The Girl's Growth (2)
"That was..."
Alex had many thoughts after witnessing the technique she used at the end.
"Who did she learn it from?"
Every motion was refined and precise, evoking the aura and movements of a seasoned master.
Alex was certain it wasn't a level achievable with the girl's experience—just a little over three months since she'd first picked up a sword.
It couldn't be Eunhyeon.
He had only given her basic physical training, mana conditioning and control, and beginner swordsmanship—barely enough to shake off the novice label. Even if he'd tried to teach her more, Erin had been a complete beginner with limits on what she could absorb.
But that swordsmanship and those movements weren't those of a novice.
Her explosive speed—unbelievable for a young girl's body—as she charged like a feral wild horse. Yet her rapier pierced the demon's throat without a hint of waver or error, her sharp gaze snatching prey like a bird of prey.
No matter how he looked at it, it felt like glimpsing a battle-hardened hero. Alex realized he had to revise his view of her.
She's no longer at a student's level.
Who would believe the warrior who pierced the demon's throat was a 17-year-old girl?
Meanwhile, another woman watching the demon and girl from beside Alex focused on something else about Erin.
"Hmm, so that's the Energy DrainHyun-oppa mentioned."
Since spirit bodies were ultimately aggregates of mana and soul energy, the succubus's soul was absorbed without resistance by the gumiho's top-tier Absorption ability among energy drain types.
Erin absorbed her without hesitation, even as she begged for her life right up to the end.
Lira's body had depleted all remaining mana—thanks to Illyana—when defeated, but absorbing the demon's core spirit body converted it into an enormous amount of mana now settling inside Erin.
"Ugh... ugh!"
The succubus Lira's form in Erin's hand vanished completely, absorbed into her body. Suddenly, Erin dropped her rapier and shuddered violently.
Sensing something off, Alex turned to Illyana for her opinion.
"Erin's state seems strange."
"Of course it does. She didn't absorb human energy—she took in a demon's. Eating spoiled food gives you the runs, right?"
If the mana in a human body was like pure spring water, the mana in demons was corrupted—different from the natural mana in the environment.
Human mana flowed in shades of blue, while the succubus Lira's had been dark crimson.
Just as the blood in each race differed, so did the nature of their mana.
"Is that... okay? Shouldn't we do something right away...?"
"She'll handle it herself. Not me—the kid inside her."
More precisely, the divine beast in that kid's body.
"Ugh... my body..."
It was hot.
The moment Erin absorbed the succubus's soul, she couldn't contain the scorching energy surging inside, her whole body trembling.
It felt like her insides were burning from within.
Focus. Now we'll purify the corrupted mana you've absorbed.
Erin nodded weakly at Gallerhead's voice echoing in her mind.
With how much you've raised your mana control, you can definitely do this. Gather all the corrupted mana flowing in your body into one spot.
Slowly, following Gallerhead's instructions, she moved the mana inside her, concentrating it in one place.
It wasn't something you could do just from hearing a description, but Erin understood and executed it flawlessly. Gallerhead inwardly admired her skill.
Probably thanks to that man.
Gallerhead recalled the silver-haired man named Eunhyeon who had defeated her when she manifested as a soldier in the Hundred Ghosts Night Parade at the abandoned warehouse.
An impressive man.
Her pure admiration stemmed from how he overcame the 1-vs-9 odds, taking them down one by one.
His sword, techniques, and tactics were like a history built from countless experiences.
I want to cross swords with him once more.
There was no humiliation from defeat—only a martial artist's burning fighting spirit.
She was purely curious how far her Three Swordsmanship would work against him.
She wasn't alone; the sword, spear, and greatsword ghosts felt the same.
After centuries, emerging into the world, facing not weaklings but worthy foes or superiors had their anticipation soaring.
To fulfill that desire to clash with Eunhyeon again, their top priority was helping this girl—the new master of the Hundred Ghosts Night Parade, including herself—grow stronger as fast as possible.
Grow quickly, at least enough to manifest one of us...
Once Erin gathered all the corrupted mana in one spot inside her, Miho, who had been watching silently, stepped in.
Fox Clan Immortal Art
Turbid Qi Purification
⟨ Purification Ritual ⟩
A technique to purify malevolent energy, refining it into pure, clean qi.
A remnant of ancient Earth civilization techniques, now lost.
"Ah..."
The burning heat vanished, replaced by cool, refreshing mana flowing through her body. Erin let out a small sigh of relief.
As tension released, her legs gave out, and she collapsed. Illyana and Alex approached.
"How's your body?"
"I-I'm fine... just a bit tired..."
"Hmm."
Illyana hummed, staring intently to observe her condition, then nodded and stroked Erin's head.
"Good job. Looks like the baby girl finally pulled her weight."
"Hehe..."
Illyana praising Erin had happened only twice since she started living as a guest at the mansion.
First, for enduring Eunhyeon's grueling training without shedding a tear—her tough spirit.
Second, when she offered to help with chores to assist Eunhyeon, praising her quick wits.
So Illyana, unintentionally stingy with praise, petting her head and offering words of approval felt incredibly joyful.
But the one she most wanted praise from was someone else.
"Will Hyun-oppa praise you too?"
"Getting praise from him is as easy as reciting spells in your sleep—even a stray dog would laugh."
"I can't do that..."
"That's how common his praise is."
Unlike Eunhyeon, who spoiled her outside training—carrying her on his back—Illyana was hands-off, close to laissez-faire.
"Alright, let's head out."
"Yeah. But um..."
"What?"
"H-how do we get out? I got rid of the demon who brought us here..."
Illyana rolled her eyes gently, as if asking why worry about that.
"You think I'd tell you to kill that demon if you had to worry about it?"
"N-no?"
Wooong.
Illyana slammed her staff down. Golden light cracked open before her into a large rift—similar to the one when she first appeared.
Alex looked surprised at the rift.
"Is this... the exit?"
"Yep."
Alex didn't know much about magic but recalled Lira's words and asked out of pure curiosity.
"That demon said only she—who brought us—could get us out. Is this an exit made by your magic, witch?"
"She just kept the passage she made to drag you here intact. Demons can open, close, and create passages, but humans can use existing ones if they know how."
Illyana had also blocked the exit when sensing the succubus's escape attempt.
"I see..."
Alex nodded, unable to grasp the processes involved.
"Go on in."
The two plunged into the rift and snapped their eyes open as if waking from a dream.
Alex and Erin sat up in surprise, staring at each other, feeling hollow relief that it had all really been a dream.
"We're... really back..."
Erin murmured, gazing blankly at the night sky. Alex could hardly believe the Dream Forest experience was just a dream.
"Back to normal..."
The fox ears and nine tails from her mana vanished without trace, as if never there.
She couldn't reactivate that power; instinctively entering 'gumiho state' before, she didn't know how. Activating mana now just wrapped her in blue mana—no tails or ears.
Why had that power manifested? Who was the woman teaching her Three Swordsmanship? So many questions, but even Illyana—whom she'd hoped could answer—didn't know, leaving her frustrated.
"If you're awake, move it."
At Illyana's urging, they reflexively stood.
Alex asked about next steps.
"We need to officially announce we dealt with that demon."
"But I already got rid of it?"
"That was just the spirit body in the dream world. The real body's separate."
Illyana pointed with her index finger. They looked.
"Ah!"
Erin gasped, spotting a bat-winged woman lying demurely, eyes closed.
The penalty of the real body sleeping during the dream world applied to demons too.
"No time has passed at all."
Gazing at the moonlight, they realized little time had elapsed since encountering the succubus.
"That succubus body is an empty shell without a soul—like a corpse. Just decapitate it and take it to Riod."
"Understood."
Alex nodded solemnly and obeyed. Having joined Eunhyeon's plan somewhat, he needed to follow through. Thinking of the reward, he severed the demon's head—now just a husk.
Three days had passed since killing the culprit behind the noble serial assaults that rocked the capital Fernin, closing the case.
The revelation that the perpetrator was a succubus—a demon sucking human essence—shocked Pernias Kingdom's nobles.
Many nobles who denied or hid it—claiming 'demons can't exist' or 'no way a demon infiltrated'—faced backlash, especially those who backed the cover-up.
At the center: the mysterious silver-haired man and Erin Hersha from the Hersha baronet incident.
Eunhyeon, one of them, stood on the central platform in handcuffs.
Nobles seated around the vast hall fixed their gazes on him. Among them, the gaze of the kingdom's highest authority.
That's Dianne Pernias.
The woman ruling as regent for the ailing king.
Her eyes met Eunhyeon's from her throne at the center's highest point.
Something displeased her; she furrowed her brow at his face.
"Ahem, ahem!"
A middle-aged man on a platform slightly below the throne cleared his throat and spoke.
"We shall now commence the inquiry and public trial of the sinner Eunhyeon."
With the moderator's declaration, the trial to decide Eunhyeon's fate began.