Chapter 119

I quickly racked my brain to come up with an appropriate response. Then, I finally opened my mouth, choosing the safest option.

“I think it’s perfectly fine.”

“Really? Is it okay even though I’m a direct descendant and I’m like this?”

“That’s for you to decide.”

“…I knew you’d say that. But I still wanted to check at least once.”

Hwang Hyeyeon, who said that, smiled happily. Not a trace of worry or hesitation could be found on her face anymore.

After somehow getting past that crisis and continuing the meal, I was also able to gather some information about what happened last year.

“So these days, I’ve stepped back from the successor position and am preparing for a different life. I did find something that suits my aptitude after looking around, just like you said back then.”

Her somewhat sentimental attitude made the atmosphere turn solemn for a moment.

However, that didn’t last long either.

“…Still, I think I like the present better. It’s much better than being stuck on a problem with no end in sight.”

After finishing the meal like that, I stepped outside for a bit to digest, and Hwang Jihak spoke to me.

“Thank you. It’s entirely thanks to you that my sister’s expression has brightened up like this.”

“It wasn’t anything special.”

“No. It must have had meaning precisely because it was your words, coming from a similar situation.”

Listening to Hwang Jihak’s words afterward, I finally roughly understood the whole situation.

The two, born as twins of the direct bloodline in the family.

However, with vastly different talents, they had suffered much gossip, and it seemed that had escalated into conflict between them.

It was then, of all people, that Han Kangyoon had helped resolve the feelings between the two.

‘So this is what they meant by being indebted to me.’

It seemed Hwang Hyeyeon had since put down the work of an Exorcist, found her own aptitude, and set new goals.

Certainly, within a noble family rife with schemes and power struggles, having even family relationships disrupted must have been extremely painful.

Since he prevented that in advance, it was understandable that Hwang Jihak felt grateful.

“Although there were some complaints mixed in, those are matters that will be resolved once I establish my position. My sister will be able to live her life with a light heart.”

“…I’m glad it seems to have been resolved well.”

“Truly. I never thought we could restore our relationship like this even last year.”

Hwang Jihak nodded with a satisfied expression.

Then he spoke to me again.

“I heard various things from Elder Jincheol. He said you’re building a foundation in advance to accomplish even greater things in the future.”

“……”

Well, it wasn’t exactly wrong, but had I ever said such a thing to Hwang Jincheol?

As I tilted my head in confusion, Hwang Jihak conveyed his solemn resolve.

“I will soon become an Elder of the Hwang Family.”

“……”

“When that time comes, I will gladly help whenever you need it.”

That was a very kind thing to say. But on the other hand, it felt awkward to accept it readily.

“It would be hard to handle.”

The things I’m planning to do from now on would hardly seem normal from others’ perspectives.

Moreover, by the time Hwang Jihak becomes a family Elder, even I can’t guess how the situation will have unfolded.

However, Hwang Jihak showed an affirmative intention without hesitation even to that question.

“As long as it doesn’t go against my convictions, anything is fine.”

An upright attitude as if lifted straight from the original work’s description, yet it also concealed a flexibility not easily discernible.

He was truly a talent with no shortcomings to be called the next Elder of a noble family.

I chuckled softly and nodded.

“Then I won’t refuse.”

Thinking that if a day ever truly comes when we join forces, that wouldn’t be so bad.

‘Shall I go find this side first now?’

Since I’ve roughly spent some time with the Hwang Jihak siblings, it’s about time to check on other matters.

Leaving Hwang Jihak’s residence and moving on, I was able to meet Hwang Jincheol, who was waiting for me at the magnificent mansion located in the central area of the district.

“So it’s you, I see. How pleasant.”

“It’s been a while. I heard you were looking for me, Elder.”

“Nothing major. I just wanted to have a light conversation about the progress of our work and future plans.”

Although we had been in steady contact since starting the Simple Barrier Stone transactions, this was only the second time meeting face-to-face again.

Hwang Jincheol, with a benevolent smile, first expressed surprise regarding the matter of the Death Black Stone.

“To have actually handled that cursed object… frankly, I was quite surprised.”

“Fortunately, things worked out as I had thought.”

“Having possessed the item directly, I well know the extent of that achievement. It’s not something that could be done by luck alone.”

If what he showed during our first meeting was a gaze of scrutiny, the current Hwang Jincheol was going a step further, showing signs of gauging the scale of my capacity.

Hwang Jincheol, with a meaningful expression, continued.

“As I mentioned in our previous communication, the Simple Barrier Stone has roughly entered the mass production stage.”

“Yes. It’s progressing at an even faster pace than I had targeted.”

“With various verifications completed, it shouldn’t take too long until practical application.”

I don’t know much about that part, but by this point, it seems to be a sufficiently smooth situation.

‘It’ll be January soon, right?’

Roughly gauging the timing, I slightly raised my head and posed a question to Hwang Jincheol.

“In that case, how long do you think it will take to become widely available to the general public?”

“That would depend on what level of distribution you aim for. While its value is sufficient in itself, having it widely recognized by the masses is no easy task.”

Well, that was the correct argument.

Although citizens constantly live close to the threat of Specters, one cannot assume that simply releasing a product means everyone will need it.

From here on, it truly depends on Hwang Jincheol’s capabilities as well.

“I’ll leave it in your good hands. To increase the distribution rate, you may use all profits due to me.”

“All of it?”

It wasn’t an ordinary proposal. But I nodded without hesitation. After all, with Seo Jian’s help, money wouldn’t be something I’d be seriously lacking.

Hwang Jincheol, who seemed to be weighing something for a long while, showed an uncharacteristically somewhat flustered expression and said to me.

“I had a suspicion, but now I know for sure.”

“……”

“You believe that the Night Parade of One Hundred Specters Crisis will occur again someday, don’t you?”

Exactly so.

Knowing the original story, I can be certain.

That the worst calamity that plunged people into terror over a decade ago will return someday.

‘And not just once, but twice.’

As I nodded quietly, Hwang Jincheol’s eyes widened.

I too had only seen it in text and never experienced the actual situation, but Hwang Jincheol’s reaction made me feel the gravity of the crisis.

“…What made you think that? In reality, such a crisis hasn’t occurred for over a decade.”

Hwang Jincheol’s doubt was justified. While the exact cause of the Night Parade of One Hundred Specters Crisis hasn’t been clarified to this day, current experts have firmly stated that such a crisis will not occur again.

However, from my position of knowing the future, nothing is more laughable than that.

Whether it’s a desire to show off or to reassure the public, there’s no way to know, but at the very least, all such opinions are wrong. That much is certain.

“The Night Parade of One Hundred Specters Crisis will definitely occur again someday.”

My words, filled with conviction as if I had seen the future, made Hwang Jincheol look flustered.

I didn’t stop there and continued.

“Rather, this time, the damage might be even greater than before.”

“…That’s hard to accept easily.”

“You don’t have to believe it. It’s just what I think.”

Still, having said this much, Hwang Jincheol must have clearly recognized the seriousness of my attitude.

In the end, he nodded and gave me his answer.

“I understand. Regarding the distribution matter, I’ll do my utmost.”

“Thank you, Elder.”

“Well, as a merchant, it’s not that I don’t have various regrets…”

Hwang Jincheol, who took a sip of tea, soon changed the light in his gaze.

“Somehow, I get the feeling that you’re worth investing in a bit more.”

“……”

If Hwang Jincheol felt that way, it’s nothing bad for me.

After all, he is a major player in the Cursed Arts Industry and a prominent figure holding a position even within the Hwang Family, one of the Three Great Noble Families.

I continued the conversation with Hwang Jincheol for a while longer after that.

During the process, I could also hear information about Hwang Sejin, who had clashed with the previous Han Kangyoon.

“That fellow is one of the candidates for the next Elder. He’s twenty-four this year and is called a prodigy in some circles. However, his characteristically sharp personality divides opinions within the family.”

“…I see.”

“He has a tendency to look down on Exorcists not from noble families, so your compatibility with him might not be good at all.”

Since I heard from Hwang Jihak that they had already clashed once, that statement is certainly an objective assessment.

Thinking it’s better to avoid meeting him if possible, I left Hwang Jincheol’s mansion and returned to where Hwang Jihak was.

‘Now the minor matters are roughly finished.’

So now, it was time to achieve the biggest purpose for coming here.

“Right here. It’s the most secluded and energy-abundant spot in this vicinity.”

“Thanks for guiding me. Can you stand guard for a bit as I asked?”

With Hwang Jihak’s help, having found a Spiritual Spot located within the family’s territory, I looked for a suitable spot to sit down and made a request to Hwang Jihak.

Since it’s a Supreme-Rank Spirit Medicine and nothing else, I don’t want to be disturbed by anyone while consuming it.

Confirming Hwang Jihak’s nod as he left, I wasted no time and took out the Nine Dragons Pill contained in an elegant box.

‘It’s my first time seeing it in reality.’

In the original story, Yoo Haon also obtained other Supreme-Rank Spirit Medicines, but the Nine Dragons Pill wasn’t among them. It was only mentioned in passing.

Roll.

A flawless cross-section, and a considerable energy that can be felt just by looking at it. The title of Supreme-Rank Spirit Medicine is certainly not undeserved.

‘Level 40 should be just the right timing, period-wise.’

Originally, such Spirit Medicines are hard to take full effect of if the Level is too low or too high.

In that regard, now is precisely the optimal timing.

Fwoosh.

Whoosh.

Having set up a Magic Circle to help absorb the Spirit Medicine’s energy, just like when I consumed the Azure Mystic Pill before, I swallowed it whole without hesitation.

Gulp.

Swallow.

Then, in an instant, a hot energy surged up from within.