Chapter 148
Chapter 148
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 148
>Chapter Title: Formation (3)
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Realizing he was dealing with someone incapable of conversation, An Jeok-un shook his head for a moment.
Then, his eyes caught sight of Il-mok.
And as their gazes met, Il-mok spoke up just before An Jeok-un could open his mouth.
It was a gut feeling honed from long experience.
He knew the man was about to dump more work on him.
“Since Gwak Sul Cadet and Duggo Cadet get along so well, it’d be perfect to have Gwak Sul Cadet teach Duggo Cadet!”
An Jeok-un inwardly admired how Il-mok had preempted his intentions and turned to look at Gwak Sul.
Excluding the Eighth Young Master, Gwak Sul was the one following the formation training most closely, so he seemed reliable enough for the task.
“Very well, then. From now on, Gwak Sul Cadet, you’ll take full responsibility for assisting Duggo Cadet.”
Gwak Sul had the words *Why me again?* hovering on his lips, but he couldn’t bring himself to say them.
“…Understood.”
He shuffled over to Duggo Pae’s side like a cow being led to slaughter and began explaining various things.
He lectured on the formations and coaxed and coddled him to make him understand why they needed to learn them.
In the meantime, An Jeok-un finished repairing the Illusory Dream Formation that had been ruined and turned back to watch Gwak Sul and Duggo Pae getting along.
*He seems sharp enough just from how he talks, so why on earth is he hanging around with that dimwit?*
For An Jeok-un, who had lived an ordinary youth, it was something he could never understand.
What it felt like to suffer from hostage syndrome after years of kidnapping and confinement.
* * *
A few days after the formation training first began.
All the cadets were starting to adapt to the formations, little by little.
Even Duggo Pae, who lagged behind the most, was somehow keeping up thanks to Gwak Sul’s constant, motherly care.
Aside from the occasional times when Duggo Pae lost his focus and tried to brute-force his way through, disrupting the lesson or wrecking the formation.
But the one who posed the greatest risk of causing a major incident wasn’t obvious on the surface—it was someone else.
- *Tch.*
Il-mok gritted his teeth at the tongue-click echoing in his mind once more.
*This sneaky bastard is constantly looking for an opening, no matter the time or place.*
Was it because of the peculiar situation of being trapped in a formation?
The illusions and the maze-like traps kept tempting him with their side effects.
Il-mok had reached a level far beyond the other cadets, so if he lost control, it would be incomparable to Duggo Pae’s tantrums.
“Hoo.”
As usual that day, Il-mok escaped the combined assault of the formation and the Soul-Stealing Heartless Sword, letting out a deep sigh.
“Il-mok Cadet.”
Suddenly, An Jeok-un called out to him.
“After training ends, come to my office.”
“???”
Il-mok had no idea why he was being summoned alone, but An Jeok-un offered no further explanation.
Once training finally wrapped up amid his bewilderment, Il-mok headed to the office.
“Come in.”
An Jeok-un greeted him with his usual inscrutable expression and pointed to an empty chair.
“Sit comfortably.”
As Il-mok took the indicated seat, An Jeok-un sat across from him and spoke.
“I see no point in beating around the bush, so I’ll get straight to it. What do you think about transferring to the Eight Trigrams Hall after graduating from the Demonic Path Academy?”
No sooner had he finished speaking than a faint presence flickered outside the office.
Both An Jeok-un and Il-mok’s gazes turned that way, but it vanished quickly, so they dismissed it.
And the source of that presence—So-hong—was plastered against the wall, frantically covering her mouth with both hands.
*No way! So the Eight Trigrams Hall is after the Eighth Young Master too!*
It was an utterly unexpected development.
*Why would the Eight Trigrams Hall, which handles formations and sorcery, want the Eighth Young Master, who’s never studied sorcery?*
No matter how much of a genius the Eighth Young Master was rumored to be, he had no connection to the Eight Trigrams Hall.
But regardless of that logic, her unease only grew.
*…If the Eight Trigrams Hall snatches the Eighth Young Master, what happens to me?*
She’d be left high and dry, like a straw mat tossed aside.
Unlucky thoughts kept flooding her mind, making her stomach rumble loudly while saliva leaked from her mouth, wetting her hands.
Meanwhile, Il-mok’s voice came from inside.
“I’ve never studied sorcery, Branch Leader Jin-son. Formations are also something I’m learning for the first time from you.”
So-hong’s hunger eased a bit at the polite refusal, but An Jeok-un’s voice followed.
“I know that. It’s just that your talent seems extraordinary, so I thought even starting now, you could pull your weight. I’d stake my family name on it.”
For a member of the An family—one of the five great demonic houses, the only one focusing on sorcery and formations rather than demonic arts—to put his clan’s reputation on the line.
Once again, So-hong’s stomach and mouth erupted in turmoil.
* * *
While So-hong’s mouth and stomach alternated between drooling and churning.
*Hmm.*
Il-mok was intrigued by An Jeok-un’s words.
“It’s not an easy decision, so may I ask a few questions?”
“Ask away.”
“Are the sorceries taught in the Divine Cult free of side effects, like the demonic arts?”
An Jeok-un shook his head at Il-mok’s question.
“There are issues like internal injuries from overexerting and mishandling qi flow, or getting trapped in a formation you don’t understand. But nothing like the side effects of demonic arts.”
After answering, An Jeok-un felt an inexplicable unease.
*…Is he dissatisfied with not learning demonic arts?*
The An family and the Eight Trigrams Hall were quite unusual even within the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
Most didn’t practice demonic arts because the side effects made sorcery and formations impractical.
The problem was that demonic arts were the very foundation of the Divine Cult.
According to doctrine, they had to grow strong quickly to smite the wicked, but sorcery and formations took a long time to master properly.
Thus, some Cult warriors looked down on the An family and Eight Trigrams Hall. They only held back because of their authority and influence.
So An Jeok-un wondered if Il-mok was one of those types.
It was because of the anger and sorrow in Il-mok’s eyes.
Il-mok was furious right now.
*I should’ve learned sorcery from the start!!*
Why the hell did he learn demonic arts?!
The Soul-Stealing Heartless Sword kept tempting him—just thinking about it ground his teeth even now, like in the recent formation.
But he wasn’t done checking. Il-mok asked just in case.
“Is my aptitude really that outstanding?”
“Hmm… I’m not sure if I’d call you a ‘genius’ yet. But your speed at grasping explanations during training and your exceptional qi sense in instantly finding the formation’s vital points—it’s at least at a prodigy level.”
Il-mok nearly shed bloody tears upon hearing that.
*Damn it!!*
His qi sense was this body’s innate talent, no question. As for brains, he wasn’t a genius by his own estimation, but he had some knack for studies.
No, he didn’t even need to be a genius or prodigy. As long as he had enough talent to learn, sorcery was the right choice over demonic arts.
Anything to avoid these damn side effects.
But he couldn’t jump to conclusions rashly.
A guy scammed once or twice was just pitiful, but the third time made him an idiot.
In that sense, Il-mok had already fallen for two job scams.
*It was like that with the civil service too.*
After three years of hell to pass, he couldn’t quit and ended up knifed to death, crossing over to this world.
*And when I was dragged to the Demonic Cult.*
Of course, coming here wasn’t something he could choose. If not, he’d have died by his master’s hand or the Martial Alliance’s.
Either way, Il-mok knew from experience that picking the wrong job made life hell.
“How is sorcery research typically conducted in the Eight Trigrams Hall?”
“What time do you start research in the morning, and when do you usually head home?”
Workload, commute times, even company welfare.
Il-mok fired off questions in minute detail, missing nothing.
Answering them, An Jeok-un soon realized his misunderstanding.
*Heh heh heh. Look at those sparkling eyes—he’s clearly interested in the Eight Trigrams Hall.*
The Eighth Young Master’s gaze, which had started with anger, now brimmed with curiosity and hope.
Of course, he wondered why the initial fury, but he didn’t pry.
No need to make a promising recruit uncomfortable while scouting talent.
How long did their private job fair last?
After hearing a general rundown of the Eight Trigrams Hall’s operations, Il-mok spoke up to clear a sudden curiosity.
“Oh, right—those talismans and the ink in the gourd you used for the formation, are those made in the Eight Trigrams Hall too?”
“Heh heh heh. Of course, since they’re for sorcery.”
“Paper and ink that hold qi—truly wondrous items.”
“Heh heh heh. That’s why they’re so hard to make. Take these talismans: you boil sulfur, melt various herbs into it, cool and solidify, grind to powder, then use that to make the paper.”
“B-Boiling sulfur?”
“Indeed. And this ink in the gourd is a sorcery liquid made by melting cinnabar ore—a special material—and adding various ingredients.”
He went on passionately explaining the production of sorcery tools for a good while longer.
Only then did An Jeok-un notice Il-mok’s attitude had shifted.
The face full of dreams and hope had grown somewhat cold.
“Is something wrong?”
“…I truly appreciate the invitation to the Eight Trigrams Hall. Listening did tempt me, but one important fact came to mind.”
“Important fact?”
When An Jeok-un asked back, Il-mok replied with a solemn expression.
“I am the disciple of His Exalted One. Sorcery and formations are vital pillars of the Divine Cult, of course, but as his disciple, shouldn’t I devote myself to demonic arts at least until I reach Transcending Demon?”
“Well….”
An Jeok-un was at a loss for words in the face of Il-mok’s respect for his master, the Heavenly Demon.
Arguing would make him seem like he was badmouthing the Heavenly Demon.
“…Even while focusing on demonic arts, study sorcery and formations on the side, like now. That way, once you reach Transcending Demon, you’ll have plenty of time to dive into them properly.”
“I’ll think it over.”
With that grave reply, Il-mok soon bid An Jeok-un farewell and left the office.
“Phew.”
A sigh escaped naturally.
Not from regret over missing the Eight Trigrams Hall.
He’d only invoked his master’s name as an excuse, after all.
*There’s no such thing as a perfect job in this world. Damn it.*
Il-mok’s sigh was one of relief.
He knew what cinnabar was. Or rather, what came from melting cinnabar ore.
*These lunatics are boiling sulfur and mercury. They must be dying to drop dead early.*
After hearing the full explanation from An Jeok-un, Il-mok realized.
The Eight Trigrams Hall was little more than a hazardous materials warehouse.