After Kan chewed me out for calling a bird that makes death a suggestion a damn birdie, we sparred on and off for an hour or two. By the end, both of us were winded but satisfied. We made our way to the elevator, and as the doors slid open, a delicious aroma washed over us. The savory scent of Korean stew seemed to lift us off the ground. Before I could take another step, Kan shoved me aside with enough force to send me stumbling back into the elevator. I managed to shift my stance, absorbing the push, and followed him into the kitchen.

Kan’s parents were seated at the table, the source of the mouthwatering smell steaming in bowls before them. Despite knowing better, I still found myself surprised that the monstrous mound of muscle known as Joon-ho Yoon had cooked such a delicious meal. He glanced up and gestured toward the table. "Sit. I’ll bring the stew."

We obeyed, and Joon-ho soon placed steaming bowls of stew in front of us. Kan wasted no time inhaling his food, finishing the first bowl in record time before asking for seconds. His parents, who had only just begun eating, paused and exchanged glances. Concern flickered in their eyes as Kan dug into his second helping without hesitation.

Politely interrupting the silence, I wiped my mouth with a napkin and said, "It's to be expected. Retainers have heavier diets than normal people."

Joon-ho instantly nodded as if it made perfect sense, but Kan and his mother both turned to me, confusion etched on their faces.

"What book?" Kan's mother asked. "How do you know that?"

I met her gaze and lied with a calm smile. "A book called Will of War. I didn’t finish it, so I only know half the story. But according to the book, retainers have evolved beyond normal humans. Our metabolisms changed to burn energy faster, which means the more we work, the more we need to eat. Nutrition is crucial, especially after exerting ourselves."

I turned to Kan. "You remember how long you were swinging that sword?"

"Yeah, a couple of hours. Why?"

"And you’re not tired, are you?"

Kan blinked, realization dawning on his face. "No, I’m not."

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"Exactly. Our bodies have changed—better eyesight, strength, and stamina. But that comes with a cost. Our metabolism is four times faster than a regular human’s. If we don’t eat enough, our bodies will start breaking down. Food has to be a priority."

I looked at Kan’s mother. "Say 'reveal.'"

She hesitated, startled, then whispered the word. A translucent screen appeared before her eyes, and she read aloud, "Child of the Earth, Mother of the Spring, and Blessing of Life."

As expected, no curses. I nodded and explained, "Your abilities rely on your mental stamina. As long as your mind is strong, you can use them freely. But if you overuse them, it can lead to exhaustion. Best case, a mild stroke. Worst case, death. And in the absolute worst scenario... corruption."

Joon-ho’s gaze sharpened, thoughtful. "More cooking isn't that hard. But what exactly is corruption?"

I kept my face carefully neutral. "I’m not sure. All I know is that it leaves you alive but... mindless. Like something else is controlling your body."

Kan scoffed, brushing off the idea. "So what? It’s not like we’re going to fight a god."

I met his gaze with an unreadable expression, thinking, You poor child. You have no idea what’s coming. But aloud, I simply replied, "Only one. The monster Lee wants to kill. After that, no more."

"Right?" Kan pressed.

I ignored him, focusing on my stew. He fell silent and went back to devouring his third—or maybe fourth—bowl.

After dinner, I took a long, hot shower, the heat melting away the tension in my muscles. It felt so heavenly I might have thought I’d died and gone to paradise, if not for the sudden throb of pain in my head. Shaking it off, I mulled over the next steps of my plan. With Joon-ho and his wife on board, my next objective was to form a contract with a demon or an angel. But it was still too early for that.

Finishing my shower, I wrapped a towel around my waist and walked to my room, my thoughts drifting. Joon-ho’s lack of curses was unusual, but not impossible. More pressing was the search for the awakened generals. Only two had surfaced so far, and I needed to find them before the next stage began.

As I rounded the corner, I stepped into my room and sat on the bed, waiting. The second awakening was near. It would grant abilities to more people—and enhance the ones already awakened. All I had to do was wait.

Minutes passed.

Then I felt it.

New skills appeared in my mind, their functions clear as instinct. Wind Gust. Memory Reading. Dream Walking. Thread Master.

The first two were straightforward. Dream Walking was more complex—it allowed me to enter and shape the dreams of others. If their mind was weaker than mine, I could force them into slumber at will. Thread Master, though... that one made me smile. I could create strings from any material I could imagine. The more complex the material, the greater the strain on my mind.

I leaned back against the headboard, a grin tugging at my lips. This was too good.