Chapter 61 -----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: The Heavenly Demon and the Driver's License (1)
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A parking lot in front of a multi-family residence.
Jang Chaewon pressed the trunk open button after turning off the engine.
With a click, the door swung open, and the Heavenly Demon, who had been standing behind the car, loaded the heavy flooring mat he was carrying onto it.
Thud.
He casually set down the mat that weighed well over 100 kilograms, closed the trunk, and naturally took a seat in the passenger side.
"All loaded."
"Yeah."
Jang Chaewon, who had been sitting in the driver's seat scribbling something in her notebook, pressed the ignition button again.
Even as the refreshing exhaust note echoed out, the car remained still.
"Not starting?"
"Huh? Oh."
Jang Chaewon, who had been frantically writing in her notebook, finally put her foot on the accelerator.
With a whoosh, the car smoothly glided onto the road.
As the Heavenly Demon gazed out the window, he suddenly noticed the dark shadows hanging under Jang Chaewon's eyes.
"Storekeeper."
"Yeah?"
"Wouldn't it be wise to pay a bit more attention to managing your stamina?"
At his words, Jang Chaewon shot him a sharp glare while gripping the steering wheel.
"Who's fault is it that I'm tired?"
"Are you saying it's this lord's fault?"
"You can't drive, so I have to ferry you to every site. Do you have any idea how exhausting driving is?"
"Driving? You mean this automobile?"
"Yeah. And on top of that, printing up estimates at the shop, going out on calls to measure for them. I'd need ten bodies to keep up."
The Heavenly Demon, who had been listening silently, nodded.
"I see. Then from tomorrow, I shall use lightness skill."
"No way. I told you, we have to act normal in the city."
Even Awakened couldn't use skills or physical abilities outside of dungeons without facing punishment.
Moreover, if an unregistered Awakener like the Heavenly Demon got caught flying around the city, it was obvious it would lead to a huge hassle.
"I truly cannot comprehend it."
"Comprehend what?"
"This world's policies."
The Heavenly Demon stared emptily out the window as he spoke.
"Why does this world restrict the abilities of those with power using the standards of the ordinary?"
"There are way more ordinary people than Awakened. Having different powers comes with that much more responsibility."
"Your analogy is wrong."
The Heavenly Demon spoke with a solemn expression.
"The weak are devoured by the strong. That is the law of nature."
"Is this a jungle?"
"What's the difference?"
A flash of contempt passed through the Heavenly Demon's eyes.
"In the end, the world is dominated by the exceptional, and only the strong survive. Yet this world clings to irrational, foolish policies that favor and protect the weak."
Shock appeared in Jang Chaewon's eyes.
"You're serious?"
"Hmph. Spare me the appeals to emotion about protecting the powerless. This lord couldn't care less about such things."
"That's not what I meant. You just don't understand this thing called 'society' at all."
"This lord now knows all there is to know about this world."
"No, you're wrong. Heavenly Demon, what you're saying would only fly in the primitive era."
Jang Chaewon wore an unprecedentedly serious expression.
"If humans were suddenly thrown into the wild, sure, only the strong and tough would survive. Protecting the weak might get you all killed."
Jang Chaewon glanced at the Heavenly Demon's profile and spoke firmly.
"But this is civilized society. Everyone has to help each other to survive."
"Why help each other?"
"Weak or strong, the more people who survive, the better this society holds together. Get what I'm saying?"
"As many as possible must survive…"
The Heavenly Demon mulled over her words for a moment before letting out a groan.
He realized there was considerable merit to what Jang Chaewon was saying.
"Well, unlike the murim, this place is peaceful… That's not entirely wrong."
As the Heavenly Demon nodded, Jang Chaewon continued.
"Besides, restrictions on Awakened aren't exactly about the law of the jungle."
"What do you mean?"
"Strictly speaking, Awakened are like sudden lotto winners who hit the jackpot. If those people splash money around just because they have it, what do you think happens to the country?"
"I see."
That part made some sense too.
Murim warriors honed their martial arts and built inner energy through bone-grinding training.
But the Awakened here gained powerful bodies and skill-like magic abilities without any effort.
"Easily gained goes easily lost, huh. Makes sense. Whether it's money or power obtained without toil, the reckless use is similar."
A faint smile crept onto Jang Chaewon's lips, which had been tense the whole time, as he accepted it so readily.
The Heavenly Demon always had a book in hand, loving to learn, absorb, understand, and reason.
His looks were monstrously fierce, but the contents of his head were closer to a scholar.
"You really have such a huge gap between looks and substance. Kinda sad, in a way."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Never mind."
By then, the van had arrived in front of the shop.
"Anyway, it won't work like this."
Jang Chaewon reached out and pressed the trunk button, sighing as she spoke.
"We're gonna get busier, and chauffeuring you around like this means I can forget about running the shop. I've got estimates to give too."
"Then for the time being, this lord will pause construction and mind the shop."
"Thanks, but if you're not gonna use polite speech, you can't handle customers."
"Then there's nothing this lord can do to help."
"No, there is."
Jang Chaewon's eyes sparkled as if she'd made up her mind, and she snorted.
"Heavenly Demon, you just need to learn to drive."
Inside Bokbok Interiors.
As soon as Jang Chaewon entered the shop, she feverishly searched for something on her laptop.
The Heavenly Demon, lounging at the reception table and leisurely steeping a green tea teabag in a paper cup, tilted his head.
"License?"
"Yeah. It's about time you got one. You even got your foreigner registration card."
Jang Chaewon beamed.
"Checked it out—foreigners don't have it harder or anything. Procedure's exactly the same."
She stared at the monitor, then looked at the Heavenly Demon's red eyes and slumped her shoulders again.
"Of course, you're not really a foreigner."
"So, you want this lord to ride that rolling hunk of metal."
"Yeah, cars are essential for interior work. And we're still a long way from three years."
The Heavenly Demon glanced at the cars speeding down the road outside the window and snorted.
"Not interested."
"What? Why? It's so convenient."
"Stifling. Sitting next to you is stifling enough, but riding alone? Feels like I can't breathe."
Fair enough. A guy who could soar with one step would find cars confining.
But Jang Chaewon had no intention of giving up.
"You'll get used to it. Driving's actually pretty fun."
The Heavenly Demon shook his head as he eyed Jang Chaewon's white van parked outside.
"I refuse."
"Hey, hold on. Don't tell me…"
Jang Chaewon's eyes widened as she spotted the Heavenly Demon's dissatisfied gaze at the van parked by the road.
"You thought I meant ride my car?"
"Isn't that it?"
"What are you talking about? Of course I'd buy you your own car, Heavenly Demon."
"This lord's… exclusive one?"
As the Heavenly Demon's eyes changed, Jang Chaewon nodded vigorously.
"Yeah. Your very own vehicle."
"Hmm."
The Heavenly Demon stood and looked toward the road.
"If you put it that way, no choice."
Jang Chaewon wondered if it was her imagination, but the Heavenly Demon's turned face somehow looked pleased—like a kid waiting for a gift.
"Alright. It's decided."
Jang Chaewon grinned widely and declared loudly.
"Mwoe-mweong!"
[You called?]
Nameless came rolling out from the storage room, and Jang Chaewon smiled.
"From today, help the Heavenly Demon get his license."
[License?]
"Driver's license. For cars."
"Driver's license?"
At the Heavenly Demon's question, Jang Chaewon let out an "Ah."
"You need a license to drive a car. Like a qualification… or proof you can drive."
"Proof. Understood."
[Jang Chaewon, wouldn't it be better to enroll the Heavenly Demon in a driving academy…]
Nameless stepped forward, sensing ominous vibes ahead, but Jang Chaewon cut him off.
"Don't worry. Road practice—we'll enroll in an academy or I'll teach. Heavenly Demon's got great motor skills and reads fast, so with your help, the written test will be a breeze."
[I'm sorry, Jang Chaewon. My primary duty is user safety during dungeon explorations and…]
"Then input it as an additional mission from the main user."
Mission Impossible.
Nameless's sensor eyes widened hugely as it recalled the old spy thriller movie title.
* * *
That night, inside the Heavenly Demon's rooftop room.
A low table was spread out in the room, and atop it sat a blue-covered book emblazoned in large white letters: "Driver's License Passed Practice Questions."
The Heavenly Demon sat in a meditative pose with a serious expression, while Nameless stood opposite, pencil in hand.
[Heavenly Demon, let's go over the questions again.]
"Ask away."
[While driving down the road, you spot someone jaywalking where there's no crosswalk. What do you do?]
"What's it to this lord?"
Nameless faltered for a moment before managing to speak.
[Bzzt. You stop and wait until they pass.]
"I can't understand it. Whether they jaywalk or dance across, what does it matter to this lord?"
[Well…]
Nameless couldn't continue.
The Heavenly Demon had grasped the basics of road traffic laws, vehicle knowledge, and mechanics just from skimming the book a few times.
But he couldn't comprehend safe driving tips or considerations for vulnerable road users at all.
[Moving on to the next question.]
Nameless skipped past it lightly and spoke again.
[Driving under 30 km/h in a school zone, a child suddenly darts out from an alley and collides with you. Whose fault is it?]
"Obviously the kid who ran out."
[Bzzt.]
"Wait. I get it."
The Heavenly Demon pondered, his red eyes flashing as he spoke.
"It's the parents' fault for not watching the child properly."
[That's not entirely wrong, but… In a school zone, kids can appear anytime, so it's your fault for not checking left and right.]
"Are you messing with this lord right now?"
As the Heavenly Demon crossed his arms and grumbled, Nameless soothed him.
[That's how road traffic law works, Heavenly Demon.]
"Then if I'm stopped and a kid runs into me, it's still this lord's fault."
[Depends on the situation, but if fully stopped and a startled kid bumps into you, you'd likely have to take responsibility.]
"Why?"
[Uh, because people are the vulnerable ones.]
The Heavenly Demon burst into absurd laughter.
"Hahaha! Ridiculous. This world even divides weak and strong for merely piloting a metal carriage!"
[When a car hits a person, obviously the person gets hurt, right? Road traffic law isn't exactly about strong vs. weak, but…]
"Truly unbearable. Is this world filled only with fools?"
The Heavenly Demon vented his frustration.
"I've heard of gaining privileges for being strong, but never of forfeiting rights you have just because you are strong!"
Mission Impossible.
Nameless was convinced again, recalling the classic film. Letting the Heavenly Demon drive would be like unleashing a runaway locomotive on the roads.
And his real task wasn't teaching traffic laws, but making the Heavenly Demon abandon the idea altogether.
"Forget it. This lord won't ride an automobile."
[Really?]
Relief washed over Nameless, but "Mission Failed" flashed before its eyes.
Mission Failed.
To Nameless, who had perfectly completed every mission at 100%, it was a shameful stain.
[Ugh.]
Nameless absolutely refused to leave such a record.
Whirr.
To find words that could pierce the thick-headed user, the Heavenly Demon, Nameless revved its brain at full power.
[Heavenly Demon. One last question.]
After all calculations, Nameless asked in a meaningful tone.
[While driving, a puppy darts out.]
"Puppy?"
[Yes. Originally white, but gray from dirt. Small, but with brave eyes, grinning widely at you as you drive.]
Nameless gazed confidently at the Heavenly Demon and posed the masterstroke question.
[So, what do you do? Stop the car, or run it over?]
Nameless had slotted the "puppy the Heavenly Demon liked" into the "vulnerable road user" slot.
Of course, human and puppy lives weren't comparable, but it was a ploy to make the weak-despising Heavenly Demon empathize.
"Hmm."
After long agonizing, the Heavenly Demon averted Nameless's gaze and muttered.
"Annoying, but can't have blood on this lord's carriage."
[Right. Next question. At a yellow light…]
Similar questions followed, and Nameless guided him the same way.
[…Perfect. Heavenly Demon.]
Nameless let out a joyous exclamation.
The Heavenly Demon had already mastered the book's knowledge.
He'd absorbed accident procedures, considerate driving, safety rules—written test passage was guaranteed.
[Written test is as good as passed. Well done, Heavenly Demon.]
But Nameless didn't know yet.
That the sparks from the Heavenly Demon's license challenge would fly to an unexpected person.
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