Episode 91: Return to the Demonic Academy
“Y-you’re really going to keep your promise, right?”
“Of course. Heh.”
The Beast Fiend diligently fed Sabigang.
He had to make a choice.
Between Sabigang and Baekto, he had to choose his savior.
At this moment, Sabigang was the only one who could save him from Baekto.
If he ran to Baekto and said,
“Sabigang froze all the furnaces and conjured fireballs to kill me. I can’t continue the torture!”
What would happen then?
Baekto might just beat him to death without a second thought.
It was better to side with Sabigang.
The Beast Fiend was simple-minded, like a child.
He didn’t overthink things.
Sabigang promised that if he brought food and ran a few errands, he would ensure Baekto wouldn’t punish him.
For now, he had no choice but to trust those words.
“You did the errands properly, right?”
“Y-yes. I told them exactly what you said.”
The errands Sabigang gave were simple.
He was to take a red cloth outside the grounds, where someone would approach him.
It was a member of the Guiyeongbu, though the Beast Fiend didn’t know that.
He was just to relay the message, “Focus on the children’s experiences.”
The Beast Fiend didn’t understand the meaning, but he did as instructed.
Sabigang smiled, satisfied.
“Good job. Mmm.”
“But what does that mean?”
“You don’t need to know. And what about the other thing I asked for?”
“Here it is.”
The Beast Fiend showed a red potion bottle he had been carrying.
It was a healing potion that originally belonged to Sabigang.
Sabigang grinned.
“Well done.”
Sabigang ate heartily, scraping the bowl clean before letting out a satisfied burp.
“Ah, that was good.”
“But if anyone finds out I helped you like this…”
“I know, I know. It’ll be our secret.”
“Right. So, about that…”
The Beast Fiend pointed to a frozen furnace.
“Got it.”
Sabigang spread his palm wide.
“Fire Arrow.”
As he murmured, a fiery arrow formed in his hand as if by magic.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The arrows flew into the seven furnaces, and soon, a warm heat spread through the room.
The Beast Fiend could only watch in awe.
Sabigang chuckled.
“Soon, people will come to rescue me. I’ll make sure you survive.”
“Th-thank you.”
“No need to thank me. A promise is a promise.”
**
As darkness fell, the students gathered in the Special Training Hall’s courtyard.
They all wore serious expressions.
Yeom Jaryang spoke first.
“We need to handle this discreetly. No one else can know.”
The students nodded in agreement.
Yeon Woo-gyeong continued.
“But even if we manage to rescue Instructor Sabigang, the academy might punish us.”
“I’m ready for that.”
It was Gok Bo-ok who spoke, his face set with determination.
“As long as we can save Instructor Sabigang, it doesn’t matter.”
“Same here.”
Jo Muntak added, and soon, other students like Dan Lijeong and Neung Soso joined in, pledging their support.
Just a few months ago, these students had been uncooperative with Sabigang, but now they were united in their resolve to save him.
Finally, all eyes turned to Mok Dan-hwa, the last to speak.
With a resigned expression, she said, “Well… if I don’t go, we’ll be short on strength. So, I’ll come along.”
Her reluctant words made the students exchange amused glances.
Yeom Jaryang nodded.
“Alright, let’s move out.”
The students nodded firmly and were about to leave the courtyard when—
“Huh?”
Yeom Jaryang stopped abruptly.
Standing before them was Dang Ihyeop.
Not just Yeom Jaryang, but all the students held their breath.
‘Damn, right before we set off…!’
Yeom Jaryang bit his lip and spoke.
“Please don’t stop us. We’re going to rescue our instructor….”
“If you go like this, you’ll all die. Training is different from real combat.”
“We know! But we can’t just stay silent!”
“I never said to stay silent.”
“But if you stop us….”
“I never stopped you.”
”…What?”
The students, including Yeom Jaryang, looked up in confusion.
Behind them, a woman descended gracefully.
“Do you think you can save Instructor Sabigang with just that much spirit? If someone blocks your way, you have to charge through.”
“Instructors….”
“From now on, it’s an off-campus lesson. Stay sharp and follow us.”
The students’ faces lit up with hope.
“Understood!”
**
“An off-campus lesson?”
Eun Giryeong turned around.
Joo Yucheon nodded.
“Yes, it was suddenly requested last night. Instructor Dang came personally.”
“Hmm. An off-campus lesson….”
An off-campus lesson meant conducting classes outside the academy.
Unlike a long journey like a martial arts expedition, it could be as short as a day or two, or as long as ten days.
Of course, the sudden request for an off-campus lesson from the Special Training Class had a significant implication.
“I approved it for now.”
Joo Yucheon’s words made Eun Giryeong’s eyes narrow.
“You must understand the implications, Dean Joo.”
”…I do.”
“Yet you approved it?”
“If I must take responsibility….”
“That’s not what I meant. It’s just… it seems you’ve changed a lot, Dean Joo. Haha.”
Joo Yucheon gave a wry smile.
Indeed, he had changed.
Just a few months ago, he wouldn’t have tolerated any breach of academy rules.
Of course, the Special Training Class hadn’t broken any rules yet.
But they would soon.
He knew that and still gave his approval.
When did he become so lenient?
Sensing his inner turmoil, Eun Giryeong spoke gently.
“A flexible sword doesn’t break.”
“But a flexible sword is harder to wield.”
“If handled well, it can become an excellent weapon.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Eun Giryeong smiled warmly and walked to the window.
“Let’s hope nothing happens.”
‘If anything does, I’ll take responsibility and step down.’
Joo Yucheon thought, bowing his head silently.
**
Deep in the mountains, a secluded manor.
It was the secret base of the Blood Lotus Sect where Baekto resided.
On a high branch overlooking the manor, a figure stood tall.
It was Dan Lijeong.
A man leaped up beside him.
“What’s the situation?”
Dang Ihyeop asked.
“There are five guards at the main gate, and one stationed at intervals along the wall.”
“Anything unusual?”
“I can’t determine where Instructor Sabigang might be held.”
“That’s fine.”
Dan Lijeong turned to look at Dang Ihyeop.
Dang Ihyeop pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket.
It was a rough map of the manor.
“To the north of the manor, there’s a cliff. There’s a cave there where the instructor and students seem to be held.”
“I see.”
“How many can you take out?”
“With luck, two. One for sure.”
“Luck isn’t a plan. Make it two, no matter what.”
Dan Lijeong flinched but nodded.
“Understood.”
“Good, I trust you.”
Dang Ihyeop jumped down.
Below, the students were gathered.
‘Is this really okay?’
Worry clouded Dang Ihyeop’s face.
After receiving the Guiyeongbu’s message, he had no choice but to include the students in the operation.
But he would have preferred to keep them out of it.
However, Sabigang had insisted on the opposite.
He wanted the operation centered around the students.
So, the task of breaking through the main gate was assigned to the students.
Of course, if things went awry, his subordinates would step in.
“Muntak and Danhwa will lead the charge. The signal is Dan Lijeong’s arrow.”
“Understood.”
Dressed in black, Jo Muntak and Danhwa responded immediately.
They were chosen for their speed.
Neung Soso would support them, her ability to control the wind being invaluable.
If the attack proceeded smoothly, the Guiyeongbu warriors would join in.
Gojok San was currently waiting with the Guiyeongbu warriors, ready to deploy at any moment.
As the two students moved forward, a rat watched them from a bush.
The odd thing was, the rat’s eyes were rolled back, white and eerie.
The rat scurried after them.
**
Sabigang’s eyes were rolled back, white and eerie.
Suddenly, he shouted as if in a fit.
“Hey, you idiot! How can you swing like that? Ugh, still fumbling around? Yes, dodge to the side! That’s it! No, wait! Damn it! Those sneaky bastards! Trying to hit from behind? What are you doing? Take him out now!”
With his eyes rolled back, Sabigang’s shouting seemed like a bizarre sleep talk.
The Beast Fiend, watching nervously, was on edge.
“W-what’s wrong with you?”
“That damn bastard, kill him now! Hurry! Don’t let him get away!”
“Wh-who? Who’s the bastard?”
The Beast Fiend looked around in a panic.
However, Sabigang remained silent.
Instead, he continued to mutter to himself, occasionally shouting out loud.
In truth, he was using observer magic to watch the cadets’ battles.
Unintentionally, this focus led him to speak his thoughts aloud.
Finally, Sabigang’s eyes, which had rolled back, returned to normal.
He grinned slyly.
“It’s time.”
“Time for what?”
“Release me.”
“What?”
“It’s time for me to make some noise. Let me go.”
“But, but that’s…!”
The demon beast fidgeted nervously, stammering as if this request was too much, even for him.
Sabigang feigned a threat.
“Melting this pile of scrap metal is nothing. Release me. I’m saving my strength by not doing it myself.”
“Still… I can’t…”
“Listen well. If I break free, you’re dead.”
“What? You promised to spare me!”
“I did, as long as you follow my orders.”
“Are you sure I’ll survive if I let you go?”
“Yes. All I need to do is catch that white rabbit, right? You’ve already crossed the point of no return.”
“Alright, alright.”
The demon beast reluctantly pulled out a key from his belt.
Sabigang smiled faintly.
In truth, he had no way to break the enchanted chains himself.
Initially, he thought he could melt them with fire magic.
While the chains suppressed internal energy, they couldn’t suppress mana.
Yet, unexpectedly, the chains were too durable to be easily melted by fire magic.
So, Sabigang decided to manipulate the warden instead.
Click!
Finally, the chains binding Sabigang were released.
Crack. Pop.
Sabigang stretched his neck, a smirk playing on his lips.
“Alright, let’s have some fun.”
**
“Hmm.”
Phantom demon Hamgajo, wearing a white rabbit mask, examined the sword, Vertas, with Unbyeok.
“It’s certainly not an ordinary item…”
Judging by the craftsmanship, it’s not a common street sword.
Yet, it’s hard to pinpoint any special features.
But…
‘Was that feeling when I first held it just a coincidence?’
The sensation was still vivid.
That strange feeling.
As if the sword was alive.
But it was only that once.
Since then, Vertas was just a well-made sword.
Unbyeok, standing nearby, stroked his chin and spoke.
“Come to think of it, Instructor Yeonjin once had suspicions about this sword.”
“What kind of suspicions?”
“A cadet who held this sword nearly killed his comrade.”
“But just looking at it, there’s no way to tell. We might have to ask Sabigang.”
It’s been about ten days, so he should be ready to talk by now.
The demon beast was one of Hamgajo’s most trusted interrogators.
A repulsive pervert, but his torture skills were unmatched.
By now, it wouldn’t be surprising if Sabigang was begging for mercy.
As Hamgajo moved with Vertas in hand, he suddenly sensed a disturbance outside.
‘An intruder?’
Unbyeok, who also sensed the presence, quickly approached.
“It seems we have intruders! But how did they find this secret hideout…?”
At that moment, Vertas began to hum and vibrate in Hamgajo’s hand.
Startled, Hamgajo gripped the sword tightly.
‘Damn it! Why is this happening now…!’
The vibration intensified.
“Gah!”
He clenched his teeth, tightening his grip.
Crack. Snap.
The veins on the back of his hand bulged.
Sensing something amiss, Unbyeok called out to him.
“Are you alright, Master Ham?”
“Ugh… Get… away…!”
“Why all of a sudden…?”
In an instant.
“Argh!”
With a swift motion, Vertas shot forward from Hamgajo’s hand, embedding itself in Unbyeok’s heart.
Unbyeok’s pupils dilated.
“Ugh! Mas… ter…?”
“Damn it!”
Hamgajo, barely managing to release Vertas, stepped back with wide eyes.
Vertas, lodged in Unbyeok’s chest, continued to drink deeply of his blood.