Chapter 304
Chapter 304
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 304
Chapter Title: It's Not Easy (4)
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Following the new students' oath, there were congratulatory speeches from the guests of honor, and various scholarships were awarded.
And finally, Dean Kyung Hye of the Sa-tae granted permission for admission.
"I hereby grant permission for the one hundred sixty-five new students to enter the Righteous Martial Academy!"
With that, the entrance ceremony came to an end.
"Father!"
"Well done! My son! Haha, everyone. My son has passed the Righteous Martial Academy!"
"Is your son the only one who passed?! My disciple passed too!"
"M-Master! The other students are laughing!"
At that moment, the first-year cadets—who had finally earned their status as new students after enduring the examinees and candidates—were sharing their joy of admission with their families and friends.
I headed to the seating area for the upperclassmen set up on either side of the plaza.
With the semester beginning, it was to exchange greetings and well-wishes to do our best.
"President Gwak Woo-myeong. Looking forward to working with you."
"Me too. But..."
"But?"
"With Senior Hyang-ran's Plum Blossom Fury and Senior Un-mae's Tiger Roar Banquet both graduated, and you, President Eon, now serving as Student Council President and stepping away from Azure Bamboo... This year will truly be the year of Yun-guk Pavilion!"
"Hahaha. It has to be. Under the banner of righteousness, we are all one, but the four great dormitories must continue their rivalry. I wish President and Yun-guk Pavilion prosperity."
I exchanged well-wishes one by one with the new president and vice president of Yun-guk Pavilion, Un-mae and Hyang-ran, and finally arrived at the Azure Bamboo Pavilion seats.
"Hoo. You're here, President Eon."
I saw Kyong-ryong hyung, his face ashen, sighing deeply.
"...Yeah. Sure."
Confirming that, I asked Yin Xia Lian, who was standing beside Kyong-ryong hyung.
"Miss Yin. Why does Kyong-ryong hyung look like that?"
"The entrance ceremony is over. Now it's time to compete with the other dorms for new recruits, so he's worried about that."
At Yin Xia Lian's words, my master spoke up.
- ...How did that kid Kyong-ryong, who served as dorm president multiple times and even brought in that old rooster last year to boldly invite you to Azure Bamboo, end up like this?
I shared my own doubts and relayed my master's words exactly.
"Didn't you bring Professor No Sam and tell me to come to Azure Bamboo? Why are you all shriveled up now?"
"...Back then, I had nothing to lose. It was all or nothing, and the other presidents overlooked your true potential. That Miss Yin, Jeong-hyeon, Ha-seong, and So-ryeong came along with you was nothing short of a miracle."
With that preface, Kyong-ryong hyung continued, reflecting on the past year.
"But now, Azure Bamboo—which was always dead last—has become the dorm that swept the integrated championship in the Spring and Autumn Inter-Dormitory Tournament. The Autumn Tournament even included late indices from Shaolin and the New Outer regions in the Purification Tournament. If any new students knock on Azure Bamboo's door, it's because they want a share of that glory... But now you're not in Azure Bamboo, President Eon."
"I'm still wearing the blue uniform, aren't I? You talk like I've completely left."
"We live together, sure, but you're the one who has to oversee all four great dormitories now. Anyway, it's true I'm agonizing over what to say to the new students to recruit them. Saying 'you too can share in last year's glory' feels a bit presumptuous, you know?"
I shook my head and looked at Yin Xia Lian.
"I think it's unnecessary pressure and worry. Isn't that right, Miss Yin?"
"That's what I'm saying!"
Yin Xia Lian nodded vigorously in agreement, but Kyong-ryong hyung still seemed anxious and made a request of me.
"I was just about to go get the applications. In that sense, will you come with me?"
"...What do you mean 'in that sense' that makes you want me to tag along just to pick up papers? I have to meet the Alliance Leader, who came as a guest. If you're short on hands, want me to lend you Yong-gil?"
"It's not about hands—it's about getting some luck. I get that you can't look like you're only caring for Azure Bamboo now that you're Student Council President. But it's still your home base, isn't it? Do this much for Azure Bamboo. It won't take long."
"Man."
It wasn't a difficult request anyway, and Kyong-ryong hyung seemed to be under immense pressure.
So, I readily headed to the administrative office with him.
"Here. Twenty application forms allocated to the dorm council."
"Give us the new student ones too. We'll keep them in the council room and distribute them ourselves."
"The new students already took all of them."
The staff member who greeted us told us that the new students had taken all of Azure Bamboo Pavilion's application forms.
Kyong-ryong hyung's eyes widened in surprise as he spoke.
"What? Is someone pranking us? Like deliberately trying to wipe out Azure Bamboo's forms...?"
"No way. We only hand them out one per cadet who signs for it."
In other words...
Azure Bamboo Pavilion's numbers were about to explode.
Of course, Azure Bamboo Pavilion always had more people than the other dorms.
All those rejected from the other dorms ended up joining, so it was always crowded.
But this time, it was because the new students wanted to join.
"See? What did I tell you."
I smirked and looked at Kyong-ryong hyung.
- Your bro's crying again. Sob.
As my master said, Kyong-ryong hyung's eyes were welling up.
"Kuhk."
"Crying again. Stop it. If the new students find out the dorm president is a crybaby, they'll tear up their applications."
"Kuhuhk. Thanks, President Eon. It's all thanks to you."
"How could it be just my merit? We all sweated together to elevate Azure Bamboo. We risked our lives defending the academy from the Demonic Cult's raid. This is the result."
"Kuhng."
"And this is just the beginning."
"Beginning?"
"Whether Azure Bamboo Pavilion ends as Eon Yong-un's Azure Bamboo or stands tall as the Righteous Martial Academy's true blue bamboo."
"...!"
"As you said, I'm Student Council President now. I won't be able to look after it as much as last year. After all, I'm in charge of all four great dormitories. It depends on you, Kyong-ryong hyung, the other seniors, and Miss Yin."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After consoling Kyong-ryong hyung, I headed straight to the Azure Bamboo Pavilion dorms.
Upon arriving at my room, I heard the Alliance Leader entertaining Young-i.
"How about it? Won't you come with me?"
I chuckled and opened the door.
"Is he going to follow you?"
Whoosh!
Then Young-i, perched on the perch, flew to my shoulder.
The Alliance Leader made a 'tch' sound.
And immediately asked a question.
"No, this guy's loyalty is impressive. Even after I promised pheasant meat three times a day, he refused? Anyway, Yong-un, why did you want to meet separately first?"
I began telling the Alliance Leader about Dokgo Cheol.
"Aside from Baek Ri-gyeom and Sang Woo-cheong, there's one more late index with deep ties to the Demonic Cult."
"...News I've never heard before."
"I didn't report it to the academy's operations committee. This is the first I'm telling any of the elders."
"That's both pleasing and frightening to hear. Continue for now."
"Yes. A guy named Dokgo Cheol, suspected of ties to the Blood King Division. The reason I think so is..."
I explained why I believed Dokgo Cheol was connected to the Blood King Division, citing the Blood Clan Technique as an example.
I mentioned that Baek Ri-gyeom and Sang Woo-cheong didn't know about Dokgo Cheol, and pointed out that the Demonic Cult's attack on Sa-cheon had a gap, suggesting the Blood King Division might be seeking independence.
"...Putting it together, I suspect the Blood King Division might be trying to break away from the Demonic Cult at Mount One Hundred Thousand. For convenience, we can call it the Blood Cult."
The Alliance Leader furrowed his brow and asked.
"There were indeed suspected Demonic Cult movements near the Sa-cheon-Yun-nam border, and it was puzzling why they didn't aid Do-ol Wol-ma and Nang-jung Demon Army... But that's not the point now. So, you're saying you're keeping this Blood Demon's pawn in the academy under your watch?"
"In short, yes. He's a pawn for now, but depending on how we use him, he could be a great asset to the Orthodox Murim."
"...This is the most shocking candidate for a preliminary elder report I've ever heard. You've pulled off quite the bold move."
"The Dean or professors would never allow it..."
"Do you think I will?"
"More like, since you consider the entire Orthodox Murim and have vast field experience, I thought you'd at least listen. And if you refuse, I can stop it right now."
At my words...
The Alliance Leader stroked his chin and spoke.
"If I refuse, you stop. But if I allow it, it becomes announcing a preliminary elder candidate to every professor and cadet's family and sect in the academy. If things go wrong, it'll be chaos."
"...Yeah."
"Yeah? You're a late index, so you'll just get a scolding, but my position as Murim Alliance Leader will fly away. You sure know how to ask for permission. Is it because I'm comfortable?"
His words seemed like nitpicking, but his eyes held trust toward me.
I grinned and replied.
"Not uncomfortable."
"Confident?"
"I don't bring up things I'm not confident about."
"Then proceed. Losing the Murim Alliance Leader seat with its pittance salary and headaches would be fine by me."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Having obtained the Alliance Leader's permission, I returned to the Student Council office.
Yin Xia Lian had prepared the draft for the scholarship foundation, so I was doing the final review.
Then, I heard footsteps outside the Student Council office.
Knock knock-
"I have business at the Student Council office."
"Come, come in!"
"The door's open."
I replied to the familiar voices.
Namgoong Young and Jang Seon entered.
They each placed a document on the desk where Senior Ye Hae-su was sitting and bowed with a fist salute.
"I've come to apply to join the Student Council!"
"M-Me too!"
Senior Ye Hae-su skimmed the documents they handed over and spoke.
"Hm? Isn't it the period for submitting applications to the four great dormitories? We haven't even posted a notice yet."
Namgoong Young bowed again and replied.
"According to the academy rules, clubs under autonomous organizations can be formed from the previous year, so they can recruit members without a separate notice. If I was mistaken, I apologize for the inconvenience. I'll come back after the notice is posted."
At Namgoong Young's words, Jeon-gal Seol-ja smirked and looked at me.
"It's correct per the rules. The Student Council was formed last year, and the current executives were selected that way. As long as Yong-un approves, there shouldn't be any big issues for Young or Seon."
Namgoong Yun then spoke up.
"But they're new students. Shouldn't we strictly follow standard procedures? I don't want any talk of them riding on my coattails."
Namgoong Young narrowed her brows as if wondering what nonsense that was.
"Riding on your coattails? I'm the top current examinee. Even you couldn't do that, brother."
At those words, Namgoong Yun's face flushed red as he shot up from his seat.
"I was in the same cohort as Eon Yong-un!"
Dang Ok-gi smacked the wall beside her mouth with her hand and whispered secretly.
"...I've never seen Gong-yun's face that red."
"First time? Didn't you see it at the Murim Alliance trial over the tiger dung?"
"Ah! Right?!"
Anyway, it was a rare spectacle, and as I thought of something to chew on—like dried persimmons or whatever...
Jang Seon, who had been politely folding his sturdy frame, cautiously spoke up while gauging the mood.
"S-So, should we come back later?"
As if wanting to tease Jang Seon, Yin Ha-seong grinned and spoke.
"Well, now. If we let in newbies who can't recognize seniors and go around hitting them, it might lead to insubordination... Not sure if we should accept you."
At Yin Ha-seong's words, Jang Seon asked Namgoong Young.
"Hit a senior? Miss Namgoong. Have you ever laid hands on any of your brothers or sisters?"
"Pardon? No?"
"You, Jang Seon."
"Me?"
"Yeah, you. Remember at Yun-guk Pavilion? You twisted my jaw, and I said, 'Apologize instead, and I'll take back what I just said.' Then you said, 'Be careful,' and left?"
"Huh?! How do you know about that, Ha-seong hyung?"
"I was undercover on Yong-un hyung's orders. You just twisted my jaw like that. Right, So-ryeong dongsaeng?"
"...Yeah. We were in disguise with voice changers, but everything you said is true."
"Ah? Aaaah?!"
Jang Seon looked crestfallen.
Yin Ha-seong got excited and hammed it up.
"Aigoo, my jaw. It still throbs where you hit me. Aigoo, Yong-un hyung!"
It was then that the cornered Jang Seon voiced his grievance.
"B-But you called Yong-un hyung shit! And said his followers were like shit dogs!!"
"No?! Hey! I didn't say that!"
At that, the other Eon dongsaengs around us all turned cold stares at Yin Ha-seong.
"Heh."
"Even if Yong-un hyung said it's okay if we chew him out, that's... worse than beggar kids' insults."
"Harsh. Biggest shock since the Wind Root thing. Shit dogs?"
"No! I really didn't say it! Hong-pil said that! At worst, I said Eon Yong-un is the type who acts before thinking... Oops."
"...I heard Ha-seong's inner thoughts loud and clear. Namgoong Young. Jang Seon. Did you fill out the applications properly?"
"Yes! Senior!"
"Yes!"
"Miss Jeon-gal. Accept them."
"Yes, Yong-un."
As we accepted the two's applications...
'Dokgo Cheol.'
The saying 'keep friends close, enemies closer' came to mind.
"Since we've taken in two, I should go recruit some talent myself."