Rainwater leaked from the ceiling.
Below the leak, a bucket was placed,
Drip, drip, drip.
Water droplets fell one by one, making a clear sound. The patched iron sheet smelled strongly of damp rust.
It was a scent Taehoo was familiar with.
There was a time when he would sit still, pondering whether he could survive until the dripping stopped.
‘Even this kind of smell can become a memory.’
Being able to reminisce about the past with fondness was proof that he was living well in the present.
[Why all of a sudden so damp? Is it because the house is damp?]
Ba’al soon broke the silence.
At the same time, the door rattled a few times and someone entered.
Following him were a few kids smiling brightly.
“Sorry to have kept you waiting.”
Taehoo opened his eyes wide and looked at the elderly man before him.
“Why are you suddenly speaking so formally?”
Taehan smiled slightly and continued.
“Aren’t the people outside from your family, Young Master?”
“Well, yes, but…”
Taehoo pouted as if it didn’t matter, then handed over the bag of money he had brought.
“You handled the matter very well.”
“I merely carried the information you provided.”
Taehan humbly deflected the praise.
To Taehoo, it sounded as if he wasn’t motivated by money.
“This is just an additional token of appreciation. What will you do with this money…?”
He slowly surveyed the surroundings and looked at the tattered rags the children wore.
“It seems like there’s quite a lot you could do with this.”
“Then I won’t refuse it.”
Only then did Taehan send the children out and sit at the table.
It was time to get down to serious conversation.
“Please tell me what you wish for.”
Taehoo asked for his intention.
“Belial, was it? Let us join that side.”
He didn’t go so far as to ask for powers.
He only asked to be accepted as part of them.
For a moment, Taehoo felt a chill down his spine.
‘He already realized I’m trying to secure Belial…’
Normally, if he knew Taehoo belonged to the Sword God’s Sanctuary, he would assume the purpose was to exterminate.
However, Taehan didn’t stop at that assumption; he analyzed Taehoo’s actions and found an answer.
“Ah, not this side but that Juhyeok… Was it? Wouldn’t it be faster to talk to him?”
From his speech, he seemed more capable than expected.
It was clear he hadn’t simply held his position for 20 years by luck.
‘He even anticipated that I wouldn’t personally come. Since only the two of us went on a mission once, he guessed Juhyeok is the most trusted.’
Taehoo instinctively traced back the thought.
Looking back, there were enough clues and several hints.
‘But that’s only something I can think of after experiencing everything firsthand.’
Taehoo knew better than anyone that from a third party’s perspective, such inference would be much harder.
In other words, discovering and piecing together the clues was purely Taehan’s ability.
Taehoo had no choice but to admit he had underestimated him.
“It seems we should have been the ones making the proposal.”
Taehoo sincerely added.
“I just wanted to show a bit of my ability.”
Taehan smiled gently at Taehoo’s words.
‘I’m really looking forward to how he will grow later…’
He thought with a smile.
Along with that, he pictured their future growing together.
[Look at that creepy smile. This old man. Didn’t he expect this kind of formal speech?]
Ba’al shivered as if the thought gave him goosebumps.
That was probably right.
Even if people from the family were wandering outside, there was no reason to suddenly show such politeness to him.
‘Besides, I didn’t ask for it. Under normal circumstances, this was likely to be our last meeting.’
But their meeting did not end as a one-time event.
Taehoo looked him in the eye.
It was a proposal that was not bad at all for Taehoo.
‘Juhyeok might settle his position faster than I expected.’
He thought that with Taehan’s help, it wouldn’t take long.
“As you expected, Juhyeok will take charge of Belial. I hope he will help you well with his experience.”
“Of course.”
The conversation ended on a good note.
He had come seeking just a reward but ended up with an unexpected gain.
Now all the matters in the sewer were truly over.
The Ganghwa Island incident was settled.
The presence of Belial and Dantalion surfaced due to the arena incident, giving the Nam Clan a legitimate reason to intervene in the sewer.
The arena was completely shut down, and many related people were dragged to the Nam Clan.
With the testimonies of frightened VIPs who had posted bail added in, the result was obvious.
The Black Market was also thoroughly monitored by the Nam Clan.
A storm had literally hit the ecosystem of the sewer.
But that wasn’t all.
[Testimonies in large numbers! Who is the man wearing the Gladiator Mask?]
[Head of Belial Kim Jin-tae. The Gladiator Mask targeting him—Is it to swallow Belial whole?]
[According to testimonies from the wealthy, he is said to possess considerable martial prowess…]
Headlines with such captions flooded the news.
The articles that started like this ended with stories about the Nam Clan.
[Korea’s absolute good and absolute evil two families exterminated!]
[Youngest of the Nam Clan leaves a great legacy!]
[The long-hidden Nam Taehoo, first to achieve for the family…]
“Khahah! Good, very good.”
Namjin, receiving the report from the Sanctuary, burst into a wide grin beyond mere satisfaction.
Nachal silently observed Namjin’s wild laughter.
It was a smile rarely seen in over a decade.
But lately, because of the youngest Young Master, Namjin had been smiling more than ever before.
“Good conquers evil! Isn’t it splendid, Nachal!”
“I didn’t expect Young Master to handle it so thoroughly and perfectly,” Nachal reported.
Namjin nodded with a “Yes, yes.”
He knew better than anyone that the mission was originally sent with the expectation of failure.
It was just that Taehoo’s ability was extraordinary.
Namjin’s mouth twitched into a slight smile again.
Yes, what can I do if my grandson is that talented?
He was proud of his grandson but concealed his expression as he spoke.
“The mission was certainly difficult. Was his name Kim Jin-tae? Level 23 and had the power of Belial as the Family Head.”
It was a truly unbelievable result, which is why he was so satisfied.
‘You always exceed my expectations.’
Now no further modifiers were necessary in his mind.
He was certain that no one else in his family would ever satisfy him like this again.
So he made up his mind.
“I need to visit the Main Family.”
Nachal was taken aback by Namjin’s sudden remark.
Namjin had never once mentioned going to the Main Family first, except for his birthday, since stepping into the Sanctuary.
“Why is that?”
Of course, he was curious.
“I need to hold Taehoo’s Coming-of-Age Ceremony sooner.”
“…!”
Nachal’s eyes widened in surprise.
Chosen early by the Constellation and the first time his power was verified was the Nam Clan’s Coming-of-Age Ceremony.
Unlike a festival, the verification was through Dungeon Clear.
A dangerous undertaking and unprecedented.
A clan member holding a Coming-of-Age Ceremony before actually becoming an adult.
“His elder brothers won’t just sit still.”
Nachal voiced his concern.
That was only natural.
The first and second brothers were already starting their succession battles within the family.
On top of that, Taehoo was going to have his ceremony first.
This incident in Ganghwa Island would definitely draw him deeper into the family’s faction fight.
Taehoo was more like a child the family had long discarded, and for recent years, he had secluded himself in the Sanctuary, repeatedly training.
Therefore, he didn’t belong to any faction supporting him within the family.
Even the events in the Sanctuary were only known to the current Family Head, Namjin, and the Suras.
It was premature.
That phrase naturally crossed Nachal’s mind.
And,
“I plan to officially announce that he has become my disciple.”
“…!”
Nachal immediately set aside his concerns at those words.
“There have been many who built achievements, even the Young Masters before him.”
Namjin’s eyes drifted as if recalling the past.
The Nam Clan was chosen by the Sword God and naturally talented.
Was there really no young blood that had built up great achievements before?
However,
“To say good conquers evil. This is the first to build achievements that satisfy me this much. Such achievements deserve rewards.”
Namjin smiled.
Taehoo’s Summoning Order had been issued by the family.
Thanks to that, Taehoo was now on his way to the family in a carriage.
He was glancing at some articles Namjin had seen on his phone.
[Wearing a mask and youngest of the family. He’s becoming quite the popular man?]
Ba’al chuckled while reading the headlines.
“Did you plan this?”
Nachal glanced at Taehoo’s phone and asked.
Could this young Young Master really have predicted and orchestrated all of this? The thought was too incredible to believe, so he asked again.
“The picture wasn’t bad, was it? I was a little lucky, but I think it’s fortunate things worked out well.”
Taehoo said casually.
‘Gladiator Mask… I handed it off to Juhyeok for now, but having a forged identity is not bad.’
At the same time,
—Arrived.
A brief voice prompt sounded, and the two rose.
The mansion was so huge it could well be called a fortress.
They had arrived at the Nam Clan’s Main Family.
‘It’s been a while.’
Though it was his home after returning from reincarnation, he had left quickly before.
And now, it was truly the first time in a long while he returned like this.
“Only the current Family Head knew that the Young Master was training under the lord…”
Nachal added.
“Well, that secret is meaningless now.”
Nachal sighed deeply.
The entrance to the Main Family was wider open than ever.
Housekeepers, servants, Hunters, Taehoo’s brothers, and the Family Head Namgoong.
And standing in their midst was Namjin, beaming.
Though this scene was created to welcome Taehoo, it was clearly a position made possible by Namjin’s authority.
‘I think Grandpa likes causing a commotion more than I do.’
Taehoo thought as he observed the scene.
Judging from the situation, it was probably common knowledge now that he had trained in the Sanctuary and had become Namjin’s disciple.
‘The third generation.’
Three generations in a row from Namjin Namgoong.
Taehoo scanned his brothers.
The third brother, Jiho.
A naturally gifted one, he had already grown tall.
His training had not been lazy, and his body was solidly built.
He had a few more scars on his face, and his tanned skin gave him the look of a local street tough.
Beside him, the second brother, Gyeonghwan.
Just as strong as Jiho, his face was even more menacing.
Placed side by side, they looked like a mob boss and his right-hand man.
But unlike passionate Jiho, he was known to be lazy about everything.
A personality that didn’t fit his fiery appearance.
Although, it was said he liked personal training.
And then the eldest brother, Jiuk.
Unlike his two younger brothers, he had a slender frame and milky white skin.
In fact, he was the brother who resembled Taehoo the most.
His narrow eyes, half-lidded, made it hard to read his thoughts.
‘We never really had a proper conversation in my previous life.’
Including the three brothers and himself as the youngest.
Three generations.
Taehoo’s thoughts continued.
‘Until the second generation, the eldest inherited the family. By the third, the rules should be breaking.’
Succession battle.
He had definitely stepped firmly onto that track.
Taehoo stepped forward toward Namjin.