Chapter 189

At the sudden intrusion, Haekaram and Bastoni’s faces flushed with bewilderment.

Haekaram glanced briefly at Keuseundae, which had blocked his attack, then shot a murderous glare at me as I revealed myself, having dropped my concealment.

“…Right. In the end, you’re just the same kind of bastard.”

On the other hand, Bastoni, with a pensive expression, made a judgment in his head and immediately extended a proposal to me.

“Well, this is a pleasant surprise! I had no idea someone of this caliber was lurking here. What do you say? Join hands with me and escape this place.”

Facing a desperate crisis, my appearance must have seemed nothing short of a savior to him.

After roughly grasping the situation, I first went along with it and nodded.

“With the two of us, it should be entirely possible.”

That’s what I said, but in truth, it would be difficult. Having abandoned the hostages, Haekaram would undoubtedly go all out to kill us.

However, this created the worst possible scenario for Haekaram: not only losing the hostages but also potentially letting the prisoners escape.

While Haekaram hesitated, Bastoni seized the initiative in the conversation again.

“It seems the situation has changed a bit. Though it’s unpleasant, my earlier proposal still stands. Wouldn’t it be better for you to avoid losing everything as well?”

“……”

Contrary to expectations, Bastoni trusted me implicitly.

Common sense dictated that with the shared goal of escape, cooperation was inevitable until then, it seemed.

“A very small opening will suffice. After letting the two of us out, if you deal with the rabble on the lower floors, you’ll at least have a minimal justification.”

“…You expect me, the current leader of the Iron Clan, to simply let you go?”

Therefore, I had to use that opening to discern Bastoni’s Art and find a way to free the hostages.

‘Since this is the first part’s timeline, the structure shouldn’t be that advanced.’

However, Bastoni was merely a being mentioned in passing in the distant future.

Naturally, I too had extremely limited information.

‘…It’s not a type that directly dominates the target.’

It’s closer to a somewhat niche type rather than a classic one. I can’t be certain, but it’s probably a form that imposes restrictions based on certain conditions.

“Can you engage in combat while controlling the hostages?”

“Of course. However, in this state, I can only exert about 60% of my full power.”

Bastoni readily divulged his information without much hesitation. It was a testament to how desperate his situation was.

And from that one statement, I finally found the answer.

‘So it was the Burden-Imposing Talisman type.’

An all-purpose Mental Forbidden Art that can impose restrictions quite easily and boasts broad versatility.

Thinking that way, it also explains how he managed to take Haekaram’s subordinates hostage so quickly.

Forbidden Arts of the Burden-Imposing Talisman type are also adept at transferring the created restrictions to others.

‘The structure of the Art Formula isn’t a perfect 100% match…’

Perhaps that’s because he based it on the original Art Formula and made modifications to suit himself.

Though extremely rare, I had seen Sorcerers of that type a few times before.

Having uncovered the answer, I curled the corner of my mouth in an angle invisible to Bastoni.

Because I also knew the Nullification Method for it very well.

‘It’s a fairly powerful Cursed Technique, as it can simply and quickly seize control of the target’s mind…’

Of course, such a cheat-like Art Formula couldn’t possibly have no weaknesses.

And in this case, by finding the initial victim to whom the restrictions were transferred and dispelling the Art, a chain reaction could be triggered.

‘No need to overthink it.’

What is the situation Bastoni most wants to avoid right now?

It’s the death of the hostage in whom he first implanted the restriction.

Because that alone would shatter the Art Formula itself, bringing this flimsy hostage situation to an end.

‘Then naturally, he would have to place them in the safest position possible.’

Earlier, when Haekaram abandoned everything and launched his attack, among the human shields of hostages, there were three hostages positioned furthest back.

And among them, the young warden who was farther from Haekaram compared to the other two hostages. He is undoubtedly the source of the Art.

‘Given his position as a warden, he would have had opportunities for contact even with Special Prisoners of the Middle Floor.’

Bastoni had started with him, slowly spreading the seeds of restriction and secretly preparing his plan.

“…Forget it. Just die.”

Luckily, just as I reached that conclusion, Haekaram also made his decision.

Confronting Haekaram, who charged forward emitting terrifyingly sharp Spiritual Power, I pretended to prepare a Defensive Art and softly recited an Incantation.

“Entwined Halt Boundary, Distant Twilight Radiance.”

It was a high-level Unbinding Art Formula that unravels entangled shackles.

Meanwhile, Bastoni, who had deployed a Defensive Art a step ahead, seemed to struggle with Haekaram’s power and shot me an urging look.

“Ghk! Hurry, now’s the opening!”

But sorry to say, my target was obviously not Haekaram.

I no longer hid my expression and chuckled lightly, turning my body to fire the Art directly at the young warden at the very back.

“Binding Severance Link.”

Whoosh.

Zzzzzzzzzzz─!

Bastoni, realizing its meaning, was horrified, and the restrictions entwined with the hostages were instantly unraveled and lost their power.

Soon, among the freed hostages, Haewoonhyeong, who quickly grasped the situation, shouted.

“Everyone, scatter!”

Chajajak!

As if they couldn’t afford to let Haekaram be hindered again, the hostages swiftly dispersed and formed an encirclement.

Bastoni, placed at its center, glared at me with a truly demonic expression.

“You bastard, you tricked me…!”

Simultaneously, Haekaram opened his mouth with a dazed look, as if unable to comprehend.

“Why…?”

Of course, it would be hard to accept. Since I too am merely a prisoner of Yangcheolkoong, this act was essentially strangling my own neck.

But regardless, my judgment was clear.

Haekaram turned his gaze back to Bastoni, then slowly began to move.

“…I told you. I’d tear you to a thousand pieces.”

What unfolded thereafter was nothing but a one-sided slaughter.

Though it was a battle between Special-Rank Wardens, it was a stretch to even call it a fight.

In the end, Bastoni met his death with his limbs shattered, unable to put up any proper resistance.

Watching this, I broke into a cold sweat.

‘…Even if the two of us had joined forces, we wouldn’t have stood a chance.’

Bastoni himself was a formidable opponent against whom I couldn’t guarantee victory. Even if I borrowed Keuseundae’s power, it would be the same.

But Haekaram’s power was far above that.

And from now on, I had to persuade that very Haekaram. If I failed, I would end up rotting here for the rest of my life.

“…No matter how much I think about it, I don’t understand. Why did you help me?”

Duty is duty, and personal matters are personal. Haekaram had his subordinates block my escape route and assumed a Combat Posture without letting his guard down.

I swallowed hard and slowly organized my thoughts before continuing.

“I would like you to honor the promise we made earlier.”

A single request—to seriously listen to and consider my words.

I had asked this of Haekaram as my reward for victory in the Arena.

“I did not kill my fellow Exorcists. And right now, a great crisis is unfolding outside.”

Anyway, with this, I have become deeply involved in the future of Yangcheolkoong and Haekaram.

In that case, I might as well stake everything on a clear gamble here.

“I need your help for the future of the Korean Cursed Arts World.”

I had resolved to fully draw Haekaram into the main story of the first part of Exorcism Academy.

After dealing with Bastoni, the mastermind behind the large-scale escape attempt, subduing the remaining prisoners wasn’t difficult.

Haekaram, having personally overseen the resolution of the entire incident, promptly administered appropriate treatment to the injured and the prisoners who participated in the fight before summoning Han Kangyoon to his office.

‘…He’s a strange one.’

Certainly, Han Kangyoon was more peculiar than anyone Haekaram had ever seen.

Despite being brought in as a prisoner, his demeanor overflowed with confidence, and he always seemed to possess self-assurance.

And after the situation was resolved, while inspecting the Great Barrier, Haekaram couldn’t help but be utterly astonished.

‘For a very brief moment, a part of the Barrier was definitely breached.’

And the one who did it was none other than Han Kangyoon.

In other words, it meant Han Kangyoon already had a definite opportunity to escape from this Yangcheolkoong.

‘Why didn’t he leave?’

Until now, this Yangcheolkoong had been notorious as an impregnable fortress.

In fact, not a single prisoner had ever successfully escaped since Yangcheolkoong’s establishment.

That reputation was nearly shattered today, but Han Kangyoon refused to escape on his own. Instead, he even helped Haekaram and assisted in resolving the situation.

‘Without that, things would have really gone south.’

There had been a few Special Prisoners who set foot in the Middle Floor in the past, but none among them handled an Art as intricate as Bastoni’s.

Not anticipating this method, Haekaram also failed to detect the anomaly early on.

In a way, his relatively short experience compared to his ability held him back.

“…Are you really considering granting his request?”

“He’s my benefactor. I’ll at least hear him out.”

Soon, Han Kangyoon, who arrived at the office, conveyed everything about the situation so far and the events unfolding outside to Haekaram without holding back.

The content was truly shocking.

A Half-Human Half-Demon named Jinmyeong Daesa had infiltrated the Cheong Family, one of the Three Great Noble Families, and was scheming there to seize control of the Korean Cursed Arts World.

And in the process, it seemed Han Kangyoon, who opposed him, was framed and sent to Yangcheolkoong.

“…It’s an utterly preposterous story. I find it hard to accept.”

Haewoonhyeong’s words weren’t wrong either. Haekaram was acutely aware of the Three Great Noble Families’ influence, and they weren’t the type to be easily manipulated by someone’s schemes.

However, if Cheong Soha was truly on his side as Han Kangyoon said, it certainly wasn’t an impossible feat.

“Cheong Soha is a real monster, so if she sets her mind to it, the other Elders wouldn’t be able to oppose her easily.”

Moreover, Han Kangyoon’s act of remaining here despite successfully opening an escape route alone added a degree of credibility.

It was clear that if he went outside while still framed, numerous restrictions would hamper his actions.

Han Kangyoon knew that in that state, he couldn’t confront them.

Yet, the most crucial point remained unspoken.

Haekaram’s eyes gleamed as he softly asked Han Kangyoon.

“So, how do you know all these facts?”

Without addressing that, of course, he couldn’t offer his trust.

Facing that resolute question, Han Kangyoon slowly met Haekaram’s gaze.