Chapter 49

“So it’s the rookies who came to the village.”

“……”

“I was interested in your knowledge. If you don’t resist, I’ll devour you painlessly.”

An emotionless gaze that saw humans only as prey was directed straight at me, but I was the one who hadn’t backed down even before that Hectail just a while ago. I had no intention of being intimidated by this level of pressure.

Swoosh.

Instead, I took a step forward, calmly forming hand seals with my fingers.

“Fierce Wolf, Mind Fox, Old Man Tree Specter.”

Poof!

Whoosh!

Hop!

[Grrr!]

[Kee-ing!]

[Kehek.]

Two hastily recreated Fierce Wolves, a Mind Fox, and even an Old Man Tree Specter. As I summoned them all, Sorisoe turned its gaze toward me with apparent interest.

Ignoring Sorisoe’s gaze, I quietly asked Lee Jeongil a question.

“What Art Formulas did your comrade specialize in?”

“He mainly used Soul Blaze Rending Wave, Empty Blade Hand, and the binding spell Void Slaughter Seizure.”

“…Was close combat his specialty, by any chance?”

“Y-yes, that’s right.”

Empty Blade Hand is one of the intermediate-rank offensive Arts primarily used by Exorcists who enjoy close combat. And as expected, my bad hunch seemed to have hit the mark.

‘Guess I’ll just have to wing it.’

In that case, being forced into sparring matches by Baek Soyool’s hand actually turned out to be an advantage.

Since then, I had run several simulations in my head against physically-oriented opponents.

“Can you handle the other side?”

“…Yes. I’ll try.”

“No need to push for a win; you can focus on defense.”

After speaking, I immediately circled around and dashed toward where Kim Joonsik’s body was.

And without hesitation, I launched the first attack by throwing a talisman.

Swoosh-crack!

“Soul Blaze Rending Wave.”

A clear light erupted from the talisman, and Kim Joonsik countered with the same Cursed Technique, as if he had been waiting for it.

Whoosh.

“Soul Blaze Rending Wave.”

Zzzing!

A powerful shockwave and a surge of Spiritual Power flowed out. It was undoubtedly an Art Formula imbued with the full strength and experience of a 3rd-Rank Exorcist. In terms of pure power, it was above mine.

I had hoped otherwise, but it seemed the statement that it could use Cursed Techniques by controlling the devoured body was true.

“Charge.”

Growl!

Snarl!

Grrr!

At Kim Joonsik’s gesture, the wild beasts that had also been devoured by Sorisoe began charging at me at high speed.

[Grrrr!]

[Gruk!]

Crash!

Thud-thud-thud!

The two Fierce Wolves charged to confront them, but it seemed they wouldn’t hold out for long, as the beasts’ physical abilities had been enhanced by Sorisoe’s Art Formula.

With an opening created, Kim Joonsik also rushed straight at me, even using enhancement Cursed Techniques.

Thud!

Whoosh,

“Empty Blade Hand.”

Kim Joonsik’s right arm wavered like a heat haze.

The Art’s completion was considerable. If it hit directly, the match could likely be decided in one blow.

Of course, I had no intention of letting it hit me even once.

“Clear Chain Binding.”

Clatter-rattle!

Thump!

A blue chain flowed from a talisman I had previously thrown onto a tree. I grabbed it with my hand, pulled, and bounced onto a branch as if propelled.

Simultaneously, following my instruction, the Old Man Tree Specter, which had been maintaining a certain distance, unleashed a powerful Curse upon the defenseless Kim Joonsik.

[Kee-hek!]

Squelch!

Even though the Curse hit directly, bursting blood vessels and rotting flesh, Sorisoe, which had seized control of Kim Joonsik’s body, merely stared at me on the tree with a calm expression.

“Your movements are far better than any Taoist Master I’ve devoured so far. No, here they’re called Exorcists, right?”

Crash!

And with just one leap, Kim Joonsik’s body reached the upper part of the tree I was standing on.

Physical abilities in a realm absolutely unreachable by the power of a 3rd-Rank Exorcist. Certainly, with this level, it made sense to act so leisurely.

However. I had long since predicted that such an attack would be possible.

Thud.

I immediately jumped backward, leaping down from the tree, and signaled to the Mind Fox hanging on my shoulder.

[Kee-ing—!]

An intense wave of mental energy shot toward Kim Joonsik. Kim Joonsik’s expression stiffened momentarily, and his movements halted.

‘Just as expected.’

The ability possessed by the Mind Fox could be said to be similar in type to Sorisoe’s.

Of course, Sorisoe was of a higher tier, but the difference wasn’t extreme.

Moreover, since Sorisoe was simultaneously controlling multiple entities, it required a higher level of concentration to maintain the Art Formula.

In other words, if hit by the Mind Fox’s mental energy wave, which was focused solely on the opponent before it, the Art Formula would inevitably become unstable momentarily.

“Evolution!”

Swoosh.

Whoosh!

The Art of Severed Shadow, the boss from Part 4, which I first used in the battle against Hectail.

Kongsami, emerging from my elongated shadow stretching outward, filled its mouth with flames.

And it fired them precisely downward at Kim Joonsik.

“Burn it.”

Whoosh-crash!

Roar—!

Flames of tremendous power struck the ground directly, and acrid smoke scattered in all directions.

When the smoke cleared enough to reveal the view, Kim Joonsik was seen collapsed on the dirt, unable to move.

Sorisoe’s Art Formula within him had collapsed due to the Flame of Purification Trait of Kongsami.

“…Impressive. To hinder me twice.”

Glancing aside, Yoo Haon was engaged in a fight against a woman who was clearly a 3rd-Rank Exorcist, not being pushed back significantly.

If I just sent the Old Man Tree Specter over, victory would likely be achieved without much difficulty.

Ultimately, the first round was our victory. To change the situation, Sorisoe had no choice but to step in personally.

Right then, Yoo Haon, who had glanced over, shouted desperately at me in panic.

“Behind you—!”

Crunch!

And simultaneously, something bit my leg with all its might. Feeling a sensation of paralysis, I could only collapse onto the cold dirt.

[Grrruk.]

Its identity was one of the wild lynxes that had been confronting the Fierce Wolves.

Gulp.

Glu-gluck.

In an instant, the area around the lynx’s neck swelled and transformed, and soon an unpleasant voice began to emanate from its mouth.

“Rookie, rookie. Grruk. Lack of vigilance.”

The situation was clear. Sorisoe’s main body had been hiding in one of the beasts from the start, commanding the battle and observing the situation.

Sorisoe’s foot, which had turned me face-up, touched my heart, and soon I felt sharp Spectral Energy flowing into my body from that point.

“Your knowledge and body, grruk, will be put to good use.”

An expression of complete victory.

However, staring at Sorisoe, I slightly raised the corner of my mouth.

Zzzing!

“Kehek! Wh-why?”

I knew. I knew that Sorisoe, having lost its limbs, would emerge in this manner.

I had seen such tactics in the original work, and even if not, it wouldn’t have been difficult to predict.

When doing PVP, there were plenty of people who displayed tactics far more outlandish than anything Sorisoe could muster.

Whoosh.

“Seems this can’t pierce it either.”

The future Cursed Technique I used, even supplementing Spiritual Power by activating the Soul Combustion Trait in advance,

Specifically, the mental protection Art Formula that appeared in Exorcism Academy Part 3: Harmonious Spirit Gathering.

Frankly speaking, Specters of the same type as Sorisoe, which appeared in the early Part 1, frequently appear as enemies later on as well.

And Harmonious Spirit Gathering was an Art Formula effective even against such Specters.

Naturally, there was no way it wouldn’t work against Sorisoe, a Specter from the early work.

“This foolish human…!”

The moment Sorisoe uses its ability to devour an opponent is, conversely, also the moment it itself is most defenseless.

Then, now it’s just about dragging Sorisoe, which has exposed its weakness, into my home ground.

“Spirit Devouring Formation. Soul Spirit Gluttony.”

Whoosh.

The Forbidden Art used even in the battle against Kongsami, which greedily devours the opponent’s soul.

Sensing something ominous, Sorisoe hurriedly tried to break away from me, but it was already too late.

[Kee-ek!]

[Kyak!]

[Ke-ek!]

The hundreds of thousands of vengeful spirits contained within me shrieked curses at Sorisoe. The Forbidden Technique Value, having reached its limit, further amplified the Art’s effect, gradually beginning to pull in Sorisoe’s soul.

“Grruk! How can this be? What is this…!”

Pulled by a tremendous force, Sorisoe began to lose strength, unable to do anything.

Since I activated the Art Formula in a situation where it was trying to steal my body and soul, in such an intimately connected state, there would naturally be no way to escape.

I got up and approached Sorisoe, making an offer it couldn’t refuse to the creature wearing an expression of disbelief.

“Choose one.”

“……”

“Either have your soul devoured and perish as you are, or form a Shikigami Contract with me and become a loyal subordinate.”

“You’re telling me, grruk, to become a human’s dog?”

It was an utterly unreasonable proposal, but the answer was practically predetermined. Sorisoe had no other choice.

Squelch.

Squelch-squelch.

How long did it resist and hold on?

Feeling its soul gradually shrinking, Sorisoe finally gave up and urgently began pleading for my help.

“Keh-hek! Alright! I accept!”

Thus, Sorisoe staked its soul and formed a Shikigami Contract with me.

Similar to the Old Man Tree Specter, it was an unfair contract where I seized all initiative.

Squelch.

As soon as the contract was completed, I stuffed the limp Sorisoe into the shadows, and simultaneously, the Soul Spirit Gluttony Art Formula, which had been gaining momentum, also ended.

Whoosh.

“Hoo, hoo. Is it… over?”

Yoo Haon approached me and asked, looking quite exhausted. Having fought against the body of an experienced 3rd-Rank Exorcist, it must have been quite difficult even if he didn’t show it.

‘Appraisal.’

Ding!

【Yoo Haon】

▶Level 33

I checked just in case, and his level had gone up by one from the recent battle.

It really was an absurd growth rate.

“Are you okay? Any injuries…”

“No problem. I just pretended to be hit to make it let its guard down.”

“…Watching that, I thought my heart would drop.”

Yoo Haon relaxed as if truly relieved and plopped down onto the ground.

“Sorry. I was so shocked that I lost strength.”

“It wasn’t a situation I could have informed you about in advance.”

“That kind of tactic is still dangerous. Seoa was worried that you fight without caring for your own body.”

It was less advice and more a complaint tinged with a bit of resentment. I chuckled lightly, helped Yoo Haon up, and hurried toward where Lee Jeongil was.

“…Amazing. How can a student, not even in the graduating class…”

“The plan just worked well. Can you get up?”

“Keuk, hup. I think I can manage somehow.”

Thus, supporting Lee Jeongil, we moved to a safe location, called the nearby Guard Unit, entrusted them with his treatment, and briefly explained the situation.

Although a detailed testimony would need to be recorded later, for now, it could be said that the incident had drawn to a close.

And the very next day, a piece of news reached me.

It was a summons from Baek Seoha, the next Elder of the Baek Family and the administrator of Dongaksan.