Yeonhwa Must Be Disciplined
The basic mechanics of spirit magic.
The Spirit Contractor designates a target.
The spirit accomplishes the designated goal using the Contractor’s mana.
What is the problem in the process above?
One, two, three?
“What the hell is wrong with this guy?”
“I don’t have a single proper target… I’m just a useless, incompetent piece of trash.”
“…Is it both of them?”
Know yourself.
In that sense, they understood themselves well.
I summoned Seiren, pulled her into my arms, and continued speaking.
“First, Yeonhwa. It’s true that her spirit has a low IQ.”
“Hey, you heard that? So it’s a little bit better—”
“—After all, spirit intelligence is affected by the user’s intelligence.”
“......What?”
The face froze solid.
But don’t get too disappointed.
“Warriors are said to be more effective when their heads are a bit empty.”
“…Are you mocking me right now?”
“It’s a compliment.”
“Don’t compliment anyone. Your face is going to crack from all this.”
I don’t have to deal with this kind of crap in front of others anyway.
I stepped up to Yeonhwa’s spirit and offered my hand.
[Si…?!]
The fire lizard trembled violently, face pressed flat to the floor.
The lizard looked at my hand, then at my face…
[Si…iit!]
Fwooosh!
“..........”
It blasted flames straight at my face.
“Hah… huhaahot! You were acting so high and mighty, yet here you are, a burnt charcoal chicken!”
The teasing laugh of Yeonhwa.
I didn’t get flustered at all and immediately grabbed the lizard by the back of its neck.
“Listen up. Anyone who tries to harm others must be ready to face the same fate themselves.”
[Sit…?!]
Incidentally, the flames didn’t reach my body.
The reason was simple.
“Seiren.”
[Bad kids get punished!]
[Si—iit?!?!]
Pooowaaaah!!
Seiren unleashed a torrent of water straight at the fire lizard.
After a refreshing shower, the lizard thrashed wildly, screaming for mercy.
But I wasn’t letting it go. Who would ever release it?
‘Fire spirits are especially like that.’
Unlike water spirits that merge and strengthen with other spirits, fire spirits have a strict predator-prey relationship.
So, before any conversation, you have to firmly establish the dominance hierarchy.
“Keep going. Keep going.”
[Bad kid! Bad kidiii!!!]
[Si…iit…!!]
“You still gonna act tough?”
[……Si.]
The lizard only turned its head sideways.
They should just kill me already.
Looking at this, the closest intimacy was clearly between these two.
“Come back to your owner’s arms.”
[Sit. Si…iiiiiit!!!]
With arms spread wide, the lizard leaped toward Yeonhwa.
The pitiful sight made Yeonhwa instinctively scoop it up into her embrace.
“Ah shit. You got me wet.”
[Sit… Si…iit…]
“Where did you get hit and now you’re whining like that?”
[Si…iit…]
“Tch. It’s a compliment. It’s a compliment.”
I thought she’d just throw it away since it was wet, but instead she was holding it and gently rocking it side to side.
Our bond was clearly good. Even though she looked rough, the rapport was there.
So I wasn’t going to hold back anymore.
I stroked Seiren’s face and spoke to Yeonhwa and the lizard.
“You want to get stronger?”
“!,… Why ask the obvious?”
“It’s obvious, but I have to ask.”
Yeonhwa.
You’re weaker than me.
You know that, right?
“…What exactly do you want to say?”
“It’s simple. There are now two paths in front of you.”
One is a peaceful, relaxed but sure method.
The other is a bit violent but quick, a method that leaves ‘maps’ unknown.
“…First, listen to what I say.”
Yeonhwa’s eyes sharpened, sensing something serious.
I shrugged and pulled something from my pocket.
“That’s… a candle?”
“It’s a plain old candle.”
I placed the candle in Yeonhwa’s hand and said.
“Light just a flame on this candle.”
“Ha. Why give me training now?”
Flame.
Flame at the tip of the candle.
Yeonhwa confidently held the candle in front of the fire lizard.
And then…
[Si…iit!!]
Fwooosh!
“....Eh?”
The candle caught fire.
But half the candle burned and melted away.
“Eh…..”
Her expression looked like she’d just realized something.
Unable to handle the spirit’s full-power output that far exceeded common sense, Yeonhwa was at a loss.
She thought it would just light a flame at the tip, but since the flame did catch, was it success…?
“Who the hell lights a candle like that?”
“Ugh… shut up! I lit the damn thing!”
“If you really think that, you’ll live like that your whole life.”
“…Tch.”
Yeonhwa clicked her tongue, as if she herself had realized the problem.
At the same time, the lizard was spinning in place, unable to contain itself, trying to figure out what it had done wrong.
“This is the problem you’re facing right now.”
After today, I was certain.
Yeonhwa could handle spirits.
But not as a Spirit Contractor.
“As a warrior. Fighting on the front lines, dealing with spirits. That’s why she always uses full-power output. Her spirit has only ever been taught ‘use all your strength.’”
That was why she couldn’t control the fire.
It was hard to control the power.
Like trying to teach a jam that always cooks with full heat how to use a small flame.
Eventually, unused to the task, she’d crank the lever all the way up with a shiver.
“So, we’ll solve that power control through this candle.”
A power that can ignite just one candle.
A power that can ignite two.
We’ll practice slowly adjusting the strength of the flame.
“And later, she’ll even practice lighting flames on the candles she wants.”
Teaching control to spirits.
Slow, but sure. A method you can somehow repay.
“…Then, what’s the second method?”
“The second.”
A bit violent but quick, a method that leaves ‘maps’ unknown.
I used the vague term ‘maps’ here for a reason. It means it’s not reliable.
It’s a gamble. But if you succeed, you can quickly become stronger.
“Seiren.”
Pfft. Pfft. Pfft.
[Here I come—ah♬]
Pong. Pong. Pong.
Round water droplets appeared in the air.
Following Seiren’s will, they swirled around before instantly shooting toward Yeonhwa.
—Dong. Dong. Dong!
“Ugh…?!?”
[Siit?! Sit, sit??]
Yeonhwa instinctively raised her guard.
The lizard hurriedly summoned flames, but it was already too late after the attack landed.
“Uuu… So, how does this training relate?”
“How does what relate?”
You really don’t see it, do you?
I stroked Seiren’s head and answered.
“It’s to make the owner see what it feels like to be hit by water, right?”
“…Ha. You bastard.”
“Incidentally, you’re not allowed to get involved? If you keep pampering it like that, it’ll end up looking like my golden mom.”
What the hell did I say?!
I heard Harin’s voice from behind, but I ignored it.
I created another water cannon and threw it at Yeonhwa again.
The lizard, of course, believed Yeonhwa would command it and stayed silent, waiting—
—Thud, plop, thud!
“Ugh…!”
[Si…?!?]
Yeonhwa dropped her guard and took all of it head-on.
No, the guard was fine…
[Si… Si…iit…!]
“Ah shit. Nosebleed.”
“You thought I’d take it with my face, didn’t you?”
“You said not to get involved!”
“I said don’t get involved! Who said to drop your guard too…”
What the hell is this rigid-headed kid.
Is this basically a tank’s blind spot?
I sighed in exasperation and summoned another water cannon for Seiren.
This time, five shots.
Watching the ominous rotating water cannon, the lizard finally understood the situation and drew all its flames to its body.
[Si…iit… Si…iit!!]
Fwooosh!
A wall of flame blocked Yeonhwa’s front.
Her will to protect her owner was clear.
That breakthrough was the first stage.
[...No… Bad kid…!]
“Enough.”
[Eh? Master?]
Why are you stopping yourself?
Seiren looked at me with eyes that could easily break through the flame wall if she wanted.
I knew that, but it wasn’t training if she could do it that easily.
I stroked Seiren’s head and soothed her.
“It’s not fighting. It’s playing. Training by hitting your bad kid master with water cannons.”
[Yes! I understand!]
Since it was play, I happily made another water cannon and threw it.
—Chiiiik!
[Si…iit… Si…iit…!]
Matching the level, the water cannon hit the flame wall and evaporated instantly.
After five, ten, roughly over twenty…
[Si…iit…!!]
“Yeah. Is the strength finally running out?”
She had the full defensive barrier up, but that was easy.
Watching the flame wall flicker and die after holding for five minutes, I smirked.
[Si…iit…iit!!!!]
“Wow. The lizard’s screaming.”
That was unique.
[Now it’s my turn!]
Seiren let out a happy laugh and loaded about twenty water cannons.
“……Coach. Could you spare a moment to talk?”
[Si, sit.]
Her demeanor was strangely polite.
I smiled broadly at Seiren and said.
“Go ahead and throw it at her, Seiren! (Yah, throw it at Seiren)”
[Here I comeaaaah!!!]
Pooof. Pooof. Pooof.
Pooof.
Thud.
Pooow…
…The training effect was outstanding!
***
After the training session ended.
I headed to the hospital and entered Ayeong’s room.
“........…”
Her gaze was distant, as if deep in thought, gently stroking her lower belly.
Despair. Hatred. Joy. Sorrow. Pity. The emotions swirled together into a muddy look.
I sat silently beside Ayeong and offered her a peeled apple.
“Apple. Want some?”
“....Yes.”
She took the apple and bit into it with both hands.
She kept chewing until the juice was completely gone.
“Delicious?”
“…Very. It’s delicious.”
She focused only on the taste of the apple.
When she’d barely finished one, I handed her another.
One.
And then another.
When I noticed she’d finished the apple, I stood up from my seat.
“Sunwoo.”
“......…”
I stood still in place.
I didn’t move.
Say it till the end. I answered with her silent presence.
“…I’m sorry.”
“What could you possibly be sorry about.”
“..........”
I walked to the door and grabbed the handle.
“Everyone at the party didn’t notice. So you don’t have to blame yourself.”
“I didn’t mean it that way…”
“...?”
I turned my head back.
“…It’s nothing.”
“Okay.”
I stepped outside.