47
After school. As I skipped the night study, I pondered about the Dongjagwi.
If novices with low mental strength encounter a Dongjagwi, they faint. And the mental strength of the novices in the library cannot withstand the Dongjagwi.
Fainting.
At first glance, it might seem like a simple penalty, but it was a serious issue.
If we manage to catch the Dongjagwi, even after some time, it would be fine. But what if we fail to catch him?
“It’s a game over for everyone.”
The one whose consciousness was stolen by the Dongjagwi became a plant-human who could never wake up again.
“In the worst case, if Han Seyeon is called upon, that should be the end of it.”
Even if it was a Dongjagwi whose magic didn’t work, if it was Morudo’s cunning, it could tear through.
However, in that case, it would reveal Han Seyeon’s identity, which was a method that could only be used in the worst situation. Of course, there were other methods that had been considered separately.
[Crunch! Crunch!]
A phoenix standing by the window, earnestly nibbling on the magic stone brought by Seoharin.
Although its ability was different from Gumsung, which could cut through all forms, the phoenix was also a mystical being.
As a being opposite to ghosts, a creature that fell under the category of gods, naturally, the phoenix’s flames could also be absorbed by the Dongjagwi.
【Phoenix Lv.1】
“Eating a Level 1 won’t make much difference, but…”
However, the phoenix had a system called ‘Satiety.’ Energy that could be exchanged for experience points.
So, could this satiety be used to temporarily increase its abilities? It seemed possible. Considering that experience points led to an increase in abilities. The phoenix would never cooperate willingly, though…
“If you don’t want to die, you better cooperate.”
[Squawk?]
“It’s nothing. Eat up, eat up.”
Crunch! Crunch!
The phoenix, tilting its head, resumed nibbling on the magic stone. I rubbed my chin.
“Alright, this issue is resolved for now. The important thing is to obtain the Hidden Pheas.”
In this Dongjagwi episode, there existed the Hidden Pheas concealed by the Dongjagwi. I envisioned Cheon Woojin acquiring that Hidden Pheas.
Seventy-two individuals who were forced to participate in the game by the Dongjagwi.
As “The Rose of Sharon Has Bloomed” continued, one by one, the individuals fell.
But, this Dongjagwi was truly a despicable bastard.
Rushing forward, it would scrutinize the faces of the individuals standing still, and if even a hint of movement was detected, they would be eliminated on the spot. The eliminated individuals would faint. The problem was that this wasn’t just a simple fainting.
The fainting caused by the Dongjagwi meant ‘spiritual death.’ Having all their mental strength taken away by the Dongjagwi, they would fall into a state of brain death.
If the Dongjagwi was removed, the stolen mental strength would return, and consciousness would be restored. However, if that didn’t happen, the reason why the consciousness of all the individuals couldn’t return was because of that.
Anyway, as “The Rose of Sharon Has Bloomed” was coming to an end.
Standing at the entrance to the library that served as the passing line, Nikolai was caught by the Dongjagwi.
At that moment, Cheon Woojin voluntarily stepped forward to divert the Dongjagwi’s attention from Nikolai.
With more courage than sense, Cheon Woojin faced the Dongjagwi, only to be eliminated.
This was the crossroads.
Would consciousness deteriorate and stop here, or would they lose consciousness and die?
Unlike the individuals with weak mental strength, Cheon Woojin had a choice.
Of course, logically, choosing the former would be the right decision, but in this case, choosing the latter was the correct answer. That way, the Hidden Pheas quest would be triggered.
Accepting death, sinking into a trance, consciousness transcends surface awareness, reaching deep consciousness. That is, reaching inner consciousness.
Usually, one would completely lose their mind at this point, but Cheon Woojin, like a protagonist, barely clung to the thread of consciousness. And thus, obtained the Hidden Pheas.
Having transcended worldly concerns, I muttered.
“Maybe it’s fine just to die?”
[High-Level Immutable Seal Lv.3]
There was even an immutable seal, what on earth could be happening.
In the tranquil space, square by square. The sound of pencils echoing through the 1st library during study hours.
As time passed and the room dimmed, amidst the sound of pencils, a strange laughter sneaked in.
【Giggling······】
【Giggling······】
“What? Who’s laughing?”
“Quiet. You’re disturbing those who are studying.”
The laughter echoing in the library made the students restless. As they searched for the culprit of the laughter, one student raised a trembling hand and pointed somewhere.
“Look over there!”
“What… Oh my!”
“Ahh!”
At the entrance of the library.
An eerie child with skin as white as chalk, standing over 2 meters tall, was laughing with a twisted smile on their face.
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【Giggling······】
【Giggling······】
“What on earth is that!”
“Is it… a demon?! No, a spirit?”
As the students concluded it was a spirit, they either stood up or reached for their weapons, causing a commotion.
At that moment, Elaine, who was observing the child intently, shouted abruptly.
“Don’t attack!”
“Why, Elaine?”
“That’s not a spirit. It’s a ghost!”
Indeed, not even a hint of magic could be sensed from the laughing child. Whether the students stood up or not, the child continued to emit a chilling laughter.
“Are you crazy, calling it a ghost?”
“What do we do, I’m scared…”
The students who realized the child was a ghost turned pale.
It was understandable, as the spirits appearing during the magical period were far more dangerous than demons.
While one could confront a demon, a spirit was impervious to magic.
“Put away your weapons. Don’t provoke the ghost.”
Ghosts don’t attack people first. However, if provoked, their reaction could be unpredictable.
“If we don’t attack, how do we capture it?”
“We can’t.”
Eungaye, who posed the question, furrowed her brow.
“We can’t capture it?”
“Yeah, it’s difficult to strike a ghost without being a shaman. I’m not sure myself.”
Elaine shook her head with uncertainty.
She wasn’t a professional shaman. She only possessed some of the skills required to become a curse sorceress.
“We have no choice but to stall for time until the professors arrive or fulfill its wish and let it go.”
Once the ghost achieves its desire, it departs.
Though it may continue to wander the academy, it would naturally vanish after the magical period ends.
【Rustle······.】
【Rustle······.】
No matter what the students were doing, the ghost who kept laughing, Dongjagwi, was still smiling.
Elaine approached Dongjagwi. Then, as if on cue, Dongjagwi’s laughter abruptly stopped. His eerie twisted gaze fixed on Elaine.
【Let’s play with me! Play with me!】
Elaine, swallowing nervously, cautiously spoke up.
“Yeah, I’ll play with you.”
In an instant, Dongjagwi’s voice split into dozens, hundreds of voices echoing through the library.
【Really? Will you play with me? Will you play? Will you play with me? Let’s play! Play with me! Play! Let’s play together!】
【Will you play with me? Play··· will you play? Let’s play! Play··· let’s play together··· let’s go play··· play···】
【Let’s play··· play··· will you play?】
The chilling sight silenced the students. Elaine, composed, asked again.
“What should we do to play?”
【······Mugunghwa flower! I’m it! I’ll be it!】
As the words ended, Dongjagwi ominously turned to the pillar at the entrance, standing with his back to it.
And then.
【Mu.Gung.Hwa. Flower. Has. Bloomed.】
Kkeiiik─
Dongjagwi’s neck twisted.
***
After the disturbance in the library subsided, some time later. I left the dormitory and leisurely headed to the 1st library.
Since there was nothing to do beforehand, I planned to sneak in quietly by the library window.
“When Nikolai is in trouble, I’ll intervene. It’s inevitable that those who faint beforehand can’t help it.”
Playing games is the students’ job. I just had to take care of Hidden Pieces. And enjoy the show a bit.
“I’m glad Elaine is here.”
If there were no Cheon Woo-jin, and even Elaine wasn’t there… Oh, just the thought was dreadful.
Ghosts like Dongjagwi were really tricky to catch without binding them. After Elaine tied up the ghost, then what.
“Our Phoenix will take care of it.”
That’s why I made sure to fill up on satiety.
By the way.
“Oh well, fortune-telling is fine.”
I shrugged my shoulders and clicked my tongue.
The Phoenix, who had eaten all the Red Jasper, had returned to the space of the seal.
The one who eagerly opened its mouth when brought Red Jasper, refusing to wake up for anything else at other times.
The owner was out late at night, enduring this hardship to go to the library, yet the one perched on their shoulder was sound asleep.
“Alright, sleep tight.”
You’re done for.
Quietly, I climbed over the window behind the library.
I leisurely leaned against the vacant spot by the window. But no one noticed me, thanks to the Level 2 skill ＜Presence Block＞.
Now, I could either enjoy the game or intervene when the time comes.
“Wow.”
Indeed, the situation inside the library was quite intriguing.
A fainted student lay on the floor, while Dongjagwi held onto one student, staring intently as if trying to move them with sheer willpower.
“Such a despicable bastard.”
Look at that eye contact. It’s strange how they’re not reacting to it.
If Dongjagwi just stared without doing anything, it would be one thing, but he was the kind of person who could drain someone’s mental strength just by being nearby. However…
“Huh?”
The student Dongjagwi was pressuring seemed somewhat familiar.
Silver hair, blue eyes, a bear doll on the chest…
“Damn it.”
It was Elaine.
***
【In~fi~nite~Bloom~ing~Flower······】
The voice that was slowly drawn out.
【Has bloomed!】
It completed at a terrifying speed.
Crack!
The head turned like lightning. The body remained still while only the neck twisted.
“Oops!”
“Oh, no!”
The faces of the students who couldn’t stop their bodies in motion turned pale.
And then.
Thump, thump, thump…
The students, with their eyes rolled back, collapsed to the ground. In an instant, ten people vanished from the room.
“Phew, phew.”
Elaine calmed her pounding heart by taking deep breaths.
She almost couldn’t stop it, her chest pounding. Her inherently weak body trembled, and her legs wobbled. At that moment, she locked eyes with Dongjagwi.
“!”
Thud, thud, thud, thud!
Dongjagwi rushed towards her like a madman, thrusting his face close to hers.
Thump, thump, thump, thump!
Elaine’s heart raced as if it might burst.
【Strange. It seemed like I moved, didn’t I?】
Dongjagwi, tilting his head with a puzzled look, stared intently as if trying to move her with sheer willpower.
Elaine felt her mind growing hazy. Her head spun, turning white.
‘No…’
For a moment, her body swayed. Then, Dongjagwi blinked.
【Moved······?】
Dongjagwi was taken aback.
Elaine felt someone supporting her swaying body.
Someone’s head lowered. A man who raised his index finger to his lips, signaling for silence.
Elaine’s eyes widened.
“······Ihaesol?”
It was Ihaesol who firmly held onto her waist.
Then, what about Dongjagwi?
“······!”
Elaine, who inadvertently turned her eyes away, bit her lip. She couldn’t even exhale. Right in front of her, Dongjagwi’s face was approaching.
However, Dongjagwi’s actions were somewhat odd.
【Huh? Odd?】
Dongjagwi, with a bizarre expression turning his head about 200 degrees, seemed to be searching for something as he stared at her.
Only then did Elaine realize that Dongjagwi did not recognize her.
‘How······’
【Where did she go?】
Dongjagwi, who looked around with a puzzled expression, returned to his spot, and Elaine finally took a deep breath she had been holding.
“Hah, hah, hah.”
Ihaesol led her to a seat by the window. Elaine’s surprised eyes turned to Ihaesol.
“Hah, w-what just happened?”
She realized that it was Ihaesol’s doing that Dongjagwi didn’t notice her.
“You don’t need to know that, just rest. Your face is pale right now.”
“······Hah, u-uh.”
For some reason unknown, despite conversing, neither Dongjagwi nor the others noticed them. Elaine turned her head to continue watching the ongoing game.
Among the 72 students, less than half were standing.
This was mainly due to Dongjagwi’s sudden actions and the impact of his approach, but the most significant factor was the influence of ‘mental strength.’
To move within Dongjagwi’s domain, mental strength was a prerequisite. Students with weak mental strength found it difficult to control their bodies.
Meanwhile, as Elaine calmed her startled heart, I never let go of her wrist.
＜Sensory Block＞ Lv.2
─Can block the sensory perception of objects or living beings in contact.
This was why I could rescue Elaine from Dongjagwi. If the perception was blocked, not even a ghost could recognize her.
With my hand on Elaine’s wrist, I realized the moment to step in had arrived.
“Nikolai.”
As Dongjagwi pushed his head towards Nikolai, who would be terrified by supernatural phenomena, Nikolai froze like a stone under his gaze. I stood up.
It was time to go and face death.
“Haesol?”
“Stay quiet here. No matter what happens, don’t be startled.”
“······?”
Leaving Elaine with a puzzled expression, I walked towards Dongjagwi.
And then, a shocking scene unfolded.
Elaine, watching it unfold, widened her eyes in astonishment.
***
The students caught in the insane game of Dongjagwi were engulfed in despair.
“They’re all dead.”
“It’s all over.”
Dongjagwi was exerting immense pressure to make them move no matter what.
Moreover, the dying spirits were shaking their minds.
【Mu. Gung. Hwa. Flower······】
Dreadful echoes of Dongjagwi reverberated once again. The students forced their bodies to move slowly.
If they were standing in the same place as before, they would have become Dongjagwi’s targets.
As everyone was immersed in shock and despair.
Thud, thud.
Clear footsteps echoed through the library.
The eyes of the students widened as they saw the owner of the footsteps.
And.
【······He bled!】
Thud!
Dongjagwi turned his head like lightning.
Thud, thud.
Footsteps resounded.
【Eliminated! ······Huh? ···What?】
Dongjagwi was taken aback.
【Eliminated! Eliminated! Eliminated! Eliminated! Eliminated! Eliminated! Eliminated! Eliminated! Eliminated! Eliminated! Eliminated! Eliminated! Eliminated! Eliminated! Eliminated! Eliminated! Eliminated! Eliminated! Eliminated! Eliminated! Eliminated! Eliminated! Eliminated! Eliminated!】
From Noble mtl dot com
Chillingly repeated voices of Dongjagwi.
Thud, thud.
Relentlessly, the owner of the footsteps continued forward. Nikola muttered absentmindedly.
“Yi Hae-sol······?”
The owner of the footsteps advancing towards Dongjagwi was none other than Yi Hae-sol.
“Oh no!”
In an instant, Nikola’s face turned pale.
He also knew to some extent about spirits. Spirits get angry if their set rules are violated.
And an enraged spirit······
【Dieee!】
Dongjagwi’s face contorted frighteningly like an evil spirit, then rushed towards Yi Hae-sol with a blue aura.
“Yi Hae-sol!”
Nikola rushed, but it was already too late. Dongjagwi, charging like lightning, attacked Yi Hae-sol and was absorbed into his body.
Thud.
Yi Hae-sol, who absorbed Dongjagwi, collapsed.
That was ‘death.’
······Meanwhile, I, who accepted Dongjagwi, clung to the guy and slipped into unconsciousness.
And a message emerged before me.
[Hidden Fissure activated!]
[Main Quest: Enter the Sea of Consciousness!]
[Reward: Title 【Pioneer of Souls】]