Chapter 200

Forbidden Law.

Literally, a term referring to the fundamental principles that govern the world.

Cheong Joohwa had also heard about such a concept to some extent.

“…So, are you saying he turned back time or something?”

[That might be the case.]

It was clearly an absurd joke, but the Azure Dragon’s attitude was serious. Cheong Joohwa, flustered, scratched her head.

“There’s no way that’s possible. No matter how you look at it, he doesn’t seem to possess power of that level.”

[Didn’t I say earlier? His growth didn’t seem like progress, but more like a process of reclaiming something he had temporarily lost.]

The Azure Dragon, speaking with a firm attitude, soon twisted its body once and moved its mouth.

[Moreover, it might be an unfamiliar concept to you, an exorcist of this era, but originally, Cursed Techniques were not as clearly systematized as they are now.]

“…Then what were they like?”

[They were closer to wishes, or primal strong desires.]

In short, it meant that what began from human desires transformed into the current Cursed Technique system.

That power, akin to a miracle, had no limits, and anything was possible, the Azure Dragon said.

[Of course, I don’t think it was something grand like turning back time. I’ve never seen or heard of a feat of that magnitude.]

Therefore, what the Azure Dragon suspected was something else.

[It’s highly likely he is not a human of this era. Personally, I believe he completed an immeasurably vast Forbidden Curse and activated the art of phantom rebirth.]

“……”

[If that’s the case, it explains his nonsensical knowledge and skills, as well as his experience that doesn’t match his age.]

“Now that I hear it, it certainly…”

Makes sense. To that extent, it wasn’t such a far-fetched story. It’s a sufficiently plausible hypothesis.

At that, Cheong Joohwa swallowed hard and asked the Azure Dragon again.

“So, he’s actually really old?”

[That might be the case.]

“Should I start calling him ‘elder’ from now on?”

[…Sometimes, you really do worry about the most unnecessary things.]

However, through that, Cheong Joohwa had clearly revealed her stance towards Han Kangyoon.

[It seems you’ve taken quite a liking to him.]

“You don’t seem much different, Azure Dragon-nim.”

[I have received something from him, so it can’t be helped.]

Han Kangyoon kept his promise with the Azure Dragon and retrieved the Yeoijoo, and besides that, he always showed a respectful attitude.

Frankly, from the Azure Dragon’s perspective, it was a situation where it couldn’t think badly of him even if it tried.

[However, there is a stark difference between knowing and walking together, and following without knowing.]

“Yes. Thank you for telling me.”

Having conveyed all that, the Azure Dragon nodded slightly and entered the Cheongsimok hanging around Cheong Joohwa’s neck.

Afterwards, Cheong Joohwa, left alone in the room, covered herself with the blanket, lay down, and pondered deeply.

‘I knew he wasn’t ordinary, but…’

Han Kangyoon might have even more secrets hidden than Cheong Joohwa thought.

But it didn’t matter.

Cheong Joohwa hadn’t been with Han Kangyoon all this time to worry about such things.

During the time she lived quietly like a dead mouse at the bottom, enduring the scornful glances of the Cheong Family, Han Kangyoon was the only one who pulled her up and treated her sincerely.

Even if there was some ulterior motive mixed in, that fact didn’t change.

There was no room for doubt.

Finishing her thoughts, Cheong Joohwa closed her eyes to the sleepiness washing over her.

It felt new, but it was truly a peace she hadn’t felt in a long time.

The end of the second Night Parade of One Hundred Specters Crisis had arrived.

With the united Cheong Family and the assistance of other prestigious families, Korea’s exorcists began a large-scale area cleanup. Coincidentally, the occurrence rate of specters also decreased, so people finally regained their original lives.

However, that didn’t mean complete peace.

“So! Does this mean we can’t just rest easy anymore?”

“This is not a problem to be glossed over. The National Assembly must take action immediately.”

“The accumulated damage is enormous. We don’t even know how long it will take just for recovery.”

To be clear, the exorcists achieved results beyond expectations.

As if the years since the first Night Parade weren’t in vain, they protected citizens and splendidly defeated specters even in difficult situations.

However, the damage was still severe, and because of this crisis, people around the world harbored one anxiety in their hearts.

The possibility that this might not be the end.

‘Of course.’

It was a hypothesis that had been hushed up until now, but a second Night Parade had finally occurred.

So, where is the rule that says there won’t be a third?

There’s a saying: once is coincidence, twice is a pattern.

Now, the Night Parade was recognized by the world as a crisis that could recur at any time.

People could no longer feel unconditionally safe; it became a reality where they had to continue their lives with a series of fears.

But even so, they had to return to society.

And so, at least on the surface, the world began to turn again.

‘……’

A week had already passed since the decisive battle with Cheong Soha.

And I was still staying at her mansion even now, with two days left until school opening.

The reason was truly simple and clear.

‘Appraisal.’

Ding!

【Han Kangyoon’s Shadow】

▶Level 53

▶Stats

【Stamina : -】

【Spiritual Power : -】

【Art Formula : -】

【Mental Power : -】

▶Traits (8/10)

【Phantom Body(-)】

【Witch’s Resonance(-)】

【Soul Combustion(-)】

【Spiritual Power Amplification(-)】

【Growth Acceleration(-)】

【Challenger(-)】

【Intracranial Spell Repository(-)】

【Life Returner(-)】

It was because the disposition of my shadow, which was like the starting point of all these events, had not been decided.

‘…No matter how much I think about it, it’s strange.’

As initially expected, its identity was indeed the shadow created during the Seed of Solitude Incident.

Considerable time had passed since then, so even if it looked the same on the outside, it had become a being completely different from the current me on the inside.

‘Even granting that, what exactly is it?’

No matter how much power it had amassed, for a replica of me, its Level was now higher than mine.

Moreover, for some unknown reason, it even possessed the Growth Acceleration trait, which I didn’t have.

‘That trait either has to be innate or has no acquisition path, right?’

Perhaps there exists some condition here that I’m unaware of. Just knowing that was a significant achievement.

‘Next, the Witch’s Resonance trait.’

This part is also quite concerning.

The point when I obtained it was quite some time after the Seed of Solitude Incident.

Indeed, traits like Dragon Body, Strong Body, and Emergency Evasion, which I didn’t have during the incident, cannot be found in it.

But strangely, it only possesses the Witch’s Resonance trait, whose acquisition path is ambiguous.

It definitely shouldn’t have entered the Eternal Labyrinth.

I pondered a lot about that, but no definitive conclusion was reached.

If there’s a plausible hypothesis, it’s the possibility that this Witch’s Resonance trait was given to me under someone’s influence.

‘In short, it’s a kind of marking.’

Timeline-wise, when I was sucked into the Eternal Labyrinth, it was also existing somewhere in Korea.

That is, there’s a probability that marking me as a target was simultaneously applied to it through some pathway.

‘It itself is a source of many uncertainties.’

So, frankly speaking, it would be easier on the mind to just eliminate it.

Then there would be no need for any worries.

However, after considering the pros and cons from various angles, I decided to try making it my Shikigami.

It’s a subtle feeling.’

Whether Jinmyeong Daesa had schemed to make it his chess piece or not, when I encountered it, it was already like an empty doll.

That state didn’t recover despite Jinmyeong’s death and remains the same even now.

What result this will bring is unknown.

But despite that, my choice was firm.

“……”

Whoosh.

Fsssh.

After successfully completing the Shikigami contract, I gave it a name.

After all, I couldn’t just call it a replica or a shadow.

“From now on, you are Shadow Thief.”

As a being born by mimicking my appearance and stealing my traits, there probably isn’t a more fitting title than this.

Smoothly.

Fwoosh!

I put Shadow Thief straight into the shadows and returned to the mansion to begin preparations for departure.

Many things had happened, but now it was time to return to where I originally belonged.

The final semester at Cheonghwa Academy was finally about to begin.

“…It seems no one is seriously injured. Good. I’m relieved.”

What welcomed me back to the academy were Sophia and my other classmates.

They too seemed to have gained quite a bit of gravitas on their faces, likely from all the hardships they endured during this crisis.

In fact, their Levels and stats had risen accordingly.

‘…Are we gradually moving towards the next chapter?’

Like all raising sim games, the ending story only progresses after the companions’ abilities reach a certain level.

Even if they aren’t the main characters, their growth, which holds its own significance, is akin to a train gradually heading towards its destination.

‘Well, that’s not strange.’

Quite some time had passed since I fell into this world.

Now they were the graduating class, and the protagonist Yoo Haon and his party were also growing into proper exorcists.

No, perhaps they had already become so.

‘And from now on, a single mistake will overturn everything.’

The point after this is when players who played the first Exorcism Academy experienced the most failures.

From here on, one had to face situations even more surely and perfectly than before.

‘It’s difficult.’

I tried not to show it, but my thoughts naturally grew complicated.

The variables that had occurred so far, and the new possibilities that arose from them.

And the unexpected obstacles that would newly stand in my way ahead.

I always kept many possibilities in mind, but that didn’t mean omniscience.

Especially from here on, only hardships that are not easy to overcome one by one await us.

Whether we can overcome them all and safely reach our goal, I’m starting to feel a bit less confident.

‘But…’

Even so, I had no intention of running away.

I will continue to think, continue to respond to variables, and act.

It might just be a blind determination born of inertia, but I had no other goal anyway.

For some reason, I glanced at the academy bench that looked more worn than before, sat on it, and looked up at the sky.

While thinking, just a little bit, about what awaits at the end of this.