Chapter 148

Now standing in the center of the festival area, which had been completely turned into a mess, I showed my license to the exorcist named Yoo Jeong-gil and began reading the opponent’s information.

【Hoyaukamui】

▶Level 51

▶Stats

【Stamina: A-】

【Monstrous Power: B+】

【Art Formula: B】

【Mental Power: C+】

▶Traits (5/10)

【Hyper Recovery (A+)】

【Combat Instinct (A-)】

【Swift Blade Through Chaos (A-)】

【High-Speed Flight (B-)】

【Sense of Balance (C+)】

Level 51 with decent stats—unfortunately, it was clearly an A-Rank Specter.

If I had to find a silver lining, I suppose I could say it wasn’t among the stronger ones within the A-Rank?

‘Truly dangerous ones go beyond the mid-to-late 50s in level.’

Of course, that didn’t mean the creature before me was weak. Quite the opposite.

At this level, it would typically require a top-tier 2nd-Rank or a 1st-Rank exorcist to stand a chance in a one-on-one fight.

‘Moreover, those traits…’

Hyper Recovery—an ability that allows rapid recovery from any injury as long as there is sufficient Monstrous Power to consume.

Frankly, it was an extremely troublesome type to deal with.

In fact, the damage Shin Sora had inflicted on it earlier was now gone without a trace.

Perhaps Shin Sora realized this too, as she spoke with a frustrated expression.

“…Its recovery ability is insane. Can we even output firepower that surpasses that?”

“We can use Curse-Type Art Formulas.”

From the start, Cursed Techniques in that category inherently have effects that slow recovery.

Combined with the bonus from my Forbidden Technique Value, it should certainly deal effective damage to it.

“Captain!”

“We’ll help too!”

With the situation escalating like this, the two exorcists who had been about to leave the area under Yoo Jeong-gil’s instructions also rushed over to us, panting, and assumed combat posture.

I quickly addressed them.

“Both of you need to keep preparing defensive arts and use them at the appropriate timing. Spreading them out indiscriminately would be meaningless. One of you use Wall of the Azure Sky, and the other support the inside of the wall with Void Slaughter Seizure. With that combination, we should be able to block its attacks.”

At my fluent instructions, the exorcists exchanged bewildered glances.

“Hey, student. Sorry, but our field authority is…”

“Let’s try doing as he said.”

“Huh? Captain?”

“It’ll probably be effective. Actually, this friend earlier stopped the creature’s attack aimed at you.”

When their superior spoke to that extent, the exorcists nodded with puzzled expressions.

And with that, the small talk ended. Hoyaukamui, now fully recovered from the damage, began glaring at us while letting out a roar filled with rage.

“Stay alert. It was just enjoying the situation until now—it wasn’t serious earlier.”

And now, it has recognized us as quite threatening enemies. Accordingly, it will try to eliminate us with all its might.

Thud.

Thud-thud-thud.

As if confirming my thoughts were correct, it soon began gathering Monstrous Power intensely, transforming its own appearance.

“Kieeeek—!”

If its previous form was for agile flight, now it looked unmistakably closer to a monster.

Moreover, that wasn’t the only thing that changed.

“Ugh. Ugh!”

“Huff! Ah, the stench!”

The exorcists covered their noses with pained expressions, and Yoo Jeong-gil and Shin Sora also frowned.

Simultaneously, the surrounding grass and trees began rapidly losing vitality and withering.

Sizzle.

Sizzle-sizzle.

In contrast, I only smelled something vaguely like rotten eggs, which was somewhat bearable. That was likely another one of its abilities rooted in curses.

Whatever the case, it was a sufficient tactic to shake the opponent in a battle requiring extreme concentration.

“Kyaaaak!”

Soon after, the creature let out an ear-piercing shriek and began charging forward, stirring up a fierce wind.

Shin Sora, who had been waiting, first deployed a binding spell formula, and I also deployed Clear Chain Binding to assist her art.

However.

Shrak!

Shrrrk!

Zzzzzzzzong!

The creature, having amassed power, neutralized them instantly by wrapping wind around its body.

It seemed low-level arts like these wouldn’t work easily anymore.

‘…Still, it served as a distraction.’

Its speed had noticeably decreased compared to before. The exorcists timed it and, as I had instructed, constructed their arts to block the creature’s charge.

“Wall of the Azure Sky!”

“Void Slaughter Seizure!”

Kooong!

Kwa-ga-ga-gak!

They barely managed to block a single attack, sweating profusely. We couldn’t waste this opportunity.

Including Yoo Jeong-gil, who had a brief moment of respite, the three of us simultaneously deployed offensive arts and fired them at the opponent.

“Spirit Cannon Shell!”

“Soul Blaze Rending Wave!”

“Fear-Bringing Delusion.”

Whoosh!

Sssshriek!

Fsssh.

The best attacks we could muster in that brief moment. Hoyaukamui, having exposed an opening as its physical assault was blocked, was directly hit.

“Kyaaak!”

But naturally, it wasn’t a fatal blow. Moreover, though slower than before, the creature’s body, which had flown back into the air, was gradually recovering.

“Kgh, so arts of this level aren’t enough after all.”

“…Is there another way? Realistically, even if we hit it with one or two advanced arts, it probably wouldn’t die.”

However, unlike their worries, this was sufficient for now.

From the start, I never intended to capture it with just such attacks.

‘Roughly that much, huh.’

That was just a test.

To gauge how far the creature could push the effects of its Hyper Recovery trait with its capabilities, and to what extent my arts, enhanced by my Forbidden Technique Value, would work against it.

And now, having calculated the desired values, various methods to quickly subdue the creature were being derived in my mind.

Recalling the most clearly completed method from my memory, I gathered Spiritual Power, formed a hand seal, and quietly spoke toward the shadow.

“All of you, come out.”

Sorry, but now it’s my turn to hunt it down.

“Everyone, you can’t stay here! Against a Specter of that level, hiding is meaningless. If you follow me, I’ll guide you to a safe place.”

As Han Kangyoon had said, there were people who hadn’t managed to evacuate hiding all over the inner areas of the tourist site.

If all the exorcists were defeated and the Specter was let loose in this state, it could have easily led to a massacre.

‘To maintain such a broad perspective even in this chaotic situation…’

Han Kangyoon was incredible.

By the time Laura became certain something unusual was happening, he had already grasped all the circumstances and effortlessly presented the best solution.

He truly possessed a composure unbecoming of a cadet his age.

“H-hey, who are you to tell us to trust and follow you? If we move carelessly and become targets, we won’t be able to escape.”

The citizens’ anxiety was understandable in a way.

In a situation where a clearly dangerous Specter was rampaging, for those not skilled in arts, being hit by its attack would mean instant death.

Moreover, human instinct tends to avoid proactive actions in such situations and seek only stability. Even though this building was actually a perilous place, for the citizens, it was a sanctuary that could protect them.

So, they wouldn’t easily leave.

Laura was about to reveal her identity but immediately shook her head and changed her judgment.

‘In this situation, the identity of a foreign princess won’t provide any reassurance to the citizens.’

Thinking from their perspective, it was only natural.

To instill trust in the citizens right now, what was needed wasn’t such a grandiose title but rather the opposite.

Having made up her mind, Laura spoke with a gentle smile.

“The exorcists nearby are combining their strength to hold off the Specter. You won’t be targeted for a while. I’m here as an assistant to one of them, following instructions, so you can follow me with peace of mind.”

“A-ah, I see. Understood. We’ll move right away.”

Even while swiftly evacuating citizens like that, the sounds of battle from the center showed no signs of stopping.

Despite being far away, it was clear at a glance that it was an extremely desperate fight.

‘…I must do my part.’

The time they were buying would literally be every minute and second that could save the citizens’ lives.

And if Laura herself just stood there dazed, that time would be meaninglessly consumed and scattered into the void.

Ignoring even her lungs’ plea for rest from exhaustion, Laura searched for citizens until she was out of breath and moved them.

Just as she guided the last group from the innermost area to the entrance, she sensed the presence of multiple individuals with considerable Spiritual Power approaching from outside.

Finally, reinforcements had arrived.

Having likely already encountered the evacuated citizens, they showed somewhat surprised expressions upon seeing the scene inside the tourist site.

“What’s this? Honestly, I thought they’d all be dead by now.”

“…Kang-hoon, refrain from unnecessary remarks.”

“Oops, sorry. But still, an A-Rank appearing at a festival site? There’s no way the damage could be this light.”

Though they didn’t show it outwardly, they all seemed to agree with the man named Kang-hoon.

Then, the eyes of the man who appeared to be the leader fixed on Laura, who was evacuating the last group of citizens.

“…Are you that assistant? You’ve done a great thing. Thanks to you, the casualties must have been greatly reduced. We’ll take it from here.”

“Huff, huff.”

Stepping forward, the leader gathered Spiritual Power and placed his hand on the ground.

He was about to deploy a large-scale detection art capable of covering the entire tourist site to check for remaining survivors.

However.

Thump.

“Huff. That’s… unnecessary.”

It was stopped by Laura’s hand as she caught her breath. And before the leader could say anything, she continued with eyes deeper than ever before.

“I’ve saved them all. So please go to the scene. As quickly as possible, even one second sooner.”

Even now, Han Kangyoon and the others must be fighting a battle where their lives hang in the balance every moment.

So, the handful of time earned by evacuating the citizens had to be used correctly, without waste. That was Laura’s final role.

“……”

The words of a girl drenched in sweat and utterly exhausted. Yet, the leader, Jeong-yong, felt an indescribable charisma from her.

“Hey, interfering like this will only waste more time—”

Shhk.*

Jeong-yong stopped his subordinate Kang-hoon, who was angrily approaching from behind, and immediately gave orders to the team.

“One person stays to search for survivors. The rest, all move out. Move immediately.”