Heart Force (1)
Yun Ga-eun was walking down the dormitory corridor when she spotted Seo Tae-yun in the distance. He's probably heading back to his room now. Then, suddenly, her head tilted. But isn't that the direction of Do-gyeol's room?
Curiosity propelled her feet forward on their own. I shouldn't do this, Yun Ga-eun. Her mind screamed at her to stop, but her sneaking footsteps wouldn't obey. And before long...
Seo Tae-yun actually knocked on Do-gyeol's door.
Gasp! Even from a distance where her breathing shouldn't be audible, she held her breath. That's when Do-gyeol emerged from inside.
"What's up?"
"The thing you suggested in the infirmary."
"You shot it down at first."
"Changed my mind."
Their quiet conversation echoed softly down the hall. Do-gyeol grinned and flung the door wide open.
"Suits me fine. Come in."
Seo Tae-yun stepped inside, and the door shut behind him. Yun Ga-eun, who had witnessed the whole exchange, felt her face burn crimson.
What the— Seo Tae-yun...! Was he just putting on an act yesterday in the infirmary because I was there?!
She clutched her flaming cheeks with both hands and squatted right there on the spot.
No, no... It, it could be a misunderstanding... If she just spied a little longer—a tiny bit more—she was sure the misunderstanding would clear up.
*
"So, what was this new practice you wanted to try?"
At Seo Tae-yun's direct question, Do-gyeol perched on the edge of the bed and flexed his hands.
"A few things, but I'll say this upfront. It might hurt more than last time, so feel free to back out."
"Like you said, more experience means getting used to it faster."
Do-gyeol flashed a satisfied smile at Seo Tae-yun's indifferent reply. This guy's study ethic is top-notch, as always.
"Specifically, I want to feel the difference between when the target resists and when they don't."
Do-gyeol extended his hand, adding, "I'll push mine in, so resist with full power first."
Seo Tae-yun silently opened his palm and pressed it against Do-gyeol's.
"Here goes."
Do-gyeol closed his eyes and focused on controlling his yeong-ryeok flow. He reversed the absorption sensation, attempting to inject his own spiritual power into Seo Tae-yun's body.
But...
Urgh... It was like the flow was completely blocked—nothing moved.
"Can't get in when you're resisting. Doesn't hurt, right?"
"Doesn't feel like anything's coming in, so nah."
As Seo Tae-yun replied calmly, a voice came from outside the door.
"Yun Ga-eun, what are you doing here?"
Seo Tae-yun and Do-gyeol's heads turned toward the door in unison. Do-gyeol jumped up and yanked it open.
"...?"
In the hallway stood Yun Ga-eun, her face beet red, finger pressed to her lips in a shushing pose, frozen stiff. Next to her, Lee Seok-gyu was snickering.
"What, eavesdropping on the boys' room? Ooh~ Yun Ga-eun~ Naughty girl~"
"I-I was just worried about my teammates...!"
"If you're worried about teammates, why plaster your ear to the door..."
Before Lee Seok-gyu could finish, Yun Ga-eun's foot lashed out.
Wham! With a crisp sound, his body flew down to the end of the hall.
"What the hell was that guy saying! Guys, that was a misunderstanding, total misunderstanding! Y-you get it, right?!"
Yun Ga-eun whipped around, sweating bullets. Do-gyeol and Seo Tae-yun just stared at her wordlessly.
Then, as if struck by a sudden idea, Do-gyeol's eyes lit up with interest.
"Yun Ga-eun seems like she'd take it well even if she resisted?"
"...Wha-wha-what?!"
Yun Ga-eun's eyes shook like there was an earthquake.
"Wanna come in and try?"
Do-gyeol beckoned innocently.
"I-I've never done it before!"
She backpedaled frantically.
"First time's the best."
"Kyaaaaah!"
Yun Ga-eun finally bolted, hands clamped over her face.
"...Why's she acting like that?"
Do-gyeol muttered. Beside him, Seo Tae-yun—who'd been equally baffled—frowned as some unpleasant image crossed his mind.
"That idiot."
*
The next afternoon, as lunch was winding down, the Je-ryeong Class kids were buzzing about yesterday's practical.
"But Do-gyeol, even if it was a siksin, that thing was seriously badass."
"You don't actually think that was a real siksin, do you?"
The 4th team's leader scolded him pityingly.
"Wasn't a siksin? Then what was it?"
"Pure yeong-ryeok, dummy."
"It wasn't a siksin, just a blob of spiritual power?"
"Everyone was so busy trash-talking it with hazy eyes, and you didn't notice? Classic 11th place."
The 11th-ranked guy from 4th team's eyes rolled back, then bulged wide.
"No way, fuck! That makes it even more OP, right? We should've been lining up instead of blocking it, you morons!"
"...Oh, yeah?"
"We're screwed! Blinded by jealousy, we missed a real golden rope! Hey, is the canteen open? Grab some snacks!"
Moments later, as Do-gyeol entered the classroom.
Rush!
The same kids who'd protested it as cheating yesterday swarmed his desk, arms loaded with bread, milk, snacks, and drinks.
"D-Do-gyeol! You were so cool yesterday!"
"Yeah! Seeing that taught us something!"
"Not that it's full repayment or anything..."
They piled tribute high on his desk.
"Oh, thanks. I'll dig in."
Do-gyeol didn't question their sudden shift for even a second. Truth be told, he hadn't even listened to what they were saying—but even if he had, it wouldn't have changed a thing.
"Hey, why mix strawberry milk and chocolate milk?"
"Blending."
"That's... insane. Genius move! Gotta try that next time."
"Wanna try now?"
"Sure, why not."
Baek Seo-rin watched with a smirk. For someone with monstrous talent, he's ridiculously simple.
Meanwhile, Yun Ga-eun's mind was still a whirlwind of chaos.
They were ignoring Do-gyeol yesterday, and now this? No way they...
She shook her head vigorously. Ugh! It's all because of that weird crap I overheard! Get out of my head! No more dirty thoughts!
She slapped a talisman onto her forehead.
"Why'd she suddenly stick a talisman on her head?"
"Playing jiangshi or something."
"Leave her. Her whole team's weird. Probably infected by Do-gyeol."
One whispering kid flinched and clamped his mouth shut. Do-gyeol was right there, chomping away at bread.
"Ah, Do-gyeol! What I said just now, I didn't mean it bad... Your positive energy's just contagious...!"
He broke out in cold sweat, scrambling to explain.
But Do-gyeol, cheeks bulging with bread, beamed back innocently.
"Huh? What?"
"N-Nothing! Eat up, haha!"
The kid forced an awkward laugh, sighed in relief, and scurried back to his seat.
That's when Seo Tae-yun approached Yun Ga-eun's desk.
"Yun Ga-eun."
Just her name made her shoulders hunch and jolt in terror.
"M-Me? Wh-Why?"
"Just in case: Me and Do-gyeol didn't do anything weird like you're imagining."
"I-I wasn't thinking anything! So I don't even know what you... m-mean..."
She averted her eyes, trailing off. As Seo Tae-yun opened his mouth in exasperation, Pi Yu-jun entered.
"Class starts now. Sit."
Pi Yu-jun stood at the podium and scrawled Heart Force boldly on the board with chalk.
"What pops into your head first when you hear 'jujul'?"
"Curses."
"Right. Most think of curses. But jujul isn't just curses. It encompasses blessings, prayers, fortune and misfortune alike. And this Heart Force is the core power source bridging blessings and curses."
He tapped the board.
"If yeong-ryeok is the five elements, Heart Force is yin and yang. If yeong-ryeok is innate looks, Heart Force is cultivated mindset."
His clear voice continued.
"Even with similar looks and upbringing, some turn positive, others negative. The resulting mental forms—or heart images—completely alter one's sorcerous aptitude."
Do-gyeol's eyes sparkled. Finally, the stuff I've been dying to hear.
"Of course, just like yeong-ryeok defies simple five-element boxes with its nuances, Heart Force isn't just positive vs. negative."
He met the students' eyes.
"But the key is this: Heart Force amplifies spell potency exponentially when fused with yeong-ryeok. That's a sorcerer's 'true heart.'"
Someone raised a hand.
"Is that what 'go all out' means?"
Pi Yu-jun shook his head.
"Full power and true heart are different. Full power drains yeong-ryeok to zero. True heart pours out the soul. But remember: Handle Heart Force with far more care than yeong-ryeok. It recovers much slower."
He rolled the lollipop in his mouth.
"A broken body heals with rest. A broken mind? Even sorcerers struggle to get out of bed the next day."
"So, like mental strength?"
"No. Mental fatigue from math is nothing like heartbreak from betrayal—the recovery times differ wildly."
The kids nodded solemnly.
"Overuse Heart Force, and you veer into danger. Excess in good or bad is never wise. It can spark evolution—from vengeful fury to protective resolve."
Pi Yu-jun's gaze sharpened.
"But harboring malice long-term twists your worldview. Your self warps—like becoming a malevolent ghost."
He set the chalk down with a clack.
"Heart Force is easiest to wield toward others—and easiest to abuse. Overload it, and your heart bursts from the strain. Quite literally burning through your heart."
His eyes flicked to Kang Hak.
"Avoid needless Heart Force use. True masters shine not in unleashing power, but reining it in."
He slowly erased the board.
"The one who doesn't rage when anger surges. Not faking restraint, but erasing internal emotions entirely. Only then can you wield pure Heart Force untethered to others."
One kid tilted his head.
"Heart Force not aimed at others?"
"Exactly. Focused solely on yourself and your goals. That's Heart Force's pinnacle."
Pi Yu-jun rolled his lollipop, adding, "Emotions usually need external triggers. Can't just summon movie-induced rage—lacks true heart."
Baek Seo-rin nodded.
"Baek Seo-rin, you look like you get it. Explain."
"You can't transplant rage from wanting to kill a drama villain onto a real enemy."
"Why?"
"No sorcerous intent forms. Targeting fails. Forcing it by overlaying the enemy on the villain taints it with external emotion—not pure inner Heart Force."
"Spot on."
Pi Yu-jun's lips curved in approval.
"Master your emotions perfectly. But don't bottle rage when needed, or tears when sad. Feel fully, but shut the tap when unnecessary."
The class heated up.
"Can you erase 'I want to kill' amid fury? That control separates the elite."
He scanned the room.
"Most sorcerers swap shallow Heart Force toward others for raw power. But denser yin-yang Heart Force devours the self. Especially since yokai and demons spawn from yeong-ryeok and Heart Force—be vigilant."
Pi Yu-jun wrapped up.
"Pure longing for a doll to live. Naming objects from loneliness, talking to them endlessly."
"Wilson?"
"Yes. Unwitting jujul and Heart Force manifestation. Jujul isn't just curses— all true hearts, positive or negative, are its root."
The classroom fell silent. Everyone pondered the heavy theory.
But not Do-gyeol. His mind echoed not with warnings, but one mad hypothesis.
"Teacher! So it's all Heart Force granting life force, right?"
"Correct. Hence the caution."
That confirmed it.
Infusing Heart Force into yokai—or rather, inanimate objects—is possible...
Do-gyeol's gaze dropped to his navel.
Then my yeong-ryeok, and the sayeong-ryeong I made from it...
His lips curled into a grin.
Maybe I can grant them egos, like Seo Tae-yun's tropical fish?