Chapter 136
Chapter 136
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 136
Chapter Title: Vow Hall (3)
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After finishing roll call, which had taken longer than usual, I turned my steps toward the student council room.
However, my master's voice called out from my waist.
- The stories you told in every room while doing roll call.
'...You're trying to say I was scamming them again, right?'
- ...No.
'Ehei. Master, you usually settle everything with your sword, so you wouldn't understand, but that's all personnel management. How can words aimed at a result where no one gets hurt be called scamming? If anything, it's boosting morale.'
- I'm telling you it's not! That's not what I was going to say, you punk!
'Huh? It's not?'
- Right! I was going to ask about the rumor that you're trying to exclude the Azure Bamboo Hall cadets as much as possible! And here you are, getting all defensive for no reason?!
'...Then why didn't you just say that from the start?'
- I said no from the very first word! Anyway! Thinking back on what you said, it seems like you've already got a rough outline of the personnel for this Shan Province trip in mind, don't you?
Listening to him, that was it.
He was asking who I planned to take on the Shan Province trip.
Since it wasn't some big secret, I immediately shared my thoughts.
'Eon Yong-myeong, Cheon Jang-ho, Jeong Hyeon, Woo So-rung, and Jeon Gal-seolji. That's who I'm planning to bring.'
- Hm. Yong-myeong and the young beggar because of Shan Province's unique circumstances, which I've heard about. And Jeong Hyeon because he's the strongest among the ones you trust?
Jeong Hyeon had to come no matter what because of the original story, but that wasn't something I needed to mention, so I just nodded silently.
In the meantime, Master's questions shifted to the remaining two.
- So-rung because the civilian aid schedule involves your maternal family's ancestral graves being robbed, so his skills might help?
'Oh, you got it right away. While you're at it, take a guess at Jeon Gal So-jeo too?'
- From what I see, the Zhuge kid competed with Ha-yeon in that thing... Seeing him take care of Azure Bamboo Hall while it's empty makes me think you're leaving him to run it because you trust Ha-yeon while you're away, right?
Well, there were some minor reasons too.
'Eun So-jeo is in a phase of rapid, visible growth, so it'd be better for her to stay with Sword Mistress Professor than join the Shan Province trip.'
Anyway, since he got the big picture right, I nodded in acknowledgment.
At my response, Master let out a groan.
- It seems like a reasonable selection, but will Ha-seong and Ha-yeon accept it?
'I decided it, so what can they do if they don't?'
- Ah, well, true. What I mean is! Won't they feel several times more left out than the cadets who got roll call earlier? Apparently, those two were leading the charge on this Vow Hall announcement event or whatever? You talk about personnel management, but you're not taking care of your own executives?
'Ah, yeah, probably. So...'
- So?
'I need to... scam them up... no, boost their morale this time too.'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Having that conversation with Master, I arrived at the student council room.
Among the Azure Bamboo Hall cadets who participated in the announcement event, four who hadn't heard my morale-boosting words yet were waiting for me.
They must have sensed that I'd finalized the personnel the moment I said I'd handle roll call again after so long.
Normally, Ha-seong would have made a fuss asking how it felt to do frontline roll call, and even Jeong Hyeon searching for the Way beside him—they were all subtly watching my expression.
'No need to worry about Jeong Hyeon or So-rung since I'm taking them.'
I opened my mouth while staring at Yin Ha-seong.
"Ha-seong."
"Yes?"
"Why do you want to come on the Shan Province trip so badly?"
"Uh. Didn't I tell you at the announcement event? On a journey like this, you need limbs that can scout real spots and dry spots like shadows."
"Keep going."
"I am the perfect limb for brother, for brother, for brother. I've served a lot too. Like during the entrance exam, and earlier I didn't mention it because there were so many onlookers, but also at the herbal market."
Seeming to have said his piece, Ha-seong swallowed dryly.
Toward him, I shook my head and spoke.
"That's a reason for me to take you. I'm asking why you want to come."
At my words, Ha-seong bit his lip for a moment before hesitantly speaking.
"Because I feel like I'll fall behind."
"Behind who? Strictly speaking, among the people here, the only one behind you is Eun So-jeo, right?"
"...I chose the wrong word. It's not the other peers; it's Yong-un hyungnim, so I should say I feel like I'll be left behind. Somehow, every time hyungnim blinks, you seem farther away, so I wanted to prove my worth."
I'd approached him originally to boost his morale.
But after hearing Ha-seong's words, a bitter tsk escaped my lips unbidden.
"A guy like that writes letters during midterms?"
"...That was my mistake. I failed at allocation. I thought to chase after hyungnim, I need martial prowess like Jeong Hyeon dojang, so I focused on sword over academics, but I hit a wall and ended up half-baked. Really."
Come to think of it, I'd occasionally seen Ha-seong secretly swinging his sword in Azure Bamboo Hall's rear garden late at night.
Well, I could guess what kind of feelings Ha-seong was having.
'No wonder he seemed fired up at the start of the semester but lately like he's wandering.'
He hit a wall with martial arts, bombed the academics.
He rephrased from falling behind to not wanting to be left behind, but Yin Ha-yeon, who started sword much later yet was catching up frighteningly fast, must have been on his mind too.
'I get it.'
But if that was the case, I definitely couldn't take Ha-seong on the Shan Province trip.
"Then I can't take you. I wasn't planning to anyway. Even more so now."
"......"
"Cooking and cleaning up on the journey? Anyone can do that. Doesn't have to be you. I can do it myself. To prove your worth, struggle with something else. I'm not just excluding you from Shan Province; I'm giving you time to build stamina so you won't fall behind. Got it?"
"Yes."
"You don't seem to. While Hall Leader Nam is here, squeeze out every bit of experience you can. Make him annoyed. And your sword is based on Nangong family's style, so bother Nangong Yun too. He owes us big, so he won't ignore you even if he finds you annoying."
"Yes."
"Good."
As I gave Yin Ha-seong this harsh advice mixed with guidance, someone rapidly deflated watching.
None other than Yin Ha-yeon.
"From the mood, looks like I'm off the list too."
'Actually, she said the most stuff like not wanting to fall behind or wondering if next year's self could reach my level.'
Sure enough, the harsh words for Ha-seong hit Ha-yeon directly too.
"Right. Among us, only Jeong Hyeon and So-rung. The rest are Yong-myeong, Cheon Jang-ho, and Jeon Gal So-jeo."
But Ha-yeon's disappointment was more specific.
"Jeong Hyeon dojang has the prowess to guard the rear, fine. Even I'd take Little Eon Gongja. Cheon So-hyeop, Professor No Sam's words made sense. Woo So-hyeop can be reliable hands and feet for tasks, fair pick. So I got edged out by Jeon Gal So-jeo?"
Toward Ha-yeon folding fingers one by one and furrowing her brow, I shook my head and spoke.
"Not edged out—a better choice."
"...Same difference."
"Truth is, before today's announcement, I was thinking of you. I could ask you since you're mine, but Jeon Gal So-jeo isn't someone I can drag along forcibly. But thanks to today's event, he stepped up himself, so it worked out."
"Shouldn't have held it then. I really wanted to meet Gongja Eon Yong-un's maternal grandfather, the Shan Province Golden Carp..."
I understood Ha-yeon's disappointment.
Beyond not falling behind, she wanted to meet the head of the Shan Province merchants.
"It was well held. Taking you would've left the biggest worry: who runs Azure Bamboo Hall? Think about it. The gazette business? I can handle it with a good plan. Meeting my grandfather? There'll be other chances."
It could be during break, and if the gazette proceeds, opportunities would arise naturally.
'They might even come to the academy.'
It wasn't just this once.
"But at this point, can Azure Bamboo Hall afford both you and me gone? I haven't announced personnel anywhere yet, so really, I could just add your name. Is that what you want?"
"......"
"The dorm improvement project you're pushing—if you step away, it'll go to hell. Carpenters are the type to cut off your nose if you look away, right? Even from the formation training you showed leadership in. No one else to entrust it to but you."
"President Jin..."
"Gyeong-ryong hyung is great, but lacks the delicacy you and I have?"
- Ruthlessness, probably.
"...Think about it. Azure Bamboo Hall without you and me. Like last year? The mold there produces guys like Yang Geum-pyo."
"...You really suck."
"Hm?"
"I was super bummed. Now I'm not anymore. Eon Gongja. You know you're really good at talking, right?"
Well, enough long talk.
Ha-yeon seemed to accept my selection in her own way.
I felt a bit bad for being too harsh on Ha-seong.
But rather than words of encouragement...
'This might be better.'
I handed Ha-seong the red hat I'd always carried—except when lending it to Dang Ok-gi—and spoke.
"I trust you."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The Shan Province civilian aid team, selected through the unprecedented announcement event.
The day came for the aid team to depart.
Since civilian aid was an event to try the work of knights-errant who survey the world and help the people, the Righteous Martial Academy valued it highly.
Normally, before all students scattered to various places, they'd gather for the president's encouragement and steel their resolve together.
But this time, due to the turbulent times, they decided against it to focus on security.
However, the Azure Bamboo Hall cadets held their own send-off.
Inevitably so.
Because they'd seen Eon Yong-un participating in overall training and formation practice until the morning of departure, grinding away.
"Move faster! I see feet! Feet showing!!"
Nam Tae-seong, knowing the circumstances, naturally gave a chance for send-off.
"Alright, that's enough!"
"Thank you for your hard work!!!"
"Yes. Good work, everyone. I hear Cadet Eon Yong-un is heading to Shan Province today? But he looks very worried. Before you leave, say a word to the other cadets."
"Ah. Thank you, Hall Leader Nam."
With an awkward expression at Nam Tae-seong's consideration, Eon Yong-un spoke.
"I raised my voice just now because it's training, as usual. Why would I worry? Even if the student council president and I are away briefly, I firmly believe you'll polish yourselves and Azure Bamboo's name."
At Eon Yong-un's voice, Jin Gyeong-ryong, who had heard separately 'The only one I trust is Gyeong-ryong hyung,' nodded quietly.
'Just trust me.'
But Jin Gyeong-ryong didn't know.
That everyone gathered here had heard similar words and thought similar things.
'Eon sunbae! Don't worry.'
'Don't worry and come back safe, Eon Gongja.'
'Yong-un hyungnim. Safe travels. I'll take good care of this Red Demoness.'
Thus, Azure Bamboo Hall saw Eon Yong-un off with resolute faces each.