Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 34
>Chapter Title: Manpower Reinforcement (3)
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After two days of travel, we finally arrived at the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's main headquarters as the sun was setting.
No sooner had we reached the headquarters than my master summoned me.
Officially, it was to share a dinner in appreciation of my hard work.
"Heh heh heh. So, what were your impressions from the trip?"
As expected, my master brought up work during what was supposed to be a casual dinner.
With my stomach growling, I set down my chopsticks, which I'd just picked up for some food, and spoke calmly.
"I found a few areas for improvement, Master."
"Oh ho. More than one or two, it seems."
I explained to my master, who looked at me with interest, what I'd seen in Gocha County.
Specifically, how the branch leader had lost control due to the side effects of his demonic art while teaching the children.
"…It seems the Gocha County branch leader needs to be punished."
"There's no need for that. The Hwajung County branch leader didn't lose control, but it was obvious he was struggling."
"Hmm. Now that you mention it, those who went to inspect other counties reported similar issues. The branch leaders are having trouble teaching groups of children."
"Yes. If one or two people cause problems, it's their fault. But if the same issue arises in multiple places, it means the system is flawed."
"So, what solution do you propose?"
"First, we need criteria for selecting the instructors. Teaching children to read doesn't require the branch leaders to step in. It's not about martial prowess or experience, is it?"
"True enough."
"We should select instructors based on the side effects of their demonic arts. Exclude those with anger, depression, or obsessive tendencies. It would be better to have those with mania or emotional numbness teaching."
My master nodded at my explanation, so I continued.
"Of course, that alone won't fully control the children. And it could drive the instructors to mental breakdowns."
Those who practiced demonic arts all suffered from mental illnesses, so pushing them mentally could lead to unimaginable disasters.
That's why we needed to guide them through a systematic approach that would handle everything smoothly.
"So, we need to give the children's education more leeway. Children's concentration has limits, so classes of three quarters of an hour (45 minutes) followed by one quarter (15 minutes) of rest, and only two sessions per day."
This was a concept borrowed from modern education.
Even in the modern world, elementary students have 40-minute classes with 10-minute breaks, and high schoolers have 50-minute classes with 10-minute breaks.
Here, without the concept of "minutes," I'd adapted it to quarters of an hour.
"Additionally, one session covers one line of the Thousand Character Classic. That's four characters, twice a day. Total of eight characters per day."
"Isn't that too little?"
"Even with just eight characters a day, they'll finish one full reading in 128 days. Speed up a bit at the end, and three readings in a year are possible."
I also discussed with my master what to do if a child doesn't listen.
Just like the advice I'd given the Gocha County branch leader: instead of forcing them, send them home to get scolded by their parents.
"Hmm. You're trying to reduce the mental strain on the instructors, even if just a little."
"Yes."
My master, nodding in understanding, asked,
"So, after about one hour of lessons, the children go home?"
I shook my head.
What I'd explained so far were the solutions I'd come up with upon first seeing the Gocha County branch leader lose control.
Thanks to the damn side effects of the Soul-Stealing Heartless Sword, I had a few more ideas.
"After the one-hour education session, it would be good to have basic martial arts training and external conditioning."
"!?"
Surprise finally crossed my master's face.
"You're saying we should teach demonic arts to the children of commoners?"
"Not demonic arts, Master—basic martial arts and external exercises. Children who learn exercise and basic conditioning from a young age will be a huge help in physical labor when they grow up. Plus, it increases the chances of discovering talent."
"Oh ho. Teach basic martial arts, then select the talented ones for demonic arts."
"Yes. One year for the Thousand Character Classic, another year for the cult's doctrines. That gives two years to observe the children. Branch leaders in each area teach during those two years, select the exceptional talents, and report to the church."
In modern terms, the current demonic cult's talent cultivation was like elite sports.
I wanted to turn it into something like recreational sports.
The more children training in martial arts, the higher the chance of finding talent.
"Hmm. Then we'll need simplified doctrine texts for study, plus basic martial arts and external exercises prepared for the children."
"No need to worry about that. I captured about twenty deserters who know military martial arts."
That was why I'd bothered dragging along those bandits after learning they were military deserters.
Demonic arts were cheat-level—easy to learn and advance—but carried terrifying side effects unsuitable for indiscriminately teaching children.
Military arts, on the other hand, were likely organized from basic levels for conscripts.
And furthermore.
"If any branches lack suitable instructors, we can dispatch these men."
They were all-purpose for teaching kids, compared to the mentally ill demonic cultists.
And finally.
"Children's concentration has limits. Just training after lessons could cause issues, so after half an hour of training, end with some playtime as a reward for good behavior."
With that, I unfolded the booklet where I'd already sketched and organized it with a brush.
Balls made from animal bladders coated with glue and strung with string or dry grass.
Then games kicking them around or throwing to hit each other—descriptions of soccer and dodgeball.
Blending the Soul-Stealing Heartless Sword's side effects with modern memories, my concept of a "school" was exactly this.
Teaching kids martial arts and exercise, plus basic character education (the cult's doctrines here), and finally some playtime for them to run around.
For dual-income couples raising endlessly energetic kids who only sleep after exhausting themselves all day, it was their only hope.
Now spreading even to America and abroad.
A taekwondo academy.
* * *
Afterward, Il-mok and the Heavenly Demon continued their dinner conversation.
They discussed details of the system Il-mok proposed.
For example, what rewards to give branch leaders who produced many talented children from their villages.
Or what penalties for those recommending kids indiscriminately just to get rewards.
After enduring that horrific time where he barely knew if food went in his mouth or nose,
The Heavenly Demon sent Il-mok away and pondered alone in his office when a guest arrived.
"The Protectorate Leader comes to pay respects to the Heavenly Demon."
The Protectorate handled security for the cult's key facilities and high-ranking members, and its leader was one of the top masters.
At the Protectorate Leader's visit, the Heavenly Demon stroked his beard and asked,
"What brings you at this late hour?"
"I hurried here after speaking with Gwan Mu-yeol and Jang Hoe, who escorted Young Master Il-mok this time."
"Hmm. I'm curious what you heard."
The Protectorate Leader explained how Il-mok had been attacked by the Gocha County branch leader and encountered bandits.
"Also, Young Master Il-mok was previously attacked by a rampaging senior disciple. For his safety, assigning just one maidservant as escort seems risky, Your Supremacy."
The Heavenly Demon nodded at the explanation.
'Indeed. That child Il-mok is driving changes, so we need precautions.'
It had only been four months since he started learning demonic arts, so he'd seemed safe, but incidents kept happening around him.
Like with his first disciple Wi Jin-hak, or the issues with the Hyeok-ryeon Clan—it seemed because the child was sparking change.
Change inevitably breeds conflict.
"Then, who do you plan to assign?"
"How about making the two who accompanied him this time his full-time escorts? They've already spent four days together, so it should be comfortable for the young master."
The Heavenly Demon nodded at the suggestion.
"Make it so."
* * *
After the meeting with the Heavenly Demon, the Protectorate Leader returned to the Protectorate instead of his quarters, citing remaining duties.
While reading and checking a few letters there,
"Come in."
With no sign of anyone approaching, he spoke to the air. The door opened cautiously, and a figure entered the room.
It was late; the sky fully dark. The faint candle on the Protectorate Leader's desk lit only his surroundings.
Addressing the man whose face was shadowed,
"Starting tomorrow, you'll be the youngest young master's dedicated escort."
"I shall obey."
Confirming the man's fist salute from the shadows, the Protectorate Leader spoke again.
"So from now on, monitor his every move and report. Whether he's a brat we can ignore or a future obstacle to eliminate. And if removal is needed, devise a way that leaves no trace."
Processing him while out with that man this time would have worked.
But direct involvement risked exposing himself.
Moreover,
'The Heavenly Demon likely has extra precautions beyond the two I assigned.'
Uncertain hidden escorts meant watching first.
They needed a way to eliminate without exposure.
It wasn't impossible. They could monitor every detail up close like this.
He already had two successes.
The fourth young master, whose talent led them to leak info, dying to Central Plains' righteous sects.
The fifth, who sniffed their tail, disguised as Demonic Deviation.
The second and seventh died overexerting alone, easy to cover.
Recalling those, the Protectorate Leader asked the man in the dark,
"By the way, after four days together, you must have some grasp. What are your impressions of the youngest young master?"
The man in the dark recalled the Hwajung County scene and replied,
"In the best light, he's adept at improvisation and agitation."
Capturing all the bandits alive, then killing them without batting an eye.
Plus, though silent for the inspection, casually testing and inciting villagers.
Frowning at memories of him nagging the Gocha County branch leader for hospitality and buttering them up,
"And in the worst light, he's a con artist."
Fancy words for agitation and improvisation—he practically lied automatically whenever he opened his mouth.