Chapter 47

The explanation itself wasn’t difficult. The scene matched all our testimonies, and everyone’s identities were confirmed.

“No signs of a struggle, and everything seems fine indeed.”

Well, of course. There were four academy cadets, and one of them was even a member of the Baek Family.

Because of that, the exorcists from headquarters didn’t seem to harbor any particular suspicions toward us either.

“By the way, what brings the headquarters exorcists here…?”

“Exorcists from the Guard Unit dispatched to this area have gone missing. It was judged they fell victim to a specter, so the matter was transferred to us.”

The signal was still out, but the headquarters exorcist, as if this happened often, skillfully summoned a shikigami and sent it flying into the air along with his phone.

Flutter!

After moving the shikigami to a point where the signal reached, he summoned the remaining pair and began relaying his voice from a distance.

“Yes. That’s correct. We’ll preserve the scene on our end.”

Watching the seasoned handling, Yoo Haon and the others observed the scene with slightly admiring gazes.

Afterward, the headquarters exorcists, who had been conversing with the villagers for a while, began scanning their surroundings and taking more serious action.

“Would it be alright if we take a look around the entire village?”

“Oh my. Of course. We can only be grateful.”

Simultaneously, they approached us and cautiously made a suggestion.

“It might be dangerous to wander around here now. We plan to finish a brief investigation and then escort you to Dongaksan. Would that be alright?”

“Yes. That’s fine.”

Since this area is practically under the Baek Family’s jurisdiction, the headquarters exorcists showed a rather respectful attitude toward Baek Eunseo, their direct descendant.

Baek Eunseo, who had turned around, was staring this way with a somewhat smug expression, so I forced a wry smile for her.

“We searched all over like that and then left, but we haven’t seen them since.”

“So, in the end, there’s no other information after they left the village?”

“Oh my, of course. This is the first I’m hearing that the exorcists had any trouble?”

The villagers each answered the questions sincerely, but the contents weren’t much different.

The Guard Unit exorcists who had previously visited the village also finished a brief investigation, left the village again, and returned.

Since everyone’s testimony was the same, the probability of it being true was high, but that would mean the Guard Unit exorcists vanished as if evaporated in an instant.

The three exorcists dispatched from headquarters began exchanging opinions with troubled expressions.

“Huh, something is strange though…”

“Mr. Jeongil, any reaction from the barriers we set up on the way?”

“No. Nothing particularly unusual.”

As in the original work, they all possessed strength in the early 40s level.

Although they hadn’t reached 2nd-Rank level, they were mid-career exorcists with ample experience and skill.

In fact, if the three combined their strength, they could be considered specs that wouldn’t lose to Sorisoe, but unfortunately, Choi Jinhee, the only woman among them, is killed while briefly acting separately, leading to a lack of combat power in the subsequent decisive battle.

In the original, Yoo Haon’s party helped fill that gap, but now, with me here knowing all the details, there’s no reason for Choi Jinhee to be easily killed.

Therefore, resolving the incident should clearly be easier than in the original.

‘…If only this weren’t a world within Hell Difficulty.’

There’s a high probability something I don’t know exists. So, from now on is crucial.

‘Was it planning to just send us back if there were no anomalies?’

Sorisoe was probably considering how to deal with us when we first met.

If it had absorbed the villagers’ knowledge, it would have recognized the Baek Family’s territory on Dongaksan, and it couldn’t possibly not know that if something happened to us, their pursuit would begin immediately.

However, it has already drawn the attention of too many people, including us. In this situation, Sorisoe ultimately has nowhere to retreat.

So, it will probably now reveal its true colors, decisively deal with everyone here, and try to move its hideout.

‘…Come on.’

Without letting go of the tension, I continued to watch the villagers from among our party.

But. No matter how much time passed, there was no attack.

Thirty minutes, fifty minutes, and finally, even after about two hours when the exorcists had finished their search.

“This seems like it’ll take quite some time, Jeongil. Should we take the kids first and come back?”

“…That seems like a good idea.”

When the situation turned out that way, I felt a certain unease. If this happens, the development would clearly diverge from the original.

‘Why?’

There have been no changes in events so far.

The villagers have already all been consumed by Sorisoe. So why is it showing no movement at all?

Just as doubts began to fill my mind, one ‘what if’ thought flashed through my head.

‘That can’t be…’

As if possessed, I began scanning the entire village meticulously, and Yoo Haon, seeing me like that, spoke up with concern.

“Is something wrong?”

“…Strange.”

Something indeed felt off.

Frowning, I stepped away from the party and slowly approached the direction where the villagers were.

And ignoring the questioning gazes of the headquarters exorcists, I directly pulled out a talisman from my waist.

“Hey, what are you doing now…”

As I drew up my spiritual power, Kim Joonsik, a headquarters exorcist who also hardened his expression, assumed a combat posture. He intended to subdue me if necessary.

But I wasn’t targeting him anyway.

Turning my gaze, I threw the talisman toward the villagers and formed a hand seal with my fingers.

Chwarak!

“White Transformation Advancing Channel.”

Whoosh.

True to an art formula imbued with demon-subduing power, as soon as it hit one of the villagers, a definite reaction came.

“Kyaaak!”

A bizarre shriek that sounded nothing human, and the sudden, seeping residual monstrous power.

Sensing it, the headquarters exorcists hardened their expressions and approached my side as if to guard me.

“It’s a specter!”

“I couldn’t sense its presence at all! Was it hiding among the villagers?”

But despite the villager right next to it showing such a reaction, the other villagers didn’t even twitch, as if they were blind.

I spoke toward the exorcists, who wore expressions full of doubt.

“It won’t be just one.”

“……”

This much was as expected. Already. Not a single villager remains here in the true sense.

“All of them are the same.”

“…We’ll handle it. Step back.”

And so, a fierce battle broke out.

The headquarters exorcists took the front line, and Yoo Haon’s party also calmly assisted them from the rear.

But the longer the battle continued, the more only doubts grew in my mind.

‘Why are their reactions so ambiguous?’

The vessels disguised as villagers just rushed in brawling, with none of the tactics Sorisoe primarily used in the original visible there.

To make matters worse, their combat power was also far below what I had expected.

‘Don’t tell me…’

Only then could I realize the identity of the sense of incongruity that had been stabbing a corner of my heart all along.

It was mentioned in passing in the original as well.

Sorisoe’s ability: the farther the vessel it controls is, the lower its precision.

‘Damn it.’

In a way, the absolute worst-case assumption had come true.

‘…They’re all empty shells. The main body isn’t inside.’

Unlike the original, Sorisoe had left this village, leaving behind only the empty bodies of the villagers it had devoured.

After the sudden battle ended, the first one to be questioned was none other than me.

I stepped forward because confirmation was urgent, but it must have seemed suspicious to others, so in a way, it was natural.

“An academy cadet, huh? How did you know they were specters?”

“…I felt a sense of incongruity from the start, but I only became certain a moment ago.”

“Why?”

“I’ve had that constitution since I was young.”

At first glance, it might sound like nonsense, but in the Exorcism Academy worldview where traits exist, there’s no more effective excuse than this.

“You mean you can detect a specter’s presence better than others? Just like the team leader.”

At my words, Lee Taegil, the exorcist from headquarters, nodded and scratched his head irritably.

“Huh, a specter that can imitate people to this extent… It seems the main body is separate too.”

It’s definitely a troublesome existence.

While in human form, it’s hard to detect, and even if you try to check by poking around everywhere, it ends up looking like you’re threatening innocent citizens.

After pondering briefly, the headquarters exorcists roughly reached a conclusion, gathered us, and firmly notified us.

“That was good handling in a sudden situation. But that’s enough for the cadets. We’ll take you to Dongaksan, so don’t leave the Baek Family’s area for the time being.”

“Shall I request support from the family?”

“We’ll gratefully accept the sentiment. We decline anything that unnecessarily complicates matters.”

Well, of course it would be like this.

Now that a clear enemy’s existence has been revealed, with headquarters exorcists dispatched, there’s nothing a mere academy cadet can do.

‘…Maybe this is right.’

Unlike the original, the headquarters exorcists clearly recognized the enemy and uncovered its methods to some extent.

Since this is originally their job, leaving it to the professionals might be the correct solution.

Even if I touted my achievements from the Guard Unit training and expressed a will to cooperate, in this situation, that would just be a baseless complaint.

With a hardened expression, I returned to Dongaksan under the escort of the exorcists, along with Yoo Haon’s party.

That evening, with Baek Eunseo’s help, I was provided a large room. Leaning my arms on the balcony of the classic mansion, I sank into thought.

Even if I tried not to think about it, the matter of Sorisoe weighed on my mind.

‘Is this current situation really okay?’

Of course, since Sorisoe’s own ability isn’t that outstanding, I think the headquarters exorcists can sufficiently perform a spirit dismissal.

But originally, that was something the protagonist, Yoo Haon, should have resolved.

Can that vacancy really be filled so easily?

‘…It’s complicated in many ways.’

This is reality. There’s no need to obsess over the original anymore. I knew that, of course.

But still, the lingering unease in a corner of my heart was unavoidable.

Just as I was deeply lost in thought, the sound of a sudden knock on the door was heard.

Knock.

Knock knock.*

“…Hey, can I come in?”

The owner of the knocking sound was none other than Yoo Haon.