The Demon and the Transfer Student (2)
The training ground was abuzz. Han Isol had lost. The girl hailed as the strongest first-year.
"She really lost?"
"Is the transfer student that strong?"
"But what was that technique? I've never seen an ability like it..."
"Magical girl...?"
Isol pushed herself up from the ground, brushed off the dirt, and flashed a wide grin.
"You're strong, Ariella! You really surprised me!"
Ariella was enveloped in light, her twin swords and gauntlets vanishing.
"Isol strong too. Never seen before. Same age as me, similar opponent."
The two exchanged smiles. While the students were still staring in stunned silence,
clap clap.
Baek Sian drew everyone's attention with his applause.
"That's it. Everyone, gather up."
The students shuffled back to their spots in a disorganized murmur. Baek Sian eyed them with his arms crossed, standing crookedly.
"Han Isol."
Isol looked up.
"Your judgment was slow in the second clash. You read the switch, but your body didn't keep up. You panicked because it was a new ability."
"......You're right."
"Mana beasts have even more varied powers. You need the skill to stay calm no matter when or where an attack comes from."
"Got it."
The students glanced at one another. He was watching? They'd thought he was just slouching there with his arms crossed, not paying attention.
"Ariella. There's a gap right after your descent. You have a habit of attacking before the spirit fully settles. I get that you're eager, but if your opponent matches your speed, you'll lose in a contest of strength. That one was close."
Ariella's eyes widened. He'd pinpointed the exact issue she'd been worried about. And he'd spotted it after just one look? Her village's spirit descent was a technique only she and her grandmother used. How had he seen through it on the first try?
"Yoo Seha."
"Yes."
"You're tensing your arm too much when you fire mana bullets."
"......"
"Mana bullets aren't a shotgun. No need to tense up before aiming. No one's going to let you telegraph it like that. Use them fluidly."
"......Yes, sir."
"Yoon Harin. Your initial swing is too wide. You're basically treating it like a feint, but there's no need. Drop the obsession with only using the axe."
"Park Jinho. If you focus only on defense, your opponent won't tire out. Practice seizing control on your turns. There's no rule saying tanks can only defend."
Sian offered a sharp piece of advice to each one. All spot-on. The students gaped, dumbfounded. He'd been watching every single sparring match—despite looking half-asleep with his hands shoved in his pockets?
Dahong narrowed her eyes. You couldn't cover this whole space relying on eyesight alone.
He's reading mana flows. So he has Mana Sight.
A rare ability among humans. That must be why he seemed to be looking elsewhere.
Sian finished advising the last student and yawned.
"That's it for today. Head back and prep for the next class."
He turned and ambled away at a leisurely pace. The students exchanged looks.
"...Unexpected."
"He was watching everything?"
"A bit scary, but... maybe not a bad guy."
"Kinda gave me chills. Felt like he was peering right into me when our eyes met."
"Yeah, like he could see straight through you."
Opinions were split. But their assessments were similar enough: capable, but not someone you'd get comfortable with.
Seha watched Baek Sian's retreating back. Rumpled shirt. Loose tie. Hunched shoulders. The teacher Seoyeonn had personally requested. His feedback was precise. But... he kept his distance? Like he was deliberately avoiding getting too close?
The more I see, the less I get him.
Teachers' lounge. The staff room was nearly empty, classes still in session. Baek Sian sank into his chair and pulled out a binder. Student profiles with their specialties noted.
He flipped through page by page, quickly. Then paused at one.
Jo Hyein. The student who'd sparred with Seha.
His pen tip hovered over the "Specialty" field.
Necromancer.
Baek Sian's eyes narrowed. Necromancy. Magic that handled the dead. An ability intimately tied to death.
Being close to death wasn't a good sign. As with all things, seeing into someone meant they had more chances to see into you.
And if that happened...
A perfect vessel for possession.
Tap tap.
The pen drummed against the page. He stared down at the attached ID photo. Black bobbed hair. Quiet demeanor. Tense expression even in front of the camera.
His hollow eyes lingered on the photo.
"......"
The bell rang. Classes were ending; footsteps of returning teachers echoed. Baek Sian closed the attendance book and leaned back in his chair.
After HR, morning classes ended, and lunchtime arrived. Group 1's table had one more person.
"Sit here!"
"Kamsa... ah, thank you."
Ariella.
Ariella naturally joined Group 1. The group had been one short compared to others anyway, and she already knew Isol and Harin, so it was only natural.
"Hope Korean food suits your taste," Jinho said, looking at Ariella in the center seat.
Harin chuckled at that. "She's fine. I saw her devouring it last time."
"Really?"
Ariella's face flushed as she recalled slurping down jjajangmyeon like a fiend.
"Ariella, that technique in sparring was awesome."
"Huh? Oh, thank you."
"You clothe yourself in spirits, right? First time seeing it."
At Isol's words, Seha's eyes went wide.
"Clothe yourself in spirits?"
He'd never heard of such a method. Normal spirit mages commanded their summons like other summoners. But Ariella used something entirely different.
"Iceland tradition. Learned from grandma."
"Grandma?"
"Yes. Middle name Sigrín. Named after grandma. Respect her."
Ariella said, awkwardly crossing her chopsticks like an X to grab a side dish.
"Ah."
The tteokgalbi slipped right before it reached her mouth.
Ruby darted in and snatched it.
"Nyaong!"
"Ruby! Sorry... here, take mine instead."
Seha apologized and handed over his own.
"Ah, it's okay..."
Ariella bowed her head awkwardly. She seemed to have little experience with guys, getting especially nervous around the boys.
"Um, but..."
Ariella glanced around cautiously before speaking up again.
"In Korea... is it normal to live with demons...?"
She meant Dahong, sitting to Seha's left. All eyes turned to her.
Dahong chewed her rice with a bored expression. Noticing the stares, she swallowed and spoke.
"What."
As if she hadn't heard the question at all.
Seha answered for her. "Not normal. But Dahong's my summon."
"Summon?"
"Yeah, contracted with me. But circumstances mean I can't reverse-summon her."
Ariella blinked, looking back and forth between Seha and Dahong.
A summon?
She tilted her head.
Summoners and summons shared a soul contract—like hers with Lofty. A thread of light binding soul to soul. She could see it with that black cat with horns and wings called Ruby. But with this demon Dahong? Nothing. Not a trace.
A demon with no contract lingering by a summoner? That meant no bindings. She could leave anytime. Attack anytime.
Is he being tricked...?
Ariella stole a cautious glance at Dahong. The demon calmly picked at some kimchi.
Ariella was convinced. Whatever this demon's goal, she was pretending to be a summon without a contract. This guy was in danger.
I have to help.
Ariella clenched her fist.
"Oh, but Ariella."
"Y-Yes!?"
She startled at Jinho calling her name.
"Why'd you come to Korea? Heard you were headed to the academy in England."
"Ah, um... circumstances."
Ariella hesitated. Should she say? But they were teammates now, people she'd be with going forward. Excluding the demon, they didn't seem bad...
Closing her eyes, she set her chopsticks down carefully and spoke.
"I'm... hunting a necromancer."
Everyone but Dahong tilted their heads.
"Necromancer?"
"Yes. Bad necromancer in Iceland. Polluted spirit forest... captured spirits, fed them to undead. To grow power."
Ariella's expression turned grave. Hard to believe this was the same klutz who'd been battling her chopsticks—now she looked utterly devout.
"Iceland short on hunters. So I guard grandma's forest."
"......"
"Chased three months. Always escapes. Missed academy enrollment."
"Ah... that's why this timing."
Harin lowered her voice. "So coming to Korea means... the necromancer's here?"
"Yes."
Ariella nodded. "Teleport circle traces. Followed. Pointed here, near Korea."
"Here?"
Isol's eyes widened. "Near the academy?"
"Not exact. But close."
Ariella reached for a side dish with her chopsticks again.
"Ah."
It plopped into the soup. Her serious brows drooped dejectedly.