𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟕𝟔
There was still quite a distance to go, but the closer I got to the garden, the more accurately I could take in the scenery there.
A beautiful and yet eerie garden filled with flowers of all colors.
An indescribable sinister aura filled the entire space.
And what punctuated that atmosphere were the corpses of people wrapped around the trunks of trees, as if they were mummies.
It wasn’t hard to guess that they must have been the victims who had previously set foot in this garden.
“Why have you stopped walking?”
Hwa Baek stared at me like that, with a sly smile.
Then I took a deep breath and moved my feet to cross the line.
“. . . So you’ve finally stepped onto the soil.”
An eerie voice resounded, and at the same time, as if it had been waiting for this moment, several plant stems rushed at me.
Of course, it was clear that they intended to kill me as soon as I stepped onto the garden soil.
However, I had also been waiting for this moment.
“Azure Sky Wall.”
Whoooosh.
Craaaaash!
The energy-filled plant stems moved with truly elusive movements, trying to wrap themselves around me, but my experience so far had been too precious to fall for that.
“Rending Slash.”
Swish!
Death throes─!
Then, with a pinpoint accurate deployment of attack spells, the stalks were cleanly cut off without even finding their target.
Hwa Baek showed some surprise at that sight.
“As I thought, there was some hope in you.”
However, even in the midst of all this, more and more plants were now wriggling around from all sides, showing hostility towards me.
I had expected as much, but it seemed she had no intention of engaging in any kind of conversation.
So I also took out some azure-colored beads from my bosom and scattered them evenly on the ground.
They were the spirit pills I had previously received from Cheong Ji-yeon.
“Yunhwa.”
Whoooosh.
Thud.
Pop.
As I chanted the mantra, the beads turned red and sank into the ground, each emitting spiritual power.
The next spell that followed was, in a way, obvious.
“Cheongdosa Uhwaryukji. Kongrimjigi. . .”
A unique spell of her family that Cheong Ji-yeon had used in her battle with me during the Defense Corps practical training.
“The art of Jeokchihwa.”
It was an advanced binding technique that created numerous vines of spiritual power to bind the opponent.
Whoooosh.
Clatter-clatter!
From all over the ground where the beads had sunk in, vines made of spiritual power began to sprout.
The vines had sharp thorns all over them, and they were quite large.
Hwa Baek immediately frowned at the spell that seemed to mimic her own attack.
“. . . How utterly annoying.”
To the naked eye, it seemed that the spells of both sides were evenly matched and intertwined, but I, the person involved, could immediately perceive a clear difference.
「𝙄 𝙬𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙗𝙚 𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜.」
To begin with, the opponent’s specs are better, and there’s a difference in proficiency in this area.
No matter how skillfully I use spells, the plants in the garden are like Hwa Baek’s own limbs. Of course, there’s bound to be a difference.
But that was fine. My real purpose was something else anyway.
「𝙄𝙣 𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙣 𝙪𝙥 𝙖𝙣 𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮, 𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙤 . . . . . . .」
I need to get information on Hwa Baek.
She was originally a half-human, half-demon who had been a human, and a bound ghost tied to this garden.
In order to bring her in as my shikigami, I naturally had to resolve that part first.
And, fortunately enough, I had a special tool for that.
It was the Dagger of Usurpation I had obtained through the Shin Do-hoon incident last time.
【Dagger of Usurpation】
▶A small knife engraved with the spell of Usurpation. It can absorb part of the memory of the person whose neck it cuts.
In other words, if I could somehow land a hit on Hwa Baek, I could definitely find out the reason why she was bound here.
「𝙄𝙛 𝙄 𝙗𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙬 𝙂𝙚𝙪𝙨𝙙𝙖𝙚’𝙨 𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧, 𝙞𝙩 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙗𝙚 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙩. . . . . . .」
That guy is what you might call a trump card. Not only do I have to expend a lot of energy to handle him, but I can’t just pull him out and use him whenever I need to.
Besides, there was no need to do that.
I had already come up with a rough plan after observing the opponent’s movements.
「𝙎𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙢 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙖𝙩 𝙘𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙗𝙖𝙩.」
Of course, there was a possibility that it was a trap, but based on what I had seen of Hwa Baek’s personality so far, it didn’t seem likely.
The fact that there was no trait related to close combat also supported that argument.
「𝙄𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙘𝙖𝙨𝙚. . . . . . .」
I’ll create an opening, close the distance myself, and strike with the Dagger of Usurpation.
That was the simplest and most rational way.
“Ggong-sam-yi.”
Swish.
Plop!
At my call, Ggong-sam-yi jumped out from the shadows and looked at me as if waiting for instructions.
「𝘽𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙣 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙗𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙮 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙧𝙮.」
If it were just a simple battle, it would be one thing, but right now, I’m in a position where I want to subdue the opponent.
So this time, I was just going to change my approach a little.
“When I give you the signal, breathe fire on me.”
“. . . Burn you?”
“You can do it if you set your mind to it.”
Ggong-sam-yi’s Cleansing Fire trait can be used to burn only the target she aims at.
At the same time, I started running, pulling up as much spiritual power as I could and chanting a mantra.
“Corrupt darkness, begone, empty light, spread, transform essence, remain pure and cool. . .”
The unique spell of the Hwang family, Light of Protection.
It was a physical strengthening spell that converted the spiritual power in one’s body into life energy, increasing both resilience and defense.
“Light of Protection.”
As the spell was completed, my body was enveloped in a faint yellow light, and I approached Hwa Baek, who was hiding among the plants, with an even faster speed.
“. . . What a ridiculous thing to do!”
Clatter-clatter!
Hwa Baek waved her hand and again shot out tree roots and plant stems, but at that moment, Ggong-sam-yi’s flames flew in and enveloped my body.
“What . . . . . . .”
Plants and fire are natural enemies. That’s a given.
In addition, the Cleansing Fire trait that Ggong-sam-yi possessed suppressed the energy, so the plants couldn’t even approach me.
And taking advantage of that gap, I entered Hwa Baek’s territory completely.
「𝘼𝙨 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙, 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙡𝙤𝙬.」
I had always been reluctant to engage in close combat here.
Not only is my strength in maintaining extremely precise distance, but I also felt that my close combat was a notch lower compared to the real geniuses here who had received systematic education and training.
「𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝘽𝙖𝙚𝙠, 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙩, 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙖 𝙜𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙣𝙤𝙬.」
However, that didn’t mean I had no confidence in direct combat.
It’s just that it wasn’t my style, and I didn’t think about it because it was inefficient.
Clatter-clatter!
Clatter─!
And to me like that, Hwa Baek’s panicked attacks were quite easy to dodge.
“You little rat. . . . . . .!”
Judging that any further approach would be dangerous, Hwa Baek gathered her strength and bloomed a huge flower to block my way.
Moreover, I could feel some kind of ominous aura from the flower.
「𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙤𝙛 𝙞𝙩, 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙨𝙤 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙖 𝙥𝙤𝙞𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙩.」
Unfortunately for her, that level of poison doesn’t work on me right now.
The fire of Ggong-sam-yi still wrapped around my body, the Dragon’s Body trait I had acquired last time, and the black phoenix earrings.
I already had more than three means of dealing with poison.
Whoooosh.
“Rending Slash.”
I felt a slight tingling sensation from the spores covering my body, and I slashed through the flower and cut Hwa Baek’s neck with the Dagger of Usurpation.
Thanks to Hwa Baek’s reaction, I only managed to make a small cut, but that was enough.
After all, I had already met the conditions.
Swish.
Swish.
I slowly absorbed the memories of Hwa Baek that began to flow in and reviewed them from a distance.
And I could tell. Everything from her original appearance to how she became a yokai and was bound to this place.
「. . . 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙗𝙞𝙩 𝙪𝙣𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙.」
I had originally expected Hwa Baek to have been human, but in reality, it was a little different.
She was a spirit.
She possessed rather weak powers among them, but she was definitely a different being from humans or yokai.
She, who had been dwelling in the huge tree in this garden, had one close friend.
「𝘼 𝙘𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙝é 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮.」
But it was a tragedy that was just as straightforward and unfiltered.
Hwa Baek’s close friend died, and the tree Hwa Baek dwelled in and this garden were almost burned to the ground.
And the ones who did all that were none other than humans.
And more than the cruel content, I was taken aback by something else.
「𝙄’𝙫𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚?」
It was a memory that was somehow familiar. After thinking back for a while, I finally realized where it came from.
「𝙄𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩, 𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙭𝙤𝙧𝙘𝙞𝙨𝙢 𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨.」
Hwa Baek wasn’t just a yokai who had fallen out of nowhere due to the influence of the hell difficulty.
Her past is something that I am definitely aware of.
And the same goes for Echinacea Lianqi, who was her close friend.
「𝙉𝙤, 𝙀𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙘𝙚𝙖 𝙇𝙞𝙖𝙣𝙦𝙞 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮. . . . . . .」
Not dead.
Hwa Baek may not know it, but in reality, she is still alive and well, walking this earth.
Just an old friend of Echinacea Lianqi who was only mentioned in the event story.
When I realized that it was Hwa Baek in front of me, I couldn’t help but show quite a bit of bewilderment.
「𝙄𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙞𝙩, 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙢𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮. . . . . . .」
I had never expected things to turn out like this, no matter how much I thought about it.
However, apart from that sense of bewilderment, this situation was rather a stroke of luck for me.
The justification to persuade her was now perfectly in my hands.
After taking a deep breath, I regained my composure and spoke to her, who was scowling fiercely.
“You became a yokai of your own free will. For revenge, and to protect this garden.”
“. . . You dare to steal someone else’s memories? You truly are a detestable bastard. I will definitely tear you apart in this place.”
Her killing intent was truly fierce, but unlike before, I had room to spare.
Well, the situation was such that she had no choice but to follow me.
“Was this garden truly precious to you?”
“. . . . . . .”
Probably not. What Hwa Baek cherished was not the garden itself, but the place in her memories where she shared with her close friend.
Having already experienced the event story once, I could guess her feelings and way of thinking at the time relatively accurately.
“. . . What on earth are you trying to say?”
“I don’t think you’re meant to be here.”
Hwa Baek silently gathered her strength, as if there was no longer any point in talking.
An even stronger energy than before.
As I thought, she still hadn’t used her full power.
However, all of that became meaningless at the words I uttered shortly after.
“Your close friend, Echinacea Lianqi, is alive.”
It was a moment when Hwa Baek’s murderous expression turned into something truly strange.
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