Spiritual Power Manipulation (1)
“Groooan! This melt-in-your-mouth flavor!”
Juices burst forth, wrapping his tongue in savory oil. With every chew, the rich meaty aroma melted away his fatigue like it had been washed clean. Do-gyeol chewed contentedly. Han Da-na stared at him, her face still etched with disbelief.
……No matter how I think about it, it doesn’t add up.
The yokai Do-gyeol had faced. Pinpointing the core of a beast that size was exhausting work. Even someone like Han Da-na could roughly locate it in no time.
But the key is destroying it precisely.
Imagine searching a beach for a coin. First, you sweep with a metal detector to find the spot. Then, you dig it up for sure. And yokai? They move and fight back nonstop. Even if you nail the core area, obliterating it in one shot isn’t easy.
Yet it didn’t look like a lucky fluke.
Eyes full of certainty. Movements brimming with conviction. That’s what she’d seen in Do-gyeol.
“……How the hell did you do it?”
“Do what?”
“Catch that yokai. How’d you know that was the core right off the bat?”
Do-gyeol shrugged it off casually.
“It was pulsing. I could feel the beat.”
Han Da-na was even more flabbergasted.
“That’s why I’m amazed! Pinpointing the faint pulse from that massive lump? Even a doctor would need a stethoscope a few times, you monster.”
Do-gyeol’s shoulders tensed with pride.
“Oh, so that’s how impressive it was?”
Then it hit him.
“By the way, sis. When you handed off that cursed sorcerer earlier… why didn’t you take the talismans in his coat? Can we get them later?”
Han Da-na blinked.
“……Those were fakes.”
“Huh?”
“You didn’t know they were fake and chased him anyway?”
“They were fakes?”
Do-gyeol’s eyes went blank.
“They said real-world newbies fall for crap like that. Guess it’s true.”
“I thought you saw him running and realized it was a decoy talisman, then pursued.”
“Nah, he didn’t pull out everything, so I figured…”
“So you chased him blind, thinking those hundreds were all real yokai-summoning talismans?”
Do-gyeol nodded blankly. Her voice rose at his nonchalance.
“What if they were real? What if it was a trap to lure you in?!”
“That would’ve been even better.”
“Don’t say it so lightly! You always gotta consider the worst case—enemies beyond your level waiting!”
At her earnest scolding, Do-gyeol scratched his head.
“You’re right, sis.”
“Exactly, so next time…”
“But what’s the alternative? Die trying? You just go for it if it seems doable.”
He picked up another piece of meat.
“Perfect moments never come.”
Han Da-na’s mouth hung open, flapping wordlessly.
What kind of guy is this…?
*
“Everyone eat a good lunch?”
Pi Yu-jun stood at the podium, scanning the class.
“I mentioned it when I showed Do-gyeol’s midterms footage, right? Today’s Yeong-ryeok manipulation lesson.”
Someone raised a hand.
“Teacher, Do-gyeol’s still not here.”
Eyes turned to the empty seat. He’d skipped all morning—planning to ditch afternoon too?
Lucky bastard!
Pi Yu-jun glanced at the spot.
“It’s fine. Do-gyeol’s probably just…”
“I’m back!”
The back door flew open as Do-gyeol dashed in. Pi Yu-jun’s lips curved faintly.
External mission dragged on—he could’ve legally skipped afternoon.
That raw enthusiasm. Greed for knowledge and power. Pi Yu-jun liked it.
“Do-gyeol, what’d you do on TA duty?”
“Whoa, smells like meat. Beef for lunch?”
“Damn, I’m jealous.”
Pi Yu-jun slammed the podium amid the murmurs.
“Quiet. Do-gyeol, sit. Class starts now.”
As silence fell, Pi Yu-jun pulled the lollipop from his mouth. He let go—and it floated, orbiting him like a satellite.
“Ooh……”
A few kids gasped softly.
“Yeong-ryeok manipulation means injecting Yeong-ryeok into inanimate objects to control them like limbs.”
He snatched the lollipop back.
“Inject Yeong-ryeok into things, and you can remote-control them. Loose Yeong-ryeok in the air scatters easy, but a vessel like this drops the difficulty big time.”
He glanced at Do-gyeol.
“Unless it’s specially treated like Jusa ink to hold Yeong-ryeok, keeping it in everyday objects long ain’t easy.”
Lee Seok-gyu asked eagerly.
“Teacher! So could you whistle like Yundu and whip arrows around?”
“You could.”
Pi Yu-jun smirked.
“Efficiency tanks hard, though.”
“Why’s efficiency drop?”
“Reasons galore. First, opponent gets a shot at it.”
He drew two circles on the board, connecting them.
“Say you pump Yeong-ryeok into an arrow and launch it. Enemy sorcerer shoves theirs in? What happens?”
“They take control?”
“Bingo. Arm-wrestling. Whoever pumps more wins. Your weapon turns on you in a flash.”
Kids nodded.
“Plus, farther from your body, control skyrockets in difficulty. Pour extra for speed or pierce?”
“More Yeong-ryeok to manage, so harder.”
“Right. And not done—holding scattering Yeong-ryeok fries your brain with fatigue. Focus splits, consumption spikes.”
He tapped the board.
“That’s why sticking to your spells or smashing with sturdy weapons is safer and deadlier.”
Do-gyeol nodded inwardly.
True. For Seo Tae-yun or me, controlling swordfish or shovels beats floating a sword.
Still, without real attacks……
“Fine for noobs without attack skills, but higher-grade spirits laugh it off.”
Pi Yu-jun nailed it shut.
“Forget sorcerers reinforcing their bodies with Yeong-ryeok.”
“Then why learn?”
“Like your hated core subjects, sorcerers need miscellaneous skills for the right moment.”
He eyed the class.
“Not just instant life-hacks. Insights from ‘useless’ tricks evolve your spells.”
“……”
“Value depends on the user’s head. Bike rider vs. car driver who can’t bike. Driving? Same. Sudden crisis? That gap decides life or death.”
Explanation over—practice time. Desks pushed aside, ten sponge cubes lined up in the center, touching but separate.
“Simple drill.”
Pi Yu-jun held a spare sponge.
“Palm only on the first. Inject Yeong-ryeok into all, link the flow like a line, lift ’em like a log.”
Murmurs rose.
“Light as hell, so anyone lifts one with focus. Linking ten steady? Different story.”
“Key’s the connection. Manipulation’s advanced Yeong-ryeok control. Like skewering on invisible rods.”
Practice began.
“Team leaders first, as usual.”
Team 4’s leader stepped up tensely, palming the first sponge. It floated. Then two, three followed like magnetized.
“Ooh!”
“Four incoming!”
But the fourth wobbled—plink. Flow broke; three dangled from his hand.
“Ahh! Damn!”
“Three’s solid.”
Light awe rippled. Three was impressive.
“Good. Next, Team 3—Baek Seo-rin.”
Baek Seo-rin touched lightly. Soon—shhrrrrk! One through nine rose straight, tenth barely grounded.
“Insane!”
“Baek Seo-rin’s nuts!”
“Her fine control’s unmatched.”
Kids marveled.
“Next. Team 2—Kang Hak.”
Kang Hak touched boredly.
Pfft, blast Yeong-ryeok in, they’ll all float.
Boom! First sponge exploded.
“Cough, cough! You psycho!”
“Snow’s falling. Yellow flakes.”
“Shut it, Lee Seok-gyu!”
Kids freaked under sponge bits.
“Grenade intent? Pass. Dud? Fail.”
“Argh!”
Kang Hak ruffled his hair in frustration.
“What’s so flimsy? Not my body—can’t gauge limits!”
“Learn control, then. Next.”
Seo Tae-yun. Shooo. Ten sponges rose flawlessly, like one piece.
“Holy…”
“Ten full clear?!”
“Yeong-ryeok control beats Baek Seo-rin? Real?”
Eyes widened. Baek Seo-rin watched intrigued.
Leaders done. Now members.
“Team 4—Jo Min-je.”
Team 4’s dead last headed up amid jeers.
“One’s a miracle for him.”
“C’mon, anyone lifts one.”
“Our pride! Jo Min-je fighting!”
“Don’t flop!”
Team 4 teased jokingly. But Jo Min-je was unfazed, venom in his eyes.
Mock away. Results’ll shut you up.
Trembling hand on first sponge.
“Hoo……”
Deep breath, Yeong-ryeok extended. He felt it—sponge’s edges, voids. Linked them.
Swish. Swish. First floated, two, three trailed. Fourth vibrated—the leader’s failure point.
“Huh? Wait……”
Team 4’s faces stiffened.
“Go, Jo Min-je! Let’s goooo!”
Lee Seok-gyu cheered, fist pumped. Jo Min-je gritted harder, squeezing remaining Yeong-ryeok.
Don’t break, please!
Shooo.
Finally, the fourth sponge bobbed into the air.