I Became the Academy’s Genius Shikigami Summoner – Chapter 199

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟗𝟗

“You’re here. Are you alright?”

“. . . Ah, yes. I’m fine.”

Cheong Juhwa walked into the room and sat down, her gaze on Cheong So-ha with a slightly awkward look.

Cheong So-ha turned to Cheong Juhwa and lowered her head.

“I should apologize to you as well. I couldn’t make a proper judgment because of the suggestion implanted in me when I was young. It’s all my fault.”

“. . . . . . .”

“It’s the least I could do, but with this incident, it’s been formally acknowledged that you are the rightful successor to the azure dragon. You won’t have to be caught up in pointless disputes for a while.”

Of course, that also implied that if she fell out with the other elders, they could make another move.

Cheong Juhwa looked at me with eyes that seemed to be asking for help as the information kept pouring in.

I gave her the facts as they were, hoping to clear up the confusion.

“It’s not a lie. That’s why I was locked up in Yangcheolgung.”

“Of course, I’ve since shaken off the suggestion. I promise it won’t happen again.”

“Well, if that’s the case. . . . . . .”

After I gave her a more detailed explanation, Cheong Juhwa nodded slowly, indicating her understanding.

Then she turned to me and bowed.

“Thank you for your help again. You saved my life.”

“No, strictly speaking, it’s because I sent the elders there.”

Of course, it was necessary to resolve the situation, but I still felt sorry for it.

Cheong Juhwa smiled wryly and continued.

“I heard from the azure dragon that you fought with the former elder of the family because of me.”

“. . . . . . .”

“Thank you. For keeping your promise.”

A promise to become a team that could trust each other.

Cheong Juhwa seemed quite impressed by the fact that I had chosen her side without hesitation in an unfavorable situation.

In reality, I had done it because I was somewhat confident, but mentioning it here would only open up old wounds.

「𝙎𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙩𝙡𝙮 𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙞𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙜?」

Since I had come to this world, it was the first time I had acted so emotionally.

I hadn’t shown it, but I seemed to have grown quite attached to the academy members.

“By the way, what happened to Ha-on and the others?”

“They’re all safe. Shin No-eul, our collaborator, is a little hurt, but it’s not dangerous.”

In fact, they had come here earlier and met with Cheong So-ha.

Even so, the fact that they had secured clones in that war zone just to get one of me was honestly quite touching.

“Now that you know, please be a little more careful. They’re more worried than you think.”

“. . . I’ll keep that in mind.”

But it couldn’t be helped. There was still a mountain of things to do.

Since we were already talking about it, I asked Cheong So-ha another question.

“What’s the situation outside?”

“After reorganizing the family, we’re sending people to places that need urgent support. No more powerful yokai have appeared, so it looks like the situation will be resolved soon.”

That was good news. It meant that the long and arduous 2nd Night Parade of a Hundred Demons was finally coming to an end.

「𝙃𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧. . . . . . .」

In a sense, this could be considered the beginning.

The story was on track, and now there were no more stops or brakes.

The train carrying us all would now race endlessly towards the predetermined ending.

“. . . My head is still a little dizzy. Is it okay if I get up for now?”

“It’s understandable since you’ve been through a lot. If you need anything, ask the servants waiting outside the room.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

After Cheong Juhwa left, Cheong So-ha, who had been silent for a while, changed her expression and said to me.

“. . . Now, let’s talk about something a little more important.”

“What is it?”

“You met Cheong-il-nim in the cannibalistic barrier and received various knowledge and a request from him, right?”

That’s what I said.

That was the most plausible identity I could come up with to explain my current situation.

However, Cheong So-ha asked me again with a meaningful look on her face.

“Is that really all?”

“. . . . . . .”

“It’s certainly a plausible story, but there are some things that don’t explain.”

That was also quite a puzzling statement.

I thought hard about what I had missed in Cheong So-ha’s words, but I couldn’t think of anything.

Cheong So-ha saw my confusion and gave me the answer.

“. . . I see you really didn’t know, from your reaction. I didn’t mean to find out, but Cheong-il-nim can’t use the Blue-White Sword.”

“Is that true?”

“Yes. It’s certain.”

I sighed at Cheong So-ha’s words. If that was true, my excuse was meaningless from the start.

I had already told Cheong So-ha about the second technique in the Blue-White Sword, the Purification Lamp.

“There have been countless attempts to recreate the Three Great Seals, but even Cheong-il-nim has never fully understood the detailed principles behind them.”

That meant that Cheong-il, who didn’t even have the aptitude to wield the Blue-White Sword, couldn’t have taught the technique within it to anyone.

“. . . I guess that means my story is false.”

“Yes. I thought about not mentioning it at first, but I have a responsibility and a duty to know. So that we don’t make the same mistake again.”

Cheong So-ha’s attitude was firm. It was a declaration of her will to hear the answer, no matter what.

So, I naturally started to think of countless possibilities in my head.

「𝙈𝙖𝙮𝙗𝙚 𝙄 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙜𝙤𝙩 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝘾𝙝𝙚𝙤𝙣𝙜-𝙪𝙣’𝙨 𝙙𝙞𝙖𝙧𝙮?」

However, that flimsy excuse wouldn’t work on Cheong So-ha, who possessed the trait of Truth’s Eye.

I had to twist my words countless times to claim the position of Cheong-il’s successor, so there was a high chance that I would be caught if I made something up on the spot.

In the end, I chose not to beat around the bush and just exaggerate a bit of the truth.

“The founders of the Cheong family.”

“. . . . . . .”

“Although I look like this now, I have the memories of that era and am connected to them. And I want to lead the Cheong family to a better future.”

I didn’t lie.

It was true that this was not my original form, and it was also true that I was connected to the founders of the Cheong family.

Well, they were the developers of the game, so it wouldn’t make sense to say that I had no connection at all, right?

Cheong So-ha nodded slightly, her eyes filled with surprise as she listened to my answer.

“. . . Is that so.”

And then, she suddenly knelt down and bowed to me.

Thud.

“I have been rude to the one I should have respected. The one who should lead the family has been blinded by petty tricks and shown his true colors. I have no words.”

“. . . . . . .”

I don’t know what she thought my identity was, but Cheong So-ha seemed to have taken it in a slightly different sense.

I thought about correcting our relationship for a moment, but I soon gave up on that idea and said to Cheong So-ha.

“There’s no need to bow your head. Just continue to look after the Cheong family from where you are, and that will be enough.”

“. . . I am grateful for your old kindness.”

Well, this attitude wasn’t strange. Up until now, I had acted more than anyone else for the future of the Cheong family and had proven my abilities and knowledge.

It was natural for me, who knew everything about the original work, but to Cheong So-ha, it must have felt like an indescribable feat.

And for me, my current position wasn’t bad either.

I would be able to actively receive the Cheong family’s cooperation in the future, and if necessary, I could even move them directly through Cheong So-ha.

「𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙤𝙛 𝙞𝙩, 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙖 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚, 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙞𝙩?」

What is an ancestor?

It is someone who knows the history and origin, has the knowledge, and sincerely wishes for the well-being of their family.

And all three of those elements applied to me perfectly.

Even if I was fake, there was no problem with me acting as the ancestor of the family.

I felt a bit of irony in that, and I left Cheong So-ha after finishing our conversation.

Now, it was time to move forward again.

🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷

“So, why did you suddenly ask me to come out?”

『Because I had something to discuss with you.』

Cheong Juhwa, who had gotten out of bed with a headache, soon returned to the room where she had first opened her eyes and had a long meeting with the azure dragon.

The story that the azure dragon told her was about none other than Han Kang-yoon.

『I’ve been saying this for a long time about how special he is.』

“. . . You did?”

Han Kang-yoon was a strange person and a truly bizarre person.

But in the end, there was no denying that he was great.

『At first, that’s all I thought. I thought that he, like Cheong-un, was a being with a different vessel from others.』

“So you’re saying that you think a little differently now?”

『Yes. That guy is strange.』

The nuance of the words was nothing special. However, the attitude of the azure dragon who said it was very serious.

『Not special, but strange.』

“Even if you say that. . . . . . What’s different?”

Of course, Han Kang-yoon was different from others. However, Cheong Juhwa couldn’t quite understand the difference between the concepts of special and strange that the azure dragon was talking about.

『First of all, it’s his growth rate.』

“Growth rate?”

『Usually, geniuses are those who are faster, more proficient, and can fly higher than others. You could say that you fit that description too.』

“It’s a bit embarrassing when you say it like that. . . . . . .”

But that wasn’t important right now, so Cheong Juhwa started listening to the azure dragon again.

『However, that guy is a little different. You’re here too, and there was a moment when you felt it.』

Han Kang-yoon’s growth was closer to a literally set process than progress made through effort.

It wasn’t like he was leaping toward a foothold situated higher up; it felt like the footholds were lining up in front of him in order.

The Azure Dragon felt a deep sense of incongruity at that fact.

“Certainly, when you put it that way, it does seem like that was the case. . . . . .?”

『Not only that, but even excluding that, the power that that guy has is strange.』

Once or twice, he thought that it could be a coincidence.

Or even if it did happen repeatedly, he thought it was simply his imagination.

However, through this incident, the Azure Dragon finally became certain.

『He’s clearly deviating from the norm.』

He handles spells that no human body should be able to, he doesn’t die even if he’s killed, and he scoops up everything he sees without regard for the size of the container.

At that, the Azure Dragon couldn’t help but utter a single, unbelievable possibility.

『I think that guy has broken a forbidden law.』

At those words, Cheong Juhwa’s eyes flickered.

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