Chapter 248

After the completion of the Great Barrier encompassing the entire nation, Korea had, at least on the surface, regained stability.

Of course, there was still no sign of society functioning normally, but it meant that at least a minimum level of safety and space for activity could be guaranteed for the citizens.

“Is there any issue with the perimeter?”

“Yes, Team Leader!”

Glancing at the Exorcists monitoring the outer edges of the barrier, I sank back into thought.

‘The efficacy of the Great Barrier itself isn’t much different from the original work.’

At least, Specters around B-Rank didn’t dare maintain their physical forms inside the barrier, and the Exorcists, leaving only a minimal force behind, had sent the majority of their personnel outside the barrier to carry out efficient relief operations.

Of course, Specters were still appearing incessantly even now, so the situation itself hadn’t changed dramatically, but if not for that, the barrier was so excellent that one might think the entire crisis could have been resolved in the near future.

‘…….’

In the current situation, where most citizens and Exorcists had regained small smiles on their faces.

However, I alone continued to feel an unease that wouldn’t leave.

‘It would be nice if this were the end…….’

Of course, that couldn’t be the case.

Sooner or later, the next crisis would arrive, and the fact that it would become a longer and more arduous fight than I had imagined was already proven.

Therefore, I continuously focused on training, traveled to various regions, helped Exorcists, and repelled Specters.

And at the exact point four weeks after Bikang’s death, with the help of several Exorcists, I was able to subdue another Great Specter, the Heavenly Specter Fox, which had revealed itself.

‘About four weeks. No, considering the time Bikang was first discovered in its cocooned state, it’s roughly a month, right?’

That was the emergence cycle of Great Specters I had deduced.

Furthermore, through the fight with it, I was finally able to derive a plausible hypothesis.

‘…So that’s how they’re going to appear, huh.’

Now that I think about it, Bikang didn’t show much difference in terms of Level or stats from what I knew.

It did show different patterns at the end of the fight compared to when I faced it in Hard Mode, but when you think about it, that was pretty much it.

But the Heavenly Specter Fox was different.

The Heavenly Specter Fox is a Great Specter that can be considered a branch similar to the nine-tailed fox of folklore.

And its Level boasted the staggering number of 79.

Even compared to the original work, it was a distinctly higher level, showing a more noticeable difficulty gap than Bikang.

What that meant was simple.

The enemies that would appear in the future would block our path, becoming progressively stronger than what I knew.

‘The next in line, the Jade-Eyed Fire Specter, will show an even greater growth rate than the Heavenly Specter Fox, and the Dragon Abyss God following it will be even more.’

And as far as I know, there are still a total of five Great Specters remaining that can be considered the main enemies of the third Night Parade of One Hundred Specters.

Moreover, the two that appear last are on a completely different dimension from the others.

In such a situation, I felt not just absurdity but irrationality.

‘Does this make any sense?’

Frankly speaking, even defeating them in Hard Mode was never easy.

To the point that unless someone truly studied the game thoroughly and honed their skills, they wouldn’t even attempt it.

But now, beyond that, the enemies are becoming so powerful that it’s impossible to get a grasp on them.

Thus, I pondered countless times, calculated possibilities, and finally reached a conclusion.

‘We can’t win.’

Even in the recent battle with the Heavenly Specter Fox, one Elder of the Baek Family met his death.

Even Cheong Soha, the strongest in current Korea, has no guarantee that she won’t end up the same when facing them.

The Jade-Eyed Fire Specter is the limit.

Probably starting from the one after that, we’ll begin to suffer noticeably heavy losses, and eventually, everyone will walk the path toward destruction.

‘Other countries are likely the same.’

Ultimately, the true final enemy will set foot on Korean soil, the stage of the work, but until then, the situations in other countries aren’t much different.

Since this is reality after all, if any country loses its strength and collapses first, we might suddenly bear the brunt of the aftermath.

‘If things continue like this, there’s no hope.’

Truly.

We’ve faced countless crises until now, but this time, I couldn’t even estimate a way out.

To respond to this crisis, I too had to completely change my way of thinking.

“I need to meet Yeon Jaki.”

The key to turning the situation around lies solely with her.

Since the final Night Parade of One Hundred Specters began, Yeon Jaki had been busily wandering the world.

She observed the peerless geniuses of nations she hadn’t been able to verify during her Night School days and also kept an eye on the growth of talents she had previously marked.

After some time passed like that, Yeon Jaki, having convinced herself, had no choice but to set foot on Korean soil again.

‘They are not among them.’

Of course, there were quite a few who possessed outstanding skills or great talent.

There were even a very few strong individuals comparable to the renowned Taoist Masters of old.

However, what Yeon Jaki was desperately searching for was not merely such individuals.

The one and only existence who could overturn all of this and bring light to this land.

If it wasn’t that person, bringing anyone else would be meaningless.

‘Yoo Haon……’

The promising candidate taught by Han Kangyoon, who possesses the power to read the future.

He had clearly asserted that in the future, Yeon Jaki herself would choose Yoo Haon with her own hands.

And indeed, Yeon Jaki too felt such potential from Yoo Haon.

“It’s been a while.”

“You are……?”

Because Han Kangyoon had bridged the connection as promised, she was already acquainted with Yoo Haon.

After chasing Yoo Haon for about another month like that and observing her from close by, Yeon Jaki soon had no choice but to be convinced.

Yoo Haon might very well have the qualifications.

“You are a mysterious person. I sense a potential in you that I haven’t found in anyone I’ve met until now.”

“…Is that so?”

“Yes. Your talent and five virtues are outstanding, but there’s something about you that cannot be explained by those alone.”

Among those Yeon Jaki had met until now, the foremost existence was Hochoong, called the Celestial Guide Master, but he was closer to something transcending humanity, so it was right to consider him an exception.

And even such Hochoong, due to the limitations of the human body and lifespan, ultimately couldn’t completely prevent the calamity.

‘Whether that is truly possible for a human of later generations……’

While recalling the still unshakeable pessimistic thought, Yeon Jaki sincerely praised Yoo Haon.

“Since you have heart and will, if there is an existence who can illuminate the path for the people, it would be you.”

“…….”

Tilting her head at Yeon Jaki’s words, which sounded like someone from an old era, Yoo Haon sent a smile tinged with awkwardness.

“I’m not such a great person. The one who truly fits those words better is……”

“Does such a person exist here?”

“W-well, it’s just my personal impression. Don’t you already know them, Ms. Yeon Jaki?”

Han Kangyoon.

Hearing that name, Yeon Jaki blankly recalled memories and reminisced about the past.

Certainly, Han Kangyoon was also an extraordinary individual.

And to be honest, Yeon Jaki too had consistently felt an unshakeable, intense intuition from Han Kangyoon.

“Do you think he is that great?”

Since he possesses the power to foresee the future to some extent, it wouldn’t be strange for those around him to feel that way.

However, what Yoo Haon seemed to want to say wasn’t greatly related to that aspect.

“Honestly, if you ask me if I know him well even now, I can’t give a definite answer. It’s closer to not knowing him well, rather.”

“Then why?”

“…I just felt that way.”

In Yoo Haon’s view, if there exists someone who will truly lead people in the world to come, it is Han Kangyoon.

And that answer left a small ripple in Yeon Jaki’s heart.

‘…….’

Coincidentally, that evening, Yeon Jaki faced Han Kangyoon, who had come to find her.

And for some reason, the two who met felt one intense intuition.

That right here, today, everything would change.

As I roughly expected, Yeon Jaki was indeed closely observing Yoo Haon amidst the Night Parade of One Hundred Specters Crisis.

Perhaps she herself needed time to grasp the situation and reach complete conviction.

And the her I met again was, for some reason, facing me with a determined expression, as if she had shaken off all her worries.

“It seems you have something to tell me.”

“Yes. Isn’t it the same for you?”

A strange situation where, by chance, each had business with the other.

In that situation, the one who spoke first was me.

“The situation is not good.”

“It looks that way to my eyes as well.”

“I am convinced. If things continue like this, we will not overcome the tribulations and will eventually collapse and meet our end.”

Yeon Jaki also didn’t seem to have much objection to that statement.

In her view as well, Korea’s current strength was insufficient to confront the Great Specters.

“Coincidentally, it seems they have influenced each other and inflated the size of their vessels from within as well.”

“…….”

“The Elders of the Three Great Noble Families are quite strong, but the day their limits are reached doesn’t seem far off.”

Yeon Jaki’s judgment was truly accurate. And I, strangely, learned that she too had come with a purpose similar to mine.

‘…But why didn’t she bring Yoo Haon?’

In any case, there was no time to waste, so I didn’t hesitate and brought up the main point.

“Have you found your conviction? She needs your choice right now.”

“You said you only saw a part of my future self, but you seem to know more than I thought?”

“…….”

Under Yeon Jaki’s cold gaze, I couldn’t really offer a rebuttal.

Frankly, in the current situation, making various excuses would be utterly meaningless.

“It’s true that I have realized more truths than I told you then. However, one thing is certain: I too have sworn to prevent the calamity myself.”

“I can tell that much just by looking. You mean our goals aren’t different, ultimately.”

After a brief pause, Yeon Jaki stared directly into my eyes and suddenly placed her arm on the table, grabbing my hand.

“…Ugh.”

“So, there’s something I must confirm with you. If you don’t answer this question, I will no longer agree to any cooperation.”

It was an unexpected attitude, so I looked at her face in surprise.

But there was no room for choice.

As I nodded quietly, Yeon Jaki, with an unwavering attitude, posed one question.

“In the future you saw, did I truly choose her?”