Chapter 299
Chapter 299
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 299
Chapter Title: It's Obvious (4)
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It was right around springtime.
As the civil service examinees began taking their tests, the Righteous Martial Academy's entrance exam got underway.
And so, with the martial division exam now just a day away...
I headed to the chancellor's office to pay a visit to Chancellor Gyeong Hye.
"Have a seat, President Eon."
"Yes, Chancellor."
Chancellor Gyeong Hye offered me a seat, and a graduate student senior poured me a cup of tea.
Pour...
"Thank you, Senior."
In the meantime, Chancellor Gyeong Hye gazed out at the crowd gathered outside for the entrance exam and spoke up.
"The civil service passers have been decided. Tomorrow, the martial division begins."
Her voice carried a hint of worry, so I gently probed.
"You seem quite concerned."
"I'll say this since it's just the two of us, President Eon, but yes, I'm worried."
In that moment, a flicker of the Demon-Exorcising Patriarch crossed Chancellor Gyeong Hye's face.
"It makes my blood boil. The thought of demonic scum eyeing the cradle of the righteous martial world."
But soon enough, she smiled and turned her gaze from the window back to me.
"That said, all I can do is trust in the accomplishments of Cadet Eon Yong-un and Ma Bang-yeon so far, and in the academy's talent selection process."
"Your faith in us weighs heavy on my shoulders. Do I look like I've slumped more than usual?"
"Hohoho. You don't need to put on that act to ease my worries. But what brings you here in the middle of such a busy time? It doesn't seem like you're just here to lighten my mood."
"Ah, it's nothing major. As I recall, Hye-jeong's name was definitely among the original applications. But it's missing from the confirmed list you sent to the student council office today."
Hye-jeong was the most outstanding swordswoman among the third-generation disciples of the Ami Sect.
In the original story, she joined the protagonist's generation as a junior around this exact time.
'In the original, she stood in opposition to Silver Sword Maiden, spurring each other on.'
I'd seen a glimpse of her talent during the clash with Yin Xia Lian at the freshman-senior showdown.
And confirmed it again recently amid the Sichuan unrest and joint training.
Yet her name, which had been there not long ago, had suddenly vanished from the final list.
When I asked about it, Chancellor Gyeong Hye answered right away.
"Ah, I see you've come about that. A few days ago, I received a letter from the sect leader."
"Hm. Nothing bad happened, I hope? Did you withdraw her application, Chancellor?"
"That's right. The sect leader had some realizations from the Sichuan incident, and it seems Hye-jeong did too. When she said she wanted to stay at Ami to train her sword, I told her to withdraw the application."
I nodded at Chancellor Gyeong Hye's explanation.
No big deal, probably.
'She's been rubbing shoulders with guys like me, Jeong-hyeon, Jeon Jeon-gal Seolji, and Nangong Yun from early on. Silver Sword Maiden's pushing herself plenty even without Hye-jeong.'
It might be better for Hye-jeong to grit her teeth and train with her fellow disciples.
Both Gyeong Min Patriarch from Sichuan and Chancellor Gyeong Hye before me spoke calmly, but Ami had lost and injured many disciples.
'They're probably shedding bloody tears inside.'
The dead couldn't return.
But the bloody tears flowing from their hearts would fuel the resolve of those left behind.
The one thing that nagged at me, though, was the butterfly effect itself.
'...Can't blindly trust the original story's info after all.'
I hadn't planned to anyway, but now I resolved to scrutinize the examinees even more closely as I left the chancellor's office.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Back at the student council office, I did a final check on preparations to assist with the entrance exam.
"Jeon-gal Sword Maiden. Don't forget—tomorrow, the top-grade examinees should unpack, then gather in front of Dongyun Hall."
"Have you ever seen me forget anything?"
"You won't forget, but the helpers under you might slack off when things get busy. Make sure they handle it."
"Yes, sir."
"Where's Silver Sword Maiden, by the way?"
Dang Ok-gi answered my question.
"Ha-yeon went off to make some money."
"Money? What do you mean? And have you checked on all the other medical helpers?"
"All done. Ha-yeon headed to Hwo-yeon Forge. Word's out that their master smith is the one who forged Regret, so lots of people are buying weapons there to receive his 'blessing.'"
"...Better to stick with what you're used to. Why do that the day before the exam?"
"No idea. Anyway, she said not to hassle her since she's handling her assignments first."
"Hassle? What have I even hassled her about?"
As I bantered with her, I heard Master's tongue-clicking.
- ...Tsk tsk tsk. No conscience at all.
Then Cheon Jang-ho appeared at the student council office door, dressed in night patrol garb, and spoke up.
"Hyung Yong-un. It's our turn."
"Hm? Time flies."
"Yep. Yong-myeong and Brother So-cheon left already."
With demonic infiltration a real threat, we'd been taking shifts patrolling the Dangeon-gu district. Now it was my turn.
I quickly donned my night clothes, pulled on my hood, and headed out to Dangeon-gu.
"Let's go."
"Yep."
And so the patrol began.
Keeping a close eye on the bustling crowds' behavior and chatter.
Checking building walls for any new marks.
Not long into wandering Dangeon-gu...
Swish—
A figure in pitch-black hood and stealth clothes caught my eye.
I tailed him.
In a dead-end alley, the black-clad man halted and spoke in a gruff voice.
"To notice me... You've got sharp eyes."
But that gruff tone felt off to me.
It was obviously faked, laced with a familiar voice.
I realized the black-clothed man's identity at once.
"...Division Leader Myeong Tae-seong."
Around this time, the alliance's direct strike team sends recruiters to Dangeon-gu. Looks like Myeong Tae-seong was dispatched again this year, just like last.
"Was it that obvious?"
"Completely. Infiltration's out of the question."
"Ahem."
"Any luck recruiting newbies?"
"Total bust."
"More people than last year, but poor results?"
"What's the use in numbers? Everyone just wants into the academy. Thanks to our dear junior here, I've had a rough go."
Me? I racked my brain but couldn't recall interfering with his work, even indirectly.
"Me?"
"Haven't heard the examinees gossiping as you walk around?"
"Too many voices to pinpoint what you mean."
"You entered as a top-grade warrior, snagged class chief and top late-stage talent in the world. Now everyone's dreaming of becoming the next Eon Yong-un, riding the winds of fortune."
"...Ah."
"Makes it a total wash compared to last year. What are you gonna do about it? Take responsibility."
"I did send plenty of Cheongjuk Hall seniors your way as replacements."
"True. They came prepped with formations, battle-tested against the cult, trained under you—sharp as tacks."
"Glad they're fitting in."
"Last year around now, I thought it'd be great to drag you to the alliance and team up."
As we chatted, Cheon Jang-ho chimed in.
"Division Leader. You haven't even properly teamed up with Yong-un hyung, so don't say that so casually..."
Ignoring Cheon Jang-ho, I questioned Myeong Tae-seong.
"Anything suspicious related to fiends or heretics while recruiting?"
"We got the same intel about possible academy infiltration, so I kept an eye out. Nothing stands out right away."
"Hm. I see."
"Oh, Elder Apothecary advised that if they're sneaking cadets in, they'd likely use brainwashing or solitary confinement. Told us to watch for that."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The eve of the entrance exam passed without incident.
The next morning.
For the first time in a while, my siblings and I—along with the other exam helpers—waited behind the firmly shut main gate for Entrance Director Im Tae-ok to emerge.
Woo So-reung swallowed dryly and said,
"Last year, I remember being so nervous out there beyond those gates. Thinking back makes me shaky now. Wonder how the examinees outside feel."
Eun Ha-seong pounded his chest in response.
"I wasn't nervous at all."
"Really?"
"Yep. Back then, Yong-un hyung looked right at me and said, 'See you at the next gate. I believe in you, Ha-seong.'"
"Did I say that? Sounds a bit distorted. As I recall, you were way weaker than you thought..."
"Yong-un hyung. Let the minor errors slide. Anyway, standing here brings it all back. Sure, I butter up the seniors and get treated well, but in terms of experience, everyone's below me except Noona."
Nangong Yun straightened up at his childish bragging.
"But back in Sichuan, when we had to raid for the permit in that dangerous moment, you took me—not Eun Ha-seong, Jeong-hyeon, or you, Woo So-reung, but this Nangong Yun."
"What..."
I was about to retort in disbelief when Director Im Tae-ok emerged from the main building with a graduate student carrying a horn.
"...Director's coming. Cut the chatter and get to your positions, everyone."
"Yes, sir!"
Upon reaching the gate, the director gave us helpers a look, then opened it and stepped out.
"I am Im Tae-ok, director of the Righteous Martial Academy Entrance Division."
Riiiing~~~~
The horn blared, raising the curtain on the entrance exam.
Watching the scene, I headed to the E-grade warrior sparring exam hall.
This venue decided pass or fail through direct combat.
Jeong-hyeon had been assigned here from my siblings.
Slash! Slash!
Slaaash!
I focused more on the examinee facing Jeong-hyeon than her diligent Taiji forms.
Bam! Bam!
Boom boom bam!!
- Seven Star Fist. Looks like a late-stage talent from the Empty Cave Clan?
'Yes.'
It couldn't be helped.
The examinee Jeong-hyeon faced, Sang Woo-cheong, was one of the guys who defected to the cult and infiltrated the academy in the original story.
But Jeong-hyeon seemed oblivious to anything off, forming a fist salute as she looked to supervisor Professor Mo Yong-rin.
"I deem him passed."
"Examinee Sang Woo-cheong. You pass."
Professor Mo Yong-rin nodded.
Sang Woo-cheong immediately roared toward the surroundings.
"Even the Empty Cave has people!"
I pulled out my notepad and jotted down his name.
Then Master asked,
- Why note that one separately?
'For starters, his Seven Star Fist's mastery is too high. Where was a talent like that last year? And...'
- And?
'The Empty Cave is one of the sects that fell during the righteous-demonic war, with debts owed by the righteous martial world. He could've gone for top-grade on that name alone, but he chose E-grade and made a show of it. Feels off.'
Even setting the original aside, it struck me as suspicious.
Anyway.
I closely observed all the examinees entering the E-grade hall.
"Cadet Eon Yong-un?"
"Yes, Sword Comet Professor."
"All assigned to E-grade have completed their tests."
"Yes. I just confirmed. Good work."
I headed to Dongyun Hall, where the top-grade examinees—who'd skipped the combat gate—were gathered.
There, late-stage talents from prestigious sects waited in perfect order.
Not one hadn't heard my name.
I immediately formed a fist salute and spoke.
"Eon Yong-un."
Some returned the salute, others spoke up.
"Dragon of Disaster!"
"...That's the guy who took the title of world's top late-stage talent."
"Student Council President."
I addressed them again.
"I have a proposal. Top-grade means passing the first stage without a real test, so you might get bored. How about climbing a mountain with me?"
One examinee cautiously spoke up.
"...What if we refuse?"
"Your choice. But..."
"But?"
"You just heard my various titles and nicknames tossed around. One was missing, though. Today, I'm not here by those names—I'm here as Ma Bang-yeon's director."
"!"
"You all signed off on Ma Bang-yeon providing evaluations at the final selection stage during grade assignment. Keep that in mind if you refuse."
- ...If they're gonna refuse anyway, just tell 'em to say so outright.