The Provocative Date and the Eighth Stronghold
Anyone using the Void Resonance Art might as well be my disciple. After crafting a shikigami from the pinnacle of modern tech, we resumed our date as if nothing had happened.
"Should we just leave those people alone?"
"These days, it's a hassle. No matter the reason, whoever strikes first ends up the villain."
"You sound just like my grandfather."
No matter how blatant the tail, I couldn't make the first move against those guys.
They'd planted themselves right in the middle of a crowded street full of civilians—there was no helping that.
From another angle, you could say they'd taken the public hostage.
Their goal was obvious.
Drag me into a situation where I couldn't unleash my full power, then overwhelm me with numbers.
This wasn't about conscience; it was about punishment.
Sorcerers causing harm to the public was strictly forbidden.
Even if we clashed right then, the losses would outweigh any gains for me.
Hwaseong Group would just cut off the tails, pay a hefty fine, and bury it quietly—like any chaebol.
The world was built to favor those with power and influence.
"I've never seen a clan act this brazenly. They don't seem to care about their image at all…."
"What more do you want from guys gunning for my life now? Looks like their pride matters more."
Letting a thug like Choi Taeseong run wild, openly devouring Gongmyeongdang—it didn't add up.
Hwaseong Group's moves felt off in too many ways.
Like they were deliberately playing the obvious villains.
If this were some webtoon cliché, they'd just be pawns for some hidden mastermind.
"The future looks bleak. Should I brace for Korea turning into a warzone?"
"If you're really worried, why not immigrate to Japan? I'd welcome you with open arms. No matter how prestigious they are, they won't reach overseas."
"Maybe I should. No reason to cling to this place."
"Eh…? For real…?"
I stared at her flushed cheeks, wondering what fantasies were running through her head.
If I'd come out of the academy alone, they would've jumped me before I could even shop.
They were holding back purely because of Ren.
Clashing with an overseas clan would spark a diplomatic mess beyond their calculations.
They were probably scrambling to contact their higher-ups right now.
"B-by the way. Where did you send that shikigami? Wasn't it for protection?"
"Straight to their base. Oh, bungeoppang. It's already March, and the street carts are still around."
No need for it by my side—the shikigami's role was surveillance, tracking, and sniping, tailored to its materials.
I decided to ignore the tails and enjoy the date.
I ordered plenty for breakfast and handed one to her.
She took the golden fish with a dazed look, staring blankly down at it.
"…You're serving cheap street food to a prestigious clan heiress?"
"Don't like it? Don't eat it."
"I didn't say I wouldn't. …Mmm."
With a reluctant expression, she boldly bit into the head.
Had this meticulously pampered girl ever touched something as unsanitary as street vendor junk?
Nope, probably not.
It felt like feeding a burger to my spoiled niece who's only known gourmet meals.
"…It's better than I thought. Is it because you gave it to me?"
I'd braced for complaints, but she flashed the brightest smile I'd seen on her yet—totally throwing me off.
My prank backfired, making my heart skip instead.
Hard to believe from someone used to delicacies, but her naturally upturned lips muddled my judgment.
"Can I have another?"
"No. This is my breakfast."
I pushed away her approaching figure, blurting out a pettier response than intended.
"Those fucking bastards…! The world's all pink and rosy for them? Flaunting that shit in broad daylight?"
The image of me and Ren was being relayed live to their base.
The sorcerers tailing us shared their vision, monitoring our every move.
The trembling screen—was it because the watcher could barely contain their rage?
"Section Chief…! The shikigami from the side branch made it here!"
"What the hell are those idiots doing? Can't even smash one shikigami, letting it come our way?"
When the section chief turned from the screen, a red laser dot grazed his eye.
The shikigami I'd hastily assembled—a grotesque drone with a sniper rifle, propeller, and camera—silently trained its barrel on him.
"What's there to fear from a gun that can't even fire? Smash it now!"
"I-it's impossible…! The spatial barrier's too tough!"
"No way!"
Dismissing it as his subordinates' whining, he formed hand seals and focused his mind.
He was a high-ranking Gongmyeongdang sorcerer, after all.
The leaked Void Resonance Art benefited enemies and allies alike.
Overconfident in his exponentially improved skills—the secret art that let him usurp his predecessor's position—he channeled his full power.
He sneered that exposing such precious knowledge just for revenge was a massive blunder on my part.
—Whumm.
But something was wrong.
His spatial severing, cast by a 1st Grade sorcerer.
Yet the space around it shredded while the shikigami remained unscathed.
It felt like a pathetic 3rd Grade output, but not a single scratch.
"Wha…?"
"I told you! No space-related spells work…! And other sorceries can't even approach through the barrier!"
"Th-that can't be…! Even if he refined it himself, there's no reason for…!"
Fueled by rage and jealousy, he pushed his power beyond limits.
Pointless.
They couldn't grasp why I'd leaked the Void Resonance Art so casually—or what it meant.
—Poke.
Before he knew it, the shikigami was inches away, pressing its barrel into his chest.
The metallic monstrosity glinted ominously.
He watched in horror as his desperately conjured sorcery dissipated harmlessly.
Only when it touched his body did realization hit late.
This thing—no, Gong Siwoo—is our natural predator.
Even a slapped-together shikigami can kill me.
Terror struck; hot liquid trickled down his legs.
"Wow! Isn't that dress so pretty? Flowy and cute!"
"Nah, the one next to it is better. Form-fitting shows off your figure way more than baggy stuff."
"…Stuff like that just looks tacky on me. Too skimpy…."
"That's the appeal."
The sweet banter still playing in his ears now sounded chilling.
The moment that pathetic date ended, so would his life—he sensed it.
"Q-quick, request backup from HQ…! We can't kill that bastard with spatial sorcery!"
"We've already alerted everyone! But they're all saying to wait…!"
"Fuck…! What the hell are they doing!!"
With the barrel to his heart, the section chief could only sweat it out until we moved to the next spot.
Once I neared the next branch, this accursed thing would follow.
"…Ha. I'm getting tired. This is marching, not dating."
"You need to work out. Can't live like a scholar as a sorcerer. No stamina means trouble when it counts."
"It's not about that? Try walking around with these on your chest, Siwoo. Your mind would change."
Ren grumbled, but we'd already hit the final stretch of our planned route.
Hwaseong Group's bases encircling the academy.
Seven down, one to go.
"Their patience is impressive. Assembling sorcerers just for me, yet they stomach this provocation?"
"Yeah… We've passed plenty of deserted spots, but no moves…."
Sending the shikigami first was a taunt.
If you're gonna play dirty, let's go all out.
I figured Hwaseong Group would step up personally against a shikigami Gongmyeongdang couldn't handle.
Guess it just heightened their caution instead.
"My prediction was off. Next time, I'll come alone."
Bringing Ren was simple—to gauge their hostility level.
By leaking the Void Resonance Art, I'd erased any interest in my secrets.
All that remained were intangibles like grudges and pride.
How far would a profit-driven corp like Hwaseong Group chase me?
That was the key observation, but it ended ambiguously.
"Let's head back. Total waste of time."
"Shall I cook dinner then? Not in the mood for eating out under surveillance…."
"…Date's over already?"
Then, amid our private chat—even the maids gone silent—a gravelly intruder's voice cut in.
"We prepared a grand welcome at the eighth base. Dodging it at the last second?"
A man stood between us like he'd been nailed there, presence undetected until he spoke.
Just as I was about to bail, Hwaseong Group finally moved.
In a flat tone, he issued his ultimatum—not to me, but Ren.
"Hwaseong Group has no desire to feud with the Tsuchimikado clan. Please step aside. Our target is Gong Siwoo's life."
"…You think I'll abandon my fiancé?"
"A self-proclaimed fiancé, not yet recognized by your clan, from what I hear."
He sneered mockingly at her defiance.
Sorcerers of all stripes were warping in around us.
The street emptied in seconds—who knew what method they used.
This must've been their trump card.
In the silent avenue's center, over fifty sorcerers neatly encircled and surrounded us.
"If you do, you're just an unlucky bystander. The chairman pre-approved: as long as we don't kill you."
At the outrageous words, the maids quietly drew their daggers.
"Whoa there. Stay put, and we won't touch you."
"Touching someone under Tsuchimikado protection in front of me is as good as touching us."
How deep into this fake engagement was she?
Ren readied for total war, pulling out an ofuda.
But no chance for that.
"Ten, twenty, thirty… Fifty-eight. All present and accounted for…?"
Perfectly matching the roster Ren had slipped me.
Whether inside a barrier or shifted to some special space—didn't matter.
Snap.
With a light flick of my fingers, the Void Resonance Art activated.