"Have Some Before You Go, Cult Leader."
As I was about to head to school, Kang Ji-a grabbed me. What she handed me was pitch-black water. It had a bitter, astringent smell, but it wasn't coffee. A faint mix of brown and purple shimmered atop the impossibly deep black liquid.
"What's this? Poison?"
No matter how I looked at it, it didn't seem like something fit for drinking.
Kang Ji-a shook the cup to stir up the sediment on the bottom, then offered it to me again and spoke.
"It's a decoction made from the leftover herbs after the offering. I referenced Voodoo pharmacology."
"Ah, so it's not an assassination attempt."
"Pardon? What do you—"
"Huh? You're flustered. I knew something felt off from the start."
Kang Ji-a stared at me with wide, shocked eyes, looking utterly dumbfounded. It had been a joke, but her reaction was so serious it threw me off a bit. I hurriedly flashed a smile and took the cup from her.
"Just kidding. I'll drink it properly. But you're studying pharmacology these days too?"
"There's not much material, so it's hard to call it studying, but I'm giving it a try."
"Whoa... impressive."
I muttered half-heartedly and downed the water she'd prepared in one gulp. At first, there was no taste at all. If anything, it was slightly sweet. But as it slid down my throat toward my stomach, a sudden bitterness surged up. It wasn't just bitter—it was brutally bitter. A numb, tingling sensation lingered on my tongue, and a bizarre smell crept up from my throat, bursting out through my nose.
Before I knew it, tears welled up in my scrunched eyes.
"Kuh, kuh...! This is poison!"
"It might not taste great. Good medicine is always bitter, after all. Just bear with it a little..."
"No, even so, this is... you really are trying to assassinate me..."
Even as I spoke, the bitterness clung to my tongue. But gradually, the weird smell rising from my throat faded, and the initial sweetness and aroma began to subtly linger. Soon after, a prickling sensation spread through my body, like blood rushing through my veins. It felt similar to when I invoked Preservation's power.
"Oh."
"Is the effect kicking in?"
"Seems like it. What's it supposed to do?"
"It says it improves blood circulation and clears the eyes. Additionally, it slightly enhances physical abilities and heightens the senses."
[It's a brew Baron Samedi likes.]
Legba suddenly chimed in.
A brew Baron Samedi likes? That was hard to grasp. Baron Samedi wouldn't bleed even if stabbed—Loa don't have blood in their bodies. So the blood circulation benefit was irrelevant to him, and clearer eyes wouldn't mean much either. He could see everything without eyes.
"Does Baron Samedi even need to drink this?"
[Who knows? I don't think he drinks it himself. No idea, really.]
There was a playful lilt to Legba's tone. What the hell did Baron Samedi get up to on a regular basis? He was truly inscrutable—a person, no, a Loa beyond understanding.
*
"From today, the departmental classes are gonna be packed tight. Even if your grades have been lagging so far, work hard starting now and you can catch up. So let's do our best!"
With those cheerful words of encouragement, Ha Ye-jin left the classroom. At once, a buzz of noise erupted among the students. Some kids bolted out with tense, obvious anxiety on their faces, while others lounged back, chatting leisurely with friends.
"What's your next class?"
Jeong In-ah sidled up with a bright smile and asked. Today was the first full day of departmental classes. Previously, classes had been by homeroom, but now they were split by major, so even classmates might have different schedules if their majors differed.
"An elective. Basic Swordsmanship, I think? In the Holy Training Ground."
"Elective... Paladin track? So you're with Gu Jun-hyeok?"
"What? Why me?"
Gu Jun-hyeok, who'd been sleeping from morning study hall through roll call, popped up like a ghost at the sound of his name. The red veins in his eyes stood out starkly as he approached us, dark shadows heavy under them. He looked more haggard than usual—exhausted.
"Gu Jun-hyeok, you're Paladin track, right?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah, right! I'm so sleepy my brain's fried."
Jeong In-ah stared at him in disbelief before letting out a dry chuckle.
"Even half-asleep, come on... Anyway, what's your next class?"
"Next? Uh, theory or something...? Don't remember. Just that it's in the multipurpose room."
"Huh? Do Seon-woo's got Basic Swordsmanship."
"Hey, how many times do I gotta tell you not to call me that—"
"Same major but different classes? Weird."
Jeong In-ah frowned, glancing between me and Gu Jun-hyeok suspiciously. I had no idea why either. Teachers handled scheduling to avoid overlaps or conflicts—they'd sort it out.
"Hold up, your next is swordsmanship?"
Gu Jun-hyeok suddenly gawked, making a fuss.
"Why the drama?"
"You mean the one in the Holy Training Ground? Patience class Paladins have swordsmanship next too."
"Lying through your teeth."
"For real. Good luck~ You'll probably draw Kim Jin-seo as your sparring partner."
He grinned weakly, teasing. So Do-jin's swordsmanship class focused on "building real combat sense through sparring." He always said clashing blades directly beat theory for quick growth.
"No way they do sparring on day one."
"They do, though? Kids who've taken it say it's nonstop sparring the whole class..."
According to students who'd done his Basic Swordsmanship before, the sparring emphasis and intensity were way higher than other classes. Fainting and getting carted to the nurse? Common. Homeroom classes paused for injuries, but departmental ones didn't. Rumor had it So Do-jin's eyes burned with killer intent, for whatever reason.
"They usually match by skill level. You'll probably get Kim Jin-seo—Patience Mark vs. Charity Mark."
"No way..."
I denied it desperately. I'd never sparred her once. Sure, you'd only know by trying, but I couldn't imagine beating her.
As I hung my head in pessimism, Jeong In-ah, who'd been listening with a sulky face, cut in abruptly.
"Hey! You're not some punk who goes around getting beat. You'll win anyway. Don't sweat it."
"She's... not the type reason works on. Remember gym class? Three minutes straight of getting pummeled... ugh, my head..."
Gu Jun-hyeok clutched his forehead dramatically, grimacing. Jeong In-ah forced a smile, came over, and thumped my shoulder encouragingly with her loosely fisted hand.
"Ignore that guy. If you come back beat up, I'll chew her out."
"Who chews out who? You vs. Kim Jin-seo? You'd get wrecked."
Gu Jun-hyeok jumped in before I could reply. She wouldn't kill, but serious injury? Likely.
"...She's that bad?"
"Yeah, told ya."
He raised his voice in frustration, and I nodded quietly beside him. Ha Ye-jin's roll call pep talk suddenly came to mind.
"Even if your grades have been lagging so far, work hard starting now and you can catch up."
Or, flipped: even top students could fall behind without effort now. And day one of an elective, sparring-heavy, possibly against Kim Jin-seo? Despair.
[Probably just exaggerated rumors to scare students. Don't sweat it.]
Legba comforted me. Yeah, first day sparring? Unlikely. Just hype. That eased my mind a bit.
*
"As you all know, we're sparring today."
So Do-jin stated it matter-of-factly the moment class started. Thunderbolt to me.
He picked up a sword from the floor and showed it off.
"This is what you'll use. Not the standard silver Paladin blades—old-school iron ones. Now, question: why not silver combat swords, but these outdated relics? Anyone?"
"...Money?"
"Correct. Silver's pricey for training. Buy your own when you're pros raking it in."
Brutally practical. He then ran his finger along the blade like sawing—up and down. No blood.
"Dull as hell too. And we'll sponge-wrap the edges right before. Hard to get hurt. Though... hit hard, it stings. Tried it myself."
He finished explaining, lips tight, staring at his sparring sword intently. Finally, he assumed stance, glaring at empty air.
Whoosh!
Swing? Thrust? Too fast to tell. I couldn't track it.
He exhaled lightly at his invisible foe.
"Demons and beasts are weak to silver, so aim coated parts. But..."
Clang. He dropped the sword casually.
"As apprentices, you'll get iron swords with just tip silvered. Only effective strike? Thrust."
Iron was heavy, crude, cheap—standard for rookies.
"Today's goal: master one-shot thrusts. Win by landing two on opponent. Blessings free. Questions."
Students murmured. So Do-jin usually dodged Q&A, claiming fatigue or annoyance.
He smiled warmly—unprecedented.
"Not tired today. Ask away. Slept well last night."
"Question."
Someone raised a hand instantly: Kim Jin-seo.
"If opponent loses consciousness before two hits?"
"KO loses. If you suppress before conditions, that's skill."
Her tone chilled the air—like she could do it. And she probably could. Some faces stiffened; So Do-jin chuckled dryly.
"Never happened yet. Can't KO with these. Gotta stab hard."
Sighs of relief rippled. Dull blades, sponges—no real danger. I exhaled inwardly too.
So Do-jin grabbed two swords, sponged the edges.
"First match: top two for demo. Called students, grab swords and up."
No time to relax.
"Do Seon-woo, Kim Jin-seo."
*
Up on the arena, I gripped the sword first. Even post-Mighty Strength Blessing, it was hefty. Swing? Doubtful.
Said doubts? Kim Jin-seo toyed with hers effortlessly, warming up.
Fuu.
Sigh did nothing for nerves. I looked up—her sleepy, half-lidded eyes met mine softly. She smiled faintly. Pure composure, unlike me.
Silence. So Do-jin raised his whistle.
"No delays. Begin."
Tweeet!
Match on. She readied. I clumsily did too. Tips pointed.
Sponged iron, but hers looked lethal. Mine? Toy.
No. Stay calm. Panic loses winnable fights.
I focused on her. Twitch—shoulder flicked.
Thud!
She was here in a blink. Blocked her overhead slash barely. Her sharp gaze pierced through clashing blades.
Blessing kept strength even, but speed and skill? Outclassed.
"...Got a question."
She murmured amid precarious lock. Casual chat now?
Felt like she was going easy—ego bruise. She pressed fiercely, continuing.
"You close with Seo Ha-rin?"
Random curveball deflated me. I channeled Mighty Strength to legs, lowered center, shifted to torso. Swung, flicking her blade off.
Skree! Sponge scrape.
Distance gained—first hurdle cleared. I smirked back.
"Who knows?"
Lock-stare answer. Also bait to rattle her.
"...'Who knows'?"
Her ease vanished. She raised smoothly for round two—bigger, simpler motions. Bait worked.
"..."
Defend and attack. Couldn't outpace/skill. Power it was. Preservation, lock again, crush with strength. Winnable?
"Pre—"
Pfsh.
"Guhk...!"
Something long pierced my solar plexus before I finished. Agony. Blackout.
(To be continued in the next chapter.)