact?”

Hearing it, it sounds plausible, but still… it doesn’t seem like something to talk about so lightly.

“The world is surrounded by such contradictions. So what’s important is meaning. The conveyance of meaning. The reason I want to get Briar Churchill’s sleep talk is because I felt real spiritual power in the song she sang while sleeping. It’s something that happens often. In non-formalized magic, feeling a power stronger than any ancient spell.”

“But if language is a very inaccurate symbol as you say, wouldn’t Churchill’s sleep talk be unnecessary? It doesn’t seem like the content is important. Rather, it seems like it would be more helpful to actually listen to Briar Churchill while she’s sleeping.”

“Of course, that’s right. But I can reconstruct it. Because I’ve already heard that song.”

“Hmm…”

“It means I’ve caught her spiritual wavelength to some extent. Briar Churchill is a powerful ability user, but she’s not strong enough that I can’t catch her spiritual wavelength. It might be a bit difficult if it were Chiang Kai-shek.”

Come to think of it, this woman was quite stiff when she saw Chiang Kai-shek on the entrance ceremony day.

“Then if I write down those notes and give them to you, what can you do with them?”

“I don’t know that yet. That’s a topic to research from now on. But if I had to guess, there’s a possibility of creating a small window to communicate directly with her soul.”

“Telepathy? Hypnosis?”

“Hypnosis is a different concept. But telepathy might be similar. It’s just a concept that such possibilities are created in practical terms.”

This kind of information wasn’t in the personal profile report given by the CIA. There was particularly little information about Rebecca Katerfeld’s ability. I thought it was the most incomprehensible ability after Anya Crystal’s ‘Chalk Master’, but if her words are true, it might be an ability with more uses than expected… no, it might even be a terrifyingly powerful ability.

It might be good to probe a bit more here.

“I know that superhumans perform many unbelievable miracles. But telepathy from hearing sleep talk? Honestly, I don’t quite understand…”

At that moment, Rebecca Katerfeld suddenly grabbed my hand. I put down the teacup I was holding and asked in surprise.

“What are you doing?”

“You’re a strong person, Shin Eun-young. You say you’re just an ordinary Korean college girl, but you’re so strong that it’s hard for me to believe that. You know that perceptive ability users are already whispering something about you, right?”

“Isn’t college entrance difficult? Out of 70 million Koreans, less than 5,000 can enter the university I was attending. It’s good that I came to Huangpu, but considering the effort I put into the entrance exam, I’m a bit regretful about dropping out.”

“No, that’s not the context.”

Rebecca said.

“Normally, piercing your soul just through physical contact? That’s impossible. It’s impossible, but… why are there so many tooth marks? What is the Weapon Master doing to you?”

“Major Zhou Lizhi? What on earth…”

“What does she want from you? Why does it seem like she’s trying so ruthlessly to open up your soul? To kill you? To hurt you? No, it’s not that kind. Anyway, thanks to her, I think I can peek inside a bit. If that inside opens…”

“Wait!”

I hastily shook off Rebecca’s hand. If her words are true, she might have been able to see that I’m a ‘male-born’ agent dispatched from the CIA.

“That’s enough.”

“You believe me? What I can do.”

“…If you say you saw something, I might believe you.”

I quickly hid my hands under the table to prevent her from grabbing them again and glared at Rebecca. The German nodded, looking at me with her pitch-black eyes.

“I saw fire.”

“…Fire?”

“Flames. Conflagration. Hatred for fire is wrapping the deepest part of your soul, and I couldn’t see other things because I was captivated by those flames. Did something happen?”

“…That’s not something for you to worry about.”

“Did you have a severe fight with Catherine Duey?”

“It has even less to do with her. Well, what was your business again? Churchill’s sleep talk? If you really want it, I’ll take notes for you. Let’s leave it at that for today. Is that okay?”

I hurriedly concluded the conversation and stood up. About a third of the Earl Grey tea I hadn’t finished yet was still sloshing in the cup.