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As the magic progressed, the demon’s doubts intensified.

[ Building an altar right beneath the Ferris Wheel seems like some Greek-style sacrifice… ]

“W-Wait, Greek-style…?”

[ It’s called Holokautain (ὁλοκαυτεῖν). But considering they were told to save a young goat and didn’t care about the goat’s fur color, it seems something has been mixed in… It seems to have transformed. ]

The demon tilted its head at the ritual of Jinseong, which was subtly different from what it knew.

But that was unavoidable. After all, magic can be derived and distorted.

Just like the Japanese Kokkuri-san shamanism transformed into necromancy after coming to Korea, rituals can change through people’s memories and records, or shift over time.

The magic used by Jinseong was also a modified version.

[ Ancient Greek magic traveled to different regions, adapting to local environments and customs. Typically, such transformations lead to failures, but by chance and with the skill of a capable shaman, it can still be effective. ]

Perhaps this could be viewed as a variant of Holokautain.

And like variants of living beings, there are countless types of magical variants as well.

Just as animals in cold regions change their fur color to white for camouflage, grow larger, and accumulate fat instead of muscle, magic too changes gradually. Some might yield similar effects but require entirely different costs, while others might exhibit completely different effects.

It’s like a fish coming ashore and transforming into a beast, showcasing a completely different form.

At times, a variant might even consume its original form and gain greater recognition.

[ But if it’s Greek… Hmm. ]

The demon licked its lips.

An inkling of suspicion arose, but the thought of asking its younger sibling to do such a thing was immediately brushed aside.

“G-Greek? Ancient Greek?”

However, upon hearing the demon’s muttering, Iserin seemed to recall something and flushed red.

“G-Gymnos…”

She remembered the lecture on ‘Ancient European History and Life.’

The culture of ancient Greece, which encouraged exercising in the nude and was unreserved about displaying one’s body.

The lecture had illustrated their culture with numerous paintings and sculptures, far more shocking and explicit than the standard sexual education taught in schools. Unsurprisingly, parents had protested, but the teacher had only cranked up the shock factor, delivering a lesson filled with terror and bewilderment.

At that moment, Iserin had no choice but to grasp the essence of ancient Greece.

“C-Could it be? Do we have to perform the ritual nude…?”

Blushing, Iserin cast glances at Jinseong, who was sprinkling an unknown liquid onto the Ferris Wheel.

But the demon, as if reassuring her, glanced back and spoke.

[ Probably not. ]

“E-Eh?”

Iserin swiftly turned her head toward the demon and asked again.

The demon looked at Iserin cute enough to smile, then opened its mouth.

[ Generally, Holokautain is held in darkness. There, offerings are chosen to blend in with the night. However, being nude is more of a display, tending toward virtue, which is contrary to the essence of the ritual. Ah, my contractor, my mysterious contractor who seems to think I’m unaware of your thoughts. You’ll likely wrap yourself up tightly; you won’t be naked. ]

“D-Demonstration…?”

[ Being nude in ancient Greece was civilization, comfortable freedom, and an expression of one’s allure. Of course, to be alluring, one’s body had to be mathematically perfect, but even if it wasn’t, a well-trained body was beautiful and valuable in its own right. Moreover, the nakedness of the barbarians they despised was seen as uncivilized but served to showcase their bravery to foes. ]

The demon scratched the ground with its hoof as it spoke.

[ At least if it’s derived from ancient Greece, it wouldn’t deviate much from this. In other words, there’s no need to worry. ]

The demon licked its tongue as it finished preparing and glanced at Jinseong approaching them.

Without hesitation, Jinseong came toward Iserin and said expressionlessly.

“Preparation is complete. You’ll go first.”

“W-Wait, me…?”

“Just your body is sufficient.”

Iserin followed Jinseong’s words, trailing behind him, and looked at Iarin, who was sitting on the ground with a sleeping bag spread out like a mat. Upon meeting her twin sister’s gaze, Iarin waved her hand slightly.

It was a gesture wishing her well.

At the same time, it was also a hint that she was looking forward to the show.

With her blood relative’s support, Iserin felt a strange sense of relief wash over her.

“Eek!”

But her relief was short-lived.

As they approached the altar, her anxiety surged sky-high.

“What—What is this…?”

What greeted her first was the nauseating scent of blood.

As if blood had been concentrated and sprinkled everywhere, that foul smell overtook her senses, piercing straight to her brain. It was so strong that it seemed to linger on her nose, tongue, and even throat.

Next, what welcomed her was the altar.

Unlike a typical altar made with birch logs, this one was unusually low, hardly reaching waist height — so low it could be mistaken for a bench at a cursory glance. Furthermore, despite no rain, the surface felt damp, as if she had wiped the logs with the snow she’d brought back.

At the center of the altar stood the goat that had relieved itself on her, its eyes wide open, surveying the surroundings.

Strangely, despite the intense scent of blood wafting around, the goat seemed rooted to the spot, as if its legs were glued to the earth.

Jinseong closed his eyes for a moment in front of the goat, then retrieved a small droplet from his possession. As soon as it was taken out, the droplet expanded like it was breathing fresh air, and Jinseong tapped the growing droplet with his pinky.

De-ning!

With that chime-like sound, a vibration resonated, and the noise produced by the insects and creatures around the amusement park abruptly ceased.

And in the ensuing silence, something glided toward Jinseong without a sound.

It lit up with eyes like flames, its wings stretching wide enough to appear as if it could scoop up a person. Even its sharp talons glimmered in the dark, evoking the image of a hook ready to snatch a person away.

[ A great horned owl, huh? ]

The owl looked at Jinseong as if asking if he had called it, puffing up its body.

Jinseong chuckled at the owl’s antics and snapped his fingers.

Tap!

With a sound that tore through the silence, the owl flinched, raising its head only to lower it again. It bobbed up and down as if drowsy, and its big round eyes became half-closed.

Eventually, the owl tipped over and plopped its head onto the ground.

Jinseong approached the sleepy owl and inhaled deeply.

“Wonderful.”

He murmured that and levitated the owl to the front of the altar.

Then he conjured fire from his hand.

“F-Fire?”

[ It’s not a fire spell, but rather Samādhi True Fire. Huh, to think he would use that at his age? ]

Jinseong ignited the goat with the Samādhi True Fire. The flames burst forth brightly, enveloping the goat, but it felt no pain from being burned alive and merely gazed around vacantly as though nothing was amiss.

This was possible because Jinseong sought only to burn the immaterial.

However, fire must consume something to exist.

In this world, fire cannot simply exist; it manifests only by burning something.

Fire that burns the immaterial must also utilize material as fuel.

And the firewood was lying right there.

Ding!

The small droplet in Jinseong’s hand chimed again, emitting an eerie sound that seemed less to vibrate the body and more to entice the soul.

The evil spirits trapped within the barrier simultaneously turned their heads toward the droplet.

“With so many materials at hand, this is truly a blessing.”

Jinseong opened the barrier, allowing the evil spirits to rush toward the flames.

Yet, he did not fully lift the barrier.

He also kept the garrisoned evil spirit trapped beneath the truck restrained.

This wasn’t due to a lack of need for it in the ritual, but rather for the guests who were to arrive later.

‘Giving gifts and building connections. Such a good turn of events.’

Jinseong smiled.

 

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