Chapter 176

Though there was still considerable distance, the closer I approached the garden, the more clearly I could take in its full view.

A garden brimming with flowers of every hue, beautiful to the point of being eerie.

The entire place was saturated with an indescribably gloomy and sinister energy.

And punctuating that atmosphere were the desiccated, mummy-like corpses of people entwined around the tree trunks.

It wasn’t hard to guess that they were likely the victims who had previously set foot in this garden.

“Why the hesitation? Your steps have halted.”

Hwabaek let out a soft chuckle and stared at me as if mocking me.

In response, I took a deep breath and then stepped forward, crossing the threshold.

“…So you finally tread upon the ground.”

A chilling voice echoed, and simultaneously, as if they had been waiting for this moment, several plant vines lunged to ensnare me.

Naturally, the moment I stepped onto the garden soil, they intended to kill me right then and there.

However, I had been waiting for that moment as well.

“Wall of the Azure Heavens.”

Whoosh.

Ssschhhh!

The vines imbued with Monstrous Power moved with truly unpredictable motions, trying to bind me, but my accumulated experience was too valuable to be caught by something of that level.

“Soul Rending Slash.”

Swish!

Swishhh—!

Then, struck by the Offensive Art precisely deployed at pinpoint locations, the vines were cleanly severed without even recovering their initial investment, falling limply.

Seeing this, Hwabaek showed a somewhat surprised expression.

“Indeed, it seems you do have something to rely on.”

Yet even amidst this, more plants from all directions now writhed, revealing their hostility toward me.

I had roughly anticipated it, but she still showed not the slightest intention of engaging in any conversation.

In response, I also took out beads of a clear, bright color from my bosom and scattered them evenly on the ground.

They were the Spirit Pellets I had received earlier from Cheong Jiyeon.

“Yunhwa.”

Whoosh.

Plop.

Tap.

Upon reciting the Incantation, the beads, now turned red, sank into the ground and began emitting Spiritual Power each.

The Cursed Technique that followed was, in a way, inevitable.

“Clear Path Threads Dwelling of Blossoming Land. Covenant of the Empty Grove.”

The Clan’s Unique Spell Technique she had used during our battle in the Guard Unit training session.

“The Art of Targeted Blossoming.”

It was a high-level Binding Art that created numerous Spiritual Power flower vines to restrain the opponent.

Whoosh.

Shwara-rak!

From various points on the ground where the beads had burrowed, flower vines made of Spiritual Power began to sprout forth.

Sharp thorns adorned the vines all over, and their size was also considerable.

Faced with a spell that seemed to mimic her own attack, Hwabaek immediately frowned.

“…How utterly irritating.”

Outwardly, it appeared the spells from both sides were evenly matched, tangling together, but I, the one casting it, could immediately perceive a clear difference.

‘It won’t hold for long.’

From the start, the opponent’s specs were better, and there was also a difference in proficiency here.

No matter how skillfully I handled the spell, for Hwabaek, the plants in the garden were like her own limbs. Naturally, there had to be a gap.

But it was fine. My real objective existed separately anyway.

‘To open a path, I must…’

I needed to obtain information about Hwabaek.

She was originally a half-human, half-specter who was once human, and a earth-bound spirit tied to this garden.

To draw her into my service as a Familiar Demon, I obviously had to resolve that part first.

And somewhat luckily, I had a special Cursed Tool prepared for that very purpose.

Namely, the Short Blade of Usurped Thought obtained through the last Shin Dohoon incident.

【Short Blade of Usurped Thought】

▶ A short blade inscribed with the Cursed Technique of Usurpation. Can absorb a portion of the memories of a beheaded target.

In other words, if I could just land one effective hit on Hwabaek somehow, I could surely also find out the reason she was bound to this place.

‘If I borrow Keuseundae’s power, it wouldn’t be difficult, but…’

That guy is the so-called trump card. I also have to expend a lot of energy to handle it, and it’s not something I can conveniently pull out and use whenever needed.

Also, there was no need to go that far.

I had already, while observing the opponent’s movements, roughly formulated a plan.

‘She doesn’t seem to have much aptitude for close combat.’

Of course, there was a possibility it was a trap, but judging by Hwabaek’s personality seen so far, it didn’t seem likely.

The fact that no Trait related to close combat existed also supported that reasoning.

‘Then…’

Create an opening for a moment, close the distance myself, and land a strike with the Short Blade of Usurped Thought.

That was the simplest and most reasonable method.

“Kongsami.”

Swoosh.

Fwoosh!

In response to my call, Kongsami leaped out from the shadows and then quietly sent a gaze as if waiting for instructions.

‘Burning down the garden would probably just make her angry.’

If it were a simple fight, maybe not, but right now I’m in the position of wanting to subjugate her.

So this time, I was just changing the method a little.

“When I give the signal, spew fire at me.”

“…Burn you?”

“If you put your mind to it, you can do it.”

The Flame of Purification Trait possessed by Kongsami—if I utilized that, it was entirely possible to burn only the intended target.

Simultaneously, as I started running, I drew up Spiritual Power to the fullest and recited the Incantation.

“Rotting Darkness Dispersal, Empty Clear Curse Radiance, Transform Essence Retain Produce Purity.”

The Hwang Family’s unique Cursed Technique, Protective Radiance.

An Art Formula of the body enhancement type that converts Spiritual Power within the body into life energy, increasing recovery and defense.

“Protective Radiance.”

As the Art Formula completed, my body was enveloped in a faint yellow light, and with even greater speed, I closed in on Hwabaek, who was hiding among the plants.

“…Such a laughable act!”

Shwara-rak!

Hwabaek swung her hand, shooting out tree roots and plant vines again, but at that very moment, Kongsami’s flames flew in and wrapped around my body.

“What…?”

Plants are the natural opposite of fire—an obvious principle.

On top of that, the Flame of Purification Trait possessed by Kongsami suppressed Spectral Energy, so the plants couldn’t even get close to me.

And seizing that opening, I perfectly entered Hwabaek’s domain.

‘As expected, her reactions are dull.’

Until now, I had avoided close combat here in most situations.

My own strengths lay in extremely precise distance maintenance, and compared to the true geniuses here with systematic education and training, I felt my close combat was of a lower grade.

‘Compared immediately to the Martial Faction Baek Family, it’s hardly a match.’

However, that didn’t mean I particularly lacked confidence in direct combat.

It just wasn’t my style, and I didn’t consider it because the efficiency was low.

Shwara-rak!

Shwa-rak—!

And for me, the flustered attacks of Hwabaek were quite easy to dodge.

“You little rat…!”

Perhaps judging that further approach was dangerous, Hwabaek gathered power and made a giant flower bloom to block my path.

Moreover, from that flower, I could feel some inexplicably ominous energy.

‘Come to think of it, she did have the Toxic Aura Trait.’

But unfortunately, that level of poison wouldn’t work on me now.

The flames of Kongsami still enveloping my body, the Dragon Body Trait obtained last time, and even the Black Phoenix earring.

The means to counter Toxic Aura alone already numbered over three.

Whoosh.

“Soul Rending Slash.”

Feeling a somewhat tingling sensation from the spores covering my body, I split the flower open and then beheaded Hwabaek with the Short Blade of Usurped Thought.

Due to Hwabaek’s reaction, only a small scratch was made, but that was enough.

After all, the condition had been met.

Swoosh.

Swooosh.

I slowly began to accept Hwabaek’s memories flowing in, reflecting on them while maintaining distance.

And I learned. Her original form, and the circumstances of how she became a Specter and became bound here—everything.

‘…A bit unexpected.’

I had originally expected Hwabaek to have been human, but in reality, it was slightly different.

She was a Divine Spirit.

Though she possessed somewhat weak power among them, she was clearly a being different from both humans and Specters.

She, who had resided in the giant tree in this garden, had one close friend.

‘A cliché story.’

Yet it was that much more direct and an unfiltered tragedy.

Hwabaek’s friend died, and the tree Hwabaek resided in and this garden were burned, almost disappearing without a trace.

The ones who did all that were none other than humans.

And more than that cruel content, I found my attention drawn to a slightly different part and was taken aback.

‘This situation, I’m sure I’ve seen it somewhere?’

Somehow, the memories felt familiar. After briefly reflecting on the past, I soon realized where the source was.

‘An event. It was an event in the Exorcism Academy Series.’

Hwabaek wasn’t just some Specter that randomly dropped in due to the Hell Difficulty.

Her past was definitely something I was also aware of.

And the same went for her friend, Yeon Jaki.

‘No, first of all, Yeon Jaki…’

Did not die.

Hwabaek might not know, but in reality, she is alive and walking this land even at this very moment.

The old friend of Yeon Jaki, who was only mentioned in the event story.

Realizing that the one before my eyes was Hwabaek, I couldn’t help but feel quite flustered.

‘Strictly speaking, story-wise, it’s not strange, but…’

Even so, I never expected things to turn out like this.

However, separate from that bewilderment, this situation was actually favorable for me.

The justification to persuade her had been perfectly placed in my hands.

After taking a moment to breathe deeply, I regained my composure and spoke to her, who was frowning intensely.

“You became a Specter of your own will. For revenge, and to protect this garden.”

“…Stealing another’s memories, what a despicable creature you are. I will definitely tear you to pieces right here.”

It was a truly murderous aura, but unlike before, I had some leeway.

Well, because a situation had been prepared where she would have no choice but to follow me.

“Was what was truly precious to you really this garden?”

“……”

Probably not. What Hwabaek valued was merely the place of memories she shared with her dear friend, not the garden itself.

Having already experienced that event story once, I could relatively accurately guess her emotions and way of thinking at the time.

“…Just what are you trying to say?”

“In my opinion, I don’t think you are a being who should be here.”

Hwabaek silently gathered power, as if there was no more worth in speaking.

Spectral Energy even stronger than before.

It seemed she still hadn’t been exerting her full strength.

But all of that soon became meaningless with the single sentence I uttered.

“Your friend, Yeon Jaki, is alive.”

It was the moment Hwabaek’s murderous expression twisted in a truly bizarre manner.