"Hey, Skybreaker Sword."
[What is it.]
“I only became the head of the family after a few months, but at this rate, am I going to become the Heavenly Demon?”
[Don’t spout nonsense. The title of Heavenly Demon belongs at the pinnacle of the Ten Thousand Cult’s hierarchy.]
“Wouldn’t it be natural to start spouting nonsense after looking at this much paperwork??”
The first thing I did after becoming head of the family was, of course, reviewing documents.
It was all because of those damn clichés.
It was always like this. In every NovelBin, when the protagonist becomes the head of a clan, inherits a title, or becomes king, the very first thing they do is sit surrounded by a mountain of paperwork, signing approvals. That’s the national rule of NovelBins.
Same goes for me.
Of course, the documents weren’t literally piled like mountains, but it was clear from a glance that this wasn’t a one-day or two-day task.
“Huh? I think I’m about to lose my mind? This is all for your benefit, isn’t it? I want to give up everything, even taking back my body later!”
[.........]
Skybreaker gave no reply, sensing this conversation might disadvantage him.
"Five Gates Pavilion... what is this place even for?"
I only ever knew the structure and scale of the clan through in-novel lore. Now that I was facing it in official documents, it was naturally a headache.
And true to its martial arts world nature, the scale of the numbers was absurdly massive. It wasn’t some fantasy noble house, and yet a single family had over 4,000 members. That didn’t even include servants or miscellaneous laborers.
"Sado Gwang, you maniac."
Of course, not all of the Six Demon Families were like this. The Sado Clan was the odd one out. Following the logic that if you lack top-tier experts, you can just have more of the lower-tier ones, they had expanded their numbers to a ridiculous degree.
And because of that, there was a mountain of documents to go through.
The job was simple: compare the clan’s official documents to the separate records left by Sado Gwang.
“Should I consider it lucky or unlucky that I did accounting...”
In real life, I worked in sales. My team was called Sales Team 1, even though there was only one team. They slapped a “1” on it to make it sound impressive.
But I also handled accounting. Like many small businesses, the accounting staff had quit, and the task was dumped on me. My only qualification was that, among the average employees, I was the only one who graduated with a business degree.
Back then, I ground my teeth in resentment, but to think it would help me here. That didn’t mean I was grateful to my boss.
More work? → 0
More pay? → X
It was a company that wouldn’t even reimburse your taxi fare if you missed the last train due to overtime. I couldn’t possibly feel thankful. Still, that boss’s management style was now serving as a model for “the current me”...
“I-I absolutely can’t do this anymore...!”
It was Tak Horak. His eyes were sunken and hollow.
It didn’t suit a martial squad leader to be doing paperwork. But Tak Horak was the only real aide I had besides Saweol, and despite appearing simple, he had excellent innate talent.
The fact that he reached the Peak Realm just by learning a few techniques from the sealed former Heavenly Demon, Do Il-gwang, was proof of that. In the world of Return of the Murim, if you're not exceptionally gifted mentally, you can’t become a top martial artist unless your physique is beyond monstrous.
“This is simple work. All you need to do is add and compare numbers.”
“There are over ten thousand figures to tally. How am I supposed to add all of that?”
No matter how talented someone is, they can still be mentally broken by this volume of documents. The fact that Tak Horak, whose loyalty had been growing lately, would say this much said it all. But...
“Just do it. What you lack is effort and determination.”
Tak Horak had no reply.
Exactly. This was it.
The small business boss-style management could shut subordinates up completely.
Ahh, are you watching, Boss Kim? Your legacy has transcended worlds.
“I have a question.”
Possessed momentarily by the spirit of Boss Kim, I answered with a benevolent expression.
“What is it?”
“Why aren’t you assigning this to Vice-Captain Saweol? She’s so good with numbers that she memorizes mission briefings down to the decimal point.”
“Saweol has something else to do.”
“Aren’t you favoring her too much?”
“If you don’t like it, then become a Transcendent Peak-level expert. I’ll exempt you from document work if you do.”
“D-Don’t tell me... it’s that again?”
Tak Horak turned pale, and I nodded.
Saweol’s job was simple. When Tak Horak and I found inconsistencies in the paperwork, Saweol would bring the documents with the Black Shadow Corps and confront the involved party.
It was a completely peaceful process with no blades drawn. Saweol would simply half-open her eyes and release her aura, and the target would break down crying and confess everything. Resistance was possible, but resisting itself was evidence of guilt.
Assault-weapon-level interrogator Saweol had now become a mobile lie detector and confession tool.
“So stop thinking about pointless things and get back to work. Only three days remain until the inauguration and general meeting.”
My goal was to uncover all of Sado Gwang’s corruption before the inauguration and meeting. Not to return illicit gains or uphold clan discipline for the sake of the cult...
'...I need the treasure tools and relics, right?'
Even as the clan head, I needed a formal meeting to access the Sado Clan’s treasure vaults. It seemed fair and democratic, but it was actually a system designed by Sado Gwang to divide the head faction and elder faction and prevent either from gaining too much power.
Given my current standing, the elder faction would surely agree to open the vaults. But...
“To think all the things I needed had already been taken out.”
Several of the treasured relics and tools I needed for smooth cult life had already been removed. I needed to retrieve them.
That was why all this chaos was happening.
Plus, during the process, I might be able to root out any remaining agents of Sado Gwang.
“Though... I haven’t found any yet.”
Four days into the investigation and still no trace. I was beginning to seriously question whether Sado Gwang really had died.
“No. I can’t let my guard down.”
Every time I got complacent in the martial world, I nearly got killed. In this world, “getting seriously hurt” usually meant death. Staying suspicious to the very end was best for my survival.
Just as I was immersed in organizing documents,
[Presence approaching.]
At Skybreaker’s words, I kept my eyes on the paperwork and spoke.
“You’ve come.”
“Huh? What are you—Wahh!”
Tak Horak, startled by my muttering, looked up and fell off his chair. Saweol had appeared like a ghost. She looked down at him with eyes full of disdain.
“Ugh...! L-Lord. My back...?”
“Really? You hurt your back?”
“It seems that way...”
“The Black Shadow Corps’ vice-captain can’t afford a back injury. You have important work ahead. Saweol.”
“Yes, Lord.”
“Send word to the Poison Demon. Tell him there's an emergency patient and request immediate treatment.”
Poison Demon was a master of medical arts, rivaling the head of the Demon Medical Hall. But he was still the Poison Demon. You never knew what he might do. There were endless rumors that he’d poison you under the guise of treatment if he didn’t like you.
“I circulated my qi, and it seems better.”
“No. The Black Shadow Corps is about to be promoted to the Black Shadow Guardian Command. Its captain must be in perfect condition. Get treatment from Poison Demon.”
“I... I really feel better!”
“Then focus.”
Tak Horak returned to the paperwork, wearing an expression caught between crying and laughing. Happy about the promotion, but disheartened at being buried in documents.
The Black Shadow Corps was no longer just a military unit. It was now the direct organization under the clan head, functioning as both martial force and inspection agency. And with Peak-level experts like Tak Horak, the legitimacy was solid.
“So, what happened?”
I asked, and Saweol replied.
“Both the Red Flame Pavilion Master and the Records Division Head confessed their crimes. They agreed to return the illicit relics and pay 1,000 silver taels each as restitution.”
“They really hate going to the Discipline Ward, huh? Well done. Neatly handled.”
“Only the elder faction remains. What shall we do?”
The faction aligned with Sado Gwang had mostly been dealt with.
“I will handle them.”
If the head faction was a bloated, chaotic mass, the elder faction at least had blood legitimacy. They were once my adversaries, but now they supported me.
I intended to leave the cult once this internal chaos was settled. Only then could I search for the Heavenly Saint and find a clue to returning to my original world.
If I stayed away too long, I’d fade into obscurity. Worse, if Skybreaker returned while I was away, or if I was out in the Jianghu, a rebellion might break out.
‘There are two ways.’
Crush them so they can't utter a word, or make them dependent on me. Both would be best, but I didn’t have the time.
If I had to choose one, the answer was obvious. This was the Cult.
‘Soon, an event that draws out the Heavenly Saint will occur.’
In the original Return of the Murim, the Heavenly Saint always showed up at major incidents. He was such a master of disguise that few recognized him.
According to the timeline, I had about six months left. It had only been four months since I landed in this world. It sounded like plenty of time, but it wasn’t.
There was still much to do.
As I was collecting my thoughts, Saweol spoke again.
“Are you sure you don’t need to visit the Discipline Ward?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“They might be planning a comeback. Those sent there were his loyalists... I see. So that’s what it was.”
“What do you mean?”
“Lord Do Il-gwang entered the Discipline Ward to recruit someone, didn’t he? That means this entire plan was set in motion back when you declared you’d send me and Captain Tak to the Discipline Ward in Taeryeong Prefecture.”
Saweol’s expression was a bit pale.
“Following you might have been the best decision of my life.”
She was saying weird things again. But since it was a harmless positive delusion, I didn’t bother correcting her.
“Me too!”
Ignoring Tak Horak, who raised his hand enthusiastically, I gave orders to Saweol.
“The elder faction still has some sense. Just monitor them, don’t act.”
“Should I deploy the Black Shadow Corps?”
“Do that. Captain Tak, you stay.”
Tak Horak, who had half-risen at the mention of mobilizing the Corps, slumped back down, sulking.
***
Sado Muyul looked up at the sky.
As if heralding the approaching winter, the sky was a piercing blue.
Even though the pit he was about to enter opened like a gaping black maw.
Grit—
Standing before the Discipline Ward, Sado Muyul clenched his teeth.
“They say Bocheon once lay on a bed of firewood for revenge, and Gucheon chewed on gallbladders to endure humiliation.”
The outside may be ruled by a fake, but not the Discipline Ward. This place was still his domain. The fact he was allowed to bring luggage was proof.
“In the depths of the Discipline Ward lies the former Heavenly Demon, Do Il-gwang.”
Though sealed, he had once been the Heavenly Demon. If Sado Muyul could use him, he could make a comeback.
At least, that’s what he thought—until he met Do Il-gwang.
“Kuhahaha! So you gobbled up an entire Demon Family while I was gone, did you?”
Do Il-gwang sneered at Sado Muyul.
“A fool who doesn’t know his own son is a tiger! Isn’t that a case of dog-father, tiger-son?”
“You bastard—!?”
Roar!
Overwhelmed by Do Il-gwang’s shout, Sado Muyul collapsed to the ground.
“H-How do you still have such presence with your internal energy sealed...?”
“Sado Hwan scoffed at my aura and didn’t even flinch when I released my intent.”
“Impossible... That fake couldn’t possibly—!”
“Do you think I need to listen to someone with knot-hole eyes like yours? Hahaha!”
With a horrified face, Sado Muyul fled the plaza where Do Il-gwang was sealed.
Do Il-gwang looked up at the sky. Though really, it was just the dark ceiling of a cave.
“Heh... Sado Hwan... are you truly aiming to become the Heavenly Demon?”
Do Il-gwang’s aura spilled forth. A massive black tiger circled his feet.
“From down here, I’ll watch to see... whether you can truly shatter that sky.”
The misunderstanding deepened.