When I woke up, Ikor and Moon were gone. The others assumed the worst had happened to Moon and while I wanted to explain it to them, I couldn’t.

“I brought food.”

I spoke to the group as I placed fruits and nuts on the ground, but no one could hear me. 

They had all lost their hearing from when the fox’s presence ripped through their eardrums.

I looked at Hana and Minho sadly.

This didn’t happen in my second life… and a part of me felt that it was my fault.

I cursed the fox and my weakness.

“Sob… Whimper…”

I looked behind Hana’s back where Seri was sobbing weakly. Ever since she realized she could no longer hear, her cries hadn’t stopped.

I hung my head low, ashamed to look at any of them. Hana and Minho patted me on the back, to show that it was okay.

“It’s okay, Yun.”

“Don’t worry.”

But their kindness only hurt me more.

To distract myself from the dreadful situation, I went into the woods to train.

‘If I was stronger… I could’ve protected them!‘

Whooosh!

I swung my wooden sword across the air.

‘If I was stronger, I could’ve killed the fox!’

Swish!

‘If… if…!’

My swings were much faster and stronger than before. The red yokai energy inside me… was boosting the power of my ki.

“Hah… hah… hah…”

I dropped my wooden sword when I felt a someone approaching. 

Snap!

I turned my head towards the sound of the branches and made eye contact with Hyunwoo.

His lifeless eyes were filled with despair and I suddenly remembered a time when I was afraid of him. On earth, I could never have made eye contact like now.

I walked up to him and slowly mouthed my words so that he could read my lips.

‘What’s wrong?’

He looked down at the wooden sword in my hand and I looked down at it as well.

‘Does he want it?’

I didn’t mind. I could always make another one.

I raised the sword in front of him and he grabbed the hilt.

That’s when I noticed a fiery flame burning within his lifeless eyes. They were filled with a desire for strength.

While he did despair, he wasn’t giving up.

“Hah!”

I let out a gasp.

‘That’s right… I was always afraid of him, but at the same time... I looked up to him.’

In school, Hyunwoo seemed to have everything. A wealthy family, looks, popularity, and smarts. But most of all… he had drive and strength. 

‘I’m glad I gave him the sword…’

While Hyunwoo swung the sword I gave him, I looked for another piece of wood to make a sword out of.

When I finally found a decent piece, I started carving it up. Once I finished making my wooden sword, I sat down with my feet crossed and closed my eyes.

‘Tonight, Hayul will arrive to take Seri. I need to prepare myself for it.’

I started to absorb the abundant ki in the air and after a few hours, the seed in my stomach had grown to the size of a grape. 

From what I knew, I was making incredible progress. In the human world, in order to gather this much ki in my dan, it would’ve taken me 10… no, 15 years.

When the sky turned dark, I returned to the cave with more food. 

“You…! Why do you have Yun’s sword with you?!”

When I arrived, I saw Minho grabbing Hyunwoo by the collar with his face on the verge of exploding. Hana was trying desperately to separate them.

Hyunwoo couldn’t hear Minho, but he understood what he was mad about. Hyunwoo noticed me and turned his head and Minho also turned his.

I quickly ran to them and placed my hand on Minho’s arm.

I shook my head.

“It’s okay, Minho. I gave it to him.”

Minho’s eyes widened with surprise and disbelief. He couldn’t understand why I would give Hyunwoo a weapon. 

Especially because both of our faces still had signs of injuries from when we were beaten on the roof. To him, that event was just 2 days ago… but to me, it was 60 years ago.

In the end, I failed to give Minho a good explanation. He eventually turned around and went to sleep early. I could tell he felt betrayed by me and I felt sorry.

I sat with my back against the wall and waited while the others fell asleep. 

My eyes were focused on Seri.

.

.

.

Twitch!

I gripped my sword when I saw Seri move in her sleep.

“Hng…Hnnh!”

She frowned as she turned her body left and right. She reached over her head and gripped her hair so hard, strands fell through her fingers.

“AHHHHH!!!!!”

She cried out in pain while the others continued to sleep peacefully. I looked down sadly at the fact that they couldn’t hear her. 

I walked over and stood in front of the group, releasing my ki over us. Once my ki stabilized, I released the red yokai energy from inside me and strengthened the ki.

I looked up and from out of nowhere, the beautiful man with long blue hair appeared.

At the same time, I could feel his great presence collide with my ki.

“Kgh..!”

It weighed heavily down on my shoulders, but this time, I didn’t fall to the ground.

“Seri, What’s wrong?!”

“Yun…? What’s happening?”

“…”

I glanced back and looked at the others who woke up from the sudden pressure.

[Hm?!]

Hayul sounded surprised by the unexpected situation.

His voice strengthened his presence, but I managed to protect my ears this time!

“Please have mercy on us, and withdraw your presence!” I requested.

[…]

Hayul considered for a few moments before the pressure on me lifted.

To us it was a matter of life and death, but to him I knew it made little difference. Either way, our lives were still in the palm of his hands.

“Thank you…” 

I lowered my head and showed Hayul my appreciation.

“Whew…”

“M-Minho… who is that..?”

“It’s another monster…”

Once the others realized the appearance of Hayul, they panicked. They believed that the worst had happened to Moon, so it was natural that they were afraid.

[It seems I’ve scared you… Here, Let me show you that I mean no harm.]

Hayul raised his porcelain hand and I felt the movement of an invisible force.

“I- I can hear again!”

“Minho, my ears! They’ve healed!”

Minho rushed next to me with a bright expression, and Hana went to Seri who was still in pain.

Hayul came down from the sky and landed on the ground in front of us. I couldn’t understand why he was acting so differently from last time.

[How’s that? I’ve healed you completely.]

“T-thank you..!”

“Thank you…”

“…”

I could feel the group lowering their guard, but I didn’t. I held my sword tightly. 

If I learned anything through all the years I’ve lived, it was how to read people.

Although Hayul was showing us kindness, his eyes held no compassion or care.

[My name is Hayul, and I am the head of the Blue dragon clan. When I felt the sudden appearance of massive potential, I came here as soon as I could… but it looks like Ikor got here before me.]

Hayul looked at each one of us.

[A half yokai, a mortal, and three with incredible spirit cores…]

Although I didn’t trust the dragon in front of me, I knew this would be a good chance for me to get information.

“Do I have your permission to ask a few questions?”

[I shall allow it.]

“Thank you…”

I thought carefully about the questions to ask. I couldn’t ask too many, so I had to choose wisely.

“…How were you able to know that we were here?”

[That’s simple. Once you reach the Chuki rank you are able to read the heavens. I am 2 ranks higher, at the Chunin rank, so it was a simple task. When I read that great potential appeared in this world, I spread my presence and found your location.]

“…”

I didn’t quite understand it, but I repeated his worlds in my head so I wouldn’t forget.

[I shall allow one more question.]

“Thank you… then, what are spirit cores?]

When I heard Hayul mention that Hyunwoo, Hana and Seri had spirit cores, I knew immediately that it was the main reason why Minho and I were never taken.

[Being born with a spirit core is the most important qualification for mortals to walk the path of a sorcerer. Without it, you can not gather spirit energy.]

“…Then is there no way for me to create one?”

Although I asked another question, Hayul didn’t seem upset by it.

[…A strange question. You’re half yokai, so you don’t need to walk the same path as a mortal. You already have spirit energy.]

“…!”

I couldn’t believe my ears. The red yokai energy inside me… was the same energy that sorcerers used!

[If that is all, I will take that mortal with me to the upper worlds. I’ve never felt such a large presence… When she’s able to control it, she will have power that will shake the heavens!]

Hayul pointed his long finger at Seri and she stopped her screaming. Hayul had used his ability to put her to sleep.

Her body floated towards him and he held her in his arms.

“W-wait, please… take us with you..!”

I don’t know where Minho gained the courage to speak up, but he cried out towards Hayul before he left.

Hayul glanced at Minho, but shook his head.

[You have no spirit core… You are not worth spending my karma on.]

“Wait-!”

Hayul turned around but froze for a moment and looked at me. He pulled out a thin piece of paper from the air and threw it in my direction. It landed in my hand.

[You’re potential is too low for me to take to the upper worlds… but you may visit my clan in the mortal world. If you show them that… they will take you in as a student.]

With that, Hayul disappeared into thin air with Seri.

And now only the 4 of us were left. 

‘Hm? Now that I think about it… the cat man never came.’

In my second life, the cat man had challenged Hayul to a duel before he left.

I looked up at the sky, but there was no sign of anyone coming.

‘That’s weird…’

While I slipped the piece of paper in my shirt, the rest of us got ready to sleep for the night.