Experiments in Seclusion During the School Hiatus
While stuck in the Worship Hall during the school closure, I conducted these experiments. First, I summoned two Loa who seemed like they'd have good synergy: Marinette, the Loa of fire, and Bade, the Loa of wind. The idea came from thinking that combining fire and wind would boost the efficiency of their powers, so I planned to fuse their abilities.
The result? A failure.
It was because those two absolutely hated each other's guts. I tried urging them to reconcile, but it fell on deaf ears. Bade made it crystal clear he had no intention of ever making up with a loser like Marinette, let alone working with her.
"Can't you two just get along? You're being unnecessarily picky."
Bade really despised Marinette. In fact, most Loa besides Bade hated her too. It stemmed from her past betrayal, when she'd sided with Han Su-yeop. Pretty much all the Loa despised her. Even I wasn't a big fan.
In any case, it looked like I couldn't combine Bade and Marinette's powers.
Whenever I had time, I also experimented with "internalizing" spells. I seemed to have succeeded in internalizing the Faint spell through various methods and shortcuts, but since I hadn't tested it in real combat, I couldn't be sure it had truly worked. Practicing spells alone often left me doubting if I was doing it right.
When my father was around, honing spells had been much easier and straightforward. There had been a clear path laid out for me to follow.
I suddenly recalled training spells with my father.
"Alright, this is Memory Crush. It's a very difficult spell……."
"Whoa, how do you do it?"
"Just watch and copy. My son's a genius, so he can do it."
"Huh? I can't."
"Really? Hmm…… Guess you're not my son after all."
Thinking back on it, it wasn't exactly a fond memory.
Anyway, after practicing spells, I meticulously recorded everything in my notebook. I even jotted down occasional recollections of conversations with my father and mother. Memories not recorded would eventually fade. Like how I used to be able to vividly recall my mother's face anytime I wanted, but now I couldn't.
That scared me.
As the school hiatus neared its end and no more extension texts came, I went to the bathroom, took off my shirt, and checked the mirror. Come to think of it, it had been ages since I'd closely examined my face in the mirror.
"What the hell, I've got a beard……."
A beard had grown, and my face looked much gaunter than before. Probably from irregular sleep—dark circles shadowed my cheeks. My hair was shaggy and long, my eyes lacked vigor. Overall, my face had lost its vitality.
The scar on my stomach was still hideous and large. How had I ended up like this?
I'd done some workouts at home sporadically, but my overall frame had thinned. I'd lost weight and quite a bit of muscle. Probably because I'd skipped meals while obsessing over experiments.
"Cult Leader."
Kang Ji-a appeared in the mirror behind me. She'd barged in without knocking and casually approached, speaking to me. Without a hint of embarrassment, she scanned the scar on my stomach and my haggard face.
"……You've lost more weight than I thought."
"Haven't been exercising."
"Or maybe because you don't eat properly?"
"That too, probably."
"You barely drink water, avoid sunlight, and sometimes there's blood in your room—what on earth do you do in there?"
"Practicing spells…… that's how it happens."
Those bloodstains came from the internalization process. I gave a vague answer, and Kang Ji-a stared at my face for a long while with her hazy eyes. Her expression was her usual blank one, emotionless as ever, but I sensed a faint resentment.
She lowered her gaze to the scar on my stomach and spoke.
"The scar won't fade?"
"The doctor said it might lighten with time, but it won't disappear."
"That means you did something reckless, doesn't it, Cult Leader?"
"You're hurting my feelings……."
"Eat. I've prepared it."
With that, Kang Ji-a left the bathroom without looking back. Left alone, I watched her back as she headed to the kitchen, then turned on the faucet. I washed my face simply, shaved, and trimmed my hair. Only then did I look somewhat human again. Still exhausted-looking, though.
I dried off and went to the table. A lavish spread that Kang Ji-a had prepared covered it. Way too much for one person.
"Too much for me alone."
"Master will eat the leftovers."
"Uncle always eats scraps."
"He rarely stays in the Worship Hall, so no choice."
Kang Ji-a stated it matter-of-factly. Uncle was always out and about, missing meals or eating elsewhere. He wasn't here now either—had left early to handle things.
I started eating. Flavors barely registered; textures felt vague and blunt. Only smells came through clearly.
"Is it good?"
Kang Ji-a asked. I swallowed the half-chewed food in my mouth and nodded.
"Delicious."
"Good."
"But don't bother next time."
"Why?"
"Better if I handle my own meals. Cooking every day must be a hassle for you, right?"
After barely surviving thanks to the lion's contract, I'd lost my sense of taste. Not completely, but the range of flavors I could perceive had narrowed drastically. So whether Kang Ji-a lovingly prepared a meal or I whipped something up myself, it made little difference.
Kang Ji-a's face hardened coldly at my words.
"……But excluding meal prep, I have nothing to do here. You handle everything else—laundry, dishes."
"I do it because you can't."
"I can."
"You broke a plate last time."
"My hands are small."
"Clothes smell after you wash."
"It's the basement. And it's summer now."
"Fine when I do it."
"That's……."
Kang Ji-a trailed off, glaring at me.
"So I'll keep cooking. Can't do the rest."
"Then just do simple stuff. Chicken breast or whatever."
"Why eat that tasteless junk?"
"Body's not fully healed. Gotta eat right to recover faster."
I finished eating while saying that. Since flavors didn't register properly, I just ate enough to fill up. It felt a bit sad that I could no longer savor Kang Ji-a's excellent cooking.
Kang Ji-a stared at me silently, then reluctantly nodded slowly.
"Fine. Healthy meals from now on."
"Thanks. Honestly, I'd prefer doing it myself—less hassle."
"Then I'd be uncomfortable. Only your comfort matters?"
"No, that's not what I…… You've been kinda sharp lately. Did I do something wrong?"
I asked, a bit hurt. Lately, Kang Ji-a had been openly showing her displeasure toward me. Racking my brain, I couldn't recall doing anything deserving this. Still, maybe I'd unconsciously upset her, so I asked just in case.
Kang Ji-a's eyes widened slightly in surprise, as if realizing her tone had been sharp.
"Sorry. Wasn't intentional……."
She lowered her eyes and apologized cautiously.
"What's going on lately?"
At my question, Kang Ji-a hesitated, fiddling with her phone. She checked the time, toyed with it aimlessly, then finally spoke.
"I heard you named Ha Su-yeong as the next Cult Leader."
"……Not finalized. Just provisional. Where'd you hear that?"
"From her."
Kang Ji-a handed me her phone. On the screen were messages between her and Ha Su-yeong.
Ha Su-yeong hadn't replied to Kang Ji-a's last message, so the chat ended there. I scrolled up to see more of their exchange. Mostly Ha Su-yeong teasing Kang Ji-a, and Kang Ji-a ignoring her to end it.
"You two seem close?"
It was odd seeing two people I'd pegged as total opposites texting like this.
Kang Ji-a's face stiffened.
"We're not."
"Looks like you are."
"Not at all."
She flatly denied it and snatched the phone back. I didn't know when they'd exchanged numbers, but they seemed pretty friendly. Since they might work together someday, I'd planned to force them to get along if needed—but these messages suggested otherwise.
"Anyway, is that why you're upset?"
"Not upset…… I'm not."
"Then?"
Kang Ji-a hesitated without answering. Maybe I'd pushed too hard; I was about to rephrase when she looked up.
"I don't think there was any need to rush naming a successor."
"See? You are upset about that."
"That's not it. I……."
Kang Ji-a trailed off. A faint look of panic crossed her face. She busied herself clearing the tableware to hide it—uncharacteristically flustered movements.
After tidying the table neatly, she sat primly across from me and continued.
"When do you plan to die, Cult Leader?"
(To be continued in the next chapter)