Chapter 70
Chapter 70
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: A Thousand Years Ago
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A thousand years ago.
Back then, the world was filled not just with the Demon King but also with hordes of evildoers dreaming of causing havoc. Yet they were ultimately "human." Fundamentally different from the Demon King.
In the face of an overwhelming "true" demon, those who had dared to call themselves demons belatedly realized they were mere humans. What drove that obvious truth home for them were the "demon beasts" led by the Demon King.
Demon beasts are not beasts of this world. They possess almost no intellect, and their savage instincts burn fiercely. Demon beasts kill humans even when not hungry.
When starved, they devour the humans they've slain. They are wired to slaughter humans on instinct.
Even after the Demon King's death, the demon beasts persisted. The intense curse he left behind continued to "birth" demon beasts into this world. Demon beasts do not reproduce in the usual way. They simply... appear out of nowhere.
And the Demonic Cult commands these demon beasts. In sheer numbers, far more people have died to demon beasts than to the Demonic Cult itself. Demon beasts are a plague gnawing away at the world over a millennium.
A wretched world. One where might trumps politics. If the Demonic Cult summoned the Demon King right now, the world would end. The current world isn't even prepared to face the Demonic Cult's Heavenly Demon, let alone the Demon King.
Ever since that being beyond all norms—the Demon King—appeared, the Son of Heaven lost his power. The emperor rules the realm in heaven's stead. But the Demon King's descent and the birth of the "Celestial Humans" made the world realize that heaven's will did not reside with the emperor.
Yet a Celestial Human cannot become emperor. Their role is to oppose the Heavenly Demon and the Demon King.
Everyone knows it. Just as the first Celestial Human perished alongside the Demon King during the Divine Demon War a thousand years ago, their successors... must do the same if they can.
By now, the emperor has become a mere symbolic figure. A millennium ago, he wielded absolute authority, but today's emperor is left with symbolism in place of power.
In fact, it's precisely because the world has become like this that a "symbol" is necessary. Buddhas and immortals may be gone from the world, but the "emperor" undoubtedly exists.
The emperor was needed as a beacon for the people enduring a world that could collapse at any moment.
Though the emperor lingers as a symbol, the imperial army's power has not faded into obscurity. In such a world, the imperial army's strength only grows.
It must grow. If the martial world fights the Demonic Cult under the banner of chivalry, the imperial army "protects" the people from the Demonic Cult and its demon beasts.
For that purpose, the demon beast outposts were established. These are bases where the imperial army, along with conservative sects and chivalrous martial artists drawn by a sense of justice, gather to scout demon beast nests and prepare to hunt the prowling beasts.
"Did you sleep?"
Bang Jun asked, sticking out his tongue in disbelief. In the middle of the bustling cafeteria, crowded with students coming out for breakfast, Wi Seongcheon was half-heartedly eating while devouring a book.
It was the Gansu demon beast compendium distributed to students the day before—Sunday.
"I slept."
Just enough not to draw attention. He'd be sleeping in carriages to his heart's content for the next while anyway. Even taking the shortest route, it was over three thousand ri from the Uicheon Academy in Jungkyeong to their destination, the Gansu demon beast outpost.
They'd travel via horse stations affiliated with the academy for fresh horses and carriages en route. Even conservatively, it'd take at least ten days just to reach the outpost.
"You're surprisingly diligent."
"Surprisingly? Not blatantly?"
Wi Seongcheon smirked. He'd received the demon beast compendium and memorized its contents inside out. For his first demon beast subjugation, excitement outweighed any nerves.
Demon beasts had existed before Wi Seongcheon was born, but having grown up in the sacred Shinryeongsan Mountains of Gangseo—where they never appeared—he'd never encountered one.
"You're lucky. Just you and Professor Seo Il... no, three with the second-year upper-class student tagging along as support?"
"What's so lucky about that?"
"Fewer people means less hassle on a trip like this. My advisor, Professor Chungi-bang, is handling me plus eight others—that's nine already, and then second-years on top!"
Bang Jun shuddered at the mere thought. Then, something suddenly occurred to him, and his eyes lit up as he looked at Wi Seongcheon.
"You're good at breaking bones, right?"
"Not incapable."
"Break my left arm for me. I'll say I tumbled down the stairs. Remember that pharmacology class where I nearly shit myself? That was close!"
"What do you want me to do about it? I told you you'd regret it."
"Come on, what's the point of friends? I even dug up info on your brother for you!"
That was true gratitude. When sharing intel on the Crimson-Eyed Ghost Killer, Bang Jun hadn't asked for compensation. He'd sought it out purely from friendship and his own curiosity.
That was part of why Wi Seongcheon anticipated the demon beast subjugation. Until a few years ago, his brother had operated as a hunter in Cheonghae under the moniker Crimson-Eyed Ghost Killer.
Perhaps... at the Gansu demon beast outpost, he might meet hunters who'd seen his brother back then.
"Don't pull stupid shit. Even with a broken arm, you'll get dragged along."
"Well, well, you finally speak up. I thought you'd gone mute these past few days."
Wi Seongcheon chuckled and looked up. Dang Heera's complexion was ghostly pale, like a sick patient. He hadn't heard it directly, but the reason was obvious. The second-year upper-class students joining as support for this subjugation included Dang Seona—Dang Heera's half-sister.
"Don't make that face. It's not like you're being led to the slaughterhouse."
"You wouldn't understand."
"Of course not, since you tell me nothing. All I know is you're not the legitimate child like your sister, Senior Dang Seona. Guessing further, that background meant you got the cold shoulder in the Tang Clan."
It fit together that way. Dang Heera had only been seen off by her uncle, Dang Jinhu. Yeong Sojin had nearly called her a Tang Clan "discarded child."
And that was just the start. Despite her prestigious Tang Clan background, Dang Heera was an outsider among the students.
Her too-exceptional sister's existence had narrowed Dang Heera's place in the world.
"It's not a story worth chatting happily about."
"Naturally. If it were, you wouldn't be moping like this."
Dang Heera's lips puffed out. She glanced at Bang Jun and Wi Seongcheon sitting across from her. A Beggar Clan beggar and the young sect leader of the minor Cheonhwamun.
Back in the Tang Clan, she wouldn't have been allowed to even speak to such people, let alone befriend them.
"Hah."
The absurdity made her laugh. Not a single first-year upper-class student had pried into these matters with her. Not that she'd ever wanted to open up. Wasn't that ridiculous too? Somehow... she'd grown comfortable enough to reveal these things.
"I was never abused by my sister."
Not just her sister. No one in the Tang Clan abused Dang Heera. Even as an illegitimate child rather than the formal wife’s offspring, she was the Poison Physician Lord's own daughter.
"My mother died shortly after I was born."
Poisoned to death.
The frail first wife, already weak from birth, grew even more debilitated after giving birth to Dang Seona, her days numbered.
Even the Tang Clan, experts in poisons and medicines, couldn't save her. She'd been "born that way"—nothing to be done.
Facing death, the first wife feared her concubine usurping her position after she was gone. So she poisoned the concubine herself.
Not long after, the first wife closed her eyes with a satisfied smile.
"My sister and I suddenly lost our mother. ...I don't resent her for it. I never even knew my mother's face."
The Tang Clan was thrown into chaos. Obsessed with women, he'd tarnished the family name and shamed them all. The family's elder statesman, the Poisonless Lord, flew into a rage and forced the family head to swear a vow of celibacy.
"My sister was a prodigy from childhood. Far beyond someone like me. Know when she caught the Grand Elder's eye and became her formal disciple? At just nine years old."
The Poisonless Lord, Dang Sa-yeong, had no children—had never even married. For half a century since her youth, she'd devoted herself solely to the Tang Clan's poison arts.
Tang warriors sharing her blood had begged her countless times to pass on her poison arts' secrets, but Dang Sa-yeong shared them with no one.
Dang Seona alone became her disciple and inherited those secrets.
"Growing up under such a brilliant sister was suffocating. ...She was... strict. Incredibly so, despite our one-year age gap. From childhood, I watched her more than our father in the family. Never owned so much as a common toy."
Only her uncle Dang Jinhu pitied her. He'd secretly slipped her toys a few times.
Dang Seona took them all. She'd smash the stolen toys before Dang Heera's eyes and always say the same thing.
"Hands aren't for that."
Dang Heera murmured, gazing at her long fingers—hands trained in hidden weapons and poisons since childhood. Wi Seongcheon, who had been propping his chin while listening, pushed his chair back and stood.
"I felt it when I met Senior Dang Seona, but she doesn't hate you."
"...Of course I know. I've known since we were kids."
That's why she couldn't resist. If Dang Seona had oppressed her out of malice, she'd have fought back somehow. But there was never malice in Dang Seona's actions.
"Senior seems to like you a lot."
It had become an obsession.
Dang Heera only gave a bitter smile in response.
* * *
Thirteen second-year upper-class students. Ninety first-years. Sixteen professors accompanying them. Add in wagons loaded with supplies for the journey, coachmen, and porters, and it becomes a procession of one hundred fifty strong.
Excluding outlier martial arts instructors like Seo Il, professors typically handle five to ten first-year students each.
Yang Jeong of the Ferocious Might Blade.
A saber arts instructor, he oversaw Paeng Yeonhwa and ten other first-years who wielded blades. Normally, he'd form a squad with his charges for this subjugation.
"Understood."
But this time, Paeng Yeonhwa was excluded from Yang Jeong's group. She wasn't greatly surprised by the sudden announcement. Yang Jeong looked apologetic and regretful instead.
"Don't misunderstand. It's not because of me or any complaints from the other students."
Even mentioning the students, Yang Jeong trailed off unwittingly. He had no qualms teaching Paeng Yeonhwa, but his other students did.
"The Supreme Ultimate Sword Lord came personally and asked. If possible, just for this once, to place you in Professor Seo Il's group."
"...Ah."
Only then did Paeng Yeonhwa show surprise. The Supreme Ultimate Sword Lord wasn't joining the subjugation.
He'd seemed inwardly eager, but Nam Myeong had grabbed his trouser leg and begged him to stay at the academy. With one of the Ten Heroes present, the imperial troops at the outpost would surely make unreasonable demands.
"Understood."
She could guess why the Supreme Ultimate Sword Lord made such a request. Seo Il and Wi Seongcheon knew about Paeng Yeonhwa's outburst.
And... Paeng Yeonhwa was aware of Wi Seongcheon, stimulated by him. The Supreme Ultimate Sword Lord seemed to want her to grow closer to Wi Seongcheon this time.
"I heard in advance."
Seo Il welcomed Paeng Yeonhwa with a smile. Wi Seongcheon, who'd never heard, widened his eyes in surprise—but he wasn't displeased.
He grinned and waved at Paeng Yeonhwa. Even so, their group was still just three. Bang Jun, crammed into a full carriage, shot envious glances.
"Please take care of me."
The moment he spotted the face of the second-year senior assigned as support, Bang Jun's envious gaze vanished instantly.
"Huh."
Even Wi Seongcheon, standing near the carriage, couldn't hide his surprise.
Dang Seona smiled knowingly, as if she'd anticipated their shock.