This raid was targeting the Academy itself, but at the same time, it was also set up for the protagonist, Yoo Ha-on’s, trials and growth.

At least, that’s what I thought.

「𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙤𝙡𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙤𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙩’𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙫𝙤𝙡𝙫𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩, 𝙣𝙤 𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙗𝙞𝙜 𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙞𝙣𝙛𝙡𝙪𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙞𝙨.」

Even in a Hell difficulty world, the basic framework would probably remain largely the same.

In that case, wouldn’t it be impossible to end this just like that?

As if to prove my thoughts, Adrian appeared in the distance, looking quite exhausted.

And he spoke to us.

“. . .You’re all gathered here.”

“What’s wrong with you? You were so confident before, but why do you look like that?”

“I met the shadow of a high-ranking exorcist.”

Adrian collapsed to the ground, his sword still in hand, and continued speaking with a weary expression.

“And it wasn’t just one.”

“Are you serious? Are even they targets of the spell?”

Cheong Haram’s question was justified.

No matter how powerful the spell was, was it really possible to easily create doppelgangers of exorcists of that level?

At least, it was impossible with normal methods.

「𝙒𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣’𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙨?」

That’s what I had thought at first. That was my judgment after considering the appropriate difficulty increase in my head.

However, this made me have ominous thoughts.

Could it be that the additional effect added to the voodoo seed was to create doppelgangers of everyone within the range of the curse?

If that was true, it was an extremely dangerous type of curse.

「. . .𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚’𝙨 𝙖 𝙡𝙞𝙢𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙪𝙥𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙨.」

Of course, the voodoo seed was dangerous enough on its own, but it definitely wasn’t to this extent.

If that was the case, the situation wouldn’t be easily resolved.

There were many exorcists gathered here now, but that was actually counterproductive.

“. . .Hmm. Everyone, take a step back for now.”

At Sophia’s sudden words, everyone looked at her. Then, she pointed in one direction with her finger.

“I think we’re being followed.”

“Oh, really! Adrian, you’re terrible. You left a trail and they followed our scent.”

“S-Sorry. I was too busy running away to notice.”

The shadows of a middle-aged man in a suit and Hwang Man-soo, a teacher at the Academy’s graduating class and a descendant of the imperial family.

And they were.

【Baek Sang-woo’s Shadow】

▶Level 50

【Hwang Man-soo’s Shadow】

▶Level 48

They were clearly formidable enemies that couldn’t be ignored.

🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷

𝐚𝐰𝕖ḃ̇𝕤𝚝𝕠𝘳ɪė̇𝘴.𝔠ᴏ𝙢

Thud!

Boom!

“This is crazy. What are the Defense Corps exorcists we met earlier doing?”

“They’re probably too busy taking care of those who haven’t evacuated yet. It’s a chaotic situation.”

The 3rd shelter where Han Kang-yoon and his group were located, and a short distance away.

Inside the 5th shelter where the students and civilians were hiding, Yoo Ha-on and her group were struggling to defend the entrance.

Whoosh.

Bang!

Bang!

Baek Eun-seo, who was reinforcing the barrier at the entrance with a spell she had learned from her family, shouted at the man next to her.

“You’re a graduating senior, aren’t you? Do something! Please!”

“Well, I mean. Even if it’s a perfect copy, that’s Sophia. It’s impossible for me.”

“That’s something to brag about!”

The one persistently pounding on the door was none other than the shadow of Sophia Sallet, the top student in the second year.

It seemed like she was drawing her spiritual power from somewhere, because her relentless attacks didn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon. To be honest, the barrier on the door seemed like it would break soon.

“This is bad. . .”

There were quite a few people gathered, but unfortunately, there weren’t many combatants in this 5th shelter.

The Defense Corps exorcists who had been on standby had also left to guide people to the shelters.

If the barrier of the shelter was broken, to be honest, they didn’t have the confidence to stop the unidentified shadows outside.

“We can’t let the door break.”

“Should we go outside and intercept the enemy?”

“Maybe the three of us could do it. . .”

Han Seo-ah, Yoo Ha-on, and Baek Eun-seo, who were among the top students in the first year.

If the three of them joined forces, there was a good chance that they could subdue Sophia’s doppelganger, even if it was a perfect copy.

“Ugh, I don’t know. Then I’ll go first!”

Just as Baek Eun-seo was about to charge out after casting a reinforcement spell on herself, a sudden roar and the sound of battle could be heard from outside.

Thud.

Boom.

Screech!

Bang!

Sometimes, there was a loud noise like a bomb exploding, and the door was slightly dented from the consecutive strong impacts.

The battle sounded deadly, just by listening to it.

Several minutes passed like that, and the noise eventually disappeared, leaving only silence. Baek Eun-seo, who had been watching, felt like she was going crazy.

“What do we do?”

“I learned that you shouldn’t open it when it’s like this. I had a similar experience when I was in my second year. . .”

“Just stay quiet. You’re not going to fight anyway.”

Baek Eun-seo, who had scolded the graduating senior, exchanged glances with Yoo Ha-on and Han Seo-ah and shared her opinion.

“. . .So, should we open it?”

Creak.

Rumble.

When they opened the door, they saw a small girl with short golden hair and a black bird perched on her head.

The girl stared blankly at Baek Eun-seo, who had appeared before her, and uttered only one word in a low voice.

“. . .Burn.”

The girl was none other than Ggong-sam-yi and Black Yin, who were moving on Han Kang-yoon’s orders.