The next morning…
Yui woke up to the sound of something hitting her face.
Hard.
"OW—WHAT WAS THAT?!"
She sat up, hair a mess, ready to fight—
Only to see Baek standing over her.
Holding… another slipper.
"…Did you just throw a slipper at me?" she asked slowly.
"You didn't wake up," he said calmly.
"So your solution was violence?"
"It worked."
"…I hate that it worked."
Welcome to Training
Ten minutes later, Yui stood in the backyard.
Still half asleep.
Still holding a toothbrush.
Still not emotionally prepared.
Baek stood across from her, arms crossed.
"You need to learn how to fight."
Yui blinked.
"I already fight."
"You throw household items."
"IT'S EFFECTIVE."
Baek didn't argue.
Which somehow felt worse.
Step One: Focus
Baek summoned a small floating spirit.
It looked harmless.
Like a glowing blob.
"Hit it," he said.
Yui stared.
"…You want me to fight a floating jellyfish?"
"It's not a jellyfish."
"It looks emotionally like a jellyfish."
"Just hit it."
Attempt #1
Yui walked up.
Raised her hand.
Hesitated.
"…Sorry in advance."
She slapped it.
The spirit bounced.
Then smacked her in the face.
"OW—WHAT THE—"
Jae-min, sitting nearby with snacks, nodded.
"Yeah, that seems fair."
Attempt #2
Yui narrowed her eyes.
"Okay. No mercy."
She charged.
Tripped.
Fell.
Face-first into the grass.
Baek: "…."
Jae-min: "10/10 performance."
Yui (muffled): "I quit."
Obaa-chan Interferes
Obaa-chan appeared behind them like she teleported out of thin air.
"Wrong approach."
Yui didn't move from the ground.
"Everything is wrong."
Obaa-chan tapped her head.
"You're thinking like a human."
"…I AM a human."
"Debatable."
Yui sat up.
"Wow. Betrayal."
The Lesson
Baek stepped closer.
"Don't try to overpower spirits."
"Then what do I do?" Yui snapped.
"Understand them."
She blinked.
"…You want me to talk to the thing that slapped me?"
"It reacted to your hesitation," Baek said.
"Spirits reflect emotion."
Jae-min gasped.
"So it slapped her because she felt sorry?!"
Yui pointed.
"Okay first of all, that's rude."
Attempt #3 (But Smarter… kind of)
Yui stood up.
Dusted herself off.
Walked toward the spirit again.
This time—
She didn't hesitate.
"Listen," she said, pointing at it,
"I respect you. But if you hit me again, I will emotionally never recover."
The spirit… paused.
Baek raised an eyebrow.
"…That's not what I meant."
Yui ignored him.
She reached out.
Gently.
Tapped it.
The spirit glowed—
Then disappeared.
Silence.
Jae-min blinked.
"…Did that actually work?"
Baek nodded slowly.
"…Yes."
Yui crossed her arms proudly.
"See? Communication."
Of Course It Gets Ruined
Suddenly—
Ghost Dog ran in.
Full speed.
Straight through the training area.
Knocked Yui over.
Again.
Then ran off with Baek's sleeve.
Baek: "…"
Yui (on the ground again): "I'm going to fight the dog next."
Mr. Lee Arrives (Unfortunately)
Mr. Lee appeared with papers.
As always.
"I see training has begun."
Yui didn't get up.
"Define 'begun.'"
Mr. Lee flipped a page.
"You'll need to complete at least 10 successful spirit interactions to qualify for your contract."
Yui sat up fast.
"WAIT—THIS IS GRADED?!"
"Yes."
"I didn't sign up for school AND ghost school!"
"You technically did," Baek said.
Final Moment
Later…
Yui sat on the steps, tired.
Jae-min sat beside her.
"You did good today."
She sighed.
"I got attacked by a jellyfish ghost."
"…But you won."
"…Barely."
She looked up at the sky.
"…Hey."
Jae-min blinked.
"Yeah?"
"If that thing comes back…"
"The King?"
Yui nodded.
"…Do you think I can actually fight it?"
Jae-min smiled.
"You threw a slipper at death and survived."
"…That's true."
"So yeah," he said.
"I think you'll be fine."
Yui smirked.
"…Worst motivational speech ever."
Final Line
From inside the house—
Baek shouted:
"Training isn't over."
Yui screamed:
"IT BETTER BE—"
END OF CHAPTER 19