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𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟑𝟒
The long and short of it is that the battle was over.
Cheong Do-yool, having his forces and elders defeated, returned to his residence, and we spent the day tidying up after the chaos and slept in Cheong So-ha’s section.
And the very next day, Cheong Juhwa and I were out taking in the fresh air, discussing what was to come.
“This is a bit awkward . . . “
It was understandable. So many things had happened in the past few days like a typhoon.
But now that it had all passed, a sense of peace had returned. Cheong Juhwa seemed particularly satisfied with this fact.
“Come to think of it, everything turned out just as you expected, didn’t it?”
“I had a bit of luck on my side, and I had a strong hand to begin with.”
Of course, it hadn’t been as easy as it sounded, but thanks to the Azure Dragon’s promise of full cooperation, I had been able to resolve the incident more smoothly than I had expected.
In fact, Cheong Juhwa and I had resolved the situation without lifting a finger, relying on the help of those around us.
Now, Cheong Do-yool had no reason to touch Cheong Juhwa, citing the family taboo, and the same went for the other forces in the Cheong family.
Of course, there would still be many who would look at her with unfriendly eyes, but in the end, that wouldn’t matter.
Because sooner or later, an era would come when all that would change.
“At the very least, there won’t be any problems until we graduate from the academy.”
“. . . It’s hard to believe it yet.”
Cheong Juhwa had already thanked me several times since last night. So there was no need for us to say anything more to each other.
For the time being, we simply gazed up at the sky before heading back inside the mansion.
And before returning to the academy, we had one last meeting with Cheong So-ha.
“I’d like to hear a little more detail before you leave.”
In fact, there was no reason to hide it, but I hadn’t mentioned the Azure Dragon or the Blue-White Soul Mirror to Cheong So-ha.
Because of that, Cheong So-ha seemed to want to get a clear understanding of the whole story.
“Yes. I understand.”
I had given her a brief explanation yesterday, but I went into more detail, telling Cheong So-ha about the Blue-White Soul Mirror and the Azure Dragon.
Cheong So-ha’s reaction to hearing it all was, as expected, predictable.
“I see. Does that mean that the Ancestor had intended for that child to be the Azure Dragon’s mate?”
“. . . . . . .”
I didn’t answer her directly. If I said something carelessly, it could cause problems because of her Truth’s Eye trait.
However, Cheong So-ha seemed to have already come to a plausible conclusion in her mind, recalling the time when I had used the previous Ancestor’s name to protect Cheong Juhwa.
It didn’t matter to me either way.
“Is there anything else you would like to tell me?”
“Yes. It simply seems that he wishes you to maintain the influence within the family as you are now.”
“Yes. I understand.”
Cheong So-ha didn’t ask me anything more. With that, the follow-up measures for the incident were complete, and Cheong Juhwa and I left Cheong So-ha’s section and finally returned to the academy.
「𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 3 𝙖𝙨 𝙬𝙚𝙡𝙡.」
As has been the case up to now, the end of Chapter 3 has relatively great significance.
It means that the major incidents that could be considered the main plot of this first exorcism installment are just around the corner.
I will soon be a third-year student at the academy, and Cheong Juhwa, Yoo Ha-on, and the other main characters will be second-years.
And from then on, we will all gradually take steps toward the core story.
「𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙨𝙤, 𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙮 𝙜𝙤𝙖𝙡𝙨.」
I have steered the branching of the story in a direction that is favorable to me, and I have acquired the various personnel and items that I will need in the future.
From now on, everything depended on how I acted.
“. . . It doesn’t feel like that long ago, but it feels like I’ve come a long way.”
I renewed my determination as I listened to Cheong Juhwa muttering in front of the academy grounds where we had arrived.
As I had done up to now, I would overcome whatever lay ahead.
As if responding to my thoughts, a shadow shimmered faintly in the sunlight.
🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷
Cheong Juhwa returned to her dormitory at the academy, having finished everything, and lay on her bed, quietly recalling the events of the past few days.
「. . . . . . .」
Cheong Juhwa now knew that Han Kang-yoon was not simply blindly helping her, but that he was trying to achieve something through her.
In fact, he had said so directly to her when they were running away from Cheong Un-cheol and his group.
「𝙄𝙩 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙣𝙤𝙬, 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝. . . . . . .」
Not only had she received countless favors from him, but they had also made a pact to cooperate fully with each other as a team.
Moreover, in truth, Han Kang-yoon had made his intentions clear from the very beginning.
He had told her that he needed her skills and strength when she had been the object of Cheong Haram’s mockery during their one-on-one exchange class.
But to be honest, Cheong Juhwa still didn’t have confidence in herself.
“What do you think?”
『What are you talking about?』
Cheong Juhwa spoke to the Azure Dragon, who was lying on the comforter with her in a small form.
“How big is the difference between me and the family elders?”
『You’re worrying about something strange.』
Indeed, the battle she had witnessed with her own eyes had been truly remarkable.
The battle had literally shaken the heavens and earth and split the ground.
And they had repeated it for several hours.
No matter how she looked at it, there was bound to be a considerable gap between her and them at the moment.
The Azure Dragon didn’t deny it either.
『Of course there is a big difference. But is that so strange? It’s only natural considering the years they have lived and the experience they have.』
“Then how long will it take for me to reach that level?”
Han Kang-yoon had said that there would be more and more to do, starting with this winter break.
If that was the case, she was definitely not at ease with her current abilities.
After a moment of contemplation, the Azure Dragon gave Cheong Juhwa a cool answer, her expression serious.
『I don’t know. No one can know that.』
“Tch, that’s too easy an answer.”
『But I don’t think your talent is inferior to theirs. No, rather, I would say that your talent is far superior.』
Despite being usually so finicky, the Azure Dragon gave Cheong Juhwa a rather generous assessment.
『Depending on what you do, you may even be able to reach the same level as that Cheong So-ha.』
“Cheong So-ha-nim?”
『Yes. Of the family elders, she is probably the most outstanding in terms of skill.』
Cheong Juhwa didn’t show it, but she felt her heart lighten at the Azure Dragon’s words, which were practically the highest praise possible.
If she continued to make progress at her own pace without getting impatient, there would still be endless paths open to her growth.
Then, a sudden curiosity arose within her, and Cheong Juhwa asked the Azure Dragon for another piece of advice.
“What do you think, Azure Dragon-nim? It seemed like he was fighting at full strength this time.”
『Are you talking about that guy?』
The identity of the person the two of them were referring to was simple. It was none other than Han Kang-yoon.
The Azure Dragon, who had been pondering a little longer this time, carefully opened her mouth.
『It’s clear that his skills are already at a considerable level. In particular, he seems to be very skilled in combat itself.』
“I thought so.”
『And the most important thing to watch out for is the spells he uses.』
Of course, most of them were not unfamiliar to the Azure Dragon either.
However, occasionally, some of the spells that Han Kang-yoon used were mixed in with things whose methods she couldn’t even guess.
If he had developed all those spells himself, then he possessed truly formidable abilities in that area.
『Although his appearance and fighting style are completely different, there’s something about that guy that reminds me of Cheong Woon.』
“You mean the Ancestor?”
『Yes. At the very least, he definitely resembles him in his unique atmosphere that sets him apart from others.』
And the Azure Dragon knew the characteristics of such people all too well from his long experience.
『He will definitely try to walk a path that ordinary people can’t even imagine.』
“You mean that the size of his goals is different.”
Indeed, Cheong Juhwa thought that was true as well. Han Kang-yoon definitely had that kind of feeling about him.
『They are definitely great, but on the other hand, such people need assistants to support them.』
The Azure Dragon’s words contained a strange longing. She couldn’t be sure, but it was probably related to Cheong Woon’s past.
『There’s no point in regretting it after it’s too late. It’s better to keep an eye on his condition before that happens.』
“. . . Yes. I will.”
Night had already fallen. It was time to clear her mind and move on to tomorrow.
Cheong Juhwa tried to clear her complicated mind and closed her eyes, desperately trying to sleep.
🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷
Nothing happened for several days after Cheong Juhwa and I returned to the academy.
Since we had been so busy with various incidents for a while, this kind of peace actually felt awkward.
「𝙎𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙡 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙨𝙤𝙤𝙣.」
It had been almost a year since I had fallen into this world.
It didn’t feel like that long had passed, which was truly amazing.
“What? You’re back already?”
“Long time no see.”
I greeted Jung Han-sol, who was drinking a canned drink, and recalled the news I had received from teacher Baek Ji-eun this morning.
「𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙤𝙛 𝙞𝙩, 𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙤𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙣 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙞𝙩.」
The royal gift that I had received for rescuing Princess Laura and the academy students in Spain.
It seemed that it had finally been delivered to the academy.
Baek Ji-eun had also mentioned that there was one more piece of news to deliver regarding that.
『Come and see me when you have some time. Today or tomorrow would be a good time.』
And when I went to see Baek Ji-eun that afternoon, I naturally realized what that news was.
“. . . Oh, long time no see.”
“Yes. What brings you here?”
Laura de los Lucia, the second princess and representative of the second year at the Royal Academy of Spain.
None other than she had come to visit Cheonghwa Academy.
「𝙃𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙖𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙮𝙚𝙩, 𝙨𝙤 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙫𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙩 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙚.」
However, I couldn’t have predicted what would happen next.
It was something that hadn’t happened in the original story, and it was a bombshell statement that I couldn’t have imagined.
And those words came out of Laura’s mouth.
“I’ll be taking classes here as an exchange student starting this semester. Please take care of me again.”
“Excuse me?”
The princess of Spain had transferred to Cheonghwa Academy. And to the same class, no less.