I Became the Academy’s Genius Shikigami Summoner

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟗𝟖

ᴀ𝐰𝘦𝘣s𝐭𝔬𝚛𝕚𝘦𝐬.𝕔𝐨𝔪

Upon eavesdropping, it seemed that the rest of the members, including the leader, Yoo Tae-jin, were planning to go on a regular exploration to find information after replenishing their water supply in the morning.

「𝙃𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧, 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮’𝙫𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙤 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜, 𝙞𝙩 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮’𝙧𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚.」

Of course, based on my investigation, Yoo Tae-jin’s party hasn’t solved a single one of the core puzzles hidden in this Black Forest.

To explain it simply, it felt like they’ve been steadily gathering information, but the story’s progress was stuck at 10 percent.

「𝙄 𝙜𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙣𝙤 𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨.」

As I continued to think, Choe Da-in informed me that she had reached the first point.

Creak.

Creaaaak.

There, covered in dark fur all over its body, was a beast that resembled a panther.

「𝙎𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩.」

Ring!

【Black Panther】

▶Level 42

▶Ability Scores

【Stamina: B+】

【Spiritual Power: C】

【Spellcraft: D+】

【Mental Strength: C】

▶Traits (4/10)

【Witch’s Echo (A+)】

【Chimera (A-)】

【Spiritual Power Amplification (B)】

【Great Strength (C+)】

As expected, this is the information I already knew. A monster created through an experiment by the witch who created this place in the past.

The black panthers in front of me were also one of them.

“. . .You’re lucky. Normally, I wouldn’t be able to find it this quickly. Since it’s as strong as a mid-level yokai, follow me carefully without letting your guard down.”

Choe Da-in warned us and began to stealthily and quickly approach the pack of black panthers.

Then, she took out a dagger with a spell inscribed on it from her bosom and threw it.

“Three-stage Piercing.”

Swoosh!

Bang!

Fwip!

The dagger filled with spiritual power flew straight and hit one of the black panthers.

In the process, some kind of barrier appeared and protected the black panther’s body, but the spell that Choe Da-in had engraved on the dagger pierced through it.

Perhaps because she had fought them many times, she must’ve known that information beforehand.

『Kyaaagh─!』

The black panther screamed in pain and collapsed, thrashing on the ground.

The rest of the pack, sensing the threat, disappeared in an instant, and Choe Da-in approached the fallen one and spoke.

“. . .See? All the creatures here are somewhat resistant to spells like that. If you’re careless, things could get messy.”

“Are you saying that we should finish them off for sure when we have the chance?”

Han Seo-ah nodded and followed behind Choe Da-in. It was at that moment that I sensed something strange.

「𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙩?」

Beyond the tree where the black panther had collapsed, something seemed to ripple for a moment.

I secretly put my hand in my bosom, infused spiritual power into a talisman, and threw it.

Whoosh.

Thud!

“Rend Wave.”

Bang!

Immediately, there was a reaction.

Rustle.

“. . .Oh, they found us already.”

“I apologize, Hyung-nim. It seems that I made a mistake.”

“It’s fine. We’ve already come this far, so it’s too late to run away.”

Three men appeared as the concealment spell was lifted. Choe Da-in’s face contorted at the sight of them.

“Why are you. . . . . . . . !”

“Well, well. Long time no see. Have you been doing well, forgetting my face and sleeping soundly?”

And then, from behind, another three enemies appeared and began to surround us in a circle, as if to encircle us.

“As expected, they fell right into it, Hyung-nim.”

“Of course. It’s good to be safe, but if you only move like that, your movement route becomes obvious.”

“. . .Are you guys planning to break the promise you made with the leader?”

The man laughed as if he couldn’t believe it at Choe Da-in’s urgent voice and continued speaking.

“Pfft. That promise, what is it? Do you think such child’s play has any meaning in a lawless place?”

“You’ll regret this.”

“Threats are useless. We’ve already confirmed that Yoo Tae-jin went on an exploration.”

The man who slowly climbed down from the tree slowly stared at us and finally fixed his gaze on Choe Da-in.

“I told you clearly. I said that you would pay the price for hurting this body someday.”

“. . .Let these two go. They’re civilians who have nothing to do with this.”

“Why should we do that? In the first place, it’s only you guys who make such a fuss about civilians or exorcists here.”

It seemed that the situation was not looking good. Perhaps those who appeared were the outlaws from the mountainous area that I had heard about before.

I checked their appearances and activated the emotion function.

Ring!

【Woo Ki-bum】

▶Level: 49

【Lee Yong-chul】

▶Level: 44

【Henry Cobson】

▶Level: 43

【Kwak Do-woo】

▶Level: 41

【Heo Ji-tae】

▶Level: 40

【Wang Yong】

▶Level: 39

The underlings weren’t that great, but Woo Ki-bum, who seemed to be the leader, was quite skilled.

It was clear that Choe Da-in wouldn’t be able to handle him with her power.

“Since you’ve been hiding behind his shadow all this time, you must’ve thought I was a pushover. But guess what? We’re not afraid of that Yoo Tae-jin anymore.”

“. . .What do you mean?”

“I mean that we have new forces to rival Yoo Tae-jin.”

“That’s. . .”