The Tale of Cultivation and Demon Extermination - Chapter 1

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

Chapter 1: Prologue + Episode 1: Land of the Dokkaebi (1)

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"How could that possibly be true? Even a Bachelor Ghost, famous for being weak, is still a demon that can make a grown man die screaming if he slips up. And what, a ten-year-old displayed its head on a gatepost? Even if they were desperate for stories to go with their drinks, those villagers don't know when to stop."

"Have you been fooled so often that you can't believe anything? Go see for yourself if you don't believe me! It's only half a day's run from here."

Jangsam looked ready to drag the man there at once, while the man took another swig of liquor and grumbled.

Jangsam tended to exaggerate, but he wasn't a liar.

"Good grief... It's hard to believe. So what's that little one doing now?"

"I heard no one's helping him, and he's nearly starved to death. Seems like he's decided to die too. He hasn't eaten or drunk anything, just sits before the grave..."

"Where did you say this was?"

At the sudden interruption, Jangsam looked up and gave the uninvited guest a once-over.

She was a beauty somewhere between young and middle-aged, though it was impossible to judge her exact age.

Her mysterious complexion, large ears, and long limbs made not only her age, but her origins and even her species difficult to place.

She was unfamiliar, and captivating.

After taking in her appearance, Jangsam cleared his throat and answered in a gentler voice.

"Subu Village in Aegul County. Follow the markers northeast from here, and you'll get there in about half a day."

"I see. Thank you."

"If there's anything else you'd like to know..."

"Payment for the story."

The woman flicked him a coin, then rose from her seat.

Mongryeon had followed the rumor on a whim.

She happened to be patrolling her territory, and the story had sounded entertaining.

She headed straight for Subu Village in Aegul County, where the rumored boy was supposedly holding a funeral.

It was a quiet village.

The sort of ordinary farming village that could remain peaceful for years without surprise, or be devastated overnight by the appearance of a demon.

The head of a demon hanging in the middle of it was certainly out of place, a slaughter scene amid pastoral calm.

‘Snail-Headed Scholar.’

A bizarre demon with the body of a human and the head of a snail.

It especially enjoyed human heads, pulling them clean off to eat while leaving the bodies behind.

It was a low-ranking demon, often hunted down, but only by experienced hunters.

Even if a roomful of ten-year-olds came at one, they would never be able to handle it.

Yet there it was, hanging with only its head left, as though its habit of taking heads had come back to haunt it.

"What are you doing there?"

As she stared at Snail-Headed Scholar's head, three sturdy men approached with suspicion in their voices.

"Are you people from this village?"

"That's right. Who're you?"

"I heard the boy who killed the demon is here."

"So you came because of the rumor. Don't go stirring up trouble for no reason. Turn around and leave."

"I heard the child was starving. Instead of caring for a child left alone, you're plundering the belongings of the dead."

"That one's no child. He's a monster. And these aren't things he has any right to own."

Valuables filled the men's hands. Around their necks were wounds that looked like bite marks.

Mongryeon understood the situation and did not waste words.

"Really? Because I see some other monsters here."

"Look at this one. Talking won't be enough..."

Mongryeon snapped her fingers once.

The men's bodies began to swell.

Bang.

With a sound like firecrackers, the front gates burst open.

The bell hanging by the entrance chimed. Beyond it stood a crudely made burial mound and tombstone.

A boy sat in front of it, so thin he looked as though he had not eaten for days.

There was nothing strange in his gaze, nor any ominous aura like the rumors claimed. He was simply an ordinary boy with clear eyes.

Cruel marks of violence covered his face and body.

They must have been inflicted by the looters she had just seen.

Mongryeon waved a hand, healing the boy's injuries completely. His eyes widened.

Then she set a bamboo canister before him. White steam rose from the porridge inside.

"My name is Mongryeon."

Only then did the boy turn to look at her.

‘He has no will to live.’

At first glance, he looked like someone who had already received his death sentence and was waiting for the day to come.

It was understandable.

He had lost his whole family overnight and become an orphan with no one in the world. The people around him, who should have helped, treated him like a monster and plundered his home. He must have seen no way to survive.

"What's your name?"

"Ise."

"I heard you were ten, not two."

"..."

"Don't look so serious. You really can't take a joke, can you? A world in transition... It's a good name. Let me ask you a few things. Eat while you answer."

Ise calmly picked up the wooden spoon. Though the food had been placed before him, he waited for permission before taking a mouthful.

He was polite, clearly a child raised with proper manners.

What had happened to him?

Mongryeon's curiosity grew.

"Did you kill the demon at the gate?"

"Yes."

"How?"

"I gathered information about the demon, devised a way to kill it, and carried it out."

That was like saying he had passed the civil service examination after studying from textbooks alone. Mongryeon let out a laugh at his audacious answer.

"What a refreshing method. Tell me more. Where did you get that information, and how?"

"I bought it from someone named Wiseong."

"More detail."

Ise stopped moving his spoon as though organizing his thoughts, then lifted his eyes.

The stranger before him did not seem likely to leave easily.

"When it attacked, I hid in a cabinet. I was sulking because I had given both eggs to my younger siblings."

His expression twisted as though he hated telling this story, but he did not stop.

"Then the demon appeared, and I judged that I couldn't stop it with my own strength. So..."

The boy's breathing quickened. A faint tremor entered his breath, then slowly subsided.

"I endured while memorizing its appearance. After the demon left, I confirmed the direction it went."

"Why?"

"Because I had to take revenge."

There was not the slightest hesitation in his answer. He said it as though it were obvious.

Mongryeon nodded for him to continue.

"I gathered the valuables and household items from the house, then went to the home of a scholar called Wiseong. I gave them to Wiseong in exchange for information about the demon."

"You should have saved them for your future."

"It was the foolish pride of a ten-year-old."

"What if the information had been false?"

"Wiseong was the one who saved me after I was abandoned, brought me here, and paid for my upbringing."

"Go on."

"I heard that it was weak to salt, so I cut bamboo, filled it with bamboo salt, and searched day and night where the demon had disappeared. When it came out to eat me, I pretended to freeze in fear. Just before it swallowed me, I thrust a bamboo spear into its mouth, then cut off its head with a hand axe while it thrashed."

"..."

He was a hunter by nature.

Mongryeon felt more than interest in the boy before her. She felt excitement.

In over three hundred years of hunting demons, she had never seen such talent.

But unlike Mongryeon's expectations, Ise's thoughts were filled only with regret.

"The last thing I said to the people who raised me... I asked if they treated me differently because I wasn't their real child. I regret saying that."

"You're young. It's natural to think that way. It wasn't your fault."

"My mother fed thin rice gruel to her own children, while she nursed me, though we did not share a single drop of blood."

"..."

"I am an ungrateful beast who failed to repay their kindness."

"They would be glad that you're alive."

"..."

"Your mother must have been happy that she could nurse you. Your father must have been happy that he could raise you. And I am glad that I can take you in."

She smiled as gently as she could and held out her hand.

"Will you come with me?"

But this was a boy who had lost his purpose in life.

Ise only looked at her with empty eyes.

"Is there any reason I should?"

"You need to take revenge."

"I've already had my revenge."

"No. That thing harmed your family. You should wipe out every last demon. Besides, a Snail-Headed Scholar is normally a passive demon. They don't come down to human villages to attack people."

"..."

"That means there is another culprit."

The clever boy understood what she meant.

Perhaps she was offering a goal to someone who had lost all desire to live. Telling him not to give up on life.

Even if that life had no meaning, he could live for revenge.

"I will guarantee you a peaceful life until you come of age, and let you build the strength to take revenge."

"Do you want something from me?"

"Grow strong. Become a hunter who kills more demons than anyone else."

After quietly considering her words, Ise murmured, "That doesn't sound bad," and stood.

Even looking at him again, Mongryeon could not believe that such a small, fragile body had faced a demon head-on.

"What should I call you?"

"Whatever you want. You can call me older sister."