Chapter 154
Chapter 154
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 154
Chapter Title: It's Not Like We Actually Became Friends
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Yi Cheolsan’s reaction was overt hostility.
This was the first time I’d seen such a good-natured guy act like this.
“Problem? Plenty.”
“Please explain in detail.”
“Before that, let me ask first. Why is Dangja showing interest in Bicheon Hori?”
“Does your answer depend on my response?”
“Perhaps.”
What should I say?
I pondered for a moment.
I couldn’t mention anything related to the Dark Demon God Mythos.
So I decided to beat around the bush a bit.
“Because I’m curious.”
“You’re curious?”
“It might sound like I’m gilding the lily about my own face, but the truth is, I’ve built some rapport with all the others listed among the Eight Later Hidden Sages, haven’t I?”
“That’s true.”
“But I’ve never really had a proper conversation with Bicheon Hori up to now. No point of contact either.”
“Hmm.”
“The Eight Later Hidden Sages are already confirmed to join the new Stormwind Squad regardless of the exam results, so I thought it’d be good to get to know what kind of person he is. He might be someone I have to entrust my back to, after all.”
“Entrust my back to...”
Yi Cheolsan fell into thought.
The teacup had already gone cold.
“Honestly, I’m worried that saying unnecessary things might give Dangja preconceptions. But I’ll tell you what needs to be said.”
I nodded, and Yi Cheolsan slowly recounted what had happened with Gong Sonbeom.
About the minor friction they’d had right before the Nine Dragons Great Battle broke out.
“Such a thing happened?”
“Yes. After I refused, he didn’t even hide his hostility toward me.”
“He excluded you, Hyung?”
“Very overtly.”
Yi Cheolsan was the type who garnered favor from men and women, young and old alike, with his upright personality and handsome looks.
Perhaps because he was the senior disciple of the Pure Star Sect, he had somehow taken on the role of leader among the exam candidates.
It wasn’t for nothing that the Dark Lord was considering him for the commander’s position.
And yet, this guy was antagonizing him?
That could make life in the Stormwind Squad a headache down the line.
Gong Sonbeom, the schemer, wouldn’t overlook something like that.
The fact that he was doing it anyway meant he was confident in his own skills to the point where distancing himself from Yi Cheolsan wouldn’t cause issues in the Stormwind Squad, or that he had a plan to dominate it.
“The new Stormwind Squad hasn’t even been formed yet. How could I look kindly on someone who, instead of focusing on martial arts training or building bonds with the other candidates, is already concentrating solely on forming his own faction?”
I nodded in agreement.
“Moreover, he’s shown hostility not just to me. It was the same with my junior sisters, senior sisters, and junior brothers.”
“He’s already treating us as one faction.”
“Could be. But if it were just us, I wouldn’t say anything.”
“There’s more?”
“There is. More precisely—”
『Warriors who seem likely to fail the qualification exam.』
There was no one around to overhear us, but Yi Cheolsan whispered the rest via internal transmission, very cautiously. There was regret in it.
Here, I could sense his righteous nature and consideration for the weak.
“He acts that way toward those he deems beneath him?”
“That’s probably it.”
A deep disgust showed in Yi Cheolsan’s eyes.
“And I’ve heard he’s been talking some nonsense about Dangja... This isn’t confirmed, so I’ll look into it separately later.”
Talking behind my back?
I hadn’t had any notable conflicts with him.
Was it just because I was seen as part of Yi Cheolsan’s faction, so he was picking at me?
If he were that shortsighted, he wouldn’t have formed his current faction.
I’d need to look into it more.
“Thank you for telling me.”
* * *
The next person I visited was Dang Gon.
“Huh? Bicheon Hori, you say? What kind of guy he is?”
That friend?
His tone carried a clear note of friendliness.
Completely different from Yi Cheolsan’s reaction.
“Yeah. Last time I saw him, he was always grabbing drinks with the candidates whenever he had a chance.”
“That’s because, as chief instructor, he needs to gauge the candidates’ personalities.”
“For that, he drinks a lot, doesn’t he? I saw him getting Sword South Spring from Hyeon So-hyeop—”
Dang Gon quickly covered my mouth with his hand and glanced around.
Fortunately, no one was paying attention.
Phew!
Dang Gon let out a relieved sigh, then yelled via internal transmission.
『What? When the hell did you see that?!』
『Just poking around, and it hit the mark, huh?』
『...H-Huh?』
『I saw Hyeon So-hyeop with Sword South Spring last time. Then suddenly one day, it was gone. Didn’t seem like he drank it alone—』
My eyes drew arcs over Dang Gon’s palm.
『So it was true?』
『Yeeeeees!』
Dang Gon clutched his temples.
He’d been caught by me again.
『Weren’t you worrying about whether you could do well as chief instructor? Aren’t you adapting too well?』
『Of all people! Why him again! I must be crazyyy!』
『I just, uh? Saved Master from corruption, didn’t I? I’m the only one who can protect Master!』
『There was zero lobbying or anything! It was just a gift!』
『Sure, sure. That’s how it always starts. Brothers calling each other that, looking out for each other because what’s good for one is good for both, and before you know it, it’s lobbying turning into bribes. Yep. Exactly.』
『I’m serious!! If anyone spouts that nonsense, I beat them all down!』
『Who said anything?』
『This guy isn’t listening at all! Damn ittt!!』
I chuckled lightly as Dang Gon writhed in agony.
In truth, I knew there wasn’t a shred of falsehood in what Dang Gon said.
If he’d done anything shady, Onma would’ve come running to tattle immediately.
Even if not, I trusted my own eyes.
Dang Gon might have some loose tendencies, but I knew he upheld the line of righteousness.
If there’d been any harsh request disguised as a gift, I would’ve lopped off that guy’s head first.
Of course, trusting Dang Gon and exploiting his weakness to make him useful were separate matters.
“Anyway, if you’ve had that many drinks with them, you must be on good terms all around, so you’ve figured out what kind of person he is. Tell me.”
“...Information on candidates is protected for personal privacy—”
Dang Gon seemed to want to resist, but I snorted dismissively.
“Should I run straight to the Branch Leader and tattle? He’d love hearing you went home early, Lady Gwi Je-gal.”
“Damn! Damn! Damnnn!!”
Just thinking about Gwi Je-gal holding that over him for life must’ve made his head throb already.
Now then, hurry up and answer, you foolish mortal.
“Shall I go to the Branch Leader?”
“If I tell you—”
“I’ll keep it buried in my chest forever. On my honor as a man!”
He thumped his chest with his fist, and Dang Gon’s face crumpled.
“You know what? The Young Branch Leader really is a demon.”
“A demon ghost.”
“Glad you know it so well!”
“Anyway, stop dragging it out and spill.”
“Damn! I’m trying to tell you right now!”
Dang Gon grumbled for a while before speaking.
“He’s a good guy.”
“Didn’t you say instructors have to draw a line with candidates? And here you are calling him a friend.”
“Our ages are about the same. Of course, it’s not like we actually became friends.”
“Who said anything. Go on.”
Dang Gon crossed his arms and continued in a curt tone.
“That friend is extremely polite and courteous to instructors and luminaries. There were a lot of bad rumors floating around, so I had preconceptions at first, but he took such good care of those around him that it made them fade. Ask the other instructors. They’ll all say the same as me.”
As expected.
Completely different from what Yi Cheolsan had said.
“What if he’s just putting on a show because they’ll be helpful for his future life?”
“Well, that can’t be ruled out. Getting on our bad side would screw him for life.”
Dang Gon chuckled lightly and continued.
“But even without us, he’s kind to others. Especially popular with the servants and stewards, I bet?”
“That’s a bit unexpected.”
“Right? He says it reminds him of his own humble origins and childhood or whatever.”
“Hmm.”
“Anyway, not long ago, the servants pooled their money to buy him a separate gift. In return, he handed out a jar of Sword South Spring to each.”
Sword South Spring was fairly expensive liquor.
Handing it out without hesitation meant he had a big heart.
Showing hostility to those in other factions, contempt to the weak who might fail the exam, yet being kind to the lower classes?
It was hard to grasp his true face.
“Tricky.”
“What’s tricky about it? Build rapport with him in advance. He’ll be a big help to you as Young Branch Leader down the line.”
“That good, huh?”
“Have you ever known me to spout nonsense?”
No.
That’s why my head hurt more.
“Then one more thing.”
“Yes, yes. This one will answer anything.”
“I heard Bicheon Hori was gossiping about me. Do you know what he said?”
“That friend talked about the Young Branch Leader?”
“Yeah.”
“Hmm... Well, it probably wasn’t gossip, more like personal opinion. But one thing’s for sure—he’s not the type to badmouth someone where no one’s around.”
There was strong conviction in Dang Gon’s voice.
* * *
「Warm to allies, cold to enemies—a man like that—」
「Huh? This is totally like the Little Tea—」
「Quiet! No useless chatter!!」
「Mmph mmph!!」
Just what was this guy’s true nature?
I cautiously asked around about Bicheon Hori from various people, but the responses were all over the place.
Some called him an untrustworthy con artist, others said he was a reliable man you could entrust your back to.
One called him inscrutable, another said he was a friend you could bare your soul to.
Especially those in Gong Sonbeom’s faction—they were mostly talents who were gifted but from poor sects or backgrounds, lacking support and hitting growth limits.
Gong Sonbeom had shared the elixirs he bought with money earned as a wanderer, checked their martial arts, and upheld loyalty.
That’s why his faction was armed with solid bonds.
A major sect couldn’t ignore it on its own merits.
「...While most people have two faces, he seems exceptionally so.」
「Doesn’t that just mean he’s incredibly calculating?」
“Yes. He seems to precisely divide people into those who’ll benefit him in the future and those who won’t, then pick sides accordingly.”
“And he always has to be at the center—”
“Even his ties with the luminaries might be a way to elevate his own position.”
My conclusion with the lingering spirits matched.
It wasn’t strange for varied evaluations if he could switch masks as needed.
From lowly wanderer origins to his current position.
Perhaps this was his survival method.
The Dark Lord had spotted that and marked him as one of the Eight Later Hidden Sages.
It made me think maybe I’d misunderstood him.
Since it involved my master, my reason might’ve been blinded for a moment.
If so, then my intuition was wrong this time—
As I struggled without reaching an easy conclusion, a Jeongpung Pavilion agent came running up in a panic.
“Young Branch Leader, big trouble!”
“What’s wrong, all of a sudden?”
“Lady Gyujin and Bicheon Hori are facing off with swords drawn!!”
What the hell was this now?