As I stood in the dimly lit room, memories began flooding my mind. It felt like a flashback, distant but vivid. The first quest. That weird encounter.
[Beginner Quest: Say hello to the spirit in front of you.]
§ Reward: 50,000 coins and 100,000 gold.
§ Penalty: High fiver for 1 month.
"Hello? Umm... I'm sorry, I don't know what's happening, I'm... kind of speechless," I had stammered back then, looking at the translucent figure before me.
[Congratulations: You completed the quest.]
[Congratulations! You will receive 100,000 gold.]
[Congratulations! You will receive 50,000 coins.]
I had stared blankly at the system's notification. That was when things started spiraling out of control. The butler ghoul, and then *him*—Sesy the evil spook.
I had looked seriously at both of them, trying to piece it together. The evil spook was the one who had bumped into me, and the butler ghoul seemed oddly respectful. For some reason, they acted like they knew me, or at least my lineage.
'I thought he was just like old man Lu's son. You know, that punk Kalib should be thanking me for letting him live decades ago,' the evil spook had said, snickering.
"Shut up—"
"Kalib? You mean Lu Axel Kalib, right?" I had cut in excitedly, my heart racing at the mention of my father's name. Maybe this was my chance to finally understand my family's tangled history.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Biggy; I didn't mean to cut you off," I had apologized quickly, squeezing my hands nervously.
"B-Biggy?" The butler ghoul had looked confused, pointing at himself. His confusion made me chuckle inside, though I tried not to show it.
'Hahaha! Biggy, well, you're a big guy, so I think it suits you, Mr. Biggy,' Sesy had teased in the background, as usual.
"Ehem! My lord, I don't mind if you interrupt me, but please refrain from calling me... Biggy," the butler had said, shooting a glare at Sesy.
'You should be thankful you're Garner's grandson, or you'd be in trouble,' Sesy had muttered under his breath.
Panic had washed over me. I wasn't used to any of this—ghouls, spirits, systems. "I'm sorry!" I had bowed to them, unsure of what else to do.
The butler, clearly exasperated, had cut me off. "Lucist Shian, don't believe his nonsense. That idiot enjoys teasing humans. If you command me, I'll gladly absorb him."
'Shameless ghoul!'
I remember laughing nervously at their bickering. It felt surreal—like I was in some weird dream.
'Anyway, little head of the Lucist family, sorry for being rude, but I love it. Evil Spook, also known as Black Spooky, will support you from now on,' the spook had said, with an exaggerated bow.
[Title Acquired: I Can Tame Even the Evil.]
[Effects:
— Evil spirits will not curse or betray you.
— Evil spirits will feel slightly comfortable in your presence.
— You can easily charm an evil spirit.]
[Rank Acquired: Page Tamer (Trainee).]
[Exorcist Rank Up.]
[Choose your type of exorcist.]
> Knight
> Dragoon
> Tamer
> Chanter Area
> Medic Healer
That had thrown me for a loop. "Choose my exorcist type? How am I supposed to know that?"
The butler had stepped in. "My lord, is there a choice like Knight, Dragoon, Tamer, Chanter Area, or Medic Healer?"
"Yes, but... what's the difference between them?" I had replied, still confused.
[Kinds of Exorcists:
> Knight — Exorcists who use swords to battle spirits, most famous for their historical roots.
> Dragoon — Exorcists who fight with their hands or firearms. Dangerous and fierce in battle.
> Tamer — Those who charm or control spirits. They have unique talents but often meet a tragic end.
> Chanter Area — Exorcists who use holy verses or magic to exorcise spirits.
> Medic Healer — Exorcists with healing abilities for both spirits and humans.]
I had mulled over the options, not sure which one would suit me.
The butler had jumped in again. "Then please choose the Medic Healer, my lord."
That suggestion had come out of nowhere. "Why? You didn't even explain."
'I thought you'd explain too, Mr. Biggy,' Nero had teased again, making me chuckle.
"Alright, Mr. Biggy, you don't need to explain," I had said, giving in and selecting the Medic Healer option.
[You chose Medic Healer; you are now a Medic Healer Exorcist.]
[Notification: You've received a message from a non-living person.]
{Grandfather, again?}
I remember staring at the system, a heavy weight pressing down on me. Another message from him—it felt like he was watching me from beyond the grave. How was that even possible?
"How can he send me another message?" I had muttered, clicking to open it.
Back in the present, I shook my head. That moment had been the first of many shocks. Even now, I still had to pinch myself sometimes to remind myself this wasn't some bizarre dream.
just like what I did before, I didn't hesitate to do it again even though I kind of feel that I'm just living in the past.
[Message from Grandfather]
To the New Lucist Head, Lu Shian,
Hello, my dearest grandchild. I see you've chosen your type of exorcist, but this is just the beginning. Don't forget to open your status window, and use your gold wisely—upgrade the house, because an upgraded home means an upgraded person.
And, Shian, don't tell anyone I gifted you gold. They'll curse me, which will affect me in the next life. I also want you to try opening up to your father and family. It's not easy, but it's worth it. Believe me, I waited for your father to open up to me too.
Congratulations, my dearest grandchild.
From: Former Lucist Head, Lu Garner.
I shook off the memory, sighing heavily. *Grandfather...*
As the message from my grandfather faded from the system screen, I let out a deep breath.
Everything was happening like what happened in the past. The quest, the system, the ghouls, my new role as the head of the Lucist family.
It all felt surreal, like I was living in some twisted, supernatural dream. The weight of everything pressed down on my chest, and the silence in the room felt almost suffocating.
I thought I already accepted it, 'Nero, you there?' I called out in my mind.
"Always, Shian," Nero's voice echoed back smoothly, that familiar, calm tone he always used when things got overwhelming.
"Is this... really happening? I mean, am I dreaming, I already know that this is the past but can I accept it?" I asked, feeling a weird knot in my stomach.
"Everything feels like we're stuck in some old story, like we're not really here."
Nero was silent for a moment before answering. "You're not wrong to feel that way. It's as though the echoes of the past are rippling into the present. The system, your grandfather's messages... it's all part of something bigger. But this isn't the past, Shian. You're living it, right now."
I rubbed my temples, feeling the weight of those words. "So... everything that's happening, it's expected, right? Like this was all planned out before I even got involved?"
Nero chuckled softly, a strange, knowing sound. "Yes and no. There are patterns, things that were set in motion long before you were even born. But nothing's set in stone. You're really here, Shian, in the present. And everything happening to you is as real as it gets."
I leaned back, trying to absorb it all. "So, isn't it just me walking through the motions of some old story?"
"No," Nero said firmly.
"This is your story now. You have the power to change things, to make decisions that will alter the future. You're not just repeating history—you're living it, shaping it. The mystical kids, the neither system, your title as the head of the family, even the ghouls—they're all part of your present."
I couldn't help but smile at that. "So, it's real. This is all real."
"It is," Nero confirmed.
"And your grandfather was right. You're going to need everything he left behind to get through this. But remember, this isn't about living in his shadow. It's about stepping out of it and creating your own path."
A small laugh escaped me. "Well, I guess I'll just move forward."
Nero snickered. "Probably a good idea. But, you know, the past has a funny way of guiding us. Just don't get lost in it. You're really here, Shian, and this is just the beginning."
I stood up, shaking off the lingering confusion. "Right. I'll figure it out as we go, like we always do."
Nero's voice softened, almost like a whisper. "That's the spirit, Shian. We've got this."
[Congratulations: You will receive a legendary gift from your loving grandfather.]
[The Legendary Gift: Required to take all types of Exorcist]
"Grandfather really loves me, doesn't he?"