“You’ve really worked hard. Of course, the fact that it was a dangerous act remains unchanged, but it would be foolish to complain any further given the perfect results.”
This was what Hwang Man-soo, the Academy’s graduating class teacher who was in charge of inviting us to this event, said.
“. . . I just helped out. My juniors did all the work.”
“Yes, I know. It’s really incredible insight to figure out the technique the opponent used with just fragmentary information.”
Hwang Man-soo nodded his head for a moment, then immediately turned his attention elsewhere and showered them with compliments.
“Apart from that, you all did a great job. It’s not certain, but there will probably be a reward from the authorities once the case is settled.”
After things settled down like that, we finally returned to the hotel and were able to rest after cooperating with the authorities’ investigation.
“Hey, Han Kang-yoon. What the hell are you? How did you know all that stuff when you were with me the whole time?”
“. . . . . .”
Back at the hotel, Jung Han-sol kept asking questions because he couldn’t understand the situation no matter how much he thought about it.
Well, from Jung Han-sol’s perspective, who had seen and heard the same things as me, it must have been a situation where even a ghost would cry.
So, I recited the excuse I had prepared while cooperating with the royal family’s investigation to Jung Han-sol as well.
“Due to certain circumstances, I knew a little bit about the sorcery involved in the Wailing of the Dead. It just so happened that the exhibition hall was robbed, and the kidnappers completely covered their tracks and disappeared to a place where they couldn’t be found. If it came to that, the possibility was clear, right?”
“You thought of all that in that urgent situation? This guy is completely crazy. Then how did you find the location?”
“You saw it too. Black Yin. It’s the ability to discern ominous energy. The Wailing of the Dead was a cursed tool created with forbidden sorcery, so its scent was relatively strong.”
Since it wasn’t a completely nonsensical story, Jung Han-sol seemed to have finally fully understood the situation.
Jung Han-sol, who sent me a look of pure admiration, suddenly asked in a small voice, his spirits dampened.
“But why didn’t you take me with you when you were right next to me? Was I not needed? Is it because I’m a level lower compared to Sophia or Ji-hak. . . . . . ?”
Come to think of it, Jung Han-sol had a setting where he would often feel depressed and brood because he cared about such trivial things.
Sensing that things could get troublesome, I casually grabbed a drink from the refrigerator and tossed it to Jung Han-sol to appease him.
“Originally, Hwang Ji-hak and I were going to go because the situation was urgent. The rest of you just tagged along on your own. I didn’t have time to explain and ask for your help.”
“Oh, is that so? I didn’t know what was going on at the time, but I guess I should have gone with you.”
I knew about it because of the setting, but he really was a simple guy. That’s why he was a character who helped out honestly in many ways. I didn’t mind doing this much for him.
As we talked like that, it was already late at night. Lost in thought, I fell asleep.
🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷
𝙖𝚠ė̇𝔟𝐬𝘵𝙤𝙧𝚒𝐞𝚜.ċ̇𝙤ᴍ
Since there were various follow-up measures that needed to be taken care of on the Spanish side, our return to the Academy was ultimately delayed by about two days.
On the day we were finally about to return, I was summoned by the Spanish royal family and visited the Zarzuela Palace with Sophia and the others to receive the King’s personal gratitude.
And after that, I met Princess Laura briefly for a final conversation.
“I would also like to formally express my gratitude. Thanks to you, I was able to be safe.”
“You don’t have to worry about it. Our students were also involved.”
After exchanging some small talk, Laura hesitated for a moment before sharing what was on her mind.
“. . . How can I become a great person like you?”
Her expression had been gloomy the whole time, so it seemed like she still hadn’t come to terms with this incident.
“As you may already know, I haven’t awakened the royal family’s ability, and I don’t have any outstanding talents like my siblings. That’s why some people say that I’m not a true royal bloodline.”
“. . . . . .”
“Even this time, in the end, I wasn’t able to do anything when I was supposed to be protecting the students.”
She seemed to have already lost all her self-esteem. If she was a royal family member without any special abilities, she must have been the subject of various rumors since she was young.
However, I knew that wasn’t the case at all.
That’s because.
【Laura de los Lucia】
▶Level 35
▶Ability Scores
【Stamina: B-】
【Spiritual Power: B-】
【Spellcraft: B】
【Mental Strength: C+】
▶Traits(5/10)
【■■■ ■(-)】
【■■(-)】
【Leader(A+)】
【Endurance(B-)】
【Concentration Enhancement(C+)】
The Laura I saw had two unidentified traits, making her a true diamond in the rough.
「𝙈𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧, 𝙞𝙛 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙖𝙣 𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙛𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙝𝙚’𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙤𝙮𝙖𝙡 𝙛𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙮. . . . . .」
From what I know, it’s an ability called one of the best traits even among S-ranks.
A fraudulent trait that ordinary people have no way of obtaining, a gift from heaven.
Considering that she had hit rock bottom in terms of self-esteem despite having that, I was honestly frustrated, even though I knew the circumstances.
I lowered my posture, met Laura’s eyes, and subtly hinted to her.
“I’ll say this in advance, but I don’t lie about things like this.”
“Y-Yes? What?”
“You have a much greater talent than His Royal Highness the Crown Prince or the First Princess. That’s an undeniable fact.”
“T-Then why I. . . . . .”
I looked away from Laura, who had fAlan silent, and gave her the answer, implying that she should come to her senses a bit.
“Well, is it because you still cry yourself to sleep every night?”
“Gasp.”
For your information, this is something I heard directly from her older sister, the First Princess, yesterday.
Only then did Laura’s face turn red as she realized that I was teasing her.
Even so, she had no way of complaining. I had already left the audience chamber and was on my way to where the others were.
「. . . . . .」
In any case, this place is not the main stage of Exorcism 1. It would be ridiculous to meddle any further.
「𝘽𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙄 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙙𝙤.」
Now, it was time to leave the brief new experience behind and return to the Academy.
