Chapter 28

Han Seoa opened her eyes and stared blankly ahead for a few seconds. Then, coming to her senses, she hastily looked around.

‘……Ah.’

To her immense relief, she could see the two professors who had received emergency treatment and Han Kangyoon lying right beside them.

Their complexions were pale, but all three were breathing properly. Even Han Kangyoon, who had been on the brink of death, showed no major injuries aside from bruises.

‘He’s alive.’

Han Seoa covered her face with both hands in relief. It had clearly seemed like a desperate situation with no way out, but it appeared her brother had somehow managed to escape even from that.

And now, none of that mattered anymore.

Whatever had happened, as long as Han Kangyoon was alive, that alone was enough.

‘…….’

Swoosh.

He didn’t seem to be in critical condition, but his body was cold. Han Seoa quickly used a basic Art Formula she had learned at the Academy to generate warmth.

Poof.

Then, tightly gripping Han Kangyoon’s hand with both of hers, she continued to channel that warmth into him.

‘I won’t let something like that happen again.’

Han Seoa felt powerless. Frankly, it was beyond her control, but she couldn’t even be of any help. All she could do was regret and blame herself.

A-Rank? That was just an empty title with no value once you stepped outside into the world. She had realized that keenly during this incident.

To protect something amidst a real threat, she needed to grow and become stronger.

Han Seoa made a firm resolution as she gazed intently at the unconscious Han Kangyoon.

Ding.

【Unidentified Trait recognized.】

▶【Companion(S)】

Unaware of the change that had occurred within her.

Time simply continued to flow.

Crackle.

Flicker.

Changsha City, Hunan Province, China.

One of the managed branch offices of the Sakoonpa, a massive force currently wielding great influence in China.

The place where a huge building once stood had been reduced to nothing more than ruins, and as if to prove it, corpses were strewn everywhere.

In the midst of that hellscape. Three figures, two men and a woman, stood.

Crunch.

“…Bihyeong’s reaction has disappeared.”

The one who uttered the words in a low voice was a woman wearing a cheongsam made of luxurious fabric.

Hearing this, a giant of a man spoke.

“That can’t be. Are you mistaken?”

“Have you ever seen me make a mistake about something like this?”

At her words, the two men present hardened their expressions with seriousness.

A comrade’s reaction had disappeared. What that meant was simple.

“Are you saying he’s dead? That Bihyeong.”

“…Seems so.”

She shrugged and responded nonchalantly, but the woman also wore an expression of disbelief.

The other man, who had been listening intently, opened his mouth.

“Where was the location?”

“Korea. Not the north, the south.”

“…The place with the Three Great Noble Families?”

The woman, who had been pondering gravely, clapped her hands together as if remembering something.

Clap.

“Now that I think of it, he said he’d found something interesting, a resurrection ritual or something. That’s why I even set up a Teleportation Art for him and came back.”

“I do recall hearing such a story.”

After a brief pause, the woman continued.

“He said he was using some kids as Sacrifices. What was it again…… Cheongho Academy?”

In any case, it was no trivial matter.

It wasn’t the first time a member of the Night School had died, but it certainly wasn’t a common occurrence either.

“Korea, huh…… Now that I hear it, I just remembered there was a rather enticing proposal.”

“You’re going?”

In response to the question, the long-haired man with his eyes closed answered.

“If there is a festival, it is only right to participate.”

If even that Bihyeong died, something unpredictable is clearly happening.

A member of the Night School, and a Forbidden Arts Master who once plunged an entire U.S. state into terror. Hectail.

His destination pointed to Korea.

The Yeongwoldo Incident came to a close.

Four students on the island sustained minor injuries, and including Baek Jieun and Choi Dowon, three professors also had to be hospitalized.

Fortunately, there were no fatalities, but it was a major incident that could have resulted in even greater damage.

Therefore, after the situation had somewhat calmed down, I, along with Yoo Haon and his group, had to put effort into giving testimonies about the incident.

“Something awakened, but it didn’t seem to be in a normal state.”

What happened there, whether they knew anything about the entity that injured Choi Dowon and Baek Jieun, and so on.

Yoo Haon’s group finished their statements before I did. Their testimonies included that they had received help from an unknown someone when confronting Bihyeong.

So, I decided to subtly go along with that as well.

“Yes. It was a man with his face covered. Or perhaps not a man. Thanks to him, the professors and I were able to survive.”

If it were just one side’s testimony, it might be met with skepticism, but if the testimonies of two people in different locations match, it becomes somewhat reliable information.

In the end, the conclusion was reached that I and Yoo Haon’s group were able to escape the crisis thanks to the help of that mysterious man.

‘That’s one worry off my mind.’

The reason I survived even after using the Forbidden Art of Life Substitution was also resolved, for now, by attributing it to the mysterious man.

After all, it was a chaotic situation, and no one could know the truth.

Therefore, both internally and externally, people were busy chattering only about what was visible on the surface.

【Academy Terror Perpetrator Bihyeong, Pursuit Unit Formed by Exorcism Headquarters.】

【1st-Rank Exorcist Ji Yoon-ha Returns to Korea. When Will She Join the Pursuit Unit?】

【The Troubled Cheonghwa Academy, Is It Really Okay Like This?】

Another warrant was issued for Bihyeong, and through various mass media and outlets, it became a hot topic, with the Academy engulfed in a wave of criticism.

“What are your thoughts on this situation?”

“Protests are pouring in from all over.”

“The students who will be responsible for Korea’s future faced a major threat. Isn’t this problematic?”

Although I had seen these things in the original work, facing them in reality made them feel excessively intense.

‘If we’re being serious, I think they’re expecting too much.’

The Academy is an educational institution, not a military force.

To handle Bihyeong’s meticulously planned assault without any casualties?

Frankly, that’s not an easy task for any force in current Korea.

Moreover, even the Academy’s greatest combat power consisted of only a few individuals barely exceeding Level 50, and even they were scattered between the Academy grounds and Yeongwoldo.

‘From the beginning, Bihyeong may have used the Academy, but his main objective was Keuseundae’s resurrection, so in a way, the Academy that got caught up in it was just unlucky.’

But through this, the original work’s characters overcame a great crisis and finally entered the massive flow of the story.

From now on, many things will change.

Buzz.

Buzz.

[Want to train together tomorrow?]

[Sure, why not.]

The students’ perceptions had also changed significantly.

They had ultimately realized that to protect even themselves in a crisis, they needed to become stronger on their own.

‘Yoo Haon and the other supporting characters will also properly enter their growth phase now.’

And I, too, encountered an unexpectedly huge change.

‘Appraisal.’

Ding.

【Han Kangyoon】

▶Level 30

▶Stats

【Stamina : C+】

【Spiritual Power : B-】

【Art Formula : B-】

【Mental Power : B+】

▶Traits (3/10)

【Phantom Body(S)】

【Intracranial Spell Repository(B)】

【Life Returner(B-)】

First, my Level had finally broken into the 30s.

When I first fell here, I was in the early 20s, so it was a considerable growth rate.

‘Considering I don’t have a Growth Acceleration Trait, it’s a tremendous achievement.’

Of course, it was only possible because of the corresponding hardship. Until now, I had continuously faced enemies who were clearly stronger than me. In a way, this much growth was natural.

The important thing was what came next. The stats.

‘Compared to the 2nd Phase state, it has definitely dropped……’

But the degree isn’t large. Compared to my original stats, it’s dazzling, even beautiful.

The cause was somewhat predictable.

‘I never thought it would come to this.’

I focused and drew up my Spiritual Power to the fullest.

Then, a viscous black shadow began to flow subtly over my entire body.

What it meant was simple.

‘They’ve mixed.’

Originally, the penalty of the 2nd Phase is the weakening of the Phantom Body Trait.

As the vast energy residing in the shadow drains away, the size of the vessel shrinks and its level weakens.

Indeed, even now, I could feel that the power contained within my shadow had become diminished compared to before.

However, in the process, I underwent another change.

Namely, the boundary between the shadow and the physical body had become somewhat distorted.

‘I’ve never seen a case like this.’

Moreover, I’ve never even heard of it. From the beginning, in the Exorcism Academy Series, only Jeolyeong had the Phantom Body Trait.

Whether this will be a gain or a detriment is still unknown. It’s something to watch slowly.

But at the very least, achieving an immediate stat increase isn’t something to view only negatively.

‘It’s becoming somewhat usable, bit by bit.’

However, satisfaction is forbidden.

To prepare for what lies ahead, I needed to grow even more desperately.

Swoosh.

Thud.

Having organized my thoughts, I sat down on the desk chair provided in the dormitory.

Chapter 1 of the story had ended. Now, it was time for me to draw a new picture as well.

Scratch.

Scratch.

After writing something down on a sheet of paper, I neatly folded it and placed it inside a submission envelope.

Written at the very edge was this:

【Guard Unit Duty Internship Application – Cheongdam 2nd Guard Unit】

‘I never thought I’d actually do this.’

In the Exorcism Academy worldview’s Korea, similar to fire stations or police stations, there exists something called a Guard Unit for each designated district.

And within those Guard Units, Exorcists are stationed to subdue Specters that could appear anywhere, anytime.

It’s an organization that patrols, responds to calls, and exerts effort to protect citizens.

‘And students of the Academy must complete internships at Guard Units at least twice during the five vacation periods.’

It’s still a story of the distant future, but as I plan to take the Exorcist exam early, I essentially need to complete two internships before the end of my second year.

There was also another reason. Rather, this time, this was the main point.

‘I’m pretty sure it was first mentioned around this time.’

A Fire Goblin Specter, estimated to be B-Rank, that suddenly appeared in the city center, then evaded the dispatched Exorcists and disappeared.

That Specter, for which only a brief hint was dropped, later appears in the original story’s storyline having gained even more powerful strength.

‘At this point in time, it should be worth trying to subjugate somehow.’

It’s practically a safe asset with guaranteed growth to A+-Rank or higher later. If I can subjugate it and make it my subordinate, it would be of great help.

‘If I miss this chance, an opportunity to subjugate a figure of this caliber won’t come easily for a while.’

To survive in Story Act 2, filled with crises of Chapter 1 scale and above, I need to build up my strength as soon as possible.

I intend to make the first move before the Fire Goblin returns, having grown stronger.