Chapter 117: Chapter 117

Chapter 117: Reform (3)

“Not only did you hire a dangerous man to be an instructor, you also assigned him to watch me?”

I couldn't hold back any longer and voiced my question.

The answer I got was fucking unbelievable.

“Side effects are a price one must pay for learning the Demonic Arts. Who among those qualified to be an instructor in the Hall of the Demonic Way is free of them?”

Right. This place is full of lunatics.

"Isn't it too dangerous for an instructor teaching students to have murderous impulses as a side effect?"

"...It's my fault that you've fallen into danger. It's the Hall Master's duty to supervise the instructors, yet I've put you in harm's way instead. As the Hall Master of the Hall of the Demonic Way, I apologize to you."

The moment the Hall Master finished speaking, Master jumped to his defense.

“It is fine, Hall Master Yeom. These things happen when one learns Demonic Art. We're just reacting sensitively because there are those targeting Il-mok right now. Looking at the incident alone, it's nothing particularly special."

Listening to this was giving me a headache all over again.

'Seriously, what the fuck am I supposed to do with these psycho cultist fanatics?’

When you combine a cult with Demonic Arts, you get a problem with no goddamn solution.

Come to think of it, it wasn't just the adults who were affected.

'Jeong Hyeon became severely antisocial after gaining enlightenment, and that bastard Baek Cheon went completely insane. Bang Mi-hwa seems to have gotten stranger recently too.'

And that was just looking at the people I was ‘relatively’ close to. All of this had happened in the mere six months since I’d entered the Hall.

I wasn’t any different; getting tangled up in a few incidents had made my own side effects worse.

'At least I have an adult's mind, so I can handle it myself, but what sin have these kids committed?'

They were sixteen by Western count. In my old world, they’d be high school freshmen. And that was just the ones in the Hall. I’d heard Seol-ah started learning the Blood Fox Crimson Claw Art when she was just ten years old.

You take the emotional turmoil of puberty and pile on the side effects of Demonic Arts, and what you get are generations of completely fucked-up men and women.

No, wait… could this environment be the very reason all the adults in the Demonic Cult were batshit insane in the first place? Google seaʀᴄh novel~fire~net

As my thoughts fixated on the Cult’s completely broken system…

Once again, the side effect that had been dormant in a corner of my mind began to rear its ugly head.

I was sure of it now.

‘My realm definitely went up. Damn it.’

Before waking up, I had barely managed to suppress the side effects, but that was merely preventing a full-blown rampage at best.

I couldn't ignore the voice screaming in my head any longer. I had no choice but to speak.

“In six months, the first graduates from the school program across the branches in Xinjiang will emerge, right?”

"And according to the original plan, among those children, those with exceptional martial talent will receive additional martial arts training, while those with literary talent will be taught administration or medicine, correct?"

"Your Eldest Brother is already taking responsibility and making preparations. Is there some problem?"

"When educating children with exceptional martial talent, can we delay the age at which they begin learning Demonic Arts? Preferably until after they turn sixteen. Ah! Rather than just those children, it would be best if you, Master, made an official announcement forbidding the learning of Demonic Arts before the age of sixteen."

As soon as I finished speaking, Master and everyone else in the room looked at me as if I'd lost my mind.

Even Yeom Ga-hwi, who always maintained a stern expression, stared at me like I had just sprouted a second head.

“…We were discussing Instructor Chu Il-hwan. What is this nonsense you’re suddenly spouting?"

"It's because of what I've observed during my six months at the Hall of the Demonic Way. Not only have my own side effects worsened, but I've watched my peers and senior students grow more insane by the day."

"Aren't these fitting prices for learning Demonic Arts?"

At Master's counter point, I barely managed to suppress a sigh.

No matter how much Master cared for me, the moment I sighed at the Heavenly Demon's words, the Hall Master or Jin Hayeon watching from the side would likely aim for my neck.

“Master, a human being is composed of body and mind. However, these two are not separate entities. When the mind becomes disturbed, the body becomes disturbed as well. By the same token, when the body becomes disturbed, the mind becomes disturbed too. So let me ask you, Master, when does a person’s body undergo its most drastic changes?”

A subtle shift occurred in Master’s expression as if he’d caught on to something.

'Phew. Thank goodness he gets it with just a little explanation.’

In modern times, I’d be throwing around words like ‘hormones’ and citing scientific evidence, but that approach wouldn't work in this era.

I had to explain it in terms they’d understand, but since no suitable examples came to mind, I was speaking at such length.

‘I never would have guessed that a concept like ‘mind-body unity’ wouldn't exist in this world.'

Still, Master seemed to understand to some degree, so I quickly continued my explanation.

"Though it varies from person to person,  generally, the period between twelve and sixteen is when the body changes most dramatically. And since mind and body are connected, this is also when the mind undergoes the most turbulent changes. So then, is it truly safe to learn Demonic Arts during this period when the mind is already at its most unstable?"

Master turned his head to look at the Demonic Physician who was still in the room.

"What do you think, Demonic Physician? As a doctor, do you think Il-mok’s words hold true?”

The physician stroked his beard with a look of fascination on his face.

“It is a question I have never considered, so it is difficult for me to judge it right or wrong on the spot, but there does seem to be a sufficient possibility. The only issue is that I have only ever treated those who learned Demonic Arts from a young age, so I have no proper cases for comparison.”

Then, Jin Hayeon timidly raised her hand.

"Lord of Ten Thousand Demons. May this humble girl offer a word?"

"Before entering the Hall of the Demonic Way, I lived in a rural village and was taught Demonic Arts by my parents. During that time, I often observed villagers who had not learned Demonic Arts. Just as Young Master Il-mok said, the village elders often spoke of how children of that age were the most rebellious."

I had no idea why she was suddenly backing me up, but I seized the opportunity and ran with it.

"I too lived among the common folk before joining the Cult, Master. From what I observed, the minds of children that age were constantly agitated and turbulent. Like being tossed by fierce winds and giant waves."

Master nodded once at my explanation and asked.

"So you're saying we should avoid that period when learning Demonic Arts?"

Honestly, I wanted to say no.

'Forget sixteen, they should be at least twenty.'

But Demonic Arts were the foundation of this Cult. The moment I suggested they shouldn’t be learned at all, my head would be on a pike.

Then wouldn't it be better to learn them after becoming adults? It’s not like kids suddenly develop the wisdom of a sage the day after puberty ends.

However, those old fogies in the Cult would raise a storm. If I suddenly said people should wait until they’re twenty, the backlash would be severe.

"Lord of Ten Thousand Demons! You must not be swayed by such insidious words!”

Hall Master Yeom Ga-hwi prostrated himself as if he were some loyal retainer, shouting his fierce opposition with a face that risked his life.

"The age for entering the Hall of the Demonic Way is sixteen, yet you forbid learning Demonic Arts until sixteen. This is impossible!"

“There’s a simple solution for that. We just need to raise the entry age for the Hall to eighteen.”

When I countered him with a dismissive tone, Yeom Ga-hwi glared at me as if he wanted me dead.

“Do you truly not understand that if we do so, the delay in learning will cause a drastic decline in the average capabilities of our Cult’s martial artists?!”

“With all due respect, Hall Master, I believe your thinking is too confined to the Hall of the Demonic Way.”

By delaying the start of Demonic Arts training to sixteen and the Hall’s entry to eighteen, the number of children who will begin learning will increase severalfold. So, instead of worrying about the delay, we just need to increase the Hall's capacity."

While Yeom Ga-hwi hesitated, Master asked in a gentle tone.

“Are you suggesting we choose quantity over quality?”

“Only at the very beginning, Master. The growth rate of Demonic Arts is unparalleled by any other martial art. Ultimately, everyone grows at a rapid rate until they reach their own personal limit. In fact, with a more stable mind, that wall will likely come much later. So please think about it in reverse. The number of children learning these arts is about to multiply. If all their minds are unstable, can we truly handle the fallout?”

For some reason, Master burst into hearty laughter at my question.

"Haha. So that's why you suggested increasing the Hall's capacity. By learning later, the children’s minds will be more mature. Naturally, even with increased numbers, a certain level of control will be possible.”

At Master's interpretation, Yeom Ga-hwi looked at me with a shocked expression. He looked like he was asking if I had really thought that far ahead.

Of course, my goddamn side effect had indeed thought that far.

"That's correct. However, as a precaution, and to maintain the quality of education, we would need to increase the number of instructors and assistants to match the larger student body. Therefore, this is not something to be implemented immediately, but prepared for gradually.”

“Hmm. As you say, even if we forbid learning before sixteen, the children who have already learned will be a problem. We could have them enter the Hall as it is now, and then in three or four years, we can raise the entry age.”

“Yes. We can use that time to slowly build the foundation, Master.”

Hearing my answer, Master nodded with a satisfied expression and said. “You have come up with a truly commendable idea.”

“The things I saw in the Demonic Way were part of it, but honestly, the first person who came to mind was Seol-ah.”

"You mean that girl from the Hyeokryeon Family?"

“Yes. From the moment I first saw her, I felt it was a pity that too heavy a burden was being placed on such a young child.”

“Hahaha! To think this is happening in my own family’s house, and yet the thought never even occurred to this old man. I've taken it too much for granted all this time."

Master seemed already sufficiently convinced, but the Hall Master's expression was still sour. And I was willing to bet his reaction was the same as most of the old geezers in the Cult’s leadership.

To prevent another outbreak of my damned side effects, I opened my mouth again.

"Furthermore, this is in alignment with the very principles of our Cult, Master."

"Oh? Our Cult's principles?"

“Yes, Master. What is the great cause of our Heavenly Demon Divine Cult? To punish the wicked with martial might. This is why we select our leader through martial might, and why those with exceptional martial arts sit in high positions, isn't it?"

I had barely gotten the words out before Master’s eyes lit up, a sign he had already grasped my intent.

But to help others understand as well, he deliberately responded to my words as if adding commentary.

“It is so. But what does that have to do with delaying the age for learning Demonic Arts?”

“Because it will allow us to discover children with martial talent that truly fit our doctrine. By teaching children throughout Xinjiang through schools, we identify their talents. And by making them begin learning Demonic Arts at the same time at age sixteen, their ranks will be determined purely by effort and talent. Not like now, where children get ahead simply because they were lucky enough to have good parents and learned Demonic Arts first, creating hereditary succession among the Cult's leadership."

As soon as I finished speaking, the Hall Master looked at me with a shocked expression.

"Moreover, learning Demonic Arts in our cult serves not only to quickly become strong and save the masses, but also has the meaning of self-cultivation—to overcome the side effects of Demonic Arts. Is that not why you, Master, put me through various tests before accepting me as your disciple?”

Maybe because I mentioned our first meeting, Master smiled warmly like an old man lost in memories.

“Hahaha. You remember it well.”

"Yes, Master. That's precisely why I believe we should delay when one learns Demonic Arts even more. We must allow the doctrines and will of the Cult to be firmly established in their minds during their youth, when these side effects do not yet torment them. Only after that, when they learn Demonic Arts, will they grow into warriors who are truly in accord with the Cult’s principles. And on that note, we have a very excellent example right here.”

While everyone looked at me with puzzled expressions, I turned my head while lying down and looked at Jin Hayeon.

"Born in a remote branch, taught by parents who were mere branch warriors, yet she entered the Hall of the Demonic Way through talent and effort alone. Despite learning White Hand Demonic Art only after she got admitted to the Demonic Way, she not only graduated second in her year but also became a true believer who never forgot our cult's doctrine. Is that not a true believer, standing right there?”

I’d heard so much praise about Jin Hayeon from Ju Seo-yeon that her story came to mind naturally.

But for some reason...

As the gazes of my master, the physician, and the Hall Master all followed mine to land on Jin Hayeon, her eyes—usually so calm and detached—were turbulent, practically shaking with intense emotion when she stared back at me.

'Hmm. Did I just step on a landmine?'

It seemed bringing her up without permission had struck a nerve. Seeing how her face had turned red, I figured she must be seriously pissed off.