Chapter 123

“Hmph, you actually dared to come crawling in instead of running away. I’ll at least commend your courage.”

When I headed to the promised location, Hwang Jincheol and Hwang Sejin were already there.

A quick glance revealed that Hwang Sejin had truly come fully prepared.

Cursed Tools radiating considerable power, high-quality Talismans, and even Spirit Pellets to assist with Art Formula usage.

‘…Could he actually be the unexpectedly cautious type?’

Even if he pretended otherwise, it was clear he had felt a significant sense of danger during our earlier clash.

Frankly, from my perspective, it would have been better if my opponent remained careless, so this was somewhat regrettable.

Just as my gaze met Hwang Sejin’s, Hwang Jihak, who had followed me, stepped forward and spoke.

“As much as I dislike this whole situation, since things have come to this, would it be alright if I also set one condition?”

“…What are you talking about?”

“If you lose this contest, you must apologize for all the insults you’ve spat at my sister until now.”

“How utterly trivial. Fine, whatever. And what do you intend to wager?”

“If Han Kangyoon loses the contest, I will renounce my position as the next Elder of the Hwang Family.”

At those words, not only Hwang Sejin and Hwang Se-yeon, but even Hwang Jincheol and I, who were observing the situation, showed surprise.

What Hwang Jihak mentioned was far too significant a condition to stake on a mere contest like this.

“You. Are you in your right mind?”

“I don’t care. Han Kangyoon will win anyway.”

“…Fine. Hwang Jincheol is here as a witness, so you won’t be able to back out later.”

An unexpectedly heavy burden had just been placed on my shoulders. When I looked at Hwang Jihak with a bewildered gaze, he gave a slight, unstrained smile, showing no signs of nervousness.

He seemed genuinely convinced that I would win the contest.

‘Objectively, it’s the correct judgment, but…’

It was baffling how he could make such a judgment without even knowing all my secrets.

“It seems things are roughly settled. Then I shall convey the terms of the contest.”

The wager Hwang Jincheol presented was simple.

The winner would be whoever first captured the spirit creature living on this Dohaksan Mountain, the Yellow-Feathered Bird.

“At this time, though rare, it should have certainly begun its activities. There is no specific time limit. If one’s stamina gives out before the contest is decided, it will be treated as a forfeit.”

“When does it start?”

“Right now.”

As soon as Hwang Jincheol finished speaking, Hwang Sejin began running up the mountain without even looking back.

It was an attitude befitting actual combat; he clearly had no intention of letting his guard down whatsoever.

‘Well, it’s a chance to bring down Hwang Jihak, a future competitor, without lifting a finger.’

Unfortunately, however, Hwang Sejin’s resolve would not be rewarded.

In fact, from the moment Hwang Jincheol set these terms, the outcome of the contest was already decided.

‘…Because capturing the Yellow-Feathered Bird was a mission the protagonist’s party undertook in Series 3.’

To be precise, it was one of the tasks assigned by one of the Elders of that generation to the Series 3 protagonist’s party, who had visited the Hwang Family for training.

And having played that mission myself, I naturally knew the Yellow-Feathered Bird’s movement routes, hiding spots, and habits inside out.

If I put my mind to it, I could capture it within an hour.

“…Then I shall set off as well.”

After moving for several dozen minutes and settling at roughly the mountainside, I stopped my superficial search for the Yellow-Feathered Bird and sharply turned my head.

‘Capturing the Yellow-Feathered Bird can wait.’

Right now, I wanted to check on something that concerned me a bit more.

Whoosh.

“Soul Rending Slash.”

Screech!

Zzzzrrrripp!

An improved version of the Soul Blaze Rending Wave Art Formula, which I had previously taught to Yoo Haon.

In response to the sudden, unannounced attack, someone hastily deployed a Defensive Art from behind the thicket, revealing themselves.

The mysterious presence that had been tailing me since earlier—it was time to confirm their identity.

Hwang Gwangsoo is a close aide to Hwang Jeong-wook, the current 3rd Elder of the Hwang Family, and a High-Ranking Exorcist nearing 1st-Rank.

And he, under the orders of his leader Hwang Jeong-wook, intended to monitor the parties involved in the wager currently taking place within the family.

‘Cheol-min went to Hwang Sejin. My assignment is that kid, huh?’

Hwang Gwangsoo’s first impression of Han Kangyoon was, in a word, ordinary.

To elaborate, he was a talented Exorcist for his age. That was about it.

‘Well, he’s not from a prestigious family, so it’s expected.’

Just like Hwang Jihak, Hwang Jeong-wook’s son, the talents of those hailed as the next generation’s hopefuls within prestigious families were truly in a league of their own.

It was safe to say there was a gap from the starting line that ordinary people could never hope to close.

He didn’t know why Elder Hwang Jeong-wook was interested in him, but an order was an order, so he had no choice but to follow it.

Hwang Gwangsoo began diligently monitoring Han Kangyoon’s every move without slacking off.

And he soon noticed something strange.

‘This kid… the flow of his Spiritual Power is extremely calm.’

In fact, most Exorcists naturally exude a certain aura externally just by standing still.

Furthermore, the greater the power one possesses, the more difficult it becomes to control it.

Thus, among seasoned practitioners, this is considered one of the important indicators for gauging skill.

‘…There’s almost no difference between when he’s resting and when he’s active?’

What that meant was simple. Regardless of the scale of power he possessed, Han Kangyoon had it under perfect control.

‘And I heard he just ingested a Spiritual Elixir yesterday.’

To exhibit such control with a body that hadn’t fully absorbed the energy yet was an exceptionally high level.

Intrigued, Hwang Gwangsoo moved a bit closer and began observing Han Kangyoon.

And this continued even after the wager with Hwang Sejin began.

‘Has he not noticed me yet?’

Thinking it was about time to reveal himself, Hwang Gwangsoo gradually reduced the intensity of his Concealment Art, testing Han Kangyoon.

Around ten minutes passed like that when finally, Han Kangyoon, having noticed Hwang Gwangsoo, fired an Art Formula first.

Zzzrrripp!

‘Is this the extent? Fast, as expected.’

Hwang Gwangsoo, having blocked the Art Formula, was momentarily taken aback by its power, which exceeded his expectations, but quickly composed his expression and spoke.

“Oh ho, at that age, you can detect my Concealment Art? Truly befitting the Young Master’s friend.”

“…Are you someone sent by the Elder?”

He deduced my identity from just one exchange. Compared to other Exorcist aspirants his age, his mind works quite well.

“Yes. That’s correct. I have no particular intentions, so you may focus on the contest.”

“Thank you for your consideration. Since you revealed your presence midway, I wondered if you had other business.”

At those words, even Hwang Gwangsoo couldn’t hide his surprise.

‘What? He noticed me from before?’

If that were the case, it wasn’t just a matter of having excellent detection skills for his age.

To make an accurate judgment, Hwang Gwangsoo casually threw a question at Han Kangyoon.

“Care to guess when I started tailing you?”

“…The first time I sensed your presence was when we were promising each other a contest through Elder Jincheol’s mediation.”

At that answer, Hwang Gwangsoo’s expression stiffened. It was essentially from the very beginning.

‘Concealment Arts aren’t my specialty, but I haven’t neglected training them either.’

That meant Han Kangyoon’s skill was that exceptional. He was indeed a talent worthy of Hwang Jeong-wook’s interest.

Hwang Gwangsoo opened his mouth again, mixing in admiration.

“Impressive. It seems Hwang Sejin might have a tough fight on his hands.”

However, immediately afterward, Han Kangyoon answered Hwang Gwangsoo with a meaningful expression.

“Hwang Sejin absolutely cannot win this contest.”

“…Are you sure it’s alright to be that confident? Although opinions are divided now, Hwang Sejin was once called one of the greatest talents of his generation.”

“Yes. It’s no problem.”

The words Han Kangyoon uttered next were truly unexpected for Hwang Gwangsoo.

“Actually, I’ve already caught the Yellow-Feathered Bird.”

At the foot of Dohaksan Mountain, where Hwang Jincheol, the witness to the contest, and the spectators, Hwang Jihak and his sister, were waiting.

An unexpectedly long silence persisted there.

Then, suddenly breaking that silence, Hwang Jihak spoke.

“Who do you think will win the wager, Elder?”

“How unusual. For you to ask such a question.”

Hwang Jincheol, stroking his beard with a slight smile, continued immediately.

“Frankly, I don’t know. I’ve mainly discussed business-related matters with him usually and have never seen Kangyoon’s abilities with my own eyes.”

However, those words also meant that, despite not having verified Han Kangyoon’s strength, he couldn’t be confident of the other party, Hwang Sejin’s, victory either.

“He’s a truly peculiar fellow. Especially the Death Black Stone he received from me earlier; I thought he’d dispose of it within a few days, but he overturned all such expectations.”

“I heard he used it as material to create a Shikigami.”

“Yes. So how could I not be amazed? He is certainly a being full of mysteries.”

Just seeing how he alone was preparing for the second Night Parade of One Hundred Specters with such conviction showed that much.

Han Kangyoon might be a delusional person, but he was by no means someone with ordinary intentions.

Right after the two nodded, confirming each other’s thoughts, Hwang Se-yeon, who had been praying somewhere all along, cautiously opened her mouth.

“…Jihak, what do you think?”

Her eyes were filled with nothing but anxiety and impatience. In response, Hwang Jihak gave a slight smile and answered his sister.

“If I thought he would lose, I wouldn’t have set such a condition.”

“…No matter how I think about it, that was too much. Don’t ever do something like that again.”

“Understood. I’m sorry.”

Around two hours had passed since the contest began when a presence began to be felt near the mountain’s base.

As Hwang Jihak turned his gaze upon sensing it, Hwang Jincheol beside him let out a yawn and spoke.

“Don’t get your hopes up unnecessarily and wait patiently. Even your father at this age never succeeded in less than half a day.”

“……”

Just as Hwang Jihak resigned himself and turned his head again, this time Hwang Jincheol’s expression changed.

It was a look of agitation, something rarely seen on someone who had experienced as many twists and turns as his age.

“Wh-what is this.”

“…Huh? Isn’t that him coming?”

At Hwang Se-yeon’s words, Hwang Jihak also hurriedly turned his gaze. Indeed, the one who appeared first was Han Kangyoon.

And following behind him was his father’s subordinate, Hwang Gwangsoo, whom he was very familiar with.

With an expression as if he had seen something indescribable.

Han Kangyoon, having returned to the mountain’s entrance, held nothing in his hands.

As Hwang Jincheol looked at him with a questioning gaze, Han Kangyoon slightly raised his right hand to shoulder height.

Immediately afterward, accompanied by the sound of intense wingbeats, a large bird flew over in an instant and landed on Han Kangyoon’s hand.

[Kee-eek!]

Flap—!

And in its beak was the Yellow-Feathered Bird, completely frozen in terror before the Predator.