Chapter 146
Chapter 146
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 146
>Chapter Title: Formations (1)
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A few days after the exam ended.
The cadets from the upper classes who had left for practical training returned, and the Demonic Path Academy began to exude its usual atmosphere.
Not so much because of the increased number of people, but thanks to the return of theater fanatic Baek Cheon and martial arts fanatic Mak Ho-yeol, it was a bit more boisterous, but otherwise nothing out of the ordinary.
In that atmosphere, Chu Il-hwan once again summoned Instructor So Hong to his office.
“You called for me, Chief Instructor?”
“Ahem. Have a seat first.”
Chu Il-hwan greeted her in a somewhat awkward tone, glanced at her briefly, then turned his head away.
‘It was a misjudgment. She didn’t cure her lovesickness; the way she expressed it had just changed.’
For a few days, she had wasted away day by day, and he had hoped she would return to her original self.
But before long, oiliness started returning to her face, and even her loose-fitting instructor uniform began to cling a bit.
“Ahem. Uh, have you been feeling any discomfort lately?”
Finding it awkward to point out that she had gained weight, Chu Il-hwan asked instead, and So Hong bowed her head deeply.
“…It shows, doesn’t it?”
“N-No, it doesn’t show that much!”
Startled, Chu Il-hwan waved his hands frantically and quickly made up an excuse.
“I-It’s just that things seem fine now, but if it continues like this, I was worried it might make it hard to carry out your instructor duties.”
At Chu Il-hwan’s words, So Hong blushed and lowered her head further, feeling a pang of hunger.
“I’m sorry for my incompetence.”
This sense of helplessness was a first in her life.
It wasn’t the first time she had failed a mission in her life. But even when she failed, she always gained something from it—at the very least, she could use the failure as fertilizer to grow.
But this time, there wasn’t even the slightest clue.
Because of that, it was getting harder and harder to hold back her binge eating disorder day by day, and she often soothed her hunger with midnight snacks.
It was a vicious cycle.
Negative thoughts like, “How could I possibly seduce the Eighth Young Master with this fattened body?” would intensify her binge eating.
Then, thoughts like, “It’s already ruined anyway, so what does it matter?” would bring on another round of binge eating.
Seeing So Hong utterly dejected, Chu Il-hwan swallowed once and carefully asked.
“If it’s all right with you, Instructor So, would you mind telling me what’s been so difficult?”
So Hong hesitated for a moment.
She couldn’t possibly reveal that she had come to the Demonic Path Academy on a mission to seduce the Eighth Young Master.
But keeping it all bottled up inside felt like the side effects were already creeping up to her chin.
So, she decided to open up, omitting only the part about Il-mok.
“To be honest, the side effect of the demonic art I practice is binge eating.”
“What…?”
Only then did Chu Il-hwan understand why Instructor So Hong had been gaining weight day by day, letting out a groan as her words continued.
“I tried my best to hold it back, but I got angry at my own incompetence, making it harder to resist day by day. And when I look at my pathetic reflection in the mirror, anger surges up again, bringing on the binge eating.”
“What are you talking about? Incompetence? Everyone stumbles when they first take on instructor duties. Even I nearly caused incidents every time, constantly swayed by side effects. If the Academy Lord hadn’t reined me in each time, I wouldn’t have lasted until now.”
At Chu Il-hwan’s comforting words, So Hong hesitated a bit before speaking again.
“But the cadets have all seen it, haven’t they? My initial mistakes, and now this ugly appearance of mine.”
Chu Il-hwan shook his head at her lament.
“Mistakes fade with time. Especially here in the Demonic Path Academy. In just a year and four months, no cadet will remember the current you, Instructor So. By then, the new cadets will only know the skilled and excellent Instructor So Hong.”
*Provided she pulls herself together mentally.*
He swallowed the afterthought.
Having received Chu Il-hwan’s comfort, So Hong felt a subtle mix of emotions.
It was true, and somewhat consoling, but one problem remained.
‘I don’t need to look good to the cadets coming in then…’
Her target was just one person: Il-mok.
Unable to reveal that, she expressed it vaguely.
“But… how can a woman live with a body like this?”
At her lament, Chu Il-hwan cried out urgently.
If an instructor suffering from demonic art side effects became so despondent she attempted suicide, it would cause all sorts of headaches.
“What are you saying, Instructor So? You’re plenty attractive right now—charming, even!”
“M-Me?”
“Yes! And men who only care about looks aren’t worth trusting from the start! It’s the inner self that matters, right? I thought the confident demeanor you showed on your first day as instructor was so cool!”
To block her negative thoughts, Chu Il-hwan started rambling whatever came to mind.
“Of course, I believe that same inner self from back then is still there in you now! Ex-external appearance isn’t what’s important! So, please return to that confident attitude you showed at first!”
After Chu Il-hwan’s barrage of praise ended.
“…….”
“…….”
An awkward silence filled the office.
Chu Il-hwan, who had unwittingly showered compliments on her appearance and charm, and So Hong, who had suddenly been hit with a wave of praise, kept turning their heads away in embarrassment, glancing at each other repeatedly.
Unable to bear the awkward silence, Chu Il-hwan spoke first.
“Ahem. On second thought, it’s almost time for club activities. I-I’ll get up now.”
“Th-Then I’ll go too.”
The two rose hurriedly and parted ways as soon as they left Chu Il-hwan’s office.
For two people with zero dating experience in their lives, this situation was utterly unfamiliar.
“Phew. Why is my heart suddenly racing like this? Is this another side effect of the demonic art?!”
‘I’m hungry! I’m going crazy with hunger!’
To the point where they mistook it for a demonic art side effect.
* * *
Perhaps because he was spending such peaceful days, Il-mok’s time flew by like an arrow.
He slouched through instruction time every day, half-assing it, and napped during club time.
In the meantime, Instructor So Hong was gradually finding her stability.
Thanks to the regular counseling sessions at the infirmary and Chief Instructor Chu Il-hwan’s continued care.
Of course, Il-mok had zero interest in the subtle atmosphere brewing between the two instructors.
He only had a slight lingering question.
‘Wasn’t she a pedophile?’
Why had she approached him, a mere sixteen-year-old, only to now get close to the forty-year-old Chu Il-hwan?
‘Maybe not a pedophile—just a side effect that ramps up sexual desire?’
Recalling the side effect that occurred when a man practiced the Bare Hand Demon Art, Il-mok soon lost interest.
He was content simply living day by day in comfort.
But one day, about a month later.
Two changes appeared in his routine.
“We look forward to working with you, Young Master!”
At the first morning instruction session, seeing Joo Seo-yeon brightly greeting him, Il-mok frowned and asked.
“Shouldn’t Cadet Joo Seo-yeon be over there?”
He pointed to the opposite side of the training ground where Class Eul’s external martial arts instruction was taking place, and Joo Seo-yeon smiled brightly in response.
“I heard from Instructor Eun-ryeo. She said starting today, I’ll receive instruction in Class Gap. Hahaha!”
At her utterly innocent reply, Il-mok struggled to keep a straight face.
‘Why? I took the risk of side effects twice to eliminate her first.’
Following the eighth exam, in yesterday’s ninth exam, Il-mok had sought out Joo Seo-yeon first and swung his sword.
Finding the result incomprehensible, Il-mok had immediately asked during his post-exam meeting with Chu Il-hwan.
The post-exam meetings with instructors who always came looking for him.
To Il-mok’s question, Chu Il-hwan replied nonchalantly.
“It’s all because of you, Cadet Il-mok.”
“…Pardon?”
“Because you’re too outstanding, the evaluation criteria have changed a bit.”
Shrugging once, Chu Il-hwan added a detailed explanation.
“You were the best from the start, but by the fourth exam, no other cadets could even keep up. So, evaluations for cadets eliminated early by you are being voided.”
During normal instruction time, it might be different, but in exams, Il-mok was a walking disaster.
Regardless of skill, rankings were being determined purely by the order in which Il-mok caught them first.
Thus, the instructors’ solution, after putting their heads together, was this method.
“Instead, we’re evaluating based on performance during regular instruction time. In Cadet Joo Seo-yeon’s case, her skills from the sparring matches in the seventh exam, plus the instructors’ ongoing observations, got her promoted to Class Gap.”
Perhaps because Il-mok’s expression soured, Chu Il-hwan spoke as if soothing him.
“It’s a decision for your benefit.”
Il-mok’s face twisted at the insane remark, as Chu Il-hwan continued.
“With other cadets’ rankings being decided by you, it’s bound to cause issues one way or another, right? This is consideration so you can take the exams with a clear mind, since early eliminations by you aren’t factored in.”
“…If you’re going to show that kind of consideration, why not just exclude me from the exams altogether?”
His proficiency in the Soul-Stealing Heartless Sword had grown too high; every swing felt like walking on thin ice.
Thus, Il-mok hoped to be excluded from exams altogether.
But.
“Sorry, but the Academy Lord forbade it. Can’t give one cadet too many privileges.”
At the mention of the Academy Lord’s order, he had no choice but to give up.
Without borrowing his master’s influence, the old man was impossible to persuade.
Sighing as he left the hall, Il-mok turned to look at the training ground.
‘Well, now it’s just a bunch of familiar faces left.’
Dokgo Pae and Kwak Sul. Bang Mi-hwa and Ha Yeong. Jeong Hyeon and Joo Seo-yeon.
Surveying them, Il-mok nodded in realization.
‘Makes sense. Since they practice demonic arts, the crazier ones naturally have higher realms.’
He completely forgot that he himself was the unrivaled top among them.
In the midst of that, Il-mok’s gaze landed on the Meditation Club trio.
‘But how did those guys survive?’
Do they have some mania I don’t know about?
As Il-mok stared at them suspiciously, the trio trembled in anxiety and averted their eyes.
Just making eye contact with Il-mok made cold sweat drip and an ominous feeling creep up on the trio.
* * *
After finishing the morning counseling and instruction, and lunch.
The second change greeted Il-mok.
It was supposed to be Instructor Eun-ryeo’s non-combat instruction time, but for some reason, a young man stood beside her.
The man, who appeared to be in his early thirties, gave off a scholarly vibe.
“For the next three months starting today, this is Acting Instructor An Jeok-un, dispatched from the Eight Trigrams Hall to teach you about formations.”
At Instructor Eun-ryeo’s introduction, the scholarly man stepped forward and spoke.
“I am An Jeok-un, Division Chief of the Thunder-Wind Division under the Eight Trigrams Hall. Call me Division Chief, Chief, Instructor, or Acting Instructor—whatever’s comfortable.”
At An Jeok-un’s introduction, Il-mok raised his hand with a lukewarm expression.
“I’m Cadet Il-mok of the Demonic Path Academy. One question, Division Chief.”
Considering his usual attitude during instruction time, it was a remarkable sight.
The guy who had treated classes like a slaughterhouse-bound cow was none other than Il-mok.
Hearing Il-mok’s name, An Jeok-un’s eyes lit up for a moment.
‘The famous Eighth Young Master.’
Lately, within the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, this Eighth Young Master might wield even greater influence than anyone but the Heavenly Demon himself, so An Jeok-un couldn’t help but be intrigued.
Wondering what question the famous Eighth Young Master would ask, An Jeok-un replied inwardly curious.
“Ask away.”
“I know formations are important. But why are we only learning them now, at the nine-month mark in the Demonic Path Academy?”
Among the cadets, no one had felt the importance of formations as deeply as Il-mok.
‘If I’d only known about formations, I wouldn’t have ended up in that Peach Blossom Ridge mess!!’
Unable to hold back his grievance over why such a crucial subject was only being taught now, Il-mok had to ask.
To Il-mok’s question, An Jeok-un answered in an indifferent tone, hiding his interest.
“First, a correction. We’re teaching formations, but not how to manipulate them—just how to detect and deal with them. Formations are complex and profound; they can’t be mastered in a mere three months.”
True to his scholarly demeanor, An Jeok-un clarified the potentially misleading statement before addressing Il-mok’s question.
“And the reason formation instruction is delayed is simple. First, many cadets here have no interest in formations. Like that one over there.”
An Jeok-un casually pointed at Dokgo Pae, who was openly yawning.
Dokgo Pae’s attitude screamed, “A real man charges straight through! Formations are unnecessary!”
Even at being singled out, Dokgo Pae remained brazen, but An Jeok-un showed no irritation, turning back to Il-mok as if uninterested.
“Second, teaching formations from the start leads to frequent accidents.”
“Accidents like what?”
To Il-mok’s follow-up, An Jeok-un replied.
“Cadets half-learn some formation knowledge and try to mess with the formations set up in the exam grounds.”
They kept ruining the exam formations, so they taught it at the end instead.
After all, three months from now, once they hit the two-year mark, they’d go out for practicals beyond the exam grounds.
At An Jeok-un’s logical explanation, Il-mok nodded, thinking.
‘I’ve felt it before, but the military or here—it’s all the same. Damn.’
It reminded him of the South Korean military, confiscating chopsticks because they were used for suicides, or shoelaces from sneakers and combat boots for the same reason.