Hoya's Rebellion
I looked up from the book as the librarian asked the usual question.
“Will you be borrowing this many again today?”
“Yes, please.”
Whenever I had free time at the academy, I spent it in the library reading borrowed books. The moment I finished one, I’d return it and immediately check out the maximum number again. And every single book I read was related to the Cheonma.
The person I actually wanted to ask about it, however, kept vanishing the second I tried to read.
You're working hard again today.
“Then maybe you could help me a little?”
“Ahem. I seem to have some urgent business…”
“I was joking.”
So from the beginning, I’d given up on getting help and was researching everything alone. Still, since it was a topic I was genuinely interested in, I never got tired of reading dense books filled with nothing but text.
Just then, while I was reading at home after class, Hoya suddenly poked her head out and asked,
By the way, do all the people here train at that place?
“What place?”
“The information that girl Mir told you about. Isn’t that the same spot you always disappear to? I thought maybe it was common knowledge everyone already knew.”
Ah, so that’s what she meant.
Mir had suddenly approached me one day and quietly explained how to enter the Soul’s Training Ground, saying it would be a huge help for my training. I’d had a feeling, but now I was certain—she had already been there before me.
“There’s no way it’s common knowledge. If everyone knew about it, why would Mir come to me specifically and tell me in secret?”
Hmm. That’s true.
I suppose we should just chalk it up to coincidence…
Yeah. Mir and I are just special like that.
Specific conditions have been met.
Title, 'Bookworm' has been created!
“Oh, I’ve already read this much?”
This title you get from reading books nonstop doesn’t help much in combat, but in my current situation, it was like sweet rain in a drought.
Bookworm
Classification: Title
Description: One who is sincere about books. Devour knowledge.
Effect 1: Reading speed increased by 10%.
Effect 2: Books are understood more easily.
Reading books faster and understanding them more easily—those were incredibly helpful effects for studying. A smile naturally spread across my face.
“Then I guess I can take a little break now.”
Already finished?
“Yes. At this rate, I think I’ll finish even faster than before.”
Thanks to the title’s effect, I quickly finished the day’s assigned reading. When I checked the time afterward, I saw I’d finished much earlier than usual and now had some free time left.
“Hmm…”
What are you thinking about so hard?
“I finished earlier than expected, so I was wondering what to do next.”
“Then how about this?”
Hoya spread out two pictures. They were identical at first glance. She pointed at them with a pen and said,
Spot the difference. Wanna try?
Hoh, that looks fun.
Spot the difference, huh?
I decided to play along with Hoya’s suggestion, picked up the pen, and carefully examined the images.
The left one is the original. Find the five differences on the right!
The picture showed a monkey riding a cloud, sitting right under a giant peach tree and eating a peach.
“Hmm…”
The end of the staff is different here.
“Oh, you’re right.”
There was even a blue shark drawn in it. With Cheonma’s help, I found the first difference.
“Ah, this part is wrong too.”
Here’s another one.
Wow, they really hid it well.
So far we’d found four differences. Just one more to go.
Ooh~ You’re finding them faster than I expected.
Meanwhile, Hoya was lying on the bed, munching on snacks she’d somehow brought with her while watching us.
“Don’t drop crumbs everywhere.”
Don’t worry~ I’m catching them all with my tail.
…I’m definitely going to have to clean later.
Ah, found it.
“I found it too.”
We had both located the final difference.
Tap. Tap.
Here it is.
“Right here.”
But we were pointing at completely different spots.
“Huh?”
“Hm?”
Cheonma was pointing at a peach hidden behind the tree, while I was pointing at the monkey’s half-closed eye.
We had each chosen a different part, but there was only one final difference. So we could only tilt our heads at each other in confusion.
“Wait, the peach is different too.”
I narrowed my eyes after confirming the peach was indeed altered. Hoya had clearly said there were five differences. Did I make a mistake?
But no matter how I looked at it, the monkey’s eye was different from the original. In the version I pointed at, another monkey was holding a staff inside the eye.
That part isn’t actually a difference, disciple.
“What? But it’s clearly different.”
Hmm. No matter how I look at it, it’s just a normal eye.
Cheonma couldn’t see it? Was that even possible?
“Hoya? Can I ask you something?”
…crunch. What is it?
“Aren’t there actually six differences instead of five?”
Thud.
…Huh?
“This picture. I think there are six differences total.”
W-wait. Hold on a second.
So you’re saying you found a sixth difference?
Hoya approached me with a strangely shocked voice. Cheonma frowned and flicked her forehead.
Thwack.
Kyah!
Get a hold of yourself and explain properly.
Thanks to that, Hoya regained her composure. She pointed at the spot I had indicated and asked,
You found this part?
“Yes.”
Hoo… Hahaha. I never imagined a human would discover this. This is an incredible harvest I never expected.
What exactly is it?
Hmm… If I use this opportunity well, I might be able to sweep them all away…
Thwack.
Ow!
I told you to explain, so why are you muttering to yourself?
Who are you calling a mutterer?! I was just organizing my thoughts!
Hoya looked strangely excited. Her tails were swishing more vigorously than usual, and her ears stood straight up, clearly showing her emotions.
You said you’d help me before, right?
Hm? Did those bastards on the other side attack you or something?
Not yet. But they’ll invade today?
Today? Are you certain?
Of course. As long as I have Zeon’s help.
…Me?
When she pointed at me, Hoya nodded. Then she grabbed both my hands and flashed that seductive, bewitching smile of hers.
Zeon? Would you help me out? It’ll be a huge benefit to you as well.
The moment our eyes met, I felt like I was locked in place. I couldn’t look away. And the longer I stared, the more my reason began to melt.
Gulp.
W-why is she suddenly acting like this?
Even as I was flustered by Hoya’s racial charm, my mouth slowly opened to accept her request.
“I’ll hel—”
Bang.
Kuek!
You’ve gone mad. How dare you try such sly tricks in front of me.
“Ah.”
Hoya’s head snapped back from Cheonma’s flick. Thanks to that, I regained my senses and my freedom of movement.
Ugh…
Explain properly now. Why do you need my disciple’s help?
Because… that man—no, that person has obtained the qualification!
Qualification? What qualification are you talking about?
The right to inherit the will of the yokai known as the strongest!
Whoosh.
Silence fell over the room at those words. I carefully raised my hand and asked,
“…Me? Why exactly?”
The hidden sixth picture that even that woman couldn’t find. That proves your qualification. Honestly, I didn’t know either! I never thought a human would discover it!
Even Cheonma couldn’t see it. I glanced over and saw that Cheonma was now staring intently at the picture with lightning flashing in her eyes. She was probably trying to confirm the difference in the eye that I had found.
I can’t see it.
It only appears to those who have the qualification.
Qualification?
I don’t know the details. That’s just what I heard.
Cheonma frowned at Hoya’s answer. Then she turned away from the picture and spoke to her.
Then what exactly did you want my disciple to help with?
Since he’s obtained the qualification, I was going to tell him to take the trial. That alone should be enough to draw all of them out.
A trial… Is it dangerous enough to risk his life?
No, it’s not that dangerous. I’ve gone through the trial myself, so I can guarantee it.
A trial that Hoya had already completed.
You will be satisfied with the results.
“Why did you suddenly switch to formal speech?”
Those who possess the qualification must be shown respect until the results of the trial are revealed.
“What the hell is this trial anyway?”
Wait a second. Did that mean Hoya was going to keep treating me with this extreme politeness until I completed the trial?
‘…That doesn’t sound so bad?’
Disciple. Did you just have some impure thoughts?
“No?!”
Gulp.
I was just imagining how Hoya would treat me, that’s all! It’s not impure!
I will respect Zeon’s choice.
I humbly request your assistance. Please take on the trial and help us.
Your speech is really hard to get used to.
It feels awkward to me too, you know? But it’s tradition, so what can I do?
“Haha.”
Still, since I was the one who obtained the qualification, she was treating Cheonma normally.
“I’ll do it.”
Are you sure?
“Yes. Hoya said it’s safe.”
Then please infuse Ghostly Qi into the mark of qualification. The trial will begin immediately.
The mark of qualification. So I just had to channel Ghostly Qi into the monkey’s eye?
Following her instructions, I placed my hand on the monkey’s eye and let the energy flow. The moment the silver Ghostly Qi filled the monkey’s eye, my body was sucked inside before I could even react.
You damn fox!
Kyaek! N-no! It’s not what you think!
How dare you rebel?!
I said it’s not!!!
The last thing I saw was Cheonma grabbing Hoya by the collar. Then my eyes opened in a completely unfamiliar place.
The clouds wrapping around the mountain were so vivid. And the purity of the Ghostly Qi here was on a completely different level from the Ghost Lair, causing my magic power to go into spasms.
“What the— I came chasing after that fox girl’s energy from last time, but it’s someone else?”
I flinched. I hadn’t sensed any presence at all. Even after hearing the voice, I couldn’t pinpoint its location. I couldn’t grasp the energy, the presence—nothing.
And at some point, thick white fog had completely surrounded me. No, it wasn’t just in front of me—it enveloped my entire surroundings.
‘When did this happen?’
I had just been looking down at the mountain.
“…Who are you?”
“Me?”
Shhh.
In response to my question, a massive silhouette appeared beyond the fog. Golden eyes that seemed to glow from where its head should be shone brightly, and an unknown voice echoed through the space.