You deserve this for free loading off my home. Evelyn says looking down at Jake with holes going completely through his body

Exactly.

You're no better Lela.

So what? I've got blackmail information, he doesn't, meaning I've got a reason to encourage you to let me live here, he doesn't.

Right, I'm gonna go find some entertainment now.

No you don't, you still have every school topic to revise.

Dam… was hoping you'd forget.

—----------------------------------------------

Couple hours later

—----------------------------------------------

Oh my god… finally done.

God, you're so much worse than I expected.

Hey, you wanted to teach me, I didn't ask for this.

You could put in some effort too, you know?

Not wanna, regardless, I gotta go for my test now.

Huh? What test?

The one with Hansoo, didn't you go ask him for information last time along with when you brought that idiot to the council? Evelyn says, gesturing at Jake.

Oh yea…

Huh? What's with the sudden change in tone?

Well, I deemed it as unimportant before and postponed it…

You forgot, didn't you?

Yea I forgot it.

Alright, then let's go together? You coming or not bear boy(Jake)? Evelyn says looking at Jake still on the floor, the holes in his body slowly fixing themselves.

Yea, but you want your payment from Hansoo?

Ofcourse, why else would I be going?

Well, if you bring her along, he's not gonna pay you, or even care about you.

Why?

He also committed some crimes, albeit minor like me, that she's trying to bring him in for, but nobody can find him, like me.

Huh? But aren't you guys ridiculously easy to find? You were even homeless before.

Yea, but they have a strict set of rules, and she's a stickler for rules.

So?

Well, she made sure that not a single ghost broke the rules while looking for other illegal ghosts.

Which are?

Some simple ones are not leaving for more than 20 minutes, stay 100 meters from each group, and each group must have 5 people.

So? I don't see the problem.

Well, not many ghosts are willing to work for the council, so they already have a lack of personnel, with the rules making it harder for them.

Lela, is this true? Evelyn turns to look at Lela looking embarrassed and guilty.

Wow, I kinda get why you're guilty but why embarrassed?

Well, she prides herself on doing her job the best and most efficiently, so being such a stickler for the rules, causing her to be worse at her job is a shame for her.

Oh.

Also she can't even catch two ghosts like me and Hansoo who are not even hiding that hard. Jake says in a somewhat mocking tone. Making Lela glare at him.

You wanna die huh? Lela says preparing another soul bullet (Yea, that's what I'm calling it now) with enough energy to blow the house up.

Hey hey, calm down, if you wanna do this then do it somewhere I wouldn't be affected.

Fine. Lela says while looking at Jake still with a mocking face knowing she wouldn't dare.

Dam it, you think I don't dare?

I know you wouldn't, isn't there a rule that goes along the lines of not doing anything that'll attract too much attention with soul energy and not using too much soul energy?

Dammit… . Lela says with a somewhat defeated annoyed face.

Can you two stop arguing and figure out what we're gonna do with Hansoo now?

Yea I know what to do.

Really bear boy, YOU know what to do out of everyone?

Yea, I say we let you decide if you want the money from Hansoo or not.

Obviously.

Then don't bring the cruel woman.

Evelyn turns to Lela expecting an annoyed face but sees her with an oddly proud face for some reason.

… Ok, let's go.

Huh, you're bringing her along?

Evelyn ignores him and keeps walking out with Lela and Jake following.

Of Course not, Lela goes back home.

Fine.

That was easy.

Wait, bring a bag first, I heard that he gives you money, so why not bring a bag to store it?

… That's actually a good idea.

Evelyn and Jake head into her room and take her only bag and start going to find Hansoo.

Wow, she's usually a lot more stubborn than that. Evelyn says adjusting the oddly uncomfortable bag.

Yea, she even gave you advice.

Hmm, how weird, screw it, we're already here anyway. I swear, this restaurant is so close.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Evelyn and Jake head into Hansoo’s restaurant and find him, following him to the usual room again.

Okay, back for the test I assume?

Yea.

By the way, what's that bag for? Did you bring anything?

Nope, it's empty.

Show me, open it.

Sure? Evelyn opens it and finds a ghost flying out immediately pinning Hansoo to the wall.

Huh, whose…

Evelyn, do you really not know who that is?

…? Evelyn contemplates for a moment before realising.

Oh… I knew it felt weird that she wasn't as stubborn as usual.

Evelyn, you brought her over to my restaurant?!

Hey, I didn't bring her, she snuck into my bag. Oh, that's why my bag felt uncomfortable and why you suggested it.

Guys don't worry, I won't screw you over. Lela finally speaks up.

Huh? Am I supposed to believe the ghost who lives according to the rules to the point I wouldn't be surprised if she'd die for them?

Yea, it's for Evelyn anyways.

Why are none of the ghosts I'm surrounded by normal?

All three of them answer immediately something along the lines of “your not normal either” not word for word, but similar enough to make Evelyn frown slightly.

Fine, I may be a bit unique… Lela let him go.

Sure, and your not just a bit unique-

Shut it.

You too. Evelyn says to Jake as she sees Jake opening his mouth.

You got any insults to add on? Evelyn looks over at Hansoo who has been released by Lela.

No, you being unique helps with my research anyways.

Ok, last week I found out you had no soul energy left but was alive, but I've got a theory, so sit down. Cruel women and Jake, come help me too, I guess having that woman here helps too due to her control.

Wait, what do you mean she had no soul energy? Lela asks, concerned.

Ask her by yourself later, I'm busy so hurry up.

Fine.

First, sir side by side with Evelyn in the center.

Evelyn starts injecting soul energy into Jake.

Sure.

And now cruel women, use your soul energy and probe inside her body, especially her heart and blood vessels and tell me what you can find.

All three of them do as Hansoo said for the next 20ish minutes before stopping.

Okay, I found a layer of soul energy on the side of her heart and blood vessels, creating an identical system on the inside.

Hmm…

What does that mean?

Well, it means that you've got a heart made of soul energy.

Which means?

That whenever your heart beats, the heart made of soul also beats, sending soul energy throughout your body quickly, increasing the amount of soul energy in your body

How?

Anyways, the soul energy will constantly keep joining together into bigger chunks, leaving more spare space in your body for natural absorption from the air and your body increasing the rate that it causes soul division by a lot. Hansoo says ignoring her question.

I assume that woman has already taught you about soul energy?

Yea.

Good, cuz I'm pretty lazy to do so.

I assume the stronger ghosts also do this?

No.

Why not? You said it increased the rate I get soul energy by a lot though?

Yea, but your body does it naturally, while a ghost regardless of how strong has to use their own soul energy to make a heart and vessels.

Don't I also do that?

Yea but they need more soul energy to sustain the shape while yours just uses the shape of your own vessels and heart.

Oh, but shouldn't it still be efficient?

Yea, but only by a bit due to needing even more soul energy to beat the heart, and the concentration needed to sustain the shape of the heart and the vessels would be massive, so other methods to increase soul energy would work much better.

Other methods? Like what?

I don't know, each ghost has their own method, and don't ask the two behind you, they aren't strong or experienced enough to create their own method.

Oh.

And, and yours is probably the best if used properly.

Used properly? How?

If I teach you, I'm only gonna pay you half of what I'm supposed to.

Sure.

Why do you even want to learn? To be strong?

No, just seems convenient since it can increase my strength and speed and self defense an–

Ok ok, I got it. First you gotta compress the energy in your body into one large chunk.

Why?

To increase the rate it duplicates.

But isn't it like cell division, how would it…

Oh, that's because it's closer to multiplication, like if the amount of soul energy you have can be counted as 16 you would produce 4 per month.

So it's just the amount you have, square cubed?

Yea, but it seems so inefficient.

It's efficient for the stronger ghost.

Makes sense.

Next step is to compress it without making it too dense to avoid it turning liquid like.

Huh?

Just try it, soul energy is different and isn't as affected by physics.

Evelyn tired it, making sure the soul energy doesn't get too close to a liquid like state.

Wow, this feels weird.

You'll get used to it.

Alright, you're done.

That's all?

Yea, just make sure to do that every once in a while, also exercise helps.

How?

Outdoors should have more energy, also a faster heart rate causes the other heart made of soul energy to beat faster too, allowing the smaller bits of soul energy you can't detect to clump together into a big enough piece for you to add with your main piece.

Alright, pay up now.

Sure. Hansoo hands over 500 dollars in 5 dollar bills.

Dam, was hoping you would forget.

I'll pay you the other 500 if you convince her not to snitch on my location? Hansoo gestures to Lela.

Sure.

Hansoo pays up as they begin to leave.

Once outside.

Hey Lela.

Yes?

You heard him just now, don't expose his location.

Sure.

Huh? That's called convincing? Jake says, clearly not willing to play along.

Well, I told and she agreed.

Screw it…

—----------------------------------------------

Evelyn's home

—----------------------------------------------

Hey Evelyn?

Yea Lela?

So about the depletion of your soul energy before, mind to explain?

Damn, why does everybody have such good memory?

Fine, short explanation so all you're getting.

Sure.

Okay, I met a deranged spirit, had to disperse my energy completely and rub.

Ok, that's not specific at all, but I think I got it.

Nice.

Also you're absorbing in soul energy now.

Huh? I thought I was also absorbing in soul energy?

Yea, but it was so less that it would have been pathetic to even Jake there who already has a pitiful amount of soul energy.

Hehe, if you wanna insult me at least don't do it Infront of me.

Anyways, I've met the council of ghosts before once and the amount you're absorbing is a lot more than them, if given enough time, you would become stronger than them.

Yea, but I would die of starvation, thirsty or old age first.

Actually, you could use soul energy to negate all of that.

How?

Soul energy can act as a replacement for your cells by revitalising them constantly with minimum amount of soul energy, and if they are constantly revitalised by soul energy, they won't die or age, so no need to care about old age.

Yea, and if I get injured?

You have more than enough energy left to become a ghost after death, and keep every single sense after death, so you could still have se-

Shut up. Also what do you mean enough to become a ghost? There's a minimum requirement? Yea, also the more energy you have at death, the more chance you have of keeping your senses.

Oh.

Do you know how a ghost is formed?

If I say no, will you give me a lecture?

Yea.

Then yes I know.

Liar, anyways a ghost is formed when-

If regardless of what I said you would still give me a lecture then why ask?

Because you're terrible at lying.

How? I don't believe my expression or tone changes.

Yea, but it's your choice of words and how long it takes to answer, and stop changing the topic.

A ghost is formed when a person dies and the soul energy explodes, usually being trapped in the person's clothes, and dead cells, including skin and hair, which is why when a person dies, they look similar to before they just died.

Yea, what do you mean skin and hair though?

Look at me and Jake over here, our skin.

Hmm. Evelyn pulls their arms and looks.

Oh, it looks more transparent than your clothes.

Yea, that's cus it has less soul energy stuck to it than our clothes have on the inside. It's also why our clothes or anything we were wearing is a lot thinner as it's only about as thick as a layer of soul energy that a human has before death, which isn't a lot seeing as humans just usually live without doing anything to actively increase the amount of soul energy they have.

But you said I have enough soul energy.

Because you were born special.

So other people aren't like me?

Obviously not, I assume that your special constitution is also hey you can see ghosts, but just a theory.

Oh another fact in case you die. Lela says making Evelyn give her a questioning look.

I said incase, okay? Anyways, if you have enough soul energy, you can make yourself look human by covering any injuries with soul energy and giving yourself color.

You can color yourself?

Lela turns her arm back to human colored (Idk what colours humans are and I don't wanna phrase It my own way cus my friends say I sound racist when I don't phrase what I said in my head before saying it. I swear I'm not a genuinely racist guy) before it turns back to the usual blueish from the soul energy that makes up her body in seconds.

It takes practice to sustain it, and a high amount of soul energy to start it, but sustaining it takes a lot less.

Oh nice.

Hey guys. Jake says, making Evelyn and Lela turn to him.

What, You've been pretty quiet ever since I got back from my testing.

We're forgetting the most important thing here.

Which is? Evelyn asks as Lela just sighs.

Naming what your heart is gonna be called.

Soul heart.

Huh?

That's what I'm calling it.

But, isn't that too simple?

You ghost seem to have a lack of creativity anyways, so I'm sure no one will mind.

I agree with Evelyn, let's just call it that. Lela says, looking sick of Jake's rubbish.

And ghosts have a lack of creativity as after death, most decide to just pursue what they enjoy.

If they enjoy art?

They die, or they stop.

Huh?

Well, I don't kill them, just listen first, f they get paint on them which they can't clean off, it'll be floating paint, making it obvious that there's a ghost, making them a target.

Oh.

So we're just gonna call it soul heart? Jake asks, making sure.

Yea, soul heart.