Chapter 25

Meaning, the two professors had somehow managed to extricate themselves from the battlefield to stop the resurrection ritual.

“A ritual of this scale. If it succeeds, something utterly absurd will surely emerge.”

“…I’m sorry, but we have neither the time nor the luxury to persuade you.”

The professors’ resolve was firm. They had likely grasped the severity of the situation to some extent while fighting Bihyeong.

Hearing their words, Han Seoa also seemed to realize what kind of affair she had gotten entangled in.

“…Am I, the sacrifice?”

“In reality, it’s a bit more complicated, but simply put, yes.”

“……”

Han Seoa’s eyes wavered unsteadily. Of course, it would be hard to accept. She hadn’t done anything with any ill intent.

Writhe.

“…Ugh.”

Meanwhile, the ritual’s influence was growing stronger.

At this rate, less than ten minutes remained until the ritual’s completion. There was no more time to waste.

“That’s enough explanation. Step aside.”

Choi Dowon snapped with a cold expression. At that, Han Seoa flinched, her body trembling, then spoke to me with a look of despair.

“…I didn’t mean for this to happen.”

Her heart seemed utterly confused.

“I just… I just wanted to do a little better.”

Han Seoa couldn’t continue. Choi Dowon urged her on, unable to sort out her thoughts.

“In about 10 minutes, the ritual will succeed. Then who do you think will die first?”

“……”

“Us here, and Han Kangyoon.”

“…I see.”

“If you don’t want to see your brother die, you know what you have to do, right?”

Han Seoa made a pained expression, then soon stood up from her spot and gently pushed aside my shoulder, which was blocking her way.

“…I’m sorry. Actually, my anger had already subsided a while ago.”

As she said this, she stepped towards the professors herself.

“I was always grateful.”

It was a casually uttered phrase, like any other time, but it was a sincere one. Han Seoa said nothing more.

She simply stood before the professors, closed her eyes, and awaited her end.

‘……’

I frowned at the throbbing headache rising within me.

Rationally speaking, the professors’ judgment was correct. It was the most reasonable decision given the current situation.

‘Setting aside ethical considerations, to minimize casualties, it’s the obvious choice.’

However, by my standards, it was a situation that could hardly be called anything but the worst.

Was Han Seoa truly a character who could die here and now without issue?

‘That is absolutely unacceptable.’

She wasn’t like the protagonist Yoo Haon, who could aim for S-Rank in all stats, nor was she like Cheong Joohwa, who uniquely possessed an EX-ranked Cursed Technique stat.

But Han Seoa, thanks to her Late Bloomer Trait, was a character who would reach Level 50 and beyond faster than anyone else, and as a heroine, she played a major role in future events.

For her to disappear without fulfilling that role would create far too many variables.

‘……’

Furthermore. Even putting that aside, I couldn’t accept it.

‘If I just stand by and watch such a sight, then for what purpose did I even come here?’

Originally, the one who should have died here was me, Han Kangyoon. And now, sacrifice Han Seoa for his sake?

If I did such a thing, I would surely lose all meaning in living in this world.

Having solidified my thoughts, I quickly began to act.

“Fierce Wolf.”

Whoosh!

Thump.

Fierce Wolf, which leaped out from my shadow, grabbed the nape of Han Seoa’s neck and jumped back towards me.

It was a speed that Baek Jieun, a martial artist from the Baek Family, could have easily intercepted, but she did not stop it. As expected.

“…Right. Doing everything one can leads to fewer regrets.”

Despite pretending otherwise, she’s a rather kind-hearted person. She was considerate of my feelings.

However, when it comes to making decisions, she is by no means indecisive. Soon after, Baek Jieun, having taken her stance, emitted a murderous intent so palpable it could be felt on the skin.

“It’ll be over in the blink of an eye.”

Moreover, Choi Dowon also sighed and spoke.

“A futile endeavor.”

Immediately after, something restrained my body, which was preparing for combat. It was Choi Dowon’s binding art.

“Did you grow arrogant because your strength increased so rapidly? Sorry, but practitioners at your current level are a dime a dozen.”

Naturally. I knew that better than anyone.

But, there was a way.

‘Frankly, it’s a gamble.’

If not for this situation, it’s a method I would never willingly use.

The risk is high, and I’m not even certain of the outcome.

‘But, if done well, I might even manage to resolve the resurrection ritual situation.’

Since I’m saving Han Seoa anyway, the ritual’s success is a certainty. If the gamble fails, surviving either way would be a distant hope.

In other words, there was no choice.

‘…It’s do or die.’

Tszzzt.

While caught in Choi Dowon’s binding art, I deployed the Art Formula that surfaced in my mind.

It was a Forbidden Art.

A self-destructive technique that trades one’s own life for temporarily greater power.

Kiiing.

Upon activating the Cursed Technique, a dreadful sensation, as if something fundamental within me was melting, washed over me.

And in exchange, Spiritual Power explosively overflowed within my body.

Choi Dowon’s binding art, affected by the aftermath, shattered helplessly.

Clang!

“Han Kangyoon!”

“…Have you lost your mind?!”

Naturally, the two professors also noticed and were astonished. Once this Cursed Technique was activated, it was practically a foregone conclusion that I too would lose my life.

“…Brother?”

Han Seoa, unaware of what I had done, looked at me with a worried expression.

I gently patted her head and spoke.

“…Everything will be fine.”

The situation was urgent. Sensing something amiss, Baek Jieun took a deep stance and shot towards me as if darting forward.

From now on, I had to exert my full strength without reserve.

Whoosh.

“Bone Bear.”

Whoosh!

[Groooar!]

The skeletal bear, Bone Bear, which leaped out at my call, charged at Baek Jieun. Additionally, Fierce Wolf and the Black Bird nearby also joined in.

“…I told you it’s useless.”

Thwump!

Crunch!

[Gurgle!]

Crash!

As expected, that was insufficient to stop Baek Jieun. Just by wrapping a talisman around her arm and unleashing a fist strike, Bone Bear had a hole blown through its chest and was Spirit Dismissed.

But that was enough. The goal was only to buy time from the start.

Thanks to that, the preparation for the Cursed Technique was complete.

Taebaek is Gongryun.”

“…What!”

At the Incantation I uttered, expressions of disbelief appeared on Baek Jieun and Choi Dowon’s faces.

No wonder, because reciting an Incantation like this before activating an Art Formula meant one was preparing at least an Advanced Art or higher.

“…To boast at a time like this.”

Choi Dowon muttered with a displeased face, but I paid no heed and continued moving my lips.

Dowon (reach the origin) is Seonha (select is).”

Simultaneously, vast amounts of Spiritual Power began to swirl violently around me.

Only then did the professors also realize. That I was truly about to deploy an Advanced Art.

“Professor Choi!”

“…I know.”

With a hardened expression, Choi Dowon formed a Hand Seal and once again shouted the Incantation Trigger for his binding art.

“Void Slaughter Seizure!”

Sticky Spiritual Power tried to seize me, but thanks to Fierce Wolf and the Black Bird desperately blocking it, it came to naught.

Crack!

[Gik. Gik.]

[Keeek!]

Fierce Wolf, which had already taken significant damage from Baek Jieun, was completely Spirit Dismissed and shattered to pieces, while the Black Bird was subdued and could no longer move.

And finally, the Cursed Technique was completed.

“Eight Void Spiraling Net Curse.”

Whoosh!

Eight Void Spiraling Net Curse.

As the name suggests, it’s a binding art that strikes the enemy with waves of Spiritual Power and restrains them.

Baek Jieun, who was charging forward, was swept away by the wave of Spiritual Power, and Choi Dowon also deployed a Defensive Art but couldn’t avoid its effects.

“Kuhuk!”

In a way, it was inevitable. I was fighting now, squeezing out every last drop of my life force.

An Advanced Cursed Technique activated at the cost of one’s life is not something that can be easily countered.

‘Unless you know the countermeasure or are above Level 50, it’s impossible.’

Baek Jieun and Choi Dowon, who were directly hit, had their bodies stiffen in an instant, and I used that opening to approach Han Seoa.

Shwak.

Taking out a talisman from my pocket, I also used a binding art on Han Seoa as the target.

“Clear Chain Binding.”

Clatter!

A blue iron chain shot out from the talisman, and Han Seoa, bound by it, faced me with a troubled expression.

“…Brother?”

“Everything will be fine.”

This is where it gets crucial.

Placing my hand near Han Seoa’s abdomen, I began to deploy the Cursed Technique I had in mind.

Tszzzt.

“It seems I haven’t been able to pay enough attention to you.”

“…Don’t say that. I never once thought that.”

At her words, I shrugged. It was true that I hadn’t been able to pay much attention due to various worries. After all, I was distinctly a different person from the original Han Kangyoon.

But, even so, having decided to live as Han Kangyoon, I intended to fulfill the role of family properly.

‘Originally, Han Seoa wasn’t in a position to die here.’

In a way, the current situation was a butterfly effect caused by my actions, and simply watching it unfold idly didn’t sit right with me.

“…….”

Earlier, I said it was impossible to nullify the Cursed Technique engraved on Han Seoa’s body on the spot.

‘However, transferring it to a specific target is possible.’

I will transfer the resurrection ritual’s Cursed Technique to my own body.

Fssht.

The Curse Scar pulsating on Han Seoa’s body gradually began to fade, and conversely, it reappeared through my forearm and around my neck.

Han Seoa, noticing this, was horrified.

“Wait! Stop!”

“I’d like to explain, but there’s no time.”

The remaining time limit was just over a minute. It was quite precarious.

“No! Don’t do it!”

Han Seoa cried out in anguish, but bound by the binding art, she couldn’t move.

In the end, I succeeded in transferring all of the resurrection ritual’s Cursed Technique engraved on Han Seoa to myself.

Writhe.

I could clearly feel it. The completion of the Cursed Technique was imminent.

Steeling my resolve, I spoke to Han Seoa, who was falling into despair.

“Use Choi Dowon and Baek Jieun as shields.”

Grrroooom!

Immediately after, with the completion of the Cursed Technique, my body collapsed to the ground as if falling.

Han Seoa despaired.

She had never dreamed that her actions would lead to something like this.

“Ah…….”

Han Kangyoon’s body collapsed as if crumbling, and simultaneously, the binding art restricting her body also released. Han Seoa, with dazed eyes, hurriedly caught and held him.

“…Aah.”

How did it come to this?

Countless thoughts swirled, but none of them could be put into words. Han Seoa blamed herself, shedding tears drop by drop.

‘Because of me…….’

Han Kangyoon was not someone who should die for someone like me.

He was surely someone who would accomplish even greater things in the future and become the pride of the orphanage family.

And yet, that person’s life had ended. In a mere instant.

Two people approached from behind Han Seoa, who was kneeling and blaming herself.

Baek Jieun and Choi Dowon, freed from the effects of the Cursed Technique.

“Hah, really. I don’t know what I just witnessed.”

“……”

Though he said nothing, Choi Dowon agreed with Baek Jieun’s words.

“Absurd.”

No matter how much he offered his life as a price, such a thing shouldn’t have been possible for an ordinary student.

Han Kangyoon, whose talent had Bloomed, might have been a prospect who could have grown even beyond Sophia.

However, that was now impossible.

Because Han Kangyoon had already given his life.

“What about the resurrection ritual?”

“Since he already used a life-exchange Forbidden Art, with the subject changed to Han Kangyoon, it probably wasn’t completed……”

Grooom.

The moment Baek Jieun was about to finish her sentence, the air suddenly grew heavy, pressing down from all sides.

“What!”

“…Damn it, so it succeeded after all.”

Whoosh!

Immediately after, from beneath the ground a short distance away from the three, a hemispherical mound of earth abruptly surged upward.

It resembled a grave and also looked like a cave leading underground.

From there, an absurdly vicious Spectral Energy began to flow out.

Baek Jieun bit her lip, and Choi Dowon let out a sigh mixed with lament.

“…Damn it, we’re all dead.”

From the entrance of that earthen mound, something slowly began to reveal itself.

They hadn’t even faced its entirety yet, but Baek Jieun and Choi Dowon felt an intense fear they hadn’t experienced in a long time.

“Hah, to think something like this was buried under the island.”

“…Whoever chose this place as the Examination Ground is undoubtedly the fool of the century.”

The two professors quickly entered Combat Posture. The chances of victory seemed slim, but they couldn’t just meekly offer their lives.

However, that resolve was meaningless.

“Hah, ugh!”

Immediately after, Choi Dowon suddenly collapsed on the spot. Hideous Curse Scars were already writhing all over his body, and he soon lost consciousness completely.

“…This is unbelievable.”

They had merely met its gaze. That alone had reduced Choi Dowon, who possessed strength comparable to a 2nd-Rank Exorcist, to that state.

It was obvious they were facing an opponent of a completely different caliber.

[──!]

An eerie, incomprehensible sound struck their ears.

Baek Jieun focused and steadied her posture. Whatever it was, she had to inflict at least some damage. That way, she could leave even a faint hope for the other professors.

But.

Whoosh!

Plop.

Plop.

“Kuhuk!”

In the blink of an eye, a massive hole had been torn through Baek Jieun’s abdomen.

‘Something like this, how on earth…….’

With a look of futility as her last expression, Baek Jieun also collapsed on the spot.

“……”

Both professors had been defeated. And in an instant.

Han Seoa wiped away her tears as best she could and carefully laid Han Kangyoon down on the ground. Then, she raised her trembling body.

‘At the very least, even just one arm…….’

She no longer had any desire to live. She had already lost everything.

However, the being that had awakened using Han Kangyoon as a Sacrifice was right before her eyes. She couldn’t possibly accept that.

After doing what she could, she too would die.

Swish.

Clutching a talisman she had taken from Han Kangyoon’s pocket, the moment Han Seoa steeled her final resolve, a strange sound began to echo all around.

Thump-thump.

Thump-thump.

It sounded like a heartbeat, and also like something pulsating.

Thump-thump.*

The source of that sound was none other than Han Kangyoon, lying on the ground.

More precisely, it came from his shadow, in contact with his body.

“…Brother?”

Even knowing it was a ridiculous fantasy, Han Seoa, unable to let go of her lingering hope, called out to Han Kangyoon.

Immediately after, Han Kangyoon, whom she thought was dead, awoke as if in response and slowly rose from his spot.

“…My head hurts.”

With a deeply grimacing expression, he stared at the enemy that had awakened using him as a sacrifice.