Chapter 36

“Kraaagh!”

Koo-woong!

The Ox-Head Specter that had been targeting Cheong Joohwa was engulfed in intense flames and plummeted to the ground.

I had guessed from its Traits, but it was a fairly tough type. It was clear that my current strike likely hadn’t dealt significant damage.

But I wasn’t worried.

‘Appraisal.’

Ding.

【Fire Horn Specter】

▶Level 42

▶Stats

【Stamina: B】

【Monstrous Power: B+】

【Art Formula: A-】

【Mental Strength: C】

▶Traits (4/10)

【Specter Fire (A+)】

【Blazing Flame (A-)】

【Rampage (B)】

【Monstrous Strength (C+)】

For me right now, it was a moment where I had just gained one more reliable Shikigami after completing a contract.

“I thought I was going to die.”

“Sorry. I survived thanks to you buying time.”

Cheong Joohwa, pouting her lips and muttering a small complaint, soon changed it into a faint smile as she spoke.

“…Thank you for coming.”

Her words were filled with a strange sincerity. Feeling awkward for no reason, I turned my head and threw out a reply.

“We’re a team.”

That was enough. Cheong Joohwa nodded and released her Cursed Technique, descending to the ground.

Swoosh.

Thud.

“So, do you have any strength left?”

“Enough to perform a Spirit Dismissal on that thing.”

Honestly, I wasn’t in great shape either, but fortunately, having obtained the Trait I was aiming for lessened my worries.

‘Even if the conditions were met, the acquisition probability was fifty-fifty.’

You could say I got quite lucky.

The hundreds of thousands of souls I felt deep within my body—I burned a portion of them of my own will.

Whoosh.

Flicker.

Accordingly, due to the Trait’s effect, a certain amount of Spiritual Power began to surge from within my body.

Hoo-woong,

“…That startled me. What is it?”

“Corporate secret.”

I gave a short answer and stared at the Ox-Head Specter, which had regained consciousness right before my eyes and was seething with anger.

“Taoist Master. Won’t, let be. Fire Specter, eat.”

One of the Traits I saw in the Ox-Head Specter’s Status Window earlier, Cannibalism of Kin. Looking at that, its goal was clear.

‘It probably came targeting the Fire Goblin initially.’

It happened to be while we were fighting its intended prey, so it got enraged and immediately launched an attack.

Pshh-ick.

Once again, the Ox-Head Specter’s body began to swell and turn red.

I know that too. It’s the effect of the B-Rank Trait, Rampage.

‘The method to break Rampage is simple.’

Just don’t get hit. If time passes, the Trait’s duration will end, and it will fall into an exhausted state on its own.

However, the terrain is too narrow to dodge around. So, I needed to properly utilize Cursed Techniques to control the Ox-Head Specter’s movements.

Swish.

Shwa-rak!

Focusing my Spiritual Power, I pulled out several Talismans from my pocket and scattered them in all directions.

Ding.

【Ox-Head Specter】

▶Level 44

▶Stats

【Stamina: B+】

【Monstrous Power: C+】

【Art Formula: D-】

【Mental Strength: C-】

As you can see, the Ox-Head Specter has low Mental Strength and Art Formula stats compared to its high physical abilities.

I’ve dealt with this type to the point of boredom over there.

The most effective means against a Specter like the Ox-Head Specter in the current situation was precisely illusion-type Barrier Techniques.

Chu-eok.

“Illusory Dream,”

Poo-hwa-ak.

Smeul-smeul.

As I formed the Hand Seal and activated the Art Formula, a mist of bizarre colors instantly filled about half of the cavern.

“Kuh, ugh.”

The Ox-Head Specter groaned, clutching its head as if dizzy, but it didn’t seem fully succumbed to the illusion yet.

‘As expected, with a B-Rank, this level of Art Formula is insufficient.’

But it’s well within the expected range. I once again drew upon my Spiritual Power and cast a special technique frequently used in Exorcism Academy Part 2.

“Art Formula Enhancement, Five Elements Progression.”

I altered the already deployed Illusory Dream’s Art Formula structure, manipulating the inside of the Barrier to be more complex and intricate.

At this level, an Ox-Head Specter with low Art Formula and Mental Strength ranks likely has no easy way to escape.

Boo-woong!

Boo-woong!

Kwaang—!

“Pests. All, eat.”

Completely lost in the illusion, the Ox-Head Specter began pounding the cavern floor and walls with intense force.

Koo-goo-goo.

Vibrations ensued, and piles of dirt fell from all sides. Cheong Joohwa, who was fleeing alongside me, spoke to me with an uneasy face.

“Isn’t this dangerous?”

“…We should wrap this up quickly.”

It wasn’t just empty talk about being a veteran.

Everything was already calculated.

The duration of Rampage is exactly 5 minutes.

Since it had already activated the Trait before I arrived, the effect would probably end soon, and the side effects would follow.

Kwaang.

“Where, are you. Come out!”

Sure enough, soon the movements of the Ox-Head Specter, which had been rampaging everywhere, slowed down, and its body size began to return to normal.

If we were to finish it, now was the time.

“Attack on my signal. Maximum output.”

At my instruction, the Fire Goblin nodded its head with a blank expression.

Shwa-rak.

“The Art of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements. Fire.”

The Art of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements. An Art Formula first appearing in Exorcism Academy Part 2, it has the effect of amplifying the power of Natural-Type Sorcery.

Since the Fire Goblin currently possesses the most powerful means of attack among our group, it was the best method at this point.

Hoo-woong.

The deployed Cursed Technique imbued the Talismans, and I subtly signaled the Fire Goblin.

“Burn it?”

“Yeah.”

Accordingly, the Fire Goblin’s eyes turned red like before.

It had activated its own Trait to unleash maximum firepower.

Poo-hwa-ak!

Whoosh.

Spectral Energy began to emanate from the Fire Goblin’s entire body, and intense heat started to be felt.

‘This is enough.’

After I devoured all the vengeful spirits, two major changes occurred in the Fire Goblin.

One, it regained its sanity, freed from the vengeful spirits’ rage.

And second, it achieved a Trait change, an exceptional case.

▶【Flame of Purification (S-)】

‘Clearly, when it fought me, it only had the A+-Rank Specter Fire Trait.’

That changed into the Flame of Purification Trait, one rank higher.

Perhaps, even in the original story, if it hadn’t been exorcised by Yoo Haon, it might have obtained the same Trait.

‘I know about the Flame of Purification.’

It’s a Trait possessed by the fox spirit that appeared in Exorcism Academy Part 3.

It’s such a broken Trait that I desperately tried to obtain it, but there was absolutely no way in the game.

So, I only thought it was a Trait usable by special entities like spirits or divine beasts.

‘…In this world, I shouldn’t be confident that all the information I know is absolute.’

Anyway, the Flame of Purification is an exceptionally outstanding Trait both in grade and ability.

True to its name, it shows particularly greater efficacy against Specters or Forbidden Arts.

“Burn it.”

Poo-hwa-aak—!

Soon, the intense flames shot forth struck the entire body of the Ox-Head Specter, which still hadn’t fully regained its senses.

Heat so powerful it made the entire underground cavern feel hot.

The Ox-Head Specter, directly hit by it, let out a horrific scream.

“Krooooooar!”

The sound of flesh burning, foul smoke, a grotesque spectacle—but I didn’t avert my eyes from it even a little. The battle wasn’t over yet.

“Kuh, aagh!”

Despite its entire body being ablaze, the Ox-Head Specter charged at us in that state, attempting a final attack.

Because we struck first, the illusion had been dispelled.

“Mind Fox.”

Poo-hwa-ak!

[Kyi-ing.]

It seemed tired, likely from going all out against the Fire Goblin earlier, but there was no choice.

“Help me just once more.”

Against the Ox-Head Specter charging straight forward, as the Mind Fox projected its thoughts, I once again burned a portion of the absorbed souls to draw out Spiritual Power.

Flicker.

Hoo-woong.

Chu-eok.

“Wall of the Azure Sky.”

The intermediate-rank defensive Art Formula I had never succeeded in until now, the Wall of the Azure Sky.

Hoo-woong.

Kwaa-aang!

Deployed along with the Hand Seal, it perfectly blocked the Ox-Head Specter’s charge, and in that gap, the Fire Goblin, having taken position at the rear as instructed, fired the final strike.

“Burn it.”

Whoosh!

Poo-eo-eong!

“Kraa, aaaagh!”

With a hoarse scream, the Ox-Head Specter finally laid its massive body down on the ground.

Koo-woong!

There were dangers, but it was finally the moment when our victory was confirmed.

“…We won.”

Simultaneously, an urgent shout from above ground reached us.

“Hey! Ugh, if you can hear me, answer right away!”

It was Seo Jihye. Seeing vitality return to her voice, it seemed she had completed some degree of first aid on her own.

Looking at such Seo Jihye, Cheong Joohwa chuckled.

And so, we escaped the dark underground and returned to the surface.

After that, there were no major dangerous moments.

Judging further combat impossible, we returned to the Guard Unit, and around that time, news came that the fleeing Red Specter had been subjugated.

It was finally the moment the series of events concluded.

Click.

“It’s fortunate we had no casualties, but over there, it’s like a house of mourning.”

A day after the so-called Red Specter incident, Seo Jihye uttered these words while touching her teacup.

“Is the damage severe?”

“Don’t even ask. They say over ten Exorcists died.”

That would make it the incident causing the greatest damage among those that occurred in the last two years.

Yoo Jitae, passing by from behind, thumped the head of Seo Jihye, who was sighing.

Thump.

“Ouch! Why are you doing that all of a sudden?”

“It’s to tell you not to lose too much energy, since you won’t be seeing each other for a day or two anyway.”

“Tch.”

Come to think of it, Seo Jihye is also still essentially a rookie here. Yoo Jitae, who had been watching the scene, said to us.

“I hear your performance was remarkable? It’s a result-based view, but sending you to the perimeter squad turned out to be the best move.”

“Trying to gloss over it warmly again. This was the first time I’ve ever been in such a perilous fight in my life.”

As Cheong Joohwa playfully voiced her complaint, Yoo Jitae chuckled and continued.

“Well, it’s certainly not something to just talk past. Actually, the team leader wanted to see you.”

If Yoo Jitae says ‘team leader,’ there’s only one person here. That’s Cheong Jiyeon.

After conversing a bit more, we headed to Cheong Jiyeon as the training session was about to end.

Knock knock.

“May we come in?”

“Of course.”

Click.

Creeeak.

Cheong Jiyeon, who came into view, was slumped in a chair with a towel over her face.

She’s probably having a very busy time dealing with the aftermath of the incident.

Pushing aside the towel, Cheong Jiyeon opened her mouth with an exhausted expression.

“Just two Academy students defeating an estimated B-Rank entity…”

There are often students who can perform Spirit Dismissal on C-Rank Specters.

But if it’s B-Rank, the story is clearly different. Those who have done such things until now have all become 1st-Rank or higher Exorcists and made their names known to the world.

“And I hear there were even two of them.”

“Thanks to that, we almost died.”

As Cheong Joohwa grumbled, Cheong Jiyeon chuckled and continued.

“Don’t let this fool you; since I’m also a member of the Cheong Family, I’ve heard plenty about you.”

“……”

“I’ve thought about it many times, but those guys really have eyes in the back of their heads.”

That was tantamount to acknowledging Cheong Joohwa. A question was thrown to Cheong Joohwa, who made a slightly surprised expression.

“What do you think of the current Cheong Family?”

“……”

Cheong Joohwa seemed to ponder for a moment, but her following answer was simple.

“I don’t really think about it. I’m going to stop caring now and live the way I want to live.”

At that, Cheong Jiyeon chuckled and laughed. Then she threw a small box containing something to Cheong Joohwa.

Whoosh.

Thud.

“It’s a Clear Jade. You’ll know how to use it well.”

“…Is it okay to just give me such an expensive thing?”

“It’s not expensive to me. I’m done talking, so you get out.”

Clatter.

After that, Cheong Joohwa left the room as if being kicked out.

Thus, only Cheong Jiyeon and I remained in the small room.