Binary Choice?
"Really?"
"There was a trigger."
Jeong Da-un's eyes sharpened at my answer. He'd started piecing together what I meant by "trigger."
"As expected. You didn't awaken it through the normal method."
"Yes."
As I'd said countless times, for a Shangju to master Spirit Lord Transformation, they need resonance with their ancestor spirit. But there are a few ways to shortcut that process.
First, like I'd done—ingesting something like Soul-Inviting Incense to draw the ancestor spirit into the Shangju's mental world. The second is ghost copulation: forcibly boosting affinity by mingling bodies with an ancestor spirit of the opposite gender.
That said, ghost copulation happened far more often between vengeful spirits and regular people than between ancestor spirits and Shangju. Normal ancestor spirits don't see their descendants as sexual objects. Even Shangju who'd bought a genealogy and did it with mutual consent faced serious risks, so few attempted it.
No one in their right mind wanted to risk using a cheat to learn Spirit Lord Transformation early, only to have all blessings from other listed ancestors revoked and end up branded with a curse for filial impiety.
I'd been sweating bullets, terrified Jeong Da-un might ask if I'd done that and set Gemma off screaming sexual harassment. But thankfully, he wasn't that lacking in common sense. He'd probably taken one look at my neck and face—free of any "filial impiety" brands—and known it wasn't that.
"Did you face a threat to your life?"
The third method slipped from Jeong Da-un's lips. Of course, with no ties to the lab in the hold, he only knew about those two, excluding the incense.
It was the question I'd been waiting for, so I pulled out my prepared answer.
"Yes. I was attacked by a vengeful spirit."
Jeong Da-un's gaze shifted as I hesitated before speaking.
The final way to hasten Spirit Lord Transformation: confronting the brink of death.
"A vengeful spirit?"
"No doubt about it."
Of course, this wasn't some shonen manga cliche where crisis always awakens new powers. But among those staring death in the face, some awaken unfulfilled wishes. If a Shangju's strongest will in that moment matches what their ancestor spirit harbors, it triggers resonance—and awakens Spirit Lord Transformation.
Jeong Da-un, who'd awakened his during his days as an officer in northern Gangwon blocking a monster horde, had no choice but to buy it.
"……."
Something felt off, though. Jeong Da-un's face was darkening by the second. He seemed lost in thoughts I hadn't anticipated.
"You ran into a vengeful spirit but luckily awakened Spirit Lord Transformation and survived. That's your story?"
"What are you getting at?"
"Just want to confirm a few things for safety's sake. Stay still."
An elderly man with sharp, stern eyes materialized behind Jeong Da-un. Dressed in late Goryeo-early Joseon attire, he looked nothing like his textbook portrait, but having played Ancestors, Bless and Protect, I recognized him instantly.
"Bulgaijigiya—. (You cannot deceive with mere intellect.)"
Jeong Da-un whispered, and intense waves poured from the eyes of his ancestor spirit, Jeong Do-jeon.
<Urgh... what the hell is with that old geezer?>
Gemma clutched her temple, groaning in pain. At the same time, her disguise unraveled, her outfit reverting to her usual black bodysuit.
Bulgaijigiya was a step above Gemma's Lie Detection trait. When activated, it not only pierced falsehoods but nullified all deceptive arts.
"Sorry about that. Vengeful spirit sightings are a sensitive issue—hope you understand."
I nodded. No lies would work from here on, but I wasn't scared at all.
'Did you face a threat to your life?'
'Yes. I was attacked by a vengeful spirit.'
'A vengeful spirit?'
'No doubt about it.'
I'd only spoken truth all along.
What a sly fox. He'd been using his ability from the start but acted like he'd just begun—first on me, now extending to Gemma.
"Teacher Da-un. Using mental abilities on a student who's been through trauma—"
"No choice. As someone responsible for student safety, I have to."
"I'm fine, don't worry—just keep going."
I could easily guess why Jeong Da-un was doing this. He'd probably pegged me as potentially already possessed by a vengeful spirit. A student surviving via "miraculous" Spirit Lord Transformation without reporting it? Suspicious as hell. Statistically, it'd be more plausible I'd been taken over.
Powerful vengeful spirits could impersonate ancestor spirits while puppeteering a Shangju's body like a doll. They'd package their own powers as Spirit Lord Transformation, pulling off highly intelligent schemes. Even without full takeover, early possession often fooled even close friends.
In my case, with my contracted ancestor spirits changed, suspicion was inevitable.
"Then, if I may be direct: The one answering this question—is it really student Kim Taeyang himself?"
Jeong Do-jeon's eyes, exposing all lies. I answered calmly.
"Yes."
A short reply. But Jeong Da-un looked utterly satisfied.
"Sorry for doubting you. I hate gambling, you see. Better to be certain."
Jeong Da-un withdrew his spirit power, smiling once more.
that? What a waste.>
Confirming Jeong Do-jeon had stopped, Gemma swiftly redraped herself in her preferred outfit.
"Just to confirm: When did you encounter the vengeful spirit? The location, if you're okay sharing…."
"Saturday night, at home."
I recited my apartment address, and Baek Je-in reacted. Her satisfied nod suggested she knew about the vengeful spirit's appearance. Probably tailed me after the incense vanished or used her invisible thread surveillance net from the game, detecting its aura.
One or the other.
"Teacher Je-in."
"Yes. Matches the timeframe I reported."
Surprisingly, Jeong Da-un was in the loop too.
"Sorry, but what are you talking about?"
"Nothing much. Teacher Baek Je-in suddenly called over the weekend—I got my hopes up, but she talked about something else. A vengeful spirit appeared but vanished quickly, or so."
"Not interested in divorcees."
"Joking."
Ignoring Baek Je-in's discomfort, Jeong Da-un continued.
"Anyway, it's a perfectly convincing explanation. Matches Teacher Baek's report exactly."
Jeong Da-un chuckled softly after checking my records on his smartphone. I grasped the situation instantly.
Baek Je-in had done her duty as a teacher. She'd sensed the vengeful spirit and rushed to the scene, but by then it was gone. She'd reported it to her grade coordinator, Jeong Da-un.
A vengeful spirit infiltrating the academy ship was no small matter. Unaware of the villain's intel tampering—Awakened souls "sleeping" under incense effects not only summoned vengeful spirits but became easy prey—she couldn't know the full truth.
Had she, she'd have pegged me as the culprit the moment she detected it Saturday night. Or rather, she wouldn't have passed meds to her cousin Baek Yu-min in the first place.
"Who'd have thought it was targeting Taeyang…."
Relationship updates piling up.
(Multiple notifications from recent duel—check later.)
Baek Je-in spoke with a meaningful look, and a system message alert popped up with a beep—but I'd check it later. Notifications had started stacking; several already. All relationship updates. The duel had rippled bigger than expected.
"Ahaha. Truth is, I didn't call you here just to confirm that."
<He's lying.>
Even without Gemma's Lie Detection, it was obvious. The moment he confirmed my ancestor spirits had changed, he'd suspected possession.
I'd figured with Passepartout being a rare lineage, I'd get personal guidance from him. Sly and annoying as he was, I needed his help to master this game-original Spirit Lord Transformation properly. What now?
I'd gotten my hopes up when he summoned me via broadcast, only to be disappointed—
"That Spirit Lord Transformation cracking Shin Sua's defenses? Fascinating ability. Concept manipulation, huh—haven't seen it in ages. Looking forward to seeing it up close in next week's advanced class."
"Pardon?"
"Other teachers already picked their coaching students, but I haven't chosen one yet. Regrettably, coaching cadets with standard Spirit Lord Transformations is beyond me…."
Jeong Da-un pulled a business card from his pocket and handed it over. A map to his office was on the back.
This was a love call: in this intake, he'd coach only me?
"Wasn't intentional, but it'll end up as private lessons at this rate. Fine by me—easier teaching one. Haha."
"……."
"Don't like the offer?"
"Well, uh…."
Judging my bait insufficient, Jeong Da-un started listing active top-ranking Shangju names.
"Not bragging, but they're all my former students. I wouldn't claim overflowing teaching talent, but spotting and polishing rough gems? That's my specialty."
Subtly implying I had that same potential. Meanwhile, I eyed Jang Han-nam, who'd been silent with arms crossed. His face was rock-hard.
Jeong Da-un and Jang Han-nam's relationship wasn't great. Jang emphasized extreme Spirit Descent training; Jeong favored talent, cherishing students with uncounterable Spirit Lord Transformations.
In the game proper, you couldn't get Jeong's coaching until year 2. That's when the protagonist trio's transformations evolved from basic implementation to special lineages. Those tutored by him powered up fast.
Considering that, this was a once-in-a-lifetime chance.
But what about Jang Han-nam?
"Too bad. Visiting Teacher Jeong then means skipping my class."
As expected, Jang started applying pressure indirectly. The system had said last time our relationship ranked up that he was taking notice. Accepting Jeong's offer might hinder advancing Spirit Descent to the next stage.
That Spirit Descent Jang showed wasn't mere body enhancement—it draped ancestral power over him like clothing. The final stage of Spirit Descent, dubbed Soul Garb.
I needed it mastered by next semester's end at latest, to brace for the absurd enemies in year 2 semester 1.
Couldn't bruise Jang's pride now. But flat-out rejecting Jeong here….
Couldn't miss either Spirit Lord Transformation or Spirit Descent. After agonizing, it hit me.
Right now, I'm a blond tanned delinquent. A little shamelessness should be fine, yeah?
I dropped all worries, grinned broadly, and answered with a light heart.