I Became the Academy’s Genius Shikigami Summoner

Even though the implications were different, at least it wasn’t a lie.

With that, the conversation was over. I stood there and waited silently for Cheong So-ha to leave.

However, for some reason, Cheong So-ha didn’t leave. Instead, she just stared at me with a strange expression.

“When did you first meet the Ancestor?”

” . . . It wasn’t that long ago.”

“Is that so?”

Cheong So-ha showed a sentimental expression, as if reminiscing about a precious memory.

And she started rambling to me.

“In this day and age, the Cheong family has forgotten its original purpose.”

” . . . Is that so?”

“It’s not just the Cheong family. Other places probably aren’t much different. Everyone is only thinking about their own interests in these chaotic times. Isn’t that foolish and disgusting?”

“Isn’t that the nature of a group?”

“You’re not wrong.”

Cheong So-ha nodded. However, she continued speaking with a serious expression.

“But that can’t be the case now.”

“Why not?”

“I can vaguely sense it. That something is changing. There’s no doubt that great chaos will come soon.”

At those words, I maintained my expression, but I was impressed inside. Because she was absolutely right.

The world to come will definitely be an era of chaos.

“When that time comes, the only one we can trust is the Ancestor. He is the only one who can lead us all.”

At those words, my expression hardened slightly. However, Cheong So-ha, who didn’t notice it, smiled faintly and left me with her final request.

“So please tell the Ancestor clearly. I will do whatever he commands. Please don’t forget the Cheong family.”

” . . . I understand.”

Cheong So-ha left after saying just that. I sighed with mixed feelings.

“In fact, he’s neither an ancestor nor anything.”

Cheong So-ha believed that he would be responsible for the future of the Cheong family, but the truth is the opposite.

Because in the original story, the Cheong family was divided and collapsed because of 「𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧」.

The more she trusts him, the greater the shock and betrayal Cheong So-ha will feel.

「𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙄 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚, 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙪𝙥 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙮 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙚.」

First, I will borrow his name for a while and gain Cheong So-ha’s cooperation.

Of course, the moment the self-proclaimed ancestor reveals himself to the world, everything will be exposed, but I’m bound to clash with him at some point as the story progresses anyway.

「𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙣. . . . . . .」

He’ll have to be nervous too.

Jinmyeong, the remnant of the old days who impersonated the ancestor of the Cheong family, I knew all his secrets that no one in the current era could possibly know.

「𝘼𝙣𝙮𝙬𝙖𝙮, 𝙄 𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙮 𝙜𝙤𝙖𝙡.」

With this, Cheong Haram will no longer be able to use the Cheong family’s influence within the academy. I returned to the academy dormitory, satisfied with my immediate gains.

And exactly a week after that day.

“Hey, I suddenly got a lot of stuff. . . . . . . What is all this?”

” . . .Extra support you received?”

“This is beyond what can be explained as extra support. . . . . . .”

I couldn’t help but be amazed as I looked at the numerous elixirs, ingredients, and all sorts of miscellaneous items that Cheong So-ha had sent me.

🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷

The next day in the evening.

I finished all my classes and sat in the dormitory with a serious expression.

「𝙋𝙝𝙚𝙬.」

As I said before, the ability scores that can be increased through effort and growth in the exorcism series are up to B-minus rank.

However, this is a game world, so of course there are a few ways to increase ability scores beyond the limit.

One of them was this. Elixir.

「𝙎𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩.」

Cling.

【Green Cloud Pill】

▶A high-grade elixir made by the Cheong family. It has excellent effects in increasing stamina and spiritual power.

【Water Dragon Grass】

▶A seaweed imbued with the energy of water. It has excellent effects in increasing spiritual power and affinity for water-type elements.

【Cloud Engraved Water】

▶Water containing the energy of the sky. It has an excellent growth acceleration effect.

These were elixirs that could be seen as high-quality at a glance. There were even four Green Cloud Pills, which could only be obtained by clearing the Cheong family related event in the original game.

「𝙊𝙧𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙚𝙭𝙤𝙧𝙘𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙣’𝙩 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚.」

Once again, I could properly feel the status Cheong So-ha holds in the Cheong family.

「𝙃𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙗𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙭𝙞𝙧𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙪𝙥 𝙩𝙤 𝘼-𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙪𝙨 𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙠.」

Even that A-minus rank is a level that can only be reached by consuming several truckloads of elixirs.

Therefore, it doesn’t mean much to Cheong Juhwa, whose ability scores, with the exception of stamina, have reached the upper limit.

Cheong Juhwa also knew that, so she gave me all the elixirs and four of the five Green Cloud Pills.

「𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙨 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙩.」

I put all the elixirs in my inventory, leaving only one Green Cloud Pill, and stared at it as I opened my status window.

Cling.

【Han Kang-yoon】

▶Level 26

▶Ability Scores

【Stamina: C-】

【Spiritual Power: D】

【Spellcraft: C】

【Mental Strength: C】

▶Traits (2/10)

【Shadow Assimilation (S)】

【Mental Spellbook (B)】

A level that has increased by two stages compared to the beginning.

And the ability scores that remain the same.

「𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙞𝙩 𝙗𝙚 𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙭𝙞𝙧𝙨?」

I didn’t know the answer. The lock on ability scores varied greatly depending on the case, and even if there was an elixir that could break through that restriction, it might not be effective if the compatibility wasn’t right.

One thing for sure was that if it was impossible even with the Green Cloud Pill, which was called the Cheong family’s repository of knowledge, then it would be nearly impossible to increase ability scores by consuming elixirs.

「. . . . . . .」

There was no need for further contemplation.

For the most part, these things could only be known by trying them out.

Gulp!

「𝙐𝙜𝙝.」

In my stomach, where I had swallowed the elixir, a fire slowly began to burn.