I Became the Academy’s Genius Shikigami Summoner – Chapter 40.1

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟒𝟎

The pieces have been set.

Yoo Ah-in, Seo Ji-an, and me.

Plus the half-souled Imoogi Gang Cheol-i.

「𝘼𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙩, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙬𝙤 2𝙣𝙙-𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙣𝙚 1𝙨𝙩-𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙙𝙚. . . . . . .」

The enemy’s forces are clearly formidable. Of course, we can’t win in a head-on fight.

However, if we use the pieces we have well, it’s not impossible to hold them off.

Another addition. The forces on Seo Ji-an’s side, who had been holding back, have just arrived.

Suddenly.

“Miss!”

A middle-aged man with a neat crew cut and a matching beard.

He was an exorcist named Lee Jung-il, who had served Seo Ji-an before Yoo Ah-in and had retired two years ago when he started a family.

Seo Ji-an seemed troubled by having called him out of retirement, and she apologized with a complicated expression.

“. . . I’m sorry. You have a family, and you’re not even affiliated anymore, so I honestly didn’t want to call you.”

“What are you talking about? You’re like family to me, Miss.”

“I’m not helpless anymore, so if things get dangerous, don’t hesitate to run away.”

I nodded my head to Lee Jung-il and discreetly checked his information.

「𝙎𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩.」

Ding!

【Lee Jung-il】

▶Level 53

▶Ability Scores

【Stamina: C+】

【Spiritual Power: B-】

【Spellcraft: B】

【Mental Strength: A】

▶Traits (5/10)

【Veteran (A)】

【Battle Instincts (A-)】

【Crisis Evasion (B)】

【Delayed Aging (C+)】

【Enhanced Senses (C+)】

He’s got some serious skills.

He’s even stronger than Yoo Ah-in, who is still active.

「𝘼𝙗𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙚, 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖 2𝙣𝙙-𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧.」

To be honest, I didn’t have high expectations since he’s retired, but this is a more reliable backup than I thought.

「. . . 𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙚𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝.」

If we were at a disadvantage before, now we have enough forces to go toe-to-toe with the enemy.

The problem is the 1st-grade that the enemy brought in for a huge sum of money. I have no idea how to deal with him.

「𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙣𝙤 𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙞𝙩. 𝙄 𝙬𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙡 𝙄 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙞𝙣 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣.」

If we fight head-on, we’ll definitely lose.

However, if we can figure out the enemy’s specialty and exploit their weakness, we might have a chance.

“Miss, we’ll start securing the perimeter.”

“I understand. If you find the enemy, don’t engage them right away. Fall back first.”

With that, Yoo Ah-in and Lee Jung-il left the facility, leaving only Seo Ji-an and me inside, facing each other.

Seo Ji-an, who had been watching me silently, spoke to me with a worried voice.

“. . . Are you sure it’ll be okay? This is a fight where we’re at a disadvantage. Our lives are definitely in danger.”

As I calmly met her gaze, Seo Ji-an quickly continued.

“I didn’t know things would turn out like this.”

“Who could have known?”

“. . . To be honest, I don’t understand why you’re going this far for me.”

“Weren’t we supposed to be working together? We help each other out.”

At my words, Seo Ji-an opened her mouth as if to pour out her pent-up emotions.

“All I did was give you a little financial support. Like I said before, anyone could have done that. It’s nothing special.”

Her words were harsh, but they were laced with gratitude, guilt, and confusion.

It wasn’t surprising.

From Seo Ji-an’s perspective, it must be hard to understand why I’m risking my life to help her.

But from my point of view, the reason was simple.

“I’ll be in trouble if you’re gone.”

This place where I am standing is definitely reality, but at the same time, it’s also a game within the Hell difficulty of Exorcism Part 1.

And I’m creating new strategies to see the ending.

「𝙄 𝙘𝙖𝙣’𝙩 𝙙𝙤 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙨.」

This is the Hell difficulty that has never revealed its true form.

The upcoming events will surely bring crises beyond anything I’ve ever known, and there will definitely be situations that the current Yoo Ha-on and his party can’t handle.

That’s why I had to create cards that didn’t exist before.

Seo Ji-an is one of them.

In the original story, she disappeared without a trace, but she’s definitely a talented person who will be a great asset in the future.

I had no intention of losing her here.

Hearing my words, Seo Ji-an’s lips quivered a few times before she spoke in a slightly smaller voice.

“You know, that could be taken in a different way.”

I tilted my head for a moment, and then I realized what she meant and hurriedly replied.

“I didn’t mean it that way.”

“. . . I know that much.”

Just as I felt like her expression was somehow showing dissatisfaction, a signal came from the radio Seo Ji-an was holding.

Crackle.

『Miss, the enemy is here.』

“I understand. Lure them in as planned.”

And so. The long, arduous night began.

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