Chapter 66 -----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: The Heavenly Demon Goes to Driving School
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Half-Moon Bear Driving Academy.
This driving school had its own test track, allowing students to obtain their licenses right on the premises.
Vroom vroom.
In front of the academy, on the temporary road, practice vehicles called Servants lined up with their engines idling, ready for on-road driving drills.
At that moment, a massive shadow appeared slowly in front of the vehicles, backlighted by the sun. It was the Heavenly Demon, dressed in a robe dyed in deep blue-gray tones.
"Licenses truly involve so many pointless procedures."
The Heavenly Demon was already proficient in vehicle operation and driving skills—skilled enough to wreck Kim Chanwon's beloved, racing-modified Gazelle by pushing its engine to the limit.
He had passed the on-site practical exam in one go, but unfortunately, the final step for obtaining a license, the on-road driving test, required training at a driving academy.
Left with no choice, the Heavenly Demon had registered at this Half-Moon Bear Driving Academy with Jang Chaewon's help to get his license.
"Student, please get in here."
Kang Chan-mi, the instructor in the vehicle marked "Vehicle 1," waved her hand.
With a click, the Heavenly Demon opened the car door and settled his massive frame into the driver's seat.
"Let me see... your name is... Heavenly Demon, Mr. Heavenly Demon."
Kang Chan-mi gulped as she alternated between the printed form and his intimidating face.
"Are you perhaps an Awakener?"
"No. I am the Heavenly Demon."
"The Heavenly Demon..."
It was a term she'd only heard about online. And no one who used it was right in the head.
An ominous aura began to creep up Kang Chan-mi's back.
"W-We'll start practical exam practice now."
But Kang Chan-mi was a veteran instructor who had been at this academy for six years since she was twenty-four.
To her, who had guided all sorts of difficult customers and clueless students to their licenses, this was nothing.
"First, please fasten your seatbelt."
The Heavenly Demon buckled up without complaint, and Kang Chan-mi pressed a button near the center fascia.
A ding rang out, followed by the speaker announcing, "On-road driving practice commencing."
"Alright, Mr. Heavenly Demon. Follow the instructions from the vehicle."
-Left turn in 30 meters ahead.
Along with the voice from the car, a blue guideline appeared on the windshield.
The Heavenly Demon, gripping the wheel silently, shook his head.
"I refuse."
"Pardon?"
"No need to chase after that turtle-paced vehicle ahead."
Kang Chan-mi wiped the thick beads of sweat from her forehead and said,
"You can't deviate from the designated on-road course. If you don't follow the set path, you'll fail."
"Is that so."
The Heavenly Demon's eyes narrowed as he gripped the wheel.
"Then I shall depart a bit later."
"Pardon?"
"I have no desire to simply watch those chick-like vehicles shuffling along clumsily ahead."
It seemed her bad premonition had been spot on.
This muscle-bound man calling himself the Heavenly Demon was far more troublesome than she'd imagined—or than he appeared.
"W-Well, no one will complain if you start slowly."
Regaining her composure, Kang Chan-mi responded deftly.
"Starting leisurely isn't bad at all. Good idea."
Once the vehicles ahead had vanished from sight, the Heavenly Demon floored the accelerator.
"Very well, let us depart."
Screech.
With a low exhaust note, the yellow practice vehicle's tires spun furiously.
Whoosh—the car shot forward like an arrow, and a cold voice emanated from the speaker.
-Sudden acceleration. Minus 5 points.
"D-Did you hear that?"
Kang Chan-mi cautiously dabbed her forehead with a handkerchief.
"There's no need to start that fast."
"I prefer a bold start."
"There might be people ahead."
"I've confirmed there are none."
At last, Kang Chan-mi revised her assessment.
He's not just troublesome.
He was the worst kind of troublemaker among all the students she'd ever taught.
-Right turn in 100 meters ahead.
"Mr. Heavenly Demon? Right turn coming up ahead."
"I heard it."
"Right? Then why aren't you slowing down?"
"Slow down? On a road like this, shall I halt?"
The Heavenly Demon scoffed and stomped both the accelerator and brake.
Vrooom!
The engine RPM skyrocketed, followed by a screech as the car slid sideways. Yet the speed didn't drop at all.
"Eek!"
Kang Chan-mi's vision spun a full circle as she sank into her seat before returning to normal. The Heavenly Demon had executed a rear-wheel drift.
-Reckless driving. Minus 10 points.
"Strange."
As the Heavenly Demon wore a sullen expression, Kang Chan-mi asked in a trembling voice,
"What's strange?"
"The vehicle isn't moving as I intend. What have you tampered with?"
The Gazelle he'd driven before had obeyed his will perfectly.
But this vehicle was defying his intentions, trying to control itself.
"W-What do you mean?"
"No matter. A test will reveal it."
-Left turn in 150 meters ahead. Then right turn in 30 meters.
Vroom.
The moment he heard it, the Heavenly Demon floored the accelerator again.
"M-Mr. Heavenly Demon? Brake! Brake!"
Despite Kang Chan-mi's scream, his right foot hit accelerator and brake together once more. He also pulled the handbrake while spinning the wheel wildly.
Screeech!
The rear tires slid, chaining left and right drifts.
But instead of the sharp angle he'd aimed for, the car exited the corner at a gentler arc.
-Reckless driving. Minus 10 points.
"As I thought."
At the Heavenly Demon's mutter, Kang Chan-mi slammed the instructor's brake in front of her.
Screech—the car halted, and she shouted,
"That's enough! Get out now!"
"What do you mean?"
"You don't even have a license, and you're driving this dangerously. Does that make sense?"
"Reckless driving? I was merely testing the vehicle."
Kang Chan-mi gaped at his brazen expression.
"Testing?"
"The previous vehicle obeyed my will perfectly, but this one acted as if it had a mind of its own."
The Heavenly Demon pointed to the dashboard.
"How can I take a test in a vehicle that defies my will on its own?"
"What are you even talking about?"
"Foolish. Watch closely."
The Heavenly Demon accelerated again.
As the speed hit 80 km/h, he suddenly swerved from lane 1 to 2, then back to 1.
Screech. Screech.
Each time, the car wobbled before stabilizing on the line.
"See? It moves against my will."
Kang Chan-mi sighed and shook her head.
"That's the ESP—Electronic Stability Program—kicking in."
"What is that?"
"Vehicle stability control. It detects when the driver can't control the car and intervenes automatically to prevent accidents."
"So the vehicle overrides my intent and intervenes on its own."
The Heavenly Demon's driving was already expert-level, and he'd mastered various techniques from TV.
Of course, he didn't know they were stunt maneuvers unsuitable for public roads.
"It's more for the driver's safety than overriding."
Kang Chan-mi looked at him with an inscrutable expression.
"Where on earth did you learn to drive like this?"
"Learn? Isn't this basic?"
He floored it again, demonstrating high-difficulty stunts like reverse turns, two-wheel driving, and inertia drifts.
"Mr. Heavenly Demon... are you a racer? Or a professional stuntman?"
Kang Chan-mi shook her head in awe at his skills.
At this level, he didn't even need a driving test. It felt like he'd transcended her expertise.
"Or did you get your license revoked and are reapplying?"
To her question, the Heavenly Demon replied oddly.
"In any case, this car fails. Assign me one that obeys my will."
"All practice vehicles here are Servants. No other models."
"Problematic."
The Heavenly Demon clicked his tongue and turned the car back toward the academy.
"I cannot test in this."
"Pardon?"
"How can I ride something that rejects my touch?"
"Then you'll give up on the license?"
"Give up? Never. I shall find a vehicle suited to me."
He parked the practice Servant back in the lot, clicked his tongue, and turned off the engine.
Then his eyes caught a small vehicle in the corner of the academy garage.
"What is that?"
"A Lamas? It was a delivery van for parts procurement back in the day... we're scrapping it soon."
"Scrapping? Why discard a perfectly fine vehicle?"
"It's an old model. The body's worn out."
"Hmm."
Narrowing his eyes, the Heavenly Demon approached the battered vehicle.
It resembled a standard van but halved in size and width.
Painted white, it showed rust spots everywhere, and the lights were fogged yellow.
"Lamas."
Touching it sent a familiar, nostalgic sensation through him.
Like a swordmaster instantly recognizing the origins of an ancient treasured blade buried in a forge warehouse.
"Excellent."
"Pardon?"
"A very fine vehicle."
Kang Chan-mi smiled awkwardly and scratched her head.
"This thing... it's ancient."
"I sometimes cannot comprehend this world's mindset. Why discard something merely because it's old or past its prime?"
Pointing to the Lamas, the Heavenly Demon said solemnly,
"Anything shaped by human hands gains value with age, like fine liquor. Long use proves its worth over time."
"Y-Yes..."
Kang Chan-mi endured an impromptu lecture about scrapping a car that wasn't even hers—the academy's old junker.
"Hmm."
Patting the vehicle, the Heavenly Demon nodded.
"Only the exterior is worn. It runs fine. I shall train in this one."
"You want on-road training... in this delivery Lamas? It's manual, with zero electronic controls."
"Better without devices ignoring the owner's command."
Reaching for the driver's seat, he continued.
"Mr. Heavenly Demon, the keys for the Lamas are in the warehou—"
Click. The driver's door opened before she finished.
As he climbed in, Kang Chan-mi tilted her head.
"Huh? I locked that..."
Once seated, his fierce face reflected in the Lamas's windshield.
Seeing it fill the glass, Kang Chan-mi nearly burst out laughing.
"Mr. Heavenly Demon, this isn't a practice vehicle."
"I like this one."
"Impossible."
"Then I cannot attend here."
Biting her lip at his serious gaze, Kang Chan-mi relented.
If she refused outright, this oddball student would quit, tarnishing her record.
She prided herself on a 100% student completion rate.
"F-Fine. I can approve a vehicle change at my discretion."
Taking a deep breath, she stated firmly,
"But no more stunt driving like before. If you drive recklessly in this, I'll expel you from the academy myself."
She climbed into the Lamas's passenger seat.
The Heavenly Demon's shoulders, twice as broad as average, pinned her against the door.
"No computer here, so I'll score manually."
Clearing her throat, she said resolutely,
"So you must follow my instructions exactly. Understood?"
"Very well."
"Good."
Handing him the keys, Kang Chan-mi eyed the gear stick below the wheel.
He handled the manual transmission—rare outside specialty vehicles—with ease.
"Excellent."
Engaging reverse triggered a cheerful ding-ding-ding melody.
Shifting to first, the car shuddered as the old engine came alive.
"I see. It needed warming up."
He shifted to neutral upon hearing the engine.
"Why not start?"
"It says it requires preparation."
"Oh, preheating?"
Kang Chan-mi glanced anew at the Heavenly Demon gazing fondly at the car.
He seemed a bit off-kilter, like some Awakener, but surprisingly adept with vehicles.
"You seemed pretty expert during that drive earlier too..."
To her praise, he replied oddly.
"Of course. I am proficient with all weapons scattered across the world."
"Pardon? What does that—"
"Vehicles are no different from weapons. Handle them with precision and delicacy, and they obey your will freely."
"...Sorry."
Regretting her question,
Vroom.
The rough engine smoothed out. Preheating complete.
"Then, let us depart."
Easing the clutch smoothly, the car glided forward.
"Right turn in 30 meters ahead."
"Understood."
Unlike before, his driving was gentle. Occasional creaks aside, the compact Lamas cruised the quiet road smoothly.
"P-Perfect score."
Back at the academy and stopped, Kang Chan-mi exclaimed in shock.
"No more practice needed. You could apply for the on-road test right now."
"Is that so? Fortunate."
His lips quirked up, softening his cold, fearsome visage slightly.
Kang Chan-mi smiled back as she watched him.
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