Chapter 295

As everyone remained silent, unable to respond, Hongrim continued speaking.

“It might be a misunderstanding… but I believe the reason Hochoong from the original history sent you to this era is also that.”

“…Are you saying Hochoong’s solution is to sacrifice someone to release the Polar Night of the World of Forbidden Techniques outside?”

“I can’t think of any other way. If those beings try to dominate the Specters outside and eliminate each other, their power will naturally be divided and diminished. That might finally open a path to subdue the Polar Night.”

It certainly wasn’t a baseless claim.

I could sense from Hongrim’s words that she had genuinely pondered repeatedly and arrived at this current answer.

However, I couldn’t definitively say it was the truth either.

“The Polar Night is an existence that revives even after death. Are you saying making them confront each other could break even that rule?”

“…I can’t be certain to that extent. But wouldn’t it be possible to seal a weakened Polar Night for a long time, or kill it once and pass the task to future generations?”

“So, it’s all just conjecture. You, Hongrim-nim, also don’t seem able to definitively say it’s the correct answer.”

At those words, Hongrim fell silent for a moment, then nodded. But she didn’t stop speaking.

“The choice is not mine. But remember this: if releasing the Polar Night here outside was Hochoong’s scheme, then you will be crossing a river of no return.”

It was a cold statement, but above all, it pinpointed the crux of the situation.

Procrastination was impossible. A choice had to be made right here, right now.

And in truth, the answer had been decided long ago.

“Frankly, I’m grateful for your honesty, but I won’t do that.”

“……”

“Even if that was truly Hochoong’s intention, it’s the same. That is only the answer Hochoong arrived at, not the answer I have decided for myself.”

Hearing that, Hongrim nodded as if it couldn’t be helped, and finally showed a calm smile again.

“If you have that much conviction, it probably doesn’t matter. Do as you will.”

“Hongrim-nim, you…”

“A feast is laid out before my eyes, so I think I’ll have one last grand celebration with my family. Please send my regards to that child outside.”

With only those words, Hongrim loudly called all of Sadoopae and advanced toward the battlefield where the Polar Night was.

The Spectral Energy fading from the bodies of the Specters who had already decided their end adorned the void, illuminating the path like a small Milky Way.

Amidst the entranced party, I felt an inexplicable admiration and once again picked up the broken horn of Mountain Sky to trace the traces of the Secret Art.

“…Is everyone ready?”

At my solemn words, the party members nodded one by one.

And following my instructions, they formed a circular space and began to create a formation, just like when we first moved to this era.

There really had been all sorts of events, but now it was time to leave all that behind and return to the original battlefield.

However, I would not forget all those memories. Looking around, I could be sure the thoughts of the party members were not much different.

“Then, let’s go.”

As I recited the Incantation, the fragmented pieces of Mountain Sky’s horn began to emit light with their last remaining power.

And the moment that light formed a circle and enveloped everyone, we felt the strange sensation of our own existences being sucked somewhere, just like before.

Perhaps after 5 seconds, 10 seconds, and another 10 seconds had passed, we could confirm that the light gradually faded and we were setting foot in a place completely different from before.

“We’ve… returned.”

Broken buildings and dust swirling in a 21st-century city—it was our homeland, Korea.

“Haon!”

“Have you finished everything and returned?”

The first to return inside the Great Barrier Eight-Star Formation deployed in Korea, we could meet our comrades who welcomed our return with joy.

Also, Yeon Jaki appeared and cast a nervous glance. I moved to a different location with her briefly and gave her a concise account of what had happened.

“…I had no idea such things occurred. An era where the young Hochoong existed.”

“When did you, Yeon Jaki-nim, meet Hochoong-nim in the original history?”

“Perhaps it was after time had passed, Sadoopae disbanded, and he was wandering the world alone. I don’t know the exact age, but Hochoong at that time was already called a Celestial Guide Master and had an appearance between middle and old age.”

Indeed, it seemed the history we intervened in and the original history took quite different forms.

I also asked questions about Seo Cheonye and the five Great Specters, but the ends Yeon Jaki described for them were either completely unexpected or there was simply no information.

Also, when I told her about the matter with Hongrim, Yeon Jaki showed a faint smile as if recalling memories and expressed her gratitude.

“…Is that so? Well, at that point, she would have been alive and well. It seems her disposition didn’t change even in the World of Forbidden Techniques.”

“She was an admirable person. She was also a great help in uncovering the secrets of the Polar Night.”

So now, it was time to return to a more fundamental discussion.

When I conveyed the information I had discovered and speculated about the Polar Night, Yeon Jaki was both flustered and startled, sharing her opinion with me.

“…That’s surprising. To think the Polar Night was such an existence… It seems you have achieved far greater results than I expected.”

“I appreciate the evaluation, but in the end, we only fled from it at the final moment.”

“No. Nothing was meaningless. The information you brought will definitely help find an answer in some way.”

Also, though she mentioned it now, Yeon Jaki said she had thought there was a high possibility we might not even get close to the essence of the Polar Night or might not return at all.

In a sense, it was that difficult a task, that perilous a journey.

“How has it been outside all this time?”

Since I had told her everything, it was now my turn to gather information.

According to her, a little over a week had passed since we entered the World of Forbidden Techniques, and no major anomalies had occurred during that time.

However, since the situation itself was so poor, the current reality was that crises repeated daily.

“…It’s a difficult situation. If the Polar Night were to appear in these circumstances, the balance of the global defense lines would surely collapse.”

“There must still be several past Great Specters remaining inside the Oracle Bone Casket. Frankly, I don’t think the Korean Exorcists can handle that.”

Yeon Jaki’s assessment was accurate. That’s why she took the risk and gave us the horn of Mountain Sky a week ago.

And once again, it was undoubtedly the right decision.

【Han Kangyoon】

▶Level 76

▶Stats

【Stamina: B+】

【Spiritual Power: A+】

【Art Formula: A-】

【Mental Strength: S-】

▶Traits (9/10)

【Phantom Body (S)】

【Witch’s Resonance (A+)】

【Dragon Body (A+)】

【Desperate Struggle (A+)】

【Giant Slayer (A)】

【Soul Combustion (A)】

【Dragon’s Forest World (A)】

【Challenger (B+)】

【Intracranial Spell Repository (B)】

A year might seem like nothing, but the density of battles we experienced there was utterly unreasonable.

We often fought Specters every day or two and defeated several Great Specters with transcendent power or major Specters equivalent to S-Rank.

Moreover, the environment was suitable for training due to the abundant Natural Qi, so our growth during the year in the World of Forbidden Techniques was indescribable by any words.

“We will definitely subdue the Great Specters remaining in the Oracle Bone Casket.”

“…You seem reliable. I will also do my best to help then.”

After finishing the meeting with Yeon Jaki, I climbed onto the rooftop of a collapsed building lying on the ground and quietly lay down.

Though the situation was urgent and I hadn’t noticed, a considerable amount of mental energy had been consumed from falling into the World of Forbidden Techniques to returning here.

[Are you okay?]

Verdi’s voice came, sounding worried. Nodding at that, another voice soon wormed into my ear.

[The oppa I’ve watched tends to overdo it, so it’s better to rest at times like this.]

Raising my right arm, blue veins showed through the skin, my nails sharpened, and a strange energy emanated.

It was the Ghost Hand, the result of Kwimae, who had completely abandoned her own body, choosing to be absorbed by me.

“Are you really okay with this outcome?”

[It’s nothing special. Rather, it’s quite comfortable and nice. I can comfortably watch future events too.]

After the final meeting with Hongrim in the World of Forbidden Techniques, Kwimae asked me to fulfill the promise with her before returning to the present.

And this was the result.

“Even so, to think you held such thoughts…”

[It can’t be helped. After all, I am an imitation. So, to head outside, I have no choice but to become part of the real thing like this.]

Well, it made sense for her to be cooperative. In this state, she had essentially transformed into a kind of pseudo-body completely controlled by me.

Moreover, through this, I gained an unexpected benefit.

As her soul and body were absorbed by me, my overall stats increased.

[It’s easier to deploy Art Formulas than before, right? The available amount of power must have increased too.]

“As you say. It’s amazing there are no side effects.”

[Well… since a lot of power was lost, the method itself is terribly inefficient. It should at least have stability.]

There were several reasons she made this choice, one of which was that she wanted to witness the conclusion of this story with her own eyes.

[Though presumptuously, I no longer have eyes.]

Letting Kwimae’s playful words go in one ear, I lay on the debris of the tilted rooftop and quietly looked up at the sky.

What should I do from now on?

Which path becomes the correct answer, leading me to a truly right conclusion?

Frankly, I’ve passed the stage where I can be confident just by thinking.

I have no choice but to clash with everything I have and find the right answer each time.

Yes. Everything I have.

“…Soon, I must go and deal with the postponed matters.”

The decision is already made.

So, the future from here will be an uncertain, unpaved road where nothing is set.

What exists at the end of that road? Naturally, I don’t know either.