3
6
8.
As time passed, the atmosphere grew increasingly intense.
If someone sang a song, I sang along, and if someone cracked a joke, I retorted.
The drinking session dragged on longer than I expected.
I thought everyone would express their condolences, immerse themselves in sadness, and then return home with their shoulders slumped in exhaustion.
“Hahaha! Here, alcohol! Bring the alcohol! The most expensive alcohol!”
“I heard the Taeeulmun Merchant Guild is doing really well these days? Bring on all the snacks you have!”
These bastards started tearing into, tasting, and drinking like crazy, as if they had really set their sights on the day. ‘Fuck…’ Moreover, as time went on, the atmosphere was getting more and more intense.
The people who had been seated by sect and affiliation began to mingle with one another. A member of the Twelve Peaks shared a drink with a member of the Jeongdohoe.
A member of the Baekdohoe played a prank on the members of the 12 Peaks.
“Kids… why are you so close?”
Feeling unfamiliar with this atmosphere, I looked at Eunho, who was sitting next to me.
We would sometimes gather by battalion inside the school building.
“huh?”
What does that mean?
He gives a completely incomprehensible answer.
Just as I was about to ask again.
“Five Great Lords!!”
Wiripgun and Jongchuak grabbed Eunho’s sides and lifted his body.
“Hmph…! What are you doing here as the leader? This is a dereliction of duty!! The members are all waiting!”
What is this… seriously?
“Let’s hurry!”
Let’s go!!
At the loud urging, Eunho, dangling in the air, shook his head as if resigned to the situation.
“I guess I have to go. Please drink only a little, Senior Brother.”
“…….”
I don’t know if he was being dragged away or if he was going willingly… but Eunho left.
Then Geumpyo, Dongryong, Moyong Jaehwa, and Eun Seol-ran also left, and there were few people left at my table.
Still, it wasn’t bad.
It looks like we’ll be able to have a cozy conversation just the two of us for the first time in a while.
Since it is difficult to have in-depth conversations with Namgung Seon-hwa or Seong Mo-ran when the children are around…
“Why do you think I would stay?”… …
What is this again?
Namgung Seon-hwa, who was always gentle and kind and even tolerated Dang Seo-hui’s outrageous behavior, was glaring at me with a strangely cold look.
“Um, what did I do wrong?”
When I asked the question, Namgung Seon-hwa suddenly started to panic.
“……
Well, I wouldn’t exactly call it a mistake… but I can’t say for sure that it’s not…
“If you let me know what I did wrong, I will correct it…….”
“Uh, anyway, you are greatly mistaken if you think I will always be by Young Master Jin’s side!! Do you understand?!”
Namgung Seon-hwa’s expression turned cold once again.
She suddenly sprang up from her seat with a loud noise and went to where the team members were looking for her.
At this point, my head is starting to ache.
“Miss Seong… could it be that I…?”
I’m disappointed.
“Huh? What?”
Seong Moran fled from her seat as if running away without even finishing her sentence.
Even if it is a country that doesn’t understand women’s hearts, isn’t this a bit ridiculous?
I turned my head and looked at Saryeon… … .
“Senior Brother… Didn’t I always teach you to conduct yourself properly?”
therefore ……
What kind of conduct.
There is such a thing.
Even Saryeon said that and suddenly stood up and left the place.
“No, what on earth is that…….”
There is no one left who can tell me anything.
Looking around, I saw the students gathered by battalion of the Life and Death Squad.
Perhaps because they had drunk a bit too much, everyone was speaking loudly, so I could hear the sound of their discussion even though I didn’t want to.
I looked to see what they were talking about so interestingly…
A heated debate was taking place over whether your boss was the idiot or our boss was the idiot.
The atmosphere was quite serious.
He looked ready to draw his sword at any moment.
I have to dry this…
“Wait… wait… Since we can’t reach a conclusion like this anyway, hmm… fine! Let’s just say Danju is an idiot!”
Damn it, I was just sitting there doing nothing.
One guy attempted mediation with nonsensical logic.
Anyone who suddenly says something stupid is bound to get beaten up by a group. Just as I was about to pray for the repose of the soul of that guy who couldn’t read the atmosphere… … .
Hoooh!!
The tight tension suddenly eased, and agreements flowed out from here and there.
“good!”
“good night!”
That is the correct conclusion!
Are you a genius?
Are you kidding me?
Fights broke out among the people on the fifth floor. The combined performance of the Wudang Sect, the Murong Family, and the Zhuxian Sect was superb.
“Did those guys from the 4th Battalion led by Kwak Su-san practice their coordination even after returning from Mukrim?” “It’s noisy.” Since my internal energy increased and my five senses became more sensitive, I usually lived by blocking my senses to some extent, so I didn’t feel any discomfort. However, on a day like today when I drank too much, the blocking of my senses didn’t work properly, so I kept hearing all sorts of noises. “Phew…” Hearing not only the students’ conversations but also the chatter from the first, second, and upper floors, sitting inside felt stifling.
I was about to go to the back of the bar to get some fresh air when the students from the academy started talking to me one by one.
“Danju, where are you going?”
“Going out for some fresh air.”
“Why, isn’t it fun?”
I said I’m going out for some fresh air, you idiot.
“What do you mean by ‘wind’? Come here. Let’s have a drink.”
Come to think of it, it’s funny to be so pathetic going out for some fresh air all alone.
Just as I was about to turn toward them, pretending to give in, I heard another student whispering.
It was quite a loud voice for a whisper.
“Hey! It’s inconvenient when Danju comes, so why are you holding him back! Just let him go…!”
“Ah, so that’s why you didn’t invite me?”
“Right! Isn’t our main enemy our superior officer!”
Damn it, I knew it was unusual that I had no one around me.
Was I being bullied?
Why?
He has absolutely no character flaws. On top of that, he even generously treated me to drinks.
No, seriously, where in the world is there a superior like this? Besides, he wasn’t even a real superior to begin with. Damn it.
I shook my head because I didn’t want to see the guy who suggested having a drink look embarrassed.
“That’s enough. I’m going out for some fresh air, so just keep your wits about you.”
“Hehehe. Have a good trip. Once they get a little more drunk, they won’t be able to recognize their superiors or colleagues.”
I left the guy’s playful smile behind and headed to the garden.
Songhwagak is famous for its large garden spread out in the backyard, along with a huge pavilion.
Drinking alcohol inside Songhwagak is expensive, but drinking in the pavilions scattered throughout the garden is several times more expensive than drinking inside.
However, since the walking path along the pond was at a distance from the pavilion, there were no restrictions on viewing the garden as one passed by.
As I passed by some drunk people rolling on the ground and entered the garden, a quiet space appeared.
As I watched the fish swimming in the pond and the stars twinkling in the sky, I felt my cluttered mind clearing a little.
However, I couldn’t empty everything out.
Even though they were far apart, every pavilion was full of drunk people.
Ah, if you do this here… … .”
“I already told them at the top, so they will definitely select us… … .”
“I’m going to get revenge…… for the one who abandoned me…….”
I could have tried to get rid of the effects of the alcohol and block out my senses, but I decided to just endure it.
Since I was planning to go inside and drink more anyway.
I was counting the number of twinkling stars, trying my best not to pay attention to the sound.
“Master.”
A sound was heard that simply could not be ignored.
I heard that student Geum Tae-jong was designated as a person of merit.
It was a story coming from a pavilion located in the most secluded spot at the end of the garden.
My gaze unintentionally turned toward the pavilion.
There were three or four men in splendid attire sitting among the dim candlelight, and in the middle of them, a man in tattered martial arts clothes was quietly drinking.
I am hesitant to say this, but congratulations.
At the words of the man in the splendid robe, the man in the tattered martial arts uniform slowly sipped his glass as if savoring the aroma of the wine.
A small smile hung on the corners of the man’s lips as he finally set down his glass.
“Thank you. I didn’t expect things to work out this way.”
At Song Ju-saeng’s words, those sitting around also wore smiles on their lips.
I heard that the compensation for the bereaved family is set quite high.
The instructors must have looked incredibly incompetent.
“You will deliver the compensation via private letter, won’t you?”
Song Ju-saeng received another drink and fell into thought for a moment, then soon raised his head.
“That child, Geum Taejong, regarded Ilhakmun as his own home. We also thought of him like a child. He surely considers us more family than his real family.”
The men in long robes exchanged meaningful glances.
“But the compensation… what does that matter? What truly matters is something else. I hope you will lend your support when we select the 108 Peaks.”
“Hmm… isn’t Cheonmokjang still holding him back? Everyone knows that Cheonmokjang wants to join Baekpalbong as well.”
That problem will be resolved soon.
What do you mean by it being resolved?
“A disciple of our sect has died. In the martial arts world right now, what justification could be stronger than the grief of the academy student’s bereaved family?”
Hehe, the story of the old man and his horse
I see.
“That’s right. It is the story of the old man and the horse… it is the story of the old man and the horse, hahahaha!”
The tattered martial arts uniform strangely stood out more than the silk robes of the others.
It must be because the color faded out from washing it so much.
“ha…….”
My heart, which had been boiling just moments ago, cooled down.
Would it make you feel better if you ran over right now and turned Song Ju-saeng into a wreck?
Or would it give him another justification?
There is no way a person who exploits the death of their own disciple would not be able to exploit their own injury.
I stopped the thoughts overflowing in my head.
What does it matter?
No matter what actions are taken, it is not like Geum Taejong will come back alive.
But… ‘I can’t stand to see those bastards trying to exploit others’ deaths living so well; it makes my stomach churn.’ Vroom.
The ceremonial robe began to swell up roughly.
The pungent scent of alcohol tickled the tip of my nose.
Once the scent of alcohol wore off, my head cleared up.
I didn’t regret drinking the alcohol.
Because it seemed like I wouldn’t have any more drinks tonight.
I left Songhwagak as is and headed toward the Murim Alliance.
“Ugh!”
Maeng Ju-won, who had been sleeping with his head on the desk, jumped up in surprise.
Realizing that he had just fallen asleep, he quickly looked through the documents.
Worried that the documents I had worked so hard to create might have been ruined by saliva.
“Phew… that’s a relief….”
Not long after the work in Sacheon had ended, another incident broke out in Mukrim, and the members of Mantongbu were being torn to shreds.
They also caught and brought back personnel who had deserted midway, saying they couldn’t do it.
There was even an instance where a fugitive who was raging and threatening to report to the Inspection Bureau and the Execution Bureau was calmed down by the remark, “Then there will be more work.”
It is a situation where it has reached the absolute limit.
The only hope is that graduation from Murim Academy is just around the corner.
And according to Jegal Somyeong, there are as many as three or four people worth bringing to the Mantong Mansion…
This was the only hope and driving force that kept the personnel of the Mantongbu working.
“I would be able to put Jin So-un to work immediately, and if I tell him to train the others…”
I find myself giggling unconsciously.
You just have to endure a little longer, just a little longer.
Then, this hellish life at the General Affairs Department will be relieved to some extent.
Jin So-un and his peers will be ground down… but well, isn’t it said that you should seek out hardship when you’re young?
As I brainwashed myself like that, I picked up the next document.
“Huh? What is this?”
There were two unfamiliar documents in the pile of papers.
One is a plan for compensation for the bereaved families of the academy students who died in Mukrim.
The proposal to provide direct compensation to student residents, citing the risk of loss if delivered through private channels, and the method for doing so are clearly outlined.
At this rate, it seemed certain that proper compensation could be provided to the bereaved families of the academy students without going through the private gate.
The other one was intelligence that came up from Cheonmokgak.
Even though the Murim Alliance has already strictly prohibited the act of falsely accusing someone of practicing sorcery in connection with the Mookrim incident, there is someone among the sects of the deceased academy students who intends to cause trouble.
“A single learning…”
Come to think of it, I don’t remember exactly, but Ilhakmun showed suspicious movements back when the incident in Sacheon happened as well.
I thought things had calmed down just as the Alliance Decree was proclaimed… but are they planning to stir things up again?
As Maeng Ju-won examined the two documents, he tilted his head, feeling an inexplicable unease.
“Leaving the intelligence aside… when did the compensation plan come out?”
In fact, since it was something Maeng Ju-won had been thinking about for a long time, it was true that the content caught his eye even more.
The problem is that he has no memory of creating such a document.
“hmm…….”
I looked at the document again.
A problem statement and its solution designed so perfectly.
It was a document that truly could not have been created without mastering the affairs of the Ministry of Public Works.
Maeng Ju-won, who had been carefully examining the document for quite some time.
“ah!”
He let out a small gasp of realization.
“I… I made this.”
To think that I can now create such a perfect document even while sleeping.
Maeng Ju-won was once again amazed by his own abilities.
“I guess we can proceed like this.”
He quickly processed two documents while stamping the department head’s approval seal.
“Sniff… sniff… But which punk drank alcohol during work?”
For some reason, I frowned at the faint scent of alcohol spreading in the office, but soon brushed it off lightly.
“I guess it’s not enough work to handle while sober. Shall I have a drink for the first time in a while?”
Dozens of documents still remained on his desk, and it was not an amount he could simply handle without alcohol. #By the time he hurriedly drafted the documents and stopped by the Public Transport Department to come out.
The sky was gradually getting brighter.
Even though there were still many stars, the sky rising with dawn evoked a strange sense of sentimentality.
“What a scene, of all times.”
Perhaps what I did was not what Taejong Geum wanted.
It is possible that Emperor Jin Taejong truly regarded Ilhakmun as family and wished for its revival even more.
but.
Tightly
My hands naturally clench.
Ilhakmunju trivialized the death of Geum Taejong.
Blinded by his own greed, he abandoned the dignity of his disciple.
No matter how much King Taejong of Geum desired the revival of the sect, I could not simply overlook it.
Even if countless deaths follow and a moment comes when the weight of life feels light, I didn’t want that to happen already.
Because it shouldn’t have been like that already.
The path that passes by the buildings of other districts after leaving the Mantongbu building.
Squirm
There was a small lump on one side of the training ground.
I approached it thinking it was a wild animal and let out a small sigh.
The lump was a crouching golden line.
The clothes, which were even dirtier than when I saw them a few days ago, had now lost even their vibrant colors.
Geum Tae-seon rubbed his eyes and woke up, perhaps because of my presence.
mister?”
“What are you doing here?”
Among the stains covering the face, the tear marks stood out particularly.
The child was still wearing a sulky expression, just like the last time I saw him.
“Mom says he can’t play with my brother. He promised to play with me…”
“They’re all mean! Mom, Dad, and Uncle Moonju too! Brother, brother is someone who always keeps his promises, but everyone just says he won’t keep them…….”
Would it have been easier to say that he was a bad person rather than to report his death?
If the memory was bound to fade eventually no matter what story was told, they must have decided it was better to convey a small disappointment rather than a great sense of loss.
Gently stroke the guy’s head.
I see.”
“Everyone is bad. No one keeps their promises! Uncle Musa is bad too! He didn’t keep his promise to find my brother.”
However, I, too, had no choice but to make a cowardly choice like them.
Even if a deep wound heals with time, the child’s scar will remain for a long time.
Also, as it happened, I had the Honggadang fruit that Dang Seo-hui liked in my arms.
Do you want some sweets?
I won’t eat it!
A rumbling sound came from behind the small body that had suddenly turned its head.
“This is delicious. A certain…… little kid I know really likes it too.”
After hesitating for a moment, Geum Tae-seon slowly turned around and held the candy in his hand.
And then I started munching on the sweets.
Is it delicious?
No! It tastes bad.
The child, who had briefly put down the candy as if to show it to me, was quickly drawn by its taste and put it back in their mouth.
Eat a lot.
Can I eat it all?
“huh.”
Is it true?
“okay.”
The child took a big bite of the candy with a sulky expression.
You’ll keep this promise, right?
okay.”
Faint tear marks that had not yet dried remained on the face.
The tear marks illuminated by the slowly rising dawn became increasingly vivid in my eyes.
He gently stroked Geum Tae-seon’s head as he repeated ‘One, two, three…’ several times, as if trying to remember the number of stacked candies.
You don’t have to count how many there are.
There are over ten of them.
“I may not know much about other things, but my memory is really good. So don’t worry and eat.”
Geum Tae-seon gazed at the rising dawn with a slightly flushed face, as if feeling a bit embarrassed.
For Taeseon, the sweets he ate today and the sadness of today will probably gradually scatter away with the passage of time.
Leaving behind fading memories just as the adults hoped, I will continue to live, seeking new joys.
Yes, that is certainly likely.
It’s still okay.
I’ll remember.
The number of Tang guilds, Geum Tae-seon’s sorrow, and Geum Tae-jong’s death.
I, who have a memory that can never forget anything, will remember.
I will remember both the sorrow of this day and the deaths of the past.
Even if these memories weigh me down and crush me, just like in my past life.
Without forgetting today’s anger and sadness.
Remembering all the memories and pain of today, without fail.
I will definitely get revenge.
“I will definitely keep this promise.
He repeated the unerasable vow to the unanswered Geum Tae-seon over and over again.
