Chapter 9: Soul’s Revelation (2/2)

Evan casually walked around the training ground, glancing around.

The reason he chose this place was to observe how the lowest-ranked 10th-level knights behaved.

‘If I recruit anyone, it’ll likely be one of these guys.’

Evan preferred talented individuals, but even more important to him were desperation and personality.

The ones with those qualities were the ones who lasted the longest under him.

It was a lesson he’d learned during his life as a Hunter.

‘At the very least, someone who can handle mana to some degree. Skill can be trained through experience anyway.’

Just as Evan was observing the training ground, he spotted a group of knights gathered in one area.

“Alan, what’s going on over there?”

Evan pointed with his hand.

Alan turned his gaze and frowned.

“It looks like there’s a dispute over training time. I think the 10th-rank knights are being treated unfairly.”

“Really?”

Evan watched with interest.

***

Two 4th-rank knights and a group of 10th-rank knights surrounded a training instructor.

“Sir! This is ridiculous!”

“This is unfair! We’ve been waiting for a week! Didn’t you promise us, sir?”

A young man with blue hair, somewhat well-known among the 10th-rank knights, was speaking up with two others as representatives.

The instructor had originally scheduled a training session with the 10th-rank group.

But two 4th-rank knights, who were about to take the promotion test for 3rd rank, had asked to be prioritized, disrupting the schedule.

To any bystander, the situation looked extremely unfair.

But within this system, the disadvantages of lower ranks were simply the reality.

Kerthen House’s goal was to raise elite talents.

The instructor replied without a hint of emotion.

“I’m sorry, but we can always schedule you for another time, can’t we? These two knights are on the verge of becoming advanced-level knights. Their training is more urgent. For today, just do individual practice.”

Delays could stretch on indefinitely.

And for 10th-rank knights, it was uncertain when the next training opportunity might come.

They were desperate too.

They tried pleading, arguing, and fighting to claim their right.

Alan gave a bitter smile.

“There just aren’t enough instructors for the shared training grounds. And from the instructors’ perspective, teaching a few 10th-rank knights is less valuable than helping someone close to promotion. They need results too…”

Evan, however, wasn’t all that interested.

The weak simply had no choice in these kinds of power struggles.

What he cared about was the subordinates he’d work with in the future.

“Right. More importantly, do you see anyone promising among them?”

Evan asked Alan while beginning to channel mana.

He slowly concentrated it into his eyes.

“Huh? Someone promising…?”

Alan looked thoughtful as he examined the group of 10th-rank knights.

Meanwhile, Evan continued to sense mana, regulating its flow through his body.

‘Not sure if it’ll work… but I used to do this every day in the old world.’

What Evan was attempting was to awaken the Eye of Perception—the ability to see the flow of mana.

Originally, he had planned to try this later.

But now, if he wanted to assess someone’s potential, it was a necessity.

Back in his previous world, he had used this technique frequently to evaluate opponents’ mana and skill.

It helped him detect lies, uncover hidden strength, and deal with assassins more than once.

‘This might be for the best. It’s a skill I was going to need eventually.’

Evan kept focusing mana into his eyes.

Soon, blood vessels began to surface in them.

‘As expected, my body isn’t keeping up.’

His mind and body felt disconnected again.

The body couldn’t keep up with what his brain was instructing.

Still, it wasn’t impossible.

Evan recalled his memories from his previous life.

Just like when he first awakened the Eye of Perception.

‘No need to rush… slow and steady.’

Things seemed to be going smoothly—until something felt off.

Evan tried to rely on his past senses and memories.

But the more he did, the more disjointed his mind and body became.

Then he sensed something unfamiliar—an alien sensation within the flow of mana.

No, not unfamiliar.

It was something he had felt before, somewhere.

A moment later, Evan realized what it was.

‘Wait… this is the same feeling I had when I took the Elixir of Rebirth and entered a new body.’

It was the spiritual energy hidden inside the mana.

The force moving the mana in his body was his soul.

At that moment, a message window appeared before Evan.

[You have discovered the Hidden Piece of the Conqueror: ‘The Secret of the Soul.’]

It was a holographic window he had never seen before—similar to the first time he saw the body slot interface.

‘What is this…?’

As Evan stared in surprise, more information about the Hidden Piece appeared.

***

[The Secret of the Soul]

[Description: Through reincarnation, you have gained awareness of your soul’s senses. Your exceptional talent and sensitivity have allowed you to feel those senses even in a new body. You have discovered knowledge beyond human understanding. Though your body is different, your soul remains unchanged and unified. Your soul possesses its own level, and there exists a pure power that your soul alone can use.]

[The Conqueror’s Shared Skill Window has been unlocked.]

[You have acquired the Conqueror’s Shared Skill: [Spirit Eye].

[You have acquired the Conqueror’s Shared Skill: [Conqueror’s Intuition].

***

All Evan had done was recall memories and senses from his previous life.

Normally, these techniques were impossible without reaching a high level of mastery.

But somehow, a new power had been unlocked.

‘Pure power that only the soul can use… The Conqueror’s shared skill window…’

Evan couldn’t hide his amazement.

Up until now, he had only acquired skills tied to his body.

But these were skills acquired by the soul itself.

In other words, no matter which body he reincarnated into next, he would be able to use these skills from level 1.

For Evan, it was an extraordinary revelation.

He quickly opened the Conqueror’s Shared Skill Window.

***

[Spirit Eye]

[Skill Level: F]

[Type: Active]

[Cost: 50 Health and 50 Mana per use, requires high mental focus]

[Cooldown: None]

[Effect: Allows you to see souls. You can examine the soul status window of a designated target.]

[Conqueror’s Intuition]

[Type: Passive]

[Cost: None]

[Cooldown: None]

[Effect: Enables you to sense the soul and harness spiritual power.]

***

These were skills Evan had never seen before.

He’d have to try them out to learn exactly what they did.

For now, he stopped trying to activate the Eye of Perception.

‘The only one I can use immediately is Spirit Eye. I’ll test out Conqueror’s Intuition later.’

Evan turned his gaze back toward the group of 10th-rank knights.

Alan, still deep in thought, seemed to have made up his mind and pointed someone out.

“What about that guy? He seems to have a sense of responsibility and justice. Leads his group too. And he has a good personality, Young Master.”

“The one speaking out front?”

“Yes.”

Evan looked at the knight Alan was pointing at and activated Spirit Eye.

His health and mana were simultaneously drained.

Accompanied by a strange sensation and pain.

‘Ugh, the dizziness…’

Now he understood what they meant by “requires high mental focus.”

[Spirit Eye activated.]

A moment later, a status window appeared in front of him.

***

[Kerwel Avna]

[Alignment: Good]

[Race: Human]

[Gender: Male]

[Affinity: 0%]

[Potential: Spearmanship, Archery, Leadership]

[Known Skills: Piercing Thrust Lv.5, Mana Sensitivity Lv.1, Mana Control Lv.2]

[You may access this soul’s memories.]

***

All the details were revealed—from skills to alignment to potential.

“This is amazing.”

Alan nodded at Evan’s reaction.

“So you like him, then?”

“No.”

“What?”

Alan stared at Evan in disbelief.

He had just praised the guy, and now he was rejecting him?

But Evan frowned at him.

“Do you really have no eye for people?”

Alan scratched his head, not understanding what he did wrong.

Evan turned his attention back to the group of 10th-rank knights.

Since using the skill was taxing, he couldn’t afford to use it too many times.

‘I’ll need to narrow it down first and then make a final pick.’

Evan observed the group carefully.

The ones who spoke up for their rights.

Those who supported them quietly.

Those who only pretended to support.

‘And the ones who stood back and watched in silent resignation.’

Evan focused his Spirit Eye on those who had given up.

[Spirit Eye activated.]

[Spirit Eye activated.]

And then—

‘Found one.’

A smile crept onto Evan’s lips.