Chapter 240

Two weeks had passed since the final Night Parade of One Hundred Specters began.

The faces of the citizens had lost their vitality, and Exorcists were frequently injured or ailing from repeated battles.

Yet, even amidst this, people were somehow enduring and carrying on with their lives.

‘…I don’t understand.’

To my knowledge, the third Night Parade was supposed to be an elite force.

It wasn’t like the previous Parades where Specters poured out like bamboo shoots after rain, but rather the emergence of high-level Specters, each boasting formidable power.

That was the main challenge of the third Night Parade.

‘But now…’

While the average level has risen, the situation is unfolding in a pattern similar to the previous Night Parades.

Moreover, the Specters I knew from the original work haven’t even shown their faces.

Naturally, I couldn’t help but feel something was off.

‘With two weeks having passed, I can’t simply dismiss it as a misunderstanding.’

Something has changed. That much is certain.

And I needed to predict and prepare for it.

“Have you heard the news?”

“What news?”

“Word is another S-Rank Specter has appeared in the Incheon area. They say it’s a vicious creature with a neck over four cheok long that continuously regenerates.”

I flinched momentarily upon hearing the middle-aged man’s words, but that Specter wasn’t one I knew either.

But this was already the sixth one, surpassing the number of S-Ranks that appeared in the second Night Parade.

‘So the intensity has definitely increased.’

While their level was lower than the Specters of the third Night Parade I knew, it was still an overwhelmingly higher number than the second Night Parade.

It was only thanks to the active intervention of the Three Great Families; otherwise, a major disaster would have already broken out.

And in such a situation, I was sensing one ominous premonition.

‘I think I roughly understand.’

Realistically pondering it won’t yield an answer. So, I focused on the aspects of the original game and Hell Difficulty to examine the possibilities.

For instance, if I had participated in developing the Hell Difficulty, how would I have steered the situation?

And from that perspective, scanning the situation, I could surprisingly arrive at a plausible hypothesis.

‘In other words, it’s a kind of growth event and preparation period.’

The challenges of the third Night Parade I knew will definitely arrive. But their timing has merely been delayed.

Accordingly, Yoo Haon and his party will naturally engage in endless battles with Specters and grow even stronger.

And the reason such a period was given was also simple.

It meant that enemies we couldn’t handle unless the balance was adjusted even in this way were waiting ahead for me and Yoo Haon’s party.

‘It’s a conclusion based strictly on game-like rules…’

But I felt a strong conviction that it was the correct answer. Which made it all the more absurd.

Just how much malice was poured into it to meticulously draw things out to this extent?

I may not know, but it was evident that a crisis truly beyond my common sense would arrive.

‘Two weeks have passed, yet there’s no sign of revealing their true colors…’

Then, for roughly a month, or even longer, the current situation could continue.

If my thoughts are correct, this is a period intentionally arranged for growth.

If so, remaining lost in worry like this would be the worst of the worst strategies.

‘If time is given, of course I must utilize it.’

Thus, I changed my policy and took action anew.

Continuously thinking and pondering how to make the most of this moment, akin to a final consideration.

“Flying Mountain Iron Hammer.”

Following the girl’s shout, gathered strands of immense Spiritual Power took form and struck the opponent before her.

With that, the lizard Specter, Ok Talsu (Jade Seizing Beast), which had already sustained significant damage, finally exhausted its strength and perished.

Thud.

Grooooooan!

“Ugh, huff, that tenacious bastard!”

“I expected it to be troublesome, but it took longer than anticipated.”

Baek Eunseo repeatedly kicked the Specter’s corpse, and Yohan beside her shook his head side to side.

Then, several Exorcists approached Yoo Haon, who was standing behind them, and offered greetings.

“Thank you. We received your help again.”

“Not at all. It was what we should do.”

“Well, well, truly impressive… To have this level of skill at such a young age. What Cursed Technique did you use this time?”

“I’m sorry. I also promised to keep this a secret when I learned it…”

“Haha, it’s fine. I was just amazed and asked.”

Though he said that, Shin Bong-gil, an elderly Exorcist nearing sixty, was honestly bewildered.

Her skill was far too exceptional for a mere eighteen-year-old girl, and most of the Cursed Techniques she used were rare skills that even Shin Bong-gil had never seen or heard of.

‘I don’t know who taught her, but that person must also be a high-level Exorcist.’

Normally, Shin Bong-gil would have made a fuss, insisting that children shouldn’t be involved in life-and-death struggles, but he couldn’t do that with Yoo Haon and his comrades.

Cruelly, their skills already far surpassed those of most active-duty Exorcists.

“They say heroes are born in troubled times…”

“Huh?”

“Haha, it was just a mutter to myself, no need to mind.”

In Shin Bong-gil’s eyes, each member of Yoo Haon’s party clearly possessed the requisite qualities.

In the not-too-distant future, even in this chaotic era, they would become a light for everyone.

‘So old folks like me must pave the way for them.’

Shin Bong-gil knew this: even those with the qualities of heroes can die when it’s their time.

But he firmly resolved that, at least before his eyes, such a thing would never happen.

“Captain! It’s serious!”

“Hmm? What is it now?”

“A high-level, another high-level Specter has appeared!”

“Goodness…”

Even though everyone was exhausted from the grueling decisive battle they had just fought, there was no other way if things came to this.

As Shin Bong-gil frowned and sank into thought, he felt several footsteps filled with determined will behind him.

“We’ll go.”

“But…”

“It’s okay. We can do it.”

Seeing the look in their eyes, devoid of any trace of fatigue, Shin Bong-gil couldn’t bring himself to stop them.

Simultaneously, Shin Bong-gil thought with a sense of futility.

‘…I misjudged.’

Perhaps Yoo Haon and his comrades had already surpassed the level of needing their protection and reached a realm above it.

“…So, junior, what did you say just now?”

Arietta, as if she didn’t understand, asked me again.

But I, unwavering, merely repeated the same words as before.

“Bury me here and guard the front of it for a day.”

The place I pointed to with my finger was precisely the fairly deep pit that Keuseundae had painstakingly dug.

Seeing me speak so decisively, Arietta showed a rare reaction of bewilderment.

“Junior, did you hit your head?”

“That’s not it. I told you it’s necessary.”

“…I’ll bury you if you say so, but something feels weird.”

But even as she said that, Arietta ultimately put in the effort to bury me neatly.

And of course, there was a reason I was doing this thing beyond common sense.

‘Originally, I planned to postpone it a bit more…’

But since the opportunity was given, it felt like now was the perfect timing.

What I intended to do from now on was precisely Trait replacement, specifically the first stage: Trait Extraction.

‘Honestly, I’m not 100% sure if it will work in reality either…’

But the Art Formula for Trait Extraction definitely exists in my mind through the Intracranial Spell Repository Trait.

If so, it meant there was nothing to lose by at least trying.

“Hoo.”

Whoosh.

I relaxed my entire body, released its tension, and slowly began to assimilate with the surrounding earth.

And in that state, I began reciting the prepared Art Formulas one by one.

‘……’

This was one of the systems that existed in the game—a ritual to return the Traits engraved on the body and soul to nature, creating empty slots.

In the game, various effects existed, but among them, the method I could most easily replicate was this one utilizing the earth, which is why I made such a request to Arietta.

‘…There is a reaction.’

As I said earlier, I honestly wasn’t sure. But since things possible in the original work haven’t been impossible in this world so far, I decided to give it a try.

And fortunately, that choice seemed to be correct.

‘Focus.’

The strange sensation flowing through my body—in the game, it was simply a matter of clicking a few buttons, but trying to lead it myself was no easy task.

‘This way.’

I focused my thoughts on the ten energies engraved here and there in my body and soul, searching for the small and insignificant ones among them.

The Traits to extract totaled four.

Life Returner (B-Rank) and Emergency Evasion, plus Strong Body and Hawk’s Eye around C-Rank.

Honestly, it was a perfectly cost-effective setup, so I felt a bit reluctant, but I knew anyway.

In front of the Specters that would block me beyond this, such Traits would be of no help whatsoever.

‘So I cut them off without regret.’

Finding the four Traits with the smallest energy among those I possessed, I began to channel them away, using the vast earth as a Medium.

A strange pain, as if tearing something attached to my body away, and an intensely throbbing head.

But fortunately, my spirit, which had grown through the trials of Cheonghongyeong, maintained its focus even in such a situation and carried out the task fully.

‘Don’t panic, slowly…’

Having immersed myself in the inner world to the point of losing track of time, I opened my eyes after channeling away the last remaining strand of energy.

And I could feel it. Four of the ten Traits engraved upon me had disappeared without a trace.

‘Appraisal.’

Ding!

【Han Kangyoon】

▶Level 59

▶Stats

【Stamina : B+】

【Spiritual Power : A-】

【Art Formula : B-】

【Mental Power : A】

▶Traits (6/10)

【Phantom Body (S)】

【Witch’s Resonance (A+)】

【Dragon Body (A+)】

【Soul Combustion (A)】

【Challenger (B+)】

【Intracranial Spell Repository (B)】

‘Success.’

Relieved of tension, I clenched my fist slightly and let out a long sigh.

Then, through Black Yin outside, I sent a signal to Arietta.

Crunch.

Crunch-crunch-crunch.

Whoosh!

“…Junior, I thought you’d turned into a corpse.”

“How much time has passed?”

“Roughly ten hours.”

But despite saying that, she didn’t seem particularly worried. Yawning slightly and rubbing her eyes, she looked as if she had taken a nap beside me.

Still, it felt like she trusted me that much, so I didn’t feel particularly bad.

“What you wanted to do?”

“I finished it safely.”

“…Then what will you do from now on?”

At her words, I let out a soft chuckle.

What I had to do from now on was all too clearly defined.

“I must go to replenish the lacking parts.”

I don’t know how much time remains. So, the sooner I act, the better.

Organizing the acquisition conditions of the thousands of Traits rising in my mind, I quietly headed towards the next destination.