What I Hold

On the way to the staff training grounds, Jeong Da-un remained silent. He showed no interest in the condition I'd proposed in exchange for borrowing his time, nor in how I knew about his personal life. He didn't seem much different from his usual slippery self, but with his mouth shut, it left a strangely chilling sensation in the corner of my chest.

What are you thinking? Don't poke at sensitive topics.

I ignored Gemma's warning—you never know what'll happen if you meddle in family matters—and followed Jeong Da-un in silence.

-Beep

Jeong Da-un walked into the grass-covered training grounds and turned to face me. He lightly lifted the corner of his mouth, as if to say our earlier conversation hadn't particularly bothered him. That expression somehow reminded me of the gilt-bronze Maitreya statue in contemplation, forcing me to suppress a bitter smile.

"The Lord of Literature, whom I serve, is one who holds clear grudges and favors. I'm trying to emulate that trait myself."

Trying to emulate. The subtle emphasis in that phrase was obvious.

"I'll keep what you said in mind."

The twenty paces between us. His calm voice echoed.

Jeong Da-un didn't bother using the ability he'd shown earlier to verify if my words were true. Having suspected me once already, this time he'd choose to trust first. True to his descent from Jeong Do-jeon, he had a keen grasp of people's hearts. If he'd forced the truth out again, I would've been offended too.

"Don't worry. I'll definitely give you the information you want."

Jeong Da-un nodded at my words.

"Just two things first. Is Miyeon in danger? And if so, is Student Kim Taeyang involved?"

I shook my head, and he smiled in satisfaction. He wasn't without his shady side, but this man's way of building relationships was utterly pragmatic. Built on thorough give-and-take. The only exception seemed to be his ex-wife, who'd vanished after their divorce.

In any case, as long as he got what he wanted, he wouldn't pry into the source of the information.

"Good. Let's begin."

Jeong Da-un unfurled his trademark folding fan and activated Spirit Lord Transformation.

"Let's get started."

"Right now?"

"Yes. Just like how you pierced Student Shin Sua's screen, stab my fan."

The moment I heard that, I realized he'd already grasped something, even though I hadn't mentioned facing any particular problem.

"Didn't you come urgently because of a problem? It's not regular class time, so I don't have much either."

He must've spotted areas for improvement during our spar. For me, it meant no need to waste time on needless explanations—nothing but gratitude.

"Let's hurry. It's no big deal; you'll improve once you experience it."

Jeong Da-un shook the fan thinly coated in ancestor power, urging me on.

That guy's pissing me off.

"Same here."

His arrogant attitude, as if saying he'd show me what was wrong this time around, drew the same reaction from both me and Gemma.

Beat his ass.

The moment Gemma turned into will-o'-the-wisp and lunged toward my heart—

-Tsskt!

My legs, enhanced by Spirit Descent, exploded with power. The thin paper fan looked far easier to pierce than Shin Sua's screen.

"Here goes."

I aimed Passepartout straight at the center of the fan Jeong Da-un held and thrust with all my might.

-Clang!

"Even the sturdy grass yields to the wind."

Passepartout was blocked by an invisible force before even touching the fan, and the tremendous gust from Jeong Da-un's snap sent my body flying far back.

What are you doing? Counterattack already!

"No can do. Can't pierce that."

I knew it instinctively. I didn't know why, but with my current skill, I couldn't break through that wall of wind.

Before I knew it, tiny characters manifested by ancestor power covered the fan.

"Mencius..."

"You know it well. Excellent."

It was Jeong Da-un's Spirit Lord Transformation ability, drawing power from the sages' quotes that Jeong Do-jeon always recited, to neutralize opponents of low virtue.

"You're curious, aren't you? Why an attack that ignores defense was blocked."

I nodded. Honestly, I still couldn't wrap my head around it.

Passepartout means "master key" in French. True to its form and name, it's a master key with the ability to open and close anything. A concept manipulation-type Spirit Lord Transformation, exceedingly rare, is treated as asymmetric power regardless of the user's base abilities. Reenacting the feats of a gentleman thief who'd breached the world's forbidden zones across two generations, Passepartout should wield opening and closing powers—treating that wind wall as an obstacle and unlocking it was only natural.

This was fundamentally different from the interface's intangible lock that wouldn't open. Among special types, what Jeong Da-un had just activated belonged to the manifestation category, the easiest to counter among his various Spirit Lord Transformations.

So what the hell was the problem?

Jeong Da-un began to slowly answer my burning question.

"For Spirit Lord Transformation to exhibit 100% of its power, several conditions are needed."

"The basics are three: ancestor power, spirit power, and the medium's output limit."

"For special types, there's one more thing beyond those three."

I couldn't answer. In the game, ally characters using special-type Spirit Lord Transformations were rare, and there were no texts explaining the mechanics in detail. Was there really this big a gap between experiencing it and the game?

-Snap

As I pondered that, Jeong Da-un folded his fan with a loud snap to draw my attention.

"Image. That's it."

Just three syllables, but I vaguely guessed what he meant to say.

"The core of Spirit Lord Transformation is the resonance between the Shangju and the ancestor spirit's will."

"Infusing ancestor power and spirit power into the medium is merely the method to manifest it."

"Why concept manipulation types among specials are powerful—unlike others, you can overlay reality with your will as desired."

I stood, gripping the sword stick now free of Spirit Lord Transformation.

"So if the will isn't clear, it's hard to fully unleash the Spirit Lord Transformation's power."

"Not wrong. But I'm not trying to shove some shonen manga grit theory down your throat."

I think I knew what was wrong.

"A will with form. S.O.H—"

"By recognizing the form and ability of the Spirit Lord Transformation and building a clear mental image, Student Kim Taeyang can achieve the desired result."

"...Ah."

"You get it."

"Yes. Thanks to you."

-Poof

I released Spirit Descent, and Gemma emerged from my body.

What? I don't get a word of this.

"...I think I do."

Jeong Da-un had given plenty of hints already, and as a veteran player of Ancestor Lord's Grace, I pieced it together to the answer.

"Haha."

Even I had to admit it was a ridiculous mistake.

I picked up the sword stick and activated Spirit Lord Transformation.

A translucent key shape overlaid the blade as I called its name.

To cut to the chase: I'd been using Passepartout the wrong way.

Humans are sensory creatures. Inevitably influenced by everything we see, hear, and feel. That's why, rather than the translucent key image, I'd been consciously using Spirit Lord Transformation while fixating on the sword stick's familiar form as the medium.

In the spar with Shin Sua, when trying to unlock the interface on the rooftop, and even facing Jeong Da-un's wind wall.

I'd been treating Passepartout like a sword.

"This isn't a sword."

Then what is it?

"A key."

...Ah.

Gemma let out a dumb sound too, realizing where the issue lay upon hearing me.

Me and Gemma's wills manifested as a key form over the medium. If I kept treating it as a sword and swinging it, the image would collapse, preventing 100% power.

"Shall we try again?"

"Please."

As Jeong Da-un raised his fan, a gale incomparable to before raged.

-Whoooosh!!

A wall of air pushing me back in a flat plane. Staring straight ahead, I slowly raised the sword stick wrapped in Spirit Lord Transformation.

"What I hold is a key."

A power rooted in the will to overcome any obstacle and reach one’s goal.

I didn't do something stupid like close my ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠eyes to visualize a clear image. I focused endlessly on the sole function of a key, pointing Passepartout's tip at Jeong Da-un watching me.

-Tsskt!

The key shape blurring the blade began to sharpen. As the image solidified, the medium rapidly sucked in ancestor power and spirit power.

It's changing shape?

The translucent key no longer revealed its interior. Spirit Lord Transformation fully enveloped not just the blade but the hilt, hiding the medium's true form.

"That's it...!"

Jeong Da-un's shout mixed with ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the wind. Dust swirled indoors, but his voice carried uncontrollable laughter.

I had no intention of betraying my mentor's expectations. Feeling the cold aura from the key, I thrust my arm forward.

As if an ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠invisible lock existed there, I jammed Passepartout into empty air.

What... Nothing's happening!

Gemma, clinging to my waist as the wind overwhelmed her, screamed. My feet had long been off the ground. Honestly, maintaining posture was tough for me too. Passepartout's aura offset some wind, but that was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it.

But so what? I'd figured out the solution; nothing to fear.

I twisted the wrist of my key-holding hand 90 degrees right.

Like unlocking the front door after school. Like starting my car.

Just turning the key the way I'd done for 27 years, following the proper tool usage.

But that simple action alone—

-Click

—cleared a path through Jeong Da-un's wind barrier.

You did that?

"No. We did."

Among the training ground grass repeatedly flattened and rising in the wind, only those lining the path between me and Jeong Da-un stood tall and unmoving.

Passepartout had "unlocked" the wind, creating a windless zone in the center of the grounds.

Like the prophet in the Old Testament parting the waves.

"Congratulations. You've obtained the master key."

The grade director, smoothing his disheveled bangs, beamed with a genuine smile.

* * *

Back home, after a short rest, I immediately used sensory sharing with Gemma. Now that I'd grasped the knack, it was easy.

"Passepartout."

-Click

I inserted the Spirit Lord Transformation-manifested key into the lock at the center of the challenge interface and turned it, hearing a metallic click in my ear.

"Phew."

Right after confirming the system message, the key lost form, and the sword stick's blade reappeared. Concept manipulation-type Spirit Lord Transformations devour absurd amounts of spirit power and ancestor power in exchange for beyond-common-sense abilities. Unlike the flawed image I used against Shin Sua, properly now, the limit was just 3 seconds.

While I'd learned the true usage of Spirit Lord Transformation, fighting by swinging Passepartout like a sword was impossible.

This is what all the fuss was for? Giving up your fighting method?

Gemma, staring at the system message, shot me a look of disbelief.

"It's fine. Like Da-un said, just learn another Spirit Lord Transformation."

I recalled Jeong Da-un's advice before leaving school.

'Passepartout, was it? With your current spirit power, it looks hard to maintain long, let alone keep active in combat.'

'How about this: Starting next week, after school, learn another manifestation-type under my guidance.'

'The first one takes time, but the second speeds up exponentially. Just tweak the image and try.'

Easier said than done. Still, his claim that the second was much easier was true—same description in the game.

But right now, rather than that—

I wanted to savor the challenges and rewards I could now check in advance. Silver trophies, so decent difficulty, but the promised rewards were excellent too. The first two, of course, and—

The major game main story-linked challenge suited me perfectly. Especially since it clearly showed what to do next.