Chapter 8: Regret

The pink chick, claiming to be an incredibly powerful, wealthy, superpowered girl, appeared. The chick said, "My soul takes the form of a young phoenix."

"And?" I asked.

"It means my potential is immense. When I grow up, I'll be a phoenix!"

"So you're weak now? Then, I'll return the words you said to me."

What did this chick say again? Ah, right, it said,

"Know your place, weak and insignificant chick."

"I don't think I said it quite like that..."

"?"

I quietly observed the pink chick.

"I'm sorry. I guess I don't have the right to say anything..."

Did she finally notice my antagonistic attitude? The chick turned away slightly and spoke,

"I, I'm also the granddaughter of the head of the Seonghwa Jin Family. It's embarrassing to say, but you could call me a 'silver spoon.'"

"Oh? How much is your grandfather's wealth?"

Well, a suitable financial compensation might just heal the wounds her insolent words have caused to my heart.

"What?! You don't know the Seonghwa Jin Family?"

"I really don't."

"It's a powerful family, not to be taken lightly, even by the Ilwol-Oakmoon Sect."

Ilwol-Oakmoon Sect? That sounds familiar.

Right. The neighbor used to talk about it often.

"Hajin, you're the only one who can take over the head position of Ilwol-Oakmoon Sect."

"Don't you want to inherit the essence of Ilwol-Oak?"

"You should be the next head of Ilwol-Oakmoon Sect."

"Do you know about Ilwol-Oakmoon Sect...?"

They kept asking if I wanted to take over Ilwol-Oakmoon Sect, saying I was the only suitable successor. I remembered being annoyed by their persistence.

But I never thought Ilwol-Oakmoon Sect was a real organization.

Ah, I didn't see it coming. That uncle was just a copycat.

Pretending not to know about spiritual abilities, what a scam.

I just lost interest in spiritual abilities, that was all.

"Is that Ilwol-Oakmoon Sect strong?"

"Of course. They're not just the top in Korea but also considered the top in East Asia. There are people in this world who don’t even know what it is, but I never thought you'd be one of them."

"Isn't the top in Korea Cheonji?"

"How should I put it... Cheonji is like the government, and Ilwol-Oakmoon Sect is the most powerful private organization..."

I understood it in a flash. So, Cheonji represents South Korea, and Ilwol-Oakmoon Sect is like the top chaebol? This chick explains things well.

"Now arriving is the train to Miryang. We ask that passengers please step back from the train."

"Huh?!"

The train arrived just in time.

Ignoring the startled chick, I got up from my seat.

"It's too early for the train to Miryang to arrive, isn’t it?"

"How did you know that trains to Miryang are infrequent?"

Judging by the way she spoke, she didn’t seem to know the schedule.

"My family told me."

I was momentarily at a loss for words.

A family that knows detailed information about Pyeon Station.

Could this chick really be from a silver spoon background?

So, the chick and I boarded the train heading towards Miryang. As I sat down, the chick naturally took the seat opposite me.

"Is your family really that great?"

"Well, speaking of my family..."

Pride overflowed in the chick’s expression.

Right, that's what I thought.

I decided to finish my objective before her explanation got too lengthy.

"So, including the cost of my insult and saving your life, can you take down someone for me?"

"Do you mean to bring about their downfall?"

"Yes."

The chick hesitated before responding.

"It would be difficult for anyone stronger than a Heavenly Immortal. A lot of the times, such strong figures have followers."

"Do you know about Cheonsu of Hongdae, the 'Little Tyrant'?"

"Cheonsu? I've heard of him."

The chick said,

"He's said to be a Divine Hand of the Earth Immortal level, having received a divine blessing related to hands. I think he runs a club in Hongdae."

"Can you take him down?"

'What will be the response? Can Cheonsu be taken down in exchange for the chick's life value? I sincerely hope so.'

"I'll look into it."

"Are you serious?"

"I am to be the next head of the Seonghwa Jin Family; I always repay my debts."

With a flaunt, the chick struck a pose of arrogance. Does she not realize how funny it looked, trying to act superior after being beaten?

Reluctantly, I decided to 'invest' in this 'chick coin.' After all, this pink shaman chick seemed to be my only shot at success in my student-and-friends plan.

Suddenly, something unfolded outside the subway window. It was a sea of a very dark and sticky liquid. A liquid I had once handled. Its odd texture made me think I could make some money selling it as a slime toy to kids.

"Peep!"

However, judging by the chick, who looked slightly older than Jamsuni's startled reaction, cowering with her head down, it seemed unlikely to sell well.

Now that I think about it, kids really hated that liquid.

"Why do you keep chirping? Do you think you're a real chick just because you're called 'Fengchu'?"

“Th-this is something I can’t help. The form of my soul is a chick.”

“The form of your soul? Like a divine sign?”

The chick looked at me incredulously.

"You don't know the three major types of psychic ability users?"

"Due to personal reasons, I've avoided learning about psychic abilities." S~ᴇaʀᴄh the Nʘvᴇl(F)ire.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

"There are Soul psychics, who evolve their spirit bodies; Spell Psychics, who use spells centered around the principles engraved in their souls; and Shaman Psychics, who handle other souls resonating with their own. That's the classification. Of course, if you didn’t attend a spiritual ability academy run by a family house, you might not know. Most people have some minor spiritual abilities anyway."

Interesting. I should have researched this sooner. I followed my sister's advice too well, not to inquire about other spiritual ability users.

I gestured for the chick to continue.

"So, as a Soul Psychic, I'm heavily influenced by the instincts of my spirit body. It's inevitable for a chick to chirp, right? I don't want to chirp either!"

"That makes sense. Other than chirping, a chick would have no other instincts. The reason you picked a fight with me was just your nasty personality."

"Ugh. I was abrasive to avoid the chick’s imprinting instinct..."

Suddenly, the chick slumped down and started crying.

Imprinting instinct, what's that?

"Peep, it's already too late, I think."

"What's wrong? Are you hurt?"

"Don't talk to me so kindly..."

She was causing a scene even though I was already on the chick’s side.

But since I've already invested in 'chick coin', I had to provide some care.

So, I decided to change the topic.

"Why were you so terrified looking outside the subway?"

"Why aren't you afraid?"

The chick whined.

"That’s Miryang Blackwater, the ultimate negativity. It erodes the soul and corrupts it. Souls feel fear from it."

"Negativity? I think I've heard of that. It's like being tainted, right?"

"Negativity is the opposite of the divine in our souls. It’s inherent in our physical bodies. Every act of our physical existence taints us with negativity."

I see. Our physical bodies are impure.

Only the soul is pure.

But why am I unaffected by that black slime-like liquid?

Maybe because I'm so tainted I can't even see ghosts, it doesn't matter to me. Adding negativity to negativity – is that how it works?

"Those who beat you up. Did you know them?"

"They were talents trained by our family. All of them had trained with me for years. It seems like one of the family elders tried to deal with me. Ha, as if I'd let them. Foolish, tainted people...!"

The chick's voice trembled.

So this is what it feels like to hear pain in someone's voice.

I wrapped my coat around the shivering chick. Thinking about it, she's a girl too. I shouldn't have let her wander around in tattered clothes.

Of course, I offered my coat because of my investment in 'chick coin.' Otherwise, I would have completely ignored her, girl or not, for picking a fight with me.

"Why did you follow me?"

"…because of a chick’s instinct."

"Really? What a strange chick you are."

After covering her with my coat, I was about to return to my seat when a small hand tightly grasped my sleeve.

"I'm not a vulgar woman. I'm not someone who casually allows others to do things. You understand?" she said.

"I get it, it's all because of the chick in your heart, right?"

Holding the girl, memories pricked my mind like needles, rolling around, each one a sharp stab.

It was a snowy day.

My younger sister had clung to me in the same way.

'Oppa, don't go.'

And I had coldly pushed her away.

I shouldn’t have.

I never wanted to do that again.

So, I naturally sat down next to the girl. She then snuggled her head against my shoulder, peeping softly, and fell asleep.

The girl's face looked peaceful in sleep. I tried hard to find traces of my sister in her face.

But I couldn't find her likeness.

That made me a bit sad.

"Damn it."

I sighed.

"This station is Geumjeong, Geumjeong Station. The doors are on your left. This station is Geumjeong, Geumjeong Station. The doors are on your left."

And like that, we escaped from Pyeon Station.