Chapter 213

“You…!”

Rushing toward the headquarters, we encountered Yoon Haecheol and Ban Soyae, who had already joined up ahead.

It seemed to have been quite a tough fight, as both of them were covered in wounds here and there. Their expressions weren’t good either.

“They were strong. All we could do was buy time fighting them.”

Behind Yoon Haecheol, who clenched his fist with a resentful look, Ban Soyae, wearing a somewhat surprised expression, opened her mouth.

“…While we were tied down, we lost track of the big guy. Did he not come this way?”

“We encountered Gale. However, after Imeris, a member of the Night School, was taken down, he gave up the request and left.”

“What, so you two took down one of them?”

Yoon Haecheol also muttered with a dumbfounded face, but that wasn’t important right now.

Exchanging glances, we hurriedly moved toward the collapsed headquarters.

“This is…”

The situation was devastating.

The area where the Exorcism Headquarters had been was completely unrecognizable, with all surrounding buildings collapsed, and since it was already burning in places, recovering any data or equipment seemed impossible.

“The old man must have held the enemy back…”

With things having turned out like this, even Baek Woongkyoo’s safety couldn’t be guaranteed.

Yoon Haecheol and Ban Soyae, their faces stiffened, quickly began scanning the surroundings.

And soon, they could spot his figure.

“…Old man.”

Baek Woongkyoo, with both arms torn off, now a cold corpse half-buried in the rubble.

The moment they witnessed it, thick veins bulged on Yoon Haecheol’s neck.

“Those bastards. I’ll chase them down and kill them all.”

“…Haecheol. Don’t get worked up.”

“How can I not get worked up? He wasn’t someone to die meaninglessly in a place like this.”

According to the story, when Yoon Haecheol obtained his qualifications and was active as a rookie Exorcist, it was Baek Woongkyoo who guided him by his side.

Given that, accepting the death of someone like a mentor to him clearly wouldn’t be easy.

However, there was something more pressing right now.

“What about the people from the headquarters?”

They must have started evacuating ahead of time, so they probably weren’t caught in the building’s collapse.

The destruction of the headquarters was lamentable, but if we could secure them, it would be almost as if we’d achieved our objective to some extent.

So we had to find them quickly.

“…Let’s move for now.”

Fortunately, he didn’t seem so worked up as to ignore that fact, as Yoon Haecheol soon steadied his breathing and began leading the way again.

Pushing through the debris and moving to a spot a little away from the collapsed headquarters, we saw traces of battle and several corpses.

They were all Exorcists from the headquarters’ side—clearly not a good sign.

Clicking his tongue, Yoon Haecheol suddenly turned his head sharply, as if sensing something, and looked beyond.

“…Seems they haven’t gone far yet.”

I too felt an intense presence not far away just moments ago.

Probably there, Luke Pensalot and the remaining comrades would be.

Hurrying our steps, as expected, we found three men gathered together.

“…Was it you?”

Yoon Haecheol asked in a voice filled with rage, simultaneously stepping forward and pulling out a Talisman from his embrace.

Judging by the situation, it seemed the remaining members of the headquarters had safely escaped pursuit. That was truly fortunate.

‘Although some were lost…’

Still, we could say the worst-case scenario was avoided.

It wouldn’t be wrong to say the quick judgment I made earlier changed the outcome.

“I’ll bury you bastards here and appease the old man’s spirit.”

Finally letting out the emotions he’d been holding back, Yoon Haecheol shifted into an attacking stance, but Ban Soyae stopped him.

“…Stop. It’s impossible right now.”

“You can’t possibly be serious?”

“Then go ahead and charge in and die. I’m sure the old man would be thrilled.”

It was a somewhat sharp remark, but precisely because of that, it brought reason back to the agitated Yoon Haecheol.

Calming his excitement, Yoon Haecheol stopped and observed the situation.

He too knew in his head that it shouldn’t be done.

‘Appraisal.’

Seizing that moment, to check something that had been bothering me, I used the Appraisal function to view Luke’s information.

And I could confirm that my ominous premonition was correct.

【Luke Pensalot】

▶Level 74

▶Stats

【Stamina : A-】

【Spiritual Power : S-】

【Art Formula : A】

【Mental Strength : A+】

▶Traits (10/10)

【Battle Longevity(S)】

【Ten Night Bloom(A+)】

【Hypersensory(A+)】

【Combat Instinct(A-)】

【Poisoned Heart(A-)】

【Vitality Drain(B+)】

【Spiritual Power Amplification(B)】

【Growth Acceleration(B)】

【Life Returner(B-)】

【Sensory Expansion(C+)】

‘…How is he this strong?’

Level 74. Not only his stats, but his Traits are also fully maxed out at ten.

Essentially, specs close to perfection for a human body.

Considering his still relatively young age, it’s a demonic talent that might one day surpass Level 80.

‘He was strong in the original too, but definitely not to this extent.’

Confirming the truth, it became understandable why Baek Woongkyoo, a Special-Rank Exorcist, was taken down so helplessly.

If someone with specs like this ran amok without caring about collateral damage, it would have been nearly impossible for him to hold them off completely.

That Luke, with his characteristically detached gaze, began scanning each of us one by one.

And then he spoke softly.

“…Many empty seats.”

Yeon Jaki and Gale completely withdrew from this battle, and Imeris lost her life after being defeated by me.

Now the remaining members were just Luke himself, Drax, and Allen Kruger, the villain from the next work called the Body Snatcher.

As if accepting that fact somehow, Luke continued indifferently.

“After deciding to execute the plan, a Prophet told me. That within it, I would meet the lifelong rival who would bring me my end.”

“…….”

“I crossed several countries, but here, I’ve had some trouble. The losses are significant.”

The damage we suffered wasn’t small either, but the same went for the other side.

By now, Exorcists from various factions, including the Three Great Noble Families, should be swarming in. They too can no longer move.

In essence, it meant a fight with no winner.

“Among you, there must be one. Someone who knew we would come here.”

At those words, Ban Soyae and Yoon Haecheol glanced sideways at me.

After all, it was none other than I who had told them that fact.

And Luke, too, seemed to be thinking the same thing just then.

“The terrifyingly deep sin hidden within, now I see it clearly.”

I had used Forbidden Arts several times while dealing with Imeris, and in various ways, the battle had stimulated me.

Even so, the fact that he noticed it immediately can only be explained by saying he possesses extremely precise senses.

“The moment we faced each other again here, I was certain. You are my enemy. From this moment on, you are marked as a target of this Luke Pensalot.”

As if he just wanted to leave those words behind, Luke soon disappeared into the buildings along with the other two.

Ban Soyae and Yoon Haecheol didn’t chase them. More precisely, they couldn’t.

From the aura he emitted moments ago, they must have instinctively realized they were no match.

‘…Barely avoided the worst, I guess.’

We couldn’t protect the Exorcism Headquarters itself, but we somehow succeeded in saving most of its personnel.

And in the process, defeating Imeris, one of the Night School members, could certainly be considered an achievement.

‘The problem is, I drew that much attention.’

I never thought we could capture all of them in this one battle from the start.

However, becoming completely conspicuous and marked as a target like this was a whole different issue.

From now on, Luke would come after me in some way, and I, already in a complicated situation, would have to handle that.

‘No, actually, it’s for the better.’

He’s an opponent I’d have to fight eventually anyway. Rather, if he’s creating that chance himself, it’s something to be thankful for.

‘If I wait, an opportunity will come someday.’

I might not be able to touch even the tip of his toes right now, but if the right time and means are prepared, the story changes.

Luke, too, for the time being, would have to pull himself together and reorganize his forces, so the conditions for both sides are roughly equal.

‘No choice but to try somehow.’

Anyway, beyond this, it’s something I can’t know until the situation arrives.

Right now, I too needed to sort out the situation and take time to reorganize.

And before that, there was something else to handle first.

“…Oppa?”

“I’ll be back soon. Wait here.”

Looking toward the far side of the scene where various personnel were beginning to gather, I softly moved my steps.

And there, a refined woman dressed in traditional clothing from somewhere was waiting for me.

“Shall we finish our unfinished conversation, then?”

“…….”

And so, the situation was once again welcoming a new change.

“Because of you, my position has become very difficult. Surely you won’t say you don’t know.”

Of course. In the end, she, Yeon Jaki, ended up betraying the Night School and making an enemy of Luke Pensalot.

“That man doesn’t give second chances. If we meet next time, he’ll surely try to kill me too.”

“I apologize for that part. The situation was urgent for me as well.”

“If it were something that could be brushed off so lightly, I wouldn’t be having these worries.”

Yeon Jaki fell silent for a moment, then looked straight at me and continued.

“Luke Pensalot was one of the individuals who fit my purpose, to be precise, I should say he held that potential. Originally, I should have stayed by his side and observed the situation a bit longer without separating.”

That was completely derailed because of one action of mine.

As if it were quite a headache, I could even feel a faint hostility toward me from her.

“I don’t particularly consider Prophets to be a trustworthy lot. They keep their mouths shut if something is disadvantageous to themselves and try to steer all situations from their own standpoint.”

“…….”

“So to give me at least proper compensation, you’ll have to tell me everything you saw, without missing a single thing.”

Ultimately, what she wanted was information. Information to achieve her purpose.

But of course, I’m not a Prophet, and the fact that I saw her future is a lie.

However, there was one piece of information of similar value that I could convey.

“I know.”

“Know what?”

“The individual who fits your purpose.”

At those words, Yeon Jaki’s gaze quietly fixed on me.