Chapter 142
Chapter 142
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 142
>Chapter Title: Consultation Log (1)
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Demonic Path Academy's infirmary.
There, Il-mok was holding a private meeting with Seo Jae-pil, the physician.
"You're saying Instructor So Hong is suspicious?"
"That's right."
Il-mok nodded and explained the events that had occurred so far.
From their first meeting, when she suddenly flashed him a bizarre smile, to trying to grab his hand during the first training session, and even inviting him to her office.
After that, she would occasionally try to slyly approach him, whisper in his ear, or offer him snacks.
Naturally, Il-mok had rejected all of them.
If he let her get close, there was a risk of a surprise attack, so he avoided her when she approached, and he threw away the snacks since they might be poisoned.
After recounting all the various incidents he had experienced, Seo Jae-pil, who had recorded everything with an intrigued expression, nodded once and replied.
"Hmm. Still, nothing's certain yet, so it might be best to just observe for now."
"Not certain?"
Il-mok asked back with a look that said, "Even after hearing this?", and Seo Jae-pil smiled as he answered.
"That's correct. So, for now, it might be better to talk about the Soul-Stealing Heartless Sword instead. How has it been lately?"
"...It feels like a blade is pressed against my throat. Every moment, the side effects seem to be targeting my body."
Il-mok grimaced as he replied.
This wasn't just about his obsessive tendencies. Hygiene obsessions or organization compulsions were already familiar to him.
No, those two were more like processes of expelling the side effects of the demonic art. Like draining poison before it built up.
Perhaps because his cultivation had risen so rapidly, the side effects were constantly trying to seize control of his body, just like when he faced Choi Il-hwan.
"Indeed. It seems dangerous to continue practicing martial arts for a while."
"Could you please tell the Chief Instructor and the other instructors that? So they know I'm not slacking off for fun."
"......"
Seo Jae-pil gazed for a moment at Il-mok's earnestly serious face before smiling brightly and saying.
"For now, I'll pass the message along. Though whether the Chief Instructor listens is beyond me."
"Tch."
Somehow sensing that old fogey wouldn't accept it, Il-mok clicked his tongue lightly.
'It was a chance to slack off legally.'
Even to the disappointed Il-mok, Seo Jae-pil provided tea good for calming the mind and alcohol for disinfection.
"Thank you."
Il-mok took the items and left the infirmary. Once Il-mok had completely departed, Seo Jae-pil smiled broadly and began reading the consultation log again.
"Hahaha. At such a young age, you're so perfect I wondered if you were even human. Who knew even you had blind spots, Young Master."
Seo Jae-pil knew.
The fact that So Hong wasn't an assassin targeting Il-mok. Her actions were attempts to seduce him.
It was obvious from the stories Il-mok had laid out—just cheap tricks—and the information didn't stop there.
Having already begun counseling not just the instructors but the cadets as well, Seo Jae-pil had access to various rumors.
According to those rumors and information, So Hong wasn't the only woman showing interest in Il-mok. Yet Il-mok seemed completely oblivious to the fact.
"Hmm. The instructors all think Young Master Il-mok is a womanizer, so this is truly a fascinating phenomenon."
How had this situation come about? As a physician, Seo Jae-pil found his curiosity piqued.
Having jotted down a new research topic in his log, Seo Jae-pil pulled out all the records of his consultations with Il-mok and read them from the beginning.
True to his reputation as a Jeongsimwon physician, he could logically deduce why Il-mok failed to notice women's goodwill.
"Hmm. Perhaps the experiences Young Master has gone through, combined with the side effects of the Soul-Stealing Heartless Sword, led to this."
Il-mok had faced countless life-threatening dangers.
The Heavenly Demon, now his master, had once held a blade to his neck under the pretext of a test, and the rampaging Wi Jin-hak had tried to kill him.
Assassins had come at night, and even Jang Hoe, assigned as his bodyguard, had targeted him.
After entering the Demonic Path Academy, he had flowed into the Peach Blossom Ridge and nearly died to old monsters, been ambushed by the rampaging Choi Il-hwan and Jeong Gyu-seok.
And all these events had happened within a mere year and a half.
Events that were more than enough to breed distrust of humanity, and on top of that, the side effects of the Soul-Stealing Heartless Sword, which pursued perfection, would force him to view every situation with suspicion.
"Indeed, it must be hard for Young Master to trust people."
Seo Jae-pil nodded, murmuring in conviction, but there was a slight misunderstanding here.
Il-mok hadn't trusted anyone here even before learning the Soul-Stealing Heartless Sword.
He saw them all as cult fanatics and lunatics.
Well, there were some he had grown fond of after spending time together, but it felt a bit different.
Not the feeling of close friends or family he could open his heart to.
'He's crazy, but the kid's good-hearted anyway.'
'Cultist, but that's just the environment. Poor guy.'
It was closer to feelings like that.
Similarly, in Seo Jae-pil's case, whom Il-mok viewed as crazy but with usable medical skills.
He was gleaming with excitement as he annotated the records of his consultations with Il-mok.
He had no intention of telling Il-mok what he had realized. Not even that So Hong's goal wasn't assassination.
Nor his deduction that Il-mok's distrust of humanity might stem from his past experiences and the demonic art's side effects.
Nor even the fact that the instructors mistook him for a lecher.
"Hehehe. Where else am I going to find an experimental subject like this?"
Seo Jae-pil wielded his brush, his eyes gleaming with madness.
* * *
The next day, around afternoon.
Having finished dinner, the cadets were moving about to attend their respective club activities. The instructors in charge of managing the clubs were no different.
Instructor Eun-ryeo headed to the open field officially assigned to the theater club and approached the woman who had arrived alone ahead of time.
"Cadet Jeong."
"Yes. Instructor."
Seeing her pitiful state, replying in a voice that crept in timidly, Eun-ryeo had to somehow hold back a sigh.
A sigh born of pity, but that child might misinterpret it negatively.
"There's a message from Physician Seo Jae-pil, so go to the infirmary now. It's your turn for counseling."
At Instructor Eun-ryeo's words, Jeong-hyeon's complexion brightened.
Because she wouldn't have to be with those overly cheerful people from the theater club, even if just for a little while.
"T-Then, I'll, uh, go ahead first."
"Yes. Take care."
Watching Jeong-hyeon's retreating figure as she slunk away with a much brighter demeanor, Instructor Eun-ryeo's expression crumpled belatedly.
'To leave such a pitiful child and go. What an insolent bastard.'
Seeing Jeong-hyeon's pitiful state naturally led to anger toward Il-mok.
And that anger extended to thoughts of someone else.
'Instructor So doesn't have much of an eye for men either.'
Eun-ryeo had never imagined that So Hong would so blatantly throw herself at Il-mok right after becoming an instructor.
Honestly, she couldn't easily understand it.
Everyone already knew Il-mok's talent was exceptional. As the disciple of that exalted figure, his status was outstanding. And his appearance was handsome enough, so there were more than enough reasons to feel favorable.
But.
'What could possibly be good about that lecher?'
Eun-ryeo simply couldn't comprehend the sight of too many women flocking to one man, nor Il-mok's attitude of ignoring their conflicts.
'At least there are no rumors today, so it seems she's taking my advice seriously. That's a relief.'
She couldn't stand the thought of more pitiful women here.
If pitiful people kept increasing, Instructor Eun-ryeo wasn't sure she could hold back.
Her own side effects were on the verge of rampaging.
* * *
"Hehehe. Come on in. Jeong-hyeon, was it?"
Seo Jae-pil greeted her with a friendly smile from the entrance, where Jeong-hyeon hadn't taken even one step inside.
"C-Could I, uh, do the counseling here?"
It was a question that might seem absurd at first glance, but Seo Jae-pil accepted it readily.
"That's fine. Hahaha. Just in case, I placed a chair by the entrance, so have a seat there."
It was because he had already heard about Jeong-hyeon several times from Instructor Eun-ryeo.
"The demonic art you're cultivating is the Ghost Spirit Divine Art, and the side effect is excessive sensory development?"
"Yes.... Because of that, if people get even a little close, I get startled over and over, and it keeps bothering me, making me anxious."
"Hmm."
Unlike when dealing with Il-mok, Seo Jae-pil wore a somehow serene expression and asked in a reassuring tone.
"So, people make you uncomfortable?"
"Ah, um... Uncomfortable, but n-not uncomfortable."
Even to words that made one wonder what nonsense this was, he smiled kindly.
"Could you explain in a bit more detail?"
"Um.... When p-people get close, it's s-scary and a-anxious. B-But still, I w-want to make f-friends with p-people...."
By the time she uttered the final "w-want to," Jeong-hyeon was blushing like she had confessed something, head bowed low.
'Oh? Interesting. Is another problem chaining from the side effect? Like how the Eight Young Masters' side effects from the Soul-Stealing Heartless Sword combined with his experiences to create distrust of humanity.'
While Jeong-hyeon had her head down, Seo Jae-pil's eyes sparkled with intellectual curiosity before he quickly composed himself and asked gently.
"So, Cadet Jeong-hyeon wants to mingle with people if possible."
Jeong-hyeon nodded her head faintly at Seo Jae-pil's question.
"I-I'm not sure if I c-can...."
"Hahaha. Aren't you already participating in theater club activities?"
"Th-There, it's a bit...."
"Hmm. Is there someone in the club you dislike?"
"N-Not dislike, just a l-little burdensome...."
"Hmm. What specific cadet's actions are the most burdensome?"
Seeing Jeong-hyeon looking somewhat troubled, Seo Jae-pil added.
"Ah. If you're worried about badmouthing others, you don't have to name names."
"M-More than that, it's just... It feels like there are n-no people who aren't burdensome."
"...This might be a bit rude to say, but if everyone is burdensome, why stay there?"
Jeong-hyeon bowed her head deeply as she replied.
"If I s-switch clubs, it'll d-draw attention."
"You're enduring it just to avoid standing out?"
"Yes...."
Seo Jae-pil started to understand Eun-ryeo a little.
'Indeed, she has a remarkable talent for evoking sympathy.'
Even an ordinary person like himself felt a twinge of pity, so for Eun-ryeo suffering from side effects, it was no surprise.
"Hmm. If it's too uncomfortable, I can subtly pass along a word to let you switch clubs."
"N-No, it's fine!"
Jeong-hyeon suddenly startled, lifting her head and shouting.
"Th-Then I'd be a b-burden to I-Instructor Eun-ryeo.... Other clubs have awkward people too, so it'd be just as uncomfortable.... And I'm g-gradually adapting, so it's okay."
"You're adapting?"
Seo Jae-pil nearly asked back in a tone that conveyed utter disbelief—a mistake unbecoming of a Jeongsimwon physician—so he barely held it in.
"Yes.... To overcome the Ghost Spirit Divine Art's side effects and m-mingle with people, I have to adapt...."
At Jeong-hyeon's continued response, Seo Jae-pil broke into a wide smile.
"That's a great attitude."
The counseling continued for quite a while after that. Perhaps having adapted a little to Seo Jae-pil, Jeong-hyeon's stammering had stabilized somewhat when.
Seo Jae-pil asked his final question.
"So, in the Demonic Path Academy, who is the one Cadet Jeong-hyeon most wants to be with?"
"Instructor Eun-ryeo. Sh-She always accommodates me, so it's the most comfortable."
"No one else?"
At Seo Jae-pil's follow-up, Jeong-hyeon seemed to ponder for a moment before suddenly bowing her head deeply and answering.
"I-I also want to be with C-Cadet Il-mok."
Seo Jae-pil didn't miss it. Just before she lowered her head, Jeong-hyeon's face had flushed red.
No, even her ears peeking through her hair told the tale—they were burning crimson, as if about to ignite.
Seo Jae-pil struggled to keep his lips from curling up.
Not because Jeong-hyeon's innocent demeanor was cute.
'Yes! Humans are fascinating!'
His research urge was erupting like a volcano.
* * *
Right after finishing consultations with Jeong-hyeon and a few other cadets. Instructor So Hong visited the infirmary.
"Welcome. Instructor So Hong."
"Nice to meet you. Physician Seo Jae-pil."
As someone recently appointed as an instructor, she was another who needed to start counseling from the beginning.
'She has feelings for Young Master Il-mok, I heard? This might be a symptom related to the demonic art she cultivates.'
Recalling her information, Physician Seo Jae-pil smiled softly and cut straight to the point.
"By any chance, is the side effect of your cultivated demonic art arousal toward young men?"
"......"
At the question implying pedophilia, So Hong's face twisted instantly.