Chapter 117
Chapter 117
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 117
>Chapter Title: Reform (3)
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“You brought in such a dangerous person as an instructor, and on top of that, assigned him as my supervisor?”
I couldn’t hold back and voiced the question aloud.
But the response I got was astounding.
“Once you’ve learned demonic arts, you have to accept the side effects. He’s qualified to serve as an instructor at the Demonic Path Academy—who doesn’t have side effects?”
“…….”
Yeah. Everyone here is a lunatic, that much is true.
But even so.
“Isn’t it too dangerous for an instructor teaching the cadets to have murderous impulses as a side effect?”
“…It’s my fault that you ended up in such grave danger. It’s my role as academy leader to monitor the instructors, yet I’ve put you at risk instead. As the leader of this Demonic Path Academy, I apologize to you.”
No sooner had the academy leader finished speaking than my master came to his defense.
“It’s fine, Academy Leader Yeom. It’s a common occurrence when practicing demonic arts. You’re just reacting sensitively because there are people targeting Il-mok right now. If you look at the incident alone, it’s nothing special, is it?”
Listening to them made my head ache again.
‘What the hell am I supposed to do with these insane cult fanatic psychopaths?’
A cult mixed with demonic arts—this was beyond hopeless.
Come to think of it, it wasn’t just the adults’ problem.
‘Jeong-hyeon gained enlightenment and developed severe social withdrawal, Baek-cheon turned into a complete madman, and Bang Mi-hwa’s been acting even stranger lately.’
Even among the people I was ‘somewhat’ close to, they were like this. And this was just the changes over the six months since I entered the academy.
On top of that, I’d gotten entangled in a few incidents myself, and my side effects had worsened just the same.
‘At least I have an adult mind, so it’s fine for me, but what did the kids do wrong?’
Sixteen in name only. In modern terms, barely a high school freshman.
And this was only after entering the academy. I’d heard Seon-a started learning the Blood Fox Crimson Claw Art at around ten years old.
Puberty hitting them hard, piled on with demonic art side effects—they were all growing up into proper little lunatics.
No, maybe that’s why all the cult elders were crazy?
Was it because of the wild system of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult?
‘We’re screwed.’
Once more, the side effect that had been dormant in a corner of my mind started rearing its head.
Now I was certain.
‘My realm has advanced, damn it.’
Before waking up, I’d barely suppressed the side effect, but that had only prevented it from rampaging—it hadn’t addressed the root.
I couldn’t ignore the one screaming in my head any longer, so I finally had to speak up.
“Master.”
“Yes, my disciple.”
“Aren’t the academies in each branch of the New Strongholds scheduled to produce their first graduates in half a year?”
“Indeed.”
“And as per the original plan, among those children, the ones with exceptional martial talent will receive further martial training, while those with literary talent will be taught administration or medicine, correct?”
“My first disciple is already handling the preparations. Is there a problem?”
“When training the children with exceptional martial talent, could we delay the time they start learning demonic arts? Ideally until after sixteen. Ah! Actually, rather than just those kids, it might be best if you, Master, publicly prohibit learning demonic arts before sixteen.”
No sooner had I finished than everyone in the room, starting with my master, stared at me like I’d lost my mind.
Even Yeom Ga-hwi, who always had a stern face.
“…We were discussing Instructor Chu Il-hwan, and out of nowhere, what’s this nonsense?”
“It’s something I’ve felt after spending half a year at the academy. Not only have my own side effects worsened, but I’ve seen my peers and seniors going mad day by day.”
“Problems like that are inevitable in the process of learning demonic arts.”
I barely suppressed a sigh at my master’s point.
No matter how much he cherished me, if I sighed at the Heavenly Demon’s words, the academy leader or Jin Ha-yeon watching from the side would have my head.
“Master. Humans are made of body and mind. But these two are not separate. If the mind falters, the body follows. Likewise, if the body falters, the mind follows. Then, Master, when is the time when a person’s body undergoes the greatest changes?”
At my question, my master’s expression shifted subtly, as if he’d caught on.
‘Phew. Good thing he gets it even with a vague explanation.’
In the modern world, I’d cite hormones and scientific evidence, but that wouldn’t fly here.
I had to explain in a way that fit this era, but no good examples came to mind, so I was being long-winded.
‘I never thought the concept of puberty doesn’t exist in the Central Plains.’
Still, since my master seemed to grasp it, I pressed on quickly.
“Though it varies by person, usually between twelve and sixteen is when the body changes the most dramatically. And since mind and body are connected, the mind also undergoes the greatest upheaval during this time. So, Master, is it truly safe to learn demonic arts when the mind is already at its most unstable?”
At my final question, my master turned to the medical officer still in the room.
“What do you think, Medical Officer? As a physician, does Il-mok’s words ring true?”
The medical officer stroked his beard with an intrigued look and replied.
“It’s a question I’ve never considered, so I can’t judge right or wrong immediately, but it certainly seems plausible. However, I’ve only dealt with those who started demonic arts from childhood, so I lack a proper comparison.”
At that moment, Jin Ha-yeon cautiously raised her hand.
“Lord of Ten Thousand Demons. May this lowly girl speak?”
“Speak.”
“Before entering the academy, this girl lived in a rural village and learned demonic arts from my parents. I often saw villagers who hadn’t learned demonic arts. As Young Master Il-mok says, the village elders often spoke of children that age being the most rebellious.”
I didn’t know why she was suddenly backing me up, but I took the opening.
“I also mingled with common folk before joining the cult, Master. In my eyes, children that age had restless, turbulent minds. Like being tossed by fierce winds and massive waves.”
My master nodded once at my explanation and asked.
“So, you’re saying we should avoid that period to learn demonic arts?”
Honestly, I wanted to say no.
‘Not just sixteen—even twenty would be better.’
Since the cult’s foundation was demonic arts, saying not to learn them at all would cost me my head.
Then wouldn’t it be better to start after adulthood? Passing puberty didn’t suddenly make kids wise sages.
But the cult’s heavyweights were steeped in old traditions. Telling them to start after twenty would spark massive backlash.
Just like now.
“Lord of Ten Thousand Demons! You must not be swayed by such misguided words!!”
Academy Leader Yeom Ga-hwi prostrated himself like a loyal vassal staking his life, vehemently opposing.
“The academy entry is at sixteen, yet prohibiting demonic arts until then? That’s impossible!”
“There’s a simple solution. Just delay academy entry by two years.”
When I countered nonchalantly, Yeom Ga-hwi glared at me like he wanted to kill me and said.
“Do you truly not realize that delaying the start of demonic arts would drastically lower the average prowess of the cult’s warriors?!”
“Academy Leader, you seem too fixated on the academy alone.”
“What did you say?!”
“Didn’t you hear the earlier discussion? The cult is now teaching children across the New Strongholds. Delaying demonic arts until sixteen and academy entry to eighteen means the number of children starting demonic arts will multiply several times. So, instead of delaying entry, just expand the academy’s capacity.”
“!!!”
As Yeom Ga-hwi faltered, my master asked in a mild tone.
“You’re suggesting quantity over quality?”
“It’s just the initial step, Master. Demonic arts grow far faster than other martial arts anyway. They’ll advance steeply until each hits their own wall. No— with stable minds, that wall will come even later. So think of it this way: if the number of children learning demonic arts multiplies, but their minds are unstable, can we even handle it?”
For some reason, my master burst into hearty laughter at my question.
“Hahaha. So that’s why you want to expand the academy. They’ll start later, so their minds will be more mature. Even with more numbers, control will be feasible.”
At my master’s interpretation, Yeom Ga-hwi looked at me in shock, as if asking if I’d really thought that far.
Of course, my damn side effect had.
“Yes. But for contingencies and to maintain education quality, we’ll need to increase instructors and assistants proportionally. So, rather than raising the entry age immediately, we should prepare gradually.”
“Hmm. If we prohibit demonic arts before sixteen as you say, the kids who’ve already learned them will be an issue. Send them to the current academy first, and delay entry a few years from now.”
“Yes. We can build the foundation bit by bit during that time, Master.”
At my response, my master nodded with a satisfied look and said.
“You’ve come up with a truly commendable idea.”
“It’s from what I’ve seen at the academy, but honestly, Seon-a was the first thing that came to mind.”
“That girl from the Hyeok-ryeon family?”
“Yes. From the first time I saw Seon-a, I felt heartbroken that such a young child was burdened too heavily.”
“Hohoho. Events in my own clan, and yet this old man never thought of it. I’ve taken it too much for granted.”
My master seemed fully convinced, but the academy leader’s face still looked dissatisfied.
And that reaction probably matched most of the cult’s old fogey heavyweights.
To stave off my damn side effect outburst, I spoke again.
“Moreover, this aligns with our cult’s will, Master.”
“Oh? Our cult’s will?”
“Yes, Master. What is the greater purpose of our cult? To vanquish evil through martial prowess. That’s why we select the leader through martial arts, and the exceptional in martial arts rise to high positions, isn’t it?”
Even saying just this much, my master’s eyes gleamed as he grasped my intent.
But to make sure the others understood, he chimed in as if prompting.
“Indeed. But what does that have to do with delaying the start of demonic arts?”
“It allows us to truly discover children with exceptional talent in martial arts that align with our doctrines. We teach the children of the New Strongholds through the academies, identify talents, and have them start demonic arts at sixteen together. Then, realms will divide purely by effort and talent—not like now, where kids who lucked out with good parents learn demonic arts first, inherit high positions, and pass them down.”
“!!!”
No sooner had I finished than the academy leader stared at me in shock.
“Also, learning demonic arts in the cult isn’t just to grow strong quickly and save the masses—it’s also a trial to overcome the side effects. That’s why you tested me thoroughly before taking me as a disciple, wasn’t it, Master?”
Mentioning our first meeting, my master smiled warmly, like an old man lost in memories.
“Hohoho. You remember well.”
“Yes, Master. That’s why we must delay it even more. Only after imprinting the cult’s doctrines fully in their minds during childhood, free from demonic side effects, and then learning demonic arts—only then will they grow into true warriors of the faith. And there’s a perfect example right here.”
As everyone looked at me puzzled, I turned my head slightly while lying down to glance at Jin Ha-yeon.
“Born in a remote branch, learned martial arts from parents who were mere branch warriors, yet entered the academy through talent and effort alone. Started the Bare Hand Demon Art only after entry, graduated at the top of her class, and never forgot the cult’s doctrines—a true believer stands right there, doesn’t she?”
Having heard so much praise for Jin Ha-yeon from Joo Seo-yeon, her story came naturally to mind.
But for some reason.
As my master, the medical officer, and the academy leader’s gazes followed mine to Jin Ha-yeon.
Deep ripples stirred in her eyes as she looked at me—unlike her usual impassive gaze.
‘Tsk. Did I mention her for no reason?’
It seemed I’d irked her by bringing it up without permission. Her face was slightly flushed, so she must be pretty angry.