Chapter 67 -----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: The Heavenly Demon Obtains a Car
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A few days later, inside Bokbok Interiors.
Jang Chaewon, who had come from the inner room to the store, blinked at the license in the Heavenly Demon's hand.
"This is my license."
"Yeah, congrats. You got it quick."
She had heard from Kim Chanwon, over and over, that the Heavenly Demon had a talent for driving. It was a shame that his talent lay in driving rather than interiors, of all things.
"Now, there's only one thing left."
The Heavenly Demon crossed his arms and bared his fangs as he spoke.
"I need a car befitting my status and prestige."
"Hmm..."
Jang Chaewon let out a deep sigh as she eyed the Heavenly Demon's forearm, thicker than a log.
"To get a car that fits your build, we'd have to buy a dump truck."
"Size doesn't matter. I want a car."
"Fine. Clear your schedule this Sunday. We'll go look at some."
"Very well."
The Heavenly Demon gripped the large mop in the warehouse with a blank expression. But a faint smile, suggesting he was in a good mood, played on his lips.
"Picky, picky."
Jang Chaewon slumped her shoulders as she looked around the used car lot, housed in a massive mart-like building with vehicles on display.
From Sunday morning, Jang Chaewon had meticulously toured nearby used car lots with the Heavenly Demon. But no matter how many they checked, nothing caught his eye.
"What kind of car are you even looking for?"
Jang Chaewon sighed, watching the Heavenly Demon silently gaze at the vehicles.
Sedans, vans, pickups, sports cars... they'd seen every type of car, but the Heavenly Demon just frowned and shook his head.
"Not a single one here appeals to me. Unbelievable."
The Heavenly Demon shook his head, arms crossed, at Jang Chaewon's words.
"None of these have a soul."
"Cars don't have souls, you know."
"Regardless, I need one that moves at my command."
The Heavenly Demon shook his head again as he scanned the lot.
She wanted to smack the back of that brazen head, but his eyes were so earnest that her hand wouldn't move.
"Fine... let's look a bit more."
Before long, the sun had dipped below the horizon, painting the sky orange.
Having toured every nearby used car market, Jang Chaewon massaged her tired legs with a weary expression.
"We've seen every car in this lot now."
"I see."
"You can't just ride something roughly? It's not because they're used, is it?"
"As if. Weapons are better when they've been handled by other warriors than brand new."
"Huh? Why?"
Jang Chaewon looked puzzled, and the Heavenly Demon shook his head.
"Blades are forged by smiths, but wielded by martial artists. The more they're tamed by hands, the more they shine. A sword used by a master of thrusting will have its tip and guard sharpened by slicing between foes' bones, and a blade used for slashing by..."
"You gonna catch chickens with a car? What thrusting or slashing?"
Jang Chaewon waved her hands furiously as the Heavenly Demon delved into grim tales.
"Whatever. What's the problem? You've test-driven plenty."
The Heavenly Demon gazed seriously at the sky and spoke gravely.
"Nothing fits my hands."
"What?"
"Choosing a vehicle is like selecting a weapon for Sword and Man as One. Unity of object and self—I'm entrusting my body to the car."
Jang Chaewon's eyes went wide.
"You sure you're not confused? A car is just transportation. Like a horse or camel... you know."
"It's different. Horses and camels are living beasts—you tame and bond with them. But these vehicles are inanimate, meant to obey my will."
"So?"
"I need a vessel to pour my soul into. Like my cherished blade, Geukcheon."
"Ah, I see."
Jang Chaewon smiled brightly, but her eyes were unfocused.
Only then did she realize.
The car the Heavenly Demon wanted didn't exist in this world. The dream of him driving alone to jobs was just that—a pipe dream with this eccentric guy.
"I'm hungry. Let's head back first."
Jang Chaewon's eyes remained unfocused as she buckled the Heavenly Demon into the passenger seat of the van.
Gazing at the passing road from the front seat, the Heavenly Demon said flatly.
"Store owner."
"Yeah?"
"Finding a weapon that fits your hand is never easy."
"Yeah, yeah."
"Your eyes look a bit glazed over."
Even at the Heavenly Demon's chiding, Jang Chaewon mustered a mechanical smile.
"No, no. You're totally right."
"Don't give up."
"Yeah. I won't."
She answered dutifully, but in her mind: *Buy your car back in the murim.*
Then, the Heavenly Demon, staring at the road, suddenly shouted.
"Wait. Stop the car, store owner."
"Huh? Why?"
"Just a moment."
Screech. Jang Chaewon pulled over to the shoulder, and the Heavenly Demon jumped out and ran off somewhere.
"Hey, where are you going?"
Jang Chaewon blinked at the Heavenly Demon's retreating figure.
"Huh? A junkyard?"
Surprisingly, he was heading to a large junkyard by the quiet country road.
Jang Chaewon stared blankly at his back and reluctantly turned off the engine.
*Did that guy mistake this for another used car lot?*
She slumped her shoulders, eyeing the cars stacked like sandwiches in the junkyard.
It seemed the Heavenly Demon thought this was yet another used car lot.
"Heavenly Demon."
Jang Chaewon approached his dazed-standing back.
"This isn't a place that sells cars. It's a junkyard."
Without a word, the Heavenly Demon walked to a vehicle in one corner. There, a tiny, flat white car sat loaded on a tow truck.
"Huh? A Lamas?"
What the Heavenly Demon eyed was the Lamas, a compact van popular decades ago for deliveries.
But with no amenities, shoddy build quality, and featherweight lightness, it had earned the harsh nickname of a "four-legged scooter."
"You know it too, store owner?"
Jang Chaewon shrugged at the Heavenly Demon's turned question.
"Yeah. Wallpaper guys used to drive them a lot back in the day. Small as it looks, it hauls a surprising amount of cargo."
"Just as I thought."
A rare, pleased smile graced the Heavenly Demon's lips.
Jang Chaewon blinked and gaped.
"No way... you want that one?"
"Indeed."
"No. You can't drive that."
"Why not?"
Jang Chaewon pointed at the Lamas with a troubled look.
"It's so small, it'll crumple if you squeeze your body in."
"Not at all. It's spacious enough for me."
"Spacious? How do you know?"
The Heavenly Demon caressed the driver's door confidently.
"I got my license in this one."
Narrowing his eyes, he recalled the memory.
"Its body is sleek and narrow, slicing through the wind effortlessly. It captured my precise movements well."
"This is a sword now?"
"And inside, no needless clutter. Purely faithful to its core function—a clean masterpiece without excess."
"It's cheap, so it lacks features, that's all."
Just then, an old man in a black work jumper sauntered out from the junkyard depths.
The junkyard owner, by the looks of it.
"What brings you here?"
"Uh, well..."
As Jang Chaewon stammered, the Heavenly Demon stepped forward.
"I want to buy this car."
"Huh? This Lamas?"
The old man blinked, scanning the Heavenly Demon up and down.
"This... is headed for scrap."
"It's still a fine runner. Too early to scrap."
Then, a middle-aged man in a suit emerged from the junkyard office. Lee Giwoong, manager of the Half-Moon Bear Driving Academy.
"Oh? You're the ones who registered at our academy..."
Jang Chaewon widened her eyes at Lee Giwoong's words.
"Ah, the Half-Moon Bear academy manager?"
Lee Giwoong was the one who had guided the Heavenly Demon and Jang Chaewon through registration.
He couldn't forget that unforgettable face.
"Um... that Lamas—are you planning to scrap it?"
Lee Giwoong furrowed his brows at Jang Chaewon's question.
"Yes."
"Perfect."
The Heavenly Demon grabbed Lee Giwoong's shoulders firmly.
"Then hand it over to me."
"Pardon?"
"Don't worry. I'll pay, of course."
"No, that car's too old... no features, no safety gear..."
The Heavenly Demon gripped both shoulders, thrusting his Blood Flame Radiance-flecked eyes close.
"Hand over that car to me."
There was a small garage near the junkyard.
After swapping consumables and tuning it up there, the Lamas purred with its familiar engine sound.
Vroom-vroom.
The Heavenly Demon nodded at the low, powerful rumble.
"Excellent."
As if responding, the Lamas vroom-vroomed back.
"Saved money unexpectedly, which is nice... but I feel kinda bad."
Jang Chaewon scratched her head, recalling the haggling over the Heavenly Demon and the Lamas' price.
"How much?"
After deep thought, Lee Giwoong timidly held up three fingers to the Heavenly Demon.
"Three hundred thou—"
"300,000 won is fair."
Lee Giwoong's inflated guts deflated instantly at the Heavenly Demon's fang-baring grin.
*'Well... scrap value's about that anyway.'*
Jang Chaewon shook her head with a wry smile. By then, the Heavenly Demon had climbed into the Lamas and boomed.
"Get in, store owner. I'll give you a special ride back."
Jang Chaewon waved her hands at the passenger seat claimed by his thick forearm.
"N-No. The junkyard's a quick walk."
"Is that so."
"But you know how to fuel it and all?"
"Naturally. The academy taught me everything about this model in advance."
Fate, perhaps?
After getting his license in the Lamas, the Heavenly Demon had pestered Kang Chan-mi about fueling, wipers, and all sorts of car trivia.
"Alright, head back then. Drive safe. Insurance is registered digitally, so it'll apply right away."
"Got it. You too, store owner."
The Heavenly Demon barely poked his face through the tiny window, waved, and drove off.
Vroom-vroom.
An old mechanic watching the departing car with its unique exhaust clicked his tongue.
"Quite the unique ride you got."
"Huh?"
"That one. Someone swapped in a weird engine. Suspension's heavily reinforced too."
Jang Chaewon blinked, and the mechanic winked.
"Didn't know? Thought you bought it knowing."
"Not sure what you mean."
"That delivery van—someone modded it fancy. Old model from decades back, using vintage parts... folks today wouldn't know. Heh heh."
Jang Chaewon slumped her shoulders again, watching the mechanic chuckle heartily.
She imagined the Heavenly Demon's fierce face plastered on the evening news.
*He won't do any reckless driving again, right?*
If it happened once more, she'd ban him from driving for good.
Vroom-vroom.
With its distinctive exhaust, the Heavenly Demon arrived at his rooftop building.
He knew the city layout well enough, and finding the Shield Boundary Zone at the urban edge was child's play.
In front of the Heavenly Demon's rooftop building and the Special Response Team's across the way.
"..."
Special Response Team members at the outdoor table, munching fruit, gaped at the Heavenly Demon crammed into the Lamas.
"Ugh, what twisted taste is that?"
Shin Chaeyoung scowled, face-to-face with the Heavenly Demon's mug bursting through the windshield.
"Huh?"
Han Manjae, chomping watermelon, spat out his mouthful at the sight.
"Cough cough."
Chohong, peeling fruit, froze upon seeing him.
"Cute or grotesque... hard to say."
Yoo Eunho picked up her words.
"Whoa, he could buy a few top-model M903s with one dungeon relic. That guy's so upright and frugal."
Then Han Hojo, standing on the platform, beamed and waved.
"Uncle Heavenly Demon! New car?"
The Heavenly Demon drove past stone-faced. Han Hojo snorted and yelled.
"Uncle, cool car!"
Glancing contentedly at Han Hojo waving in the rearview, the Heavenly Demon stuck out a thumbs-up through the window.
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