Chapter 84: What Lies Hidden in the Demonic Mist (3)

”…”

Go Geonho stared into my eyes for a moment.

Countless emotions flickered across his gaze.

“I think I understand your heart, but it’s impossible. I can’t teach you Blood Magic. This is a different problem.”

“A different problem?”

“I disposed of all the skill books and items that activate the demonic blood passive skill long ago. They’re so dangerous, I burned them all.”

So that’s what it was.

The demonic blood passive skill is essential for casting Blood Magic.

Without a way to acquire demonic blood, learning Blood Magic was impossible from the start.

“I understand,” I replied, nodding quietly.

I had initially focused more on acquiring Blood Magic than the gift when visiting Daehwa Island. But now that this was the situation, I had no intention of clinging to the idea.

”…”

Go Geonho, however, remained silent, frozen in place, as if his mind had wandered to some distant place in that brief moment.

“Nine Heavens Bone King?”

“Hmm.”

His previously unfocused eyes regained their sharpness.

“Let’s descend.”

Go Geonho resumed walking, his face now as pale as a corpse in the short span of time.

We descended the stairs for thirty minutes.

Just as I was beginning to wonder if the mansion had a bomb shelter built beneath it, we finally arrived at our destination.

“Remarkable,” I murmured, gazing at the scene before me.

Under the glow of special luminous stones, a vast space stretched out. Rows of bookshelves filled with secret manuals, artifact display cases, and weapon storage units lined the walls.

Manager Mi’s chat message, delivered with obvious interest, said it all. This was the same guy who had dismissed Shinwa’s state-of-the-art training room as a “chicken coop.”

Go Geonho offered a wry smile. “Compared to Hwarang’s Treasure Pavilion, Cheongyeon’s Secret Scripture Library, or Shinwa’s Precious Artifact Hall, this place is rather humble.”

That comparison was a bit unfair.

The Secret Vaults Go Geonho mentioned were already renowned throughout Korea. If we limit the scope to privately-owned Secret Vaults, there would be only a handful of this scale in Korea, let alone the entire world.

“I’ve prepared your inauguration gift here.”

Near the entrance stood a glass display case lined with luxurious red velvet. Inside, three items were on display.

“Choose one of these. I’d love to give you all of them, but they come with penalties when used, so that’s not possible.”

A skull with sunken eye sockets, green flames flickering within.

A single-edged blade radiating an ominous purple aura.

A crimson heart pulsating as if still alive.

As I activated the Item Analyzer to examine each one individually…

“Ah, let me get my bearings. My excitement got ahead of me, and I skipped the explanation. Let’s start with this, then.”

“The Skull of Magnus.”

“Hmm?”

Go Geonho’s eyes widened as he subconsciously read the information from the Item Analyzer.

“How did you know?”

Ah.

“I saw an identical item online before.”

”…Really? That’s strange. This type of item shouldn’t spread information so easily.”

I see.

An S-Class Item with a unique skill.

It was on a completely different level compared to items whose information had spread online.

The other two, the Holy Toxin Spear and the Heart of Vulcanus, were the same.

It was more than enough for a congratulatory gift.

These artifacts were so precious that an ordinary hunter would be crawling on their knees in gratitude.

Yes, that’s true, but…

The only thought that came to my mind was:

It would be terribly rude to accept them for free, but…

“It seems all these artifacts exert great power in close combat.”

The Holy Toxin Spear was a weapon combining two rare attributes: Drain and Corruption.

Bukanus’s Heart was a buff item that hardened the skin, allowing it to repel light physical attacks.

“That’s right,” Go Geonho nodded in agreement.

“From the B-rank Promotion Examination footage and your sparring match with the Vice Guild Leader, it seems you specialize in intercepting opponents at range and supporting your Summoned Beasts.”

During the Promotion Examination, I used the Archmage’s Fireball.

And in the sparring match with Jo Yongtae, I entrusted everything to Iratu.

“Hunters with that style tend to get overwhelmed when forced into close combat or chaotic battles.”

“You’re right.”

That’s why he chose an artifact to compensate for my lack of close combat skills.

At least, that’s what it should have been.

It’s simply unrealistic for someone to be proficient in Magic System skills, Summon skills, and close combat all at once.

But… though it’s hard for me to say it myself, I’m actually proficient in all of them.

To put it kindly, I’m a jack-of-all-trades. To put it bluntly, I’m a jackass.

Even in the area where I was most confident—close combat.

”…That’s what I initially thought,” Go Geonho said, having been observing me. “But seeing you now, it seems I was mistaken. You seem quite confident in close combat as well.”

“Ah.”

“You presented a rather outdated image. My previous experiences have made my thinking too narrow, or perhaps I underestimated your abilities.”

“No, it’s not that. You were actually considering my needs.”

“Hmm, then how about this? You can choose an item directly from this treasury. Whatever you want, just one.”

“Is that really okay?”

“Of course.”

Honestly, it felt shameless.

I stared at the 300-pyeong (about 1,000 square meters) treasury spread out before me.

“Understood.”

There were simply too many artifacts to feel guilty about choosing one.

“Hmm, there are certainly many excellent items here.”

One hour later, I muttered as I held the Item Analyzer up to the robe hanging on the stand.

Despite the penalty, this item would easily fetch over a hundred million won at auction.

But I turned away.

“My standards have been raised by Parsley Market.”

“That’s true too.”

I had hoped there might be an item or skill book related to Blood Magic, but as Go Geonho said, there was nothing to be found.

“In that case, I’ll have to settle for something.”

Still, after browsing for an hour, I’d spotted a few decent items.

Just then…

The Status Window’s “Flash” function detected a hidden activation device.

A “Flash” function?

Surprised, I checked the Status Window.

Go Geonho had excused himself to check on the meal preparations.

Should I try it?

Activating the “Flash” function…

A bright light erupted from the Status Window, illuminating the front of the room.

Behind the bookshelf filled with various Undead Skill books, a small hole in the wooden wall began to glow, drawing attention.

I slowly approached the hole and inserted my finger inside. I felt something that felt like a switch.

After a moment’s hesitation, I pressed it.

Click.

Krrrrrrm!

The wooden walls split apart on both sides, revealing a hidden glass case.

A book?

Inside the glass case lay a thick book. Its black leather cover, worn and stained with age, bore a golden six-pointed star with a red eye at its center. There were no other distinguishing features.

The moment I directed the Analyzer towards the book…

Huh?

My eyes widened.

A forbidden tome containing spells that require blood as a price. The owner can wield Blood Magic, but they must pay the price.

Thirty years ago, during the early days of the Great Change, the survival of humanity and Earth hung in the balance.

Demonic beasts and mythological monsters emerged from dungeons that eroded the earth, from the depths of the sea, and through gates opened in thin air. These creatures were too overwhelming for humanity to confront at the time, becoming a catastrophe that made humans realize they were worth less than insects.

Yet even then, there were those who fought to protect what was theirs: their own lives, someone’s mother, a beloved daughter, a young son, anyone weaker than themselves. This drove them to seek power—the power to withstand this unprecedented calamity, the power to trample demonic beasts and hunt demons.

That’s what I had to do back then.

Even if it meant gaining that power by selling myself to another demon.

Even if it meant carrying that demon within me for a lifetime.

I’m hungry.

And so.

At the demon’s whisper, the man who had once been a hero frowned and fell silent.

The ‘soul’ from last time was utterly wretched. The quantity was pitiful. To put it in your terms, it barely scratched the surface.

The voice was hoarse, yet unstable, as if teetering on the brink of madness. It was as if it revealed the demon’s true nature.

Go Geonho stood in the dim hallway of the mansion, quietly gazing out the window.

The whisper originated within him.

Therefore, as he watched the moonlight streaming through the window, Go Geonho replied.

“It must be the soul I released through the Soul Eater. You weren’t just some worthless wretch destined to die anyway. Still, I apologize. I awakened your slumber too soon.”

It’s been a long time since I’ve woken up from hunger, but I’m fine.

The voice, distorted by madness, chuckled softly, as if amused.

Thanks to that, I got to witness something truly remarkable, didn’t I?

”…”

Lee Taejun, wasn’t it? The Nine Heavens Bone King. If you were…

“That will never happen,” Go Geonho replied quietly but firmly.

“The contract was made between you and me alone. I will never burden others with my responsibilities.”

Yes, that’s what I expected from you. You’re just too stubbornly old-fashioned and outdated.

”…”

“Well, since you’re so resolute, I won’t bother Lee Taejun. It seems he holds considerable meaning for you.”

The mocking voice continued coldly:

“But remember this: I don’t often propose new deals.”

With that, the voice fell silent.

I knew.

This was unprecedented—the “demon” showing interest in someone else.

Even among the heroes who had saved the world during the Great Change, he had merely snorted and gone back to sleep.

Even when he met the leaders of the Big Three Guilds and Seo Yeon-hwa, he had merely snorted and gone back to sleep.

Yet this entity was now proposing a new deal.

The moment he confirmed Taejun, who had come seeking instruction in Blood Magic.

The demon just had to wake up at that moment.

It couldn’t be simply due to hunger from lacking spiritual energy.

But…

”…That will never happen.”

Go Geonho repeated the words to himself, as if to reinforce them.

Even though he had fallen for the demon’s trick and signed an absurd contract, this burden was the result of his own choice.

He would never shift this burden onto someone innocent, especially onto the benefactor who had raised the last remaining legacy he possessed.

No.

Not even onto the vicious criminals he had previously thrown to the demon as food.

“You’re certainly a stubbornly old-fashioned human,” Go Geonho muttered to himself, almost wryly.

He resumed walking and soon reached his Secret Vault, where he opened the door.

When Gu Jianho opened the door, Taejun was standing right in front of it.

“Hunter Taejun. Did you have a pleasant look around?”

“Yes. There were certainly many precious artifacts in your Secret Vault, Nine Heavens Bone King.”

“I would gladly give you everything if I could. But most of the artifacts I possess come with penalties.”

Taejun nodded calmly.

“Have you made your choice?”

“Yes.”

“Let’s see it then.”

Taejun smiled and revealed the item he had been holding.

“Here it is.”

“Hmm?”

The Nine Heavens Bone King’s eyes widened as he examined the item.

“You chose this…?”

“Yes.”

Taejun answered with a bright smile.

“This is more than enough for me.”