Chapter 55 -----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: Heavenly Demon, Receives Discipline (3)
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Time passed relentlessly.
The Heavenly Demon had spent the entire time in the warehouse room meditating, while Nameless stayed by Jang Chaewon's side for the day.
The next day at dawn.
At the hour when all things slumbered deeply, Jang Chaewon sat on the large porch, gazing at the night sky.
"...."
Soon the sun would rise, and the disciplinary committee would convene. No matter what defense she offered, Nameless would accept the data deletion order.
It was the only way to avoid losing the territory and keep the Heavenly Demon's employee status intact.
"Nanobot."
A robot crafted by Hephaestus, the god of metalworking.
A mechanical lifeform capable of independent thought, feeling and expressing a wider range of emotions than humans.
One might expect a new name for it, but Jang Chaewon had named the machine after the common off-the-shelf product: "nanobot."
[You called?]
Hearing Jang Chaewon's quiet voice, a round ball-shaped robot rolled out from the room, trundling along.
[Can't sleep?]
As if reading her mind, Nameless smiled even wider.
[I'm not going anywhere. Sure, not as an employee, but I can stay here, serve you and the Heavenly Demon, and make new memories.]
"You don't feel fear?"
[My main duties are guiding through dungeons, responding to monsters, and combat analysis. I couldn't do the job if I felt fear.]
Jang Chaewon bit her lip.
"You must not remember. I still vividly recall how you screamed at the sight of Behemoth when we first emerged from the Dragon Head Dungeon."
[Ah, that was a natural reaction. I didn't know your abilities back then.]
"Wasn't the Heavenly Demon in the same situation?"
[That's because you set the Heavenly Demon's awakening grade to the lowest, 9th Grade.]
Contrary to its response, Nameless seemed embarrassed, its words coming out faster.
[But this Nameless doesn't make the same mistake twice. I immediately assessed the Heavenly Demon's combat prowess and updated the awakening grade.]
"Nameless... That was a name the Heavenly Demon gave you?"
[Yes. The Heavenly Demon thought long and hard before bestowing it.]
Pride and unwavering faith filled Nameless's voice.
Faith.
An emotion Jang Chaewon utterly lacked, yet this little machine possessed it. It believed in the Heavenly Demon, whom she did not.
'Believes in the Heavenly Demon.'
Only then did Jang Chaewon recall something she had forgotten.
That she believed in Nameless too. That it would never betray her expectations.
"Nanobot."
Jang Chaewon stroked the round head of Nameless.
"Do you know why I named you Nanobot?"
Kiririk.
With the sound of processors whirring in its head, Nameless cautiously replied.
[Because you said you wouldn't treat me as anything special.]
"Right. I treated you no different from any nanobot off the shelf. Or at least, I tried to."
Jang Chaewon picked up Nameless with both hands and extended it toward the night sky.
"It's a lie. You're special to me too."
[Jang Chaewon.]
"Nameless suits you perfectly. From now on, I'll call you that too. So..."
Suddenly, a gentle breeze swirled around Jang Chaewon.
Whiiiing.
The intensifying wind lifted her hair toward the sky. At the same time, millions of blue light particles rose from beneath her feet into the air.
"Forgive me this time instead."
In an instant, the girl-like figure transformed into a sensuous beauty, her eyes widening.
Kwarung!
The massive hanok building shook as if struck by an earthquake, and azure light poured from her eyes into Nameless's body.
[Jang Chaewon. Jang Chaewon. Jang Chaewon.]
As an unknown force invaded its body, Nameless's voice cracked, and it began emitting white light.
A mechanical lifeform forged by Hephaestus with all his power. Its body was equipped with a robust protective system that could withstand even the divine power of a high god.
Kwaaaaaa!
But the blue light from Jang Chaewon was neutralizing even that formidable system.
And the scene Nameless had deeply buried—the events of that day—flowed into Jang Chaewon's mind.
"What's happening!"
At that moment, a streak of red cloud shot into the air and landed beside Jang Chaewon.
The inner quarters building shook entirely, drawing the Heavenly Demon from the warehouse room via his movement technique.
"Haa."
In an instant, the blue light vanished, and Jang Chaewon's appearance returned to normal.
"Shop owner."
"Nameless, Heavenly Demon. You two..."
Jang Chaewon, who had been trembling with her eyes closed, suddenly shouted.
"Stop acting so cool!"
[Jang Chaewon.]
"You could've consulted me first! Why handle everything on your own?"
"Shop owner."
"You too, Heavenly Demon. If you saw me as the shop owner, you should've relied on me a little! Talked to me!"
Jang Chaewon yelled as if the heavens would split, then let out a huff.
"Don't hog all the cool moments. Let me step up sometimes too."
The Heavenly Demon couldn't comprehend the situation at all.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Never mind. I know everything now."
Having checked Nameless's database for all the details, Jang Chaewon shook her head.
"One thing I can't understand, no matter what."
[What do you mean?]
Jang Chaewon glanced at the Heavenly Demon and clamped her twitching mouth shut.
'What do I mean? The Heavenly Demon. His personality is impossible to pin down. A guy with no regard for the world, utterly ruthless—why the hell would he go and do something like this?'
She couldn't ask that outright.
Suddenly recalling Nameless's report, she shook her head again.
'What the hell are the standards in those blood-red eyes?'
[Jang Chaewon?]
"Ahem."
Jang Chaewon cleared her throat, facing Nameless's large optic sensor zoomed in on her.
"Anyway, leave this matter to me."
* * *
In a building of the central headquarters, the large conference room.
It held a glossy table and chairs for over twenty people.
Without the microphones on each table, it could pass for a Joseon-era bincheong, the high officials' meeting hall in the palace.
And seated there, unlike the shadowy inspectors shrouded in darkness, were figures formed of light—shadowy human shapes.
They were the divine realm committee members and chairman who would decide the disciplinary level for Bokbok Interiors' territory.
"No matter how advanced the robot's intelligence, it seems we can't hold it independently accountable for this."
The chairman said, reading the investigation report from the inspector.
-The matters mentioned warrant severe punishment, but the inspector's refusal to investigate and concealment of facts pose an even greater issue.
Enveloped in light, his face invisible, his voice was profoundly low and authoritative.
-In such cases, the committee may declare territory forfeiture. Do you have anything to say?
The chairman's gaze fixed on the Heavenly Demon, Jang Chaewon, and Nameless at the end of the table.
"Yes."
Jang Chaewon stood and nodded to Dongwon by the door.
Screens above the conference room began replaying footage stored in Nameless's memory.
A girl withering away in fear and terror from a heart that might stop at any moment, her agony plain.
The Heavenly Demon, bloodied from Minotaur attacks, fighting with his life on the line.
Nameless unflinchingly acting despite knowing exposure could mean expulsion from the territory.
"They weren't afraid of their own discipline. They stayed silent out of worry that the girl's hard-won favor might be revoked."
A flicker of contempt crossed Dongwon's eyes.
"Most cases like this end in restoration orders."
The light-formed shadows murmured, exchanging opinions.
But Dongwon's face gradually crumpled as he listened silently. The gods' words rang clearly in his ears.
-What a touching story... but still, actions bordering on overreach.
-Honestly, isn't it meddling outside their authority?
-It violates equality too. If territory holders can deliberately grant benefits to humans without limit, where does it end?
Even after viewing the footage, most committee members' minds hadn't budged.
'They have no interest in human lives. They value only the laws and order they've created.'
Watching the committee's coldly ruthless demeanor, Dongwon felt disgust.
-Hmm. Opinions are split about half. In that case...
As the chairman moved to continue,
"I have something to say."
Jang Chaewon, who had been observing, spoke into the microphone.
"It seems I must decline operating the territory."
"Sis."
"They just sacrificed to help a suffering person. And you talk about equality and overreach?"
Cold retorts poured from the committee members.
-Mind your words.
-We are divine realm civil servants. Administrators upholding the 'Laws of the World.'
-If benefits are given, they must be equal. Though this world limits dungeon benefits from the start.
Listening quietly, Jang Chaewon spoke in an icy tone.
"Weren't you the ones who turned the world into this mess while clinging to your precious laws?"
"Sis."
"These guys kept quiet fearing the barely recovered girl might suffer again! Worried you'd enforce restoration over laws and rules!"
An displeased voice emanated from the chairman's shadow.
-Well, seems you've steeled yourselves. Speaking like that.
He addressed the committee.
-Opposition seems gathered, so I'll announce the disciplinary level. As of today, Bokbok Interiors' territory qualification...
"Wait a moment."
Dongwon stepped forward.
"The Heavenly Demon is not of this world's humanity. He merely slipped through a rift in space-time and ended up working in the territory. He can't be bound by this world's laws."
The chairman shook his head.
-Still, he's human. Once here, he must follow our rules. Stay out of it.
"It's not about rules."
-Dong Deputy Manager. This isn't your place.
Biting his lip, Dongwon ground his teeth in an unprecedented expression.
"I can't accept stripping territory status over this. I'll formally report to superiors."
-What?
"No, it's fine."
Jang Chaewon stood, blue light flashing in her eyes.
Immense energy surged from her body, making the shadows in the room—the light-enveloped forms—ripple like waves.
-Th, this is...
The committee members who met her eyes panicked.
They realized she was peering through the light veiling their faces.
"Ah, all familiar faces."
Her hair now tinged blue, Jang Chaewon murmured coldly.
"Right. I was the fool, tied to this territory chasing grace. I was the fool."
"Sis."
-Hahahaha!
Then, a committee member in the corner—who had said nothing, unmoved even by her power—laughed and clapped.
-You've all lost. Who will handle the aftermath if Miss Chaewon leaves the territory?
The corner member rose slowly.
-The Heavenly Demon there is from another world, the nanobot born of a god's hand... Yet they love this world and seek to love its humans.
The committee, including the chairman, exchanged glances without speaking.
They simply felt it untenable to release them without punishment.
-Well, I'll cast one vote against punishment.
The shadow staring at Jang Chaewon's blue-tinged face said lowly.
-See you later, Miss Chaewon. I'll be off then...
With a whoosh, the corner member vanished instantly.
Silence fell over the conference room. The committee members stared at each other, murmuring for a while.
After about five minutes, the chairman spoke sternly again, having gathered opinions.
-We have decided on the discipline.
* * *
A few days later.
Dongwon, clad in rubber boots and coveralls instead of a suit, wore a wronged expression.
"Why do I have to do this?"
"I told you just to play the footage and go."
Jang Chaewon, scooping trash from the water with a wide-brimmed hat, clicked her tongue.
"Who asked you to butt in?"
"Butt in? Sis, don't say it like that. Makes me sad."
The committee's decision had been this:
-The circumstances warrant mitigation, so no discipline for Bokbok Interiors. However, as territory operators, you neglected decorum obligations. Thus, reclaim 10 silver graces earned through Divine Request. And mandate 12 hours of volunteer service.
Dongwon's face had brightened instantly—until the next words.
-Dong Deputy Manager, you're included.
"Pardon?"
-Your rudeness was greater. A divine realm civil servant, meant to uphold fairness and dignity, swayed by emotion to protest superiors without just cause? You insolent fool.
Recalling it, Dongwon looked aggrieved.
"I was just trying to clear your name, sis, and I got slammed alone."
"Got it. Got it."
Patting his shoulder, Jang Chaewon smiled.
"I'll treat you to jjajangmyeon after. Happy?"
"You think I'm the Heavenly Demon?"
Dongwon glanced at the Heavenly Demon silently picking trash in the riverbank corner, prompting Jang Chaewon to sigh.
"Fine. Tangsuyuk too."
"Sis!"
Watching their bickering, the Heavenly Demon glanced at Nameless on his shoulder and said flatly.
"You two get along well."
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