The Genius's Strange Choice
“What in the world is going on with Im Jin?”
Bukjin, watching from the changing room, felt a sense of bewilderment, unable to comprehend the situation.
‘It’s like she’s completely lost interest in this Academic & Martial Arts Competition. This is totally different from the attitude she showed in the preliminaries!’
In another changing room, Ya Mi-ang bit her lip, then offered a bitter smile.
‘You might give up easily, but I can’t. Because I represent the Temple. It’s not that the Temple can’t lose… but it certainly can’t lose in the same way you do.’
Ya Mi-ang’s bitter smile lingered for a moment as she muttered self-deprecatingly.
“It seems I’ve lost to her this time.”
A faint, unreadable smile floated in Ya Mi-ang’s beautiful eyes.
From the VIP section, Lee Ung-bu, the Head of Unmong City’s Education Department, watched the match with a furrowed brow.
True masters could clearly see that Im Jin had deliberately forfeited her eligibility for the Academic & Martial Arts Competition. She was certainly not so unskilled that she couldn’t break through Han Bul-bu’s defensive sword technique. The reason she gave for admitting defeat was incredibly petty.
Moreover, Im Jin didn’t seem to care whether others realized she had intentionally withdrawn or not.
‘Why did she make such a choice?’
Numerous thoughts raced through Lee Ung-bu’s mind. The Im family of the City Lord’s manor held an unusual status within the Empire.
‘Could Im Jin’s abandonment of the Academic & Martial Arts Competition be due to some instruction from her family? What could this possibly mean?’
In fact, Lee Ung-bu had already received the impression from many previous events that the Im family wasn’t particularly focused on this Academic & Martial Arts Competition. It had been strange from the start when the City Lord, Im Gun-hyeon, hadn’t appeared at the opening ceremony at all.
What did this signify?
In truth, over the past year, numerous battles had erupted along the northern border between the Empire and the North Sea Empire, and many unusual events had occurred in the North Sea Empire’s political circles. Many forces on the Eastern Continent were experiencing changes, an unsettling premonition of war hung in the air, and the foreign tribes were beginning to rise up.
Lee Ung-bu believed there must be some unknown reason for Im Jin’s voluntary withdrawal from the Academic & Martial Arts Competition. He pondered deeply, and eventually, a headache began to throb. He had felt an inexplicable sense of unease ever since the Empire’s War God, Jeoncheonhu Im Geun-nam, had been purged for his crimes.
“My Lord! My Lord?!”
His administrative secretary suddenly approached him, speaking in a low voice.
“Someone from the Education Department has arrived again. My Lord must meet with them.”
“Huh?” Lee Ung-bu exclaimed in surprise. “Didn’t Administrator Bang’s party just leave Unmong City? Why are they here for another inspection?”
As he spoke, Lee Ung-bu hastily rose from his seat and went out to greet the Education Department officials.
“Hmm… what do you think our daughter is thinking?”
Inside the City Lord’s manor.
Im Gun-hyeon slowly set down his teacup and gazed at the crystal screen. He seemed to have already anticipated the outcome of this match. He turned his head to look at his wife, speaking with a peculiar expression.
“Didn’t Jin-ah boast that she would surely take first place in the Academic & Martial Arts Competition, just like her two elder brothers? Why would she suddenly give up the competition?”
Jin Ran-seo’s expression was very calm. She even had a faint smile on her lips.
“If she gives up, that’s fine too. Such competitions, which aim to capture the hearts of the masses and boost popularity, hold no meaning for our Im family. And they are of no help to our Jin-ah either. That’s why I opposed Jin-ah’s participation from the beginning, didn’t I? Although Jin-ah insisted on participating, it seems her mind has changed now. How wonderful that she’s willing to give up on her own.”
“That’s true, but…” Im Gun-hyeon picked up his teacup again, took a sip of tea, and said, “But why do I feel like something is strange?”
Jin Ran-seo seemed to recall something and said, “Oh, right! Didn’t they say people from the Education Department visited again just now? Why aren’t you going out to greet them? You’re becoming more and more negligent as City Lord! You’re not trying to follow in Father’s footsteps, are you?”
Im Gun-hyeon clicked his tongue and said, “How could I ever follow in Father’s footsteps, living a life like an immortal?”
CRASH!
Jin Ran-seo slammed her hand on the table, her eyes wide. “What did you say?! You’re not really going to chase after women like Father, are you?!”
Im Gun-hyeon’s hand, holding the teacup, trembled slightly. After confirming there was no one else around, he knelt before Jin Ran-seo and said, “Wife, it’s a misunderstanding. A misunderstanding. I would never think of such a thing.”
Then, an utterly helpless expression appeared on Jin Ran-seo’s face. It was always like this. Jin Ran-seo raised her hand, and a gentle force of Hyeongi lifted Im Gun-hyeon to his feet.
“Oh, honestly. You’re doing this again? The City Lord, always kneeling before his wife… What’s the big deal…”
Only then did Im Gun-hyeon wipe the cold sweat from his forehead with a good-natured smile and return to his seat.
“Actually, I was curious about the people from the Education Department myself. I heard that this time, the Education Department brought the most skilled students from the intermediate academies within the Four Provinces to Unmong City to observe the Academic & Martial Arts Competition. They said their purpose was to scout the most outstanding talents in Unmong City beforehand and recruit them as special students. Honestly, I don’t particularly want to get involved in the Education Department’s affairs. Lee Ung-bu will handle their business well enough anyway.”
Im Gun-hyeon said.
“Oh? Recruiting special students?… How interesting,” Jin Ran-seo said. “In previous Academic & Martial Arts Competitions, the intermediate academies in the Four Provinces didn’t show much interest. Even when students wanted to advance to intermediate academies within the Four Provinces, there were many strict requirements, making it quite difficult. So why are they coming directly to recruit special students this time? Hmm… what could this mean?”
Im Gun-hyeon replied, “I heard that this special student selection is a privilege granted to a very small number of genius students. It’s not limited to this year’s graduates; even first and second-year students, if skilled enough, can skip grades and advance to an intermediate academy.”
“Skipping grades? That’s truly a rare occurrence,” Jin Ran-seo replied in surprise. “If my memory serves me right, isn’t this the first time something like this has happened? The Lee Imperial Family of the North Sea Empire places the highest importance on education, especially basic education, and skipping grades seems to go against that philosophy. Hasn’t the North Sea Empire always opposed such things?”
Im Gun-hyeon nodded and said, “You’re right. But that’s a thing of the past now. About three months ago, the Imperial Family already enacted new laws. This time, they revised the examination standards, and students who meet the conditions can now skip grades and advance to an intermediate academy.”
Hearing his words, Jin Ran-seo nodded and said nothing more. She felt her husband’s gaze directed outside the great hall.
Outside the great hall, in the garden. A breeze had begun to stir, though it was unclear when.
The first round of individual matches concluded in just two shichen (four hours).
The final match of the first round featured Jo Pacheon, who, without any surprises, defeated his opponent and advanced to the second round. The skill he displayed was incredibly powerful. He defeated his opponent with a single move, securing victory.
The elimination method for individual matches was merciless. Failing even a single match meant a complete farewell to the Academic & Martial Arts Competition. With that, the twenty honorable students who would advance were selected, marking the end of the first round.
Lunchtime arrived, and the fierce battles paused temporarily. After lunch, the final second round was scheduled to take place in the afternoon.
As in the previous few days, only students who had advanced to the next stage could use the Imperial Junior Academy cafeteria for lunch. Eliminated students had to leave the academy and find their own meals.
After finishing lunch, Bukjin emerged and performed a healing technique on Han Bul-bu, restoring his condition. Once recovered, Han Bul-bu hurried back to his changing room. He intended to check his condition alone, calm his mind, and bring his body to its optimal state. Only one more match remained until the final ten.
Han Bul-bu planned to give his all and seize the opportunity. This was a crucial hurdle not only for Han Bul-bu personally but also for the 3rd Academy.
As promised last night, Bukjin received the Iron Wall Bow and forty Dragon-Slaying Arrows from Yeongjuk at the academy gate. Half a shichen (one hour) remained until the next match began. Bukjin slung the bow over his shoulder and headed towards the cliff on the west side of the plaza. He intended to practice with the new bow and get a feel for it.
As Bukjin approached the cliff, he unexpectedly encountered Im Jin and Ya Mi-ang there. The two girls stood about a jang (ten feet) apart at the edge of the cliff, both gazing out at the distant blue sea. They appeared to be conversing about something.
‘Huh? Are those two women discussing how to cut up my body and share it?’
Bukjin felt a chill run down his spine.
A sea breeze, carrying the salty scent of the ocean, blew in from afar. Im Jin’s long, beautiful hair billowed in the wind. Her dark, long hair danced in the breeze, like watching a smoldering flame blaze brilliantly. And that deep black hair exuded a fatally captivating aura, as if it could swallow the entire world.
Bukjin watched Im Jin’s back for a moment, then, after some thought, chose to turn and leave.
But the moment Bukjin turned his head, his eyes widened. He had spotted a slender figure standing silently behind a massive tree about thirty jang (three hundred feet) away, gazing at Im Jin with an intensely flushed face. The expression on that figure’s face was as if Im Jin, standing before the coastal cliff, was his entire world.
‘He’s into Im Jin?’
Bukjin was taken aback. It seemed he, too, was a fanatical admirer of Im Jin. Bukjin felt a strange sensation. It was the feeling that even if he weren’t around, Im Jin would never like the person behind that tree.
Bukjin, lost in thought for a moment, quietly departed.