I Became the Academy’s Genius Shikigami Summoner

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟏𝟖

The second semester of our academy life was nearing its end.

Since there was little time left before the full-blown clash between the elders of the Cheong family, I focused on training Yoo Ha-on and Cheong Juhwa.

I’m not sure if the current Yoo Ha-on will get involved in the Cheong family incident, but at the very least, if I efficiently select the future spells, they will be minimally defensive.

“But are you really not a genius in spell development? How do you come up with these ideas on your own? You’ve even created more than one or two spells.”

I had already made an excuse to Cheong Juhwa that she had been able to grasp the structure of spells and methods to improve them since she was young, but the difference was even more astonishing to her, who had an EX-rank in spells.

Well, if you think about it, it’s like bringing a car when everyone else is still riding carriages.

Yoo Ha-on, who was next to her, nodded in agreement.

I quickly thought about it and came up with a suitable answer.

“I’ve only recently put all of these into practice, but I’ve been devising them for quite some time. Spell research is my hobby.”

“That’s something you’d find in textbooks.”

“. . . . . . .”

Honestly, I didn’t really care. It didn’t matter if the people around me thought I was a genius or not.

I sighed and used the emotion skill on the two of them.

Ding!

【Cheong Juhwa】

▶Level 38

※※※

【Yoo Ha-on】

▶Level 37

▶Ability Scores

【Stamina: B-】

【Spiritual Power: B】

【Spellcraft: B-】

【Mental Strength: B-】

▶Traits (5/10)

【Limit Breakthrough (S)】

【Blue Beacon(A)】

【Growth Amplification (B+)】

【Seasoned Hunter (B-)】

【Ritual Magic (B-)】

「𝙎𝙝𝙚’𝙨 𝙖 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡 𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙧.」

It’s understandable that Cheong Juhwa, who already had a high level to begin with, is at this point, but I can’t understand how Yoo Ha-on’s level has already risen to the late 30s.

Although it’s probably partly because she’s been training hard recently, it seems that Yoo Ha-on’s unique trait evolution ability has once again shown its potential.

「𝙂𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙩𝙝 𝘼𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣, 𝙝𝙪𝙝?」

A growth-type trait that is one level higher than the existing B-rank trait, Growth Acceleration.

The cause of her rapid level increase was definitely that.

「𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙄 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙗𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙥𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙣𝙚𝙭𝙩 𝙮𝙚𝙖𝙧?」

But it can’t be helped. That’s the fate of an extra. I’m not going to worry about it and will just continue to grow as planned.

「𝘼𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙡𝙡, 𝙡𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡 𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙙𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚.」

Besides, that wasn’t really the most important thing.

【Ritual Magic (B-)】

▶Grants an additional advantage when dealing with all sorts of evil things.

The C+ rank Spirit Commanding, which I had her learn last time, has evolved into this trait.

I looked at it and thought it over carefully.

「𝙄𝙩 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙢𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙣𝙩𝙞-𝘿𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙩.」

If that’s really the case, then it means I hit the jackpot in one go.

However, it will take a considerable amount of time to develop the trait to a higher rank, so I couldn’t be sure yet.

For now, it seemed like it would be better to support Yoo Ha-on so that she could also acquire the magic resistance and magical power traits as planned.

After finishing my thoughts, I called out to the two who were practicing spells and opened my mouth.

“Let’s stop here for today. It’s getting late.”

“Yes. Thank you for your help.”

After seeing the two of them off, I sat down on the floor of the training ground and looked up at the ceiling, fiddling the Yongcheon Talisman that Myung-yul had given me.

「𝙄𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 3 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮?」

In the original story, this is the point where the difficulty of the story really starts to increase, and the conflict between the main characters and the Cheong family forces begins.

Like that, the vacation filled with all sorts of crises was quickly approaching.

🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷

Like other educational institutions, Cheonghwa Academy does not have any exams or assignments at the end of the semester.

Since I had some free time, I decided to finish everything I could in advance.

The first of which was to take the top-class elixir, the Nine Dragons Pill.

「𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙄 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙭𝙞𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙡𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚.」

At the very least, it would be much more efficient to use the spiritual energy of this place to absorb the power of the elixir.

However, as I was struggling to find a suitable place, my classmate, Hwang Ji-hak, made a suggestion that fit the situation perfectly.

“Would you like to visit my family’s main house when vacation starts?”

“Me, to the Hwang family?”

“It’s nothing to be so surprised about. It’s just an invitation.”

After talking to him for a bit, it seemed that I had visited there before.

What Han Kang-yoon experienced instead of me is probably related to the fact that Hwang Ji-hak had received help from me before.

“Elder Jin-chul also said that he wanted to meet you once.”

Elder Jin-chul is probably referring to Hwang Jin-chul.

He’s the head of the Hwang family who gave me the Death-Black Stone in exchange for the temporary boundary stone at the last presentation. He seemed to have something to discuss with me as well.

「𝙁𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙚, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙬𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚.」

It would be the best condition if I could take the Nine Dragons Pill there.

Since there didn’t seem to be much reason to refuse, I relayed my request to Hwang Ji-hak in advance and accepted the invitation.

Cheong Do-yool of the Cheong family will probably start moving in earnest soon, but he wouldn’t just attack as soon as vacation starts, so I had some time.

I had also already contacted Cheong So-ha and Cheong Ji-yeon, so if any suspicious movements were detected, I would be able to take action as well.

“Then I’ll see you again then.”

“I probably won’t be able to stay for long.”

“That’s fine. We’ll prepare the necessary supplies here.”

With that, Hwang Ji-hak left, and I finished all the preparations I needed to do, except for taking the Nine Dragons Pill.

However, there was one hitch that I hadn’t thought of.

“. . .Junior, where are you going for vacation?”

“Yes. I’m going to the Hwang family, and I’ll probably be busy after that as well.”

Gulp.

Arietta is drinking animal blood with a straw from a paper pack that doesn’t show the inside.

I feel a bit bad since it’s only been a short while since I told her that I would help.

To me, Arietta continued speaking in her characteristic expressionless tone.

“. . .It’s fine. I can endure it more than I thought. I can just drink other people’s blood during vacation.”

“If you ever need help, don’t hesitate to contact me.”

“Yeah. Same goes for you, junior. Grandma told me to grow stronger so that I can help you someday.”

I’m a bit surprised that Unyeon said that.

But since it seemed like there wouldn’t be a problem to this extent, I left with peace of mind to go to the Hwang family.

And so, the winter break of the second semester of my second year finally arrived.

🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷

Like most other prestigious families, the Hwang family is also divided into the direct and collateral lines, and the outstanding members among them support the family as elders.

However, unlike the Cheong family, which has a clear two-party system, almost all of the elders in the Hwang family have a balanced power.

The place I’m headed to now is the territory of Hwang Jung-wook, one of those elders and also Hwang Ji-hak’s father.

“Don’t feel pressured. We moved to a place quite far from where the elders of the family are since last year. You won’t run into Hwang Se-jin, who you had a conflict with last time.”

“. . . . . . .”

Hwang Ji-hak said all sorts of things on the way there, but honestly, I had no idea what some of them were about. That’s because it was Han Kang-yoon, not me, who visited here last time.

「𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩’𝙨 𝙜𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙣.」

Let me sort this out. It seems that I spent a few days with Hwang Ji-hak here last year and had a conflict with someone named Hwang Se-jin during that time.

I’m not sure about the details, but it seems like it would be better to avoid that person as much as possible.

“I just wanted to treat you to a meal, so there’s no need to do anything. Let’s train together.”

Hwang Ji-hak, who spoke calmly, made a suggestion that was just like the training maniac he was known to be.

It was a bit awkward to invite a guest and then ask to train together, but I didn’t want to waste time either, so that definitely sounded better.

Like that, we entered Hwang Jung-wook’s territory and traveled for a while before arriving at Hwang Ji-hak’s residence.

There was a young girl at the front gate to welcome us.

“What did you say on the phone all of a sudden? You actually came together?”

A girl my age with light brown hair tied up in a bun. She has a gentle impression, but she also seems a bit gloomy.

She spoke to me.

“. . .Long time no see.”

“Yeah.”

Honestly, I had no idea who she was, but I answered as calmly as possible.

The girl puffed out her cheeks and grumbled to me.

“It’s been a year, but you still don’t treat me like your older sister.”

As I was flusteredly trying to continue the conversation, Hwang Ji-hak, who was snickering next to me, joined in.

“Sister is just older because her birthday came first. It’s strange to take pride in that.”

“Shut up. You’re the same, Ji-hak. Even if we’re twins, an older sister is an older sister, right?”

With those words, I was able to figure out their relationship.

Twins. I think they were mentioned briefly in the original story as well.

I quickly checked her information while the two of them were talking.

「𝙎𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩.」

Ding!

【Hwang Hye-yeon】

▶Level 25

▶Ability Scores

【Stamina: B-】

【Spiritual Power: D】

【Spellcraft: C+】

【Mental Strength: C+】

▶Traits (3/10)

【Enchantress (B-)】

【Strong Bones (C+)】

【Delicate Hand Movements (C+)】

‘Huh?’

To be honest, I was quite surprised. Her level and ability scores were too low for someone from a prestigious family.

In fact, it’s not much different from how I was before.

I’m not sure about the details, but it seems like she’s not aiming to be an exorcist like the other children of the family.

Hwang Hye-yeon grabbed me and Hwang Ji-hak, who were just standing there, and pulled us inside the house.

“Have either of you eaten yet? I prepared it in advance.”

“You can look forward to it. Her skills have improved a lot since last year.”

“Didn’t you say it was delicious last time?”

At first, I felt a bit awkward because of the gap in our memories, but Hwang Hye-yeon’s welcoming attitude quickly made that disappear.

However, a short while later, as I was sitting down and eating, a full-blown crisis began to approach me.

“I was really taken aback then. Where on earth did you see it before? Isn’t that right?”

“. . .Yeah.”

“That’s not something just anyone can do. There’s always something to learn when you’re around.”

“You’re exaggerating.”

It was like walking on eggshells, trying to keep up with the conversation about something I couldn’t even remember. I started to wonder what kind of rags-to-riches story I had come here to experience.

A few minutes passed like that, and Hwang Hye-yeon, who had been silent for a while, asked me a serious question.

“So, what do you think? My decision now.”

With those hopeful eyes looking at me, I couldn’t help but swallow hard, my gaze wavering.