Chapter 32

In the end, this absurd wager actually proceeded.

Since we had each offered the name of the Guard Unit, we obviously couldn’t just brawl. Therefore, we decided to settle it by selecting a target and competing one-on-one in Cursed Technique skill.

“The side that first downs this White Cedar Bird becomes the winner. Direct attacks on each other are prohibited, but interference is allowed as long as no harm is caused. Is that acceptable?”

“Of course.”

On their side, Baek Jiwoon naturally stepped forward as their representative. The problem was our side.

“You go.”

“Why?”

“Your compatibility is better.”

At my words, Cheong Joohwa showed a reluctant expression but accepted it.

“…Well, I haven’t liked them since last time anyway.”

Since I was the one who made the bet with Cheong Jiyeon in the first place, it wasn’t my place to step in directly.

“So, how long do you think it will take?”

Hearing that, Cheong Jiyeon smiled meaningfully and said to me.

“Three minutes.”

Even I couldn’t help but be quite taken aback by that statement. It didn’t make sense by common standards. It was an extremely unconventional assessment.

Since she, who was on the verge of 1st-Rank, was saying it seriously, it was all the more remarkable.

“Do you think that’s possible?”

“Perhaps you would know better?”

To that, I answered with a smile tinged with admiration.

“You have a good eye.”

“Only a fool wouldn’t notice.”

However, her words were wrong. Unfortunately, she missed the mark by a hair’s breadth.

“It won’t take three minutes.”

“Is that your honest opinion?”

“It ends with the first move.”

“…Huh.”

Before we knew it, the two faced each other. As Baek Taekang released the White Cedar Bird into the sky, he threw a Talisman.

“The match begins when all the Talismans are fully ignited.”

Whoosh.

Fwoosh.

And so, all the Talismans were ablaze.

In the blink of an eye, the match had already begun.

“Demonic Soul Timber Prison!”

Crackle!

Just as when he attacked me earlier, Baek Jiwoon was likely also an Exorcist who primarily dealt with Forbidden Arts and Curse-Type techniques.

Black tendrils extending from the thrown Talisman enveloped the White Cedar Bird like a prison, completely blocking Cheong Joohwa’s line of sight.

“Even if you have talent, you’re still just at a student’s level.”

Baek Jiwoon sneered at Cheong Joohwa and tried to finish it right then.

But at that moment, Cheong Joohwa looked at Baek Taekang, who was acting as referee, and quietly opened her mouth.

“Aren’t you going to make the call?”

“…….”

It was clearly a sudden, out-of-place remark, but Baek Taekang’s expression darkened. Soon, clicking his tongue, he quietly threw out an answer.

“…We lost.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

Baek Jiwoon asked in confusion, but Baek Taekang just frowned.

“…You fool. Look closely at the target.”

Whoosh.

Crunch.

At Baek Taekang’s gesture, the prison created by Baek Jiwoon shattered to pieces. What was revealed was the White Cedar Bird, already with a broken wing, hanging limp.

“Kgh. This is ridiculous…! How on earth!”

“I just shot it as soon as we started.”

It wasn’t actually that strange. Just look at the battle at Yeongwoldo.

Even that Sophia, called the top prospect of the next generation, has a record of simply allowing Cheong Joohwa’s opening attack without even attempting to defend it.

And after that exam, the professors unanimously expressed admiration for Cheong Joohwa’s Art Formula deployment speed.

Even if the Baek Jiwoon before our eyes was a talented 3rd-Rank Exorcist, at best, his Level was lower than that of the Academy professors.

If it were a direct fight between them, perhaps, but in a simple contest of opening attacks, there was no way Cheong Joohwa could lose.

Cheong Jiyeon had probably also been observing Cheong Joohwa’s abnormal Art Formula deployment speed within the Guard Unit all this time.

So, confident of victory, she had staked her treasure and picked a fight. It was simple.

“Uh… Anyway, it’s over, right?”

Cheong Joohwa, who had decided the match in an instant, asked me with an awkward face.

Baek Taekang looked at Cheong Jiyeon with a disbelieving expression.

“…Did you know it would turn out like this?”

“Who knows? You never know until you try anything.”

Tsk. Clicking his tongue, Baek Taekang let out an inscrutable sneer, took out a pure white stake, and threw it to Cheong Jiyeon.

Whoosh!

Thud.

And then he left the spot. Leaving behind a meaningful final remark.

“…This won’t end here.”

“If it did, I’d actually be disappointed.”

After parting ways with Baek Taekang’s group like that, when we neared the Guard Unit, Cheong Jiyeon spoke up.

“Want to go in first? I need to talk separately for a moment.”

“…Alright.”

The subject was Cheong Joohwa. Cheong Joohwa tilted her head for a moment, then turned and headed toward the Guard Unit.

Thus, only Cheong Jiyeon and I remained, just the two of us.

Cheong Jiyeon smiled and spoke to me.

“Shall we walk a bit?”

“…….”

And so, I followed Cheong Jiyeon to some location. The place we arrived at was an empty, deserted lot with no signs of people.

“A bet is a bet. I should give you what I promised.”

Whoosh!

Thud.

“…Are you really sure about giving it? Honestly, I was half-joking.”

“I don’t lie about such things.”

I intuitively felt it—this was clearly a flow where if I just took it and left, there would be trouble later.

Sure enough, Cheong Jiyeon began to speak with a serious face.

“People like me generally have a way of knowing, which side a person belongs to, roughly.”

Soon, what she looked at was the alley direction where Cheong Joohwa had disappeared.

“That girl is definitely on the side that can become strong.”

“Is that so?”

“I knew from the first time I saw her. She’ll probably reach Special-Rank someday, won’t she?”

That was truly an accurate assessment.

It was impressive that she could think that far just from a brief look.

However, before I could even admire it, Cheong Jiyeon continued with a somewhat high-handed smile.

“And you……”

Whoosh.

In that instant, an immense amount of Spiritual Power erupted from Cheong Jiyeon.

“…are definitely on the dangerous side. And quite significantly so.”

Immediately afterward, what began to be felt was a chilling pressure and killing intent.

“Actually, I’m not fond of Cheong Soha. Even though the ties are severed, she was originally from a hostile faction.”

“…….”

She already knew even the fact that I had a connection with Cheong Soha. Somehow, a bad premonition was starting to creep in.

“Tell me. What’s the reason you came here, even borrowing her power?”

“Are you saying I’m plotting something?”

Frankly speaking, it wasn’t entirely wrong, but that was my personal goal, far from any sort of scheme. However, Cheong Jiyeon seemed to have become suspicious after looking into my background.

“…Well, if you lose a limb, you’ll talk whether you like it or not.”

Screech.

Immediately afterward, the surroundings were enveloped by an invisible Barrier—truly in an instant. There was no chance to interfere.

‘…She’s quite serious about this.’

It was dangerous.

Honestly, I hadn’t even considered that I would become hostile with someone of Cheong Jiyeon’s caliber in this way.

Whoosh.

“Soul Blaze Rending Wave.”

Crackle!

The Barrier’s strength was considerable. At the very least, an ordinary Intermediate-Rank Art Formula couldn’t break through it.

‘…I’d need to pour power equivalent to at least an Advanced Art or higher to have a chance.’

I hardened my expression and looked at Cheong Jiyeon, who was smiling faintly.

“Given up on running, have you?”

“…I have no intention of fighting.”

“I have plenty.”

Whoosh!

As soon as she finished speaking, she scattered blue-colored pellets into the air.

Then, lifting a single red Talisman, she formed a Hand Seal.

Rustle.

“Refinement.”

Whoosh.

Plop.

Tap.

Then, the pellets, now turned red, sank into the ground and began emitting Spiritual Power from each of their locations.

“…….”

I knew the identity of the Art Formula Cheong Jiyeon performed. It was the preparatory stage for a wide-area Binding Spell Formula.

And it belonged to a fairly powerful category even among Binding Spells.

“Is it really necessary to go this far?”

“I’m the type who can’t leave alone things that get on my nerves.”

She showed not the slightest intention of stopping. In the end, I had to somehow overcome this crisis with my own power.

“Old Man Tree Specter, Mind Fox.”

Whoosh!

[Kyeek!]

[King!]

Upon calling their names, my shadow rippled and spat out the two familiar Shikigami.

Swish!

Swoosh!

Mind Fox did a somersault and landed right on my shoulder, while Old Man Tree Specter, upon confirming the opponent, emitted Spectral Energy with a reluctant face.

“Oh ho, for a student, you keep some pretty strong-looking ones.”

“You investigated everything anyway, didn’t you?”

“I hadn’t heard about those two types.”

Well, of course. Aside from Seo Jian or Sophia, there weren’t really any students who had directly seen Mind Fox and Old Man Tree Specter.

“Aren’t you bringing out the rest?”

“This is all that’s left. The rest were all Spirit Dismissed.”

“That’s a shame.”

She said that, but she didn’t look the least bit regretful. Cheong Jiyeon didn’t wait and immediately began reciting the Incantation for the Advanced Art she had prepared.

Clear Path Threads Dwelling of Blossoming Land.

Covenant of the Empty Grove.

“Art of the Target’s Blossom.”

Whoosh!

Rustle.

From various points on the ground where the pellets had burrowed, flower stems made of Spiritual Power began to sprout forth.

Sharp thorns adorned the stems everywhere, and their size was also considerable.

If caught by those directly, escaping unscathed would undoubtedly be difficult.

“Old Man Tree Specter.”

[Kehik?]

At my calm voice, Old Man Tree Specter shook its head. It already knew this was an attack it couldn’t block with its own Curse.

“It’s fine, shoot.”

[Keeek…]

Swoosh!

Old Man Tree Specter shot its Curse at the ground with a doubtful face, and the stems rushing toward me momentarily shrank back their bodies.

In that moment, I focused my mind and carefully observed the Spiritual Power blooming all around.

And finally, I found the spot I was aiming for.

‘…There it is.’

Swoosh.

Whoosh.

I take out one specially crafted black Talisman from my waist, made with Cheong Joohwa’s help. And without hesitation, I poured Spiritual Power into it.

“Void Boundary Erosion Gluttony.”

Crackle!

Crunch!

The Cursed Technique I had used before to break Sophia’s Barrier.

An Intermediate-Rank Art Formula filled with as much Curse as possible struck the ground directly.

Immediately afterward, the sound of something shattering could be heard.

Crack!

“…How did you know?”

The Target’s Blossoms, their imposing presence rendered meaningless, slowly faded away.

Watching that situation, Cheong Jiyeon, rather intrigued, asked me.

“You can tell by looking.”

“How annoyingly you speak.”

Originally, the Art of the Target’s Blossom requires only one central Medium. I knew that through my game knowledge.

So, what does that mean? It meant that all but one of those many pellets were dummies.

“…Even so, it’s not an Art Formula that should break so easily.”

That part, I could only say the compatibility was good.

The Medium for deploying the Art of the Target’s Blossom is Spirit Pellets made by gathering pure Spiritual Power.

They have a relatively vulnerable aspect against Curse or Forbidden Art-type Art Formulas.

Therefore, my Curse Technique, amplified by the Forbidden Technique Value correction, could deal sufficient damage.

“I’m starting to get genuinely excited now.”

Cheong Jiyeon, with a pleased face, immediately prepared her next attack.

In an instant, Spiritual Power gathered, and each part took on its role, forming the Art Formula.

‘Spiritual Power concentrated at the 3 o’clock direction, slanted pattern of Cursed Technique inscription.’

I activated all my thought circuits to analyze it. I had to grasp everything within at least one second.

The technique I was about to use from now on could only succeed if timed with not a shred of error.

‘Intermediate-Rank Offensive Art, Spirit Cannon Shell.’

The analysis was complete. The Art Formula she was constructing was a top-tier Offensive Art among Intermediate-Rank.

A method of offering Spiritual Power as a tribute to a spirit, praying, and in return, firing a Cursed Technique that directly strikes the opponent’s soul.

‘It was quite a minor Art Formula even in Part 1.’

But it was enough. I had seen Spirit Cannon Shell a few times in PVP. I slowly timed it and gripped a Talisman in my hand.

And the moment Cheong Jiyeon deployed her Art Formula, I too recited my Incantation Trigger.

“Spirit Cannon Shell!”

“Rending Burst.”

My Rending Burst was a low-rank Offensive Art, and Spirit Cannon Shell was a top-tier Offensive Art even among Intermediate-Rank.

Considering the Level difference between us, the outcome of victory or defeat seemed clear.

But.

Crackle!

Crreeeaak—!*

“This is, what……”

Against my weakly fired Cursed Technique, Cheong Jiyeon’s Spirit Cannon Shell was shattered without a trace.

Severance.

The moment had finally arrived for one of the techniques called secret arts over there to reveal itself in this world.