I Became the Academy’s Genius Shikigami Summoner – Chapter 194

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟗𝟒

“Why is that, clearly the Ancestor. . . . . . . “

“Now, stop hiding behind your delusions and face reality. What is the Cheong family like now? Is this truly the outcome you desired?”

The Cheong family has been divided. And even now, they continue to tear at each other, seeking to end one another’s lives.

“Do you think anything will change if you become the master of the Cheong family?”

By the hand of Jin-myeong, only endless battles will be waged with other families.

Cheong So-ha is not so foolish as to not realize this. She is merely blinded by the spell that clouds her thoughts.

“There is nothing more I can do for you. You must come to this realization on your own.”

I have done my best. From here on, it is Cheong So-ha’s turn.

And in truth, I already know the outcome.

「𝘼𝙡𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙤𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙩, 𝙔𝙤𝙤 𝙃𝙖-𝙤𝙣. . . . . . .」

At least in this place, I believe I have sufficiently filled that role.

If Cheong So-ha, who brilliantly broke the spell in the original, is here, she will surely succeed.

“. . . My head hurts.”

“Do not resist the flow, but accept it. You will surely see things differently than before.”

Cheong So-ha promptly closed her eyes and concentrated, drawing the Blue-White Sword into her bosom.

How many minutes passed like this? Cheong So-ha’s eyes, having collected her thoughts, gradually revealed their appearance.

There, not a shred of confusion remained.

“. . . I have made a grave mistake.”

“Have you realized the truth?”

“How I failed to notice until now, it’s enough to make me laugh.”

Cheong So-ha straightened her posture and revealed a bitter smile.

But it could not be helped. As a child, she would have been unable to resist the spell, and it had taken deep root, lodging itself within her as if it were an obvious truth.

“. . . You have done something difficult. I express my gratitude.”

Cheong So-ha solemnly bowed her head to me, the Blue-White Sword still in her hand.

In response, I nodded and pointed with my fingertip to the destroyed city and the illusion of Grandmaster Jin-myeong standing there.

“Now, I think it is time for you to leave this place.”

“. . . . . . .”

Cheong So-ha took a quiet step and once more faced Jin-myeong, who stood there like a stone statue.

And, assuming her stance, she drew her sword.

“. . . I will not forget your favor or grudge.”

Even if he used her, the fact remains that Jin-myeong saved and guided Cheong So-ha when she was a child.

Casting aside those complicated emotions, Cheong So-ha promptly swung her sword.

Death throes─!

Swish.

With this, the trial of the Blue-White Soul Mirror has served its purpose. Cheong So-ha will surely be able to cast off the false relationship and move on to the next stage.

Whoosh!

Swish.

Swish.

As the trial ended, all the illusions disappeared, and even the ruined city faded from view.

However, they soon changed form and began to reveal a new sight before our eyes.

Confused for a moment, I quickly recalled a fact I had momentarily forgotten and realized their identities.

「. . . 𝙄𝙨 𝙞𝙩 𝙢𝙮 𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣 𝙣𝙤𝙬?」

It was not only Cheong So-ha who had entered the Blue-White Soul Mirror using the Blue-White Sword as a key.

I, her companion, was also chosen as a subject of the trial.

Swish!

Swish!

Whoosh!

Before long, the place we faced was the Colosseum arena, the battle map from the exorcism series VR version I enjoyed in that other world.

Since I had also fought my clone in the process of obtaining the Blue-White Soul Mirror, the sight was not so unfamiliar.

However, facing my opponent, I could instinctively sense that the situation was completely different from that time.

「𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙨. . . . . . .」

The aura was different. The one standing there was not a mere copy of me like before.

Judging by the feeling alone, it was comparable to, or even surpassed, the time I first faced Cheong So-ha.

「𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙪𝙣𝙛𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙖𝙧.」

The reason for this was easy to understand as soon as my opponent’s appearance became completely clear.

Dumbfounded, I let out a hollow laugh.

「. . . 𝘼𝙢 𝙄 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩?」

Standing there was my own appearance as the world’s 7th-ranked player, who reigned supreme as one of the strongest in this Colosseum.

A powerhouse who had reached the peak as a shikigami summoner, incomparable to my current self.

Sensing the aura, Cheong So-ha also readied herself, drawing her sword with a tense expression.

However, he soon opened his mouth with an indifferent gaze.

『Not yet.』

Despite clearly speaking with my appearance, something alien seemed to bore into my mind.

Of course, I knew what it meant. It likely meant that I had not yet reached the level of cultivation required to trigger the trial event of the Blue-White Soul Mirror.

However, I promptly stopped him as he turned to leave without another word.

“Thought Transmission spell.”

『. . . Indeed, if it is to that extent, I cannot refuse.』

He was a being born from the memories of my soul, and he could perceive each other’s intentions with a single word.

Thought Transmission is a spell that allows one to convey their own memories and experiences to another in their entirety, beyond mere information.

Normally, even if one were to transmit knowledge, it would take a considerable amount of time to utilize it, but there is no such process with Thought Transmission.

If one’s abilities are sufficient, the recipient can realize it immediately.

In the game, it was an art that existed under the pretext of teachings passed down to players by beings who had already reached a certain level of cultivation.

High-level players could receive new spells through such events once they reached a certain level.

「𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙖 𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙢𝙮 𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨. . . . . . .」

But it would be possible for him. And its purpose was clear.

“What do you need?”

As Cheong So-ha guarded against his approach, I quickly added a word.

“It’s alright. He won’t harm you.”

“. . . I understand. I will trust you.”

Before long, he began to convey a certain spell to Cheong So-ha, who had lowered her guard.

It was another grand spell contained within the Blue-White Sword.

Unlike Cheonghwajin, which was revealed at the time of the 1st installment, it was an art that would only be revealed much later.

Cheong So-ha, who received it, let out a murmur of surprise, her expression a mixture of bewilderment and awe.

“This is, what. . . . . . .”

“It will be of help to you.”

Cheong So-ha gazed at me with a complicated expression, and my clone melted into the void behind her.

『I will be waiting.』

As I had hoped.

Someday, I too will find my own way back to this place.

But for now, there were more pressing matters to attend to.

“Time is running short. We must hurry and leave this place.”

“. . . Let us do so.”

Swish.

Boom─!

Before long, all the scenery began to crumble again, and Cheong So-ha and I finally stepped beyond it.

Now, it was time to put an end to all of this.

🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷

Despite being separated from Cheong So-ha by Hae Ga-ram’s barrier, Jin-myeong, who was left alone, did not show a shred of worry.

「𝙃𝙚’𝙨 𝙖 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙬𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙄 𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙛𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙢, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙞𝙩 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙛 𝙢𝙮 𝙥𝙖𝙬𝙣 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙜𝙜𝙡𝙚𝙨.」

Of course, Jin-myeong had sensed something eerie from Han Kang-yoon. That was why he had intentionally created a situation to imprison him in Yangcheolgung and taken measures to prevent him from approaching Cheong So-ha.

However, he now realized that all those worries had been for naught.

“Does that little girl think she can change the situation? Regrettably, that is impossible.”

Cheong So-ha had been completely consumed by the spell. Jin-myeong himself was bewildered by the single-minded loyalty she displayed.

Once one reached that state, as far as Jin-myeong knew, it was impossible to break the spell, no matter what methods were used.

“That fool is already as good as having her soul enslaved by me. She would probably lick my feet without question if I ordered her to. Isn’t that amusing?”

“. . . I had heard rumors, but you’re even more of a piece of trash than I thought.”

Hae Ga-ram felt intense animosity towards Jin-myeong, but despite that, she could not easily take action.

Because even as he uttered such arrogant words, Jin-myeong did not show a single opening.

“Why, what’s the matter? Have you lost your spirit? Are you starting to doubt yourself?”

Boom!

As Jin-myeong slammed the ground with his fist, the surface transformed into various beasts that spewed out all sorts of spells from their mouths.

Hae Ga-ram was forced into a defensive position, struggling to cope with the completely unfamiliar display of sorcery.

“. . . What in the world are you?”

Han Kang-yoon had said that Jin-myeong was a half-human, half-demon being who had lived for a long time.

However, even considering that, Jin-myeong was a being whose origins were completely unknown.

“Heh. You are not worthy of knowing. Just lie there quietly and watch the world I create.”

Whoosh.

Crackle─!

It was not merely unusual. The very method of using spells and their structure itself were different.

Faced with a fighting style she had never experienced before, Hae Ga-ram eventually showed an opening and allowed a major blow.

Cough!

“Ugh!”

The wound was on her waist, bleeding somewhat.

And from there, an ominous and unidentified curse began to slither up Hae Ga-ram’s body.

“What is this?”

“I have changed my mind. You have quite the useful ability. I will make you into my puppet by completely erasing your personality.”

“. . . You’re overstepping your bounds. Who do you think you are?”

Hae Ga-ram chanted the incantation for a high-level attack spell and began to cast an illusion unique to the Cheol family with great care.

Jin-myeong also backed away with a hardened expression in the face of such a powerful attack, but to be honest, Hae Ga-ram’s condition was even worse.

“It’s not working. . . . . . ?”

It did not seem like such a complex curse, but for some reason, Hae Ga-ram’s spell was not able to exert its full power.

Before long, Hae Ga-ram could not help but face the unpleasant sensation of something intruding upon her own mind, little by little.

「𝘼𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚. . . . . . .」

It was a mistake.

Since her opponent was of unknown origin, she should have blocked the attack perfectly from the start.

However, the situation was already irreversible, and if she continued to fight like this, Hae Ga-ram would be the one at a disadvantage.

Just then, Hae Ga-ram’s barrier shattered, and someone stepped through the opening.

Hae Ga-ram hardened her expression with a bitter smile as she saw the face of the person who had appeared, guessing the outcome on the other side.

「. . . 𝙄𝙩 𝙛𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙙.」

It was not Han Kang-yoon. The one who revealed herself was Cheong So-ha, radiating a murderous aura.

Cheong So-ha, who had infiltrated the barrier in this way, promptly raised the Blue-White Sword and began to chant a quiet incantation.

「𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧.」

As Hae Ga-ram gave up and resigned herself to everything, the light that flowed from the Blue-White Sword illuminated the surroundings and enveloped Hae-ga-ram’s body.

And the curse that had been invading Hae Ga-ram’s mind until just now disappeared without a trace.

“. . . I once again pay my respects to the Ancestor.”

It was the second spell contained within the Blue-White Sword.

It was the grand purification spell, which burns away all impurities that go against the will of Cheong and illuminates the surroundings.

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