Chapter 121
Chapter 121
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 121
>Chapter Title: Reforms (7)
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The next morning.
The heavyweights of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult gathered in the Heavenly Demon Hall.
They were all the heads of various organizations, along with several middle-aged martial artists serving as leaders of the armed forces.
The Heavenly Demon, who had summoned them all to the Heavenly Demon Hall, opened his mouth with a stern expression unlike his usual vacant, rural-elder face.
“I’ve called you all here to begin a matter for the future of the great Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.”
With those words, the Heavenly Demon explained the education reform plan that Il-mok had devised and Wi Jin-hak was set to implement.
Since the ban on demonic arts for those sixteen and under was already in effect, those gathered had some idea of the broad strokes.
However, what the Heavenly Demon instructed them on today went beyond their understanding.
“To ensure the Primary Demon Hall, which will handle the elementary education of the cult members, is fully established, each organization will select individuals to serve as instructors. Additionally, a portion of the armed forces will be assigned as escorts so the children can travel to and from their home villages on rest days.”
At the Heavenly Demon’s explanation, Deng Fei, the leader of the Elder Council, stepped forward and prostrated himself fully.
“If it is the command of the Lord of Ten Thousand Demons, we are prepared to throw ourselves into a pit of fire. We all understand this matter is for the cult’s future. However, we worry that devoting too many personnel to education will leave us short-handed for monitoring external threats and managing internal affairs.”
It seemed he wasn’t the only one with such thoughts, as several martial artists followed Deng Fei in prostrating themselves before the Heavenly Demon.
As if he had anticipated this to some extent, the Heavenly Demon showed no sign of surprise.
He stroked his beard once with a stern face, glanced over those prostrated, and spoke again.
“I well know the need to monitor external threats. However, internal governance is a slightly different matter. Hasn’t nearly two hundred years passed since our cult established itself in the New Frontier? Now, those raising flags against us in the New Frontier are merely vagrants flowing in from outside. That much can surely be handled while escorting the children to and from the hall, no?”
He was saying the armed forces, who periodically patrolled the New Frontier as monitors, would double as escorts for the children attending the Primary Demon Hall.
“Moreover, the children travel to and from their villages only once every ten days, so they can continue their monitoring patrols in the remaining time. It’s merely adding the escort duty once every ten days.”
Il-mok had drawn from modern memories to propose five days of education and two days of rest, but the Heavenly Demon had rejected it.
In a world without the concept of weekends, resting two out of seven days seemed too slothful.
It was a pity for the children, but in the end, the system settled on eight days of education and two days of rest.
Education ran until midday on the eighth day, after which the children returned to their villages in the afternoon, rested for two days, and returned to the Primary Demon Hall in the afternoon of the last rest day under escort.
“And the issue of external threats is the same. We must address invasions by those threatening our Divine Cult, but this seat has no intention of attacking them first. Attacking outward now, when our capabilities are still lacking, would merely torment our cult members.”
“!!!”
“It is our inadequacy!”
“Please kill us!”
At the Heavenly Demon’s words, those gathered prostrated themselves once more without exception, confessing their sins.
Amid the clamor, the Heavenly Demon frowned once and circulated his inner energy.
The thick, heavy demonic qi of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art spread from his body, crushing all directions, leaving those in the Heavenly Demon Hall unable to even think of opening their mouths.
“Listen to the end.”
Having instantly overwhelmed those in the Heavenly Demon Hall, the Heavenly Demon continued his explanation in a dignified voice.
“Why do you think we are implementing education not just for the children of warriors who have formally joined the cult and learned demonic arts, but for all children of cult members living in the New Frontier?”
“…….”
Staring intently at the heavyweights who couldn’t bring themselves to speak, the Heavenly Demon answered his own question.
“We may reduce external monitoring now, but in ten years, twenty years, we will cultivate several times more talent than today. When that time comes, it won’t be a dream for our cult to return to the Central Plains. For now, we are merely curling up to grow our body. Do you understand?”
Even as he spoke those words, the Heavenly Demon knew.
By the time that day arrived, he would likely no longer be of this world. His remaining lifespan, even at the longest estimate, was less than ten years.
But the Heavenly Demon neither voiced it nor showed it.
As the leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, the revival of the cult took precedence over his own remaining years.
The reason he attempted this persuasion—not quite persuasion—to the heavyweights was the same.
As the Heavenly Demon, whom the cult members revered as a god, he could simply issue commands without explanation, and they would obey.
Yet he handled it this way to prepare for the possibility that his death might come sooner than expected.
Lest the reform halt midway with his death.
If possible, he hoped they would grasp even a little of its importance.
“Punish our foolishness!”
“We shall follow the Supreme One’s will!”
As the heavyweights, having heard the full explanation, began to respond one by one, the Heavenly Demon nodded once and issued his final command.
“If you understand, that is enough. Now, from this moment, select those to serve as instructors and escorts. Also, devise plans to efficiently fill the vacancies they leave.”
“!?”
Everyone wore bewildered expressions for a moment at the Heavenly Demon’s order.
“What are you doing? Return at once and begin your meetings. Or have good ideas already come to mind?”
At the Heavenly Demon’s follow-up question, those gathered prostrated themselves without exception and exited the Heavenly Demon Hall.
And once gathered away from the Heavenly Demon, they began heated debates.
“We’re already short-handed digging for info on the Nine Great Sects or the Martial Alliance in the Central Plains, and now they want to pull even more personnel? Do you think that makes sense?”
At the Dark Shadow Pavilion Leader’s words, the newly elected Protector Council Leader frowned.
“Didn’t you hear the Supreme One? Curl up and grow our body. If your ears can’t even hear the Supreme One’s words, why not cut them off?”
The Dark Shadow Pavilion Leader’s face flushed red as he glared murderously at the Protector Council Leader and retorted.
“And aren’t you Protectors useless? The Heavenly Demon said the suspicious elements in the New Frontier are mostly gone anyway, so pulling people from the Protectors won’t be a big issue, right?”
The heads of each organization attacked each other desperately to avoid losing even one subordinate.
“Why not just take all the instructors from the Eight Trigrams Hall? You brag about your brains so much—have them handle everything but martial arts training.”
An Elder Council Leader even mocked the Eight Trigrams Hall, which handled formations and incantations.
“Those old fogeys in the Elder Council are just eating rice and shitting anyway, aren’t they? Have them teach until senility sets in, then ship them off to Peach Blossom Ridge. It’s improved now, so no worries, right? Hahaha.”
The Eight Trigrams Hall Leader, veins bulging on his forehead, sneered back at the Elder Council Leader.
Similar scenes played out where the armed forces leaders and the Left and Right Dharma Protectors gathered.
The silver lining was that the Left and Right Dharma Protectors, as superiors to the leaders, managed some mediation.
Thus, while the heavyweights suffered headaches in near-daily meetings over the bomb the Heavenly Demon had dropped on them.
“Heh heh heh.”
The Heavenly Demon, receiving reports on the situation via the Silver Guard Pavilion Leader, stroked his beard and let out a hearty laugh.
Not just because his orders were being handled swiftly.
His precious youngest disciple Il-mok, who had first thought of this matter.
Whoever they were, those scheming vile plots against Il-mok.
“They’ve had too much leisure lately.”
The Heavenly Demon wondered if they’d had the spare time to scheme because things had been too relaxed.
“It might be better to keep stirring up work so they can’t entertain harsh thoughts until Il-mok achieves great success. Hmm. If only that Il-mok rascal comes up with another useful reform idea. Heh heh heh.”
The Silver Guard Pavilion Leader, serving closest to the Heavenly Demon, maintained a blank expression outwardly but sweated coldly down his back.
Not out of fear of excessive duties falling on him.
“…There’s a risk of backlash, where the cult’s heavyweights might band together to assassinate Young Master Il-mok.”
Having participated in the heavyweights’ meetings, the Silver Guard Pavilion Leader knew.
Those gathered there were gnashing their teeth at Il-mok, the cause of this reform.
They were cult fanatics who followed the Heavenly Demon’s solemn commands to the letter, but Il-mok was the exception.
* * *
A sudden chill made my body shudder.
‘Is my body weak from the rampage? Why do these chills keep coming so often lately?’
It felt strange.
Back when I first regained my senses, even while tormented by my master, the Physician, or Eldest Senior Brother, I’d never had chills.
They started coming frequently only after my role as knowledge bag for education policy ended and Eldest Senior Brother’s visits stopped.
“Are you alright, Young Master?”
At Jin Ha-yeon’s question, I shrugged my shoulders and replied.
“Just a brief chill.”
“…It might be the cold qi from the Bare Hand Demon Art accumulating in your body, so I’ll reduce the Pushing Palaces and Passing Meridians sessions.”
It sounded plausible, so I nodded.
“That seems for the best.”
At my response, Gu Yang-mun, who had been watching from the side, spoke up.
“Then, Young Master, allow me to perform Pushing Palaces and Passing Meridians in Ha-yeon’s place. She’s worked hard enough; she needs a break, doesn’t she?”
As if to show he was helping Ha-yeon, Gu Yang-mun winked at her.
Of course, what came back from Jin Ha-yeon was a bug-eyed glare.
‘So gross. At this point, he should give up.’
Shaking my head at Gu Yang-mun’s pitiful one-sided love, Third Senior Brother, who was with us, spoke.
“Is your head spinning?”
I nearly nodded without thinking.
‘It’s spinning because of you lot.’
I’d dreamed of peaceful rest after Eldest Senior Brother’s visits ended, but that hope didn’t last.
Gu Yang-mun, persistently courting Jin Ha-yeon despite constant bug treatment.
“Wouldn’t it be good if Third Young Master and Young Master Il-mok chatted alone for a bit?”
Third Senior Brother, tagging along to help Gu Yang-mun’s romance ventures and droning on with gloomy talk.
“I couldn’t help properly last time at Peach Blossom Ridge, and now this. What kind of senior brother fails like this, disappointing you every time?”
And Sixth Senior Brother Jong-ri Chu, visiting less often than those two but spouting mad nonsense nonetheless.
“Junior Brother Il-mok, doesn’t carrying an old man on your back all the time get tiring?”
Especially when Jong-ri Chu visited—least often but most head-spinning.
‘Has his Mad Soul Sword Art realm advanced in the past half-year? He’s seeing more hallucinations?’
After graduating from the Demonic Path Academy, I’d have to avoid that one for sure.
And damn it all, today those three had shown up together for a “sick visit.”
Hiding my desire for them all to leave, I awkwardly issued the send-off.
“Thank you all for visiting amid your busy duties. I’ve recovered stability now, so please return to your work.”
“As expected, Young Master Il-mok is so kind.”
“Heh heh. Does Junior Brother Gu think so too?”
“I agree, Third Senior Brother. Even the friend listening beside me is nodding in agreement. Seems his tongue’s cut out, so he can’t speak.”
“…….”
The oblivious trio. Including Sixth Senior Brother’s mystery friend, make it four?
‘…Could the chills be from Sixth Senior Brother’s friends?’
The Demonic Path Academy was starting to feel more comfortable by comparison.