The Conjurer of the Academy

Chapter 28

I had thought about it for a long time. How could I relieve Shin Seo-ha’s sense of guilt and awaken her dormant Guardian Spirit?

Shin Seo-ha’s guilt had bound her in the form of a curse, and the meal tickets I had given her as a talisman were only a temporary fix.

While Shin Seo-ha’s condition showed slight improvement, there was no sign of a true resolution.

‘I need a definitive solution.’

The best approach was to cut out the root cause of the problem. Since it was impossible to sever her emotions directly, I had to address the event that triggered her guilt.

Of course, I couldn’t change the past, so I had to resort to a more indirect method.

[Ha-baek, what are you planning to do?!]

“I’m going to meet Shin Seo-ha.”

[What do you mean? Shin Seo-ha is right in front of you.]

Baek-ah’s confusion was understandable. But the Shin Seo-ha I intended to meet wasn’t the one in reality.

“I’m going to meet her in her dreams.”

[What?!]

Lucid dream. In Chinese characters, it’s called 자각몽 (自覺夢).

I’ve heard of it before. It’s a term for a type of dream in which one has self-awareness and control, unlike ordinary dreams that proceed without one’s will

The concept is typically limited to the dreamer’s self-awareness, but it was worth trying on Shin Seo-ha.

“On the left is a dreamcatcher, an item commonly hung by the bedside in Western cultures to capture nightmares—.”

It was Jin So-yul who had mentioned the dreamcatcher.

If what Jin So-yul said was true—if a dreamcatcher could indeed bind nightmares in a tangible form—then I might be able to capture Shin Seo-ha’s nightmare in the form of a spirit.

There was no need to create a dreamcatcher from scratch. Just as I had imbued meal tickets with spiritual energy to make talismans, the key was the ‘symbol.’

‘Visualize the dreamcatcher.’

Jingle jingle

The dreamcatcher Jin So-yul pulled from her pocket jingled, the small gemstone accessories clinking together.

The Sain-gum was positioned near Shin Seo-ha’s head. As I placed my hand on it, the Sain-gum was covered with a blue-light-emitting mineral. The ‘symbol’ of the dreamcatcher was now complete.

Swoooosh

The golden spiritual energy scattered around the Sain-gum began to coalesce. The energy swirled and formed a circle, eventually creating the upper body of Shin Seo-jun.

‘This is Shin Seo-ha’s nightmare.’

A Guardian Spirit and a nightmare at the same time.

A precious memory and a painful recollection simultaneously. Just as I reached out towards the coalesced form…

[…Don’t go.]

Yomi, with half-open eyes, whispered softly.

[In the worst-case scenario, you might not return from the dream…]

“Yomi.”

I gently stroked Yomi’s forehead, and it purred softly before drifting back to sleep.

“Thank you.”

I had heard before.

That if you lose your way in a lucid dream, you might never return.

And since this dream wasn’t even my own, failure might drag Shin Seo-ha down with me.

Risk management is crucial in games.

In the game, I would never have attempted such a fatal gamble, but I had to in reality.

“But I can’t just let her die like this.”

Rumble—!

The sound of the ceiling collapsing.

“Ha-baek, I don’t know what you’re planning, but I just need to hold out against that giant, right?”

“Yes, please.”

Han Yu-seong’s back looked immensely reassuring as he calmly walked toward the battlefield.

“Leave it to me, buddy.”

Time was ticking away, every second is precious.

I reached out towards the form of Shin Seo-jun.

Flash

My vision turned black.

* * *

“Hello.”

I opened my eyes to someone’s voice.

A white room and white clothes. I recognized the person immediately.

“Shin Seo-jun.”

With snow-white wings spread wide and red hair resembling Shin Seo-ha’s, the gentle appearance could only belong to the Guardian Spirit, Shin Seo-jun, who always rested on Shin Seo-ha’s shoulder.

“Even while I was asleep, I watched you through my sister’s eyes, Ha-baek. I never imagined you would enter her subconscious.”

“I’m here to wake you up.”

Shin Seo-jun was awake because this was within Shin Seo-ha’s subconscious. I cut straight to the point with him.

“It’s impossible. My sister doesn’t want that.”

Shin Seo-jun closed his eyes tightly.

“I’m trapped in this room.”

“But there’s a door right there.”

I pointed to the other side of the room.

There stood a stark black door.

“Another version of me lives out there.”

“What are you talking about?”

Shin Seo-jun turned his head towards the black door.

“Out there is a gatekeeper who looks just like me, created by my sister.”

“It’s her guilt, isn’t it?”

“Yes.”

Shin Seo-jun nodded slightly.

“Sometimes people try to avoid forcibly recalling their happy and joyous memories with someone they loved, especially after a breakup, sudden change, or death. When those memories become too painful to bear, they eventually…”

“Overlay their memories and emotions.”

Shin Seo-jun nodded.

When someone breaks up with a lover, they often overlay their once-happy memories with certain emotions.

‘Hatred, anger, disgust…’

It’s similar to how memories of a cheating lover can become entirely tainted with revulsion.

Though those memories were likely precious on their own, something overriding distorts them.

In Shin Seo-ha’s case, it was guilt.

Unable to forgive herself, she locked away the happy memories in a white room, overlaying them with new memories of guilt.

“Hmm, so to put it simply…”

I glanced around.

“If I defeat that gatekeeper beyond the door, you’ll be able to wake up, right?”

“Well, yes, but…”

Shin Seo-jun trailed off.

“I couldn’t defeat it no matter how many times I tried. Like a zombie, it kept getting back up… Probably because it’s an emotion my sister herself overlaid on me.”

“Hmm, so that’s why you couldn’t wake up and were trapped.”

I stroked my chin.

I had succeeded in getting close to Shin Seo-jun through the lucid dream, but there was one thing that concerned me.

“If I can’t defeat it, does that mean I can’t get out either?”

“Hehe, probably. You’d likely be in a coma in reality, unable to wake up.”

“Is that so?”

Without hesitation, I approached the black door. Shin Seo-jun grabbed my arm.

“Wait, are you really going to cross over?”

“I have to. If I don’t, I won’t be able to wake up.”

“Staying in this room might keep you safe, even if you can’t wake up. But if you die in that other room, your soul itself will be shattered.”

Shin Seo-jun looked genuinely worried for me. But I didn’t have the luxury of staying put.

“Your sister is dying.”

“…!”

“I figured you didn’t know.”

Shin Seo-ha fainted immediately after the fall.

It wouldn’t have been surprising if Shin Seo-jun experienced disturbances while sharing Shin Seo-ha’s vision and senses.

“The decision isn’t mine; it’s yours.”

I locked eyes with Shin Seo-jun.

“How long will you stay hidden here? Or will you take the risk and go save your sister?”

“…”

Shin Seo-jun bit his lip hard.

He must have realized by now that there were no other options left.

“Alright. Ha-baek, what do you need me to do?”

“What do I need you to do…”

I recalled the first time I saw Shin Seo-jun.

[The target cannot be seen through with the current Spirit Sight (B).]

The system window had indicated that the Spirit Sight couldn’t fully perceive the Guardian Spirit at that time. But did you know?

“Let’s form a contract.”

Nowhere did it say that I couldn’t use Spirit Conjuration on him

“A contract?”

Shin Seo-jun blinked.

“Yeah, just lend me your power while we get out of this room.”

“Understood! So, what should I do?”

“It’s simple.”

I formed the Seal of Subjugation (調伏).

Immediately, a yin-yang symbol appeared on the floor, emitting intense spiritual energy.

“Are you ready?”

“Yes…”

Shin Seo-jun looked down at his own body. As the blue spiritual energy filled the room, he smiled brightly at me.

“Please take care of me.”

Flash!

The light subsided, and Shin Seo-jun’s form vanished.

[Spirit Conjuration Space]

– ? Rank: 1

At that instant, the information in the Spirit Conjuration Space updated, revealing a strange new entry.

“But I don’t have the Sain-gum.”

The powers of the Spirit Conjuration Space were tied to the Sain-gum. Having used it as the symbol for the dreamcatcher, I was now completely unarmed.

[Ha-baek!]

At that moment, Shin Seo-jun’s voice echoed in my ears.

[You forgot something, didn’t you? Just visualize what you need! In a dream, as long as it’s within your conscious imagination, you can easily create it!]

“Really?”

I immediately visualized the Sain-gum.

Moments later, as if by magic, the Sain-gum appeared in my hand.

“Amazing.”

It was identical to the Sain-gum from the real world.

“Alright, let’s go. Ready?”

“Yes!”

I cautiously grasped the handle and pushed the door open.

Creeeeak

The door opened effortlessly. Black darkness seeped through the gap.

* * *

The room was as black as spilled ink, yet a menacing silhouette was clearly visible beyond.

“I’ll kill you… How dare you… abandon me and run away!”

Someone crouched, muttering incessantly. It was the same size as Shin Seo-jun, but the wings on its shoulders weren’t pure white.

“Shin Seo-ha, die, die, die!”

A pair of black, skeletal wings hung from its shoulders, resembling those of a demon.

“D-die!”

Noticing the light spilling through the door, it slowly stood up. Its eyes were bloodshot, and its fangs were sharply protruded. Its pale skin was marred with bloodstains.

[Spirit Information]

– Spirit: ♀￠￠♂

– Rank: ?

– ♠【♂♀.

Even with the Spirit Sight, I couldn’t discern its precise information. It staggered towards me with jerky movements.

“Damn it.”

Wasn’t this supposed to be a dream?

How could it be this terrifying?

That was the ultimate form of Shin Seo-ha’s guilt, the embodiment of how Shin Seo-jun believed she would curse him.

A spirit composed entirely of guilt and resentment. The ominous waves of its aura sent shivers through my body.

[It’s coming!]

Right after Shin Seo-jun yelled.

“Die!!”

The demon lunged at me.

Its sharp claws slashed through the air with a swish.

“Ugh!”

A chill brushed against my cheek.

A second later my head would have been pierced.

“Graaaah!”

Its wings flapped, lifting it just slightly off the ground.

‘Damn it.’

The angle of the attack changed.

I raised the Sain-gum belatedly to defend myself, but—

Crack!

“Ugh!”

A kick sent me flying backward. I crashed to the ground, clutching my stomach.

‘This is beyond my level.’

It was unbearable.

A sharp pain, as if I’d been struck by a blunt object in the abdomen, made it hard to breathe.

“Ha ha! Does it hurt? Now feel the same pain!”

Just as the demon was about to stomp on my face—

Flash!

“My, my eyes!”

The demon collapsed from the burst of light. The area struck by the light was charred black.

‘What’s this?’

I glanced back at the new sensation on my shoulders.

[Ha-baek, I will lend you my power as per our contract.]

A pair of wings had sprouted. At the same time, I felt an unprecedented surge of spiritual energy coursing through my body.

‘So this is the power of a Guardian Spirit.’

I finally understood why Shin Seo-ha managed to come away with only minor injuries despite all her fights.

[Be careful! No matter how many times you knock it down, it will keep getting back up!]

Shin Seo-jun warned that the demon would always rise again, no matter how many times it was knocked down.

‘Simple attacks won’t work.’

I watched the staggering demon with a calm gaze.

The areas charred by the light had already regenerated, and it seemed to have adapted to the light emanating from the wings.

“Traitor, die!”

The demon flapped its wings and flew straight at me.

[What are you doing? Dodge, quickly!]

But I didn’t move.

Gripping the Sain-gum tightly, I stood my ground, waiting for the right moment.

‘The pattern is simple.’

It’s the same in any game.

No matter how strong and swift an opponent is, it’s not difficult to counter one that charges straight at you.

Crunch!

The demon’s fangs sank into my neck. Pain surged as blood spurted and flesh tore.

And then, I—

“Did it hurt a lot?”

Thrust

I plunged the Sain-gum into the demon’s abdomen. This alone wasn’t enough.

“Now, forgive Shin Seo-ha.”

The mana explosion Han Yu-seong had shown me.

Inserting the sword and concentrating mana at its tip to create an explosive burst.

Even though I didn’t have a speck of mana, I could at least imitate the technique. I twisted the handle as if squeezing a heart, forcing out the spiritual energy.

Boom!!

The concentrated spiritual energy at the tip of the sword erupted in a fierce explosion.