Episode 178
When I opened my eyes, a young man who did not look very old was staring at me with gleaming eyes.
‘Level 48… … 2nd grade?’
I was already short on supplies and space, so I’m not the only one using this small dorm.
In other words, he was a colleague who would stay with me during this subjugation.
“Is something wrong?”
“Work? of course it is Why does a bloodless bastard like you come here? If you don’t want to die, get off right now.”
Perhaps, seeing my age, he didn’t have the ability to participate in the subjugation squad, but guessed it.
‘… Again.’
As expected, this happens quite often. In the original story, Haon Yoo and his party were also ignored in a similar situation.
“Damn it, I’m sure we’ll be moving in the same group in real life, but can you leave your back to a kid like you? When you say something nice, go out on your own.”
The man waved his hand with an annoyed expression on his face.
However, looking slowly, there was no real hostility in it. Convinced up to that point, I was able to grasp the man’s intentions as well.
‘You’re surprisingly naive.’
In other words, the man said that he didn’t like me, he was worried and wanted me to get out of this battle.
Well, even Nara would shake her head at once if a middle school kid came up to him and tried to fight with him. Maybe that’s how I was viewed by men?
I smiled and ignored the man’s words, closed my eyes again and started meditating.
I could feel the man staring at me as a reaction to what these guys are all about, but I didn’t have to react.
Anyway, after a while, the way they look at me will have a different meaning.
After meditating for a while, when I opened my eyes, I saw a man sitting in a chair with a blunt expression on his face.
“… Yeah, he’s a good guy. I admit that.”
However.
“Given his age, he must be in third grade. To be honest, there is nothing you can do about this battle.”
In addition, the man continued to speak, turning his hostility toward someone other than me, as if he did not like the present reality.
“Do you know why the headquarters accepted third-class people like you and what their role was?”
“… … .”
“It’s a shield. shield. It’s about getting hit once and dying for too long. Do you really think it makes any sense?”
The man’s words were quite accurate.
In fact, he didn’t say it out loud, but that’s what the upper echelons were expecting from us in this battle.
“… Have you ever participated in a battle like this?”
“It wasn’t an S rank, but I’ve seen it up to the level just below it. Level 3 can’t do anything in front of it.”
If it’s one level below A+, it’s definitely a yokai that is hard to handle with human power.
Somehow, knowing the details, the man also seemed to be a fighter who had crossed the dead end in his own way.
However, there was a fact that even such a man did not know.
“It won’t be just that.”
“What?”
“To survive, you’ll have to let go of all the common sense you’ve had.”
At the words that seemed to have experienced such a situation, the man put on an expression that he did not understand.
And at that moment, an urgent broadcast resounded throughout the building.
[Exorcists who participated in the subjugation team, please complete all preparations immediately and gather at the entrance. We will guide you again. The exorcists who participated in the subjugation team… … .]
Hearing this, the man kicked his tongue and rummaged through his luggage and started preparing.
‘Did he move?’
Finally, the moment of decisive battle was approaching.
***
In fact, ahead of the participation of this subjugation group, I made a quick contact with one person. It was none other than Seo Ji-an.
‘In terms of s*xuality, he is the best talent.’
Yusakbi is a monster that deals with fire and land, and Seo Ji-an, who has the characteristics of a water god, is technically close to its natural enemy.
In fact, since I first met Seo Ji-an and helped her grow, I’ve been drawing the current situation.
‘By the way… … .’
In fact, right now, I couldn’t get in touch with Seo Ji-an. So, I had to put up with the regret and put my name on the subjugation squad alone.
That’s why I couldn’t help but laugh even more.
“… long time no see. I didn’t expect to see you in a place like this.”
“It’s the same with me. What happened?”
It turns out that Seo Ji-an was the first to detect the appearance of Yusakbi and was already part of the pursuit team that followed him.
As a result, it naturally came to the present situation.
‘You wouldn’t even have qualified, is that right?’
In my case, I tried to actively utilize the personal connections I had to have Seo Ji-an participate as my assistant, but there would have been no way for her to officially carry out subjugation activities like this.
As if realizing my curiosity, Seo Ji-an slowly turned her head and opened her mouth as if she had forgotten.
“… Then you didn’t tell me?”
“What?”
“I deserve it too. Because I took the test last time.”
No joke, I didn’t know that at all. Last time it must have been the same quarter exam as me, but I’ve never heard of a word like that.
Seo Ji-an dyed her ears red as if embarrassed.
“I chose another place for the exam. It’s not good to know too many faces.”
Indeed, it was said that he took the exam without being noticed on purpose.
At that time, the four of us were already gathering and breathing together, so maybe we didn’t want to pour cold water for nothing.
I felt like I was being bullied unintentionally, and I felt a little sorry.
Seo Ji-an quickly turned around and asked a question to me.
“… Anyway, where do you belong?”
“Group B-2.”
“It’s ours. It probably won’t be too far when you’re in formation.”
That’s good news. In any case, if this happens, I can include Seo Ji-an in my calculations again.
With her presence alone, the things she can do will change 180 degrees.
With such thoughts in mind, Seo Ji-an immediately gave me one last request.
“Be careful.”
“It should be.”
“… If I had not been able to wield the natural magic of water, I would not have dared to venture into this battle in the first place.”
Come to think of it, Seo Ji-an said that he had been following him from the beginning. As such, there must have been an opportunity to witness its power.
What was contained in Seo Ji-an’s eyes was a slight sense of victory and slight fear.
And as time passed, one exorcist who was in charge of this subjugation and who had the authority to command appeared in front of everyone.
“… This is my first official greeting. Everyone is welcome.”
He is the 9th elder of the Hwang family, Hwang Se-woong.
He was the biological father of Hwang Se-jin, who had a conflict with me in the past, and had the title of a special exorcist.
***
Hwang Se-woong’s greeting didn’t last too long.
At first glance, the current situation is not serious. For that reason, the exorcists gathered at the meeting decided to go to the field and start subjugation rather than having a discussion on the table.
“It’s a long way to the top where he is, so let’s move on.”
Even though it is still just the beginning of the mountain, the temperature of the atmosphere has risen to the limit and the land is shaking continuously.
The exorcists climbed the mountain in a cold sweat at the incomprehensible phenomenon.
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Meanwhile, next to me, Eun-chan Lee, a man who was staying in the same dormitory as before, spoke to me wittyly.“Hey, do you know him earlier?”
“Do you know Seo Ji-an?”
“Of course, you’re the youngest girl in that Daejin. I heard you speak at a startup fair.”
Perhaps he has always been quite interested in that field, Eun-chan showed a warm reaction with a completely different attitude from before.
However, I was beginning to feel the emotion inside it very clearly.
“Are you nervous?”
“Who, who?”
“If not, that’s it.”
Either way, he’s not a bad person. Since he was genuinely worried about the life of the person he met for the first time, it can be seen that he was pure inside.
So, I didn’t want to see him die.
“… Get ready, I’m coming.”
A very violent wave of energy. At the same time, the ground began to shake so much that it could not even be compared with before.
coo coo.
Quang!
Aww-!
The scene that finally unfolded was to the point that I didn’t want to believe it even after seeing it with my own two eyes.
“Oh my God.”
“Hey, hey guys. Sa, the mountain… … .”
Flames soared across the mountain range, black smoke and unknown ashes scatter.
The ground was dented here and there as if it had been beaten by a giant, and something with unimaginable heat began to flow through the path.
“Hey, was it really that a volcano erupted?”
It was unspeakable. Mudeungsan here is an extinct volcano, and the last time it was active was also a long time ago.
However, looking at the scene unfolding before my eyes, anyone had no choice but to spit those words out.
‘I saw it as an image… … , this is huge.’
It was an idea I had cherished countless times until now, but as of now, it has a different meaning.
Well, what has come upon us now is the wrath of Mother Nature.
‘… You must not be deceived.’
This is an artificially created phenomenon, literally just an imitation.
There is no normal volcanic activity happening right now, and nothing more is coming.
However, that was enough. In fact, the footsteps of the subjugation squad had stopped before, unable to move even a single step.
He was completely overwhelmed by the sublime wrath of nature.
There.
“Ugh, uh, the heat… … !”
“Huh. Ugh.”
“… I am out of breath.”
Although it was only an imitation, it was all real.
In the heat that burned to the point that the atmosphere was distorted, the exorcists each exhaled and raised their spiritual powers.
A situation in which stamina and spiritual energy are consumed just by standing.
For the subjugation team, this mountain was like the worst enemy camp ever.
“Huh. inhale. Are you going to keep going like this?”
Someone asked Hwang Se-woong in a terrified voice.
However, despite their attitude, Hwang Se-woong did not waver.
“Of course.”
Although the opponent was a monster with unparalleled power, it was the same with this one.
Hwang Se-woong took a deep breath and finally gave clear instructions to the subjugation team.
“As planned, we are moving in three directions. Follow the group you belong to and climb the mountain on the designated route.”
At Hwang Se-woong’s firm will, the exorcists shook off their fear and shouted loudly.
“Yes!”
So the subjugation team was dispersed in three directions, and I followed the group I belonged to and climbed the mountain with everyone.
“Wow, the express is different. You are not shaken at all by this sight… … .”
“Isn’t it because you have enough skills? We just have to be faithful to what we do.”
Those words were the same. Although he has a bad relationship with his son, regardless of that, Hwang Se-woong is a great exorcist.
However, as much as they trusted him, the news that followed soon made the group fall into great despair.
[Sat, the subjugation commander is seriously injured! I’ve been attacked by an enemy and I’m seriously wounded! I will go down the mountain immediately and heal you!]
It was the moment when everyone’s footsteps became hard once again.