Heavenly Demon Divine Saint - Chapter 35

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 35
The Gate Keeper’s complexion drained to a sickly pallor.
‘Leave? He’s telling us to… leave?’
The Discipline Hall Members hardened their expressions, glaring at Sa Ma-ryang. The Inspectors, though concealing their reaction, were equally flustered.
‘…He’s certainly bold.’
‘Heh, unpredictable indeed. Youth truly is something.’
‘Is this right? Is this really right? Did “fully prepared” mean he was ready to cause chaos?! That his inner energy was completely full?!’
Sa Ma-chang barely restrained the urge to seize Sa Ma-ryang by the collar and demand answers.
When had he changed like this? Where had that snot-nosed child gone—the one who would giggle even when his toys were taken away?
Though a distant relative, they shared the same bloodline and surname.
Having spent time together in childhood, he thought he understood the boy’s nature well enough, but he had been utterly mistaken.
‘Damn it!’
Yet beneath such inner turmoil.
“The Inspector’s words are just. This is no place for apologies.”
His form of address had shifted. In a formal setting, hierarchy must be clearly established.
Thump!
Sa Ma-chang infused his inner energy and shoved the Gate Keeper’s shoulder.
He was certain that backing down now would accomplish nothing.
“Let us pass.”
Leaving the Gate Keeper behind—groaning in pain before losing consciousness and collapsing—the group entered the Inner Courtyard.
In that instant.
Whoooosh!
Some thirty Discipline Hall Members erupted with an ominous, menacing aura.
These were men whose profession was capturing and interrogating ferocious villains. They were not the sort to back down when faced with intimidation.
‘How dare they… acting as though they were masters themselves.’
Moreover, the rift between the organizations ran deep.
If the Military Council was the head of the Divine Sect, the Law Enforcement Hall was its hands, feet, and sometimes its eyes and ears.
No matter how unified they appeared beneath the name of the Heavenly Demon Cult, the emotions between the organization that had issued commands for countless years and the one that followed them could never be favorable.
It was at that moment of hair-trigger confrontation.
“Enough.”
A low voice resonated through the Inner Courtyard.
Sa Ma-ryang’s expression hardened as he fixed his gaze upon the voice’s source.
‘He’s here.’
Between the members—men of such imposing stature they could be called giants—a figure with a noticeably smaller head walked forth with unhurried grace.
He wore the deep purple robe that symbolized the Law Enforcement Hall’s upper echelon, and despite its bold hue, it harmonized perfectly with his lean, refined frame.
It was Song Ryeong, the Deputy Leader of the Law Enforcement Hall.
“Such rudeness. Were you planning to have everyone arrested for defying the Inspection Bureau?”
“No, sir!”
Song Ryeong, emanating a unique presence and commanding aura, regarded the Inspector’s group.
“My apologies. As you know, this place is Avici Hell, where we detain ferocious villains. Oppressing, interrogating, and capturing—such is our daily work. Since there is nothing pleasant about entering here, our threshold is naturally high. I beg your understanding.”
Sa Ma-ryang nodded readily.
“I understand. Indeed, we should be wary of situations that proceed too smoothly.”
“Perceptive. That is certainly a concern we must harbor as members of the Cult.”
Song Ryeong glanced around the group, his expression noticeably surprised.
“Oh? Brother Hyung Baek. Weren’t you retired? I thought I heard news of your retirement recently.”
Hyung Baek burst into hearty laughter.
“Ha ha! How can I retire when people seek me out? As you can see, I’m still active.”
“Well then, what reassuring reinforcement. Shall we proceed inside? I fear the Inspectors have been kept waiting too long.”
As Song Ryeong turned toward the Main Hall, the Law Enforcement Hall Members dispersed swiftly.
Sa Ma-ryang followed behind, mentally reviewing the organizational structure of the Law Enforcement Hall.
‘So it begins now.’
The Law Enforcement Hall was composed of five divisions in total. Each division consisted of over a hundred members and a division leader to command them, with Song Ryeong and the Law Enforcement Hall Leader standing above them.
The Law Enforcement Hall Leader, whose duty was to execute those who invaded the Cult’s territory, was frequently absent from his post.
Thus, the Deputy Leader typically managed the affairs of the Law Enforcement Hall.
“How shameful to display such incompetence before the Military Council.”
Song Ryeong spoke softly.
“They are stalwart by nature, but whenever I witness their foolishness, my heart grows heavy. I sometimes wonder if this might be demonic influence.”
Sa Ma-chang replied with an expressionless face.
“Is that so?”
“Yes. I really ought to retire soon. Sometimes I suspect I’ve fallen into madness. I’ve tried meditation and distanced myself from my subordinates, but nothing seems to help.”
Song Ryeong turned his head to regard Sa Ma-ryang.
“Might immersing myself in scholarly pursuits, as you do, offer some remedy?”
Just as Seo Rin’s expression stiffened subtly, Sa Ma-ryang answered in an even tone.
“It may help. When one devotes themselves to anything, they inevitably come to resemble it. If retirement feels burdensome, perhaps a brief respite would serve you well.”
Song Ryeong’s lips curved upward slightly.
“Lucid advice. Then I shall provide quarters for your stay during the investigation. Please make yourselves comfortable and explore freely.”
* * *
“You may stay here.”
One of the Law Enforcement Hall Members guided the group into a chamber with a bed.
“As for Scholar Seo, there is a room over there….”
Sa Ma-chang waved his hand dismissively.
“This will suffice. Even if I were to die soon, I’d sleep better at home anyway. I’ll likely vanish like a ghost by sunset.”
Seo Rin shot him a sidelong glance.
“Why do you say such unnecessary things? Are you perhaps holding a grudge because I spoke harshly earlier?”
“Did I say anything wrong?”
“Not exactly, but it was rather abrupt.”
Sa Ma-chang turned his gaze to the Law Enforcement Hall Member.
“This junior colleague of mine causes no end of trouble with her complaints. In any case, thank you for the guidance.”
“Yes.”
The Law Enforcement Hall Member withdrew with a reluctant expression.
Creak.
As the door closed and only our group remained, Sa Ma-chang’s tone shed its lightness.
“So, what do we do now?”
Sa Ma-ryang answered.
“We proceed with the original plan, as discussed.”
“Proceed as planned?”
“Yes. We cannot know without investigating.”
“I don’t know about that. The outcome seems painfully obvious to me.”
….
“You understand what the Deputy Leader implied earlier, don’t you? Whether he’s mapped out everyone in the Military Council or traced the Inspection Bureau Chief’s movements, I’m not certain. But he knew you were a Physician.”
….
“He knew the inspection was coming beforehand.”
Sa Ma-chang’s voice grew louder by degrees.
“He would have already disposed of anything incriminating, yet he insists on proceeding with the inspection? Is he just being stubborn because he’s embarrassed about returning empty-handed?”
“Senior, please calm yourself. Raising our voices among ourselves won’t—”
“You’re missing the point.”
Sa Ma-chang cut off Seo Rin’s words, his tone escalating.
“This is why I’ve been uneasy all along. Crossing the Main Street openly when discretion was paramount—what was the intention? Why draw attention by trampling the Gate Keeper’s feet? Why did you act with such urgency?”
Sa Ma-chang’s accusations were not without merit.
It was true that Song Ryeong had subtly exposed flaws when inquiring about psychological symptoms, and it was equally true that Sa Ma-ryang’s conduct had attracted unnecessary attention.
Hyung Baek interjected in a low voice.
“Childish indeed. To criticize when we should be united in purpose—we’ve merely exposed ourselves as foolish for reversing a retirement.”
….
“The leader bears the greater fault. It seems you lack the capacity to serve as Inspection Bureau Chief. I cannot play the role of a mere decoy either.”
After a brief silence, Sa Ma-ryang asked.
“Are both of you suggesting you’ll commit insubordination?”
“…What?”
Crash!
The sound of a fist striking the table echoed loudly through the chamber.
“I’ve served in the Military Council longer than you’ve drawn breath. To one who has devoted his life to executing orders… you dare speak of insubordination?”
Discord had erupted among the Inspectors.
Sharp words had been exchanged repeatedly, so everyone listening to this conversation would think the same thing.
‘Their performance is exquisite. One might think they came from a theater troupe.’
Seo Rin sat perched on the edge of the bed, observing her colleagues.
Hyung Baek leaned back in his chair, casually pushing aside the table he’d just broken, his demeanor serene as he adjusted his armor.
And Sa Ma-chang continued to move his lips ceaselessly while studying the personnel records.
It was not an attempt to memorize the documents. Since entering the chamber, they had been conducting their true discussion through sound transmission.
[So Seo and I should handle Teams One and Two, correct?]
[Yes. Above all, examine Team Leader One carefully. He is the one who submitted the false report.]
[The seal belongs to the Deputy Leader, you said. Will we confront him after apprehending him?]
“That seems to be the case.”
This wasn’t a precaution against the mere possibility of eavesdropping. They were certain this place was already being monitored.
The first thing Song Ryeong did was provide lodging for the inspection team.
Less than a day had passed since the inspection permit was granted.
Though there should have been insufficient time to erase records, the fact that they were housed in the Organization’s Inner Quarters suggested a clear and deliberate intention.
Moreover, they had just discovered the very incident among the Law Enforcement Hall Members that served as the reason for this inspection.
‘They don’t know why we’re here. If they underestimate us and slip up, that’s even better. If we play this right, we might actually get to leave early.’
Seo Rin rose with a broad smile.
“That’s enough fighting!”
Sa Ma-ryang spoke coldly.
“As the inspection chief entrusted with full authority by the Chief Military Commander, I hereby command you. Proceed as previously notified. Should you fail to comply, I will treat it as insubordination and pursue charges accordingly.”
“You bastard… finally showing your true colors!”
“Fine, I’ll cooperate. But know this—if this investigation yields no results, you’ll have to answer for it too.”
Sa Ma-chang added with a derisive snort.
“So the arrogant fool is about to take a fall. Well, that’s entertainment in its own right, I suppose.”
“Why are you like this, Sa Ma-chang? Seriously! Stop acting like a petty brat! How do you even live like that?”
“….”
Sa Ma-chang glanced back at Seo Rin as he left the chamber. The way his shoulders shrugged seemed to carry genuine sentiment beneath the surface.
* * *
“Hahahaha!”
Gwak Ji-ryang, the incident chief of the Law Enforcement Hall, burst into laughter and withdrew his inner energy. The ears he’d positioned for eavesdropping had become utterly embarrassing.
‘So much bluster, yet they’re nothing but a rabble.’
The so-called inspection chief had gained not a shred of trust, whether from youth or rigid thinking, while the other inspectors were venting their grievances without mercy.
With such discord already sown, there was no way a proper investigation would proceed.
Moments later, the office door opened and one of the inspectors stepped inside.
“Sa Ma-chang. I’ll be conducting a search.”
Gwak Ji-ryang’s brow furrowed.
“A search? You’re going to investigate the incident chief’s office first?”
At the incredulous tone, Sa Ma-chang regarded Gwak Ji-ryang intently.
‘This is absurd.’
An inspector capable of severing his neck had just entered, yet he didn’t even feign nervousness.
Was he so confident, or was he simply too foolish to realize the blade hanging over his own throat?
“Well, searching below seems unlikely to turn up anything anyway.”
“Hmm… that’s probably true here as well. Go ahead and look freely. The ledgers are in that drawer, and the battle records should be in the one beside it. If you need any other materials, just ask.”
Sa Ma-chang began withdrawing documents one by one, leaving the seemingly cooperative yet subtly mocking Gwak Ji-ryang behind.
‘Not here. Not this either. This one… is a bit ambiguous.’
From the densely written records, he grasped the flow of assets and expenditures the Law Enforcement Hall possessed.
Cross-referencing who received what would take at least half a double-hour, but Sa Ma-chang effortlessly devoured the contents with his characteristic speed-reading.
And soon, he understood why Gwak Ji-ryang had emerged so confidently.
‘Ha, they’ve done a thorough job of it.’
The ledgers were not so flawless that they revealed no defects whatsoever.
The problem was that these flaws were far too trivial. The discrepancies were so minor that they could naturally be attributed to simple errors made during the recording process.
Had I discovered no blemishes at all, suspicion would have fallen upon me instead. But I had left behind only those imperfections—just ambiguous enough to avoid direct accusation.
Gwak Ji-ryang, who had been loitering idly nearby with nothing to do, let out an exaggerated exclamation.
“Phew. You’ve already examined all of that? I hear the Military Council members are all quite skilled at handling documents, and it seems to be true. So, did you find anything?”
Sa Ma-chang exhaled a weary sigh and shook his head.
“I’ve searched thoroughly, but there’s nothing to report.”
He rose from his seat.
“Now follow me. We have one final matter—a meeting with the organization’s leader.”
“A meeting? But didn’t you just say nothing came up?”
“It’s merely a formality.”
His tone suggested he held little expectation.
“Is it to ask if there’s anything he wishes to report?”
“Yes, that’s it. My throat is parched from talking—let’s go already.”
At his irritable tone, Gwak Ji-ryang suppressed the laughter threatening to spill from his lips.
It was rather amusing to watch the man who had entered with such pompous confidence, as though a victorious general were making his procession, now shuffle out like a drenched rat.
‘Search all you like. You won’t find a thing.’
Dragging out the investigation with baseless accusations seemed like it would prove to be quite an entertaining spectacle.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————