Chapter 320 - Where Responsibility Lies (3)

Mantong Bureau.

One of the institutions that divided the power of the Murim Alliance into three.

Although it was a command institution handling one of the pillars of the Murim Alliance, in reality, it was the place that took on the most practical affairs.

On a smaller scale, it started with how many hours the Murim Alliance guards would stand watch.

It also decided how to manage the annual budget and sponsorships, and in what format they would be distributed to each administrative department.

Going further, it also managed the livelihood of the Murim Alliance's branches.

Considering that the authority to appoint a Branch Chief lay with the Mantong Bureau, it was actually the place that made the most decisions.

However, this bloated organization ran on fewer personnel than one would think.

When I first started cramming the Mantong Bureau's documents into my head, I even had this question.

'Does the Mantong Bureau... practice unifying their handwriting first?'

Since people wrote the documents by hand, if they were written in all sorts of different handwriting, there would be a possibility of not being able to efficiently recognize the information later.

In that regard, I think it was a pretty good deduction.

Of course, I was completely wrong.

The reason the Mantong Bureau's handwriting was so similar was that they ground down a small number of people to do the work.

In other words, because such a massive volume was written by an extremely small number of personnel, there was a sense of uniformity.

'But why is this guy able to frequent the academy so often?'

I thought to myself as I looked at Maeng Ju-won in front of me.

I wondered if Maeng Ju-won was also a person who secured his own time by grinding down his subordinates.

"Are you not busy?"

"What are you talking about! I'm busy every day! I'm coming here because I'm busy every day!"

I tilted my head at his incomprehensible words.

Anyway, seeing how his eye sockets had turned dark and his complexion wasn't very good, it seemed he was definitely busy.

"Just as you mentioned outside earlier, the academy representative's dormitory is a personal space. If you keep barging in without an appointment like this..."

"Ah! Don't worry about that. I changed the regulations. So that Mantong Bureau personnel can go anywhere if it's a matter regarding the Alliance."

"..."

No, why was coming to the academy representative's dormitory a matter regarding the Alliance?

Maeng Ju-won snorted and patted his own chest.

"Am I not the Mantong Bureau itself? Then my work is the Mantong Bureau's work, and the Mantong Bureau's work is the Murim Alliance's work."

Since it was completely incomprehensible, I just let it slide.

It wasn't like it was a day or two that this person came here and spouted nonsense anyway.

Just the fact that he wasn't drunkenly repeating cries to save his life was something.

'Why was he asking me to save him in the first place? It's not like his life was being threatened.'

In my past life, the one who died at the hands of Je Geumhak was Zhuge Somyeong.

Although they were in the same place, Maeng Ju-won barely survived, and though he later led the Mantong Bureau alone before eventually being dragged down by others and forced to retire... Well, anyway, he didn't die at the hands of another.

"... Anyway, what did you come for again?"

"Am I someone who can't come without a reason?"

"... That's exactly the kind of person I know you to be."

Maeng Ju-won's shoulders drooped.

"That's disappointing... so disappointing!"

"If you have no business, I'll be busy n—"

"I was going to tell you about the future plans regarding the Jeondeung Sect, but it's a shame."

"...-ow is a shame to part ways, so shall I offer you a cup of tea?"

"Tea? Do you have time to drink tea?"

"It just so happens I have some good tea."

I took out the cheapest tea in my quarters and served it to Maeng Ju-won.

It was something I hadn't touched again because the aroma was so terrible when I first tasted it.

"Mm... The aroma is good."

It was clearly a foul stench, yet a satisfied smile spread across Maeng Ju-won's lips as if something about it was good.

"Hehe... This kind of leisure... You'll be able to enjoy it if you come, right?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Ah, nothing."

Maeng Ju-won, who was wearing a strange smile, set his teacup down.

"The Alliance Leader's command will be proclaimed soon."

He then took on a rather serious expression.

"Simply put, the Murim Alliance will be the sole entity conducting investigations into forbidden arts."

"Is the problem that serious?"

"Do you know how many sects are disappearing in a single day right now?"

"..."

"When they asked the bastards who annihilated a sect to provide evidence, they feigned ignorance by saying, 'They were wicked, so we burned them.' There are plenty of guys like that right now."

Contempt swirled on Maeng Ju-won's face.

"It's to the point where I wonder if they have to go this far amongst fellow Orthodox factions. Because they're committing even harsher acts than when they beat down the Underworld."

They probably had no choice but to show even more cruel and ruthless methods than when fighting the Underworld.

Because when striking innocent people, you must not leave even the slightest gap to be counterattacked.

Suddenly, such a thought occurred to me.

'Was the blood shed in the Sichuan Blood Incident too little?'

I wondered if the blood that should have flowed during the Sichuan Blood Incident had diverted its course and started flowing this way...

I thought that no matter how much I changed history, perhaps I couldn't change the human desire to see blood.

"Did the elders agree?"

If the Alliance Leader's command was issued, it would be implemented immediately.

But would the elders just sit back and watch that?

It was essentially having their rights taken away.

Maeng Ju-won slightly furrowed his brow.

"To some extent... Still, on the surface, everyone agrees that it's dangerous if this situation lasts long."

He then added.

"However, there are those who harbor dissatisfaction about proclaiming the Alliance Leader's command too quickly."

"Does that mean they haven't been able to make use of it for themselves yet?"

Maeng Ju-won's expression changed to be complex and subtle.

"You are... a truly fascinating existence."

"What do you mean?"

When I asked what he meant, he quickly opened his mouth.

"You're right. They're feeling regret over not being able to use it themselves."

This kind of trend in Jianghu comes from an absolute belief in the Murim Alliance.

The trust that the Murim Alliance will not collapse no matter what enemy appears is what leads them to use external enemies as political tools in internal power struggles.

Eventually, because of this, they end up unable to respond when a truly dangerous enemy actually appears.

While I was momentarily lost in thought, Maeng Ju-won warned me.

"So you take it easy too."

"Huh? Take what easy?"

"Your actions of making enemies out of the instructors."

"... Isn't the problem that the instructors changed after barely a year in the first place?"

"That... The Chief Strategist has already turned the Education Pavilion upside down over that matter. Take solace in that."

"He turned it upside down?"

"Did you not know? How many people from the Education Pavilion were fired this time."

Hoh. This is some rather useful information, isn't it?

Maeng Ju-won stroked his chin and let out a sigh.

"Anyway, it's the shared opinion of the Education Pavilion and the Mantong Bureau that we can't replace the already appointed instructors again."

"Because of external scrutiny?"

"We just can't replace them. Since the appointment seals have already been stamped on the newcomers' documents, the Chief Strategist had no choice but to tolerate it."

Hmm, so that's how it is.

"Then isn't that actually a good thing?"

"... I don't see what's good about it. Anyway, keep in mind that the newcomers are the ones deciding your graduation evaluations. If they give you a bad evaluation, in the end, your grades and the grades of the kids from your sect might become a total mess."

Well, hearing this gives me a different idea.

"... What exactly does that look of dissatisfaction mean?"

"Eh? What do you mean?"

When I played dumb, Maeng Ju-won shook his head back and forth.

"Anyway, don't keep causing trouble. The Orthodox Council and the White Path Council are already keeping a close eye on you. If you keep doing this..."

Then, as if he had something very important to say, he tightly grabbed my shoulder.

"It'll become hard for you to enter the Mantong Bureau later."

"..."

Good grief, why on earth does he think I'll be entering the Mantong Bureau?

I was about to voice my thoughts but soon stopped.

How much of a fuss was kicked up when I said I wouldn't join the Mantong Bureau once before?

I shouldn't make things worse for no reason.

Right, absolutely.

"Hehe..."

When I didn't answer, Maeng Ju-won patted my shoulder with a somewhat satisfied expression and left.

* * *

Two days later, I received a message from the instructors.

Maeng Ju-won's warning must have actually worked.

Even though it only lasted two days.

Anyway, since it was a discussion that even the Academy Director, Buk Wonpyeong, was participating in, I had no choice but to meet with them.

"Well, do you want me to go with you?"

"Young Master Jin. I will go with you."

Seong Moran, who didn't seem too worried, and Namgung Seonhwa, whose face was full of worry, stepped forward, but I refused.

It's not like I'm a kid.

Did they think I'd be scared just because a bunch of instructors swarmed in?

"Hah! What are you saying? We're saying this because we're worried Young Master Jin might cause trouble!"

What on earth do these people see me as? Where else could you find someone as calmly rational as me?

... Well, there are times when I can't hold back, but that's always when the opponent has crossed the line.

As a manly man, there are times when one must not hold back...

"You were thinking of causing trouble again, weren't you...!"

I hurriedly left the representative's office.

* * *

The discussion was held in the meeting room of the Academic Affairs Department.

Buk Wonpyeong sat at the end of the long table, and the instructors and drill instructors were seated in a row on one side.

The sight of them flocking in as a group was quite something to see.

"Where should I sit?"

At my question, the instructor sitting in the middle answered coldly.

"Sit anywhere."

"Then..."

"... Just sit in the middle. This is strictly a matter to be resolved between the academy representative and the instructors."

When I tried to sit close to Buk Wonpyeong, the instructor in the middle quietly voiced his dissatisfaction.

No, he should have just said so in the first place.

As I sat down, the instructors looked at me with murderous gazes for some reason.

"... Sit up straight."

"Are you going to keep dragging out the time by picking fights over trivial things? I'm busy, you know?"

"... You rootless..."

"Huh? Academy Director, this person is cursing at me?"

Buk Wonpyeong let out a small sigh.

"Both of you stop. Academy student Jin Sowoon... take your feet off the table, and Instructor Noh Jinha, you didn't come here just to hurl insults, right?"

"..."

The brief commotion subsided, and Instructor Noh Jinha—the instructor who got completely crushed by me in internal energy—spoke up.

"You must know very well what you have done, right?"

"I don't know?"

"If you apologize publicly first... huh?"

Instructor Noh Jinha stopped mid-sentence and flapped his lips like a carp.

I wore an innocent expression and slowly shook my head side to side.

"I don't know. I really don't know no matter how much I think about it."

"... Attacking an instructor is subject to strict punishment..."

"That's because you told me to prove my skills, so I proved them. Picking a fight himself... no, why are you getting mad at me for something you ordered me to do?"

I tilted my head and then clapped my fist against my palm as if struck by a revelation.

"Ah! Is it a problem because I completely crushed you in such an unsightly manner?"

"..."

"But that's not my fault, is it? Ah, I'm not saying it's your fault either, Instructor."

At my last words, Noh Jinha's face seemed to soften slightly.

Why is he already relieved? I haven't even finished speaking yet.

"Wouldn't it all be the fault of the Qingcheng Sect for raising such a stupid disciple?"

CRASH!

The table shook as if it were going to break.

"Do you truly wish to die! How dare you insult my sect!"

GRIND.

Noh Jinha ground his teeth as if his jaw would break.

Tsk, then you should have used that strength to win the internal energy clash.

I erased the playfulness from my face and muttered quietly.

"Is it not okay to insult the Qingcheng Sect, but okay to insult the Taiyi Sect?"

"..."

"Whether it's a first-rate sect like the Taiyi Sect or a third-rate sect like the Qingcheng Sect, having attachment to one's own sect is all the same. You were the one who insulted the opposing sect first just because you were the strong one, Instructor."

The faces of Instructor Noh Jinha and the other instructors stiffened.

"Furthermore, now you're bringing me, who has done no wrong, here and pressuring me to apologize. Do I have to follow such nonsense?"

When the topic of sects came up, Noh Jinha couldn't continue his words either.

Then, the amiable-looking instructor sitting next to him smiled and opened his mouth.

"Now, now, it's not like we gathered here to kill each other."

He then gently pressed Noh Jinha's shoulder to sit him down.

"Restrain yourself. It seems you showed too much enthusiasm during class, Jinha. That is definitely your fault."

"..."

What was his name again... He's from the same Qingcheng Sect... That Tak... Right, Kang Suntak!

Kang Suntak reprimanded Noh Jinha and then flashed a good-natured smile at me.

"Please understand. For generations, there have been cases where instructors and drill instructors deliberately humiliated academy students to create a solemn atmosphere. It happened all the time in our day too."

Wow, now the 'in my day' is making an appearance.

"Anyway, it's certain that my friend Jinha crossed the line, so I'll apologize on his behalf. It's just a small 'mistake', isn't it? A real man should magnanimously let these things slide. Haha! Right?"

He spoke as if it were nothing, completely disregarding the other person's feelings.

Why do these people not think from our perspective?

Even a moment of thought would let them understand how we felt.

"Even so, no matter the circumstances, an instructor showing a humiliating state to an academy student can cause problems for future education. Therefore, to uphold the authority of a teacher even a little... how about ending this matter with you publicly apologizing to Instructor Noh?"

But now I know.

These people have no need to think from our perspective.

Because they think they will never be in our position.

Because they've always been on top in the past, and they are confident they will always be on top in the future.

Therefore, they had no need to go out of their way to care.

They just had to pretend to listen to our side while ultimately maintaining the status quo according to their intentions.

Just like this.

"Wouldn't it be best for everyone if you made a public apology and we accepted it, resolving the matter amicably?"

They know.

How much effort the weak have to put in to fight against injustice.

So they just placate them moderately and make them give up.

Because it will quiet down back to normal once time passes anyway.

It was something I had experienced countless times in my past life.

To fight back while bearing a burden. To believe a few sweet words from the opponent and give up.

Because I had no power. Because I was afraid. Because I wanted to believe that this desperate reality could change, even if it meant leaning on their lies.

"This is how justice is upheld. Isn't it?"

However, I know now.

"I don't want to."

"... Huh?"

Their retarded sense of justice.

And I believe in it. My own power.

"I said I don't want to. I didn't do anything wrong, so why should I apologize?"

These hypocrites quickly reveal their true colors when the opponent doesn't move according to their intentions.

Just like this guy.

"... Can you handle it? We will be evaluating you and your junior brethren until you graduate."

"That sounds like it means the scores can change depending on your emotions, Instructor. Is that right?"

"..."

"You aren't saying no."

Kang Suntak let out a sneer.

"I heard the character 'Yeom (念 - Thought)' is in your alias... As expected, your thinking is shallow. Do you think it will do you any good to be so hostile?"

A gaze looking down on the opponent.

"Ah, did you know that? Even after you enter the Murim Alliance, the people here will be evaluating you. Do you want to shove your rosy future into a shit bucket right here?"

That's why charging head-on is important.

In the end, if harm doesn't come to them, they will absolutely never be able to think from the opponent's perspective.

"Why do you think I'll be the only one taking damage?"

"Do you think we have anything to lose?"

Because human beings traditionally only start to be careful when their own bodies bleed.

"Half of the academy's classes are demonstration lessons with the instructors and drill instructors. Among them, there are more than ten sparring matches."

"... Huh?"

I leaned back comfortably in my chair and looked at Buk Wonpyeong.

"Academy Director. What happens if an instructor dies during a sparring match conducted in an academy class? Ah, I should ask this first. Is there any precedent for that?"

"... Hey! Jin Sowoon..."

Buk Wonpyeong was so shocked that he blurted out informal speech instead of his usual polite speech.

I added without a care.

"Hmm... Then what happens if an instructor suffers an unexpected accident? If they sustain an unrecoverable disability, they would naturally be processed for retirement, right?"

Kang Suntak, who had been speaking triumphantly, shouted as if he was dumbfounded.

"Are you crazy? Even if you did such a thing..."

"What do you mean? It's just a small 'mistake'."

"...!"

You bastards said it. That it was just a small 'mistake'.

"Besides, haven't my future and the futures of the Taiyi Sect disciples already been shoved into a shit bucket anyway?"

"..."

"I simply cannot understand why you thought the damage would only fall on one side."

But what to do about this?

Because you bastards aren't the only ones capable of making a small 'mistake'.

"Did you think that I, and my junior brethren, looked like the types to just sit still and take it?"

The Education Pavilion not being able to send any more new instructors meant that, in the end, these guys had to resolve the matter themselves.

Maeng Ju-won felt uneasy about them not being replaced, but I actually thought the opposite.

Them not being replaced ultimately meant.

'Isn't that the same as saying I can corner these bastards and beat them up?'

It could be seen just from the fact that they requested this discussion first.

Now that they smeared shit on their own faces, they wouldn't be able to just clear their throats and live their lives as instructors like nothing happened.

That must be why they requested a public apology from me, out of all things.

In short, it meant that they and I were in the exact same position, trapped in an isolated snare.

And the one who survives an isolated snare is the one with the stronger venom.

"Or did your sect teach you to act like that?"

"..."

Even when I brought up their sect again, they said nothing.

"Do it. Do whatever you want. No, please, I'm begging you to do it."

I let out a light sneer and added.

"That way, I won't feel any guilt when I use my hands on you instructors either."

The eyes of those who had been looking at me with contemptuous gazes were suddenly clouded with fear.

I bowed my head with all my sincerity this time.

"Please! Please do so by all means. I am begging you like this."