Chapter 102
Chapter 102
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 102
Chapter Title: The Sword Suits Him More Than the Way (1)
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Administrative Director Lim Tae-ok declared the victory of Azure Bamboo Hall.
"……."
"……."
However, a hush fell momentarily over the Third Training Ground, which had served as the arena.
It wasn't hard to understand why silence had descended.
'Their brains have frozen solid.'
For the first time since the academy's founding, everyone's thoughts had ground to a halt.
"…We lost in sparring too?! We, who carry the blood and spirit of a renowned orthodox sect, lost to those Azure Bamboo ragtag bunch?!"
"…Fragrant Orchid Hall, home to the world's top late-stage index… to lose even in sparring to Azure Bamboo."
The Fragrant Orchid Hall students and their cheering spectators were so dumbfounded by the defeat that they could only let out feeble clicks of the tongue.
Our Azure Bamboo Hall cadets and our supporters seemed just as incredulous as when Senior Gyeong-ryong had said before the match—it was hard to believe what had unfolded right before their eyes.
"W-We won, right?"
"…Looks like it? No way we'd mishear Azure Bamboo for Yun Nation or Fate Plum. And he clearly said Eon Yong-un's victory."
"So we completely beat Fragrant Orchid Hall?"
But the silence didn't last long.
The scoreboard manager, having received the official result sheet from Director Lim Tae-ok specifying winner and loser, updated the total scores to reflect the latest outcome.
Azure Bamboo: 18 points
Yun Nation: 12 points
Fragrant Orchid: 6 points
Fate Plum: 4 points
This addition of points to Fragrant Orchid Hall.
It was the minimum score given to those eliminated, and Azure Bamboo's unchanged score itself signified advancement to the finals.
That action etched into everyone's minds who the winners and losers of this match were.
And it made them realize this moment was no dream or illusion.
Cheers erupted all at once.
"Waaaaah!!!!!!!"
At first, it was a somewhat disorganized chorus of cheers.
But soon, those cheers unified clearly under Azure Bamboo's name.
"Azure Bamboo! Azure Bamboo!! Azure Bamboo!!!"
And in an instant, the voices chanting for Azure Bamboo shifted to my name.
"Eon Yong-un! Eon Yong-un!!"
In response, I sheathed Regret in its scabbard and offered cupped-fist salutes in all directions as a gesture of thanks.
After saluting left, right, and forward, I finally turned to the back.
'Fragrant Orchid Hall's seats.'
I could see people in stiff martial robes glaring at me with bitter expressions.
Fragrant Orchid Hall and I.
We weren't in a relationship to exchange courtesies.
'Think about the conduct points.'
For Fragrant Orchid Hall, who had spectacularly crashed out in the final event where points were still possible and thus created the dark myth of earning only base points in every event this tournament, conduct points no longer mattered.
But for us, aiming for victory, the situation was different.
'In the sparring event, the winning dorm gets 8 points, the losing one 6.'
If Fate Plum Hall, which like Fragrant Orchid had only scraped base points so far and sat at a mere 4 points total, ended up as our finals opponent, Azure Bamboo Hall would win no matter what.
'But what if Yun Nation advances?'
In the worst case, it could end up 24 to 20 between Azure Bamboo and Yun Nation.
Since conduct points could range from a minimum of 1 to a maximum of 10.
'A 4-point gap could be overturned if we're not careful.'
They'd consistently shown orderly behavior since the tournament began, even picking up trash while moving between venues—actions sure to please the adults. So it was unlikely.
'But you never know.'
Over in some fictional magic school far away in England, they'd given points for barely surviving, cleverly using what they'd learned, being decent at chess, showing courage, demonstrating love, and such.
Stuff like that had flipped the winner.
'If that happened to me, I'd burn that school to the ground on the spot.'
So there was no reason to skip a precautionary measure I could avert with a single salute.
Thus, I offered a cupped-fist salute toward Fragrant Orchid Hall as well.
The moment I did, Master's voice rang in my head from his position at my waist.
- What, showing courtesy even to those scum?! What's so pretty about them!
I didn't need to explain my thoughts one by one to Master.
My salute had one more layer of intent.
'In Master's eyes, it looks like I'm showing respect? But a normal salute and the one I'm doing now look a bit different, don't they?'
- …Come to think of it, your middle finger on the palm-covering hand is sticking up? What does that mean?
'It means eat shit.'
That was when it happened.
As I was explaining the origin of this gesture to Master, who was asking about it.
Namgung Yun, directly in front of the direction my salute faced, sent me a transmission.
[No matter how you salute, you don't deserve a response from us. Do you think you're worthy of all these cheers?]
[I didn't do it for you anyway. I don't need whatever qualification for a response from you.]
[What does that mean?]
Born the eldest son of the Namgung family and walking a flower path his whole life, this guy excelled in martial arts but lacked social grace.
[If you didn't get it the moment you asked, it's none of your business. Anyway, let's talk about what's behind it. Why don't I deserve these cheers?]
[You have to ask? I proposed a matchup between the current top index and the world's top late-stage to settle who's superior, and you countered with lowly tricks. And you still have excuses?]
That's why he could act like this.
Well, no harm done.
In the original story, Namgung Yun gets an earful from protagonist Jeong Hyeon anyway.
[Sorry, but your biggest premise is wrong from the start. Namgung Yun.]
[What's wrong?]
[I'm not your subordinate. And the academy isn't Namgung territory. Why should I accept your proposal?]
Originally, Jeong Hyeon says something similar to Namgung Yun in the finals, so the impact might differ.
[…Th-That!]
Well, it would still crack his arrogance starting after the spring tournament, same result.
[Whether Sun Bin's Three-Profound Strategy from the Sun Bin Art of War counts as a trick is debatable. But fine, I'll concede a hundred times it's a trick since you insist. Then what makes it a 'lowly trick'? Tricks are for the weak to fall for. So you just spat in your own face.]
[I-I don't want to hear it! Your signature sophistry!]
[Too bad, you're hearing it! You sent the transmission first!]
Guys used to only sweet words would act like this.
[And do you think this is a Martial Theory class? What's the point of you being the top late-stage? This is a dorm sparring match decided by how you field three cadets.]
[…Kuh.]
[Anyway, Fragrant Orchid's championship hopes are sunk, and I get your dorm officers wanting to save face by taking me down.]
[…….]
[The key is Azure Bamboo is on the cusp of its first championship, while you achieved the first-ever full preliminary elimination across all events. And you're out, I'm in the finals. Namgung Yun.]
As I fired sharp words at Namgung Yun.
Master at my waist chimed in.
- Go easy on him.
Ah, right.
I meant to go easy, but my temper flared and it slipped out.
* * *
Meanwhile, on a platform not far from the training ground, someone watched fondly as Eon Yong-un offered his salute toward Fragrant Orchid Hall.
"As expected of Cadet Eon Yong-un."
None other than Academy Chief Gyeong Hye-sa-tae of Righteous Martial Academy.
"Look at him. I hear he's had some run-ins with Fragrant Orchid cadets, yet here he is using the occasion to show courtesy."
At Gyeong Hye-sa-tae's demeanor, No Sam of Azure Bamboo Hall grinned ear to ear.
Licking his lips while fanning himself was Jegal Min of Yun Nation Hall.
And grinding his teeth was Chang Ryang of Fragrant Orchid Hall.
Whatever the others did.
Gyeong Hye-sa-tae's attention was solely on Eon Yong-un.
"Isn't it admirable? They compete fiercely, but once the match ends, they're fellow martial artists under the banner of righteousness. He embodies our academy's spirit perfectly. It's no easy feat for a young man to act that way—Cadet Eon Yong-un is truly thoughtful. The more I see him, the less he matches the rumors."
At Gyeong Hye-sa-tae's words, No Sam's ear-to-ear grin finally burst into whistling laughter.
"Hahaha! That Eon kid's got the goods!"
"Yes. Not just Cadet Eon Yong-un, but Azure Bamboo has changed a lot. Back at the start of term, I thought it was just freshman spirit. But today, even the upperclassmen cheered as one. The fall tournament looks promising. You put in the effort, Professor No."
"What did I do?! It was all them on their own! I barely lifted a finger! Hahaha!"
"…A finger?"
That was when.
As Gyeong Hye-sa-tae pondered the connection between No Sam's missing tooth and Azure Bamboo cadets' maturity.
Fragrant Orchid Hall left without returning Eon Yong-un's salute.
Gyeong Hye-sa-tae's brow furrowed unconsciously.
"…Oh dear. They didn't return the courtesy. I know there's bad blood between Azure Bamboo and Fragrant Orchid. But Cadet Eon Yong-un mustered the courage to seek reconciliation. That…."
And he realized.
The academy chief must maintain neutrality.
Anyone seeing this would think similarly to Gyeong Hye-sa-tae, but voicing it was another matter.
"…Ah. Professor Chang Ryang… It's, well."
"I know the chief holds no malice toward Fragrant Orchid Hall, so no need to explain."
"Thank you for understanding."
"If anything, we owe the explanation. You know our cadets are well-versed in etiquette."
"Yes, of course."
"With hot-blooded freshmen from both sides clashing nerves, our cadets must have taken Cadet Eon Yong-un's salute not as courtesy but provocation. A matter of proper guidance for both. Nothing major."
Then No Sam, listening nearby, snorted.
"Wrapping their sour grapes from the spectacular crash-out."
"…Spectacular crash-out?"
"Dropped out like lightning. Young folks' slang—you haven't heard? You always submit those rigid reports, no casual talk."
"Ha! First championship shot in the academy's history got you cocky? Honorable, senior? Using Eon Yong-un, Jeong Hyeon, Eun Ha-seong all in multiple events, exploiting rules to field second-year Go Wan-san too?"
"Tch. Forgetting how multiple entries raise injury risk, potentially leading to forfeits?"
"……."
"We checked with administration, dorm councils approved. Call it what you want. I'll say it's strategy. Too complex for folks rigidly sending Namgung Yun first, Jin Un second, Mu Gil third."
At that moment.
Chang Ryang's lips were chewed raw.
And rightly so—Fragrant Orchid's lineup order was deliberate.
They figured Eon Yong-un, hating to lose, would bite Namgung Yun's taunt.
And placed Mu Gil third as backup.
If Jeong Hyeon or Eun Ha-seong faced him, Mo San's sword would work.
'Give us one more chance, we'll show you! I've realized how Eon Yong-un broke my sword so easily!'
Excluding Dang Ok-gi, no other freshman fit the rear, so they trusted Mu Gil again.
The strategy just failed.
'Mu Gil's a problem too. After screwing up, stay quiet! Why make claims you can't back?!'
Anyway.
Dragging it out here would just invite more mockery.
Chang Ryang exhaled sharply through his nose.
Grinding his teeth, he turned to Gyeong Hye-sa-tae.
"…I'll rest in the research building."
"Ah. Y-Yes?"
"Yes. Stayed up late with yesterday's matters, feeling weary. Fate Plum vs. Yun Nation, then break, then finals? I'll time it for the finals."
"Very well, Professor Chang Ryang."
"Do you really need to come? If too tired, skip it."
"…Then excuse me, Chief."
As Chang Ryang turned and left, Gyeong Hye-sa-tae sighed lightly at No Sam.
"…Sigh. Thought you'd matured, but so steadfast. Jegal Professor, rein him in a bit?"
"Tried before. Useless. Better to eat rice cakes in that time."
"……."
"Ahem. Talk of immaturity? Just returning past favors. You've seen how Chang Ryang's fed me grief."
"Yes. You're all the same. Sigh, at least Azure Bamboo kids grew on their own."
As Gyeong Hye-sa-tae's wrinkles deepened.
Beside him, whether No Sam and Chang Ryang bickered, Jegal Min ate cakes or not, one man was lost in thought.
Fate Plum Hall supervisor Professor Paeng Jae-hyeok, Eon Yong-un's uncle by marriage.
'Yong-un did great.'
His nephew's performance gladdened him as uncle.
But he couldn't just rejoice.
Urgent fire at his feet.
'Gotta report today's results to the family head via messenger hawk later, but if Yong-un keeps using the sword without intent to learn the Way, what becomes of me?'