Chapter 45
Chapter 45
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Shame, Braggart, Thief, and Prodigal (5)
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My words prompted Woo So-ryeong to nod.
Jeong Hyeon and Eun Ha-seong followed suit, opening their mouths.
"Young Hero Woo. In the end, whether things work out is up to the heavens. We just need to do our best, don't we? No need to get cold feet prematurely."
"Senior Brother Jeong Hyeon, it's not up to the heavens—it's up to Brother Yong-un."
Well, it wasn't a bad sight.
But I raised a finger to my lips, signaling them to quiet down.
"Shh, shh. This isn't just a simple test of finding the beads."
And it couldn't be anything else.
The group assignment stage, the final hurdle of the entrance exam, wasn't some treasure hunt where you just grabbed a bead and called it done.
'There's the assigned scenario and additional tasks.'
It was something I knew from reading the original story, but I had an excuse ready.
"If it were just about finding hidden treasure, they wouldn't hand out maps like this. First, let's hear out what the proctor has to say."
The monks all nodded in unison, and sure enough, Proctor Im Tae-ok soon spoke again.
"Among the examinees, there may be seasoned heroes of considerable age, and boys who haven't even shed their downy hair yet. Some may have experienced it firsthand, others heard of it. In the world of murim, living as a righteous martial artist, one often faces agonizing crossroads of choice. Thus, this academy has prepared one extreme example as our scenario."
With that opener from the proctor, the massive scrolls hanging from the flagpole at the center of the academy square unfurled with a rustle, revealing the scenario inside.
The monks began murmuring one by one.
"Salvation of the World, Saving Lives, Cooperation, and the last one is a large drawing of the map we were given. Young Hero Eon's prediction was spot on."
"What incredible insight."
"That's why we just have to trust Brother Yong-un."
I raised my finger to my lips again, calming them once more.
"First, about Salvation of the World. The bead you examinees must retrieve—this academy assumes it's an object that benefits the demon folk and endangers the world. To aid understanding, let's say it's an elixir that would empower the Heavenly Demon, the cult leader those fiends revere."
By then, the proctor was getting into the meat of it.
"Naturally, such an item is guarded by demon folk. The points marked 1, 3, 4, and 5 on the map indicate the level of the demons guarding the bead. Retrieving it so it doesn't fall into the Heavenly Demon's hands—that is Salvation of the World. Any questions on this so far? Hm? You there, young one."
"You said the points on the map represent the level of the guardian, meaning people, which implies duels. But do we have to defeat them?"
"Hm. Truth be told, with the examinees' levels, defeating them would be difficult. As the map shows, the 5-point bead is guarded by none other than Senior Old Three, known as the Folding Wind Moon Mirror. The 4-points are handled by four instructors who oversaw the unarmed trials. The 3- and 2-points by the squad leaders and members of the academy's security detail—all seniors who passed through the same process and graduated. Defeating them won't be easy."
"...Then?"
"If you can defeat them, fine. But devise some strategy to earn their approval, and the guardians will hand over the bead. Any other questions? If not, on to the next scenario."
Finishing the first scenario, the proctor moved straight from the first scroll to the fourth.
He took a baton from an assistant and pointed to the bottom right of the map.
"Next is Saving Lives. Most examinees likely focused only on the bead locations marked on Mount Wudang to the left. But look here to the right—under Yungzhong Mountain, we've marked the Zhuge Family's clinic."
He then pointed to the bottom left.
"Upon entering Mount Wudang, you'll find helper seniors acting as patients poisoned by the demons. Escort one to the Zhuge Family clinic under Yungzhong Mountain, get the confirmation stamp—that's Saving Lives."
He pointed to the academy marker at the top of the map.
"In summary, each group retrieves one bead and one patient, gets the stamp, and returns here. Without all four members cooperating, it's impossible—that's Cooperation. Scenario briefing complete. Any questions? Hm? You there, young master?!"
"Namgoong Yun of the Namgoong Family. This student has a few questions for the esteemed senior."
"Ask away."
"First, must we assess the patients' conditions ourselves? If a group member is skilled in medicine or herbology, can we detoxify on our own? And how much time do we have?"
"Of course, you must assess the patients. No emergency treatment needed, though."
"Why is that?"
"Unlike real combat, this is a staged exam scenario, so we didn't use harmful poisons. It's just Paralysis Powder used by the Medicine King—harmless. No emergency measures required. Clear?"
"Yes, that's clear."
"The rest concerns time—a fine question. Total exam time is one shichen. But the patients dosed with Paralysis Powder will wake on schedule. Fail to gauge it right and arrive at the clinic after they stir—you fail."
"Thank you for answering this student's foolish questions."
"No trouble. Finally, failure conditions: no bead, misjudging patient timing, or not returning to the square in time—all fail. Exam starts after one da gyeong, when the iron drum sounds. This old man wishes you all success and withdraws."
The scenario briefing ended.
"So many failure conditions, double time limits, only one bead, guarded by the Folding Wind Moon Mirror? They're basically saying don't even try the 5-pointer."
"What's a 5-point? If Folding Wind Moon Mirror is 5, the 4s could be dorm supervisors. I thought we might have a shot, but dream on."
During the allotted one da gyeong, examinees held heated strategy sessions.
"We need to lower the difficulty more than assumed. No one skilled in medicine or herbology? Leave it to luck and the patient wakes—fail. Switch to shortest route: grab bead, rescue patient."
"Ugh. That puts the points on a knife's edge, but okay?"
"What choice? We've come this far—no failing now. Glanced around; other groups are dialing it down too. It'll work out."
"Agreed."
It had to be that way.
No matter how skilled, they were still green latecomers.
True all-rounders were rare, failure pitfalls everywhere, and groups of well-rounded friends scarce.
"...Not one of the four can read a map? For real?"
"Don't be too harsh. The leader's the same."
"Not criticizing—just shocked. I've only ridden carts or horses on roads. Navigation? That's for underlings or money-grubbing merchants."
Of course, some examinees made frown-worthy remarks.
- Tsk tsk. That's what you get for thinking like that all the time—landing in messes.
Master clicked his tongue at them.
I smirked at his voice and sent my thoughts.
'No character checks in prior stages, so unavoidable. Or maybe this one filters it—if they flop here, it does. Righteous Martial Academy's more thorough than expected. Anyway, seeing that proves beans from beans don't always sprout right. Plenty of prestigious family brats like them.'
- But, disciple.
'Yes?'
- Aren't you skipping the meeting? Others look serious; your group's just lounging.
'Nah, lounging? Compare them and us. What do you sense?'
- Shame, braggart, thief, prodigal?
'......'
- Just kidding.
'Those punks could yap till their mouths blister—they're just sparrows. We're phoenixes. Even slacking a da gyeong, our superior breed laps them. Heaven-Splitting Sword Sect's sole disciple and his picks, right?'
- Hmph. Slick talker.
'Yup. Got plans. But blab 'em, sharp ears might steal. Could you stand that, Master?'
- I couldn't.
'Master-to-disciple transmission.'
- ...Still, saying you're like Yong-un is a stretch.
'...?'
- ...?
That was when it happened.
As we bantered with Master.
Clang~~~
The iron drum signaling the final exam rang out.
Groups of four surged forward like arrows.
But instead of joining the rush, I strolled leisurely, finally speaking lest any sharp ears lurked.
"You might've wondered inwardly. Thanks for waiting."
"Figured Brother had a plan."
"...Ha-seong. Sometimes feels like you lend me your brain."
"Hehe. I'll use mine more from now on. But today, we follow you anyway, right?"
Hm.
True that?
"...Good job."
"Hehe."
"But Brother Eon, we're totally last. This okay?"
"I'm curious too. Not doubting Young Hero Eon—just pure wonder. Care to explain?"
"Woo So-ryeong, Jeong Hyeon. Know why they're sprinting?"
"...No idea?"
"Hm, time crunch? Shortest triangle—Dangang Valley to Wudang, Wudang to Yungzhong, back—still eats time. Higher points up high, bigger triangle."
"So-ryeong, practice using your brain. Jeong Hyeon, half right."
"Hm. More reasons?"
"Yeah. Distrust."
Jeong Hyeon pondered, then spoke.
"...Distrust?"
"Yep. They don't trust each other, so time crunch. No need to clump four together. No interference en route to clinic—split: one sub-team grabs bead, other drops patient and returns with stamp."
"Now that you say it! Got so immersed in the process, my thinking boxed in. How'd you see that?!"
"Kuh. As expected of Brother Yong-un!"
"Impressive."
"Not impressive. Requires mutual trust. Our scores differ, right? If one sub-team distrusts or resents the other, whole group fails."
At that point,
Jeong Hyeon smacked fist to palm.
"But we can! We trust each other?!"
Jeong Hyeon sounded so commendable, I nearly affirmed it.
- Kukukuk.
But Master laughed out of nowhere.
No laughing matter—I had to ask.
'Why laugh?'
- That 'mutual trust' bit—funny.
'How so?'
- To me, less trust among them, more fixated on you.
Looking, sure enough—they gazed at me, eyes shining, not each other.
- Kuku. Like chicks eyeing their mother?
No, that's trust too.
You wouldn't get it!
And...
'Let's head to the pheasant coop. If those monks are chicks, I'm no chicken—at least a pheasant.'