Chapter 184

“Have you finished dealing with that fellow?”

Cheong Soha’s residence, located in Cheongdam-dong within the Cheong Family’s management district.

There, Cheong Soha was kneeling and pouring tea, while an old man opposite her adopted the attitude of a superior.

“Yes, Ancestor. He will not see the light of the outside world until he dies of old age. However, why go to such lengths…”

“Generally, humans have a place that suits their station.”

Cheong Soha sent a dazed, entranced look toward the elderly Taoist Master who spoke without hesitation.

“…Your words are wise.”

“There was no need to expend effort on that leech-like clown. I have prepared a fitting grave for him, so do not concern yourself with him any further.”

“Yes. I will do so.”

Of course, the real reason the old man, Jinmyeong Daesa, sent Han Kangyoon to Yangcheolkoong was not that.

‘There is nothing to be gained by having further contact with him.’

For some unknown reason, Han Kangyoon clearly knew something about Jinmyeong Daesa.

While killing him might be easy, there is no guarantee he wouldn’t make a desperate last struggle in the process.

‘Just in case, I cannot risk ruining a perfectly cooked meal.’

Therefore, he went to considerable trouble to dispose of Han Kangyoon without even meeting him face-to-face.

He had thought he would become a troublesome nuisance, but luckily, heaven was on Jinmyeong Daesa’s side.

‘Who would have thought I would discover such a thing at just the right moment?’

An entity originating from Han Kangyoon, akin to his doppelganger.

While there is no clearly established case, if one were to give it a name, something like a Human Shadow Curse Monster would be fitting, wouldn’t it?

Although Jinmyeong Daesa had been confined until now and unable to interfere in the present world, as he had not neglected gathering information, he could discern its true nature at a glance.

‘He probably never expected the Gu Poison incident to yield such a result either.’

It was an outcome Jinmyeong Daesa had not intended at all.

From the beginning, the Gu Poison incident was a separate matter with no connection whatsoever to Jinmyeong Daesa.

However, regardless, the one who discovered it first was Jinmyeong Daesa, and in the end, Han Kangyoon was caught in the trap without even being able to devise a countermeasure, confined within an impregnable fortress.

It meant there was nothing left to hold back.

“From now on, I will consolidate all the family’s power into one.”

“…Yes. All preparations are complete.”

“There may be some sacrifices, but for the greater cause, it is unavoidable.”

Jinmyeong Daesa looked at Cheong Soha, who had become his puppet without even a hint of suspicion, with a satisfied expression.

Frankly, he hadn’t expected her to achieve such greatness; placing a suggestion on Cheong Soha during her childhood was nothing short of a stroke of luck.

‘Remarkable talent. Moreover, the limits of her vessel are still not visible.’

Though he hated to admit it, honestly, she was more talented than Jinmyeong himself. While Jinmyeong was also an existence on a different level from modern Exorcists, if they were to clash head-on in their current states, he couldn’t guarantee victory.

‘If she had become an enemy, it would have been truly dangerous.’

If he hadn’t gained control of Cheong Soha, all the plans he had laid so far might have been disrupted by her alone.

But in the end, the final victor was Jinmyeong.

The suggestion deeply engraved in Cheong Soha still bound her perfectly, and she could not refuse Jinmyeong’s commands from the depths of her being.

Thus, he could issue such an order without hesitation.

“There is no one within the current family who can be your match.”

“……”

“Therefore, begin the war.”

In the end, he would be able to embrace everything he desired without lifting a finger.

Staring at Cheong Soha, who bowed her head and accepted the command, Jinmyeong let slip a malicious smile.

Do Jihwan, the protagonist of the 5th installment of the Exorcism Academy Series, falls into the conspiracy of an antagonistic force within the story, just like me now, and gets confined in Yangcheolkoong.

However, he had a reason he absolutely had to get out, and in the end, he succeeded in the so-called impossible prison break, achieving a feat that astonished everyone.

‘But…’

At that point, Do Jihwan was a veritable Special-Rank Entry Exorcist.

Moreover, he also possessed his own unique ability, like Yoo Haon’s Demon-Suppressing Trait, which made it possible—quite different from my current situation.

‘And that’s not the only troublesome thing.’

Earlier, upon sensing the terrifying Spiritual Power wavelength from the prison’s top floor, I became certain.

The current leader of this Yangcheolkoong is undoubtedly Haekaram.

And she is a Special-Rank Exorcist ranked within the top five in South Korea at present, and a monster considered the greatest among all past Guardians of Yangcheolkoong.

‘She was quite a popular character, so I know her well.’

She is a character who appears several times in the 2nd and 3rd installments of the Exorcism Academy Series in the role of an ally to the protagonist’s party.

Therefore, I can be sure. My current strength absolutely does not measure up to hers.

‘There’s no guarantee I’ll ever surpass her either.’

She is essentially a character with a top-tier vessel throughout the entire series.

Even if I grow to my limit, honestly, there remains doubt about whether I can obtain power equal to hers.

“The more I think about it, the harder it seems.”

I let out a sigh at the seemingly unsolvable clue and sat down against the wall of the solitary cell.

It’s a truly perplexing situation.

Although a few gambits come to mind, honestly, none of them seem worth attempting.

‘First, let’s organize my thoughts.’

I can state definitively: there is no way to escape from here unnoticed by everyone.

For a prison break, it means I must inevitably remove, one by one, the elements blocking my path.

‘Among them, the most troublesome is, of course, Haekaram, the master of Yangcheolkoong.’

Following her clan’s tradition, Haekaram must have also been taught by her predecessors how to handle the Great Barrier deployed here before becoming the leader.

And as long as that Great Barrier remains intact, escape is practically impossible.

In other words, I must somehow temporarily bind the manipulation of the Barrier.

That was the first prerequisite.

‘Do Jihwan lured the leader of his time onto the stage and then suppressed and neutralized her with sheer strength, but…’

Honestly, the leader at Do Jihwan’s time wasn’t such an extraordinary existence. Roughly at a level that could be called a Semi-Special-Rank Exorcist.

Yet even she boasted invincible power within this Yangcheolkoong.

How much more so for Haekaram, who is counted among the top of the Special-Rank?

Naturally, I had to find a different way to block the Barrier’s manipulation.

‘But how on earth?’

With no solution in sight for the most crucial condition, naturally, no brilliant scheme came to mind either.

While I was just thinking, all three days in solitary confinement passed.

I had to return to the designated 7th room on the second floor and face the inmates’ faces once more.

“…You’ve returned.”

Naturally, in a place where power is truth, the background or age of the person in question holds no meaning.

Therefore, they openly treated me, who had returned, as a superior.

“Who holds the highest rank in this room?”

At those words, the one who stepped forward raising his hand was a 2nd-Rank wanted man named Choi Mancheol.

“…Me. However, I have no intention of opposing you.”

“I will leave the room management as it has been. And, I have a few things I want to ask.”

No matter how much I know about this Yangcheolkoong, it is, after all, knowledge obtained through media.

Naturally, I needed to obtain information from the actual scene.

After conversing with Choi Mancheol for a while like that, I was able to recall various pieces of information and knowledge I had temporarily forgotten.

“The Arena?”

“That’s right. A place where duels between inmates are held once every three weeks.”

Come to think of it, there was such a setting.

Since this is a prison gathering those with inherently violent dispositions who cannot control their power, to manage them efficiently, it’s necessary to satisfy their desires to some extent.

Therefore, they deliberately created an area in the deepest part where the Great Barrier’s power does not reach, and hold matches there with various rewards, allowing inmates to fight each other.

‘Of course, that doesn’t mean vulnerabilities are exposed.’

Since they created a separate area right in the center and added strict surveillance, no particular problems should arise.

‘However, it has utilization value.’

I filed that fact away in a corner of my mind and continued my conversation with Choi Mancheol.

“You may or may not know, but this Yangcheolkoong has three areas. Someone like you might even be able to contend with the inmates of the third floor.”

Apparently, the rewards from the Arena had mostly gone to them for a long time.

“Among them, the ones particularly renowned are the Crusher Gregory, an unnamed man called Blood Fist, and the Demon-Touched Cha Solbi.”

All three are names I haven’t heard before.

Well, in the original work, there was no reason for Yangcheolkoong to be emphasized at this point, so in a way, it’s natural.

‘Judging from what he says, they’re probably around 1st-Rank level powerhouses.’

Meaning, excluding Haekaram, it aligns with them possessing strength considered top-tier within this Yangcheolkoong.

‘No, I can’t be so sure of that either.’

I momentarily shifted my gaze to the floor and stared at the deep underground beneath it.

In fact, this Yangcheolkoong has a fourth area that is not officially known.

Right below the second floor, a special area concealed by the powerful force of the Great Barrier, absolutely imperceptible to the Spiritual Sense of most individuals.

‘Since this is the time of the 1st installment, I cannot know whether it is currently empty or if someone even exists there…’

But if there is someone occupying that place, they would be the worst inmates possessing the strongest power here.

‘In terms of rank, from the highest 1st-Rank to Special-Rank.’

And only those who have committed Forbidden Techniques betraying righteousness are sent there.

Damian of Crimson Blood, the Special-Rank criminal whom the involved faction wanted freed during the kidnapping incident of Laura, the former Spanish princess.

Essentially, all those imprisoned in the secret layer must be considered to possess a danger level comparable to his.

“…It seems quite interesting. Are you thinking of participating in the Arena?”

“I’m considering it.”

“Especially this time, it’s said the master of this prison will grant conveniences within limits to the top winners. You won’t lose anything by challenging.”

An absurd question.

It’s a duel between vicious inmates; no matter the match format, it can’t be without danger.

Choi Mancheol, subtly instilling anticipation, is also merely coveting the crumbs that might fall if I achieve good results.

‘However…’

No matter how many times I think about it, I need to meet Haekaram face-to-face at least once.

Moreover, I feel the desire to experience firsthand the part where the Great Barrier’s influence disappears within the Arena space.

After a brief period of contemplation, I nodded and spoke.

“I will participate in this Arena.”

There, I must absolutely grasp some clue for escape.