Chapter 189
Chapter 189
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 189
Chapter Title: Clue (3)
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After the holiday with Gongson Mugeol came to an end just like that.
The investigation team from the Murim Alliance, led by Grand Strategist Jegal Hye, concluded that there were no more hidden safehouses around Juksan.
"For now, the area around Juksan seems to be cleared, Chief."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. After seizing the spoils, surveying the terrain, and thoroughly searching all the villages big and small in the region, we can say for certain."
"Then that's fortunate."
"However, we shouldn't assume it's all good just yet. This conclusion only applies to the Juksan area."
"Hm. You're saying there could be similar dens elsewhere?"
"The seized items and the manpower we eliminated likely dealt them a significant blow. But since we don't know the full extent of the Demonic Cult's forces, it's best not to presume."
"Understood."
Gongson Mugeol and Jegal Hye were both so busy they could use two bodies and still fall short.
Thus, their judgment that Juksan was cleared aligned perfectly with their announcement of departing the Righteous Martial Academy.
"Well then, shall the Alliance Leader and I be on our way?"
"Indeed."
As Jegal Hye rose to her feet, she addressed me, who had been participating in the meeting as the director of the Anti-Demonic Defense Research Group.
"Before that. Eon Yong-un?"
"Yes?"
"The counter-espionage work was impressive, and the materials prepared by the Anti-Demonic Defense Research Group were excellent. Oh, and your research topics were quite sharp too? Why not come join me at the Grand Strategist Office...?"
At Jegal Hye's words, however, the expressions of several professors turned icy.
Professor No Sam scrunched his face like a street thug.
And Professor Gyeong Hye glared at her with the eyes she had during the era called the Demonic Extermination Crisis.
Faced with that, the woman who could see a thousand li while seated had no choice but to change her tune.
"...Maybe staying at the academy is still better for now? I thought we'd have time for a game of baduk, but oh well. See you later?"
"Yes. Make sure to gather plenty of stakes."
"...Just you wait."
With that, Jegal Hye left the meeting room.
Gongson Mugeol patted my shoulder and followed suit.
"Take some breaks now and then."
And so, the people from the Murim Alliance departed.
I immediately returned to my routine.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The next day.
In the 'Murim Life Guidebook' class.
The classmates who hadn't joined the Anti-Demonic Defense Research Group were whispering about the rumors they'd picked up from yesterday.
"I heard they found a Demonic Cult hideout near Juksan yesterday?"
"Yeah, I heard that too. They say the Murim Alliance Leader found it together with that Eon Yong-un guy?"
"Isn't 'together' a bit of an overstatement? Eon Yong-un is the top among our classmates, sure. Sorry to Mugil, but I was secretly rooting for him even when he fought those Upper Pure Sword Disciples. But what could he have done there?"
"Right? Probably just watched from the back."
"Or maybe the Demonic Cult guys weren't all that impressive. Weren't they the ones who fled to barren lands with their tails between their legs after getting crushed by us orthodox Murim?"
As such talk went back and forth.
Professor Jeong Geuk-gyeong entered the lecture hall and pointed at one cadet, opening his mouth.
"You there? Aren't you Sama Rang from Hyangran Hall?"
"Yes? Oh, yes!"
"The Demonic Cult—no, the group called the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult—isn't all that impressive, you say? You're spouting dangerous nonsense. One can say such things out of ignorance."
At Professor Jeong Geuk-gyeong's tone.
Ha Seong and So Neung snickered.
"Pfft. First time one of the Sama clan's gotten called ignorant, huh?"
"Puhaha. Think he heard that, Eun hyung?"
Sama Rang shot a glare our way, but.
'What? Wanna go a round?'
He quickly turned his head at my glare.
Meanwhile, Professor Jeong Geuk-gyeong began the lesson.
Though the Anti-Demonic Defense Research Group's findings hadn't yet led to a formal course.
"These materials are from the Anti-Demonic Defense Research Group."
This was the 'Murim Life Guidebook' class, which taught how to survive in the jianghu, so it had been incorporated ahead of time.
"Before diving into the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult in earnest, since all the freshmen who applied to the Anti-Demonic Defense Research Group are in my class, let's give a round of applause for our hardworking friends."
Clap clap clap clap clap—
The professor's habit of making people stand and receive applause showed itself again.
Except for eccentrics like Namgung Yun, Jegal Seolji, and Ha Seong, the other juniors looked for a hole to crawl into.
"Ack! Why does that professor always do that?!"
"It's embarrassing, sure. But doesn't it feel rewarding to have our work used in class materials? I'm proud of the frequency."
"...Yeah, that's true."
Still, they seemed to feel a sense of accomplishment.
Anyway.
Today's lesson was based on the situation I encountered yesterday and the materials I'd compiled.
So it was all content I knew inside out.
Thus, I pondered something else.
'...Something feels off.'
We'd annihilated an entire armed force and looted all the resources from their base.
'Even the Grand Strategist said we'd dealt them a solid blow; it's a good result.'
It had to be.
Unlike the fractured orthodox Murim, the Demonic Cult operated under a strict hierarchy centered on their cult leader.
But since they couldn't openly set up businesses or recruit openly, we'd inflicted a major loss.
'Yet there was none of their usual sticky tenacity.'
What should I call it?
They came neatly prepared to die?
'Normally, if ordered to die like that, morale would plummet, leading to surrender or mutiny with a "you die first."'
Demonic Cultists were the type to obey even such orders, eyes rolled back like rabid chickens.
'I need to check the extinguished embers again and comb every inch under the lamp.'
Along with that, it was time to grow the protagonist generation.
'I should give these kids a day off.'
As my thoughts reached that point.
Professor Jeong Geuk-gyeong announced the end of class.
"That's all for today's lesson."
I immediately spoke up.
"Juniors, stay behind a moment."
However, besides the juniors I told to stay, others remained seated as well.
One of them was Jegal Seolji.
"Yong-un? Is something up?"
"Not really, but how about we close the research lab for a day and actually rest?"
Then Yin Ha-yeon jumped in with wide eyes.
"R-rest?"
"Rest."
"For real? You're not gonna tie an iron weight to our ankles after saying that, right?"
'Why doesn't Eun sojeo trust people's words? Did growing up in a merchant family make her like this? What a sad thing.'
- It's because of you! All because of you!
Ignoring my master's voice, I kindly explained the plan to the deeply distrustful Yin Ha-yeon.
"For real. How about we go to a valley, soak our feet, and roast a whole pig? Just the research group members gathering for a meal—like a team dinner."
At my words, Jeong Hyeon beamed.
"A team dinner! It sounds so meaningful. When we met during the entrance exam and shared food, didn't we say we were like family? Recalling that time..."
Yin Ha-seong and Dang Ok-gi crossed their arms.
"Tch. Yong-un hyung doing something he never does? They say doing new things kills you. Ok-gi noona, check his pulse."
"He's always fine. The problem's us. Eon Yong-un suggests something, Jeong Hyeon cheers—doesn't this feel a bit scary?"
So Neung whispered from beside them.
"...The word 'dinner' feels a bit violent too?"
I narrowed my eyes at them and spoke.
"Ah, forget it! Even when I'm giving you a break, you complain! If you don't like it, don't come! Forget it all! Eun sojeo, bring the Cheongjuk Hall ledger. Dang Ok-gi, you put the spiritual herbs I brought yesterday in the Cheongjuk Hall lab, right...?"
Then they grabbed my sleeves from all sides, signaling their attendance.
"I didn't say I hated it! I just asked if it was real."
"I didn't say I hated it either! Who's hating it? Wow, exciting!"
Beyond them, I saw Namgung Sega's young master slowly packing his books.
'What's with that guy carrying books all day?'
Anyway.
I had the juniors who confirmed attendance announce the team dinner to the Anti-Demonic Defense Research Group as well.
Unlike the mountain trip, this was purely for rest, so attendance was optional.
"...If there's really no penalty or extra training, I'd like to sleep in."
"Director Eon, I have a chronic condition where I can't digest food unless I'm in a room walled on all four sides."
While most non-juniors declined.
"Only Jegal sojeo and Gong Yun came."
Yong-myeong brought the two retainers I'd asked him to check with.
"Hyung! I brought Jang Ho and So Cheon hyung."
"Eon Yong-un hyung suggesting we go somewhere feels suspicious, but I fell for the promise of good food."
"Cheon Jang-ho, I'm warning you upfront: the meat is mine."
Come to think of it, it ended up being just the protagonist generation still at the academy.
'With numbers like this, I should share the Dancheon Spring Water.'
I'd already reaped the benefits, so it was just sweet water to me now; perfect for the protagonists.
Seemed like now was the time.
"Wait here. I need to grab something."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Eon Yong-un seemed truly set on taking a day off, leading the group to a nice valley.
Whoosh—
At the valley they found, the cadets ate fruit and fished.
Soon, even the initially skeptical ones relaxed and enjoyed the rest.
Except for one.
Namgung Yun had volunteered to roast the whole pig and was getting scolded by Eon Yong-un.
"Namgung Yun, you can't even roast a whole pig? Give me that spit. Rotate it so it doesn't burn on one side, and baste it to remove the gamey smell! Is that hard? You were thinking about something else, weren't you?"
He had a point.
After hearing Eon Yong-un say he'd come here with the Alliance Leader and ended up chasing demonic cultists, Namgung Yun had recalled the Murim Life Guidebook class and pondered how he would have handled it.
"Because you dropped it, ash and dirt got all over this side! You're responsible, so eat it all!"
He'd volunteered for the dirty work to show initiative, but got sidetracked worrying about the world.
Namgung Yun could buy ten such pigs with his pocket money.
It felt a bit excessive.
A twinge of resentment passed through Namgung Yun's heart.
But once the whole pig was eaten.
As if to make that resentment unfounded, Eon Yong-un held out a vial.
"Dancheon Spring Water. I'll stand guard, so the prepared ones eat and meditate first."
Great elixirs like this weren't even shared between father and son easily.
Yet Eon Yong-un gave it out without a hint of regret.
"Not only giving us a break, but even handing out something like this? You sure you're not sick, hyung?"
"Ha Seong."
"Yes?"
"Shut up or give it back. Pick one."
"I'll shut up!"
For the juniors, it was understandable.
They'd followed Eon Yong-un from the start and racked up merits handling various tasks.
"This one's yours, Namgung."
But giving an elixir to someone without that deep a bond was unimaginable.
"Not Namgung, but Namgung Sega... Whatever, that's not the point. Why give this to me?"
"Don't want it? Say so."
Faced with his genuine intent to take it back, Namgung Yun quickly hid the vial behind him.
And thought.
'Eon Yong-un knows. That one can't protect the world alone.'
Unlike his arrogant self.
This guy didn't care about personal grudges.
Their vessels were different.
He always looked to the world, thinking of protecting it with his brothers.
'Maybe even forcing me to eat the dropped meat was...?!'
His thoughts reached there, finding meaning even in the dropped meat incident.
'He meant to teach that even commoners can't easily eat such meat?'
In truth, Eon Yong-un had just been ruthless.
But Namgung Yun's mind was now filled with the image of becoming a 'brother' protecting the world.
And Jegal Seolji, second to none in over-immersion, felt the same.
'Does Yong-un realize the world can't be guarded alone? Or maybe he thinks the adults' factional squabbles won't work?'
Anyway, Jegal Seolji also held a vial like the juniors'.
'Our first meeting went awry due to my arrogance, but now I finally feel acknowledged.'
That felt gratifying.
But one thing she hadn't obtained nagged at her.
'Should I say it?'
Unlike Namgung Yun, who kept thoughts to himself, Jegal Seolji acted on hers.
"Yong-un!"
"?"
"About that 'junior' thing. You always call for them—like at the safehouse last time, and after class earlier."
"It's just stuck on my tongue since it refers to Cheongjuk Hall's executives, but why?"
"What's the exact definition and scope?"
"What definition? If anything, from Ha Seong over there to Dang Ok-gi here?"
"Ok-gi is from Hyangran Hall?"
"Oh, right."
"Anyway. Back in Sanseo, I said I wanted to be one too?!"
"That was a joke because Cheon Jang-ho got cocky, wasn't it?"
"I was serious?"
"...Don't glare like that. If you want in so bad, then you are. Junior."
Thus, Jegal Seolji slotted neatly into the 'junior' category.
Namgung Yun quietly raised his hand too.
"...Huh? You want in too?"
"If possible."
The existing juniors exchanged looks and twirled their index fingers at their temples.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Two weeks passed since Eon Yong-un led the Anti-Demonic Defense Research Group dinner, gaining two more juniors.
The semester's final event, finals, approached.
'Finals end, then vacation.'
But vacation included Cheongjuk Hall's reconstruction, so Yin Ha-yeon's and my desks were still piled with documents.
As I reviewed the ledgers one last time to cut costs where possible, something odd caught my eye.
"The sword repair fees are too cheap?"
- Isn't the low repair fee what you discussed with Ha-yeon before?
Right.
I'd talked with Yin Ha-yeon about this earlier.
But circumstances had changed since then.
'The Moyong family stirred trouble, driving up ice steel and cold iron prices, but repairs only went up this little?'