I Became the Academy’s Genius Shikigami Summoner

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟏𝟗

I quickly thought about what would be the appropriate response. I decided to choose the safest option and opened my mouth.

“I think it’s good enough.”

“Really? Is it okay for me, your direct descendant, to be like this?”

“That’s something I have to decide for myself.”

“Actually, I knew you’d say that. But I wanted to check just once.”

Hwang Hye-yeon smiled happily as she said that. There was no longer a single trace of worry or hesitation on her face.

After overcoming the crisis somehow, we continued to eat, and I was able to get some information about what happened last year.

“So now I’m stepping down from my position as successor and preparing for a different life. If I look hard enough, I’ll definitely find something that suits my aptitude, just like you said.”

Her attitude, which was quite sentimental, created a brief silence.

However, it didn’t last long.

“After all, I think things are good now. At least it’s much better than when I was obsessed with a problem that didn’t seem to have an end.”

After finishing our meal, Hwang Ji-hak spoke to me as we went outside to help with digestion.

“Thank you. My sister’s expression is so bright now, it’s all thanks to you.”

“It wasn’t really a big deal.”

“No. It must have been meaningful because it was you who said it, someone who was in a similar position.”

As I listened to Hwang Ji-hak, I finally began to understand the situation before and after.

Two people born as direct descendants of a prestigious family.

However, they suffered a lot of gossip because of their very different talents, and it seemed that this led to a conflict between them.

At that moment, none other than Han Kang-yoon helped resolve the feelings between the two.

Was this what he meant when he said I did him a favor?

Perhaps Hwang Hye-yeon gave up her exorcist duties after that, found her own aptitude, and set a new goal.

It must have been very painful for her to have even her relationship with her family deteriorate within a prestigious household where authority and manipulation run rampant.

Hwang Ji-hak must have felt grateful that I prevented that in advance.

“Although there were some complaints, that’s something that will be resolved once I establish myself in the future. My sister will be able to live her own life with peace of mind.”

“I’m glad it seems to have been resolved well.”

“It really is. Even last year, I couldn’t have imagined that our relationship would recover like this.”

Hwang Ji-hak nodded with a satisfied expression.

And then he spoke to me again.

“I’ve heard a lot from Elder Jin-chul. He says you’re building a foundation now to accomplish something even greater in the future.”

“. . . .”

That wasn’t wrong, but when did I ever tell Hwang Jin-chul something like that?

Hwang Ji-hak conveyed his grim determination to me, who was tilting my head in confusion.

“I will soon become an elder of the Hwang family.”

“. . . .”

“When that time comes, I will gladly help you whenever you need it.”

Those were very grateful words. However, on the other hand, it was somewhat difficult to accept them easily.

“It’ll be hard to handle.”

The things I’m planning to do in the future will never be normal from the perspective of others.

Even Hwang Ji-hak, who will become an elder of the family, can’t predict how things will turn out.

However, Hwang Ji-hak showed his affirmation without hesitation, even to such a question.

“As long as it’s not something that goes against my beliefs, I don’t care.”

His upright attitude seemed to have been taken straight from the original story, but there was also a flexibility hidden within it that was easy to see.

He was truly a talented person who was worthy of being called the next elder of a prestigious family.

I smiled and nodded.

“Then I won’t decline.”

Thinking that it wouldn’t be bad if the day came when we would join forces.

🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷

「𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙡𝙚𝙩’𝙨 𝙜𝙤 𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙘𝙠 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩.」

Since I’ve spent a good amount of time with the Hwang Ji-hak siblings, it’s time to check on something else.

I left Hwang Ji-hak’s residence and walked to meet Hwang Jin-chul, who was waiting for me at a splendid mansion located in the center of the district.

“Oh, it’s you, Jin-chul. This is a pleasant surprise.”

“It’s been a while. I heard you were looking for me, Elder.”

“It’s nothing special. I just wanted to have a casual conversation about the progress of things and our future direction.”

Although we had been in constant contact since we started trading the makeshift boundary stones, this was only the second time we had met face-to-face again.

Hwang Jin-chul, who smiled kindly, first expressed his surprise at the matter of the Death-Black Stone.

“I’m honestly surprised that you managed to handle that cursed thing.”

“Fortunately, things went well as I had hoped.”

“Since I had the thing myself, I know how much achievement it has. It’s not something that can be done with just luck.”

If the gaze he showed when we first met was one of exploration, the current Hwang Jin-chul was going a step further and showing signs of measuring the size of my vessel.

Hwang Jin-chul, who had a meaningful expression, continued speaking.

“As I mentioned last time, we’re almost at the stage of mass-producing the makeshift boundary stones.”

“Yes. It’s even faster than I had hoped.”

“We’ve also completed various tests, so it won’t be long before they’re put into practical use.”

I don’t know much about that part, but it seemed that things were going smoothly enough.

「𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙅𝙖𝙣𝙪𝙖𝙧𝙮, 𝙞𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙞𝙩?」

I roughly estimated the timing and looked up to ask Hwang Jin-chul a question.

“In that case, how long do you think it will take for them to become available to the general public?”

“That depends on what kind of numbers we’re aiming for. I think the value itself is sufficient, but it’s not easy for the general public to recognize it.”

That was true.

Although the citizens are constantly exposed to the threat of yokai, it’s not like everyone will necessarily need them just because we put a product out there.

From here on, it was something that depended on Hwang Jin-chul’s ability.

“I’ll leave it to you. You can use all the profits that are due to me to increase the distribution rate.”

“All of it?”

It wasn’t an ordinary proposal. However, I nodded without hesitation. After all, it’s not like I’ll be lacking for money if I get Seo Ji-an to help me.

Hwang Jin-chul, who had been contemplating something for a while, spoke to me, showing signs of being somewhat flustered despite not answering.

“I had a hunch, but now I know for sure.”

“. . . .”

“You think the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons will happen again, don’t you?”

That was exactly right.

I know for sure, since I know the original story.

That the worst disaster that terrified people a dozen or so years ago will come again someday.

「𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙚, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙬𝙞𝙘𝙚.」

As I nodded slightly, Hwang Jin-chul’s eyes widened.

I had only seen it in text, and I had never experienced the actual situation, but Hwang Jin-chul’s reaction made me realize the seriousness of the situation.

“. . . .Why do you think that? There hasn’t been anything like that in the past dozen or so years.”

Hwang Jin-chul’s question was justified. The cause of the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons has not been precisely identified up to this point, but the current experts are adamant that such a thing will not happen again.

However, from my perspective of knowing the future, nothing could be more ridiculous.

I don’t know if it’s because of vanity or to reassure the public, but at the very least, all of those opinions were wrong. That much was certain.

“The Night Parade of a Hundred Demons will definitely happen again someday.”

Hwang Jin-chul looked flustered at my words, as if I had seen the future.

I didn’t stop there and continued speaking.

“This time, the damage might be even greater than before.”

“. . . .That’s hard to accept.”

“You don’t have to believe me. It’s just what I think.”

Even if I said this much, Hwang Jin-chul must have realized the seriousness of my attitude.

In the end, he nodded and answered me.

“I understand. I’ll do my best to distribute them.”

“Thank you, Elder.”

“Well, as a businessman, I can’t help but feel a bit regretful. But. . . .”

Hwang Jin-chul, who had been drinking tea for a while, soon changed the look in his eyes.

“For some reason, I feel like it’s worth investing a bit more in you.”

“. . . .”

If that’s how Hwang Jin-chul felt, then it’s not bad for me.

After all, he was a big shot in the sorcery industry and held a position in the Hwang family, one of the Three Great Houses.

I continued to talk with Hwang Jin-chul for a while after that.

In the process, I was also able to hear information about Hwang Se-jin, who had previously had a conflict with Han Kang-yoon.

“He’s one of the candidates for the next elder. He turned twenty-four this year, and he’s called a prodigy in some circles. However, his sharp personality is a bit divisive within the family.”

“. . .Is that so.”

“He tends to look down on exorcists who aren’t from prestigious families, so you might not get along with him.”

Since I heard from Hwang Ji-hak that they had already clashed once, that statement must be an objective assessment.

Thinking that it would be better to avoid him if possible, I left Hwang Jin-chul’s mansion and returned to where Hwang Ji-hak was.

「𝙉𝙤𝙬 𝙄’𝙫𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨.」

So now it was time to achieve the biggest purpose of coming here.

🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷

“Right here. This is the most secluded and energy-filled place in the vicinity.”

“Thanks for guiding me. Can you keep watch for a bit like I asked?”

With Hwang Ji-hak’s help, I found a spiritual spot located within the family’s territory. I looked for a suitable place to sit down and asked Hwang Ji-hak for a favor.

Since it’s a top-grade spiritual medicine, I don’t want to be disturbed by anyone while I’m taking it.

After confirming that Hwang Ji-hak nodded and left, I took out the Nine Dragons Pill, which was in a luxurious box, without wasting any time.

「𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙄’𝙢 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣.」

In the original story, Yoo Ha-on also gets her hands on other top-grade spiritual medicines, but the Nine Dragons Pill wasn’t one of them. It was only mentioned in passing.

Gulp.

A smooth surface with considerable energy that can be felt just by looking at it. It’s definitely worthy of being called a top-grade spiritual medicine.

「𝘼𝙩 𝙡𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡 40, 𝙞𝙩 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙗𝙚 𝙖 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚.」

Originally, these kinds of spiritual medicines are hard to get their full effect if the level is too low or too high.

In that sense, now would be the perfect timing.

Sizzle sizzle.

Hoo-woong.

Like when I took the Green Cloud Pill before, I set up a spell formation that helps absorb the energy of the spiritual medicine and swallowed it in one gulp without hesitation.

Thump.

Gulp.

Then, in an instant, a hot energy surged up.