Chapter 89
Chapter 89
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 89
>Chapter Title: Forgetting Self (2)
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Baek Cheon didn’t back down easily.
“If so, could you teach me that Extreme Drama or Transformation Sword? I need to learn that first to adapt it to match the great achievements of the Heavenly Demons, don’t you think?”
“Ahem. Sorry, but I’ve never seen it myself. Anyway, since you’re less than a year away from graduating the Demonic Path Academy, you can learn it after graduation, right?”
At Il-mok’s explanation, Baek Cheon nodded as if it made perfect sense.
“So graduation from the Demonic Path Academy comes first! Got it. I won’t forget the grace the Young Master has shown me this time!”
Baek Cheon offered a deep fist salute with utmost courtesy, then departed with lively steps.
It was hard to believe this was the same man who had been doing the three bows one prostration punishment for over a month until midday today.
Jeong-hyeon, who had been staring blankly at his retreating figure alongside Il-mok, cautiously spoke to him.
“Y-Young Master, you seem quite popular.”
“? What’s that all of a sudden?”
“B-Baek Cheon senior too, and every day, there are more than one or two people coming to see you, Young Master.”
Jeong-hyeon spoke in a deeply subdued voice, shoulders hunched.
She had only one person she could call a friend, Il-mok, but he had too many people seeking him out.
She feared that if Il-mok grew closer to others, she might be forgotten.
And rightly so, for among those seeking Il-mok, many were superior to her.
Not to mention her peers like Dokgo Pae or Bang Mi-hwa, but even the Baek Cheon who had just visited had caused trouble, yet he was still the top disciple of the upper cohort and a direct descendant of the Baek family, one of the Five Great Families.
As she turned her head away, avoiding his gaze with her crumbling self-esteem, Il-mok rubbed his goosebumped arms and said.
“Don’t even joke about something that terrifying. For me, living here with Clerk Jeong is more than enough.”
He couldn’t stand the crazies, after all.
At Il-mok’s blunt words, Jeong-hyeon trembled as if having a fit.
“Is somewhere uncomfortable?”
Il-mok asked in a worried voice, seeing the familiar sight.
He had seen it before. Back at their first meeting, Jeong-hyeon had suddenly convulsed like this.
‘If I approach, it’ll only get worse?’
Knowing her side effects, Il-mok hesitated between approaching and not.
“I-I’ll head out first!”
Jeong-hyeon’s face flushed beet red as she fled the clearing like she was escaping.
* * *
Meanwhile, around that time.
Early the next morning, the Black Tiger Hall was bustling in preparation for the expedition departing at dawn.
Among those scurrying about busily was Mak Ho-yeol, famed for his martial prowess.
Having finished all his preparations to leave, Mak Ho-yeol returned to his room for the final touches.
With a clear mind, he ground his ink, then wrote on the paper.
In a bold, unrestrained script fitting his personality, the letter was essentially a challenge.
He had caught the eye of Deputy Hall Leader Yoo Geuk at the last sparring tournament, earning him a month of special training.
Thanks to that, he felt tangible progress, and on the upcoming expedition, he’d achieve results alongside the martial squad seniors.
Thus, after returning from this expedition, he planned to challenge someone.
He wanted to challenge and spar daily, but that would be rude.
‘He’s several levels above me. At least, I should achieve enough to pique his interest before challenging him again—that’s the proper way!’
With that thought, Mak Ho-yeol finished the challenge letter, folded it neatly once the ink dried, and stood up.
He left Black Tiger Hall, crossed the grand training grounds, and headed to Black Dragon Hall.
“Il-mok Clerk!!”
The opponent he wanted to challenge after the expedition was none other than Il-mok. Junior or not, Il-mok had become his goal to surpass.
“Come out for a moment, even if just briefly!”
As Mak Ho-yeol bellowed repeatedly at the Black Dragon Hall entrance, Il-mok soon appeared.
“What’s the matter?”
Il-mok wore an openly annoyed expression, but Mak Ho-yeol ignored it.
“Just accept this. Junior.”
“???”
Il-mok puzzledly took the neatly folded letter Mak Ho-yeol offered.
At Mak Ho-yeol’s following words, Il-mok flinched involuntarily.
“I wrote it with all my sincerity.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“From the day I first met you, I haven’t forgotten you for a single moment.”
Ever since losing to Il-mok’s sword in their first spar, Mak Ho-yeol couldn’t get it out of his mind.
‘What nonsense is this?’
Of course, Il-mok couldn’t comprehend the mindset of martial maniacs.
“Read it carefully. I’ll hear your answer after the expedition.”
Satisfied with that, Mak Ho-yeol turned and left after saying his piece.
Il-mok, half-dazed, looked around.
Perhaps because Mak Ho-yeol had shouted so loudly, his peers were all watching the scene. Even in that shadowy corner, Jeong-hyeon’s face flickered briefly.
‘Is her body feeling better?’
Recalling the earlier incident in the clearing, Il-mok tossed aside the letter in his hand and tried to approach her, but.
“Il-mok Clerk!! How can you treat Brother Mak’s heartfelt letter so carelessly!!”
Suddenly, Dokgo Pae burst out and blocked his path.
Had they sworn brotherhood in the meantime? Dokgo Pae intervened with their newfound bromance, and Il-mok sighed deeply.
* * *
Early the next morning.
The upper cohort seniors, including Mak Ho-yeol and Baek Cheon, departed the Demonic Path Academy.
With the seniors gone, the academy felt serene.
It should have been good news for Il-mok, but his mind wasn’t at ease.
For some reason, since that day when she nearly had a fit, Jeong-hyeon had started avoiding him.
“Jeong Clerk!”
“Eek!”
It went beyond mere avoidance; if Il-mok got even slightly close, she’d convulse and flee.
Jeong-hyeon had no choice.
- For me, living here with Clerk Jeong is more than enough.
Il-mok’s blunt words kept circling her mind, leaving her mortified with nowhere to hide.
Especially after the events in the mental world last time, facing Il-mok had become excruciating for her.
“Haah.”
Watching Jeong-hyeon flee far away, Il-mok sighed, then realized something important.
‘Come to think of it, why am I chasing after Jeong-hyeon like this?’
He had entered the academy vowing not to mingle with its prospective lunatics.
‘Was I lonelier than I thought?’
Jeong-hyeon was overly shy and pathologically averse to closeness, but compared to the other crazies, she felt somewhat comfortable and tame.
“Tch. What a pointless chase.”
Perhaps due to the Soul-Stealing Heartless Sword’s side effects, recalling the sweat from pursuing her made everything feel bothersome.
Giving up on Jeong-hyeon, Il-mok headed to that serene clearing.
It was their usual spot, but today he was alone.
He didn’t feel particularly lonely. He wasn’t one to dislike solitude.
“Well, if I wait here, she’ll come eventually.”
He didn’t know why she was avoiding him, but forcing a startled person was worse than talking later when she calmed down.
He was confident she’d return.
“I’m alone, but so is Jeong Clerk—no friends.”
* * *
Fortunately or unfortunately, Jeong-hyeon didn’t return to that clearing.
She might have sneaked in with stealth arts while he napped, but they didn’t cross paths.
In any case, Il-mok enjoyed solo naps there daily, and with longer nap times, days flew by.
Finally, the third exam arrived.
As always, they exited the academy under the instructors’ lead.
Among the E-Class clerks following Instructor Eun-ryeo was Jeong-hyeon.
Moving slightly apart from the others, she startled and turned away the moment her eyes met Il-mok’s.
‘…Is she really sick?’
As Il-mok thought that, Chu Il-hwan, who had lined up the clerks, spoke.
“Unlike previous exams, this one will take place in a much larger area. The maps being distributed now mark your destination.”
At his words’ end, assistants with papers, rods, and whistles began handing them out one by one.
“This exam is individual, unlike the last two. Scores will be based on arrival time and order. Countless traps line the path, so inspect them carefully.”
Il-mok unfolded the map from the assistant as Chu Il-hwan spoke, sighing faintly.
‘It’s far.’
The map showed three mountain peaks.
Among the Heavenly Myriad Mountains’ countless peaks, they had to cross three to reach the destination.
“Straying outside the marked area triggers formations. But they’re designed to lead one way, so no need to worry about getting lost.”
Chu Il-hwan then held out the whistle and rod.
“These are for emergencies—keep them safe. The exam lasts two shichen. If you don’t arrive within, light the rod and blow the whistle. Instructors and assistants will rescue you.”
Demonstrating, Chu Il-hwan lit the rod, yellow smoke billowing out—like a signal fire.
“Finally, as before, one geng after start, assistants and instructors will patrol for the injured or lost. But if caught, it’s a fail.”
Matching his words, instructors and assistants showed bells on their belts.
Finishing the explanation, Chu Il-hwan added a playful warning with a grin.
“With the larger area, be cautious. Don’t get injured chasing scores or skip signaling after two shichen. Casualties and rescues happen occasionally.”
Despite mentions of deaths and rescues, the clerks showed no fear or anxiety—only confidence and resolve.
As if they’d steeled themselves upon entering the academy.
Il-mok shook his head at the fearless kids.
‘Crazy cultists.’
Dragging in sixteen-year-olds for such exams was something else.
Chu Il-hwan continued minor details, then flipped the hourglass with a shout.
“Then, begin!”
As expected, at the start, Dokgo Pae and Bang Mi-hwa charged out boldly.
“Victory in this exam is mine!”
“Young Master! I won’t hold back this time!”
The difference: Dokgo Pae ran alone as it was individual, while Bang Mi-hwa stuck with Ha Yeong.
“Whew.”
Sighing, Il-mok turned toward the E-Class clerks—specifically, Jeong-hyeon.
‘Individual, but teaming up early-mid shouldn’t hurt.’
Crowds would annoy, but they’d scatter soon anyway.
He thought to chat with her then, but.
“!?”
Uncharacteristically, Jeong-hyeon bolted at the start, vanishing instantly with stealth arts.
“Tch.”
Clicking his tongue in mild regret, Il-mok shook off lingering thoughts, checked the map, and moved.
“Three mountains to cross.”
Sweat didn’t appeal, but no clever shortcuts like before came to mind.
“Best to finish quick and rest.”
Sorting his thoughts, Il-mok set off.