Episode 175
Then the man told us more detailed stories.
Following the declaration of emergency, the hospital was the first to transport critically ill patients to a safe area according to the guidelines.
After that, in the process of moving the last remaining personnel, it seemed that they were dragged into the unknown garden for what triggered it.
‘Is that why there are so few patients?’
Rarely did I see people in hospital uniforms or nursing uniforms, but there weren’t many of them, and they seemed to have no problem moving around alone.
The man nodded and continued speaking again.
“There were a few exorcists who remained, despite the abnormal situation, so at first, of course, we wanted to eliminate the cause and escape from here. but… … .”
It was a simple story that, in the end, he was tied up like this because he could not stand against the monster that occupied the garden.
As we finished talking with the man, several people from behind came up to us and asked us questions.
“Sa, did you say you came from the shrine shelter? Then maybe… … .”
Upon checking, three of them were also family members of the shelter personnel we were looking for.
It was obvious that he had run into the situation while wandering around and escaped to the safest hospital.
‘Should this be considered good news or bad news?’
If the man’s words are true, the attack won’t come just by standing here without breaking into the garden area.
However, it cannot be a fundamental solution.
There is no food or drinking water here, and above all, ordinary citizens will not be able to withstand this rich yogi.
‘The symptoms are often mild, but there will not be much free time as there are patients.’
Having made my decision, I sighed and said to the man.
“No matter how much you think about it, it looks like you have no choice but to break through. How many exorcists are there?”
“It’s just the two of us, including me. But I also think… … .”
Surprisingly, it was not men, but ordinary people who reacted violently to my words to enter the garden.
“Oh no, I can’t. student! It’s because the student didn’t see that terrible thing.”
“I, too, saw it from my side, but it wasn’t something a human could do… … .”
“… I’m thinking the same thing. It doesn’t look good to stimulate it prematurely.”
The citizens were utterly terrified.
They would have welcomed the actions of the exorcists in the first place, but they took the lead to dissuade them, so it was evident that the exorcists before them were slaughtered without even being able to compete.
At the same time, a middle-aged exorcist with level 50 also joined in.
“… At the level of a single search party, it’s too much. I am proud of my skills as being one of the best in the second grade, but I couldn’t come up with an image of being able to deal with him.”
“But don’t you know? We’ll all die of starvation sooner than another high exorcist finds it.”
“That is also true. Damn it, I don’t know what to do.”
To the man who had completely given up on thinking, Lee Min-hye, who was behind me, said:
“… It might be surprisingly worth trying. As I saw earlier, this person, even a high-ranking youkai, was slain alone.”
“Yes? Is there an exorcist of that level?”
When Lee Min-hye pointed at me with her finger, the man frowned as he did not understand the English language.
And then, I asked a question with curiosity as to whether it seemed that I realized that I was acting like the representative of the group, even though I was young.
“Excuse me, but the water supply… … ?”
“It’s 3rd grade.”
“… … .”
The man glared at Lee Min-hye, thinking he was joking in such an emergency, but Lee Min-hye did not shrink and pushed forward.
“No, he’s the chief. top. It’s just because of the age, so it’s 3rd grade, but the skills are real. Everyone, tell me something.”
At that moment, other exorcists who were noticing began to back up Lee Min-hye’s words.
“It is not wrong. It was definitely great.”
“I’m also a second-class person, but I’ve never seen someone as talented as him.”
“At least the best of us, obviously.”
As if he had remembered something from their words, the man raised his finger and asked me with a stern expression.
“If you are a senior, maybe you… … . Is it Han Kang-yoon, a genius of shikigami?”
“I don’t know the modifier ‘genius’, but Kang-yoon Han is right.”
The man’s expression brightened noticeably. It was almost like a face that found a way out of a crisis.
“I haven’t seen this in person, so I don’t know. This is Kwak Yun-tae, a second-class exorcist from the Support Center in Seocho-gu. If there is any way, I will cooperate as much as possible.”
What a sudden change of attitude.
When questioned about him, Kwak Yun-tae answered as if it was a natural thing.
“I heard that you participated in the S-Rank subjugation of the Red Red Army. I had an acquaintance there, and I heard that he was actually one of the biggest contributors. If it’s the judgment of an experienced person, wouldn’t you believe it?”
At that moment, murmurs were heard from all directions.
Although they were citizens who were not well versed in the stories among the exorcists, they too knew the meaning of the title of the S-Rank Yokai.
“That, then. Can I get out of here?”
“I can’t give you a definitive answer, but we’ll find a way somehow.”
Although nothing had changed, the citizens were noticeably relieved and delighted.
That is why the power of public opinion was truly terrifying.
And as if he didn’t like the atmosphere, suddenly a sharp voice resounded in his ear.
“It’s noisy. It is really troublesome to set foot here again without getting tired of it.”
Eventually, from the border between the forest and the garden, a beautiful woman appeared.
She was the owner of this garden and the one who slaughtered the exorcists.
’emotion.’
Tiling!
【Hwajeonggwi】
▶Level 54
▶ Ability
【Health: C+】
【Yo power: S】
【Skill: A+】
【Spirit: B】
▶Characteristics (7/10)
【Jeongyo (S)】
[Song of Flowers (S-)]
【Vital Absorption (A)】
[Guardian (B+)]
【Runaway (B)】
[Spirit Power Amplification (B)]
【Poison (B-)】
‘… What the hell?’
When I first checked the level, I was puzzled. That’s because, unlike Kwak Yun-tae’s testimony, it was at the level of being considered an A-rank at best.
However, after checking the abilities and characteristics, I was able to realize that Kwak Yun-tae’s evaluation was rather accurate.
‘This is a monster in another sense.’
First of all, it can be said that it is a very powerful combination if you consider the S-Rank’s magical power value and the A+Rank’s stats.
But what was really surprising was the characteristic items.
Not only is the lowest-ranking trait B-Rank, but all of them are traits that are rumored to be highly efficient at the same grade.
In the original game, unless you were a player, it was almost impossible to paint advanced traits like this.
To be honest, if you make a monster that is not even the main boss in the game like this, there is no point in hearing the sound of balance collapse.
‘Especially S-Rank Jeongyo (精僥) was rumored to be completely fraudulent.’
As its name suggests, it actually has the effect of receiving an advantage from all actions according to the owner’s will.
In other words, it is an all-weather characteristic that increases attack power when attacking and increases defense when taking a defensive stance.
Looking at the people who were completely dazed and frightened, the woman continued talking as if it were bothersome.
“My mother’s name is Hwabaek. I am the owner of this garden. It must have been said that you should not set foot in the flower garden and wait for death like a dead mouse. If you are here to disturb my ears, there will be no final mercy.”
Exorcists were timid and showed no action at her, who showed off the momentum of complete defeat.
However, I was able to find out one more piece of information from that situation.
“It wouldn’t be.”
“what?”
“It doesn’t matter if you want to.”
At those words, everyone around me looked at me with bewildered eyes.
“… Seriously, since the citizens are attached, isn’t there anything good to provoke him?”
“it’s okay. He probably won’t be able to get his hands on it unless he invades the garden area.”
“Is that really true?”
In short, they said that, but in reality, they were bound by such restrictions and had no choice but to leave them unattended.
Perhaps my words were correct, the painter frowned and glared at me with those creepy eyes.
“There’s a rat with a pretty brain, you’re right. It’s really funny that youkai show mercy to humans.”
Since I realized what kind of monster she is, I have my own strategy.
However, I was now exploring other possibilities than that.
‘… I know that’s not the case, but I’m very fond of this.’
Hwabaek (花魄) is the perfect gemstone.
A required character that often exists in a few party nurturing games, in fact, has the same level of talent.
If he could serve, it was clear that he would show outstanding performance wherever he was, regardless of the circumstances.
‘Is there a way?’
It is not easy with normal means.
In the case of Gsondae, it was possible because of the characteristics of being sealed from the beginning and several conditions that would bring favorable contracts to this side, but in the beginning, it was extremely rare for a Yokai like this to succeed in ministry.
However, if my prediction is correct, the painter would be a banyo (半妖) belonging to a fairly special category. Furthermore, it is highly probable that he was originally human.
If you attacked that point, there might be some way to come up with it.
“You seem to have a story.”
“You’re making me laugh, it’s like saying such an ignorant thing just because I’ve seen your face once.”
“I would like to have a conversation with you.”
Everyone’s eyes moved dizzy as the situation was going in a direction I couldn’t understand, and the painter answered me in a very kind manner with a smile mixed with contempt.
“Then cross this line and step into the garden alone. If you can’t even do that, then you probably don’t have the right to talk to your real woman.”
It was a sound that was obvious to anyone looking at it, and the exorcists who noticed it naturally dissuaded me.
“You must not be deceived. Obviously there is a purpose.”
“… You are the only means left for us now, you don’t have to risk it.”
But, of course, I was aware of that. Rather, I was hoping that she would come out like this, and I said that.
So I made a gesture of reassurance and answered them.
“I will go in alone. Nothing will happen to you, so if you believe in me, you should never invade the garden and wait.”
So, I slowly moved forward, looking straight at her.