Chapter 192
Chapter 192
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 192
Chapter Title: Dangerous (1)
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After confirming the tunnel entrance, I quickly slipped out of the barracks.
And I fell into brief contemplation.
'...Master told me to be careful, but I have no choice but to go in.'
Heading back to the academy without properly checking this out would be far more dangerous.
'I can't respond effectively if I don't know the situation inside.'
Suppose I returned to the academy right now and brought reinforcements.
If the tunnel was fully dug through by some chance, it would only force our forces to retreat outside.
And preparing defenses inside was problematic because we didn't know where the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's moles might emerge.
'How far they've dug, how many can enter at once. How many exits there are and where they lead. Without knowing that, I can't block them.'
If I mishandled it?
Never mind the loss of life.
All the academy's documents, not to mention Dang Ok-gi's personal lab and the other research rooms, could turn to ashes.
'...Master added that I'd handle it well on my own after saying to be careful. So, I'll just do that.'
Master.
I take your words very seriously.
As I pondered these things, I sized up the workers shoveling dirt into carts.
The workers who caught my eye all had uneven strides and were drenched in sweat.
That was proof their internal energy wasn't all that impressive.
'Of course they wouldn't assign elites to menial tasks like hauling dirt.'
And their movements were a bit sloppy.
"Ptoo! Ptoo! Ptoo! I'll croak from all this dirt clogging my insides before I ever become an expert!"
It lacked that sharp, distinctive aura from those wholly devoted to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, body and soul.
"Argh! Damn it!!"
From such clues, I glimpsed the workers' origins.
'Underworld thugs lured in by the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult?'
I'd learned of their collusion with the Water Dragon Gang from that safehouse recently, and I'd seen similar cases among Shaanxi's bandits.
Anyway.
This worked out well for me.
Third-rate warriors like these? Give me the blink of an eye.
Bam!!!
I could make them crumple unnoticed.
"Heave-ho..."
I dragged the thug to my hiding spot, struck his vital acupoints including the mute point, and hid him where he wouldn't be easily found.
Now, all that remained was quickly swapping into his clothes.
'...Ugh. Look at this salt-crusted mess.'
Whether it's the Murim Alliance Leader or the academy chief, they owe me hazard pay for real.
Still, having spent my youth cavorting with rotting corpses, it was no trouble for me.
'Good for disguise, actually.'
I hurriedly changed into his top and bottoms, then donned the triangular hood covering nose and mouth.
Emerging from the blind spot, I gripped the handle of the cart he'd been pulling.
Click.
With that, I lifted the barracks flap and stepped into the tunnel.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Blending into the tunnel's atmosphere was easy.
Just match the others' slightly sloppy strides.
When another cart-puller greeted me, I just naturally returned it.
"Good work."
"You too."
With my acting and the dim environment lit only by sporadic torches, no one suspected me right away.
Once my eyes adjusted to the darkness.
I focused my gaze, and details came into view.
'It's narrowing a bit, but still wide. Near the entrance, a dozen could pass; now, five or six at once?'
Estimates of mobilizable numbers and possible uses.
'Using timber for supports?'
My mind raced with such intel.
Underground, I couldn't pinpoint direction, but steps gave a rough distance.
'At this rate, it's nearly under the academy. And wide enough for multiple people at once?'
The tunnel's purpose was clear.
Assault on the academy.
'And it's almost complete...'
As these thoughts swirled, I reached a fork.
'Hm?'
This fork had a standout feature.
Cart wheel tracks were much deeper and more numerous on the left.
From that, I realized two things.
'Active digging on the left, and the right's already finished? Not just nearly done?'
I wanted to check the right, but I cleanly abandoned the idea.
This was beyond solo handling now.
The workers were second- or third-rate underworld scum, but the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's main forces were surely somewhere.
'If anywhere, a few guarding the completed right side.'
Pushing here could ruin everything.
'I've grasped the situation enough.'
With that, I took the left path.
Soon after, thugs wielding shovels at a dirt pile yelled at me.
"Hey! Hurry it up!"
"Coming! Yeah!"
The one calling me was digging with a few comrades.
Maybe from exhaustion, his face looked awful.
"Shit. This is unbearable."
"Tell me about it. Hot and stuffy; gonna suffocate."
The guy who'd donated his clothes was like that too; complaints seemed routine here.
The shovelers ignored me, dumping dirt into carts while grumbling.
"If you're gonna make us work, hand out elixirs first."
"Yeah, those elixirs work wonders! That loser who just shivered in the back during fights became an expert overnight! Just hold out a bit..."
"We're already holding out! Whew! Come to think of it, this is all because of those villagers from my hometown! Once I become an expert, I'll slaughter every one who banished me for stealing a few things and forced me into the underworld!"
"Kehhehe! I'll help that day! Back when Lowly Pak shared jobs, I killed a fair few!"
...Shouldn't you just not have stolen in the first place?
underworld mindset differed from common folk.
The others chimed in with similar offers to help; all the same breed.
No wonder they fell for the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's temptations.
'Don't wanna hear more.'
As their chatter continued, my cart filled with dirt.
I turned to head out.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
Then.
A man clad head to toe in black appeared with swift lightness skill.
'What?'
He started ringing a nearby bell.
Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!
As if by tacit agreement, the diggers froze.
Technicians from deeper inside crept out.
'What's happening? Can't retreat now; it's a single path.'
Helpless, I blended into the gathering crowd.
Once assembled, the black-clad man spoke again.
"The Young Master is inspecting. Reserve cultists, prepare to show respect promptly."
Few in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult were called Young Master.
'Could it be...'
As that thought flashed, footsteps approached from afar.
The black-clad man who'd gathered us spoke firmly.
"The Young Master arrives. Cultists and reserves, prostrate yourselves."
Everyone around dropped into prostration.
I followed easily.
'Prostration's nothing.'
I could do it a hundred times if it meant crushing Heavenly Demon Divine Cult scum.
Anyway.
Shortly after prostrating.
The distant footsteps neared.
A soft voice echoed in the tunnel.
"Oh my... Why are you all like this? Really, you're already working so hard."
Judging by voice and words alone, he didn't seem some vile fiend.
Calling them reserve cultists but using honorifics even with bottom-rung underworld thugs—that politeness was rare even among academy cadets with enemies at the gates.
"These are valuable assets; stand up quickly. Come on."
Thus, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's Young Master raised us.
Letting me naturally check his appearance.
At that moment.
I easily guessed who this man was.
'Wandering Fiend Song Gil-jun.'
A demon with significant role in the original story.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ I recognized Song Gil-jun instantly for a simple reason.
His look matched the original depiction perfectly.
'Handsome with narrow eyes, always in shabby attire, treats everyone regardless of status with a gentle, smiling demeanor. That's Song Gil-jun, no doubt.'
The clincher was his clothes.
Young Heavenly Demon Divine Cult demons favored lavish robes and jewelry.
Drunk on power and kingly treatment, their arrogance showed.
'Expressed in various ways, like clothes and accessories.'
But Song Gil-jun wandered as a ragged itinerant physician in worn leather shoes.
Unlike others craving more power and status, he sought true demonic world domination.
'Hence his exceptional faith in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.'
In some ways, wasn't that even crazier?
Anyway, Senior Shim-yul got pierced by some wandering knight; I wondered if this bastard was behind it.
'He really was.'
He was disciple to the Demon Brain—equivalent to a grand strategist in white underworld murim.
By sheer encounters, he'd troubled the protagonist's generation most in the original.
In other words, I'd met a shadowy all-weather operator from the story.
'Great if I could take him out here... but not feasible now.'
His martial prowess matched mine, but such a figure wouldn't travel alone.
'Probably has someone like that old Sa-hong lackey tagging along.'
Definitely brought high-grade escorts.
Even without, I couldn't gauge their full strength, so no reckless moves.
'No good retreat path anyway.'
I had backup, but only as a last resort.
And I needed to exit the tunnel first to call them.
As these thoughts raced.
Song Gil-jun pointed at the most seasoned-looking digger from inside and spoke.
"Tunnel foreman, right?"
"Yes. That's me."
"I noticed on the way: this path curves more than expected. Any reason?"
"As expected, Young Master sees right away. A huge rock mass—if we broke it, they might notice above. Had no choice. Sorry..."
"What are you saying? You're doing splendidly."
Seemed like his first time here.
Yet he grasped the site with keen insight.
'Of course; he didn't win Demon Brain's discipleship gambling.'
He understood needs without lengthy explanations.
"As work nears completion, use rock-melting poison and antidotes. I'll prepare them."
"Yes. Yes."
"You're all doing well, but the schedule's tight—please push a bit harder."
After chatting with the tunnel crew, Song Gil-jun addressed the underworld dirt-haulers.
"Must be tough working underground. Any inconveniences?"
"...Me? How dare I."
"I came to help you all. Speak freely. Sit comfortably and tell me. I'll join you."
"...Then."
He listened with a smiling face.
Some gripes might irk a demon.
"Eating salt-packed rice once or twice is fine, but constantly? My taste buds are dying."
He didn't get angry.
Instead, encouraged them.
"On the way, I brought good liquor and pork. Asked Dancheoljang for quality gear too. Anything else, just say."
The initially wary underworld thugs, deeming him approachable from repeated kindness.
Started opening up.
Around then, the underworld guy who'd boasted of slaughtering while filling my cart mentioned elixirs.
"Hey, Young Master. When do we get the promised elixirs?"