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My mother wiped away tears while watching TV. She was watching an interview with the bereaved families of the "Mother's Tears" incident.

[Parents all feel the same way.]

"What?"

[What can you compare the sadness of losing a child to?]

"Oh!"

I noticed the ring on my mother's finger as she wiped her eyes with a handkerchief.

My heart ached with the memory of what had happened before my return.

‘I think I need to do something to cheer her up.’

***

My family wasn't poor, but both of my parents lived frugally. Miserly would be a more accurate description than frugal.

Dining out was a rare occurrence, only done on special days such as Children's Day, birthdays, and graduation ceremonies.

I would always ask them to buy me Jajangmyeon, but my mom would always buy meat instead, despite my dad's opposition, saying she hated Jajangmyeon.

Now that I think about it, it was probably because my mother didn't want to feed me carbohydrates only on special days.

Anyway, I decided to take my parents to a large department store in the city that day, given they hadn’t been to one more than ten times in their life.

The bewilderment was evident in their widely opened eyes.

"Byeong-gi, is this okay?"

My mother looked at me with worrisome eyes. She didn’t know how much I had in my bank account, yet.

Excluding the money I spent to purchase the guild building and the deposit payment used to recruit Lee Seong-jin and Seol-ah, I had over 10 billion won in my account.

That wealth would continue to grow through the sale of mana stones and potions.

"How much money do you have to waste? Let’s just eat Jajangmyeon and go."

My father also seemed uncomfortable in this unfamiliar place.

"Mom, dad. Just follow me today. I’ve made a lot of money."

"Isn't that the money you've earned by risking your life?"

"I’m trying to be a good son. What's wrong with that?"

"But I know you’re not earning much by hunting monsters."

Indeed, they didn't know much about a hunter's income.

They thought only famous hunters could earn billions in won, while freelance hunters who had just Awakened, like me, scrapped by on a meager income.

"Don't worry. Your son makes a lot of money."

"Haha. You are bragging."

I dragged my parents along with me. I showed them my bank account balance on my phone when they started to feel uneasy. After that, my parents lightened up and began to shop with enthusiasm. They even joked that they were finally getting something back for all the effort they put into raising me.

Even still, I had to intervene because my parents still weren't spending much money. After all, they had never splurged before.

When I dressed my parents in luxury clothing from head to toe, the department store sent a VIP customer service representative to assist us, and they were treated like royalty.

That's when I discovered my parents didn’t live a frugal life of their own volition.

They had had no choice but to live frugally because their lives weren’t easy.

[It's different from what I expected.]

"What? What is?"’

[You know. A son who suddenly becomes rich comes to the department store with his parents, and there’s always an employee who’s unfriendly to the parents because of their appearance. Coincidentally, the employee who makes that big mistake is the department store owner’s stupid kid. In the end, the son’s furious at their attitude, and he decides to spend money crazily. After educating the stupid store owner’s kid and destroying their family, he buys the entire department store.]

"How do you know that plot so well? It actually happened right here, the owner of this department store changed a while ago. Since then, the staff here have been well trained."

[...So, are you going to buy them a car next?]

‘Yes.’

[And you're going to move them into a lovely house?]

‘Of course.’

[…]

‘If I knew my parents would be so happy, I would have done it sooner.’

In fact, when the Phoenix Guild recruited me before my return, I made quite a lot of money.

But I couldn't even buy my mother new clothes with that money. And not because I couldn't afford it.

I was a bad son.

However, the ‘Eat and Live Well’ project would be focused on my parents and me.

[Hmm, you shouldn't neglect your training if you want to do that.]

‘I know. I’ve already decided to build an exercise center and a private training room alongside a weapons production studio. I will be able to train as much as I can, to make myself stronger.’

[About that thing you asked Lee Seong-jin to do this morning. I think you’re too hard on him.]

‘That's why I made him president of the guild.’

[You act very much like a gangster, do you know that?]

I spent a lot of money that day. Of course, compared to the money spent by most renowned hunters, it was a drop in the ocean.

Anyway, I replaced my father's ten-year-old junk truck with an SUV from German company B.

I also purchased a mid-sized sedan for myself from Company A. The car salesman recommended a sports car because most hunters preferred cars with high performance.

However, I declined. I didn't care for sports cars as I thought a good vehicle should comfortably accommodate more than four people.

Both cars I bought were made especially for hunters. They were twice as expensive as regular vehicles because of their high output and durability.

Still, I thought it was the minimum investment I could make for my family's safety.

After all the shopping, we ate at a luxury Korean beef restaurant and I talked to them about moving.

However, contrary to my plans, my parents were against finding a new house.

They liked their current house, they said. It was already large enough, and its memories couldn’t be replaced.

"But, son."

My mother looked completely different from when she first entered the department store. In my eyes, she looked like a pretty middle-aged actress on TV.

It was the same with my father. For some reason, it seemed his shoulders were broader than before.

As they say, clothes make the person.

"What, Mom?"

"We still have the mortgage to pay off."

"Oh, don't worry,"

"Your father's factory still has some debt, too."

…D-Don't worry about that either."

"My neighbor said her son, who works for a large company, gave her a diamond ring for her birthday."

"I heard that my old schoolmate also received the finest fishing set from his son."

“…”

I think they now had a taste for spending money.

I decided to give them a credit card to buy whatever they wanted.

For some reason, it made me anxious, but it also gave me a sense of satisfaction. For the first time, I felt like I was a proper son.

And most of all, they wouldn't waste the hard-earned money their son had given them.

[There's a book with an exciting title in your memory.]

‘What are you going to say now?’

[The book's title is ‘Hunter's Family, Become a Shopping Addict’.]

‘…’

***

That night, the Heavenly Demon yelled at me, stressing that it was the right time for training and to remove the burden in my heart that I was unaware of.

In the end, I couldn't resist the loud voice booming in my head, and thus I climbed Bukhan Mountain.

It was something I would be able to do with Mind Divine Shifting Art, but the Heavenly Demon recommended I stick with physical training.

I followed his advice because I thought there was an important reason for him to say this.

It was a dark night, but it didn't matter much to me.

The place I arrived at was an empty clearing on the ridge far from any hiking trails.

There wouldn’t be any people around this late at night.

[It's a nice place. Today, I want to help you refine your clumsy Blade Energy.]

His voice was harsher than usual. I quickly pulled myself together.

[Good posture.]

Although I could demonstrate the Demonic Dragon’s Eight-Blade Style and form Blade Energy, I was still rough, and I made several unnecessary movements.

I demonstrated the forms following the Heavenly Demon’s lead. With each one, he watched my body and gave me advice.

As I repeated the forms, my Blade Energy sharpened.

The unnecessary movements also gradually disappeared.

[Your Blade’s Path has become quite clear, hasn't it? Your use of the blade is no different from a Transcendent master.]

Though he praised me, there was the hint of dissatisfaction in his voice.

"Is there another problem?”

[This is the opposite of the previous problem. In the past, your body was the issue. But now your mind can't keep up with your body while you focus on your movements.]

"The more I learn, the harder it gets. I don't quite understand what you mean.'

[Do you remember the feeling when you connected the first and second forms from the second map despite my disapproval?]

"At that time, all I wanted to do was cut the Golems down."

[That's it. When you carried out the Demonic Dragon Era and the Demonic Dragon Force with determination, the energy around the tip of your sword gathered and fluctuated. That strength wasn’t something a Peak master could unfold. That's why you injured yourself. I don't think you should do it again.]

"No way."

[Reproduce the situation with the Mind Divine Shifting Art. Then you'll understand.]

"The Mind Divine Shifting Art can do that?"

[You’ve already materialized the taste of liquor in your mind. Do you still think it's impossible?]

“!!!”

If this was true, it meant I could grow by fighting countless battles in what amounted to virtual reality.

"Why are you only telling me that now?"

[You should blame yourself for not thinking of it. Why are you blaming me?]

"But it must be supported by physical training, right?"

[Yes, at least at your level. If your mind, energy, and body become one, you can overcome that limitation.]

"Alright."

I entered the mental world without hesitation, and I confirmed what the Heavenly Demon said was true.

I was able to kill a Stone Golem with two forms from the second stage, but I couldn't recapture the feeling I'd felt then. My power had diminished significantly.

No matter how many times I tried, I was still as mentally drained as before.

"What's the difference?"

[Didn't I tell you earlier? It's a matter of your mind.]

"I’m using my desire to cut monsters down as I did back then."

[It's hard to explain. Your mind is mixed with Blade Energy, your control over your inner power, and an impatience to exert that power. Simply put, you have too many thoughts.]

I understood, but... I felt like I couldn’t organize those thoughts.

I sat in the lotus position and closed my eyes.

This time, I tried to find that feeling by reflecting on my battle against the Stone Golem in my head, not by using the Mind Divine Shifting Art.

After a while, I grasped what the Heavenly Demon was trying to convey. I had to put it out of my mind.

The Heavenly Demon had said the same thing a while ago.

His counsel had been for me to disregard the motion and let my body follow the course of the inner strength, and to instead concentrate on what I wanted to slice.

[That's the correct realization. You just barely peeked through the crack in the door.]

"Thank you, but was there a reason you wanted me to practice at night?"

[When you were with your parents today, I felt the most peaceful I’ve had since the possession. You didn't realize it, but...]

"You thought it was the right time for me to practice martial arts without unconscious interference."

[That's right. Your training isn’t over yet. First, bring back the Stone Golem using the Mind Divine Shifting Art and fight them.]

I held my breath and summoned the Stone Golems once more.

This time, I was able to dispose of them without any trouble and made my escape from the mental realm.

"What's this feeling?"

[Wow! You must have realized a lot.]

As soon as I felt that sensation, my inner power stretched out from my energy center and began to stir around my body.

It felt like the Heavenly Demon’s Origin Art was trying to imprint this sensation on my mind through my body’s movement.

[Hurry up and demonstrate the Demonic Dragon’s Eight-Blade Style as you’re led by it.]

I nodded and obeyed.

“!!!”

Unlike before, the Blade Energy became apparent with a black tinge.

[That's it. Connect it with the third form of the second stage.]

Just like last time, the surrounding air gathered at the tip of my sword, forming a lump of black-colored Blade Energy, which then started to clump together into a bigger mass.

"Demonic Dragon Era!"

Craaaack-

"Demonic Dragon Force!"

Rumbling.

Baaang!

"Demonic Dragon Skywrecker!"

RUMBLE-

After completing the set, the black-colored Blade Energy stretched out into a long but indistinct shape.

As all my inner power had been drained after using those three moves in a row, I couldn't pay attention to the system notifications popping up.

<SYSTEM: All magic power is exhausted, and the title effect of "Two Hearts" is applied.>

<SYSTEM: Magic power is recharged.>

However, the speed at which my inner power rose was unusual.

[This is a situation I didn’t anticipate. Hurry up, sit in the lotus position, and control your inner power.]

I felt it strange, too, so I sat down quickly and complied.

Whoooong-

My inner power flowed through my veins. It was similar to when I first learned martial arts from the Heavenly Demon in the Tutorial Dungeon.

Then a great pain hit me.

"Gasp!"

[Ha! It hasn't been long since you learned martial arts. How come you're already undergoing the Bone Metamorphosis? This is driving me crazy... Don't open your mouth even if you're in pain.]

The Heavenly Demon sounded incredulous, but I couldn't respond.

Craaack-

Crack-

It felt like every one of my bones was contorting and shifting.

Every second was excruciating, but I gritted my teeth and persevered. Now, the Heavenly Demon's Origin Art moved autonomously, even if I didn't actively manipulate my inner energy.

I was on the verge of losing consciousness.

Whoosh-whoosh!

As my mind faded, I began to hear sirens from far away.

The pain worsened, and I tried to hold myself together.

[Hey. Get it together!]

As the Heavenly Demon’s voice faded away, I lost my mind.