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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Overtime (1)
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Il-mok knew Seo Ji-hoon's concepts. It was impossible to write in Hanja the Eastern Learning or other ideas that Il-mok had arbitrarily linked to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's doctrines.
That was why Il-mok was writing those concepts in Hangul. So only he could understand them.
Jin Ha-yeon, who had been staring sharply at them as if trying to analyze some code, soon gave up and spoke.
"Young Master, were you originally a scholar preparing for the civil service exams? These codes seem like something only someone familiar with studying would create."
"Where would an orphan like me find the means to prepare for the exams? The elder who gave an orphaned me a job as an errand boy taught me letters after I became an adult, telling me to handle bigger tasks. These codes were created during the process of learning letters from that elder, as a way to study more efficiently."
Il-mok spat out the excuse he had prepared ever since thinking of this plan. He had anticipated suspicion from using such writing, so he had come up with it in advance.
However, the reason Il-mok had deliberately shown Hangul to her during morning scripture study wasn't simply for note-taking.
* * *
That night.
After morning studies, external martial arts training, internal arts practice under the Heavenly Demon, the chilling Pushing Palaces and Passing Meridians from the aspiring psychopath attendant, and finally bathing.
"Young Master. I have prepared candles, ink, brush, and blank books in the room."
"Thank you. Then you may retire now."
After bidding farewell that was not quite a farewell to Jin Ha-yeon, I headed to my room.
Her quarters as my maidservant were in another hall in Wind Rock Hall anyway, no different from next door.
"Whew."
I let out a light sigh while gazing at the candle illuminating what should have been a dark room.
Finally, before bed, the last task awaited me.
Perhaps the most important task for surviving in this place.
The final entry on my schedule was simple.
[Hour of the Pig Half (9-10 PM) — Review and Bedtime]
Originally meant for reviewing to enter the Demonic Path Academy, but its purpose had changed.
Entering the Demonic Path Academy was important, but immersing in the Heavenly Demon Secret Record risked turning me into a cultist too.
Sitting at the table with the candle, I picked up the brush and wrote in the blank book.
— Day 1 of life in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
Thus, my new final task was a diary.
— The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult is a crazy cult.
To converse with myself and prevent unknowingly falling into the cult.
— Those guys are completely nuts with Maitreya and Xunzi's theory of innate goodness. What? The Heavenly Demon will save all sentient beings? Ugh. These insane cultists.
If caught writing this, my head would be in danger. But I was confident I wouldn't get caught.
— And that maidservant? What? She says she'll kill me in a year? This is why cults are dangerous. Seo Ji-hoon. Get a grip. Never get tainted.
Even if Jin Ha-yeon searched my room and found this diary, it would be fine.
Because it was written in Hangul.
That was why I had shown her Hangul during morning faith study. Under the pretext of 'study codes.'
Even if she saw this diary, she would think it was just review notes.
The schedule already said review during this time anyway.
— That old coot is a problem too. If Transcending Demon is hard, say so first! Talking only about side effects, then revealing it after I've cultivated the inner art—what's the point!
After writing for a long time, pouring out the anger and distrust built over the past two days.
"Whew. I feel alive now."
With my mind much clearer, I closed the diary and went to bed.
* * *
Over the next few days, my routine repeated like a treadmill.
Exactly as written on the schedule.
After about eight days passed.
"Hahaha. You're progressing faster than expected."
"Thanks to Master's teachings."
Today, as always, after learning new forms of the Transcending Demon Heartless Sword from Master and finishing training, Master suddenly brought up something unexpected.
"Do you have urgent business this afternoon?"
"…As usual, I planned to briefly review today's lessons and retire."
"Hahaha. Then postpone review for today and come to this old man's hall. Isn't it time to greet your senior brothers?"
Come to think of it, Jin Ha-yeon had mentioned on the first day that I had senior brothers.
No disciple of the Heavenly Demon had failed to top the Demonic Path Academy entrance.
Until now, I had been too busy preserving my life to care much, but hearing Master brought up a question.
'Normally, don't they introduce the youngest disciple to the senior brothers first?'
The world I woke up in was a medieval wuxia fantasy.
A world where 'master and disciple are one like father and son' was no joke or old fogey nonsense.
Master and disciple were no different from father and son, so introducing a new son to the brothers was only natural.
'…Because it's a cult, they don't follow Confucian doctrines or something?'
Did my face reveal my thoughts?
"Hahaha. You must be wondering why I'm introducing your senior brothers only now."
Master saw through me and asked.
But I couldn't just say 'Yes.'
"Ahem. I thought Master had his reasons."
The Heavenly Demon's will was always truth.
One wrong word, and Jin Ha-yeon standing behind me might dance with her sword.
Not to kill me, but a suicide show crying 'My education was lacking, Heavenly Demon!'
'…Come to think of it, I heard psychopaths prioritize themselves and can't understand others' feelings, but she's unique.'
For her, Heavenly Demon came first, not herself. She felt no emotions except toward the Heavenly Demon.
A bizarre fusion of cultist and psychopath.
"Hahaha. Good words. As you said, there was a reason. All your senior brothers were away on missions I assigned, leaving the cult temporarily. They've all returned to headquarters today, so wouldn't it be good to dine and greet them together?"
Honestly, I wanted to refuse.
I had to pass the Demonic Path Academy entrance with just a year of prep—where's the time for fun?
But as a Heavenly Demon Divine Cult follower, how could I refuse the Heavenly Demon's suggestion?
"I shall do so."
I bowed my head, thinking inwardly.
'I want to log overtime.'
Company dinners were definitely overtime.
* * *
Right after finishing training with Master, unlike usual, I received Pushing Palaces and Passing Meridians and bathing from Jin Ha-yeon immediately.
She couldn't speak during Pushing Palaces and Passing Meridians, so while receiving the now-familiar bathing service, I asked her.
"Do you know anything about the senior brothers?"
This was crucial.
The dinner I'd soon attend after bathing.
A 'welcome the newbie' dinner. And the 'newbie' was me.
As the youngest, I needed to know my superiors' traits.
Of course, my position as 'youngest' was odd. Jin Ha-yeon attending me was my subordinate, after all.
But this situation felt familiar.
'Even a new grade 7 civil servant outranks grade 9.'
In military terms, I was a new lieutenant. NCOs and enlisted were subordinates by rank.
A new lieutenant wouldn't lose it and yell 'Sergeant, push-ups!' anyway, so even superiors needed to mingle with subordinates if new.
But this was dinner with superiors.
Even worse.
'Dinner with people who might kill me.'
It made sense. Multiple disciples, but one Heavenly Demon seat.
No telling how long Master would live, but when the time came, competition among brothers was inevitable.
This was a gathering of lunatics and cultists.
A 'succession battle' where chopping heads wouldn't be odd.
So, the most important thing at today's dinner was one.
'Show I have zero interest in the throne.'
I had to appeal as harmless.
Someone might say attach to the strongest-looking senior.
Stupid.
Attaching carries fast promotion if it works, but one slip and you plummet.
Not attaching anywhere means slow promotion but less fall risk.
The classic 'eternal middle manager.'
In modern society, eternal middle managers battle anxiety forever.
'Whoever becomes next Heavenly Demon, being his disciple won't get cut.'
Especially with Master still vigorous, power balance could shift later.
I had considered aiming for Heavenly Demon myself.
'But powerless now, so not attaching is safest.'
With the Demonic Path Academy exam in a year on the line, competing with seniors who topped it long ago was suicide.
Thus, playing incompetent was a good strategy.
'Classic: youngest hides talent.'
As I thought this, Jin Ha-yeon, applying hot compresses to my body, spoke in a flat tone.
"The Heavenly Demon currently has four disciples, including Young Master Il-mok. In order: eldest disciple Wi Jin-hak. Third disciple Seo Wan-pyeong. Sixth disciple Jong-ri Chu. And finally, eighth disciple Young Master Il-mok."
"I'm the eighth, so why only three seniors left?"
To my question, she finished the arms, moved to my back, applied more compresses, and answered.
"The second young master passed from Demonic Deviation, I heard."
"...."
As a chill ran down my spine, making me shudder, I felt her hands tickling it.
"The fourth young master lost his life in combat with the orthodox sects during a mission. The Heavenly Demon avenged him later, so his grudge must be somewhat appeased. The fifth young master passed from Demonic Deviation, and the seventh young master overdid a near-death duel seeking enlightenment."
"Ahem. I, I see."
I hastily cut her off and replied.
Four of eight disciples dead. Fifty percent survival rate. Two from Demonic Deviation.
'What hellhole did that crazy old man drag me into?'
Long-buried resentment toward Master surged.
"Ahem. W-well, how are relations among the remaining seniors? Does Master trust any most?"
"Probably Wi Jin-hak, the longest-serving disciple."
While receiving her bathing service, I heard brief info on the seniors.
"Wear this."
She dressed me in clothes cleaner than training garb and we left Wind Rock Hall.
Guided by her through the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult headquarters briefly, she stopped before a massive hall.
She showed something like a command plaque to the guarding gatekeepers, who checked it, bowed lightly to me, and stepped aside.
Following her through the hall's vast corridor briefly.
She stopped before the largest door at the end.
"Enter here."
She bowed, as if unable to enter herself.
Gulp.
Swallowing dryly, I forced a calm expression and flung open the door.
Now began my overtime—er, dinner—where my future and life hung in the balance.