Chapter 113
Chapter 113
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 113
Chapter Title: Teachings for the Disciple (4)
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***
Hoana Tule laughed.
It was a bitter laugh born of sheer disbelief.
Up until she dragged the Saintess to the men's dormitory, she had believed that the Saintess and Cheon Yeomyeong shared something special.
It was impossible to think otherwise. The two had fought back-to-back in Manchuria and at the Academy alike.
Having survived death's door together, it was only natural for their hearts to grow close.
A pair of fine young people at an age when blood ran hot, drawn to each other? What came next was obvious.
Just like the first followers of the Green God, they would have followed instinct and desire, letting their bodies lead the way.
It was a prediction beyond refute, so the Saintess's priests in the Holy Kingdom had all but accepted the relationship as fact.
Cardinal Madal, who had summoned Hoana, was convinced the Saintess had already lost her purity—what more was there to say?
—You must seal that man Cheon Yeomyeong's mouth, by persuasion if possible, by death if not.
Of course, Hoana had let the cardinal's words go in one ear and out the other.
How pure the Saintess was—purity be damned. At most, they'd shared a kiss.
Even priests' chastity was up for debate; a kiss was nothing.
With such light thoughts, she arrived at the Academy, only to face a cruel reality.
Hoana Tule was wrong. Cardinal Madal was wrong. The Holy Kingdom's priests were all wrong.
The Saintess's heart strayed far beyond their expectations.
In the worst possible way.
***
Throughout her persuasion of Cheon Yeomyeong to take her as a disciple, she meticulously observed the Saintess and Cheon Yeomyeong's reactions.
Worried they might pretend to be nothing more than acquaintances.
The tremor in their eyes for each other, the heartbeat they couldn't hide, even the rise in temperature in certain areas.
Embarrassing for someone her age, but Hoana was deadly serious.
Like in her battlefield days, she sharpened every sense, confirming and reconfirming the pair's responses.
But the truth Hoana uncovered through her vigilance lay in a realm she hadn't even suspected.
'...Unrequited love?'
Of the two, only the Saintess harbored romantic feelings.
Her quickened breath, fidgeting fingers, flushed earlobes, pounding heart.
Every reaction from the Saintess screamed lovestruck girl.
But Cheon Yeomyeong was different.
He showed almost no signs of love.
Occasional flickers of fondness or concern, sure—but that was strictly friendship or camaraderie.
More precisely, the camaraderie of a veteran toward an annoying rookie.
'No way... he's gay?'
Cheon Yeomyeong would freak if he knew, but from Hoana's perspective, it was a reasonable suspicion.
A man that age showing no attraction to the Saintess? Was that even possible?
Even the most devout would feel their heart skip at her beauty.
Skin like silk spun from melted pearls, hair even whiter still, flawless features no blindfold could hide.
And her body? The Saintess's budding curves were God's gift, enough to despair master artists.
Priests valued spirit over flesh and hid it well, but none in the Holy Kingdom hesitated to call her the world's most beautiful woman.
'Such a Saintess...'
Hoana turned her gaze to the Saintess talking with Yeomyeong.
Yeomyeong flicking her forehead, chiding her as an idiot or lecturing her, while the Saintess trembled, clutching her forehead.
Seeing that, Hoana had no choice but to admit the Saintess was in love with Cheon Yeomyeong.
Unlike Yeomyeong's curt jabs, the Saintess couldn't tear her eyes from him the whole conversation.
Her ears red, poking his thigh—pure picture of a girl in love.
Cheon Yeomyeong's reactions, by contrast...
'...Hm?'
The next moment, Cheon Yeomyeong changed.
Not suddenly smitten or lusting after the Saintess.
It was like... the shift soldiers showed right before charging into battle.
Eyes hardened first, then muscles relaxed, mana stirred.
Shallow breaths to suppress tremors stretched long, until every muscle tensed like a bowstring.
"...Cheon Yeomyeong."
Facing the blatant change, Hoana lowered her hand from her waist and asked.
"Will you accept the Saintess's request? Even now?"
"...I'm sorry."
No hesitation in his reply.
What on earth had they discussed in that brief exchange to shift his attitude so?
Hoana pondered how to take this, then realized she didn't need to.
"...You can't persuade me with honeyed words. You know that, right?"
"Yes."
Hoana smirked. Her eyes turned to Cheon Yeomyeong, now ready. The more she saw, the more she liked this young man.
As the Saintess said, he even seemed better than her father.
Well, skill-wise, he still had a ways to go.
She cracked her knuckles.
"The most important thing for a bodyguard is power and skill."
"..."
"Show me you have the skill to protect the Saintess... meaning, the skill to take me down, and I'll accept it and step aside."
Superfluous words. Cheon Yeomyeong already knew, hence loosening up.
"Shall we move somewhere else? Or right here?"
"No need to move."
No need? Fight right here, in full view from the men's dorm?
"The Academy training hall would be better, no? You'll need weapons. I hear you mainly use a sword."
Hoana's considerate words, but Yeomyeong tossed an unrelated question.
"Teacher. If I have the skill to protect the Saintess, you'll accept it, right?"
"What, you don't trust me? Shall I swear on Lord Redox?"
"No. I don't doubt you. Just..."
Just? As the question floated in Hoana's mind, Yeomyeong looked up at the sky.
"There's someone else who wants to convince you besides me."
Hoana naturally followed his gaze skyward, spotting something falling through the clear morning sun.
"...A crow?"
The moment she murmured, a mass of black feathers slammed into Hoana's torso.
***
Boom!!
The crash of giant crow and old Holy Knight shook the ground.
The crow won.
The muscled veteran Holy Knight cratered into the pavement, tiles cracking with chunks of dirt and dust erupting.
Impact enough to pulp a normal person.
But clad in mana and blessings, the Holy Knight endured—and gathered mana in her fist for a counter.
Whoosh!
Hoana's fist barely sliced empty air.
Her attack's yield: a few feathers scattering.
Confirming the miss, Hoana kicked off the ground and rose, drawing mana and readying a prayer for the next assault.
But no follow-up came.
Brushing dirt from her face, she faced a massive crow nuzzling the Saintess.
"...Corbus!"
Hoana instantly recognized it. Only one crow beastkin in the world acted so irreverently.
"You insolent beast..."
About to unleash a tirade, Hoana remembered the Saintess and took a deep breath.
"Hoo... Cheon Yeomyeong? Why is that crow here?"
"...The special instructor I mentioned earlier."
"That beast as your master? Walking a forked path?"
Forked path. Term for those treading two or more of magic, martial arts, and divinity.
Yeomyeong shook his head.
"...Not that."
Hoana looked expectant for more, but Yeomyeong changed the subject.
"Still, with Corbus's skill, he's more than enough to guard the Saintess."
"Of course! This old Hoana can do it, but I can handle it myself!"
Ignoring the crow chattering from the Saintess's arms, Hoana dusted dirt from her hair.
One sigh, one worry.
"...Corbus was watching our conversation from the sky all this time?"
"..."
"Cheon Yeomyeong draws my eyes, and you ambush on the opening. Impromptu or planned, I don't know... but you think this will convince me?"
Yeomyeong shook his head.
"No. I wouldn't be convinced either."
"..."
"And... it wasn't planned. Corbus acted on his own."
Yeomyeong and Hoana simultaneously turned to Corbus.
The crow, face buried in the Saintess's stomach, gave a short fake cough and ignored them.
His target had been the Saintess from the start.
As Hoana scowled at Corbus, Yeomyeong spoke.
"So, as I said at first, I'll convince you with my own skill."
With that, turbid heat haze rose from Yeomyeong's body. Mana haze.
A martial art even Hoana, with her long years, had never seen.
No sword, but he had moves.
"...Still, wouldn't it be better with weapons?"
"Lord Redox's guns are bare hands too. Suits me to fight bare-handed."
She might have a point about gun versus no gun, but consideration from a junior?
Hoana smirked and clenched her fist.
"Fine... let's see what you've got."
***
Thud— thud— thud—
The man had many names.
Once Wolf of the Yellow Moon, once a priest, now John, waterworks laborer.
Thud— thud— thud—
As many names, so many tasks.
Ignite revenge's flames in the Academy built on false peace, wash away Earthlings' sins with innocent blood—that was his mission.
Thud— thud— thud—
But... he failed. Not just failure, but惨 defeat.
Failed to topple the Academy, oust the deceitful headmaster.
Worst, failed to kill the repulsive false Saintess tainted with Earth's blood.
Thud— thud— thud—
The merciful church held him blameless.
No one foresaw the mad necromancer's hidden zombie horde ruining plans—they granted a second chance.
Thud— thud— thud—
Thus, he couldn't fail the second chance.
Even if this wretched life ended, the church's truth must illuminate the world.
Thud— thud—
Click.
Waterworks laborer John finally eyed the connected phone.
In the sewer's darkness, the screen glowed: [Minister Kim Gwan-hyeong].
—Who is this?
"...Truth."
He felt the Earthling swallow beyond the line. Fool mistaking shallow power for true strength.
—Calling this number in this climate? Have you lost your mind? After botching every plan!
"Not yet... failed."
—Ha! Believe what you want.
The minister blustered arrogantly.
Among Earthlings, exceptionally sly. Licking church boots till yesterday, now flipping like a pancake.
Murderous urge boiled, but the man endured.
The plan mattered more than his rage.
"As promised... the scapegoat, I will take."
—Promised? Don't make me laugh. No goats for failures like you.
"This isn't... a deal. It's collection..."
—Insane! Do that, and the church gets a formal complaint!
The minister's voice pierced the phone, echoing through the sewers.
"A black goat... one, as sacrifice... to salvage the plan."
—What? No! Take another goat! The black one's pregnant ri—
Before the minister could finish, the man hung up.
"Pregnant... then, before the kid..."
Muttering oddly, the man looked up.
Deep sewer lit only by the tiny phone light.
Amid stench and dark, ownerless hides flapped eerily.
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