The Alchemy of Soul Devouring (1)
Do-gyeol was bickering with the chat window the next morning.
"I did it! Tell me the next step already!"
He'd managed to maintain it for 24 hours straight. He'd even kept his nae-hoheup going in his sleep, something he'd previously lost hold of unconsciously. He'd gone beyond just clinging to it—he'd automated control over his spiritual power flow.
The chat was in full celebration mode. But Do-gyeol's brow furrowed deeply anyway.
"I don't need the praise—just tell me the next step."
He'd completed the promised quest, and they thought three claps would cut it? No way in hell.
"I know, I get it. It's like botching a blood transfusion and dying. Dangerous is dangerous, but a promise is a promise."
The chat bantered among themselves before finally getting to what Do-gyeol wanted.
"So how do I do that?"
Do-gyeol's lips curled up.
"As long as I pull it off, that's all that matters, right?"
"What?"
"Whether I join that handful is something I'll find out by trying. But hold up—if I just match the wavelength, isn't that it? What's so tricky?"
Do-gyeol nodded.
"Fine, whatever—I'll crank it out quick and hear the rest."
Now there was just one question left.
"So, what's this quest?"
*
"Why's that guy doing that again?"
"I've given up trying to understand."
"More importantly, isn't the direction of his hand kinda dangerous...?"
The Je-ryeong Class kids eyed Do-gyeol with concern. But he ignored them, stretching his hand toward... something.
No one else—just staring dead at Kang Hak, pulling off who-knows-what insane stunt. With total focus on his face.
'Cursing Kang Hak or something?'
Kang Hak's eyebrow twitched at the sight.
'What the hell did that bastard eat wrong?'
Last place in individual tests, taping shit up like some psycho practicing spiritual power control. He'd been ignoring him hard, figuring it'd drag down his own level just to talk. But...
'This is pissing me off too much.'
Kang Hak's gaze sharpened.
"Hey."
Right then, the front door opened, and Pi Yu-jun walked in.
"Good morning."
Do-gyeol's hand dropped naturally, and Kang Hak clicked his tongue, flicking his eyes out the window.
'Argh! I was so close!'
Do-gyeol wanted to clutch his head. The homeroom teacher had busted his focus.
'Tch...'
The chat's method was simple: shift Kang Hak's spiritual power.
'That's why they said it's basically impossible.'
Chat explained the difficulty of wavelength shift. Easier up close, harder at distance. Then: ambient spiritual power, spirits, beasts, yokai, sorcerers—in that order.
'Kang Hak's a sorcerer, and the farthest in the class.'
Plus, from a prestigious family, so top-tier spiritual power control—tough to interfere. Even spirits could be trickier depending on grade.
'But with my strong visualization, I should sense if I touch it or shift it.'
Master that freely, and you're 90% there.
'So focus on reaching that for now. I felt something, so there's hope.'
As Do-gyeol thought that, Pi Yu-jun eyed someone and spoke.
"Seo Tae-yun."
Following his gaze landed on a cold-faced guy.
"You're Je-ryeong Class class president starting today. Based on yesterday's test rankings—accept it. No big duties, so don't stress."
No one objected.
"Duties? Greet at class start, report if anyone's off, schedule cleaning, pass announcements, run my errands sometimes, and..."
No duties, my ass...
"Knew it. Worth tanking to 2nd on purpose."
Baek Seo-rin's lips twitched at Kang Hak's words.
"Oh yeah? That WWE flex of 'I'm actually 1st!' while popping a vein was gold."
"Shut it."
"Hak, watch your mouth in front of teacher."
"Both of you quit barking."
Pi Yu-jun added tiredly.
"Class pres picked. Next, team assignments."
[Team 1: 1st, 6th, 12th]
[Team 2: 2nd, 8th, 9th]
[Team 3: 3rd, 7th, 10th]
[Team 4: 4th, 5th, 11th]
'No names, just this crap?'
Last place stung enough without that. Do-gyeol grumbled, eyes shifting from board to Seo Tae-yun.
'He's the 1st... Who's 6th?'
Then Baek Seo-rin raised her hand.
"Teams 1 and 2 sum to 19. 3 and 4 to 20—balance issue?"
"1st and 2nd bonus. Good enough. Doesn't split even, so drop it."
Pi Yu-jun waved dismissively.
"Teams stick till midterms—adapt fast. On that note, team mission today."
He left after saying meet afternoon class, and kids buzzed immediately.
"Yo, 8th and 9th—who?"
Two raised hands timidly at Kang Hak.
"Which of you is 8th or 9th? Whatever. I'll carry—don't drag."
Meanwhile, a girl beamed over to Do-gyeol.
"Gyeol! We're teammates! Awesome!"
It was Yun Ga-eun.
*
"First team mission: time attack, as expected."
Kang Hak snorted at Pi Yu-jun's words.
'Not falling for it twice.'
Fooled once is the fool's fault; twice, you're the fool. Raised hearing that nonstop—no way he'd be that.
"Counts toward grades. High-rankers: learn to move considering teammates. Low-rankers: study strong teammates' judgment and action. Opportunity."
Pi Yu-jun eyed Kang Hak.
"Clear criteria this time—no bitching."
Not explicit, but obvious if you had brains: teamwork over records.
Secret test again. Do-gyeol's team with Seo Tae-yun went first.
"I'll lead. You check info center, you guard rear."
Seo Tae-yun directed blankly. No disdain for teammates—just dry 'teammates' gaze.
"Got it."
"Yep!"
Seo Tae-yun was fast. Not just feet—decisions. No hesitation at forks.
"Shortest this way."
Do-gyeol just followed.
'Smooth ride.'
Then—
"Hold up."
As Seo Tae-yun reached for a door, Yun Ga-eun stopped him.
"Why?"
"Don't you see ahead?"
A spirit crouched before the giant iron door, shrouded in black mist, sleeping.
"No need to fight."
"Not the issue."
Yun Ga-eun rapid-fired.
"Guardian barrier spirit. Touch door, illusion barrier triggers. Kill it, same."
"Backtrack?"
"Detour. Map skips it, but hole in wall over there. Senior secret route."
She pointed.
But Seo Tae-yun countered.
"One takes illusion, other two carry—faster."
"No! Teacher said teamwork over time! Sacrificing won't fly."
Yun Ga-eun firm.
"Illusion variables unknown. Could drag if they fight carry."
"Know it's illusion—stay put."
"Easier said."
Seo Tae-yun pondered, then nodded. No point risking teammates' reactions.
"Fine. Detour."
He turned.
Do-gyeol skimmed blankly.
'Tempting if they're right...'
But no dying for minor eval. If Griffin dorm or camp score dump at end, he'd regret passing.
'Rare to meet sleeping spirit too.'
Even dragged by Seo Tae-yun, he'd try once to satisfy.
"Yun Ga-eun."
"Yeah?"
"Touching it okay?"
"Huh? Uh, long as no door touch or kill..."
Do-gyeol approached the sleeping spirit.
"Wait, Gyeol! Not touching, right?"
"Said it's fine."
"True, but..."
Yun Ga-eun's eyes widened. Seo Tae-yun turned, urging.
"Do-gyeol, what? Time's wasting. Hurry."
"Sec. Quick."
Do-gyeol reached for the spirit.
Seo Tae-yun's face twisted faintly. First crack in composure, but he suppressed anger, voice calm.
"Let's go. Already late..."
"Gyeol! What'd you do?!"
Behind Yun Ga-eun's shout, her and Seo Tae-yun's eyes bulged.
Shhh.
Like cotton candy melting in water, the spirit's form sucked into Do-gyeol's palm.
'Huh?'
Matching wavelength felt like this? Gears clicked perfectly—I pulled without thinking.
"Yeah...? What'd I do...?"
Do-gyeol blankly stared at his hand.