Chapter 222

It was so natural, and I was so focused on finding clues that I failed to notice it until now.

At the very beginning, Robert had introduced himself as Witch Verdi’s librarian and retainer.

But was that really the truth?

‘Thinking about it, it’s strange.’

As I mentioned when clearing the Black Forest, a witch’s knowledge can only be passed down to another woman.

Naturally, throughout their long history, only women have carried on their lineage.

The village they secretly maintained was also a strictly women-only area, where men were completely forbidden from even entering.

While the modern origin of the word ‘witch’ isn’t gender-restricted, at least the witches in this Exorcism Academy worldview were like that.

And to my knowledge, Verdi was a person who never left her village in her entire life.

‘Of course, they might have formed a connection through some unknown path…’

Whatever the case, it was indeed suspicious.

And starting from that doubt, as I expanded my thoughts, I could gradually grasp the intentions hidden here one by one.

‘If that’s the reason, it also explains why only Verdi’s frame was empty.’

If he was Verdi’s retainer, why was only her frame left empty? Thinking about it, that was a kind of hint in itself.

‘Another thing: Robert said he was the librarian, but the mansion’s real study is on the first floor, not this room.’

Since that room was also where we rested, I remember it relatively well.

There were large ladders placed conspicuously around for easy access, and that part also left me with questions now.

‘The support beams had human handprints worn into them, showing how frequently they were used.’

I glanced at Robert and began replaying his actions so far in my mind.

‘The marks on the ladder were from a right-handed person, but Robert clearly showed left-handed movements.’

In other words, the person managing the mansion’s study was not Robert.

Some might dismiss it, but everything was designed to appear too naturally conspicuous.

Considering my experiences so far, it’s right to assume someone’s intention was embedded in that as well.

Having sorted out my thoughts again, I stared at Robert, who stood tall without a change in expression.

“Am I not correct?”

“…It’s a bit different from what I expected, but excellent.”

There were probably many other hints given. I just used the knowledge I alone possessed to deduce the answer.

And whether it was indeed the correct answer, Robert soon began reciting a certain Art Formula with a faint smile.

“…Kangyoon.”

“It’ll probably be fine.”

Whoosh.

Fwoooom!

When the Art Formula was completed, what stood there was not a dignified old man but a cat of elegant form.

“Hmm?”

“So, that’s how it was.”

Now I roughly understood the whole story.

The man named Robert, Verdi’s retainer and librarian, never existed in the first place.

It was merely her Familiar Demon playing that role and acting it out.

[It has truly been a long time since we had guests, and you indeed have your own cleverness.]

The Familiar Demon, whose speech had changed from before but whose overall aura remained largely the same, said that.

In my opinion, even this current form likely wasn’t its true appearance.

‘It makes no sense for a typical Familiar Demon to surpass Level 70.’

Be that as it may, the Familiar Demon simply continued with what it had to say.

[Among the sublime history of witches, she shone dazzlingly and elevated her status day by day…]

After spouting such proud words for a long while, the Familiar Demon finally nodded and began to move.

[My true name is Mern. Follow me. I shall guide the way.]

Step. Step.

Walking for a while through the passage connected to the end of the room, we reached a massive iron gate, feeling a strange sensation as if space-time were warping.

[Opening this leads to the next location. However, it cannot be done just like that.]

As Mern said, upon examining the door closely, I could find two keyholes.

[If you do not find all the keys, this door cannot be opened. Naturally, the keys are hidden somewhere in this mansion.]

“That part shouldn’t be a problem.”

The two keys were likely hidden in the places the rest of the party headed to: the grand hall and the reception room.

Mern stared at me with a strange gaze, and sure enough, shortly after, presences began to be felt from the other end of the passage we came through.

Those who appeared were the remaining members, including Xiao Chen and Shin Noeul.

“It seems everyone has completed their respective tasks.”

Jingle.

Xiao Chen, glancing at the door, tossed a key to me, and Seoa also handed me a key.

Seeing this, Mern, his eyes gleaming, spoke again.

[It seems you have experience clearing other labyrinths.]

As the party focused their gaze on him, Mern merely added this one sentence.

[I hope what you seek exists at its end.]

I nodded and proceeded to open the grand iron gate with the keys I received.

Thus, we left the mansion of ghosts and could finally head to the next location.

And.

[…Is this acceptable?]

In the place everyone had left, Mern, remaining alone, gazed at the mansion’s ceiling and muttered softly.

In truth, Mern’s real role was not to present trivial quizzes.

That was merely a preparatory process before the true life-and-death struggle.

Mern’s assigned task was to mercilessly slaughter any intruder who obtained the right to challenge him and to cast down into the labyrinth’s depths anyone attempting to reach his master’s room.

‘But…’

The moment Mern first met Han Kangyoon, he saw it. The thick scent of Verdi lingering behind him.

That lingering scent was a kind of Mark, a sign. Therefore, in that brief moment, Mern had no choice but to agonize amidst countless thoughts.

If a battle had ensued as usual, Han Kangyoon and Sophia would surely have been killed by Mern’s hand.

‘It was an unbelievable achievement for his age, but…’

He knew intuitively. Even if they wounded him, those two would definitely die by his hand.

That was not arrogance or self-conceit but a clear reality.

‘Both are still unripe.’

Mern was literally the Gatekeeper responsible for the final gate of this Blind Mountain.

And that power was immense, beyond what a single human could handle.

Given the potential Mern saw in the two, they might one day surpass him, but not right now.

Thus, Mern had no choice but to let Han Kangyoon pass.

For that might very well be his master’s will.

[I pray you have met your expectations.]

Thus, Mern returned to his skeletal form and reclined on the chair prepared beside the bookshelf.

Considering the interval between the labyrinth’s creation and the arrival of its first visitors, Han Kangyoon’s party, Mern would likely have to sleep for a truly long time.

‘It doesn’t matter.’

Despite such circumstances, Mern simply obeys the command given by his master.

There is no objection to that.

‘…I’m tired.’

Mern decided to wait for the labyrinth’s new visitors once more.

Just as he always had.

While walking, Shin Noeul sighed deeply, watching me return Keuseundae to the shadows.

“He was a very tough fellow and helpful, but…”

“Was there a problem?”

“He absolutely wouldn’t listen. He even threw a tantrum instead.”

Hearing that and thinking back, it was true that my contract with Keuseundae wasn’t through a normal method but a somewhat special one.

It recognized me as kin or a friend, creating a natural cooperative relationship rather than a forced master-servant one.

‘So it’s natural he doesn’t cooperate with others.’

Reaching that thought, I recalled the time during the fight with the Night School when I sent Keuseundae to Ban Soyae.

‘…I did something regrettable.’

While it probably helped, if he threw a tantrum there as well, it must have been quite an awkward situation.

It made sense that Ban Soyae lost hold of the Gale she was restraining.

“It might be good to pay a bit more attention.”

“Well, even so, without him, the fight would have been much harder.”

The opponent Shin Noeul and Han Seoa faced was said to take the form of a giant ghost, but from the description, it didn’t seem to be an enemy surpassing Level 70.

‘Well, considering the swarming ghosts, that might be the appropriate difficulty.’

Lost in such thoughts for a moment, we soon passed through the long, lengthy passage and opened the door before us to enter the next gate.

And that place was, unexpectedly, a space with a rather familiar appearance.

‘Is this…?’

As if agreeing with my thoughts, Seoa, who had been looking around, soon spoke.

“Oppa, this place is…”

“That’s right. It’s the Witch’s Room.”

The clear room we could encounter upon reaching the end of the Black Forest in the past.

No matter how many times I checked, its appearance was unmistakably the Witch’s Room.

“Then, does that mean we’ve cleared the entire labyrinth?”

“It seems so.”

Something felt a bit off. But with the clear room spread before our eyes, it felt wrong to deny that truth.

We all moved together and began searching the surroundings, soon finding the place where the Blind Mountain’s magic stone was placed.

“Then, I’ll be back.”

“It’ll be fine.”

Seoa departed through the magic stone into a kind of spiritual world to receive the witch’s knowledge once more.

And not long after, a small space was revealed in a corner of the room, and Seoa, who had been frozen, also regained her senses.

“…Yeah. I received it all.”

Soon, we looked at the various items prepared in the revealed space and exchanged glances.

‘Are these the clear rewards for the Blind Mountain?’

Among them were items I had seen before, but since it was a labyrinth not cleared in the original work, there were also items unknown to me.

‘Appraisal.’

Ding!*

【Formless Pouch】

▶ A box created with ancient Cursed Technique, possessing vast internal space. The owner can store or retrieve desired items through the box.

• Current storage capacity: 0%

【Witch Verdi’s Seal】

▶ A seal into which the Ancient Witch Verdi personally infused her power. Using it in a designated space can open a dimensional fissure leading outside the Blind Mountain.

【Fissure Stone】

▶ A stone personally crafted by the Ancient Witch Verdi. Fulfilling designated conditions can open a dimensional fissure leading to a specific area of the labyrinth.

Xiao Chen, who discovered the Fissure Stone among them, flinched as if recalling a past memory, but I deliberately ignored it.

And now, it was time to examine the remaining items, which even I, having mastered the Exorcism Academy Series, had never encountered in my life.