Chapter 241

Currently, there were a total of four empty Trait slots, but I had no intention of filling them all right away.

‘After all, there’s not enough time, and obtaining mediocre ones would be meaningless anyway.’

The Traits I acquire from now on must be at least A-Rank or higher.

‘…Every Trait above A-Rank has tricky acquisition conditions.’

However, if I make good use of the current situation, which is practically a chaotic era, I should be able to find a way somehow.

Thus, I had come to Incheon with Arietta.

Our target was an S-Rank Specter, said to have a neck over four cheok long and possess exceptional regenerative abilities.

‘I’ve already decided on the first Trait I need to acquire.’

It was the A+-Rank Trait, Desperate Struggle.

It had an extremely harsh acquisition condition: facing over ten high-level Specters for a full week. But as I mentioned earlier, it wasn’t impossible now.

“Who are you?”

While moving along, dealing with minor Specters, a group of Exorcists who appeared to be on patrol discovered us and approached.

“I’m 3rd-Rank Exorcist Han Kangyoon.”

“I’m 1st-Rank Exorcist Yoo Jonghee from the Headquarters Execution Department. I’m currently cooperating with the Incheon Guard Unit’s Exorcists. Are you two operating without any specific affiliation?”

He immediately posed a question, but it didn’t seem particularly accusatory.

In the current situation, there must be quite a few Exorcists acting individually, so it was likely just a simple verification procedure.

“That’s correct. I was originally near Seoul, but upon hearing that help was needed here, I came over.”

“That’s much appreciated. However, for the time being, it would be better not to act recklessly in this area.”

“Is it because of the rumored S-Rank?”

“Yes. By now, the Subjugation Force might have already encountered it.”

It seemed a Subjugation Force had just been formed and begun operations to hunt it down.

Then Yoo Jonghee’s mission was likely to clear the surrounding area and eliminate any Specters that could become obstacles in advance.

In other words, it meant that S-Rank Specter wasn’t far away.

Shortly after parting ways with Yoo Jonghee, Arietta, who had been silent, turned her gaze toward me and asked.

“…Junior, are you going to catch it?”

“It wouldn’t be a problem if we didn’t… but I think it’s better to at least check it out.”

After all, to acquire the Desperate Struggle Trait, I needed to at least get involved in the fight against it.

Considering Yoo Jonghee’s patrol route, I guessed the location where the fierce battle would occur and moved in that direction for quite a while.

And finally, I came upon the scene where massive energies were clashing.

‘That is…’

No wonder some of the faces looked vaguely familiar. It seemed the Cheong Family’s Cheong Kibeom faction was leading the Subjugation Force.

And for some reason, there wasn’t just one enemy.

Because of that, the Exorcists of the Subjugation Force were also divided and seemed to be struggling more than expected.

【Mahbata】

▶Level 67

【Binni】

▶Level 59

‘Is that one the rumored S-Rank, and the other around A+?’

Regardless, it was a windfall for me.

It was a perfect opportunity to face two high-level Specters at once.

Since we were acquainted, I watched for an opening without hesitation and intervened on the side of the A+-Rank Specter, Binni, blocking the path of an Exorcist who was facing a crisis.

Changhwajinmun (Flourishing Fire Garrison Patterned Clouds).”

Whoosh!

Sssssssssss!

A massive cloud of flames formed from my Spiritual Power completely blocked the barrage of thorns fired by Binni.

Changhwajinmun, an Advanced Defensive Art.

Due to the nature of Advanced Arts, which originally required reciting an Incantation, it was difficult to use them appropriately in actual combat. However, as I am now, I could perfectly control even that.

The man who made a blank expression toward me, who had suddenly intervened, soon realized my identity and gave a sincere smile.

“…I didn’t expect to see you here.”

Cheong Jinsoo, the third-in-command of Cheong Kibeom’s faction, who had helped us during the dispute surrounding Azure Dragon.

He and his subordinates had been fighting at the forefront against Binni.

“How on earth did you know to come here?”

“I happened to come to Incheon and just came looking in case I could be of help. I didn’t know you were here.”

In reality, my target was the S-Rank Specter Mahbata, said to have appeared in Incheon, so it wasn’t exactly a lie.

However, for Cheong Jinsoo, it was a stroke of luck.

“Regardless, thank you. This will let me breathe a little easier.”

Actually, a Specter like Binni was nothing more than equal to Cheong Jinsoo, but Mahbata was stronger than expected.

Hearing the circumstances, it seemed they were already exhausted and having a tough fight when Binni barged in.

‘Even so, with Cheong Kibeom and Cheong Wooncheol, that side should be fine.’

And sorry to Binni, but in a one-on-one fight, it wouldn’t be a particularly difficult opponent for me now either.

“I’ll leave the front line to you.”

“…Mm. Leave it to me.”

Binni was also a Specter I was facing for the first time, and its Trait was ambiguous, making it impossible to accurately predict its fighting style.

But it didn’t matter. Even without obtaining information, overwhelming power itself becomes a tactic.

“Sand Blood.”

Blood flowing from the back of Arietta’s hand scattered in the air like sand and seeped into Binni’s entire body.

And the moment Arietta waved her hand, they became powerful restraints and began tightening around Binni’s body.

[Grrroooowl!]

Binni let out a bizarre cry and resisted, but it was already too late.

For me now, that brief opportunity was enough firepower to deliver a fatal blow to the opponent.

“Clear Death Fragrant Poison.”

Ssssssskreee!

Crsssssssssh!

[Groooowl─!]

The Advanced Curse Art of Hectail, which I had been using frequently lately, hit Binni precisely and began eroding its body.

Binni sensed the threat of death and resisted desperately, but Arietta’s Art, exerted with full force, completely suppressed even its struggles.

‘It’s more than I thought.’

Truly tremendous restraining power. Even I am not confident I could easily break free if caught in it.

I had roughly passed on the knowledge of Beatrice, who was originally a user of the True Noble Blood Trait, but honestly, I feel Arietta is pushing the limits of the Trait even more than she did.

And so, Binni met its end, unable to put up any proper resistance, taking a barrage of attacks from the following Exorcists.

‘The other one…’

I was confident of Cheong Kibeom’s victory from the start, but it seems the fight is proceeding more advantageously than expected.

In the end, the one who first allowed a fatal blow was Mahbata, and the battle was already nearing its conclusion.

I casually fired off an Art or two, providing support from behind for Cheong Kibeom’s faction and the other Exorcists.

“You! This is the end!”

Uigamtaesin (Conquer Taekwondo Spirit/God).

The Grand Art said to be used by the Cheong Family’s high-ranking Elders hit its mark, and eventually, Mahbata also fell, following Binni.

Booooom!

It was a perfect victory. However, despite achieving a great success, Cheong Kibeom’s expression didn’t look very good.

“Wooncheol, you felt it too, right?”

“Yes. That’s certainly the case. It seems the Elder’s prediction was accurate.”

In front of the Exorcists tilting their heads at such a reaction, Cheong Kibeom clicked his tongue and spoke in a convinced voice.

“These bastards, if left alone, they grow stronger.”

The second variable of Hell Difficulty. The moment it was revealed from someone else’s mouth.

After having his subordinates clean up the scene, Cheong Kibeom moved to a different place with me and opened a conversation.

Just as I had questions for him, it seemed Cheong Kibeom also had quite a few things he was curious about regarding me.

Thud!

“Confess honestly. You, aren’t you hiding something from me?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Don’t play dumb. I’m asking if what I know is really everything about the Cheonghongyeong.”

From the very start, Cheong Kibeom’s question struck an unexpected point, and I honestly expressed surprise.

I sensed it after using the Appraisal function, but the current Cheong Kibeom had certainly grown compared to before.

Although he didn’t know its true usage method, it seemed he had repeatedly trained using the mirror part of the Cheonghongyeong and seen some effect.

‘So he realized something was lacking during that process.’

Indeed, he too is a genius who rose to Special-Rank Exorcist through his own power.

It seems Cheong Kibeom was a person with considerably sharper intuition and ability than I had thought.

“You are correct, sir. In fact, the Cheonghongyeong has a separate true usage method.”

“Look at this cunning bastard, daring to deceive me?”

“However, for that, the Cheong Family’s other divine artifact, the Azure-White Sword, is needed. And as you know, that is…”

“Damn it, so even if I knew, it would be useless.”

Cheong Kibeom was a very quick-witted person. Just seeing him click his tongue and sigh when Cheong Soha’s name came up showed that.

However, Cheong Kibeom’s interrogation didn’t end there.

“But if my prediction is correct, you seem to have directly experienced it yourself. Am I wrong?”

Accurate.

I undertook the trial through the Cheonghongyeong’s true usage method and, having passed it, achieved great results.

To realize even that much… he really is a man with ghost-like perception.

“Don’t be so surprised. If you know the circumstances, it’s easy to notice the change.”

“Change, you say?”

“To me, you now look much larger than before. If you can’t pinpoint anything even after seeing that, wouldn’t that be more of a problem?”

I knew the size of my vessel had changed, but I didn’t know it appeared that way to others.

Perhaps Cheong Kibeom’s intuition is just that sharp, but certainly, as he said, it wasn’t strange for him to notice the connection with the Cheonghongyeong.

“So, was the effect good?”

“Yes. It was equally arduous.”

“Insolent brat. I heard rumors, but it seems Cheong Soha really favors you quite a bit.”

Contrary to his earlier interrogating demeanor, Cheong Kibeom didn’t seem to be in a bad mood.

As I felt puzzled by this, Cheong Kibeom, reading my expression, continued as if asking what was strange.

“I didn’t even accurately grasp the information about the item I wanted, so strictly speaking, it was a deal I deserved to lose.”

“…Hearing you say that makes me feel oddly guilty.”

“Don’t mind it. I don’t dislike you that much.”

It seemed Cheong Kibeom placed meaning on the act of becoming acquainted and building a friendship through our transaction itself.

“Don’t be falsely modest. I know that you are now beyond the level I can suppress or oppress. Right now… even Wooncheol wouldn’t be a match.”

Perhaps sensing the talk about himself, Cheong Wooncheol, who was resting a short distance away, jumped up and spoke.

“Haha, Elder, even so, that’s…”

“If you don’t want to admit it, try fighting him. You won’t last five minutes.”

Perhaps knowing it wasn’t a joke but sincere, Cheong Wooncheol made a surprised expression and sat back down.

“Anyway, I mean that I want to maintain a good relationship with you going forward.”

“In that case, I can only gratefully accept your intention.”

His words, that he, once a transaction partner, would become my true Collaborator. For me, it was nothing but good.

And Cheong Kibeom, lightly taking a sip of tea, opened his mouth and continued.

“And if possible, could you somehow persuade Cheong Soha a bit… no?”

It seemed he, too, hadn’t been able to let go of his lingering attachment to the Cheonghongyeong.