Chapter 141
Chapter 141
-----------------------------------------------------------------
>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 141
>Chapter Title: Scary Man (3)
>-----------------------------------------------------------------
Fortunately, the sparring tournament concluded quite successfully and safely.
There were no rampaging cadets during the matches, nor did Il-mok succumb to his perfectionist obsession and perform a sword dance—a potential disaster.
The day after the exam ended without incident.
A day at the Demonic Path Academy began—ordinary if ordinary, special if special.
Most of the time was no different from usual.
There were just two changes.
Following the instructors, the cadets now had individual consultations with Clerk Seo Jae-pil one by one.
The second change was that it was the day of Instructor So-hong's first class.
“Welcome. As someone who graduated from the Demonic Path Academy myself, I understand your enthusiasm better than anyone.”
She strode confidently among the cadets, continuing her introduction.
“So don’t worry. I served the Church in the Protection Division for over ten years, upholding the laws and doctrines on the front lines.”
But despite her bold words, her mind was a tangled mess.
‘…From their reactions on the first day, they seem somewhat receptive.’
As she thought that and glanced around, her eyes happened to meet Il-mok’s.
Smirk.
Il-mok smiled at her softly, as if to say he meant no harm.
So-hong, who was impeccable in official matters, nearly flinched without realizing it.
She was skilled at her job but inexperienced in romance.
How fortunate. She had prepared all the lesson content in advance, so even in her fluster, her mouth moved naturally.
“As Prophet Park once said.”
Even as the introduction ended and the class began, her mind remained complicated.
‘Whew. That smile just now, too—she does seem a bit swayed. So what should I do now?’
Naturally, advice from married acquaintances came to mind.
‘Men have a strong need for recognition. Many will even lay down their lives for someone who acknowledges their worth.’
Advice from a woman who had won her senior’s love through praise. And on top of that.
‘Men are wolves at heart, aren’t they? If you brush hands or bodies slyly now and then, their hearts will move.’
Advice from a Protection Division senior who had seduced her crush and married him.
Deciding that was the way to start, So-hong walked among the cadets during the lesson and stopped.
Right in front of Il-mok.
“Cadet Il-mok.”
“Yes, Instructor.”
“In your opinion, why do you think Prophet Park executed all the other villains but spared only the herbalist?”
‘Because the mad bastard had a whim.’ The thought crossed Il-mok’s mind, but he didn’t voice it.
‘Why is this scripture—half of it about killing or insisting on killing?’
Cursing the Heavenly Demon Secret Record, which served as both doctrine and scripture, inwardly, Il-mok’s face naturally wore a smile.
“The others all had families waiting at home or begged for forgiveness, claiming remorse, even though they hadn’t repented their inner evil. But the herbalist vowed to follow Prophet Park and enter cultivation.”
It was something he’d learned from Jin Ha-yeon while preparing for the academy entrance, and quite basic at that, so the answer wasn’t hard.
But for some reason, despite it being such a fundamental question, So-hong smiled.
A somewhat forced, awkward smile.
“Well done.”
Her awkward praise sounded like a wooden puppet’s.
Under the pretext of praise, her hand moved toward Il-mok’s.
Intending to slyly grasp his hand.
Whoosh!
But vainly, her hand met only empty air.
Il-mok had already pulled his hand back.
“…….”
So-hong’s pupils shook violently. She hadn’t expected him to dodge her touch.
‘Should I use the Golden Claw Technique to grab him?’
The thought arose, but she barely held back. It would look like an attack, not seduction.
Of course, it was already a step too late.
‘Why dodge the hand all of a sudden?’
Il-mok, already suspicious of her, now harbored even deeper wariness.
As each sank into their thoughts, an odd silence fell over the classroom.
“…….”
So-hong felt her brain burning with pain and sudden hunger, forcing her mind to race.
Recalling another married acquaintance’s advice.
‘Love is just one form of affection, after all. Like any bond between people, spend more time together.’
Advice from a close friend who had married a man she’d worked with for a long time.
‘Right. I was too hasty this time. Gradually increase the time we spend alone.’
So, how to increase their time together?
So-hong found the answer easily.
“Ahem. For such an excellent answer, it seems Cadet Il-mok deserves a reward.”
“…What reward do you mean?”
“I’ll specially grant you the chance to receive guidance from me even outside class hours. After club time ends today, come to my office alone.”
At her secretive invitation, Il-mok nearly let out a hollow laugh.
‘…Even more obvious than Ma Do-young?’
With Ma Do-young already exposed, Il-mok couldn’t fathom why they’d send an even more conspicuous assassin.
But obvious or not.
“Ahem. A basic question like this—any other cadet here could answer it, Instructor. I’ll accept a reward when I’ve truly earned it.”
Il-mok politely declined her invitation.
Accepting an invitation from someone so suspiciously obvious would be suicidal.
“V-Very well.”
So-hong’s composure shook. She hadn’t expected a mere cadet like Il-mok to refuse so easily.
But with her lesson prep thorough, continuing the class posed no issue.
She simply failed to notice, focused only on teaching.
The odd looks from the cadets watching her.
* * *
A few days passed like that.
During classes or while moving around the academy, So-hong subtly tempted Il-mok based on the advice she’d heard.
Then, around lunchtime on the third day, Instructor Eun-ryeo visited her.
“Instructor So. Care to talk with me for a moment?”
“Yes, Instructor Eun.”
Following the coldly expressioned Eun-ryeo to a quiet spot, she cut straight to the point.
“I’ve heard the rumors. You have feelings for Young Master Il-mok?”
“…What are you talking about? This is the first I’ve heard of it.”
So-hong, experienced in everything but romance, quickly composed her face and replied.
But it didn’t work on Eun-ryeo. Not that she saw through the mask.
“This place is quite small, as you know from graduating the academy yourself. Instructors, assistants, cadets—they’re always watching, anywhere, anytime.”
The problem was that rumors had already spread among the cadets.
So-hong tried to deny it again, but Eun-ryeo cut her off with added words.
“Love is personal, so I won’t interfere. I called you just to give one piece of advice.”
“Advice? What kind…?”
So-hong felt a spark of hope.
Her advances on Il-mok over the past few days had all failed. The advice from her acquaintances had come to naught, so she needed fresh guidance.
But Eun-ryeo’s response dashed her expectations.
“Give up on Cadet Il-mok.”
“…What do you mean?”
So-hong nearly scowled again. Giving up on Il-mok was tantamount to abandoning her mission.
Unaware of So-hong’s inner thoughts, Eun-ryeo forced a blank expression and continued.
“As an instructor, it’s awkward to say, but Cadet Il-mok is a man with many sins. Even if things go well, it won’t end nicely. He has no sense of responsibility toward women.”
He was the one who had abandoned Jeong-hyeon, Joo Seo-yeon, and Bang Mi-hwa.
Eun-ryeo pitied So-hong for taking interest in such a man.
“Please consider my advice carefully.”
With those final words, Eun-ryeo turned and left.
Interfering too deeply in personal matters wasn’t good, and pity for the moth drawn to Il-mok’s flame made controlling her expression hard.
“…….”
Watching Eun-ryeo’s retreating back after saying her piece, So-hong struggled to hide her bewilderment.
“Tch.”
Clicking her tongue lightly, she returned to her office, only to be summoned again soon after.
“You called, Senior Instructor?”
She greeted Chu Il-hwan—now her direct superior for the moment—with a cupped-fist salute.
“Ahem. Come in.”
For some reason, Chu Il-hwan showed an awkward demeanor, not his usual playful attitude.
“Ahem. I’ve heard the talk.”
“…What talk?”
Feeling an odd sense of déjà vu, she asked back, and Chu Il-hwan replied.
“There’s a strange rumor going around about you and Young Master Il-mok.”
“…….”
When Chu Il-hwan echoed Eun-ryeo, So-hong was momentarily speechless.
Misinterpreting her reaction, Chu Il-hwan hurriedly added.
“Ahem. Romance is personal, so I won’t meddle. But Instructor So, you’re new to the academy, aren’t you? For now, shouldn’t you focus on adapting to the instructors, cadets, and how things run here?”
It was humiliating advice for So-hong.
She always gave her all to her duties, and because of that, she’d taken on this absurd mission without separating work and personal matters. To be treated like an immature rookie.
But ever cold and professional in official matters, she quickly regained her composure.
“I’m sorry for troubling you, Senior Instructor.”
“Ahem. No trouble at all, don’t worry.”
“Then, as a new instructor, could you offer some advice? I don’t yet know much about the academy’s recent operations or the other instructors.”
“Hahaha. Of course, as Senior Instructor, it’s my duty.”
No sooner had Chu Il-hwan answered than So-hong naturally fired off questions.
After asking about recent educational policies and other instructors’ traits for a bit, she slyly probed the main point.
“Oh, by the way, Instructor Eun-ryeo gave me similar advice.”
“Instructor Eun-ryeo?”
“Yes. She advised me to give up my feelings for Cadet Il-mok.”
Right after saying it, So-hong didn’t miss it. Chu Il-hwan’s face twisted oddly.
“Is there something special between Instructor Eun-ryeo and Cadet Il-mok?”
“Ahem. I wouldn’t know.”
As Chu Il-hwan tried to dodge, So-hong cast a bigger bait.
“She also said Cadet Il-mok is a sinful man, even lacking responsibility. Doesn’t that suggest something between her and him?”
Faced with her successive questions, Chu Il-hwan, deep in thought, sighed and answered.
“Truth be told, Instructor Eun-ryeo seems to have had a deep connection with Cadet Il-mok too.”
“Deep connection? How deep?”
“Ahem. If it’s enough to mention responsibility… you get the idea, right?”
So-hong, lacking romantic experience, pondered briefly before her eyes widened in shock.
Seeing her startled reaction, Chu Il-hwan sighed deeply.
‘So the conversation I overheard that day wasn’t a misunderstanding!’
Chu Il-hwan recalled the talk between Eun-ryeo and Il-mok he’d eavesdropped on during his rampage. Combined with what So-hong just said, there was no doubt.
His head spun naturally. That’s why his face had been grim when he first summoned So-hong.
It wasn’t about Il-mok forgiving his rampage.
‘How the hell do you handle something like this?’
The side effect of murderous impulses. Devoted only to work and training, Chu Il-hwan, nearing forty, had no romantic experience.
If he had to think of a way to handle it, only one came to mind.
- Already seducing so many women alone! Kill that damned bastard right now!
Only the plan to eliminate Il-mok, whispered by the demonic art’s side effect.
‘Shut up!’
Thanks to deeper cultivation from recent events, he barely suppressed the heart demon.
Meanwhile, as Chu Il-hwan battled his heart demon.
So-hong, hit with shocking news, shed bloody tears inwardly.
‘Lord of the Protection Division! Why this trial for me!’
Not because Il-mok was some super lecher.
‘You said he’s just sixteen! That he wouldn’t know the charms of a mature woman!! Even Instructor Eun-ryeo, four years older than me, fell to him—how am I supposed to seduce that kid!’
She had realized her mission was far harder than expected.