Request (2) - Is It Really Okay to Just Order It Like That...
After Jo Min-je left, the chat window overflowed with worried nagging.
"He said he'd handle it himself."
Do-gyeol flopped onto his bed.
"He came to me desperate, and I just shared my know-how. The choice is his."
Do-gyeol was definitely lying down, but he didn't look idle.
"I've got my own stuff to do."
Shobi lay out in the room, looking a bit different from usual.
The quick-witted chat reacted first.
The chat's interpretations started splitting.
Do-gyeol tilted his head along with the question marks popping up in chat.
They've been reacting to the 'gradually releasing' part from before, so I figured they all knew...
Of course, some had asked if he was stitching his dantian with yeong-ryeok manipulation while maintaining the sync.
But I didn't realize they still thought that way.
As Do-gyeol pondered, the chat kept buzzing.
Shobi wasn't moving under Do-gyeol's control, nor was it out in its usual large form. It was just sitting there at a moderate size, slowly melting away yeong-ryeok.
"From now on, I'll try leaving it out whenever I'm alone. Got a hint from Ma's words."
"Nah, the opposite."
Do-gyeol turned to gaze at the quietly huddled Shobi.
"A guy who only moves when I tell him to isn't gonna develop a sense of self from one to ten."
It might become a good boy, but without someone assigning tasks, it'd wander lost without agency. No way that forms a proper ego.
"That's why what I'm doing now is laissez-faire. Ma said it himself—respect its problem-solving by letting it be."
Do-gyeol reached out and stroked Shobi.
"It'll take time for its head to grow, but this is my answer."
The chat was full of rare praise. But Do-gyeol just laced his fingers behind his head and let out a massive yawn.
"Whatever. If you wanna achieve something, you gotta try all sorts of ways until you do."
The next morning, the classroom buzzed.
"Is he copying Do-gyeol now?"
"Does he think he'll be like Do-gyeol just by doing that?"
At the center of the commotion was Jo Min-je, his face haggard, blue tape plastered over his nose and mouth.
As the chat cackled, Pi Yu-jun entered through the classroom door. His gaze naturally locked onto Jo Min-je.
...Why's he like that now.
Maybe he got inspired watching Do-gyeol's midterms practical footage.
Then, suddenly.
"Right, Do-gyeol."
Pi Yu-jun turned to him.
"You got picked as TA, right?"
The classroom erupted at the casual remark.
"T-, TA? Do-gyeol?!"
"That's insane. A first-year TA? That's historic."
"Well, punching through that wall in the practical makes sense."
"And what about manifesting yeong-ryeok orbs?"
The kids whispered, eyeing Do-gyeol with awe and envy.
Then Kang Hak snorted, arms crossed.
"Why bother with TA crap? Even if they asked, I wouldn't do it."
"Who'd ask you to be TA?"
"...What?"
Kang Hak whipped around, and Lee Seok-gyu, who'd muttered it, paled and waved his hands frantically.
"N-no...! I meant kids like you are too good to rot in a lab, so they should give you bigger, more destructive missions! Y-yeah, that's it!"
"Shut up, Lee Seok-gyu!"
Seong Yun-a cut in, and Lee Seok-gyu whispered to her.
"Thanks. If you hadn't jumped in, I'd be eating a fist right now."
"Quiet."
Pi Yu-jun slammed the desk next to the podium, silencing the room.
"Do-gyeol. Go see Teacher Ma Yong-beom now."
"Oh? You came?"
Opening the door to Ma Yong-beom's lab, Han Da-na greeted Do-gyeol with a bright smile.
"But what's up this early in the morning?"
"Teacher Ma called for me?"
"The professor did?"
As Han Da-na tilted her head, Ma Yong-beom burst out from the back.
"Oho, Student Do-gyeol! No, TA Do! You've arrived!"
Ma Yong-beom spread his arms wide in welcome.
"Grab any useful juggu you want!"
"Huh? Suddenly?"
Do-gyeol blinked in confusion, and Ma Yong-beom laughed heartily.
"Suddenly? I heard Da-na promised to take you on field trips?"
Han Da-na, sorting papers, snapped her head up in shock.
"No, Professor! Not this kind of mission today!"
"Eh? But you promised to always bring him on spirit control jobs?"
Ma Yong-beom widened his eyes.
"Even so, today's site needs delicate work, so it's an exception!"
Ma Yong-beom finally realized, his face falling.
"Ah, is that so? Hmm, my mistake. Then TA Do, head back for today."
"Wait!"
Do-gyeol quickly sized up the situation and blocked Han Da-na's path. His hands clasped demurely, eyes glistening like a kitten in boots.
"Please take me with you. I really wanna breathe some outside air."
"No. The promise and the situation are different."
"You promised too, sis! You said you'd always bring me on spirit control stuff. Breaking your word again?"
He poured on the pitiful desperation, even more shamelessly than Jo Min-je had.
Han Da-na glanced troubled between Ma Yong-beom and Do-gyeol, then sighed deeply.
"Haa... Fine."
"Yes!"
"But on one condition." Han Da-na pointed sternly at Do-gyeol. "You do nothing there. Just stick by my side and observe. Got it? Promise?"
"Yes! Of course!"
"You can really promise? No causing trouble. This is a warning, not a request."
Ma Yong-beom chuckled beside her and nodded.
"Right, it ties straight to your TA qualifications."
Do-gyeol didn't waver.
"I promise! I'll just breathe!"
Han Da-na relented reluctantly, shooting a glare at the culprit Ma Yong-beom. He slyly averted his eyes and addressed Do-gyeol.
"Ahem. Now that it's okay, grab a juggu. Even if you're staying put, better safe."
"Nah, I think I'm good without."
Do-gyeol smiled brightly and refused.
"No juggu I'm comfortable with yet, and I'll really just watch quietly."
"That happy about it?"
Han Da-na asked as she walked side-by-side with Do-gyeol through downtown.
"Morning air without class is ten times fresher than usual."
They arrived at a shopping alley with a "Flavor Street" sign. Han Da-na slapped a talisman on the blind spot behind a massive pillar at the entrance and nodded ahead.
"Let's go."
The alley's vibe was dismal, belying its name. Even for early morning before merchants opened, it felt too dead. Most shops had shutters down tight, empty spots plastered with "For Rent" signs everywhere.
"Super quiet."
"A curse sorcerer drained its vitality."
"Curse sorcerer?"
"Exactly what it sounds like—guys using sorcery to curse others. Money's all that matters; they don't care if people go bankrupt or miserable. Total scum."
Do-gyeol blinked.
"That time sis mentioned investigating curse sorcerer traces..."
"Don't worry. We're here for exorcism today, not investigation. Might collect some if we're lucky."
Han Da-na sighed at Do-gyeol.
"That's why I didn't wanna bring you. Spirits swarm in places like this—not just one or two. And if collection comes up and you go wild like last time, it'll wreck the local businesses even more."
As Do-gyeol nodded—
Sss...
A spirit crawled out from a shutter gap. Han Da-na whipped a palm-sized rectangular metal case from her hip pocket. The moment she popped the lid and palmed a capsule like a round pill—
Shaaak!
A thorny vine whip sprouted in her hand.
"Whoa."
As Do-gyeol admired, Han Da-na flicked her wrist lightly. The whip snaked out like a serpent, vaporizing the spirit in an instant.
"Ooh..."
Do-gyeol clapped, mouth agape.
"Already done?"
"Told you—not just one."
Then—
"You shouldn't go killing other people's familiars so brutally."
A man in a barbour coat strode out from deeper in the alley. He leered at Han Da-na and Do-gyeol alternately.
"Out training a student, huh? Talk about lucky. A pretty sis with a weakness in tow. I'm too damn fortunate."
The man licked his lips, eyes raking over Han Da-na's body. He tossed three talismans into the air.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
They burst, grotesque beasts landing neatly before him.
"Curse sorcerer," Han Da-na said lowly, stepping in front of Do-gyeol. "Get back."
She gripped her whip tight. The man sneered.
"How durable's that vine whip?"
He grinned sleazily and flung open his coat. It was lined with talismans packed tight.
"Will your cute little capsules run out first, or my familiar legion?"
Han Da-na swallowed hard. If all those summoned familiars, even she couldn't handle them alone while protecting Do-gyeol.
Then Do-gyeol stepped past her casually.
"Whoa, mister. All those in your coat are talismans that spawn spirits?"
The man cackled at Do-gyeol.
"Bringing a clueless kid who just gawks. This'll be easier than I thought."
"I told you to stay put!"
As Han Da-na yelled in horror—
Sssshhh—!
Ink spread from Do-gyeol's back. It writhed, quickly shaping into something like burning smoke, then gaped a horrific maw.
"Y-you, that's...!"
Han Da-na's eyes widened in shock.
"Why's it bigger than last time...!"
Do-gyeol turned calmly to her.
"Oh, this? Since the guy's threatening with familiars."
He faced forward again. The curse sorcerer, smug moments ago, had gone sheet-white.
"Mister, bring out all your spirits."
The man gulped.