Chapter 54
Chapter 54
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: Elder Selection Test (1)
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Today was the day of the long-awaited Elder selection test.
While not as grand as the Heavenly Demon's coronation, a comparable number of people had gathered in the Grand Plaza.
Given the scale, it would have been reasonable to hold the test over several days, but by the Heavenly Demon's command, it had to be concluded today.
Thus, from early dawn, the warriors who applied to participate, the spectators, and even the examiners had all assembled.
The reason everyone endured this inconvenience was the fairness this test promised.
The great importance placed on fairness was evident from the fact that even the group draw was not held in advance, to prevent any potential manipulation.
Of course, this meant it was expected to take a very long time.
Though more than a few were displeased, they didn't show it openly, as this test was symbolic of the new era the Heavenly Demon sought to usher in.
In their own way, they too were looking forward to the newly changing face of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
Fairness.
For those who had been relatively overlooked, it appeared as a chance to rise by merit alone.
Of course, opportunity only comes to those who are prepared.
This was clear when, after the group draw concluded, some were seen cursing their luck.
They must have been hiding behind the name of fairness, hoping for a stroke of luck.
The kind of luck where they would be randomly matched with an opponent weaker than themselves.
But such an occurrence was rare, happening once or twice at most.
The lesser martial artists who relied on luck were quickly weeded out during the preliminary matches.
Among them were self-proclaimed hidden masters and rising stars.
After about four hours, all the preliminary matches had ended, and the finalists for the main tournament were decided.
First, the finalists for the Great Elder selection test numbered twelve in total, including Silent Kill, Do Cheon-mu, Eum Cheon-myeong, and Elder No Gae.
The finalists for the Junior Elder position were fourteen, including Gung So-so, Chang On, Do Gwang, Ha Gyeong, and Jo Gwang-uk.
Therefore, unlike the preliminary rounds which were held in groups, the main tournament was scheduled to be a series of one-on-one duels.
Additionally, a special benefit was granted to the finalists.
This benefit guaranteed them the position of Division Commander in the divisions that each new Elder would form, even if they failed to become Elders themselves.
Of course, when they first heard this, there was considerable backlash from the finalists.
It was understandable, as it was tantamount to guaranteeing them a position under a former competitor.
However, when it was announced that Division Commanders would be treated as equals to the Elders and would be exempt from the preliminaries in the next selection test, the dissent quickly subsided.
That benefit was a kind of insurance.
For both the finalists facing tough battles ahead, and for Maeng Ak, who needed to eliminate any potential discord.
In any case, the main selection tournament could now begin.
Before the Great Elder test, the Junior Elder test was held.
This was to prevent the audience's standards from becoming too high.
Although the Junior Elder finalists were certainly skilled enough to be called masters, the difference in level was still significant.
The participants in the Great Elder tournament were all the top masters of the current Demonic Cult. No, they were skilled enough to be considered the greatest masters in the entire martial world.
Not a single one had failed to break through the wall of enlightenment; all had reached a state of profound mastery.
In comparison, the Junior Elder finalists were all rising stars who had just passed the age of twenty.
For them as well, it was better to have their tournament before the Great Elders'.
The first order of business was, of course, the drawing to determine opponents.
This time, a slightly different method was used.
Each finalist was given a slip of paper with a number from 1 to 14, and starting with the person who drew number 1, they would come forward in order and choose their desired opponent.
The main tournament began with a command from Maeng Ak, who was seated in the center of the VIP section in the Grand Plaza.
“Great Guardian, begin the drawing for the Junior Elder tournament.”
“As you command!”
At Maeng Ak's single, low-spoken command, the noisy Grand Plaza fell silent.
It was so quiet that even the faint sound of the Great Guardian shuffling the drawing slips could be heard.
Thanks to this, an inexplicable tension mounted.
Rustle, rustle.
The drawing slips, shuffled in mid-air, were folded exactly three times before being placed into a wooden box painted black on the outside, making it impossible to see within.
Following that, the Junior Elder finalists came forward one by one and reached into the wooden box.
With each person who unfolded their slip, sighs and exclamations erupted alternately.
“Haaah… I drew first and got number 14. Damn it.”
“Number 7… an ambiguous number.”
“Oh! I got number 3!”
Once everyone knew their number, the Great Guardian began to call them out.
“Number 1, come forward.”
“Yes, sir!”
As soon as the acknowledgment was given, someone stepped forward onto the training ground where the Great Guardian stood.
“Heh heh, as expected, luck favors those destined for greatness.”
A rough voice, and a large saber slung over his right shoulder.
It was Do Gwang.
He had been boasting that it didn't matter what number he drew since he was confident against any opponent, and then he drew number 1.
Judging by the way the corners of his mouth stretched to his ears, he seemed quite pleased for someone who claimed it didn't matter.
Watching him, Jo Gwang-uk crumpled the slip of paper with the number 14 on it and muttered.
“Tch, that lucky bastard.”
The two had spent their time together in Maeng Ak's group at the Divine Hall of the Latent Demon, but they had never gotten along.
They both knew instinctively.
That this man was better suited as a rival than a friend.
As the saying goes that rivals are alike, the two were similar in personality, training methods, and their attitude toward martial arts.
Was that why?
Whenever they met, they would inevitably come to blows.
Neither had a personality that would yield, so sparks flew constantly.
Of course, in front of Maeng Ak, it was limited to small arguments, but when he wasn't around, they would fight until So-so, Ha Gyeong, and Chang On all had to intervene to stop them.
Yet, the two of them seemed to consider it a form of training.
Watching them from a short distance, So-so felt a sense of unease.
She turned to Ha Gyeong and Chang On standing beside her and asked.
“Those idiots. Surely they’re not planning to fight each other here, are they?”
“Come on, So-so. Even for those two, that’s a bit much. They know how to separate public and private matters, right?”
Ha Gyeong replied as if to say 'of course not', but his expression hardened at the sight Chang On pointed out after tapping his shoulder.
“Hey, wait, Ha Gyeong. Look at that guy.”
“Huh?”
When Ha Gyeong turned his head, he saw Do Gwang with his index finger raised, pointing directly at Jo Gwang-uk.
“Keuk. Those blockheads…!”
Without any hesitation, Do Gwang had picked Jo Gwang-uk as his opponent.
Honestly, he was the most difficult opponent among the finalists.
Thanks to their many brawls, they knew each other's strengths, weaknesses, and even minor habits.
‘I absolutely have to become a Junior Elder, but…’
For some reason, he didn't want to be in the same position as Jo Gwang-uk again.
At the same time, if they both became Junior Elders, they would probably work separately.
‘It’s not easy to find a worthy rival. Yes, that’s right.’
He wasn't an easy opponent, to the point that Do Gwang had to rationalize his choice after making it.
But somehow, it felt like this was what he was supposed to do.
Jo Gwang-uk, the one who was chosen, didn't seem displeased either.
Instead, his expression seemed to say that he would have made the same choice if he were in that position.
“The chosen one will step forward. Refusal is not an option.”
“As you command!”
Just then, the Great Guardian called them, and they faced each other.
The distance between them closed until they were close enough to strike at any moment.
The two didn't hold back and immediately brandished their respective weapons.
Their tongues, that is—weapons they had honed even more than their fists and blades.
“Quite a bold thought you had there, Do Gwang. I’ll make you regret choosing your big brother.”
“Ha! Don't be ridiculous. When a piece of cake like you is served up on a platter, how could I resist? I have to gobble you up.”
“Yeah, talk all you want. Once you get a taste of my fists, you’ll be lucky if you can even drink water.”
“What a shame. My saber has no mercy; it won’t even leave you a throat to swallow water with.”
Thud!
The Great Guardian struck the ground with his scabbard, halting their provocations.
“Both of you, shut your mouths. You can play around all you want once the test begins.”
“Yes, sir!”
Watching this from the VIP section, Maeng Ak chuckled to himself.
Having completed the Divine Arts of the Heavenly Demon and broken through successive walls, his five senses had become even sharper.
He could hear the bickering of the three of them perfectly.
“It’s good to see they haven’t changed.”
At that, the man next to Maeng Ak asked.
“My lord, your two disciples are about to fight. Why are you smiling?”
A scar running horizontally across the bridge of his nose, and a ponytail. It was Ha Song.
He was one of the few people who could speak to Maeng Ak, now the Heavenly Demon, without reservation.
Of course, this was only possible because Maeng Ak had permitted it, but the man was remarkably bold.
“Isn’t it a fine sight, Ha Song? That is what a true rivalry is. A martial artist must sometimes choose such passion over the immediate benefits before them.”
“I don’t quite understand what you mean, but I can see you are fond of your disciples, my lord. Speaking of which, I heard you still haven’t given out the rewards for the fourth test of the Divine Hall of the Latent Demon…”
“Ah, that? I’ll have to give them out soon. I have to receive mine as well.”
The long-overdue topic of the rewards for the fourth test of the Divine Hall of the Latent Demon was brought up.
In truth, because the Cult Leader and the Great Elder had died before the rewards were decided, the matter had been quietly swept under the rug.
While the fourth test of the Divine Hall held great significance, it was overshadowed by the major incidents that followed: Maeng Ak's involvement with the Heavenly Demon's succession and the deaths of the Great Elder and the Cult Leader.
Of course, Maeng Ak had not forgotten.
He too was a successful candidate of the fourth test and was entitled to a reward.
‘Since it’s been brought up, I should address it at the celebratory gathering after this selection test is over.’
He thought about the rewards he wanted to give, and also those he wanted to receive.
One thing was certain: as a reward bestowed as proof of completing the Divine Hall's trials, it would be quite substantial.
“My lord, you haven’t forgotten about the bonuses for the instructors, have you?”
“Ha! So that’s why you brought it up. Ha Song, sometimes when I look at you, I’m reminded of a snake flicking its tongue.”
“Huh? A snake?”
Ha Song, who became selectively oblivious at times like this, wondered if it was because of his scar and touched his nose.
“Aish, forget it, you rascal. Let’s just watch the kids. It looks like they’re about to start.”
“Yep!”
Ha Song scratched the back of his head and turned his gaze back to the training ground.
Just as Maeng Ak had said, the test was about to begin.
Do Gwang and Jo Gwang-uk were glaring at each other from opposite ends of the arena, east and west.
Their stances were different due to their different weapons, but their ferocious auras were similar.
How should I put it?
They were like mother boars whose piglets had been stolen.
It looked as if they would snort steam from their nostrils and charge at each other at any moment.
Shinggg.
As Do Gwang ran his hand over the flat of his beloved saber, the blade hummed.
In response, Jo Gwang-uk tapped his gauntleted fists together, finishing his preparations.
A seriousness could be seen in both their eyes.
They knew.
The strength of their opponent.
“The time limit is one hour. Fight with the intent to kill your opponent. I will intervene and stop the match just before death.”
“Yes, sir!”
Finally, the Great Guardian’s explanation of the duel rules was over.
The moment their response came, the Great Guardian vanished from the training ground.
It was a signal of sorts, marking the start of the duel.
As the center of the training ground cleared, a tremendous roar erupted from both the east and west sides.
BOOM!!
The two ferocious boars had taken their first step toward each other.
And then, before even an instant had passed, another roar exploded.
CLAAANG!!
It was the sound of a large saber clashing with thick gauntlets.
Watching from outside the training ground, So-so, Ha Gyeong, and Chang On shook their heads and spoke.
“To think we’d be hearing this same old tiresome noise again today.”
Despite saying that, they were inwardly curious about who would be the victor.
It was a fight that even they found difficult to predict.
In terms of win rate, it was exactly 50-50.
Although their fights felt like a daily routine, predicting the winner and loser was always difficult.