Chapter 75: Seniors (4)

Just after Ilmok laid out his accusation with a solemn expression.

"......."

An awkward silence descended upon the office.

In the martial arts-obsessed Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, and especially within the Hall of the Demonic Way, this was an unprecedented event.

Even Instructor Chu Il-hwan who usually wore a playful smile had a blank expression as if something had short-circuited in his mind.

And soon after.

"Wh-Wh-What are you talking about, junior!"

"Us, bullying you?!"

“We came to ask you to observe our duel!”

“Disciple Il-mok, explain yourself to us right now!”

A storm of protests erupted as the seniors recovered from their shock.

Against their indignant cries, Il-mok deliberately widened his eyes until they became bloodshot and shouted, “So many of you ganging up on me and forcing me to fight… is that really fair? I'm a junior! This is clearly bullying, not a fair duel!”

Because he kept his eyes wide open without blinking, a single tear even rolled down his cheek at the end.

“Even though our cult reveres martial strength, it’s for punishing evil. Is ganging up on a weaker person truly in line with the cult’s teachings?”

Faced with this passionate outcry from an alleged victim of school violence, the accused perpetrators couldn't open their mouths.

They knew something was off, but the seniors couldn't figure out how to articulate it.

Then, Mak Ho-yeol, the most simple-minded of the bunch, exclaimed, “Weaker?! You defeated me yesterday!”

Finally realizing the contradiction, Baek Cheon chimed in, "That's right. While it’s true that many of us pressured you, Disciple Il-mok is clearly not weak."

Il-mok almost clicked his tongue unconsciously but managed to maintain his expression.

'They're not falling for it so easily.'

However, he still had the moral high ground.

“Compared to you seniors, aren't juniors naturally weaker? And the fact remains that many of you ganged up on me.”

As Il-mok pointed this out, the fifteen seniors started shouting over each other.

"What nonsense!"

"This is a misunderstanding!"

"We never intended to fight you all at once!"

As everyone shouted over each other, Chu Il-hwan rose with an uncharacteristically serious expression.

“Silence! Any disciple who continues to make noise will be severely punished.”

Hearing this, the seniors reluctantly shut their mouths.

Once the office was quiet, Chu Il-hwan looked over the intruders and said, “I understand why you came to me. However, this isn’t something I can decide on my own. I will discuss this with the other instructors and make a decision. You are all dismissed.”

The moment his eyes met Il-mok's at the end, Chu Il-hwan flashed a mischievous grin.

'What is he planning?'

Il-mok felt his hair stand on end as an ominous sensation washed over him.

***

That night, a meeting was held in the Hall Master's chamber within the Hall of the Demonic Way.

Seated at the head of the table was Yeom Ga-hwi, the Hall Master of the Demonic Way. Next to him sat Yu Geuk, the Vice Hall Master of the Demonic Way, known by the title Ice Demon Saber. His face was cold and expressionless.

The seat opposite Yu Geuk was empty, and beside it sat Chu Il-hwan. The female instructor took her seat opposite Chu Il-hwan.

Chu Il-hwan was the Primary Instructor for the new disciples, while Cha Eun-yeong was the Primary Instructor for the senior disciples.

"Instructor Chu."

"Yes, Hall Master."

"Begin."

Following Yeom Ga-hwi’s instructions, Chu Il-hwan explained the day's events.

It was Chu Il-hwan who had requested this meeting.

As soon as Chu Il-hwan finished his explanation, Yeom Ga-hwi frowned and said:

“This is certainly an unprecedented case.”

"Yes, Hall Master."

While occasional disputes between seniors and juniors occurred, this was different.

Not only had no junior ever reported seniors for bullying, but there had never been a case where a group of seniors ganged up on a junior to demand a duel.

This was because one year of training in Demonic Arts created a significant gap in ability.

In almost every conflict between seniors and juniors, the seniors would win. Thus, seniors rarely bothered to challenge juniors.

As talented members of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, they were interested in fighting strong opponents, not weak ones.

Yu Geuk, who had been quietly listening to Chu Il-hwan's explanation and organizing his thoughts, looked at Chu Il-hwan with a cold expression.

“But in essence, this could be resolved by simply refusing the duel request or forbidding the seniors from entering the Black Dragon Pavilion. The fact that you called this meeting suggests you have another solution in mind, Instructor Chu.”

In response to the Vice Hall Master's piercing insight, Chu Il-hwan tried to hide his expression behind his characteristically playful smile.

"Yes. I have one plan in mind, but I felt I needed the approval of the Hall Master as well as Instructor Cha, which is why I arranged this meeting, Vice Hall Master."

Hearing Chu Il-hwan’s response, the female instructor sitting across from him, Cha Eun-yeong, hardened her expression.

"My approval? What kind of pointless scheme are you plotting now?"

Chu Il-hwan only grinned shamelessly.

"Unnecessary? It will greatly benefit all the disciples.”

As Chu Il-hwan and Cha Eunyeong were about to engage in a battle of wills, the Hall Master spoke up:

"Be mindful of your words, Instructor Chu. This is an official business.”

"...My apologies, Hall Master."

Unexpectedly, Chu Il-hwan showed a respectful attitude towards the Hall Master.

Thanks to Yeom Ga-hwi's intervention, Instructor Cha Eunyeong, whose momentum had deflated, snorted and said, "So, what is this scheme you've devised?"

"It's simple. We'll hold a sparring competition between the new disciples under my charge and the senior disciples under Instructor Cha's supervision. A martial arts exchange, so to speak, to foster camaraderie between seniors and juniors.”

This was a sparring event that had never been held before.

The reason was simple. The gap between the seniors and juniors is too wide.

Cha Eun-yeong naturally pointed this out, but Chu Il-hwan replied slyly, “Now, now, it would at the very least be beneficial for the juniors, no? And if we make this competition a regular event, this year's class can pass on their knowledge to their juniors next year. Additionally, it could provide motivation for the seniors as well."

"Motivation?"

As Cha Eun-yeong tilted her head in confusion, Yu Geuk spoke up.

"You mean that Young Master?"

"Yes. If they realize they're being chased by or even overtaken by a junior one year below them, wouldn't that push them to work harder?"

Yeom Ga-hwi, who had been listening quietly, nodded in agreement. It wasn't a bad idea.

***

The next morning.

It was time for Instructor Chu Il-hwan's martial arts class.

However, instead of starting the lesson right away, Instructor Chu Il-hwan announced that he had something to share.

"Five days from now, an official sparring competition will be held between you and the senior disciples. This is an opportunity to exchange notes with your seniors who have trained longer than you, which will greatly help improve your skills. This is all possible thanks to Disciple Il-mok, so let's give him a round of applause.”

As soon as he finished, the Upper Class disciples all turned to Il-mok and applauded.

‘Damn it. So that's why he was grinning.’

Il-mok sighed as he realized the source of the unease he'd felt earlier.

Just then, Dokgo Pae raised his hand and asked Instructor Chu Il-hwan a question, "Instructor! What are the rules for the competition? Do we have to avoid injuries like in the last test?”

"Hahaha. Don't worry about that. The ones who should be concerned are not you, but your seniors."

Everyone easily understood Chu Il-hwan's meaning.

Given the skill gap, even if they tried their best, it would be difficult for them to injure their seniors.

Some accepted this as a matter of course, but Dokgo Pae and Bang Mi-hwa looked offended.

"Also, since the Hall Master, Vice Hall Master, and all instructors will be observing this competition, serious injuries are unlikely to occur."

As soon as Chu Il-hwan finished his explanation, Il-mok raised his hand.

There was an issue more important than injuries.

"How will the sparring opponents be selected?"

Since the competition was a result of yesterday's incident, he was worried that this crazy instructor might make him fight all fifteen seniors one after another.

In response to Il-mok's question, Chu Il-hwan smiled playfully and answered, "It will be one-on-one, and your opponents will be matched according to each disciple’s academic performance. Each disciple will participate in only one match."

Il-mok sighed in relief internally.

'Just one match, huh? Like the sparring with the teaching assistant last time, I’ll just fight half-heartedly and pretend to lose.'

Just then, Instructor Chu Il-hwan's voice snapped Il-mok back to attention.

"Over the past month, and through the recent exam, I've come to know your abilities very well. So, if any of you try any funny business or fight half-heartedly during the match, you will have a ‘special meeting’ with me.”

Chu Il-hwan deliberately emphasized the words 'funny business,' ‘half-heartedly,' and 'special meeting.'

“Hahaha! What are you talking about, Instructor? How could a warrior of our cult fight a battle half-heartedly?”

"We'll gain enlightenment through sparring with our seniors!"

Amidst the Upper Class disciple who was full of excitement and motivation...

'I'm screwed.'

...There was Il-mok with a crumpled face.

A special meeting with that lecherous instructor… the thought alone made him shudder.

Seeing the Young Master fail to manage his expression this time, Chu Il-hwan formed an even happier smile.

'Hehehe. This is going to be fun.’

Not only would he get to see the true extent of the Eighth Young Master’s hidden skills…

'Hehehe. I'll completely wreck that bitch Cha Eun-yeong's expression!'

Seeing the senior disciples, whom she had diligently taught for over a year, get crushed by new disciples would surely make her eyes roll back in her head.

He didn't know about the other disciple, but he was sure that as long as Il-mok didn’t hold back, he would win against the seniors.

"And finally, there will be a reward for this sparring competition."

"A reward, you say?"

When Dokgo Pae asked again, Chu Il-hwan nodded.

"That's right. Since the Hall Master and Vice Hall Master will also be observing this competition, the disciples who show remarkable performance will have the additional opportunity to receive instruction from either the Hall Master or Vice Hall Master."

The disciples’ eyes sparkled. Yeom Ga-hwi was one of the strongest in the cult, and Yu Geuk, while not as strong as the Hall Master, was still incredibly powerful in the eyes of the disciples.

Then, Choi Woong muttered with a sullen expression,

“Then wouldn’t the seniors get the reward anyway?”

It was an offensive remark, but Chu Il-hwan just smiled playfully.

"Don't worry. Both the Hall Master and Vice Hall Master are excellent people. The reward won’t be based solely on victory or defeat, but on ‘performance.’ If you perform exceptionally well for your age, you’ll stand out.”

***

Right after the talk about the martial arts exchange event came out, the atmosphere in the Hall of the Demonic Way became heated.

The new disciple devoted themselves to training in order to pose even a slight threat to their seniors.

Meanwhile, the senior disciples who should have been more relaxed instead braced themselves.

It wasn't just because of Il-mok.

"I don't think any of you'll lose. But if even one of you shows bad performance, I swear on my name as an instructor, I will not let you off easy.”

Thanks to Instructor Cha Eun-yeong’s relentless and terrifying pressure, they too, had no choice but to grit their teeth and devote themselves to training.

On top of that, everyone dreamed of catching the eye of the Hall Master or Vice Hall Master for those private lessons. Whether first‑year or second‑year, they all trained with burning intensity.

Time flew like an arrow, and soon the morning of the sparring competition arrived.