Episode 220
“Nice to meet you. Everyone, my name is ‘Baek Seung-hyun’ and I am in charge of giving a lecture at ‘Elphone’ Academy this time. I look forward to.”
An old man standing in the auditorium said.
Currently, numerous ‘Elphone’ Academy students were gathered in the auditorium.
“…But who is that person?”
One student expressed doubt.
“So… This is my first time seeing that person too?”
Another student also shook his head and said.
The two students began to whisper.
“I knew who the person who came last time was at first glance, but this time I have no idea.”
“It’s strange that you don’t know that. “He was the highest ranked hunter currently active. Does it make sense not to know?”
“No, not just the last time, but the person who came last time too, I recognized you at a glance.”
“That’s right… The person who was invited last time is one of the few Nobel Prize winners in Korea. How could you not know?”
“I always invite only those types of people, but this time… What is it?”
The students could not hide their wonder.
At ‘Elphone’ Academy, famous people are invited to give lectures once a month.
This program was conducted with the hope that students would not simply be confined to their studies, but would gain various insights through lectures by famous figures in each field.
“Originally, we only invited very famous people, but what happened this time? “I heard the president suddenly left the office. Is that why?”
However, no matter how I look at it, I don’t know who the person invited this time is.
The old man looked around at the students.
Then he quickly nodded and said.
“Ah. I forgot to say my real name. “I am a humble philosopher known as ‘Michel Foucault.'”
“…”
After hearing those words, the students’ expressions hardened.
“If it’s Michel Foucault..?”
“Uh. “It’s him.”
“The first Korean philosopher to receive the Berggruen Philosopher Award.”
Michel Foucault was the first person in Korea to receive the Bergouren Philosopher Award.
“I heard that the Berggruen Philosopher’s Prize is like the Nobel Prize in the world of philosophy.. Wow. “I never thought I would see someone like that in person.”
“But why didn’t I recognize you?”
“That person doesn’t reveal his face to the public, and he always works only under his stage name, so it can’t be helped. More than that, it’s really awesome. “I heard that very few people have actually seen it.”
In an instant, the students’ expressions changed.
“I am a humble philosopher, but thank you all so much for saying that.”
The old man bowed his head.
“I was very happy when I was invited to Elfon Academy. It is the best academy where Korea’s most sought-after talent gathers. “You can actually be seen as the future talents who will lead Korea.”
The old man glanced at the students in the auditorium.
“I was very worried about what I should tell you that would be helpful. “I want to tell you something that might be helpful, but I think it’s realistically impossible.”
From Noble mtl dot com
“I am someone who has studied philosophy my entire life, so I don’t think I can say anything helpful to you. Because most of you will end up in industries related to hunters. Can philosophy help there? I thought about it a lot, but I don’t think I can help you with that part. “It would be more helpful to use that time to run through one more dungeon and gain practical experience.”
“So, at first, I was really happy when I was asked to teach at Elfon Academy, but I declined… But the president, who usually never says such things, euphemistically asked me to do so. So, I thought there was a reason why the president said that, and after thinking about it for a while… “We were able to come up with the answer.”
“You are all young. I’m at an age where I can go in any direction. I think I can provide you with at least a guideline on how to live your life. Or at least I think I can make you question how to live your life.”
“Okay. “Then, let’s start the lecture now.”
He started writing something on the blackboard.
“Hey.”
Jeong Ha-yeon tapped the person next to her.
“Why?”
Nam Do-yoon answered.
“What are you doing after this?”
“…Why are you asking that?”
“No… what… “If you don’t have anything to do, let’s just eat together.”
Jeong Ha-yeon said while looking at the ceiling.
Her cheeks were slightly red.
“I don’t have anything to do? “There’s nothing in particular.”
Nam Do-yoon said.
“Really?”
Jeong Ha-yeon smiled brightly.
“Then, let’s go eat together after finishing. There’s a famous Korean restaurant around here, but it’s really hard to make a reservation there, right? But since I made a special reservation, all you have to do is feel free to go. How is it.”
Jeong Ha-yeon said with a big smile.
“….”
Nam Do-yoon was unable to answer for a long time, but then he suddenly spoke.
“I can’t go.”
“Ah. I guess it’s because I’m afraid it’s too expensive. Don’t worry about that. “Because this sister is going to shoot something special today.”
Jeong Ha-yeon smiled and tapped Nam Do-yoon.
“No, it’s not because of that, I don’t have time.”
“What? “You clearly said there was nothing to do after today.”
“No, I thought so, but now that I think about it, I have work to do today. Sorry.”
“Really?…Then… “There’s nothing we can do.. Let’s eat together next time.”
Jeong Ha-yeon barely smiled and said.
“Uh. Okay. “Let’s eat next time… next time.”
Nam Do-yoon said with a bitter smile.
Jeong Ha-yeon lowered her head.
Are you doing this because you don’t like me? Or is it burdensome to ask to eat alone?
Or was there really a promise in the first place? Then who does that promise meet with?
“..Then can I ask you one thing?”
“Uh.”
“Who are you meeting with?”
“…”
Nam Do-yoon remained silent.
“No, you don’t have to say anything if you don’t want to say it.”
Jeong Ha-yeon turned her head and tried to put on a cool expression.
However, her inner feelings were not like that.
Could it be.. Going to meet a girl? Have you found a girlfriend?
Or, are you lying because you don’t want to go with me when you don’t have an appointment, so you can’t answer?
While I was thinking like that, Michel Foucault tapped the desk and said.
“Okay. Everyone. “Just look at this blackboard.”
There were quite a few sentences written on the blackboard.
“I hope these sentences will serve as important guidelines for your future life. “Let me explain from the beginning.”
“Everyone. Do you really think that the way you live now is your true self?”
“..?”
The students could not hide their wonder.
“Ah. This question is too abstract. Then let me rephrase it. Are you really living the life you want right now?”
Some shook their heads, but most nodded.
“I think most of you are really living the life you want. “Everyone, how about trying to answer this question?”
“Most people think they are living the life they want, but in reality, they are not. “They say that the right life is to fit yourself into the rules or norms set by society and achieve them.”
“What? That is natural. We learn such things from a young age. You have to make a lot of money. You must live in a good area. That’s success. So, we live by chasing them. “I think that’s what I really want.”
“But have you ever thought about it like that? “Is that really what you want?”
“…”
The students could not readily answer that question.
In the meantime, one student raised his hand and said.
“How do you know that?”
“That’s a very good question. And this is much simpler to figure out than you might think. “Let’s assume one of you.”
“Let’s imagine that the world will end in a week. And that destruction can never be avoided. “We will all die in a week. Let’s assume that.”
“…”
“If that happens, what will you do? “Why don’t you run out of this classroom right now?”
“Yes.”
The students nodded at him.
“That’s right. The reason you are in the classroom now is ultimately because you have adapted yourself to the norms set by society. In other words, wanting to become a good hunter is not really the designated desire of many people. It’s just that being a good hunter is the standard for success set by society, so you just fit it. Well, that’s true, but… what if the world really ends in a week?”
“When that happens, you will have intuitive thoughts in your head. In other words, you will have a desire to do something after you run out of the classroom. For example, going to meet someone or eat something. Things like that.”
“Do you guys also have something like that come to mind?
“Yes.”
All students answered.
“That is your true desire. “These are not desires created according to norms set by society, but things you truly desire.”
Michel Foucault said with a smile.
“When you hear that the world is going to end in a week. The first thing that occurred to me was that this is what you truly desire. What I thought afterward may not be the right answer. But do you know that there is a really interesting fact?”
“When you make this assumption, if the first thing that comes to mind is the opposite s*x, it means that you really like that person… Or that you are feeling a feeling of love that goes beyond liking that person. “Even though the world is destined to end, that person, not my family, is the first thing that comes to mind.”
Michel Foucault said with a smile.
“Have you ever thought of someone of the opposite s*x? Then never lose sight of that person. “You rarely get a chance to feel such intense love in life.”
“….”
Jeong Ha-yeon looked at Nam Do-yoon next to her in silence.
“Why?”
Nam Do-yoon said.
“Who did you think of?”
“I am family. You?”
“…”
Jeong Ha-yeon stared at Nam Do-yoon.
“I don’t know. You idiot”
Jeong Ha-yeon’s cheeks turned red.