The Clan Tree
I thought I'd passed out, but when I opened my eyes, I was lying in a bed in the infirmary. The first training session had been a bloodbath. We couldn't even take the break between third and fourth period—we had to fight monster dolls nonstop.
The dolls, powered by artificial ancestor spirits, didn't aim for vital spots, but they came at me with the same ferocious intensity as the videos from orientation. I boosted my physical abilities with Spirit Descent and even used Gemma's staff combat techniques, but in the end, I blacked out after just 35 minutes.
The cause? Spirit power depletion. The so-called divine illness.
"Should've drawn my sword, huh."
Pass. I saw it when you did Spirit Descent earlier—your body couldn't keep up. How do I put this...
"Like lag in a game?"
Huh? You felt it too?
Of course. During Spirit Descent, the Shangju and ancestor spirit share senses. Since it's only been a short time since the contract and we've barely done it a few times, the synchronization rate is low. Trying to wield an unfamiliar blade in that state is a recipe for hurting myself or bystanders.
Guess we need to practice handling the sword during Spirit Descent when we have time.
"That's the plan."
Once I get used to Spirit Descent, it'll be fine. It'll cut down on spirit power consumption too.
"Next time, I gotta last at least an hour."
A hundred minutes of training time makes that sound short, but all things considered, I held out pretty long. Most people, including U Hyo-chung and Mun Hee-jeong, tapped out before 25 minutes. Shin Sua, just like in the game, didn't even make it to 14 before hitting the deck.
—To think this Shin Sua would need a slight handicap... kuh. She really spouted that nonsense and collapsed.
"Told ya not to show off on day one."
I quietly chuckled, picturing Shin Sua.
Who's that? The tiny girl?
"Yeah."
Seeing the usually perfect superhuman Shin Sua crumble at the start of term never gets old. For her honor, it wasn't some flaw—she'd burned her spirit power blocking Jang Han-nam's punch like a shield earlier, so she ran dry early. Pure show-off Shin Sua being show-off Shin Sua, as her game nickname put it.
Easy for you to say—you don't look so hot yourself.
"...Haha."
Gemma nailed it, so I laughed it off.
Still, I'm jealous you guys get to enjoy school life.
"This looks fun to you?"
Is she sane?
I never even had that.
Gemma's face turned wistful. It felt like seeing the downsides of early education and homeschooling firsthand. Xavier never sent his daughter to school—too risky with enemies gunning for their lives. She'd learned thieving arts at home and become a genius master thief, but that didn't change the fact her childhood was stolen wholesale. And she died young, before truly savoring life.
"Ugh, headache."
Getting sentimental made the back of my skull throb.
Rest up. I'll nap in the Soul Thread Bracelet too.
With that, Gemma vanished into the bracelet. Prolonged Spirit Descent tires out both the Shangju and the ancestor spirit. She must be exhausted.
"What kind of barbaric training is this..."
The game had an event where Class A students collapsed en masse after the first session and got carted off, so I'd expected it. But experiencing it myself made Jang Han-nam's class feel utterly shitty.
Still, it wasn't for nothing.
Complete Jang Han-nam's endurance training in the top 5 or better.
I'd confirmed last time that challenges were different from what I remembered. But just in case, I went for one from the game playthrough—and got the trophy and reward. Means the conditions aren't 100% different from the original. I'll have to recall and tackle more from my playthroughs going forward.
I figured this flashy shell of a body—with its measly 3 Endurance—wouldn't last 10 minutes, but my grit pulled me through by dodging like mad. The others could afford to bomb a class, but I have to deliver the happy ending, so I went all-in.
Jang Han-nam's perception of you has risen to the 'Attention' stage.
Menu 'Relationship Chart' unlocked.
Confirming the curtains were drawn on both sides of the bed, I tapped the floating message. A translucent pale purple interface bloomed before my eyes. At its center: two trees.
Each of the ten branches ended in a circle like fruit. One tree grew toward the sky, the other toward the underworld, their roots intertwined at the base. Concentric circles ringed the pair like planets orbiting a sun.
The fruits and planets were gray circles stamped with question marks—odd, but whatever.
"Unexpected."
Only two weren't question marks: one fruit low on the skyward tree showed Jang Han-nam's face, and the nearest planet bore Gemma's.
"Treating the protagonist right, huh."
Unfamiliar design, but I clocked it instantly: Relationship Chart.
In Our Ancestors Bless Us, relationships form between the protagonist and others. This system lets you grasp bonds with allies and ancestor spirits at a glance, aiding growth. Deep trust yields special help or direct stat boosts.
But ancestor spirit bonds matter more. Deep ties with contracted spirits can evolve them to the next stage. Offerings to uncontracted ancestors grant blessing traits called ga-ho.
Thus, the Relationship Chart fuels long playtime while accelerating protagonist growth. Never expected it here.
"Just two for now, but..."
Once key figures fill it in? I thought challenge rewards alone would make me strong, but this too? If things go well, I might match the protagonist trio over three years. Assuming I survive worse trials.
"......"
One snag, though. Why does extra Kim Taeyang's chart have more circles than the original protagonists'? Maybe it's enhanced like challenges. I knew charts varied by protagonist, but a tree shape? First time.
Cautiously, I tapped the TIPS button at the top for help.
As an orphan with no friends, you have no one to lean on.
If no clan bolsters your power, rely on bonds you've forged yourself.
Build your own household for greater strength.
The Clan Tree will serve as a useful tool.
Starting with a fat pad lip? Still, glad my unique No Genealogy trait applied positively.
"Yawn."
As I scrolled the help, pondering, a yawn came from beyond the curtain.
"......"
Right—this year's top entrant was that guy.
—Shrrk!
I dismissed the interface and drew the curtain. Gong In-myeong lay there, blindfold and headphones on. Even his pillow was a fancy one he'd brought, not the infirmary's. Spotless, unlike my lingering scratches—he pissed me off instantly.
"What're you doing lying here?"
He hummed with eyes closed, ignoring me completely.
Unlike Seol Romi smashing dolls to bits, he'd faked a fight for five minutes then flopped like he passed out. Still here meant he'd lounged the whole time.
"Hey."
"Hm-hmm~"
Noise-canceling blocked me out. Figures—he skimped on convenience store dinners but splurged on hobbies.
I couldn't take it and smacked his bed.
"Whoa! Shit! You scared me!"
He yanked off the blindfold, bolted up, saw me, and flopped back.
"...Unbelievable."
Only after I pried off his headphones did he rub sleepy eyes and roll toward me.
"Who're you?"
"Class A, Kim Taeyang."
"Oh... same class."
I nodded and handed back the headphones.
"Gong In-myeong, right? Why're you camped out here?"
"Mattress is natural latex..."
I facepalmed with a sigh; he grinned sheepishly. I wanted to smack his occiput once.
"No, I mean—top entrant faking it like that okay? You just flopped after pretending to fight."
"Dad said top score means hands-off at home, so I tried. Now I just do what I want and graduate easy."
Words that'd spark violence from kids who missed Class A.
"What do you wanna do?"
"Study music."
Music, my ass. This slacker turning into the strongest Shangju is Our Ancestors Bless Us' biggest mystery. Still, main protagonist—better build rapport.
I knew his backstory cold, so questions were easy.
"Then the constant headphones—"
"Yeah. Gonna be a guitarist."
That's a bass, dumbass.
"Don't you have more talent as a Shangju?"
He waved it off laughing.
"Ghosts scare me. Fighting's not my thing."
The moment he spoke, a burly old man with long brows and beard loomed behind him—Chinese robes, familiar as hell.
"Ah, starting again."
The ancestor spirit muttered angrily; Gong In-myeong jammed on headphones fast.
"Music's one of the Six Arts too, so Ancestor thinks it's important!"
I couldn't hear the spirit, but easy guess: "Study hard, skip no classes!" Then the heir claims music's key virtue—Confucius must be fuming. Already dead, though.
"Confucius's descendant, huh."
He read my lips, bitter smile and nod.
"Figured it from looks?"
Nah, anyone seeing you mouth off knows it's a sage.
"Heard your ancestor bowed at placement exams. Only Confucius's heir pulls that. Knew early. Gong In-myeong, sole son of the Qufu Gong clan from Shandong, China—Confucius's blood. Less orthodox than Taiwan branch, but talent shone young; became Confucius's Shangju early."
"Bet tons envy you."
"Can't help if I hate it."
Far from mature. Imagining Confucius's rotting guts beside him cracked me up.
Anyway, met a Confucian saint—time for greetings.
I bowed politely; he quelled heir-directed rage and beamed at me.
"Nice."
Gong In-myeong seized it. Slashing the Soul Thread Bracelet link with his hand—Confucius vanished.
Advanced technique: Insulation, severing ties half a day. Not just anyone...
Worse, how to handle pissed Confucius...
"You good?"
"Sorry, but you look worse off..."
"Don't judge by looks."
"That pierce through cartilage? Hurt bad?"
"Shut up."
Hippie preaching love 'n' peace, asking a model student for piercing reviews?
"Must be nice, carefree."
Talking direct confirmed: Can't motivate him yet. Pre-'that incident' trigger, deaf to advice.
"Anyway, skip classes moderately. Top entrant repeating's funny."
"Repeating's great. Extra chill year."
"Did it once—stress piles up. Slashed my wrist after."
"F-for real?"
"Post-discharge, turned total goody-goody whether I liked it or not."
Lie, obviously. But from a blond tanned delinquent? Convincing. He hates stress and hassle, but avoids stress by handling hassle. My fake tale'd scare him some.
Key asset like him? Gotta raise him myself.
"Catch you later."
Enough for today.
"Ah shit, missed lunch menu. What was it?"
I waved to the gravely pondering Gong In-myeong and left the infirmary.
Classes end at fourth—eat and done. But since I'm here, grab meds before cafeteria, greet nurse too. Wounds mostly gone, so she treated; no greet risks bad impression.
Luck? Add her to Clan Tree. No harm.
I snagged a paperclip from a nearby file and headed to the exam room opposite.
The Clan Tree End