I Became the Academy’s Genius Shikigami Summoner – Chapter 102

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟎𝟐

Han Seo-ah had never heard those words from him before: a glimpse into the future.

However, hearing them made all the previous puzzle pieces fall into place.

“. . . A glimpse into the future?”

“Yeah. Like the fortune tellers you hear about. Of course, it’s not as great as it sounds.”

Han Seo-ah had actually heard rumors about fortune tellers who were treated like VIPs all over the world.

But for Han Kang-yoon to be one of them was a story she had never expected.

To make matters worse, the shocking details didn’t end there.

“Actually, I was supposed to die on Yeongwol Island.”

“. . . What?”

“But I saw my own future, and in the end, I couldn’t accept it and changed it.”

I had no idea. This is the first time I’ve heard such a story.

“Maybe the fact that you became a sacrificial offering was a result of that. I’m sorry.”

“No, no. That’s not it at all. . . . . . .”

Thinking back, Han Kang-yoon had a track record of being the first to realize the changes that had happened to Han Seo-ah and stopping them.

It was the same when he used self-sacrificing black magic in his conflict with the teachers.

「𝘿𝙞𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙗𝙚 𝙖 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙤𝙪𝙩?」

Han Kang-yoon, who said everything would be fine without any hesitation in a situation where there was absolutely no solution.

Han Seo-ah, who recalled the memory of that time, realized that Han Kang-yoon’s story was really not a lie.

He was just spitting out the truth.

“. . . Can you really see the future?”

“Just partially. And it’s not always right.”

“It’s so sudden, but yeah. If that’s the case, I can understand.”

Han Kang-yoon glanced at Han Seo-ah, who was like that, and added.

“I guess it’s a sensitive topic, so I’ve been worried about telling you.”

“No, thank you for telling me. I’ll never tell anyone else.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

In fact, Han Seo-ah thought that maybe she wasn’t someone Han Kang-yoon could trust and rely on, because she hadn’t heard anything from him until now.

But now, all the questions and frustrations that had been building up inside her melted away like snow.

「. . . 𝙊𝙥𝙥𝙖 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙜𝙜𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙨𝙪𝙛𝙛𝙤𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙.」

Even though he knew exactly what was going to happen, he had to solve it alone without consulting anyone.

Until now, Han Kang-yoon had been fighting a lonely battle, knowingly or unknowingly.

“. . . Tell me whenever you need something.”

Although she don’t know if it will be helpful as a force, knowing this fact could be helpful in leading the situation as Han Kang-yoon wants.

“Okay. Thank you.”

And so Han Kang-yoon’s story came to an end. And Han Seo-ah quietly asked Han Kang-yoon, thinking about what would happen tomorrow.

“By any chance, did you see what would happen to us here?”

“No, I don’t know about that.”

“. . . I see.”

“But we’ll definitely be able to get out.”

There was conviction in his voice. A mindset that believed in his own will, separate from seeing into the future.

Feeling that, Han Seo-ah realized once again that Han Kang-yoon was simply Han Kang-yoon, no matter what happened.

“Yeah. I’ll trust you.”

And so, the day of the final battle finally arrived.

🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷

「. . .𝙬𝙚𝙡𝙡, 𝙄 𝙜𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙃𝙖𝙣 𝙎𝙚𝙤-𝙖𝙝.」

After all, I already made the same excuse to Yeohan, and among Yoo Ha-on’s group, Han Seo-ah was the perfect person to lend strength to my will when the time came.

「𝙋𝙡𝙪𝙨, 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙗𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙮 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙗𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙤𝙪𝙗𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚.」

At the time of the Yeongwol Island incident, the situation was so urgent that I was only focused on resolving the immediate issues.

Han Seo-ah, who had witnessed everything, must have had a lot of questions that didn’t make sense to her.

「. . . . . . .」

And in fact, there was another reason why I readily answered Han Seo-ah’s questions.

「𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝 𝙑𝙚𝙧𝙙𝙞’𝙨 𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙘.」

After clearing this 「𝘽𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙁𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩」, I planned to pass on the knowledge of Verdi that I had gained through her to none other than Han Seo-ah.

Since it’s a witch’s magic, I, a man, can’t use it, and if I were to give it to someone else, it would be a waste of treasure.

In other words, the only person who could truly use it was Han Seo-ah.

「𝙄𝙛 𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙡𝙖𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠 𝙞𝙣 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚, 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙚 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙚𝙥𝙩 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝’𝙨 𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙘 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙡𝙪𝙚.」

However, Han Seo-ah now firmly believes that I have the talent of a prophet.

Even if I were to give her sudden instructions, she would follow them without question in most cases.

「𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙣.」

Now, all that’s left is to make them a reality.

I quickly made my way to the agreed-upon location, and soon all of the members, including Yoo Tae-jin’s group, were assembled.

“We’ve done enough simulations, but do you think it’s really possible?”

Yoo Tae-jin asked me with a worried look.

Of course, he wouldn’t be questioning the plan anymore. He was simply worried that the risks I was taking on in this plan were too great.

“It’s fine. I’ve already confirmed it.”

The work I had done over the past two days wasn’t really that big of a deal.

I reviewed the plan with Yoo Tae-jin’s group, and with their help, I subjugated the black panthers that were near the entrance of the forest.

Then, I sent them to the deepest part of the forest where the manticore was and had them fight it.

「𝙒𝙚𝙡𝙡, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙪𝙡𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙤𝙗𝙫𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨.」

The black panthers were killed without leaving a trace in front of the powerful monster. However, their sacrifice wasn’t meaningless.

「𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙙𝙚𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙚’𝙨 𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙤𝙢.」

The area bosses of the 「𝘽𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙁𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩」, the manticore and the seven-horned serpent, each possess a powerful venom as one of their weapons.

「𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙮 𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚.」

For melee fighters, it makes close combat difficult, and for those who cast magic from a distance, they have their hands full just trying to block the venom.

If they could do that indefinitely, wouldn’t that completely destroy the balance?

That’s why, when I was still at the company, I personally tampered with the venom-producing organs in their bodies and limited their reserves.

In other words, if they used up all of their stored venom in a short period of time, it would take some time for them to replenish it.

「𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙩 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚.」

Through the black panthers’ sacrifice, I was able to carefully analyze and observe the manticore’s attack patterns over the past two days.

As a result, I was able to confirm that the area boss, the manticore, was still using the same unique attack patterns that I had personally created for it.

「. . .𝙍𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧, 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙨𝙤 𝙨𝙞𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙖𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜.」

If that’s the case, then it’s simple. Just by looking at the manticore’s preparatory movements, I can figure out its next move.

That will be the key to defeating it.

“. . .Leader, we’re almost to the deepest part now.”

“I understand. Let’s all be careful and proceed.”

Yoo Tae-jin skillfully led the group forward with his 7 years of experience, and with the addition of my shikigami technique, we were able to reach the manticore’s nest without any major battles.

“What’s going on? I can’t see it.”

“. . .Didn’t you say it was here just a few hours ago?”

Mikel and Jang Han-soo were flustered, but there was no need to worry. I knew the behavioral patterns of all the creatures that existed here.

“It must be resting inside the nest because it’s exhausted from its continuous battle with the black panthers.”

This was actually good news. It meant that the manticore’s condition wasn’t 100% perfect.

“Do you see that sunken ground over there?”

“Yes, I see it.”

“That’s where it is. Once we’re ready, let’s all launch our attack spells at once.”

That will start the battle, and there will be no turning back.

However, no one hesitated at this point.

Soon, the members, each using their most powerful spells, launched their attacks, and the ground began to shake with a tremendous roar.

Boom!

Crash!

Rumble, rumble, rumble.

And then, we heard a fierce and angry scream.

『Kuaaaaah!』

Our bodies froze at the sound that shook the atmosphere, and at the same time, the area boss of the 「𝘽𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙁𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩」, the manticore, revealed itself.

『Kyaaaak!』

Kwaang!

The manticore violently kicked the ground, shattering a nearby boulder, and then used its tail to wrap around it and hurl it at us as we stood there, frozen.

“Everyone, behind me!”

Screech!

Kuaaaaah!

Yoo Tae-jin, who was still relatively calm, deployed the intermediate-level defensive spell, Rampart of the Heavens, and although we were all shaken by the impact, we were all able to avoid the attack unscathed.

However, the surrounding scene that was soon revealed was gruesome.

“What, what is this. . . . . . .”

“. . .It really is a monster. Is this the extent of its power, just casually throwing a boulder?”

The ground was split into several chasms, as if an earthquake had just occurred, and fragments of rock were scattered in between them.

Faced with that overwhelming power, the expressions of the group members now held a fear that they could no longer hide.

Even Yoo Tae-jin, who had blocked the attack, grimaced, but there was one person who didn’t hesitate and stepped forward.

Of course, that was me.

“There’s no need to be anxious.”

“. . . . . . .”

“I’ll leave the attack to you, as planned.”

With just those words, I took a step towards the enraged manticore.

Feeling the predator’s powerful killing intent, but also a certain emotion conveyed from the form that I had created.

🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷

「𝙃𝙤𝙡𝙮 𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙥, 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡?」

That was the first thought that crossed Choi Tae-gil’s mind when he first encountered the manticore.

「𝙅𝙚𝙚𝙯.」

Of course, he knew that there was no going back. Even if he were to die here, he had no regrets.

However, no matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t picture himself defeating the monster in front of him.

「. . .𝙄𝙣 𝙢𝙮 36 𝙮𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙭𝙤𝙧𝙘𝙞𝙨𝙩, 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙄’𝙫𝙚 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨.」

Choi Tae-gil had faced A-rank yokai of the disaster class in the past when he was still an active exorcist, but the manticore in front of him exuded an even more powerful aura.

Even Yoo Tae-jin, the strongest of the group, would never be able to defeat it in a one-on-one fight. He could tell that much just by looking at it.

“We’ll leave the attack to you, as planned.”

When Han Kang-yoon started to approach the manticore according to the plan, Choi Tae-gil couldn’t help but feel a sense of admiration, even though he didn’t want to admit it.

「𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙯𝙮 𝙗𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙙. 𝙃𝙚’𝙨 𝙜𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙-𝙤𝙣?」

He had heard that the manticore was dangerous, but he had no idea it would be this bad.

However, Han Kang-yoon moved forward without hesitation, as if nothing had changed.

Even though he had taken on the most dangerous role for himself.

「𝙄𝙨 𝙞𝙩 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙪𝙮 𝙪𝙨 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙩 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩?」

No matter how much he thought about it, it didn’t make sense, but he must have had something in mind since he was so confident.

As Choi Tae-gil pondered, the conversation he had with Choe Da-in the previous night crossed his mind.

『. . .How skilled was he?』

『Well, I know he’s a one-man army, but if he makes a mistake in tomorrow’s operation, we’re all done for. I can’t help but feel uneasy.』

And to Choi Tae-gil’s question, Choe Da-in had replied:

『Sir, have you ever seen the leader fight to the point where you got bored?』

『Of course.』

『Then what did you think when you saw it?』

『Well, he’s amazing. He’s the leader for a reason. I want to reach that level too, right?』

『Yeah. I’m kind of the same. But. . . . . . .』

He still couldn’t quite believe what Choe Da-in had said after that.

『. . .When I saw him fight, I realized that I could never be a special-grade exorcist.』

『What?』

『Because it was a kind of fighting that I could never do. At least not in my lifetime.』

It wasn’t jealousy or admiration, but simply understanding and acceptance.

「. . .𝙅𝙚𝙚𝙯. 𝙄’𝙫𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙩 𝙖 𝙛𝙚𝙬 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙨, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩.」

However, Choe Da-in, a genius who had already reached the level of a 2nd-grade exorcist at the age of twenty-five, had said that.

Choi Tae-gil understood what that meant.

「𝙄𝙛 𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙚. 𝙎𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙢𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪’𝙫𝙚 𝙜𝙤𝙩.」

If he could do that, then he would keep his promise and attack with all his might whenever an opening appeared.

And after a while, Choi Tae-gil finally realized.

What Choe Da-in had meant by her words. What was the secret to Han Kang-yoon’s ability to hold his own against Woo Ki-bum despite his relatively weak powers.

And finally, that there was such an unreasonable talent for combat in the world.

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