Infinite Mana Exorcist
Chapter 35: The Elders

Chapter 35: The Elders

Mass release 2/5

The Exorcist Kingdom Tunnels were a network of pathways built beneath the kingdom, designed as an emergency escape route in case of a large-scale siege—whether by another Exorcist Clan or a faction of monsters beyond Grade Three.

However, it had been a long time since the world was that chaotic, a time when senseless wars and destruction defined the land. The tunnels, once a lifeline, had become relics of a bygone era, barely used in the present day. Now, the only ones who traversed them were exorcists seeking to leave the kingdom discreetly. But even for that, they needed permission—from a small, secluded faction of people who dwelled beneath the kingdom.

It had only been a week since the first level of the game had been completed. The young aspiring exorcists had returned from the battlefield, thrown back into rigorous training under a new tutor. She was a member of the Iron Battalion, an elite warrior forged in the crucible of battle.

A woman named Sarah.

She was a towering figure of strength, her presence alone demanding respect. In the past few days, she had guided them through the missions personally handed down by the queen. And today, she addressed them all with a voice that held both authority and a warning.

"For the next few years, you all will have the privilege of becoming exorcists for the kingdom. You will travel from place to place, eliminating evil spirits and hunting down beasts. You will experience the world in its truest form—raw, unforgiving, and filled with dangers beyond your understanding. This is not merely a journey; it is a rite of passage. Until you are called back by the kingdom, you will wander, learning the ways of different clans, mastering every art you can find.

And when the time comes for your return, you must have fully mastered your Soul Ability.

Failure to do so... will result in a brutal end."

Silence followed her words, a weight settling over the group. The harsh reality of their fate loomed over them like an unshakable shadow. Some swallowed hard, others clenched their fists in silent determination.

And now, as they moved through the sacred tunnels, those very words echoed in their minds.

Asher walked among them, his gaze wandering across the ancient walls. He had only seen these tunnels in the game, but experiencing them in real life was something else entirely. The carvings on the walls told stories—legends of battles, gods, and forgotten truths. The air was cool, almost unnaturally so, and every breath felt clean, purified by an unseen force. There was no dust, no floating debris—just a serene stillness.

And then there was the mana.

It exuded from the walls, thick yet smooth, flowing like an invisible river beneath his skin.

’This kingdom is a mystery... truly,’ Asher thought, allowing himself to marvel at the wonders he had taken for granted. ’It’s a good thing I was born here.’

The benefits he had received simply by being born into the royal bloodline were immeasurable. It was like starting a game with bronze equipment, only for someone to hand you a legendary set right at the beginning. The unfair advantage made him grin.

But while he basked in his privilege, someone else was watching him—his sister, Nimora.

She walked a short distance away, her gaze flickering toward Asher every so often. Each time she looked at him, something twisted in her gut. A bitter feeling crawled inside her, one she couldn’t shake.

He had fooled her.

She hated being made a fool of. It was one of the few things she couldn’t tolerate, and the way Melissa had brushed it off so lightly only fueled her resentment.

For now, she would let it go. For now, she would hold back.

But someday...

Someday, she would have her revenge.

She would make him feel the suffering he had caused her.

No matter how much she loved him as her brother, debts needed to be repaid.

After what felt like an eternity, they finally reached a wider section of the tunnel. The space opened up from the narrow ten-foot-wide pathway to a grand chamber nearly a hundred feet across. The arched ceiling stretched at least thirty feet above them, and star-shaped crystals embedded in the ceiling cast a dim, blue glow across the stone walls.

And there, standing in the center, were five figures.

Two of them were old men—ancient, crooked, their bodies wrapped in old sackcloth. Large beads, made from wood and engraved with intricate markings, hung from their necks.

Beside them stood two women.

And they wore nothing.

Their bodies were unmarked by time, sculpted with an almost divine beauty. They were in their prime—at the peak of youth and vitality.

For the young exorcists, it was an unprecedented sight. The boys, unprepared for such an encounter, found themselves staring, mesmerized.

"What the hell... those women aren’t flat like our girls..."

"Look at those pillows."

"Man, can I become an elder?"

Murmurs rippled through the group as the boys whispered among themselves, their eyes shamelessly fixed on the two women.

At the center of the four elders was the final figure—a man, seemingly in his mid-twenties, floating in midair. A dim, golden glow surrounded him, his eyes closed in deep meditation.

Asher, unlike the others, understood what he was seeing.

"The two old men... the young women... and the floating man in the center."

’The symbol of life and death.’

Two elders at the brink of death. Two young women at the peak of life. And the floating man—representing the pinnacle of mastery.

A perfect reflection of the cycle of existence.

The heritage of the exorcists was unlike anything else in the world.

Sarah’s voice cut through the murmurs.

"Stay silent as you pass by the elders. If you disrupt their meditation, you will be eradicated by their presence. Trust me."

That was enough.

Not a single person dared to utter another word.

Asher found the fear amusing, but he didn’t laugh.

"And when you reach the tunnel ahead, you will all be transported to different parts of the Exorcist Forest. Hold hands if you wish to journey together. Good luck."

With that, Sarah turned and walked away. No further instructions. No safety measures.

This was a test of courage.

They had two choices—move forward or turn back. Those who returned would be nothing more than low-grade exorcists, perhaps even mere cobblers.

The first to move was Nimora.

She pulled another girl by the wrist, leading her forward. The girl beside her was the one she had saved from the Oramon Room, healed to the point where she almost looked human again.

Slowly, others followed. Step by step, moving carefully, making sure not to disturb the elders.

Asher and Fey clasped hands, stepping forward with cautious silence.

But even in silence, their curiosity remained.

Fey kept his gaze ahead, avoiding the sight of the women elders. But Asher...

He kept looking.

It was too surreal, too fascinating. Seeing his favorite game brought to life in reality was overwhelming. His eyes lingered on the still figures of the women, then shifted to the floating man.

And then—

{Zsssh}

{Elder Hanrok has his eyes on you}

Asher’s breath caught.

His heart pounded as his gaze instinctively darted toward the elders.

And then, he saw it.

Elder Hanrok.

The floating man was staring directly at him.

No one else seemed to notice.

It was a silent exchange, a moment held between them alone.

{Yuka... Asher, I see... Come back to me when you are stronger.}

Asher’s system flashed the notification.

His hands clenched.

The elder’s pitch-black eyes bore into his soul, conveying something beyond words.

"Asher, stop staring, it’s weird," Fey hissed, pulling him forward.

Asher blinked, shaking his head. "Sorry, I just—"

Curiosity won again. He looked back.

The moment was gone.

Hanrok’s gaze had shifted away from him.

Whatever confrontation they had just had was over... He probably had to get strong enough to talk again to Hanrok and this made Asher very anxious.

in the next few Years, surely, Asher was determined, he would come back more powerful than ever.