Chapter 73
Chapter 73
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 73
>Chapter Title: Senior (2)
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Around the time Il-mok and Jeong-hyeon cleared up their misunderstanding.
Rustle.
Someone moved cautiously, slipping away from the area.
“Phew.”
The instructor Eun-ryeo, dressed in tight-fitting black stealth garb and weaving through the shadows, let out a deep sigh only after reaching a spot where neither Il-mok nor Jeong-hyeon could hear her.
‘Good thing it worked out.’
In truth, the thing she’d forgotten to mention to Jeong-hyeon was precisely about that senior from moments ago.
That secluded clearing where they trained stealth arts every day was, in fact, a training ground favored by a senior cadet named Mok Ho-yeol.
It was trivial info to most, but crucial for Jeong-hyeon.
For a kid suffering from social anxiety, a senior suddenly barging in would be a shock in every way.
Of course, Instructor Eun-ryeo hadn’t planned from the start to sneak up in full stealth gear like this.
‘Yeah. That kid needs to grow up a bit now too.’
With that thought, she’d decided to let it slide since she hadn’t mentioned it anyway.
She hadn’t told them about Mok Ho-yeol specifically, but she had gathered all the cadets and announced that the senior cadets would be returning today.
Still, ignoring it made her body itch unbearably.
So, Instructor Eun-ryeo had come sneaking here belatedly.
In the end, though, it was pointless effort.
Il-mok had sorted it out without her needing to step in.
Yet even after things settled, Instructor Eun-ryeo’s expression wasn’t entirely at ease.
It wasn’t because she’d missed the unauthorized spar.
Il-mok had stepped in to help Jeong-hyeon. His fabricated cold expression aside, she had the flexibility to see that. Even separately from Il-mok, she pitied poor Jeong-hyeon.
The problem lay elsewhere.
‘Sigh. As expected, Cadet Il-mok seems destined to grow into a man burdened with many sins.’
Poor Jeong-hyeon had mustered the courage to confess, yet he dodged it with such excuses.
Watching the scene thick with the scent of youth, the unmarried Instructor Eun-ryeo nearly teared up out of sympathy for Jeong-hyeon without realizing it.
* * *
Meanwhile.
Mok Ho-yeol, defeated by Il-mok and leaving the clearing, headed straight for Black Tiger Hall, the senior cadets’ dormitory.
“Hm? Didn’t you say you were going there to reflect on your insights?”
A fellow cadet from his year asked quizzically at Mok Ho-yeol’s quick return, and Mok Ho-yeol laughed heartily.
“Uwahaha! There was a prior guest.”
“Hmm? At this time, that’d be the juniors, right?”
“Exactly. Hahaha. We even clashed over the spot, but I got thoroughly beaten by the junior. Hahaha.”
His fellow cadet looked baffled at Mok Ho-yeol’s carefree, booming laughter, as if it were no big deal.
‘Ho-yeol lost?’
In their year, Mok Ho-yeol ranked mid-tier in Class A, if one had to pin it down.
But that was the Demonic Path Academy’s evaluation criteria, factoring in various elements.
The martial arts fanatic Mok Ho-yeol cared little for other fields, so his scores weren’t great.
Conversely, that meant his pure martial prowess was top-tier among their year.
“You weren’t holding back, were you?”
“Carelessness in a fight? That’s harsh talk.”
As flames flickered in the eyes of the grinning, fool-like Mok Ho-yeol, the questioning cadet chuckled awkwardly and waved it off.
“Just kidding. Calm down.”
Having spent a year together, they knew each other’s personalities and quirks well enough.
The first few months had been full of secret fights away from instructors and assistants, but now they yielded to each other and got by.
“To lose even fighting seriously... Surprising.”
“Uwahaha. I was surprised too. But hey, thanks to that junior, I wrapped up my insights. Good experience, right? Hahaha.”
True to his simple nature, Mok Ho-yeol laughed it off heartily, but his conversing cadet’s face grew complicated.
It was only natural.
A one-year gap might seem minor, but in the Demonic Path Academy, it was plenty to call a ‘big deal.’
This was a place gathering only the elite of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, where warriors trained in demonic arts.
And the greatest strength of demonic arts was their explosive growth rate.
For those not yet at mastery and hitting walls, that one year created an enormous gap at this age.
Pondering just what kind of junior could do that.
A piece of info from the recent expedition floated up in that cadet’s mind.
“Maybe that junior is the Heavenly Demon’s newest youngest disciple.”
“His Lordship’s new youngest disciple?”
Seeing Mok Ho-yeol’s blank look, the cadet sighed in disbelief.
“Didn’t you hear from the Crimson Dragon Squad seniors during the expedition? Rumors are flying that His Lordship’s youngest disciple is a genius. And that he’d enter the Demonic Path Academy this year.”
“Hm. Kinda rings a bell, kinda doesn’t. No clue. Hahaha!”
The cadet sighed again at his illiterate peer, whose mind was martial arts or bust.
Just then, one of the cadets listening in stepped forward.
They’d just returned from the expedition and were taking time to freshen up.
Mid-bath or unpacking, they’d all paused, drawn to the talk.
The forward cadet, Baek Cheon, raised a question.
“I remember the story too, but the pieces don’t fit.”
“Don’t fit? What do you mean?”
“Think about it. All the anecdotes from the Crimson Dragon Squad seniors about the youngest Young Master were about wisdom. Nothing on his martial arts, right?”
Nearby onlookers from their year nodded in agreement.
Some had heard tales of the youngest Young Master, others like Mok Ho-yeol hadn’t or forgot.
Il-mok’s fame spread wildly in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, but these were Demonic Path Academy cadets.
When Il-mok was freshly kidnapped into the cult, they’d just entered the academy.
And once inside, they had almost no way to exchange outside info.
Instructors and assistants occasionally visited headquarters, but none were frivolous enough to relay every rumor to cadets.
So they’d gone a full year without Il-mok news, only catching wind during the Crimson Dragon Squad training.
Problem was, the Crimson Dragon Squad had been away from headquarters for months too, missing that Il-mok topped the entrance exam.
“Setting up academies at each branch, managing demonic art side effects via the new Serenity Clinic, advising the eldest Young Master to reach Transcending Demon... Each story’s astounding, but did any require raw power? And above all.”
Pausing, Baek Cheon felt all eyes on him and grinned.
“The youngest Young Master’s been in the cult barely a year. Even as the Heavenly Demon’s chosen disciple, can you really think it’s possible to beat Ho-yeol in that time?”
Finding Baek Cheon’s logic sound, the focused peers all nodded.
Even Park Ki-tae, who’d first suggested it was the youngest Young Master, nodded instinctively.
But the question lingered.
“Then who the hell is that junior?”
“Hmm. If the rumors before we entered hold, the top junior should be that Dokgo Clan heir, right?”
Baek Cheon nodded at the remark and asked Mok Ho-yeol.
“Did that junior you fought use a sword?”
Mok Ho-yeol nodded, but his face brimmed with doubt.
“Yeah, but the Dokgo Clan’s Dokgo Swordsmanship is famed for heavy swords, right? The junior fought me with free-flowing fast and soft swordplay, like a master.”
Martial-mad as he was, Mok Ho-yeol stayed sharp on arts and experts despite ignoring other news.
As they puzzled anew at his answer.
Park Ki-tae suggested.
“No point guessing among us. Why not call a junior and ask?”
“Know one?”
“Got a younger acquaintance from before entering. He should’ve made it in easily.”
* * *
A bit later.
Park Ki-tae returned with the younger acquaintance from pre-academy days.
“Choi Woong, new Demonic Path Academy cadet, greets the senior brothers.”
After the fist salute, Choi Woong swallowed dryly without thinking.
Not one or two, but over a dozen seniors staring made him tense up unconsciously.
“Hahaha. Not here to bully you, relax.”
Baek Cheon laughed heartily, considerate of Choi Woong, and spoke leisurely.
“Oh, by the way, I’m Baek Cheon. Might’ve heard of me.”
“Yes, I have, Senior Brother.”
“Hahaha. Good to know.”
Baek Cheon laughed heartily, but for some reason, Choi Woong felt a chill.
‘This senior’s that Baek Clan wastrel.’
Baek Cheon was direct lineage of the Baek Clan, one of the five great demonic families alongside Hyeok-ryeon, Gu-yang, and Dokgo.
Second son among brothers, not the heir like Dokgo Pae.
As Choi Woong recalled Baek Cheon’s info inwardly, Baek Cheon grinned and said.
“Just called to ask one thing.”
“Please ask away, Senior Brother.”
Snapping to attention, Choi Woong replied politely, and Baek Cheon asked.
“Who’s the strongest in your year?”
Choi Woong wondered why such an obvious question, then realized.
‘Ah, they’ve been out of the loop in the academy.’
Collecting his thoughts, Choi Woong answered.
“It’s Young Master Il-mok, the Heavenly Demon’s newest youngest disciple. You may have heard, Senior Brother.”
“!?”
The gathered seniors all looked shocked at Choi Woong’s reply.
“Th-the youngest Young Master’s only been in the cult about a year, right?”
Even the poised Baek Cheon couldn’t hide his fluster as he asked back.
“Ah! Guess that Dokgo Clan heir wasn’t up to snuff after all!”
Baek Cheon, no fan of the Dokgo Clan, blurted it out, but the retort came from an odd place.
“That sounds like you’re saying I’m subpar too.”
Stepping up with a scowl was Mok Ho-yeol. If the Dokgo heir flopped and the youngest Young Master took top, then Mok Ho-yeol, beaten by that Young Master, was subpar too.
Realizing late, Baek Cheon managed his expression with effort.
‘Tch. Fighting that boar-like guy’s a hassle in every way.’
Baek Cheon had topped their year. Academy evaluation included other factors, sure.
But he was confident he could beat Mok Ho-yeol purely on martial skill. It just risked tarnishing his dignity in the process.
‘Tch. Panicked at the unexpected news. What now.’
Apologizing to Mok Ho-yeol here would ruin his dignity too. As Baek Cheon pondered, luckily Choi Woong spoke up.
“Dokgo Pae’s an outstanding peer too. Honestly, same Class A or not, I’ve no confidence beating him. But the youngest Young Master is... well...”
All eyes naturally turned to Choi Woong, who paused, searching for the perfect word.
Not the most eloquent, Choi Woong went with what came to mind.
“He’s beyond genius—a monster.”
Day one: Seeing him subdue Dokgo Pae, he thought, “High-level enough for top spot.”
Day two: Got thrashed picking a fight with friends, realizing the tier gap.
And yesterday: Observing in the same exam group, Choi Woong wondered.
“Honestly, watching him, I doubt he’s a first-year, or even human.”
Not a tier gap—maybe a whole different species.
After Choi Woong’s brief rundown on the youngest Young Master.
“......”
An odd silence hung over Black Tiger Hall.