Chapter 331.

“I… . ”

I studied the situation from the watchtower . Boss and Shimurin were munching on snacks from a street stall, and Yi Yeonjun was wandering about nearby .

Not causing a huge commotion seemed to be most important .

“I found Yi Yeonjun . ”

—What? Really?!

Aileen’s surprised voice rang out from the crystal ball .

“Yes, but we need to act reserved . For now, I’m just going to keep an eye on him . ”

I would never let Yi Yeonjun meet Boss . At least, not until I killed him .

—The plaza is filled with tons of people right now… Can you keep tracking him, Hajin?

Yun Seung-Ah asked .

“Don’t worry about that . ”

I answered and slowly released my spirit power . With my stats fully recovered, my ability to wield spirit power returned as well . I should be able to use ‘Miracle Creation’, the ability engraved into my spirit power as the original author .

「Observer」

[Summary – Summons a small bird to monitor a target]

[Activation Condition – User must call the ‘Observer’ directly . ]

[Consumption Value – 1% of Kim Hajin’s spirit power per 24 hours . ]

[Effect – The Observer can conceal itself while watching its target . It also shares what it sees with Kim Hajin]

I created a Miracle with my spirit power . Since I didn’t have Spartan with me, I needed something to replace it .

“Observer . ”

The moment I called its name, spirit power leaked out of my body . The minuscule amount of spirit power formed a small bird which smiled at me .

—Coo .

The cute fuzzball resembled a Korean crow-tit .

I strengthened it with [Random Consolidation System] and set its target to Yi Yeonjun .

“Fly . ”

—Coo .

The Observer left my hands and flew into the sky . I closed my eyes and shared the Observer’s vision .

It began to track Yi Yeonjun .

“It’s all good now . ”

—I don’t know what that means… but fine . Just to be sure, Yi Yeonjun really is alive?

Aileen’s high-pitched voice rang out from the crystal ball .

I replied with a bitter smile, “Yes, he is . You don’t believe me?”

—I believe you, of course . It’s just that… Ehew, fine, fine… . Huh? No, I ordered a chicken kabob . No, not spicy… .

Tk . The communication cut off in the middle . It seemed Aileen was busy eating street food as well .

“…Pft . ”

I let out a chuckle and went back to observing Yi Yeonjun .

However, my face went stiff when I saw what happened next .

—… .

Boss was staring in a daze with a kabob in her hand . She was looking at a spot 500 meters away, where Yi Yeonjun was standing . Yi Yeonjun had his back toward her . With the grey robe covering him, Boss shouldn’t be able to recognize him .

I quickly took out the crystal ball connected to Boss .

“Boss . ”

I called her . Boss flinched for a second and then took out a crystal ball from her pocket .

“Boss, where are you right now?”

—Me? I’m…

Boss took a look around and continued .

—…in front of a street vendor .

“And you haven’t spotted anything strange?”

—No, nothing . What about you? Are things going well?

“Yes, of course . ”

I continued to drag out the conversation until Yi Yeonjun grew farther away from Boss . Thankfully, Yi Yeonjun didn’t see Boss, as he left for somewhere else .

I let out a sigh of relief .

“Boss . ”

—Hm?

“…I think you should go home for today . I think Aileen is near you . Also, contact Jain for me . ”

I heard that Jain was now a general for the Arunheim Kingdom .

—Sure, what do you need?

Boss answered . But her complexion seemed dark . The grey-robed figure she saw must be bothering her .

“…Ask her when she’ll arrive at the Republic . You should go back home for now . ”

Boss hesitated for a moment and looked around her surroundings . But Yi Yeonjun had already disappeared, and Boss had no choice but to agree .

—Got it .

**

[Sword Commander’s Office]

At the same hour, Kim Suho was in a meeting with Yoo Yeonha about Baal .

“We’ve recovered our strengths for the most part… but Baal’s strength is on a level of its own . ”

Yoo Yeonha said seriously .

“There’s no way for us to confirm stories about Baal, but according to Jin Sahyuk, he destroyed the world he descended upon in just four days . ”

“…Yeah . ”

Kim Suho nodded his head .

An evil god capable of destroying the world in just four days was shocking to hear, to say the least, but that didn’t mean he could sit around and do nothing . If Baal wasn’t stopped here, he would undoubtedly descend on Earth .

“So after hearing about this, I started looking into items used in history for exorcisms . I figured we would need these powerful artifacts to combat such a powerful foe . ”

Yoo Yeonha took out a catalog from her desk . Listed on the book were ancient artifacts used for exorcisms that she found out through her merchant group’s connections .

Kim Suho glanced at the catalog, which showed pictures of a sword, bow, spear, talisman, fan, and others .

“Contact the president’s daughter and ask her if she can find any of these . ”

“…Seraine-ssi, you mean?”

“Yeah . I would buy them myself if I could, but they’re too expensive . We’ll need assets on the level of a nation to acquire them . ”

“Mm… I’ll try to ask her . ”

Hearing this, Yoo Yeonha scowled .

“Don’t just try . We need these items . There’s only one week left . ”

Yoo Yeonha was more serious than ever, and Kim Suho knew he shouldn’t be indecisive .

“…Okay, I’ll ask her even if I have to risk my position . ”

“Perfect . ”

It was then . Just as the duo were discussing their plans, Tok, Tok— someone knocked on the door .

Speaking of the devil, Seraine’s voice rang out from the other side of the door .

—Sword Commander, it’s me, Seraine .

“…?”

“…?”

Kim Suho and Yoo Yeonha stared at each other in bewilderment . Then, they both grinned and nodded their heads .

“Come in, Lady Seraine~ I’ve wanted to see you so much~”

“Aiya! If it isn’t Lady Seraine, the future of our Republic~”

“…Eh?”

The duo warmly welcomed the ‘guest’ into the office .

**

Late night .

I returned to Shimurin’s workshop after a long day’s work . Boss and Shimurin were waiting for me at the kitchen table .

“You’re late . ”

Boss spoke first, then Shimurin slammed her fist down on the table .

“Right, you’re too late . We almost died of hunger, waiting . ”

“…Why didn’t you eat?”

“What?”

Shimurin’s face distorted viciously .

“This is your fault . Because you’re too good at cooking, everything else tastes horrible . So—”

“Alright, I’ll make you something . ”

I chuckled and walked to the kitchen . Shimurin smiled in satisfaction, and Boss’s shoulders danced as well .

Today’s meal was spicy rice cakes, dumplings, and tempura .

After I finished cooking in 15 minutes, Shimurin put a third of it on a plate and went downstairs . She clearly wanted to continue her magical research while eating .

Poke, poke, poke . Boss sat on the kitchen table and ate spicy rice cakes with chopsticks . I sat down next to her . When I stared at her, she began to look at me strangely . Her chopsticks slowed, and her munching turned into tiny nibbles . Eventually, she couldn’t hold back her curiosity and asked .

“Do you have something to say?”

“…Something to say?”

“Yeah . ”

I did have something I wanted to say .

I wanted to ask what she would do if she found out that Yi Yeonjun, the man she trusted the most, was someone who messed with her life .

“…Boss . ”

And I wanted to know what she would think if I killed that man .

“It’s just an if, but… . ”

I tried to be indirect .

“What would you do if the person you trust the most disappointed you?”

This question was meant to have two meanings . One was Boss finding out about the real Yi Yeonjun . The other was her finding out that I betrayed her by killing him .

“…Disappoint?”

Boss’s expression turned cold . Seemingly having lost her appetite, she put down her chopsticks and stared at me .

“Mm… I don’t think you will ever disappoint me . ”

“Oh, so I’m the person you trust the most?”

“… . ”

Boss’s frozen expression softened . She coughed in embarrassment and changed the subject .

“Did something happen? Why are you asking me that?”

“…No reason . ”

I thought carefully about what to do . If I told Boss the truth about Yi Yeonjun… she would probably try to kill him herself . And if she did, she might be struck with sadness, regret, and anger .

“I was just curious . ”

This was my duty anyway . Telling Boss the truth could wait until I killed Yi Yeonjun .

“I asked because I like you . That’s the sincere truth . ”

“…!”

Crack! At that moment, the chopsticks in Boss’s hand snapped in half . She stared at me, with her shaking hands holding the chopsticks . Her eyes widened like a cartoon character .

“W-W-What are you s-saying . I-It’s obvious that a subordinate should l-like his boss… I’m leaving . Kuhum! Kuhum!”

Boss got up in a fluster and scurried away to her room, leaving behind the food she liked on the table .

**

[Transnational Peace Conference D-5]

Five days remained until the Transnational Peace Conference .

In a magic practice area inside the Secret Service Institute, Harin was teaching us how to hunt a devil .

“I am from a clan of exorcists . ”

Harin released her magic power to demonstrate exorcism . Her magic power bloomed with a clear, red hue . This color represented the exorcist power that critically wounded ‘evil’ beings .

“As I explained before, a clan is determined by ‘bloodline’ . When members of our clan hunt devils, we mix our magic power with our blood . Follow after me . ”

We took out blood packs that Harin made with the help of Yoo Yeonha .

Borrowing the power of exorcism was surprisingly simple . We just had to imbue our magic power into the blood pack and let the two mix .

Kim Horak and Yi Yeonghan had trouble with this process, but Yun Seung-Ah, Rachel, and Aileen easily accomplished it .

“My magic power will mix with this blood and become an exorcising magic power . ”

Aileen just had to say a single sentence . It was the same for me, as I just had to command Stigma’s magic power . It was then .

[Blood of the Devil Hunter Clan partially assimilates into you . ]

[Your Authority, ‘Devil Hunter’, becomes stronger!]

[Partial Devilization – Devil’s Arm becomes stronger!]

[An incredible luck erupts! By absorbing the power of an exorcist’s blood, you received a part of their genes!]

[You obtained a new Gift, ‘True Exorcism’! An auspicious event may happen with an astronomically low chance!]

“…?”

A series of system alerts popped up in front of me . I blinked my eyes and stared at the windows . While I was standing in a daze, Aileen talked to Harin .

“By the way, don’t we have to tell Kim Suho about this?”

“Ah, I will go to Sword Commander and teach him later . ”

“Ah, okay . ”

“Then, next!”

Chak— Harin clapped her hands . The loud noise woke me up, and I turned my attention to her .

“Let’s start learning exorcism!”

But Harin’s words didn’t enter my head . For some reason, I felt like I obtained a huge hint .

Harin’s blood and Stigma’s magic power that assimilated with it .

My Authority, ‘Devil Hunter’, which was strengthened as a result .

“Um, Yurin-ssi?”

As I called Harin… Bzzzz— The crystal ball in my pocket suddenly vibrated .

“Kuhum, please turn off your crystal ball during lessons . ”

Harin glared at me .

“…Ah, sorry . ”

I took out the crystal ball with a wry smile . It was the one I received from Jin Sahyuk when I went to Arunheim .

“Hold on a minute . ”

I left the area and picked up the call .

“What do you want?”

When I whispered, Jin Sahyuk said something strange .

—It’s important . There are things we need to settle and things we need to confirm, so come meet me at 1 a . m . tomorrow .

—Don’t be late, and don’t even think about not showing up .

Tk—

“…The hell?”

Jin Sahyuk hung up without even waiting for my reply . I furrowed my brows and glared at the crystal ball .

“Hajin-ssi, what are you doing?”

“Hajin, you’re the one who said we didn’t have much time . ”

Rachel and Yun Seung-Ah voiced their complaints .

“Ah, sorry, I had something to take care of . ”

I scratched my head and ran back to them .

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