Chapter 54 -----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: Heavenly Demon, Disciplined (2)
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The office lighting was dim and low.
In one corner, unidentified books and stacks of documents piled up high, while a very large table dominated the center.
As the Heavenly Demon and Jang Chaewon entered, the shadow of a man seated at the table came into view. It was the inspector.
"Have a seat over there."
The interior was bright, but the man's face and body were shrouded in darkness, as if painted black.
The man, who resembled a pitch-black shadow, looked at the Heavenly Demon and Jang Chaewon before extending his hand.
"Pleased to meet you, Heavenly Demon."
Up close, only his lips and teeth were visible on the face engulfed in black shadow.
"And Jang Chaewon as well."
The man, who had spoken in a stiff tone, suddenly switched to a friendly one. In that instant, Jang Chaewon's discomfort deepened.
The operator of Bokbok Interiors—and thus the territory's owner—was Jang Chaewon. Yet the inspector had deliberately called the Heavenly Demon's name first.
"No need to be tense. What we're doing today is just a simple fact-finding hearing."
"The term 'fact-finding hearing' makes it feel like I'm being interrogated at a police station."
At Jang Chaewon's words, the inspector bared his white teeth even wider.
"If it were something the police could handle, that would be ideal. But this is the Divine Realm's audit office."
Turning his head, the man addressed the Heavenly Demon.
"I'll get straight to the point. Why did you enter the 'Black Tower' Dungeon at that time?"
The Heavenly Demon, who had been sitting with arms crossed, narrowed his eyes.
"Who are you?"
"What did you say?"
A cold voice leaked from the lips that had consistently revealed only white teeth.
"You dare to disrespect a Divine Realm inspector?"
"Ah, you're a god? This lord is still unfamiliar with this world."
The Heavenly Demon chuckled and clasped his hands together.
"I was dragged here without knowing the circumstances, so I didn't realize where this is or who you are."
-When you've brought someone here, shouldn't you first explain the location and your position?
That was what the Heavenly Demon was saying.
'As expected, he's no ordinary human.'
White teeth flashed again at the corner of the inspector's blackened lips.
"My apologies. Your appearance reminded me of the yokai, so I momentarily forgot you came from another world."
- I forgot to explain the procedures because your face looks like a yokai.
The inspector politely countered the Heavenly Demon's sarcasm.
"I am the special inspector assigned to investigate this unauthorized dungeon intrusion."
"Is 'inspector' your name?"
"What does a name matter?"
The inspector smirked and lightly rubbed his palms together.
"Now, then, may we hear the reason?"
"I just wanted to stretch my limbs."
"Stretch your limbs?"
"This one hails from another world. I don't yet know what monsters lurk in the dungeons or how strong they are. Late at night, while circulating my qi, I felt restless and decided to visit a dungeon."
The inspector stared straight into the Heavenly Demon's eyes before crescenting his own.
"You went to a dungeon and encountered a Minotaur? The rare hidden monster that's only appeared once before?"
"That's right."
"Very well."
The inspector, hands clasped, spoke again.
"Where's the treasure?"
"Treasure?"
"The relic from the Minotaur."
"There was no such thing."
The inspector scrutinized the Heavenly Demon's expression and narrowed his eyes.
"Is that true?"
His face looked as if he might read minds.
But if Dongwon's words were correct, not even a god could peer into his heart. Fully aware of this, the Heavenly Demon smirked.
"Shouldn't you have confirmed it yourself?"
In fact, no relic had been found. Nor could it be. Most hidden monsters dissolved into light shortly after death.
Without the awakener's video, even the Minotaur's appearance wouldn't have been revealed.
"No helping it, then."
The inspector spoke calmly, as if he had foreseen everything. He extended a blackened finger toward Nameless on the Heavenly Demon's shoulder.
"We'll have to forcibly extract the data from that nanobot."
In that moment, one of the Heavenly Demon's eyebrows twitched upward.
To him, Nameless was like his beloved sword, Gukcheon—or even more. It was his hands, feet, and mind. To pry it open...
Yet Jang Chaewon smiled confidently.
"Well, if you can pry it open, go ahead and look."
"Oh, I know. I know what this nanobot really is."
The inspector bared his white teeth once more.
"No Earth God in this land could dare forcibly extract it."
Admiration and contempt mingled in the voice of the shadow-shrouded inspector.
"It's Hephaestus's masterpiece, created against the opposition of the Upper Realm Gods—a mechanical lifeform."
As Jang Chaewon's eyes chilled, the inspector chuckled.
"Well, any Earth God worth their salt knows about it. The Divine Territory Management Team just lets it be, so no one touches it."
"I'm glad you know that much."
"We can't forcibly extract it, that's all. But we can issue a full data deletion and reset order."
"What do you mean?"
"You seem to align with Hephaestus's will, Jang Chaewon. You've registered this nanobot as an employee working in the territory."
Indeed.
Nameless was listed not as a machine, but as a territory employee—inescapable from corresponding punishment.
"You can't brutally probe an employee's mind. But if we fire it? Naturally, all data from its employment must be wiped, just like that."
The inspector's once-friendly voice grew icy.
"Like erasing the memories of a yokai or human who quits working in the territory."
Only now did Jang Chaewon realize why the inspector had been so relaxed throughout.
Deleting all of Nameless's accumulated memories—effectively erasing its personality. That was the leverage the inspector held.
"That's ridiculous..."
Infuriated, Jang Chaewon shot to her feet to shout—
[Of course it is.]
Nameless on the Heavenly Demon's shoulder spoke in its mechanical voice.
[As a territory employee, I personally used a dungeon and even eliminated a hidden monster. Punishment is unavoidable.]
"Punishment is the worst option. You're a machine, so just do what machines do, right?"
The inspector eyed Nameless's face—mechanical voice, yet human-like speech—with interest.
"What I want is a clear reason. With countless dungeons, why the northernmost Black Tower? How did you trigger the Minotaur? What were you planning to do there?"
[I invoke my right to silence.]
"That's a fine choice."
Suddenly, the inspector turned to the Heavenly Demon, baring his white teeth.
"We can't read memories, but we can discern truth from lies."
'So that's his ability.'
The Heavenly Demon smacked his lips. The inspector apparently possessed the power to distinguish truth from falsehood.
"But that means punishment is inevitable."
At the inspector's words, Nameless's white-glowing eyes flickered.
[Agreed. I accept the data reset punishment.]
"What are you saying?"
Jang Chaewon yelled in anger, but Nameless replied calmly.
[Failing to inform the Heavenly Demon it was illegal was my oversight. At the time, he was ignorant of the rules here. I'll make that clear at the disciplinary hearing.]
The inspector spoke with intrigue.
"You're willing to delete all memories? From what I know, mechanical lifeforms are no different from humans."
He blinked in disbelief.
"What on earth did you do in that dungeon to go this far?"
Nameless remained silent.
If the full truth emerged, not only would the Heavenly Demon's possession of the rare nectar stone be exposed, but Kim Hyewon, whom it had healed, could face consequences.
Restoration to original state.
The Divine Realm strictly upheld the law that illegal acts must revert everything to its prior condition. Nameless knew this all too well.
"Understood. You're free to go."
Rising, the inspector said coldly.
"Bokbok Interiors must suspend operations until the disciplinary hearing the day after tomorrow."
* * *
Back at the store, Jang Chaewon left the Heavenly Demon there and carried Nameless to her private quarters. She couldn't comprehend why it was taking all the punishment and volunteering for memory deletion.
"What are you thinking? Erasing your memories?!"
[I anticipated this.]
"What?"
[Ten-day business suspension. And deletion of my memories as a registered employee. That's the discipline they'll impose.]
Nameless spoke confidently.
[They won't revoke Bokbok Interiors' territory grade. Not unless they're fools.]
"You think I'm worried about the territory grade?"
[I know. I know you're worried about me, Jang Chaewon, my primary user. But this mistake is entirely my fault. I won't let you or the Heavenly Demon suffer for it.]
"Fine. I get your intent."
Staring at Nameless, Jang Chaewon said,
"Honestly, I don't care why you two went there. Hunting monsters in a dungeon is fact anyway."
Crossing her arms, she grew serious.
"But now I need to know. I'll handle this, so tell me the truth. Why did you hunt the Minotaur in the Black Tower?"
[I'm sorry.]
"So, memory deletion it is?"
Yet Nameless's voice held no tremor.
[I have no intent to deceive you, Jang Chaewon. It's just... a situation where I can't say.]
"You don't trust me that much?"
Clutching her head, Jang Chaewon looked heartbroken.
"Am I that untrustworthy to you?"
[...]
After silence, Nameless shook its head.
[You're my first user and the one who enabled my existence—my benefactor. My silence isn't to hurt or doubt you.]
"Then why?"
[No other choice.]
Nameless had no options.
To avoid territory revocation, preserve the Heavenly Demon's employee status, protect Kim Hyewon whose heart it fixed.
Saving all three with mere memory deletion felt liberating.
[It's nothing major. I won't cease to exist.]
Looking up at Jang Chaewon, Nameless said,
[Just my memories so far will be erased. Of course, I can't return as Bokbok Interiors staff.]
"You..."
[Don't you have compelling reasons to keep running this territory and store? You can't lose it over something like this, or a capable employee like the Heavenly Demon.]
Its white eyes sparkling, Nameless continued.
[With the Heavenly Demon, you'll surely achieve what you desire.]
Nameless's resolve was firm. No words would sway it. Overwhelmed by heavy despair, Jang Chaewon slowly closed her eyes.
* * *
"You deceived this lord."
When Nameless returned from Jang Chaewon's quarters to the store, the Heavenly Demon spoke with stern eyes.
"Didn't you assure me that claiming it was just a workout would end things without issue?"
[Yes. That's why it's only data deletion. No big deal.]
Seeming burdened by the Heavenly Demon's gaze, Nameless quickly changed the subject.
[Business suspension means closing the store. Jang Chaewon told us to go home, but how about staying in this storage room for the two days?]
"For the proprietor's sake?"
[In times like this, shouldn't we Bokbok Interiors employees stay by her side?]
The sense of loss and betrayal Jang Chaewon must feel was indescribable. Even the Heavenly Demon himself felt deeply betrayed by Nameless.
"So be it."
[Thank you. Then I'll stay with Jang Chaewon a bit longer.]
"No need to return. Stay with the proprietor these two days. This lord will fetch your recharging bowl."
[The charging station? It's fine. Without combat analysis mode, I can last a month.]
Clunk.
Nameless extended arms and legs from its round body and opened the door to the private quarters.
[Excuse me.]
"Nameless."
Rarely calling its name, the Heavenly Demon's eyes flashed sharply.
"Don't worry. There won't be any erasing of your memories."
[...I figured you'd say that, Heavenly Demon.]
Leaving those cryptic words, Nameless shut the door and vanished.
In that brief statement lingered two meanings.
It knew the Heavenly Demon valued it. Thus, Nameless would not waver in its resolve.
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