Chapter 471
Chapter 471
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 471
Chapter Title: The Savior of the Academy
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“Yu-jin! If anything happens, call Mommy right away, okay? Just press 1 on the cell phone I gave you earlier, and I'll come running! Got it!?”
“Yeah.”
Sung Yu-jin replied indifferently to Sung Ha-ri's fussing. Sung Han-gu, who had been watching for over five minutes, finally couldn't hold back and chimed in.
“Don't worry about Yu-jin. He's your son, but he's my grandson too. I guarantee nothing will happen to him.”
“Hah. Easy for you to say. I'm warning you ahead of time—if so much as a scratch appears on Yu-jin... I'll turn the main house upside down.”
“That's a bit too vicious for a joke.”
“It's not a joke.”
“......”
Sung Han-gu took Sung Yu-jin by the hand and entered the main house of the Jinryeong Clan. The clan's estate was practically the size of a small village. The buildings were hanok-style, grand enough to rival a palace.
Sung Ha-ri stared at the main house with a bitter expression. She could feel the barrier. Her skin tingled. The spirits dwelling there were wary of her, rejecting her presence.
The moment Sung Ha-ri stepped inside, those spirits would materialize and attack her. In the main house, as long as certain conditions were met, the spirits could manifest without a spiritist.
“...Haa. This is for Yu-jin's future.”
She could teach him combat herself. But she had no way to nurture Sung Yu-jin's talent as a spiritist.
???
I took Sung Han-gu's hand and entered the Jinryeong Clan's main house.
The atmosphere shifted.
The mana density had noticeably increased.
'I figured there was a barrier, but I didn't expect it to be this intense.'
I rolled my eyes, scanning the surroundings. Spirits swarmed the grounds—earth monkeys, fire cats, wind beetles, steel clumps, and more. Mostly lower-grade, but mid- and high-grade ones were visible too.
They didn't seem forcibly confined to this space. Even Moka, my thunder owl in spirit form beside me, looked oddly content. The spirits probably loved this place.
“Kirrr.”
“You smell nice.”
“What's that? What's that? What's that?”
Some spirits approached me eagerly, striking up conversations. I started to respond but held back.
“Yu-jin can see the spirits, just as I thought.”
“Ah... Yeah.”
“No need to think it's strange. With your high spirit affinity, it's only natural.”
Come to think of it, I wasn't using Spirit Eye right now. Yet the spirits here in their ethereal forms were perfectly visible.
A few caught my eye especially.
Spirits shaped like sleek, flawless women. But up close, they were disappointing.
'Perfect curves—voluptuous breasts, slim waist—but no pussy or nipples?'
Obviously, they weren't living beings. According to the original lore, spirits weren't born from sex; they formed when natural energies coalesced in the world.
'Women without nipples or pussies? Kills the interest dead.'
Under Sung Han-gu's guidance, we crossed the garden to the largest building.
“Father. It's me. I've brought Yu-jin.”
“Come in.”
The door opened, and we entered.
A elderly man sat at the room's center.
He looked about 160cm tall, with snow-white hair and a long white beard. Dressed in sky-blue hanbok, he resembled a sage from ancient scrolls.
Sung Myeong-saeng.
Patriarch of the Jinryeong Clan.
Despite his age, his eyes burned with a fiercer intensity than any youth's as he gazed at me. I met his stare without flinching.
“So you're Yu-jin... my great-grandson. Indeed, just as I heard—truly exceptional. The heavens haven't abandoned the Jinryeong Clan yet.”
A smile curved Sung Myeong-saeng's lips. With my Spirit Eye (S) trait, high spirit affinity was a given. His satisfaction stemmed from something else.
'Obvious reasons. I didn't tremble before him. Or I wasn't intimidated despite being surrounded by spirits. Something like that must've impressed him.'
I played the part of a child.
“Hello, Great-Grandpa.”
“Yes, good to see you. Come, sit here. Hey! Where are the servants? Bring some refreshments!”
Soon, a woman in hanbok brought tea and sweets. Not family—likely estate staff. Her face and figure weren't my type, so I ignored her.
I picked up a piece of yakgwa with my tiny hand. Handmade or store-bought, it was delicious. The taste and shape screamed luxury.
I perked up my ears, focusing on Sung Myeong-saeng and Sung Han-gu's conversation.
“First, we need to assess Yu-jin's aptitude.”
“...Father. He's only four years old. He knows nothing about spiritism. Shouldn't we start from the basics step by step? What if something goes wrong during the test? Yu-jin is our family's only hope.”
“Nonsense. You can't build foundations or train without knowing the aptitude. Did he look ordinary to you?”
I flinched. Had Sung Myeong-saeng seen through my act?
His words continued.
“Yu-jin is a genius. We can't treat him as ordinary!”
“But Father... he's still only four. Normally, aptitude tests start at six, right?”
“That's for others. Yu-jin is different. Reminds me of the old days. Do you remember how you reacted to spirits at four?”
“......When exactly are you talking about? I couldn't possibly remember that far back.”
“You bawled your eyes out like the world was ending. Terrified of spirits, kicking and screaming. But look at Yu-jin. He completely ignores spirits showing interest in him. And you said he perfectly controls his contracted thunder owl.”
“......”
Sung Han-gu eyed me anew. I slurped my orange juice through the straw.
“I can tell. Yu-jin surpasses us all—he's the greatest genius in our clan's history. Confirming, nurturing, and blooming his talent is our mission and duty.”
“......Father. If he's the greatest, what about Ha-ri? And if anything happens to Yu-jin... Ha-ri will try to destroy our family.”
“Tch. Speak plainly. Ha-ri's talent wasn't spiritism. Hers was the worst in history.”
“......”
“Enough chatter. Prepare the aptitude test. Nothing will go wrong with Yu-jin. You and I are here.”
“......Understood.”
Aptitude test.
The original story barely featured the Jinryeong Clan or spiritists, so I had no clue what it entailed.
'Ugh. Not confident about this.'
I was talentless. My current strength came from the Playful Life app. Pure talent? Zero.
But I couldn't back out now.
Led by Sung Myeong-saeng and Sung Han-gu, we went behind the building. Unlike the garden, it was an open field.
Something was drawn on the ground. Black ink, fresh from hours ago. No idea what it meant—nothing like a magic circle. Resembled hieroglyphs.
“Yu-jin, see that circle there?”
Sung Myeong-saeng pointed to the drawing's center.
“Yeah... Uh, yes.”
“Speak casually if you want. Step into that circle and stand still. It'll be over quick—just don't move.”
“Okay.”
“If it hurts, yell. This old man will come running.”
Sung Han-gu watched me worriedly. Was the test life-threatening?
'Isn't aptitude just spirit affinity?'
His reaction made me tense up.
As I stood in the center, the air shimmered. I instinctively activated Spirit Eye. My eyes turned golden.
Mana became visible.
'Mana density... around 70%. Pretty high.'
Most mana resonated with the ink drawings on the ground. Nearby spirits startled and retreated outside the pattern.
Kwaaaang!
A bolt of lightning struck before me. Dry lightning from a clear sky.
Immediately after, it formed a door.
A translucent door, over 2 meters tall. I knew what it was.
'A gate to the Spirit Realm.'
Amazed voices came from behind.
“I expected it, but Yu-jin's first aptitude is lightning. And strong enough for a thunderbolt...”
“He's Ha-ri's son. Lightning aptitude is natural. But it's not over. Second aptitude...”
I got the gist. Aptitude meant affinities matching me.
'Playful Life gave me thunderbolt traits, so lightning makes sense. Next is...?'
Suddenly, doors appeared around me. Not as flashy as the lightning one—eleven more.
“Total of twelve spirit gates. But...”
“Excluding lightning, no standout aptitudes. Still... the number's impressive. Means he can handle all attributes evenly. The Spirit Eye's power, perhaps...”
“......The doors aren't opening. If any spirits were interested, one should open. For Yu-jin with Spirit Eye to not be chosen... it's odd. At least the lightning gate should...”
“......Tch. Only one reason. He's our grandson, but also Ha-ri's son.”
“Urgh. The Spirit King. His wrath extends to Yu-jin. Wait!”
“Yu-jin!!”
Sung Han-gu and Sung Myeong-saeng cried out in shock. Because I'd reached for the lightning door. My hand touched it first, opening it before they reached me.
Pajijijik.
I instinctively unleashed thunderbolt energy.
'It's shaped like a door, but it's lightning at heart. My upgraded Thunderbolt trait lets me grasp it instantly. Yeah... I can open this.'
I flung the lightning door wide. A massive surge erupted, radiating outward. Sung Han-gu and Sung Myeong-saeng halted, gritting their teeth.
Oddly, it didn't affect me.
'Let's see what's in the Spirit Realm.'
I grabbed the doorframe, leaned halfway in, and shoved my head through.
It was the sky.
White clouds above; below, writhing earth, geysers piercing the heavens, shape-shifting flames, trees of light—all mesmerizing illusions.
'......All spirits.'
Kururung.
Thunder rumbled—not from the sky, but the ground. Looking down, a tiger made of lightning stared at me.
“What're you looking at? Get lost!”
My threat didn't faze it. The tiger kept staring.
I looked away first. Too much to see for a staring contest with some tiger.
Thud. Thud thud.
The realm quaked. Something moved. I narrowed my eyes, peering far.
A giant like a colossal tree. Too huge—only part visible. But its tree-like face was clear. Rainbow eyes fixed on me.
-Offspring of the betrayer. This world is not for you. Begone.
“Who said I'm leaving? Just sightseeing.”
-......Strange. Why does it feel like you're meeting my gaze?
“Because I am. Dumbass.”
-You dare look upon me directly? Can you truly see my true form? Even with spirit eyes... no human should! You are human... are you? Or something wearing human skin?
“Ah, I see. You're the Spirit King, huh? Release the seal on Mama while I'm asking nicely.”
-...No reason to comply. Begone.
The Spirit King's eyes blazed. Too bright to keep mine open fully.
-Insolent, yet your mind doesn't waver before my true form. I salute it.
“You bast... Ack!”
My half-submerged body flew back through the door.