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6
6.
A battle that lasted longer than expected.
For the warriors, physically and mentally exhausted from the endless war of nerves with the Black Bandits, the return march at the beginning of winter was grueling labor.
However, the moment I arrived in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei Province.
“Wowww! It’s the warriors of the Murim Alliance!”
“I upheld justice in the martial arts world!”
“Warriors! I want to join the Murim Alliance too!”
At the sight of the countless crowds waiting from the entrance of the capital to catch a glimpse of the returning hero, the warriors, whose shoulders had been hunched under heavy burdens, straightened their posture once again.
Children delivering food.
Women delivering the messengers.
Even the drinkers trying to pass their cups to passing warriors.
Countless people praised them for their victory in the war against the Blood Cult, and the warriors, whose hearts had been worn down by the grueling war, filled that void with an overwhelming sense of fulfillment.
The seniors, who had lived in the Murim Alliance for a long time and gone through many wars, helped the rookies experiencing their first war to fully enjoy the hospitality with peace of mind.
“You fool, don’t be shy, go get the seal!”
“Just take whatever the little ones give you. It will be a good memory for them, too.”
“Don’t accept the alcohol! There is still one last report left.”
The new recruits, unable to recover from the horrors and aftereffects of the first war, acted as their seniors instructed with bewildered expressions.
There were warriors who received the wrong message and had it taken back, and there were also those who got completely drunk after accepting and drinking from a drunkard.
They would burst into laughter at the sight of such a colleague, and just as the laughter was about to subside, they would tease him again, laughing and chatting endlessly.
Even more exaggerated than usual.
As if they had never experienced a horrific war.
Like people who forcefully turn their heads toward places filled with pleasure to ignore reality, they actively enjoyed the hospitality. #The Grand Training Ground of the Murim Alliance.
The warriors who returned from Sacheon lined up.
The elders of the Murim Alliance were seated on the platform, and the Alliance Leader, standing in the center, examined the faces of the valiant warriors one by one.
And then, slowly, he let out a lion’s roar. [I feel that your achievements cannot be evaluated with the simple words of “good job.”]
A resonant and weighty voice, as if speaking right beside you, echoes throughout the grand training ground. [Since your lives cannot be held hostage simply because you belong to the Alliance and receive a monthly stipend, your participation in this battle is beyond noble.]
Some suffered irreparable wounds, and others could not return from that harsh land.
They say human life is in the hands of Heaven, but I believe that invoking Heaven for a fight started by humans is nothing short of an irresponsible excuse.
Each of those who survived and stand here has lost someone.
The name of a brave warrior is a tattered honor built upon the corpses and blood of comrades.
Knowing this, my steps were infinitely heavy as I returned with victory.
Laughing even louder at the people’s hospitality was also an attempt to find meaning in their own way. [That is why your sacrifice is beyond noble. War may benefit no one, but it inevitably causes harm to someone.]
And that damage is bound to spread faster among the weak than among the strong.
Just as the warriors’ minds were turning dizzy with the horrors of war and regret over their lives, Hyeok Mu-gang’s confident voice shook the space. [Your victory never ends merely with proving your existence!]
Please remember that I have protected the peace and stability of all those living in the Jianghu and the world.
With my heartfelt sincerity, I express my gratitude to all of you who have returned alive. Thank you for protecting the world.
Hyeok Mu-gang bows his head and clenches his fist.
At this, the warriors who had been bowing their heads also each grasped their fists, bowed their heads, and shouted.
“““Honorable command!””
The shouts shouted at the same time echoed loudly through the Murim Alliance.
A moment later, Hyeok Mu-gang raised his head and a smile played on his lips. [I have prepared a banquet for you tonight. I hope this serves as an opportunity for you to relieve the fatigue of your journey.]
As soon as Hyeok Mu-gang finished speaking, the shouts of the warriors filled the Murim Alliance.
““Waaaaaaah!”””
It was not a forced shout, but a cheer filled with sincerity.
Please walk a little faster.
Meng Ju-won pouted at Mantong Buwon’s urging.
“Did you not hear the Alliance Leader’s words? I am a man who has come after making a noble sacrifice.”
“……
I know.
“Then don’t I also have the right to enjoy today’s banquet!”
The member lets out a long sigh.
“Do you think I would feel at ease, *cough*…!”
Maeng Ju-won suddenly wraps his arm around Bu-won’s neck and causes a commotion.
“I told you! You couldn’t find me! Report it!”
“Ughh
The member screamed while wildly hitting his hands.
“Cough… No, I even got it right that the Commander-in-Chief would be somewhere… *cough*… How can you expect me to pretend I don’t know!”
“Is the Commander-in-Chief scary, but I’m not?”
“Ugh, of course the department head is scary, too……”
“General Man, *Gasp*…! Isn’t even the Director afraid of you?!”
“…….”
Maeng Ju-won tightened his grip even more.
The member let out a scream of pain as if his throat were about to break.
“S-stop, stop!!!”
Sigh.
Eventually, Maeng Ju-won, having let go of Bu-won, pressed his temples firmly.
Are you that busy?
“Cough, hmmm… I’m going crazy.”
“Haa… I knew this would happen.”
That is why I deliberately said I would stay with the follow-up unit to sort everything out and return later.
At the strict order from the Ministry of Public Works to send Maeng Ju-won back immediately, the Sacheon Branch Manager trembled and placed Maeng Ju-won in the lead group.
In the end, he had no choice but to continue working during the battle, after the battle, and on the way back.
The fact that I could not escape the life of a comfort doll.
We are also truly sorry. We are aware that you were the busiest person on the front lines, Manager.
The eyelids of the member speaking catch my eye.
The blackened appearance clearly shows layers of accumulated fatigue.
“But we feel like dying right now, too. And the Commander-in-Chief must feel even more so.”
“We haven’t slept an hour a day for the past month. And the Commander-in-Chief hasn’t left the Mantong Headquarters even once.”
The member looked as if he was about to cry at any moment.
“Once this matter is resolved, I will definitely suggest granting you a long leave of absence! However, right now, without you here, we cannot properly handle the personnel remaining in Sichuan or those who have returned to the Murim Alliance.”
Maeng Ju-won let out a long sigh.
I get it.”
“yes?”
“I got it! Let’s go!”
“I, I will serve you.”
The footsteps of the member ahead are unsteady.
Just how much fatigue had accumulated?
Even though he was on the battlefield, he at least kept to his sleep schedule punctually.
It is not because I wanted to.
They had no choice but to turn off the lights because if the lights in the barracks were turned on at night, they would inevitably become targets for the enemy.
On the other hand, thinking about how the members of the Mantong Department continued working without such restrictions, I felt childish for saying I would take a day off.
As I approached the main building where the Mantongbu was located, the atmosphere was completely different from the area around the grand training ground.
While the atmosphere in the grand training ground was relaxed, with everyone enjoying banquets and warmly welcoming their comrades who had returned alive, the area around the main building was lined with scholars running around frantically as if a war had broken out, oblivious to their disheveled attire.
As we entered the Mantong Department, the member who had led Meng Ju-won shouted loudly.
The department head is back!
The impact was tremendous.
“uh?!”
“Oh!”
“M-Mr. Manager!”
All the members of the Mantong Department stopped what they were doing and ran to Meng Ju-won.
Although they were team members he had always worked with, this was the first time he had received such a warm welcome. While Maeng Ju-won responded with a bewildered expression, some of the members were overcome with emotion and shed tears.
“Thank you! Thank you, Manager!”
You’re finally back!
“Thank you, gods of heaven and earth!”
Is this how parents react upon hearing the news of their child’s safe return?
Mantongbu suddenly became a sea of tears, and even Maeng Ju-won, moved by the fact that his members cared for him to this extent, felt his heart ache.
But… … ‘Huh? What is it?’ Through my moist gaze, I wondered why the eyelids of the club member who had brought me here looked somehow whiter than before.
“Finally! Finally, I can go back!”
“It’s home! I can go home and sleep!”
I’m free!
The club members hugging each other and shedding tears.
Before they knew it, they were gathering their belongings and starting to leave the Mantongbu.
Maeng Ju-won was flustered by the sudden atmosphere and even stammered.
“W-what are you doing right now?”
Let’s grab the member who guided you and ask them.
“Four! I’m on my way home from work.”… …
The member answered with a bright smile.
Maeng Ju-won began to feel that something was going wrong.
“Getting off work? You said you had a lot of work to do?”
The manager said he would let us go home when he returns.
Well then, goodbye!
The member, whose eyelids were completely clear of soot, smiled brightly and left the Mantong Club without the slightest hesitation.
Maeng Ju-won let out a hollow laugh, dumbfounded. ‘What kind of dog-like…’ And then.
Jegal So-myeong, who had lived in the Mantongbu without ever being able to go home for a single day, appeared looking incredibly neat and clean.
“Did you come?”
Now, work.
And only then was Maeng Ju-won able to realize that he had been victimized.
Those damn Mantong department members conspired together and sold me out to that devilish boss.
Oh right!
Jegal So-myeong, who was about to return to his office, came back and patted Meng Ju-won on the shoulder.
Good job. You are the real sucker.
“Huh? What’s with that look?”
Isn’t the term “hogaeng” used to describe a fool who walks into a tiger’s jaws of their own accord?
Maeng Ju-won wanted to know why he was being insulted when he was already furious, but his rage was so intense that he couldn’t even bring himself to open his mouth.
Jegal So-myeong, watching the scene, nodded his head proudly.
“Oh, are you moved by the excessive praise?”… …
Where on earth did things go wrong, how did it start, and what exactly went wrong? With only the final semester evaluation remaining, I set out into the Infinite Street with the student center delegation.
It was partly to express my gratitude to the delegation for their hard work while I was away, but on the other hand… … .
“Do I really have the right to put anything in my mouth?”
Seong Moran had been slumped over for several days after receiving her report card.
“If I had known this would happen, I would have just gone into secluded training with Seonhwa…….”
And next to it, Geumpyo walks around with his head bowed like a sinner.
“That’s exactly what I’m saying. Someone once said that anyone who receives a ‘Mu’ (戊) rating is a turtle’s head.”
“What?! Who!”
As Seong Moran glared with a vicious look, Geum Pyo’s finger slithered toward Eun Ho.
Seong Moran, who had been glaring at Eunho as he nervously swallowed hard, soon let out a sigh.
“That’s right… I’m a turtle head. I should just stay inside the shell.”
I had just come out for some fresh air to cheer on the disheartened Seong Moran and Geum Pyo.
I tried hard to comfort her.
“Don’t blame yourself too much, Miss Moran. Isn’t there still a chance to turn things around?”
Seongmoran sighs at my comforting words and stares at me intently.
But…
“Yes. What is the reason?”
“Why are you getting top grades when you didn’t even attend classes properly?”
Hey, at this rate, fire is going to shoot out of his eyes.
I shrugged my shoulders as I looked at Seong Moran, who had a strange murderous aura about her.
Well, because I prepared and reviewed well?
Actually, the school exam doesn’t mean much to me.
Considering the documents from the Ministry of Communications, wouldn’t it be stranger for me to get a low test score when I have crammed all the books and documents from the Manseogo into my head?
But, Miss Seongmo’s gaze seems to have gotten fiercer…
It must be my imagination, right?
Let’s clear our throats, avoid eye contact, and look to the side.
“Right, Senior Officer! There is still a chance to overturn it, isn’t there?”
Geumpyo asked me with sparkling eyes.
That heartless bastard, ugh.
I instantly gave him a sharp tap on the head and yelled.
“You turtle-like bastard! From now on, never go anywhere and say you’re from Taeeulmun. I’m dying of shame!”
I walked down the street, leaving Geumpyo behind, who wore an expression as if he had been stabbed in the back by someone he trusted.
As she savored the lively atmosphere of the shopping district, Seongmoran’s steps became lighter, perhaps because she felt a little better.
It seems like there are unusually many people here compared to usual.
It is probably because of the recruitment of lower-ranking warriors.
“A low-ranking warrior?”
I nodded.
“I heard that Baekranggak and Heukranggak suffered the most damage from the recent incident in Sacheon.”
It is only natural that damage occurs in war, but it is incredibly bitter that such damage is limited to only a few.
“They’ve already posted an announcement saying they are conducting a massive recruitment this time.”
And the fact that someone’s place is easily replaced by another leaves a bitter taste, even though I know it is unavoidable.
Seongmo-ran lightly nodded, as if finally understanding the reason for the crowd.
There was a reason why so many people flocked there.
“I know, right. What’s so great about it?”
I struggled to hide a bitter smile.
I’m just talking to myself.
Around this time, the members of the platoon I belonged to will probably start gathering.
They will go through a cycle of being weeded out and replenished, and it will be only after a long time that the Sojeongdae I knew will be formed.
In the meantime, what they would go through was already in my mind.
When I had just entered my second life, I even wondered if I should stop them.
Because those bastards of Sojeongdae cursed at me every night for applying to the Murim Alliance.
But I don’t know yet if that is correct.
Maybe that’s why they are trying to avoid judging those guys.
“To think I was thinking about those bastards. Whether it’s the matter with the Black Alliance or the matter with Yelu Ke, for some reason, those disgusting faces keep popping into my head lately. Damn it, Sojeongdae…” A bitter yet longing smile formed on my lips without me realizing it.
Just then, Eunho’s voice awakened my thoughts.
“Senior Brother, there is a seat available.”
“okay.”
Just as I was about to move my feet at Eunho’s words about going to scout a location, ‘Huh?’ I froze for a moment at the sight of a familiar face through the crowd.
A being I found disgusting, hated, and despised.
Nevertheless, a being to whom one could entrust their back, who comforted and was comforted by each other.
It was definitely that face.
“H-Big Brother!”
Eunho’s shout calling my name scattered into the air. ‘No way… no way…!’ I unfolded the Taeeulpalmansinbo and pushed my way through the densely packed crowd.
It was only after breaking through a distance of ten yards that I was able to grab the man’s shoulder.
Yes, that figure standing in my way, throwing away his life on the battlefield.
Yalu Zai!
“huh?”
The man who turned his head was definitely the Yalu Zai I know.
