Chapter 91

Several days had passed since returning to the Academy.

Following Han Kangyoon’s advice, Cheong Joohwa was once again maintaining the summoning of the Azure Dragon in a private training room. As she recalled the events from just a few days prior, she posed a question to the Azure Dragon.

“Just what is his true identity?”

[I do not know. Are you, who was with him, asking me that?]

“…That’s true, I suppose.”

Han Kangyoon was an exceptionally outstanding person, whether viewed subjectively or objectively.

His conduct was upright, his appearance excellent.

Moreover, there was no fault to be found in his skills or his mindset.

Silencing Cheong Haram, who had been picking fights with him as a target, or facing head-on a crisis that even the Guard Unit would have struggled to handle.

In summary, he was precisely the model of an Exorcist that Cheong Joohwa had envisioned in her heart since childhood.

“He’s what people often call a hexagonal elite.”

[What is that?]

“It means he’s good at everything. I guess even a Divine Beast wouldn’t know about such things.”

However, recalling recent events, it seemed those qualities alone weren’t the entirety of Han Kangyoon.

‘I did think there was something about him from the moment he had an Elder of a family backing him, but to think he’d also be connected to that person from the past, an ancestor…’

Frankly, by this point, it had entered a realm incomprehensible within Cheong Joohwa’s common sense.

It was clear he had various secrets, but ultimately, there was nowhere her guesses could reach.

[Well, it’s certain he’s no ordinary human. That youngster’s eyes felt as if they were gazing not at the present, but at matters beyond it.]

“What does that mean?”

[It means the thoughts contained within are vast.]

After exchanging a few more words with the Azure Dragon, Cheong Joohwa sensed she had reached her limit. Wiping the sweat beading on her forehead, she sent the Azure Dragon back into the Cheongsimok.

Whoosh.

Slither.

“Come to think of it, this is also one of the family’s Three Great Divine Tools, right…”

[To be unable to safeguard even an object symbolic of themselves is truly a comedy in itself.]

The Azure Dragon only blamed the family’s people, but Cheong Joohwa, having grown up hearing various things from the same place of origin, could be certain.

It wasn’t the people of the Cheong Family who were strange, but rather Han Kangyoon, who had taken possession of it all.

“Well, I’ll probably find out someday.”

[You seem to trust him quite a bit.]

“For now, he’s a teammate I’ve agreed to walk through life with.”

Cheong Joohwa slumped onto the floor, pulled something out of the bag she had brought, and immediately began channeling Spiritual Power to draw a Talisman.

Swoosh.

Swish.

Swooosh.

Watching the scene from within the Cheongsimok, the Azure Dragon muttered with an intrigued expression.

[Impressive skill. Have you been drawing Talismans yourself since before?]

“Yes. I started when I was four, so about thirteen years?”

[That fellow was also skilled at drawing Talismans and Ritual Arrays. Indeed, the resemblance cannot be denied.]

“That ancestor you mentioned?”

As if reminiscing, the Azure Dragon fell silent for a moment before eventually extending a proposal to Cheong Joohwa.

[Are you perhaps interested?]

“In what?”

[Cheongwoon’s Talisman techniques.]

It was an unexpected proposal. Seeing Cheong Joohwa’s dumbfounded expression, the Azure Dragon continued.

[Over the ages, while passing through various Contractors, I’ve hinted at it a few times, but ultimately, none could use it properly.]

“……”

[However, you, who have inherited Cheongwoon’s blood thickly, might be able to.]

There was no reason to refuse.

A Talisman technique created by a Sorcerer from ancient times when all sorts of monsters ran rampant—its value was nearly impossible to imagine.

‘Besides, with this…’

It could also be of help to Han Kangyoon, who frequently accepted her Talismans.

Although she hadn’t expressed it openly, Cheong Joohwa felt immensely grateful that he had, in a different form, restored the role of the Azure Dragon’s keeper, a role originally meant for her father.

Naturally, she had no intention of refusing an opportunity to repay that.

“Yes. Please teach me.”

[Good. Then, call me out whenever you have a chance, like now. It’s difficult to convey through words alone.]

And so, Cheong Joohwa grasped another possibility for the future.

‘…They’ve gotten incredibly close, more than I thought.’

The joint training room of the 4th Training Ground, which I had stopped by to check on the situation.

There, watching the Azure Dragon and Cheong Joohwa, who had recently grown noticeably closer, I cast a gaze filled with surprise.

‘I distinctly heard the Azure Dragon was an extremely picky Divine Beast.’

That was the case in the setting, and Cheong Jong, whom I had met before, had certainly said so too.

Perhaps it had held more favor for her father, Cheong Sawoon, than expected, or it seemed Cheong Joohwa and it were remarkably compatible.

“…Why are you staring like that?”

“No reason, just curious. Up until last time, your relationship seemed quite stiff.”

[What nonsense. It’s merely that finding a satisfactory one was difficult until now.]

Now they were even exchanging trivial banter, to the point it almost felt like watching a daughter and her father.

‘Anyway, Cheong Doyool, who had the Azure Dragon taken from him, must be extremely flustered by now.’

Cheong Doyool, who needed the support of the family’s Divine Beast, the Azure Dragon, to counter Cheong Soha with the Azure-White Sword.

Yet now, with the Azure Dragon actually gone, the person who would face the most turbulence from that fact was also Cheong Doyool.

Sneaking a glance at the atmosphere on the Cheong Family side, it seemed that within the family, an uneasy mood regarding Cheong Doyool’s qualifications and the Azure Dragon’s absence had begun to take root.

‘There are only two things Cheong Doyool can do here.’

Somehow find the Azure Dragon and seek its cooperation again, or shift the blame onto someone.

And likely, as I predicted, Cheong Doyool would undoubtedly try to place Cheong Joohwa back on the family’s tribunal as the root of all evil.

‘In the first place, even in the original story where he forcibly obtained the Azure Dragon’s contract, when the situation worsened, he ultimately targeted Cheong Joohwa.’

Cheong Sawoon, who violated the family’s Forbidden Technique, and Cheong Joohwa, his sole surviving daughter who lost her parents.

There could be no better existence to hold responsible for the Azure Dragon’s disappearance.

‘If he claims something like, “The Forbidden Technique was violated, causing impurity to arise, and that became the reason the Azure Dragon, disappointed with the family, hid itself,” then Cheong Doyool’s supporters would surely agree.’

But what would happen if, in that situation where Cheong Joohwa is placed on trial, it’s revealed that the Azure Dragon, which had disappeared, chose Cheong Joohwa?

Cheong Doyool’s faction would instantly lose their justification, and thereafter, they wouldn’t be able to touch Cheong Joohwa under any pretext.

First and foremost, that point would be the turning point to protect Cheong Joohwa within the impending division of the Cheong Family.

‘If that’s possible, she might even escape the crisis more easily than in the original episode.’

Anyway, the current Cheong Joohwa has walked a path completely different from the original story, so she can’t expect rescue from the protagonist, Yoo Haon, as in the original.

Therefore, my thought was to move preemptively and block the onset of that crisis beforehand.

‘Of course, there’s no guarantee it will go as well as expected…’

This is the best I could come up with. All other factors seemed like they’d have to be handled improvisationally.

Seeing me lost in thought as usual, Cheong Joohwa, who had approached my side at some point, muttered.

“You’re doing it again. You seem to have more on your mind lately.”

“It’s just a few things that are bothering me.”

“Take it easy. They say if you think too much, you’ll go bald.”

Pretending not to be, but sensing a somewhat worried air from her, I let out a soft chuckle.

[Don’t laugh, take it to heart. No matter how perfect a human may be, if their mind lacks composure, mistakes can arise at any time.]

“…Yes. Thank you for your concern.”

Let me say it again, these two had really gotten unnecessarily close.

I had pondered it in many ways, but Cheong Doyool’s actual move would likely come much later.

Thus, I returned to my daily routine and began focusing on my studies.

“Tsk. I still can’t get used to it, me being under Shin Sora.”

During a brief break between classes, Jeong Hansol and I went outside. Each holding a drink, we sat on a bench and began idle chatter.

“If you do well next time, you’ll move back up.”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

Whoosh.

Thunk.

Jeong Hansol lightly tossed the empty can, scoring it into the trash bin. Stretching, she suddenly seemed to remember something and spoke to me.

“Speaking of which, are you close with Seo Jian?”

“Seo Jian? We’re not exactly strangers. Why do you ask?”

“No reason, just, you seem to be together often.”

Certainly, since being promoted to A-Rank together, we naturally encountered each other much more than before.

We also had various pieces of information to share, so it was understandable if it looked that way to others.

“Wow, thinking about it, you act like you don’t know anyone, but you know everyone. Seo Jian seemed like such a high-society young lady that it was hard to even talk to her.”

“That’s just her outward appearance. If you actually talk to her, she’s surprisingly kind.”

“…Was she like that?”

Coincidentally, Seo Jian happened to be nearby, so I gave a light wave.

“…What are you doing here?”

“Just taking a short break. I got what you sent yesterday, thanks.”

“If you need anything else, just say so anytime. And, Jiha has been visiting often lately, so stop by sometime when you’re free.”

“Oh right, I forgot. I’ll drop by soon.”

Seeing off Seo Jian as she returned to her path, I opened my mouth to Jeong Hansol.

“See?”

“No, something’s weird. Is that really the Seo Jian I know?”

“……”

Could it be that Seo Jian is unexpectedly cold to others? Jeong Hansol’s reaction was so intense that for a moment, I suspected as much.

“…How strange. She wasn’t like that.”

“Enough of the weird talk, let’s get going.”

I got up first and headed towards the classroom for the next class.

On the way, someone rushing hurriedly bumped into my arm, causing something to fall.

Thud!

“Ah.”

Picking up the object that fell to the floor, it was a rather uniquely designed wristwatch.

I lightly brushed off the dust and returned it to its original owner.

“Here, you dropped this.”

“Ah, thank you. By any chance… are you Senior Han Kangyoon?”

Blond curly hair and blue eyes.

It was Yohan, the first-year A-Rank exchange student from abroad who had also been in the same team with me during the Yeongwoldo incident.

“Long time no see.”

“I learned a lot from watching that battle. I would like to have a match sometime if the opportunity arises.”

“You mean a spar? If needed, you can call me anytime.”

Since Yohan was also a supporting character who often hung around with Yoo Haon’s group, giving him advice wouldn’t be bad.

And honestly, he was also a character I found quite personally interesting.

Finishing that brief conversation, I followed the urging Jeong Hansol and resumed walking.

Because of that, I failed to notice in time.

The face of Yohan, who had received the item from me, was flooding with panic, as if he had seen something he shouldn’t have.