Chapter 170

When the first Night Parade of One Hundred Specters Crisis occurred, the world was thrown into great chaos.

Powerful Specters, which could only be observed very rarely under normal circumstances, emerged in countless numbers, while weaker Specters appeared almost underfoot, sweeping across the entire nation.

Moreover, the Spectral Energy from the overflowing Specters polluted the land and atmosphere, ultimately causing unprecedented damage never seen before.

That is why the Night Parade of One Hundred Specters Crisis became widely known as the worst event of the century.

‘…I experienced it firsthand in the side story episode, so I know full well how dangerous it is.’

Exorcists could no longer guarantee the safety of citizens, and people had to flee from the Specters, abandoning even their basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter, let alone being able to engage in their livelihoods.

And the second Night Parade that would soon unfold would descend upon the world on a scale far greater than that.

‘Of course, a much more systematic defense system is in place now compared to before…’

Nevertheless, powerful Specters would sweep across the world to an extent that would offset those defenses.

Since many Named-rank Specters, famous among the players, would also appear, it was clear that with mediocre combat strength, it would be difficult just to save one’s own skin.

“Appraisal.”

After leaving White Forest Pavilion and returning to the Academy, I lay on my dormitory bed and checked my information once more.

【Han Kangyoon】

▶Level 47

▶Stats

【Stamina : B-】

【Spiritual Power : B】

【Art Formula : B-】

【Mental Strength : A-】

▶Traits(10/10)

【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-)】

From capturing wanted criminals as part of the Jeokhwadan, to the battle with the Cat-Head Serpent, and the events at White Forest Pavilion.

Having overcome quite a few hardships, my Level had now entered the late 40s.

Considering that the second Night Parade of One Hundred Specters Crisis hadn’t even started yet, it was a fairly rapid pace compared to expectations.

‘It’s a sufficiently splendid achievement even compared to the original characters.’

However, during this second Night Parade, the protagonist Yoo Haon and his party would achieve explosive growth.

As the story properly unfolds, it’s a stage where the average strength of allies and enemies rises.

‘On the other hand, my growth rate will soon start to slow down.’

I don’t even have the Growth Acceleration Trait that most talented people in this world possess.

Moreover, unfortunately, unless one is born with growth-related Traits, there is virtually no way to obtain them.

‘The nourishment required for growth will increase exponentially as I approach Level 50…’

At least I’m fortunate to share Han Seoa’s Late Bloomer Trait; if not for that, I might have truly hit a frustrating plateau.

Also, the part that’s really problematic is actually after surpassing the long-awaited Level 50.

As is often the case in the world, this Exorcism Academy worldview also has limits to the vessel of each individual.

And the difference in those vessels becomes more starkly apparent after Level 50.

‘You can tell just by looking at the Academy professors.’

The years they’ve lived and the experience they’ve accumulated are immense, incomparable to someone like me.

However, even the Academy professors, who have been through all sorts of trials, rarely surpass Levels in the late 40s to early 50s.

As they approach their innate limits, their growth has almost completely stopped.

‘As much as I hate to admit it, there’s no guarantee that I won’t be the same…’

Other examples include Yoo Ain, a retainer of Seo Jian, or Shin Noeul, the unit leader of the Jeokhwadan.

Although there was a difference in grade, both were relatively clearly aware that their own growth had reached its limit.

‘I’d like to at least get past 60 or so.’

That’s practically the minimum figure to be involved in the future story.

If I can’t even surpass that and hit my limit, it will likely be nearly impossible to handle the hardships that will come in the future.

“…It’s frustrating.”

No matter how much knowledge of the original I possess, this is something I can’t do anything about.

I do know a few methods to forcibly increase the size of one’s vessel, but most of them are unstable and of Hell Difficulty.

They are at a level where it’s doubtful whether they can even be realized, so they aren’t worth considering under normal circumstances.

‘…Is there no point in worrying about it already?’

Perhaps because the starting point of the main story is approaching, it’s inevitable that worries increase.

Feeling unsettled, I tossed and turned for a while, unable to sleep.

‘A Hell Difficulty Night Parade…’

Honestly, from here on, even I have no certainty about the future.

Since it’s an event of a massive scale I’ve never experienced before, anything could happen anywhere, anytime.

‘……’

Precisely because of that, I too have prepared a trump card this time that overturns common sense.

Since it’s an element that didn’t even appear in the original, it’s a reversal move from which a positive variable can be expected.

‘…Shall I go retrieve it soon?’

Before going to bed, I picked up my phone and sent a few messages to someone.

At the top, a photo of a massive island in a rather familiar shape was uploaded.

That place was where I first transcended the wall of the story and overcame death.

It was Yeongwoldo.

A few days after returning to the Academy from White Forest Pavilion, I headed to a pre-arranged meeting place, utilizing the last weekend before vacation began.

Waiting for me there was Cheong Jinsoo, Cheong Soha’s retainer and the second-in-command of her faction.

【Cheong Jinsoo】

▶Level 59

‘…His Level increased by one since then.’

Considering his age in his mid-thirties and the fact that he already possessed a fairly high Level, Cheong Jinsoo definitely had talent.

He was a case where the limit of the vessel hadn’t arrived yet.

“I’ve been waiting. The Elder said to provide maximum convenience, so please feel free to act.”

“Yes. I’ll be in your care.”

Yeongwoldo is currently treated as private property owned by the Academy, but since the Cheong Family can be considered the foundation of Cheonghwa Academy, it wouldn’t be difficult to gain access with their help.

“But may I ask why you wish to go to Yeongwoldo?”

“I have something urgent to retrieve. Of course, you may report today’s events to the Elder if you wish.”

At this scale, it’s impossible to hide it anyway.

What I’m aiming for from now on is Keuseundae, which has been sealed once again beneath Yeongwoldo.

‘Back then, I gave up because I had no way to handle it.’

But now the situation is different.

I’ve now gained sufficient ability, and the method is also prepared.

A Special-Rank Specter.

Its difficulty of subjugation and danger are unimaginable, but if successful, it becomes the most powerful weapon of all.

Just thinking about the majesty of the Cat-Head Serpent I faced last time, I could guess its power without even seeing it directly.

Whoosh.

Splash.

Crash.

Against the backdrop of the sea wind covering my face and the resounding waves, the massive island I first encountered a year ago began to reveal itself.

“We’ve arrived.”

As if truly worthy of being the Cheong Family’s second-in-command, Cheong Jinsoo drove the boat here himself with an unfazed expression.

They said he was a talent who could handle almost any special situation; it seems that statement was true.

“…Thank you. I’ll proceed directly to the destination from here.”

After landing on Yeongwoldo, I took in the familiar scenery piece by piece, retraced my memories, and searched for a certain location.

And I was able to reach it before long.

The place where I reactivated the second phase of the Phantom Body Trait for the first time and sealed Keuseundae again after achieving an incomplete resurrection.

Due to some maintenance, traces from that time were gone, but the memory of the breathless struggle was still vivid.

“This place is……”

Cheong Jinsoo, confirming where I had stopped, flinched with a surprised expression.

Since he also holds an important position in the Cheong Family, he probably knows to some extent what happened here.

“By any chance, am I thinking of the right thing……?”

Unable to hide his flustered expression, Cheong Jinsou asked me a frank question.

It seems he guessed something based on the information he knew himself, the fact that I am a Shikigami Sorcerer, and my earlier answer about having something to retrieve.

Since I had to explain to him anyway, I nodded quietly without hesitation.

“Yes, you’re probably right.”

“This is madness! On top of opinions already surfacing to completely discard the island, you intend to deliberately tamper with that existence?”

Cheong Jinsoo’s reaction was intense.

Well, if the situation were the exact opposite, I probably wouldn’t have considered myself sane either.

No matter how capable one is, the idea of doing something with a sealed Special-Rank Specter is utterly absurd.

But there’s no helping it. Cheong Jinsoo doesn’t know, but in just a little while, something even more absurd will happen in this world.

And when that time comes, he’ll probably want to hold hands with an even more powerful Specter, not Keuseundae.

“…This doesn’t seem right. I was told to provide maximum convenience, but I didn’t receive orders to assist in a suicide act.”

“You don’t have to help. I intend to complete what I must do even if I have to stay alone.”

“Have you not considered that I might use force to stop you?”

Cheong Jinsoo’s eyes gleamed resolutely as he held a Talisman and looked at me.

In response, I met his gaze head-on with a slight smile.

“If you want to try, I won’t stop you.”

“…You’re quite confident. Hoo, fine. So, do you have grounds for attempting something?”

“If I had no method, I wouldn’t have come all the way here in the first place.”

Let me say this in advance: I’m not attempting a gamble with no chance of winning.

Rather, it’s just to prepare the minimum countermeasure in advance for the gamble I’ll be forced into regardless of my will in the future.

Faced with my resolute attitude, Cheong Jinsoo finally asked about my plan with an air of wanting to hear it out. In response, I lifted a box I had brought and showed him something of unknown origin covered in Talismans.

“Do you know Bihyeong of the Night School?”

“Yes. I heard the Elder personally subjugated him during the Yeongwoldo incident.”

“This is his heart, secured at that time.”

“B-Bihyeong’s heart, you say?”

The plan was simple.

Bihyeong’s heart, flowing with goblin blood, and the soul of Hectail, which I extracted myself after killing it previously.

Using those two as Sacrifices, I would resurrect Keuseundae.

‘However…’

This time, not in an incomplete state, but in its original form.