Chapter 31: Spy Assembly

Jintae gave Taehoo a period of two weeks.

During those two weeks, the order was to master the use of the newly acquired skills and bring his condition to peak form.

It wasn’t a difficult demand.

Considering the freedom granted in both training and daily routines, it actually felt somewhat comfortable.

As Taehoo prepared himself, Jintae would also be finishing his own preparations in his place.

When he stepped outside alone, the night breeze swept across his skin.

He closed his eyes and took a steady breath.

‘Now, truly, this mission is nearing its end.’

He keenly felt the approaching conclusion of the task.

Even with what he had done so far, it had been a considerable amount of time gaining much.

Above all, while having been stuck inside the sanctuary, his sense of reality had dulled somewhat, but now it sharpened again.

He was reminded once more of how to deal with people, not monsters.

‘Who knows what trials will be waiting after I return.’

Since the various trials he had faced were often closely connected stage by stage, this one would be no different.

In other words, the difficulty was certain to increase.

[Well, maybe now isn’t the time to worry about that.]

Ba’al spoke, reading Taehoo’s thoughts.

It wasn’t a trivial reminder to focus on the present.

It was about something else.

‘A Constellation even Ba’al didn’t notice.’

That was what he meant.

[I don’t know that Constellation… and it’s really bothering me.]

Ba’al was among the higher-ranked demons and Constellations.

Having lived for a long time with significant status, he knew many Constellations.

Yet this one—he didn’t even know its name, much less its affiliation.

It was an issue that couldn’t be ignored.

Taehoo wasn’t entirely unbothered either.

However,

‘It’s faster to return and use the family’s Information Network. There’s not much we can do right now.’

Three families, an unknown organization.

Tangled interests and veiled issues.

The mission was riddled with complexities.

Given the gravity of the situation, returning to the sanctuary was a possible option, but

‘There’s no reason to give up on Belial after coming this far.’

Despite having gained a lot, this mission wasn’t about to give up the biggest prize.

That was Taehoo’s conclusion.

Therefore, the feeling of the mission nearing its end wasn’t unpleasant.

‘Quest Window.’

[Spy Assembly.]

Explanation: The end of the tangled mess to raise the House of Belial has begun to appear. Two Houses claiming evil and one House claiming good will gather in one place! The Sword God hopes that ‘good’ will cut down evil there! Show your wit!

Reward – Bonus Points +7, Sword God’s Catalogue.

It was a quest that arrived at the end of the conversation with Jintae.

What surprised Taehoo was none other than the catalogue.

‘A Skill Page that allows you to acquire Constellation skills without any conditions.’

At the end of his previous life, the Dantalion Head held a scroll like a degraded version of this in front of Taehoo.

Of course, it wasn’t as good as the scroll the Head displayed back then, but the fact that the skills were randomly given was a drawback.

Still, it was a reward with far more advantages.

Especially compared to rewards like bonus points, it was incomparable.

Moreover,

‘No matter what skill I get, I have the variable of evolution once more.’

For Taehoo, even if a useless skill appeared, there was the potential for it to transform completely.

The proof was right there.

[Black and White Aura]

-Origin: Sword God, Ba’al, Belial.

-Attribute: Shadow

-Description: This skill evolved twice through the title ‘Coexistence of Good and Evil (Temporary)!’ The power of the three Constellations transformed this skill! It’s an aura that can counter and destroy all forces but is also a stealthy sword technique that silently cuts down opponents like a shadow! The physical attack power of the aura increases by 8%!

Taehoo’s aura contained the effects of the Shadow Blade.

It was a skill evolved while holding Cheolgo.

Suppressing the sword’s presence, the attack power rose by as much as 3%.

‘Well, of course, that’s not to say Belial’s skill was useless.’

In any case, it meant skills could absorb each other’s strengths and evolve.

[That’s thanks to me too. Yeah.]

Putting Ba’al’s boasting aside, Taehoo grabbed the dagger hanging from his waist.

‘He’s probably asleep, but at least keep an eye on Jintae.’

Taehoo spoke indirectly, meaning to say to watch over Jintae, and then raised his aura.

He wasn’t ungrateful, but Ba’al had been boasting so much that it was starting to get old.

The dagger was enveloped in Taehoo’s distinctive two-colored aura.

However, the surroundings that should have been brightly lit by mana remained dark.

‘Not just presence, but even this seems to have changed.’

In this regard, the system was nothing if not thorough.

In his past life, this was what he had desperately wanted and longed for.

But conversely, it was also what he resented so deeply.

Because from the system, he had not received a single penny of sympathy.

That was why, like a sewer rat or an informant, he had to survive alone.

Now, he had a family, Ba’al, and things that were infinitely favorable toward him.

‘“Using”… that’s a better word.’

Except for what he truly wanted to keep to himself, he would use everything that had rejected him in his past life.

The sword cut through the air.

[Skill ‘One-Stroke Severance’ activates!]

The One-Stroke Severance skill triggered by aura power also bore the shadow attribute.

Sword ki and mana were shot forth.

Like the breath of a Dragonkin, Taehoo’s aura split the sky.

The power that seemed to pierce the heavens passed silently through the sky stronger than any force.

Through the clouds torn by Taehoo’s power, moonlight poured down.

It was far from the power that Namjin, his grandfather, had shown.

‘For now, this will have to suffice.’

He suppressed his impatience.

[This growth speed is still tremendous.]

Ba’al added.

[Name: Nam Taehoo]

[LV: 13]

[Affiliated Constellations: ‘Sword God’, ‘Ba’al’, ‘Belial’]

[Title: Coexistence of Good and Evil (Temporary), Life-Devoted Endeavorer, One Who Understands Cheonjoongsu, Half-God’s Disciple, Giant Slayer.]

[Hunter Rank: ??]

[Strength: 131 (+20), Agility: 122 (+20), Stamina: 133 (+20), Mana: 130 (+20)]

[Special: Your potential cannot be defined! Rank calculation is delayed!]

These were the growth values raised through training and missions.

‘Since I’m not entering dungeons in earnest, level growth is slower…’

What was noteworthy was the stats.

Unlike the level, the growth was overwhelmingly impressive.

Comparing just by level, it matched a level 15 Hunter.

He was at a level that could handle low-grade dungeons without difficulty.

And thanks to that,

‘I could also overpower Cheolgo.’

The title earned from the fight with Cheolgo.

[Giant Slayer]

-Origin: Self

-Description: You have faced opponents stronger than yourself and have always overcome them. This is a title for one who has overcome such crises! Believe in your strength!

It was a simple title without any special effects or abilities.

‘I heard titles like this are either jackpot or bust.’

In today’s world, titles meant the achievements one had walked through—proof of one’s path.

Therefore, while some titles clearly aided the user, others merely testified to the owner’s history.

Sometimes, they were used to hide strength.

The jackpot Taehoo mentioned referred to cases like this.

‘Of course, I also heard the odds for those are extremely low.’

All the titles he had gotten so far were absurdly efficient; he quickly dismissed his disappointment.

‘Is this enough for confirmation?’

The aura lingering on the dagger dispersed into the air, and he hung the sword back on his waist.

Behind him, the pouring moonlight followed.

He walked along the familiar route, and soon his steps reached the children’s sleeping room.

Inside, the kids slept soundly, unaware of the world.

Perhaps the training had been exhausting because even Muncheol didn’t react to Taehoo’s movements this time.

The newly returned Juhyeok was the same.

Taehoo’s gaze briefly rested on Juhyeok.

‘If I weren’t here, Juhyeok would probably be the one out in the arena.’

It was a fact easy to infer.

Without him and Muncheol, Juhyeok was indeed outstanding among the kids.

[Why? Couldn’t that Joseph fellow have been the one instead?]

Ba’al asked, judging that Joseph, who was defeated on the first day, had talent comparable to Juhyeok.

But that wouldn’t be the case.

The qualities of a spy were not decided by sheer strength alone.

Joseph, raised as a fighting dog, might have been somewhat stronger physically, but in other talents, Juhyeok was superior.

Because Taehoo had experienced the previous life of Juhyeok more than anyone, he was sure.

Joseph could have been a bit of a rival but would not have surpassed Juhyeok.

‘From the moment his revenge failed, Joseph probably lost much of his purpose.’

His growth as a fighting dog had been fueled by revenge for the sword.

The burdens he carried were fundamentally different.

Moreover, by seeing Kurom’s existence, Taehoo roughly guessed how Dantalion’s past had unfolded.

Kurom betrayed Dantalion, and Juhyeok, having successfully completed the mission, probably took over that position.

Top Manager of the Stray Dogs.

That was the position Taehoo remembered Juhyeok held in Dantalion.

‘Responsibility was one of the things that made Juhyeok strong.’

Knowing that, Taehoo intended to entrust Belial, who was without Jintae, to him.

‘I’ll definitely return what I took care of in the past.’

He wouldn’t let him die meaninglessly again.

‘Thanks to Jintae, I even got a chance to work on the mission together. Maybe I should thank him.’

The ridiculous thought made a slight smile escape.

[All well and good, but what about that Belial fellow?]

That problem wasn’t entirely absent.

[Fulfillment of Promise]

Explanation – Belial wants you to keep the promise you made! This quest will remain until that promise is fulfilled! Belial is watching you!

Reward – Already granted.

Penalty – Possession Descent.

Such a quest was certainly still active.

He had not been without a plan.

However,

‘Jintae seemed to cherish him dearly, so how much of his sanity remains is a variable.’

The quest had been issued to protect the followers, so the care for Jintae was obvious.

Still,

‘If a definite substitute appears, he won’t be easily swayed. Your role in the arena is quite important!

Absolute Evil.

That’s right.

Especially for a demon who trusts the logic of strength more than anyone else.

‘Ah, of course, Ba’al, I’m not saying that about you.’

Taehoo added that last part mentally.

At that moment, Juhyeok’s eyes opened.

Taehoo was looking down at Juhyeok.

So their eyes met exactly at that moment.

“What’s with that look like you’re gazing at your girlfriend? Creepy.”

“You were awake?”

Goosebumps crept up each of their arms.

“Don’t get me wrong.”

Scratching his cheek, Taehoo could only say that to Juhyeok’s wide-eyed stare.