Chapter 54: Name-Changing Talisman
“Are you Palhwang True Immortal Gaseon?”
I asked again.
“That is correct.”
The old man stroked his long white beard.
“I am Palhwang True Immortal Gaseon.”
To me, he looked like Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings.
“Grandpa Palhwang.”
Aize bowed politely.
“Have you been well?”
She looked slightly nervous.
I leaned toward her ear.
“Hey.”
“Why are you acting so polite?”
“That is because I am the one who created Mija.”
Palhwang True Immortal answered before Aize could.
“Compared to other people, she may naturally find me somewhat difficult to deal with.”
This old man has ridiculous hearing.
Then he looked toward me.
“Final reincarnation of the Inhwang.”
“What brings you all the way to the Underworld to see me?”
“I think something strange is happening to my body.”
“I came to ask for advice.”
“Strange?”
Palhwang True Immortal looked interested.
“Explain.”
I told him everything.
The high fever and chills that began after my level ups.
The memories of my previous life as Taebaek.
The habits and instincts that were slowly beginning to appear.
The feeling that Taebaek was gradually invading and swallowing my current identity.
Palhwang True Immortal nodded.
“So you feel as though your previous life, Taebaek, is devouring the current you?”
“Yes.”
I nodded.
As expected of Palhwang True Immortal.
He understood quickly.
“Hmm.”
Then he said something completely unexpected.
“Isn’t that only natural?”
I stared.
“What exactly is natural about it?”
“You are Taebaek’s reincarnation.”
“Yes.”
“Your soul originally belonged to Taebaek.”
“Probably.”
“Then the owner of the house is returning.”
Palhwang True Immortal smiled.
“Isn’t it natural for the tenant to be pushed out?”
His explanation was so simple anyone could understand it.
And I hated it.
Is this old man some fake wizard?
I was already starting to dislike Palhwang True Immortal.
“Then what?”
“Am I supposed to sit here quietly and become Taebaek?”
Palhwang True Immortal raised an eyebrow.
“What are you trying to say?”
It felt like this old man was playing with me.
“I don’t care what my previous life was.”
I spoke firmly.
“I am me.”
“I have no intention of letting my previous life swallow me.”
“The moment you accepted becoming the Inhwang Chasa, this process began.”
Palhwang True Immortal spoke as though it were obvious.
“If you dislike it, give up being the Inhwang Chasa.”
He smiled.
“Simple.”
This Gandalf old man seemed to think everything in the world was simple.
I thought about it.
What if I gave up the Inhwang Chasa now?
Breaking my promise to King Yeomra to eliminate Taerang and the Three Evils was not a major concern.
It wasn’t something I had wanted in the first place.
They had practically forced the promise on me.
I could return to living as an ordinary detective.
The salary would be terrible.
The work would be annoying.
But I could joke around and live normally like before.
No more painful battles against evil spirits.
Maybe that wouldn’t be bad.
Mancheon.
Ganghae.
Jeonghu.
Lady Sunhwa.
People of the Underworld like them probably liked me because they saw Taebaek in me.
If I stopped being the Inhwang, maybe they would naturally become distant.
But....
Aize.
What would happen to Aize?
If I abandoned the Inhwang Chasa, would she leave my side too?
If another reincarnation appeared, would Aize, as the Black Spirit Demonic Spear, have to go to that person instead of me?
I imagined Aize standing beside another man.
My chest suddenly hurt.
I looked at her.
Aize’s eyes looked slightly sad.
Maybe she had understood what I was thinking.
I looked back at Palhwang True Immortal.
“Hey, Gandalf old man.”
Aize, Heaven Rakshasa, and Earth Rakshasa all froze.
“I’m not giving up the Inhwang Chasa.”
I folded my arms.
“Is there another method?”
Palhwang True Immortal’s eyebrow twitched.
“O-Old man?”
“Gandalf?”
His expression finally became unsettled.
The others looked equally shocked.
Maybe I was the first person in Heaven to speak this rudely to one of its greatest elders.
But I was angry.
“You told me to think simply.”
I continued.
“I’m naturally a simple guy.”
“So just tell me if another method exists.”
“If not, I’ll accept that cleanly.”
Palhwang True Immortal stared.
Then...
“You unbelievable little brat.”
His voice dropped to my level.
“No.”
“There is no other method.”
“Happy?”
“Thanks.”
I shrugged.
“Then from now on, this is between Taebaek and me.”
“People say that if a tenant has a terrible enough personality, even the landlord can’t endure it and leaves.”
I grinned.
“So I guess I’ll fight Taebaek directly.”
Palhwang True Immortal stared at me.
Then he began laughing.
“Hahaha!”
“What an interesting creature you are.”
“It has been a long time since I laughed this freely.”
Then he raised one finger.
“Final reincarnation of the Inhwang.”
“I will give you one piece of advice.”
My mood immediately changed.
“...What is it, True Immortal?”
Maybe I could gain something after all.
I even added a respectful title.
Perhaps Gandalf was finally going to show me real magic.
“Delay your level ups.”
I blinked.
“If the Inhwang’s awakening slows, the invasion of your previous life should slow as well.”
I stared at him.
“That isn’t under my control.”
My expectations collapsed.
As expected.
Fake wizard.
What Palhwang True Immortal was really saying was:
Don’t gain experience.
Which basically meant:
Don’t fight evil spirits.
If I did that, King Yeomra and Arang would probably scream about breach of contract.
“That is your problem.”
Palhwang True Immortal shrugged.
This old man liked pretending to know everything, but he was completely useless.
It was like giving me steamed bread without any filling and saying I should enjoy it anyway.
Then I remembered something else.
Maybe this question would at least produce a useful answer.
