Chapter 227

The creature that had been busily dashing through the air stopped moving for some reason and stared at me as I departed.

‘…So it’s just going to let it go.’

It too knows my past self. That’s why it made the rational, cold judgment to abandon Jabberwock and not relinquish its own advantage.

Indeed, a sharp and reasonable judgment that saw through my ploy.

‘This won’t be easy.’

Descending into the arena, I, together with the other Shikigami, easily defeated the incapacitated Jabberwock.

Thus, the final remaining opponent, Hidden Dragon, was simply waiting for me in the sky.

“Black Yin. Shadow Thief, Kongsami.”

At my uttered command, Black Yin and the Black Birds combined their strength to seize Shadow Thief and soared upward, while Kongsami grabbed my shoulder and climbed aboard as we headed skyward.

This was the most optimal composition to wage an aerial battle somewhat efficiently.

So now, by any means necessary, I had no choice but to confront Hidden Dragon with my current members and defeat it.

“Move exactly as I instructed earlier.”

[Kkaaak!]

The two Shikigami responded, and finally, Shadow Thief nodded its head.

And so, having ascended into the air once more, we were able to face Hidden Dragon, whose momentum was distinctly different from before.

‘It seems there will be no more carelessness.’

Indeed, not even a single gap could be sensed from the current Hidden Dragon.

Therefore, our task was to somehow create one.

“…Burn it.”

Whoosh!

Fwooosh!

Hidden Dragon, as if performing an acrobatic feat, spun its body and evaded the powerful flames spewed by Kongsami.

And seizing that opening, the Offensive Spells from me and Shadow Thief, for which we had prepared Art Formulas, pressed in on the creature from both sides.

“Seven Generation Strike.”

[…Seven Generation Strike.]

Screech!

Crackle-crackle-crack!

Hidden Dragon prioritized evading my relatively powerful spell, while it simply deflected Shadow Thief’s attack off its scales.

And then, letting out an ear-splitting roar, it flew straight at us.

‘…It intends to decide the match immediately.’

A roar imbued with a power that paralyzes the body for an instant, followed by a trump card Art Formula—this was a surefire tactic I myself had often used.

However, that very moment was precisely what I had been waiting for.

[Now.]

Verdi, who had been timing it based on my prior signal, released the Flight Art, and I simultaneously recalled Black Yin and the Black Birds into the shadows.

Thus, naturally beginning to fall, we barely managed to escape the range of its attack.

‘That was close.’

But, in this situation, the advantage shifts to our side.

The moment the paralysis wore off, I immediately summoned the Shikigami again, and Verdi also recast the Flight Art on me.

And around Hidden Dragon, who had missed its timing, the Talismans I had left behind were now scattering, emitting powerful Spiritual Power.

“Clear Chain Binding.”

Whoosh.

Clatterrrrr─!

The Clear Chain Binding deployed using the Talisman of Cheongwoon that Cheong Joohwa had made.

Naturally, its power was incomparable to an ordinary one.

Startled, Hidden Dragon hastily twisted its body, beginning to evade the chains, and because of that, it failed to notice.

That from one Talisman floating above its head, for some reason, no chains were extending.

“Right now.”

[Yes, yes. I already released it.]

The Talisman fluttering in the air emitted an intense light, then swelled in size and began transforming into the shape of something.

Its true identity was none other than Keuseundae, which had been disguised as a Talisman through the witch’s Art Formula.

[Grooooooar!]

Utterly startled by the giant goblin that had suddenly appeared in mid-air, Hidden Dragon was seized by that massive body and began plummeting into the arena along with Keuseundae.

It seemed to be trying to resist with all its might, but Keuseundae was also a powerful Specter that had reached S-Rank.

It was not an opponent that Hidden Dragon, weakened by its manifestation through the Cheonghongyeong, could simply ignore.

Whoooosh!

Crashhhh─!

Eventually, the two collided with the ground with a powerful impact, and I too hurriedly gave chase, heading for the arena.

In the meantime, Keuseundae—perhaps having been counterattacked—was embedded in a corner of the arena shaking its head, while Hidden Dragon, staggering, somehow managed to rise to its feet.

But even that Hidden Dragon would find it nearly impossible to escape the perfectly formed encirclement now.

• Kyyaooo─!

Hidden Dragon let out another resounding roar, trying to create an opening, but perhaps because it had taken considerable damage, its momentum wasn’t what it used to be.

Ultimately failing to break the encirclement, it too was forced to continue fighting in an unfavorable space.

‘It’s strong. But……’

My current Shikigami were by no means weak either. With the situation set up like this, they were a force fully capable of securing victory against it.

Whoosh!

Fwooosh!

Screeeech!

Crackle-crackle-crack─!

As the battle continued, more and more wounds were carved onto Hidden Dragon’s body.

And finally, when its tough scales began to peel and blood started to spurt, the outcome of victory and defeat began to be decided.

• Grooo……

Thud!

The result was, of course, our victory.

[…Splendid,]

The me from the past timeline, who had reappeared at some point, murmured a low exclamation of admiration.

Certainly, even I hadn’t anticipated such a perfect victory.

What if the one standing here had been my past self, who hadn’t experienced many things in this place?

I couldn’t be sure, but perhaps I might not have ultimately achieved victory.

But the current me did it, and splendidly passed the trial of the Cheonghongyeong.

And to such a me, it said:

[It seems you have finally qualified.]

“What does that mean?”

Just as I was about to follow up with another question, the Spiritual Power within my body spontaneously surged, and a strange sense of elation enveloped my entire being.

Whoosh.

Fwooosh.

The trial of the Cheonghongyeong—having broken through it, a new possibility had been granted to me.

‘…Amazing.’

Forgetting the question from a moment ago, I was purely impressed by it.

Although I had seen it described multiple times in the work, the sensation felt in reality was on a different level.

It felt as if I myself were being reborn anew, like a bone replacement and body transformation in a martial arts novel.

As I was entranced, vividly feeling it, the trial space, having fulfilled its role, began to crumble at some point.

And to such a me, my past self spoke again.

[Remember this.]

“…What?”

[That what you must truly overcome is not a mere illusion like me.]

Simultaneously, I felt the gaze of someone else, not belonging to it.

And then I soon discovered her.

Within the crumbling arena, a woman with dazzling golden hair was gazing intently at me.

And I knew her identity.

‘Ciel.’

The very one I had declared I could absolutely never defeat in the previous world—the only such existence.

She, the number one in the PVP world rankings, was once again challenging me to a duel here.

In that place, I was ranked seventh.

But as I said before, that was the highest rank I could achieve by utilizing my limited time, given that I had a main occupation.

And I was confident that, had I only had enough time, I could have defeated all five above me without exception.

‘However……’

Not her, though.

Ciel was the first and last opponent I acknowledged as someone I could not defeat.

And after that day when I acknowledged everything, I never challenged her to a duel again.

‘Impossible is impossible.’

I had confidence in my skills, but precisely because of that, I was able to make a more cold, rational judgment.

There was an insurmountable wall between her and me.

And that wall would never be broken.

‘If it were anyone else, I might have tried to overcome it by creating variables somehow……’

But she is different.

On days when her body ached, on days when her condition wasn’t good—ultimately, her strength never wavered.

In a word, she seemed like a person existing in a different dimension.

In fact, if one were to bring the main characters representing the Exorcism Academy Series into reality, wouldn’t it feel exactly like that?

‘…Well, having met Yoo Haon in person, that turned out to be different.’

Anyway, to be honest, even now, having grown stronger than before, I don’t feel at all that I can reach her.

That fact had already taken deep root in my heart and had been accepted as an unshakable truth.

‘But……’

She revealed herself again within the trial of the Cheonghongyeong.

And in reality, even now, having left the trial space, the Cheonghongyeong is reacting to me.

It meant that the conditions for me to enter that place were still met.

‘Does it mean the trial isn’t over?’

Yet it’s an extremely strange thing. The trial of the Cheonghongyeong can only be accepted once from the beginning, and I had already obtained that power.

That was proven by the actions of characters within the work, and I had never heard of a case like mine, where a second trial was granted.

‘If such a thing were possible, there’s no way I wouldn’t know about it……’

But however it happened, another trial has been granted to me now, and it seems to be the condition of achieving victory against none other than her, the former number one in the rankings.

‘Without a doubt.’

The hand sign she sent while gazing at me in the trial space was a kind of command used in the latest work to request a duel between parties.

Although much time has passed since then, there’s not even a one-in-ten-thousand chance I’m mistaken about it.

Having recognized that, I slowly recalled my past memories, retracing the duels I had fought with her one by one.

And I imagined the current me facing her.

The result was truly simple and clear.

‘I’ll lose no matter how many times we fight.’

No matter how much I imagined, no picture of defeating her came to mind.

It wasn’t even a close difference. In my imagination, I was literally suffering an overwhelming defeat at her hands.

No matter what variables I thought of or how I judged the outcomes, that fact alone did not change.

At that, I let out a bitter, hollow laugh, then placed the Cheonghongyeong inside the Formless Pouch and turned away.

“Have you finished all your business?”

“Yes. Thank you for your help.”

Until the very moment I bid farewell to Cheong Soha and returned to my quarters, my thoughts did not change in the slightest.

‘Surpassing her is impossible.’

Even if I were to grow stronger and return, it would be the same.

Whether my Level exceeds 60 or 70, I cannot overturn a predetermined outcome.

Therefore, I continued making rational judgments, denying that possibility.

‘Since the original objective has been achieved, there’s no problem anyway.’

By convincing myself and resigning to it, at least my mind wouldn’t become troubled.

And so, I tucked away the concerns about the Cheonghongyeong’s other trial deep within my heart.

Thinking that I would never return to that space again.