A ghostly spirit with a transparent appearance wafted through the air, exuding a gloomy aura.
The spirit drifted around in a daze for a while, then was promptly sucked into the lifeless body of a bird monster lying on the grass.
– Thump
The corpse twitched. Thanks to the preservation treatment, the body wasn’t damaged, but the lifeless body was moving on its own.
For a time, the corpse wiggled like a fish out of water, eventually standing upright and firmly planting its two legs on the ground.
Chirp chirp—now the monster was flapping its wings and perched on Lee Ha-yul’s shoulder.
This was the art of necromancy, manipulating the flesh and spirit of the dead.
“It looks like a sparrow. Is this an 8th-tier?”
[Yes, it’s 8th-tier. Thanks to that, it’s the easiest to handle with necromancy.]
“Even considering that, it’s impressive. It’s only been a few days since you learned it.”
Chirp chirp—the monster shook its head vigorously and busily looked around. It genuinely resembled a live sparrow, prompting Hong Yeon-hwa to lightly touch it with her finger.
“Um… it’s cold.”
Hong Yeon-hwa frowned while rubbing the stiff feathers.
It acted like it was alive, but it lacked the body temperature typical of living creatures. Likewise, there was no heartbeat to be heard if one listened closely. It was, quite literally, a moving corpse.
It looked perfectly intact, so there was no strong sense of disgust, but if it had been a corpse that was rotten beyond recognition, honestly, that wouldn’t have been pleasant to look at.
[How does it feel?]
Lee Ha-yul asked, tilting his head.
“No problem. The cooperation feels seamless enough… and the spirit looks fine.”
Choi Ji-yeon briefly assessed the state of the spirit.
The most basic and efficient method of handling a spirit is to breathe life into the extracted spirit and use it as a corpse puppet.
Operating a spirit independently is limited by material interference, and using only a corpse results in typically disposable methods like a corpse explosion.
Thus, the standard is to stuff the spirit into an empty corpse and use it as a soldier under your control.
A spirit dwelling in a corpse… no issues there. There’s no loss during the process of the spirit merging into the body.
The corpse wasn’t damaged during the spirit’s embedding process.
The operation was exceptionally clean. No waste, efficient, and speedy.
‘… When was I ever able to handle it like that?’
Choi Ji-yeon reluctantly recalled her memories.
She had recognized vitality right away, but it had taken her days to manipulate life force confined to herself.
It took time to extend that recognition externally and learn manipulation before she even began her journey into necromancy… the time taken to handle it as adeptly as this…
Sigh…
She tapped on the imaginary calculator in her mind, feeling a fresh wave of misery.
Some would throw garbage, calling it the whines of a well-fed pig, but… isn’t evaluation inherently relative?
Seeing the prodigy of unmatched talent before her, she felt her own spirit dampen.
Nothing in this world is easy, but necromancy is an incredibly challenging skill.
Most necromancers rely on their unique abilities.
Finding someone who can recognize and manipulate vitality without a unique ability is so rare it’s nearly unheard of.
In other words, most necromancers possess unique abilities that include necromancy.
The necromancer she saw in China, manipulating spirits, had such unique power, as did Lee Ha-yul with Taesan.
Furthermore, the same could be said of Lee Ha-yul’s handling of Taesan.
“…”
Lee Ha-yul requested to observe Taesan through mentoring sessions.
It wasn’t surprising at all.
Taesan is a particularly rare unique ability.
It’s incredibly rare to meet an embodiment of Taesan as a mentoring subject, so most would take this opportunity to request insights on Taesan’s handling.
Lee Ha-yul probably recognized that and sought insights to secretly learn how to operate Taesan.
However, what Lee Ha-yul didn’t consider was… Choi Ji-yeon had heard from her clan about the speculation that Lee Ha-yul had manifested Taesan.
– Confirm whether he truly has manifested Taesan, and if so, teach him how to operate it. If he is handling Taesan… he will undoubtedly draw it out in some critical moment.
Moreover, Choi Ji-yeon had received commands from the head of the Taesan clan.
Teach Lee Ha-yul about Taesan.
After hearing this command, Choi Ji-yeon was meticulously demonstrating the fundamentals of Taesan’s handling to Lee Ha-yul without any extra words.
‘… What should I do…’
Feeling a throbbing headache, Choi Ji-yeon sighed internally.
Since witnessing Lee Ha-yul’s vitality plummet, her thoughts had inclined toward ‘he has manifested it.’
Although she hadn’t seen it clearly unfold, the way he adeptly handled vitality and necromancy in such a short time further convinced her of Taesan’s manifestation.
Thinking about it, their last names are both ‘Lee.’ While the significance needs to be confirmed with him, there was a sense that this might have been some sort of foreshadowing…
Of course, questions remained.
Why was he able to recognize and manipulate vitality while still maintaining the condition of his own vitality in the gutter?
Even while aware of Choi Ji-yeon revitalizing him, why didn’t he feel any sense of discomfort?
He must have manifested Taesan, but why did the nature of his magic seem so unlike what it should be…
How was he managing both Taesan and Gop-hwa together…
‘… Complicated…’
Sighs wanted to escape her lips unconsciously.
If word got out that Lee Ha-yul of the Gop-hwa Clan had indeed manifested Taesan, one could hardly imagine what kind of chaos would ensue.
Would the Gop-hwa Clan be aware of Lee Ha-yul’s manifestation of Taesan?
Or did they know already and have taken it first?
Either way, the narrative becomes undeniably convoluted.
From the family’s perspective, they would naturally want to accept a child who has manifested their unique ability into their clan.
That’s the case for Taesan as well.
Regardless of the significant interactions and numerous unions among those who have manifested their unique abilities, a full alteration of lineage is a different matter altogether.
‘Gop-hwa and Taesan…’
Swallowing yet another sigh, Choi Ji-yeon regarded Lee Ha-yul with a complicated gaze.
.
.
.
Baek Ahrin also had a lot on her mind.
At first, she didn’t have the bandwidth for any other thoughts while taking care of Lee Ha-yul’s Gop-hwa, but it wasn’t long before she noticed that he was managing Gop-hwa on his own and felt a bit more relaxed.
‘Gop-hwa and Changhae…’
Simultaneous manifestation of Gop-hwa and Changhae.
In her knowledge, this was an impossible feat, but she wasn’t a blind believer. After all, common sense is often shattered.
If he manifested Changhae, yet his magic’s nature is different as per usual? Well, maybe it could differ for Lee Ha-yul.
What mattered is that Lee Ha-yul had manifested Changhae and Gop-hwa simultaneously.
Lee Ha-yul was a unique existence.
Not just some pun about all lives being unique, but he was literally the only one who possessed both Gop-hwa and Changhae at the same time.
The only one who could understand the ice of Changhae and wield the flames of Gop-hwa.
Furthermore, he was the only practical example to show her real possibilities.
For that reason, Baek Ahrin desperately needed Lee Ha-yul’s assistance.
She turned her head slightly. She spotted Hong Yeon-hwa bustling nearby, chattering away to Lee Ha-yul, who was engrossed in his training in necromancy.
Even now, she sometimes couldn’t believe it. She had never imagined that this crazy guy would display such gentle eyes.
It seemed they had yet to face the great event… but it was clear they shared a deeper connection than Baek Ahrin did.
‘What a shame.’
Suddenly, Baek Ahrin felt a pang of regret.
If she were to get close, she should have made more of an effort at the start of the semester.
Especially before growing closer to Hong Yeon-hwa, she should have narrowed the distance herself.
If she had done that… she wouldn’t have felt such awkward anxiety now.
Baek Ahrin fidgeted with her hands for no reason.
While they felt so cold and stiff now, she vividly remembered the warmth of melting away in the flames.
She recalled the fleeting warmth as the chill receded, a memory that came vividly to mind.
Although it was only surface-level for now, she hoped that someday, that fiery warmth would reach this heart of hers, which felt like candy.
‘…….’
For that reason, Baek Ahrin wanted to draw closer to Lee Ha-yul.
Even if she asked him for help.
Even if she had to change herself, find herself in tough situations that required requests.
It was a thought devoid of conscience, but… she wished desperately that even if she were to stab him in the back, he would be close enough to extend a hand and help her.
That was all. She was willing to do anything for him.
Baek Ahrin gazed at Lee Ha-yul with a strange look in her eyes.
.
.
.
‘… Why are those girls looking at me like that?’
Meanwhile, Hong Yeon-hwa caught a glimpse of the complicated and wistful looks from Choi Ji-yeon and Baek Ahrin and slightly frowned.
In that brief moment, her tone had shifted to one of disdain, yet she didn’t mind at all.
They were once friends, so it felt comfortable, and since she acted so recklessly, she didn’t think it unusual to be treated somewhat rudely.
Why the heck was she throwing herself onto him like that? It was outright sexual harassment, taking advantage of how Lee Ha-yul seemed to have a low guard with others. She could have gone straight to report them for that behavior.
The reason Hong Yeon-hwa didn’t throw a punch right away was that she knew their personalities and, of course, Lee Ha-yul had flapped his arms to block her way.
Especially Baek Ahrin’s recent behavior had left much to be desired. If she could, she would want to smack her across the face, but… that would only make Lee Ha-yul sad.
Tsk.
Hong Yeon-hwa clicked her tongue and turned her gaze back to Lee Ha-yul.
Lee Ha-yul was focusing and controlling the spirit. His hands moved in and out of formations, causing the countless spirits around him to move in perfect harmony.
‘Is the trial nearing its end? It’s taking quite a while.’
Even now, unpleasant memories were being triggered by the trial, stirring up emotions… yet, Lee Ha-yul didn’t seem particularly bothered.
At most, his eyebrows might occasionally furrow, and he appeared covered in a light sheen of sweat, but that was about it.
… Of course, once night fell, the atmosphere would shift, and he would grow more childish under the influence of sleepiness, but… for Hong Yeon-hwa, that was rather favorable.
In any case, the trial of Gop-hwa would soon come to an end. When that happens, Gop-hwa would undergo a transformation.
For reference, the trial of Gop-hwa is treated similarly to a coming-of-age ceremony in the family.
Especially the first trial tends to have strong tendencies of this, and it is said that elders in the family are already preparing congratulatory gifts.
Watching closely, it seemed that the people of the family were even more thrilled about Lee Ha-yul’s manifestation of Gop-hwa than Hong Yeon-hwa herself.
‘Gifts…’
Just as that thought crossed her mind, a sudden idea about a bright red scarf popped into Hong Yeon-hwa’s head.
The first gift she received from Lee Ha-yul. Nowadays, it didn’t fit the weather, so to avoid any damage, she meticulously stored it in the safe after a special treatment.
‘But I need to repay him for that…’
Hong Yeon-hwa wracked her brain.
What kind of gift would be appropriate? What could she give that would make Lee Ha-yul happy?
Ever since receiving it, she had been thinking about it, but no good ideas came to mind.
‘Still, it should be best to give it during the birth festival, right? Giving it on a celebratory day would make it more memorable…’
While pondering gifts, a past comment she had made suddenly popped back into her head.
– “Um, um… Sorry, I’m not… ready yet… but I’ll definitely feed you later…”
“……”
Hong Yeon-hwa blinked, dazed, and stole a glance at her chest.
That past comment seemed oddly enticing for some reason.
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