Episode 76: Return to the Demonic Academy
Swish, swish, swish!
Under Maeseollan’s command, the Turtle Squad moved swiftly yet stealthily through the forest. At times, they darted like squirrels, and at others, they crept as slowly as snails.
Deep within the dense woods of Yongjaryeom, Maeseollan spotted a thick patch of underbrush in the distance.
“Perfect, we can hide there.”
The primary goal of the Turtle Squad was survival. Though composed of cadets skilled in stealth and defense, the safest course was to remain undetected.
Moreover…
“To prepare for that moment, we must stay safe…”
Just as Maeseollan was about to take a step, a voice interrupted.
“Wait a moment.”
Neung Soso hesitated, stopping the group.
Maeseollan turned to her. “What’s the matter?”
“Something feels… off.”
“What do you mean?”
“The air… it flows differently there.”
“What?”
Neung Soso raised her hand, pointing towards the dense thicket.
“Only there… the air feels different.”
Maeseollan frowned slightly. Different air flow? What kind of nonsense was this?
She had heard from Sabigang that Neung Soso possessed a unique ability—an extraordinary sense that could be more useful than most martial skills. But she hadn’t expected it to manifest like this.
“Is this just a woman’s intuition?” she wondered. But to rely on intuition in a martial setting? That was unacceptable.
Maeseollan spoke firmly, “This isn’t the time to act on feelings. We need to find a place to hide…”
“But I don’t think that’s the right spot.”
“Soso, what are you talking about? Of course, the air would be different in a thicket…”
“No, it’s different in quality. There’s a strange sense of unease…”
At that moment, Jo Muntak interjected.
“So, you think it’s really not the right place?”
“Yes,” Neung Soso nodded. “I feel it’s dangerous.”
Jo Muntak turned to Maeseollan. “Instructor, I think we should listen to Soso.”
“You too…”
“I’ve trained with Soso. Her senses are beyond ordinary.”
Maeseollan furrowed her brow, glancing back at the forest. She opened her senses wide.
Nothing. There was nothing unusual.
Yet Neung Soso warned against going there. Should she trust this baseless intuition, or rely on her own battle-hardened instincts?
“Sometimes, it’s okay to trust the cadets when you’re uncertain,” Sabigang’s words echoed in her mind.
Is that so?
Jo Muntak’s face was full of trust.
Finally, Maeseollan relented. “Alright. Let’s rest nearby for now.”
“There’s a stream over that way,” Neung Soso pointed north.
Maeseollan looked at her with a hint of surprise. “How does she know this deep in the forest?”
Of course, she had no idea it was the whispers of the sylphs guiding Neung Soso, visible only to her.
Maeseollan turned to Jo Muntak. “Muntak, scout the area. Be careful not to get caught.”
“Yes, Instructor.”
Jo Muntak, itching for action, leapt into motion.
“We’ll head to the stream and rest for now.”
Maeseollan led the Turtle Squad slowly onward.
**
“Argh!”
A cadet clutched his broken ankle, rolling on the ground in agony.
Nearby, Yoghwang squatted, scratching his head with a dagger. “Does it hurt?”
“Ugh…! I’ll kill you!”
“That’s impossible. You’re already dead, aren’t you?” Yoghwang chuckled, teasing him.
As he stood up, another cadet, clutching his stomach, shouted from where he lay.
“You bastards! Was this really necessary? Did you have to go this far?”
Yoghwang flinched and turned around.
“Calling us bastards… My parents aren’t dogs, you know. You’re the one being rude.”
“Crazy…!”
“Ugh, it’s annoying when a dead man keeps talking.”
Yoghwang grinned, pulling out a dagger and throwing it.
Swish! Thud!
“Argh!”
The cadet, struck in the ribs, rolled in pain.
Yoghwang approached with a swagger.
“We weren’t even after you guys. You just happened to be in our way. It’s only polite to eat the meal set before you, right? Hehehe.”
“Crazy bastards…!”
“You seem to have forgotten your role as a corpse.”
Yoghwang lifted his foot, pressing it against the cadet’s knee.
“What are you doing?”
“Just stepping on a corpse. Hehe.”
“Crazy…! Stop it!”
Just as Yoghwang grinned, a shadow appeared, striking him in the chest.
“Ugh!”
Yoghwang staggered back, groaning.
“Who the hell…!”
He glared, then paused, seeing his opponent.
A guard stood there, expressionless.
“What are you doing to the deceased?”
At that moment, Sang Pilji approached.
“What’s going on?”
The guard turned to him. “This cadet was about to injure the deceased.”
“Did he succeed?”
“I stopped him before he could.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
Sang Pilji asked, his face impassive.
The guard frowned slightly. “There have been complaints about the conduct of the Nang-a Squad cadets. Please refrain from unnecessary violence.”
“Hmm. Complaints, you say… But should a guard resort to violence against a cadet?”
“That’s…”
“Understood. I’ll give a warning.”
Sang Pilji turned to Yoghwang. “Did you hear that? Don’t go overboard. If it becomes troublesome, you’ll be discarded.”
“Hehe, sorry.”
Yoghwang replied with a sly grin.
Sang Pilji looked back at the guard. “I’ve given a warning, so you may leave.”
”…”
The guard, displeased, led the injured away.
Jo Mimi sighed heavily, grumbling.
“Where’s the Special Squad? The other cadets are too boring.”
“The Special Squad might be boring too.”
The gaunt No Chi-eun murmured dreamily.
Jo Mimi shook her head. “No, they seemed really interesting during the last match. It’s a shame we didn’t face them.”
“Hehehe. They did win their matches with a clean sweep. I’m definitely looking forward to it.”
Yoghwang chuckled.
Jo Mimi sang softly, swaying as she moved.
“Hide, hide, so your hair doesn’t show. Special Squad, Special Squad, where are you hiding? There, there you are. When I see your head, I’ll be the first to take it.”
The cadets laughed eerily as they began to move.
But there were eyes watching this scene in silence…
“What the hell are they?”
Jo Muntak swallowed hard, watching the cadets fade into the distance.
The inter-squad competition was supposed to be a training exercise. Yet they were breaking bones and injuring already “dead” cadets.
He felt a mix of anger and a creeping fear.
“Those guys are seriously unhinged. If we encounter them, it could be dangerous.”
Meeting them would be the worst-case scenario. And their instructor was Sang Pilji.
“I need to report this!”
Jo Muntak quickly took off.
Meanwhile, Sang Pilji, walking with the cadets, suddenly stopped and turned his head.
“Hmm.”
His gaze landed on a branch where Jo Muntak had been hiding moments before.
The branch swayed slightly, perhaps from the wind.
“This way.”
He spoke curtly, turning in the direction Jo Muntak had fled.
The cadets, puzzled by the sudden change, followed him.
No matter where they went, as long as they could hunt, it didn’t matter.
**
“Instructor, it’s dangerous.”
Jo Muntak’s first words upon returning to the stream were urgent.
After hearing his report, Maeseollan’s expression turned grave.
“This isn’t good.”
Of all things, it had to be the Nang-a Squad led by Sang Pilji.
“Those guys are completely insane. They don’t hold back at all.”
Jo Muntak relayed everything he had witnessed.
Gok Bo-ok growled. “They have no basic decency! How can they call themselves righteous warriors? If I see them, I’ll…”
“This isn’t the time to act on emotions,” Maeseollan said coolly.
Sang Pilji was not someone to be taken lightly.
“We can’t stay here any longer. We need to move immediately.”
Just as Maeseollan was about to step forward, Neung Soso spoke, her gaze distant.
“It’s too late. They’re too close.”
Maeseollan turned, but sensed nothing.
When she extended her senses fully, she barely detected a group approaching from afar.
“This isn’t good.”
If they clashed with the Nang-a Squad now, there would be few survivors.
Winning the inter-squad competition was important, but more so was aligning with Sabigang’s intentions.
At that moment, Neung So-so approached.
“Instructor, how about we try it this way?”
She carefully laid out her plan to Mae Seol-ran.
After listening to everything, Mae Seol-ran asked with a hint of concern, “Are you sure about this?”
“It’ll be fine. With those two, at least.”
Neung So-so’s gaze shifted to Jo Mun-tak and Gok Bo-ok, who looked utterly bewildered, having no idea what was going on.
Mae Seol-ran seemed to make up her mind. “Alright. Just be careful.”
“Don’t worry.”
Mae Seol-ran then turned to Jo Mun-tak and Gok Bo-ok, her eyes filled with trust. “I’m counting on you two. Do your best.”
“Uh, yes? Oh, um… yes.”
Jo Mun-tak and Gok Bo-ok exchanged confused glances.
“Everyone, move as quietly as possible.”
In the next moment, Mae Seol-ran led the Gui Gap unit and leaped into action.
“Huh?”
As Jo Mun-tak and Gok Bo-ok prepared to follow, Neung So-so stopped them.
“Not you two. You need to fight here.”
“What?”
“We’ll buy you some time.”
“What? There are only three of us!”
“I have a plan. Let’s head over there and hide first. Mun-tak, use your stealth skills to conceal our presence.”
Neung So-so pointed to a sloping hill. Large rock walls flanked a narrow path, just wide enough for them to climb.
“Hide up there on the rock wall?”
Neung So-so nodded.
Gok Bo-ok chuckled. “Alright, if it’s come to this, let’s have some fun with those annoying pests! What are you waiting for, Mun-tak? Don’t tell me you’re scared?”
“Who, who said I’m scared?”
“Then let’s get moving.”
“Ugh, fine, whatever!”
Jo Mun-tak grumbled as he followed the others.
The three of them climbed up the rock wall and hid behind a large boulder.
A short while later, Sang Pil-ji and the Nang-a-ban cadets arrived by the stream.
“Sniff, sniff. I smell something… there’s a scent…”
Yo Gyeong muttered, twitching his nose.
Sang Pil-ji stood silently, arms crossed, observing the cadets.
In an instant—
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Three daggers sliced through the air from out of nowhere, hurtling toward them at high speed.