Chapter 3: I was waiting for you

“Haa… I guess I have no talent.”

Yu-won muttered softly after mastering the cultivation technique.

Ha-yeon’s expression showed disbelief. She decided to ask him, just in case there was a valid reason.

“…Why do you think so?”

Yu-won answered as if it were obvious.

“It took me 15 days to learn a technique others master in three. Isn’t that a clear sign of lacking talent?”

His common sense was somewhat skewed.

He was ignorant of things anyone in the martial world should know, yet sometimes displayed surprising wit beyond his years.

The more she learned about him, the more intrigued she became.

She was about to explain that more difficult techniques naturally took longer to master, but a mischievous thought crossed her mind.

“Yes, you have no talent. Of course, having mastered a technique on par with the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, you might be ahead of your peers for now. But if you become complacent for even a day, they’ll catch up quickly. You must never cease your training.”

Given his peculiar understanding of the world, she suspected he might just believe this preposterous claim.

“Yes, I will train diligently every day so as not to disappoint you, Heavenly Demon.”

This was Ha-yeon’s first lie, a lie that would change Yu-won’s life.

“Good. I expect great things from you.”

Ha-yeon smiled brightly, pleased with herself for finally tricking the impertinent child.

Yu-won spent the remaining 15 days learning martial arts from the Heavenly Demon.

From the moment he mastered the cultivation technique, lightning energy coursed through his body, causing intense pain whenever he circulated demonic energy.

But he didn’t mind.

The sight of his stats rising in real-time was enough to keep him motivated.

And it was exhilarating to witness himself growing stronger under the Heavenly Demon’s tutelage.

Had she grown fond of him? He even received a Rare-grade elixir, which solved his shortage of demonic energy.

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“Status Window.”

[Name: Kim Yu-won (Lv4 / 57%)
Age: 7
Gender: Male
Race: Human

Stats▼
Strength: 16
Agility: 15
Stamina: 17
Intelligence: 8
Demonic Energy: 15
Mental Strength: 19
Charm: 10
Luck: 20
Remaining Points: 4

Traits▼
Five Lives (S)

Skills▼
Translation (Lv3), Ink Lightning Divine Art (1 Star), Blood Sky Dance (1 Star)]

Disregarding the previous 30 years, these were not stats a 7-year-old should possess.

The sight of the Ink Lightning Divine Art shining brilliantly in his skill window filled him with pride.

[Ink Lightning Divine Art (1 Star, Legendary): A martial art modified from the Peng Clan’s Primordial Lightning Art by the current Heavenly Demon and numerous demonic martial arts scholars.

Cultivates ink-colored lightning energy throughout the body, allowing simultaneous training of internal and external energy. Incredibly complex, but boasts unmatched power and speed among all demonic arts.

*Sub-skills unlock at 3 Stars
*Sub-skills unlock at 5 Stars
*Sub-skills unlock at 7 Stars
*Sub-skills unlock at 10 Stars]

________________________________________________________________________________

A Legendary-grade skill! A skill so rare that fewer than a dozen Hunters on Earth possessed one!

Legendary-grade skills were even more valuable than S-rank Traits, and he had obtained one just seven years into this life.

‘Ah… this is the life.’

Yes, an S-rank Trait should come with perks like this. Of course, he had earned it by sweet-talking the Heavenly Demon, but the Trait had provided the opportunity.

‘I wouldn’t have learned this skill if I hadn’t come to the martial world.’

The persistent tingling sensation in his body was bothersome, but it would supposedly subside once he reached 2 Stars.

He had no choice but to train diligently.

Blood Sky Dance was a fighting style compatible with any cultivation technique, its grade determined by the linked technique’s grade.

Since the Ink Lightning Divine Art was Legendary-grade, the Blood Sky Dance naturally benefited from its effects.

Despite this incredible stroke of luck, he wouldn’t let it get to his head. He would continue to strive for more.

‘My goal is the Heavenly Demon.’

At least, to stand beside her as an equal.

That was his current objective.

Yu-won graduated at the top of his class from the Demonic Arts Academy.

With talent recognized by the Heavenly Demon, a Legendary-grade martial art, and the relentless self-discipline fueled by a lie, he surpassed those who had started training years earlier.

He remained humble.

‘As the Heavenly Demon said, I won because of the martial art…’

The thought that he would be overtaken if he stopped pushed him to avoid complacency.

He approached every class with sincerity and never missed a day of training during his free time.

The instructors were strangely kind, and the children of high-ranking officials in the academy didn’t bother him, allowing him to focus on his training.

Behind the scenes, discussions like these took place.

“That child… he’s the Heavenly Demon’s disciple, right?”

One instructor cautiously spoke.

“My relative is the Sixth Elder… and he said the only martial art in the sect that uses ink-colored lightning is the one whose secret manual is kept by the Heavenly Demon…”

Another instructor added credence.

“I once watched the Heavenly Demon spar with the elders from afar. The movements that child uses are exactly the same…”

Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

Three people talking could conjure a tiger out of thin air.

As three instructors expressed their conviction that Yu-won was the Heavenly Demon’s disciple, the rumor spread throughout the academy.

Everyone came to the same conclusion:

‘Don’t mess with him!’

The children of the Eight Demonic Clans and the Twelve Elders, who had planned to teach the arrogant s*ave-born top student a lesson, abandoned their plans and became as meek as lambs.

Everyone in the academy either treated Yu-won with respect or tried to befriend him.

As a result, he maintained harmonious relationships, stayed at the top of his class, and graduated from the Demonic Arts Academy.

This instilled a certain belief in Yu-won: Perhaps the people of the Demonic Sect were kinder than he thought.

I had been worried about attending a school full of Demonic Cultivators, but the Demonic Arts Academy was filled with kind and good people.

Maybe the martial arts clichés were true: the righteous sects were the villains, and the demonic sects were the good guys.

“The top graduate of the Demonic Arts Academy can choose their desired position. Where do you intend to go?”

The Head Instructor, who had been kind to me throughout my time at the academy, placed a golden badge on me and asked.

The top graduate could indeed go anywhere within the Demonic Heavenly Sect.

But my answer had been decided eight years ago.

“I intend to join the Heavenly Demon Guard.”

Whispers of ‘as expected…’ rippled through the crowd.

Despite its prestige, the Heavenly Demon Guard was known for its strict rules and difficult duties, making it an unpopular choice. But everyone seemed to have anticipated my decision.

‘Since we’ve become close, it’s understandable they’d guess.’

“Yu-won! Congratulations!”

Whoosh

As I descended from the podium with my golden badge, countless classmates congratulated me.

This had never happened during my school days on Earth. It was truly touching.

In the martial world, 15 was considered adulthood, so everyone celebrated graduation by drinking heavily.

We parted ways with laughter.

Having successfully graduated, I was assigned to the Heavenly Demon Guard and received my uniform.

Looking at myself in the mirror, I saw the face that had endured eight years of hardship at the academy.

‘My face looks a bit worn out from all the hard work.’

I was originally handsome, but the academy had taken its toll.

Anyway, I stopped my frivolous thoughts and neatly adjusted my uniform.

With my good looks, the uniform seemed to give me wings.

On my first day at the Heavenly Demon Guard, I arrived two hours early.

As a newbie, I couldn’t be late.

Some might question the need to arrive two hours early.

‘There is…’

From my work experience, I knew there were always those who arrived an hour early and still managed to be late, using it as an excuse to assert their seniority.

The people at the academy were kind, but this was the ruthless Demonic Heavenly Sect.

I needed to be prepared for anything. And there was one more thing I was hoping for.

‘Does she remember me?’

We had only spent a month together, with her as my teacher. Even as the top graduate, there was one every year. Why would she treat me specially? There was no reason.

Still, human hearts were fickle. A part of me hoped she remembered me.

Unlike eight years ago, I walked confidently towards the entrance of the palace where the Heavenly Demon resided.

With each step, my heart pounded faster. The guards, seeing my uniform, didn’t stop me, and I drew closer to the Heavenly Demon.

Finally, only a single door separated me from her. A master of the Heavenly Demon’s caliber would surely sense my presence.

“Enter.”

At her command, I opened the door and stepped inside.

There she sat on her throne, unchanged, or perhaps even more beautiful than before.

Just as I had done eight years ago, I immediately knelt on one knee and bowed my head.

“Demonic Martial Arts Reign Supreme, All Demons Submit! Kim Yu-won, new recruit of the Heavenly Demon Guard, greets the Heavenly Demon!”

I faced her with a changed body, changed strength, and changed status.

Then, the first words from the Heavenly Demon’s lips:

“It’s been a while, Yu-won. I’ve been waiting for you.”

Her voice, resonating within me, making my heart flutter, confirming that she remembered me.