Chapter 162

‘Appraisal.’

【Han Kangyoon】

▶Level 44(50)

▶Attributes

【Stamina: C+(B-)】

【Spiritual Power: B(A-)】

【Art Formula: B-(A)】

【Mental Strength: A-(A+)】

▶Traits (9/10)

【Phantom Body (S)】

【Witch’s Resonance (A+)】

【Dragon Body (A+)】

【Soul Combustion (A)】

【Challenger (B+)】

【Intracranial Spell Repository (B)】

【Life Returner (B-)】

【Emergency Evasion (B-)】

【Hawk’s Eye (C+)】

【Strong Body (C-)】

A body restored to peak condition and explosively increased attributes.

It was a sensation that was not just surprising, but had become somewhat familiar by now.

‘Strength is overflowing throughout my body.’

It had been quite a while since I invoked the 2nd phase of Phantom Body.

‘Certainly, there was no need to use it after the battle with Hectail.’

My average specs had risen that much, and it was also thanks to obtaining numerous powerful Shikigami.

However, even so, I had no choice but to use it against the Cat-Head Serpent.

Rather than that, it wasn’t an opponent I could defeat without dying at least once.

‘It was clear that my limit would come first anyway.’

Therefore, from the very beginning, I assumed the activation of the 2nd phase of the Phantom Body Trait and deliberately raised the pace to unleash the Mutual Annihilation Curse.

In short, I used one of my lives as a consumable for victory.

And the effect was truly certain.

“Hssss…….”

“Why, are you feeling a bit uneasy now?”

From the Cat-Head Serpent’s perspective, it probably thought it had seized a golden opportunity from that strike moments ago.

In reality, if it weren’t for me, the battle would have clearly ended in its victory.

‘Who would have expected it? That a mere human would possess a second life.’

Unfortunately, I had a trump card, and now it had no remaining moves.

That was the difference that decided the match.

‘Its remaining stamina is at most about 15%.’

On the other hand, I had regained peak condition and, due to the influence of Phantom Body 2nd phase, obtained a temporary amplification effect.

‘Now I too must avoid receiving fatal wounds again…….’

But in this state, I could use the Mutual Annihilation Curse a few more times without issue.

Whoosh.

As I drew up my Spiritual Power, its body flinched for an instant.

Due to the continuous learning effect, it now knew all too well what would happen next.

“Kyaaak!”

It let out a ferocious roar, but now it felt more like a scream than a threat.

In the Cat-Head Serpent’s eyes, a faint trace of fear had settled.

‘Well, of course.’

After going through all that hardship to kill me, I came back to life even stronger.

I, the person involved, knew there was no next time, but the Cat-Head Serpent did not.

So, where was the guarantee that the same thing wouldn’t happen if it killed me again?

For the Cat-Head Serpent, which had instinct and intelligence but no wisdom, nothing could be more terrifying than that.

Despite me drawing up Spiritual Power, the Cat-Head Serpent only hesitated and did not recklessly charge.

Various thoughts were likely swirling complexly in its head already.

And the conclusion was a pitifully shabby one.

“Shyaaak─!”

In an instant, the Cat-Head Serpent turned its body and began to sprint.

The direction opposite to where we were. A route with no connection to the city center.

In other words, it had given up the fight.

“I-It ran away? A Specter of that caliber?”

Even Shin Noeul, who was barely catching his breath, widened his eyes at the bizarre sight.

However, that was the worst possible choice for the Cat-Head Serpent.

“Death Grudge Delusion Curse.”

Whoosh.

Pssshhh!

“…Hsss!”

Bad luck for it, but if it let go of the offensive like that, there was no longer any room for hesitation on my part.

I just had to chase it while indiscriminately firing curses, without worrying about evasion or defense.

“Death Grudge Delusion Curse.”

Whoosh.

Pssshhh!

Whether truly determined or not, it did not stop its fleeing body even while screaming.

“Death Grudge Delusion Curse.”

Whoosh.

Pssh!

“Shyaaak!”

But this world is not a game.

Saying 15% essentially meant it was already in an exhausted state, and with each 1% of stamina consumed, its limit drew closer.

Even if it barely endured the attacks and retained about 5% stamina, wouldn’t that be no different from a corpse barely clinging to life?

That prediction of mine soon proved true.

“Mirror of Counter-Grudge.”

Pssh!

Crreeeeak!

“Kyaaak─!”

By now, it was the ninth curse activation since the 2nd phase.

Finally unable to withstand it, the creature tumbled wretchedly across the ground from the curse’s impact.

A vibration strong enough to be felt at my toes, and dust swirled with the wind.

But without hesitation, I continued using curses and slowly moved my steps towards where it had fallen.

Thud.

When I finally reached that spot, the S-Rank Specter Cat-Head Serpent I had known no longer existed.

Only a beast begging for its life remained.

“Hssss…….”

It was staring at me with eyes that seemed to behold something indescribable, and no will to resist could be found there anymore.

Our positions had reversed; it now completely recognized me as the superior Predator.

‘…….’

Seeing such a formidable enemy reduced to this state evoked a rather complex feeling.

However, I had no intention of showing any leisure. The current me was a fragile existence that could collapse from a single mistake or moment of carelessness.

“Farewell.”

High-level Cursed Technique, Clear Death Fragrant Poison.

As I deployed it, the Cat-Head Serpent, finally at its limit, rolled its eyes back and dropped its massive head.

Thud!

It was a battle full of wounds, but simultaneously, a victory more precious than anything.

Tap-tap-tap!

“…Junior, are you okay?”

“Huh, am I seeing things? To truly take down such a Specter alone…….”

Shin Noeul spoke as if he couldn’t believe it, but there was nothing so special about it.

After all, it wasn’t me but Shin Noeul and the Jeokhwadan who had whittled down most of the Cat-Head Serpent’s stamina.

“No, that’s not it. Without you, the result would have clearly been our defeat.”

“That’s excessive praise.”

“Whether this is humility or putting on airs…….”

Shin Noeul glanced at me strangely, then slumped down onto the ground with a hollow smile.

“…Well, what does that matter anyway? I really thought I was going to die.”

“Is your physical condition alright?”

“No, actually, my vision is still blurry.”

However, Shin Noeul’s expression as he said this didn’t look too bad.

And around that time, the presence of several Exorcists began to be felt from the direction we had chased the Cat-Head Serpent.

“They’re finally arriving, always so slow.”

“…….”

Arietta also didn’t show it outwardly, but signs of fatigue were evident.

Seeing her eyes and teeth returned to normal, it seemed the effects of Blood Drain had completely vanished.

The Exorcists who then approached our location wore utterly bewildered expressions as they alternated their gaze between the Cat-Head Serpent’s corpse and us lying collapsed.

“T-This is. Did Sir Shin Noeul……?”

“No, these reckless rookies did everything. More than that, I’d appreciate it if you called an ambulance. I really feel like I’m about to collapse.”

Not without reason, Shin Noeul suddenly turned pale and soon slumped over, losing consciousness.

Deputy Unit Leader Lee Doosik, who had come with him, panicked and performed first aid, and we were soon transferred to a hospital.

‘…….’

And so, the Cat-Head Serpent died, and the Jeokhwadan survived.

It was another moment where a button for the future was filled in.

“So, what are they going to do?”

“What can they do when we’re all lying down? Of course they have to return to the Academy.”

A quiet hospital room, with Shin Noeul lying there and Lee Doosik keeping watch.

They continued their conversation, recalling the events of the past few days that had swept over them like a storm.

“Even now, thinking about it is dizzying. What if the Unit Leader or the others had died?”

“…It’s unfortunate about Woong-gil, but honestly, surviving this much is no different from a miracle.”

Especially without Han Kangyoon and Arietta, they might not have been here.

Initially, they had brought them into the Jeokhwadan with recruitment in mind, but for things to turn out like this was truly peculiar.

“It’s a shame. They were really tempting individuals.”

“What can you do? That’s how things are in this world.”

And Shin Noeul, in fact, now had no intention of making Han Kangyoon and Arietta members of the Jeokhwadan.

“Huh? Why is that?”

“Just, it would be a waste.”

In Shin Noeul’s perception, those two were not talents meant to be bound to an organization of the Jeokhwadan’s caliber.

“They’re ones who should do bigger things. They weren’t meant to be under our wing.”

Shin Noeul himself was a Special-Rank Exorcist, but precisely because of that, he could feel it more clearly.

Unlike himself, for whom this position was the limit, Han Kangyoon and Arietta still had a long way to go to reach their platform.

“Ah, Unit Leader, you’re still young if anything, you’re worrying unnecessarily.”

“What do you mean ‘if anything’? And by our level, you inevitably come to know. Roughly where your own limits lie.”

Shin Noeul was the type who grew quickly but had a clear ceiling.

At the very least, he couldn’t achieve explosive growth from here on.

“From here on, it’s for those who will rise to rise. For example, that Cheong Soha of the Cheong Family.”

“…Is that so? As someone who barely managed to become a 1st-Rank, I still don’t really understand.”

In fact, if other Exorcists heard this conversation now, they would have been indignant.

Even Lee Doosik, a 1st-Rank Exorcist, was considered sufficiently worthy of being treated as a genius in the world.

However, among geniuses, there exist geniuses of a different class. That was all there was to it.

“Anyway, thanks to them we saved our lives, so treat them respectfully from now on. In maybe just two years, you’ll have to address them as ‘hyung’.”

“…Tsk. Talent is truly a bitter thing.”

But Lee Doosik also felt a great debt towards Han Kangyoon and Arietta.

Frankly, he wouldn’t mind having to address them as ‘hyung’ to that extent.

As he was peeling an apple with a fruit knife, Shin Noeul beside him suddenly added as if he had remembered something.

“Ah, that reminds me. I told them to say what they wanted, and they made a somewhat strange request.”

“A strange request, you say?”

“Yes.”

The content was simple.

In an upcoming situation of some kind, for the Jeokhwadan to become Han Kangyoon’s strength just once.

Since he had the authority to grant such a request, Shin Noeul had accepted it.

“Just where does he intend to use us?”

“How should I know? I don’t.”

But one thing was certain.

No matter what happened, where, or when from now on, for that one time, the members of the Jeokhwadan would sincerely stand on Han Kangyoon’s side.