I Became a Disaster-Class Sorcery Genius

Boss, Don't You Want To? (2)

Dan is strong.

Of course, if we're talking about the entire world of sorcery, that statement could be debated, but if the standard was students in the Sorcery Institute, he had certainly risen to the ranks of the strong.

There were only a handful of students in the Sorcery Institute who could defeat Dan.

And the one who had granted Dan such strength was none other than his shikigami, Tam (貪).

No matter how much Dan hated it and suffered mental anguish because he couldn't properly handle his shikigami, in the end, Tam was a Grade 3 shikigami.

The power held by a Grade 3 shikigami was not something that even the talented students gathered at the Sorcery Institute could easily covet.

But—

[Kkyeeeeeeeek—!]

"So damn noisy."

Baaang!

[Kkyeeeek!]

"Be quiet!"

Baang!

"...."

Dan stared at Kim Dojun with bulging eyes, as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing.

Up until just a moment ago, Tam—who'd appeared, showing off its power and hunting for something to eat—was—

[Kkyeeeeeeg—!]

Crack!

Being beaten up by Kim Dojun.

No, just "being beaten up" wasn't enough to describe the scene Dan was witnessing right now.

"... Huh."

Tam, Dan's current shikigami, was, to put it plainly, being thrashed like a dog on a dog day.

[Kkgekgekgekgek!]

Tam's black fragments burst out in every direction—

Pasasak—!

—and then slithered back, reattaching themselves to reconstruct Tam's body.

That was one of the special abilities boasted by Tam, the Grade 3 shikigami: 'Reconstruction'.

Though it didn't reach immortality, unless the shikigami sorcerer died, so long as it had time, it could endlessly reconstruct itself, never truly dying.

Tam's body certainly had a physical form, but ultimately, it was a massive mass of spiritual power.

That's why, even among other Grade 3 shikigami, it was strong.

As long as the shikigami sorcerer lived, it gained a kind of limited immortality, and could endlessly devour its opponents without ever tiring.

However—

[Kkieek-kkieek-kkieek-kkieek!]

That impressive "reconstruction" ability was, in this situation, creating a hellish scene.

[Salsalsalsalsalsalsalsalsalsalsalsalsalsalsal─────────]

While Tam wailed monstrously, Kim Dojun, as if relieving all his pent-up stress, cheerfully pummeled it.

After several minutes had passed, Tam, having been thoroughly beaten up by Kim Dojun, retreated into Dan's shadow as if fleeing, hiding its body.

[Kkiiiiiii—]

Letting out a most pitiful whine.

"... Wh-What...!"

Dan was flustered by this.

But then, sensing someone in front of him, he instinctively looked up.

"All right, so now, who should pay the price?"

Looking at Kim Dojun standing before him, Dan felt, for the first time, powerlessness and fear at the same time.

"Wait...! I'll accept your help!"

Instinctively recalling what Kim Dojun had said earlier, Dan spoke up.

"That was something you should have said when I first offered to help."

Kim Dojun rebuffed Dan's words.

"To start, let's have you take a few hits."

He raised his fist.

"Kkak!"

Soon, the Mad Dog's scream rang out.

A moment later.

"Looks like you're ready to talk now. What do you think?"

Kim Dojun, showing mercy by only giving Dan, the one who attacked him, a few punches, spoke with a satisfied look.

"...."

Dan gazed at Kim Dojun with eyes full of hostility.

Truthfully, from his perspective, this situation was terribly unfair.

So he could only meet Kim Dojun's cheerful smile with an endlessly fierce expression.

Kim Dojun, looking at that face, seemed a bit troubled.

"Ah."

He nodded, as if something just occurred to him.

"Come to think of it, your nickname was 'Mad Dog', right?"

"...."

Dan didn't answer.

But Kim Dojun smiled as if that was enough.

"Wait here a sec."

He immediately vanished somewhere.

"...?"

Dan, left dumbfounded by Kim Dojun's sudden disappearance from in front of him, then—

"Sorry, I just went to get something."

—saw Kim Dojun reappear in less than five seconds, and his eyes widened as he looked on unconsciously.

'What kind of sorcery did he use?'

But that thought didn't last long.

Because—

"Historically, this is what works on dogs."

In Kim Dojun's hand was an aluminum baseball bat.

"...."

And not just any bat; it was dented in several places, and oddly covered here and there with random dirt.

... And even the tip of the bat was realistically smashed in.

As if he'd swung it, full force, at something standing upright....

"All right then, let's start lightly with five hits—"

"I'm ready to talk."

Dan cut him off and immediately replied.

Noticing what seemed like a strange hint of disappointment flash across Kim Dojun's face, Dan felt a chill run down his back.

"You should've done that from the start."

Kim Dojun smiled and opened his mouth.

####

The fifth boss of the Sorcery Killing Technique, 'Demon King Tamer', Dan's life began to go awry at age 12.

That was because he was one of the nine siblings of the 'Ryuoh' family, a famous clan of shikigami sorcerers in China.

Of course, just from the family name itself, many might find it curious.

After all, the scions of prestigious families are typically promised better lives than ordinary people, so being born into such a family is considered an advantage.

But there were two reasons why Dan's life went astray even though he was born into such a family.

The first reason was that the Ryuoh family was infamous in China, and not in a good way.

Although it called itself a family, in reality, the Ryuoh family was a massive pillar holding up the Chinese underworld, intricately and deeply tied to other notorious Chinese families and syndicates, almost like a living, breathing version of a crime syndicate straight out of a game.

And the second reason his life became twisted—

'Because of the battle royale among siblings.'

It was because of the "Successor Battle" to decide the successor of the Ryuoh family.

The rules were simple.

Those with the qualities of an heir would fight, and the last survivor would become the next head.

There was no option to forfeit or step back.

The heirs of the Ryuoh family were forced to kill the other heirs, and only one could be left standing.

That meant, from the moment he was born, Dan was fated to be locked in a to-the-death struggle with his siblings.

'Even the fact that he has Tam, which he can't properly handle—'

It was the family that forcibly gave him a weapon made specifically for the battle royale.

That was Dan's situation.

And the task Kim Dojun needed to do for that Dan was equally simple.

'To have him win the Successor Battle and become head of the Ryuoh family.'

Once that goal was accomplished, Dan would become the fifth main boss. Recognizing that, Kim Dojun stated his intentions.

"... How the hell.... How do you know I'm a member of the Ryuoh family? As far as I know, no one but me knows that now."

"You don't need to know."

"... Were you sent by another family?"

"I said you don't need to know."

"... You're not going to answer anything?"

"Right, you just need to take my help, win the Successor Battle, and become the head."

"...."

With a look of complete distrust,

"... Seriously, do you think anyone could trust a guy who won't reveal anything?"

Dan said to Kim Dojun.

"I can always build trust."

As Kim Dojun once again raised his bat,

"... I see your point."

"So, do you feel a little more trust now?"

"... I do."

Dan nodded vigorously.

Seeing this, Kim Dojun grinned in satisfaction.

"All right, shall we take your first step toward becoming head?"

Tap!

He rested the bat on his shoulder.

"Bring it out."

"... Bring what out?"

"Tam (貪), bring it out. First, we need to do some obedience training."

That's what he said.

[Kkyeeeeeeeek—!]

And for about an hour after, sorrowful cries echoed along the park path.

####

The headquarters of the Jinlun Guild in Guangzhou was vast, magnificent, and tall.

Like the main character of the area, the high-rise building stood tall, towering above the city.

On the top floor, two men sat.

One was Jaegal Shin, the Sorcery Director of the Jinlun Guild—known as the 'Trailblazer'.

The other was S-Class sorcerer Yang Wei, owner of the top floor office and known as "Old Bell (古句鐘)".

Yang Wei looked at Jaegal Shin seated in front of him and spoke.

"You know, don't you? The guild is extremely busy right now. Recently, possessed entities have been running wild everywhere."

"I know. And I also know that 'Spirit Zones' have been appearing more frequently."

"... Then you know how much work there is to do?"

Yang Wei's expression darkened.

At this point, any sorcerer of the Jinlun Guild would bow their head and beg forgiveness.

At least, jinlun Guild sorcerers—and really, all sorcerers in China—knew how fiery Yang Wei's temper could be.

But Jaegal Shin remained tranquil, despite Yang Wei's tone.

"Of course I know."

"So you know how ridiculous it sounds for you to just drop everything and take off right now?"

"If I were just going off to have some fun, yes, that would be ridiculous."

"You're not going for fun...?"

"Of course not. I'm leaving because there's something even more important than this right now."

"... Something more important?"

Yang Wei cast Jaegal Shin a look that said, "What the hell are you talking about?"

Yet could not help but ask at what came next.

"What did you say...?"

"I think I found one. Someone like me."

"... You mean—"

"I think I've found a genius as gifted as myself."

"... Are you sure?"

"I can't say for sure. Not yet."

Yang Wei was about to frown again, but—

"But that's why I want to check. You know, this is the first time I've ever said anything like this."

Hearing Jaegal Shin's certain tone, Yang Wei could not help but go silent for a moment.

"So."

Jaegal Shin looked at the silent Yang Wei.

"I just want to check. If that guy is really someone like me. If he is, wouldn't that be great for you too, guildmaster?"

He left the words, "After all, there are things you need to get done," hanging in the air with a faint smile.

Yang Wei stared at him in silence.

"... Finish everything here before you go."

He finally replied.

And so—

"All right, let's see if he lives up to expectations. I should go check for myself soon."

Leaving Yang Wei's office, Jaegal Shin murmured,

"The Korean sorcery genius."

He smiled as he said it.

####

And that weekend.

"Shall we go?"

The second outing began.

"Ready, unfilial wretch (悖倫)?"

"Yes, little one (兒)."

With Kim Dojun conversing with himself,

"I'm seriously going to kill you!!!"

The outing with Shin Se-yeon began.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
Dojun isn't intelligent in a conventional way.
But he sure knows how to push people's buttons.
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】