Chapter 272

‘So that’s how it is…….’

I don’t know how it happened, but by reading Yoo Haon’s mental landscape, I could roughly grasp what had transpired with her in this place.

I hadn’t known my previous memories would have such an effect. If one only listened to Soul Enchantress’s words, it wouldn’t be strange to be disappointed and suspicious of me.

Yet, even in that situation, Yoo Haon did not abandon her faith. Although she momentarily lost the initiative to Soul Enchantress, she trusted in my efforts up to that point.

And through the transmitted mental landscape, I could confirm one more fact.

‘Yoo Haon’s will is still intact within that.’

In other words, if I could create the right situation, Yoo Haon herself could reclaim the initiative from Soul Enchantress and move her soul.

“Well, what will you do? If you don’t want to see this child’s soul torn to shreds, withdraw now.”

“I’m afraid I can’t do that.”

With those words, I used the Appraisal function to check Yoo Haon’s information for the first time in a long while.

【Yoo Haon】

▶Level 64

▶Attributes

【Stamina : A-】

【Spiritual Power : A+】

【Art Formula : A】

【Mental Strength : S-】

▶Traits (8/10)

【Limit Breakthrough (S)】

【Demon Exorcism Ritual (S)】

【Twilight’s Guidepost (A+)】

【Divine Ability (A+)】

【Blessing of Growth (A)】

【Evil Shall Be Slain (A-)】

【Hunting Authority (B+)】

【No Retreat (B-)】

She had truly grown a lot. It made me realize anew just how much time had passed since we first met.

It also seemed she had achieved her own accomplishments while resisting Soul Enchantress in this mental landscape.

“…Are you sure you won’t regret this?”

Seeing that I wouldn’t obediently withdraw, Soul Enchantress—now fused with Yoo Haon’s soul—brought her own hand to her neck and summoned an inexplicable energy from its tip.

A resolve to truly see it through. To her, I quietly opened my mouth.

“Are you going to end it like that?”

The words were not for Soul Enchantress, but for Yoo Haon who must be inside.

Yoo Haon truly possessed an upright spirit and mind.

A genuine Exorcist who could truly wield power for the people in this chaotic era.

Now, I too had decided to acknowledge my own abilities and talents, but that didn’t mean I could shoulder her role as well.

This world still needed Yoo Haon. That much was an undeniable fact.

“It’s true, I am the son of Juwun, just as you heard. But to be honest, that’s not important.”

Yoo Haon had said it too. That I was not the son of Juwun, but just Han Kangyoon, her Academy senior.

In truth, I had also thought that way and treated Yoo Haon accordingly. After all, the fact that I was the son of Juwun was something I only learned later.

“It’s also true that I felt confusion when I first saw you. Of course, the reason is completely different from what Soul Enchantress told you.”

“What nonsense are you spouting now?”

Soul Enchantress looked angry, as if telling me not to joke, but I paid no heed and continued speaking.

“Yoo Haon. I am one of the Prophets who reads the branches of the future. That’s why I could come this far without retreating in any situation.”

“…….”

And in the future I envision, Yoo Haon’s power is absolutely necessary.

“So, I’ll tell you the answer to escape this situation. Yoo Haon, awaken the Demon-Suppressing power sleeping within you. You have the talent to wield an energy that is the natural enemy of all Specters.”

Yoo Haon’s Traits had achieved a considerable level of evolution.

And the three Traits I believed were the path to the Demon-Suppressing power had also undergone changes.

‘The Divine Power Trait evolved from Divine Power, the Evil Shall Be Slain Trait evolved from Forbidden Art resistance, and the Demon Exorcism Ritual Trait evolved from Spirit Dismissal Art.’

Unlike the other two Traits whose growth had stalled, only the Spirit Dismissal Art had repeatedly evolved, reaching the S-Rank realm.

Seeing that, I could be certain. It was none other than the Spirit Dismissal Art that was the subordinate Trait of Demon-Suppressing.

“What on earth have you been… I don’t know if you’re truly from the future-seeing clan, but if you keep up this nonsense, I’ll shatter this child’s soul immediately.”

Soul Enchantress issued a final warning, giving me one minute.

And until that time completely passed, no change occurred in the end.

‘…Is it really not going to work?’

Perhaps no matter what I said, it might not reach Yoo Haon anymore. Or perhaps my words could no longer earn her trust.

Seeing me biting my lip in impatience, Soul Enchantress soon spoke with a face that had given up on everything.

“I’m tired of stalling. Decide now. If not, I’ll let go of everything.”

With her patience exhausted, Soul Enchantress, her hand infused with power, gripped the body formed by Yoo Haon’s soul.

Now there was truly no way. So I too, as Soul Enchantress said, decided to let go of everything.

Thud.

“What… are you doing now?”

“It’s fine now. I won’t resist, so feel free to take my soul as you wish.”

Naturally, Soul Enchantress didn’t believe it, but ignoring her, I spoke to Yoo Haon who must be sleeping within.

“I really won’t move. Until you reclaim the initiative.”

In short, it meant that if Yoo Haon didn’t regain her senses, I would hand over my soul and body to Soul Enchantress as is.

Hearing that, Soul Enchantress was greatly flustered but also overjoyed, and she stepped forward.

“Are you sane? You’re going to be stubborn like this now?”

This was indeed stubbornness. But no other method came to mind anymore.

I simply sank to the spot and quietly closed both eyes.

Soul Enchantress, perhaps sensing sincerity from my reaction, began slowly approaching me while adopting a defensive posture.

“It’s hard to believe, but it’s not a lie. Who would have thought you’d make such a foolish decision.”

“…….”

“It’s not much of a substitute, but I’ll make very good use of your soul.”

Soon, Soul Enchantress, who had reached right before my nose, slowly extended her hand while summoning an extremely refined energy.

Whoosh.

Right at that moment, an anomaly occurred.

“Ugh, impossible! I definitely had it suppressed……?”

Soul Enchantress, who had placed her hand on her chest, panicked and stepped back, then began sinking down with a pained expression.

And soon, a clear radiance overflowed from Yoo Haon’s soul that Soul Enchantress had seized.

Whoosh.

Flash—!

“Gyaaahk!”

Soul Enchantress let out a bizarre scream, and simultaneously, Yoo Haon’s soul staggered and collapsed on the spot.

Shifting my gaze slightly to look beyond, I saw that Soul Enchantress had somehow returned to her original soul and was trembling as if panicked.

“Th-this power, what on earth…….”

Fine cracks began to appear on Soul Enchantress’s soul, which hadn’t even been directly struck, and Soul Enchantress, unable to even maintain balance, kept staggering.

And at that moment, Yoo Haon, who had fallen, rose and spoke to me as if dumbfounded.

“What on earth were you doing……?”

“It seems you’ve reclaimed the initiative.”

“Do you know we could have both lost our souls and bodies if things went wrong?”

“I thought it was possible.”

“…It’s not something to say so lightly.”

Although I spoke with a sigh of relief, Yoo Haon continued with an inexplicably angry tone.

“I had already given up on everything. Without even knowing I was in that state, how could you gamble with your life on the line?”

Her words contained a strange sense of grievance and even anger, so I could realize how much anguish and impatience Yoo Haon had felt.

Yet, even so, I had no reason to change my answer.

“I told you I read the future. I believed it was possible.”

“I’ve met Woonyeon-nim to some extent, so I know a bit. Is that ‘future’ a one hundred percent accurate prediction?”

“No, it’s not.”

“See. Then why on earth…….”

If she asked that much, I had nothing to say.

I simply felt that Yoo Haon was in a state ready to awaken her Demon-Suppressing Trait, and I trusted my judgment and intuition.

So I returned those words directly to Yoo Haon.

“Then why did you believe?”

“…….”

Yoo Haon too, while agonizing in the mental landscape Soul Enchantress conveyed, ultimately did not abandon her trust in me.

“It’s not much different. We probably felt similar emotions.”

“I can’t accept that…….”

“You can accept a being from the World of Forbidden Techniques trying to steal a body, but not this?”

At my words, Yoo Haon shrugged her shoulders as if dumbfounded.

However, she soon followed with an embarrassed smile and conveyed her gratitude.

“Thank you. For believing in me until the end.”

“…….”

I nodded, then looked at Soul Enchantress suffering on the opposite side.

Having fled the Soul Spirit Gluttony wager with her soul as collateral, and taking a direct hit from the Demon-Suppressing power while in control of a soul, the damage must be immense, for all I knew.

Indeed, Soul Enchantress seemed to have exhausted almost all her power, showing no sign of being able to continue the fight.

“P-please spare me…….”

“…….”

“When you think about it, you’re the bad ones. It’s all because you came to this false world!”

“There’s no need to act. I know the fact that your true body remains somewhere in the world.”

Yet, even at my words, the despair etched in Soul Enchantress’s eyes did not hide itself.

“That’s not it……. I came here staking everything, having abandoned even my true body. If I perish here, I can no longer be revived. So please…….”

I hadn’t known that. It seemed Soul Enchantress had truly staked everything on seizing Yoo Haon’s body and gathered all the power she possessed.

But that didn’t mean we could just let it go.

I slightly turned my head and passed the right of judgment to Yoo Haon, who had fought her here for half a year.

“…I understand your circumstances. While in this space, I fully felt that your anger and despair were not false.”

“Then…….”

“However, whether it was you before recognizing us or you in the original history, the fact that you oppressed and tormented innocent people remains unchanged. Don’t try to escape that responsibility.”

“Grrk!”

A clear energy settled into the Talisman held in Yoo Haon’s hand, and soon from within it, a momentum of heresy surged forth.

Whooosh!

Truly, the Demon-Suppressing power that suppresses all evil.

Crushed by it and facing soul annihilation, Soul Enchantress spat out a final Curse filled with resentment.

“Kheu, kheuheu. You shouldn’t trust Hongrim too much. She is… originally someone whose true intentions even I could hardly grasp……”

Fsssh.

That was Soul Enchantress’s end.

“Did we… have the right to blame her?”

“…Who knows. Originally, qualifications aren’t something anyone can decide for you.”

Immediately after, I sensed that the time limit for escape was barely remaining and grasped the spirit thread connected to my physical body in reality.

“Let’s stop watching and go.”

“…Yes.”

Now, it was time to return to the space where we should be.