𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟔𝟒
Awakening
My senses returned, and with my eyes still closed, I subtly employed my detection technique to scan my surroundings.
「 𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙨𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙠𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨? 」
She had always been treated as a fool by the users, but even so, this was too sudden.
The medicine that would have been effective against me would have been difficult to obtain, so this could only be seen as a premeditated act.
Whoosh.
Thud.
I got up from the bed where I had been lying down and cautiously stepped forward to open the door in front of me.
As I did, a woman who had been waiting outside greeted me as if she had been expecting me.
“Are you feeling any discomfort?”
” . . . . . . .”
“Then I will guide you to your destination.”
Baek So-yul wouldn’t try to harm me anyway. So it wouldn’t be a bad idea to go along with her for now.
Thud.
Thud.
Creak.
“Dammit, don’t slip. This trace is definitely Liu’s unique technique. It’s completely different from ours.”
“How dare you! Why would we do such a thing?”
I checked my watch and saw that about 5 hours had passed since I had fainted.
Not surprisingly, there was already a commotion in the central hall of Baekrimjeong.
「𝙃𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙙? 」
I remembered that in the original story, the incident occurred fairly early on, but it was a little strange that it had happened so quickly.
I glanced over and saw that the Liu family of China and the Shoumei family of Japan were arguing, while the Baek was watching them with an unpleasant expression.
I also saw Yoo Ha-on and her group near the hall, so I joined them and listened to the situation.
“An exorcist from the Baek family and an exorcist from the Liu family were each murdered. The motive for the murder is unknown, and there are no witnesses, so the atmosphere is quite tense. But where did you go?”
” . . . I had some business to attend to.”
Cheong Juhwa seemed to have become somewhat close with Yoo Ha-on and her group while I was away due to the Myudusa incident, and she continued to speak in a casual manner.
“We also came out because Eun-seo told us about it, but it seems like they can’t reach a conclusion. For now, it seems that the wounds show traces unique to the Liu family.”
In that case, the most suspicious party at first glance would be the Liu family.
However, in this case, it seemed that there had also been a death in the Liu family, which was causing even more confusion.
「𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙡? 」
As I recall, there was only one victim in this place in the original story.
This made it impossible for even me to be sure whether the information I knew was accurate.
For now, it seemed better to observe the situation a little longer.
“One of our own has also been killed! Do you think that makes sense?”
“We don’t know. The wounds on the victim from your side also show traces unique to the Liu family’s technique. So is it possible that they were silenced because they witnessed the murder?”
“Ugh, you’re not making any sense!”
Despite the argument, the situation did not calm down, and eventually the Baek family began to mediate between the two sides.
“Judging by the situation, the Liu family is the most suspicious party. However, there are certainly some doubts.”
“Of course. In such cases, isn’t the Shoumei family, who has no casualties, the most suspicious? We are the Liu family, who wields power in China. There is no reason for us to do something as cowardly as this.”
“That’s going too far. Aren’t you insulting our Shoumei family right now? They are as arrogant as I have heard.”
The Baek also seemed uncomfortable because there had been casualties within their family.
In the midst of all this, an old man who could no longer bear it stood up and drew the attention of those who were arguing.
It was Baek Jin-yong, the 4th elder of the Baek family.
“Stop it. It will take time anyway, and the Baek family will definitely catch the culprit. First of all, can the Liu family confirm the traces of the wound?”
” . . . I understand. I will.”
A moment later, the exorcist from the Liu family, who had thoroughly examined the preserved bodies, revealed the results.
“Ugh, first of all, let me tell you the most important result. This is a technique that originated in our Liu family. No, it’s certain.”
“Then it is. . . . . . .”
“However, according to this old man’s opinion, the spell used in the murder was Samgye, or in this place’s terms, an intermediate-level spell called Wibihwa. And it is not a spell that can only be mastered by those belonging to the Liu family.”
In other words, it was possible that an unrelated person had used the spell to confuse the investigation.
” . . . It’s hard to accept. Isn’t that just a typical excuse?”
“It’s not a mere excuse. In fact, I understand that Wibihwa can be used by several people in this place.”
“Indeed, our Baek family has also received a demonstration of it in the past.”
In the midst of the increasingly complex situation, the old man from the Liu family who was in charge of the analysis spoke again.
“However, there is one fact that can be inferred here.”
“What is it?”
“As I said, Wibihwa is an intermediate-level spell. But as you can see, both victims were talented individuals who had already surpassed 2nd-grade. Isn’t that strange?”
“Indeed. Liu Wang-rin, who was the victim from our family, was not someone who could be defeated by a mere intermediate-level spell. Furthermore, if it was a spell from his family, he would have been even more familiar with it, so it is possible that. . . . . . .”
“It is highly likely that the culprit is a high-ranking exorcist who can wield great power even with intermediate-level spells.”
At those words, the uproar grew even louder.
Although the three great clans of each country were gathered here, there were not many exorcists who had surpassed 1st-grade.
However, if one of them was the culprit of the incident, it would be a very disconcerting matter.
Kukung.
Thud.
The 4th elder, Baek Jin-yong, tapped his cane on the floor twice and opened his mouth.
“Let me summarize briefly. In other words, the spell used in the murder belongs to the Liu family, but it is an intermediate-level spell that can be mastered by people outside the family, and the culprit is likely to be an exorcist of 1st-grade or higher. Is this correct?”
” . . . Yes. That’s right.”
“Ugh, this is not easy.”
As the direction of the investigation became clear, the movements of each family suddenly became more cautious.
Of course, that was natural.
If a 1st-grade or higher exorcist was really the culprit, it wouldn’t be a matter that could be taken lightly.
If that culprit was hiding in their own family, there would be more than one or two difficult factors.
“Ahem, is it possible that we are barking up the wrong tree? Someone from outside. . . . . . .”
“That is unlikely. Since we invited you, we have made sure to secure the perimeter outside Baekrimjeong.”
“Hoo, so you’re saying that the culprit is definitely in here.”
In the midst of all this, a woman who had stepped forward and opened her mouth appeared at the edge of my vision. It was Baek So-yul, who had appeared out of nowhere.
“I have a good idea. Would it be okay if I shared it?”
“Oh, it’s you. Good. Tell me.”
“I have an acquaintance who is skilled in tracking. If it is certain that the culprit is here, it should be possible to trace the spiritual power remaining on the bodies.”
“That’s. . . . . . certainly a good idea. Is this acquaintance reliable?”
“She is a 1st-grade exorcist from the headquarters’ enforcement department, so there is no need to worry about her making a mistake.”
Since it was a persuasive enough proposal, Baek So-yul’s opinion was eventually accepted.
About 5 hours remained until the person in question arrived.
Each family, having confirmed this, began to calm down and organize themselves.
“Ahem, well. Let’s leave someone to guard the bodies and return to our quarters for now. We need time to talk within each family.”
” . . . Indeed. Then let’s meet again here exactly four hours from now. Let’s disband for now.”
And so the meeting was adjourned, and I too joined Yoo Ha-on and her group and waited at the same quarter for the time being.
“What the hell kind of crazy person did this? It’s impossible that they wouldn’t get caught in this place.”
” . . . Hmm, maybe there was something they needed to do even if it meant taking the risk? Eun-seo, do you have any idea about the victims?”
Yoo Ha-on and her group began to speculate while expressing their doubts, just like in the original story.
I sat there awkwardly next to them and began to quietly recall what had happened earlier.
「𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙜𝙖𝙢𝙚? 」
First of all, as far as I know, the culprit of this incident is an exorcist belonging to the Liu family.
He was the one who had killed the person in charge of the other side, Baek Sang-hui, in order to silence him after his unfair gains in the transaction with the Baek family were discovered.
However, Baek So-yul’s reaction suggested that she knew something about the situation, and in fact, unlike the original story, there were two victims.
Furthermore, the most questionable point was that she, who had put me to sleep, had not done anything in particular.
「𝙊𝙧, 𝙢𝙖𝙮𝙗𝙚 𝙄 𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙞𝙩, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮 𝙜𝙤𝙩 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙𝙚𝙙? 」
If she really didn’t plan to do anything, there would be no reason for her to give me the medicine.
During the five hours that I was asleep, Baek So-yul must have achieved some kind of purpose, and conversely, she needed to put me to sleep in order to do so.
It was more reasonable to assume that.
「. . . 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙢 𝙞𝙨, 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙩? 」
As I sat with my arms crossed and lost in thought, Seo-ah, who was next to me, asked me a question.
“What do you think, Oppa?”
” . . . The culprit of the incident?”
“Yeah.”
I could feel everyone’s gaze turning towards me at Seo-ah’s question.
I didn’t show it, but their eyes were filled with anticipation and curiosity.
In response, I gave them a cold answer after a moment of contemplation.
“I don’t know.”
” . . . . . . .”
I wasn’t sure about the knowledge in the original story, and even though the situation had changed, I didn’t want to butt in since they would have reached the answer on their own anyway.
” . . . Even you don’t know?”
“In a way, it’s natural, but it feels strange when you say it like that, Oppa.”
Amidst the jokes from the group, only Cheong Juhwa looked at me with a meaningful expression.
“Something’s fishy. . . . . . .”
And at that exact moment, a servant of the Baek family came and informed us that the headquarters’ enforcer had arrived.
I felt a strange sense of unease and followed the group back to the central hall of Baekrimjeong.
🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷
“Is this the tracker? She’s so tiny.”
“Th, th, that’s right. . . . . . .”
A woman who seemed somewhat timid and cautious.
She kept making a sad face as if she didn’t know why she had been brought to such a place.
However, as befitting a professional from the enforcement department, she soon checked the bodies and calmly began to summon spiritual power.
” . . . If the remnants are intact, this spell will react and lead us to the owner of the spiritual power.”
“I understand. Then please do.”
In order to prevent any unforeseen events, the high-ranking exorcists of each family all kept their distance and watched each other.
And amidst all this, the spell cast by the tracker finally began to show a clear reaction.
“It’s, it’s here. In here.”
“Is that true? What kind of fool. . . . . .!”
” . . . Hmph. Then I’ll resonate the spell now.”
Whoosh.
Rustle.
As the spell was cast further, faint spiritual powers began to emerge from the wounds of the victims.
And they gathered together and flew erratically through the air, before soon setting a clear direction and moving towards it.
However, for some reason, the shape of that spiritual power was all too familiar.
「𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩. . . . . .? 」
Only then did I realize why Baek So-yul had no choice but to put me to sleep, and what she had intended to gain from it.
Rustle.
Whoosh.
The place where the remnants of spiritual power stopped moving was right in front of me, not the exorcists of the family.
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