"Felix kills anyone who doesn't obey him," Kangha says, his tone grim. "I didn't want to push the author too hard, but he didn't tell me how to save my grandfather." He pauses, his gaze dropping to the floor, his shoulders tense. "I couldn't risk losing that chance by applying too much pressure."
Woo-Jin, seated in the corner with a furrowed brow, studies Kangha intently. He doesn't interrupt, allowing him to work through his thoughts.
Kangha stops pacing and looks at Woo-Jin. "Now we know the truth," he continues. "The headmaster isn't really my grandfather. The soul inside him belongs to someone else… but the body? The body is still his. We can't harm him physically. If we do, my grandfather's body could be destroyed forever."
Woo-Jin exhales sharply. "So Felix planned this all along," he mutters. "He trapped your grandfather's soul somewhere else and let another spirit take control of his body. It's a twisted kind of imprisonment."
Kangha nods, his jaw tightening. "Yes. And that means we're fighting two battles now—freeing my grandfather's soul and ensuring his body stays unharmed. If we make one wrong move, I could lose him completely."
A heavy silence falls between them as the weight of their situation sinks in.
After a long pause, Woo-Jin stands and places a hand on Kangha's shoulder. "We'll figure this out," he says firmly. "Felix's power may be overwhelming, but he's not invincible. There has to be a way to break his hold on your grandfather."
Kangha's eyes flash with determination. "We don't just need a way," he replies. "We need the right way—before time runs out."
Together, they begin to form a plan, knowing the path ahead is fraught with danger and uncertainty. The stakes couldn't be higher. If they fail, it's not just Kangha's grandfather they'll lose—it's the very essence of their fight for justice.
Miss Choi's voice carries a hint of curiosity as she leans slightly forward, her hands clasped in front of her. "So, what are you going to do first now?" she asks, her gaze fixed on Kangha.
"I will look for my grandfather," Kangha replies without hesitation, his voice steady but firm. "And I will defeat him."
Miss Choi's brows knit together in concern. "It's not easy to compete with him," she warns softly, her tone a mix of caution and doubt.
Kangha smirks, his confidence unwavering. "It's not easy to compete with me either," he counters, his eyes gleaming with quiet determination.
The first rays of dawn filter through the window, painting the room in hues of gold and amber. The sunlight falls directly on Kangha's face as he sits at the edge of his bed near the corner, his posture tense yet composed. The light catches his eyes, which shimmer with a vibrant green hue, eerily reminiscent of a leopard's piercing gaze. For a moment, the room is filled with an almost ethereal glow.
Woo-Jin, standing near the doorway, breaks the silence. "Kangha, we're ready to join you," he says, his voice resolute. "Do you have a plan?"
Kangha rises from the bed, the sunlight shifting around him like a halo. "Right now, I'll just give him a direct warning," he states, his tone sharp and deliberate. "But even with that, we might only be able to save the school—not the headmaster."
Woo-Jin's expression hardens. "And if Felix realizes we know the truth?"
Kangha sighs, his jaw tightening. "If he figures it out, we'll be at a disadvantage. Whatever we do, it has to be careful, calculated. One wrong move, and we'll pay for it—not just with the school, but with everything we're trying to protect."
The room falls into a tense silence, each of them acutely aware of the razor-thin margin for error. The stakes are higher than ever, but Kangha's unwavering resolve seems to burn brighter than the rising sun.
—---------------
Morning light streams through the window, bathing the room in a soft glow. A faint sound breaks the stillness, stirring Ji-Yeon from her sleep. She blinks groggily, her voice slurred and heavy with fatigue.
"What are you both doing in my room?" she asks, leaning back against the headboard, her hand clutching her temple. Her half-conscious state is evident as she struggles to sit upright.
"How's your condition now?" Kangha asks, his tone laced with concern. His sharp eyes study her, and his question comes from a place of genuine worry.
Before Ji-Yeon can respond, Miss Choi's voice cuts through the air, sharp and angry. "Ji-Yeon, why did you drink so much alcohol?" she demands, her arms crossed and her frustration clear.
"Mother, don't yell," Ji-Yeon replies weakly, her hands cradling her head. "I have a terrible headache." Her pain is unmistakable as she winces, her body visibly tense.
"So why did you drink that much in the first place?" Miss Choi presses, her tone softer now but still firm.
Kangha watches Ji-Yeon from the side, his expression unreadable. He turns his head slightly, observing her carefully. She's clearly in pain, he thinks, noting the subtle tension in her features.
Woo-Jin stands silently beside Miss Choi, his brows furrowed in thought. The room grows quiet for a moment, but then Kangha notices something alarming. Ji-Yeon's body begins to sway, her strength giving out.
"She's fainting again," Kangha says urgently.
Ji-Yeon's head tilts to the right, her body collapsing. As her head inches dangerously close to the sharp edge of the side table, Kangha reacts instinctively. He lunges forward, catching her just in time. Her head comes to rest in his hand, the near accident narrowly avoided.
Kangha exhales, steadying himself, and carefully adjusts Ji-Yeon's position. Gently, he lays her back on the bed, ensuring she's comfortable.
"Miss Choi, take care of her," Kangha says, his voice calm but firm. "And give her some medicine."
Miss Choi nods, already moving to fetch the necessary remedies. Woo-Jin watches the scene in silence, his gaze shifting between Kangha and the now-unconscious Ji-Yeon.
As Kangha straightens and steps back, the tension in the room lingers. Ji-Yeon's condition weighs heavily on everyone's mind, but for now, all they can do is wait.
After ensuring Ji-Yeon is lying comfortably, Kangha straightens and steps away from the bed. He glances at her one last time before turning toward the door. His movements are deliberate, his expression unreadable.
Woo-Jin, standing quietly near the doorway, follows him closely. As Kangha reaches for the door, Woo-Jin's voice breaks the silence. "Where are you going now?"
Miss Choi, observing from her spot, feels a pang of concern. Is he heading to Woo-Jin's house again? she wonders, her brows furrowing slightly.
Kangha pauses briefly, tilting his head just enough to glance over his shoulder. "To my room," he replies curtly, his tone calm and measured.
The simplicity of his answer brings visible relief to Miss Choi. At least he's staying here, she thinks, her shoulders relaxing.
Kangha steps out into the hallway, Woo-Jin trailing behind. They move toward the left side of the second floor, their footsteps echoing softly against the marble floor. The corridor is bathed in faint morning light filtering through the windows, casting long shadows along the walls.
His room lies directly above the grand hall—a quiet sanctuary tucked away from the rest of the house. Kangha's stride is purposeful, and though he doesn't say a word, Woo-Jin keeps pace, his curiosity piqued by his friend's sudden retreat.
"Kangha, where will you start from?" Woo-Jin asks, his voice laced with both curiosity and concern.
"What?" Kangha replies calmly, his tone almost indifferent.
Woo-Jin glances at his friend's face, searching for any trace of emotion, but Kangha continues to look straight ahead, his focus fixed on the path before him.
"The same thing you said to Miss Choi," Woo-Jin presses.
Kangha exhales softly. "Right now, I want to sleep," he says, his voice steady but firm. "After that, I'll think about it. Maybe I'll come up with something."
Woo-Jin blinks, momentarily at a loss for words. He shakes his head in disbelief before finally blurting out, "You have to fight the greatest black magic wizard, and you don't know what to do?" His voice rises, betraying his shock and frustration.
Kangha stops in front of his room and places one hand on the doorframe. He turns to face Woo-Jin, his expression calm, as if this is nothing out of the ordinary. "Woo-Jin, I do know what to do," he says evenly. "Now, if you could stop shouting and announcing it to the whole school, that would be great."
His words carry a quiet authority, the kind that makes Woo-Jin hesitate. Kangha's lips curve into a faint smile as he adds, "Besides, nothing's going to happen until the students arrive in the evening. So, I'm going to sleep."
Without waiting for a response, Kangha opens the door to his room. "Now go," he says, stepping inside with a casual air. "I'll handle it."
He closes the door behind him, leaving Woo-Jin standing in the hallway, his mouth slightly open in disbelief. How is he so calm? Woo-Jin wonders, his thoughts racing. Doesn't he fear death?
Kangha's nonchalant demeanor leaves an unsettling impression, but Woo-Jin knows one thing for sure—there's more to Kangha than he lets on.