Chapter 949
Chapter 949
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 949
Chapter Title: Academy's Savior
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“Huh…?”
Kalles's eyelids fluttered open, but her eyes were still hazy, trapped in the lingering fog of sleep.
“Dae-hyeon-ah….”
Murmuring that name, Kalles pressed her lips firmly against mine.
The sensation was electric—plump, soft, and yielding. Our lips rubbed together in a slow, rhythmic friction before naturally parting, allowing her slick tongue to slide deep into my mouth.
Kalles was far more aggressive than I had anticipated. She sucked on my tongue, swirling hers around to explore every corner of my mouth with a desperate hunger.
I responded with equal fervor.
Meanwhile, my hand slowly kneaded her breast. It was larger than my palm and overflowing with a supple, elastic weight. I wanted to strip her right there and feel her bare skin, but...
“Hngh?!”
Suddenly, Kalles’s eyes snapped wide. The haze of sleep evaporated instantly, replaced by cold, hard rationality.
Startled, she shot upright and scrambled to the side of the seat. I didn't try to hold her back, letting my hand retreat from her chest as her eyes darted around the quiet cabin in a panic.
She was utterly mortified.
“Th-this… I, I’m so sorry. I must have made a mistake in my sleep.”
“There’s no need to apologize,” I said smoothly, leaning back. “I was a little confused in my half-asleep state, too….”
“…Why don’t we just pretend that what just happened never happened? Everyone makes mistakes… and if word gets out, it’ll be a problem… Right?”
She was rambling now, her professional facade crumbling under the weight of her embarrassment.
“Sure. Nothing happened. No one was watching anyway.”
Perhaps because it was a weekday, the train was quiet. We could have had sex right here and there without anyone finding out.
Kalles looked around and let out a shaky sigh. She ran a hand through her light gray hair.
“…Thank you for understanding. I guess I must have been very tired since I just started at the academy.”
“You’ve been busy organizing the Spirit Department lately. By the way, may I ask who this Dae-hyeon is?”
“Dae-hyeon….”
Kalles frowned, grabbing a strand of gray hair and twisting it between her fingers. I calmly watched her lips, waiting for her to speak.
I knew it was prying. But hearing another man’s name during a kiss like that piqued my curiosity. In the original game, Kalles was a side character whose backstory was never fully explored.
“I'm sorry. I asked the wrong question,” I added, seeing the mood sour.
“…No. It’s in the past anyway,” she said with a wistful smile. “Dae-hyeon was my ex-boyfriend. You look… a lot like him. I got confused without realizing it.”
I recalled our first conversation. Her favorability toward me had been 50 back then. I’d thought it was just because of my high spirit affinity, but resembling a dead lover explained the head start perfectly.
“Ex-boyfriend… So you broke up? You don't seem to hate him, Professor.”
“We were forced to break up.”
“Forced? That man didn’t know what he had. How could he let someone as beautiful as you go?”
“It wasn't like that. He was a hero… but he died failing to clear a high-rank dungeon.”
“Ah….”
“Don’t make such a sad face. It’s a common story you hear everywhere.”
Internally, I felt a wave of relief.
If he’s dead, he’s not a threat. In fact, he’s the perfect bridge to her heart.
'Rather, I should be the one thanking him. Thanks to him, it’ll be easy to conquer Kalles.'
The number ticked up by one. The kiss—and the groping—evidently hadn't bothered her as much as she claimed. Maybe she was more starved for affection than she looked.
???
After the train ride, we rented a car and hit the road. Kalles took the wheel, handling it with practiced skill as we drove deep into a remote mountain range.
This wasn't a pleasure trip; it was an authorized field exercise for the Spirit Department.
“Nervous?” Kalles asked.
We were entering the territory of an Upper Spirit. The goal was to meet one, initiate a dialogue, and, if possible, form a contract.
“A little tense,” I lied.
Truthfully, I’d already contracted a top-tier spirit long ago. Standard upper spirits didn't intimidate me.
“Remember what I said?”
“Yes. I remember everything. I have no intention of forcing a contract.”
“Still, you have a chance of success.”
I hid my indifference. Upper spirits, unlike lower ones, demanded steep prices—billions of won or even life force. Never agree to a losing deal.
We stepped out of the car. The forest was so dense it was dark even in the afternoon.
Suddenly, a chill ran down my spine. I scanned the shadows, which seemed to cling to the trees like wet ink.
“Professor! This energy…!”
“Calm down. We’ve entered Am-o’s territory. The fact that we haven't been attacked means we’ve been accepted as guests.”
“It’s because you are Am-o’s contractor, right?”
“No. Am-o isn't gentle just because it's me. He’s either in a good mood, or he likes you.”
The ground felt like mud—sticky and clinging to my boots. I activated Spirit Eye (S), and the darkness peeled back to reveal thousands of tiny spirit fragments crawling across the floor.
Moving deeper, we found the source: a massive shape of absolute blackness that defied the daylight. It was a giant centipede, its body thick as a trunk and its eyes a menacing, glowing red.
Am-o (The Dark Centipede). An upper darkness spirit that had ruled this mountain for over 200 years.
“Long time no see, Kalles,” Am-o hissed, its voice a low, mechanical bass. “You haven't summoned me lately. Decided to stop bringing me human offerings?”
“Still terrible at jokes, Am-o,” Kalles replied calmly. “This is Sung Yu-jin. My student. He’s here for a contract.”
Am-o uncoiled, its dozens of needle-thin legs clicking against the bark. It loomed over me, its antennae twitching. My Spirit Contract (A) skill activated, forming a mental bridge.
Instantly, its demands flooded my mind.
“Three summons a week minimum? That's too much,” I noted, my brow furrowing.
“Each summon requires 30 livestock,” I continued. “And… one of my fingers? I only have ten.”
“Fingers regenerate easily these days,” Am-o chuckled. “Better than a wrist, wouldn't you say?”
“And you won't even guarantee obedience? You intend to act independently even when summoned? That’s not a contract; that’s a disaster. Change the terms. We can adjust.”
“Does a child dare to give me orders?” Am-o’s red eyes flared. “Fine. Once a week. But the rest stays.”
I swallowed back the sigh I almost let out. Am-o was clearly trying to assert dominance, pushing for a contract where he held all the cards.
I glanced at Kalles. She was watching with a stern, tense expression.
“…I wish it was a contract at the level of Professor Kalles’s….” I muttered.
“Unpleasant,” Am-o hissed. “You think you are her equal? Her affinity is bolstered by a dark aura identical to mine. Do not presume to compare yourself to her.”
It was her special trait, [Dark Forest (A+)]. That was why these spirits favored her.
“…My apologies. I spoke out of turn,” I said, suppressing my rising anger. This was a High-level spirit; losing my cool wouldn't just endanger me, it would put Kalles in a difficult position.
“I cannot meet your terms, Am-o. I’m cancelling the contract.”
“Funny,” Am-o chuckled softly, a sound that sent a wave of dread through the air. “You crawl into my domain begging for power, and now you think you can just walk away? Do you take me for a fool?”
“It’s not disrespect. We simply haven't signed anything. We part ways here, and that’s the end of it.”
“Kuuuu....”
The spirit’s laughter grew cold. Kalles sensed the shift in mana and stepped closer to me.
“You don’t want my contract? Then you’ll have to pay the price for entering my territory…”
Am-o’s red eyes flared with murderous intent. “The price for your arrogance is your life!”
With a deafening hiss, the giant centipede lunged.