So? Did Someone Force You to Become the Heavenly Demon? Chapter 141

Chapter 141: A Terrifying Man (3)

Fortunately, the sparring tournant ended with great success and safety.

No student went berserk during their matches, and Il-mok did not suffer from a relapse of his perfectionist compulsion and break into a sword dance.

The day after the tests ended peacefully, another typical—yet sohow special—day began at the Hall of the Demonic Way.

Most of the ti passed like any other day.

There were just two new developnts.

First, following the instructors, the students finally began their one-on-one counseling sessions with Physician Seo Jae-pil.

Second, today marked Instructor Xiao Hong's first day of teaching.

“A pleasure to et you all. As soone who once graduated from this very hall, I understand your passion better than anyone.”

She walked confidently among the students as she continued her introduction.

"So rest easy. I've served the cult at the Law Enforcent Hall for over ten years, protecting our laws and doctrines on the front lines."

But despite her confident words, her mind was a tangled ss.

‘…Judging from his reaction on the first day, he seems to have so goodwill toward .’

As she was thinking this, her eyes happened to et Il-mok’s.

Smile.

Il-mok gave her a gentle smile, as if to say he was completely harmless.

Xiao Hong, who was usually thorough when it ca to work, almost flinched at that smile without realizing it.

She might be skilled at her job, but she was a complete amateur when it ca to romance.

Thank god she had prepared all of her lecture material in advance. Despite her flustered state, her mouth started moving on autopilot.

"Prophet Park once said..."

Even as the introduction ended and class began, her head remained in turmoil.

‘Phew. That smile just now… He definitely seems to be warming up to . So, what’s my next move?’

The advice from her married friends ca to mind.

‘n have a strong need for recognition. Many of them will lay down their lives for soone who recognizes their worth.’

That advice ca from a woman who'd won her seniors' love through praise. And then there was more...

‘They say all n are wolves, you know? If you brush hands or bodies with them here and there, their hearts will be moved.’

That one ca from a senior at the Law Enforcent Hall who'd successfully seduced and married her crush.

Deciding this was the way to go for now, Xiao Hong, who had been walking among the students while teaching, ca to a stop.

Right in front of Il-mok.

"Disciple Il-mok."

"Yes, Instructor."

“Give your opinion on why the Prophet Park spared the herb gatherer, even though he executed the other evil n.”

‘Probably because the crazy bastard just felt like it,’ Il-mok thought, but he wasn't stupid enough to say that out loud.

‘What the hell is wrong with this scripture? Half the content is about killing people or why we should kill people.’

While inwardly cursing the Secret Record of the Heavenly Demon—their so-called book of doctrines and scriptures—Il-mok wore a natural-looking smile.

“Because while the others all made excuses about having families waiting at ho and begged for forgiveness while still unrepentant, the herb gatherer vowed to follow the Prophet Park and dedicate himself to the cause of the cult. He repented, whereas the others succumbed to their inner evil.”

It was sothing he had learned from Jin Hayeon while preparing for his entrance exam, and a pretty basic question, so the answer wasn't difficult.

But for so reason, despite answering such a fundantal question, Xiao Hong smiled.

It was an artificial and awkward smile.

"Truly excellent."

After delivering that wooden-like, awkward praise, her hand was already moving toward Il-mok's.

Under the pretense of praise, she was trying to sneakily grab his hand.

Swoosh!

But her hand only grabbed thin air.

Il-mok had already pulled his hand back.

"......."

Xiao Hong's pupils shook violently. She hadn't expected Il-mok to avoid her touch.

‘Sh-should I use a grappling technique to grab him?’

The thought actually crossed her mind, but she managed to hold back. That would look like an attack rather than seduction.

Of course, it was already too late.

‘Why is she suddenly trying to grab my hand?’

Il-mok, who was already suspicious of her, felt his wariness dig even deeper into his mind.

While they were both lost in their own thoughts, a strange silence fell over the hall.

"......."

Xiao Hong felt her brain overheating as she frantically tried to think what to do.

She had to recall another piece of advice from one of her married friends.

‘In the end, love is just another form of affection. And like any bond between people, you need to increase the ti you spend together.’

This advice ca from a friend who had married a man she'd worked with as a colleague for a long ti.

‘Right. I was too hasty this ti. I need to gradually increase the ti we spend alone together.’

So, how could she increase their ti together? Xiao Hong didn't have to think hard to find the answer.

"Ahem. Since Disciple Il-mok gave an excellent answer, I think you deserve a reward.”

"...What kind of reward?"

“I grant you a special opportunity to receive private guidance from outside of the regular class hours. Co to my office after your club hours are over.”

Her “secret” invitation made Il-mok almost burst into laughter.

‘…This one's even more obvious than Ma Do-yeong.’

He'd already seen through Ma Do-yeong, so he couldn't fathom why they would send an assassin who was even more conspicuous than the forr.

But regardless of how obvious she was being…

"Ahem. With all due respect, Instructor, I think any of the other cadets here could have answered such a basic question. I will accept a reward when I've done sothing that truly deserves one.”

Il-mok politely declined her invitation.

Accepting an invitation from soone so obviously suspicious would be suicide.

“V-very well.”

Xiao Hong's composure wavered. She hadn't expected a re student to reject her so bluntly.

But since she'd prepared thoroughly for the lesson, there was no major problem continuing the class.

Lost in her lecture, she failed to see the peculiar looks the students gave her.

***

For the next few days, both during and outside class hours, Xiao Hong continued her subtle attempts to seduce Il-mok based on the advice she'd received.

Then, around lunchti on the third day, Instructor Eun Ryeo ca to find her.

“Instructor Xiao. May I have a word with you?”

"Of course, Instructor Eun."

After following the stone-faced Eun Ryeo to a quiet spot, Eun Ryeo asked directly.

"I've heard the rumors. You have feelings for Young Master Il-mok, don’t you?"

"...What do you an, Instructor Eun? This is the first I'm hearing of this."

Xiao Hong, who had plenty of experience in everything except romance, quickly composed her expression and answered.

But it didn't work on Eun Ryeo. Not because she saw through Xiao Hong's mask, but simply because...

“Since you are also a graduate from the Hall, you should know how small this place is. It ans there are eyes and ears everywhere.”

The problem was that rumors were already spreading like wildfire among the students.

Xiao Hong tried to deny it again, but Eun Ryeo cut her off.

"Love is a private matter, so it's not my place to interfere. I called you here simply to offer a piece of advice.”

"What kind of advice...?"

Xiao Hong felt a flicker of hope.

All her attempts at flirting with Il-mok over the past few days had failed. The advice from her friends had been useless, so she desperately needed a new perspective.

But Eun Ryeo's response was far from what Xiao Hong had hoped for.

"Give up on Disciple Il-mok."

"...What do you an?"

Xiao Hong's expression almost crumpled. Giving up on Il-mok was no different from giving up on her mission.

Unaware of Xiao Hong's true intentions, Eun Ryeo spoke while forcing herself to remain expressionless.

“It's unbecoming of as an instructor to say this, but Disciple Il-mok is a man of many sins. Even if things work out, the ending won't be a happy one. He's a man who takes no responsibility when it cos to won.”

After all, Il-mok had already abandoned Jeong Hyeon, Ju Seo-yeon, and Bang Mi-hwa.

Eun Ryeo felt nothing but pity for Xiao Hong, who had developed feelings for such a man.

“I hope you will think carefully about my advice.”

With those final words, Eun Ryeo turned and left.

Getting too deeply involved in soone's personal life wasn't wise, and besides, she found it hard to maintain her composure while looking at this poor moth drawn to Il-mok’s fla.

"......."

Watching Eun Ryeo's retreating figure after saying her piece and leaving, Xiao Hong couldn't hide her bewildernt.

"Tsk."

She clicked her tongue lightly and returned to her office, only to be summoned again shortly after.

"You called for , Head Instructor?"

She greeted Chu Il-hwan, who had temporarily beco her direct superior, with a formal bow.

"Ahem. Co in."

And for so reason, Chu Il-hwan showed an awkward attitude instead of his usual playful self.

"Hmm. I heard the story."

“…What story might that be?”

Feeling a strange sense of déjà vu, she asked back.

"Strange rumors involving you and Young Master Il-mok."

"......."

When Chu Il-hwan said the exact sa thing as Eun Ryeo, Xiao Hong was montarily speechless.

Mistaking her silence for sothing else, Chu Il-hwan quickly added.

"Ahem. Romance is a private matter, so I don't really intend to interfere. But Instructor Xiao, you've just been assigned to the Hall, rember? At least for a while, shouldn't your priority be adapting to the instructors, students, and how the Hall operates?"

For Xiao Hong, this was humiliating advice.

She, who had always dedicated herself completely to her work—so much so that she had even accepted this ridiculous mission—was being treated like a rookie who couldn't separate her personal and professional life.

But being the professional she was, she quickly composed herself.

"I apologize for causing trouble for the Head Instructor."

"Hmm. It wasn't really troubleso, so don't worry about it."

"Then, could you give so advice as a new instructor? I still don't know much about how the Hall operates recently or about the other instructors."

“Hahaha! As the Head Instructor, it’s my duty to teach you about these things.”

The mont Chu Il-hwan answered, Xiao Hong started asking questions.

After asking about the Hall's recent educational policies and the characteristics of other instructors for a while, Xiao Hong subtly probed the main topic.

"Ah, co to think of it, I actually heard sothing similar from Instructor Eun Ryeo."

"From Instructor Eun Ryeo?"

"Yes. Instructor Eun Ryeo advised to give up my feelings for Disciple Il-mok."

Xiao Hong didn’t miss the strange twitch in Chu Il-hwan’s expression.

“By any chance, is there sothing unusual going on between Instructor Eun Ryeo and Disciple Il-mok?”

"Hmm. I'm not really sure."

When Chu Il-hwan tried to squirm away, Xiao Hong cast a bigger lure.

“She also ntioned that Disciple Il-mok is a man of many sins. She even said he had no sense of responsibility. From the way she talked, there must be sothing between Instructor Eun Ryeo and Student Il-mok, right?"

Faced with her persistent questioning, Chu Il-hwan, who had been lost in thought, let out a sigh and answered.

"Actually, Instructor Eun Ryeo also had deep ties with Disciple Il-mok."

"Deep ties. Of what kind?"

"Ahem. Well, if she's talking about responsibility… you can probably guess what that implies, can't you?”

Xiao Hong, who had no romantic experience, thought for a mont before her eyes widened dramatically.

Seeing her shocked reaction, Chu Il-hwan sighed deeply. ‘So it's true! The conversation I overheard that day wasn't a misunderstanding!’

Chu Il-hwan recalled the conversation between Eun Ryeo and Il-mok he'd eavesdropped on the day he'd gone berserk. Combined with what he'd just heard from Xiao Hong, there was no room for doubt.

His head began to spin. This was why Chu Il-hwan had looked so uncomfortable from the mont he first called Xiao Hong in.

It wasn't just because this concerned Il-mok, the man who had forgiven him for his rampage.

‘How in the world am I supposed to handle this kind of thing?’

Between the side effects of his Demonic Art and dedicating himself only to work and training, Chu Il-hwan had no romantic experience despite being nearly forty.

If he had to think about it, only one thod of handling this ca to mind.

—Seducing so many won already! I should kill that goddamn bastard right now!

That’s what his Demonic Art whispered to him.

‘Shut up!’

Thankfully, his self-discipline had deepened after the last incident, so Chu Il-hwan barely managed to suppress his inner demon.

anwhile, while Chu Il-hwan was fighting his inner demons...

Xiao Hong, having received this shocking news, was weeping tears of blood on the inside.

‘Oh, Chief, why have you given such a trial?!’

Not just because Il-mok was so lecher beyond her imagination.

‘Didn't you say he was just a sixteen-year-old boy! Didn't you say he wouldn't understand a mature woman's charms!! If even Instructor Eun Ryeo, who's four years older than , fell for him, how am I supposed to seduce that kid!?’

It was because she had realized her mission was far, far more difficult than she had ever anticipated.