Chapter 42

Gurgle.

An immense pressure so unbelievable even when right before my eyes.

Seo Jian, who seemed to hesitate for a moment before the imposing figure, let out a breath and then stepped forward, uttering in a low voice.

“…Get out of here while I buy time.”

She looked as if she had truly prepared for death this time. Intuitively realizing that no matter how much they combined their strength, they couldn’t possibly defeat Hectail.

Swish!

Without a chance to stop her, Seo Jian kicked off the ground and dashed forward, creating a thin, sharp stream of water and shooting it at Hectail.

Ping!

Screech!

Rustle.

“A Natural-Type Art Formula. Uncommon.”

Hectail blocked it effortlessly, but Seo Jian had a different aim. A massive stream of water that seemed to have been secretly prepared from beneath the ground formed a sphere and instantly swallowed Hectail whole.

Splash!

Sway.

Gurgle.

Gurgle.

To Hectail, trapped inside that sphere, Seo Jian fired her decisive blow.

“Huff.”

Splash!

Crash!

Bang!

Crash!

Water streams that had surged up from underground fell again, striking Hectail, and the ground shook violently as if an earthquake had occurred from the impact.

For the current Seo Jian, it was an attack using all her strength. It was certainly impressive enough to inflict significant damage even against a B-Rank Specter.

However, unfortunately, Hectail was not merely at that level. Soon, with a bizarre sound like boiling water, Seo Jian’s Art Formula began to be destroyed helplessly.

Sizzle.

Sssss.

Whoosh!

Squelch.

The clear, blue water sphere turned a murky color as if contaminated, and as it burst apart, what revealed itself was Hectail, completely unscathed.

“Impressive.”

“Haa, ha…”

“To wield such excellent Natural-Type Sorcery at such a young age. It’s almost a shame to kill you now.”

Thud.

Hectail, approaching at a speed impossible to evade even if seen, lightly touched Seo Jian. Soon, she collapsed helplessly to the ground.

Judging by her faint movements, she didn’t seem to be unconscious, but she was effectively completely restrained.

The eyes of the fallen Seo Jian stared in my direction with a worried expression.

Perhaps she was concerned about me, or perhaps she was worried about her younger sister who might be beyond.

However, that wasn’t important.

“I’ll give you a chance.”

“……”

“You may flee from this place now. But if you do, your friend will die an even more painful death. Facing the death that comes to me fully conscious, unable to even faint.”

As a Named-level villain, I roughly knew about Hectail.

Those words now were purely for his own amusement.

If I chose to fight, unable to abandon Seo Jian, that would be fine for him, and if the opposite, he intended to leave me with a lifelong, indelible guilt.

That guilt would become the seed of further discord and revenge, and someday might return to target Hectail.

Truly a vile hobby.

And he was a being who pursued such cycles of chaos as the meaning of his life.

‘…Even cheating has its limits.’

Frankly speaking, it’s an extremely unreasonable situation.

If this were a game, it would be no different from a complete failure in difficulty adjustment.

However, even in such a situation, my mind was rationally envisioning numerous solutions.

Performing the best play even in the worst situation. That was one of the virtues of a top-tier Ranker.

‘Anyway, right now, no matter what method I use, I can’t kill Hectail.’

I did capture Bihyeong once before, but at that time, I only struck a weakened Bihyeong from a distance after his battles with the faculty and Yoo Haon’s group, and the concurrent Resurrection Ritual.

Since Cheong Soha was the one who actually faced him at the end, it’s safe to say I did almost nothing.

To engage in a direct confrontation with an opponent of Hectail’s level, I need to achieve a much higher level of growth.

So for now, I have no choice but to find a way out through methods other than combat.

‘Fortunately, all other enemies have been eliminated.’

Meaning, if I can somehow escape from Hectail’s grasp right before me, I can safely overcome this crisis.

After finishing all my contemplation, I opened my mouth quietly.

“What is your purpose?”

“I have no particular purpose. I merely accepted a request.”

“I’m asking about your real purpose for coming to Korea.”

At those words, Hectail’s expression changed momentarily. A sign that he was beginning to take interest in me. So from here on is important.

“Strange.”

“……”

“That calm attitude even in the face of a life-threatening crisis is clearly abnormal. Do you have something you’re relying on?”

As Hectail lightly raised his hand, one of the souls that escaped from the beads at his waist settled onto his palm.

[Kieeeek!]

Even under such a threat, I continued my business without hesitation, maintaining composure.

The reason Hectail, who according to the setting should have been wandering abroad, appeared in Korea so quickly—frankly, there’s only one place that comes to mind.

“Are you perhaps searching for Bihyeong’s whereabouts?”

At my words, Hectail raised the corners of his mouth even more and stared at me.

Even now, Korea’s Exorcism Headquarters understands that after the Yeongwoldo incident, Bihyeong left the island and went into hiding.

Meaning, knowing the truth of that incident…

“…So you possess the information I want.”

Hectail changed his expression to a serious one and then simply picked up one of the beads at his waist and dropped it to the floor.

Clink.

Roll.

Splash!

Then, from there, black hands stretched out and forcibly lifted the fallen Seo Jian.

At that blatantly intended action, I frowned and opened my mouth.

“You intend to take her hostage?”

“No need to waste time unnecessarily. After all, you don’t wish for this woman to die.”

Certainly not a wrong statement. For me, it was an unfavorable situation.

‘…I need to buy time somehow.’

Originally, the Exorcists of the Guard Unit cannot directly intervene in this succession competition. Daesin Industries was that deeply entrenched in the foundation of Korea’s Cursed Arts World.

However, if Hectail is here, the story is different. No matter what, he is an internationally wanted individual, a matter that should naturally be prioritized for intervention.

Therefore, I had already secretly contacted Cheong Jiyeon earlier.

Given that she holds a position of some influence in this area, she would likely grasp my intention and take swift action.

So I must protect Seo Jian against Hectail and buy time until then.

“No negotiations. Is there room for consideration?”

As Hectail wiggled his finger, the black hands tightened around Seo Jian’s neck, and Seo Jian made a pained expression, tightly closing her eyes.

To that, I had no choice but to provide an answer to Hectail’s question.

“Bihyeong is dead. On Yeongwoldo during the incident.”

“Yeongwoldo, you mean the Resurrection Ritual matter. Who was behind it?”

This is essentially the final answer Hectail wants.

Meaning, the moment I hand this over, all cards to stop Hectail’s actions will completely disappear.

Knowing that, Seo Jian sent me a look with her eyes. Don’t say it.

But, nevertheless, I had no choice but to speak.

“The one who killed Bihyeong is Cheong Soha, one of the Elders of the Cheong Family.”

“…Cheong Soha, that makes sense.”

With that, the conversation ended, and a chilling aura swirled around.

Anticipating what would happen next, I kept my eyes on Hectail and heightened my tension.

And just as he was about to cast a killing intent towards Seo Jian, I quickly opened my mouth once more.

“Isn’t it strange?”

At those words, Hectail paused and stopped his action.

“Bihyeong’s plan was carried out quietly and secretly. To the extent that even the Academy personnel who became sacrifices for the ritual didn’t notice at all.”

“Hoo, what are you trying to say?”

“It means Cheong Soha is merely a pawn, and the one who moved her is someone else.”

Even Hectail showed an unexpected reaction to those words.

No wonder, as Cheong Soha is the current power holder of the Cheong Family and one of the most promising Exorcists worldwide.

The existence of someone who could use someone like her as a pawn is not easily believable.

“That’s quite a stretch.”

“It’s not a stretch. I already know that person’s identity.”

“Kehehe. If those words are false, I think I’ll be quite displeased.”

I succeeded in piquing Hectail’s interest once again. Without losing the flow, I continued.

“I don’t know what you were promised, but this request itself isn’t that important to you, is it?”

“You intend to hand over the information in exchange for letting her go?”

“If that’s impossible, I won’t open my mouth even if I die.”

At those words, Hectail nodded his head and, surprisingly, easily released the restraint on Seo Jian.

Seo Jian, now able to move her body on her own, approached me with a doubtful, wary expression, breathing heavily.

“Now, this should be fine. Go on, tell me.”

At a glance, it might seem like he readily accepted the deal, but I knew. The person named Hectail.

‘…As expected.’

Focusing my mind, I see the seed of a curse deeply implanted within Seo Jian’s body.

If Hectail so much as wiggles a finger, it would become a hand of death, engulfing both the host, Seo Jian, and me beside her.

‘Seems he has no intention of letting go easily.’

A method of thoroughly seizing control of the situation. Truly the very image of Hectail I saw in the game.

‘If it were anyone else, it would already be checkmate.’

To begin with, Exorcists with enough knowledge to skillfully handle such a minor curse are rare.

Moreover, since the user was Hectail, it’s no exaggeration to say that originally, at this point, there would be no way out of the situation.

However, very coincidentally.

That didn’t apply to me.

“Speak now.”

A hair-trigger atmosphere where taking your eyes off even for a moment could mean death. In that chilling sensation, I heightened the tension in my body.

“Who exactly is that person?”

To Hectail’s question, I threw back an answer with a meaningful smile.

“Well.”

Anyway, by now, I’ve bought as much time as possible through conversation. From here on, it’s the start of a desperate tightrope walk.

Whoosh.

“Evolution.”

Swoosh.

Swoosh.

The one to move first was me.

Forming a Hand Seal and reciting an incantation, in an instant, my shadow expanded in volume and quickly stretched out behind Hectail.

And.

Splash!

“…Burn.”

Whoosh!

Roar!

From there, Kongsami, who sprang out as if erupting, began spewing intense flames from its mouth.