I Became the Academy’s Genius Shikigami Summoner

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟓

“How stupid. Do you think you can properly distinguish between friend and foe in this situation?”

“This isn’t the way it was supposed to be.”

It was a space where the intermediate-level barrier techniques of the two were mixed together. It was clear that even a common shikigami wouldn’t be able to properly distinguish between friend and foe, let alone carry out an attack order. Rather, it was obvious that the order wouldn’t even be recognized.

「𝘽𝙪𝙩.」

The Phantom Nightmare was a one-trick shikigami that couldn’t distinguish between friend and foe to begin with. That was why if I just let it go and gave it an initial order, it would be able to fully exert its power.

『Groooooowl. . . . . . .』

Squirm.

The Phantom Nightmare, who could only float in the air while dragging its murky body and crying out in a pitiful voice,

However, the black fog emitted from its body repeatedly eroded the scattered spiritual power like it had viscosity.

The effect appeared quickly.

“Ugh, ugh. . . .”

The black fog clung to the Cheong Haram’s spell technique that she had deployed for defense. Cheong Haram grimaced and let out a muffled groan.

「𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙗𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙚𝙩 𝙞𝙣.」

The Phantom Nightmare was created in a very dangerous way.

It was under a vicious curse itself, and was always wandering in its own nightmare.

That was why its eyes were always tightly shut, and it constantly shed tears, immersed in resentment and pain.

The only thing the Phantom Nightmare, who lived in its nightmare, could do in reality was to convey the sight it saw to its opponent.

A mass of resentment that wanted to share its suffering with someone in order to feel a bit better. That was the true identity of the shikigami known as the Phantom Nightmare.

「𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙧𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙭𝙤𝙧𝙘𝙞𝙨𝙢 𝙡𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡 1.」

A radical production method that increased the power to the limit in comparison to the level, while adding risk. It must be quite disconcerting for Cheong Haram, who had learned orthodox sorcery.

“Ugh! W-What. . . . . . .”

Perhaps instinctively sensing the danger, Cheong Haram hurriedly uttered a trigger word while constructing a spell technique.

“White Flower Advanced Brook!”

A general-purpose spell technique specialized in repelling evil. It was aimed at the Phantom Nightmare.

As the spell technique was deployed, the black fog dispersed a bit with a clear light, and the Phantom Nightmare’s form disappeared.

However,

“It’s not there.”

“Keuk!”

Cheong Haram had forgotten something important because her mind was in disarray. The illusion spell techniques that both of us had deployed were mixed together, scattering afterimages and illusions everywhere.

In an instant, the number of Phantom Nightmares, which had seemed like one, began to increase. One on the ground. One in the air. One right before her eyes.

It meant that what we were seeing wasn’t the truth anymore.

Of course, I was also within the range of the illusion. However, it was less than Cheong Haram, who was naturally taking the full brunt of it.

“Are you struggling a bit? Do you want to quit?”

“Don’t. . . . . . act all high and mighty!”

She was the rising star of the Cheong family and an upper-class A-rank student, even if she was a bit rotten.

Cheong Haram shouted as she deployed a spell technique that she had prepared in advance.

“Emerge!”

Crash!

Several yellow talismans flew through the illusions toward me. And they began to glow.

“Azure Serpent Binding!”

Indeed.

Although I was relatively far away from the crowded area, that also meant that it was easier to be targeted. I was also deploying a defensive spell technique, so the flow of spiritual power was revealing my location beyond the illusions.

The Azure Serpent Binding, the binding technique of the Cheong family’s vision.

If I got caught in it now, I wouldn’t be able to escape with my ability score.

Of course, that was only if it hit.

Screech!

At the moment when translucent chains shot out from the talismans flying everywhere, I was already gone from that spot.

Click! Click!

Chirp?

It was the shikigami, Earthbound, modeled after a mole and a rat, that I had created along with the Fierce Wolf and Bone Bear. True to its appearance, it had the ability to move freely underground and manipulate the earth.

I had summoned Earthbound as soon as our barrier techniques mixed together, and had already created a kind of tunnel leading under the training ground.

And, I narrowly escaped there just as the attack came.

“I wonder how long you’ll be able to hold on.”

Ring.

【Cheong Haram】

▶Level 31

▶Ability Scores

【Stamina: C】

【Spiritual Power: A+】

【Spellcraft: B+】

【Mental Strength: B-】

Cheong Haram’s mental strength was B-rank. It couldn’t be considered a low rank, but it wasn’t that high either.

Furthermore, Cheong Haram had a weakness.

The S-rank emotion devouring trait. That was the demerit.

「𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙡 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙜𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙚𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙨𝙤 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙚𝙙.」

Victory was just around the corner. I reinforced my mental defense spell technique once more and created a new exit before leaving the tunnel.

Click! Crack!

Thud!

“Y-You. Don’t just stand there. . . . . . .”

Cheong Haram, whose face had turned pale, glared at me as I appeared.

She seemed to have her pride hurt quite a bit by the fact that she was being led around by the nose rather than winning overwhelmingly.

When I glanced over, I saw that the Phantom Nightmare had already disappeared without a trace.

「𝙄𝙩𝙨 𝙙𝙚𝙛𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙥𝙤𝙤𝙧.」

It couldn’t be helped since it was a mental-type shikigami. If it had been a strong one with great durability to begin with, I wouldn’t have been able to create it with my current skills.

However, that didn’t matter.

“Phantom Nightmare.”

Grooooowl. . . . . . .

『Groooooowl. . . . . . .』

There were a total of three Phantom Nightmares that I had created.

Cheong Haram’s face turned ashen.