Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: First Gateway (1)
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The day the Righteous Martial Academy's martial exam began.
Kkiiigeuk-!
The largest gate, right in the center of the five gates at the academy's main entrance, swung open.
From it emerged an elderly man with graying hair streaking through his black locks. He clasped his hands in greeting and spoke.
"I am Im Tae-ok, the director of the Righteous Martial Academy's entrance office. Before we officially begin the martial exam, we will confirm identities and assign grades for entry into the first gateway. Applicants, please wait in an orderly manner. Those who have come to support and cheer on the applicants, kindly step back beyond the lines drawn on either side."
As his mouth closed, a bronze gong rang out simultaneously.
Jing~~~
At that signal, the remaining four gates flew open. Massive banners labeled Jia , Yi, Bing , and Ding unfurled from the eaves with a rustle, adorning the gates above.
Then, from the opened gates, young men in uniforms and hero bands of cyan, red, ink black, and gold stepped out with desks in tow and took their seats in front of the gates.
Jing~~~
The bronze gong rang once more, and Entrance Director Im Tae-ok spoke again.
"We will now begin the exam. Applicants, please proceed in an orderly fashion to the designated windows, complete your identity verification, receive your grade assignment, and enter the gateway behind me."
And so, the Righteous Martial Academy's martial exam commenced.
But at that moment.
A certain man smacked his lips as he gazed at the applicants lining up in long rows to match the number of windows.
"Tsk."
None other than Myeong Tae-seong, leader of the First Division in the Murim Alliance Lord's direct strike force.
How long had Myeong Tae-seong been smacking his lips?
A man in a fluttering black robe approached at a flying pace and stood beside him.
"A total of ten have withdrawn their intent to enroll and confirmed their intent to join the Alliance."
"I see. Good work, Vice Division Leader."
Though praised as a superior would, the man called Vice Division Leader tilted his head instead and spoke.
"It won't evenly distribute the new recruits across all twelve divisions, but ten is two more than the eight we expected, yet you don't seem pleased?"
"Why wouldn't I be? I'm delighted. The Division Leader will be pleased, and the Alliance Lord will be gratified by this achievement. You've done well too."
But to the Vice Division Leader's eyes, Myeong Tae-seong's expression didn't reflect that.
"I've served under you for years now. Is it because of that friend from the Southern Jiang Divine Alliance you met yesterday?"
"Well, I can't fool you. Yes, it's because of him."
"Is it that regrettable? You even gave him an identity token to seek help from the branch if needed. I've never seen you go this far for a junior."
"Our evaluation methods are simplistic, so take this with a grain of salt. Would you believe me if I said his burst of aura was comparable to the Nangong Family's eldest son, and his insight and composure rivaled the Zhuge Family's Little Strategist?"
At Myeong Tae-seong's words, the Vice Division Leader responded dubiously.
"If the true owner of the 'Southern Jiang Divine Alliance' moniker is Eon Yong-un and not Eun Ha-seong, then on paper, he's clearly a worthless wastrel of the world. It can't be... Hm. But your eye for people usually hits the mark. Still, comparing him to the Nangong eldest and Zhuge Little Strategist seems like a stretch. Those two are widely touted as frontrunners for the next generation's dragon and phoenix, aren't they?"
To the Vice Division Leader's retort, Myeong Tae-seong started to elaborate on what he'd seen with his own eyes but swallowed his words.
'If I blab, it might harm the aspirations my young friend holds dear.'
The Vice Division Leader had a point.
Myeong Tae-seong's test was indeed superficial. Current martial prowess might favor the Nangong eldest, intellect the Zhuge scion.
But Eon Yong-un felt like he had a greater vessel than those two.
'If he were truly an irredeemable wastrel to the bone, he wouldn't escort merchants or apply to the academy.'
So, he'd chalked it up to youthful folly and hopes of reinstatement, but that didn't seem right either.
Thus, the conclusion: he was playing the wastrel to pursue some grand ambition.
'With that talent, and as the eldest son, the Pearl Eon Family headship would have come to him without effort. Yet he chose to claim the wastrel role, endure family scorn, and bear the shame of expulsion?!'
Myeong Tae-seong, who prided himself on having weathered battles galore, couldn't even fathom the intent Eon Yong-un harbored.
'In that case, as a senior in the martial world, the right thing is to watch quietly and support him thoroughly from the shadows.'
With that resolve, he held his tongue before the Vice Division Leader.
But regret and concern didn't fade easily.
'Even hearing the academy is a mess, he insisted he must go himself.'
In his view, Eon Yong-un was too grand a talent for the current academy. Either it'd flip upside down, or the righteous martial world would lose a great pillar—trouble was brewing.
Thus, a single phrase slipped from his lips.
"I'll submit a report to the Alliance Lord. He always attends the new students' entrance ceremony at the academy, so I'll ask him to take a look at the young friend then."
* * *
The gong signaling the start of the exam rang out.
Ha Seong and I lined up at one of the four windows, waiting our turn.
There were applicants thick as clouds, but only four verification windows, and unlike the future, no computers or swift data processing tools. It was the epitome of boredom, the kind where you'd mutter "time drags on forever."
But we couldn't complain.
'This is part of the test too.'
It seemed the exam truly began the moment you got verified at the window, received your grade, and entered the first gateway.
'With all the line-cutting, you wonder why, with so many applicants, there's only one elderly handler per window.'
But that was the trap.
The exam had started the instant the gong rang.
There were eyes among the supporters beyond the lines, and eyes in the inns across the way.
All those hidden gazes observed the applicants' patience and innate temperament.
"This'll take all day! All day! No, days and days!! If it's gonna be like this, couldn't they collect documents in advance?!"
Those unaware, venting frustration, got deducted points or disqualified.
"Why should I be disqualified?!"
The line-cutter rushed forward aggressively, only to face swift rejection at the window.
Well, watching such spectacles kept things from being too dull.
Plus, I had a noisy lump from the Silver Radiance attached to me, ensuring no boredom.
"What?! That dark crow-like bastard who came yesterday... No, you mean you're the division leader of the Alliance Lord's direct strike force?! The First Division Leader at that?!"
"Yeah. But did this punk boil a train whistle? Why's your voice so loud? They can hear you whispering, so lower it."
"What's a train? Anyway, that's not the point. So, what did he say to you, brother?!"
"Join the Murim Alliance."
"The, the Murim Alliance? And what was your answer?!"
"What do you mean 'what'? I refused. Can't you tell, since I'm lining up with you?"
"Ah... No. But he came looking for the Southern Jiang Divine Alliance, right? If that's you, why'd he ask you...?"
"...Ha Seong."
"...Yes?"
"Try not to talk if you can help it. It gives people headaches."
Anyway, before I knew it, it was my turn.
The black-uniformed clerk beckoned me over, so I stepped up, and the questions came.
"Name."
"Eon Yong-un."
"Hm? Eon Family? Pearl Eon Family? Branch?"
At first, it felt like blatant condescension.
"Well, I was direct lineage of the Pearl Eon Family..."
"Ah, direct lineage? Then you qualify for special admission. Special admits skip the gateways. Did you get the date wrong?"
At mention of Pearl Eon direct lineage, the clerk suddenly straightened up, pulling out a ledger labeled "Noble Houses" from beside his desk and flipping through it.
I shook my head at the guy and spoke.
"The date's right. I'm from the Pearl Eon Family, direct lineage, all true. But I was expelled from the family."
"...What's that...? Oh, yeah, there's a tiny note under Eon Yong-un in the roster. ...Hm. Excommunicated? Damn. You scared me. If you're expelled, you're nobody—why not lead with that, you irritating punk!"
He snapped at me, practically hurling a white uniform tagged with "Ding" upfront and my name on the exam tag.
I wondered if it was a test to provoke anger, but the other windows handled things routinely.
This guy's attitude was just trash.
- Th-that punk's manners! That Myeong Tae-seong or whatever from yesterday nailed it! What a disaster!!!
My master's voice erupted first from my waist sash.
Then Ha Seong, waiting right behind, blew up too.
"H-hey, isn't that attitude too much?! And making Eon Yong-un brother take the exam as a D-grade warrior?! Do you know how amazing my brother is?!"
Ha Seong.
I appreciate the sentiment, but no, I don't.
We're in the middle of the exam. Shut up, please.
'And calm down, Master.'
- Does this look calmable?! This is as good as insulting the Heaven-Splitting Sword Sect! If my body were intact, I'd sweep the whole gateway!! Aren't you mad?!
'It's not the Heaven-Splitting Sword Sect insulted—it's me. Just the name Eon Yong-un and being expelled.'
- You being insulted is the Heaven-Splitting Sword Sect insulted, you fool!
'Jeez. Who was it always badmouthing everyone? Anyway, it's fine. I expected this much.'
- Am I like that punk?! Argh!!!
'Of course not. What I'm saying is, don't just get mad now—be warmer usually.'
- Hmph, punk! But you expected a crazy bastard like that?!
To be precise, I'd anticipated starting the first gateway as a D-grade due to expulsion status.
I hadn't foreseen meeting this rude jerk during registration.
'Black uniform means a current student from Hyangran Hall.'
Now that I thought about it, there was exactly this character in the protagonist's entrance exam episode.
Grading applicants during entry, he messed with protagonist Jeong Hyeon, held a grudge, tormented him endlessly, and later got beaten senseless?
- ...Anyway, disciple, you seem to have it all figured out and fine, but I'm not. I know your upright nature, but someday I gotta sock him once to feel better...
'Ah, of course, I'm not saying it's okay and we'll let it slide, Master.'
- Hm. Really? Music to my ears midway.
Having soothed Master, I smirked and addressed the black-uniformed man before me.
"By the way, aren't you Senior Jo Cheol-seong?"
"...You know me?"
"A little."
Heh heh.
"???"
Well, exam's on.
I'll let the protagonist handle the ass-kicking later. Pass for now.
Focus a bit on that guy? I'll watch with you when he gets his?
You're so screwed.