No Interest in the Young Master's Seat
The main camp of the Blood Shadow Pavilion.
Though it had been thrown up as a temporary base along the front, its scale was considerable—large enough to claim nearly half the plain that stretched toward the southern road. And little wonder. Under the pact with the Jegal Family, the martial artists who had withdrawn from the north had joined them, along with every fighter from the two branch headquarters that had fled. The only ones missing were those still holding the border against the Demon Shadow Tower.
They had staked their very lives on this fight.
And then—
"Welcome."
The first to greet Jegal Mun-Hyeon and the others upon their return from the relief force was the Family Head's youngest brother and Master of the Cheonchaekwon, Jegal Do-ung.
Where the Byeongjudang made formations and mechanisms the core of its strategic study, the Cheonchaekwon devoted itself solely to the craft of stratagem. It was the place that raised military minds capable of deceiving even the heavens—and together with the Byeongjudang, it was called the very identity of the family, holding its place without change through the long history of the Jegal Clan.
"It is good to see you, Uncle."
"Hahaha! Good, good. You've worked hard. Truly hard. The lot of you have done something tremendous."
Unlike his brothers, he carried a soft, plump frame, and he threw his arms wide to pull Jegal Mun-Hyeon into a hug.
His belly arrived first.
Maybe exercise a little...
This is still a martial family, you know...
Come to think of it, has he always been this cheerful?
A warm, generous face, with a bright smile that never left it. He was the complete opposite of his brother Jegal Do-myeong, whose expression was so blank it always looked as if he were angry. They didn't even resemble each other much—enough that one might wonder if he took after the maternal side...
"Even so, you little rascal, you should have given us a word of warning before you went and stirred everything up."
"Well... things were rather urgent."
"Urgent? What was so urgent? You thought the adults wouldn't listen, so you just went ahead and did it first—did you really think I wouldn't see through that?"
"..."
As expected of the Master of the Cheonchaekwon. The way he read people like a ghost suggested that behind that good-natured smile lay a razor-sharp gaze.
"It's fine. The others may not, but I happen to agree with your thinking. The world has changed—how long are we supposed to keep yapping about being 'orthodox'? If we need to, we shake hands with the Demon Cult. Of course!"
"With the Demon Cult...?"
"Isn't that obvious? Hahaha!"
He seemed to be in an excellent mood. Perhaps because he was a strategist. Strategists devised and presented every possible method to win; they judged by what was more advantageous, not by distinctions of righteous and evil or moral concepts. Debating righteousness and the like fell to the decision-makers who listened to those strategies and chose.
Mun-Hyeon could already guess, to some extent, why this man had come rather than someone else. Jegal Jung-gi had requested that the family's Hyeonhodan be sent to the rear of the Namgung Clan, which meant the ones clashing head-on would be the Blood Shadow Pavilion. So what they needed right now was a strategist. Above all, they must have judged that a man far more attuned to profit than to righteousness was the right person to coordinate with the Blood Shadow Pavilion.
The Family Head has a good eye for people.
Jegal Mun-Hyeon smirked, then tilted his head and looked around.
"But why are you out here first? Where's the Lord of the Blood Shadow Pavilion?"
"I asked him to wait inside for a moment."
"Pardon?"
"It's been a long time since I saw my nephew. Shouldn't family share a few words first?"
Share a few words?
Was there anything between us that needed sharing?
He had never particularly visited the Cheonchaekwon, and he had only met Jegal Do-ung a few times when banquets were held.
"Pfft. Don't dodge the subject. You're curious about what I was thinking when I set this whole thing in motion, aren't you?"
"What?"
"Well, even if we wrote an alliance pact and declared our intent to join them, our relationship still isn't fully settled."
"Oh-ho?"
"That's why the Family Head sent you here instead of anyone else, right? With the Hyeonhodan moving secretly to the Namgung Clan's rear, the pretext of helping with strategy would hold up just fine."
At those words, Jegal Do-ung's mouth stretched into a grin so wide it looked ready to tear.
Some said this boy was born with the talent of a formation master. Others said that one day his martial prowess would make him a great tree sheltering the Jegal Family. But now he understood. This one needed to be raised as a strategist. Martial arts? Mechanisms? Formations? In the end they were nothing more than pieces moving across the vast board of strategy.
In that moment, Jegal Do-ung decided to join the ranks of those eyeing Jegal Mun-Hyeon's talent. Talent was talent, but what pleased him most was the boy's temperament—the way he paid no mind to the shackles of orthodox and heterodox.
"Khahaha! Just as I'd heard. Just as I'd heard. You've already got everything figured out, so no need for me to beat around the bush. You're right. We've only formed an alliance; there's still a great deal we need to work out between us."
"So what do we do about that?"
"Hm?"
"I was the one who put the plan into action with my own body, but I wasn't the one who devised the strategy this time."
"You... weren't?"
"No."
"What do you mean? If not you, then who?"
As Jegal Do-ung tilted his head in puzzlement, Jegal Mun-Hyeon grinned and stepped slightly aside.
"This guy right here."
Standing in the space he'd opened was Jegal Jung-gi.
"Huh?"
Suddenly thrust before Jegal Do-ung, the young man could only blink in flustered confusion.
"And the one who made the final decision was Big Brother Mun-ho."
"Mun-ho... you say?"
"Yes. The two of them were the ones who impersonated the Young Family Head and persuaded the Lord of the Blood Shadow Pavilion."
"...Not you?"
"Correct."
Jegal Mun-Hyeon nodded firmly, and Jegal Mun-ho was just as startled. He had taken the lead, yes, but it was Jegal Mun-Hyeon who had steered everything through voice transmission. He was the one who had actually done the persuading as well. So why was he pushing them forward...?
But he couldn't even open his mouth. Jegal Mun-Hyeon was shooting him a murderous look that clearly said, Keep quiet and stay put if you know what's good for you.
"Hmm. Then perhaps the order to send the Hyeonhodan to the rear was also..."
"A letter Jung-gi sent while impersonating me."
"..."
At that, Jegal Do-ung looked somewhat disappointed. Of course he would.
Ugh, why is everyone so greedy for me?
It shouldn't have been just once or twice. It wasn't as if his body reeked of some rare elixir, yet the moment anyone laid eyes on him they all went crazy. His father still hadn't given up the dream of making him a formation master. Baek Mu of the Heavenly Artisan kept nagging every time they met about turning him into a night raider. Lately even the Family Head's gaze had grown meaningful. And now the Master of the Cheonchaekwon too?
Why do they all have to torment me like this?
The excessive interest of the adults was thoroughly annoying. So it was better to put forward a substitute. Jegal Jung-gi was a perfect fit for the Cheonchaekwon anyway. A few exchanges would be enough to shift the Master's attention onto him. And Jegal Mun-ho needed to take the seat of Young Family Head. Everyone said it was fine, but somehow he still felt as if he carried a debt of the heart. If Mun-Hyeon had never become a son of the Jegal Family, this one would have become Young Family Head long ago and still had room to spare.
"At least I can give you a few words that might help settle our relationship with the Blood Shadow Pavilion."
"..."
"Emphasize the fact that we didn't help with the rescue of the branch martial artists this time. In effect, the Jegal Family stepped in and saved their subordinates... And as for the strategy against the Namgung Clan, this guy drew up every last part of it, so you can ask him."
Jegal Mun-Hyeon slid back and shot Jegal Jung-gi a look.
Alright. I've laid the board out nice and clean for you. Go wild.
At that look, the flustered set of Jegal Jung-gi's mouth hardened with resolve. He had never expected to be pushed forward like this.
Jegal Do-ung smacked his lips in regret, but what could he do? Every strategy had supposedly come from Jegal Jung-gi's head... Disappointing as it was, he had to hear the content for now. What stood immediately before them was the negotiation with the Blood Shadow Pavilion.
And then—
"Oh-ho! You asked the Beggars' Sect to spread rumors?"
"Yes. I thought it would be good to highlight that the enemy's numbers far outstrip their own."
"Well done. Very well done! Once word spreads that even the Demon Shadow Tower has joined the fray, their morale should drop considerably."
"And also..."
The more they talked, the more enthusiastically Jegal Do-ung nodded along and listened to every word from Jegal Jung-gi.
Whew. Does that mean I've shaken off the Cheonchaekwon with this?
Just as Jegal Mun-Hyeon was smoothing a hand over his chest in relief, Jegal Mun-ho frowned, tugged at his collar, and asked in a low voice.
"Hey."
"What?"
"Were you serious when you said 'Young Family Head'? Not just talking?"
"What do you mean, just talking?"
"I mean... for the purpose of talking with the Lord of the Blood Shadow Pavilion..."
"Why? Don't you want it?"
"What?"
"Take the Young Family Head seat."
"..."
"Don't worry. From what I've seen, you've got more than enough capacity for it."
"But you're more suited than I am..."
"Drop it. I have zero interest in positions like that."
"But you love the family more than anyone."
"Who? Me? Pfft!"
Jegal Mun-Hyeon snorted and threw an arm around Jegal Mun-ho's shoulders.
"Big Brother Mun-ho. Listen. All I care about is that my people don't go off somewhere and get ignored or beaten up. And why would I take on something as annoying as Young Family Head? You have to think about face and dignity because of all the eyes on you, dress neatly, watch every word that comes out of your mouth... Ugh, just thinking about it is horrifying."
As he spoke, goosebumps rose and his whole body shuddered. Standing above others once was enough. Becoming the Cult Master of the Demon Cult hadn't been because of some grand ambition either.
The strong rule. In a world where only the strong can be master, he had been forced to become the master of the Demon Cult. He had never even tried to develop it. If something displeased him, he scowled and beat people; if someone secretly schemed, he simply killed them. That was enough. Even with that alone, the Demon Cult ran itself just fine. The problem was the elders constantly showing up and nagging with one voice about conquering the Central Plains.
And what would conquering it even get him? Catch the weaklings like rats and stand at the very top—see what happens. He would surely get tangled in even more annoying business than during his days as Cult Master. This new life couldn't go that way. He had a grand dream, after all. Namely, ascension...
So you take the annoying stuff.
"Big Brother Mun-ho, do well. I'll back you up hard from behind."
"..."
Jegal Mun-Hyeon gave him a light clap on the back in encouragement and walked on ahead. Jegal Mun-ho watched his back for a long moment, then let out a deep sigh.
Who wouldn't covet the seat of Young Family Head? Anyone would want to become the head of the family and leave their name in history. Yet Jegal Mun-Hyeon refused with a laugh, calling it a bother—deliberately, for his sake.
...Is it because I'm the eldest son?
The Family Head had no child to continue the line. Among the sons of his younger brothers, he was the oldest. Perhaps that was why. Primogeniture. If they ignored the principle and appointed someone as Young Family Head simply because of superior talent, disaster was bound to follow. History had proven it again and again. So maybe he was yielding for that reason.
This kid... how can he think only of the family like this...
Watching the back of the one walking ahead made his heart grow heavy. The one more suited than anyone to be Young Family Head...
But then he clenched his fist tight. It might be a seat that belonged to his younger brother, but he would not refuse it. Instead he would work even harder to become a person worthy of that place. Only then would he not be ashamed before the younger brother who had yielded for his sake.
"Haha! Let's go together, you rascal."
Jegal Mun-ho quickened his steps and threw an arm around his shoulders.
"Ah, what the hell? Get off."
"No way."
"What's with you today?"
"I'm happy. That's why!"
"I said I don't like it!"
Jegal Mun-Hyeon twisted his face into a scowl and tried to peel him off, but Jegal Mun-ho only smiled brighter and clung tighter.
"Mun-Hyeon. I'm going to work hard. So that your yielding won't be in vain."
For some reason his voice was earnest.
Hmm... I just dumped it on him because it was annoying.
Still, it was a relief that he said he'd work hard at it.