Chapter 60

One day after the presentation ended, I went out over the weekend and met with Hwang Jincheol once more, bringing the prepared items.

“Are you really sure about this? The rumors surrounding this stone are all true, not fiction. It contains an extremely powerful curse. There’s even a record of a nearly Special-Rank exorcist giving up and leaving.”

“It’s fine. I’ve always had a constitution that doesn’t easily attract curses.”

“Hmm, well…”

Hwang Jincheol seemed genuinely concerned for my safety, but I already knew both the true nature of the Death Black Stone and how to utilize it.

Frankly, to me, whether it was a stone of death or whatever, it just felt like a tempting in-game item.

“Can’t be helped. Let me say it again—be extremely careful when handling it. You can’t even store it inside the Academy.”

“Yes. I understand.”

At Hwang Jincheol’s gesture, an exorcist who appeared to be a subordinate brought over a box sealed with strict protections and soon handed it to me.

“I’ve heard that breaking the seal immediately makes you the target of the curse. I sincerely hope nothing goes wrong. I’d like to keep seeing your face for a long time.”

After parting ways with Hwang Jincheol, I took a taxi and headed to a nearby, sparsely populated mountain.

Since it literally contained a powerful curse, bringing it into the Academy without permission would immediately trigger detection, mobilizing the faculty and security.

In other words, I planned to resolve the curse of the Death Black Stone here first before returning to the Academy.

Click.

After moving deep enough into a suitably remote area, I placed the box containing the Death Black Stone on the ground.

Multiple talismans and straw ropes covered the entire box, and the spiritual power imbued within them, along with the faint scent of the curse seeping from inside, was palpable against my skin.

‘Originally, the Death Black Stone was far from being a cursed object.’

According to the lore, it was recorded as a divine relic left behind by the legendary Divine Beast, the Haetae.

However, due to some reason, it had taken on an opposite nature, becoming the current Death Black Stone.

In other words, if I could just strip away the curse attached to the Death Black Stone, it would regain its original form.

‘Since it appeared as a side story in the game, I’m familiar with the method and Art Formula for it.’

Still, it wasn’t as simple as I thought. I took a deep breath and slowly began undoing the box’s seals.

Tap.

Thud.

Crinkle.

“…This is more than I expected.”

After undoing the seals to some extent, the remaining talismans and straw ropes all crumbled away as if weathered into dust.

It meant that a curse of such immense power lay dormant within.

I took out all the Simple Barrier Stones I had asked Cheong Joohwa to make extra and arranged them on the ground around the box.

Then, I opened the lid of the box, its seals now undone.

Creak.

Crinkle!

Finally revealed, the Death Black Stone took the form of a black half-moon, just as I had seen in the game.

Fsssh.

Fsh.

Just facing it, I could feel a faint curse creeping up my body.

It was indeed a sight that made the claim that it led its owner to death believable.

‘If I delay, it might become dangerous.’

The method to separate the curse from the Death Black Stone was simple.

Offer a sacrifice, perform a ritual prayer, and transfer the subject of the curse there through the Art Formula that appeared in the story.

In the game, there was another item for that, but I didn’t have it now.

However, there was an item that could substitute for it: the phoenix feather earring that Arietta intended to use as a medium for the Shikigami Art.

‘Since the game also used a Cursed Tool with purification effects as a sacrifice, this should be sufficient.’

I placed the phoenix feather earring in front of the box containing the Death Black Stone and began performing the ritual prayer, just as I had done in the game.

Mourning the unjust death of the girl, Eunryeong, who first received this token of promise from the Haetae.

Tszz.

Hooong.

“Ritual of Grateful Remembrance.”

Though the mortals involved had all died and vanished long ago, only their deeply rooted resentment remained, drifting helplessly around the Death Black Stone.

Crack!

Crinkle!

As power concentrated, the Death Black Stone began to tremble violently, emitting cursed energy, and in response, the phoenix feather earring also released purifying energy.

Clatter.

Clack!

Thud!

How long did that tug-of-war last? Finally, a stream of light seeped from the Death Black Stone, and the condensed curse began to detach.

And they seeped into the phoenix feather earring used as the sacrifice, transforming into a new form.

Zzzzong—!

By the time the ritual ended, the Death Black Stone no longer existed.

Only the token of promise once exchanged between the Haetae and the girl lay intact inside the box.

‘Appraisal.’

Ding!

【Half-Moon Stone】

▶A token of promise exchanged between the Divine Beast Haetae and the girl Eunryeong. Filled with pure power that repels impurity.

Success. It was exactly the same item I had seen in the game.

Wiping the sweat from my forehead, I proceeded to appraise the other item.

Ding!

【Black Phoenix Earring】

▶An earring made from a phoenix feather. Infused with refined cursed energy. Increases the wearer’s curse resistance and enhances the power of Forbidden Arts used by the wearer.

Since the material had changed, it became a slightly different item from the game, but its nature itself didn’t seem significantly different.

Then, surely, I could use these two materials to create them.

The twin Shikigami, each possessing opposing Taiji energies. Black Yin and White Yang.

‘I’ll be busy for a while.’

Thus, dragging my exhausted body, I finally returned to the Academy.

“Centipede Red Oil, lightning-struck white birch, white carp blood, crow feather.”

Unlike Doodoori and Great Peak’s Molt, which I had created so far, Black Yin and White Yang held the title of relatively high-level Shikigami.

Naturally, creating them required time, and I also needed to gather other supporting materials.

“This is as far as I’ve got. Is it possible?”

“…Each one is a troublesome item. If you give me a little time, I can procure them.”

Fortunately, since Seo Jian now had some leeway, obtaining materials with her help wasn’t too difficult.

After gathering all the materials, I holed up in the dormitory whenever I had time, devoting myself to creating the Shikigami.

Since these were precious materials I might never obtain again, I absolutely couldn’t afford to make a mistake.

“Junior. Still far off?”

“If you keep pestering me like this, it’ll take even longer.”

“It’s been a week since the presentation ended. If it takes any longer, I might want to supervise from the side.”

“…It’ll be done in a few days, so please be patient.”

During the process, Arietta visited daily and whined, so I inevitably had quite exhausting days.

‘When she appeared as a boss, she wasn’t like this.’

Honestly, I hadn’t realized she could be this bothersome.

She clung so persistently and at such odd times that I felt like shoving her somewhere.

‘…It’s not like she’s some stray cat.’

Anyway, after going through that process, I finally reached the completion stage of creating the Shikigami.

Having pushed through without sleep that night to finish creating the Shikigami, I met Arietta the next day and handed her a single earring.

It was the medium for the Shikigami, crafted from that Half-Moon Stone.

Arietta, who had been staring intently at the earring as if enchanted, tilted her head slightly and spoke to me.

“Something’s different.”

“I considered giving you the phoenix feather earring as is, but compatibility-wise, this seemed better.”

Even if she gained the bonus effect for Forbidden Arts, it wouldn’t be much of an advantage for her. Conversely, for me, it offered unparalleled benefits.

Considering performance, it was the obvious choice.

“Then, what about my earring?”

“Since they’re a pair of Shikigami, I have the other one. Is there a problem?”

“Not really, but…”

In response, I nodded and helped Arietta summon the Shikigami contained within the Half-Moon Stone.

Poof!

What appeared was a beautiful fox with pure white, glossy fur.

[Kyeeng!]

Swish.

Hop.

Watching White Yang instantly settle on my shoulder and rub its cheek against mine, Arietta stroked its neck with a satisfied expression.

“…It looks like your fox.”

“Strictly speaking, it’s the same being. Black Yin and White Yang are Shikigami that seep into a prepared vessel and take its form.”

To put it simply, it was easier to think that I had infused the power of White Yang into the Mind Fox that had been with me for a while.

“Is it okay if I take it?”

“Yes. It doesn’t seem to dislike you either.”

White Yang was a kind of insurance I had prepared. Since it retained all memories from its time as the Mind Fox, it would surely watch over Arietta from beside her if needed, ensuring she doesn’t stray at my request.

Watching that scene, I took out the Black Phoenix earring from my pocket and placed it directly onto my own shadow.

Soon, the earring was sucked into it and disappeared from sight.

“Black Yin.”

Whoosh!

Since I had confirmed that the earring’s effects remained active even while stored within the shadow, there shouldn’t be any particular issue.

Flap!*

[Keeek!]

A bird with jet-black wings spread them powerfully and likewise perched its legs on my shoulder.

It was Black Yin, White Yang’s partner, created using the Black Bird as its vessel.

“Is that the other pair?”

“Yes, that’s right. Its name is Black Yin.”

“Cute…”

Compared to when it was a Black Bird, it had grown slightly larger, and its appearance had noticeably changed.

Now, rather than a crow, it had transformed into a more elegant, divine beast-like form.

‘Since it was influenced by the energy of the Divine Beast Haetae, I guess that’s natural?’

Since there was a condition that the power of Black Yin and White Yang could only be infused into lower-level Shikigami, among the Shikigami I possessed, the Black Bird was the best choice.

If its abilities are the same as in the game, it should eventually be capable of growing gigantic, so I’m looking forward to it in many ways.

“Since they’re twin Shikigami, if we ever engage in combat together someday, they’ll be helpful.”

“Feels kind of like a couple.”

“…Isn’t that a bit different?”

Anyway, Arietta expressed her gratitude to me, seeming extremely satisfied.

Since I had also obtained the Shikigami I aimed for, I could say the presentation event concluded with successful results overall.

‘The next story is the festival and the dean’s assassination attempt, right?’

The festival event and the dean assassination incident, which could be called the main theme of Story Chapter 2. Originally a high-difficulty situation, and with the aftermath of Hell Difficulty, it’s hard to predict what hardships might come.

‘In the end, I’ll have to judge by facing it head-on.’

Considering past cases, a crisis that would be overwhelming for the protagonist Yoo Haon and his group alone is sure to arise.

So, this time too, I must do my part.

‘…And we’re only at the mid-point of Chapter 2.’

Letting out a small sigh, I forcibly suppressed the looming pressure and steeled my resolve once more.