Chapter 38

While heading to the destination, Yoo Ain, who was driving, lightly explained the current situation.

“Are you aware of the family situation regarding the young lady?”

“To some extent.”

I vaguely recall hearing she has two older brothers and one older sister.

“The one causing trouble this time is the eldest young lady among them.”

In other words, it seemed something had happened involving Seo Jian’s older sister.

“You probably know this, but the chairman is trying to select the most outstanding heir through a succession competition.”

“…….”

“And while it’s called a competition, it’s closer to completely incapacitating the opponent. To the point where it doesn’t matter if they are socially buried and thrown into prison or secretly turned into a corpse.”

In short, the succession competition for Daejin Industries was essentially a life-or-death war.

“Right before the vacation started, the eldest young lady formally declared war on the young lady.”

“So she was pushed back?”

“Half right, half wrong. Because we won the competition itself as the successor.”

Then why on earth did they call for my help? The reason became clear from Yoo Ain’s next explanation.

“Cornered, the eldest young lady is preparing a last-ditch measure, risking everything. She decided to target the young lady’s weakness.”

“And that weakness is?”

Yoo Ain, who had been pondering for a moment, soon seemed to make up her mind and continued, looking into my eyes.

“…The young lady’s younger sister.”

That was the first I’d heard of it.

After arriving at an unidentified facility, I followed Yoo Ain and immediately entered inside.

Thud.

Thud.

And at its center were Seo Jian with a worried face and someone asleep in an isolated ward surrounded by various equipment.

Sigh.

Seo Jian, who spotted me, let out a sigh and shot a look at Yoo Ain.

“Am I not making sense? I told you not to call him.”

“…I cannot comply with that. As of now, he is our only hope.”

The detailed explanation was this.

Seo Jiha, Seo Jian’s younger sister, had contracted an unknown illness and had been receiving treatment in a sickbed for years, having given up on daily life.

However, no method could cure her, and it seemed all they could do was pour an astronomical fortune into maintaining her current state.

“Recently, the days when she cannot even open her eyes are increasing.”

And the opponent was planning to raid this place and take such Seo Jiha hostage.

“Is there a way to move her elsewhere?”

“No.”

Seo Jian, who had been silent, looked at me and spoke.

“Just equipping the dedicated facilities required enormous manpower and resources. There’s no other place with technology capable of handling her.”

Crucially.

“…Jiha wouldn’t be able to withstand it.”

Well, even to my eyes, with little knowledge in that area, Seo Jiha’s condition didn’t look good. It was a situation requiring absolute stability.

“The opponent’s forces?”

“They poured all their resources without holding back. Formidable enemies will come.”

In contrast, we couldn’t muster forces to that extent. Because the wealth consumed by Seo Jiha’s treatment was immense.

‘Completely caught between a rock and a hard place.’

However, the fact they called me meant they still had some idea.

And I had already somewhat grasped what it was.

“Natural-Type Sorcery is the key to the treatment, right?”

That would also explain why Seo Jian had been so intensely researching Natural-Type Sorcery until now. In response to my question, she nodded quietly.

“…That’s right. I haven’t found a method yet, but I thought you, with your high-level knowledge in that area, might have some related information.”

I heard that if we could just hold out in this fight, we could completely eliminate the opponent from the succession competition.

In other words, the outcome of this battle rested on my hands.

“I’ll check. Though I doubt it will yield results worth expecting.”

“…I’m counting on you.”

Fortunately, I had an appraisal ability more accurate than any doctor’s diagnosis.

With the cooperation of the hired medical staff, I entered the isolation room where Seo Jiha was.

And immediately began checking her information.

‘Appraisal.’

Ding.

【Seo Jiha】

▶Level 19

▶Stats

【Stamina : D】

【Spiritual Power : S】

【Art Formula : B】

【Mental Power : A-】

▶Traits (4/10)

【Heart of the Fire Dragon (S)】

【Vitality Drain (B+)】

【Growth Acceleration (B)】

【Life Returner (B-)】

‘This is…….’

Frankly, I was incredibly surprised.

I never imagined I’d see this Trait in Exorcism Academy Part 1.

‘No, wait. Could it be?’

There is a memorable story.

In Exorcism Academy Part 2, an existence that dwelled within a human body and reigned as a calamity.

The Imoogi, Kangcheol, who became a formidable enemy of the Part 2 protagonist’s party, delivering death to countless players.

‘It might be a stretch, but…….’

The being that would become its origin might be Seo Jiha, right before my eyes.

‘It’s possible. No, quite likely.’

Come to think of it, the human host that Kangcheol possessed was apparently a test subject managed in a research facility, who one day awakened and roused the Imoogi sleeping within—that was the backstory.

‘That’s Seo Jiha?’

It might just be a forced deduction, but if in the original story Seo Jian lost the succession competition and Seo Jiha was taken away, it wouldn’t be that far-fetched.

Only then could I realize,

The reason why Seo Jian, who clearly had considerable talent and specs, was treated as an Extra in the original and withdrew from public view.

It was because Seo Jian loses in this Daejin Industries succession competition and dies or faces a similar fate.

Feeling cold sweat from panic, I carefully observed Seo Jiha’s condition.

‘No signs yet of the Imoogi awakening.’

But no matter how I thought about it, I couldn’t figure out how to resolve this.

I left the isolation room as is, shook my head, and said to Seo Jian.

“It seems difficult.”

“…I figured as much. I expected it to some extent.”

Despite her words, her face was utterly despondent. Seo Jian, hiding her sorrow, ordered Yoo Ain.

“Take Han Kangyoon back to the Academy. I can’t drag him into this fight.”

“…Yes. Understood.”

Just as Yoo Ain also approached me with a dark expression, I finished pondering and spoke to the two.

“It’s not that there’s no method at all.”

“What?”

“But the risk is high for both sides. And even if we attempt it, she needs stability immediately.”

In the end, it wasn’t a direct solution, but that alone was enough for Seo Jian.

“Really? There really is a method?”

“I need your help. And frankly, the success rate is unknown.”

“I’ll help. With anything.”

Hearing that answer, I hesitated briefly before continuing.

“Even if it means you and Seo Jiha will definitely die if it fails?”

“…At this rate, I’ll die today anyway.”

Faced with that resolute will, I had no choice but to nod.

“In that case, first…”

We must repel the enemies coming today. Only then can we attempt Seo Jiha’s treatment in a stable environment.

However, Seo Jian, after a moment of silence, smiled bitterly and said to me.

“Could you attempt the treatment now?”

“Then the consumption would be too severe to stop the enemies.”

“Either way, we can’t stop them.”

It was a voice filled with desperate emotion.

Seo Jian, her lips trembling, quietly recited the opponent’s information.

“One at the 1st-Rank level, two at the 2nd-Rank level.”

“…….”

“That’s just the three confirmed. The probability is high that there are actually more.”

If that’s true, it’s an impossible level to oppose. It’s understandable why Seo Jian fell into such despair.

“Is there no one you can ask for help?”

“Not only are funds lacking, but perception in the underworld industry has already shifted.”

In other words, since it’s a losing battle anyway, even if they put out a request, no one would accept it.

‘Yoo Ain is average 2nd-Rank level. Frankly, Seo Jian and I are below that.’

Although I have the quite powerful Shikigami Kongsami, even against just two 2nd-Rank opponents, let alone a 1st-Rank, there’s no way to handle it.

Simply calculating, there was no chance of winning. We had to find some other method.

“If the treatment succeeds, I’ll give up the fight and offer my neck to my sister.”

Seo Jian had already resolved to abandon her own life.

“My sister will be busy suppressing public opinion to cover up the exposed flaws immediately, so we can buy time to restore Jiha’s health and hide her. Yoo Ain, you know what to do, right?”

“Young lady, that’s…….”

I remained silent, racking my brain.

If we had at least one more usable combatant, just one more, we might have a chance somehow.

‘What do I have right now?’

Not many things come to mind. At best, Old Man Tree Specter and Kongsami, the Baekpyeonjang taken from Baek Taekang, and even the Cheongsimok, one of the Cheong Family’s three great Cursed Tools.

Among them, the item my thoughts turned to was precisely the Cheongsimok.

“…….”

Organizing the Cheongsimok’s Traits in my mind, I recalled one truly perilous and bizarre method.

A way to solve both Seo Jiha’s illness and the approaching enemies all at once.

‘Kangcheol.’

If we could properly utilize the Imoogi sleeping within Seo Jiha’s body, we might be able to turn the situation around.

“…Let’s attempt the treatment.”

“That won’t do! If that happens, the young lady will…!”

“There’s a way. It’s no different from a gamble, but if it goes well, we might even repel the enemies.”

Of course, if it fails, we’ll have to pay the price dearly.

The expressions of Seo Jian and Yoo Ain, who were looking at me, turned strange. But naturally, neither seemed inclined to refuse.

For now, the direction seemed set.

Kangcheol is an Imoogi.

A being that, unable to become a dragon, fell into depravity even in its essence and transformed into a Specter.

It’s a famous Specter that appears in various folktales.

‘Therefore, Kangcheol’s Traits in Exorcism Academy mostly follow existing folklore.’

Only the original production team would know the exact concept or settings, but what’s certain is that as a Specter that sought to become a dragon, it possesses considerable strength.

Even in its current state, if it achieves a complete revival, wouldn’t it easily surpass Level 60?

‘But considering it first appeared in Part 2, its existence is probably still unstable.’

First, the outline of the plan is this. Separate Kangcheol’s main body from Seo Jiha and revive it in an incomplete form.

The phenomenon where Keuseundae achieved a half-baked revival on Yeongwoldo—this time, we intentionally cause that.

We can’t know for sure, but the revived Kangcheol will probably attack nearby enemies without distinguishing friend from foe.

‘It’s a Specter filled with the resentment and anger of being unable to become a dragon from the start.’

If we pit Kangcheol against those who will raid this place later, they will also mistake Kangcheol for being on our side and try to fight it.

‘If we make them expend their strength like that, then afterward, it’s worth a try.’

Using poison to fight poison.

Using the enemy to fight the enemy.

In short, it was that kind of strategy.