Chapter 145: Naming Hall (1)
Naming Hall.
One of the Seventeen Halls of the Cult and a direct agency under the Heavenly Thunder Corps, it was one of the upper institutions that countless cultists dreamed of joining.
Its external prestige alone, by virtue of being one of the Seventeen Halls, was absolute.
However, those who knew the reality were extremely reluctant to enter the Naming Hall.
This was because its duties were considered the worst and most avoided, right up there with the Medicine Hall, among all of the Seventeen Halls.
“Haa……”
Gwak Hoe, in his third year since entering Naming Hall and holding the lowest rank of document officer, let out a deep sigh.
He had been invited to join Naming Hall right after graduating from the Thousand-Day Pass.
Back then, even though his grades weren't particularly outstanding, the mere fact that he was joining one of the Seventeen Halls had made him so happy he couldn't sleep that night.
“I must’ve been out of my mind…”
Gwak Hoe mocked himself, thinking that if he could just go back three years, he'd slap his past self across the face to stop himself from joining.
“I was out of my mind to come to a place like this…”
With a deeply troubled look, Gwak Hoe pushed open the door before him, marked “Civil Petitions Office.”
And then—
A giant man with a face full of scars stood at the door, glaring down at Gwak Hoe with bulging eyes.
The first words out of the giant’s mouth were:
“Hey, get me the person in charge.”
Facing the bloodthirsty aura of the giant head-on, Gwak Hoe attempted to speak calmly.
“Uh, Master? I’m the person in charge, so please, let’s calm down—”
“Bring me the bastard who dared to give this ‘Great Saber King’ Wang Ho such a ridiculous title, right now!”
Wang Ho roared with a lion’s fury.
It goes without saying that a grand title like ‘Saber King’ wouldn’t actually be granted to a brute like the man before him.
Wiping his cold sweat with a towel, Gwak Hoe replied,
“I’m sorry, Master Ghost Dog Blade, but once a title has been assigned, it cannot be changed unless three years pass or the cult specially acknowledges a notable achievement.”
“Did you just call me Ghost Dog Blade?!”
Bang!
Wang Ho, known as Ghost Dog Blade, slammed the counter with a thunderous crash.
‘Ugh, I really hate this!’
This reception desk, made of expensive hardwood, wouldn’t be covered for repairs by the Naming Hall.
In this damn Heavenly Demon Cult, if property was damaged, the cost would be charged to the person in charge under the pretext of ‘improper handling’!
In other words, his monthly salary would get docked!
“Listen well. If you don’t change my title to Great Saber King right now, I’ll split that pretty little neck of yours in two, you hear me?!”
“E-Even if you say that, sir…”
Gwak Hoe felt a dangerous impulse to gouge out Ghost Dog Blade’s eyes.
And honestly, it wasn’t that impossible.
Three years had passed since he graduated from the Thousand-Day Pass, and Gwak Hoe had already reached the realm of a First-rate Martial Artist.
In his eyes, the man before him wasn’t far off from his own level.
‘I feel like I could win if we fought…’
The problem was, given his position, he was absolutely forbidden from fighting with any “clients.”
And an even bigger problem was that Ghost Dog Blade wasn’t the only one.
“Hey, Mutt Blade, if you’re done here, move it. I’ve got business too. You’re hogging all the time.”
Turning around, Gwak Hoe saw a middle-aged martial artist with a sharp impression standing with his arms crossed.
Though much smaller in build than Ghost Dog Blade, his aura was far sharper—undeniably that of a Master Level expert.
Ghost Dog Blade muttered nervously,
“Hmph, Blood Cat Sword, you’re here too?”
The middle-aged man, called Blood Cat Sword, ground his teeth and murmured under his breath.
“This time… I’ll definitely get my title changed to Blood Wolf Sword…”
“Aaaargh…”
Gwak Hoe was losing his mind.
Dealing with Ghost Dog Blade was hard enough, and now even the renowned Master Level expert Blood Cat Sword, Jang Ik-moon, had returned to Naming Hall!
To make matters worse, over a dozen martial artists were glaring impatiently in line behind them!
‘Yeah… there’s no way I’m going home on time today…’
Even if Gwak Hoe had honed his verbal skills over the past three years to an expert level, dealing with all these guys one by one would definitely push his shift far past quitting time.
Gwak Hoe clenched his teeth inwardly.
‘Damn bastards. If you’ve got nothing better to do, just sleep or something! Why the hell come here and make a scene?!’
Naming Hall was the agency that granted titles to martial officers ranked Mid-level and above in the Cult.
Naturally, if someone didn’t like their title, they could file an objection.
But the ones in front of Gwak Hoe now were the so-called “problem clients” who continued to show up persistently even after having their objections rejected multiple times.
Handling these types was the job of dozens of low-ranked document officers like Gwak Hoe.
‘Please, just this once, leave quietly without making a scene!’
Even though Naming Hall had a perfectly clear set of regulations, these guys came to throw tantrums every single day, which is why the resignation rate at Naming Hall was consistently one of the top three among the Seventeen Halls!
Just then—
“Gwak Hoe, what’s going on here?”
From the stairs behind, a radiant and dazzling voice of salvation rang out for Gwak Hoe.
“V-V-V-Vice Pavillion Master!”
A young man referred to as the Vice Pavillion Master descended the stairs from the second floor with a slight frown.
“It was so noisy I came down to check. I guess it’s the usual again?”
“Yes, sir! That’s right, Vice Pavillion Master!”
Though he looked a few years younger than Gwak Hoe, who was nearing his late twenties—
This was the man who earned the admiration of all the lowest-ranked officers just three days into his appointment!
He was none other than Jin Yeomyung, who had been appointed as Naming Hall’s new Vice Pavillion Master just last month!
“What’s this, kid? Who the hell are you?”
Called a “kid” by Ghost Dog Blade, Jin Yeomyung maintained a calm expression and politely offered a martial greeting.
“I am Jin Yeomyung, Vice Pavillion Master of Naming Hall. Master Ghost Dog Blade.”
“What? Vice Pavillion Master? You?!”
“Yes, I’ve just entered my third week, so I’m still a greenhorn.”
At the word “greenhorn,” the corners of Ghost Dog Blade’s mouth twitched slightly.
“Hooh, so you're the new Vice Pavillion Master? Excellent!”
Without hesitation, Ghost Dog Blade stepped up to Jin Yeomyung and began repeating the same tantrum he had thrown at Gwak Hoe earlier.
After hearing the whole story, Jin Yeomyung stroked his chin.
“So… you want your title changed to Great Saber King. Is that correct, Master?”
“That’s right! How could the name of a dog possibly be given to someone like Wang Ho?!”
“I think it suits you quite well.”
“…What did you say?”
With a smiling face, Jin Yeomyung jeered at the frozen-faced Ghost Dog Blade.
“You bark so eloquently, I’d say it’s a perfect fit.”
“Pfft!”
“Heheheh!”
At that moment, Gwak Hoe, who had been listening from behind, couldn’t hold back and had to cover his mouth.
Even Blood Cat Sword, who had been listening from outside, burst out into delighted laughter.
“You little punk. What did you just say?”
“Looking at your demeanor, even calling you Mad Dog Blade instead of Ghost Dog Blade wouldn’t seem out of place, would it? In fact, the person who gave you that title probably deserves to be treated to a banquet at the Demonic Tower.”
“You son of a—!”
Ghost Dog Blade, unable to hold back his fury, swung a fist.
Even he knew that drawing a sword in one of the Seventeen Halls was off-limits—but knocking out a few teeth should be fine, right?
However—
Bang!
The punch, launched with the power of a First-rate expert, was effortlessly caught by Jin Yeomyung.
“Y-You?!”
Ghost Dog Blade was startled.
That his blow had been blocked by such a small hand!
Even more ridiculous—he couldn’t even pull his fist back!
Jin Yeomyung let out a cold aura and asked Ghost Dog Blade,
“Do you think I earned the title of Vice Pavillion Master through gambling?”
“L-Let go!”
Jin Yeomyung sneered coldly at Ghost Dog Blade, who couldn’t even shake him off.
“Great Saber King, huh… A man who hasn’t even reached the level of Peak Martial Artist dares to call himself a king? You really don’t know your place.”
“Grrgh!”
“Still, I can offer you one chance. Just one. If you can pass the trial I present, I’ll use all of my authority to bestow the title of Saber King upon you.”
At that, Ghost Dog Blade’s face lit up.
“R-Really?! What do I have to do?!”
“It’s simple.”
Jin Yeomyung raised a finger as he explained.
“I’ll write you a letter of introduction to the Saber Demon. If you can earn his recognition, that will suffice.”
“Saber Demon? Saber… De—Saber Demon?!”
Ghost Dog Blade tilted his head in confusion at first, but once he realized who the Saber Demon was, his face turned ghostly pale.
“Y-You bastard! Are you messing with me?!”
“Do I look like I’m joking?”
“Of course you are! How could a mere Vice Pavillion Master of one of the Seventeen Halls claim he could get an audience with the Head of the Extreme Saber Faction?!”
Surprisingly, Ghost Dog Blade had some sense of reality.
It seemed being a problem client required at least a minimum level of common sense.
“Of course, a mere Vice Pavillion Master of the Seventeen Halls wouldn’t be able to do so. However… wouldn’t the Eldest Son of the Demonic Heaven’s Jin Clan be more than qualified?”
“...Come again?”
Ghost Dog Blade’s tone suddenly became respectful.
“I said—the Eldest Son of the Demonic Heaven’s Jin Clan.”
“……”
“……”
Jin Yeomyung released Ghost Dog Blade’s fist.
Instead of aiming it back at Jin Yeomyung’s face, the man’s fist simply dropped limply to his side.
“Well then, shall I write the letter of introduction for you?”
Suddenly, Ghost Dog Blade burst out into loud laughter.
“W-What nonsense! Hahaha! I apologize for making such an unreasonable demand, Vice Pavillion Master!”
“Hahaha, I’m glad you understand.”
“T-Then I shall take my leave…!”
Just as Ghost Dog Blade hurriedly turned to flee—
“If you're ever dissatisfied with your title again, I’ll be sure to contact the Pa Clan in advance. Someone from there might come looking for you.”
Flinch!
Ghost Dog Blade’s shoulders stiffened completely.
Indeed.
What would the Pa Clan do if they found out some punk who hadn’t even manifested blade intent dared to request the title of Saber King?
“T-This will never happen again.”
“Good to hear. Then be on your way.”
Jin Yeomyung waved cheerfully at the hastily retreating back of Ghost Dog Blade.
***
I swear, I should’ve just killed that guy.
The moment Ghost Dog Blade was out of sight, I furrowed my brow.
“Gwak Hoe.”
Startled by my cold tone, Gwak Hoe immediately straightened up.
“Y-Yes, Vice Pavillion Master!”
“From now on, if someone like that shows up—someone who doesn’t even know their place—send them straight to me. I’ll handle them. Tell the other complaint officers the same.”
Gwak Hoe blinked and asked,
“A-Are you sure that’s okay?”
“Letting myself get dragged down by guys like that only ruins work efficiency. We already have mountains of work to do.”
Naming Hall’s main duty was to grant and manage titles for the Heavenly Demon Cult’s martial officers.
Even in the process of granting a title, the Cult needed to verify whether a person had accomplished something worthy of one—which meant we had to dispatch a fair number of people into the field.
Wasting dozens of people on trivial cases like this was unacceptable.
I glared toward the line of martial artists waiting outside.
“So, does anyone else have a problem with their title? I’d be happy to resolve it personally.”
At those words, the waiting martial artists frowned and turned away.
“…Tch!”
“We’re leaving, let’s go.”
Of course.
After seeing someone like Ghost Dog Blade get shut down so thoroughly, they knew it would be stupid to press the issue.
However—
“Ahem!”
There was one brave soul still seeking my approval.
I narrowed my eyes and looked at the only remaining middle-aged man.
“Master Blood Cat Sword.”
“That’s right, Vice Pavillion Master Jin.”
Jang Ik-moon, also known as Blood Cat Sword.
Among Naming Hall’s worst repeat offenders, he was still one of the top ten Master Level experts.
Most importantly, he was a member of the Surah Blood Sword Unit, one of the Thirty-Four Demon Squads, and officially affiliated with the Blood Dragon Demonic Clan.
“Well then, should I write you a letter of introduction to the Clan Lord as well?”
Unlike the others, Blood Cat Sword showed no fear at all.
He simply grinned sharply and fired back at my proposal.
“Even if you did, would a busy man like him really care about someone like me?”
“Hm…”
As expected of someone from the Blood Dragon Demonic Clan—he had a near-perfect grasp of the Clan Lord’s personality.
“If you were to grant my wish, I’d gladly spread word of your competence to everyone I know.”
I frowned at his words.
‘So you’re going to be even more of a pain?’
Jang Ik-moon’s request was to have his title changed from Blood Cat Sword to Blood Wolf Sword.
Honestly, for someone of his martial level, it wouldn’t be strange for the appeal to be accepted…
‘The problem is—someone already has the title Blood Wolf Sword.’
In short, this guy too was just here to throw a fit.
‘Now, how do I put this guy in his place…?’