𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟕𝟐
「𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙩’𝙨 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙞𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙙. . . . . . .」
I don’t know how it happened, but after reading Yoo Ha-on’s thoughts, I was able to get a rough idea of what happened to her in this place.
I didn’t know that my previous memories would have such an impact, but it’s not surprising that Baekryeo’s words would make her doubt and disappoint her.
However, Yoo Ha-on did not give up her faith in that situation. Even though she had momentarily given Baekryeo the upper hand, she trusted in my efforts.
And through the transmitted thoughts, I was able to confirm one more fact,
「𝙔𝙤𝙤 𝙃𝙖-𝙤𝙣’𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙘𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙚𝙧.」
In other words, if I can just create the right situation, Yoo Ha-on will be able to regain control from Baekryeo and move her soul.
“So, what are you going to do? If you don’t want to see this child’s soul torn to pieces, step down now.”
“I can’t do that.”
With those words, I checked Yoo Ha-on’s information through the emotion function for the first time in a long time.
【Yoo Ha-on】
▶Level 64
▶Ability Scores
【Stamina: A-】
【Spiritual Power : A+】
【Spellcraft: A】
【Mental Strength: S-】
▶Traits(8/10)
【Limit Break(S)】
【Demon Sealing(S)】
【Twilight Milestone(A+)】
【Divine Ability(A+)】
【Growth Protection(A)】
【Evil Slayer(A-)】
【Hunting Authority(B+)】
【Unbreakable(B-)】
She has really grown a lot. It’s strange to think about how much time has passed since I first met her.
She also seemed to have gained some achievements in this imaginary space while resisting Baekryeo.
“. . .Are you sure you won’t regret it?”
When I didn’t back down, Baekryeo, who had become one with Yoo Ha-on’s soul, brought her own hands to her neck and summoned an unknown energy from her fingertips.
Truly ready to see it through to the end, I quietly opened my mouth to her.
“Is that how you’re going to end it?”
To be exact, I wasn’t speaking to Baekryeo, but to Yoo Ha-on within her.
Yoo Ha-on truly had a righteous mind and heart.
A true exorcist who could use her power for the people in this chaotic time.
I had also come to recognize her abilities and talents, but that didn’t mean I could take on her role as well.
This world still needed Yoo Ha-on. That was an undeniable fact.
“As you’ve heard, I am the son of Ju-un. But to be honest, that doesn’t matter.”
Yoo Ha-on also said. I’m not the son of Ju-un, I’m just Han Kang-yoon, an Academy senior.
In fact, that’s how I’ve always thought of Yoo Ha-on. I only found out later that I was the son of Ju-un.
“It’s true that I was confused when I first saw you. Of course, the reason was completely different from what Baekryeo told you.”
“What nonsense are you talking about?”
Baekryeo pretended to be annoyed, but I ignored her and continued speaking.
“Yoo Ha-on. I am one of the prophets who can read the branches of the future. That’s why I was able to come this far without backing down in any situation.”
“. . . . . . .”
And in the future I see, I definitely need Yoo Ha-on’s power.
“So I’ll tell you the answer to get out of this situation. Yoo Ha-on, awaken the Anti-Demon power that lies dormant within you. You have the talent to handle the energy that is the antithesis of all yokai.”
Yoo Ha-on’s traits have evolved to a considerable level.
And the three traits that I had thought were the path to the Anti-Demon power had also changed.
「𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘿𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝘼𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙚𝙫𝙤𝙡𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙥𝙨𝙮𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙘 𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙀𝙫𝙞𝙡 𝙎𝙡𝙖𝙮𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙚𝙫𝙤𝙡𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙙𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙣 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘿𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙣 𝙎𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙚𝙫𝙤𝙡𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙞𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙡.」
Unlike the other two traits that had stopped growing, only spirit control had continued to evolve, reaching the rank of S.
Seeing that, I was convinced. It was none other than the Anti-Demon sub-trait, which was the spirit control.
“What the hell have you been. . . . . .I don’t know if you’re really from the future, but if you keep talking nonsense, I’ll destroy this child’s soul right now.”
Baekryeo gave me a final warning and gave me one minute.
And by the time all that time had passed, there was still no change.
「. . .𝙈𝙖𝙮𝙗𝙚 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙜𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠?」
Maybe no matter what I say, it won’t reach Yoo Ha-on anymore. Or maybe my words can’t be trusted by her anymore.
Seeing me biting my lip in frustration, Baekryeo soon said with a face of resignation.
“I’m tired of playing around. Decide right now. Otherwise, I’ll let go of everything.”
Baekryeo, who had run out of patience, grabbed the body that Yoo Ha-on’s soul had made with her energized hand.
There was no way out now. So I, too, decided to let go of everything, just like Baekryeo said.
Thud.
“Right now. . . . . .What are you doing?”
“It’s over now. I won’t resist, so you can take my soul as you please.”
Of course, Baekryeo didn’t believe it, but I ignored her and spoke to Yoo Ha-on who was sleeping inside her.
“I really won’t move. Until you regain control.”
In short, I was saying that if Yoo Ha-on didn’t come to her senses, I would hand over my soul and body to Baekryeo.
Upon hearing those words, Baekryeo was greatly surprised and took a step closer, her face flushed.
“Are you out of your mind? You’re going to be stubborn now?”
It was certainly stubbornness. But there was no other way.
I sat down on the spot and quietly closed my eyes.
Baekryeo must have sensed my sincerity from my reaction, and she began to approach me slowly, taking a defensive stance.
“It’s hard to believe, but it’s not a lie. Who would have thought you would make such a stupid decision?”
“. . . . . . .”
“You are an alternative, but I’ll make good use of your soul.”
Baekryeo finally reached my nose and slowly reached out her hand, summoning an extremely refined energy.
Whoooosh.
Just then, the change occurred.
“Ugh, that’s impossible! I’m sure I pressed it down. . . . . .?”
Baekryeo, who had put her hand on my chest, staggered back in shock and soon began to sink to the ground with a pained expression.
And then a clear light overflowed from Yoo Ha-on’s soul, which Baekryeo had taken.
Whoooosh.
Crack─!
“Kyaaaa!”
Baekryeo let out a strange scream, and at the same time, Yoo Ha-on’s soul staggered and collapsed to the ground.
I glanced over and saw that Baekryeo, who had returned to her original soul, was trembling in dismay.
“T-This power. . . . . . .”
Fine cracks began to appear in Baekryeo’s soul, which had not been hit, and Baekryeo staggered constantly, unable to even keep her balance.
And at that moment, Yoo Ha-on, who had collapsed, got up and said to me in disbelief.
“What the hell are you doing. . . . . .?”
“It looks like she’s regained control.”
“You could have lost both your soul and your body?”
“I thought it was possible.”
“. . .That’s not something you can say so easily.”
I sighed in relief, but Yoo Ha-on continued speaking, sounding somewhat angry.
“I had already given up on everything. How could you gamble with your life when you didn’t even know that?”
There was a sense of injustice and anger in her words, and I could tell how much Yoo Ha-on had been struggling and anxious.
However, even so, I had no reason to change my answer.
“I told you I could see the future. I believed it was possible.”
“I met Unyeon-nim, so I know a little bit about it. Is that future a hundred percent accurate?”
“No, it’s not.”
“That’s what I thought. Then why. . . . . . .”
If you ask me that, I have nothing to say.
I just felt that Yoo Ha-on was ready to awaken the Anti-Demon trait, and I trusted my judgment and intuition.
So I returned those words to Yoo Ha-on.
“Then why did you believe me?”
“. . . . . . .”
Yoo Ha-on, too, had struggled in the thoughts that Baekryeo had conveyed, but in the end she had not given up her trust in me.
“It’s not much different. We probably had similar feelings.”
“I can’t understand. . . . . . .”
“Is it okay for a being in the illusory world to take over your body?”
At my words, Yoo Ha-on poked me in the shoulder in disbelief.
However, she soon smiled shyly and thanked me.
“Thank you. For believing in me to the end.”
“. . . . . . .”
I nodded and looked at Baekryeo, who was in pain on the other side.
Having escaped the Soul Absorption battle with her soul as collateral, and having been hit directly by the Anti-Demon power while possessing a soul, the damage would be severe, no matter what.
In fact, Baekryeo seemed to have used up almost all of her power and was no longer in a state to continue fighting.
“P-Please spare me. . . . . . .”
“. . . . . . .”
“If you look at it, it’s your fault. It’s all because you came into this false world!”
“There’s no need to act. I know that your body is somewhere in the world.”
However, even at my words, the despair in Baekryeo’s eyes did not disappear.
“That’s not true. . . . . . . I came here with everything I had, even abandoning my body. If I die here, I won’t be able to be reborn. So please. . . . . . .”
I didn’t know that. It seemed that Baekryeo had really put all her power into taking over Yoo Ha-on’s body.
However, that didn’t mean I could just let it go.
I turned my head slightly and handed over the right to judge to Yoo Ha-on, who had been fighting her here for half a year.
“. . .I understand your situation. I’ve felt enough in this space that your anger and despair are not false.”
“Then. . . . . . .”
“However, whether it’s you before you knew us or the you of the original history, the fact that you oppressed and tormented innocent people doesn’t change. Don’t try to escape that responsibility.”
“Ugh!”
A clear energy filled the talisman in Yoo Ha-on’s hand, and soon the aura of the Paradox surged out of it.
Whoooosh!
The power of the Anti-Demon that suppresses all evil.
Crushed by it, her soul facing annihilation, Baekryeo uttered her last curse in a voice full of resentment.
“Kh, khhkh. You better not trust Hong Lin too much. She’s someone who, originally, not even I could easily figure out her true intentions. . . . . . .”
Rustle.
That was the end of Baekryeo.
“Did we have the right to blame her?”
“. . .Well, originally, no one can decide what’s right.”
Immediately after, I felt that the deadline for my escape was almost up, and I grabbed the spirit thread that connected me to my body in reality.
“Let’s go.”
“. . .Yes.”
It was time to return to the space where we should be.
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