Episode 243
It was first discovered by a group of four exorcists who were searching the area as usual.
“Captain, what the hell… … What is it?”
Obviously, something huge was blocking the Hangang Bridge, where only a few abandoned cars remained until yesterday.
It was like a cocoon of some kind, or it was like a film.
What was certain was that the anomaly was never a good omen for the exorcists.
“Damn it, what is this again?”
The exorcist Jeong Gil-ho, who was in charge of the team, was a veteran with a wealth of experience in his own way.
So I knew Now that this is, by no means, a normal situation.
‘There’s no way a low-ranking monster like that can do such a thing.’
Jeong Gil-ho looked at the huge cocoon from the front with worried eyes.
And, for an instant, he made eye contact with something inside of it.
“Huh! Heh heh heh!”
“manager!”
“What’s going on!”
Jung Gil-ho saw it.
And in that brief moment, I completely understood one fact.
The fact that it was a different entity from any other monster he had encountered so far.
“Do, run, run away… … .”
“manager!”
“That is a monster! A monster!”
In the end, the crew had no choice but to leave the place with Jeong Gil-ho, who was completely in a panic.
“Come on then. Let’s wrap it up.”
That evening, a meeting of exorcists was held at a hall in Yongsan-gu, Seoul.
And at the same time, the exorcists who were active in other areas also gathered in a similar way and held their own meetings.
Its content was simple.
It is necessary to reverse the current situation in which materials and manpower are constantly being consumed.
“For that reason, from now on, we will divide the whole country into eight districts and build a large-scale barrier.”
Truly unprecedented.
However, it was a secret strategy that could certainly turn the situation around if it succeeded.
“But, after all, isn’t that meaningless against high-ranking youkai?”
“you’re right. A-rank is the limit for you-kai that the barrier can block by itself, and anything beyond that cannot be stopped.”
However, at the present time, it was not the high-ranking monsters that actually threatened the safety of the citizens, but the youkai below them.
So, just by installing a barrier, exorcists can protect citizens much more easily.
“If we focus on defending the outskirts of the barrier, leaving only a few people inside, we will surely be able to survive day by day much more stably than we are now.”
Those words were certainly true, so the exorcists who had heard the plan nodded their heads involuntarily.
“In order to develop a barrier, it is necessary to occupy a total of 27 districts and perform a large-scale ceremony at an unexpected time.”
“I mean, that’s what we’re supposed to do.”
“Yes. But a few hours ago I got some bad news.”
The fact that something unidentified appeared on the Hangang Bridge, the area that those gathered in the hall now had to take charge of.
“The first discoverers were second-class exorcist Yu Gil-ho, his teammates, and the leader, Gil-ho Yu, who were scouting the surroundings, in a state of complete panic.
“Heh, Gil-ho, that kid also lacks courage.”
“Still, if he’s a fairly skilled exorcist that’s reacted like that, then you need to be careful.”
At the same time, I received a call from a reconnaissance team heading to the Hangang Bridge to get more accurate information.
They are led by Baek Ji-bong, the sixth elder of one of the three great families.
As a person with a special title, he will be able to reveal the identity of something with certainty.
“Elder, how is the situation?”
[Call together all nearby power now.]
“Yes?”
At the unexpected message that came out of Baekjibong, the exorcists in the hall focused their eyes on each other in awe.
“Are you saying we need to mobilize all available power?”
[There is no time. Gil-ho was right. This… … It is something that should not be awakened!]
The urgency is clearly felt even though it is being heard through a communicator.
Baek Ji-bong is an elite exorcist. Never misunderstood the opponent’s power.
As a result, the exorcists immediately recognized the seriousness of the situation and started contacting the group to which they belonged.
“Hwangsu, how many people are available there?”
“Captain, this is an emergency. I think we need to send all of the combat team to this place, except for the minimum number of people.”
In such a way, the spirit of war that cannot be concealed began to flow in Seoul.
***
When I went to Seoul after listening to Seo Ji-an, a large-scale subjugation team was already forming there to retake the Hangang Bridge.
‘It must be for the operation of the confrontation system.’
The development of the original, as I knew it, finally began to appear one by one.
But I couldn’t be happier with him.
After all, it was because the predictions in the wrong direction were exactly right.
‘Given this much time to grow, of course, the difficulty must have increased.’
Now I can’t even predict what’s going to pop out and put us in jeopardy.
Also, although in a slightly different direction from me, the exorcists also expressed considerable anxiety.
“I heard that the one on the bridge might be an S rank? Damn, you’re not going to die of bad luck, are you?”
“How atrocious he must be to say that Baek Ji-bong saw it in person and declared an emergency.”
“her… … . To be honest, I don’t want to deal with it.”
The exorcists shook their heads and vented their concerns, but even that seemed like a luxury to me.
‘… It would be better if it was at the S rank level I’ve seen so far.’
I was convinced that I would send a black swan to look directly over the Hangang Bridge. He is definitely one of the main characters of the 3rd Baekgwi Nights that I knew.
A true demon belonging to the most dangerous class of predators among the numerous youkai that were trapped in the oracle chest.
Great monster nasal cavity.
That was the name of the guy sleeping in that mysterious cocoon.
“Come. I was waiting.”
It was Seo Ji-an, who was working in the vicinity at my request, who greeted me and Arietta when they arrived in Seoul.
She guided us to the person in charge of the subjugation squad, and began to briefly explain the current situation.
“As soon as reinforcements from the three great families arrive, the battle will begin. It’s at a disadvantage at night, so the operation will probably start tomorrow morning. Most likely we will be in the support team.”
Thanks to Baek Ji-bong, the elder of the Baek family, who directly informed of the danger, quite talented people are now gathering here.
They’ll be in charge of the main raid, so it wasn’t unusual for us, who still have a Tier 3 designation, to take charge of that support.
‘And, perhaps, among those in charge of the lead raid… … .’
There was a high possibility that the main character, Ha-on Yoo, was also involved.
In the original work, it was recommended by a group of exorcists who were quite famous for their activities and was organized into a raid.
In addition, the perm characteristic of Yoo Ha-on in the original work against the nasal cavity showed its power.
‘But now it doesn’t even exist.’
This was the part I was most worried about right now.
It deals with the nasal cavity without Yuhaon’s perm characteristics. To be honest, it’s hard to even imagine it from my point of view, having witnessed the incredible strength in person.
I’m sorry, but most of the exorcists will probably lose their minds in front of the energy he exudes without ever trying to use his strength.
In the original story, Yoo Ha-on encouraged the exorcists by fighting against him with the power of the perm, but that was not expected any more.
‘Of course, that doesn’t mean I can’t keep my hands on it.’
I don’t know if it will work or not, but I have prepared a countermeasure for that.
And before we got our name on the list and headed to the waiting room, the trump card appeared.
“… long time no see.”
Laura, Princess of Spain.
Her King’s Path trait may be the key to change the game.
***
As time passed, a large-scale support force finally arrived from the three great families.
In Cheongga, the 5 elders Cheong Gil-young and his clan.
In the Baek Family, the 6 elders Baek Ji-bong and the 7 elders Baek Sang-hwa.
In the royal family, the 11 elder Chul-ho Hwang and the elite troops to assist him.
Not just support with patterns, but at the sight of the pillars of each family in person, the exorcists who belonged to the subjugation team expressed their surprise.
“Four elders? Isn’t this something we have nothing to do with?”
“Honestly, it’s amazing. It is unprecedented for the powers of the three great families to come together like this.”
“It’s going to end fresher than I thought.”
The reaction of the exorcists was positive.
Well, since four elders of that great family have gathered, it must be as if they have gained thousands and thousands of horses from the standpoint of worrying about their own lives.
Unfortunately, this was simply not something to think about.
‘Baekjibong must have felt the danger of the nasal cavity sleeping in the cocoon.’
That’s why he left his face behind and drew so much power from the top three famous families.
In fact, with the exception of Hwang Cheol-ho, the 11th elder of the Hwang family, their expressions were not very bright either.
‘But I’m lucky.’
If there had been a twist in their love affair and they had not been there, frankly, it would have been impossible to attack the nasal cavity.
At least four elders are here, so it can be said that there is hope.
“Everyone, prepare yourself, we will depart for our destination in 10 minutes.”
Choi Myung-seok, an exorcist, who was the squad leader of my support group, spoke out in a serious voice.
There are a total of 8 people under the 4th squad leader Choi Myung-seok, including our group.
And the support team consists of 8 squads.
Even this excludes those in charge of the main raid or other missions.
“I will depart. Just do what everyone knows.”
So we followed the main university and finally headed to the Hangang Bridge, where the nasal passages are sleeping.
And the moment I faced an unidentified cocoon in front of it, people with extraordinary senses, including myself, could feel it.
What was in front of them was the fact that they could be called a true disaster.
“Heh heh! Uh, how is this?”
“What is this energy… … !”
“Hey, damn it. This is crazy! I have to get out of here.”
Among those who witnessed its true power, there were even those who hurriedly left the formation, throwing even their face on the road.
The moment most of the exorcists were bewildered by such a reaction, the one who realized the presence of many human beings finally began to respond.
Wow!
Awkward!
A cocoon that cracks and disappears as if it is melting, and the inner space that begins to emerge little by little.
And the moment I sensed the energy that began to flow from there, everyone in the room could understand why my colleagues had such a reaction.
“… A monster, a monster.”
Youkai are enemies of exorcists, and exorcists are also enemies of youkai.
However, the relationship at this point is different.
In front of him, we were just prey of the food chain.
It was a moment when the common sense and beliefs that exorcists had taken for granted throughout their lives were torn apart in an instant.