Chapter 07
Kalicia Valus. You are ignorant. Not stupid—just completely lacking anything that could be called knowledge.
How am I supposed to teach arithmetic to someone who can’t even read numbers?
That was Deoric’s evaluation less than five minutes into their very first lesson.
With dark circles under her eyes, Kalicia shoved aside the tower of books and collapsed onto the desk. After days of nonstop training and study sessions running through day and night, her whole body ached.
Her neck and back throbbed, her eyes felt like they might fall out, and worst of all—her blistered fingers! These were the marks of sticking her hand into the fireplace under the pretext of “getting acquainted with fire.”
Ah, hot! Ow! Old man, this is too hot!
What exactly do you find ‘hot’ about it? Valus blood carries the power of fire. Not even molten lava can burn a Valus. How can you not endure such a measly flame?
To be fair, a fireplace flame was nothing. A few days earlier, he had shoved her in front of a wyvern. Imagine a giant reptile breathing fire as it chases you. She didn’t even have time to feel disgust—her mind simply went blank.
It was brutally intense practical training—so intense it was practically stupid.
The theory wasn’t any easier. Kalicia, after all, wasn’t originally from this world. She lacked common sense, knowledge—everything. So what choice did she have? She had to wrestle with books while everyone else slept, ate, and lived normal lives.
What do you think fire is? You must build the proper mental image to control your Ability.
Abilities share the same foundation as magic. But they exceed mana, a rare and overwhelming talent.
But she had a fatal problem.
Kalicia struggled terribly when trying to use her Ability. Her soul had already settled firmly into another power—divine power.
How long have you been using divine power? You rely on it far too much.
Why can’t you feel mana in the first place?
No matter what she tried, everything always ended up reverting to divine power. It was maddening. Day after day passed with no progress.
If only I could forcefully infuse mana into your body and break open the path myself… that would be ideal.
After many fruitless days, Deoric finally came up with a clever plan.
But there was one massive flaw.
His physical body had returned to dust long ago.
Kalicia crouched in the brush at the farthest edge of the main estate. She plucked an unidentifiable weed from the ground and chewed it. No gum, so grass would have to do. Ugh, stress.
“Hey, do you think the old man is actually teaching me properly?”
I’m not sure about the rest, but I’ve heard the late Duke’s fire power was among the strongest in Valus history.
“So you’re saying I’m too dumb to understand him?”
Kalicia narrowed her eyes into sharp triangles. Isaac forced a smile—there was nothing to gain from provoking her temper.
Being good at something and being good at teaching it are two different things, my lady. Ha-ha.
“Or is that old fossil messing with me on purpose?”
How did it turn into that again?! From what I see, he’s just frustrated. And honestly, that’s understandable from the former lord’s perspective. Think about it.
Isaac snapped his fingers. A faint, hazy figure floated in the air—a doll-like girl with curled twin-tails and a frilly dress.
A white tablecloth appeared before her, with silver cutlery, a candlestick, and a juicy steak with garnish. The doll moved her stubby legs and sat at the table.
Let’s say someone asked you to teach this little one table manners.
A little puppet show began. The doll girl held a fork with a blank expression, tilting her head side to side.
Then she starts poking her fork into her nose, then her mouth, wondering, ‘Which one do I eat with?’ How would you feel?
The doll stabbed the steak, shoved it toward her nose—obviously it didn’t fit.
She tried her mouth next, but the piece was too big. Steam erupted from her head as she angrily jabbed the fork into her nose and mouth again and again.
“…That pisses me off.”
Kalicia spat out the grass she had been chewing.
Right?! It’s infuriating! That’s exactly how the late Du— I mean—that’s not what I meant, my lady—
“So that’s what you think of me. I’m someone who tries to eat food with her nose instead of her mouth.”
It was an example! Just an example, my lady!
Feeling the deadly aura thicken, Isaac frantically tried to salvage his words. It wasn’t the first time he cursed his own mouth.
“Come here.”
M-My lady, how about we preserve the beauty of our relationship…?
“I said, come here.”
Kalicia snapped the twig in her hand clean in half—a silent warning to surrender willingly.
Aahh! My lady! I’m sorry! I—huh?
Isaac, who had been screaming and fleeing, suddenly stopped. Kalicia stopped as well and blinked.
“Who’s that?”
A boy approached—dark, vivid black hair, sharp golden eyes like a predatory beast. He had a fierce look and a face Kalicia didn’t recognize.
If I don’t know him either, he must be a guest. But to get inside the main estate, he must be important. Though why would someone like that wander out to such a remote—
“Why did you stop talking?”
Isaac’s chattering abruptly ended. His jaw hung open, eyes empty.
…A body.
His gaze dimmed instantly. His hands trembled as he rubbed his lips. The tickle on his tongue was unmistakably hunger.
The boy’s body exuded an unnaturally enticing scent. Isaac’s eyelids trembled like mad. Saliva pooled. A burning thirst rose.
A body. A living human body with circulating blood and warm flesh. I want it. I want it so badly.
His eyes turned blood-red.
Let’s eat it. Let’s crawl into that shell and eat a human body.
Laughing grotesquely, Isaac raked his nails across his neck. The long-buried obsession and craving for life clamped tightly around his throat.
“This is bad.”
Kalicia ran a hand through her hair, expression twisted. Judging from the situation, this was going to be a headache.
Gwimungwansal (Ghost Gate Curse).
The dead enter through an open door and bolt it shut behind them.
Some people had bodies like that—souls with doors wide open, attracting restless spirits like a house full of open windows. The worst kind of curse. A dead spirit taking residence in a living person’s body, acting as its new master.
And that boy was exactly that type.
“Snap out of it.”
Kalicia steadied Isaac, whose expression had warped into something monstrous.
Most spirits had no facial expressions—death stripped away the senses tied to emotions.
That’s why a smiling ghost was dangerous.
It meant overwhelming excitement—often because they wanted to harm someone.
…Move.
A black, ghostly flame spread around Isaac’s eyes.
Move—!
A horrific shriek tore from his throat as foul, oppressive energy exploded outward.
Covered in black smoke, he lunged forward and dove straight into the boy’s body before Kalicia could react.
“He—he got in!”
Now possessing the boy, Isaac threw his hands up and hopped excitedly. He twisted his limbs at bizarre angles, trying to get used to the fresh body.
“Get out while I’m asking nicely. You keep stealing bodies like that and you’ll reincarnate as a pig or a dog in your next life, you know.”
Kalicia waved her hand dismissively.
“It’s mine! My body! Kahaha!”
Isaac threw his head back and laughed wildly. Warm, soft flesh—an actual living body.
Crunch!
Eyes swirling, he bit deeply into the boy’s arm. Blood filled his mouth as skin tore in the shape of his teeth.
“Blood! It’s bleeding!”
He thrust the bleeding arm forward and shuddered in ecstasy. The thrill of having flesh again made his head spin.
“So what? Want me to blow on it for you?”
Kalicia replied dryly and blew lightly—hoo.
“All right. If you’re done, get out.”
“He called to me.”
Isaac’s manic smile froze.
“This is my body. Mine. It’s mine now!”
“Okay. Then Isaac can stay there forever.”
Kalicia scratched her cheek, then pulled the hair ornament from her hair. Without a hint of hesitation, she slashed her own palm with it.
Slice—
The sharp pin split her skin, and hot blood streamed down her hand.
“Now you won’t be able to leave even if you want to.”
