Chapter 96
Chapter 96
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 96
>Chapter Title: Volunteering (1)
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Il-mok, who had stepped out of the hall at the Heavenly Demon's summons, was conversing with the Heavenly Demon waiting beyond the thicket.
“You called for me, Master?”
“In two days, we’ll be leaving this place, so I summoned you to ask something before then.”
“Please speak.”
“How in the world did you end up coming here?”
“That’s a mystery to me as well. I simply gave my all in the exam, and when I arrived, it was here.”
“Hmm…”
Stroking his beard, the Heavenly Demon let out an odd sigh and shared what he had learned while searching for Il-mok.
A minute gap had formed in the formation array during the exam, and Il-mok had happened to slip through that very gap to reach this place.
“It’s certainly possible, but one thing remains puzzling: why did you move all the way to the edge of the exam grounds where the formation was active?”
At that question, something suddenly came to Il-mok’s mind.
“I ended up at the edge of the exam grounds because of the sound of bells.”
“Bells?”
“Yes. They said we’d get the lowest score if caught by the proctors or instructors, so I moved while avoiding the bell sounds, which naturally took me that way. Once the bells stopped, I turned toward the destination, but strangely, I arrived here in Foal Saddle Pass.”
“…Even if you lost your sense of direction escaping the damaged formation, those bells are highly suspicious.”
It could happen by chance.
Dodging proctors or instructors and ending up at the exam’s edge, only to get caught in the formation.
A tiny gap forming in the formation, allowing escape outside the grounds.
And wandering the Heavenly Myriad Mountains to stumble into Foal Saddle Pass—such disasters occurred sporadically.
But.
‘The odds of those three misfortunes coinciding by pure chance are slim.’
Il-mok reached a similar conclusion, his expression turning gravely serious.
Doubts had lingered even after the Protective Education Officer’s suicide last time, but now they were confirmed.
There were still those within the Divine Cult targeting Il-mok.
The issue lay elsewhere.
‘We could interrogate the proctors and instructors from the exam on sight, but that’s a poor plan.’
Interrogation might fail, but worse, coerced false confessions or testimonies under torture could complicate matters further.
Targeted interrogation with solid leads was one thing; indiscriminate torture was a meaningless slaughter. The Heavenly Demon knew this all too well.
Having resolved to increase surveillance within the Demonic Path Academy or prepare some other measure, the Heavenly Demon soon regarded Il-mok with an odd glint in his eye.
Both the time he’d been ambushed by Jang Hoe due to the Protective Education Officer’s scheme, and now this.
“Still, thanks to it all, you’re advancing by leaps and bounds each day, so it’s not all bad. My disciple. Heh heh heh.”
At this point, the Heavenly Demon wondered if leaving those culprits alone might actually aid Il-mok’s growth.
“You praise me too highly, Master.”
Il-mok bowed politely, but his lowered face twisted in anguish.
‘Damn it. I’m already going insane these days.’
It had been five days since he began practicing the Soul-Stealing Heartless Sword to impersonate Gang No’s disciple. Il-mok’s progress was steep.
When training under the Heavenly Demon or at the Demonic Path Academy, he’d had some leeway to slack off.
The Heavenly Demon was too busy with duties to train him for long each day, and at the academy, he could rest in spare moments.
But Gang No, driven by his personal grudge, pushed Il-mok to his absolute limits.
Moreover, Il-mok’s realm had already advanced somewhat, accelerating the gains.
He’d held back despite being able to perform the later forms, so once serious training began, progress exploded.
Of course, the intensified side effects left Il-mok in agony.
Enough to slightly regret promising five more days as Gang No’s disciple.
Rustle.
Just then, a faint noise rustled the bushes, followed by a presence.
“!?”
Il-mok whipped his head around and flinched. Emerging from the thicket was Gang No, whom he’d thought asleep.
The Heavenly Demon seemed aware of his approach, his face impassive, while Il-mok quickly composed himself and spoke politely.
“It’s still late into the night, Master. Please come inside and rest.”
But the response was unexpected.
“Heh heh heh. No need to worry, Young Master. And from now on, you needn’t call this foolish old man your master.”
* * *
Though Gang No had regained his memories and mind, one question lingered.
Why had that kid ended up in Foal Saddle Pass, and why had he played the role of his disciple?
Vague recollections even included seeing the Heavenly Demon.
Separate from his gratitude toward the boy, Gang No left the hall to trace his movements and unravel the mystery.
Here, he overheard the boy and Heavenly Demon’s final exchange.
Calling each other master and disciple.
‘So that’s how it was.’
Having pieced it together in his own way, Gang No prostrated himself before the Heavenly Demon with utmost respect.
‘All this happened because the Heavenly Demon pitied this foolish old man…’
He understood it as the Heavenly Demon deliberately sending his new disciple here.
Even teaching him the Soul-Stealing Heartless Sword.
Deeply moved, Gang No prostrated and showed his respects, prompting the Heavenly Demon to speak with mild surprise.
“Rise, Gang No.”
At the Heavenly Demon’s command, Gang No stood, and meeting his eyes, the Heavenly Demon felt certain.
“You’ve recovered your memories?”
The cloudy haze that had clouded Gang No’s eyes until now was gone, cleared to clarity.
As expected, Gang No nodded.
“It seems so, thanks to the Young Master and Your Excellency’s mercy.”
Gang No then clasped his hands in salute to the Heavenly Demon and Il-mok, expressing thanks.
No matter that it was at the Heavenly Demon’s order, the boy had cared for him.
Even pretending to be his disciple for a senile old fool.
Seeing Gang No’s calm demeanor, the Heavenly Demon stroked his beard nostalgically.
“Heh heh. It was just my youngest disciple’s doing. What did this old man contribute?”
“Such words are utterly undeserved. Without Your Excellency’s permission, how could the Young Master have served me as master?”
Gang No smiled warmly at the Heavenly Demon and Il-mok.
It was a smile unfamiliar even to the Heavenly Demon.
‘Hmm. He hasn’t just returned—he seems even better than before.’
The man, once perpetually on edge from the Soul-Stealing Heartless Sword’s side effects, now appeared at ease.
Feeling much relieved, the Heavenly Demon spoke.
“Then, let us leave this place together in two days.”
For some reason, Gang No refused the Heavenly Demon’s proposal.
“That won’t do. My mind has returned for now, but there’s no guarantee it’ll stay this way. Moreover.”
Gang No glanced around with pity in his eyes and continued.
“Someone must stay here to look after them, no?”
Everyone instantly knew who “them” meant.
Those who had devoted themselves to the Divine Cult, only to be abandoned here for their dementia.
The elderly haunting Foal Saddle Pass.
“You intend to stay and care for them, Gang No?”
“Yes, Lord of Ten Thousand Demons.”
“Hmm…”
As the Heavenly Demon regarded Gang No with complex emotions, Il-mok, who had been listening, cautiously spoke up.
“Then, may I at least join you for tomorrow?”
“Join us? What do you mean?”
To the Heavenly Demon’s question, Il-mok replied.
“I’d like to help care for the elders here.”
Il-mok had two reasons for volunteering.
One was simple pity for the elders here.
During the attack, his life had been at stake, so he’d been terrified and reluctant, but now that things were calm, it was different.
‘They were all in such pitiful states.’
Gang No, due to the Soul-Stealing Heartless Sword’s side effects, always kept his clothes and dwelling neat.
But the other elders were not.
Their clothes were caked in dirt, dust, and sweat—some unclear how many days they’d worn them—and some wandered with filth or urine stains.
They hadn’t eaten properly either; their skin was dry and flaky, their bodies gaunt.
Of course, regardless of their appearance, they were far too dangerous for Il-mok alone.
But with Gang No, it was different.
And Il-mok’s other reason for helping them.
‘Resting would be best, but at least it’s better than drilling the later forms of the Soul-Stealing Heartless Sword.’
To pause his training. The five days of intensive sessions had pushed his mastery of the later forms too far.
At Il-mok’s offer, Gang No shook his head.
“How could I ask such work of the Young Master? You’ve done more than enough helping this fool. Focus on your training for greater matters.”
Il-mok nearly had a fit as he retorted.
“I can train after leaving. We’re departing in two days anyway. What harm in one day caring for them? Besides, they all devoted themselves to the Divine Cult. How could I turn my back on them?”
It wasn’t Gang No who reacted to Il-mok’s words, but the Heavenly Demon.
“You’re right, Il-mok. They all served the Divine Cult, so since this old man is here, I should join in caring for them tomorrow.”
“!?”
When the pinnacle of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult declared he’d care for dementia patients, both Il-mok and Gang No stared in shock.
But the most shocked wasn’t them.
The Silent Guard Leader, who had stood silently without a word, dropped to his knees in alarm and cried out.
“That won’t do! How could the Lord of Ten Thousand Demons stoop to such…”
True to his taciturn nature, his deep voice boomed, but he couldn’t finish.
The Heavenly Demon cut him off.
“Didn’t you hear Il-mok? They all served the Divine Cult.”
“But…”
“Have you forgotten our Divine Cult’s doctrine? The Heavenly Demon must govern all cultists and sentient beings. And governing isn’t just issuing tasks or punishments. Caring for them is the Heavenly Demon’s duty too. Are you saying this old man is only half a Heavenly Demon, Silent Guard Leader?”
“!!! This fool was ignorant. Slay this fool!”
Startled, the Silent Guard Leader slammed his head toward the ground in atonement, but it never reached.
The Heavenly Demon’s formless energy had caught him mid-motion.
“With hands already short, fleeing to death is unjust. Thus, Silent Guard Leader, you’ll help with the work tomorrow too.”
“I shall obey!”
Listening to their tense exchange, Il-mok didn’t dare intervene.
Under the moonlight, a four-man dementia elder care squad was born.
* * *
The next morning, early.
The dementia elder care squad left Gang No’s dwelling and began their activities.
Surprisingly, the squad leader was Il-mok.
The reason was simple: the other three knew nothing about such work.
“First, secure a spacious clearing a suitable distance from the stream. Gathering the elders there for centralized care is best.”
“Won’t herding them into one spot be too dangerous?”
At the Heavenly Demon’s point, Il-mok shook his head.
“For Gang No to manage them alone, centralizing is essential. There’s some risk, but we have ways to control it.”
Curious about these control methods, the three followed Il-mok toward the stream.
Upon reaching a spot about half a li (roughly 200 meters) from the stream, the Heavenly Demon scanned around.
“This seems suitable.”
“The distance is good, but there’s no clearing, Master.”
At Il-mok’s remark, the Heavenly Demon closed his eyes in silence for some reason.
After a brief moment, he muttered something incomprehensible.
“None.”
“???”
As Il-mok opened his mouth to ask what that meant.
Slash!
A massive crescent of sword energy erupted from the Heavenly Demon’s drawn blade, flying outward in all directions and leveling the area in a perfect circle.
Only then did Il-mok grasp his meaning.
No other wandering elders were in this vicinity besides them.
‘No, even if it’s deserted…’
As Il-mok inwardly chuckled at the Heavenly Demon’s bold decision and reality-defying martial art, the Heavenly Demon said casually.
“Clear the debris, and it’ll make a fine clearing.”
As if in response, presences approached from afar, and wild old monsters appeared one by one.
“Who goes there!”
“How dare you disrupt the Divine Cult’s territory like this!”
The commotion from the Heavenly Demon’s act.
But Il-mok didn’t panic.
Spotting the incoming old monsters, he realized why the Heavenly Demon had staged this chaos.
Whoosh!
As horrific demonic energy from the Heavenly Demon Divine Art rippled out from his body.
“We pay respects to the Lord of Ten Thousand Demons!!”
The wild old monsters instantly transformed into devout Divine Cult followers, prostrating in homage.
‘Not even fishing…’
He’d deliberately caused a ruckus to lure them.
But no time to gawk. With the stage set by the Heavenly Demon, it was time to work.