Chapter 77

‘They attacked the exhibition hall at this point? Why?’

Well, if they had planned to attack, the optimal time would have been early this morning before the exhibition ended, but the timing is extremely coincidental.

If the timing had been even slightly off, I might have encountered Black Yin, who was taking the Lamp of Brilliant Night.

Moreover, I could sense it intuitively.

The attack on the exhibition hall was undoubtedly closely related to the main story that was about to unfold.

‘…Then perhaps the real incident is about to begin.’

It seemed my prediction was correct, as shortly afterward, urgent news arrived from the Spanish Royal Academy.

It was that Princess Laura had been kidnapped.

“…What the hell? How did things come to this?”

As Jeong Hansol said, the situation was clearly not normal.

And that wasn’t the end of it. Laura wasn’t the only one kidnapped.

Additionally, some of the academy students from various countries gathered at this event were also missing.

Among them were Yoo Haon and Baek Eunseo from Cheonghwa Academy.

Bang.

“Unbelievable! They managed to stealthily take students away from an event with so many eyes watching?”

Baek Jieun, one of the accompanying professors, slammed the wall hard, as if she couldn’t comprehend it.

Upon hurriedly making inquiries, eyewitness accounts emerged that Yoo Haon and Baek Eunseo had been talking with Princess Laura.

Only then could I roughly grasp the whole story.

‘It was his doing after all.’

Habi Martinez.

Judging by the Trait he possessed, he was undoubtedly a considerable genius in transformation techniques.

He likely first took the princess, then assumed her appearance to gain trust and easily lure other students away.

Having infiltrated as a retainer of the princess, it probably wasn’t difficult for him to manipulate the guards as he pleased.

‘…Still, it’s a bit strange.’

It doesn’t add up that he did all this alone. If my prediction isn’t wrong, there must have been some kind of collaborator.

While we were still in shock, new news arrived.

The demands of the group that kidnapped the princess and the students had been revealed.

“…They said if we want everyone back, release one prisoner held in the special prison.”

“My goodness, who on earth is that?”

“Damian of Crimson Blood. A former royal knight and a former Special-Rank wanted criminal.”

I don’t know who that is, but judging by the stiffened faces of the royal family members, he didn’t seem to be an ordinary person.

“Damian is an extremely dangerous individual. If released, he will undoubtedly bring greater chaos to the world.”

Ultimately, it was an unacceptable demand.

The academy professors calmly asked questions and organized the situation.

“You’ve pinpointed the perpetrator’s location, right?”

“We are currently mobilizing all personnel to tighten the encirclement. However……”

The man paused briefly, then spoke again with an awkward expression.

“The trail completely disappeared midway. As if they flew into the sky or something.”

“So, you’ve essentially lost track of the target, haven’t you?”

“…I apologize, but in the current state, that is correct.”

Roughly listening, the situation seemed worse than expected.

Especially if they completely lost the perpetrator’s trail, it would be tantamount to losing any means to counter them afterward.

‘They escaped the encirclement completely while holding hostages?’

No matter how thoroughly planned, that’s not an easy feat.

Moreover, not much time has passed since the incident began.

Then, I recalled one method in my mind that could satisfy such conditions.

‘Could it be, they hid within a special Barrier?’

If so, the statement about the trail completely disappearing makes sense.

Since they had prepared the plan in advance, it wasn’t particularly impossible if they had a skilled Barrier Master.

“…First, you all wait here with the escort professor. We will cooperate with the authorities to help search for the perpetrator.”

As the professors dispersed, the remaining students gathered with personnel from other countries and began waiting for the situation to be resolved.

But even after one hour, then two hours, there was no change.

Only the other side’s response grew more extreme.

[There’s no response yet. It seems they haven’t properly understood our words.]

Now the perpetrators were even filming videos and sending them to the royal family, presenting their demands.

Even then, as the situation didn’t change, they gathered the captured students in one place and began demanding the prisoner’s release again.

[From now on, every hour, we will kill one hostage in turn. If you do not wish the situation to worsen, we hope you make a wise choice.]

The content of the sent video ended there. In the background, Yoo Haon, who had been captured, was also visible, with a trace of blood at the corner of his mouth as if he had already engaged in a fight.

Seeing that, I instantly felt intense irritation rising within me.

‘……’

Yoo Haon was the protagonist.

A glimmer of hope who would contribute to saving the world amidst the slowly approaching crisis.

He was not someone to be used for such a trivial hostage situation.

‘These guys who don’t even know what’s to come…’

Before I knew it, only 30 minutes remained until the time demanded by the other side.

Having quietly waited for the situation, I finally couldn’t hold back and decided to take action.

‘How on earth did they hide themselves that so many people are just running around in vain?’

No matter how they erased their trail through a special Barrier, the professors and the royal family’s strong individuals aren’t fools either.

The fact that they still haven’t been discovered means they must have used a truly extraordinary method.

After countless rounds of contemplation, one possibility flashed through my mind like lightning.

‘…That’s it.’

The various Cursed Tools at the exhibition hall. I definitely have a memory of glimpsing it among them.

A cursed painting that, when specific conditions are met, imprisons nearby people within a special space.

‘Citadel of the Dead.’

If the kidnappers and those who attacked the exhibition hall are the same group, and if they knew of the existence of that cursed Cursed Tool, it’s highly likely they used it to hide the hostages.

‘Given that not even a trace has been discovered yet, it’s practically certain.’

And the Cursed Technique used in the Citadel of the Dead is a Forbidden Art. Naturally, it would be filled with corresponding negative energy.

If so, then surely,

‘It can be found using Black Yin’s ability to detect negativity.’

Having finished my thoughts, I summoned Black Yin from the shadows right then.

Swoosh.

Whoosh!

[Kiiik.]

“Can you find it?”

[Kiiiik……]

It seems it’s somewhat beyond its capabilities in its current state, given the considerable distance.

But I have something I kept for precisely such a situation.

Gripping the Lamp of Brilliant Night within my clothes, I began channeling Spiritual Power toward the ring.

‘Given who I am now, the conditions are undoubtedly met.’

In fact, the Lamp of Brilliant Night possesses another form within it.

Even the Blood-Drinking Princess Beatrice couldn’t exert such power until she used the second form, not the Lamp of Brilliant Night itself, to strengthen her own followers.

It is a reversed form that reveals itself when a user possessing the qualities of a monarch holds a Forbidden Technique Value above a certain level.

Swoosh.

‘Appraisal.’

Ding!

【Mist Veil of Dark Noon】

▶The silent hand that gathers the day. Only one with the qualities of a monarch can confine light within the ring.

• Number of followers that can be bound: 2

Without hesitation, I used the ring’s effect to strengthen Black Yin’s ability before me.

Black mist flowing from the ring enveloped Black Yin, and soon, following my command, Black Yin began searching for the negative energy flowing from the Citadel of the Dead.

About 5 minutes passed like that when finally, a response came.

‘…Found it. Closer than I thought.’

The problem is time. The main force had already gone out searching and were far from here, so even if I hurriedly called them, it would clearly be too late.

Without hesitation, I opened my mouth and spoke.

“I’ve located the hostages.”

“…What? What do you mean?”

“One hundred percent certain. I’ll send the information via terminal, please request support immediately.”

And then I glanced at Hwang Jihak beside me.

‘He definitely said he owed a debt to the previous Han Kangyoon.’

If there are multiple enemies on the other side at the level of that Habi Martinez, then I can’t handle it alone either.

So, trusting that promise, I called Hwang Jihak and quickly conveyed the matter.

“I need combat personnel. Can you help?”

Fortunately, Hwang Jihak seemed to read my mind, nodding and subtly approaching.

“…Yeah. I don’t know what’s going on, but if you need my strength, I’ll help.”

Like that, without giving anyone a chance to stop us, we immediately left our spot and headed for the destination.

However, we weren’t the only ones who moved.

“…Senior, why are you following? And Sophia too?”

“I told you. Grandma said to stick together.”

“Hmm. I just saw everyone running off with serious faces?”

Arietta and Sophia.

It was the joining of the reliable 2nd-year top student and 3rd-year top student, a reassuring thought.

Nodding at the unexpected support was brief, as I soon felt a question and immediately asked Sophia.

“We’re going to the kidnappers’ hideout now. It’s dangerous, are you really okay with it?”

“Yeah. No problem.”

“What if my guess is wrong?”

“Hmm. Well? If Kangyoon is confident, it’s probably right?”

I’ve felt it before, but the trust Sophia and Hwang Jihak have in me is on a strange level.

What kind of person was the previous Han Kangyoon to have earned the recognition of these two to this extent? Letting out a small sigh of admiration, I summoned Sorisoe and had everyone mount its back.

Swoosh.

Whoosh!

“If we can resolve it, good; if not, we just need to buy time until support arrives.”

“I’ll protect the hostages.”

“…Sophia and I will pick the appropriately strong ones to handle.”

After assigning minimal roles to each other, the destination was already right before us during that time.

Whoosh!

“Sorisoe, you can go in now.”

Swoosh.

What was at the arrived location was a dilapidated warehouse inside an old commercial building.

No sensed presences. They probably judged that posting guards might unnecessarily leave a trail, so they deliberately didn’t.

Crash!

Clang!

Inside the broken-into warehouse, with its shattered lock and chains, along with old miscellaneous items, a painting emitting a sinister aura occupied a place.

‘Appraisal.’

Ding!

【Citadel of the Dead】

▶A painting of death born from a vicious Forbidden Art. When specific conditions are met, it can imprison nearby targets within the painting.

“…Junior. The targets are inside this?”

“Yes. It’s a Cursed Tool I’ve seen before. They’re definitely hiding here.”

“Do you know how to enter?”

Of course I do.

Place a hand on the ghost’s mouth at the top right of the painting, call its name, and infuse Spiritual Power.

“Paul Hols. Open the gate of the citadel.”

Kreeeak—!

Thump!

Like that, the instantly enlarged ghost’s mouth swallowed us whole.