Chapter 138: The Cleanup (3)

The Heavenly Demon spoke with his usual calm tone.

"If you ascend to the position of Cult Leader in that manner, your legitimacy will be seriously flawed. For it would not be you who became the leader, but this old man who made you so.”

The succession battle for the Cult Leader position that followed each Heavenly Demon's ascension was a tradition that had been carried on in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult for hundreds of years.

Before being the Heavenly Demon—no, precisely because he was the Heavenly Demon, he could not simply disregard the long-standing traditions of the Cult.

Wasn't there a saying about matching words with actions and leading by example?

As both the leader and an object of faith, he had to be the first to follow the doctrine, so that the believers would follow it even more faithfully. That's what the Heavenly Demon believed.

Of course, there were doctrines within the cult that were contradictory or could be interpreted differently depending on one's perspective.

Such doctrines were often decided based on how the current Cult Leader or Heavenly Demon chose to interpret them.

That's why the Heavenly Demon had also reformed the Hall of the Demonic Way and accepted many of Il-mok's reform proposals.

Even before becoming the Heavenly Demon, he had felt such regret.

Despite learning Demonic Arts to save the common people, too many believers were dying meaninglessly in the name of the cult's traditions.

If only they hadn't died like that, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult could have grown stronger, and then they could have eliminated more evildoers and saved more people.

But even for a Heavenly Demon like him, there were doctrines and traditions he did not dare to deny or break.

Specifically, the doctrine that the most outstanding person should become the Cult Leader, and the succession battle tradition that derived from it.

That's why the Heavenly Demon had personally gone to the Council of Elders and announced the Chief Elder's crimes and punishment in front of countless elders when he could simply use his position to kill him without any questions or explanations needed.

It was to issue a warning that he wouldn't stand for the foolishness of trying to kill the cult's future talents just because they were potential competitors, and to emphasize that this incident was purely about protecting Il-mok and others who had nothing to do with the Cult Leader selection.

"Right now, many will think this old man is overprotecting his disciples. But as time passes, won't they realize? This old man only protects Il-mok and the young believers. So you need to prepare for that time."

The Heavenly Demon spoke matter-of-factly.

He didn't ask if his actions seemed cold-hearted and cruel.

Before being master and disciple, it was simply the natural judgment as members of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

And hearing his master's cold explanation, Wi Jin-hak took a firm stance and bowed with a resolute expression.

“This disciple will never disappoint you, Master.”

As a devout follower who had also dedicated decades of his life to the Cult, he fully understood his master’s intentions. Far from feeling it was cruel, Wi Jin-hak was convinced that his master was testing him because he believed in him.

Seeing that confident demeanor, the Heavenly Demon stroked his beard with a satisfied look in his eyes.

His face was like that of a father looking at his now-grown son.

As the Heavenly Demon and as a believer of the cult, he had simply handled matters publicly according to doctrine.

That didn't mean he was devoid of emotion.

In his heart, he too hoped that his disciple Wi Jin-hak would become the next Cult Leader.

'If Jin-hak takes over the next generation, and then Il-mok becomes the Heavenly Demon after that...'

With a thirty-year age gap between Wi Jin-hak and Il-mok, it was entirely possible.

If the already mature Wi Jin-hak ascended to the Cult Leader position and became Il-mok's protector, and Wi Jin-hak also accepted Il-mok's wise counsel to lead the cult...

And if later, after Wi Jin-hak's ascension, the mature Il-mok took over the next generation to lead the cult...

The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, with its foundation built over three generations, would shine during Il-mok's era.

It would be an unprecedented period of great prosperity, even for the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult with its hundreds of years of history.

'If I could watch that scene from heaven, I would have no regrets.'

Before he knew it, a pleased smile had formed on the Heavenly Demon's lips.

***

After the Chief Elder, who had been one of the pillars of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, passed away so meaninglessly, the news of what had happened in the council quickly spread.

Especially since the Council of Elders were all veterans of the cult, they could exchange information through various connections.

Thanks to this, it gradually became known how the Chief Elder had tried to kill Il-mok, and how Il-mok had caught the tail through the Hall of the Demonic Way and tracked down the head, the Chief Elder himself.

And this news also reached the Law Enforcement Hall, which managed the cult's laws and executed apostates.

"Phew."

In a hall located deep within the Law Enforcement Hall, the Chief of the Law Enforcement Hall, who had been handling business, let out a frustrated sigh and turned his head toward somewhere.

Toward the building where he used to have secret meetings with the Chief Elder who had died so meaninglessly yesterday, and the Divine Guardian who had died over a year ago.

'...I never thought the Chief Elder would die so futilely.'

No matter how much of a surprise attack it was, the fact that it was disguised as a suicide meant he hadn't even been able to resist

The man who had disposed of the Divine Guardian so easily hadn't even been able to fight back. As expected, the Heavenly Demon was an absolute being whom one could not dare to defy.

But what the Chief of the Law Enforcement Hall feared wasn't the Heavenly Demon's martial power. His goal was to become the leader after the current Heavenly Demon ascended, after all.

What shocked him was the very fact that the Chief Elder's identity had been discovered.

‘He obtained that Black Bean Demonic Tea, and he had connections with the Vice Hall Master of the Hall of the Demonic Way. I thought he was a meticulous man.’

Thanks to the Chief Elder's meticulousness, even though they had already killed two of the Heavenly Demon's disciples, they hadn't been discovered.

'...Come to think of it, that's strange. Why did he choose to stay silent and commit suicide?'

The Divine Guardian, the Chief Elder, and the Chief of the Law Enforcement Hall himself, they were just a temporary alliance.

An alliance to push aside all competitors, including Wi Jin-hak, the Heavenly Demon's first disciple and their biggest rival.

In other words, they were future competitors who would fight a three-way battle after eliminating everyone else.

That's why, when the Divine Guardian was in danger of having his identity exposed, the Chief Elder stepped in to kill him.

There was no loyalty between them to hide each other's identities to the end.

'...Not to hide me, but to save his subordinates?'

The Chief Elder's followers, perhaps it was to protect them, the Chief of the Law Enforcement Hall speculated.

And that was the end of the Chief of the Law Enforcement Hall's reminiscence about the Chief Elder.

Since they were just using each other anyway, he had no special feelings.

'Judging from the Black Bean Demonic Tea incident and the matter of leaking the Fourth Young Master’s information to the Orthodox Faction to kill him, he was one hell of a shady bastard.'

The Chief of the Law Enforcement Hall concluded it was actually better this way, and his thoughts moved elsewhere.

'More importantly, if the rumors are true, the Supreme One seems to cherish the Eighth Young Master quite a bit.'

He had even called him a child who would brighten the cult's future, there was no room for doubt about it.

On top of that...

'He seemed to have no intention of protecting the Eldest Young Master, so there's still a chance for me... Wait?'

The Chief of the Law Enforcement Hall's eyes suddenly lit up as he continued thinking about the next Cult Leader position.

‘In that case, wouldn't it be better to just win the Eighth Young Master over to my side! Yes, the Chief Elder died with his mouth shut, so he won’t know I was part of the group!’

Come to think of it, he had originally suggested this to the Chief Elder too.

Since the Eighth Young Master seemed capable, they should try to win him over rather than kill him.

It was just that the creepy Chief Elder bastard had rejected his proposal.

“Hehehehe. I’ll have to find out what the Eighth Young Master likes. So he can join our Law Enforcement Hall after graduating from the Hall of the Demonic Way."

As he pictured a beautiful future, a sinister smile appeared on the lips of the Chief of the Hall of Law Enforcement.

***

While the main headquarters was in an uproar over the Chief Elder's death.

The Hall of the Demonic Way, where news was somewhat restricted, maintained a rather peaceful atmosphere.

Of course, everyone was aware that some incident involving the vice-chief and two instructors had occurred.

But thanks to Hall Master Yeom Ga-hwi and the instructors keeping quiet, it was gradually forgotten.

Only one person in the hall knew the full situation—Il-mok.

And after hearing through Hall Master Yeom Ga-hwi that the Chief Elder had died, Il-mok went to find Instructor Eun Ryeo.

"I'd like to return to the Meditation Club, Instructor."

It hadn't even been a month since he had joined the Theatre Club, yet here was Il-mok, requesting to withdraw again. But Instructor Eun Ryeo couldn't stop him. She had heard the gist of the situation from the Hall Master.

That he had stirred up various clubs to play the role of bait, and had temporarily taken refuge in the Theatre Club to avoid suspicion.

Of course, she understood it rationally, but she wasn't particularly pleased.

‘To think he used Jeong Hyeon again.’

The place he had taken refuge happened to be the Theatre Club that Jeong Hyeon belonged to.

“Haaah. Do as you wish."

Eun Ryeo answered with an expression full of disdain.

Of course, Il-mok didn't care.

'Definitely old maid syndrome.'

He just understood it as her being an old maid and moved on.

And after returning to the Meditation Club, Il-mok...

"Huaaaam."

Yawned and went for a nap.

'The rats were dragged to headquarters and the boss is dead too. Master gave a warning as well. There shouldn't be anyone targeting me now.'

Yu Geuk, Ma Do-yeong, and Jeong Gyu-seok were among the few who were executed along with the Chief Elder.

While the Chief Elder's suicide had buried the identities of others, they were caught red-handed.

Plus, it contained a warning that anyone targeting Il-mok or young believers wouldn't be tolerated.

Maybe because the shadowy figure he'd always been worried about had disappeared, his nerves, which had been on edge for a while, calmed down, and he felt much more at peace.

Perhaps it was also thanks to going berserk once while performing the moonlit sword dance last time.

The problem was that his realm had risen again for no good reason.

Even though Il-mok was blatantly taking a nap, no one bothered him.

The three stooges were a given, and Ma Do-yeong, who always interrupted his rest, was gone.

However, a teaching assistant was temporarily in charge of the club in place of Ma Do-yeong.

And that assistant just looked at Il-mok with a sour expression, unable to bring himself to discipline him.

It wasn't because Il-mok was the Heavenly Demon's disciple, or because he was the genius who had solved this incident.

It was just...

'Wouldn't telling someone stronger than me that they’re being lazy be like smearing shit on my own face?'

The problem was that Il-mok had become stronger than him, the teaching assistant.

The assistant had definitely defeated Il-mok in the sparring match held at the beginning of their term, but in just half a year, the tables had turned.

Even though they were a teaching assistant and a student, in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult that revered the law of the strong, nagging someone stronger was a rather bizarre act, not to mention dangerous too.

"Snore. Zzz."

And so, peace came to Il-mok.

A peace that lasted for exactly one day.

The next afternoon, at the hall of the Meditation Club, where he had arrived with the intention of taking a long nap as usual, a familiar face was waiting for him.

“Huhuhu. It’s been a while, Disciple Il-mok."

"...What brings Instructor Chu here?"

It was the former Head Instructor Chu Il-hwan, who had attacked Il-mok due to the Black Thunder Demonic Palm's rampage.

“Well, the rats that infested this place had been caught thanks to your wits. And thanks to that too, my name was cleared. So I just returned to the Hall of the Demonic Way, and starting tomorrow morning, I'll be in charge of martial arts education again."

"Ah..."

Despite Il-mok's lukewarm response, Chu Il-hwan continued.

“My name was cleared, and on top of that, I had the opportunity to stay in the Pure Mind Hall to straighten my mindset, so all I can say is thank you.”

Despite his grateful words, Il-mok had a sour expression.

'Dammit. Why this guy of all people?'

The misunderstanding about Chu Il-hwan being gay had been cleared up long ago. But sleeping in front of someone suffering from homicidal urges was unsettling even for Il-mok.

Unaware of Il-mok's inner thoughts, Chu Il-hwan looked around cautiously, then approached Il-mok.

As Il-mok took an involuntary step back with an uneasy expression, Chu Il-hwan, having closed the distance, cautiously spoke.

"I know I’m being shameless, but could I ask you for one favor?"

Il-mok was anxious about what kind of unsettling favor he would ask, but the words that came out of Chu Il-hwan’s mouth were unexpected.

“By any chance, are you well acquainted with the granddaughter of the Hyeokryeon Family?”

"...Are you talking about Seol-ah?"

'Why is Seol-ah suddenly popping up here?'

Chu Il-hwan nodded.

"Then, after you graduate from the Hall of the Demonic Way, could you pass along a message to that girl? Tell her that I didn't attack you on purpose, so please, for the love of god, stop.”

"......"

Chu Il-hwan was pleading with the most desperate look in the world.