Right after the fight ended, Taehoo regained consciousness.
However, the scene before his eyes was not that of the Arena.
He sat up to get his bearings. Considering how he felt before collapsing, he expected to feel pain—but there was none.
He rose lightly and looked around.
“This place……”
It was definitely somewhere he had been before.
As his foggy mind cleared, it wasn’t difficult to recall exactly where he was.
“The Sanctuary of Belial?”
Taehoo’s eyes widened.
The moments before losing consciousness replayed in his mind.
[The power of Constellation ‘Belial’ is forcibly maintained!]
He also remembered seeing a message like that.
‘So, it’s trying to force things, wanting to talk before killing me?’
Taehoo didn’t know that Ba’al had exercised his authority through his body. To him, the situation was naturally puzzling. No, before that, it was absurd.
‘To think someone would ignore the Quest conditions like that.’
He hadn’t anticipated it.
‘Still, was stalling successful? By the narrowest margin?’
Belial was in such a precarious state that he dreaded close-quarters combat.
Forcing him to maintain control meant he couldn’t hold it for long.
Thus, Taehoo’s deduction was quite reasonable.
‘No matter what, this situation can’t be bad for me.’
What Taehoo needed was time to persuade Belial, and this was certainly a place for conversation.
[Why the long face full of worries?]
A man with characteristic red hair appeared—Belial.
[What’s that reaction? Haven’t you heard anything from Ba’al yet?]
Taehoo, puzzled, watched as Belial seemed to find the answer on his own.
“What do you mean?”
[You’ll know when you return. I heard you wanted to talk to me.]
Only then did Taehoo realize what Ba’al must have done.
‘I can just ask when I get back.’
He needed to focus on the present situation. If Ba’al had created this opportunity, he couldn’t afford to lose it.
“Alright. But don’t you think you’re a bit shameless?”
[I lost my temper for a moment…]
Taehoo opened his bleary eyes and scrutinized Belial.
He shook off the lingering haze, steadied his mind, and assessed what was given.
He couldn’t tell exactly what had happened, and though the Constellation had the nerve to show such a shameless face, he was nonetheless given a chance to talk.
And since the place was Belial’s Sanctuary, not the Arena,
‘It’s safe to assume Jin-tae Kim is dead.’
Moreover, Belial seemed to have regained some composure.
He didn’t know what trick Ba’al had played, but
‘You’re quite impressive.’
Taehoo thought as if speaking to Ba’al.
Yet, there was no reply.
Considering Ba’al’s usual incessant chatter when they’d visited here before, it was surprising.
‘This situation is really unpredictable…’
What had happened while he was unconscious? Taehoo suppressed his curiosity.
If Jin-tae was dead, it wasn’t Taehoo who was in urgent need—it was Belial.
He had lost his first vassal, and the heir was still uncertain.
Taehoo knew where Belial’s Holy Relic was, and considering Dantalion had been destroying these Relics, Belial was in a tight spot.
Belial must have been aware of this now that he’d regained his senses.
“So, you’re finally willing to talk?”
[Yeah…]
Belial replied immediately.
It was a satisfactory answer.
Taehoo’s mind started working fast.
He had to claim the reward for his efforts, didn’t he?
Taehoo spoke up.
“Give me the power that Kim Jin-tae used.”
He picked the best among them—the skills Jin-tae used against Dantalion’s Hunters.
They were definitely highly practical abilities. He shuddered to think what would have happened if Jin-tae had faced him head-on instead of by ambush.
It was a terrifying power, just as he imagined.
Taehoo wanted it.
‘This is what’s good about other Constellations’ skills.’
The Sword God’s skills varied depending on the individual player or Hunter’s ability.
And those abilities had to be acquired through thorough training.
Just like Taehoo had painstakingly trained under Namjin in the Sword God’s Sanctuary.
Most of his Sword God skills came from training at Cheonjoongsu.
In contrast, other Constellation skills could be obtained relatively easily like this.
‘Of course, how well one uses them depends on individual talent.’
To be able to receive skills like this was something else entirely.
Belial mulled over Taehoo’s words and laughed bitterly, as if it were ridiculous.
[Those skills are only granted to the vassals I trust most. I don’t think we’re that close.]
His words were laced with thorns.
He was calling out Taehoo for betraying him once already.
“I promise it won’t happen again. Besides… you need an heir too, don’t you?”
Taehoo tossed out a bait.
[I have no intention of entrusting my heir to Ba’al’s vassal.]
He was certain his own power would be overshadowed otherwise.
Still, he didn’t deny the need for an heir.
That alone was enough.
“If not me?”
Taehoo pressed.
[What?]
Belial took the bait.
Taehoo continued.
“Since you descended and showed yourself in the human world, Dantalion must have noticed you for sure. So finding the Holy Relic’s location isn’t far off.”
Even if it wasn’t him, Belial was inevitably in danger. Taehoo reminded him of that.
[So?]
Belial looked at Taehoo as if daring him to say more.
“So here’s my proposal. If you transfer the abilities Jin-tae received to me, I’ll introduce you to the perfect heir.”
As expected, Belial’s top priority was his clan’s prosperity and that of his vassals.
Among them, Jin-tae was the one human who best fulfilled that goal.
And Jin-tae fit Belial’s purpose the best.
That was why Belial hadn’t given up.
Plus, Jin-tae had served him devotedly, which earned him a bit more favor.
But if the successor was certain? Or better yet, if it guaranteed even greater prosperity?
‘My vassal is already dead. It’s spilled milk. Changing course wouldn’t be hard.’
That was Taehoo’s expectation.
[Well then, let’s hear it.]
As expected, Belial didn’t flatly reject Taehoo’s offer.
Belial knew Taehoo well, having closely observed Jin-tae’s side.
And the children Ba’al had glimpsed through Jin-tae’s eyes.
Belial had liked one of them.
Did Taehoo realize that far?
“Nam Juhyeok. Make him Jin-tae’s successor. I’ll help your clan prosper.”
The first to receive Belial’s power and the child who refused Dantalion.
On top of that, he had potential comparable to Jin-tae.
Belial was surprised that Taehoo had the same thought.
If Taehoo didn’t take Juhyeok to the Sword God family, then from Belial’s perspective, Juhyeok was a sure heir.
But—
[You’re casually saying you want to swallow my entire clan… and on top of that, you want Jin-tae’s powers?]
Belial spoke curtly, masking his emotions.
Taehoo smiled faintly.
“So can you refuse this offer?”
Laughter burst from Belial.
It was a resigned smile tinged with disbelief.
Belial laughed for a while before finally speaking.
[You really are a shameless vassal.]
A shamelessness that felt like thick iron plating.
And the undeniable power to back it up.
If not for Ba’al’s vassal, Belial honestly preferred Taehoo’s side over Juhyeok’s.
But Belial knew such a thing was impossible.
He suppressed his feelings.
Indeed, from Belial’s viewpoint, Taehoo’s proposal was irresistible.
His talents were outstanding, and among the two who knew Jin-tae’s plans best, one was Juhyeok.
Yet a problem remained.
[How do you plan to recover the money you intended to use to cover the costs this time?]
Belial already knew Taehoo belonged to the Sword God’s vassals.
And he knew the Sword God family’s position in Korea.
Jin-tae had planned to cover the minimum costs to rebuild the clan through this VIP kidnapping.
But that plan was effectively ruined.
With this plan falling through, the funds had to come from elsewhere.
But Taehoo was the Sword God’s scion.
He couldn’t possibly secure funds for a demon clan.
So the question was how to fill that gap.
“If you accept my proposal, you won’t have to worry about that.”
Taehoo answered Belial’s question confidently.
‘He hasn’t failed once in front of me.’
Taehoo had succeeded perfectly at everything.
That was an undeniable fact, just from looking at him now.
‘Besides, I have no other choice.’
In the end, Belial had no choice but to trust Taehoo’s confidence.
[I’m completely beaten.]
Both in battles between Constellations and fights among vassals,
Belial had to admit defeat.
He shook his head as if acknowledging that he’d lost.
At the same time—
“Ugh!”
Taehoo’s face twisted in pain as something pierced his arm.
He rolled up his sleeve to check and saw Belial’s insignia glowing.
A message followed.
[Constellation ‘Belial’ accepts your proposal!]
[Skill ‘Shadow Puppetry’ acquired!]
As the skill’s power seeped into his body, the insignia on Taehoo’s arm changed from a mere scar into the figure of a small standing puppet.
[That insignia is normally only given to the head of the clan.]
Belial grumbled.
[You better keep this promise. Otherwise, you’ll see what a Constellation prepared to die is capable of.]
Belial’s warning was sincere.
Taehoo knew it wasn’t a joke.
But it wasn’t something he needed to worry about.
He had no reason to break his promise.
“I promise.”
Reaffirming his vow, Taehoo floated up.
Then he disappeared from the Sanctuary.
As Taehoo vanished,
[Cough!]
Belial coughed hard, the tension breaking, and blood spilled from his mouth.
[Hah, this is really damn exhausting…]
Unless he wanted to go to the same place as Jin-tae, Belial knew he seriously needed rest now.