Chapter 103

‘…I don’t even know what I’m looking at right now.’

Jang Hansoo, effectively the second-in-command of Yoo Taejin’s group and a 2nd-Rank Exorcist, could only let out a hollow laugh at the battle between Han Kangyoon and the Manticore that had finally begun.

Glancing around in disbelief, he saw the reactions of his other comrades were not much different. Especially Mikel, who was staring at it with wide, entranced eyes.

‘Well, seeing a fight like that right before your eyes would do that.’

Truthfully, Jang Hansoo and Choi Taekil, who could be considered the core of the group excluding Yoo Taejin, were not that far apart in terms of power.

However, if the two were to fight, victory would always be Jang Hansoo’s.

This was because Jang Hansoo had experience, as an Executor for the Headquarters, engaging in life-or-death struggles with countless criminals.

And precisely because he was that Jang Hansoo, he could feel it more deeply.

Just how absurd the thing Han Kangyoon was doing right now was.

Thoom!

Kwaaaang!

Jjeeoong!

The Manticore, filled with rage, charged and attacked continuously, but Han Kangyoon evaded them all with impossibly fluid body movements and perfectly timed deployments of Cursed Technique.

But saying he ‘evaded’ was generous; they were scenes so close, so hair-raising, that it would be better to say they grazed past him.

‘…His movements are as if he measured the opponent’s attacks with a ruler. Are all those results intentional?’

If he or Choi Taekil were placed in that position right now, could they manage even one-third of what Han Kangyoon was doing?

No, absolutely not.

Forget one-third; it would be fortunate if they could hold out for three minutes against that thing.

‘……’

At some point, Jang Hansoo felt goosebumps rising all over his body.

While working as an Executor, he had met truly formidable people, but he had definitely never witnessed skill of this level anywhere.

No wonder he had spoken so confidently about taking the front line when planning the operation.

Sswae-aek!

Chwaaaak!

Soon, Han Kangyoon, having dodged the Manticore’s tail swung at an invisible speed, grabbed it with a Binding Spell Formula and retreated a good distance from his position.

Not missing it, Jang Hansoo shouted.

“Now!”

Whooosh.

Sswae-aek!

Kwaaang!

Kwagagagak!

Following the signal, everyone’s Offensive Spells shot forth and struck the Manticore directly. The Manticore let out a painful scream and staggered back several steps.

They had already landed effective hits like this several times. Clearly, noticeable wounds were increasing on the Manticore’s body.

The Manticore, its eyes glaring venomously, tried to charge towards them, but Han Kangyoon, having closed the distance again along with his Shikigami, rained down attacks, disrupting it.

From the Manticore’s perspective, it must have been enough to drive one insane and make them jump.

‘…It really seems like a flawless assault, in the truest sense.’

A fight this thoroughly calculated to break down an opponent was rare even within the Exorcism Headquarters organization, where members had trained together for long periods.

However, now they had to do it this way. Too much was riding on this single fight.

Their seven years, the civilians now nearing their limit, and the Strong Desires of the comrades who had lost their lives up to now—all of it was here.

‘Please, just hold on a little longer.’

If even a single mistake occurred, it would be the end. The pressure was unimaginable. Even Jang Hansoo, who was watching, was trembling with tension, but Han Kangyoon’s expression remained consistently calm.

No, it seemed he was even deliberately controlling his breathing to the maximum for a prolonged battle.

‘…It sounds crazy, but with that guy, I somehow feel like he really would do that.’

The Manticore was a monster of an absurd level. But Han Kangyoon, in a certain sense, was the same.

Even if one’s mind were made of steel, they couldn’t possibly conduct such precise combat under extreme pressure.

Therefore, it was safe to assume Han Kangyoon’s concentration had already transcended the human realm.

If it were Han Kangyoon and no one else, it was possible. In the end, Jang Hansoo reached that conclusion and prepared to attack again.

If nothing else, to at least defeat the opponent as quickly as possible and lessen that burden for him.

The Manticore was incredibly strong. Honestly, among the enemies I had faced so far, I thought it might be the strongest except for Hectail.

Especially its tough physical ability to endure and regenerate no matter how many attacks it took was truly a headache.

‘It’s definitely worthy of being called top-class in this Black Forest.’

However, in a way, the Manticore had worse compatibility with me than even that Hectail.

Probably, the Manticore facing me was vaguely sensing that too.

‘I expected it, but its movements really are all readable.’

Well, considering how many times I had reviewed the Manticore’s attack patterns and motions, it might be natural.

Of course, that didn’t mean it was easy.

Fundamentally, because its specs were far superior to mine, I always had to read its actions in advance and move accordingly. If I made even a mistake, my life would be in immediate danger.

Moreover, while Yoo Taejin’s group was dealing damage with all their might from behind, I actually wasn’t inflicting effective damage on the Manticore.

But.

‘Somehow, I don’t feel like I’m going to lose at all.’

I thought it might just be my mood, but indeed, Han Kangyoon’s body had a sharper sense for combat than I had imagined.

If this was also a kind of talent, then it was talent.

Furthermore, the Manticore was fundamentally a creature artificially created by the witch’s hand, and naturally, that method included Forbidden Arts.

Therefore, depending on the type, the Manticore’s attacks were surprisingly blockable.

Kwaaang!

[Kwaaaak!]

‘…Seeing it like this, I feel somewhat sorry for it. Even though I made it.’

Now, the Manticore had somehow lost the unique confidence of a strong being from its eyes.

No, perhaps it was even feeling fear towards me, who wasn’t allowing even one of its numerous attacks to land.

[Krooo……]

As if that premonition wasn’t mistaken, the Manticore’s attacks gradually began to noticeably weaken and slow down.

Once that happened, the battle only became more one-sided.

And eventually.

[Koo-eok.]

Thud.

The Manticore, bleeding profusely, had its pupils grow dim, then lost its balance and collapsed onto the cold ground.

It had exhausted its strength, unable to endure the battle that had lasted over an hour.

‘Is it over?’

I wiped the sweat heavily beaded on my forehead, maintained the distance, and waited for the group to approach.

Han Seoa, who approached first, checked my wounds and handed over the drinking water she was carrying.

“Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?”

“…Don’t worry. I didn’t get hit even once.”

Honestly, towards the end, a crisis had approached because the Manticore indiscriminately sprayed the poison it had barely stored up again.

But, fortunately, the outcome was decided before I lost my concentration.

Choi Taekil, confirming the Manticore’s demise, approached me and grabbed my shoulder.

“You son of a btch, is your body alright?”

“Yes. I’m a bit tired, but I’m fine.”

“…To think you were such a monster. I apologize for calling you ‘Mr. Newbie’ all this time. You’re truly an amazing guy.”

Choi Taekil seemed to have been shocked by the recent battle.

But honestly, from my perspective, since I was facing an enemy I had already seen everything of, I didn’t think I did anything that amazing.

To begin with, this wasn’t the end here.

“Let’s hurry. We need to retrieve the key that allows us to proceed to the next Trial Hall.”

Thus, we busily moved our steps without a moment’s rest.

The place we soon arrived at was where the mysterious statues that Yoo Taejin’s group had named the ‘altar’ were located.

“So, if we catch that, we can get the key here, right?”

“That’s definitely what was written in the book. Ah, I think I know this one too.”

Yoo Taejin walked straight into the midst of the statues modeled after the Manticore’s appearance. Starting from the tips of the horns on its head, he drew lines and began digging out the point where three lines intersected.

“In witches’ society, straight horns symbolize unchanging truth. If there’s something, it’s probably here.”

It was definitely the correct answer. As before, he seemed to possess considerable knowledge about witches.

As he dug the ground, a mysterious stone tablet revealed itself there.

Since we had already defeated the Area Boss, the Manticore, the stone tablet was emitting its own light.

“…Leader. I think we can lift this.”

As Choi Dain spoke, Mikel, the strongest, stepped forward and lifted the stone tablet.

What came from there was, as I knew, a single small gem.

‘Got one.’

Now, what remained was another gem that could be obtained through a similar process after defeating the Seven-Horned Serpent.

‘I deliberately sent the Black Bird to that altar in advance.’

So far, there was no particular news. Since I calculated the timing precisely and acted, it was clear that by now the Seven-Horned Serpent had encountered Xiao Chen.

‘…And Xiao Chen isn’t the type to ignore such a challenge.’

She was fundamentally a hedonist who pursued all sorts of interests, so she couldn’t possibly pass by a powerful demon like the Seven-Horned Serpent.

As if my thoughts weren’t wrong, a response soon came from the Black Bird, with whom I was sharing vision. Xiao Chen had defeated the Seven-Horned Serpent.

‘Got it.’

Since the condition was achieved, I quickly ordered the gem over there to be taken and recalled the Black Bird.

Thus, both gems were finally gathered in our hands.

“From now on, we need to move quickly. Woo Kibeom’s group must have also noticed that something is changing.”

“Right, so now we have to go to that Trial Hall, right?”

Actually, the massive structure deep in the Black Forest that Yoo Taejin’s group had previously discovered and diligently searched was a kind of examination ground to obtain the formal qualification.

Now that we had defeated the Area Bosses and solved the puzzle, we could use the two gems to enter inside.

“…It really feels like the path is visible now.”

The group clenched their fists, each seemingly steeling their resolve in their hearts to escape this place.

Seeing that, I also steadied my mind with a deep breath.

‘She’ll surely notice and approach soon.’

Although I hadn’t shown it until now, this entire vicinity was already under her surveillance anyway.

Upon closer inspection, one could see her detection Barriers placed here and there.

Xiao Chen, a member of the Night School and a Special-Rank Barrier Master, would definitely pursue us and come to the Trial Hall.

But what she wouldn’t know is…

‘Come if you’re coming.’

…the fact that very Trial Hall would become her grave.