So? Did Someone Force You to Become the Heavenly Demon?

Chapter 57: Mental Asylum (2)

A few days later.

Il-mok awoke early in the morning, packed his belongings, and left his room.

The Hall of the Demonic Way wasn’t located within the main headquarters but on another peak of the Tianshan Mountain Range. Once admitted to the Hall, students were rarely allowed to return to the main headquarters for the duration of their two-year training period.

Since he’d be living in the dormitory-like facilities, he needed to bring essentials. Though according to Jin Hayeon, basic necessities were provided by the Hall itself.

Several people had gathered at Windrock Palace to see Il-mok off. At the center stood his Master, Hyeokryeon Il-hwi, the Heavenly Demon and the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

“Hahaha. The saying ‘After three days apart, view a man with fresh eyes’ perfectly describes you. To think I won’t see you for two years… I greatly anticipate how you’ll be in two years.”

Il-mok cupped his fists to the Heavenly Demon.

“I’ll work hard to live up to your expectations, Master.”

But internally, he was thinking something entirely different.

‘No way in hell am I developing any further in the near future.’

Thanks to the relentless training he had endured under the Heavenly Demon, Il-mok’s realm had risen sharply.

Although the teas and counseling sessions from the Pure Mind Hall had helped mitigate the severity of the side effects, he was far from being in a stable condition.

For this reason, Il-mok planned to live lazily for a while, at least until the side effects subsided somewhat.

‘Since I’m currently ranked first, I’ll take it easy for a while.’

Hiding these thoughts completely, Il-mok bid his farewell with a resolute tone. His Eldest Brother approached him, laughing heartily and patting his shoulder.

“Hahaha! I’ll lay the groundwork while you’re gone, youngest! Just trust this senior brother and focus on your training!”

Others like Third Brother Seo Wan-pyeong, Sixth Brother Jong-ri Chu, and the Demonic Physician also took turns bidding Il-mok farewell.

“In two years, I will have become a reliable senior brother you can always depend on.”

“Two years at the Hall of the Demonic Way will pass quickly. Let’s meet again soon.”

“Hahaha. Thanks to the foundation laid by the Deputy Master, the Pure Mind Hall will continue to flourish. I look forward to working alongside you again upon your return.”

Amidst the celebratory atmosphere, Il-mok approached the only one who radiated a gloomy aura.

Seon-ah.

“…Can’t you not go?”

She looked ready to burst into tears at any moment.

Il-mok rummaged through his bag and pulled out a small object, holding it out to her.

It was a handmade doll with black hair and black clothes, bearing an uncanny resemblance to Il-mok himself.

Seon-ah stared blankly, alternating her gaze between the doll and Il-mok before carefully reaching out her hands to receive it.

Seeing how preciously she clutched the doll that resembled him, Il-mok smiled gently and patted her head.

“Whenever you miss me, look at this doll and wait for me. Two years will pass quicker than you think.”

The doll was an idea he’d conceived after the argument with Lady Cheonghwa—back when Seon-a first arrived clutching her “mother doll.”

It was his answer to Lady Cheonghwa’s question about how he would take responsibility after leaving for the hall.

To be precise, it was a solution he could conceive of because, during his time as Seo Ji-hoon, he had experience making a doll, albeit just once.

Having worked in the social welfare department, he often handled matters related to volunteer activities. On one occasion, a bizarre project had been approved, requiring social workers and volunteers to each create a doll to donate to an orphanage.

Thanks to that project, he had spent many nights stuffing cotton into dolls and gluing on eyes. He had even considered simply buying a doll and pretending he had made it, but ultimately, he had forced himself to complete the task.

That seemingly insignificant experience had unexpectedly proven useful.

‘Though, in reality, I only managed to complete it properly thanks to Ouyang Mun.’

While secretly making the doll at night, Ouyang Wen, who had been sharing his room as a bodyguard for several months, showed an unexpected interest. Surprisingly, Ouyang Wen had a talent for making dolls—or more accurately, he possessed exceptional dexterity.

‘He’s really something. If it weren’t for his mess with Jin Hayeon, he would be quite a valuable asset.’

Ouyang Mun, unaware of Il-mok’s inner thoughts, grinned smugly, likely assuming he was being praised.

He was a friend deserving of sympathy in many ways.

After comforting Seon-ah, Il-mok approached Ouyang Wen and Jin Hayeon.

“Thank you both for helping me all this time, Young Warrior Ouyang, Miss Jin.”

“Hahaha! I was simply doing what I should, Young Master.”

“It was an honor to serve you, Young Master.”

Ouyang Mun replied in an energetic tone, while Jin Hayeon was in her usual stoic manner.

After bidding farewell to everyone, Il-mok left the Windrock Palace.

***

Soon, he arrived at the sprawling training grounds where the entrance exam had been held days prior.

He exhaled a sigh before marching to the designated pavilion.

This place was a temporary gathering point.

This served as a temporary gathering point for the new recruits before their departure to the Hall of the Demonic Way, located on a separate peak of the Tianshan Mountain Range.

Stepping inside, Il-mok surveyed the room and made his way towards an empty seat.

‘Yep. Definitely a mental asylum.’

A guy sulking in the corner with a gloomy expression.

Another chattered incessantly, brimming with inexplicable excitement.

And another glaring at him with bloodshot eyes.

Not a single fucking one of them seemed normal.

‘Better not get involved with them.’

Having formed his initial assessment of the prospective mental patients, Il-mok sat down.

***

Each new recruit—each suffering their own side effects and quirks—stared at the newcomer intently.

Some stared openly, while others stole furtive glances.

None could ignore Il-mok’s presence.

‘That’s the youngest disciple of the Heavenly Demon.’

‘His aura’s extraordinary.’

Their interest was understandable.

It was only natural. He was, after all, a disciple of the Heavenly Demon, the very god they worshipped.

But their interest wasn’t purely due to that.

He was a martial arts prodigy who had claimed the top seat at the Hall entrance exam after just one year since joining the cult. And if that wasn’t enough, within the past year, he had established groundbreaking initiatives like the school program and the Pure Mind Hall.

Rumors even spread that the Heavenly Demon was deliberately propping him up by assigning achievements.

With such notoriety, how could these youngsters—many still immature—not be curious about him?

And while everyone’s attention was focused on him—

“Hmm?”

The Il-mok suddenly tilted his head, stood up, and—

Swish

“Hmm.”

—slightly adjusted the table he had been sitting at.

“Could you please move over a bit?”

He even went so far as to relocate the neighboring tables and move chairs where people were sitting.

“Phew.”

Only after perfectly spacing all furniture did he sigh and return to his seat.

“Good grief.”

Upon sitting down, he suddenly frowned and stared at his palm.

He immediately rummaged through his baggage, pulled out soap and a water bottle, applied soap to his hands, and washed them clean with water.

“Haah.”

By the time Il-mok whistled while looking at his clean hands, a bizarre silence had descended over the pavilion.

‘…He seems to suffer from serious side effects.’

‘They say geniuses are often eccentric, and indeed they are.’

At some point, everyone was looking at Il-mok as if he were a madman.

While this awkward atmosphere persisted, a young man who had been glaring daggers at Il-mok since he entered approached him.

Noticing the movement, Il-mok looked up.

The newcomer, who was at least half a head taller than Il-mok and boasted a sturdy physique, declared, “I may have lost the top seat this time, but it won’t be so easy next time!”

“…?”

The first thought that crossed Il-mok’s mind was simple.

‘What’s with this lunatic?’

Il-mok’s baffled stare seemed to incense the youth further. He boldly spoke again.

“I am Dokgo Pae, eldest grandson of the Great Dokgo Family. If you dare, let’s settle this right here and now!”

In response to Dokgo Pae’s robust declaration of war, Il-mok gave a hollow laugh.

‘Is this some kind of schoolyard bully?’

Come to think of it, the Hall of the Demonic Way, in modern terms, was essentially a gathering place for kids around high school age.

The sight of the eldest grandson of the Dokgo Family, one of the Five Great Families of the Demonic Cult, engaging in such juvenile intimidation was somewhat strange and funny.

‘Hmm. But then again, I recall reading that rich kids tend to be the biggest bullies these days.’

But Il-mok had no intention of humoring this young bully.

“Do your best to take first next time. Good luck.”

Il-mok offered words of encouragement with a bland face.

“Are you mocking me right now?”

His bland response only inflamed Dokgo Pae further.

Dokgo Pae flared his fighting spirit as if ready to attack at any moment, and Il-mok still maintained his indifferent attitude. The new recruits gathered pavilion and watched the two with keen interest.

Just as the tension peaked and was ready to erupt at any moment—

Swish.

Thud.

The sound of the pavilion door opening and closing broke the mounting tension, and all eyes turned towards the entrance.

The newcomer was a man familiar to Il-mok.

It was the instructor who had conducted Il-mok’s combat test during the Hall entrance examination.

Dokgo Pae clicked his tongue and retreated.

Uncaring with the atmosphere, the instructor muttered to himself in a leisurely tone.

“One, two, three, four, five… Hmm. All twenty are present.”

After counting the number of new students in the pavilion, the instructor spoke with the same playful smile as that day.

“Welcome. I am Chu Il-hwan, the Head Instructor and Primary Instructor who will oversee your training from today onward.”

As if confirming their faces, he swept his gaze all over the room, making eye contact with each initiate one by one.

Naturally, during this process, his eyes also met Il-mok’s.

For some reason, the instructor smiled even more broadly than before.

Shudder

The moment he faced that smile, Il-mok felt goosebumps all over his body again. That sensation he’d felt after their combat test had returned.

‘Damn it. Of course an instructor at the Hall of the Demonic Way couldn’t be anything but a lunatic.’

Once could be a coincidence, but twice was a pattern.

‘This bastard’s side effect is definitely homosexuality.’

Il-mok vowed to avoid Chu Il-hwan at all costs.

Oblivious to Il-mok’s inner thoughts, Chu Il-hwan concluded his brief self-introduction and announced, “We will now depart for the Hall of the Demonic Way. Follow closely behind me. Lightness skill and tracking are also part of your training. Anyone who falls behind will be deemed a failure.”

With that, Chu Il-hwan bolted out of the pavilion.

“!?”

The surprised new recruits scrambled to their feet and began pursuing Chu Il-hwan.

And so the sudden chase began.

“Haah.”

Il-mok, too, rose to his feet with exasperation on his face and joined the pursuit.