Cleanup (4)
I stared at the excerpt from the Jianghu Secret Records, my mind spinning.
Jegal Clan. One of the Five Great Clans that once ruled the central plains. Their base was located in Yongzhong, Hubei Province. While their physical talent was ordinary, they were blessed with extraordinary intellect generation after generation. They claim to be descendants of Zhuge Wuhou, though the truth remains unknown. They excel in strange gates and formations, the principles of change, and the arts of mechanical engineering and traps. Among the Five Great Clans, they suffered the greatest damage during the Gate Incident, causing their members to scatter in all directions. In the modern era, only faint traces of their former glory can be found.
That is what is publicly known. In truth... (omitted)... Jianghu Secret Records: Five Great Clans Volume — Jegal Clan.
Why hadn't I paid attention to this person before?
First, I'd never even imagined she might be using a fake name. Second, it was because of her minor role. It sounds strange to say the worst witch who announced the Blood Sect catastrophe had such a small part, but in the game, that was simply how it was.
Blood Witch Jegal Hye. She led hundreds of Blood Fiends and Elite Blood Demons along with the Blood Sect's finest to assault the Tang Clan, slaughtering them all without sparing the elderly or children. The problem came after that. In the middle of the Tang Clan ruins where blood flowed like a river, she announced her name as Jegal Hye and then took her own life. Right in front of the Murim Alliance members who had rushed over after hearing about the attack.
In the game, she naturally never appeared as an enemy. I'd only caught a passing glimpse of her through data logs. I had no idea what her circumstances were. Even the title "Blood Witch" was something she earned after the Tang Clan incident.
"Kim Mugong, junior? Is there something on my face?"
Beatrice asked with such a gentle smile that it was impossible to think she could be the same person as the Blood Witch.
Maybe she was just someone who looked similar. I couldn't imagine anyone else having that exact appearance, but the world was full of surprises.
"No, it's nothing."
"This guy's a bit of an airhead. Whenever he sees a pretty girl, his eyes go all hazy and he zones out completely," Han Yeoreum chimed in from the side with some nonsense.
Eyes going hazy at pretty girls? I swear on the heavens I've never done that.
"I see. Just looking at Han Yeoreum junior's appearance, it's obvious you like pretty girls."
"Thank you. You're incredibly beautiful too, senior."
These two were putting on quite the show. I barely held back the curses rising in my throat as I watched them cover their mouths and exchange fake smiles.
"Ahem. Vice President? Let's stop with the idle chatter."
Moyong Seong, unable to endure it any longer, stepped in to stop them. As expected, not just anyone could be the president.
"Our president is just so boring~"
"Silent One Squad, will you join us? I'd like an answer."
"Well, it's not exactly an appealing offer."
"I thought as much."
Moyong Seong nodded heavily. His tone suggested he'd expected my refusal.
"Did you come here about the Silent One Squad?"
"No. I came to say thank you."
"...Is there some reason the president should be thanking me?"
"That day, I was the one who reassigned the Silent One Squad to internal security."
No wonder the academy's outer perimeter had felt strangely lax. Normally, that area would have been under Silent One Squad patrol. Of course, even if they had been there, I doubted a squad mostly made up of students could have prevented that tragedy.
"It's fine. I didn't do it to be thanked."
"A hero of justice, I see. Understood. Then let me change the offer. Would you consider joining the Student Council?"
"Isn't that different from the Silent One Squad?"
"It's far more free than the rule-bound Silent One Squad. If you want, you can still go to them. To be precise, I'm giving you the right to choose."
The Student Council, huh. Normally I wouldn't have bothered, but my thoughts had shifted a little. I needed to determine for certain whether Beatrice was really Jegal Hye. My suspicions had risen the moment I learned the gap in the Silent One Squad's security had been exploited. If she really was Jegal Hye, it would be better to find out why she had destroyed the Tang Clan and then chosen to end her own life.
"Um, President?"
The moment I made my decision and opened my mouth, Han Yeoreum spoke first.
"What is it?"
"If Kim Mugong joins the Student Council, can I join with him?"
Moyong Seong's gaze lingered on me for a moment.
"Of course. That's possible."
"...We'll join. Her too."
I placed my hand on Han Yeoreum's head as I spoke.
"Good. Welcome to the council. Beatrice will contact you later with the details."
"Looking forward to working with you, juniors?"
Beatrice gave a deep smile. After exchanging contact information, the two of them left the cafe.
"The Student Council, huh," Han Yeoreum muttered blankly.
"Did you want to join?"
"It just seems kinda cool, you know? It's the academy's Student Council, after all."
"It'll probably just be a pain in the ass."
"I only trust you."
Han Yeoreum looked at me and grinned brightly.
"Fine."
I let out a deep sigh and nodded.
Ziiing—
I had no idea what she was thinking, but for me, this was an opportunity. A chance to uncover Beatrice's true identity.
"...."
After parting ways with Han Yeoreum and heading back to the dormitory, I naturally had to stop in my tracks. There were unusually many visitors today. Actually, it had been like this since yesterday.
Right near the entrance to the male dormitory, in front of a flowerbed where spring blossoms were blooming here and there, two women were waiting anxiously, shifting their weight from foot to foot.
A red-haired, big-breasted beauty and a small girl with short brown hair hiding behind her. They were Lee Jia and Shin Ari, the victims of this recent incident.
After hearing the full story, I'd wondered if their relationship might have been damaged, but seeing them now, they seemed even closer than before.
"Ah, hello."
The two of them bowed deeply at almost the same time. Shin Ari's pale face was clearly still sickly. She must have pushed herself before fully recovering.
"How's your body?"
I asked while looking at Shin Ari, who was only peeking her head out from behind Lee Jia. Startled, she quickly stepped forward.
"...Th-thanks to you, I'm fine! Thank you so much. Kim Mugong, you're my savior."
"I only did what I could. Don't worry about it too much."
"No, that's not true. Um, this..."
Shin Ari held out a shopping bag. Inside, I could see a traditional martial uniform neatly wrapped in elegant packaging.
"A martial uniform?"
"...Jia and I picked it out together. I hope it's okay."
The answer came from Lee Jia, who was standing calmly beside her.
"Thanks. I'll wear it well."
"If it weren't for you, Kim Mugong... I might never have been able to escape from my qi deviation. So..."
Lee Jia rummaged through her clothes for a moment before pulling out a small wooden box.
"Please accept this as well."
I didn't know what it was, but I took it anyway. Even at a glance, it was clearly no ordinary item. My own situation wasn't comfortable enough to refuse something like this.
"It's a Harmony Origin Pill. It's a secret elixir from our Honwon Sect. It's also a top-grade recovery pill."
"Is it really okay to give me something like this?"
A secret from the Honwon Sect would be at least at the level of a summoning-grade pill. Among elixirs, it was quite high-class. Moreover, treasures like this couldn't be bought with money alone.
"You prevented me from falling into qi deviation, losing my mind, and becoming a murderous devil. This is still not enough. Thank you again and again. Kim Mugong, you are the benefactor of our Honwon Sect."
Lee Jia spoke each word carefully in a low voice. Seeing her act so humbly made me feel a bit embarrassed.
"I'll put this to good use. I'm not in a position to refuse. But since we're fellow students, you don't have to bow your head so much. We can help each other out as classmates."
"...Yes."
Lee Jia responded with a gentle smile.
"You should head back now. She doesn't look too good."
I gestured with my chin toward Shin Ari. Cold sweat was pouring down her forehead. It seemed she was reaching her limit. She'd probably been waiting for me the entire time without knowing when I'd return.
"See you later."
The two bowed once more before leaving.
Shin Ari, who should have died, had survived. And because of that, Lee Jia had been prevented from falling into heart demons. In a way, I might have blocked the awakening of the Iron-Blooded Empress. But looking at the long term, maintaining balance was better for her ultimate growth than becoming something close to a demonic being through heart demons. That was simply how martial arts worked.
Lee Jia supported Shin Ari as they slowly walked away. I sat on a nearby bench and watched their retreating figures. Somehow, it didn't feel bad at all.
As soon as I entered the dormitory, I received a message from Beatrice. She wanted to meet right away. Thanks to her, I couldn't even rest properly before being called out again. Still, I hadn't expected her to want to meet today of all days.
The location was a pavilion in a secluded corner of the academy where almost no one passed by. Beatrice had arrived early and was sitting gracefully, waiting for me.
"What is this about?"
"Sorry, junior. I called you too suddenly, didn't I?"
Beatrice lowered her eyes with a slightly gloomy expression. It seemed some of my irritation had leaked out unconsciously.
"It's fine. I just had a lot of visitors today. I'm a bit tired."
"That's true... after going through something like that. Are you really okay?"
Her worried tone and expression. No matter how I looked at it, I couldn't believe this woman was the Blood Witch Jegal Hye. From this perspective, she looked like nothing more than a kind senior worrying about her junior.
Besides, according to the Unicorn Divine Art, she was definitely a virgin. A witch of the Blood Sect being a pure maiden? That didn't make any sense.
"That issue is fine."
"Good. The reason I called you wasn't anything else. I thought I'd give you a tour of the Student Council. Since classes are canceled today, I figured now would be best. Wouldn't that be better for you too, junior?"
...Contrary to my expectations, it was an extremely normal matter.
"Yes. Thank you for making time."
"Mhm, it's my job after all."
Beatrice shook her head once and then carefully explained the structure of the Student Council. Other than the enormous authority the Silent One Squad held, it wasn't that different from a normal student council.
"But junior."
As the explanation was coming to an end, Beatrice suddenly narrowed her eyes and stared at me.
"Yes?"
"What were you thinking about when you looked at me just now?"
Beatrice leaned in until her face was right in front of my nose, her lips moving seductively. In contrast to the bewitching smile on her lips, her vertically slit pupils gleamed coldly like a snake eyeing its prey.