Chapter 27 - Snow Woman of the Sorcery Youkai Academy
Snow woman. Probably the name of some youkai clan, but hearing it naturally brought an image to mind. I think I'd seen one in a comic Kim Charyeok had recommended.
"Her name is Yoo Seolhui. As for who she is... you'll know the moment you see her, so don't worry."
"How do we meet her?"
When I asked Kim Jihye, she replied as if it were no big deal.
"I've already put all of you in the class with the snow woman, so you'll meet her today. After crossing over to that world and handling the formalities, she'll probably drop by the class during homeroom to introduce you guys. Memorize her face then."
"Got it."
The clock hands were already pointing to 12:30. Following Kim Jihye's instructions, I started painfully sorting through the essentials packed in my bag one by one.
As I tossed out half-used toothpaste and underwear, Kim Jihye suddenly spoke up.
"And I told you—that world over there is a copy your parents made with sorcery."
"Yeah, you did."
I confirmed the bag's weight, now half as heavy, and responded.
"So that world has a lot of 'empty land.'"
"You mean land nobody's using?"
"Exactly. The youkai were mixed in with humans from the start. In a world that's basically Earth transplanted as-is, of course there's surplus land. That's why there are some uninvited guests mixed in."
Kim Jihye frowned, as if recalling those uninvited guests.
Chewing on a cigarette out of habit, she handed me a talisman. Like last time, it was stylish yellow paper with bold red lines scribbled across it. I habitually checked the back—no phone number or writing, so this seemed like a fresh, unused one.
As I stared up at her blankly, Kim Jihye explained.
"Youkai that gorge on whatever they find to bulk up their bodies, or sorcerers armed to the teeth with their shitty ideologies—they're the ones stirring up trouble lately. This is just insurance, just in case."
"How do I use the talisman?"
"Just rip it."
I folded it in half to tuck it into my pocket, but her words made me flinch. I carefully unfolded it again.
Seeing that, Kim Jihye smirked.
"Just shove it in anywhere. It won't rip easily."
"Still feels kinda scary."
In the end, I slipped the stiff, unfolded talisman into my inner jacket pocket. Once it was secure, Kim Jihye continued.
"The talisman's effect summons me. If it rips, I'll know right away—so just hold out until then."
"... That's kinda creepy."
Hold out until Kim Jihye arrives. It was probably for worst-case scenarios, but imagining it made me doubt if I could even survive that long.
Noticing my uneasy expression, Kim Jihye waved it off reassuringly.
"Don't worry. I'm not enrolling you in the academy for nothing. Even those lunatics won't touch the place lightly, and you've already got one divine object stored in your body anyway."
Dragon Scale Shell. This divine object, which absorbed near-fatal shocks, had melted so seamlessly into me that I'd forgotten it was there.
I reached to pat my abdomen, checking for the Dragon Scale Shell just in case. That's when heavy footsteps approached, and our doorbell rang.
Ding-dong~ Ding-dong~
I stood and checked the intercom. A familiar face grinned back.
"Hanjun! Otherworld! You ready to head to the Otherworld?!"
He hadn't even picked up the intercom outside, but his booming voice carried through anyway. On the screen, Kim Charyeok beamed brighter than anyone.
I sighed at the sight, and Kim Jihye muttered,
"That guy's a real lunatic."
Couldn't agree more.
* *
Once Kim Charyeok arrived, the house turned into a madhouse. Kim Jihye freaked out at the sight of his luggage.
"Are you actually insane? You can't even carry that much."
"No way! I've already cut it down—this is what's left!"
A massive suitcase I'd never seen before. Whatever was inside had it swollen to the limit.
Kim Jihye snapped her fingers, and sorcery activated—the zipper slid open. With a pop, stuff came tumbling out.
The contents were a sight. Protein supplements, chicken breasts, dumbbells and plates. Kim Charyeok's suitcase was packed floor-to-ceiling with workout gear.
"... Just buy it over there."
"I can't! How can I leave behind these, my children?!"
At my words, he panicked and gathered the spilled items. Despite his muscle-packed frame, he meticulously repacked them, then turned to me proudly.
"Hanjun, don't worry. Gotta keep training even in the Otherworld, right? If you need any, just say the word—I'll lend 'em anytime."
Grunting, he zipped it shut. Kim Jihye stared down at him coldly and declared,
"Dump all that crap right now, or you're not coming to the Otherworld."
"H-How can you...!"
Kim Charyeok whipped around in shock. I'd never seen him like that, and it shocked me too.
His body trembled as he told Kim Jihye,
"This is my life!"
Hugging the suitcase tight, he showed his resolve. I asked Kim Jihye,
"They sell that stuff over there too?"
She sighed.
"You kids act like the Otherworld's some fantasy realm, but they sell everything. Everything."
At that, I approached Kim Charyeok and flashed my black card.
"Once we're over there, I'll buy whatever's inside. So leave it."
During break, I'd mooched off him plenty while working out. This was payback—I convinced him to leave it and buy new gear on the other side.
"Hanjun, what's with the black card?!"
"Told you—my parents were sorcerers over there back in the day. And they were loaded. Like, seriously loaded. Even if I blow through cash nonstop, I won't run out this lifetime. Just leave it. I'll buy it for you."
"Hmm...! It's a bit much, but okay—leaving it!"
He flung the suitcase open.
"What're you doing?"
I couldn't understand why he'd open what he was leaving behind. But his next act left me stunned.
"Hmm...! Still, it'd be a waste. It's all muscle fuel."
He was dipping his chicken breasts into the protein powder and chowing down.
"First time trying it like this—surprisingly not bad!"
"......"
Kim Jihye silently lit a cigarette and looked away. Having lived frugally myself, I kinda got Kim Charyeok and let him be.
A few minutes later, Miho arrived. Unlike him, she had just a small bag slung over her shoulder.
"Miho, looks like you're all set."
I glanced at Kim Charyeok devouring chicken on his giant suitcase and asked her. She peeked at him and gave an awkward smile.
"They already moved my stuff from home, so nothing much to pack."
With Miho there, Kim Jihye rounded us up and loaded us into a black van.
We drove to an abandoned house. Kim Jihye strode through it familiarly and stopped in one room.
"Moving now."
She snapped her fingers. My vision flipped, and we were in the Otherworld.
The world my parents had created. Instead of a rundown ruin, I opened my eyes in a clean room. Heart pounding with excitement, I took my first step.
* *
We'd arrived some distance from Sorcery Youkai Academy, so we piled into Kim Jihye's new car and headed there.
The scenery outside was fascinating. Unlike our world crammed with apartments and shops, this one rippled with grasslands. Probably because they had plenty of land to spread out.
Not just the landscape—the youkai moving through it were captivating too. Each had unique features worth gawking at: one with its lower body a serpentine tail, another tiny like a dwarf but with an ancient face.
Mesmerized by the view, I heard Miho giggle at me.
"Hanjun, isn't it amazing~?"
Now openly showing her ears and tails, she rested her chin on my shoulder and whispered.
"Yeah, super cool."
I nodded, lost in the sights again. Miho wagged her tail, enjoying the show.
Kim Charyeok flexed in the passenger seat, staring deeply out the window—moved to tears? Or solemn? Either way, it drew a sigh from Kim Jihye.
Soon, we reached Sorcery Youkai Academy.
"... It's awesome."
It exceeded my expectations. An entrance adorned with stylish statues, grounds waving with flowers and grass, rows of elegant old-world European-style buildings. Gazing at it all, my heart swelled with anticipation for this new school life.