As the Demon Exorcist trainees were in good hands with the Panda Nurse, Jin had decided to bring Grandma Yuan and only her to the Dungeon Maker. The System had made an exception for the past Sub System User to enter into to a slightly less restricted area, the place where Jin had previously undergone his cultivation training.
But instead of the usually desolate room, the System had already furnished the interior with a table and two chairs as well as a jug of water for them. In addition, that room had temporal manipulation capabilities, and so it slowed the time enough for a proper conversation before the trial of the trainees would start.
Jin poured a glass of water for the elderly woman in front of him and subsequently took out the items that he believed were related to the Demon Exorcists.
The Panda Emblem and the Colt Pistol which had the Ruby Origin Fire bullets.
“So? What do you wish to know?” Grandma Yuan started their conversation as she cleared her thirst with the cup of a rather satisfying glass of spring water.
“Everything, but let’s start with the elephant in the room. What is this whole Demon Exorcist deal? Why did you say that I am already a Demon Exorcist?” Jin asked and Grandma Yuan smirked at him ever so slightly.
“You did fight a demon, right? And won against it too.” Grandma Yuan questioned him, instead of answering as she took out a rather old looking book and placed it on the table as well.
“That manual!?” Jin exclaimed, seeing the same exact manual from the time he was fighting against the White Tiger of the West. “How did you know that I killed it, and what is that manual? I’ve already seen one like it!”
“Because a certain fox reported it to me after he met with that stifling old buffoon. Whether they liked it or not, both of them owed me a huge favour.” Grandma Yuan spoke with simple hints, and Jin realised that it was not his grandfather’s scheme to make him into a Demon Exorcist but rather Grandma Yuan’s.
“This manual is a sort of textbook relic and is mandatory to read for all Demon Exorcist Trainees. Of course, many full fledged Demon Exorcists also use it as a reminder of how to deal with certain Demons.” The one in front of Jin was more explicit, more accurate and even had updated text and pictures as compared to the tattered and old manual he had looked through previously.
“So you know that Ming spiritual consciousness is somehow within me?”
“He had planned it this way ever since he contracted his illness. Haven’t you wondered why your chi generation started to become so abnormal when it wasn’t like this at the start?” Grandma Yuan gave him another hint and it hadn’t struck him at all until now.
The System was not the only gift he inherited from Ming, he had devoted himself wholly to improve Jin. “Now, most people would not be able to stay sane, having two spiritual forms occupy one particular body. You, however, have had the System by your side, increasing your capacity and tolerance to housing another entity.”
“Then why does the System pretend to feign ignorance?” Jin asked his question loudly.
“Because the guidance has been an overall boon to current User despite the actions previous User Ming had committed. System preferred not to interfere unless it had unwanted implications against User or the System.” The System answered.
Grandma Yuan just nodded as she knew that the System would use whoever and whatever to maintain its overall advantage in the field. It did not discriminate like how humans would against each other, but rather valued the abilities and capabilities of others to further its own cause.
After another sip of water, Grandma Yuan continued: “That Panda Emblem had been awarded to Ming for his services as a monster slayer by the Joint Organisation of the Demon Exorcists (JODE). Right now it’s purely ornamental, but after I cast this particular spell, it will be your emblem to signify that you have been officially decreed as a Demon Exorcist.”
“Even the blossoming flowers will eventually scatter. Who in our world is ever unchanging? In the deep mountains of karma, the demons will be exterminated.” Grandma Yuan chanted the scroll right in front of her and the Panda Emblem in front of Jin shone brightly.
“Congratulations, you are now an official Demon Exorcist, if only one of the lowest ranks. In turn, all you need to do is answer JODE’s calls whenever it is needed.”
“While I know it is a bit too late but …why did you want me to be a Demon Exorcist? You should know that I can’t really move out from the shop as much as I want to.” Jin said, and Grandma Yuan shook her head.
“Ming’s last request to me had been to take care of you. I am doing it my way. To let you become a Demon Exorcist is my only way of showing my care and concern.” Grandma Yuan returned the now expended scroll into her storage ring.
“Suddenly, I feel the heavens had fallen.” Jin couldn’t help himself but remark with a tinge of sarcasm at his ever increasing responsibilities. Her walking stick immediately swept under the table and cause his chair to fall sideways, taking Jin with it as well.
“You imprudent ingrate. Is this how Ming taught you how to thank others? Perhaps I should have let Ming be the one to wash your butt and clear your shit when you were younger instead so that I could have been to one to teach you.” Grandma Yuan openly revealed that she had been his caretaker as well when his parents passed away.
“I did not know that…” Jin was probably too young to remember but he did remembered a motherly figure that entered his life someway or another. He stood up and apologise properly to her, but she shook the issue off with a wave of her hand.
“In any case, as a Demon Exorcist, especially under me, you will have access to details not privy to the public. Such as unique monsters’ whereabouts or humans possessed by demons. While it is our responsibility to get rid of those monsters, what happens with them afterwards is generally of no concern to the organisation.” Grandma Yuan said, and Jin realised what she was getting at.
“Not only that, because of my status, I am able to establish a branch of the Demon Exorcist Guild under your store provided that you get a license as Demon Exorcist. That way, all of that information will be for you to partake.” Grandma Yuan revealed her grand scheme of plans to him.
While in theory, he had to answer the JODE’s call to also investigate any possible clues at their behest, Grandma Yuan’s exertion of influence would enable Jin to be excused from all those minor tasks. Instead, she would promote him to the administrative side of JODE.
“So you want me to be some sort of a guild manager responsible for managing the Demon Exorcists?” Jin was surprised that Grandma Yuan had been planning this for a long time.
“Yes, currently they all come to me for the quests, and I am already too old for this bullcrap. Besides, with your growing reputation, the Demon Exorcists will also be able to come here and train as well with a price tag slapped on it.” Grandma Yuan answered with a wide smile on her face.
“Oh…so those four Demon Exorcist trainees…are like promotional materials for others Demon Exorcists to see my capabilities?” Jin realised why he was appointed to be their team leader.
“Something like that. Plus, I believe they will be growing better and stronger with the kind of monsters you provide for them to spar. Also, being a Demon Exorcist branch has its perks too, but I will let Claire fill you in about that.” Grandma Yuan replied.
“That does not mean you can slack all the time. I still need you to occasionally hunt some demons or else the Main Extermination Guild would start to question your worthiness. You don’t need me to convince you to them, you have a System to do that for me.”
“Why do I feel that you are going to make me do some impossible task,” Jin asked bluntly, and she laughed at his honesty.
“Because that will be the fastest way to rise up the ranks in the guild. Besides, Demon Exorcists do not just fight demons. We also get called up to go against monsters, although our priority remains to slaughter the former.”
“But I do not have the knowledge or equipment to do so. I did not even know about their existence until Ming let me suffer at the hands of one.” Jin questioned while it made Grandma Yuan furrow her eyebrows.
“System, please explain.” Grandma Yuan can’t be bothered to do a basic 101 for Jin.
“Demon Exorcists are a subgroup of Monster Slayer Class which specialise in removing demons from the world. The demons User had already encountered such as Lord Moloch and Lord Wolte are in the same category as the demons you would be encountering.” The System spoke and told Jin about the existence of the dimensional planes which Yun had explained to Gold. Both on Gods and Demons.
However, Grandma Yuan expanded the fact that all lore that Jin had heard and read about was true. For example, the World Snake in the Norse mythology or even the Gods in the Roman Mythologies. They all once did live on this planet before vanishing or going into hiding.
“So basically…just do what I had been doing? But this ‘branch’ that you were going to make me create… wouldn’t I need to have at least the basic equipment or knowledge I can pass forth.”Jin wondered as he was beginning to think about how to facilitate the other Demon Exorcists.
“You and Ming are all the same. Lack of patience! Since you are now a Demon Exorcist, Claire will provide you with the things to get you started. The Main Branch will be sending in a shipment for your System to preview. But rest assured that your current cultivation allows you to fend off demons.” Grandma Yuan said as she paused a little.
“Ming sought my help to develop the current cultivation that you’re wielding so your chi had already become potent enough to hurt a demon. And judging by your fight just now, you have somehow already mastered Fire, Wind, and Ice so you should not have that much of a problem. Although I expect you learn and master the Lightning and Earth Energy too.” Grandma Yuan said to Jin.
“Do not worry, I will ask Zeru for that. I realised how weak I was when fighting against your trainees during the 30 second trial and will not forget that experience anytime soon.” Jin said while thinking about the horrors he had to face as a consequence of losing.
“Good. And remember to continue on your cultivation with Ming. You have yet to beat all of the remaining Heavenly Beast Demons.” Grandma Yuan reminder him as she stood up.
“Do I have to fight empty handed as last time?” Jin asked as he could not fathom himself fighting against Suzaku on a one to one battle. He would definitely lose for sure.
“Maybe?” Grandma Yuan grinned as she asked the System to teleport her back to the Luxury Recovery Instance.
“So …Let’s have a little chat, System. What are the prospects and possible revenue we can get being a branch of the Demon Exorcist? Should we accept it? You should know them more than me.” Jin folded his arms and rest his eyes a little as he lay back on his chair.
“The Joint Organisation of Demon Exorcists had been founded decades after the System’s inception. Previously, the System would have disagreed partnering with them. However, considering the new sense of perspective gained from the interaction with current User during the past months, the System believes joining them will prove to have its benefits, especially in the monetary aspect.” The System stated its desire to be a part of the Demon Exorcist branch.
“It should be noted that for secrecy’s sake, it would be best to create a service instance exclusively for the Demon Exorcists group, for they have sensitive information to be passed around all the time. They might not operate like spies, but maintaining secrecy is still considered a priority.” The System added.
“How come? They are just monsters and demons that need to be defeated.”
“Ill willed cultivators might use the opportunity to get a head start on them and contract with the demons. Hence resulting in what past Sub System User Yuan had called demon possessed humans.”
“Aren’t the Demon Exorcist trainees the same? Like Rong, Lian and others?”
“Negative. Their cultivation stems from manuals, although possessing said demons would enable them to have a spiritual union with them, increasing their cultivation and strength by at least two fold.” The System stated that the conditions for spiritual union could be easily met if they contracted the demons.
“However, if the demon’s powers through spiritual union aren’t controlled well, the trainees might end up becoming possessed by the demons instead.” System cautioned Jin to take note in the future should he have a hand in handling the trainees.
“Considering their grade, I do wonder why Grandma Yuan still doesn’t allow them to be full fledged Demon Exorcists…” Jin stood up and went to the main hall of the dungeon maker while preparing the trial for them.
“Because they have yet to officially defeat a real Demon. Only after a trainee has defeated a demon under the eyes of a Demon Exorcist instructor, will they be considered for promotion.”
“Oh, is that why Grandma Yuan had given me this official title? But she did not see me kill that thing in my subconsciousness.”
“The System is unable to pry into your subconsciousness and can only deduce it was a hard fought battle considering the amount of sludge User has produced previously. It can only be presumed that she has taken Original Bellator’s Kraft message from previous User Ming at face value.”
“Wait… if all they need to do is to kill a demon, why don’t we provide them with a real demon to kill? You did show me in the updates that there were sightings of the demons in the Farming World, which I was supposed to get the materials from right? Why don’t we point them into that direction? Worst case scenario, they will serve as a distraction for the Farm Rats.” Jin suggested as he opened up the Dungeon Maker console to find that particular update.
“Affirmative, tracks of Transforming Spider have been accidentally picked up by the Ifrit’s Descendant, Flame Ripper on the way back to meet with Werecat Meomi. She has verified and confirmed the existence of the tracks.” The System stated and gave the probable location coordinates of the area.
“Then how about …we field them for the test? Like how we placed the cultivators in the Goblin World?” Jin asked if the System could narrow down the probable regions where the Transforming Spider was.
“A search and kill mission should serve as a more feasible test for the trainees. Does User wish to inform past Sub System User Yuan about it?” The System asked as it could send a transmission to the Panda Nurse to inform Grandma Yuan.
“I will tell her after I throw them into the fray,” Jin said with a smile on his face, as he made the necessary preparations for his unwilling subordinates.
