I Became the Academy’s Genius Shikigami Summoner

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟏𝟏

「𝙒𝙖𝙨 𝙃𝙚𝙤 𝙒𝙤𝙤𝙣𝙜-𝙟𝙚𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙡𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙘𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙙𝙮 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙗𝙚 𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙙?」

Although they seemed to be low-ranking among the enforcers, their numbers were formidable.

Judging from their appearance, it seems the exorcism headquarters is really going after that wraith.

“. . . I’m close with Mr. Woong-jeong.”

“Oh, you’re a student at Cheonghwa Academy. I’ll let you in after I contact them.”

Since we were students of the Academy with clear identities, fortunately, we didn’t have any problems getting inside.

We asked Heo Woong-jeong for his permission in advance at the entrance, so he was expecting our visit and came out to greet us before leading us inside.

“It’s been a while. If you think about it, you’re not alone, are you?”

“This is my junior from the Academy. He’s very capable.”

As Arietta said, the two of them seemed pretty close, so it would be easier to bring up the subject.

After a long conversation between the two of them, I glanced outside and spoke to Heo Woong-jeong.

“Are the exorcists outside because of that wraith?”

“Oh, you know about it. Yes, it’s a real pain in the neck.”

“I imagine you must be very worried.”

“Considering the amount of karma I’ve accumulated, it wouldn’t be strange if someone took my life today.”

Heo Woong-jeong appeared quite detached, but there was a slight sense of discomfort in his words.

So, I took advantage of the moment when Arietta briefly stepped out to bring up the main topic with Heo Woong-jeong.

“Do you know anything about the order to retrieve a certain forbidden elixir during the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons incident?”

“. . .That’s sudden. Where did you hear about that?”

From the conversation that followed, it seemed that Heo Woong-jeong had also participated in that operation as an assistant.

So, I decided to ask Heo Woong-jeong directly.

“Actually, do you already have an idea about the true identity of the wraith?”

“. . . . . . .”

Heo Woong-jeong remained silent for a long moment before finally letting out a deep sigh and saying,

“. . .So you think so too?”

That was the answer. Heo Woong-jeong also knew who the culprit behind this incident was.

Just as we were about to talk more about it, a sudden commotion broke out outside.

Thud.

Boom!

Crash!

“Oh no, surely not. . . . . . .”

Amidst the loud noises of something breaking and shattering, we could hear people screaming. Judging from the location, it was probably where the headquarters enforcers were.

Creak.

“Junior, are you okay?”

Sensing that something was wrong, Arietta, who had been outside, rushed into the room and joined us.

A few minutes passed like that, and the sounds of people near the entrance, which had been noisy until then, completely disappeared.

“Be careful. Both of you, junior and mister.”

“. . . . . . .”

What we started to hear was the incredibly strange and irregular sound of someone’s footsteps.

Clatter.

Creak.

Moreover, as it got closer, a strong smell of blood could be detected from outside the room.

And the moment the footsteps stopped in front of the room we were in, Arietta didn’t hesitate to cast a spell.

Whoosh.

“Tri-Flow Quicksand Array.”

Crash!

A powerful shockwave erupted, causing all the floorboards to peel off, and the sliding door of the room was completely shattered and collapsed.

Along with that came the sounds of human flesh being torn and bones being crushed—in other words, there was definitely an impact.

However.

“. . .He was here.”

The mysterious man covered in blood grabbed the broken wall with his blood-soaked palm and forcefully walked into the room.

His wounds were clearly deep, but for some reason, he didn’t seem to have much difficulty moving.

「. . .𝙎𝙤 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙖 𝙬𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙩𝙝.」

I’ve encountered enemies like that quite often in my line of work. It’s definitely an area that borders on forbidden arts.

Heo Woong-jeong, who saw his half-crushed face, closed his eyes tightly and bowed his head, saying,

“You’re alive, I see. . . . . . .”

The man, who seemed to have been hoping otherwise, let out a scornful smile and continued speaking.

“Actually, I’m not that interested in you. I just have something to ask.”

“. . . . . . .”

“Did you really dispose of the Elixir of Immortality?”

That was something we couldn’t know. However, it seemed to be related to the elixir from the last mission that Myung-yul had tried to retrieve.

So Heo Woong-jeong replied.

“. . .The elixir has been disposed of. It no longer exists in this world. You shouldn’t be here either.”

“Is that so? So you really are clueless.”

Snicker.

The man flicked his arm, flicking away the blood that had been covering him, as if to mock Heo Woong-jeong.

Then he said to Heo Woong-jeong.

“If it’s not you, then it’s certain.”

“. . .What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about Myung-yul secretly taking the elixir.”

Myung-yul’s name suddenly popped up, and Arietta’s expression changed drastically. Heo Woong-jeong exclaimed in disbelief.

“Stop talking nonsense. You know that Myung-yul-hyungnim wouldn’t do something like that.”

“. . .Can you say that for sure? Even if the higher-ups were involved?”

“Yes. At that time, the higher-ups didn’t have enough time to properly assess the situation.”

After a brief but intense conversation, the man sighed deeply and slowly raised his right hand into the air.

“Heo Woong-jeong, you really are a fool.”

“. . .What?”

“They knew everything. What was inside it. What kind of situation we would be in.”

“That’s impossible. . . . . . .”

“You may not have known, but we were the second ones to receive the order to retrieve the elixir.”

The man began to cast a spell, forming seals with his raised hand, as if he saw no point in continuing the conversation.

“. . .Your ignorance is also a sin. Now you will pay the price.”

No matter what the situation was, we couldn’t just stand by and do nothing. So I cast a spell and summoned shikigami one by one from the shadows.

“Sori-soe, Black Yin.”

Rustle.

Screech!

『Squeak!』

Clatter!

Following my orders, Black Yin shot its feathers at the man, and immediately after that, Sori-soe, who had grown larger and surrounded by shadows, charged forward and sent the man flying out of the house.

“. . .Junior.”

“Yes. I think it would be better to fight him outside.”

As I stepped outside the house with Arietta and faced the man, I quickly used my sentiment ability to check his information.

Ding!

【Shin Do-hoon】

▶Level 58(52)

▶Ability Scores

【Stamina: A+(B)】

【Spiritual power: B+(C+)】

【Spellcraft: B(B)】

【Mental Strength: A(A)】

▶Traits (6/10)

【S-Rank: S-】【Locked】

【Cannibalism: A+】

【Berserk: B】

【Revived Person: B-】

【Herculean Strength: C+】

【Iron Bones: C-】

From the information, I could roughly tell what state he was in.

『. . .It smells like copper.』

Ptui!

Sori-soe, who was standing next to me, spat out the flesh of Shin Do-hoon that he had in his mouth and grimaced.

That was only natural.

As you can see from his S-Rank trait, the current Shin Do-hoon was no longer half-alive.

However, I don’t know to what extent is it a forbidden spell.

“. . .Gulp.”

Shin Do-hoon, who had gotten back up with his body in shambles again after being hit by Black Yin and Sori-soe, checked his condition while cracking his bones and quickly regained his vitality.

“Who are you guys? Don’t bother me.”

I’ve only seen it a few times, but his recovery ability is truly astonishing. It seemed that even with a spell, it wouldn’t be easy to incapacitate him.

“I’ll fight him.”

“. . .Okay.”

However, we also have Arietta, who is a graduate and is considered to be the next-generation top level. Moreover, for some reason, Shin Do-hoon’s abilities have been significantly weakened.

At least in terms of specs alone, we shouldn’t be easily defeated by Shin Do-hoon.

Whoosh.

“Illusion.”

Screech.

Rustle.

Illusion, a mid-level barrier technique unique to the Cheong family.

As I cast it, Arietta, in accordance with my intentions, began to chant the mantra for the high-level barrier technique that she had learned from me in the past.

“Empty Void Hexagram. Six Conflicts and Three Harmonies.”

Since our opponent is constantly recovering anyway, it’s best to suppress his movements first.」

Finally, the chanting of the mantra was complete, and Arietta’s high-level barrier technique targeted Shin Do-hoon, who was still in the illusion.

“Eight Gates Formation.”

Rustle.

Whir!

With this, Shin Do-hoon wouldn’t be able to easily get out of the barrier.

However, it bothered me that he had accepted it without any resistance, even though there was definitely a moment when he could have counterattacked.

「. . .𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩’𝙨 𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜?」

I was able to realize Shin Do-hoon’s intentions soon after, when I witnessed it firsthand.

Snap.

Crackle!

Shin Do-hoon, who had suddenly gathered spiritual power all over his body, charged forward with his body still wrapped in it and began to break through the barrier.

Screech!

Thud!

Of course, such a reckless response couldn’t possibly work. Shin Do-hoon’s body was damaged throughout, and he was soon thrown back into the barrier, exhausted.

Boom!

However, Shin Do-hoon got up again after only 10 seconds and repeated the same thing.

The result was, to be honest, quite shocking.

Crash!

Whir!

“. . .Junior. Is this even possible?”

“It would be difficult for an ordinary human.”

In other words, it meant that Shin Do-hoon was not an ordinary human.

「𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙬𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙚, 𝙝𝙚’𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙜. . . . . . .」

I had a general idea of what kind of taboo he had dabbled in after seeing his traits, but even so, this was beyond imagination.

Shin Do-hoon must have been exceptionally compatible with the taboo, even among those who had touched it.

“Gulp. Is that all you got?”

Shin Do-hoon’s words no longer sounded like a bluff. Hearing that, Arietta stepped forward, pushing me aside, and said.

“. . .We just have to break him to the point where he can’t recover.”

Without giving me a chance to stop her, Arietta rushed forward and unleashed a barrage of attacks at close range, cornering Shin Do-hoon.

Thwack!

Clatter!

Sizzle!

As I’ve felt since earlier, Shin Do-hoon is unable to move as flexibly as he should due to the influence of the taboo.

That’s why he was defenseless against Arietta, who was also skilled in close combat, and fell to the ground covered in blood.

However.

Thud.

“He’s fast.”

Where on earth is he getting his strength from? He quickly recovered from that as well. In the meantime, he even counterattacked, causing a trickle of blood to flow from Arietta’s cheek.

However, Shin Do-hoon’s reaction after that was strange.

“. . .What is this?”

He was clearly looking at Arietta with a bewildered expression. Shin Do-hoon, who had been in a state of shock for a while, finally let out a stifled laugh as if he had found the answer.

“Oh, damn. So that’s it. So Myung-yul has already completed the forbidden spell. To think that I would see the finished product here.”

“. . .I don’t understand what you’re saying. What are you talking about?”

To that, Shin Do-hoon pointed at Arietta with his finger and uttered a truth that no one had expected.

“You’re the same as me.”

As those words reached Arietta’s ears, the blood that had been flowing from her cheek stopped.