Chapter 171

After a long silence, Cheong Jinsoo asked me with a somewhat calmer expression.

“…Even the fact that it’s possible is surprising, but ultimately, isn’t the problem what comes after?”

“Yes. That’s correct. There will need to be a process to control and tame the revived Keuseundae.”

However, there was no problem.

I had been thinking of a method for it for quite a long time.

If that weren’t the case, there would have been no reason to specifically ask Cheong Soha to extract Bihyeong’s heart in the first place.

“All the necessary materials and Art Formulas are prepared. It’s something that has been planned for a very long time.”

Upon hearing my words, Cheong Jinsoo shook his head with a look of utter incomprehension.

“If you put it that far, I won’t try to stop you. But for something like this, wouldn’t it have been better to come directly with the Elder rather than with me…?”

A complaint tinged with a bit of resentment.

Well, if things went wrong and an S-Rank Specter were unleashed on this island, it would be difficult for Cheong Jinsoo to do anything about it with his power.

But it couldn’t be helped. Meeting Cheong Soha directly now was more dangerous for me than reviving Keuseundae.

‘She’s probably starting to harbor a bit of suspicion by now.’

For a while, I used the suggestion implanted in Cheong Soha by Jinmyeong Daesa to vaguely navigate the situation, but no matter what, quite some time had passed.

Cheong Soha still hadn’t directly confirmed ‘that person’s’ appearance and was only receiving instructions through me. Even if she didn’t show it, it would naturally be grating on her nerves.

‘…You can tell by the fact that she sent Cheong Jinsoo directly.’

Despite appearances, Cheong Jinsoo is the second-in-command in Cheong Soha’s faction, handling various important responsibilities. He’s not someone to be mobilized for errands for someone like me.

Although he’s acting friendly now, Cheong Jinsoo would undoubtedly report every single one of my actions in detail to Cheong Soha after returning.

‘It seems I can no longer use the line with Cheong Soha.’

But it didn’t matter. According to my predictions, I would likely become completely hostile to Cheong Soha during this second Night Parade of One Hundred Specters Crisis.

‘Jinmyeong Daesa, the day I face that bastard isn’t far off.’

In the original work, Jinmyeong was among the most troublesome enemies that appeared during the second Night Parade.

His power is formidable, but the problem lies in the fact that he was originally human and possesses corresponding wisdom and cunning.

That much is clear from the fact that he laid the groundwork through the young Cheong Soha even before revealing himself.

‘He will immediately devour the Cheong Family from within and completely blend into the human world.’

If that isn’t properly prevented and stopped, Korea will surely split and fracture, eventually dancing in the palm of his hand.

Sorry, but as long as I exist here, I can’t let that happen.

Steeling my resolve once more, I signaled to Cheong Jinsoo beside me to step back.

“I will begin the ritual immediately. It probably won’t take long.”

I had already drawn all the Ritual Arrays while conversing with Cheong Jinsoo.

Placing Bihyeong’s heart and the Soul Stone containing Hectail’s soul in the center of the array, I chanted Incantations in a low voice while pouring in Spiritual Power.

Whoosh.

Zzzzzzing!

The array glowed brightly due to the large amount of Spiritual Power, and the light converged towards the center, seeping into the offered heart and Soul Stone.

After about ten minutes passed like that, vibrations echoed in all directions, and a hemispherical mound of earth suddenly rose from the ground.

It resembled a tomb and also looked like a cave leading underground. It was exactly Keuseundae’s former seal site.

At the malevolent Spectral Energy that began to flow out, Cheong Jinsoo, who was watching, asked with a somewhat uneasy expression.

“I-Is it going well?”

“The main part hasn’t even started yet.”

Now, from here on, is the crucial phase.

First, the Resurrection Ritual I adopted is the most common equivalent exchange type of Art Formula.

It’s a method of offering a Sacrifice with roughly corresponding value and summoning the target of resurrection through that energy.

‘Come to think of it, the ritual Bihyeong performed was also a Cursed Technique of the same lineage.’

The only difference is that Bihyeong tried to use the Specters he captured and released, along with Academy members, as Sacrifices, while I offered Bihyeong, who has goblin blood, and the soul of Hectail, who alone accumulated a massive karma.

‘The number is small, but the quality is overwhelmingly higher on my side.’

The ritual will succeed. That’s almost a foregone conclusion.

And I mixed in two arrangements into that Resurrection Ritual.

“Kongsami.”

Slither.

Whoosh!

“…Burn it.”

First, by having Kongsami, who is of the same goblin race, participate in the ritual, I have it absorb a portion of the power of Keuseundae that will be revived.

Keuseundae will be somewhat weakened in the process, but that power will only be added to Kongsami, and it will also become much easier for me to handle the creature.

‘And the second.’

In a way, this part could be said to be the most important aspect of the ritual.

While completing the Resurrection Ritual, I wove Kongsami, who became part of the array, Keuseundae, and myself together, creating a kind of link, and proceeded with a Shikigami contract.

‘It’s impossible with the usual method.’

Taming, or Shikigami contracts, come in various forms.

Among them, the one I used most often was a contract of subjugation using the power of the Forbidden Technique Value—a method of completely placing the other under oneself and binding their soul.

However, Keuseundae’s power is immense. With my current strength, no matter how much the Forbidden Technique Value compensates, I cannot completely suppress its soul.

So this time, I will adopt a different method—a form of mutual complementarity, placing each other in an equal relationship and fulfilling conditions.

Whoosh.

Sluuuurp.

The condition I set for Keuseundae is affinity.

By presenting Kongsami, who shares the goblin blood contained in Bihyeong’s heart and has received a portion of its power, I make it recognize each other as kin and provide assistance.

In other words, if the ritual succeeds, Keuseundae will regard me as an object of affection and, by its own will, assist my actions.

‘In return, I must also help Keuseundae, but…’

It makes no difference to me anyway. If a battle breaks out, I would naturally have to support and protect my Shikigami, Keuseundae, to the utmost.

In short, while it took the form of a loophole, it was ultimately a contract where I only stood to gain.

Whoosh.

‘…The ritual will soon be complete.’

So until then, I must somehow finalize this contract.

Sweating profusely, I devoted myself to the connection with Keuseundae with all my might, literally pouring my life into it.

And at the very last moment, I successfully completed the contract.

Whoosh!

Crackle crackle!

Finally, the ritual was complete, and just like a year ago, splitting the earthen mound, a giant Horned Specter, its entire body covered in shadows, revealed itself.

It was clearly the same Keuseundae I knew and had seen before.

‘No, is it slightly different?’

That was probably because, unlike last time, this time it regained its complete form through a successful Resurrection Ritual.

Cheong Jinsoo let out a groan at the malevolent Spectral Energy that made his body tingle, and I, also with a slightly trembling expression, approached that Keuseundae and spoke.

“How is it? How does it feel to be outside after so long?”

Keuseundae remained silent. And simultaneously, it focused its gaze, alternating between looking at me and Kongsami, who had participated in the ritual.

After staring for about a minute like that, Keuseundae finally withdrew its gaze, picked up Kongsami—who was looking at it curiously from the side—and sat it on its shoulder.

“…Burn?”

Although it was a somewhat unexpected sight, it seemed clear the contract had proceeded normally.

Noticing this, Cheong Jinsoo changed his expression, approached me, and spoke.

“Amazing. Did it really succeed?”

“Yes. It went more smoothly than expected.”

“To witness such a scene in my lifetime…”

Well, it’s understandable to be amazed.

An S-Rank Specter, considered a national-level disaster, was mingling on the human side as if it were some neighborhood uncle.

And probably those who would become Keuseundae’s enemies in the future would feel the same emotions as Cheong Jinsoo does now.

‘I’ve done everything I can.’

Now, it’s just about facing the fierce wave that is coming.

After testing Keuseundae in various ways, I called it into the shadows and left the island.

Taking in the view of the island, which was once Han Kangyoon’s grave and a place I would never return to again.

‘…It’s still amazing to think about.’

Cheong Jinsoo, a member of the Cheong Family, one of the Three Great Noble Families, and the second-in-command of Cheong Soha’s faction, one of its Elders.

After finishing his assigned task and returning to his quarters, he let out a low exclamation of admiration while reflecting on today’s events.

‘It doesn’t make sense by common sense.’

At the time, he didn’t know any better and let it slide vaguely, but no matter how much he thought about it, it was strange, so he had just carefully searched through some materials.

The results were surprising.

As expected, no records existed of an Exorcist who had done the same thing as Han Kangyoon, no matter where he looked, including the family’s ancient documents.

Of course, there were those with comparable achievements.

The Cheong Family ancestor who subdued the mighty Azure Dragon and made it a family member, and the Cheong Family hero Cheongil, called the Exorcist of Exorcists, were the subjects.

However, if that were the case, the story was different again.

‘Does Han Kangyoon possess talent on the same level as those two?’

Of course, it might not be to that extent, but he was certainly a remarkable talent to the point where it was hard to believe one’s eyes.

It made sense that his own lord, Cheong Soha, was so concerned about him.

After roughly organizing the investigated content, Cheong Jinsoo immediately rushed to the main residence where Cheong Soha stayed and submitted a report on Han Kangyoon.

“…That is all I saw and heard by his side today.”

“Good work. It seems he managed to tame a Specter of that level and make it his subordinate.”

Since Han Kangyoon also has a close relationship with the faction, it should undoubtedly be good news, but strangely, Cheong Soha’s expression was subtle.

Cheong Soha, who had been pondering something intently for a moment, soon revealed a sharp aura and muttered softly to herself.

“It’s strange.”

“…What is, my lady?”

“He claimed to be a proxy, and for a while after contacting me, he acted accordingly.”

But.

“As time passes, the doubts about him deepen. Is that just my misconception?”

In Cheong Soha’s view, Han Kangyoon’s recent actions were strange.

It felt less like he was acting as that person’s proxy and more like he himself was the main agent drawing some kind of picture.

Moreover, he still had never once directly revealed that person’s whereabouts, and despite attaching surveillance several times, there was no sign of him receiving any special orders or submitting reports.

“It’s certain he knows something about the ancestor, but now his intentions are unclear.”

Before she knew it, a very small amount of hostility towards Han Kangyoon had settled in Cheong Soha’s eyes.

It was still too early to determine the facts, but if he had deceived her and dared to profane the ancestor’s name…

“…I won’t let him die easily.”

Startled by that murderous aura, Cheong Jinsoo, standing beside her, thought to himself.

The eyes of the woman facing him now seemed to be staring at Han Kangyoon, who was surely standing somewhere on this land even at this moment.