Chapter 188

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The hidden floor I was about to search for, the prisoners of the Middle Floor.

I didn’t know their number or identity, but what was certain was that an escapee had emerged from there at a timing that coincidentally meshed with my plan.

‘Should I see this as a favorable turn?’

It was quite an ambiguous situation.

Clearly, I too was in the process of moving to release someone from there, but I had no intention of causing such a conspicuous incident.

Because of this, all my cautious movements had become futile.

‘What should I do?’

If that bastard also knows the secret of this Great Barrier, he would inevitably target Haekaram first.

However, since I don’t know his thoughts, I can’t recklessly conclude either.

From here on, it’s clear that each and every action will become a kind of branching point.

I decided not to make a hasty decision and first hid my body with a concealment Art Formula to observe the flow.

The commotion continued, and as expected of a Special Prisoner, there was still no sign of them being subdued.

After watching that series of events, I agonized and then made a special decision.

‘I’ll change the plan.’

If things go like this, it’s nearly impossible to touch Haekaram’s mask in any way.

Rather, even if I’m not certain, it would be better to use this gap to try and find a weakness in the Great Barrier.

I immediately moved along the escape route verified by Do Jihwan in the original work and arrived at a passage where small boats for inspection purposes were prepared.

‘If I can somehow create just a very small gap….’

Even without breaking the Great Barrier’s control, there should be a way to extract just my own body.

However, the outer wall of the Great Barrier I actually faced possessed a sturdiness beyond imagination.

‘This isn’t a Level that can be broken by just any Cursed Technique.’

Even with the most powerful Art Formula I can currently use, and even adding Keuseundae’s power, I’m not confident.

Right then, someone’s will was transmitted from within the shadows. The protagonist was none other than Eve, the Witch’s Sorcery Doll.

[I think I can create a gap.]

“…How?”

Slither.

Fwoosh!

Quickly summoning Eve, Eve pointed to her own body and conveyed the reason to me.

“The Art Formula contained in the power source is resonating.”

If it’s the power source Eve currently possesses, it was clearly referring to the Eternal Spring Talisman.

Only then could I recall the information about the Eternal Spring Talisman I had checked earlier with the Appraisal function.

【Eternal Spring Talisman】

▶A sigil imbued with great power. The owner gathers natural power and continuously recovers Spiritual Power. A special Cursed Technique is contained within the sigil.

The special Art Formula said to be contained within the sigil—perhaps that could be the key to escape.

“Can you understand the Art Formula?”

“I cannot confirm it, but it appears to be a type that absorbs the compositional energy of surrounding Art Formulas to block their operation.”

That meant the Art Formula contained within the Eternal Spring Talisman was also created for the purpose of interfering with the activation of Cursed Techniques, similar to this Great Barrier’s ability.

And listening to Eve’s words, it seemed it could be sufficiently utilized even in a situation like this.

“Then I’ll leave it to you.”

“Yes. However, there is a high possibility of entering an overload state for a while after activating the Art Formula. Is that acceptable?”

“It doesn’t matter. Proceed.”

For interfering with a Barrier of this scale, it would naturally be unreasonable if there were no cost.

At my command, Eve quietly approached the outer wall of the Barrier and began drawing up power, and soon the Art Formula contained within the power source, the Eternal Spring Talisman, was deployed.

Hwoooong.

Srrrrr.

Zzzeeeng!

Zzzejeong!

Due to using excessive power, cracks were appearing here and there on Eve’s body.

However, even so, she didn’t stop, and ultimately managed to create a single small gap in the Great Barrier protecting this Yangcheolkoong.

“…Before the Barrier repairs itself, hurry.”

Slither!

Perhaps because it was severely overexerting, Eve couldn’t even finish her sentence and was sucked into my shadow as if collapsing.

There was no reason to hesitate. I nodded and quickly stepped forward.

Simultaneously, shouts from the guards began to be heard from above the passage.

Tatadat!

“He’s releasing the prisoners on the third floor!”

“Everyone, steel your resolve for a fight to the death! Not a single one must be let outside!”

Hearing their words, it seemed the Special Prisoner of the Middle Floor had chosen nothing less than an all-out war.

‘To cause such a noisy uproar like this?’

Something definitely felt off.

If an incident of this magnitude had occurred, it couldn’t have gone unmentioned in the original work.

Then, a single scene suddenly flashed through my mind.

‘…No, thinking carefully, I definitely remember it.’

The memory of the past directly uttered by Haekaram, who appeared as an ally to the protagonist’s party in Exorcism Academy Part 2.

[Do you think I’ve never failed? I too have a past I desperately wish to undo.]

Recalling that, I could naturally realize the identity of the Special Prisoner currently shaking this Yangcheolkoong.

‘The Puppeteer, Bastoni.’

He was a skilled practitioner with such exquisite craftsmanship that he could exert most of his original abilities even within the Great Barrier, and those captured by his Forbidden Art would point their blades at their master, Haekaram, regardless of their own will.

‘Was that incident happening right now….’

In the end, Haekaram, under the single-minded determination to fulfill his mission, killed all his retainers with his own hands and then delivered a miserable end to Bastoni.

But the future Haekaram said this.

Even if it was the correct choice as a successor, he should not have done it. He realized it too late.

And if he could turn back time, even if it meant condoning Bastoni’s escape, he would definitely save their lives.

Srrrr.

Even while I was briefly lost in recollection, the gap in the Great Barrier that Eve had opened was being repaired moment by moment.

Outside, Jinmyeong Daesa’s sinister schemes were still shaking the Cheong Family. As someone who knew his true identity, it was time for me to step forward.

Now, I had to forget all worries and point my blade towards the most dangerous enemy.

Even though I recognized that in my mind, for some reason, my feet wouldn’t move.

‘Haekaram, he was actually quite a good person.’

Moreover, in fact, he wasn’t entirely unrelated to me.

While he himself wasn’t a character I handled, his daughter, who would appear in the distant future, was one of the characters I was directly involved in during the development stage.

Thinking that far, my heart’s direction was ultimately decided.

If I cross over ahead like this, I too will surely regret this someday, just like Haekaram.

‘She went through the trouble of opening it, I feel somewhat sorry.’

I turned my steps right there, passed through the passage, and headed back towards the upper floors.

My footsteps, now free of worry, were incredibly light, unlike before.

The destination was simple.

‘I’ll go to Haekaram.’

In the end, going round and round, it was the moment to follow the very first option I had thought of.

“…With such skill, you’ve been quite well-behaved until now.”

“Ridiculous talk. Against a monster of your caliber, one cannot recklessly move, isn’t that right?”

The main building located on the first floor. In its center, a middle-aged man and a girl with her hair in a ponytail were confronting each other.

And around them, several personnel stood lined up, waiting with unnatural postures as if bewitched by something.

“My demand is simple. If you release me from Yangcheolkoong, I will return all of them safely.”

“You’ve caused such an incident, and you think you can get away unscathed?”

“Of course, only I am to be released. Those fools rampaging down below can end up however. That’s not a bad deal, is it?”

Bastoni had no intention of helping the other prisoners from the start. He merely intended to use them as tools to cause chaos.

At that vicious act, Haekaram’s expression naturally contorted.

“Sorry, but that won’t do.”

“Then there’s no choice, I’ll just have to end my life along with these people.”

Bastoni had that much resolve. From the beginning, Haekaram was a person he dared not approach even with his own skill comparable to Special-Rank Entry.

To escape from her grasp, he too had to stake a corresponding gamble.

Perhaps sensing that Bastoni’s resolve was genuine, Haekaram stopped speaking and began to hesitate somewhat.

If he didn’t accept the conditions, Bastoni would truly be prepared for mutual destruction.

And the targets of that mutual destruction included Haekaram’s subordinates and Haewoonhyeong, who had stood by his side for many years.

Sensing Haekaram’s gaze, Haewoonhyeong, whose mouth hardly moved, opened it to convey a firm resolve.

“…You must, protect the mission. Do not, worry about us.”

“I know, so be quiet.”

It wasn’t because he didn’t know that that he was hesitating. In fact, for Haekaram, who possessed Cold Reason, such anguish was an extremely rare occurrence.

‘But….’

Unlike the other guards of Yangcheolkoong, those present here were all loyal subordinates who believed in him and had been with him.

Moreover, Haewoonhyeong was especially significant among them.

The person who had supported him from the side since childhood, through numerous hardships. In essence, he was practically family in the truest sense.

‘To abandon all of them like that?’

As Haekaram hesitated, Bastoni continued with a somewhat impatient expression.

“The longer we delay, the more disadvantageous it becomes for me, so I have no intention of allowing pointless agonizing.”

As Bastoni gestured, Haewoonhyeong had already picked up a ritual dagger and was pointing it at his own throat.

“Choose. If you won’t release me, I’ll kill all of them and then take my own life.”

In that urgent situation, Haewoonhyeong also closed his eyes and made a final wish.

“I beg of you. At the very least, by your own hand, Haekaram-nim….”

Haekaram felt his heart pounding loudly.

Even the clan’s rules, which had been drilled into his head almost like brainwashing until now, were urging him on.

A quick glance showed that everyone, including Haewoonhyeong, had already steeled their resolve.

For him to hesitate here would be to betray their resolve.

“…Everyone, be at peace there.”

Haekaram, having made his decision, emitted an exceedingly dense Spiritual Power and revealed a murderous intent filled with anger.

At that, Bastoni’s face darkened, and he clicked his tongue loudly and used all those under his Forbidden Art as shields.

It was truly a last-ditch struggle, staking his final hope.

“What a stubborn specter bound by rules! Do you truly intend to drive all of these people into the pit of death with your own hands!”

“…….”

Haekaram did not respond. He merely recited the Incantation of an Art Formula and raised his hand.

Soon, gritting his teeth, he slowly swung his hand down.

“Wait there. I will definitely tear you to a thousand pieces.”

Hwoooong.

Zzzejeojeok!

An Advanced Attack Art Formula containing intense Spiritual Power—with that, both Haekaram and Bastoni felt they had now crossed an irreversible river.

However, at a completely unexpected timing, a being appeared and blocked it.

Zzzeeeong!*

[Groooar!]

A massive form with horns sprouting from its head, its entire body shrouded in shadow.

It was none other than Keuseundae.