Glimpses of the Sorcery World (3)
A worker cleaning the Yeonmu-jang beckoned to his colleague.
"We gotta start clearing from here."
The man who approached peered down at the scorched floor. Faint heat still rose from the black, charred ashes that hadn't fully cooled.
"What the hell is this?"
When he prodded the ashes with his broom, a red afterimage flickered and vanished.
"This ain't just any fire, right? Looks like someone jammed something into a practice talisman."
"Crazy. There's still spiritual energy lingering. Someone already packing this much density this early?"
"Heard this year's freshmen lineup is insane. Probably that Kang Hak kid."
The men clicked their tongues in awe as they began sweeping. The ashes scattered away, but the scorch marks etched into the floor refused to fade easily.
*
'Phew, almost late.'
The examinees were filing down the stairs into the underground auditorium. I slipped casually to the tail end of the line.
'Natural as hell.'
No one noticed I'd lagged behind and just reappeared. Or maybe they didn't care.
The mockery cluttered my vision, but the "better this way" bit hit harder.
'Good, but kinda pisses me off for some reason.'
The underground auditorium was way bigger than I'd imagined. Was it even an auditorium? The ceiling soared endlessly high, walls were jagged rock faces, and far off, there was even a forest. It felt like they'd transplanted an entire massive cave.
'This is under the school?'
It defied common sense. But then again, I accepted it quick. Everything since earlier had been off the wall.
"Line up."
The proctor's voice on the platform echoed through the cave.
"The final gate is live combat."
Examinees' faces stiffened instantly.
"Is it dangerous?"
Someone asked in a trembling voice. The proctor replied coldly.
"The world of jujul has no word for 'safe.'"
Then assistants circulated, handing out hefty wooden swords one by one.
"What you're given is a training juggu."
It looked like an ordinary wooden blade at a glance, but something red was embedded in its surface. Probably jusa ink, too.
"How to use it is up to your judgment."
Brows furrowed everywhere. The jusa ink stuff earlier hadn't reacted at all—would this stick be any different?
"Alright, once everyone's got theirs, eyes front."
The proctor pointed toward the dark, shadowy forest deep in the cave.
"Inside there are yeong-ryeong and ma-mul managed by the academy. Handle them at will. Dismissed."
That was it. No further explanation, as usual.
*
The exam kicked off, and Kang Hak went berserk right away.
"Don't block the way—get the fuck outta my sight!"
His hands were empty. He'd chucked the issued juggu to the ground the second he got it.
"Why the hell would I need that toy?"
Kang Hak sneered and swung his fist. Each bare-knuckled punch laced with yeong-ryeok smashed yeong-ryeong and ma-mul skulls like melons, bursting them effortlessly.
To him, this wasn't an exam hall—it was a playground. He headbutted, kicked, and punched anything visible until it vanished. No efficiency, just raw power and instinct bulldozing like a tank.
Then his eyes locked on one person amid his solo show.
"You lot still on that shit this time?"
It was Baek Seo-rin. Even in the chaos, not a hair out of place, she gripped the issued wooden sword loosely in both hands.
"Figures. Can't do jack without a juggu. Your family's got that tradition down pat, huh."
Baek Seo-rin's eyes narrowed. But instead of snapping, she curled her lips into a smile.
"Better than a family that can't even use a good juggu properly, no?"
"What'd you just say?"
"Why're you flipping out? Wasn't talking about your family. Did it hit a nerve?"
The air grew taut. Kang Hak's gaze shifted to her hands.
"That in your grip looks like the one I tossed. Picking up trash a new tradition now?"
"Oh? Was that why you were picking a fight? Want it back?"
She offered one wooden sword with a playful eye-smile.
"But better me scavenging it than some hack holding it, right?"
The mirth drained from Kang Hak's face.
"Think I can't use it so I ditched it?"
"Who knows?"
"Gonna have to show you your place for sure."
"Give it a shot if you can. Looking forward to it."
Bloodshot rage filled Kang Hak's eyes. He skipped words for action.
A massive yeong-ryeong loomed ahead.
'That's mine.'
Boom! He kicked off the ground and leaped. Closing the gap in a blink, he wound up for a one-shot punch.
But—
Slash—!
Baek Seo-rin's wooden sword struck first. The yeong-ryeong split in half and scattered into mist before his fist connected.
Kang Hak froze, dumbfounded. Baek Seo-rin leisurely withdrew her blade right in front of him.
"......What the hell was that?"
"Figured you weren't even trying since you were so slow."
She beamed innocently.
"Too bad. Little faster and it'd have been yours."
"You got some fucking nerve."
"It's an exam—taking it with skill's the point, right? If you're mad, be quicker than me next time."
She twirled her sword lightly and turned her back. Kang Hak's face flushed purple. His smirk vanished, jaw muscles bulging.
"Everyone, move! Get out!"
No more playing around. He'd prove his dominance.
Kang Hak charged wildly toward every yeong-ryeong and ma-mul in sight. Propelled by near-fury. The playground had become a battlefield.
*
In a separate zone, away from them, Do-gyeol faced the bizarre, alien reality before him.
"Whoa, this is wild."
Strange entities floated in the air. Some like smoke, some ghosts, some beasts. Not scary— just weird. The idea of fighting them felt secondary to the shock that they even existed.
The chat split. Some said no sweat, others danger.
"Pick a lane, guys. Can't tell whose tempo to follow."
Right then, a yeong-ryeong shot toward Do-gyeol.
"......!"
He instinctively swung the issued juggu. But the wooden sword passed right through, slicing empty air.
Whoosh.
No impact—like swatting fog. The yeong-ryeong blurred briefly, then reformed, exhaling chill menace.
"This really a juggu?"
Not panicked, just questioning. Others were popping yeong-ryeong with theirs—why was his dud?
Sneers filled the gaps, but key lines stood out.
The backseat drivers were arguing now.
"How do you even make yeong-ryeok?"
"You guys nuts?"
He sighed, then paused. His eyes snagged a line.
Board's set?
Then counterarguments poured like a waterfall.
Do-gyeol dodged the yeong-ryeong while the chat grated on him. The flat "can't" declarations irked.
"Why not? You say impossible and I ever failed?"
"Hey, you lot."
A crooked smile tugged Do-gyeol's lips.
"What if I pull it off?"
The chat went dead silent for a beat. Then exploded in mockery.
The chat buzzed at that last one.
First time hearing the term, but the vibe heated up fast.
'What's Sigyeong anyway?'
Doubt aside, the bait stuck in his sight.
Do-gyeol grabbed it by the throat.
"Yo, Sigyeong dude. That's a deal, right?"
The chat hesitated, then replied.
"Deal."
Do-gyeol grinned. Theory didn't matter—feel it out. The key was drawing yeong-ryeok, but no tips needed there.
'I'm already getting the vibe.'
He readjusted his grip on the juggu.