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Jinseong returned to the building and began to move towards the Seoul Specialization High School for Ability Users.

Although it had “High School” in its name, Seoul Specialization High School was a place that strictly prohibited outsiders from entering. It was a reasonable measure, as contact between outsiders and students usually led to many more bad things than good.

Tampering with capable people was just the tip of the iceberg.

There had been attempts to ensnare them into crime organizations through drug addiction, and some hidden desires to surveil every move of ability users had surfaced. Brokers and agents had also intervened in attempts to abduct talents overseas.

These were matters concerning the students’ futures and anything that interfered with their studies.

Thus, the school had no choice but to block outsiders from entry.

Instances where such entry was permitted were exceptionally sparse.

The exceptions were rather complex; amongst them, “specific events” and “first and second degree relatives or legal guardians of students” were worth noting.

Regardless of how thoroughly the school restricted access, they did not imprison students or isolate them from the outside world; they were merely sensitive to outsiders.

Family members could enter after donning surveillance artifacts.

The problem was.

“There is no blood relation, nor any legal connection…”

The issue was that Park Jinseong was not legally related to Iarin.

Even if Jinseong was treated like family in the mansion, called “brother” by Iarin, or referred to as “oppa” by Iserin—by blood, they were strangers and legally, they were still others.

Thus, the school had no reason to let Park Jinseong in.

Even if Iarin and Iserin vouched for him.

Well… if Lee Yang-hoon vouched for him, he might manage to get in somehow—

“Then the surveillance will tag along. What a nuisance.”

There would likely be someone persistently following him under the pretext of guiding him around the school.

It would be to keep a watchful eye on why someone with no legal ties to a student was entering the school.

Sure, if he visited multiple times, their vigilance might ease… But unfortunately, it seemed Jinseong wouldn’t have the luxury of such time.

Iarin had already made plans with Yesuhwa.

And it wasn’t just a promise for some distant day, which made it all the more troubling.

Before the rewind, he must surely have faced misfortune on that date.

Having approached without understanding the dangers of untamed energies… he would have vanished like a moth to a campfire.

So, he had no choice but to think of other methods.

He didn’t need to enter through conventional means, he could roam around the school without issues, and he could even use magic or prepare rituals without raising any suspicion.

Problems are solved much more easily when viewed from multiple angles, rather than a single perspective. Not to mention, if one flips and disassembles the problem, arriving at solutions becomes even more challenging.

With simple yet effective methods.

He only needed to endure a small amount of trouble to enter, accepting a slight price to pay.

Wouldn’t that be a truly beneficial outcome?

Jinseong rose from his seat, contemplating what method might prove effective.

Then, he began pondering about what kinds of insects would frighten the students.

“What kind of bugs should I use?”

Preferences concerning insects are as sharply defined as food tastes.

Some individuals capture bugs with ease, while others scream and panic at the mere sight of them.

Regarding this, some have said, “It’s physiologically hard to accept the existence of insects,” or “Insects can pose a threat to human safety, and thus they are instinctively rejected.”

However, Park Jinseong thought of this more as an issue of environment or personal taste.

Children play with insects without hesitation and often get excited by impressive-looking creatures like rhinoceros beetles, indicating that there’s little validity to the claim of “instinctive rejection.”

Moreover, if accepting such things were genuinely difficult, no one would use them as edibles.

Worldwide, many places consume cicadas, and there are ample examples of people eating seemingly grotesque items like spiders or caterpillars.

Just in Korea, they catch wasps to brew alcohol, fry bee larvae, or boil silkworm pupae with seasoning to consume them, called “beondegi.” Also, the older generations have experience grilling grasshoppers or larvae… so the distaste for bugs arises from unfamiliarity.

“…There was a tribe that settled by a lake, and they caught fish to survive. However, those envious of their abundance approached the chieftain and made wicked pleas to take away their land, leading a shaman to perform bad deeds against them, crafting dolls from trees that grew by the lake, the number of which matched the number of the tribe living by the lake…”

Thinking about this in reverse.

“And while carving more and more dolls, there was one final mistake—a doll that looked just like the spindly, weak child of that tribe, lacking muscles, warrior qualities, or talents, what harm could it do? Thus, the shaman cast a curse on them with the one missing doll, saying, ‘If you drink the lake’s water, your stomach will ache, and you will suffer from the boiling heat. The fish in the lake will be writhing with insects, making them difficult to eat, and the water’s color will change, poisoning you upon contact.’ And so, they fell under the curse and were forced to abandon their land…”

This shows that unfamiliarity greatly amplifies rejection.

“There are those who say they must leave their homeland while others argue they should stay, alleviating their hunger while debating their opinions. Naturally, the one child who has not fallen ill can only swallow back their tears, thinking that ‘If that mud were fish, I would do anything!’…”

Even outside of Korea, things that seem disgusting and send shivers just from looking at them.

Put aside any trivial issues like security and it wouldn’t be strange if Jinseong were escorted inside.

That would indeed be what allows Jinseong to enter the school.

* * *

“At that moment, the ants passing by overheard and approached to ask, ‘Are you truly a human child? If that mud were indeed like fish, would you do anything?’ The child boldly nodded, and the ants, believing in the child’s words, began to gather around the mud, digging and pulling something out. It was a fish, covered in mud but of considerable size.”

The invocation is recited.

In a language once used by a tribe in Africa, now nearly forgotten, it slowly flows from Jinseong’s lips, overshadowed by English and French.

Doon.

Duwung.

Striking the hollowed-out wood with his hand for a percussive imitation.

Beating covered vessels to mimic drums.

Accompanied by sounds uplifting the human spirit, he recites the invocation.

“The ants offered it, saying, ‘You are a human child. Since we, the blind ones, have personally given you the fish, you must keep your promise. We are those who embark on a long journey, and it is tough for those with clear sight to properly navigate, so you must guide us to a place suitable for our stay in exchange for the fish.’ The child readily agreed and inquired where they wanted to go.”

The drumming awakens awareness.

The low beat of the drums lifts the spirit.

However, there were no aids to join them in their endeavors.

No intoxicating herbs that would send them into a trance or food that would induce hallucinations was their sole flaw.

Yet even that flaw posed no issue for using magic; it was merely a means for facilitating the proper usage of spells. Jinseong could easily enter a trance state without such substances while even attaining a state of trance required no meditation at all.

“The army of blind ants wished for plenty of food, abundant twigs, and desired a place easy for house-building. But the child, upon hearing their wish, couldn’t quite think of a location and confidently stated, ‘I know such a place. Just follow me.’ And thus, he led the army toward the village.”

 

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