I Became the Academy’s Genius Shikigami Summoner – Chapter 34.1

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟑𝟒

“Then who is going?”

It was a simple question, but it got to the heart of the matter.

Cheong Juhwa was taken aback by my question and fell silent for a moment.

“. . .Well, you see.”

I pressed Cheong Juhwa, who seemed hesitant, with another question.

“You don’t have to come. Because it’s true that it’s dangerous.”

“Aw, come on. Who says I’m not going?”

Cheong Juhwa seemed to be still thinking about it, her brow furrowed.

Then, she ran a hand through her hair and answered me.

“. . .Last time, you said something about wanting to form a team or something.”

“I did.”

“So, let’s do it now.”

This time, it was my turn to be surprised. It was an unexpected answer.

As I mentioned earlier, the words “team” and “comrade” held great significance for Cheong Juhwa.

Having suffered from human malice all her life, they were like childhood dreams to her.

Naturally, they weren’t words she would take lightly.

「. . .𝙏𝙚𝙖𝙢 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙪𝙨𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙣 𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙡 𝙖𝙩 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙛𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮.」

It wasn’t anything tangible, just a verbal promise between the two of us.

A part where Yoo Ha-on’s persistent efforts to provoke Cheong Juhwa finally bore fruit.

And now, it was actually happening right before my eyes.

「𝙒𝙤𝙬.」

I hadn’t expected Cheong Juhwa, a rather difficult character, to open up to me so soon.

“. . .I wouldn’t normally go, but I’ll go because it’s a team thing.”

As Cheong Juhwa shyly averted her gaze, Choi Young-ho’s desperate shout echoed from behind her.

“Where do you think you’re going? This isn’t a place for academy students like you!”

His words were harsh, but they were filled with concern.

However, there was no need to worry.

I had a mountain of crises to overcome in the near future anyway.

I couldn’t afford to be scared by something like this.

“Can you protect yourself?”

“Hey, exorcist, what do you take me for? That’s not the point, though. . . .”

“Then it’s settled.”

Choi Young-ho, who had been silent until then, finally spoke up, his voice filled with worry.

“The alert level has changed. The civilians who were hiding in their residential areas are now starting to evacuate to other regions. Do you think you can draw their attention without getting caught?”

I nodded at his words.

“. . .These days, the fearless ones are the kids.”

And so, we plunged into the heart of the incident.

🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷

𝘢𝚠ᴇḃ̇𝕤𝚝𝕠𝘳ɪė̇𝘴.𝔠ᴏ𝙢

Seo Ji-hye is a twenty-five-year-old rookie Defense Corps member.

She had graduated from a prestigious academy and immediately obtained her 3rd-grade exorcist qualification, making her an outstanding talent.

Kwaaang!

Hwaruruk!

Assigned to the Cheongdam 2nd Defense Corps for two years now, Seo Ji-hye felt that this was the first time she had faced such a major crisis.

「𝙋𝙝𝙚𝙬, 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙚𝙯𝙚. 𝙄 𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙘𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚. . . . . .」

It felt as if the heat was seeping into her very bones. Even with her spiritual power at full capacity, it was hard to withstand.

「𝙅𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙞𝙜?」

Considering that Seo Ji-hye’s current abilities allowed her to single-handedly defeat a C+ rank yokai, the shock was even greater.

Puereng!

“Kyaaa!”

At the urgent scream that accompanied the explosion, Seo Ji-hye hurriedly rushed to the scene, her spiritual power surging.

There, she found an exorcist lying on the ground with severe burns on one arm.

“I’m from the 2nd Defense Corps! Are you okay?”

“Ugh. Huff.”

The man didn’t seem to be in a condition to speak properly. Seo Ji-hye quickly applied first aid with her spells and then headed towards the center of the flames.

「𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙥 𝙞𝙩 𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙡𝙮.」

The streetscape was already a scene of utter chaos.

If the yokai were to head towards the nearby mountain or residential area, the damage would be immeasurable.

“Azure Sky Wall!”

Pushing through the heat, she saw an exorcist using an intermediate-level defensive spell to hold back the flames.

The face was familiar. If her memory served her right, it was Kwak Seo-jin, a veteran of the 3rd Defense Corps who was about to take the 2nd-grade promotion exam soon.

“I’ll help!”

At Seo Ji-hye’s words, Kwak Seo-jin finally noticed her presence and shouted urgently.

“No! Don’t come!”

Kwaaang!

In that instant, an even more intense heat wave engulfed their vision.

She hurriedly activated her defensive spell, but the heat was unbearable, even though it wasn’t directed at her. It was a whole different level.

“Ugh!”

Fortunately, Kwak Seo-jin was unharmed. However, it was clear to anyone that he wouldn’t be able to continue fighting.

Seo Ji-hye rushed to his side and helped him up. Kwak Seo-jin said to her,

“. . .That guy, he’s strong. Even among B ranks, he’s powerful. He’s definitely above normal rank.”

Seo Ji-hye gulped at his words.

Not a plus, but a genuine B rank. If that was true, then he was clearly too strong for her to handle.

Thud.

Thud.

As Seo Ji-hye and Han Seo-jin watched, a small, humanoid figure emerged from the flames.

Finally revealed, it was a short yokai wearing a strange mask and spewing embers from its body.

With its golden hair reflecting the firelight and its crimson eyes that seemed to be burning, it honestly looked like a young human girl.

The yokai, the fire demon, stared at Seo Ji-hye, who was overwhelmed by the sight.

“. . .Burn?”

It sounded like a child’s innocent question, but also like a lament filled with hatred. To Seo Ji-hye, it felt like a death sentence.

“Dagger Venom Shower!”

Crackle!

Zzzap!

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