Chapter 397

Sung Gukeon and Jeon Muyeong started moving to retrieve Imoogi’s Exorcism after Jo Euishin split ways with them.

Their journey was far from easy.

It seemed like the Fomorians prepared all kinds of traps in advance in preparation for the Phantom Thief Neon, knowing that he was aiming for the painting.

From high-level boundaries to floating hands, and finally gimmicky traps.

‘Who knew pledging to continue attacking otherworlds after being elected would be useful.’

After being elected as a lawmaker, Sung Gukeon pledged that he won’t stop attacking otherworlds.

Rather, he aimed to be the biggest otherworld hunter by going for ones that are SR-rank and higher.

To his senior aid’s trouble, Sung Gukeon kept his promise and even tried to go after SSR-rank otherworlds.

He would sometimes get out injured, which thankfully doesn’t happen often.

In any case, because of his pledge, Sung Gukeon maintained the sharp sense of an active player.

His experience helped him recognize this trick prepared by the Fomorians.

Unique to SSR-rank otherworlds are strange phenomena such as time distortion and space compression.

‘The Demon Race is aware that Imoogi’s Exorcism is the subject of loot. They must not like the idea of it being successfully stolen.’

Sung Gukeon stared coldly at the door decorated with a candy-filled pumpkin, embodying the spirit of Halloween.

He successfully broke through the traps prepared by the Demon Race, but he didn’t feel a sense of accomplishment.

He never felt this feeling — this annoyance — whenever he would target otherworlds to keep his promise to his supporters who voted for him.

Bothered by the Fomorians’ power, Sung Gukeon wanted to click his tongue.

But he decided to push those feelings down, and instead compliment Jeon Muyeong.

“Looks like we’re here. Good job. The structure of this place changed a lot, but I can’t believe we finished the search in such a long time.”

“It’s all you sir.”

It was mainly Sung Gukeon who broke down the traps while they were on the move, but Jeon Muyeong’s contribution cannot be disregarded.

It would’ve taken them more time if Jeon Muyeong hadn’t secured a route in advance and if he wasn’t there to get a good grasp of the gimmicky traps.

Jeon Muyeong replied bluntly at the compliment, but it looked like the corners of his mouth were higher than usual.

“We’ve arrived safely, but something feels strange. We didn’t run into a single Fomorian at all.”

Unbeknownst to Jeon Muyeong and Sung Gukeon, the Fomorians who hosted this party were currently evacuating.

The only one that will remain here is the blue-masked demon Fomorian, the owner of this garden.

Aside from him, there was Balor, leader of the Fomorian demons.

They were the only ones left in this garden.

Balor’s Eye of Death has wide coverage and can be triggered indiscriminately.

There was a possibility of being caught up in it.

‘Not having the Fomorians here means we have another thing to worry about. That is…’

Sung Gukeon was reminded of his hoobae, Jo Euishin, who said he had to split ways with them to go after an acquaintance.

It’s possible that he really just went to see someone he knew, but somehow, Sung Gukeon felt a groundless certainty that his hoobae was playing a part in this whole situation.

He laughed the thought away, pretending that he doesn’t know.

“It’s a shame that I didn’t get to use the item I prepared to subdue a royal lineage. Haha!”

“I think it’s a relief.”

Screech…!

Smiling cheerfully, Sung Gukeon slowly opened the door, wary of more traps.

Sung Gukeon used a lot of strength in opening the door, but it almost doesn’t budge, making the two nervous.

‘I can’t feel anything from this door. But considering its pattern and its location, there should be a treasure inside…’

The two stared at the other side of the door, prepared to use their skills immediately.

When the door was finally completely open and the inside of the room came into view, the two became speechless.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Hundreds of paintings hung in the room.

They were in different types of frames, but all the paintings were Imoogi’s Exorcism.

“…It looks like the Fomorians prepared a hundred fakes of the painting. They prepared thoroughly.”

Among these, only one is the real Imoogi’s Exorcism.

Or maybe it wasn’t here at all.

Even in the eyes of the two sharp-eyed people, the fake paintings looked like they were extremely close to the original.

Painter Hong Kyungbok’s unique skill and Min Geurin’s first outspoken brushwork were perfectly reproduced.

“I can’t tell just by looking at it…”

“I think only Painter Hong Kyungbok or Min Geurin can authenticate.”

The two can only carry so much, so they can’t bring back the hundreds of paintings in the room.

Nevertheless, they didn’t show any sign of panic.

“It’s good that I heard from Painter Hong Kyungbok how to distinguish the real thing.’

There was a secret in Imoogi’s Exorcism.

The painting was made at the request of the head of the Players’ Association – Korea.

It was painted on otherworld paper, with the paint that Painter Hong Kyungbok personally makes.

As a result, the painting, unlike ordinary ones, had a special response to energy waves.

“I didn’t know that the Imoogi’s Exorcism only responds to energy waves from humans.”

“Most people won’t know since they won’t usually emit energy waves in front of a piece of art.”

The painting, which was made at the request of the former head of the Players’ Association, is said to have a special reaction to human beings’ energy waves.

Whether a simple coincidence or done on purpose, Imoogi’s Exorcism becomes a simple picture.

It turns into an item card.

“If people knew that the painting can be carded, it increases the odds of being stolen by a corrupted player. That’s why they didn’t reveal it.”

‘If they used a skill that can copy a painting, it would be much easier to determine the fakes. All their efforts are for naught then huh?’

Pleased at the wasted effort of the Fomorians, Sung Gukeon smiled.

Jeon Muyeong thought it was a shame.

He thought that the expression on Sung Gukeon’s face was great enough to be worthy of being used in his future promotional materials.

If only he could record this moment.

Jeon Muyeong suppressed his disappointment.

“Shall I do it?”

“No, save your energy wave. Your light skill doesn’t have good fuel efficiency.”

Before Jeon Muyeong could step forward, Sung Gukeon was already releasing a high-purity energy wave.

Fwaaaa!

With Sung Gukeon at the center, energy waves gradually filled the room, enveloping the paintings.

When the light of the energy wave rose close to the ceiling…

Krrrr…!

Out of the hundreds of paintings, a sound came from a single one.

The Imoogi moved like a dreamer trying to ride the waves.

Its body, covered between rocks and clouds, moved gently toward the surface.

The Imoogi, who gained life through the brushstrokes of a master and a rookie, was preparing to fly back to the sky.

Sung Gukeon admired the moving picture.

“Outstanding…!”

This painting was clearly different from the fakes.

No wonder Painter Hong Kyungbok could easily determine knockoffs, calling them nothing but a ‘mischievous scribble’

Immersed in the painting, Sung Gukeon’s fingertips numbed for a while before he reached for Imoogi’s Exorcism.

Fwoong!

As if it had been waiting, the painting became an item card and gravitated into Sung Gukeon’s hands.

Sung Gukeon looked at the card’s border, confirming that it was a UR-rank item.

“Our mission is done. Let’s go.”

They got the painting back easier than they thought.

“…What could that child be doing now?”

While on the way back, Jeon Muyeong anxiously spoke.

He was worried about Jo Euishin.

‘There must be a reason why we didn’t encounter a single Fomorian. It might have something to do with the thief though.’

It was highly likely that the Fomorians successfully located Phantom Thief.

And Jo Euishin would’ve been with him.

Sung Gukeon denied it in his head and feigned ignorance.

“Who knows? It was easy on our side, but I don’t know about the others.”

***

Phantom Thief Neon, Goo Seulbi, and me.

We encountered several enemies while on the move.

They swarmed at us because I used Ma Jinseung’s powerful light skill, releasing a considerable amount of energy waves.

It would’ve been an unwelcome encounter normally, but whenever an enemy appeared, I felt rather comfortable because it meant one less moment of having to listen to this guy’s thief philosophy.

The three of us didn’t really have trouble fighting.

It was difficult to grasp the situation outside our area because I can’t use Cheon Dongha’s light skill.

“I think the one-eyed giant keeps chasing us.”

Goo Seulbi asked us to stop for a moment.

“Do you have insight skills?”

“It’s not an insight skill. I’m borrowing the eyes of the kids who came here with me. Most of them are being pulled back into dreams to escape Balor’s eye though…”

I wondered where the animals who appeared through the shattered windows went, but it seems like they had been roaming the castle.

‘So Goo Seulbi was good at using her light skill even in her freshman year.’

While I was admiring Goo Seulbi’s excellence…

“Oh, you mean those rare animals you brought with you? It was a little flustering when I first saw them. A thief has to be light on their feet, ready to move anytime, but you brought too many companions.”

“So you’re using being a thief as an excuse for having no friends.”

“A thief’s friends are romance and art.”

“…You seriously don’t have friends?”

Though Goo Seulbi was pitying Neon, she too only had animal friends, not human ones.

On the broad side, perhaps Merlin is a friend to her, but Merlin is a descendant and their age difference is at least a millennium.

‘Goo Seulbi became close to Joo Soohyuk.’

Appearing in Eungwang High in her sophomore year, Goo Seulbi gained some friends.

Joo Soohyuk, who became greatly depressed after what happened to Bang Yoonseob then, would rise again after several incidents in Year Two Class Zero.

Goo Seulbi was involved in that process.

‘And then Joo Soohyuk’s fans kept Goo Seulbi in check.’

Class 2-0 had so few students attending.

Goo Seulbi was scolded by a fan, and it was quite bitter,

The kid who confronted Goo Seulbi was from the same middle school that Joo Soohyuk attended, and it must’ve bothered Joo Soohyuk very much as he seemed disappointed when he learned about it.

“As for where we are right now, I think we’re very close to the Tuatha de Dannan treasure.”

Goo Seulbi spoke as she touched the grass walls.

I focused my senses on the wall, and I felt a different kind of energy wave.

Different from the Fomorian demons.

“I’m not interested in the Tuatha de Dannan treasure though.”

“Oh, yeah? You’re out then. I’d like to check it, can you open this wall for a second?”

I could, but I need to confirm something before I do that.

“No demons around?”

“Yeah, I think it’s okay.”

With that, I activated a light skill.

As I disabled the wall of grass by raising my voice, I heard a system alarm on my head.