Academy Preparations (2)
"Kang Hanjun, you still don't know how important your existence is."
Kim Jihye takes a long drag on her cigarette and snaps her fingers. That gesture, used as a trigger for sorcery, usually produces one of two results. The cigarette vanishes, or a fresh one materializes in her mouth. I've seen it every time, but I still stare blankly at Kim Jihye's lips, mesmerized by the trick. She clicks her tongue at me, like she's telling me to focus.
"You've heard it before—that Lee Miho's clan is the tail fox clan."
"Ah, yeah."
It was something she'd told me back when Miho and I made that promise in the music room. Youkai each have clans based on their defining traits.
I nod, and Kim Jihye dives right into the explanation.
"Your mother, Isia, belonged to the 'Yamata no Orochi' clan—one of the most sacred among youkai clans."
"Yamata no Orochi?"
"Yeah, Yamata no Orochi. No real difference if you think of it as an imugi, so just go with that."
A few days ago, the photo Kim Jihye had given me floats back into my mind. My mother smiling gently, my father standing tall and handsome beside her. Among those memories, I suddenly recall the scales protruding from her cheek, and I nod vigorously at Kim Jihye.
"Down through the clan's lineage, your mother was a youkai who reached the very cusp of the dragon's realm—something everyone thought existed only in myths. You get what that means?"
Kim Jihye stares straight at me and presses on.
"It means a true 'god' had appeared in a clan worshipped as myth. Whatever you imagine, her influence back then was even bigger."
"She must've been incredible."
I've never even met my mother, but hearing how amazing she was fills me with an odd sense of pride, and I smile without realizing it.
Kim Jihye chews her cigarette like she doesn't approve of my reaction, then spits out her words.
"No, your father was the real legend. He took the Shadow Clan—an ordinary family—and elevated it to the top tier."
Shadow Clan? I tilt my head, and Kim Jihye explains like she expected as much.
"Youkai have clans. Sorcerers have families. Each one boasts their signature sorcery or slaps the founder's name right in front."
"So Dad's sorcery was Shadow Sorcery, then."
"Spot on."
Snap. Kim Jihye flicks her fingers. Something surges up from her shadow. A figure. No—a shadow humanoid cloaked in black outline stomps out from her shadow and stands rigidly before us.
"This is the Shadow Shikigami. Everyone treated it like trash-tier sorcery, but your father turned it into his weapon and became the strongest sorcerer of his era."
"Whoa..."
My eyes light up as I gawk at the shadow figure, and only then does Kim Jihye crack a satisfied smile and nod.
"Yeah, absurd stuff. Summoning shikigami with shadows as the catalyst—something no one thought worth a damn. And using it to create a whole world."
"Mom helped Dad make that otherworld too, right?"
Kim Jihye falls silent at my words, then grinds her cigarette between her teeth again.
"She helped, sure. But that was it. Creation as a concept? Never her thing."
"For real?"
I shoot her a pouty look, and she clicks her tongue, backpedaling.
"...Fine, she pitched in big time. But ratio-wise, your dad to your mom? Sixty-forty. Him edging her out."
Kim Jihye clearly harbors some bad blood toward youkai. As head sorcerer of the Seoul branch—a seriously high rank—her pride in sorcery runs deep. Deep enough to show in her every move.
She wraps up the explanation and hits me with a question.
"So, starting to get a real sense now? How much you mean over there."
The era's top sorcerer and a youkai on the verge of godhood. Their kid—that's me. Even if I'm just a basic sorcerer slinging Jin Gang Ri Ling, the sheer weight of my existence clicks.
But without stepping foot in the otherworld, words alone leave something missing.
"I get it up here," I tap my head, "but no feel for the place yet, so it hasn't fully sunk in."
"Don't sweat it. You'll figure it out quick once you're there."
Kim Jihye takes a quiet drag, eyes locking onto mine—loaded with all sorts of emotions. Then she drops it blunt.
"So be careful."
"Huh...?"
"I said be careful. Doesn't matter if you're spawn of the sorcerer-youkai duo who ended the war. Plenty of beastly shits out there who'll hate your guts."
She crushes her cigarette in her fist. It crumples like paper in the air, and her brows furrow tight.
"Old fogeys hogging spots in that world. Youkai bastards not content with peace, itching to chow down on humans. Sorcerer assholes with their fucked-up ideologies, out for massacres. If they catch wind of you, they'll swarm like flies. So..."
Kim Jihye turns, heading for the black van. Her steps heavy, she glances back over her shoulder.
"Get strong. Fast. Lean on me till then."
The sun dips low, painting everything crimson. Her dark eyes hold me in that ruddy glow. Blunt and rough as ever, but always watching out for me. I meet her gaze and bow my thanks.
"Thank you."
I dip my head deep. She tsks, trudging back to the van, tossing over her shoulder:
"Yeah, yeah. So when you cross over, pop some youkai virgins quick."
"......"
Definitely her awkward way of dodging the thanks. Blunt as always, but I've got her number now. I chuckle and trail after her.
Yesterday's private chat with Kim Jihye opened my eyes to a lot. Mom's clan, Dad's family. My status, my place. But what hit hardest? My power.
After banging the precinct chief—a youkai—the vague yang energy I'd sensed sharpened crystal clear.
Before, I needed the necklace off to cast Jin Gang Ri Ling. Now? No problem keeping it on.
Like this.
"Jin Gang Ri Ling"
⟨ Pure Yang Expulsion ⟩
Golden energy surges from my fingertips. It shoots straight ahead, slams the art room wall, and scatters into sparks.
Grinning at the perfect cast, I feel Miho's tail swish beside me as she cheers.
"Hanjun, you're so cool!"
Her triangular ears perk up, and she gloms onto my arm like it's natural. That sweet Miho scent, the soft press of her body—I'm blushing hard when she giggles and prods.
"How'd your sorcery jump like this in days? Hmm~?"
Meant as praise, sure. But the question freezes me stiff.
"Hmm~?"
Red eyes bore into me. Cold sweat prickles as I stammer,
"Jihye noona taught me good, that's all."
I force out the dodge, and Miho—still latched on—wags her tail like crazy, pleased.
"Hehe... hehehehe."
Unlike that first hypnotic mix-up, the art room's now Miho's chill spot. Though she sometimes eyes our kiss spot with a weird look.
Overall, Miho and I vibe easy and warm.
"Hanjun."
"Yeah?"
I turn at her call. Red eyes sparkle as she rubs her cheek shyly against my arm.
"You free this Thursday?"
"Thursday? Yeah, unless Jihye noona summons me."
Friday's the jump to Sorcery Youkai Academy. This world's loose ends? Tied up ages ago. School's dropped, trivia cut. Packing? Just clothes and undies.
I eye her curiously, and she beams.
"Already cleared it with Jihye unni—Thursday's yours. So you're free, right?"
"Plenty."
Ears twitch up.
"Then~ date with me Thursday."
"Date?"
"Yup, date."
She nods all cute and keeps going.
"I crossed to the human world to soak up the culture slow... And human dates from dramas and movies? Had to try one."
Her transfer day flashes back. Empty school, her stretching out, owning the classroom. Sunset glow, barefoot desk dances, hips hiked on tables—pure bliss.
"Sure. Day before the otherworld. Let's go wild."
Resolved to stack good memories for her, I green-light the date. She flushes, mumbling,
"Heh... hehehe... Date. Here, gotta somehow..."
Her shady grin spooks me a tad, but we lock in: lake park, this Thursday.