18. The Man Crazier Than the Mad Demon (3)
Having finished her shocking declaration, the Mad Demon stepped back with a light, mocking smile, as if her role were already complete.
After briefly enjoying the sight of Hajin, who stood there at a loss with every gaze in the room fixed upon him, the Martial Arts Instructor stepped forward again, clearing his throat to shift the atmosphere.
"Attention again!"
The Instructor began to announce the specific details of the new test to the bewildered cadets.
"This stage of the exam will be conducted as a group project. Two cadets from the Heaven-Surpassing Pavilion and six from the Thousand-Day Pavilion here—a total of eight—will form a single group to perfectly execute a designated formation within the allotted time."
"Execute a formation?"
"Us?!"
At the mention of a formation, a subject unfamiliar to them, several cadets reacted with confusion. It was a task somewhat removed from the Demonic Cult’s culture, which prioritized individual martial prowess.
As if he had anticipated their reaction, the Instructor continued in a firm voice.
"The test you will take is the Demonic Path Eight-Pole Formation. It is a formation where eight people move in perfect unison from their assigned positions to restrain the enemy. You will be evaluated on the perfection of this formation one month from now."
The Instructor scanned the lined-up cadets and made his final declaration.
"You have exactly three days starting now to form your groups. The test for mastering the formation will begin in four days, so it would be wise to talk to those you find compatible before then."
As soon as these words fell, the Training Hall, which had been wrapped in silence, began to stir.
"Form a group? With those brats from the Heaven-Surpassing Pavilion?"
"No, what is this even about? A cooperation test? I’ve never even heard of such a thing!"
One by one, the cadets muttered with bewildered expressions, as if they could not believe the current situation.
Hajin, too, was in the center of that chaos.
'I came to the Thousand-Day Pavilion to avoid the Heaven-Surpassing Pavilion, and now they want me to take a test with those guys?'
His mind grew complicated. The scenario he had wanted to avoid most was becoming reality right before his eyes.
'What on earth are they talking about?'
From the Mad Demon’s shocking appearance to the sudden change in the testing method, everything was going awry, as if mocking his plans.
Just as that sense of bewilderment was washing over him, someone approached from within the crowd. It was Do-gyeong. After a quick glance around, he spoke in a low voice.
"Hajin, let's talk for a moment."
Seeing the quite serious look on his face, Hajin followed Do-gyeong to a quiet corner.
In the secluded spot, Do-gyeong checked his surroundings before lowering his voice to ask Hajin.
"Have you grasped the true intent of this test?"
"Intent?"
"This test is surely a political stage, under the guise of 'cooperation,' for the Thousand-Day Pavilion cadets to support their respective candidates from the Heaven-Surpassing Pavilion. It’s practically a proxy war for the position of Young Cult Leader."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. So, Hajin, what do you intend to do?"
It was a sharp question, laden with the intent of asking whose side he would take. Hajin remained silent for a moment. He wasn't oblivious; he knew that answering rashly would surely drag him into an uncontrollable factional struggle.
After much thought, he gave a short reply.
"……It’s still undecided, more or less."
The moment he heard the dry, emotionless answer, Do-gyeong’s mind filled with complex thoughts.
'Undecided? He’s already entered the Thousand-Day Pavilion; there’s no way he hasn’t decided yet. Does this mean he’s unwilling to reveal which candidate he supports?'
Do-gyeong’s eyes narrowed. It was clear that Hajin was still suspicious of him. He had received that impression once before, after all.
'Of course, there’s no way he could know for sure that I’m a spy, but why do I feel so uneasy?'
The words he had heard earlier—that he hoped to see him for a long time—kept ringing in his ears.
Do-gyeong maintained a smile on the outside, but on the inside, he raised his guard against Hajin another notch. This guy was definitely not someone to be underestimated.
'It’s not just that his skills are exceptional. He reads the flow of the political landscape and knows how to hide his cards.'
He fell into thought for a moment. What should he do to read this guy’s intentions as much as possible?
He felt that reading his expressions—his forte as a spy—was practically impossible. Even now, wasn't he wearing a face that suggested he had absolutely nothing on his mind? He was definitely a guy who knew how to wear a high-level mask.
'I have to get information on the candidate he supports somehow…….'
Do-gyeong’s brow furrowed. If he couldn't grasp this guy’s intentions, it might cause a major setback in his future plans. He had no choice but to find an excuse to keep the conversation going.
He was just about to open his mouth to continue the conversation, no matter what.
*Grumble-!*
Breaking the silence, a distinct noise struck their ears. The source of the sound was none other than Hajin’s stomach.
"……."
"……."
For a moment, a look of embarrassment flickered across Hajin’s expressionless face. He couldn't help but glance down at his stomach and scratch his head.
Do-gyeong, watching this, burst into a chuckle. He took this awkward moment as an opportunity to speak.
"Let’s talk while we eat something first. Isn't there a saying that one must eat to appreciate the beauty of the scenery?"
He tapped Hajin on the shoulder and gestured toward the cafeteria. Hajin nodded as well. After all, even the most beautiful scenery is best enjoyed after a meal.
Thus, their subtle battle of wits entered a temporary truce.
* * *
When Hajin and Do-gyeong entered the cafeteria, it was already bustling with numerous cadets. The noisy clamor and the smell of food created a lively atmosphere.
And in one corner of the cafeteria, a sight caught Hajin’s eyes: a mountain of golden-brown roasted chicken. A faint smile appeared on Hajin’s lips at the sight.
'I love you, Great Heavenly Demonic Cult!'
Without hesitation, he grabbed a plate, approached, and piled the mountain of chicken onto it to his heart's content. He soon found a seat at an empty table and took a blissful first bite.
The moment the juices spread in his mouth, Do-gyeong, sitting across from him, opened his mouth.
"My thoughts are no different from the past. I still believe that Yun-geom of the Sword Demon Sect is the most suitable for the position of Young Cult Leader……."
Just as Do-gyeong was about to set the stage and get the conversation going in earnest, uninvited guests appeared.
"Oh! You’re cadet number four hundred, Hajin, right!"
"The guy the Mad Demon mentioned earlier!"
Several other cadets, having spotted Hajin, approached with awkward expressions to greet him. Because of his reputation as a disciple of the Ghost Soul Hand, he was already something of a popular star at the Demonic Path Academy.
After the Mad Demon’s declaration, those with shallow calculations, hoping to somehow get on his good side, were flocking to him.
"I didn't know you’d come to the Thousand-Day Pavilion. They say you’re a disciple of the Ghost Soul Hand? Why didn't you go to the Heaven-Surpassing Pavilion?"
"More importantly, what’s this about the Mad Demon coming to the Thousand-Day Pavilion because of you? Have you had a private audience with him since the test?"
The cadets hovered around Hajin, each adding a word. Amidst the barrage of questions, Hajin didn't react, keeping the chicken in his mouth. He found this unexpected attention quite uncomfortable.
Then, one cadet brought up the main point.
"Have you decided on a group yet? It’s a test in three days, so nothing else matters. If you haven't decided on a group yet, I was wondering if you’d like to join the one I’m forming?"
At these words, the other cadets nearby pricked up their ears. Do-gyeong’s brow narrowed. All these guys were like flies interfering with his plans.
He maintained his smile with effort and opened his mouth.
"I’m sorry, but we were in the middle of an important conversation. If you have business, maybe later……."
It was just as Do-gyeong was trying to politely dismiss the cadets.
"Aw, don't be like that."
A few of the most proactive ones sat down right next to Hajin. They smiled brazenly, as if they had been part of the group all along.
"Let us join the conversation too. If it’s an important talk, shouldn't we share it among fellow Thousand-Day Pavilion cadets?"
The smile vanished from Do-gyeong’s face. It wasn't as if he didn't know their shallow motives.
'Should I just clear them all out?'
A chilling thought crossed his mind. It wouldn't be very difficult to make these noisy, barking flies shut up.
Even if not right here, it wouldn't be difficult to deal with them slowly. Cold killing intent gathered in his eyes.
Of course, Hajin, unbothered by the surrounding commotion, silently tore into a chicken leg.
'So noisy, seriously. They say you shouldn't even bother a dog while it’s eating, but these guys have no manners.'
He thought, glancing sideways at the noisy cadets.
'Come to think of it, am I the strange one for expecting manners from members of the Demonic Cult?'
It was while he was having this listless thought to himself, cleanly picking the meat off the bone, that a cadet sitting next to him suddenly asked.
"Come to think of it, four hundred! Which cadet from the Heaven-Surpassing Pavilion are you going to form a group with?"
Everyone’s gaze turned to Hajin. Hajin chewed on the bone for a moment, then replied as if he had no particular thoughts on the matter.
"Hmm, I haven't really thought about it much."
In truth, that was the case. He didn't even really know which cadets were in the Heaven-Surpassing Pavilion to begin with. If he had to pick one, he felt Cheon Ha-rin might be a bit troublesome.
"I think I’ll avoid Cheon Ha-rin."
Going with her would surely be quite exhausting. At Hajin’s words, the surroundings went quiet for a moment. Some showed signs of backing away. It seemed they had judged that they couldn't go with Hajin.
At that moment, Do-gyeong, who had been clenching his fist under the table, perked up his ears. His mind began to spin rapidly once again.
'It’s certainly clear he doesn't support Cheon Ha-rin.'
If it wasn't the Cult Leader’s daughter, the remaining likely candidates were highly likely to be the blood relatives or disciples of the Demonic Sovereign. The problem was that Hajin’s attitude didn't seem to support anyone in particular.
'Who on earth does he support? Or is he really not thinking about anything? That can't be right.'
Do-gyeong fell into deep suspicion once again. The more he learned about Hajin, the more the man felt like a fog that could not be grasped. He quietly unclenched his fist. At the very least, now was not the time to deal with them.
'I need to gather more information. To do that...'
Just as Do-gyeong was trying to regain control of the conversation, the students gathered around began to murmur. Their gazes turned toward a single point in unison.
'What is it?'
Only then did Do-gyeong sense someone approaching from behind and slowly turn his head. A woman stood before him.
Her brown hair was tied back neatly without a single ornament, and her expression appeared somewhat blunt. Yet, her mere presence was enough to overwhelm those around her.
Do-gyeong recognized her immediately.
She was the daughter of the Blade Demon, the woman known as one of the Three Flowers of the Heavenly Demonic Cult, alongside Cheon Ha-rin and the disciple of the Poison Demon.
'Why is So-yeon here?'
It was an inn, so she could be here. But her coming toward this table was an entirely different matter. The moment Do-gyeong pondered this, So-yeon opened her mouth.
Looking at her now, her gaze had been fixed entirely on Hajin, who was holding a chicken bone, from the very beginning.
"Cadet number 400. If you haven't chosen a group yet, would you like to join mine?"
At those words, all the noise in the dining hall ceased as if by magic. Do-gyeong’s mind felt as though it had been struck by a bomb.
'After the Mad Demon? Even So-yeon is showing interest in that guy? Why?'
Do-gyeong could not help but be more shocked than ever. The situation had completely deviated from his expectations. Of course, the same was true for Hajin.
'And who exactly are you...?'
Their bewilderment was identical.
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