Chapter 2529 – 2529. Savior Of The Academy

As December approached, the academy grew busier. The final exams were drawing near. Moreover, the third-year students would graduate at the end of December without a winter break. It was a busy time for everyone, students, teachers, and staff alike.

Of course, I was an exception.

‘I’m already beyond the strongest in my grade; I’m the strongest student in the entire academy.’

No student could match me in practical exams. As for written exams, I could just cheat. It didn’t matter if the final exams started right now.

‘What I need to prepare for isn’t the final exams, but Christmas Eve.’

December 24th. That was the day the pure white hell event would unfold.

I looked out the window at the snow still falling from the sky, then tore a space-movement scroll.

The place I moved to was the Jinryeong Family Estate.

A prestigious family in South Korea that had consistently produced outstanding spirit users. It was the main family home for both Sung Hari and me.

I had learned spirit arts at the Jinryeong Family Estate when I was young. For reference, in this world, spirit arts weren’t about manipulating spirits, but rather techniques that utilized the power of spirits.

Perhaps due to a lack of talent, the only thing I managed to learn was the Jinryeong Family’s secret technique, Spirit Possession.

‘I don’t really need spirit arts. Spirit arts are just techniques to handle the power of spirits more efficiently and conveniently.’

Even if it’s called spirit arts, what’s most important is the power, the essence of the spirit.

I stepped into the Jinryeong Family’s territory. As soon as I entered the barrier protecting the estate, I sensed the presence of countless spirits. Most of them were low-level spirits.

The spirits flocked to me as soon as they sensed my presence. Thanks to my Spirit Eye (S+), I had a high affinity with spirits. The spirits felt friendly towards me.

-It’s Yujin! Yujin’s here!
-Long time no see! Long time!
-Spirit Orbs? Spirit Orbs? Spirit Orbs?

Only a few of the low-level spirits that swarmed me could speak human language. They were the spirits close to ascending to mid-level. For these guys, just one Spirit Orb would be enough to evolve.

I took out a Spirit Orb from my inventory and held it in my hand.

Some impatient spirits rushed towards the Spirit Orb. But they were blocked by other spirits.

-Are you crazy?
-Why are you only thinking of yourself?
-Do you want to die?

As low-level spirits, their desire for power was stronger.

“Remember, only the strong get everything.”

I threw the Spirit Orb far away, where there were no spirits. The spirits were startled and flew or ran towards the Spirit Orb.

-Get out of the way!
-The Spirit Orb is mine! Touch it and you’re dead!

Thanks to that, I was able to enter the family estate comfortably without any low-level spirits rushing at me.

“You have arrived, Young Master.”

“The Family Head will be pleased.”

“Young Master, the Family Head is currently away. He will return before dinner.”

I walked, greeting the staff who worked and learned spirit arts at the estate.

“You rascal. How long has it been since you last came back?!”

The one who scolded me was a small, elderly man with a Taoist appearance, wearing a hanbok. Sung Myung-saeng. The former head of the Jinryeong Family. He was my great-grandfather. He was also the master who taught me Spirit Possession.

“I’ve been a bit busy. You’re still going strong, Grandpa.”

“Look at this rascal. Coming back after so long and not even looking sorry. What have you been doing outside?”

“You know I enrolled in the academy.”

“You contracted with a top-tier spirit at the academy? Not just one, but three?”

I looked at Sung Myung-saeng with a surprised expression.

“How did you know?”

Even with my Spirit Eye, I can’t tell which spirit someone has contracted with.

“Heh heh. Spirit arts.”

“Oh, there was such a spirit art?”

“You rascal! Of course not! You, the successor of the Jinryeong Family, don’t even know that!”

Sung Myung-saeng suddenly flared up and tried to flick my forehead. He even used mana, making it quite fast. But I wasn’t someone who would be caught off guard by such an attack. I stepped aside using footwork.

“…You take after your mother, you’re incredibly good with your body. But you have no manners. When a family elder is disciplining you, it’s your duty to accept it humbly, you rascal.”

“Ehh. I’m going to tell Mom that Great-Grandpa almost hit me.”

Sung Myung-saeng’s face turned pale in an instant.

“Don’t do that. I was wrong….”

The strongest in the Jinryeong Family was Sung Hari. Sung Hari, who never lost against spirits, also had a terrible temper.

“So, how did you really know?”

“Chulwoo told me.”

Chulwoo was the top-tier earth spirit contracted with Sung Myung-saeng. Of course, I had never met Chulwoo directly. But I knew that Chulwoo was a spirit who had settled in the spirit realm and traveled to Earth. In the first place, top-tier spirits could travel to the spirit realm.

“…It seems the rumor spread in the spirit realm.”

“It’s unprecedented for a human to contract with three top-tier spirits. It would be stranger if the rumor didn’t spread.”

“…I guess so.”

“You wouldn’t have come to the main family for no reason…. What do you want? Do you need some pocket money?”

“There are several reasons, but if I had to pick the most urgent and important one, it’s that I want to meet the Spirit King.”

“Is it because of Hari?”

“Yes.”

I didn’t hide my true intentions.

Currently, Sung Hari’s abilities were reduced due to the Spirit King’s curse (SS). If the Spirit King’s curse was lifted, Sung Hari’s power would become immense. She might even be able to fight a legion commander.

There was also the method of raising the affinity level to share the Complete Recovery or Heavenly Heart skills with Sung Hari. But that was only temporary. It would only temporarily lift the Spirit King’s curse (SS).

More than anything, it was hard to predict how the Spirit King would react. It would be fortunate if he ignored it, but he might place a stronger curse out of spite, or even try to kill Sung Hari directly.

In the end, there was only one complete solution. To negotiate directly with the Spirit King. You might think that Sung Hari should do it herself, but….

‘To meet the Spirit King, you have to enter the spirit realm. But the moment Sung Hari enters, she’ll be attacked and killed by the spirits. Even if it’s not the Spirit King, other top-tier spirits wouldn’t leave her alone.’

In the spirit realm, which was the spirits’ home ground, even Sung Hari couldn’t guarantee victory.

Moreover, the Spirit King… was an outer god who was only called the Spirit King. Humans without special powers would go insane just by looking at the Spirit King. Perhaps even Sung Hari wouldn’t be an exception.

So, I had no choice but to negotiate in Sung Hari’s place.

“That’s insane. Does Hari know what you’re trying to do?”

“She doesn’t. If she knew what I was planning, Mom would try to stop me even if she had to beat me.”

“Do you know how you look to me right now? You look like someone trying to end their life by jumping into the Han River.”

A suicidal act.

I thought so too. Even with Complete Recovery, it would be over if I died again. A space-movement scroll? There was a high chance it wouldn’t work. That’s why I had been putting it off as much as possible.

But through future information, I confirmed that the demon legions would invade Earth on a large scale. It might even happen in just a few months. There was no time to be picky about methods.

Sung Hari, who was called the strongest in the world during her prime. If she could unleash her power from her prime, it would be a great help. It would be a huge disaster for the demons.

“I know it’s insane. But I have to do it.”

“Why? What’s pushing you so hard?”

“If I don’t, the Earth will be destroyed. I need Mom’s power.”

“Hah. That’s absurd. Do you have any proof that the Earth will be destroyed?”

“No. You wouldn’t believe me even if I explained. Just please help me.”

He looked at me intently, then let out a deep sigh.

“Haa…. Alright. I’ll help you. But know this. It’s not because I believe you. Even if I refused, you would try to go to the spirit realm by other means. In that case, it’s better for me, for the family, to help you. That way, there’s a higher chance of you returning alive.”

“As expected of Great-Grandpa. You know me well.”

There was actually an alternative.

The Gumok Church. Those guys who worshiped outer gods also had some knowledge about the outer world. Borrowing the power of the Gumok Church to enter the spirit realm was the second alternative.

“You wretched rascal…. Both Hari and you are making my heart rot.”

“But I’m still better than Mom, right?”

“Don’t talk back and get ready. The Family Head… we need to finish this before Hanku returns. He would never allow it.”

“What do I need to do?”

“I’ll prepare the gate. You prepare to enter with the spirits. Use Spirit Possession with either Mocha or Makina and enter in a spirit state.”

“Do I really have to? I didn’t last time.”

“Last time was an accident. You need to go with a spirit so that the spirit will protect you. And entering the spirit realm in a spirit state through Spirit Possession will allow you to adapt much faster. After all, that place is the world of spirits.”

“But why Mocha and Makina, and not a top-tier spirit?”

“Can you last long using Spirit Possession with a top-tier spirit?”

“…I can’t last long. I understand.”

“Top-tier spirits can travel to the spirit realm if they want to. They can help you even if they don’t move with you. And it could be an opportunity for Mocha and Makina. Do your best.”

• • •

The gate was prepared in two hours. Before the gate opened, I used Spirit Possession (A).

“Descend upon me, Makina.”

Spirit Possession was a possession technique that allowed the contracted spirit to descend into one’s own body.

“Uwaaaaaa!”

Makina entered me.

My body turned into a machine. My skin became steel, and inside my body, thousands of metal gears meshed together, constantly rotating and generating energy. It felt like I had become a perpetual motion machine.

It was a bit different from when I used Spirit Possession with Makina before. That was because both Makina and I had grown stronger than before.

Although my appearance had become that of a cyborg, I was now closer to a spirit.

“Mocha.”

“Kkuuk.”

I climbed onto the back of Mocha, who hadn’t materialized. It was possible because I was now in a state closer to a spirit. I looked at the gate with my Spirit Eye.

“Great-Grandpa, I’m ready.”

“Hoo. Alright. Come back as soon as possible. Specifically, before Hanku returns.”

“If everything goes according to plan, it won’t take long.”

“I hope so.”

The closed gate opened.

Mocha flew through the gate without flapping her wings.