I Became the Academy’s Genius Shikigami Summoner – Chapter 193

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟗𝟑

“What the hell is this about? You should know that I’m not your opponent.”

Cheong So-ha spoke to me, her fingertips caressing the Blue-White Sword.

It would be difficult to understand. After escaping from Yangcheolgung, I had not only shown up before her, but I had also created a one-on-one situation.

Rather, it would be the situation that Cheong So-ha had been hoping for.

“There’s no other reason. I wanted to have a conversation with you.”

“Are you trying to fool me with that sweet tongue of yours again? I don’t have time for this.”

PEENG!

Death throes!

ZZEUREUNG─!

Cheong So-ha unleashed another high-level spell, but this time, I wasn’t going to just take it.

In an instant, the giant demon Geusdae appeared, his fierce eyes glaring at Cheong So-ha.

「. . .𝙂𝙚𝙪𝙨𝙙𝙖𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙚.」

Moreover, it seemed as if he hadn’t completely blocked the previous attack, as blood dripped from Geusdae’s thick arm.

As expected, a head-on confrontation was impossible. I realized this obvious fact once again.

So I immediately opened my mouth.

“Haven’t you ever had a strange thought deep down inside?”

“. . .I don’t have time to listen.”

Death throes!

ZZEUREUNG!

“I may be fake, just as you say. However, the actions and knowledge I’ve shown you so far are real.”

Cheong So-ha reached out with a murderous expression, and Geusdae desperately tried to stop her.

In the meantime, I continued to speak desperately.

“On the other hand, what has your so-called Ancestor shown or proven to you?”

“What absurd nonsense are you spouting? The Ancestor knows far more than the likes of you could ever imagine.”

“What is it? Are you referring to the origins of the Cheong family in the past, or the ancient spells? I can imitate all of those things to some extent.”

Of course, Jin-myeong knows a lot about the Cheong family. That’s because he was also a member of the Cheong family in the past.

Moreover, Jin-myeong was a famous figure in the generation just below the time when the true Ancestor of the Cheong family existed.

For him, acting as the Ancestor of the Cheong family would be as easy as pie.

“What are you trying to say?”

As I said this, Cheong So-ha frowned, but she also seemed to waver slightly.

She wouldn’t be able to make a proper judgment because of the suggestion planted in her mind when she was young, but perhaps she was also subconsciously feeling that something didn’t fit.

So I had to dig into that part somehow.

“His name is Jin-myeong. He’s not the Ancestor of the Cheong family, but a parasite who betrayed the Cheong family. And he’s using you through the suggestion he planted in you when you were young.”

“. . .I can’t bear to listen to this any longer.”

Thinking that it was all nonsense, Cheong So-ha began to seriously gather her spiritual power and close the distance between herself and Geusdae.

If a full-scale battle broke out, I wouldn’t be able to hold out for long. So I made up my mind and took the Blue-White Soul Mirror out of my pocket and held it out in front of Cheong So-ha.

“That’s. . . . . . .”

“You know what it is, don’t you?”

The Blue-White Soul Mirror is one of the three major treasures of the Cheong family, just like the Blue-White Sword.

And of course, this Blue-White Soul Mirror also possesses a special ability that befits its status.

「4𝙩𝙝 𝙀𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝘾𝙝𝙚𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙂𝙞-𝙗𝙚𝙤𝙢 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙨 𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙩𝙤𝙤𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖𝙞𝙙𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙡.」

Rather, that’s just a side effect.

The true nature of the Blue-White Soul Mirror is to act as a helper that provides trials and tribulations so that the owner can face their true self.

That’s why there has been a legend passed down that it can bring about a growth spurt that breaks through a stagnant state.

“If you want to know the truth, pierce the center of this mirror with that Blue-White Sword.”

“. . .Don’t you think I could just kill you right here?”

“What can I say? If you do, my role here will be over, and you will live forever as a pathetic puppet.”

Of course, I have other plans. Since Shadow Assimilation has a second phase anyway, it would be worth it to risk my life once.

However, for Cheong So-ha, such a determination was received in a rather different way.

“. . .Fine. I’ll let you fool me one last time.”

CHAEAEAK!

Soon, Cheong So-ha’s Blue-White Sword pierced through the empty space of the Blue-White Soul Mirror that I was holding.

And just like that, we were suddenly enveloped in a test space created by the Blue-White Soul Mirror.

🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷

The first thing that Cheong So-ha encountered when she was transported to an unknown place was a black-haired girl in tattered clothes.

“You are. . . . . . .”

『Cold. . . . . . . Hungry. . . . . . .』

She could tell without being told. The girl was none other than Cheong So-ha as a child.

Cheong So-ha, who was seven years old, had lost everything during the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons due to an evil plot, and had become a complete vagrant, wandering around the monster-infested city.

The girl kept talking to the air as if she were having a conversation with someone.

『Ancestor, where to next. . . . . . .』

『Let’s go to the northern city, there’s food there.』

As the mysterious voice echoed, the figure of an old man with a cotton face appeared in the corner.

It was the figure of Jin-myeong, the Ancestor who had watched over and guided Cheong So-ha from the shadows when she was young.

「. . .𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙧𝙞𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙤𝙪𝙨.」

Jin-myeong’s expression was very affectionate, and he looked at the girl with eyes full of genuine concern.

It was the same as the past that Cheong So-ha remembered from her childhood.

『. . .Ancestor, there’s a monster.』

『It’s okay. It’s not that big of a deal. Just do as I taught you.』

Thanks to Jin-myeong’s guidance, Cheong So-ha was able to survive in that hell. The fact that this was true became even clearer as she revisited her past memories.

“Do you really think so?”

“What. . . . . . .”

The one who appeared from behind was none other than Han Kang-yoon.

As always, he had an unreadable expression on his face as he crossed in front of Cheong So-ha and pointed at Jin-myeong.

“Can’t you see what’s at the end of that person’s gaze?”

“I can see it. It’s just a beggar. It wasn’t anything special back then.”

“Then what is that beggar holding in his hand?”

When Han Kang-yoon forcibly opened the beggar’s left hand, something with a foul smell fell out of it.

“It’s human feces. It has the effect of attracting low-level yokai with low intelligence.”

“What. . . . . . .”

Cheong So-ha knew that much. But she couldn’t understand why it had appeared out of nowhere.

「𝘼𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧, 𝙬𝙝𝙮 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣. . . . . . .」

However, that question was gradually being overwritten by something unknown in her mind.

“You must have been trying to figure out what could pose a threat to me. That’s only natural.”

“Is that really true? Even though it’s not something that a mere beggar could create?”

Han Kang-yoon’s words suddenly gave her a headache.

As if to deny it, Cheong So-ha turned back the time of the unfolding scene and recalled the memory that had made her who she was now.

『It’s impossible. Ancestor. I can’t do it.』

『No, you can do it. You are a proud descendant of the Cheong family, and my disciple. Put away your fear and look ahead.』

A giant yokai that she couldn’t possibly defeat by just shooting out weak spells.

However, Cheong So-ha gained strength from Jin-myeong, who had always believed in her, and eventually overcame it.

KOONG!

『Ugh, ugh. . . . . . .』

『Well done. Very well done. I’m proud of you. Never forget today’s memory. No matter what difficulties you face, it will be a beacon to guide your path.』

Cheong So-ha turned her head to Han Kang-yoon, as if to prove her innocence like a child.

This time, she wouldn’t be able to deny it, no matter what.

However, Han Kang-yoon uttered the words naturally, even in that situation.

“After a rough examination, it seems to be a yokai of about C+ rank. But its eyes are open and its movements are unnatural. And. . . . . . .”

Han Kang-yoon approached the corpse of the fallen monster and pointed at the nape of its neck.

A very small part near the ear, where something was protruding like a wart.

“They used a worm. This yokai was being controlled by someone. That’s why it was possible for you to defeat it, even as a seven-year-old.”

“. . .Don’t mock my memories with the Ancestor any longer.”

“I’m not mocking you. I’m just telling you the truth.”

With each word Han Kang-yoon spoke, Cheong So-ha felt something solid inside her being constantly overturned.

As she clutched her throbbing head, Han Kang-yoon suddenly reached out and snatched Cheong So-ha’s Blue-White Sword.

TEOK!

“You bastard. . . . . .!”

“What are the conditions for using Cheonghwajin?”

“What?”

Cheonghwajin, a grand spell that is cast using the spell engravings on the Blue-White Sword.

It is a famous technique of the Cheong family that can only be used by a direct descendant of the Cheong family with the appropriate talent.

“Then, naturally, that person you call your Ancestor should also be able to use it.”

“. . . . . . .”

Han Kang-yoon walked over and tossed the Blue-White Sword at the smiling Jin-myeong.

CHEOLCHAEK!

“Go ahead and try it out.”

However, no matter how long he waited, there was no response from Jin-myeong. Cheong So-ha subconsciously thought that it was only natural. After all, he was just an illusion created by Cheong So-ha’s memories.

However, Han Kang-yoon knew. The Blue-White Soul Mirror was a tool for testing and enlightening its owner.

And the illusions that appeared there were extremely close replications of real people.

Since it was a fictional space anyway, the illusions could reproduce the spells that the real person could use.

Jin-myeong, who pretended not to hear on purpose, was confronted by Han Kang-yoon, who smiled broadly and drew the Blue-White Sword in one swift motion.

Death throes!

“As expected, you dodge it well.”

『You bastard. . . . . .!』

Jin-myeong began to rage as if he had his own ego, and started shooting various spells at Han Kang-yoon.

Han Kang-yoon dodged them and approached Cheong So-ha, then obediently handed her the Blue-White Sword.

“That person cannot use the spells contained in the Blue-White Sword. Because he doesn’t have the qualifications to do so.”

He had once betrayed the Cheong family and tried to take everything from them, but in the end, it had all come to nothing.

That’s why he was trying to manipulate Cheong So-ha again in this era to do the same thing.

“. . .Nonsense. Even among the current elders, there are many who cannot wield the Blue-White Sword. That alone is not enough to make me believe you.”

Then Han Kang-yoon sighed, as if slightly annoyed, and grabbed Cheong So-ha by both shoulders.

“. . .W-What are you doing now.”

“Why don’t you come to your senses? As Cheong So-ha-nim said, that person is the Ancestor of your family. One of those who built everything your family has with their own hands and passed it on to future generations.”

That was certainly true.

“Even the descendants of the present day, who have become as diluted as their blood, can use it. Do you really think that they wouldn’t be able to use it?”

At those words, the thick fog that had been clouding Cheong So-ha’s mind for so long began to dissipate.

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