Chapter 123
Chapter 123
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 123
Chapter Title: Uninvited Guest. (4)
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Deep down, I was convinced that the Demonic Cult was behind the assassins' attack.
But at this point in time, casually bringing up the Demonic Cult was not a topic to be taken lightly.
'If they ask why I came to that conclusion, explaining it would be troublesome in itself.'
The very occurrence of this incident was proof that the world's timeline had begun to seriously deviate from the original story. But if I shouted out right now that the Demonic Cult had grown this big within our midst, it would unleash uncontrollable chaos across the land.
'I'm barely at the early peak realm.'
And the protagonist's generation was around my level or perhaps a half-step to a step below.
If we jumped into such chaos with our current skills, we'd lose far more than we'd gain.
'And among those losses would be the life of someone standing here.'
I didn't want to see these guys I'd grown fond of lose their lives, nor did I want the events to twist even further because of it.
'So, I'll keep it to myself.'
Maintain the current surface-level peace as much as possible and stick to the original story's flow.
That way, I and the protagonist's generation could grow.
Under that consistent principle, I decided to keep the name 'Demonic Cult' that had surfaced in my mind tucked away inside.
The result?
'We don't know the assassins' identities or who was behind them.'
With that conclusion reached, there was only one course of action left for us.
'We need to call in reinforcements.'
Hand the matter over to the relevant parties and return to the Righteous Martial Academy quickly and safely.
After completing measures like burning rabbit dung to create a smoke signal so that the Murim Alliance branch and Beggars' Sect members following behind could find the site,
we headed to Nam So-hyeon, the nearest Murim Alliance branch location.
Upon arriving in Nam So-hyeon, we properly reported through official channels to both the Murim Alliance and the Righteous Martial Academy that we had been attacked by assassins.
The Nam So-hyeon branch scraped together some personnel to provide us with escorts.
Whether the Demonic Cult's scheme had ended with that single attack from the start, or whether our enlarged group with escorts made us too tough to touch, nothing major happened afterward.
Thus, we safely arrived at Dan Gang-gu, the site of the Righteous Martial Academy.
- The instructors are out here?
'Yeah?'
As we reached the entrance of Dan Gang-gu,
leading them was Chancellor Kyung Hye, accompanied by the four dormitory supervisors who oversaw the academic schedule, and the head of the escort division responsible for security in the academy and surrounding areas. They were waiting for us.
'This didn't happen in the original story.'
The field trip, being an academic event where students visited vastly different locations, had a departure ceremony but no return ceremony.
Students simply submitted their travelogues—a kind of report—and that concluded the trip.
So, nothing like this happened in the original.
Well, I could understand it.
'Everyone's shocked that students were attacked by assassins.'
In any case, with the academy's top brass present, we needed to give a brief headcount report.
I quickly instructed my classmates to straighten their clothes,
then led them forward, clasped my hands in a fist salute to Chancellor Kyung Hye.
"Excluding Paeng So-jin of Yun Hall, who applied for an extension of the field trip holiday, this is Eon Yong-un and eighteen others. We have returned safely."
At my words, Chancellor Kyung Hye let out a heavy sigh she'd been holding.
"Phew. 'Returned safely' means no casualties, right?"
"Yes. A few classmates suffered minor injuries, but with proper first aid and treatment in Nam So-hyeon after the incident, no one has any lingering issues."
Of course, since this was right after the unprecedented event of field trip students being attacked by assassins, our return ceremony didn't end so simply.
"Lucky in the midst of misfortune. This old woman aged ten years. I know you're all tired, but we need to discuss the unfortunate incident that occurred during your return. Is everyone okay with that?"
We moved to the faculty dining hall on the first floor of the main building.
There, with the instructors, my classmates, and Pavilion Leader Myeong Tae-seong present, I explained step by step: the precautions we took before encountering the assassins, the moment we met them, and how we formed the inspection team afterward.
"...And that's how it happened."
"I see. So that's what occurred."
"Yes. It would have been ideal to capture at least one assassin alive, but they were vicious enough to feign surrender before attacking, and with the rain pouring, we had to consider potential follow-up assaults. I'm sorry we couldn't."
In my view, there were a few regrettable aspects to my actions.
Having said that,
Chancellor Kyung Hye spoke with a deliberately stern expression.
"Cadet Eon Yong-un. Did you just say you're sorry?"
"Pardon? Ah, yes."
"Don't say that. It was a very rational judgment and appropriate measures. Stamping that document appointing you as the leader for the Murim Alliance field trip feels like the best decision I've made this year."
She dismissed my self-reproach with a tone that perfectly matched her resolute expression.
When she praised it so highly, denying it would be awkward, so I simply gave a light fist salute to express my gratitude.
"Thus, at our level, we couldn't identify those behind it. We took follow-up measures and handed the rest over to the Murim Alliance's Nam So-hyeon branch."
"Well done. The measures were so thorough and swift, it's hard to believe they came from freshmen."
But at that moment,
Pavilion Leader Myeong Tae-seong added a comment.
"Even I, who's seasoned from the strike team, can confirm it. It felt like seeing the Alliance Leader from his days on the front lines."
At that, Professor Cheong Ryang, who was listening, snorted in apparent displeasure.
"Pavilion Leader Myeong. Sorry to nitpick when we haven't met in ages, but isn't comparing him to the Alliance Leader going too far?"
"Ah, Professor Cheong Ryang. Yes, long time no see. Well, people have different views, so you might see it that way. But I spoke truthfully about what I felt. Cadet Eon Yong-un made decisions one after another that only a veteran deputy leader with years of experience could. His classmates followed those judgments well too. It was novel seeing students from the four great dorms unite like that. Ah, if it bothered you, my apologies."
Then, Professor No Sam, who usually had a rivalry with Professor Cheong Ryang, chimed in while picking his ear.
"Myeong Tae-seong, what's there to apologize for? Professor Cheong Ryang's been through a lot lately that's twisted his guts; don't take it to heart."
"Ah, Professor No Sam, long time no see. You look well yourself."
"Do I? Every morning I look in the mirror and laugh, saying, 'Who am I? The one who brought an Eon family punk to Cheongjuk Hall!' Maybe that's etched into my face like a callus?! Kehhehehe!"
Before long, the conversation veered slightly off track,
and a bit of levity lightened the heavy atmosphere in the room for a moment.
But the laughter lasted only briefly.
Chancellor Kyung Hye wiped the faint smile from her face, cleared her throat to refocus everyone,
"Ahem."
and steered the discussion back on track.
"In any case, this old woman doesn't think we can just stand by. This is no small matter. What do the rest of you think?"
At Chancellor Kyung Hye's words, the room's mood turned serious, and the officials present offered their plans one after another.
"For now, the escort division will strengthen security around Dan Gang-gu."
"We should also restrict students' overnight stays and outings."
"The escort head's words and Professor Paeng's opinion make sense. What about the other professors?"
Chancellor Kyung Hye asked for others' input.
The first to speak was Professor Jeo Gal-min, the supervisor for Yun Hall.
"Agreeing with those two, but looking further ahead, the academic event after midterms is the civilian aid trip, which also sends students outside. We need to consider that too. And we should investigate who's behind the assassins. To defend properly, we need to know our enemy."
With the discussion reaching that point, Professor No Sam spoke up.
"We'll handle that."
Oddly, Professor No Sam mentioned Professor Cheong Ryang by name.
Of course, given their subtle rivalry over me just moments ago,
Professor Cheong Ryang didn't respond immediately.
"......"
Professor No Sam then spoke in a deliberately firm tone.
"Are you going to keep sharpening your claws even when unknown scum threatened the kids?"
"I have no memory of sharpening claws at you, senior. You're the one who felt that way."
"Anyway, set aside the grudge between us. I'll tell the clan leader to unleash the beggar brats, and Cheong Ryang, you go to the Murim Alliance, use that pedigree you're so proud of to prod the military division, sweet-talk the backbone council foxes into cooperating."
"W-Watch your words. The kids are listening!"
"Ah! So you'll do it?!"
"Let's proceed with the tasks that way."
The return ceremony for this term's Murim Alliance field trip group ended just like that.
"Um, those from Yun Hall: Hyang-ran, Un-mye, and the others?"
"Yes, Young Master Yong-un."
"Yeah, Yong-un, what's up?"
"Yes, brother."
"Speak."
"......"
After leaving the main building, I turned to the classmates from the other dorms to disband the field trip group.
"It was quite eventful, but anyway, good work everyone. Head back to your dorms for roll call, see you in class. Oh, don't forget the travelogues—that's part of the trip too. Especially you, Brother So-cheon."
"Me?"
"Yes. Weren't you spacing out on it?"
"I didn't forget."
Huh.
Had the sun risen in the west today?
"I never even thought about it. First I've heard of it—what's a tra... vel... logue? How do you write one?"
Yeah, that sounded right.
The sun rose in the east today as usual.
"...Yong-myeong."
"Yes, brother."
"Handle it yourself."
"...Yes."
"Alright, students from other dorms, do that. Those from Cheongjuk Hall not in the student council, head back for roll call prep."
The quite tumultuous Murim Alliance field trip group for this term disbanded like that.
I led Cheongjuk Hall's executives to the student council room.
Precisely, including the guest quarters' Dang Ok-gi.
"......"
"What? We're back after ages; you gonna say bye to Pomegranate and Red Jade?!"
"Who said anything?"
Upon arriving at the student council room,
Brother Gyeong-ryong and Senior Go Wan-san greeted us.
"You're back! Heard there was big trouble; no one's hurt, right?!"
"Yeah, I was worried sick, but the president was even more so—yesterday, he lost a fistful of hair from his crown..."
"G-Go, department head! Why bring that up?!"
I silently prayed for Brother Gyeong-ryong's hair,
but I hadn't even washed after being summoned to the main building, and I had mountains of work and worries from Luoyang.
So, to handle the most urgent task, I asked the two,
"Where are the other vice presidents?"
Brother Gyeong-ryong replied,
"We finished today's paperwork, so I sent them back to the dorms?"
"The paperwork you had to do? It's piled up as of this moment."
"...Huh?"
"So-rung, go call the other vice presidents."
"Yes! Brother Eon!"
At the words that work had increased as of now, Brother Gyeong-ryong and Senior Go Wan-san swallowed dryly.
But once the vice presidents resting in the dorms returned,
"Actually, we secured a sponsor for Cheongjuk Hall this time."
"A sponsor? Ironically, everyone we asked refused, saying it'd tarnish Cheongjuk Hall's already shaky reputation, so it must be someone or some group of real standing. Who is it?"
"The Murim Alliance Leader."
"...Ah. If it's the Alliance Leader, he certainly qualifies for Cheongjuk Hall... What? The Alliance Leader?!"
"Yes. The Leader has agreed to provide bladed weapons made of White Lotus Pure Steel for all Cheongjuk Hall students, along with instruction in the United Front Formation."
Brother Gyeong-ryong and Senior Go Wan-san's eyes nearly popped out,
"White Lotus Sword?!"
"United Front Formation?!"
undeterred, I continued,
"Yes. Selecting the White Lotus Swords will take some time, but he said they'd be sent soon after departure, so they should be arriving around now. For the United Front Formation, an instructor is coming along. It's Pavilion Leader Myeong Tae-seong, the top leader of the Alliance Leader's direct strike team."
"Pavilion Leader Myeong Tae-seong of the direct strike team—the Iron Sword Unyielding senior? Th-then that United Front Formation... is it perhaps the Chain Formation?!"
"Yes."
At my words, Brother Gyeong-ryong seemed to blank out for a moment, then gauged the direction in the student council room and tried to bow deeply toward Luoyang.
"What are you doing?"
"I, I need to bow morning and evening toward where the Alliance Leader is. But morning's passed, so shouldn't I do it now?"
But at that moment,
Yin Xia Lian smirked at Brother Gyeong-ryong and spoke.
"But President, did you know? I just learned this by chance too, but apparently, around when Young Master Eon was preparing for entrance exams, the Murim Alliance tried to take him away?"
Brother Gyeong-ryong halted his bow toward Luoyang and turned to me.
"Is that true?"
"Well, I refused, but yeah, it happened."
"Then, this could be the Alliance Leader trying to lure you over...? In that case, we won't accept! Th-that White Lotus Sword!!!"
At Brother Gyeong-ryong's sudden attitude shift—from near-worship to rejection—the younger council members burst into laughter simultaneously.
In the midst of that lively atmosphere, I once again thought about the Demonic Cult.
'So far, we've somehow resolved events by mimicking the original story.'
But I couldn't predict what future the twisted events would bring.
To stand unyielding against that future, I ultimately needed my own growth and that of the people I could trust.
'Time to start again.'
It was time for tempering.