Chapter 122 - The Black Flame Dragon Who Gives an Opportunity (2)
The academy student who had asked the question and the drill instructor who had been chuckling both stiffened their faces.
"You are taking the joke too far."
"Do I look like I can make a joke in this atmosphere?"
I pointed at the people in the class. Without exception, every single one of them was exuding a hostile atmosphere.
"Are you saying it's not a joke?"
"I only say things I can take responsibility for."
"Hah..."
While the drill instructor made a dumbfounded expression, the academy student who had asked the question huffed and stepped out into the training ground.
"Are you saying you don't even see me, Representative?"
Jang Seokdo, a disciple of the Zhongnan Sect.
An expert of the Light-Splitting Sword and a talent who would rise to the position of Pavilion Master of the White Tiger Pavilion in the future.
"Does it look like I am in a situation to talk nonsense with someone?"
"Hmph! You probably think it's less embarrassing to lose to five people than to lose to one."
Jang Seokdo drew his sword.
The drill instructor looked at me and Jang Seokdo before slowly stepping down from the training ground.
Jang Seokdo soon unfolded the starting form of the Light-Splitting Sword.
"Draw your sword."
"Just come at me."
"..."
Jang Seokdo's face turned red.
Murderous intent soon swirled in his eyes as he stepped with the Big Dipper Heavenly Dipper Footwork to close the distance and strike down with his sword.
Light-Splitting Sword's First Form: Opening the Window to Gaze at the Moon.
The sword raised high into the sky split into two and descended as if to cut off both my arms.
I waited until the very last moment before executing the Destruction Form against the Light-Splitting Sword using the Lesser Heaven Sword Technique.
CLANG!
CLATTER! THUD!
Jang Seokdo's sword flew out of the training ground, making a loud noise.
SWISH.
I deliberately sheathed my sword slowly.
The atmosphere in the area, which had been full of laughter, sank as if cold water had been poured over it, and Jang Seokdo's face turned completely pale like a person who had seen a ghost.
"Wouldn't I need four more people?"
I spoke while looking at the drill instructor, but the drill instructor only alternated his gaze between Jang Seokdo's sword and me with blank eyes.
* * *
If the atmosphere of the Murim Academy up until now was one where they fiercely competed regardless of sect during the standard exam but rebuilt friendships after it ended, the atmosphere of this term was so cold that it felt like taking step after step on a river covered in thin ice.
It was natural for group behavior to occur based on affiliations, not only in the Murim Alliance but also among the not-yet-fully-grown academy students, so regardless of whether the Orthodox Council, the White Path Council, or the Twelve Peaks and Castles—the three main factions—became the representative, it was customary for the other two forces to weigh their interests and either cooperate or keep them in check.
After all, securing even one more spot in the Dragon-Phoenix Summit, where they would be active for four years after completing the academy, would not only help their own careers but also provide a lot of help to their sects.
However, the three forces, which could not form a cooperative relationship because of my existence, were now tightly united solely for the removal of the impurity known as me, and this situation was even affecting the people who had taken the standard exam alongside me.
"You got dragged behind a building?"
At Dongryong's words, a fierce glare lit up in Namgung Seonhwa's eyes.
"Who in the world? Which bastards dared! Where are they right now?"
"Ah, they're in the Medical Hall."
"What?"
"Because each of them got an arm broken."
"... Didn't you say you were dragged away by five people?"
"There are three of us brothers, you know. And compared to the numbers we faced during the standard exam, five is just..."
Seeing Dongryong eating sweets as if it were no big deal, Namgung Seonhwa looked at Eunho with dumbfounded eyes.
"You don't need to worry. We fought after making a promise not to tell the drill instructors, so..."
"No... that's not what I meant..."
"As disciples of the Taiyi Sect, receiving this kind of provocation has been a common occurrence since Hefei."
Eunho talked about the time they fought with those belonging to martial arts halls located in Hefei in the past, but Namgung Seonhwa did not look reassured at all.
"Are you alright, Lady Namgung?"
At my question, Namgung Seonhwa let out a small sigh.
"Well, do you think we're any different? We take classes together, but they treat us like we don't exist. Though, of course, no provocations happen like they do with the Geum-eun-dong Brothers."
Fortunately, it seemed Namgung Seonhwa, Seong Moran, and Moyong Jaehwa weren't facing direct provocations other than being ignored. Considering their backgrounds in the first place, they wouldn't be as easy to mess with as the Taiyi Sect.
Although these things happened frequently during the academic schedule, the instructors and drill instructors seemed to have absolutely no intention of interfering in the academy students' affairs.
No, rather, it seemed they held similar thoughts to the other academy students.
"Young Master Jin, it's time to go to the appointment ceremony."
"Let's go."
* * *
"... Hmm, do you really intend to accept this?"
The academy representative appointment ceremony.
I, who had not fully formed my officers, was just attending the appointment ceremony leading some of the officers.
"Is there a problem?"
At the appointment ceremony where only the Director of the Murim Academy, the administrators, and the drill instructors had gathered, the Director was repeating the same question over and over.
"If you accept this, it will truly be difficult for you to integrate into the academy."
"Even if I don't accept this, I don't think the academy students would acknowledge me now anyway."
"... I am saying this out of experience."
I nodded, as I also knew the story of the successor of the Three Purities Formless Sword voluntarily giving up the academy representative position.
-Purple Cloud Pill
-White Fragrance Jade
-Thunder Star Flying Dagger
The Purple Cloud Pill, a spiritual elixir of the Wudang Sect. The White Fragrance Jade, which emitted a rare fragrance. And even the Thunder Star Flying Dagger, a flying dagger said to be capable of slicing through metal like tofu.
They were all treasures that could not be called insignificant in any way.
"... Hoo, listen to me well, the representative's work isn't as easy as you think. The documents you have to share with the Mantong Bureau alone amount to thousands of pages..."
And my gaze was fixed among the treasures, no matter what the Director said.
Because one of the reasons why I absolutely had to take first place was right in front of my eyes.
"Do you understand? If there is a hole in your work right now, the entire academic schedule will become a mess. By then, even if we want to save you, we won't be able to."
"I understand."
"Hm? Then are you giving it up?"
"I meant that I understand your concerns."
The Director's brow furrowed deeply.
"One of the Mantong Bureau's members told me something. They said the Manager of the Mantong Bureau has developed some sort of grudge against you and is creating a ton of work. Can you handle all of that as well?"
He must have harbored a grudge from me rejecting his offer to help with the Mantong Bureau's work a few days ago.
"It does not matter."
"... No, think about it care—"
Without waiting, I reached out and popped the Purple Cloud Pill into my mouth.
Even though I only chewed it a couple of times, a clear and elegant fragrance spread out in all directions starting from my mouth.
"Ah..."
The Director of the Murim Academy was staring blankly at my mouth with a pained expression, as if his own flesh were being chewed.
"I-In the end..."
"I will make good use of the rest as well."
When I stepped out of the Director's office after putting the Thunder Star Flying Dagger and the White Fragrance Jade in my robes, the ones who had followed me as officers all had blank expressions as well.
"Is it really okay to just gloss over it like this?"
At Namgung Seonhwa's words, I nodded as if telling her not to worry.
"I've made up my mind to break through this head-on. If so, there is no need to hesitate."
For some reason, Namgung Seonhwa shook her head.
"At least it's a relief that a jewel is included among the treasures this time. If we sell that, we'll make quite a bit of money. Should we hire people with it?"
"What are you saying? This absolutely cannot be sold."
The White Fragrance Jade.
As its name implies, it is a white jade that emits a fragrance, a precious item produced only beyond Tianzhu where foreigners live. Because the production volume itself isn't large, the quantity imported into the Central Plains is small, making it a jewel that the wives of high-ranking officials and great houses try to buy by shoving money at each other.
"... What do you plan to do with a jewel?"
"There is something I need to make with this."
The greatest effect of the White Fragrance Jade is its ability to ward off poison and dispel evil. Even a small amount can neutralize about a hundred poisons, and it particularly has the effect of preventing one's mind from being swayed by evil energy, making it an item that one absolutely must have when facing Demonic Cultists or evil path practitioners.
"Eldest Senior Brother..."
Eunho, who had been deeply lost in thought beside me, had a face full of doubt.
"About what the Director mentioned earlier."
"Do not take it to heart. Even if I step down from this position now, there's no way they would like it."
"No, no. Not that. Have you ever met the Manager of the Mantong Bureau?"
At Eunho's question, the three women who had been looking sullen simultaneously looked at me.
"He visited my quarters not long after I entered the academy."
"... So what did you talk about?"
"It was nothing special. He told me to help him with his work so I could learn the Mantong Bureau's affairs in advance."
"!!"
"!!"
"!!"
The eyes of the three women and Eunho widened round like rabbits.
Eunho's voice began to tremble.
"T-Then why is he holding a grudge?"
"I do not know that either. I merely rejected the work."
"Wh-What?"
"Y-Young Master Jin, what are you..."
"Young Master Jin, I heard wrong, didn't I? You rejected an opportunity to enter the Mantong Bureau?"
"Please tell me it's not true... Please tell me it's not true!"
I was the one surprised by their reactions.
"Is the Mantong Bureau that amazing?"
According to my memory, none of the past top students of the academy had ever applied to the Mantong Bureau.
"That's because the Mantong Bureau doesn't accept them!"
"Ah... Was that how it was?"
"Do you know how strictly the Chief Strategist selects people? The public's evaluation is that even if you just do menial tasks in the Mantong Bureau, you can secure a general manager position in a decent sect."
"Was that how it was?"
"Did you really not know?"
"Even if I had known, I wouldn't have entered."
"Why?"
"If I enter there, I wouldn't be able to stay with my junior brothers, would I."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
I merely spoke honestly, but the atmosphere turned strange again.
It seemed I was making people uncomfortable wherever I went lately.
* * *
"Should I leave it here?"
The administrator asked while setting down a small carrier full of documents.
"... Wouldn't it be better to put it on the desk? They are Mantong Bureau documents, after all."
When Namgung Seonhwa spoke, the administrator shook his head.
"There will be 10 more carriers like this coming. I don't think you'll be able to handle it if we stack them on the desk one by one. Is that alright?"
"... Just leave it down there."
Just as the administrator said, twelve more carriers filled with documents arrived after that.
Because of the academy's representative delegation's work, the officers' room was already overflowing with piled-up documents, leaving no room to even step.
Geumpyo, Dongryong, and Moyong Jaehwa had even come to help with the work, but in a situation where Namgung Seonhwa was the only one among the officers right now who had experience with this kind of paperwork, all they could do was stack the documents from the carriers on the desk like towers.
"My, is this even possible?"
The unfamiliar visitor who peeked his head into the officers' room was none other than Cheol Sunjik of the Twelve Peaks and Castles.
"What brings you here?"
Despite Namgung Seonhwa's sharp reaction, Cheol Sunjik still had a smile full on his lips.
"I heard you began your work, and I was worried about whether things are running smoothly. After all, if the representative delegation cannot do their work properly, wouldn't the damage fall entirely on the academy students?"
"If you are that worried, why don't you join the officers?"
"Why should I do that? The current representative will get fired soon anyway, and the remaining people will form a new representative delegation among themselves."
"... If that is all you have to say, will you go back now? We already have a lot of work to do, you see."
"Can't I observe?"
Namgung Seonhwa clenched her fists tightly at Cheol Sunjik's broadly smiling face.
"Let him watch."
"Pardon?"
The person who spoke was none other than Jin Sowoon.
Jin Sowoon, who was looking through documents from the representative's seat, spoke as if it were no big deal.
"Well, didn't he come because he wants to see if the work is running smoothly? He has to grasp the situation here and share the information with the others, after all. Isn't that right?"
"..."
Cheol Sunjik's face faintly stiffened at Jin Sowoon's words.
"But Young Master Jin. If this person is here..."
"The representative delegation's work can be seen by the academy students as much as they want whenever they want anyway, can't it. Just let him do as he pleases."
"Understood."
Namgung Seonhwa glared at Cheol Sunjik and spoke.
"I don't care if you observe, but I won't forgive you if you interfere with the work or anything."
"Yes, yes. I understand."
After saying that, Cheol Sunjik leisurely sat down in a corner of the officers' room.
"Do you happen to have any tea or something?"
"... Do you want to be shoved into a well?"
"My, I didn't know Lady Namgung would say such aggressive words."
"You'll feel it more deeply into your bones if you experience it yourself."
"Then I will just hold back."
Namgung Seonhwa sighed and looked around, but a sigh escaped her first at the documents piled up like mountains.
An amount of work that would be insufficient even with at least fifty personnel if they were to complete the process starting from organizing all the way to analyzing and deciding.
Moreover, Jin Sowoon, the representative, had already started writing on the documents without even knowing how to process the work.
"... Eh?"
Namgung Seonhwa was startled and approached Jin Sowoon.
"Young Master Jin. You can't just do these documents however..."
Namgung Seonhwa's eyes began to gradually widen as she looked at the document Jin Sowoon was drafting.
"The person who is the Manager of the Mantong Bureau. He seems to be a rather narrow-minded human. He sent the documents with all sorts of useless formalities included."
"... Young Master Jin. How do you know this?"
Namgung Seonhwa could not hide her surprise.
It was a document about a plain clothing plan, but processing it was by no means plain.
It was a tricky document where one had to draw up a budget to be provided to the academy students according to the amount, establish the basis for it, and extract the money from the Mantong Bureau.
This kind of document was a budget plan that even within the Namgung Clan, a person at the level of a deputy general manager would have to stay up for a whole week with twenty administrators to draw up.
However, Jin Sowoon drafted it in one stroke of the brush, and he constructed both the budget amount and the basis for that amount so solidly that it felt completely perfect.
"My father is the External Hall Leader of the Taiyi Sect, isn't he."
Jin Sowoon spoke like that and then began drafting the next document.
"W-Wait a minute."
While Namgung Seonhwa hesitated, Jin Sowoon had already finished drafting the budget plan document related to provisions as well.
"..."
Cheol Sunjik, who had been watching this whole situation from the side, slowly approached Namgung Seonhwa and looked at the document she had been reading.
And not long after, his eyes widened.
"What is this..."
The document Jin Sowoon drafted was truly perfect without any redundancies.
Work that should be done by bringing together all the disciples who had taken charge of administrative tasks in each sect after the officers were fully equipped.
It was natural for the representative delegation's scale alone to basically consist of 100 people.
And Jin Sowoon was handling that all by himself.
Cheol Sunjik had also done administrative work in his sect, so he knew very well just how amazing this was.
Jin Sowoon finished another document as if it were nothing and stacked it to the side, and Namgung Seonhwa and Cheol Sunjik were continuously surprised as they looked at the documents.
"Why call people when it isn't even difficult work."
In truth, processing work was never difficult for Jin Sowoon in the first place.
Since all the documents of the Mantong Bureau were already in his head, the completed versions of the documents that went back and forth between the Mantong Bureau and the Murim Academy at this time also remained in his head.
And if he just wrote them out by slightly altering the numbers to fit the present life using those memories from his past life, the work was done.
"What in the world... are you..."
Cheol Sunjik and Namgung Seonhwa were staring at Jin Sowoon with eyes filled with disbelief.
