Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Dismissed
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'Just as the Young Cult Leader said.'
The scroll he'd given me slipped right into my head like something out of a cram school textbook, letting me memorize the meeting rules and agenda with ease.
'It was practically spoon-fed to me. All I had to do was swallow.'
But the real ambush came from somewhere else entirely.
'Namely...'
"That tiny chick is really the Demon Cult's new aide?"
"They said she was only seven, but it's actually true?"
'The attention from all eleven Elders!'
Their gazes locked onto me all at once, like they'd finally found some juicy gossip after ages.
'This is overwhelming.'
At this rate, my face would be shredded to bits like paper before the meeting even started.
As I rubbed my stinging cheeks, one Elder caught my eye.
"Fun. If the rumors are true, that chick can summon a phoenix? I wanna see it! Phoenix!"
A man with neatly parted hair—white on one side, black on the other—shouted about phoenixes with a boyish face.
'Less man, more boyish vibe...'
Adorned with flashy rings and earrings, half-lidded eyes fixed on me, he radiated a strange madness.
'Feels even crazier than Master. Better steer clear.'
"Phoenix! Phoenix!"
As if sensing my intent, he kept drawing attention to himself.
'Ah, ah... I can't hear a thing!'
I ignored his burning stare when—
"Phoenix."
'What was that?'
It sounded like a whisper right in my ear, as if he'd sidled up next to me.
'Telepathy?'
I whipped toward the voice on reflex and locked eyes with the man.
"Finally looking at me?"
In that instant, I was certain.
'I didn't mishear. That voice was deliberate—from him.'
He smirked, satisfied, like he'd gotten exactly what he wanted.
'This guy's creepy.'
As I tensed up over his antics, another Elder spoke.
"Oraek, you seriously buying that rumor? Looks to me like that chick's lucky if the phoenix doesn't eat her alive."
From the other Elder, I learned the madman's name: Oraek.
'Oraek. Name fits perfect.'
He treated the whole scene like a game, reveling in it.
But right now, I was hunting someone else.
Ferocity.
'That baby cry amid the killing intent—whatever it was, it's tied to me.'
If Master was right, I'd met Ferocity before.
'Seeing faces might jog my memory.'
Problem was spotting him among them...
The scroll's description of Ferocity read:
'...Found something the Young Cult Leader sucks at.'
Zero help.
I sighed deeply and turned from the scroll to the eleven Elders.
'No choice—time to deduce it myself!'
Male, first off.
Exclude women: Maker-of-Fire and Dragon Cloud.
Exclude the two absent.
Seven left.
'Know Gwangyu and Five Elements, so minus two: five.'
Oraek looks suspicious but too pretty-boy: out!
Down to these four...?
I side-eyed the remaining middle-aged men and went speechless.
'...How are they ALL so fierce-looking?'
If the word "Ferocity" turned human, it'd be these four...
Just their savage faces and hulking, rock-like builds screamed "fresh from hell."
'No wonder they're Demon Cult Elders.'
Stuck around Master so much, I'd forgotten how imposing the eleven Elders were.
Good news: Master's "no killing intent" rule worked. No one openly radiated it.
'Even more shocking that these monsters listened to him.'
Master was fit, but paper-thin next to these boulders.
Almost lost him.
'Stepping up for his disciple? Kinda touching.'
Warmed by master-disciple vibes, I gazed at Gwangyu fondly. He shuddered, utterly baffled.
'Why's he creeped out?'
Do nice things, get grief.
"The Eleven Elders' Meeting will now commence. Aide Seol, proceed with the agenda."
As I grumbled inwardly, the Young Cult Leader at the head seat kicked things off.
'Too ambitious to ID Ferocity pre-meeting?'
Fine, it'll come out naturally.
Stay sharp against killing intent like before—no problem!
I steeled myself, scanning the now-silent chamber.
'Even these guys fear the Young Cult Leader, huh?'
His word commanded the eleven Elders.
'Now that it's quiet, I'm tense.'
...I got this, right?
Swallowing dryly in the hush, Gwangyu suddenly thrust his hand high.
"Start with introducing the new aide!"
"Yeah, curious!"
Oraek chimed in.
'Space felt suffocating till Master eased the tension.'
Feeling him nearby calmed me.
'Screw it. Botch the meeting, worst they do is kill me?'
Dive in!
I'm not alone!
"Hello. I'm the new aide Seol, assigned to assist the Young Cult Leader. Nice to meet you all."
"Whoa, bean-sized!"
Gwangyu whooped loudest, predictably.
'Bean-sized what?'
"Seol, huh?"
As Oraek perked up, one of the hellish four reacted to my name from silence.
"Seol..."
Black long hair streaked white, he eyed me with beastly intensity.
"Waaah! Waaah!"
The moment his gaze hit, my ear numbed with a baby's cry.
'Gotcha. You're Ferocity!'
"Waaah!"
It kept going as I realized.
'Stay cool. I'm not weak enough to buckle under this!'
Deep breath to steady, eyes to the agenda scroll.
"Now, onto today's agenda."
"Hold up—suggestion!"
Oraek shot his hand up like Gwangyu, grinning.
'Suggestions in order I call on them, right?'
"Elder Oraek, speak."
I pointed; he cupped his chin lotus-style, staring.
"Show me too, phoenix!"
"Pardon?"
'Phoenix again? I never said I could summon one!'
"We're here for the agenda! Don't make the aide do weird stuff!"
Perfect timing—Gwangyu jumped in, rebutting Oraek.
'Nice one, Master!'
For once in this meeting, he looked like a proper snake.
"I'm not here to meeting. Hey, you're the weird one? Normally you'd beat me to spectacles like this, Blackie?"
Oraek stayed cool amid Gwangyu's heat.
'Subtly unhinged? Blackie... no way.'
Image of black-snake Gwangyu flashed.
'Him?'
"Pfft!"
Laughter escaped despite myself.
'Not a puppy—why call a snake Blackie?'
"Hey, don't call me Blackie!"
Gwangyu's voice boomed, escalating.
"And don't turn my precious disciple into spectacle fodder! Unless you want my fangs in your neck."
'Master's about to chomp Oraek? How to stop this?'
"Your disciple? That peeper?"
"Not peeper—my bean!"
"Quiet, both of you."
My pleas ignored, they bickered noisily.
"Enough..."
"What? Marrying the brat? You thief."
"Hey! Not wife—daughter!"
"Enough... I said!!"
Nerves fried, I hurled the podium scroll between them.
That instant—
Whoosh!
Flames erupted, blazing like a firebird.
The rowdy chamber fell silent as one.
'N-not what I meant...'
"That's it? The phoenix?"
Oraek turned from the ecstatic blaze as it turned to ash.
"No inner energy, yet the scroll ignites. Not ordinary."
"Good training yields fresh talent."
The eleven Elders buzzed with appraisals.
"Guess I was wrong."
Ferocity withdrew the pressure crushing my head.
'Mind clearer now, but... fishy. Killing intent right after my name.'
"Oraek here—suggestion!"
As I eyed Ferocity, Oraek raised his hand again.
"Yes, Elder Oraek, speak."
"Peeper aide."
He cupped his chin again, smiling slyly.
"Ditch the snake. Take me as Master?"
"Hey, the bean's MY disciple...!"
Bam!
No time for shock or rebuttal—a wooden gavel cracked through the chamber.
Naturally, Oraek and I turned to the sound.
There...
'Young Cult Leader?'
Propped on one elbow, gavel in hand, he exuded dark aura.
As eyes converged, he spoke like he'd waited.
"Oraek, dismissed."