𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟒𝟑
The first to discover it was a group of four exorcists who were searching the vicinity as usual.
“Team Leader, what is that . . . . . .?”
Where only a few abandoned cars had been parked until yesterday, something huge was blocking the Han River Bridge.
It looked like some kind of cocoon, or perhaps a membrane.
One thing was for sure: the strange phenomenon was definitely not a good omen for the exorcists.
“Damn it, what is this now?”
The exorcist in charge of the team, Jeong Gil-ho, was a veteran with a wealth of experience.
That’s why he could tell. This was definitely not a normal situation.
「𝙄𝙩 𝙘𝙖𝙣’𝙩 𝙗𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖 𝙡𝙤𝙬-𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙠𝙖𝙞 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙙𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨.」
Jeong Gil-ho stared at the huge cocoon with worried eyes.
And then, for a moment, he made eye contact with something inside.
“Ugh! Agh!”
“Team Leader!”
“What’s wrong!”
Jeong Gil-ho saw it.
And in that short moment, he fully understood one fact.
That thing was an entity on a completely different level from any yokai he had ever encountered.
“R-Run, we have to run. . . . . . .”
“Team Leader!”
“That’s a monster! A monster!”
In the end, the team members had no choice but to leave the spot, completely panicked, taking Jeong Gil-ho with them.
“Now then. Let’s sort this out.”
That evening, a meeting of exorcists was held at a convention center in Yongsan-gu, Seoul.
And at the same time, exorcists operating in other areas were also meeting in similar ways, each holding their own meetings.
The content was simple.
The current situation, in which manpower and resources were being continuously depleted, had to be reversed.
“That’s why we will now divide the entire country into eight sectors and establish a large-scale barrier.”
That was unprecedented.
However, if successful, it could certainly turn the tide.
“But in the end, it’s meaningless against high-ranking yokai, right?”
“That’s right. The barriers can only block yokai up to A-rank; anything above that, they can’t stop.”
However, at this point in time, it was not high-ranking yokai but the ones below them that were actually threatening the safety of the citizens.
So, by setting up a barrier, the exorcists would be able to protect the citizens much more easily.
“If we leave only a few people inside and focus on defending the perimeter of the barrier, we will definitely be able to endure each day much more stably than we are now.”
Since those words were certainly true, the exorcists who were listening to the plan nodded their heads without realizing it.
“In order to deploy the barrier, we need to occupy a total of 27 sectors and perform a large-scale ritual at once.”
“That’s what we have to do.”
“Yes. However, a few hours ago, we received some bad news.”
Something unidentified had appeared on the Han River Bridge, the sector that the people gathered in the convention center were supposed to be in charge of.
“The first to discover it were 2nd-grade exorcist Yoo Gil-ho and his team members, who were scouting the area, and the team leader, Yoo Gil-ho, was completely panicked. Although it’s not certain, it’s thought that the thing is quite dangerous.”
“Oh, that kid Gil-ho is still lacking in courage.”
“Even so, if he, an exorcist with considerable skill, reacted like that, we need to be careful.”
Just then, a call came in from a reconnaissance team that had been sent to the Han River Bridge to get more accurate information.
The person leading them was Baek Ji-bong, the 6th elder of the Baek family, one of the Three Great Houses.
As a special-grade, he would surely be able to identify the true nature of the thing.
“Elder, what is the situation?”
『Gather all the power nearby immediately.』
“Excuse me?”
At Baek Ji-bong’s unexpected remark, the exorcists gathered in the convention center each focused their gaze on him, their hearts pounding.
“You’re saying to gather all the available power?”
『There’s no time. That bastard Gil-ho was right. This is . . . . . . something that should not be awakened!』
Even though he was hearing it through the communicator, he could clearly sense the urgency.
Baek Ji-bong is a special-grade exorcist. There is no way he could have misjudged the opponent’s power.
The exorcists immediately realized the seriousness of the situation and began contacting their respective groups.
“Hwang-su, how many people do you have available?”
“Deputy Captain, this is an emergency. I think we should send all combat personnel except the minimum number to this location.”
And so, before long, an unmistakable air of war began to spread over Seoul.
🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷
When I headed to Seoul after hearing from Seo Ji-an, a large-scale punitive force was already being formed there to retake the Han River Bridge.
「𝙄𝙩 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙗𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙂𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩 𝘽𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙧 𝙁𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣.」
The development of the original story that I knew was finally beginning to show itself, one by one.
However, I couldn’t be happy about it.
In the end, it meant that my worst-case scenario had come true.
「𝙂𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙬, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙮 𝙡𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚𝙙.」
Now, even I can’t predict what will pop out and put us in danger.
Also, although it was in a slightly different direction from me, the exorcists were also showing considerable anxiety.
“I heard that the thing on the bridge might be S-rank? Damn, I’m so unlucky, I’m going to die?”
“Since Baek Ji-bong himself reported it and declared an emergency, how terrible must that bastard be?”
“Jeez . . . . . . . to be honest, I don’t want to face it.”
The exorcists shook their heads and expressed their concerns, but even that felt like a luxury to me.
「. . . 𝙄’𝙙 𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙩 𝙗𝙚 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙎-𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙡𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄’𝙫𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙨𝙤 𝙛𝙖𝙧.」
After sending out Black Bird to check the Han River Bridge myself, I was convinced. That bastard is definitely one of the main villains of the 3rd Night Parade of a Hundred Demons that I knew.
A true demon who belongs to the most dangerous predator class among the countless yokai trapped in the Scapula Chamber.
The great yokai, Bi-gang.
That was the name of the guy sleeping inside the strange cocoon.
“You’ve come. I’ve been waiting.”
The one who greeted me and Arietta when we arrived in Seoul was Seo Ji-an, who had been operating in the vicinity at my request.
She led us to the person in charge of the punitive force’s roster and gave us a brief explanation of the current situation.
“As soon as the reinforcements sent by the Three Great Houses arrive, the battle will begin. It’s disadvantageous at night, so the operation will probably start tomorrow morning. We will most likely be part of the support team.”
Thanks to Baek Ji-bong, the elder of the Baek family, who had personally reported the danger, there were now quite a few highly skilled people gathered here.
Since the main attack force would be handled by them, it was not unusual for us, who still held the title of 3rd-grade, to be in charge of the support.
「𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙗𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙮, 𝙖𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙜𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙩-𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙖𝙘𝙠 . . . . . . .」
The main character, Yoo Ha-on, and her party, were also likely to be included.
In the original story, she had been recommended by a group of exorcists who were quite famous for their achievements during that time, and had been assigned to the attack force.
In addition, the Anti-Demon trait of the original Yoo Ha-on showed off its power against Bi-gang.
「𝙃𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧, 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙚𝙭𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙣𝙤𝙬.」
This was what I was most worried about at the moment.
Facing Bi-gang without Yoo Ha-on’s Anti-Demon trait. To be honest, from my point of view, who had witnessed his ridiculous strength firsthand, it was hard to even imagine.
Excuse me for saying this, but most exorcists would probably lose heart before they could even try to use their power in front of the aura he exudes.
In the original story, Yoo Ha-on had used her Anti-Demon power to counter him and boost the morale of the exorcists, but that was no longer something we could expect.
「𝙊𝙛 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚, 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣 𝙬𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙪𝙥.」
I don’t know if it will work, but I have prepared a countermeasure for him as well.
And before long, as we put our names on the roster and headed to the waiting room, that desperate countermeasure appeared before us.
“. . . It’s been a long time.”
Laura, the princess of Spain.
Her Way of the King trait might be the key to changing the situation.
🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷
As time passed, the large-scale reinforcements from the Three Great Houses finally arrived.
From the Cheong family, the 5th elder Cheong Gil-yeong and his followers.
From the Baek family, the 6th elder Baek Ji-bong and the 7th elder Baek Sang-hwa.
From the Hwang family, the 11th elder Hwang Cheol-ho and his elite troops to support him.
The exorcists of the punitive force were surprised at the sight of the pillars of each family coming in person, not just sending token support.
“Four elders? Does that mean we don’t even have to go out?”
“To be honest, I’m surprised. It’s unprecedented for the real powerhouses of the Three Great Houses to gather like this.”
“I guess it’s going to end up being easier than we thought.”
The exorcists’ reactions were positive.
After all, with four such great elders gathered, they must have felt like they had gained a thousand troops, considering that they had been worried about their own lives just a moment ago.
Unfortunately, however, this was not something to be taken so lightly.
「𝘽𝙖𝙚𝙠 𝙅𝙞-𝙗𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙩, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝘽𝙞-𝙜𝙖𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙡𝙚𝙚𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙘𝙤𝙤𝙣.」
That’s why he had gone so far as to bring in all this power from the three great families, even at the cost of losing face.
In fact, with the exception of the 11th elder Hwang Cheol-ho of the Hwang family, their expressions were not so bright either.
「𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨.」
If they had also been absent from this place due to some political intrigue, it would have been impossible to attack Bi-gang, to be honest.
At least with the four elders present, there was some hope.
“Everyone, prepare yourselves. We will depart for our destination in 10 minutes.”
Choi Myeong-seok, the exorcist in charge of the support team I belonged to, said in a solemn voice.
There were a total of eight members assigned to the 4th squad under Captain Choi Myeong-seok, including our group.
And the support team consisted of eight such squads.
Even this was after excluding those in charge of the main attack force and other missions, so it was a truly enormous force.
“Let’s go. Everyone, move only as you have been instructed.”
And so, we followed the main force and finally headed to the Han River Bridge where Bi-gang was sleeping.
And the moment we faced the strange cocoon, those of us with exceptional senses, including myself, could feel it.
What lay before our eyes was something that could truly be called a calamity.
“Ugh! W-What is this.”
“This aura is . . . . . .!”
“Damn it. This is crazy! I’m getting out of here.”
Among those who witnessed his true power, there were even those who shamelessly abandoned their formation and fled.
As the majority of the exorcists were bewildered by such reactions, the one who had sensed the presence of so many humans finally began to react.
Thud!
Crackle!
The cocoon melted and disappeared as if it were dissolving, and the space inside it began to gradually reveal itself.
And the moment we sensed the aura flowing out from there, everyone present realized why their comrades had reacted the way they did.
“. . . M-Monster.”
Yokai are the enemies of exorcists, and exorcists are also the enemies of yokai.
However, the relationship here is different.
In front of that guy, we were nothing more than prey in the food chain.
It was the moment when the common sense and beliefs that exorcists had naturally held in their minds for their entire lives were torn apart in an instant.
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Translation-(COMPLETED) – I Became the Academy’s Genius Shikigami Summoner𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥《⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐》!!
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