3
6
0.
Yong So-ah was looking at me indifferently.
So I tried even harder not to show it.
And asked cautiously.
Because I needed evidence to be sure if that was really looking for me.
“Bringing down the Murim Alliance… Why do you think that?”
Because they were things that shouldn’t have existed in the first place.
“……
Only the Murim Alliance is the absolute hegemon of the Jianghu
Because?
“I am not a fool lost in self-righteous thoughts.”
Yong So-ah, who quickly saw through the intention behind my sarcasm and thoroughly asserted her innocence.
Yang Yong-so-ah, having stated the obvious facts, showed not the slightest wavering.
In that case… … just be supreme in heaven and earth
I’m saying that I wasn’t converted to their ideology.
Just in case, I cautiously sounded them out.
“Hmm, it’s hard to believe that one person did all that work alone.
I never said it was one person.
Are you saying you are just guessing?
“…….”
Yong So-ah was somehow silent at the last question.
Based on the analysis of the conversation, two things were found.
One thing is that he suspects some force may have interfered in the formation of the Black Alliance and the Green Forest Alliance.
And the one remaining thing was that they didn’t suspect me. ‘Then again, it would be strange to suspect me.’ Although I planted the seeds for the Green Forest Alliance and the Black Alliance to sprout, it would be a stretch to say I created them myself.
Yeah, absolutely. Who am I anyway?
It was nothing more than giving that opportunity a little sooner to someone who was likely to become the master of the Black Alliance in the future.
In the case of the Green Forest Alliance, it was nothing more than preventing the disaster that would befall the leader.
He really did only that much.
It’s embarrassing to even say that I made it.
So even if they were to investigate me, it would be as if there were no basis or evidence that I contributed to building their power.
But on the other hand, it gave me goosebumps.
To harbor doubts about the formation of the Black Alliance and the Green Forest Alliance, which seemed natural on the surface, when there is absolutely no evidence.
His determination to uncover the true nature of the artificial movements, judging that there was an ulterior motive, was somewhat surprising.
At first glance, his thinking seems similar to that of the foolish old-timers in the Murim Alliance who are desperately trying to hold onto their high positions, but…
If you look inside, the pattern is clearly different.
“To be precise, I suppose you could say that I am saying the exact same things as those who are driven solely by emotion and greed, while completely devoid of them?” “Seriously… he’s such a creepy bastard.” Even in my past life, I thought that someday Yong So-ah—that is, Taecheong Divine Sword—might come looking for me and kill me.
Of course, it was absurd that he came all that way in person.
Anyway, the Yong So-ah I knew in my past life was someone who would never have just left me alone.
Becoming one of the many bloods a hero takes.
I thought that perhaps that was my role after all.
It was a shallow insight, but my prediction turned out to be correct, and it left a very bitter taste.
Luckily, that bastard Gwak-gung appeared at the end, but.
Anyway, I really don’t like the fact that Yong So-ah is going around digging into my background, claiming she is chasing an unprecedented enemy.
Because Yong So-ah is the very person who can draw his sword once his suspicions solidify, even if no evidence emerges.
If it’s going to get in my way anyway, it would be better to redirect it to something that helps me.
But the thing is, Yong So-ah isn’t just a fool.
You will notice the lie immediately.
I pondered deeply for a moment
After doing that, I started to loosen my tongue.
“Hmm… Now that I think about it, I think I’ve heard a similar story.”
Yong So-ah, who was passing the tea, slightly lifts her eyelids.
As if saying, “I’m ready to listen, so speak.” “That bastard is acting like he’s the boss.” I started off like that and clamped my mouth shut.
An indifferent gaze weighed heavily on the air, but so what?
The current Yong So-ah isn’t even the Yong So-ah of her past life.
Moreover, if you speak first in an attempt to persuade, your persuasiveness actually diminishes.
Aren’t humans the ones whose understanding of something reaches its highest when they crave it?
As I sat there pretending not to know, Yong So-ah spoke first after quite a while.
“What is that?”
“what?”
For now, he kept pretending not to know.
At that, a small wrinkle formed between the guy’s eyebrows.
That’s fun.
I asked what a similar story he had heard was.
“Ah. You mean that?”
Then, as if it were no big deal, and as if he didn’t know much about it and wasn’t interested, he blurted it out.
“You know those who appeared in Sichuan? They claimed to be descendants of the Blood Demon Sect. And they added this: that descendants of other Demon Sects would take action, that they would seek revenge.”
Of course, I didn’t say that.
After all, the Blood Cult was a heretical force that broke away from the Demonic Cult in the first place.
But if Yong So-ah is going to dig around, wouldn’t it be better for the entire martial arts world to dig into the Demonic Cult’s background rather than mine?
At this point, even the Jade Emperor would allow me to become a righteous liar. Yes, absolutely.
I fidgeted with my glass for no reason and shrugged my shoulders.
“Of course, there wouldn’t be a fool who believes everything those braggarts say. Isn’t that right?”
You’re kidding?
“Well, wouldn’t that be the case?”
I neither strongly affirmed nor strongly denied.
Based on my experience with figures like Zhuge Tianqi and Zhuge Xiaoming, it is not necessary to show geniuses the whole picture.
They want to draw their own maps by obtaining only a small piece of the whole picture; they are not the type to stand by and watch others create incorrect maps.
And just as I expected.
Yong So-ah’s eyes gleamed as if she had caught something in the fragments of my words.
“Other demon species….”
In any case, it seemed that the suspicion directed at me had been offset to some extent by this.
Yong So-ah also looked lost in thought, as if picturing something in her mind.
I guess I can catch my breath for a moment…
That’s strange.
Suddenly, Yong So-ah’s eyes flash.
To think I’m only sharing this important information now.
Then, he stared at me with eyes full of suspicion.
That’s suspicious.
What the hell am I supposed to do? Contrary to my worries, Yong So-ah didn’t ask me anything or make an issue of it after that.
I’m not sure if that’s an attempt to hide their suspicion of me, or if they’re just busy worrying about where to start chasing the remnants of the Demonic Cult.
Anyway, Yong So-ah didn’t say much.
I thought he would go to Sacheon to investigate as soon as he heard my story.
“Yong-so, you should try this too.”
Yong So-ah did not break away from the procession.
Furthermore, having to sit at the same table with them for every meal was quite a chore. ‘Seriously, why do we keep sitting at the same table?’ A few times, I even tried to avoid sitting with them by taking refuge in the furthest corner and squeezing in among the dormitory students, but…
“Jin So-un, do you like this position?”
Dang Seo-hee, hopping around among the dorm students, pushed away the student who had suddenly sat next to me.
Then, after Hwajungsan sent the other academy students away through intimidation, Yongsoah leisurely appeared and took the remaining seat.
“I heard you were acting as the leader for these kids, so why are you sitting in the corner?”
I don’t know why he keeps acting so erratically.
Fuck, I can’t digest anything when I’m with you guys.
Other than that, there was nothing difficult.
The problem was that it was too hard work, but damn.
There were no hardships after that either.
After arriving at the school building, I thought the first place I should go was the execution hall.
Because I was convinced that the instructors had definitely pulled some kind of trick.
On top of that, the number of academy students who died in Mukrim was too large.
Since the weight of each and every one of their lives was by no means light, I expected that things would not go smoothly.
“Because the instructors would never have wanted to pay the price. Of course, that doesn’t mean I had any intention of taking the blame myself. But…”
I am glad to see you return safely.
Contrary to our expectation that an arrest order would be issued, the enforcement officers who came to greet us were polite and courteous.
I heard that Jin So-un, the representative of the academy, led all the academy students.
The person who appeared to be much older asked for my cooperation in the investigation, even using honorifics.
I’d like to conduct a brief preliminary investigation before the full-scale one.
He didn’t even suggest going to the execution angle.
I sat facing the two people in the student center representative’s office and had a conversation in a relaxed atmosphere.
Of course, the seven-colored flower did not come out.
Um, so you are saying that in such a situation, you led the academy students and escaped the Demon Realm?
The executive officers who were listening to my story looked at each other and exchanged unreadable glances.
I leaned back and asked slowly.
Yes. Is there a problem?
“No. Rather than a problem… I have doubts about its authenticity.”
What do you mean by authenticity? What are you talking about?
“If you exaggerated for the sake of achievement, you didn’t need to. Student Jin So-un has already accumulated sufficient merit. Earning a higher score wouldn’t make much of a difference.”
He spoke in a friendly manner as if he were looking out for me, but my heart flared up like a spark had been ignited.
I have only told you the bare minimum. And… I have absolutely no intention of claiming credit for the deaths of the academy students.
“Ah, I’m sorry. I did not intend to take your friends’ deaths lightly.”
“…….” The word ‘friend’ somehow pounds heavily on my heart.
Come to think of it, we weren’t friends.
If they had returned alive and graduated from the academy together, they probably would never have called each other friends for the rest of their lives.
So it was strange.
The fact that I became friends with them only after they died.
I’m sorry if I offended you.
All right.”
I didn’t really take issue with it either.
To begin with, I wasn’t really used to seeing the members of the Executive Office acting so friendly.
We will conclude the preliminary investigation here for now.
Didn’t you come to inquire about the affairs of the Mandokmun?
“Ah… well, we will find out once the main investigation begins. But you don’t need to worry too much.”
Surprisingly, he seemed uninterested in the visit to Mandokmun, which he thought would be problematic.
Of course, the remark the enforcement investigator added afterwards was upsetting, though.
Judging by Yong So-ah’s report, the very fact that those people made it as far as Mandokmun at that time is a miracle.
As expected, there was a reason.
Even though my report would have clearly been much clearer and easier to understand the situation.
They placed even more trust in the report that bore the single name ‘Yong So-ah’.
The gap in trust between him and me became apparent once again, and although I was seething with anger, I soon cooled my heart.
Too many people have died because of this incident.
People who weren’t friends but have finally become friends.
Even though I wasn’t close to them during their lifetime, it is my duty to express my condolences on their deaths.
I don’t mind putting my petty pride aside for a moment.
You might ask why I have such a useless obligation now, considering I am not even the head of the Salwaldan.
At least while I was their sole owner.
and.
At least for the moments when they absolutely obeyed my commands.
I am the person who was responsible for their deaths.
Because they trusted me, and it was practically the same as entrusting their lives to me.
Therefore, I had absolutely no intention of turning away from that duty, just like those people from my past life whom I despised.
We will conclude today’s investigation here.
When I came out after the investigation, the entrance to the delegation building was swarming with students.
“what?”
As I acknowledged them with a bewildered expression, the students finally noticed my presence and turned around.
“Danju?! Danju is out!”
“Danju! Did something happen inside?”
“Did they perhaps try to pin everything on Danju? No matter how hard I tried to get in, they wouldn’t let me in, so I had no choice! Damn it……!!”
Starting with those who were in charge, all the way to the guys sent to the Medical Hall because their injuries hadn’t fully recovered yet.
They were all gathered around and staring at me.
I barely managed to pull my lips away, which wouldn’t come apart easily.
“What kind of leader are you talking about? It hasn’t even been days since we left Yunnan.”
At my words, the students in the academy shouted angrily.
“What a hurtful thing to say! Once abstain, always abstain, isn’t it!”
“That’s right! The Life and Death Squad truly won the life and death match! I should remain as an honorary leader!”
“Hey, hey, don’t even think about letting this slide! Danju still has drinks to buy for us!”
Damn it, what kind of members in the world treat Danju this disrespectfully?
“Crazy bastards.”
Even the guys who would normally have shuddered at my cursing laughed uglyly, baring their teeth.
“Hahaha, since the leader is crazy, it’s no wonder the members are crazy too.”
“Well, they say that people in the same unit start to resemble each other, don’t they? Hahaha.”
Watching those guys trying so hard to maintain their cheerfulness, I felt that I wasn’t the only one weighed down by my friend’s death.
Everyone is trying their best not to be crushed by anything.
Because once you return alive and lie comfortably in the medical office all to yourself, all sorts of thoughts will come to mind.
Because I cannot endure even a moment at the thought of being suffocated by the sorrow and guilt slowly tightening around my throat, as if being swallowed by deep water.
Coming out with all sorts of excuses, they must be deliberately exaggerating their cheerfulness.
Knowing how he felt, I also didn’t go out of my way to pretend to know.
Stop talking nonsense and go get some treatment. Don’t make excuses about being in pain when it’s time to drink.
In any case, you have to bear this weight on your own.
Just as I intend to, they must do so as well.
If I can’t do that in the future.
Let’s see each other after I recover.
Because only a tragic future in which we cannot survive will unfold before us.
