61.

“An official letter of cooperation?”

When I asked back, Seo In-na nodded and handed me the document.

When I read it, there was nothing special about it.

LB Academy just asked the police to dispatch personnel to solve the case.

The problem was that my name was clearly written on this document written by LB Academy.

“Inspector Kang, have you ever worked with LB Academy?”

“No.”

“Then, does anyone know Inspector Kang over there?”

“···yes.”

I talked about Dayoung Kim, a classmate of the training institute.

And that she had been sending messages recently.

Then Seo In-na smiled as if she finally understood.

“If it’s a training center classmate, it makes sense.”

“is that so? I don’t think you’re going to send an official letter just like that.”

No matter how much Dayoung Kim belongs to LB Academy, she is just a newcomer like me in that organization.

However, I don’t understand why she sent an official request after listening to Kim Da-young’s words.

Seo In-na shook her head as if she knew what I was thinking.

“Of course, you didn’t just call after hearing the motive. I would have done my own research. As a result, he must have judged that you would be helpful.”

Are you saying you went through your own process?

I nodded.

“But this… can I go?”

I was looking forward to taking on a case with LB Academy.

It was because of the necromancy function, a feature that had been opened a while ago but hadn’t been touched until now.

LB Academy is an institution closely related to Korea’s indigenous beliefs, namely shamans.

That’s why they probably knew best about the souls needed for the Code.

So I wanted to comply with this request for cooperation.

What about team leader Seo In-na?

From her point of view, it would be a loss for one of her team members to be empty out of nowhere.

But Seo In-na shook her head at my question.

“I can’t go, I have to go. It’s not common for any institution to send an official letter like this.”

“You mean you can’t refuse?”

“It’s not like that, but the target is an official institution. Since it is an institution that cooperates with the police, the upper management will try to accept this request unless there is an urgent need. No, since I had already decided to accept it, the official letter must have come down to me as well.”

Thinking of the relationship between institutions, such a trivial request is simply granted.

Being the target of that trivial request, I felt a little strange, but it didn’t matter because I wasn’t losing money.

“So, get ready to go. The date is one week from the day after tomorrow. If the case gets longer, the academy can ask for an extension of the dispatch by one month, so take care of that too.”

This meant that if he couldn’t solve the case quickly, he would have to be locked up in the LB Academy for a month.

“Oh, and LB Academy… as you can tell from the name, it’s a bit unusual.”

“Is it unusual?”

“You mean school? So it should be said that the atmosphere is different from other exorcist groups. Anyway, that’s what the new chairman did, and it’s amazing that he made it that way.”

Besides that, Seo In-na gave information about LB Academy.

Student council or department, etc.

Its organizational structure was literally more like a university.

Definitely a different atmosphere than other places.

“By the way, is this all there is to the official document? Any information about the case?”

The official letter was only one page, and it did not contain the most important information.

What kind of case did you have to point out and ask me to solve?

There was no written explanation for it.

“The official notice is this only. Perhaps, judging from the fact that the incident has not been disclosed here, it means that they do not want to publicize it.”

“then···”

“I have no choice but to go there and ask myself.”

“·······”

“Is there anything else you want to ask? If not, I will accept this right away.”

I just nodded.

So my dispatch was suddenly decided.

* * *

two days after that.

I arrived at the main school of LB Academy located in a mountain in Gangwon-do.

“oh···”

LB Academy, like its name, was like a university.

High and low buildings are sparsely placed on the site, which occupies an entire mountain.

In addition, the style of each building is hanok, Western-style house, completely modernized building, etc.

They are not unified at all, and each has its own individuality.

And the entrance at the entrance of the mountain is gorgeous, but it is strictly guarded, so it felt quite different from the Buddhist temple in the middle of the city.

“Mr. Jinwoo! Here!”

Dayoung Kim was waiting for me at that entrance.

Level is already 41.

I thought I raised my level too hard, but I still grew faster than me.

Also, she did not come here simply as an acquaintance of mine, but as an official partner in the case assigned to me by LB Academy.

In other words, this case should be solved together with her.

Of course, I had no reason to be dissatisfied with Dayoung Kim’s skills.

“It’s been a while since we met in person! Is this the first time after the training center?”

“Yes.”

Dayoung Kim’s cheerful impression hasn’t changed much from a few months ago.

Her attire and armament were quite different from before.

Dayoung Kim wore the LB Academy uniform.

It seemed to be halfway between a suit and a school uniform, and it was a design that suited Dayoung Kim very well.

I heard that there is a uniform, but the clothes themselves are free. Do you like those clothes?

Also, her armament is a long sword with a blade about 1 meter long.

But the balance was strange.

Compared to the length of the blade, the handle of the sword was strangely long.

In addition, Dayoung Kim was carrying the sword diagonally behind her back, making the handle even more conspicuous.

Why is the knife like that?

I checked the item description window just in case, but there was nothing special.

A rare level of divine power that does not contain any special traditions.

“Is the sword unusual?”

So I couldn’t hold back my curiosity and asked about the miracle.

Dayoung Kim smiled and opened her mouth.

“Ah, even if it looks like this, it’s an attitude.”

“Attitude?”

“Now it is folded, and when fighting, the sword body stretches. Is it fun?”

“aha···”

Compared to the great sword, the length of the blade is similar to that of the sword, but the thickness is thin.

So, a weapon that specializes in slashing rather than stabbing.

It was a weapon that suited Dayoung Kim, who originally used a greatsword, but… a folding attitude.

A sword that put so much emphasis on convenience had never been seen, even in another world.

“Then come this way. The incident will be explained by the Student Council Punishment Committee.”

The number of people belonging to LB Academy, which has the form of a school, is largely divided into students and professors.

The Student Union was the organization that represented the students among them.

Did you say that the basic operation of LB Academy is a system in which the Student Council and the Board of Directors, which are composed of professors, supervise it?

And Dayoung Kim, who is guiding me, was also a member of the student council.

“What kind of student president did you say this time?”

“Ah yes. Somehow, I went to the election for the sophomore student council.”

Grades at LB Academy are divided by age.

Those in their 20s are in the 2nd year, and those in their 30s are in the 3rd year.

In this way, it continues until the 5th grade, and after the 60s, it is called a professor and educates juniors.

In addition, there is one student council in each grade, and the Student Council is the collection of the student council.

Dayoung Kim was in charge of the sophomore student council president.

“Still, it’s amazing that you won.”

“···yes. It was not a real election.”

“Isn’t this an election?”

“It’s a name, but…it’s actually a tournament. That’s where I won.”

In other words, Dayoung Kim is the strongest among the 20s of LB Academy.

It was an understandable enough fact.

Exorcists usually tend to be stronger the longer they have experience.

This is because there is time to defeat so many demons and accumulate karma.

So, no matter how much Dayoung Kim is compared to an experienced exorcist, it can’t be said to be that strong.

At the same level as those in their 20s, it was difficult to find talent like that.

“But what does the student council president do?”

“Nothing special. I just synthesize the opinions of students in the same grade and pass them on to the general school. Sometimes, if there is a case, we distribute the number of people to each department. In terms of the company, it’s about the team leader?”

When I think of what Seo In-na does, it seems like something special.

“Do you have a department?”

“yes. This is because our exorcism method is more diverse than other institutions. Some use strange spells or amulets, while others carry scientific equipment. Ah, I’m in the swordsmanship department.”

Eventually, Dayoung Kim took me to a large hanok in the middle of the academy.

Except for the fact that the entrance is an automatic door, it is a building that does not seem out of place even in Gyeongbokgung Palace.

“This is the main building of the Student Council. As the name suggests, this building is used by the student council.”

But inside it was different.

It looked like a traditional Korean house from the outside, but there was a large lobby inside the entrance, and the floor was even covered with marble.

“How amazing. I thought the inside would be a hanok too.”

“Yes? I was also curious at first. The same goes for the research building over there. From the outside, it’s a pretty house like you’d find in Europe, but inside it’s just a research lab.”

While exchanging such conversations, we went down the stairs of the building.

The stairs leading to the basement were in a large circle, and the walls were covered only with glass, like a department store building, so you could see clearly underneath.

It seems to be about 5 floors underground… It was a larger underground space than I thought.

“Arrived.”

Dayoung Kim stopped in a room on the first basement floor.

The name stuck in the door is…the 3rd special room of the Punishment Committee.

The Punishment Committee is an organization under the direct control of the Student Council, which oversees the security of LB Academy.

After all, an incident is an incident, so I wonder if this side manages it.

“We are here!”

Dayoung Kim opened the door and entered with a lively greeting.

Inside, a man was waiting for us.

“Ah, you’re here. And… how are you?”

The one who greeted me was a man in his 50s with a serious look.

In a moment, I sneakily checked the level.

53 levels.

This was also a strong exorcist in its own way.

When I nodded, he smiled lightly.

“My name is Minho Song. He belongs to the Punishment Committee of LB Academy. I am in charge of this case.”

“This is Inspector Kang Jin-woo.”

“Nice to meet you. Then, sit down and talk.”

He led me to a table in the back of the room.

Perhaps because of his age, he was wearing a suit that felt similar to his uniform.

So, in a way that didn’t seem too out of place, he continued.

“First of all, thank you for accepting our request.”

“no. I also really wanted to work with LB Academy.”

I waved my hand and said.

This was sincere, but Song Mino just nodded lightly, probably thinking it was polite.

“Then I will inform you about the incident right away.”

He opened some papers and started explaining the case.

The point was that the sacred weapon kept by LB Academy had been stolen.

It was in the distant past, a sacred god sealed by a demon, and was being strictly stored in the warehouse.

LB Academy’s main enemy, ‘Yeokcheon Dodang’, kills a warehouse guard.

After that, he robbed the god and escaped.

Understanding the outline of the incident, I opened my mouth.

“I know what the case is.”

“yes. Then I’ll ask straight forward. Can you solve this case, Inspector?”

can you solve it

Wasn’t that why you called me here?

After a while, Song Min-ho noticed my question and continued.

“Of course, we also know that the Inspector has been outstanding in searching for sacred treasures and ghosts. However, this case is not only related to Shingi, but also to Yeokcheon Dodang. First of all, we need to locate them.”

I nodded.

You know that I’m good at finding sacred things, but finding the culprit is a different story.

“What if I say no?”

“We are already digging behind the people of the Yeokcheondo Party. When that work is done, I intend to ask for your help again.”

Are you saying that you will call them again after finding their base?

But my eyes already saw a new quest.

So there is no need to waste your time.

Still, I didn’t know what the arrow was pointing at, so I gave a neutral answer.

“I want to do an investigation that can be done right away.”

At my words, Minho Song nodded.

I meant to agree.

So this time I added a question from my side.

“By the way, the demon is sealed in the sacred machine. Is it a dangerous demon?”

“It’s dangerous, and if you’re a rebel, there’s a possibility of abuse. You know about Janghwa Hongryeonjeon, right?”

Of course, I knew roughly.

A story about sisters who were murdered by their stepmother and appeared as ghosts.

So, is that demon Janghwa Hongryeon?

However, Song Mino’s words were different from what I expected.

“The identity of the demon is Mr. Heo, the stepmother of the character in Janghwa Hongryeonjeon.”

His explanation continued.

After Janghwa Hongryeon became a ghost, she expressed her regrets to the village manager, the governor of Cheolsan.

As a result, the evil deeds of Mr. Heo, the stepmother who abused Janghwa and Hongryeon, were eventually revealed.

As a result, Mr. Heo is executed, and the story of Janghwa and Hongryeonjeon comes to an end.

There were more afterwords that continued there.

Even after he was executed, Mr. Heo eventually became a vengeful ghost and disturbed the world.

The adverb of Cheolsan was that he had summoned a master and sealed the ghost.

“Mr. Heo is a vengeful spirit who not only possesses the legend, but also the legend itself. Because of that, the power contained there cannot be taken lightly. Even if you just break the seal, you’ll become an enemy and run amok. It could become a dark spirit if left unattended.”

“Then why did those people called Yeokcheon Dodang take it?”

“Aren’t they shamans who cast evil spirits? That’s why I’m trying to break the seal on Mr. Heo and summon the ghost.”

A shaman who casts evil spirits.

Hagiya Yeokcheon Dodang is a group of exorcists from LB Academy who have turned into demons.

There was nothing strange about doing that.

“All right. Then, first check the scene of the crime. Are you okay?”

“of course. I will guide you.”

The crime scene he said was the basement of another building.

Compared to the main building of the student union, the hallway is desolate with no one passing by.

At the end of that hallway, he saw the scene of the crime, with the door smashed to pieces.

“I consider it. Originally, it was a warehouse for strictly storing sacred items and valuables.”

I listened to him and looked around the scene of the crime.

But there were no highlights anywhere, and above all, the arrows were pointing elsewhere.

It’s in another room, a bit far from the scene of the crime.

So I asked Minho Song.

“What are the rooms lined up next to here?”

“All around are general material warehouses. Oh, and there is… the security guards’ sleeping quarters.”

He said, looking exactly in the direction the arrow was pointing.

What’s in that dorm room?

As I was staring at him, Song Min-ho first proposed to me.

“Would you like to go see me? They are also eyewitnesses to this incident.”

Well done.

There was no reason to refuse, so I nodded.

We headed straight to the sleep room, where there were three security guards.

And the arrow… to my surprise, was pointing at one of them.

“…That bastard.”

I murmured softly.

The guy who sits on the bed in the dormitory and sips coffee.

The level indicator that I could see with my eyes was as red as blood.

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