Chapter 112

“Come to think of it, I heard you had a disciple you cherished above all else. That must have been you.”

At Shin Dohoon’s successive words, Arietta wore an expression of incomprehension.

Immediately after, a story from a past we did not know began to flow from Shin Dohoon’s mouth.

“In a past mission, Myeongyool stole an Undeath’s Forbidden Curse that was supposed to be recovered and disposed of.”

“Master did?”

“It was just speculation until now, but I’m certain now. After retiring, he must have researched and experimented with it, eventually completing it.”

“…I’m not interested in that story.”

Arietta, perhaps thinking he was stalling for time, resumed her Combat Posture, but Shin Dohoon, with a puzzled expression, continued speaking instead.

“It’s a story you should at least know. Do you really have no idea?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Have you never thought that your wounds heal faster than normal?”

At those words, Arietta’s body flinched. It seemed something had struck a chord.

‘Indeed, the Arietta I faced as an enemy in the original work also boasted incredible regenerative abilities.’

At the time, I only recognized it as one of the effects of her unlocked Unidentified Trait, unable to know the detailed circumstances behind it.

Eventually, after a brief silence, Arietta moved her lips as if denying Shin Dohoon’s words.

“…What does that matter?”

“Hah, what a lamentable thing. A completed form born by piercing through a thread-like probability harbors such thoughts. It would be quicker to experience this firsthand.”

As Shin Dohoon finished speaking, squirming Jooeon began to glow and reveal themselves from his body.

Sensing the ominousness, I hastily sent Sorisoe charging forward and warned Arietta.

“Get back!”

However, it seemed it was already too late.

“…Ugh.”

Arietta, groaning in pain, collapsed on the spot, clenching her fists as her body twisted.

I hurriedly approached, shielding her from Shin Dohoon, and spoke.

“Are you alright?”

It wasn’t certain, but it seemed the Forbidden Curse Shin Dohoon harbored within his body was stimulating Arietta.

Soon, her opened eyes had, at some point, turned as red as blood.

“…Ah, ugh.”

Simultaneously, the teeth visible between her lips sharpened, and her pupils began to tremble as if she couldn’t control something.

Watching this, Shin Dohoon spoke as if he had expected it.

“So this is the completed form? Not bad at all. I too will soon reach the same level.”

“…What did you do to her?”

“Nothing much. I merely reminded her body of a fact it had forgotten. It seems Myeongyool had been suppressing it with Cursed Technique until now.”

Seeing Arietta’s state right beside me, I too had an inkling.

I roughly guessed which branch of Forbidden Art this so-called Undeath’s Forbidden Curse belonged to.

‘Blood Specter.’

A Specter from folklore said to crave the blood and flesh of Specters or humans, making it its own power, and unable to die as long as that power remains. Simply put, it was akin to Western vampires.

A Forbidden Curse related to it had surfaced through the Night Parade of One Hundred Specters Crisis, and for some reason, Arietta also seemed connected to it.

‘There wasn’t any mention that gave that feeling in the original work…’

It’s true that among the abilities Arietta used in battle against Yoo Haon’s group, some did evoke vampires.

However, even so, she had never shown such a noticeably changed appearance as now.

After briefly pondering, I soon realized the reason.

‘Since she’s a character who would originally have been in an enemy position, perhaps her abilities were adjusted due to the Hell Difficulty’s influence.’

In other words, the power of the Unidentified Trait Arietta now harbored was likely more potent than in the original work.

“…Junior. Step back. Quickly.”

Arietta urgently shouted at me, not fully regaining her senses.

Judging by her state, she seemed to be swept up by the Blood Specter’s unique impulses, struggling to maintain her sense of self.

Swoosh.

Whoosh!

“…Burn it.”

Just as I was about to summon Kongsami additionally to protect myself, Shin Dohoon, who had been watching the scene, turned and began to leave somewhere.

“No need to struggle further. Once she consumes human blood and flesh, she’ll properly awaken.”

“…….”

“Try running away. If you do, victims other than yourself will appear.”

With that, Shin Dohoon completely vanished.

It wasn’t certain, but judging from his earlier statement about becoming a completed form and the mention of Myeongyool stealing the Undeath’s Forbidden Curse, it was highly likely he would now set out to find Myeongyool.

‘…The situation has become a headache.’

A glance showed Arietta was already half-lost to reason, consumed by impulse.

Those blood-red eyes were quietly gazing at my body.

“…Thirsty.”

In an instant, the ground beneath Arietta’s feet cratered with a deafening roar.

And seeing that, I immediately deployed the defensive Art I had prepared.

Crash!

Creeeak!

Even with just a light swing of her hand, the Art Formula shattered instantly. As expected, her physical abilities had greatly increased compared to before.

‘In this state, it’s not a stage where we can try talking things out.’

I steadily backed away, placing my Shikigami forward to buy time.

‘Should I subdue her somehow and then calm her down?’

But even Kongsami, which excels in close combat among my Shikigami, couldn’t keep up with Arietta’s movements.

At best, it could hinder her approach; that seemed to be the limit.

“Burn it!”

Whoosh!

Fwoosh—!

Though she seemed to hold back, perhaps because she knew me, Kongsami, ultimately feeling threatened, spewed Flame of Purification and pushed Arietta back.

“…Hot. Thirsty.”

Perhaps because it was a Forbidden Art-related ability, the Flame of Purification seemed effective.

I asked Kongsami to continue harassing her while I pondered.

Whether due to the Forbidden Curse’s influence or not, such a noticeable change should manifest as a Trait. Like Shin Dohoon’s Corpse Specter (S-) Trait.

So perhaps the solution to this situation lay in her Unidentified Trait.

‘Judging by how things are unfolding, it’s indeed somewhat different from what she originally had.’

The Unidentified Trait I remember her having is Sleepless Castle.

It grants the owner powerful stamina and physical regenerative abilities, along with various Damage Resistances and stealth action effects.

That’s why Arietta was called a wraith. No matter how much you attacked, she would appear unscathed and endlessly threaten allies.

But judging by the situation, perhaps the current Arietta harbors a different Unidentified Trait, not Sleepless Castle.

‘This isn’t the time to be stuck here…’

Frankly, just looking at specs alone, it didn’t seem like Myeongyool would lose to Shin Dohoon, but it was certain that he meets his death around this time in the original work.

If we don’t stop Shin Dohoon here, the tragedy Woonyeon spoke of might come to pass exactly as she said.

Ultimately, I had no choice but to make a decision, thinking of one gambit.

‘…I need to fully Bloom her Trait.’

As with my Phantom Body Trait before, normally Unidentified Traits only properly exhibit their effects after being unlocked.

Shin Dohoon, who was also influenced by the same Forbidden Curse, maintained a sufficiently stable mental state from the start.

If Arietta properly Blooms her Trait, there’s a high possibility she could somehow control her impulses.

‘The problem then is the method.’

Probably the most likely means is, as Shin Dohoon said, consuming a certain amount of human blood or flesh.

But that wouldn’t be just a “little” amount.

If I recklessly offered my neck, I’d likely just become Arietta’s unconscious meal.

‘…No, maybe there’s a way?’

Back then, in the VR version of Exorcism Academy, which was the latest work, there was an event distributing a vampire-type Shikigami.

And there was a dedicated recovery Art Formula for that Shikigami; its setting was that it condensed Spiritual Power from a single drop of the player’s blood, consuming it to gain energy.

I don’t know how that Art Formula would be implemented in this world, but it was worth trying.

“Great Peak’s Molt.”

Swoosh.

Whoosh!

Shadows surged, and a giant humanoid Shikigami, resembling a mix of a rhinoceros and a goblin, sprang forth.

A short-term decisive battle-type Shikigami I had summoned once before when facing Keuseundae on Yeongwoldo.

I had created one just in case, but due to its limited duration of ten minutes, I had been saving it until now.

Swoosh.

Hoooom.

The Shikigami’s body, entering Combat Posture, turned red and began emitting steam. I took out Mist Veil from Dark Noon and used its effect to enhance Kongsami and Great Peak’s Molt.

To somehow stop Arietta’s movements, even briefly, I needed the help of Shikigami with powerful physical abilities.

“…Thirsty. Hungry.”

Arietta, who had repeatedly failed to approach due to Kongsami’s flames, finally seemed to have run out of patience. She endured some damage, broke through the flames with her body, and charged at me.

In response, I followed her barely-visible movements as best I could, waiting for the single moment to play my trump card.

‘There’s no leeway if we’re to chase Shin Dohoon.’

So, I’ll settle this with a single exchange.

‘She seems unable to use Cursed Techniques because she’s not in her right mind.’

Then she’ll definitely approach on her own and target my body.

I moved Kongsami and Great Peak’s Molt to clever positions, guiding her attack route to pass through a certain space beyond them.

And I deliberately approached that exact spot, meeting Arietta’s gaze.

I had thrown my body as bait.

“…Blood. Sweet smell.”

Crack!

With the sound of the ground breaking, Arietta’s body vanished in an instant.

I precisely timed that moment, twisted my body, and deployed the fastest-binding Cursed Technique I could use.

It was the Intermediate-Rank Binding Spell Formula, Void Slaughter Seizure, which Professor Choi Dowon had also used before.

Slash!

Crash!

A significant impact and searing heat were felt around my waist, and I lost my balance, collapsing to the ground.

But the timing was perfect.

Arietta, whose movements were momentarily halted by the sticky strands of Spiritual Power, was being restrained with their full bodies by Great Peak’s Molt and Kongsami, who had been waiting.

“…Burn. It.”

Crunch!

Groooan!

If there was a chance, it was now.

Though injured, I forced myself to ignore the pain in my waist, immediately got up, and approached Arietta.

And using the Intracranial Spell Repository, I recalled one Art Formula in my mind.

Tszzzz.

Hooom.

“Blood of Unfurled Peace.”

The Spiritual Power filling my entire body surged and began flowing toward my fingertip. Soon, a single drop of blood with a clear hue formed and emerged from it.

Arietta, completely restrained, watched it as if entranced, not even struggling.

Swoop.

As I brought my finger closer, Arietta reflexively slightly parted her lips and stretched her head toward me.

Clutching my throbbing waist, I spoke to Arietta.

“…Please regain your senses. Let’s go save Master Myeongyool together.”

Plop.

And so, a single drop of blood fell into her mouth.