Chapter 118
Chapter 118
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 118
>Chapter Title: Reform (4)
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Jin Ha-yeon, who had been gazing at me for a moment, soon reverted to her usual composed expression and turned to the Master.
“It is praise far beyond my merit.”
“Ho ho ho. It doesn’t seem like Il-mok said anything wrong.”
The Master, with his rustic old villager-like face, stroked his beard. Then, his expression suddenly turned serious as he looked at me.
“Very well. Regarding the Demonic Path Academy and the children’s education, I shall follow your opinion, Il-mok. However, that is not the most pressing matter right now, is it?”
Only then did the Demonic Path Academy Leader snap out of it, his surprised face returning to its usual stern demeanor.
“Indeed, Academy Leader Il-mok. We must first deal with Instructor Choi Il-hwan’s matter.”
Come to think of it, the original topic of conversation wasn’t the cult’s education policy.
It was how to handle Choi Il-hwan, who had ambushed me. And whether he was truly a lackey or not.
The only problem was.
‘Damn side effects.’
My head was already spinning from the side effects, and now it was squeezing out more knowledge and wisdom from my brain.
And that, too, in connection with the education policy.
“We can also handle Instructor Choi Il-hwan’s matter in relation to the Divine Cult’s education system, Master.”
“???”
It was beyond his expectations, and even the Master looked at me with a face full of questions.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Until we delay the Demonic Path Academy’s entry age, didn’t we say we would reform it over the next three or four years? This issue can be resolved through that reform plan.”
“Explain in detail.”
“The Academy Leaders of the Demonic Path Academy are mostly unstable in mind because they’ve been practicing demonic arts since childhood. And the same goes for the instructors. Therefore, we should station a physician from the Pure Heart Clinic at the Demonic Path Academy for regular counseling and treatment.”
“It’s a sound idea, but I don’t see how that relates to Instructor Choi Il-hwan’s matter.”
The Master had merely voiced it as the representative, but everyone else wore equally puzzled expressions.
“First of all, in the current situation, keeping Instructor Choi Il-hwan in his position without punishing him carries too much risk.”
I added an explanation toward the Master, who was tilting his head.
“If Instructor Choi Il-hwan is indeed their lackey, dismissing him would settle the matter. But if not, it could play right into their hands. If they bring in one of the Academy Leader’s close aides to fill his vacancy, wouldn’t that be a problem? So why not assign a Pure Heart Clinic physician, not an instructor, to act as a sort of informant?”
Even with my elaboration, the Master still looked puzzled.
“If this old man personally selects the instructor, that would be the end of it. Is there any need for such a cumbersome process?”
As expected from the leader of these cult fanatics. It was the mindset of a cult leader wielding absolute power, not even considering the possibility of opposition.
But that was precisely why he might overlook certain aspects.
“On the contrary, it’s to use the new instructor position as bait, Master.”
“Oh ho! So the scheme is to monitor whoever takes the new instructor position.”
“It would be difficult for me alone, but with the physician dispatched to the Demonic Path Academy, it should be feasible, don’t you think? Moreover, the physician will conduct regular counseling with the students and instructors. People tend to slip up when conversations drag on.”
The Master stroked his beard as he spoke.
“Ho ho ho. And by investigating those who recommended that instructor, we might even root out the source.”
Nodding with a satisfied expression, the Master asked me.
“To use the instructor position as bait, dismissing Instructor Choi Il-hwan seems best for now. Then, aside from dismissal, do you not wish to impose any additional punishment?”
“Rather than additional punishment, like with Warrior Gwan Mu-yeol, it would be best to send him to the Pure Heart Clinic.”
“Will that suffice?”
“Yes, Master. It happened because he couldn’t control the side effects of his demonic art, so he needs counseling and treatment. Moreover, if Instructor Choi Il-hwan is a lackey, something might come up during the counseling process.”
“Ho ho ho. As expected, a most meticulous handling of affairs.”
At the Master’s praise, I nearly gritted my teeth without realizing it.
“…I believe it’s because I practiced the Soul-Stealing Heartless Sword. Ahem.”
Damn side effects.
I just wanted to lie down and rest, but my head refused to take a break.
What could I say? The side effects of demonic arts were like school bullying.
‘Side effects! Stop!’
No matter how much I yelled, it wouldn’t listen.
Perhaps sensing my condition.
“Then, it seems we’ve decided on a direction for Instructor Choi Il-hwan’s matter.”
The Master gazed at me with eyes brimming with anticipation.
“By any chance, beyond stationing a Pure Heart Clinic physician at the Demonic Path Academy, do you have other reform ideas for it? Ho ho ho. Even if they came from the side effects of demonic arts, speak freely.”
It was the expression of a greedy owner eyeing a goose that lays golden eggs.
And the damn side effects bit the bait hook, line, and sinker.
“The Demonic Path Academy is too austere for children still in their growth years. They’re already suffering from side effects, so they need some time to breathe. Therefore, it would be right to operate hobby clubs.”
“Hobby clubs? What are those?”
“As the name suggests, they are gatherings of people who share the same interests.”
It was a concept borrowed from the clubs during my middle and high school days.
Of course, in exam-obsessed Korea, they were mostly nominal, but things were different here.
“In fact, among the current students, there are two who have found mental stability through immersing themselves in acting and theater, and even advanced their demonic arts as a result.”
In a world where anything beneficial to demonic arts would be enforced, this would fly.
In truth, I thought of hobby clubs because of Bang Mi-hwa and Baek Cheon’s examples.
And as if knowing about the students since their topic came up, Academy Leader Yeom Ga-hwi chimed in.
“You mean Student Baek Cheon and Student Bang Mi-hwa?”
“Yes, Academy Leader. Right now, they and a few others are meeting privately, but wouldn’t it be safer to formalize it as hobby clubs and have instructors oversee them?”
I also gave examples of various clubs like tea ceremonies or doctrine study groups, explained that clubs operate regardless of year to allow seniors and juniors to mingle.
I rattled on endlessly about how to operate clubs and their benefits.
“If each instructor takes charge of one club, it should be fully feasible.”
Well, it would mean extra duties for instructors outside teaching hours, but that wasn’t my concern.
After spitting out a few more ideas related to Demonic Path Academy reforms, the side effects finally quieted down a bit.
“Whew.”
Talking nonstop had left me mentally and physically exhausted.
“Oh dear. Come to think of it, your body hasn’t fully recovered yet, and I’ve made you overexert yourself.”
Only then did the Master speak with genuine concern like a proper master.
If he was worried, he should’ve stopped me earlier. Hearing everything out before saying that was absurd.
“For now, we’ll proceed with Instructor Choi Il-hwan’s matter and the Demonic Path Academy reforms according to your opinion, Il-mok. Academy Leader Yeom has heard it all, so he should understand fully.”
At the Master’s words, the Demonic Path Academy Leader bowed with his stern face.
“If it is the Supreme One’s command, this servant shall follow with joy.”
Now that he was convinced of my arguments, his earlier staunch opposition had vanished.
Pleased with the Academy Leader’s response, the Master nodded and rose to his feet.
“Reforming the Demonic Path Academy and the education system will take time, so first, I must issue the order banning demonic arts education for those under sixteen.”
The Master spoke calmly, but it was quite a big deal.
In other words, it was a ban on advanced preparatory learning.
In modern Korea, parents would riot, or illegal tutoring would proliferate secretly.
But here, there was no need to worry about that.
‘At times like this, cults do have their conveniences.’
It was the command of the Heavenly Demon, whom all cultists revered as a god.
Defying it and secretly doing advanced learning could get you branded a heretic, limbs severed, or killed.
The Master and the Demonic Path Academy Leader left for official duties, and the Witch Doctor soon exited the infirmary as well.
“…….”
“…….”
Left alone with Jin Ha-yeon in the infirmary, an awkward silence descended.
Jin Ha-yeon was usually quiet, but because of what happened earlier, the silence felt uncomfortable.
And for some reason, Jin Ha-yeon spoke first.
“I didn’t know you thought so highly of me, Young Master.”
What could I say? Her unusually awkward expression made it sound oddly sarcastic.
“Ahem. I’m sorry for discussing Miss Jin without permission. Still, it was meant positively, so please understand.”
“…I understand.”
With that, silence returned to the infirmary.
Unable to bear the quiet any longer, just as I opened my mouth.
“I’ll take my leave, so please rest comfortably.”
Her face slightly flushed, she stormed out of the infirmary with a chilly gust.
She must have been really angry.
‘No, I didn’t even curse at her. Why go that far?’
Honestly, I felt quite wronged.
* * *
“Whew.”
Right after leaving the infirmary, Jin Ha-yeon let out a deep sigh with an uncharacteristically complicated expression.
‘…I never imagined he’d say something like that.’
She hadn’t even dreamed that, in the presence of the great Heavenly Demon, he would gild her face so lavishly.
Of course, she had received countless praises.
As a child in the rural branch, villagers had praised her endlessly, and after entering the Demonic Path Academy, she often heard commendations from Goo Yang-mun, the assistants, and instructors.
Though Goo Yang-mun’s had been a bit sarcastic under the guise of hiding his feelings.
In any case, after graduating the Demonic Path Academy, she received praises in the Silver Guard Pavilion as well, and Goo Yang-mun, after getting romance advice from Il-mok, had openly praised her.
But even then, she felt little emotion.
She might not have noticed as a child, but at least after practicing the Bare Hand Demon Art, it was just so-so.
Goo Yang-mun’s praises felt a bit off, but otherwise, she dismissed them as obligatory.
But why? Her heart pounded at Il-mok’s praise.
Perhaps because it was in front of the Heavenly Demon she revered, or because unlike Goo Yang-mun’s fabricated flattery, it was genuine praise for something she took pride in.
Maybe because she now truly saw Il-mok as her lord and received his acknowledgment. Or perhaps some emotion she herself hadn’t recognized.
Having practiced the Bare Hand Demon Art to suppress emotions, such feelings were utterly foreign to her, so she couldn’t even properly grasp her own.
But one thing was certain.
‘If I’d stayed like that, my demonic art would have wavered.’
Because of that one surge of emotion, facing Il-mok Young Master felt burdensome.
‘Is this the joy of being acknowledged?’
Deciding to attribute her feelings to simply being recognized by her lord as a subordinate, she steeled her resolve.
‘The Bare Hand Demon Art isn’t just for discarding evil emotions. I can’t disappoint Young Master.’
Only by discarding even the emotion of joy could she truly reach Extreme Demon.
She sat cross-legged right there and began circulating the Bare Hand Demon Art.
She was willing to freeze all emotions to become someone helpful to Il-mok.