Chapter 52
Chapter 52
『 Translator – Divinity 』
‘Could it be me?’
The thought that he might be a martial arts genius suddenly popped into Cheok Gyo-woon's head.
In the meantime, Cheon Ha-seong was telling him what to watch out for from the side.
“It is best to concentrate on the flow of your internal energy and think of yourself as a conduit for the sword.”
Cheok Gyo-woon listened to those words and continued the techniques just as Cheon Ha-seong had told him.
It was similar to, yet different from, what had been passed down in the Cheok Demonic Clan. After executing the techniques for a good while, he lowered his sword and looked at Cheon Ha-seong.
Realizing that it was similar to his family's martial arts yet different, and that its might was far stronger, Cheok Gyo-woon could not hide his surprise.
“What is this?”
“Practicing with that from now on will be helpful.”
“How do you know these things, Head Instructor Cheon? This seems to be based on our family's martial arts.”
Cheon Ha-seong had no desire to explain the details, but since there were many things he needed Cheok Gyo-woon to do from now on, he had no choice but to begin his explanation.
“You could say it's because of the Heaven-Shattering Will Art. You already know that it is the martial art at the pinnacle of our cult's techniques. And you will also know that in our cult's long history, there has been no one who has achieved complete mastery of it. If you have the strongest martial art, but cannot master it, what would you do?”
“You would modify it and create a new martial art. Ahh…!”
Cheok Gyo-woon nodded as if he now understood the whole story.
“So our family's martial arts were also initially created with the Heaven-Shattering Will Art as their foundation.”
“That's right. And my experience dueling with the candidates from the Cheok Demonic Clan while I have been a Head Instructor at the Martial Arts Academy has also been of some help. Different people pass through some parts easily, but struggle in others, don't they? The martial artists of the Cheok Demonic Clan were like that too. Some people went through the first half easily, while others did not. As I dueled with so many of them, I came to know the martial arts of the Cheok Demonic Clan quite well.”
Cheok Gyo-woon shook his head as if he couldn't believe it. It wasn't that he couldn't believe what Cheon Ha-seong was saying. He was just realizing what a frightening person a Head Instructor of the Martial Arts Academy was.
However, he soon realized that it wasn't something that was possible just because Cheon Ha-seong was a Head Instructor at the Martial Arts Academy.
He could guarantee that if it weren't for Cheon Ha-seong, no one at the Martial Arts Academy would have been able to analyze and figure out the martial arts of the Divine Cult's prestigious Demonic Clans in such a way.
“From what I've seen, it seemed you were getting stuck in a few parts. So I thought about whether there was a way to bypass them. The result of that thought is what I have just shown you. What do you think? You're not getting stuck, are you?”
“Yes, Head Instructor.”
Only then did Cheok Gyo-woon understand everything with certainty.
He was not a person who lacked perseverance. He was quite diligent and had grit. But he had been frustrated so many times that he had begun to hesitate and had lost his confidence without even realizing it. Thinking, 'It won't work again anyway,' he had come to hate trying again and had gradually become intimidated.
But what Cheon Ha-seong had shown him was composed only of things he was good at. Cheok Gyo-woon finally realized that Cheon Ha-seong had been watching and observing him, and had created it by linking together only the things he did well.
“May I try it one more time?”
“Of course. I will tell you the mnemonic verses, so write them down and continue to train with them in the future.”
“Yes, Head Instructor.”
“You should be able to use it in a real battle right away without much trouble. It may seem like you're learning it for the first time, but there isn't a single technique you're doing now that you're doing for the first time. Only the sequence has changed.”
“Yes, Head Instructor.”
The vague thoughts that had been floating in Cheok Gyo-woon's mind became more certain as he listened to Cheon Ha-seong's words.
Cheok Gyo-woon executed the techniques again and realized that what Cheon Ha-seong had said was absolutely right.
After executing it, Cheok Gyo-woon also recorded the mnemonic verses that Cheon Ha-seong recited.
“Head Instructor, would it be alright to teach this to the other members of my family?”
Cheon Ha-seong had also thought about it, and his deliberation had been deep, but in the end, he nodded his head. He also had the thought, 'What if my opponent becomes stronger with the method I taught them, and betrays me with that newfound power?'
However, he decided to think that he could just become even stronger himself after making his opponent stronger. Although they were in a position of competing with each other within the Divine Cult right now, wouldn't a moment come someday when they would have to join forces with them and fight an external enemy?
Thinking that he had to prepare for that in advance, he spoke, and Cheok Gyo-woon's expression instantly brightened. He too had guessed that it had not been an easy decision for Cheon Ha-seong to make. And he firmly decided that he would make sure Cheon Ha-seong did not regret that decision.
“I have much to thank you for, Head Instructor.”
“I'd like to say the same.”
“……”
Thinking it would probably be too much to hear Cheon Ha-seong say that he was also thankful, Cheok Gyo-woon smiled awkwardly.
However, a voice was heard from behind Cheok Gyo-woon as he was about to leave the training ground first.
“I think I'm thankful right now, too.”
Cheok Gyo-woon could more than guess how difficult it must have been for Cheon Ha-seong to say such a thing with his personality, and he smiled to himself.
“I'll be on my way.”
“Take care.”
“Yes.”
Finally, Cheok Gyo-woon left the place. The back of Cheok Gyo-woon as he left the training ground looked lighthearted.
***
Persuading his mother was not difficult.
The Fourth Demonic Marquis, knowing that the Cult Leader was frequently summoning Cheok Gyo-woon, seemed to have her expectations growing day by day.
The Fourth Demonic Marquis grasped the Cult Leader's intentions before Cheok Gyo-woon could even finish his prepared words. In fact, she was the one who proposed it to Cheok Gyo-woon first.
“……”
As it was, he had been planning to say that, but when the matter the Cult Leader had ordered came out of his mother's mouth first, Cheok Gyo-woon was quite flustered.
“As it happens, the Second and Third Demonic Marquises have been visiting me frequently. At first, I cut them off firmly, but I also had the thought that if I talked with them, I might be able to find out their information and report it to the Cult Leader.”
“Mother, if you just do that, it will be helpful to both you and our family. Right now, the Cult Leader has higher expectations for you than ever before.”
“I understand. I shall do so. If the Family Head says otherwise, use me as an excuse. Tell him that I was so resolute that you could not go against my will.”
“Thank you, Mother. I will do so.”
Because the conversation ended so quickly, Cheok Gyo-woon was able to save a dramatic amount of time. In addition to that, the Family Head happened to be visiting the Fourth Demonic Marquis, so even that time was shortened.
He was just about to leave the Marquis Hall when he came to visit, so without Cheok Gyo-woon even needing to open his mouth, the Fourth Demonic Marquis resolved the matter herself.
The Family Head did not object greatly and obediently nodded his head.
He too had seen the change in the Cult Leader's attitude towards the Fourth Demonic Marquis and Cheok Gyo-woon, so he had judged that cooperating with the Cult Leader would be better for the family.
“Understood, Marquis. From now on, our family will cooperate with the Cult Leader, and externally, we will act as if we are aligned with the other prestigious Demonic Clans. I will deploy more of our family's martial artists around you from now on. Please do not ever go around alone.”
“I don't think there's a need to worry, but for now, I too will be careful.”
The conversation came and went in a warm atmosphere, and Cheok Gyo-woon looked much more at ease.
Seeing that expression, the Fourth Demonic Marquis said, out of a sudden bout of ill temper.
“This mother is worried about the future, yet you look so comfortable.”
“Please don't be like that, Mother. From now on, this son will train hard and protect you. Doesn't the future of the family depend on you being well? And it seems the Cult Leader will be seeking me out often in the future, so I think it would be good in many ways for me to be by your side.”
The Family Head wore a strange expression, wondering if there had ever been a time when Cheok Gyo-woon had such composure in his expression and words. But listening to him, it didn't seem like it would be a bad thing.
“Won't it be difficult to train comfortably if you are here?”
At that, Cheok Gyo-woon looked at the Family Head and, after hesitating as if wondering whether to tell him this secret, he opened his mouth with difficulty.
“That is not the case. Head Instructor Cheon Ha-seong of the Martial Arts Academy is of great help. If I get stuck on something, it seems I can go to him right away and ask, so I think being here is the best.”
If he was going to say that much, the Family Head, as if he had no intention of stopping him further, left the Fourth Demonic Marquis's Residence first.
The Fourth Demonic Marquis, thinking that Cheok Gyo-woon had intentionally said that so as not to burden her, felt proud. In any case, that misunderstanding was causing an affectionate feeling to sprout between them, so it was a good thing for Cheok Gyo-woon.
***
When Seo Hyo-eun went to find Cheon Ha-seong, he was in the training ground, swinging his sword.
It helped him to execute the techniques of the Heaven-Shattering Will Art from the beginning when he had a lot to think about.
And taking a step back from the Heaven-Shattering Will Art for a moment to focus on the storm of events that was unfolding also seemed to help his accomplishment.
“Is it going well, Head Instructor Cheon?”
Knowing that Seo Hyo-eun was entering, Cheon Ha-seong had already been organizing the flow of his internal energy.
Then, as he turned around, Seo Hyo-eun asked with a pleased expression.
“Yes, I think my martial talent is truly amazing.”
“That's something other people are supposed to say; how can you say such a thing so shamelessly with your own mouth?”
Cheon Ha-seong just smiled. He had no desire to refute her words and felt like he wanted to yield to Seo Hyo-eun in everything.
“How is your stomach? The Cult Leader said your morning sickness seems to be getting worse. It seems your morning sickness is lasting for a long time. I heard that for other people, it happens for a while and then stops.”
“They say that if you have severe morning sickness, the baby will be born healthy.”
Cheon Ha-seong did not believe that. It seemed like something some kind-hearted person had made up to console those who suffer from severe morning sickness.
But he was gradually starting to want to believe it.
“Come to think of it, it feels a bit unfair. The only time I spent with you, Head Instructor Seo, was that one night.”
When Cheon Ha-seong spoke in a suggestive tone, Seo Hyo-eun looked at him as if it were fascinating. It seemed she found it fascinating that he could say such a thing.
“I had thought how bored a woman who meets a man like you would be, but that's not necessarily the case. You know how to say things like this to your woman.”
Then, as if realizing that wasn't why she had come here, she approached Cheon Ha-seong and spoke.
“Head Instructor Cheon, listen. I think I may have found a clue. You know how I've been looking into various things lately to tell you? Well, I found something unusual there.”
Cheon Ha-seong had no idea what Seo Hyo-eun was talking about. She had skipped so far ahead in the story that he couldn't catch up.
However, before Cheon Ha-seong could ask again, Seo Hyo-eun explained in a little more detail.