Real-World Compression Cheat
Sunday and Monday flew by like lightning. Thanks to getting somewhat used to Spirit Descent, I still had some stamina left after school on Monday, enough to head to the personal training room and practice wielding a sword.
The first week of school was slowly drawing to a close like that. I'd been on edge, wondering if some game-unwritten event might pop off while I still couldn't even use Spirit Lord Transformation, but nothing major happened.
If anything, there was an unexpected windfall.
Gong In-myeong's perception of you has risen to the 'Attention' level.
Baek Je-in's perception of you is at the 'Caution' level.
The faces of Gong In-myeong and Baek Je-in had been added to my relationship map.
"Not sure if I can call this a harvest, but..."
Checking the interface, it immediately showed what impressions the two had of me.
Gong In-myeong thinks of you as 'Scary delinquent... or was he?'
Baek Je-in thinks of you as 'The culprit?'
Both were looking at me with negative eyes, it seemed.
I recalled the conversations I'd had with them since they were added to the relationship map.
First, Gong In-myeong—
"No tardiness today?"
"Uh... Ancestor kept waking me up this morning."
Wednesday morning, in the classroom. For some reason, Gong In-myeong kept rubbing his wrist after spotting me. Maybe my bullshit from last time had sparked some change in this lazy guy's nature.
Since things had come to this, I figured I'd push him a bit more.
"Good job. Listen to Confucius. All that nagging's for your own good. Gotta earn money and act like a proper human to live easy. One slip and you repeat a year, self-harm from stress like me? Perfect recipe for ending up a bum."
"What're you talking about?"
"Even serving Confucius, mental health issues mean no official Shangju license. How you gonna make cash later?"
"W-what about you, then?"
"What else? License denied 'cause of my record, so I'm learning coding."
"Then why bother with Argo?"
"I'm vulnerable class—full scholarship through third year here. After graduation, ditch Shangju life for code slave gig. Plus, Argo grads get bonus points. Got good online lectures; wanna join?"
Gong In-myeong shook his head furiously.
"Right, you do music, yeah? Practicing at all?"
"Uh... a bit?"
"Kids these days are scary. Saw on YouTube—a five-year-old ripping jazz riffs—"
"Mm. Decided. Shangju over guitarist. Music feels too late; hobby only..."
I chuckled softly at his crestfallen face. No easy paths in this world, kiddo. Not like you've got family money, so quit slacking and milk that ancestor halo for all it's worth.
"Smart choice. Gotta play to your natural talents."
Like that, I'd acted out the downfall of someone who'd slacked off too early for Gong In-myeong, making my fabricated past a cautionary tale. And that guy... no wonder he'd bought my story hook, line, and sinker.
Checking my left wrist, hidden by the Soul Thread Bracelet, revealed a faint scar. Obviously, the "one year of slicing" was a lie, but it was true that the original Kim Taeyang had self-harmed for some reason before I possessed him. Sharp-eyed Gong In-myeong must've spotted it.
Lucky Je-in didn't catch on as quick.
The interface alert for my new relationship with Baek Je-in popped up during Wednesday lunch—24 hours after I'd swiped the Soul-Sleep Incense. Probably swung by school to grab meds before heading on leave to see her cousin Baek Yu-min.
I'd seen other students head her way right after I left the infirmary Tuesday. Why suspect me, though? Damn this blond-tanned delinquent look pulling its weight again. Might as well dye it black out of spite.
...Wait. Doesn't a delinquent vibe actually make it easier to rank up relationships?
I remembered the talk I'd had with Baek Je-in the day after the theft.
"Oh, teach. Weren't you on leave?"
We bumped in the hall, and she looked noticeably flustered.
"Nah, family emergency for a relative. Leave canceled."
Her face held a strange wariness. Since her face was already on the relationship map, I could tell what she was thinking about me. Canceling leave to hunt down the thief who'd taken her incense, probably. The conflicted look in her eyes? Tormented by the need to not tip off her suspicions openly.
"Tough break. You look beat—no rest, huh."
"No, no. Fine. Just short on sleep. Anyway, Taeyang. Teacher's got a question."
"Shoot."
"Last time you first came to the infirmary—"
Sorry, never mind.
Baek Je-in brushed it off and hurried away. Guess her suspicions were baseless enough to prick her conscience.
...Feels like I botched first impressions with both. Just my imagination?
Eh, starting relationships in the negative isn't all bad. In the game, flipping a bad impression with a small hook gives reversal charm bonus, speeding up rank-ups. Provided you groom your look or share hobbies for appeal, of course.
Like how the school's top delinquent volunteering at a stray cat shelter wins some goodwill. Starting from minus means even a little effort flips it quick.
And so time passed to Friday. Today's classes were the usual basics theory and Spirit Descent combat drills. Difference? Weekend freedom meant intense training from after lunch till late afternoon.
Not rolled to collapse like the first sim, but Jang Han-nam's classes still drained me dry.
Evening hit like that. Overdid it Thursday, so stamina tanked way faster than expected. Couldn't even half-fill post-school personal training before heading home.
But hey, weekend I'd been craving started today.
"Freedom..."
I crashed on the living room floor the second I got back from school.
These kids nowadays got no grit. Tsk.
"Three years dead and you're age-shaming me?"
Better stamina than you pre-death, though?
Gemma slyly lifted her crop top hem, flashing her abs. Long, pale waistline with faint eleven-pack shadows teasing visibility.
"......"
What? That reaction.
I reflexively looked away, and Gemma shot me a weird look. Homeschooled thief or not, this level of common sense deficit seemed off.
Just a navel flash—what's the big deal. Doesn't suit you.
Oh, right. Blond-tanned delinquent me. What'd sound natural here?
As if on cue, my mouth moved smoothly, independent of my will.
"...Abs alone ain't enough—gotta check higher. Pecs minor and major too—"
You crazy bastard!
-Thwack!
"Urk."
No time to react—a cushion nailed my face.
Don't climb using my face, you delinquent shit. If not for the Genealogy Oath, I'd just—!
"Wasn't meaning it like that."
Like hell it wasn't!
How'd the original owner live that his body spits sex drips on spinal reflex, bypassing the brain?
I contracted on that mug—my bad. Damn.
Gemma muttered and severed the Soul Thread Bracelet link, phasing into her room. Her back through the wall screamed fury.
"Ha..."
Who knew ingrained delinquent instincts would pop here. My ego might be influencing more than I thought.
"One more!"
Grabbing barrier supplies, I'd splurged on five strawberry cream puffs—worth it. Gemma ditched self-quarantine the second I offered one on the altar, dashing out to devour them.
Saw it during last barrier incense ritual, but ancestor spirit eating's bizarre. Like out-of-body—another translucent strawberry cream puff peels from the food into her hand. Straight out of a classic comedy-horror flick.
If food had souls, it'd feel like this. Munching one Gemma left (real body's intact), I pondered.
"...Blech."
As expected—texture and temp only, no aroma or flavor. Just some mystery cold lump asserting gross presence in my mouth. Grimacing, I forced it down; Gemma eyed me curiously.
"...Tasteless."
Ooh, weird. Food I eat, you can't touch?
"Tested outta curiosity—guess it's real."
Nutrients probably linger, though.
"Nah, anything I inhume loses all nutrition, poison—everything."
Really? Sweet—more left?
Gemma bolted for the fridge. Obvious scheme, but too fast to catch.
"Hey! Those are mine!"
First come, first served, dummy~
That punk—knowing it turns tasteless, plans to inhume my fridge stock too...!
Hehe. Too slow.
-Thud!
But Gemma's ploy flopped. Invisible force repelled her before she could phase through the fridge door.
"Working fine."
Oof...
I sauntered past Gemma rubbing her forehead on the floor and opened the fridge. Inner walls plastered with Taoist talismans I'd bought on the way back. Purified salt dish and soulstone battery for barrier sustain too.
This world's ghost-phobic—vending machines spit instant talismans via mirror injection script. Insert bill, touch pad; sucks your spirit energy for one-use charm. Decent as handmade. Date-sensitive (lunar 3rd month voids some), but lunar 2nd now—no issue. Gemma just proved it.
"Dig in."
I slowly ate a strawberry cream puff, gazing down at Gemma's grudge-glare.
Still hungry...
She beamed when I pulled two convenience bento boxes from the bag.
"Stuff up. Nada for a full day ahead."
Oh yeah.
I sat beside Gemma for late dinner.
"Let's start."
While Gemma peeked nervously, I fetched six talismans from the fridge, sticking them on ceiling, floor, walls. Centered salt dish and soulstone—red script glowed faintly. Barrier active.
What's that?
"Think battery. Spirit energy crystal."
Soulstones form from monster-killed humans' grudge energy—rare. Challenge reward jackpot. Need someone to babysit barrier while I sleep, but no close allies yet—hence soulstone.
"Remember what I said?"
Yeah.
Once I take Soul-Sleep Incense and crash, Gemma enters my subconscious for resonance. Spent two hours last night drilling her.
"Ready?"
Just do it. Wordy much?
My wordiness? Nerves, obviously.
"Ha, chicken. Fuck."
Checked windows/doors locked, then invoked Spirit Descent on Gemma. Chilling sensation as ancestor spirit settles in.
Leave it to sis.
Her voice echoed in my head—no reassurance.
Sat on bed, pulled pill from silk pouch, popped it, sipped cold water. Right—barrier keeps weirdos out. Two deep breaths. Pumped myself up, swallowed Soul-Sleep Incense—vision went pitch black.