3
6
5.
No, to be precise, I didn’t know exactly what to say.
“…….”
Of course, Jin So-woon has been receiving a lot of attention recently.
The job of a board student inherently generates above-average appeal to the opposite sex, and on top of that, he also possessed the skills of being the top student.
As rumors recently spread that she had responded to a crisis in Mukrim and led the academy students, interest in Jin So-un—particularly regarding marriage—has truly exploded.
Because fallen noble families and wealthy merchant households were frequently sending representatives to delegations.
Even among the female students at the academy, who had previously shown no interest in Jin So-woon due to his meager background, fervent interest in him began to pour out.
Yeah, that’s certainly true, but…
Even so, I never imagined that Dang Seo-hui would become a competitor.
To think he even came to ask if I was willing to become a son-in-law living with my wife’s family.
“that……
Why are you curious about that?
A question that might have been rude slipped out without me realizing it.
A situation where it is already too late by the time you realize it.
Fortunately, Dang Seo-hee munched on the sweets as if she didn’t mind much.
I’m not curious.
“Oh! Really?”
Namgung Seon-hwa’s relief was short-lived.
Gulp
Dang Seo-hui swallowed the candy in one gulp and added
It’s what Grandpa is curious about.
Namgung Seon-hwa’s heart sank again.
“H-Grandfather… you mean Elder Poison King, right?”
Yeah, that’s how it is.
Namgung Seon-hwa asked the question while trying her best to act nonchalant.
“Ha, I wonder why Grandpa is curious?”
Dang Seo-hui picks up a piece of candy again and eats it, then stares blankly at the ceiling.
Then, he soon tilts his head.
“That is… something I don’t understand.”
The person involved didn’t know, but Namgung Seon-hwa, who asked the question, somehow felt like she knew the answer.
Because Dang Seo-hui is currently the only one in the Dang family of marriageable age.
Surely you didn’t ask with her cousin, who is ten years younger than her, in mind.
For some reason, I started to feel anxious.
Emperor Tang Hedi, the tyrannical king of his time, was incredibly stubborn and was particularly famous for always accomplishing whatever he decided to do.
In that case… … ‘Phew… …’ I had no choice but to change the person’s mind.
“Um, Senior Dang… Are you thinking about the wedding?”
“wedding?”
Dang Seo-hui wore an expression as if she had heard the Four Books and Five Classics, then nodded her head.
“Ah, a wedding! Hmm… I haven’t thought about it yet.”
“Right?! It’s still too early to be thinking about marriage.”
Namgung Seon-hwa slapped her palm with her fist.
“Senior Dang, I’m sure you still have many things you want to do… and even if your family insisted on a wedding, you naturally wouldn’t want to marry someone you don’t have feelings for, right?”
When it comes to stubbornness, Dang Seo-hui is no less stubborn than Dang Hyeok-je.
The reason she was able to carry on the progress of the Tang family was, along with her brilliant talent, the stubbornness of not putting a single piece of food in her mouth for an entire month, which brought her to the brink of starvation.
Moreover, she is a prominent figure in the martial arts world who has now even acquired the title of Baeksu Shinnyeo through the Yongbong Association.
A wedding that was against her will could not take place.
While Namgung Seon-hwa took a brief breather.
“If it is a wedding decided by the elders of the family, I will give it some thought.”
“yes???”
A thunderbolt flew in.
“Marriage is an important thing. It is something that anyone who isn’t particularly rough around the edges can do.”
To think I can do it, I can…
there is……
you.
Namgung Seon-hwa agonized until the very last moment.
I knew it was best not to ask, but I felt like I wouldn’t be able to sleep properly tonight without asking.
“Um… Senior Tang, by any chance… what do you think of Young Master Jin?”
“Jin So-un? I consider him an excellent academy student.”
“Hmm… if I were to put it in terms of whether I like it or not…?”
“Hmm? Why do you keep asking strange questions?”
As Namgung Seon-hwa held out a sweet treat to Dang Seo-hee, who had puffed out her cheeks, Dang Seo-hee continued speaking.
“……
“If I had to be picky, it’s a good thing. Mumbling… I get to participate in chivalrous activities, and he buys me a Tang family bag every time.”
Dang Seo-hui, who had already brought another piece of candy to her mouth, looked at Namgung Seon-hwa for a moment and tilted her head.
“Junior, what’s with that look on your face? Did you think of an enemy? Just say the word. I’ll hit you.”
“No. I think I was mistaken. I thought you were someone with a clean record with women… I guess that wasn’t the case? Hoho…”
The dying flame in Namgung Seon-hwa’s heart began to burn brightly once again. ‘Huh?’ She turned around with a chilling sensation, but it was just an empty wall.
But as expected, I had a strange feeling. ‘What is this?’ Don’t you ever feel that way?
Even though I am a person of upright and proper conduct, there are times when I feel terrified of the consequences and a chill runs down my spine at the thought that I have made a huge mistake in front of someone.
“Jin So-un, is there a problem?”
I snapped back to reality at the sound of a heavy voice.
Come to think of it, it would be stranger not to feel anxious in a situation like this.
It’s no big deal.
“I’ll keep going.”
I came because I was asked to help with the investigation, but no matter how I look at it, it doesn’t seem like the intention is simply to investigate Mukrim.
“So, that big bear appeared and did what?”
“It is not a bear, but a spirit. The eternal earth…….”
So that’s what makes it a bear.
Otherwise, why is Jang Bo-geuk, the Grand Master of Jeokryonggak, participating in the investigation of Cheonmokgak?
“It has the form of a bear, but…… Haa, no.”
“Huh? Did you just sigh?!”
“Clan Leader Jang, stop interrupting me. And lower that foot. Isn’t this the time to listen to a report?”
And standing next to him, scolding Grand Master Jang Bo-geuk was Grand Master Hwang Seo-yul of Cheongnyonggak.
It wasn’t just those two people.
From White Tiger Pavilion, Black Mist Pavilion, Yellow Phoenix Pavilion, to Red Phoenix Pavilion.
They couldn’t be called representatives of their respective units right now, but everyone who would lead the future Mugak and become a hero was present. ‘It wouldn’t be easy to gather all of them like this…’ For the record, no one came from Baekranggak, which I am preparing to support.
It was evidence that clearly showed the current status of Baekranggak, which was treated as a foreign legion from the very beginning.
I was filled with regret.
Anyway, it’s practically the same as missing the chance to make a good impression on a future boss.
Moreover, the attitude of the audience listening to the presentation was extremely rude.
“I’m sorry, Student Jin So-un. Everyone has just returned from Sichuan and is still a bit relaxed. Please be understanding.”
Hwang Seo-yul, who at least had a decent attitude, was providing comfort.
Jang Bo-geuk, who still hadn’t taken his feet off the table, supported his head with his rough hands and spoke.
“Why did you enter the Demonic Realm in the first place? You didn’t go in there and meet a spirit for no reason.”
They are people who have nothing to do with me anyway.
No matter what attitude they take when listening or what they think, it has absolutely nothing to do with me.
I should have just rushed out to the entrance. Why did I bother racking my brains for nothing?
Yeah, it definitely doesn’t matter…
Damn, it’s seriously uncomfortable to listen to this.
“Why can’t you answer? Is there something you’re hiding?”
“You! Stop now…….”
“If Red Dragon Pavilion were in the same situation as us… all of their members would have been dead.”
“……!?”
“……??”
Oops, I messed it up.
Hwang Seo-yul, who was trying to stop Jang Bo-geuk, also shows a look of displeasure for some reason.
The same goes for the members of other cabinets.
Ha, it’s not like fixing it now will solve anything.
I let it all out with a “whatever happens, happens” attitude.
They aren’t going to be my superiors anyway.
“Did you not hear properly earlier? The Heavenly Net and Earthly Trap have been unleashed. Moreover, in addition to killing intent, another malevolent energy was greatly shaking the minds of the academy students. To think they are charging toward the enemy lines, knowing full well where they are headed.……”
I looked at Jang Bo-geuk and twisted the corners of my mouth into a smirk.
“Why don’t you just tell your subordinates to shoulder stones and jump off the cliff instead?”
Jang Bo-geuk’s face begins to flush red.
With a stiff expression, he lowered his foot and immediately slammed his fist on the table.
bang!
As the prepared teacups are overturned and falling over, the long table makes a loud crack and soon shatters into pieces.
It is certainly a level of strength far beyond that of a clan head.
It is not as if it is emitting a murderous aura, but the energy radiating from its entire body naturally takes one’s breath away.
“What did you just say?”
However, I know all too well that if I back down now, it will be truly impossible to do anything about it.
Because Jang Bo-geuk doesn’t like people who make excuses to avoid responsibility.
“Let me be precise. If Grand Master Jang Bo-geuk and Jeokryonggak had been there…….”
Jang Bo-geuk is the kind of person who values the guy who charges head-on, even if it means getting destroyed.
I looked him straight in the eyes and answered.
Not a single person would have returned alive.
Shhh
Air freezing in an instant.
“How dare you say such a thing when you know… who I am?”
But I don’t really care.
Well, I didn’t say anything wrong, did I?
I always say the right things. The problem is that sometimes it gets taken as a punchline.
Crunch.
Then, Jang Bo-geuk, who had crushed the chair handle into dust, glared at me with piercing eyes.
“Do you think Red Dragon Pavilion is that funny?!”
“Then let me ask you just one thing. What countermeasures does the Red Dragon Pavilion have against the Apostles, the Demonic Paths, and the Evil Paths?”
Such wicked things… … .”
I interrupted him.
“You’re not planning to overcome this through deep mental training… are you? Surely the Red Dragon Pavilion wouldn’t do that.”
Jang Bo-geuk gaped his mouth like a goldfish.
“Hmm… I guess I’m right.”
“I heard that you suffered a lot in Sichuan because the members of Red Dragon Pavilion sold off all the Spirit-Exorcising Orbs. Was your mental cultivation insufficient back then?”
Soon, his body began to tremble.
He did not hide the momentum that seemed ready to explode at any moment.
“You couldn’t even stop them, so how do you think you can stop the beings of Mukrim…….”
“You bastard!!!”
It eventually exploded.
He threw the Kwon-gyeong with all his might.
puck!
The sword grazed just below my ear, leaving a small wound on my neck and a deep mark on the wall.
“Huh… didn’t you dodge that?”
That’s impressive.
“They said he has more guts than an average black swordsman…….”
Words of admiration poured out from here and there.
It seemed like no one knew the truth, but… ‘D-shit… I can’t believe he actually did it.’ I thought he would just threaten me and leave it at that, but Jang Bo-geuk was even crazier than I thought.
Anyway, since not showing any signs of being flustered made me look more confident, I stood there calmly as if nothing were wrong.
At that, Jang Bo-geuk, who had actually fired the Kwon-gyeong, looked somewhat embarrassed.
“You, you damn bastard…….”
While Jang Bo-geuk was at a loss, Hwang Seo-yul murmured in a serious voice.
Stop it. Jang Bo-geuk.
It was an extremely plain voice, but for some reason, Jang Bo-geuk flinched and trembled.
Hwang Seo-yul, having sorted out the situation, bowed his head slightly to me.
“Student Jin So-un. I apologize on behalf of everyone gathered here. If you were surprised, we may reschedule.”
I’m fine.
“Thanks. Then, would you please continue?”
Was it because he didn’t show a reaction to Kwon-kyung?
Afterwards, the attitude of the listeners changed significantly.
Throughout the course of the story, he displayed a range of emotions—from immersed in anger to admiration, and unable to contain his astonishment.
And after the story ended, a strange silence hung in the air once again.
Hwang Seo-yul, who had been lost in thought, nodded faintly and muttered, “That’s surprising.”
What? Is that all the reaction?
I wasn’t expecting applause, but they should at least acknowledge that it was a sufficiently successful operation…
The reaction is somehow lukewarm.
“Is this really an operation that a student could devise and execute? What do you think?”
In response to Hwang Seo-yul’s question, the others take turns offering their opinions.
“That’s nonsense. Even a clan leader wouldn’t easily come up with such quick thinking…”
“I know it’s like spitting in my own face… but if it were my kids, they would all be dead.”
“Honestly, even if it’s only half true, it’s a plan that’s hard to believe.”
“I was half-doubting when the Commander-in-Chief spoke of it… but now I understand why he said so.”
Finally, Hwang Seo-yul looked at Jang Bo-geuk.
Jang Bo-geuk, who had been keeping his mouth tightly shut, finally shook his head at Hwang Seo-yul’s gaze and spoke.
I’ll admit it’s quite, quite useful.
Then, suddenly, a question arose in my mind.
Wasn’t the reason it was called Cheonmokgak in the first place to share information about the enemies encountered in Mukrim?
Why on earth are the real power players of Mugak taking the places of the Cheonmokgak members?
Do you have any further questions?
Thinking that the Mugak might be deployed straight into the Dark Forest, I took questions to share even one more piece of information…
“So, where is your first choice?”
“yes?”
Why is a career question suddenly coming up here…?
Well, since you asked, I guess I should answer.
“I am thinking of Baekranggak…….”
“Huh? Baekranggak? Not the Yongbong Society?”
“The atmosphere in the martial arts world is ominous, so I thought it would be better to quickly adapt to the front lines and prepare countermeasures rather than engaging in Yongbong Branch activities.”
“Hmph… even so, why specifically Baekranggak?”
Even after that, questions completely unrelated to Mukrim’s daily life began to pour out.
“Are you perhaps interested in the special forces?”
“I heard you are exceptionally skilled in martial arts; do you have any other special talents?”
“From the way I hear it, it doesn’t sound like you necessarily want to go to Baekranggak… Is there perhaps another place you’re looking for? Well, like Jeokbonggak, for instance, *cough*.”
Do you like to drink?
In the end, even a ridiculous question about whether I liked alcohol came up, and I looked at the person who asked that absurd question.
Jang Bo-geuk subtly avoids my gaze.
“Th-this is such an important question!”
I couldn’t understand at all what they had gathered for.
Seriously, aren’t these people even busy…
“So…… how much can you drink?”
My head started throbbing.
