The Eye of the Absolute Emperor
When he opened his eyes, he was in the dream-space where the Rooms of Past Lives gathered: the Hall of Past Lives. Right before him stood the most resplendent door he had ever seen. The entire thing was made of gold and studded with dozens of brilliant gems. At its center, the epithet Absolute Emperor had been engraved.
Romanov...
Hyun-jun remembered the name the voice had given him with perfect clarity. He calmly opened the door and stepped inside, only for a dazzling tide of gold to surge over him at once. It was the light cast by the treasures filling the Room of Past Lives.
"Come here, my reincarnation."
The room was spacious and packed with gold and jewels. A grave voice rang out. Even though the distance was considerable, it reached Hyun-jun's ears without the slightest distortion. He shifted his gaze forward and saw a middle-aged man seated on a throne at the far end of a long corridor.
Romanov...
He could be certain that this was Romanov. Until now, no one else had ever appeared inside a Room of Past Lives.
"Come here."
At Romanov's repeated urging, Hyun-jun began walking. A luxurious carpet lay over the floor, which seemed to be made of some unknown mineral. The closer he drew to the throne, the more an inexplicable pressure weighed on him, making each step harder than the last. At first it was mild enough to endure, but little by little Hyun-jun's expression darkened.
"Hmm... We made a mistake."
Romanov waved a hand through the air, and Hyun-jun felt the strange magical interference binding his body loosen and vanish. Thanks to that, his steps grew lighter. The room was quite large, but after hurrying forward, he finally reached the foot of the throne.
Romanov rose from his seat. Dressed in splendid robes woven with red and gold, he descended the steps slowly and came to stand before Hyun-jun.
"You are Kang Hyun-jun?"
It was a voice full of dignity and certainty. Hyun-jun slowly nodded and answered.
"Yes. I am Kang Hyun-jun."
"We have been watching you."
"Is that so?"
He had heard that line from other past lives before. The fact that someone was watching him had become familiar by now.
"When Carthago first stepped forward, most of us were opposed. But not long after, Sidenmiller and Hashashin acknowledged you as well. Even in a special place like the Room of Past Lives, most did not expect you to absorb our teachings so quickly."
Romanov paused. His gaze, which had been directed toward the ceiling, settled on Hyun-jun.
"We have also taken an interest in you."
"And that's why you made that proposal?"
"You mean what We conveyed through our will?"
So the past lives called the "voice" a will.
"Yes."
"You carried it out diligently. I can take that as acceptance of My proposal, yes?"
Romanov asked. Hyun-jun nodded and answered.
"Of course. If I hadn't intended to, I would have accepted the proposal from Jaeil Group's Lee Jin-a long ago."
"Excellent. Then, as promised, We shall bestow Our blessing upon you."
"But I didn't do anything yet... is this really all right?"
To activate or awaken the powers, or blessings, of past lives like Carthago, Hashashin, or Sidenmiller, certain conditions were required. Sometimes that condition was training within the Room of Past Lives; other times, as with Ripper or Dantzig, some action became the trigger.
"The condition for activating and awakening My blessing is a noble vow. Have you not already shown it through your actions?"
As he finished speaking, Romanov placed a hand on Hyun-jun's shoulder.
"I shall inscribe My blessing. Endure it, even if it hurts."
"W-what...? Gah!"
Pain surged through him at once. He couldn't finish the sentence, only let out a rough groan as his body trembled. It felt as if hundreds of sharp needles were piercing through him from head to toe. Thankfully, it did not last long.
"It is done."
"Hah...!"
As soon as Romanov finished speaking, the pain vanished. When he lifted his hand away, Hyun-jun staggered and drew in a ragged breath. He had thought he was used to pain after the countless fatal wounds he'd suffered through training with Carthago and Hashashin, but this had been horrific enough to feel like another world entirely.
"I thought you would be used to pain... was I wrong?"
"I'm fine now."
"Good. Then it would be wise to spend some time circulating your mana and clearing your mind."
"Understood."
As he raised his mana, he reached back through his memories. Fragments of Romanov's recollection flowed into him as the blessing took root.
Absolute Emperor
The fragments suited the epithet perfectly. He had never once lost his stern bearing. Not even when the unidentified Invaders surrounded the imperial palace!
Even as loyal ministers united under absolute imperial authority and stood against the invaders, the palace was eventually destroyed, and Romanov lost his life. That was the last of the memory fragments, and the end of his life. Unlike Dantzig, whose memories had been deeply absorbed with emotion, this one did not run as deep, but it was still a story that struck at the heart.
"Have you learned how to use the blessing?"
"Ah, no..."
"Good grief. It seems your mind was elsewhere."
Seeing Romanov shake his head with a faint smile, Hyun-jun scratched his cheek and spoke.
"Please explain it again."
"No need. I shall explain it myself, so listen closely."
It seemed he intended to teach him personally. Contrary to his severe appearance, he was more kind than Hyun-jun had expected.
"Don't look at Me like that. In any case, teaching you how to manifest a blessing is a simple matter."
"Understood."
A smile touched Hyun-jun's lips.
"The method for manifesting the blessing I just inscribed isn't difficult. Focus mana into your eyes and stare at the target. That is all."
"Then what happens?"
"You will be able to see the other person's True Name."
"A True Name?"
"Another name that contains the person's true nature. Knowing it alone will be of great help. At the very least, you'll be able to tell who should stay near you."
If he could see a person's true nature, then while that might not be enough to distinguish friend from enemy, it would still be useful for identifying who was fit to stand close to him.
"It may seem trivial now, but it will be of great use to you."
Romanov spoke. The ability to discern another person's nature might seem minor, but in truth it could become a formidable weapon. Hyun-jun understood that well enough. He had met more than one person he had wished he could peer into the heart of.
"Thank you, Romanov."
"It has been a very long time since We were called by that name."
There was no sign of displeasure. Only an expression as though he were recalling something dear and long gone.
"You may go now. My reincarnation."
"That's it?"
There had been no complicated process, but the fact that the blessing had been bestowed was unmistakable.
"Yes. So long as the noble vow continues, My power shall remain by your side."
It was a kind of price.
"You may leave now. It may even be amusing to go test it right away."
Romanov said that, and although his tone was playful, a bitter smile rested on his lips.
"But remember this, My reincarnation. To know a True Name can, in a way, become a curse as well."
There was something complicated hidden in his voice, but Hyun-jun decided not to ask further.
"Thank you."
"I look forward to the day we meet again."
After Hyun-jun offered a polite and respectful thanks, Romanov nodded with satisfaction, the bitterness gone from his face. Soon after, Hyun-jun followed the long carpet to the door, grasped the handle, and pulled. Then he woke from the dream.
"Hoo."
He took a deep breath and circulated his mana to check the condition of his body. Near his mana circuits, he could feel an alien presence. It seemed to have only just taken root. It was probably part of the mana Romanov had inscribed to activate the blessing.
After a quick shower, Hyun-jun went downstairs to the second floor, where So-jin and the kids were. Since it was the weekend, the children were playing in the yard, and only So-jin was holding down the living room.
"You're awake?"
Seated on the sofa and drinking coffee, So-jin greeted him with a bright smile. Seeing that, Hyun-jun was suddenly curious about her True Name. Before he realized it, he had already focused mana into his eyes.
Romanov's Eye descends upon you. The gaze, carrying absolute insight, pierces through all things.
His vision turned to gold. Once the surging current of mana settled, he could read the True Name that had formed above So-jin's head.
Han So-jin: Devoted Helper.
It matched her personality. He felt like he could finally grasp a little of what the True Name carried in it. Even without any additional explanation, this alone would be extremely useful when building trusted inner circles. If his synchronization with Romanov increased, perhaps additional details would be added as well.
"How's your schedule today?"
"I do have a three o'clock visit from the Dungeon Management Bureau's Hunter Division, but I think I'll need to head in early. I've got a lot to do."
In response to Hyun-jun's question, So-jin answered in a calm voice. She had recently taken it upon herself to act as the guild master's secretary in order to help him, since he had been growing more and more exhausted under the weight of his workload.
"What about Kim Tae-min?"
"He's downstairs drinking coffee with the security team."
After the move was finished, Tae-min had assigned some of the guild's executive hunters to guard Hyun-jun's home and protect So-jin.
"I'll head out first. Noona, take your time getting to work."
"No, I'll go in a little later too."
He appreciated her concern. Hyun-jun gave a slight smile and went downstairs. Just as So-jin had said, Tae-min was waiting with the executive hunters assigned to security, drinking coffee. When Tae-min saw Hyun-jun coming down the stairs, he drained his cup in one go and opened the front door.
"I will accompany you."
Watching Tae-min remain as loyal as ever, Hyun-jun felt curiosity rise again. He focused mana into his eyes, and his vision once more turned gold.
Kim Tae-min: Blind Knight Who Blindly Believes.
It was a True Name whose meaning he could not easily guess.
"Guild Leader? The vehicle is waiting."
"Ah... I'm coming now."
He had gone slightly blank while reading the True Name, and Tae-min urged him on carefully. Hyun-jun soon headed outside. The moment he stepped through the gate, he saw a sedan waiting. The driver standing beside it opened the rear door for him. After Hyun-jun climbed in, Tae-min took the passenger seat.
"I heard the Hunter Division from the Dungeon Management Bureau is coming today."
"Yes. That's what they told me."
"I'm curious what conditions they'll put on the table."
Having spoken with Hyun-jun enough times to know he would refuse the Dungeon Management Bureau's proposal, Tae-min sounded completely at ease.