Chapter 78

Meanwhile, Yoo Haon and Baek Eunseo, who had been kidnapped by the opponent disguised as the princess, swallowed their tension internally as they looked at the academy students from various countries placed in the same situation.

“…Three enemies. All stronger than us.”

“Ugh. Those damn bastards. I realized after clashing with them once. In close combat, maybe not, but the difference in the power of their Art Formulas is quite significant.”

True to being top contenders among first-years, they hadn’t been taken easily and had attempted to resist once.

However, they couldn’t land an effective hit even against a single enemy, and soon, because a collaborator arrived, they were helplessly subdued and kidnapped.

Having confirmed the backs of the gathered enemies, Yoo Haon subtly shifted his gaze to look towards where the princess, Laura, was.

‘She doesn’t look to be in good condition.’

Even though they were also in danger, right now, the princess was more of a concern.

A face sunken in helplessness, as if she had completely lost everything.

That Laura quietly opened her mouth towards the enemies.

“Diego, how on earth did you…?”

“Could it be you were still curious about such things? As expected, you truly are an irredeemable inferior product.”

Diego. Or rather, the man who actually bore the name Habi Martinez, slowly approached Laura, grabbed her chin, and spoke again.

“The Diego who served you is already dead. By my hand, no less. You must have felt at least a subtle sense of incongruity.”

“That… can’t be…”

“I am not Diego, but Habi Martinez. If you call me by that name one more time, I’ll make sure you can no longer wag that tongue.”

Whoosh!

Crash!

Roughly thrown aside, Laura, while grimacing with one eye, spoke to Habi again.

“…Ugh. You’ll regret this. The royal family isn’t as easy as you think. They must be approaching this location by now.”

However, hearing that, Habi sneered and began to mock Laura.

“Is that so, really?”

“……”

“Can you be sure the royal family will save you? No, let me ask the opposite. If the target had been the crown prince or the first princess instead of you from the start, do you really think they would have allowed such an easy kidnapping?”

“What… are you trying to say?”

“You know, don’t you. You are an inferior product that can be replaced anytime. To them, you are someone whose fate doesn’t matter much.”

At those words, Laura deeply bowed her head. But Habi didn’t stop and continued to press her.

“Shall I tell you one thing? The royal family absolutely cannot find this place. And if we had only brought you, even if we took you hostage, they would never have accepted our demands.”

“That… can’t be.”

“A Special-Rank dangerous individual, Crimson Blood’s Damian, and an inferior product princess. Even a simple weighing of the scales makes the difference in value clear. If I were the king, I would never take such a risk.”

“……”

“Of course, now that this many sacrificial lambs entangled in international relations have been added, the story is different.”

Ultimately, Habi’s goal was clear. Using the lives of the hostages as a weapon to bring back the one he served into the world. Laura was merely a Sacrifice.

“If only you could have noticed my plan from the beginning, this situation wouldn’t have occurred. Their misfortune is practically something you brought upon them. Ah, it seems there’s not much time left until the first execution.”

“…That won’t do. Stop it right now.”

“Give up. Nothing will change here by your words.”

And so, finally, all the time limit had passed.

“Jose. The promised time has come.”

“…You there. Get up.”

A student grabbed by the hand of the man called Jose struggled in terror, trying to get away from his spot.

“Ugh, n-no! Stop!”

“How bothersome.”

Thud!

“Gah! Kehk!”

Jose, dragging the boy whose body had gone limp with one hand, stretched his neck out before Habi.

Seeing this, a frantic Laura shouted.

“S-stop it! Your demands, I’ll somehow persuade the upper echelons…!”

“That’s why I told you, such things are meaningless.”

However, Habi soon approached Laura again with a meaningful smile.

“Then, will you willingly form a master-servant contract with me? If you do, I’ll specially extend the time by about ten minutes.”

“A master-servant contract…?”

“It means literally becoming my property. If that happens, even if rescue comes, you alone won’t be able to escape from me. It would be a good lesson for the royal family who dared to imprison that person without knowing their place.”

At those words, Laura, who had been agonizing, soon nodded her head weakly.

And Yoo Haon, who was watching that scene, forgetting his promise with Baek Eunseo to quietly wait for an opportunity, released the Restraint he had previously weakened and sprang up from his spot.

Whoosh.

“That won’t do.”

“Hey! Haon! I said not now!”

“…Sorry, I just can’t stand by and watch such a despicable act.”

Jose, whose expression twisted at that, and the robed man who had been quietly sitting, immediately moved to confront Yoo Haon.

Yoo Haon deployed his Cursed Technique, releasing the Restraints on the nearby students, and conveyed his intent for a desperate fight through an Interpretation Spell.

“Everyone, get up! If we face them together, it’s entirely possible. We have far greater numbers.”

However, most of them, paralyzed with fear, couldn’t move from their spots.

And as if to amplify that fear, Habi uttered a single sentence with a smile full of murderous intent.

“From now on, anyone who resists will unconditionally be the first to be killed as a Sacrifice.”

“…Ugh.”

Only then did Yoo Haon realize. Unlike himself, who had already faced an unbeatable enemy during the Yeongwoldo incident, these people hadn’t yet steeled their resolve to overcome it.

Finally, Baek Eunseo, clicking her tongue, sprang up and took her place beside Yoo Haon.

“You damn sons of bitches! Just try it! Even if I die, I’ll definitely take one of you with me.”

“…Sorry, Eunseo.”

“Forget it! Whatever. If they’re going to kill us all anyway, I can’t just sit quietly and wait; it’s too shameful.”

But unfortunately, the difference in combat power was clear.

Soon, the battle began on Habi’s command, and though Yoo Haon and Baek Eunseo fought desperately, they ultimately couldn’t overcome their opponents.

Fizzle!

Crackle!

Crash!

“Haa, ha.”

“…Kehk. This is insane, these guys. Why are they so accustomed to fighting?”

Looking at the two exhausted individuals, Habi opened his mouth with an ‘I knew it’ expression.

“Your spirited appearance was good, but as expected, you’re still lacking sprouts.”

“…Don’t say it like that. Those who can do this much at that age are rare.”

“Yes. I agree with that. Then, how about it? If you form a soul contract and follow me, I’ll specially spare you two.”

However, even in such a situation, Yoo Haon didn’t lose his momentum.

And, for a moment, a faint smile formed on her lips.

“If you stay that relaxed, you’ll regret it.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“…Because he’s someone who can do anything, I was sure he would come.”

“How many times must I say it? No one can find this place…”

Right at that moment, something that shouldn’t have happened, happened.

Shoooom!

Kieeeeeek─!

The entrance to the ancient castle, which clearly shouldn’t have opened.

It appeared in the air in an instant, along with a giant ghostly mouth.

“How on earth…?”

And from there, a single man revealed himself.

“As expected, you were here.”

Maintaining a calm face unbecoming of the situation, he was none other than Han Kangyoon.

The prediction had hit the mark.

Moreover, thankfully, it seemed no full-fledged victims had appeared yet.

Thud.

Tap.

“So the answer was correct. Three enemies in total.”

“…None of them are easy. Everyone, don’t let your guard down.”

“Hmm, Jihak, protect the kids as promised. I’d better take care of the hooded guy over there.”

If it’s Sophia’s judgment, the hooded man is probably the strongest.

Using the Appraisal function quickly confirmed that her words were correct.

Ding!

【Habi Martinez】

▶Level 51

【Jose Alvarez】

▶Level 48

【Ivan Serkov】

▶Level 53

Their Levels are high overall, and none of the three are opponents to be taken lightly.

However, the same was true for our side.

“Since Sophia is here, it’s probably better to split up and fight. I’ll separate the enemies.”

Hwang Jihak, stepping forward, raised his Spiritual Power and struck the ground.

Kwaaang!

“Grapple Combat. Land Desolation Realm.”

Accordingly, a Barrier rose as if from the ground, instantly separating the directions of the enemies.

We didn’t miss that gap and each took our positions towards our assigned opponents.

Arietta marked Jose, Sophia marked Ivan, and I marked Habi.

With a perfect 1-on-1 structure formed, I opened my mouth towards Habi in front of me.

“We meet again.”

“…As expected, you’re someone who doesn’t know your place. How on earth did you know to come here?”

“The things guys like you do are obvious. You like to hide, don’t you?”

No further conversation was needed. It wasn’t an opponent who would listen anyway.

I formed a Hand Seal and summoned all the Shikigami within the shadows.

Swoosh.

Poof!

Whoosh!

At the continuously increasing numbers, even Habi’s face, which had remained composed, showed a slight disturbance.

“How can someone that age have this many Shikigami…?”

“It’s too early to be surprised.”

Having summoned Kongsami as well, I put the Mist Veil of Dark Noon, which I had in my embrace, on my finger and activated its effect.

The targets for ability enhancement are Kongsami and Black Yin, who have the highest firepower.

“…You’re using quite a mysterious method.”

With this, the preparations were complete. I used the Soul Combustion Trait as well, raised my Spiritual Power, and immediately constructed and deployed a Barrier Technique.

Whoosh.

“Illusory Dream,”

Swoosh.

Swoosh.

“Art Formula Enhancement, Five Elements Advance and Tilt.”

Crackle!

The combination of the Cheong Family’s unique Barrier Technique and special Chain Art Formula used when capturing the Ox-Head Specter.

And inside it, the two Phantom Wood Hungry Ghosts I released earlier are diligently spewing black mist.

Of course, since the opponent is a genuine powerhouse, it probably can’t deal significant damage, but at least while in this space, they’ll have to endure considerable pain.

‘In contrast, I’m not much affected.’

Perhaps because this ‘you die, I die’ style of combat was his first, Habi noticeably wavered and began to distance himself from me.

And that, in turn, became a bad move.

Whoosh.

“…Burn.”

Whoosh!

[Squeak!]

Screech!

Crackle!

Kongsami began spewing fierce flames, and Black Yin flew through the sky, scattering sharp black feathers at the opponent.

Habi defended against them while occasionally launching attacks, but the Counter-Type Shikigami Doodoori merely consumed its own life to reflect them back.

Crackle!

Kwaaaang!

“Such, despicable…!”

Finally, unable to bear it, Habi vented his frustration and pulled something out from within his embrace.

“…The antics end here.”

Swoosh.

Unwrapping the bandages, a small blade, sized to fit in one hand, came into view.

It was one of the highest-grade Cursed Tools stolen during the exhibition hall raid, the Scythe of Ideon that harvests souls.