Killing the Possessor - Chapter 62

I screamed in horror as the red letters split apart, and the black instrument began to emerge.

“I—I don’t know how to purify it! I don’t even remember what happened last time! I didn’t know I purified it! Whatever happened, it was all a coincidence!”

But despite my desperate explanation, the cold man before me didn’t even flinch.

“The Crown Prince said something similar.”

“Who?”

“Who are you to the Crown Prince?”

“Excuse me?”

His sudden attitude change caught me off guard, and the question he asked was even more absurd.

The Crown Prince? Why was he being mentioned here?

“No, I don’t have any relationship with the Crown Prince—”

“Have you met the Crown Prince privately?”

“Privately? No.”

I knew this for sure. Hongik Ingan never mentioned the Crown Prince. After all, Camilli was involved with Prince Wyner, not the Crown Prince. So, I could answer confidently. I had no private connection with the Crown Prince other than bumping into him occasionally.

“Is that so?”

“Yes, yes. So, if you could just get rid of that black thing…”

“I already told you. There are two ways.”

If I can’t purify it…

He muttered that and tilted his head toward me, a smile curling on his lips.

“Why don’t you try using magic?”

“…”

At that moment, it became clear to me. This man, he was almost certain.

It seemed that he believed I couldn’t use magic. The sinister mockery, so out of place with his sweet tone, made my body tremble. Even as I shook, the instrument, with its steadily growing presence, started to take the form of tree branches, stretching upward and outward.

I didn’t know which type of evil spirit the instrument had come from, but the result was obvious. Once it reached a certain height, it would surely lunge straight at me.

It would be just like when Go Hyeji, who had become a spirit, strangled my neck with her translucent hands.

Koooh!

As the black energy stretched out like a net, it hit the ceiling and immediately seemed to fall toward me. Reflexively, I squeezed my eyes shut and shoved the man blocking my escape with all my strength.

“Move!”

Perhaps it was because of the urgency of the situation. My hand, pushing the man away, carried an unknown force.

I didn’t realize until after seeing him being pushed back farther than I had anticipated. I had unconsciously used magic.

As I pushed him away, I rolled to the side and narrowly avoided the instrument’s attack. I paused for a moment, catching my breath, while the instrument, which was furiously thrashing as if it would devour me, seemed to twist part of its body but did not approach me.

As I wondered why, I noticed Ren in my peripheral vision, his fist clenched in the air.

Ah, it’s him. He’s holding the instrument right now.

Having confirmed that, I realized he could just send it back, but for some reason, he was still watching me. Looking at his calm face, I felt confused.

What’s going on? Is he hesitating? Why? Was the brief moment earlier not enough? Is he expecting me to show something else, something more fitting of a magic major?

Still trying to steady my trembling breath, I slowly reached my hand out. The only thing I had practiced all day with Hawk was creating a barrier. Although the goal was a small, shield-like barrier, I failed back then, perhaps due to my lack of talent.

Whoo…

“…Done.”

Perhaps it was the life-or-death nature of the situation, or maybe because I had successfully channeled my magic into my hand just once, but whatever the reason, the barrier magic I tried finally succeeded.

Seeing this, Ren slowly twisted his wrist, the fist he had clenched now loosening. As if responding to his gesture, the instrument seemed to coil its body before eventually retreating back through the red letters.

As the black energy vanished, absorbed back into the air, I gradually released the barrier. Our gazes met in the empty space. My panting breath echoed softly as silence enveloped us.

“Senior.”

Suddenly, the door to the interrogation room slammed open, and someone’s face peered in.

“Do you have a condom?”

“….”