First Day: Jade Rabbit in the Tiger's Den
Cheongram Jujul Academy teachers' conference room.
"The top scorer in the entrance exam is this kid, huh."
"Even Teacher Pi Yu-jun has sharp eyes, but I was skeptical when he was so confident about the results before the exam."
"Well, no need to agonize—just assign him to Je-ryeong Class."
The teachers all agreed on one student. But the meeting topic quickly bounced elsewhere.
"Speaking of which, what do we do about this headache?"
Someone slid a single sheet of paper to the center of the table. The photo showed a male student—Do-gyeol—grinning cheekily as he dashed across Yeongdo.
"We only passed him because he didn't run from the third gate, but isn't he basically failing?"
"True, bravery without ability is pretty much stupidity."
"Why overthink it? Just assign him to Do-ryeong Class based on his exam scores..."
That was when the man sucking on a lollipop raised his hand.
"I'll take that kid."
All eyes in the conference room snapped to him.
"Huh? You, Yu-jun?"
"Teacher Pi handles Je-ryeong Class."
"That kid won't keep up."
It defied common sense—like tossing a rabbit into a tiger's den. But Pi Yu-jun just shrugged.
"Who knows? Maybe he's a jade rabbit that devours tigers."
"You'll get sick testing everything by tasting it first."
"Don't worry about that."
Pi Yu-jun's lips curled slightly.
"I've already tasted him."
*
"Je-ryeong... Je-ryeong...."
Muttering to himself, Do-gyeol's footsteps halted abruptly before a door plaque.
[1 - Je-ryeong]
"This is it."
Creak.
Do-gyeol opened the door without hesitation. The classroom inside was just your standard schoolroom—desks, chairs, and kids already seated.
"What? How's that kid in our class?"
"Who's he?"
"The one who couldn't even imprint a flame on a talisman."
"Dude, you think they'd put a kid like that in Je-ryeong Class? You must've seen wrong."
"Maybe...."
What nonsense is this? Do-gyeol wondered. It wasn't some genius track—class assignments were random anyway.
Dropout material, maybe.
But that thought didn't linger. Do-gyeol's attention shifted elsewhere.
Where to sit?
The dilemma didn't last. A good student sits front row, listens intently to the teacher, focuses on class. Obviously.
Wanna hear class already.
He plopped down in the front row, dead center right before the teacher's desk—and even he was surprised at himself. A day itching for class? Wild.
Do-gyeol breezily ignored the incoming chat and scanned the room. His eyes landed on Baek Seo-rin, seated up front like him.
Oh, familiar face.
But no sign of the other familiar one. Kang Hak—different class?
Do-gyeol's head tilted in question—
Bang!
The door flew open with a crash. Kang Hak strode in, no hesitation. He beelined for the back row by the window and flopped down.
"Hey, front-row nerd."
Me?
Do-gyeol reacted, but Kang Hak's glare was elsewhere.
"You were grinning like an idiot before, showing teeth all excited. Now no answer when I call? What's up, young master of the tape-carry clan?"
"Oh, you calling me? Didn't know you pegged me as a nerd. Thanks, slimy."
"......What?"
Kang Hak shot up from his seat and started stomping over. Sparks about to fly—
The front door burst open.
"Hey, hey. No barking first thing in the morning—sit."
A man with a lollipop in his mouth entered, voice lazy. He headed straight to the blackboard, scrawled Pi Yu-jun in big letters, then eyed the class.
"That's your homeroom teacher's name on the board. That's me."
He pulled the lollipop out and added,
"Intros done. Class starts now."
The students buzzed in confusion.
"Come on, class on day one?"
"No orientation?"
"What about dorm assignments?"
Pi Yu-jun popped the lollipop back in, looking annoyed.
"No orientation or whatever. Dorms after class. No more questions."
He erased his name and wrote two new words: Breathing.
"My turn to ask. Anyone know why people breathe?"
"To breathe."
"Why do humans need to breathe?"
The room went quiet.
"Cells use oxygen to make energy. But for sorcerers?"
"Oxygen's just a favorite snack."
"Right. Not essential."
Ooh! Do-gyeol's eyes sparkled, hanging on his homeroom teacher's every word. Whatever this is, it's badass!
"High-level sorcerers breathe underwater, in poison gas. They use yeong-ryeok instead of oxygen."
Murmurs rose from the back.
"We all know that."
"Why split classes then?"
Pi Yu-jun smirked at the whiners.
"All know? Yeah, most of you prepped ahead."
Wait, this really is a genius class? Do-gyeol realized. Everyone knew but me.
So why'd they put me here? Am I a sorcery genius? Secret elite? Uwahaha!
"So basic theory class is childish and boring since you all know it. Right?"
"Obviously. Day one class, but not starting from addition."
Addition, huh. Pi Yu-jun's lips twisted further.
"Then prove it."
Pi Yu-jun casually swung his arm.
Instantly—
Whummm!
The classroom air shifted. Ears rang, chests tightened—everyone felt it immediately.
"Guhk...?!"
Gulping noises everywhere. No air. Oxygen density plummeted, replaced by thick, heavy yeong-ryeok. Like drowning.
Pi Yu-jun rolled his lollipop, leaning back against the blackboard.
"Don't flail your lungs. You'll suffocate faster."
"Hahk, heuk...."
"Circulate your stored yeong-ryeok. Feed energy direct to every cell. You cocky brats should manage. Can't hack it? Nurse's office."
Day one and this? Complains addition's boring, gets slammed with 300k-digit sums.
The students panicked but switched gears fast. Kang Hak endured, red haze billowing from him. Baek Seo-rin closed her eyes, regulating breath meditatively.
Everyone kicked off Nae-hoheup—their lifelong practice. Open the internal yeong-ryeok tank, burn it instead of oxygen.
The problem? Do-gyeol.
Gurk....
Is this psycho for real? No internal yeong-ryeok here—what now?!
Vision blurring. Not daze—tears of injustice welling.
Freshly enrolled and already trying to kill me.
Do-gyeol frantically scrolled the chat like a lifeline.
But sifting useful advice from the frantic spam? Tough.
This way it's not fainting—it's death....
Can't die like this. Bucket list unfinished.
Then—a chill in his head. Solution clicked.
Use the setup already in place.
Right. Not produce—use. Pull from the yeong-ryeok filling this room.
No stored yeong-ryeok? Borrow it. This heavy aura crushing him.
Do-gyeol's eyes calmed instantly.
Come in.
Done it before. Open every orifice. Not just nose/mouth—every skin pore.
Don't resist the pressure. Accept it.
Suuuuuck—!
A whooshing hallucination. Tidal wave surging into his body.
The chat exploded. But Do-gyeol didn't stop. Couldn't. His body craved the thirst-quenching yeong-ryeok.
Thump! Thump! Thump! Heart pounding eardrums, cold fingertips heating up. Head clearing—no oxygen, yet sharp. Like mainlining high-conc caffeine.
This feels amazing....
Suffocation gone. Body swelling, bursting with energy instead.
That was when Pi Yu-jun peeled off the blackboard. His gaze locked straight on Do-gyeol.
Check this kid out?