Chapter 205

Seo Taehoo was originally a Specter.

However, it was an existence with extremely high intelligence, capable of controlling its own instincts.

‘…….’

Therefore, Seo Taehoo knew. That humans and Specters could never truly mix.

That they were fundamentally different.

That thought never changed, even when Seo Taehoo became a Specter whose name was known throughout the world.

However, even Seo Taehoo, who flaunted endless strength, met an opponent it could not contend with and was defeated, sealed away in a strange casket for truly countless years.

At the end of that, what Seo Taehoo met upon re-emerging into the world was none other than a single woman.

“Dry as a salted fish. Haven’t you been eating?”

She was a weak human who, under normal circumstances, would have been driven away immediately or made into a meal. But after being sealed away for such a long time, Seo Taehoo simply lacked the strength to do so.

And, for some unknown whim, the woman took Seo Taehoo to her dwelling and cared for it.

Even though she must have realized Seo Taehoo was no ordinary human.

“Stop it. If you value your life, you’d better leave now.”

“Even if you say that, this is my house.”

The woman, seemingly unafraid of Seo Taehoo, indifferently cared for it, and before long, Seo Taehoo regained its strength.

However, perhaps due to the long years of confinement, Seo Taehoo’s Specter heart had dulled, and in the end, it could only click its tongue without killing the woman.

“I am absolutely not thanking you. I just didn’t feel like it.”

“Then that’s fine. I don’t really care.”

Seo Taehoo was a Specter, but even to Seo Taehoo, the woman was strange.

For an ordinary human, she was excessively emotionless, showing no expression of joy, anger, sorrow, or pleasure.

However, if there was one thing such a woman was uniquely engrossed in, it was the money game.

“I’ve seen quite a few human merchants. But I don’t see the same greed in you that I see in them.”

“Maybe. I’m not really interested in the profit itself, you see.”

“Then why do you do this?”

To Seo Taehoo’s question, the woman answered.

“Just because. It’s fun. Countless people dancing to the tune of worthless scraps of paper.”

Perhaps that was the woman’s own pleasure and value. But to Seo Taehoo, it still felt truly bizarre.

And, drawn by that bizarreness, Seo Taehoo was unable to leave the woman’s side for a long time afterward.

Then one day, the woman suddenly asked Seo Taehoo.

“Want to get married?”

“…Nonsense.”

“Why? It doesn’t really matter, does it?”

Certainly, the woman’s words were correct. It didn’t really matter. So, Seo Taehoo married the woman, and they had children.

A day passed, a year passed.

To Seo Taehoo, who possessed a half-eternal life, it was like a fleeting moment, but not so for the woman.

In the end, the woman, leaving Seo Taehoo’s side due to a chronic illness, left only one last sentence.

“…Please, cherish humans.”

It was a truly incongruous statement. The woman herself had never loved humans in her entire life.

But for some reason, those words remained in its heart, and Seo Taehoo could not leave human society.

Thus, succeeding the woman, it led Daejin Industries, and entrusted the children to promising subordinates to be raised by human hands.

Over ten years passed uneventfully like that.

‘…….’

But in the end, Seo Taehoo could not love humans. No matter how much more time passed, it was still an impossible task.

For Seo Taehoo, who had already lost the era it belonged to and the person it was drawn to, all that remained was a seemingly endless emptiness.

And so, Seo Taehoo decided to face the woman’s children here today.

Hoping they would bring its end within this stopped time.

In the midst of the enveloping silence, Seo Taehoo opened its mouth quietly.

“If you truly wish to take Daejin Industries, do not back down and see this through to the end here.”

For some reason, it was a statement filled with conviction. At least for now, it was clear it was answering sincerely, not falsely.

In response, Seo Doyoon hardened his expression, and Seo Jian subtly shifted her gaze towards me.

“…Sorry, I had no idea things would turn out like this.”

“Who could have known? What’s happened can’t be helped.”

Who would have thought Seo Jian’s father, Seo Taehoo, was a Specter? Surely, no one could have realized such a fact.

But now that I knew it for sure, some things made sense.

‘Well, just looking at Seo Jian or Seo Jiha, they had an exceptionally high aptitude for Natural-Type Sorcery.’

Since that could be considered one of the characteristics of Specters, it wasn’t so strange if they were Seo Taehoo’s children.

‘I didn’t know there was this setting from Part 1.’

In later installments, children of Specters and humans appeared as protagonists, but that was ultimately quite a bit later.

Maintaining my composure, I looked at Seo Taehoo before me.

‘Strong, but not so absolute.’

Rather, judging by that level, it fell behind Yoosakbi or Jinmyeong Daesa.

Well, Seo Taehoo had crossed over here around the time of the first Night Parade of One Hundred Specters, so perhaps it was only natural.

“Can you use Cursed Technique?”

“…The waterway is connected, so no problem.”

Roughly judging by its Trait, Seo Taehoo was a Specter capable of handling water, wind, and fire.

To contend with such a Seo Taehoo, the power of Seo Jian beside me was absolutely necessary.

“Oppa, we have to fight.”

“I hate to admit it, but it seems we must.”

Seo Doyoon also resigned himself and quietly drew up his Spiritual Power.

As he too possessed power befitting a 1st-Rank Exorcist, he would become a considerable force if I provided support.

‘It would have been nice if the Exorcists from earlier were still here…’

They left their seats in an instant as soon as Seo Taehoo blocked off the conference room, as if that was their chance.

In the end, whatever the case, the three of us present had to settle this.

‘Just needed a situation to test it out, and this works perfectly.’

I subtly extended the shadow and summoned several Shikigami from within it.

At the forefront was my shadow, Shadow Thief, with whom I had formed a Shikigami contract back at Cheong Soha’s former dwelling.

“Do as you wish. I’ll back you up.”

At my words, Shadow Thief nodded. Then, without hesitation, it immediately charged straight at Seo Taehoo.

‘Concentrating Spiritual Power in the arms and heart, five Cursed Technique seals on the legs. Pursuing Daze Steps, huh.’

True to being a shadow soldier, seemingly fearless, Shadow Thief readily used close-combat Art Formulas that I usually avoided.

And I supported it accordingly, timely striking Seo Taehoo with restraining and defensive Art Formulas.

Whoosh!

Screech!

Zzzzzzzzong!

“…Who are you?”

Seo Taehoo, who had shown no interest in me until now, finally turned its gaze.

But I offered no answer, merely firing off another Art Formula.

Crash! Bang! Crack!

“Fine. Whatever happens, it will be for the best.”

From either side of Seo Taehoo, who cast an indifferent glance, Seo Doyoon and Seo Jian, who had been waiting for an opportunity, suddenly rushed out.

Splash.

Swoosh.

Several Water Spears made of water streams aimed at Seo Taehoo, while from the opposite side, Seo Doyoon’s Seven Generation Strike revealed its form.

Yet, even against that threatening offensive, Seo Taehoo never retreated.

“Pathetic. To think those who inherited my blood are like this. This is nowhere near enough.”

“…We received nothing from you. Don’t spout nonsense as you please.”

I didn’t know the details of what had transpired, but the resentment Seo Jian and Seo Doyoon harbored towards Seo Taehoo seemed quite deep.

Even before that blatant emotion, Seo Taehoo maintained its indifferent attitude to the end.

“…So you can handle water. But you’re still far from perfect.”

Certainly, Seo Taehoo’s skill was several steps ahead of Seo Jian’s.

Seo Jian continued her sharp attacks, but they repeatedly dissipated against the water barriers Seo Taehoo deployed.

However, for Seo Jian, that was rather a boon.

“I never thought the day would come when I’d feel gratitude towards you.”

Splash.

Swoosh!

Seo Jian’s Water Spear, which changed form in an instant, tore through the air in all directions, disrupting Seo Taehoo’s vision.

What Seo Jian had been absolutely lacking until now was experience.

But now, that was rapidly growing as it devoured Seo Taehoo’s techniques and methods.

“…This is how it was done, right?”

Two of the flying Water Spears merged, forming a giant net of water in the air.

And as it ensnared Seo Taehoo, the remaining spears were also suddenly driven into the floor.

Screech!

Screeeech!

Crash! Bang! Crack!

Even Seo Taehoo couldn’t avoid taking damage from that, as the sight of it kneeling on one knee and collapsing came into view.

Soon after, Seo Jian approached Seo Taehoo and spoke.

“…What are you? Hiding even this fact, just how much more do you intend to mock us before you’re satisfied?”

“I never hid it. You were simply lacking and failed to notice.”

“You call that an excuse now……”

Seo Jian calmed her agitation and regulated her breathing. To be the child of a Specter, of all things, must have been extremely bewildering for her as well.

“Do you intend to just watch? If so, you have no qualification to inherit Daejin.”

“…Even in this situation, that personality remains unchanged.”

Provoked by Seo Taehoo’s words, Seo Doyoon also jumped into the fight more earnestly.

Three against one.

Simply judging by numbers, it was an extremely disadvantageous situation.

Moreover, it wasn’t just about numbers; not a single one of them was an easy opponent.

Yet, for some reason, an inexplicable Oppressive Aura was felt from Seo Taehoo.

In response, we truly fought desperately.

“Kongsami.”

“…Burn it.”

Whoosh!

Fwooosh!*

The flames of Kongsami, enhanced through Dark Noon’s Mist, assaulted Seo Taehoo, and seizing that opening, Seo Jian and Seo Doyoon continued their attacks.

Although we had just met today, perhaps because they were inherently sharp people, our coordination was unexpectedly seamless.

In that endless Wheel of battle, Seo Taehoo was continuously worn down.

It was strong, but as I said before, it wasn’t an opponent we couldn’t contend with.

In the end, Seo Taehoo, with its energy depleted, smiled faintly and spoke again.

“Humans are humans. Even those who inherited my blood are only this much in the end.”

“…….”

Seo Taehoo’s body was not in good shape to be saying such things. But it didn’t seem like it was merely putting on a bluff.

There was a different feeling, something it fundamentally wanted to convey.

As if to prove that thought, Seo Taehoo soon continued quietly.

“With just this much, you cannot survive.”

“…What do you mean by that?”

“Soon, the Upper Casket will open. And all humans will die.”

At those words, the expressions of everyone in the conference room trembled with a start.