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𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟒𝟕
「𝘽𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙮, 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚?」
Honestly, it’s not common. The appearance of a high-ranking Yokai is rare, occurring perhaps once a month, and it just so happened to crash the festival scene.
However, I could now realize one thing I had overlooked.
It was about the 2nd Night Parade of a Hundred Demons that I had mentioned earlier.
「. . .𝙄 𝙨𝙚𝙚.」
I had explicitly said that the clash between the high-ranking Yokai Myoduusa and the Red Unit was a sign of the 2nd Night Parade of a Hundred Demons.
It meant that the appearance of an exceptionally powerful Yokai, which would not normally be seen, hinted at the upcoming festival of Yokai.
So if you think about it, there must be other Yokai that have appeared due to the influence of the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons, not just Myoduusa.
From the perspective of players who only see the set screen, all eyes were bound to be on the powerful Yokai Myoduusa, but that wasn’t the reality.
「𝙈𝙮𝙤𝙙𝙪𝙪𝙨𝙖’𝙨 𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙖 𝙨𝙮𝙢𝙗𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙘 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩.」
As the 2nd Night Parade of a Hundred Demons was approaching, it was obvious that the activities of Yokai would become more active.
In other words, it was reasonable to assume that the high-ranking Yokai that was now attacking the festival was also a part of it.
Koo-woong!
Kwaaaang─!
“Kyaaaah!”
“Run!”
Looking at the rising dust clouds and the panicked citizens, Laura, who was bewildered, opened her mouth.
“W-What do we do?”
“. . .At this location, it will take quite some time for high-ranking exorcists to be dispatched from the vicinity. What’s the situation?”
The question from Shin So-ra, who was sharing the Black Bird’s field of vision, flew towards me, and I slowly shook my head.
“It’s not good. It will be difficult to hold out for the next 5 minutes.”
“What? Are you kidding me? It hasn’t even been 10 minutes since the confrontation started?”
Shin So-ra continued to speak in a really flustered manner, not answering.
“If it’s that level against a combination of 2nd-grade and 3rd-grade, then the Yokai over there is probably. . . . . . .”
A-rank.
Although there are differences for each individual, it is generally evaluated as a level that can devastate a city.
At that overwhelming figure, Laura, who was with us, also gulped.
“. . .It’s not something we can do anything about.”
“This is serious. I’ve only fought a B-rank once. Even then, I was just messing around in the back.”
I’m not much different either.
I did face a manticore and Eve, who are equivalent to A-rank within the Eternal Labyrinth, but I caught the manticore with high-level exorcists and didn’t even fight Eve.
In other words, it meant that it was my first time fighting a Yokai of this level head-on.
However, I couldn’t back down.
Besides, in a few months, I will be in a position to help the Red Unit defeat an S-rank Yokai.
I took a deep breath and opened my mouth to the two of them.
“If that really is an A-rank, most of the citizens will become targets before support arrives. I can’t let that happen.”
“. . .That’s right. If we’re going to fight anyway, it’s better to join before the exorcists are wiped out.”
Shin So-ra, who accepted my words, made up her mind, and Laura also clenched her fists with a determined expression as if she had mustered her courage.
However, I checked her ability score with a glance and made a judgment before speaking.
“We exorcists will help, so Laura, lead the citizens and help them evacuate.”
“Huh? Why. . . . . . .”
However, she who uttered the words soon showed a reaction as if she had realized the reason.
Strictly speaking, Laura’s current combat ability was not at a level where she could deal with an A-rank Yokai.
I slowly grabbed her shoulder, which had stiffened again with self-reproach, and said,
“The citizens are panicking and not making rational judgments.”
Some people were rushing towards the opposite side of the exit, eager to get away from the center of the incident right away, and there were countless others who were hiding somewhere and just trembling.
However, if they stayed like that against an A-rank Yokai, they would only hasten their deaths.
I looked at Laura, who met my gaze with surprised eyes, and spoke with all my sincerity.
“We need someone to be the center. It’s what you can do best.”
Laura, who was lost in thought for a moment, soon nodded, her eyes sharp.
“. . .I’ll help with the evacuation somehow. Please be careful.”
It was the moment when our roles became clear.
🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷
Yoo Jung-gil, a 2nd-grade exorcist belonging to the Namcheon 1st Defense Corps, closed his eyes tightly at the disaster he had suddenly encountered and wiped the blood from his forehead.
「. . .𝘿𝙖𝙢𝙢𝙞𝙩, 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩’𝙨 𝙨𝙤 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙜?」
Yoo Jung-gil, who was quite well-known in the vicinity, was in charge of the overall security of the festival.
As soon as he sensed the strange situation, he called the exorcists gathered from each Defense Corps and headed to the center of the incident, where he met the monster.
“Kyaaaak!”
A pair of strangely shaped wings that seemed to be covered with scales, a beak like a blade. And a body that was like a combination of a snake and a crocodile.
At first, I just felt like it was a bizarre Yokai.
And soon, after sorting out the situation, I was thinking of going back to the barracks and eating the ramen I had boiled.
Well, isn’t that natural?
Those gathered here are seasoned exorcists from various Defense Corps in the vicinity.
Just one of them could easily handle such a lousy Yokai.
However, the scene that unfolded soon far exceeded Yoo Jung-gil’s expectations.
Although it was in a form I had never seen before, it was strong. Ridiculously strong.
「. . .𝘼𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙡𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡, 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙙𝙚𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝘼-𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙠.」
Yoo Jung-gil had also only encountered it once before. A high-ranking Yokai.
Yoo Jung-gil, whose ability to judge his opponents was not very good, didn’t even need such an ability to gauge the Yokai in front of him.
His whole body was covered in goosebumps from the overwhelming demonic energy, and his arms and legs kept trembling.
“Captain! We have another critical injury here! It’s dangerous if we don’t treat it quickly!”
“. . .I’m going crazy.”
Even the exorcist who had checked his colleague’s condition had a look in his eyes that didn’t expect Yoo Jung-gil to take any action.
Well, Yoo Jung-gil himself was also in a situation where he would lose his life if he showed any gaps right now.
「𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨.」
A solution? A formation’s revival? There was no way that would happen.
It would still take a lot of time for reinforcements to arrive, and they had already lost half of their strength in just 7 minutes.
Seasoned 2nd-grade exorcists?
In front of the high-ranking Yokai, they were nothing more than a delicious treat.
“Kyaaaak!”
Watching the Yokai start gliding again, Yoo Jung-gil hurriedly gave instructions to the exorcists.
“Get away from the injured! It’s after us anyway! Gather together and deploy a defense spell!”
Whoong.
Whoooong.
As expected of veterans, several layers of intermediate-level defense spells were deployed in an instant, surrounding the exorcists.
However.
Screeeech!
Zzzzaaaang─!
“H, huh!”
“This can’t be. . . . . .!”
The Yokai, which had been circling around the defensive wall, instinctively found the weakest part of it and broke through the spell in an instant with a dive.
Then, with a flap of its wings, a sharp wind blew and the exorcists began to be swept away.
Death throes!
Kwa-ga-gak!
“Kuaak!”
“Keuheueueok!”
Everyone hurriedly took evasive maneuvers, but one was slightly injured and another was rendered unable to fight.
Now, including Yoo Jung-gil, there were only three exorcists left.
It was ridiculously small to deal with an A-rank Yokai, and at the same time, it was a desperate number.
「𝙄𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙙. . . . . . .」
Yoo Jung-gil, who had somehow managed to survive countless crises until now, couldn’t see any way out this time.
If there had been at least one, no, just two more exorcists of the same 2nd-grade level.
With such a useless imagination, Yoo Jung-gil sensed his own death.
“. . .I’ll buy some time. The other two, run away and save the citizens.”
“Huh? What. . . . . . .”
“We’ll all die if we fight anyway. Instead of keeping useless loyalty, make a choice for everyone.”
It was a short speech, but it was enough to read Yoo Jung-gil’s intentions. The exorcists who were with him swallowed their emotions and immediately turned and ran away.
It was natural that they couldn’t ignore Yoo Jung-gil’s determination.
However, they had one thing badly mistaken.
“Keeeeeek?”
To the Yokai in front of them, they were already nothing more than a good plaything.
There was no way that such a guy would allow his prey to escape from his hands.
Whoooong!
Screeeech!
“T-This, run away!”
But it’s impossible. The guy’s charging speed is too fast.
“G-Guardian Wall!”
One of the exorcists who had noticed the situation showed his wit, but the hastily prepared intermediate-level defense spell was not enough.
Yoo Jung-gil clenched his fists, sensing the deaths of his colleagues.
And right at that moment, Yoo Jung-gil was able to catch a surprising sight.
Kwa-chak!
Kwa-ga-gak!
Koodoo-deuk!
Nets of spiritual power began to appear in the air one after another, moving very skillfully and simultaneously constricting the Yokai’s body.
“Kyaaaak!”
And at the same time, sharp thorns of spiritual power sprang up towards it.
Kwa-ga-ga-gak!
Poo-ook!
“Keeeeeeak─!”
The Yokai, which had suffered a small wound from an unexpected counterattack, was startled and created a wind, breaking the net and creating distance in the sky again.
Surprisingly, the exorcists who showed that incredible connection were two boys and girls who still looked young.
“Y-You guys are?”
“. . .We’ve grasped the situation roughly. We came to help.”
“That crest is. It’s definitely from CheongHwa Academy. . . . . . .”
Honestly, it was an unrealistic situation.
While the experienced exorcists of the Defense Corps were falling one after another, what help could two academy students provide?
However, Yoo Jung-gil witnessed it.
The restraint technique that was a little creepy just now, and the offensive spell technique with power that could never be ignored.
If those who used it were these two, their skills were definitely at a level that would work in actual combat.
Yoo Jung-gil, who was pressed for time, made a quick judgment.
“That guy is probably A-rank. If you want to save your lives, take this opportunity to escape.”
“That means you won’t refuse our help, right?”
“. . .You’re a bunch of crazy kids. But I can’t just watch you kids die. I’ll buy some time, so help the citizens with those two.”
Suddenly, a rectangular object appeared in front of Yoo Jung-gil, who stubbornly refused.
Yoo Jung-gil frowned, but he instinctively read it.
“Exorcist license, Han Kang-yoon. . . . . . ?”
If he had an official license despite being an academy student, it meant that he had taken the qualifying exam early and passed.
And the decisive thing was the name Han Kang-yoon.
Yoo Jung-gil had definitely heard it recently.
「𝙎𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙜𝙪𝙮 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩. . . . . .?」
The monster rookie who broke the record of Cheong So-ha, the elder of Cheong family.
Yoo Jung-gil’s eyes, looking at Han Kang-yoon, were wide open without him realizing it.