Chapter 64
Chapter 64
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: The Sleepless Awakener (2)
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Moonlight illuminated the dark world in the dead of night.
The Heavenly Demon and Jang Chaewon stood tall in front of the house where the long-haired man lived. The TV sound still leaked through the door crack, suggesting he hadn't fallen asleep yet.
"There's no need for the shopkeeper to follow."
The Heavenly Demon shook his head at Jang Chaewon as he set down the shiny stainless steel bucket.
"This won't end in one go. Just watch the results later."
'What, how can I trust you? You say that, but you might just beat him up or spray poison?' Swallowing those words, Jang Chaewon forced a smile.
"It's my business too."
"Hmm."
Smacking his lips, the Heavenly Demon reached out and pressed the doorbell.
Ding-dong.
As the chime rang out, an irritated voice came from inside.
"Who is it this late at night?"
Footsteps thudded from within, and the front door creaked open.
"What? Why are you here again..."
The Heavenly Demon pressed his index and middle fingers to both temples, and eerie purple light glowed in his eyes.
"Phantom Illusion Great Law!"
Phantom Illusion Great Law. One of the demonic mind-capturing arts that induced hallucinations or shook others' minds.
Thud.
Subdued in spirit by the Phantom Illusion Great Law, the long-haired man collapsed to the floor like a crumbling heap.
"What? It was solved that easily?"
Jang Chaewon blinked in surprise, but the Heavenly Demon shook his head.
"No way. I just temporarily seized his consciousness for the treatment."
Hoisting the man over one shoulder, the Heavenly Demon naturally stepped inside the house.
"Are you crazy? Where do you think you're going? This is a crime!"
Waving his hand dismissively at Jang Chaewon's worried expression, the Heavenly Demon said.
"This is to heal his shattered spirit. Saving a life means even the authorities won't charge us. It's common sense from dramas."
"That's not quite the same. You're illegally trespassing into someone's home right now."
The Heavenly Demon spoke solemnly, like a doctor burning with a sense of duty.
"If we leave him be, he'll end up a wreck or dive into delusions and crime. More importantly, leaving him like this would cancel the trust from our shop."
"So the real goal's at the end."
Jang Chaewon sighed.
Even when people got hurt or collapsed right in front of him, the Heavenly Demon didn't bat an eye.
In the end, treatment was just an excuse; it was all for the trust.
"Don't worry. A swordsman's blade and a healer's blade are different."
Muttering nonsense out of context, the Heavenly Demon laid the man on the sofa.
Then he placed the hole-riddled stainless steel bucket over his head, mimicking a dullahan's helmet.
"Will this do?"
"Mind-capturing arts like this only need eye contact anyway. No need to match the outfit."
"How exactly are you going to treat him?"
"I told you. Mind-capturing art—basically a form of hypnosis."
"Hmm."
Jang Chaewon dropped her head in distress.
Even if it was for construction—no, treatment—sneaking into someone's house and hypnotizing an awakener? If things went wrong, it could mean disqualification from the district, or even prison.
'Yeah, okay. Think of it as treating a poor soul.'
As Jang Chaewon steeled herself.
"Then let's begin."
Snap.
The Heavenly Demon flicked his fingers, sending out a finger wind. The awakener lying there slyly opened his eyes.
Placing both hands back on his temples, purple light flowed from the Heavenly Demon's eyes again.
-Look at me.
The long-haired man, with unfocused eyes staring at the Heavenly Demon, suddenly bolted upright.
"You—you!"
In the man's eyes, not the Heavenly Demon, but a skeletal knight with blazing eyes hidden by a helmet appeared.
"Dullahan!"
-Indeed. I am the Dullahan.
Watching this, Jang Chaewon shook her head.
'Dullahan wouldn't say "this seat."'
"Dullahan!"
The long-haired man trembled in fear and backed away.
-Heh heh heh. You cowardly rat bastard. So this is where you fled to.
"H-How do you know this place..."
-Finding a little rat shivering under the covers like a three-year-old every night is easier than pie.
'Dullahan doesn't use insults like that.'
As Jang Chaewon wiped sweat from her forehead, the Heavenly Demon spoke in a sinister voice.
-You gonna run again? Squealing like a rat.
"What?"
-Run again this time, and I'll wipe out every human here.
"W-What..."
-No, I'll exterminate everyone in this village.
Trembling in fear, the long-haired man clenched his fists tight.
"Hnggg."
-Run away quick. Wait for sunrise again. Run like a rat, I said.
"Don't make me laugh!"
Crack crack.
The man's body gradually transformed like the Hulk.
With nowhere left to flee, and fed up with the threats and mockery, he activated his skill.
'Ah, so he's disguised as the Dullahan on purpose, planning to lose and boost his confidence.'
As Jang Chaewon nodded approvingly.
"Die!"
The man, now buffed to rival the Heavenly Demon's muscles, thrust out his fist.
So fast was the motion that Jang Chaewon's hair fluttered from afar.
Thwack.
But before he could fully extend, the Heavenly Demon punched his gut, sending him tumbling back onto the sofa.
"Gack."
Hit so hard that blood trickled from his mouth, he clutched his stomach and shuddered.
'Huh?'
Seeing this, Jang Chaewon gaped.
'What? Wasn't this supposed to restore his self-esteem?'
She'd thought he'd take some controlled hits to build courage. But the Heavenly Demon began stomping the fallen man while mocking him more.
-You coward. Down in one hit?
"Kughhhh."
-I'll torment you with some new moves I learned.
The Heavenly Demon hoisted the fallen man upside down by the torso and slammed him down.
A forbidden wrestling move: the screw driver.
'Dullahan doesn't use that technique!'
Whether Jang Chaewon's eyes shook or not, the bucket-headed Heavenly Demon unleashed technique after technique.
-Die!
Shrimp bend, German suplex, cobra twist—he tormented the man with all sorts of vicious wrestling holds.
"Kughhh."
It was like a brutal torture session.
If the long-haired man weren't a strength awakener, he might not have survived.
Having used every wrestling move from TV, the Heavenly Demon sneered down at the fallen man.
-Heh heh heh. I'll be back.
Staring at the demon-like Dullahan—no, Heavenly Demon—the man passed out cold.
"What kind of treatment is this? You're just breaking his mind more!"
Jang Chaewon yelled at the collapsed man, but the Heavenly Demon shook his head.
"Heaven forbid. Perfect treatment."
"What?"
"Body's hurt, but the spirit's tougher now."
"What does that mean? If word gets out you beat a human like this, our shop's done for!"
"No need to worry."
Looking at the confused Jang Chaewon, the Heavenly Demon said flatly.
"If this doesn't cure him, this seat will leave the shop myself."
The Heavenly Demon, who had brutally thrashed the long-haired man, looked like the incarnation of a demon.
But his eyes held a solemn dignity.
'If you leave, what's in it for me?' Jang Chaewon nearly retorted but swallowed it.
'Yeah. Gotta trust the employee.'
The arrow had flown. Calming her thoughts, Jang Chaewon sighed.
"If this goes wrong, Heavenly Demon, it's not just you—our shop shuts down too."
"Don't worry. Won't happen."
"Got it. I'll trust you. But..."
Jang Chaewon looked at the bloodied, collapsed long-haired man and said.
"I'll watch the treatment to the end too."
The next day.
Inside the Songsam Apartment interior work site.
Perhaps because of last night, the long-haired man didn't come to complain anymore.
No, he couldn't even come down. He'd been beaten by the Heavenly Demon all night.
"Hmm."
Jang Chaewon sighed while checking the construction progress.
It was a relief for now, but the road ahead was full of mountains.
Because of what the Heavenly Demon said last night.
"The treatment will take about four days."
In other words, four more nights of the same atrocity.
Lost in thought, Jang Chaewon slumped her shoulders. The coming night felt a bit scary.
That evening.
Hypnotized, the man remembered nothing of the previous night.
When the Heavenly Demon rang the doorbell, he stormed out with an irritated voice again.
"Who is it this late?"
Footsteps thudded from inside, and the door creaked open.
"What? Why are you here again..."
Visiting the man's house again, the Heavenly Demon donned the tin can and began treatment.
Thwack.
Unlike yesterday, he used fists this time.
Not too hard, but each punch burrowed in, bruising the man's body black and blue.
"Ughhh."
Each hit felt like climbing heaven's stairs.
Trembling and enduring through gritted teeth, the long-haired man finally collapsed.
Thud.
Flat on the floor like a frog, his eyes rolled back white.
-Puny fry. I'll torment you more tomorrow.
"H-Heavenly Demon."
Looking at the passed-out man, Jang Chaewon wiped sweat from her brow in distress.
"But that guy... he looks even skinnier than yesterday."
Already slim, now only bones remained.
Extreme stress and rage had wrecked his body further.
"Don't worry. Might not even need four days."
"What?"
"From today's state, tomorrow should finish the treatment."
"How?"
"Look at his face. Doesn't it look different?"
Jang Chaewon stared hard at the collapsed long-haired man's face. Pale as a corpse, like he'd signed a lease in heaven.
"Looks worse."
"No. It's progressing well."
Removing the bucket, the Heavenly Demon dusted his hands.
"This guy's really lucky."
"What?"
"Daring to receive direct treatment from this seat. Must've piled up merits in a past life."
Suddenly, Jang Chaewon's eyes moistened like after a misty rain. Wondering what sin she'd committed in her past life to meet you.
The next evening.
Psh psh! Crack crack.
True to form, the Heavenly Demon invaded the man's house and punched away under hypnosis.
Unlike yesterday's light taps, the punches packed real force.
Whoosh. Thud.
With a sharp whoosh, the Heavenly Demon's fist sank deep into the man's abdomen.
"Grraaahhh."
But the man endured, shuddering without falling.
-Ho, withstanding this seat's fist.
"Heh heh heh."
A low laugh escaped the man's clenched teeth.
'Huh?'
Jang Chaewon, watching, saw a strange glint.
The man's head was bowed oddly. Drool at his mouth, eyes half-rolled despite not fainting.
"Hit him more."
The man lifted his head with a cruel smile.
"Hit me more."
Thwack.
The Heavenly Demon obliged, pummeling him. But the man rose each time he fell, white murderous intent in his eyes.
'What's happening?'
As Jang Chaewon worried.
"Kill me."
'Huh?'
"Kill me!"
Red light poured from the man's eyes.
Muscles bulged across his body, and red mist flowed from everywhere.
'W-What's that?'
Jang Chaewon rubbed her eyes. This guy was a strength enhancer, so why mist from his body?
-Heh heh heh. Puny thing struggling.
"Puny?"
The mist from the long-haired man's body formed shiny armor, clinging to him.
Swish. Clank.
Equipped in red armor, his body gleamed.
'That's... A-rank multiple skill, "Berserker's Armor," right?'
Jang Chaewon gaped. The man, beaten to death's door, suddenly manifested a skill.
"Die!"
Charging the Heavenly Demon, he thrust a red-armored fist.
But the Heavenly Demon stood still, dodging lightly with an afterimage.
"I'll kill you!"
Each dodge blurred the man's fists, speeding up.
Whiiiish.
Air compressed with the flurry of punches. The Heavenly Demon smirked in place.
Thud.
One fist to the chest.
But with Heavenly Demon great ability raised, it tickled like a fly landing.
"Ugh!"
Seeing the fist embedded in him, the Heavenly Demon overacted outrage.
-Daring to strike this seat!
At the Heavenly Demon's indignant face, the man trembled.
"...I won."
Trembling, he roared in triumph.
"I won!"
-But mark my words. This seat has an eternal immortal body!
Swish swish.
Unleashing Night Moon Extreme Speed, the Heavenly Demon circled behind. He fired finger wind at the man's chest acupoint.
"I won!"
Pew.
Mid-roar, the finger wind hit; his body softened and he flopped to the floor.
Unlike his usual pained collapse, he wore a happy smile.
"Now he can sleep soundly."
Looking down, the Heavenly Demon said flatly.
"He'll forget that shameful memory."
"What happened?"
Jang Chaewon couldn't hide her shock. The man's usual twisted face had softened like a baby's.
"Didn't I say? His torment wasn't just fear of the monster."
"Then?"
"He couldn't forget the shame of feeling fear before an enemy."
"Shame?"
"Yes. Warriors who live by the blade generally can't shake such shameful memories."
East or west, ancient or modern, warriors always exist.
The Heavenly Demon knew everything. That these awakeners were this era's warriors.
And that warriors rage and suffer more recalling their fearful selves than death.
"Now I've planted victory in his memory, so no more torment."
"But is it okay? It's not a real memory."
"Heaven forbid. With Phantom Illusion Great Law, I sowed emotional seeds deep in his spirit. Even facing that monster for real, he'll fight without fear."
Indeed, as the Heavenly Demon said, left alone, the man was in a state that could lead to disaster.
In the end, the Heavenly Demon fully overcame the long-haired man's trauma, saving one soul.
"Y-Yeah."
Jang Chaewon sighed.
For two nights, under hypnosis, the man endured hellish beatings from the Heavenly Demon. More terrifying than the real Dullahan appearing.
"Now it's all resolved, so the trust—no, construction ahead will be smooth."
"Mm..."
Jang Chaewon couldn't speak, throat tight like clogged. Felt like good deed, but like committing a huge sin.
"Yeah."
Forcing a smile, she finally said.
"Good work."
Swearing never to do this again.
Months later.
The Heavenly Demon and Jang Chaewon ate at a Chinese place near the shop. Chewing fried rice, Jang Chaewon glanced at the TV.
-One year ago, 4th-grade Awakener Jeong Siwoo rescued from B-rank dungeon 'Magic Tower.' Now he's conquered its hidden monster Dullahan and saved trapped awakeners. Reporter Choi Hyun-tae, how did this happen?
Staring at the TV, Jang Chaewon blinked.
Jeong Siwoo—the one the Heavenly Demon treated, she intuited.
"It worked out."
The Heavenly Demon's methods were always radical, unconventional, and felt wrong. But results weren't bad.
"What?"
Mouth full of jjajangmyeon, he asked; she shook her head.
"N-Nothing. Eat up."
Suddenly cheerful, Jang Chaewon smiled.
"Want sweet and sour pork? I'll order some?"
Pausing his chopsticks, the Heavenly Demon nodded seriously.