Chapter 122 :

Chapter 122. The Black Flame Dragon Gives Them a Chance (2)

Both the academy student who had asked the question and the instructor who had been snickering stiffened their expressions.

"You're taking the joke too far."

"Do I look like I'm in any position to joke in an atmosphere like this?"

I pointed toward the students in the class.

Every single one of them was radiating hostility.

"You're saying it wasn't a joke?"

"I only say things I can take responsibility for."

"Huh..."

While the instructor stared at me in disbelief, the academy student who had asked the question marched onto the training ground, fuming.

"Does that mean I don't even register in the representative's eyes?"

Jang Seokdo, a disciple of the Zhongnan Sect.

A master of the Splitting Light Sword who would eventually rise to become the pavilion master of the White Tiger Pavilion.

"Do I look like I'm in the mood to exchange pointless words with someone?"

"Hmph! Maybe you just think losing to five people would be less embarrassing than losing to one."

Jang Seokdo drew his sword.

The instructor looked between Jang Seokdo and me before slowly stepping down from the training ground.

Jang Seokdo immediately assumed the opening stance of the Splitting Light Sword.

"Draw your sword."

"Just come at me."

#

Jang Seokdo's face flushed red.

Killing intent soon entered his eyes, and he closed the distance with the Northern Dipper Heavenly Gang Steps before bringing his sword down.

First technique of the Splitting Light Sword, Opening the Heavens and Gazing at the Moon.

The sword raised high above his head split into two sword shadows and descended as though it would sever both my arms.

I waited until the very last possible instant, then used the Small Heaven Sword Art to unleash the breaking form against the Splitting Light Sword.

Clang. Thud.

Jang Seokdo's sword flew out of the training ground with a loud clatter.

Shrrrng.

I deliberately slid my sword back into its sheath slowly.

The laughter-filled atmosphere in the area died as though someone had poured cold water over it, while Jang Seokdo's face turned deathly pale as if he had seen a ghost.

"Don't we need four more?"

I said it while looking at the instructor, but he merely stared blankly back and forth between Jang Seokdo's sword and me.

Normally, no matter how fiercely the sects competed during the official examination, once the examination ended, the students of the Martial Academy would renew their friendships with one another.

But the atmosphere of this year's class was so cold that it felt like taking one cautious step after another across a river covered in thin ice.

Not only within the Martial Alliance, but even among academy students who were not yet fully grown adults, people naturally grouped themselves according to their affiliations.

Thus, among the three major groups known as the Righteous Path Association, White Path Association, and Twelve Peaks Fortress, no matter which faction produced the representative, the other two would normally cooperate with or restrain them according to their respective interests.

After all, once they completed the academy course, they would spend four years active in the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.

Securing even one more position there would not only benefit their own careers but would also greatly benefit their sects.

But because of my existence, the three factions that could no longer form cooperative relationships had united solely for the purpose of removing the impurity known as me.

And that situation was beginning to affect even those who had taken the official examination alongside me.

"You were dragged behind a building?"

At Dongryong's words, Namgung Seonhwa's eyes flared with fury.

"Who? Who the hell dared do that?! Where are those bastards now?"

"Ah, they're in the Medical Hall."

"What?"

"They each had an arm broken."

"...Didn't you say five people dragged you away?"

"There are three of us brothers, aren't there? And compared to the number of people we fought during the official examination, five is nothing."

Namgung Seonhwa stared dumbfoundedly at Eunho as Dongryong casually ate sweets as though it were no big deal.

"You don't have to worry. We fought after agreeing not to tell the instructors..."

"No... That's not what I'm talking about..."

"As disciples of the Taeul Sect, we've been dealing with people picking fights with us since Hefei."

Eunho talked about the fights they had once had with members of martial halls in Hefei, but Namgung Seonhwa did not look reassured in the slightest.

"Are you all right, Young Lady Namgung?"

At my question, Namgung Seonhwa let out a small sigh.

"Well, do you think we're any different? We attend the same classes, but they act as though we aren't even there. Of course, no one picks fights with us the way they do with the Geum, Eun, and Dong brothers."

Fortunately, Namgung Seonhwa, Seong Moran, and Moyong Jaehwa seemed to face nothing beyond being ignored.

Considering their backgrounds in the first place, they could hardly be treated as easy targets like the Taeul Sect disciples.

Things like this happened frequently throughout the academic schedule, yet the instructors and teachers seemed to have no intention whatsoever of interfering in disputes among the students.

If anything, they appeared to think similarly to the other academy students.

"Young Master Jin, it's time to go to the appointment ceremony."

"Let's go."

"..."

#

"...Are you truly planning to accept them?"

The appointment ceremony for the academy representative.

Since my officer corps was still incomplete, I had attended the ceremony accompanied by only some of my officers.

"Is there a problem?"

At the ceremony, where only the Martial Academy director, administrative staff, and instructors had gathered, the director had already repeated the same question several times.

"If you accept these, it will truly become difficult for you to fit in at the academy."

"Even if I don't accept them, I don't think the students will suddenly acknowledge me."

"...I'm telling you this because I've experienced it myself."

I knew the story that the successor of the Three Pure Supreme Sword had voluntarily given up the position of academy representative, so I nodded.

Purple Cloud Pill.

White Fragrance Jade.

Thunderclap Flying Dagger.

The Purple Cloud Pill, an elixir of the Wudang Sect.

The White Fragrance Jade, which emitted a rare fragrance.

And even the Thunderclap Flying Dagger, a flying blade said to cut through metal as easily as tofu.

Not one of them could be called an insignificant treasure.

"...Sigh. Listen carefully. The work of the representative is nowhere near as easy as you seem to think. There are thousands of documents that must be exchanged with the Intelligence Department..."

But no matter what the director said, my attention was already fixed on the treasures before me.

One of the reasons I absolutely had to take first place was sitting right in front of me.

"Do you understand? If even a single hole appears in your work, the entire academic schedule will fall apart. When that happens, even if we want to save you, we won't be able to."

"I understand."

"Hm? Then you're giving up?"

"I meant that I understand what you're worried about."

The director's brow furrowed deeply.

"A member of the Intelligence Department told me something. Apparently, the head of the Intelligence Department has some kind of grudge against you and is creating an enormous amount of work for you. Can you handle all of that as well?"

It seemed he had taken offense because I rejected his offer a few days ago to help with the Intelligence Department's work.

"It doesn't matter."

"...No, think about this properly..."

Without waiting any longer, I reached out and put the Purple Cloud Pill into my mouth.

I had only chewed it a couple of times when a clear, refreshing fragrance spread from my mouth in every direction.

"Ahhh..."

The Martial Academy director stared blankly at my mouth with a pained expression as though I were chewing on his own flesh.

"Y-you really..."

"I'll make good use of the others as well."

I tucked the Thunderclap Flying Dagger and White Fragrance Jade into my clothes and left the director's office.

The officers who had accompanied me were all wearing equally blank expressions.

"Is it really okay to just push through like this?"

At Namgung Seonhwa's words, I nodded as though telling her not to worry.

"I've decided on a frontal breakthrough. If that's the case, there's no reason to hesitate."

For some reason, Namgung Seonhwa shook her head from side to side.

"At least it's fortunate that one of the treasures this time is a jewel. You could make quite a lot of money if you sold it. Should we use that money to hire people?"

"What are you talking about? I can never sell this."

White Fragrance Jade.

As its name suggested, it was a white jade that naturally emitted fragrance.

It was an extremely rare object produced only in lands beyond India where Western foreigners lived.

Production itself was scarce, and only a small number ever entered the Central Plains, so it was a jewel that wives of high-ranking officials and nobles competed to purchase at extravagant prices.

"...What are you planning to do with a jewel?"

"There's something I'm going to make with it."

The White Fragrance Jade's greatest effect was its ability to resist poison and ward off evil influences.

Even a small amount could neutralize roughly a hundred poisons, and it was particularly effective at preventing the mind from being clouded by evil energy.

Because of that, it was an item one absolutely needed when facing Demonic Cult practitioners or heretical practitioners.

"Eldest Senior Brother..."

Eunho, who had been deep in thought beside me, had a face full of questions.

"It's about what the director said earlier."

"Don't dwell on it. Even if I step down from this position now, they won't suddenly start liking me."

"No, no. That's not what I meant. Have you met the head of the Intelligence Department before?"

At Eunho's question, the three women who had been looking dejected all turned toward me at the same time.

"Not long after I entered the academy, he visited my lodgings."

"...And what did you talk about?"

"Nothing important. He told me to help with his work so that I could learn the Intelligence Department's work in advance."

"!!"

"!!"

"..."

"Is the Intelligence Department really that impressive?"

As far as I remembered, none of the previous top-ranked academy students had ever applied to join the Intelligence Department.

"That's because the Intelligence Department doesn't accept them!"

"Ah... Is that how it is?"

"Do you know how selective the Chief Strategist is when choosing people? People say that even someone who only handles menial work in the Intelligence Department could easily become the steward of a decent-sized sect."

"Is that so?"

"You really didn't know?"

"Even if I'd known, I still wouldn't have joined."

"Why?"

"If I joined them, I wouldn't be able to stay with my junior brothers."

The three women and Eunho's eyes widened like rabbits.

Eunho's voice began to tremble.

"T-then why does he hold a grudge against you?"

"I don't know either. All I did was refuse the work."

"Whaaat?"

"Y-Young Master Jin, what are you saying...?"

"Young Master Jin, I misheard you, right? You're saying you rejected an opportunity to join the Intelligence Department?"

"Tell me that's not true... Please tell me that's not true!"

Their reactions were what surprised me instead.

I had merely spoken honestly, yet the atmosphere had become strange again.

Lately, it seemed I made people uncomfortable wherever I went.

#

"Should I put these here?"

An administrator asked as he lowered a small carrying frame packed full of documents.

"...Wouldn't it be better to put them on the desk? They're still documents from the Intelligence Department."

At Namgung Seonhwa's words, the administrator shook his head.

"At least ten more loads like this are coming. If we stack every single one on the desks, I don't think you'll be able to handle it. Are you sure?"

"...Just leave them there."

Just as the administrator had said, twelve more carrying frames packed with documents arrived afterward.

They were all work for the academy representative group, and the officers' room had already become so packed with documents that there was nowhere left to step.

Geumpyo, Dongryong, and even Moyong Jaehwa had come to help with the work.

But among the current officers, Namgung Seonhwa was the only one who had ever handled this kind of paperwork.

As a result, all the others could do was carry the documents from the frames and stack them into towers on the desks.

"My, my. Is this even possible?"

The unfamiliar visitor peeking his head into the officers' room was none other than Cheol Sunjik of the Twelve Peaks Fortress.

"What brings you here?"

Even at Namgung Seonhwa's sharp response, Cheol Sunjik still had a broad smile on his face.

"I heard you've started working, so I became concerned about whether things were going smoothly. After all, if the representative group fails to do its job properly, won't the academy students suffer the consequences?"

"If you're that worried, why don't you join the officers yourself?"

"Why should I? The current representative will be fired soon enough, and those who remain will simply form a new representative group."

"...If that's all you came to say, could you leave now? We already have plenty of work to do."

"Can't I observe?"

Namgung Seonhwa clenched her fist at Cheol Sunjik's grinning face.

"Let him watch."

"What?"

The one who spoke was none other than Jin Sowoon.

Still seated in the representative's seat and looking through documents, Jin Sowoon spoke as though it were nothing important.

"Didn't he come because he wants to see whether the work is going smoothly? He also needs to understand the situation here and share the information with the others. Isn't that right?"

At Jin Sowoon's words, Cheol Sunjik's expression stiffened slightly.

"But Young Master Jin, if this person stays here..."

"The academy students are allowed to inspect the representative group's work whenever they want anyway, aren't they? Just let him do as he pleases."

"All right."

Namgung Seonhwa glared at Cheol Sunjik.

"You can observe, but if you interfere with our work, I won't forgive you."

"Yes, yes. Understood."

After saying that, Cheol Sunjik leisurely sat down in one corner of the officers' room.

"Do you happen to have any tea?"

"...Do you want to be thrown into a well?"

"My, I didn't know Young Lady Namgung was capable of saying something so violent."

"You'll understand much more painfully if you experience it yourself."

"Then I'll refrain."

Namgung Seonhwa sighed and looked around, only to sigh again at the mountain of documents surrounding them.

From organizing them to analyzing them and making decisions, the workload was so enormous that even fifty people would hardly be enough.

Moreover, Jin Sowoon, the representative himself, had already begun writing on the documents despite apparently having no idea how the work was supposed to be handled.

"...Huh?"

Namgung Seonhwa jumped in surprise and hurried over to Jin Sowoon.

"Young Master Jin. You can't just fill out these documents however you..."

As Namgung Seonhwa looked at the document Jin Sowoon was writing, her eyes slowly widened.

"That head of the Intelligence Department must be a remarkably petty man. He sent these documents with every useless formality imaginable."

"...Young Master Jin. How do you know how to do this?"

Namgung Seonhwa could not hide her surprise.

It was merely a document concerning an ordinary clothing procurement plan, but processing it was anything but ordinary.

One had to calculate the budget required to provide clothing to the academy students, establish justification for every expense, and then secure the necessary funds from the Intelligence Department.

Even within the Namgung Family, a document like this would require someone of deputy steward rank leading twenty administrators and working through an entire week without proper rest just to prepare the budget proposal.

Yet Jin Sowoon wrote it in one uninterrupted flow.

Even the budget figures and the justification for every amount were structured so solidly that they seemed flawless.

"My father is the hall master of the Taeul Sect's Outer Hall, isn't he?"

After saying that, Jin Sowoon immediately began working on the next document.

"W-wait a moment."

While Namgung Seonhwa stood frozen, Jin Sowoon had already completed the entire budget proposal for provisions as well.

Cheol Sunjik, who had watched everything unfold from nearby, slowly approached Namgung Seonhwa and looked at the documents in her hands.

It did not take long before his eyes widened.

"What in the world..."

The documents Jin Sowoon had prepared were absolutely flawless, without a single unnecessary detail.

This was the kind of work that should have been done only after the entire officer corps had been assembled and every disciple with administrative experience from their respective sects had been brought in.

A representative group normally consisted of at least one hundred people.

Yet Jin Sowoon was handling all of it alone.

Cheol Sunjik had also handled administrative work in his sect, so he understood exactly how incredible this was.

As though it were nothing special, Jin Sowoon completed yet another document and placed it on the pile beside him.

Namgung Seonhwa and Cheol Sunjik repeatedly looked over each new document in astonishment.

"Why would I call in more people for something this easy?"

In truth, administrative work had never been difficult for Jin Sowoon in the first place.

Every document of the Intelligence Department was already stored inside his head.

That meant the completed versions of the documents exchanged between the Intelligence Department and the Martial Academy during this period also remained in his memories.

All he had to do was slightly adjust the numbers from his previous life's memories to suit his current life.

And the work was finished.

"What in the world... are you?"

Cheol Sunjik and Namgung Seonhwa stared at Jin Sowoon with disbelief in their eyes.