The room was cold despite the sunlight starting to peek through the window.
It felt like a grave had just been opened inside of the infirmary. The atmosphere tense and heavy.
Byeon Kyung-mi was standing over the unconscious body of Ji Won silently—her veil lifted off her body leaving her in a bright blue Hanbok, revealing that she actually wasn't that old. In fact she looked as young as Eyun-jung.
Her long black hair reached to below her ankles—different colors on her face. Not those that came from makeup but ones that were handmade. Her face was pale, like she had just seen a ghost, and from what it seemed.. That was likely.
Soo-jin was sitting on the ground, she had been there for the whole night playing drums or other instruments, watching as the Mudang changed from Hanbok to Hanbok, dancing, cutting strings, singing songs.
"Um... Miss. Is the Gut done?"
Byeon Kyung-mi took in a deep breath, taking off her heavy ornate jewelry. Chains, rings, earrings. All of them getting placed on Ji Won's chest.
"Yes girl... I suppose that Ji Won will wake in a few days. I'll talk with Vice Principal for him to be exempted from the tournament."
Soo-jin slowly stood up from floor—joints and muscles aching from sitting in one place for far too long, but she was curious.
"Miss, why did you.. You know. Make me sit here with you?"
A small smile spread across Byeon Kyung-mi's face as a different, less brightly colored grey veil was placed around her face, covering her entire body,
"Because you were the only one who has the same class as me. Mudang's are useless nowadays now that the System serves as a direct connection to the gods—but. Spirit Summoners are a new type of 'Shamans'."
Soo-jin slowly bobbed her head up and down. Looking up at the Mudang silently as they both walked out. Leaving Ji Won alone in the infirmary, still wrapped up in those papers.
A few moments of silence passed—no activity occurring in the infirmary, at least until out of thin air, the Clown appeared once more, laying besides Ji Won.
"So. You're the walking talking reservoir of Chaotic Mana right? Sappie sent me here to collect some of that."
It ran a finger down Ji Won's chest—its eyes landing on the jewelry Byeon Kyung-mi had placed, noticing the black smoke arising from it. The Clown picked it up.
"Ohh.. Shiny, wonder if this has any more Chaotic Mana.."
The clown trailed off, its grey eyes landing onto the now glowing words written across the papers that wrapped Ji Won up.
"Oopsie.."
Ji Won's.. No, something else's hand tore through the paper—grabbing the Clown's wrists, the same eyes Ji Won had when the curse activated, peaked through the cracks in the bindings.
"Leave. Fool. Do not disturb the awakening."
The Clown wasn't deterred—it leaned in closer, pushing the things hand back inside the cocoon of paper. A grin making its way across the Clown's lips.
"Awakening? Alright. But I'll still need to borrow these trinkets. Their just too shiny alright~ So night night."
It placed a hand on the papers, crystals slowly forming across them all—covering Ji Won's body completely. Leaving him trapped.
"If you survive.. Maybe I'll come again, if ya don't... I'll just nab ya clothes in that case. Later~"
A stray paper flew by Ji Won's eyes—the Clown disappearing behind it. Leaving whatever was controlling Ji Won's body alone for now.
"This fool... He may be strong for now. He'll soon wallow in the pits of despair."
Ji Won's eyes closed—the infirmary falling into silence and a bit of peace even.
Outside—Dae Youngjae was sitting in front of the veiled Byeon Kyung-mi. His lips pursed tightly into a frown.
"So... Ji Won is too 'cursed' to keep on school grounds?"
The Mudang leaned back in her chair giving the Vice Principal a nod of agreement, crossing her arms under the veil.
"Pretty much. I don't want to ruin a kid's life so just give him an early graduation, he's strong enough to fend for himself now. He's undergoing a Synthesis right now anyway."
Dae Youngjae rested his elbows on the table in between them both, the clock ticking away silently—both of them staring at each other.
A few moments passed—neither spoke. The air was thick enough that it could be cut with a butter-knife.
"I'm on the pretty boy's side. She's pretty much right. But—its not like the kids sprouting a dungeon every second, just put a few extra Sealing Artifacts onto him. I'll pay."
Han Dae-sik was sitting in the corner—a bottle of liquor in his hand as he poured himself a large glass of the drink before chugging it down uncouthly, not caring about manners.
Byeon Kyung-mi's eyes lit up underneath the veil. She immediately turned in her chair—towards Han Dae-sik
"Okay then, if your paying I'm giving them for, 40 Billion Won for each Artifact, Ji Won will need a total of four. So...Cough up a 160 billion Won. Oh and, service charges also exist, and so do Artifact Creation Tax... So you're total comes to around... 400 Billion!!"
Han Dae-sik remained nonchalant—even pouring himself another glass and chugging it before looking at the Mudang,
"Sure... But I can't transfer that amount. I'll give you hard cash. How about that? In dollars too."
This earned a big—excited thumbs up from Byeon Kyung-mi who immediately stood up from her chair, jumping around like an overexcited puppy.
"Alright! I'll get to work immediately. Later brats!"
Dae Youngjae was gawking at Han Dae-sik. Who had now casually emptied out the whole bottle of liquor.
"What. The. Fuck. Where'd you get that money?"
Han Dae-sik stood up, pulling out a cigar from inside his pocket—having snuck that in through security since smoking wasn't allowed in the academy, even for teachers.
"I don't have that money to transfer. Artifacts can't be destroyed by their creator so when that hag goes and makes them. I'll just steal them."
Youngjae held back his laughter—but even then a huff escaped him. His body shaking from the contained laughter.
"Asshole.."
Han Dae-sik shrugged, lighting up the cigar as he took a puff—the smoke filling up the room as he exhaled it.
"I mean. I do have the money in my bank account—so do you. But we can't do anything with it. The whole economy would just break..."
Dae Youngjae also rose from his chair, walking towards the door as they both walked side by side—they looked and felt like old friends, especially due to their behavior.
"The Ji Won kid.. He's a weird one I know it already, acts like a tank—heals himself like a healer, and used the Equalizer skill as well... I wonder what's gonna change after he wakes up."
Han Dae-sik shrugged, the cigar having been used up completely, the foot of the cigar having been thrown away into the trash.
"A lot. Rituals like these usually de-route the individual. And if their lucky their class evolves, changes, or they just become stronger.. Well, I'ma go and gamble a bit. Later~"
Dae Youngjae blinked a few times in surprise—watching Han Dae-sik disappear after spontaneously deciding to just 'gamble'. But this amused him a bit.
"Idiot..."
Little did they both know, Han Dae-sik wasn't the only one who would be gambling.
"Welcome back {Redacted}! The Dealer, welcomes you!"