Chapter 139
Chapter 139
-----------------------------------------------------------------
>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 139
>Chapter Title: Scary Man (1)
>-----------------------------------------------------------------
I asked Chu Il-hwan, who had a pitiful look on his face that didn't suit him at all.
“…You seem to have been through quite a lot?”
Instead of answering with words, Chu Il-hwan let out a deep sigh with a weary expression.
‘What the hell did you do to him, kid?’
To push that crazy instructor to this extent was impressive, if nothing else.
‘Wait… I’m not going to end up like that, am I?’
I hadn’t sent word to the Hyeok-ryeon family precisely because I wanted to rest in the infirmary.
Feeling an ominous premonition that I’d suffer after graduating from the Demonic Path Academy, I’d quickly come up with a petty scheme.
‘I’ll just claim the Hyeok-ryeon family blocked my messages.’
Yeah. They were the ones who’d hidden the fact that I’d come to the main headquarters in the first place. They could deal with the fallout.
Thinking about after graduation from the Demonic Path Academy naturally led me to spot the contradiction.
“But in the end, wouldn’t the instructor only meet Seon-a again once she enters the Demonic Path Academy?”
Demonic Path Academy instructors, unless there were special circumstances, were pretty much stuck inside the academy.
Hadn’t that bastard Yu-geuk betrayed us because his desire for advancement exploded from the stifling academy life?
But Chu Il-hwan sighed at my question and replied.
“I’m asking this because I’m worried about when that child enters the academy, Cadet Il-mok.”
“…Is there any reason for the instructor to fear a cadet?”
This was the guy who’d been itching to torment me, a disciple of the Heavenly Demon, who was practically a god in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
And he was afraid of Seon-a becoming a cadet?
To my question, Chu Il-hwan wore an uncharacteristically awkward smile and said.
“If I keep getting hounded by that child, a heart demon might come and kill her.”
“…….”
Whether I made an incredulous face or not, Chu Il-hwan added his excuse.
“Ahem. Thanks to this incident, even I managed to break through a wall. I suffered from demonic deviation and a heart demon, but sorting my mind at the Pure Heart Pavilion helped. Still, even I don’t have confidence I can endure that child’s nagging to the end. Ahem. Anyway, that’s how it is. So, please talk her out of it. I don’t want to kill her.”
It felt like some new kind of threat.
If you want to save that child, stop her from tormenting me.
But what was even more absurd.
“Didn’t you keep radiating killing intent toward me at the drop of a hat?”
This was the man who’d tried to kill me, a disciple of the Heavenly Demon, yet he feared killing Seon-a.
“The attack on you was purely because I fell into a trap.”
“…I remember it happening more than once or twice besides that day?”
Those chills when he mistook me for gay and saw me as a threat to his chastity. If all those were life-threatening, it had to be double digits at least.
To my pointed question, Chu Il-hwan answered confidently.
“Hahaha. What I did to you was just playful. Something I could easily endure. But with that child, I feel like I’d genuinely harbor killing intent.”
“…….”
The words “mad bastard” hovered on my lips, but I didn’t spit them out.
I just thought I should grant Chu Il-hwan’s request.
Not for his sake.
‘Go for it, Seon-a.’
Shit’s avoided because it’s filthy, not because it’s scary.
* * *
Separate from Chu Il-hwan being a madman, for some reason, he didn’t interfere with my meditation.
‘Tch. It’s so unsettling I can’t sleep.’
It was just that I was too anxious to fall asleep easily.
He claimed he’d broken through his wall at the Pure Heart Pavilion and overcome the side effects to some extent, but from my perspective—having nearly died from his attack—I couldn’t fully trust it.
Still, it was definitely more comfortable than when Ma Do-young was the supervising instructor.
He wasn’t constantly picking fights anymore.
“Yawn.”
Even during martial arts training, he didn’t bat an eye as I lazily swung my sword and yawned widely.
I had no idea why the three stooges standing guard around me with their curtain of benevolence were trembling.
A few days passed like that in moderately peaceful days.
Early this morning, all the cadets from both Gap and Eul classes were gathered together in the training grounds, regardless of division.
And Chu Il-hwan, with an uncharacteristically stern expression, stepped forward and briefly explained the situation.
“You all know an exam was scheduled for today. Originally, a different exam was prepared, but due to sudden changes, today’s exam will be replaced with a sparring tournament.”
I had a rough idea of what happened.
‘With that mess, they probably couldn’t prepare for the exam for a while.’
From the instructors’ perspective, cleanup alone must have been overwhelming, let alone exam prep.
As soon as Chu Il-hwan finished explaining, Dokgo Pae shot his hand up.
“Do we choose our sparring opponents? And is there only one sparring chance?”
The bastard who asked glanced at me.
‘Tch.’
Probably because of our agreement not to fight except during exams or on instructor orders—he was brimming with intent to unleash what he’d held back, seizing this chance.
His excited face was creepy in all sorts of ways, so I quickly turned my head away.
“Hm?”
Only then did I notice a new face among the instructors.
A beauty who looked a bit younger than Instructor Eun-ryeo, perhaps in her early thirties.
* * *
The woman who had taken over doctrinal education duties in place of Instructor Jeong Gyu-seok. So Hong.
As she scanned the cadets gathered in the training grounds, she spotted one and her eyes lit up.
‘That must be the youngest young master I’ve only heard about.’
It wasn’t just worldly rumors that made her interested in Il-mok.
She recalled the event from two days ago.
The person she trusted and followed next to the Heavenly Demon, master of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, had summoned her.
* * *
“I greet the Protector Court Master.”
“Come in. Vice Leader So.”
The Protector Court Master, who usually showed a stern face as the enforcer of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult’s laws, had welcomed her with an especially bright face that day.
“I’ve called you here to give you a direct order.”
“Whatever order from the Master, I shall carry it out even at the cost of my life.”
At So Hong’s words, the Protector Court Master smiled radiantly and said.
“Hahaha, hearing you say that puts my mind at ease. Then, prepare yourself starting today and head to the Demonic Path Academy tomorrow.”
At those words, So Hong nearly flinched involuntarily.
“…By Demonic Path Academy, do you mean to become an instructor there?”
“Hahaha. Exactly right. With such sharp wits, I can rest easy.”
Unlike the satisfied Protector Court Master, So Hong felt her stomach churn.
It wasn’t hard to piece it together.
Word had already spread throughout the cult that a position for a Demonic Path Academy instructor had opened up.
The problem was being sent there as one.
‘To cast me out like this…’
Her decades of loyal service in the Protector Court suddenly felt futile.
As if sensing her misunderstanding, the Protector Court Master finally revealed the key point.
“You’re moving to the Demonic Path Academy for a mission you must absolutely accomplish.”
“…What might that be?”
So Hong asked, inwardly sighing in relief.
There was a specific task. That meant she wasn’t being exiled to the academy just to get rid of her.
But instead of discussing the mission, the Protector Court Master brought up something out of left field.
“Have you heard the rumors about the Eighth Young Master?”
“Is there anyone in the Divine Cult who hasn’t heard the rumors about the Eighth Young Master?”
“Hahaha. Then, what do you think of the Eighth Young Master?”
After pondering the Protector Court Master’s question, she answered.
“I suspect the rumors are exaggerated. If they’re true, he’d be one of the top geniuses in the cult’s history.”
“From the information I could access, most of the rumors are true.”
“…….”
While So Hong was speechless in shock, the Protector Court Master dropped another random remark.
“So, think about it. What if that Eighth Young Master comes to our Protector Court after graduating from the Demonic Path Academy?”
“He’d bring all sorts of changes to the Protector Court and produce countless achievements that would please the Heavenly Demon.”
The Protector Court Master nodded and added.
“You might have heard in the rumors, but the Lord of Ten Thousand Demons described the Eighth Young Master as ‘the child who will illuminate the Divine Cult’s future.’ Despite having seven disciples before him, His Supremacy never used such words once. Do you know what that means?”
“…It means if the Eighth Young Master joins the Protector Court, His Supremacy’s attention and favor will likely turn toward us.”
“Exactly right. Hahaha. Right now, only I and the eldest young master have noticed, but others will catch on soon. That’s why I’m sending you to the Demonic Path Academy.”
Only then did So Hong fully understand her mission.
‘As expected of the Master. If we approach after he graduates, there’ll be too many rivals and variables. This is to preempt that by recruiting him early at the academy.’
And she was the one tasked with the recruitment.
As she grasped the importance of her mission, the Protector Court Master spoke as if consoling her.
“No need to worry about moving to the Demonic Path Academy. If you bring the Eighth Young Master to the Protector Court, won’t I have a shot at an even higher position? And if I rise, I’ll make sure to bring you up with me.”
“!!!”
So Hong’s eyes flashed. She’d seen through the Protector Court Master’s intentions.
‘A position higher than Protector Court Master! The Master is surely aiming for the next Cult Leader!’
If she brought in the Eighth Young Master and the Protector Court Master became the next Cult Leader, she’d receive immense rewards for it.
“I shall stake my life to complete the mission no matter what!”
As she prostrated and shouted, the Protector Court Master said with a satisfied expression.
“Hohoho. I trust only you. This is a task only you can do.”
While So Hong was moved by his infinite trust, the Protector Court Master said something absurd.
“That’s why I had to send you so urgently. Setting up your instructor selection was an issue, but more than that, it took time to obtain very important information.”
“Very important information?”
“Indeed.”
Nodding, the Protector Court Master shared the top-secret intel he’d barely obtained by mobilizing all his connections.
“According to evaluations from Demonic Path Academy instructors and Superintendent Yeom Ga-hwi, the Eighth Young Master’s talent is unmatched, but he has one flaw. And you’re the only one who can exploit that flaw.”
“…What is that flaw?”
“He’s fond of women.”
“…….”
Stunned by the unexpected flaw, So Hong was at a loss for words.
* * *
Recalling that day, she stared at Il-mok for a moment.
Coincidentally, or perhaps sensing her gaze, Il-mok turned and looked at her.
Naturally, the Protector Court Master’s final advice echoed in So Hong’s mind.
- He’s fond of women, but he’s still just a sixteen-year-old greenhorn. Captivate the Eighth Young Master with the charms of a seductive woman.
Prostrated on the floor, she’d nearly retorted without thinking.
‘The charms of a seductive woman? What’s that?’
At thirty-two, she’d devoted her life entirely to martial arts and work.
With her beauty, men had approached her often, but she’d always rebuffed them coldly.
In other words, she had zero dating experience at thirty-two.
But she couldn’t admit that to the Protector Court Master.
‘This is my chance for great merit! How could I throw it away!’
So, after leaving the Protector Court, she’d sought advice from married acquaintances.
And now, at this moment of first eye contact with Il-mok.
‘First impressions are key, right? Especially men—they’re weak to a woman’s smile?’
Recalling last night’s advice, So Hong awkwardly smiled.
“!?”
Il-mok’s face crumpled upon meeting her creepy smile.
‘Damn it. There was still an assassin left.’