Chapter 177

“Do you intend to mock me by claiming to have stolen memories?”

“I have no such intention. In fact, I was equally surprised. I never imagined you were connected to her.”

My response, more serious than she expected, left Hwabaek with a completely bewildered expression.

“My dear friend is dead. I still cannot forget that sight, yet you dare to twist your tongue so cunningly.”

From Hwabaek’s perspective, that’s how she perceived it, but the reality was different.

Yeon Jaki, who was once human, had become a Specter like Hwabaek before her and was now acting for a different purpose.

Judging by her remarks in the original work, it seemed Yeon Jaki was also unaware of Hwabaek’s survival—a truly ironic twist of fate.

Hwabaek wore an expression of intense anger, yet within it, a faint tremor was visible.

Even while thinking it false, a part of her heart wished it were true.

So now was the time to push my point relentlessly, without regard for niceties.

“Even if you say that, I have actually met her.”

“……”

“She, too, believed you were dead.”

For Hwabaek, these would be the sweetest words imaginable.

They meant she could meet Yeon Jaki again—the very reason Hwabaek remained bound to this garden.

“…Then, don’t just speak. Prove it.”

In response, I offered her a fact that Yeon Jaki knew but Hwabaek did not.

“The wooden box she stubbornly refused to let you touch when you were young—do you know what’s inside?”

“…Are you truly saying you know that?”

“It was a letter. Written for you when she had to leave the mansion for a while and couldn’t visit the garden.”

My words were not mere falsehoods but undeniable truth. Sensing this, perhaps, Hwabaek’s expression began to waver incomparably more than before.

“…It makes sense. It certainly makes sense.”

Yet, reaching a definitive judgment remained difficult.

From her perspective, it was simply too unbelievable.

Thus, I added another fact to bolster that certainty.

“Do you know why she bought three identical hair ornaments the day before the mansion burned down?”

Even if they shared one each, one would remain. Hwabaek likely never knew the answer.

No matter how much she pressed, Yeon Jaki never revealed the truth about it.

“It was an offering to the tree you inhabited. A gesture of gratitude for their meeting.”

Of course, she couldn’t have told Hwabaek directly. It would have been far too embarrassing to express openly.

Having heard this far, Hwabaek no longer seemed disbelieving.

The explanation was too plausible for her to dismiss as a lie.

After all, this was all fact confirmed by Yeon Jaki herself, so it wasn’t false to begin with.

“…I acknowledge you have considerable nerve. I find myself wanting to believe you despite myself.”

With that, Hwabaek slowly retracted the plant stems that had filled the surroundings.

“If those words are false, I will not forgive you.”

It was, unmistakably, a clear intent to cooperate.

The method to extract Hwabaek from this garden was simple.

Now that the lingering attachment binding her had vanished, I only needed to transfer her into my shadow through a Shikigami contract.

Moreover, with the cooperation of the garden’s ruler, even more was possible.

“…You truly mean you can enter and leave this garden anytime?”

“Yes. It’s possible. I don’t need to maintain it constantly; I just need to create the passageway.”

Sahwanje, summoned from my shadow, was literally frowning and sweating profusely as it forced open a passage to the garden.

Yet, I felt not a shred of pity. This guy had secretly stolen and absorbed remnants of power during the recent Keuseundae resurrection ritual.

‘It must have been possible due to being the same type of goblin and its Art Formula for manipulating space.’

As a result, its Level and abilities had also risen somewhat.

This task seemed well within its capabilities.

“Thank you, truly. How can I ever repay this kindness…?”

Setting aside those circumstances, the citizens were overjoyed, practically jumping for joy at finally being able to leave this space.

In contrast, the Exorcists’ reactions were divided.

Looks of awe directed at me for taming such a powerful Specter, and slight dissatisfaction that I wasn’t disposing of the Specter that killed their comrades.

But there was no helping it.

To put it coldly, I had a very clear objective, and to achieve it, I had to separate public duty from personal feelings.

From the start, it was a life-or-death struggle conducted without any particular cowardice.

Every Exorcist in this era carried the resolve for that within their hearts.

Even if I were to die, I wouldn’t particularly hold a grudge against my opponent.

‘…Well, not that it’ll come to that.’

Frankly, it was a somewhat callous thing for me to say, possessing an extra life thanks to the Phantom Body Trait’s second phase.

[Keheek!]

Before long, Sahwanje completed constructing the passage, and we finally escaped the Garden of Death and returned inside the hospital.

After ensuring everyone’s return to the shelter, I conveyed the more precise facts to Hwabaek without embellishment.

That Yeon Jaki was currently acting with a different purpose, so an immediate meeting wasn’t possible. But it wouldn’t take too long until they could meet.

To that, Hwabaek, surprisingly readily, nodded in agreement.

“Now I can clearly tell. That your words are true, at the very least.”

The Shikigami contract between her and me was one of equal mutual complement.

It seemed that allowed her to perceive such information as well.

Anyway, with that, the first day of the Night Parade of One Hundred Specters finally came to an end.

It had been a day with so many events that I entrusted even the night watch to the shelter’s Exorcists and slipped into bed without a sound.

My mind still pondering the days ahead.

For the next two days, nothing particularly special happened.

Powerful Specters like Horse-Head Six-Arms or Hwabaek didn’t appear near this shelter, and the citizens had also grown accustomed to shelter life, voicing no particular complaints.

Then, when another day passed, the situation finally began to intensify.

“…A support request from Headquarters. Two entities have been designated S-Rank as of now. It seems an attack force is being assembled to subjugate them.”

Normally, it would be a matter for the elite Exorcists of Headquarters, but unfortunately, personnel are currently scarce nationwide.

Because of that, it seems they’re sending support requests wherever they can reach.

“Is there anyone willing to volunteer support?”

I glanced around, but not a single person raised their hand.

It was only natural. Opposing an S-Rank Specter meant, in all likelihood, facing death.

Moreover, I too couldn’t help but be quite taken aback by the news.

‘Two entities?’

To my knowledge, only one S-Rank Specter was supposed to reveal itself at this point.

If so, the implication was clear.

‘An additional Specter due to the Hell Difficulty influence.’

I have no information about that one. If encountered, it would be a troublesome opponent.

But regardless, I had been waiting for this moment all along.

Therefore, not going was not an option.

Swish.

“I’ll go.”

Everyone stared at me with surprised looks, and Hwang Gwang-seon, in charge of the shelter, also showed a flustered expression.

“Can’t you reconsider? It’s somewhat embarrassing to say, but I believe you are a talent who will lead this nation’s Cursed Arts World in the future. There’s no need to risk your life at the forefront, is there?”

It was advice offered with considerable sincerity.

But there was no choice. While I wasn’t an Exorcist with skills great enough to turn the tide of battle, the information I possessed was different.

The level of casualties for the attack force would likely vary drastically depending on its presence or absence.

Seeing my firm resolve, Hwang Gwang-seon seemed to realize persuasion was futile and nodded.

“…I won’t try to stop you further. But please, be careful.”

Then he gave a short bow.

A gesture of respect, acknowledging me simply as an Exorcist.

‘The first place to go is Mudeungsan, I suppose.’

A mountain located in Hwasun County, Jeollanam-do, with a peak of 1,187 meters.

It was once called Seoseoksan, a place formed by volcanic activity but currently considered an extinct volcano.

And there, hiding now, is a Specter that has caused numerous casualties and been designated S-Rank.

‘The rock Specter, Yoosakbi.’

It is an immensely powerful Specter with a special ability.

And I, having experienced the original work, knew what it was currently plotting.

‘It intends to stimulate the earth with an Art Formula and awaken the volcano.’

A land flowing with lava and flames—in short, it aims to completely turn that area into its own domain.

‘Originally, Yoo Haon’s group would also participate in this battle, but…’

With another S-Rank Specter now appearing, it’s impossible to know how things will unfold.

Therefore, I first suspended my thoughts and diligently traversed the region toward Jeollanam-do.

And finally, I was able to join the Subjugation Force assembled to eliminate Yoosakbi.

“Ah, 3rd-Rank Exorcist Han Kangyoon. Yes, confirmed.”

For a 3rd-Rank Exorcist—the lowest rank—to participate in a Subjugation Force, there are conditions.

Either over ten years of active service or achievements sufficient to compensate for it.

It was, at the very least, a measure to minimize casualties.

‘Well, it doesn’t matter to me.’

Thanks to my academy grades, qualification exam results, and temporary affiliation with Jeokhwadan leading to repelling an S-Rank Specter, my achievements were more than sufficient.

Though not officially recognized yet, I also defeated numerous Specters on the way from the shrine to here.

Thus, assigned a small lodging to rest, I soon realized my earlier suspicion had hit the mark.

‘As expected, they’re not here.’

The location where the other S-Rank Specter appeared coincidentally overlapped with the jurisdiction of the Guard Unit where Yoo Haon’s group was on a training mission.

By now, Yoo Haon’s group was probably assisting a similarly assembled attack force dealing with that Specter.

‘…The timing might not align.’

I wanted to help, but the side where I definitively know the information and can produce results is right here.

So, I had no choice but to leave that side to them, the original protagonists of this world.

‘They can definitely do it.’

Calming my mind and sinking into meditation, I sensed someone approaching.

“What the hell is this brat?”

It seemed, for now, I had to deal with the other side first.