Joining the Demonic Cult
"Hyuuungnim!!!"
I'd been sleeping soundly, feeling great, but the commotion woke me up. When I opened my eyes, Chun-sik, who should have been right beside me, was gone.
'Which means...'
The one screaming outside was Chun-sik. I rubbed my eyes and opened the door.
What I saw was a bizarre scene. A monster that looked like the old innkeeper lady was trying to devour Chun-sik.
Chun-sik was tightly bound by something. Only his head was free, allowing him to scream at me.
"Hyuuungnim!!! Save meeee!!!"
Chun-sik was wailing, tears streaming down his face.
"Haa..."
The absurdity of it all made me sigh. But what could I do?
The only one who could guide me to the Heavenly Demon right now was Chun-sik, so I had no choice but to rescue him. I pulled Gram out of my Inventory.
The yokai, mouth agape, spotted me and snapped it shut.
"Oh ho, you think you can fight me?"
The yokai sneered.
"This body's name is—"
Before the yokai could finish,
Slash—!
"I don't give a damn about your name."
I severed its head in one stroke.
"Waaahhh!! Hyuuungnim!!!"
Chun-sik was crying like a little kid. Technically, he was young enough to be one, but...
A bearded man bawling like that was utterly repulsive. I swung my sword casually, slicing through the ropes binding him.
"Hyuuungnim!!! I'll serve you for life! For life!!"
The moment he was free, Chun-sik crawled over and clung to my leg.
"I'm sleepy, so let's crash."
I tried to go back to sleep, but something was in the way.
"The whole village is crawling with yokai."
Yokai were swarming from afar. All of them had human upper bodies and yokai lower halves.
They must masquerade as humans by day to lure people in, then turn yokai at night to eat them.
"Ugh, better clean this up quick and get some shut-eye." "Hyuuungnim!!!"
His language circuits must be fried— he'd been yelling nothing but "hyungnim" since earlier.
"Stay back. You're in the way."
At my words, Chun-sik immediately let go and retreated.
'Kid's got good instincts.'
I liked that about him. I leaped toward the ant-like horde of yokai.
It was over fast. They couldn't even slow my charge.
Every last one fell to a single slash. Despite fighting yokai, not a drop of their blood stained me.
Gram's heat vaporized any blood that splashed toward me. No laundry or cleanup—perfect.
When I returned to the inn after wiping them out, Chun-sik stared at me with sparkling eyes.
"Hyuuungnim!!"
His language circuits were definitely busted.
"P-Please take me as your disciple!!"
He dropped to his knees, kowtowing. I ignored him and headed back to my room.
Waking up had soured my mood; I wasn't in the talking spirit.
"Hyungnim! Did you cough?"
Morning broke, and as I stepped outside, Chun-sik greeted me.
"What're you doing?" "The innkeeper's gone, so I'm prepping breakfast!"
Chun-sik was full of energy even this early, sweating as he bustled about.
Soon enough, he finished and brought food inside.
"Not bad." "Haha! The maknae's skills don't fade!"
Hmm, maybe worth keeping around? I don't usually rate guys highly.
But this guy was quick on the uptake and decent in the kitchen.
I could eat from my Inventory, sure, but that's emergency rations for tough spots.
Local grub is best when available.
"Hmm..." "Is something wrong?"
His attitude turned polite. Weakness was his flaw, but...
Guess I'd drag him along for now. He knew the way, after all.
'Might as well keep him in the Demonic Cult too.'
If he died or got kicked out, oh well. Until then, he'd do.
And so, we set off for the Demonic Cult again. About a week later?
We finally arrived.
'Took long enough.'
I'd thought the trip would be easy. It was, mostly.
Just annoyingly full of yokai ambushes every damn day.
Thanks to that, I pieced together the story. Gain if anything.
'Looks like the Demonic Cult and orthodox sects are teaming up.'
Yokai attacked humans indiscriminately—cultists, sect members, civilians alike. Chaos everywhere.
Losses for the Cult, losses for the sects.
Hence, alliance. And in the process, protagonist falls for the Heavenly Demon.
They probably knew each other already—rivals? Friends?
Anyone into subculture stuff can picture it.
'Gotta get into the Cult fast.'
Mass deaths meant vacancies. I needed to snag one quick.
"Whew, Hyungnim, you're shaking."
Before the massive gates—like something from a wuxia webtoon.
A figure stood blocking the way.
'Pumping out killer intent like crazy.'
First trial, probably. Can't handle this? Not Cult material!
Something like that. Chun-sik seemed fine, if tense.
Better than cowering.
"Let's go."
Casual words. But Chun-sik's steps were heavy.
We breezed past the gates. Passed the intent test, and from there, it was smooth sailing.
Manpower shortage, maybe? Tests felt half-assed. Fine by me.
Passed everything, entered the indoctrination camp for new cultists. Split from Chun-sik into different squads.
Three squads of ten each. One gets cut.
'A whole month.'
Not some boot camp... But all cultists went through it, even the Heavenly Demon heroine.
'Builds camaraderie or whatever.'
Thus began my month of training. Piece of cake for me.
Insanely easy. My specs were protagonist-level already—child's play.
First week: basic fitness. Top of the class.
Next: sparring. Top again.
And so on. Aced every damn one.
Squadmates eyed me with envy at first. But as weeks passed, it shifted.
To awe. They acknowledged me as leader.
"You've all kept up great. Final test: the duel."
Our instructor explained. Duel to decide the failing squad.
Simulated three-way war: sects, Cult, yokai. Up in the big mountain behind the Cult.
All three squads at once.
'Wanna bring Chun-sik along, but...'
If not, oh well. Naturally, I was our squad's leader.
As leader, I entered the meeting to pick starting spots. And saw a familiar face.
Chun-sik had climbed to leader of his squad. Expected, kinda?
Bandit from runt to boss. Sharp instincts, survival drive.
Issue was his cockiness. Look at him now, with a taste of power.
Staring me down all arrogant.
'Time to educate him.'
Not kill... Half-dead should do. Enough to stop him crawling higher.
Starting spots assigned, duel time.
"Our goal's simple."
Wipe all enemies. Except Chun-sik.
"Defensive formation, everyone."
Defensive without me. Squad clustered tight, watching all sides.
"Hup—!"
I took a deep breath, then
"Come at me, you bastards!!!"
Yelled loud to expose our position.
"This right?" "Gotta trust him." "Yeah?" "That monster'll handle it."
Squadmates whispering. Then, presences approaching.
Both squads rushing here. I stretched casually, ready.
Chun-sik's vibe drawing closer. My lips curled.
Squad saw my face. All thought I was nuts.
First look at the other squad. Pissed-off faces.
Guess that's why they joined the Cult. In a blink,
I was in front of their leader.
"Huh?"
No time to react—he went down. Extra didn't even know what hit him.
Didn't kill. Just KO'd.
'No killing.'
No need. If they matched me, maybe. But these scrubs?
No point dirtying my soul.
"K-Kill him!"
The rest of his squad charged me.
"Heh, hehahaha!" "What's so funny, Bomchun hyungnim?"
"Just something."
Finally, payback on that hyungnim. Wait, that dog?
Nah, spared his life, so not a dog. Anyway, revenge time.
Gruff but kinda nice sometimes... But first meet, he tried to kill me.
'Though I struck first.'
No, don't go soft! Tch! That vile heart softened after meeting him.
Yeah, beat him to near-death...
'This time, I'll be the one called hyungnim!'
Ran hard. Unease grew with every step.
'What the?'
Instinct screamed don't go forward. Ignored it, arrived to
"Oh, you're here?"
Hyungnim atop a blood-soaked scene.
"Ah, ahaha... Hyungnim?" "Chun-sik." "Yes, hyungnim." "Time for some education."
Sentence passed.