Chapter 296

“First, there’s something you absolutely must do for me.”

The next day, after getting sufficient rest, I called Seoa and conveyed to her, without holding back, the goal I had been contemplating all this time.

“Break through the remaining two labyrinths… on your own.”

“Verdi said your qualifications aren’t perfect yet. But she also said that if you can clear all the labyrinths, she’ll fully impart her knowledge to you.”

It was clearly a difficult task, but for the current Seoa, it didn’t seem impossible.

Additionally, there was one other crucial task.

“The order is the Ice Palace first, then the Guilty Labyrinth. And in the Guilty Labyrinth, there’s someone you must meet.”

“Someone I must meet? Who is it?”

“Cheongil, the founder of Cheonghwa Academy and a hero of the Cheong Family. He should be sealed there.”

I hadn’t intended to interfere, not wanting to disrupt the original history, but my mind had changed now.

Because Hell Difficulty’s Polar Night was that terrifying an existence, and I felt that if we couldn’t stop him, there would be no future or anything else.

“Completely clearing the labyrinths and gaining Cheongil’s cooperation—can you do it?”“…Honestly, I feel a bit overwhelmed, but it doesn’t seem like the time for complaints. I’ll do my best.”

Nodding at her words, I handed her the Sun-Moon Stone infused with Verdi’s soul.

“She said she wouldn’t meet you until all qualifications are met, but it’s still better to take her with you.”

“Okay. Got it. Thanks, Oppa.”

Originally, I would have wanted to participate in clearing the labyrinths too, but time was too short.

Moreover, I had something else that required my full concentration.

“You need my help?”

“Yes. I might be taking up your time for a while.”

“Well, I don’t really mind either way…”

After seeing Han Seoa off, I immediately called Cheong Joohwa and returned with her to the old lodging, explaining my purpose.

“I intend to challenge the second trial of the Cheonghongyeong.”

“The trial of the Cheonghongyeong… Ah, come to think of it, I have the Azure-White Sword with me now.”

Seeming to understand why I had called her with just that one remark, Cheong Joohwa nodded and readily agreed to my request.

“But why have you been putting it off until now? I heard you cleared the first trial quite easily.”

“…….”

There was room for debate about whether the first trial was that simple, but regardless, the reason I hadn’t challenged the next trial was straightforward.

It’s because the moment I learned the trial’s content, I reflexively gave up on challenging it from the depths of my heart.

“…I thought I couldn’t clear it.”

“Does that mean it’s possible now?”

“No. I’ve grown since then, but honestly, my thoughts are the same now.”

Even so, why challenge a trial where failure seems certain? I couldn’t clearly explain that reason either.

An uncertain feeling that things won’t work out like this, or a feeling that if I can’t overcome this, I won’t be able to advance any further.

And perhaps, maybe I felt something after seeing those inside the World of Forbidden Techniques, living their lives with faith.

But whatever the reason, what I must do doesn’t change.

I will definitely overcome this second trial. Only then can I show a result that isn’t shameful when I say I’ll give it my all against Polar Night.

“Do I just stab it?”

“Yes. And come back here half a day later.”

“Yes, I’ll just take this chance to do some training myself.”

Swoosh.

Whoosh!

As I thrust the Azure-White Sword into the center of the Cheonghongyeong frame I possessed, a bright halo of light swirled around as before, guiding me into the trial space.

Like before, it was a familiar form of arena where I faced my past character, and within it, a dazzling blonde woman appeared as if she had been waiting for me all along.

“…Ciel.”

I tried speaking to her, but she didn’t answer anything. She merely moved her fingers, sending a hand sign requesting a duel.

In response, I chuckled softly and likewise moved my hand, making a gesture accepting it.

“Right. This was always how things were between us.”

Every time we met, we would duel, cry and laugh over wins and losses, and race toward the summit as rivals.

It’s a cliché thing to say, but I felt a kind of camaraderie toward them.

“Call sign as always.”

Flutter.

Taking out a Talisman from my bosom, I threw it into the air with all my might, drawing up my Spiritual Power and entering a Combat Posture.

And the moment it scattered in the wind and grazed the ground, the duel finally began.

It was a rematch, slightly nostalgic, established once more after crossing a very long span of time.

“Don’t tell me you failed again?”

Munch munch.*

Cheong Joohwa, now with an indifferent expression, muttered while putting a skewer she’d gotten from somewhere into her mouth.

I simply nodded slightly in response. There was nothing to excuse; I had actually lost to her again.

“This is really strange… How many times does that make today?”

“Twenty-four.”

“Is the trial’s difficulty that high? Honestly, at this point, I can’t even imagine it…”

That was understandable. Frankly, even I, the person involved, couldn’t grasp how to explain it.

Although I’d faced and overcome countless crises here so far, I had absolutely never failed repeatedly like this, time and again.

‘It must mean that level of difference exists…’

Honestly, before undertaking the trial, I had harbored a small hope that maybe now, a slightly different result might occur.

But it wasn’t for nothing that my past self felt an insurmountable wall with her.

Rather, now that I’ve grown a bit more, I clearly understand.

She is a sublime being.

She was on a different level from any player who remained in the single-digit rankings.

So, the conclusion I drew that I couldn’t win and gave up challenging her was actually the correct assessment.

‘My combat style… hasn’t changed much compared to before.’

That’s only natural. It’s the fight I can do best, and I’ve come this far by defeating strong opponents that way.

In fact, I’ve supplemented and improved many of the shortcomings I had before, so I’d say my actual skill has definitely reached a higher stage.

‘But does such a difference still exist?’

Above all, what made me feel hollow was that the nature of the battles I fought with her, both in the past and now, was completely identical.

Well, the specific situations differed, but I always followed a similar process against her and met a similar end in defeat.

In other words, for her, the past me and the grown-up present me were opponents with little difference.

“Would you like me to give you some advice? From what I see, even if you repeat this several more times, there won’t be much difference.”

“…….”

Since I was indeed thinking similarly, I honestly shared my thoughts and pondered methods together with her.

“She has no weaknesses in close combat, and her use of Cursed Technique is flawless without a hint of waste. In reading moves, I might be slightly ahead, but since she handles it anyway, it doesn’t mean much.”

“…Just what are you fighting against in there?”

“Just… an incredibly strong Exorcist.”

After pondering for a moment, Cheong Joohwa frowned deeply and offered her opinion with difficulty.

“So, it’s an opponent who prefers close combat?”

“Primarily, yes. But honestly, I don’t know if her skill in handling Art Formulas falls behind because of that.”

“If it were me, I’d try exchanging moves to set traps or attempt a thorough war of attrition. But twenty-four times… That means you’ve already tried everything, right?”

That was correct.

I tried setting traps and steering the battle into a war of attrition.

But it didn’t work on her. Even without particularly changing tactics, I was ultimately the one who ended up losing.

“…….”

Honestly, at this point, I’m starting to think, rendering my resolve meaningless, that perhaps there was an insurmountable difference in class from the beginning.

I also did my best, facing her repeatedly, but I always failed to cross that final hair’s breadth and lost to her.

So, my guess is that the gap I thought was a hair’s breadth might have been her intentional consideration.

Perhaps from the very beginning, there existed an overwhelming difference in level.

‘Right. That feeling I had back then… was exactly this.’

Perhaps the root cause of what Hwabaek pointed out to me before was actually this.

I clearly had a tendency to overestimate the original protagonist party like Yoo Haon, and to some extent, I also shifted roles and responsibilities onto them.

But from my perspective, that was natural.

I am not something like the world’s protagonist. I had keenly realized from the start that there are others truly suited for that.

Precisely, through Ciel, who was an insurmountable wall.

‘If something like the world’s protagonist exists, it would surely be someone like her.’

That was the deeply rooted, unconscious thought I’d held from the beginning.

And now, I am feeling that same sentiment once again.

“Unfortunately, I think I should give up.”

“…….”

“Time is also limited, and beyond this, it would just be personal attachment.”

Having reached that conclusion, I stood up pretending to feel relieved, but my heart was nothing but deeply troubled.

The same feeling as when I confirmed the existence of the second trial last time and postponed it.

To be honest, back then, I merely faced my past failure and chose to run away.

It wasn’t much different now. But there was no choice. Aren’t there more important matters scattered everywhere than passing this trial?

Just as I was trying to shake off my attachment, a remark from Cheong Joohwa, who had been lost in deep thought, stopped me.

“Does such a stark difference really exist?”

“…What do you mean?”

“Actually, I’ve been thinking while listening all this time. From what I sense, my impression of you isn’t that different either.”

Cheong Joohwa said.

An opponent with no weaknesses in close combat, flawless use of Cursed Technique without a hint of waste, excellent at reading moves, and handling every situation in her own way.

That applies to me as well.

“An opponent that is absolutely impossible to overcome—from the perspective of it being a Cheonghongyeong trial, doesn’t that go against its purpose?”

That is certainly true.

But in reality, it’s also a fact that I feel a towering wall with Ciel.

“Rather, if you think about the trial’s purpose… the Cheonghongyeong might simply want to convey something consistently.”

And Cheong Joohwa, adopting a seriousness I hadn’t seen before, looked at me with unwavering eyes.

“I believe the line separating failure and success is indeed a hair’s breadth difference. It’s just that you might not be recognizing it.”

“…….”

“And that is probably…”

A difference in mindset.

Those words, spoken softly and clearly, pierced deeply into the depths of my heart.