𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟖𝟐
The majority of exorcists in the subjugation force had lost their fighting spirit during the large-scale bombing that Yusu-bi had carried out with reckless abandon.
It was inevitable.
With just one attack where they abandoned their own defenses, more than half of the personnel were either dead or incapacitated.
If they were to face that creature again, death was all that lay ahead. Everyone realized this without a doubt.
Among them was 2nd-grade exorcist Lee Eun-chan, who had briefly shared the same room as Han Kang-yoon.
「𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨?」
He had felt a sense of helplessness in a previous battle against a yokai that had been classified as A+ rank.
He had not fought face-to-face, but had merely provided support from the rear.
Lee Eun-chan had been unable to do anything, and the lives of exorcists were all too cheap in front of a high-ranking yokai.
However, time had passed, and he felt that he had overcome that fear and was ready to move on to the next stage.
That was why he had volunteered for this subjugation force.
However.
「𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙧𝙞𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚.」
Even the A+ rank yokai that he had been terrified of in the past was nothing more than a neighborhood punk in front of this rock monster.
The earth shook with every step it took, and several exorcists lost their lives with every swing of its arm.
It was clearly a calamity that should not exist in the world. It was not something that mere humans could fight against.
He felt incredibly stupid for trying to stand in front of such a monster with the same determination as before.
「𝙄-𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚.」
Just then, Lee Eun-chan recalled something Han Kang-yoon had said to him in passing.
『It won’t be just that. To survive, you’ll have to throw away all the common sense you’ve had up until now.』
In retrospect, Han Kang-yoon had already known what an S-rank yokai was, and how unreasonable a disaster it was.
Despite knowing all that, unlike himself, Han Kang-yoon had come here.
Lee Eun-chan suddenly felt ashamed of himself.
He felt even more ashamed when he saw Han Kang-yoon’s battle unfold.
Han Kang-yoon was strong, brave, and unwavering.
「. . .𝙃𝙚’𝙨 𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙯𝙞𝙣𝙜.」
Lee Eun-chan had never known an exorcist who could fight like that, regardless of age.
There were special-grade exorcists in the world, but Lee Eun-chan had only ever seen them in videos or heard about them through hearsay.
And when Han Kang-yoon, who had chased the rock yokai into the mysterious curtain, finally brought its head back and placed it in front of everyone, Lee Eun-chan felt a shiver run down his spine.
Han Kang-yoon, who he had once thought of as someone he needed to protect, now seemed like a completely different person.
The difference was like night and day.
“D-Did you really kill it?”
“Yes. I finished it off completely.”
Yoon Moon-hyung, an elderly 1st-grade exorcist who had barely managed to patch up his wounds with the help of the other exorcists, widened his eyes in disbelief.
The reactions of the others were not much different.
It was hard not to be surprised, as they had just witnessed a feat that seemed like something out of a fairy tale.
Lee Eun-chan had just glimpsed a wall that he would never be able to overcome in his lifetime.
However, on the other hand, he was convinced that something had truly changed within him.
He didn’t know what it was, but it didn’t feel entirely negative.
「𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡 𝙚𝙭𝙤𝙧𝙘𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙞𝙨. . . . . . .」
As Han Kang-yoon stumbled after finishing his sentence, Lee Eun-chan rushed over to support him without thinking.
Han Kang-yoon then smiled at Lee Eun-chan and said,
“You didn’t run away like a coward.”
“. . .I don’t know what to say. I wasn’t much help this time either.”
“You did well. Your life is the most precious thing.”
Han Kang-yoon’s words seemed to be quite sincere, even if they were meant as a consolation.
Lee Eun-chan, who had been slightly bewildered, soon realized the meaning behind them and was deeply impressed.
「. . .𝙄𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙩?」
His own life was not the only one that mattered.
The lives of all the exorcists present were equally precious.
Han Kang-yoon knew that, and that was why he had not hesitated.
Han Kang-yoon had only said it as a joke, but Lee Eun-chan was so shocked that he let out a sigh of relief when Han Kang-yoon finally left.
And as he watched her go, he made up his mind.
He didn’t know when he would see him again, but he would at least be someone with that kind of mindset by then.
🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷
「𝙈𝙮 𝙗𝙤𝙙𝙮 𝙝𝙪𝙧𝙩𝙨.」
After using the Sahwanjae passage to confront Yusu-bi, I had fought a final battle in which I had literally given it my all.
The outcome had been decided by a hair’s breadth.
Yusu-bi had reached his limit before I had exhausted my strength.
I had been torn at the time, but it had definitely been the best choice to bide my time and not use all my power at once.
「𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙡, 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖 𝙛𝙚𝙬 𝙡𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚.」
The difference was both infinitesimally small and infinitely large.
I had even almost been caught off guard by an unexpected escape at the end, so I could definitely say that it had been a very dangerous situation.
「𝙃𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙮 𝙞𝙨 𝙙𝙚𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙮.」
Thinking back on what had happened so far, I could definitely see that it was having a greater and greater impact as time went on.
I had to assume that even more difficult moments would come in the future.
「. . .𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚, 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙬𝙚𝙡𝙡.」
Even I could tell that my skills had improved to a level that could no longer be ignored.
No, to be honest, this Han Kang-yoon’s body was much more talented than I was originally.
If my experience and knowledge were combined with the talent of Han Kang-yoon’s body, I might be able to reach a level that I had never been able to reach before.
「𝙄 𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙛 1𝙨𝙩 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚.」
That person, whether male or female, was truly amazing. To be honest, I was confident that I could beat them if I just increased my playtime, but I could definitely say that 1st place was impossible.
However, as someone who was beyond common sense, it was only natural that they would be able to claim and defend the throne of 1st place.
Thinking back on the battles I had fought against 1st place several times in the past, I pondered over their every move, lost in thought.
「𝙒𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙃𝙖𝙣 𝙆𝙖𝙣𝙜-𝙮𝙤𝙤𝙣’𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙙𝙮 𝙗𝙚 𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙡𝙚 𝙞𝙩?」
I couldn’t be sure. After all, I wouldn’t know until I actually tried.
Besides, it was a rematch that could no longer happen.
However, I didn’t feel bad.
On the contrary, I thought it was even more meaningful because of that.
Thud.
I slowly sat up from where I had been resting in the space that the subjugation force had specially prepared for me, and began to think about what to do next.
I had already dealt with the immediate obstacle, Yusu-bi, so now there were two main things left to do.
「𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙎-𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙠𝙖𝙞 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙔𝙤𝙤 𝙃𝙖-𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙅𝙞𝙣-𝙢𝙮𝙚𝙤𝙣𝙜.」
If I had to prioritize them, I’m sorry to say, but it was the latter.
「𝙅𝙞𝙣-𝙢𝙮𝙚𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙨 𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙨.」
He is incredibly strong and cunning. Whatever plan he is devising, it must be stopped.
「𝙁𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮, 𝙄’𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮 𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩.」
This subjugation of Yusu-bi could also be seen as part of that plan.
I had performed so well that no one could deny it, and the resulting fame would once again increase my reputation.
「𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙘𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙦𝙪𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨.」
I had taken the exorcist qualification exam early and broken Cheong So-ha’s record, and on top of the Myudusa incident last time, this time I had clearly been the main force in defeating an S-rank.
By now, my abilities had been clearly proven.
Given my age and future potential, it was only natural that the headquarters would try to make contact with me in order to establish a connection.
As if by coincidence, at that moment, there was a knock at the door.
Knock.
Knock knock.
“Excuse me. There are some people from the headquarters here to see Mr. Han Kang-yoon.”
“You may enter.”
“. . .Yes.”
Click.
It was exactly as I had expected.
Behind the man who opened the door, several burly men and women who appeared to be from the headquarters came into view.
「𝙃𝙪𝙝?」
However, something seemed a little strange. The male member of the subjugation force who was acting as a guide was excessively stiff, and the aura emanating from the people behind him was not ordinary.
「𝙎𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩.」
Ring!
【Hong Yong-taek】
▶Level: 55
【Yoon Seol-ha】
▶Level: 53
【Wi Ji-chan】
▶Level: 52
「𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙖𝙧𝙚 1𝙨𝙩-𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙙𝙚?」
It was clearly strange. There was no reason to send such valuable personnel as mere messengers in such an emergency.
Moreover, the crest engraved on their breastplates was.
“We are from the Enforcement Bureau. Are you Han Kang-yoon?”
“. . .Yes.”
“You are under arrest for the murder of civilians and multiple exorcists.”
It was the moment when the Enforcement Bureau of the Exorcism Headquarters, and the enforcers belonging to it, suddenly sentenced me for a crime.
🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷
「𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙞𝙨 𝙜𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙣?」
To be honest, I was so shocked that I couldn’t react properly.
I had killed yokai, but I had never killed a human, no matter how much I thought about it. In that case, their words must be false.
But why would they come here and try to drag me away, making such accusations?
“You can plead your case at the headquarters. Until then, we will subdue you immediately if you do anything suspicious.”
I was honestly annoyed by their attitude, as if they were treating me like a criminal, but I couldn’t help it.
There was no point in making a big deal out of it, and I wasn’t in good shape right now after my battle with Yusu-bi.
The enforcers who took me to one of the headquarters’ bases went through my charges one by one and began to verify the facts.
Of course, I protested and confronted them without hesitation.
I had not committed any crimes, and I had connections in many places, so there was no reason for me to be intimidated by enforcers from the headquarters.
However, their attitude, as if they were looking at me with disgust, and the parade of incredibly detailed charges, left even me bewildered.
「. . .𝙄𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙩𝙤 𝙜𝙤 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙩𝙝𝙨, 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙤𝙣 𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙚?」
If they wanted something, they could just suppress me like this and try to take it.
But they were being completely sincere. It was as if I had really committed a crime and was hiding it.
Just when I was about to conclude that it was not a simple act, they could no longer bear it and showed me the evidence on the screen in front of me.
“Disgusting. Are you still going to deny it?”
“. . .Let me see it first and then I’ll tell you.”
What kind of evidence could they have that would make them so resolute?
After a while, I checked the screen and I could fully understand why they thought that way.
「. . .𝘿𝙖𝙢𝙣, 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜’𝙨 𝙬𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙜.」
The man in the academy uniform on the screen was ruthlessly killing exorcists.
Even to me, it was clear that it was none other than me.
Leave a Reply