Another day slipped by, helplessly.
Jiho, my twin brother, was the first to receive the power of the Holy Relic.
Next, it was Taehoo’s turn.
‘Will this really be okay?’
A single night was far too short to come up with a countermeasure.
In the end, the only choice was to face it head-on.
Namgoong watched Taehoo, who walked forward with a determined look.
Thump. Thump.
As Taehoo stepped toward the Holy Relic, his heart pounded rapidly.
‘This is the power I so desperately wanted…And now, I might be able to grasp not just one, but two powers at once.’
But Taehoo’s body trembled with tension.
He’d even considered running away last night.
But the lingering attachment was too great. It grabbed hold of him, refusing to let go.
So, should he stop here?
If he gave up the Sword God’s power, at least he wouldn’t be exposed for bearing the Demon’s Seal.
He’d be called a coward and mocked, but that was still better than being caught.
He could find another way to stay with the Nam Clan, relying on the memories of his past life.
After all, he was used to being called a half-blood.
But—
‘No. I don’t want that. I can’t do that.’
Taehoo grit his teeth.
This was a new life he’d been given.
In this life, he didn’t want to live with regrets. He didn’t want to leave anything unresolved.
Even if it meant dying!
‘Even if I get caught… I’ll do it.’
Step.
Taehoo stood before the Holy Relic.
The Holy Relic of the Sword God was, fittingly, a long-bladed sword.
For a moment, his fingertips trembled.
‘Don’t be afraid.’
He steadied his heart and placed his hand on the Holy Relic.
[The Constellation has become aware of your existence!]
[The Constellation is evaluating your potential!]
[Synchronization commencing.]
[1… 2… 5… 21… 31%…]
[…100%]
[The Constellation of the Sword has taken a liking to you!]
[You are awakening mana! Power is being awakened!]
‘Huh?’
Completely different messages from what he’d feared began to appear.
No—if anything, it was even more unexpected.
[A Sword Mark is being engraved on your arm!]
[Title ‘Coexistence of Good and Evil (Temporary)’ has been granted!]
It was as if the system was congratulating him for gaining two powers at once.
And then—
[Wow! You’ve finally awakened your mana?]
A voice Taehoo had heard just before dying echoed by his ear.
The sound he’d nearly forgotten in his memories came back to life.
‘Wh-what is this?’
Taehoo’s eyes trembled at the sudden situation.
[Hey, hey. So you’ve only just awakened your mana? You blockhead. Say something, will you?]
He looked down at his arm.
There, the petal-shaped mark symbolizing the Sword God was clearly engraved.
So, was this voice connected to that?
He’d never heard of such a thing from his father or brothers. Besides, this voice was the one he’d heard before dying…
As he reached that thought, a sharp, yelling voice rang in his ear.
[What the heck! Are you comparing me to a guy like that?]
‘A guy like that?’
This was the power Taehoo had longed for all his life. Yet, this voice dismissed it so easily. Then who are you?
[Mwahaha! Prepare to be amazed. I am none other than the Great Demon Ba’al!]
As if reading Taehoo’s mind, Ba’al spoke with overwhelming arrogance.
‘Wait, Ba’al?’
There was only one being that name could point to in Taehoo’s mind.
Ba’al, ranked first among the 72 demons.
In his previous life, the Dantalion House was at the very bottom of the demon hierarchy.
They’d clawed their way up through countless wars.
But Taehoo had now obtained the power of the number one demon without any effort.
‘So that’s why no one knew—it was because the House didn’t exist.’
Now, it all made sense why the Dantalion Head had searched so desperately for this stone.
The tales of the Dantalion Head destroying demon relics that didn’t belong to a House were famous.
[Yeah! If not for that, I would never have chosen a half-blood like you… Ha! My wretched fate.]
But Taehoo no longer heard those words.
‘This is…’
Taehoo clenched his fist.
‘Incredible!’
He rejoiced inwardly.
[What! Incredible?]
“Taehoo, are you planning to just stand there forever?”
As Taehoo organized his thoughts, Namgoong called out. Seeing his father’s face waiting below snapped him back to reality.
Ignoring Ba’al’s words for now, Taehoo walked over to Namgoong.
“So, you received the Selection safely too. Well done.”
Namgoong ruffled his ten-year-old son’s hair with a casual hand.
It was a gesture Taehoo had never experienced in his previous life.
Jiho, on the other hand, glared at them with burning eyes.
[The impudence of youth… Ha, it reminds me of the old days.]
Ba’al muttered to himself, watching Jiho’s glare.
[I used to pluck out the eyes of brats who looked at me like that. Made them all cross-eyed. Impressive, right?]
It was almost comical, like an old man reminiscing about his glory days.
It was a bit of a shock to realize that all those demons he’d just mentioned were ranked below Ba’al.
Ba’al’s status was starting to feel real.
But that wasn’t important now.
He’d confirmed that the two powers he’d worried about could coexist, and his father was now looking at him differently.
He’d secured a foothold to move to the next stage.
As if to prove it, Namgoong spoke.
“Tomorrow, your grandfather will come to the main house for his birthday. You know this, right?”
Taehoo nodded.
“He’s also coming to see both of you, who have undergone the clan’s test. Make sure you’re prepared. Understood?”
“Yes.”
Taehoo replied.
“Same goes for you, Jiho.”
“Y-yes, sir.”
Jiho, who had been glaring daggers at Taehoo, hastily answered.
In his previous life, he’d never even been allowed to meet the 1st Generation Hunter, the grandfather known as the embodiment of the Sword God, the reclusive master Namjin.
Now, that meeting was permitted.
Taehoo brushed off Jiho’s glare and returned to his room, unable to hide his excitement.
He’d finally succeeded in awakening as a Hunter, just as he’d always wished. He’d even gained a grand title.
How dazzling would his Stat Window be?
‘Stat Window.’
Taehoo silently invoked the command.
[Name: Nam Taehoo]
[LV: 1]
[Patron Constellations: ‘Sword God’, ‘Ba’al’]
[Title: Coexistence of Good and Evil (Temporary)]
[Hunter Rank: ??]
[Special: You are the first to coexist with good and evil! Due to this unprecedented variable, status calculation will be delayed!]
[Title: Coexistence of Good and Evil (Temporary)]
-Origin: ??
-Description: Good and evil coexist within your body! This is the first title of its kind! Status calculation will be delayed!
‘What?’
Even Taehoo hadn’t anticipated this.
Two separate notifications about delayed calculation.
That alone proved just how unique his situation was.
[Well, I chose you, so this much is to be expected.]
The one who’d just been ranting about his past now commented after seeing the Stat Window.
Ignoring Ba’al’s sudden shift, Taehoo opened the Skill Window.
[Infinite Sword Talent]
-Origin: Sword God
-Description: Grants you infinite talent with the sword. The Sword God blesses your future as a swordsman!
[Aura’s Blessing]
-Origin: Sword God
-Description: Grants the ability to turn mana into the ultimate sword edge—Aura! Train and train again. Cut down all who stand in your way!
These were the two signature skills one could obtain by inheriting the Sword God’s power.
Though essentially passive, these skills held limitless potential.
The more he trained and honed them, the stronger they would become!
It was no wonder the Nam Clan became Korea’s number one Hunter clan.
The Skill Window continued.
[Authority of the First Demon]
-Origin: Ba’al
-Description: You can accept the power of all Constellations! For one who has reached the peak through strength, you may wield all powers. This skill embodies Ba’al’s ever-changing heart!
[???]
-Origin: Ba’al
-Description: Locked.
[???]
-Origin: Ba’al
-Description: Locked.
It was an unbelievable number of skills for a level 1 Hunter.
The result of accepting two Constellations.
‘It’s a shame that two of the skills are still locked…
But that could be resolved as he grew stronger.
Moreover—
‘Authority of the First Demon… Even just this…!’
It was clear that this power allowed him to accept the Sword God’s strength.
In his previous life, Taehoo hadn’t gained any power. In this second life, he’d obtained the ability to accept all power.
Wasn’t this fate?
‘Even if it’s not, it doesn’t matter. This life will be different from the last.’
He would change everything. If his previous life was nothing, in this one, he would stand at the peak of Hunters, where none could look down on him.
Taehoo steeled his resolve, recalling his days living like a stray dog.
Meeting his grandfather would be the first step.
[So many locked skills! Two, no less! I must have made the wrong choice…]
Ba’al’s deflated voice echoed in Taehoo’s ear.
Just as the skills described, his fickle nature probably explained why he’d never managed to build a House.
Many demons became Constellations, and Ba’al was known as the number one demon among people.
But while other demons had shown themselves, Ba’al never did. It became a hot topic for a while.
A few unchosen humans had gone searching for Ba’al’s Holy Relic, hoping for a chance.
Of course, all those efforts were in vain, and so Ba’al as a Constellation faded from people’s memories.
If those who once searched for Ba’al found out this was what he was really like, they’d laugh it off as nonsense.
‘No, this isn’t the time for these thoughts.’
Taehoo pushed aside his wandering thoughts and Ba’al’s muttering.
Still, he asked what he was curious about.
‘Why did you choose me?’
Ba’al had never sought followers, even in the future of Taehoo’s previous life.
Taehoo couldn’t understand why he’d chosen a follower now.
[Did I really have a choice? I just followed the scent of Sword God’s blood…]
Wait, hadn’t he just called him ‘a mere guy’ before?
[Th-that’s… Did you expect the number one absolute evil to enjoy being paired with someone who can’t even make the top ten in absolute good?]
So that was the reason.
‘Then, is my regression your Authority?’
It was only natural to wonder, given the circumstances.
But the answer was completely unexpected.
[I have so many Authorities, I’m not even sure myself?]
What a boneheaded answer.
The 1st Generation Hunter, Namjin.
Founder of the Nam Clan, Taehoo’s grandfather. After retiring from active duty, he became a reclusive hermit. No one knew why he’d suddenly retired.
Step. Step.
Taehoo’s footsteps echoed down the long corridor.
‘Grandfather always does strange things with his grandchildren.’
The birthday visit to the main house was just an excuse.
‘In other words…’
Separate from the Qualification Test, Namjin would give his own test to his children and grandchildren.
Recalling these memories, Taehoo noticed Jiho standing in front of him, blocking his path.
Jiho stood there, glaring at Taehoo as if he wanted to kill him.
It was hard to believe a ten-year-old could radiate such murderous intent.
[There he goes again.]
Ba’al didn’t bother to hide his discomfort.
It seemed he was quite displeased that his chosen human was being glared at.
“What is it? Do you need something, brother?”
Of course he did—about that incident with the wooden sword.
“Anyone can pick up a wooden sword.”
Jiho spat out those words without hesitation.
‘What a simpleton.’
Taehoo thought, watching Jiho’s open hostility.
A child who didn’t realize that the moment you say something is easy for anyone, it becomes something special.
‘That’s you right now, little brat.’
Taehoo had grown too much to bother with childish squabbles.
“Well, shall we go in?”
In front of the clan’s reception room.
The place where the two of them stood was right before the meal prepared with their grandfather.
Taehoo couldn’t help but smile, imagining Jiho’s expression twisting during their grandfather’s test.
With that thought, Taehoo shot Jiho a glance and opened the reception room door.
The scene inside came into view.
Namjin sat at the seat of honor at the far end, with Namgoong to his left.
None of the other siblings were present. This meal was prepared only for Jiho and Taehoo.
Only Taehoo, who knew the truth, looked at Namjin with calm eyes.
Taehoo had only the experience of his previous life, but his current power was weak.
In this world, what happens to those without power? Taehoo had felt that misery all too keenly.
‘I must become strong.’
Only then could he avenge himself against the Dantalion House and survive in the clan. Only then could he repay the debts in his heart.
The one who could grant him power the fastest—
‘This time, I’ll become Grandfather’s disciple.’
Taehoo stepped forward.