Surviving Among the Entities

“Hello there? I’m Seung-hoon Lee.”

At Seung-hoon’s sudden appearance, the agents inwardly cheered.

‘The external special consultant!’
‘The solver!’
‘The Chairman!’

The Foundation’s first external special consultant.
The perception of being a “solver” that even S-grade perception alteration vaccines cannot fully block.
The true owner of Sarang Mulsan that every agent wishes to be assigned to.

While there were differences in degree, every Foundation agent knew of him, and various rumors circulated.

‘I heard he single-handedly destroyed an entire defensive dimension system? Most of the entities there still haven’t regained their senses.’
‘I heard he has the ability to see the future, allowing him to amass an insane fortune through wild leverage. Our deployment here was also because he foresaw it.’
‘Wasn’t there a directive to never refer to him as an entity, but always as a human? But why?’
‘The profession of “solver” supposedly exists, and our perception has just been altered to find it strange – could that be true?’

Seung-hoon stepped forward.

“Just an ordinary teacher.”

The agents inwardly sighed.

‘So he’s realized it too. That school ghost stories are ultimately creations of the students! This situation may have been caused by an entity possessing a student’s consciousness!’
‘A student fears their teacher, but we’ve already tried that method!’
‘It won’t work unless he’s an actual teacher from Deokcheon High School or a current high school teacher!’
‘Lies won’t work on the entities here either!’

Not only would their lies be exposed, but they would also be penalized for impersonating faculty and become even stronger.

『…A teacher? You’re a teacher?』

The student affairs teacher tried to warn Seung-hoon but was faster in roaring at him before the agents could speak up.

『Impersonating faculty!!! Penal-ty-ty-ty-ty!!!!』

Just as the student affairs teacher, who had raised its innumerable arms and tentacles towards the sky, was about to strike, it suddenly faltered.

『Oh, five hun……. Imperson, impersonation……]

Eventually, after glancing around, it slowly lowered its arms.

‘Its size is decreasing, isn’t it?’
‘It’s shrinking!’
‘Wh, what’s going on!?’

The lie worked?!

“Master? Is this possible?”
“Umm, I’m not sure. According to what I learned during agent training, it should be possible.”
『Ah, that part?』

Kim Mi-ri, Kim Go-deuk, and Shin Yeong-mun whispered secretly.

『Some entities possess the peculiarity of discerning truth from falsehood, with absolute and relative criteria.』
“The absolute criteria rely on immutable phenomena as standards, while the relative criteria follow the subjective views of the target.”

Absolute criteria cannot be deceived.
They can see through even facts the target has forgotten or misunderstands with an unfathomable power.

But relative criteria were different.
If the target firmly believes a lie to be the truth, the entity will also perceive it as truth, adhering to the information standards based on the target’s subjective knowledge.

“Wasn’t it said that transcendent entities mainly possess the former peculiarity, while other entities possess the latter?”
“It was mentioned that it’s not necessarily divided like that. So I suppose researchers conduct experiments each time to determine it.”
『But when we tried it before, it didn’t work, did it?』
“I had thought it was the absolute criteria too, but judging from how things are unfolding now, it seems to be the latter case.”
『So does that mean Seung-hoon truly believes himself to be a teacher?』
“It would seem so.”
“But how is that possible? The external special consultant is a ‘solver’ and the chairman of Sarang Mulsan, but never a teacher, right?”
“Well, if he genuinely believes himself to be a teacher, then it’s possible, isn’t it?”
“For that to be possible, he’d need brainwashing-level conviction……”

Kim Go-deuk smiled as he watched Seung-hoon.

“That’s precisely why he’s a solver.”

The student affairs teacher’s shrinking transformation eventually came to a halt.

“Look over there!”

At Kim Mi-ri’s exclamation, everyone looked up towards the school.

『…….』

A male student in a school uniform was floating in mid-air.
His large, thick-framed glasses, timid appearance, hunched shoulders, and turtle neck fit the stereotype of a bookworm model student.

『Are you truly a teacher?』
“Yes, I am.”
『Then why are you speaking so politely?』
“One must not use informal speech simply because of age differences. A student is also a person, and maintaining mutual courtesy is the duty of an adult.”
『…You’re an unusual teacher.』

The model student ghost slowly descended.

“It’s all over.”
『Hm? Grandfather Go-deuk, that’s a flag……』
『So?』

The one who had been moving as if to approach Seung-hoon stopped above the now-motionless student affairs teacher’s head.

『What can a teacher who belatedly arrives at this already ruined school possibly do? This school belongs to me. The ghost stories I created here have all come to life and move according to my will. Do you understand what that means?』
“You’ve learned a parent’s sense of responsibility?”

The model student ghost was abruptly absorbed into the student affairs teacher’s body.
The student affairs teacher then instantly grew again, nearly reaching the size of a building.

『I am invincible here.』

The student affairs teacher’s mouth spoke with the model student ghost’s voice.

“Excessive self-confidence is a characteristic of adolescence. When I was in middle school, I too believed I was an immortal who wouldn’t die even if hit by a car. I actually tried it, but reality proved otherwise. Sometimes, if you fail to distinguish your inflated ego from reality……”

A massive hand struck Seung-hoon.
His body flew towards the main building and eventually exploded, scattering debris.

『Who dares command me!』

The rampant model student ghost pointed towards the sky.

『Heaven and earth, only I reign supreme.』

The agents’ faces paled.

『I am a god.』

“Tsk.”

I brushed off the concrete debris pinning me down. After dusting myself off, I checked if my Void Pocket was still intact.

“It’s fine.”

It was a good thing I had received it.
After confirming the Sarang and various other items inside were unharmed, I used the enhanced Polaroid camera to capture the model student ghost in the lens.

“Heaven and earth, only I reign supreme.”

Declaring themselves the sole exalted being in the world.
The one who quoted the Buddha’s words now sought to destroy everything while leading its massive body.

“Those words refer not to the exaltation of humans, but to the exaltation of Buddha-nature and the declaration of saving all sentient beings. Yet the arrogance of adolescence perceives only strength and uniqueness.”

I took a photograph.
Selecting one beautifully captured shot, I wrote a title on the back.

[Regrets of Youth]

“Well, it seems I’m already too late.”

I had expected the “teacher” act to work, but it appears the time limit mentioned by Dr. Janus has passed.
How can I deal with an opponent whose ego has inflated to the point of no longer relying on the shadow of a teacher?

“No, I won’t give up.”

It is a teacher’s role to guide even poor students until the end, transforming them into new people.
Having claimed to be a teacher, I have an obligation to educate that entity.

“Hmm.”

However, there was one issue.

“Using violence against a student?”

That cannot be done. Problems cannot be resolved through violence.
But looking at the unbroken “Love Cane” in my left hand, I realized I was being too narrow-minded.

“Is inflicting pain on others always considered violence?”

Like a shepherd guiding lambs, sometimes striking a lamb that strays from the path with a staff.
Occasionally, a sharp stimulus can guide the other party back from the wrong path to the right one.
And we do not call the act of correcting a wrong path “violence.”

“We have agreed to call it ‘corporal punishment’.”

Therefore, striking with the Love Cane is not violence but corporal punishment, a form of education.
I immediately took out an enhancement potion from my Void Pocket. The potion stored in the Forgotten Alchemist’s potion belt was full, and I let a single drop fall onto the Love Cane.

“Done.”

Since the Polaroid camera also survived the destruction, it should have the same effect.
When I swung it at a concrete wall, the concrete turned to dust, but the Love Cane remained intact.

“Preparations are complete.”

If I delayed further, the agents might take action, so I swiftly approached the model student ghost.

『I am a god! A god, I say! Worship me!』
“Student, stop this now and apologize to everyone.”
『…You survived that?』
“Violence solves nothing.”
『Die!』

Countless hands rained down from the sky. I lightly gripped the Love Cane and swung it around in various directions.

“I have no choice. I will now begin corporal punishment.”

Accompanied by crisp striking sounds, the entity’s hands were deflected away.

“It will hurt a little.”

Simply striking anywhere is no different from violence, even if called corporal punishment.

『!?』
“The area I just struck is called the Hegu point, the indentation between the thumb and index finger. Stimulating that area helps calm the digestive system and promote bowel movements.”

So I decided to ‘stimulate’ areas that would benefit its health as much as possible.

『What nonsense is this!』

I struck the muscles on either side of its neck as it extended its body.

『Kuhek!?』
“This is the Tianzhong point. It helps relieve stress.”

I continued circling the entity, swinging the Love Cane.

“The Jianqian point helps relax tense muscles.”

The point where the neck meets the shoulders.

“The Fengchi point aids in fatigue relief and concentration enhancement.”

The point where the back of the ear meets the nape.

“The Qingquan point improves blood circulation in the face and helps stabilize the nerves.”

Directly in front of the ear.

“The Zusanli point aids blood circulation in the lower body.”

Ah, I’m glad I learned traditional Chinese medicine.
The discipline I studied alongside learning martial arts after dropping out of high school has proven so helpful.

‘Though I wonder if traditional medicine is of any use to a ghost.’

Like Shin Yeong-mun, there are those who live an afterlife.
Let us not hold the prejudice that ghosts need not bother with health.

『Kkwik! Kuhek! Huhek!』
“Are you still resisting? Your corporal punishment pains me as well!”
『Kieehek! Keehek!』
“If at any time you wish to apologize to everyone! If you feel remorseful, shout that you will! Then I will stop the corporal punishment!”

I struck various acupressure points across its body.
While beneficial to health, the excruciating pain prevented the entity from moving properly.

‘If I had encountered a teacher like myself, perhaps I wouldn’t have dropped out of high school.’

Belatedly, I feel regret for not experiencing high school.
With that thought, I must guide this entity to the right path all the more.

‘This is completely not corporal punishment, but a health massage, isn’t it?’

Who else in the world would do such a thing?
It’s a situation where it should be called something other than the Love Cane.

‘If it’s something famous in traditional medicine for being good for the body, then?’

Ah, I’ve decided.

“From now on, your name is Sipjeon-daeboryang (Ten Complete Great Supplementing Decoction).”

May your body and mind become healthy.

『Kkwik! Kuhek! Kuhek!』

Unable to even scream, the model student ghost could only wheeze as the agents were left speechless by its appearance.

『Heung! Huhohohoeng!』
“Are you still resisting? Still!?”
『Huhohohoeng!』

The agents whispered among themselves.

“Isn’t he not giving it a chance to surrender?”
“How can it surrender when he strikes its head the moment it opens its mouth?”
“It’s truly cruel. Even though it’s the enemy, I feel pity for it.”

With each blink of an eye, Seung-hoon would vanish, leaving an afterimage.
Each time, the model student ghost was struck dozens of times, its mouth too occupied with screaming to utter any other words.

“How savage.”
“What do you mean?”
“The areas he’s striking now are all beneficial to health. By accurately striking only those spots, he’s inflicting extreme pain without allowing it to even lose consciousness.”
“But are those really facts? It’s traditional Chinese medicine, after all.”
“Where do you think inner cultivation techniques originated from? Traditional medicine is real!”

Kim Go-deuk frowned.

“With its meridians widening and energy surging forth, the ghost possessing that body must wish to escape the vessel binding it, but cannot.”
“Umm, but his attacks seem to be working? Ours didn’t work at all.”
“There might be three reasons. Either the external special consultant genuinely believes himself to be a teacher, satisfying the entity’s variability and allowing his attacks to be effective, or his weapon is special – though to my eyes, it just looks like a sturdy rod.”
“And the remaining reason?”
“Simply that he’s stronger than us.”

As he spoke, the model student ghost collapsed.

“Ah! It finally fell! The acupressure point on the soles of the feet is the best. The Yongquan point is of course where all the acupressure points connected to various organs converge on the soles. It’s no exaggeration to say stimulating the soles makes the entire body healthy.”
『Huhoeng!』

Seeing him now fiercely striking the soles as if to crush them, Kim Mi-ri secretly told Shin Yeong-mun:

“Remember when I asked you to introduce me to the Chairman?”
『Yes? I remember.』
“I’m retracting that request.”

To her eyes as well, Seung-hoon moved so swiftly that he was barely leaving afterimages.

“What kind of human is he, rambling about health while beating a monster impervious to martial arts into a pulp with just a rod?”