Academy Bully in Charge - Chapter 39
Baek Iljin, who had been listening with a relaxed expression, felt his face twitch for a moment at the unexpected words.
‘The son of Cheon Subaek?’
There was a time when he had once asked his grandfather about the existence of parents. Back then, his grandfather had simply smiled quietly with a bitter expression, giving no answer.
Since then, he had lived his entire life burying the existence of parents in a corner of his heart. Because he never wanted to see that expression on his grandfather’s face again.
But hearing such words from the old sword spirit out of nowhere, his heart began to pound heavily.
After a brief pause, he opened his mouth.
“……What is that supposed to mean?”
—You answer first. Have you mastered the Heavenly Demonic Divine Art?
“I have never done such a thing. I didn’t even know something called the Heavenly Demonic Divine Art existed.”
Baek Iljin picked up the sword he had set down.
“Now speak. What do you mean by calling me the son of Cheon Subaek?”
For some reason, seeing Baek Iljin unable to hide his excitement and firing off questions, a hint of mockery seeped into the Cheonma Sword’s tone.
—What, you don’t even know your own parents?
Baek Iljin gripped the sword with such force that he looked ready to snap the Cheonma Sword right then and there, and spoke.
“I’m not in the mood for jokes.”
This time, as if serious, dark blue internal energy enveloped Baek Iljin’s hand.
—Damn, you didn’t inherit his personality at all.
When the Cheonma Sword continued grumbling without getting to the point, Baek Iljin once again wrapped internal energy around his hand.
—Ah, I got it! I believe you are the son of Cheon Subaek.
“That person you said was your original owner?”
—That’s right. The 16th Heavenly Demon, and the damned culprit who ruined the 300-year history of the Heavenly Demonic Divine Cult.
The Cheonma Sword grew heated as it spoke, its body trembling as it unleashed a fervent speech. But when Baek Iljin raised his hand, it immediately stopped.
“But how can you be so sure that person is my father?”
—If you saw his face too, even at first sight, you’d call him dad and run to hug him. Of course, unlike you, he was always smiling.
‘So we look alike……’
Baek Iljin silently gazed at his face reflected in the window. Certainly, his expression was as parched as earth hardened after rain.
He put strength into his cheeks and raised the corners of his lips. He slightly lifted the flesh beneath his eyes to form an eye smile. Then he faced himself in the mirror once more.
‘Would it feel like this?’
—You look exactly alike. Making that expression too, you’re the spitting image.
“You don’t even have eyes, yet you seem to see very well.”
—As long as Heavenly Demon Qi is present nearby, awakening the five senses is an easy task.
Baek Iljin, whose face had begun to twitch at some point, relaxed his expression and looked at the Cheonma Sword. Now it was time for the next question.
“Hmm……”
But words wouldn’t come out easily, as if a huge mountain were blocking his throat. Was it sadness? Or was it confusion?
“Uh…… Hmm.”
Unable to stand seeing Baek Iljin so uncharacteristically hesitant, the Cheonma Sword stepped forward first and spoke.
—Are you wondering who your mother is?
At the word “mother,” Baek Iljin’s gaze wavered about. He slightly parted his lips and nodded.
—I don’t really know either. A stinking reptile…… Ugh!
The Cheonma Sword, which had nearly been snapped in half due to its poor choice of words, grumbled and continued.
—I only know that your mother is a dragon. From the moment he met that woman, my relationship with your father rapidly grew distant.
The Cheonma Sword, which had been speaking, paused for a moment. Then, recalling the past, it began to speak in a low voice.
Baek Iljin listened intently to the Cheonma Sword’s words with an expression like a child listening to fairy tales read by his grandfather.
* * *
It was an early summer day when the pouring shower seemed as though a hole had been punctured in the sky, refusing to cease.
Cheon Subaek sat down on the roadside without even using an umbrella. Then he stirred the yellow pine pollen floating about the roadside, swept along by the rainwater.
The smile on his face was the same as always. But for some reason, the Cheonma Sword thought he looked as though he were crying.
“In the place where I used to live, there was a place called a playground.”
The Cheonma Sword silently listened to his story.
“If I crouched down in the playground and stirred this pine pollen like this, my mom would come running……”
Cheon Subaek shook his hand in the pooled rainwater to wash it off and stood up.
“But now no one comes. There’s no one to come for me.”
—…….
Then he suddenly spoke.
“I’m going to become a disciple of that person called the Martial God. If I reach the end of martial arts, I might be able to return to where I lived.”
—What? You’re becoming that old man’s disciple? He’s the culprit who destroyed the Heavenly Demonic Divine Cult!
“The Heavenly Demonic Divine Cult had already fallen. Even without him, the ending wouldn’t have been good.”
—That’s because you……!
The Cheonma Sword had been about to say it was because he lacked ruthlessness, because he couldn’t firmly cut out the rotten ones, but stopped.
It had heard once before.
That in the world he lived in, murder was an unforgivable act.
Perhaps that was why Cheon Subaek, despite possessing such powerful martial prowess, was a weakling who had never laid a hand on anyone.
—Tch, that’s why I dislike you. You’re too weak.
The strongest Heavenly Demon in history yet the weakest Heavenly Demon—that was Cheon Subaek.
“I’m sorry, Cheongeon. I’m backing down.”
—Hmph, we don’t need a cult anyway. The Heavenly Demon is the Heavenly Demonic Divine Cult itself. As long as you remain, the rest can disappear for all I care.
“Thank you.”
Afterward, Cheon Subaek, who had promised to turn his back on the world and live in seclusion, became the Martial God’s disciple, and his martial arts grew by the day.
He was so harsh on himself that even the Cheonma Sword watching him was appalled.
—Are you alright?
“I’m fine. I’m certain now.”
—Certain of what?
“If I reach the end of martial arts, I can return to my homeland.”
For some reason, the Cheonma Sword felt a sense of loss at that moment. But it couldn’t interfere with a close friend over such trivial emotions.
—……Understood. Do your best.
Then one day, after a long time, Cheon Subaek picked up the Cheonma Sword.
But his condition was strange. He was emaciated, and his sunken eyes were like those of a corpse.
“……Long time no see.”
—You! Why are you in that state?
“Don’t worry, it’s because I destroyed my dantian not long ago. I’ll be fine soon.”
As if he lacked the strength to walk on his own, someone was supporting him by his side.
—What? You destroyed your dantian? Have you truly gone mad!
“I failed to keep the oath I made to my master, so I must leave after destroying my dantian at least.”
Failed to keep the oath?
The oath Cheon Subaek had made was to sever his ties with the secular world. Breaking that oath was tantamount to giving up on returning to his homeland.
—You said you were going back to your homeland!
Cheon Subaek nodded and smiled. Unlike his body, which had grown dim and slumped from the loss of internal energy, his eyes alone were brighter than ever.
*Cough, cough—*
Blood sprayed from his mouth as he coughed while laughing. But he did not let his smile fade as he spoke.
“Isn’t it funny even to you? The guy who said he’d return after hundreds of years is doing this now.”
—Madman.
“Keke, love is…… I think it’s a kind of magic that makes you choose truly inefficient options.”
And he pointed to the woman supporting him.
She was a woman from whom even the Cheonma Sword couldn’t sense any energy. If there was anything peculiar, it was that she gave off a unique fragrance.
“Say hello. She’s my fiancée, Rishiarin. My new homeland where I’ll spend the rest of my life.”
He looks like he’s about to die, so what’s so joyful about him? Did he destroy his dantian just to spew such cringeworthy words?
The Cheonma Sword couldn’t accept this choice of its longtime companion.
—So you’re saying you abandoned the Heavenly Demonic Divine Cult, your dantian, and even your family in your homeland. And what you chose is that woman.
“……If you put it that way, I have nothing to say. But please don’t hate Rishiarin.”
—You really are a terrible fellow.
After that, the Cheonma Sword closed its mouth. Nevertheless, whenever something happened—or rather, even when nothing happened—Cheon Subaek would always approach first and strike up a conversation.
“Cheongeon, I’m going to have a child. Haha…… Who would have thought I’d start a family in this world? Isn’t it amazing?”
—…….
“The name hasn’t been decided yet. I wish my master would name the child……”
—…….
Inwardly, it wanted to say congratulations, and ask if it could name the child instead if the master was unable to.
But its mouth wouldn’t open. So even then, the Cheonma Sword gave no answer.
A few months passed like that, when Cheon Subaek grabbed the Cheonma Sword and spoke in a trembling voice.
“Cheongeon, sorry for saying this so suddenly…… Could you do me one favor?”
—…….
“Please answer me. I need the Heavenly Demon Qi.”
Cheon Subaek’s voice, which had been full of vigor even on the day he returned after destroying his own dantian, was trembling with desperation. But it couldn’t lend him the Heavenly Demon Qi.
The Cheonma Sword broke the long silence and spoke.
—……I can’t.
It wasn’t simply because it disliked Cheon Subaek. He was currently in a weakened state; using Heavenly Demon Qi without being able to handle the Heavenly Demonic Divine Art was no different from suicide.
“Cheongeon…… I’m really begging you. Just help me this once……”
—…….
It should have said no firmly. Had it been tainted by weakness because of Cheon Subaek? It couldn’t easily refuse.
“I’m begging you.”
—Use as little as possible. In your current physical condition, you won’t last even one minute.
“……Thank you.”
Having received permission, Cheon Subaek took the Cheonma Sword and ran somewhere.
It was the backyard of the house. There, Cheon Subaek’s wife Rishiarin had collapsed with her polymorph dispelled.
The enormous dragon’s body was covered with hundreds of scars. Breath barely entered, and blood seeped out with each exhalation.
“Cheongeon, please.”
The moment he spoke, Cheon Subaek drew out the Heavenly Demon Qi. He handled it using innate qi, which was no different from his life force.
The Heavenly Demon Qi enveloped Rishiarin’s body and materialized the energy contained in the Dragon Heart. The wounded dragon did not refuse and gave it all away.
The dragon’s corpse, having given up its energy and closed its eyes, withered away and disappeared into nature within seconds. At the same time, Cheon Subaek spat out blood.
*Cough—*
His torn left lung scattered in tatters. His left eye burst from being unable to withstand the pressure of the energy.
Cheon Subaek squeezed out even his last remaining life force and continued his actions.
“H-Hey, wait, what are you doing right now!”
Cheon Subaek, having driven all the materialized energy into the Cheonma Sword, collapsed on the spot. A metallic, groaning sound leaked from his mouth.
—Don’t die.
“Cheongeon, I’m Cheon Subaek. *Hurk* The Cheon Subaek who couldn’t die even when he wanted to for hundreds of years.”
Whether there was still something left to do, Cheon Subaek continued digging at the ground even while collapsed. His nails split and his fingertips broke off. Nevertheless, having dug a deep pit, he buried the Cheonma Sword.
“*Huff* Cheongeon. Thank you for everything……”
And Cheon Subaek never returned.
* * *
—That’s all.
Baek Iljin, having heard the whole story, silently nodded. Unlike his still stiff face, his focus wavered rapidly.
“I see. But why does he call you Cheongeon instead of Cheonma Sword?”
—He said he didn’t like calling his close friend by a name containing the character for “demon”…… Even though he himself was called the Heavenly Demon. Funny guy.
“I see.”
—You’re a stiff one.
“Did someone named Cheon Subaek ever come looking after that?”
—He didn’t. That’s why I mistook you for Cheon Subaek. But……
The Cheonma Sword trailed off, then spoke as if something had come to mind.
—A few years ago, a yellow-haired brat with small eyes came once and tried to wield me, so I taught him a lesson.
“Yellow hair?”
—He impudently tried to steal your mother’s energy, so I tore his palm apart. After that, he couldn’t even think of wielding me again and buried me there.
Feeling somehow hot, Baek Iljin opened the window, let the wind hit him, and asked.
“But who were the ones who attacked that dragon?”
—I don’t know, but there is a way to find out.
“What way?”
—Gaebyeokhwan.
“Gaebyeokhwan?”
—It is a ring made of ink-black stone. With that ring, you should be able to learn what you’re curious about. Unlike me, that guy was on good terms with Cheon Subaek.
‘A ring……’
Baek Iljin raised his right hand and looked at his ring finger. The adventurer’s ring his grandfather had given him as a gift was on it.
‘I’ll wear it on my left hand.’
If it’s my parents’ legacy, I must find it. Not necessarily right now, but someday, without fail.
When he finished his thoughts and opened his eyes, Baek Iljin’s pupils flashed a vivid blue.