Chapter 62
Chapter 62
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: Entrance Ceremony (1)
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I stood in the very back row among the new examinees, at the request of the admissions office.
As I waited, the voice of the Righteous Martial Academy's Chancellor, Gyeong Hye-sa-tae, suddenly rang out, calling me forward.
I stepped forward crisply and walked steadily toward the platform.
Then, conversations about me started drifting in from both sides.
"That guy's the top scorer this term, right? The one they call the elite warrior?"
"Yes. From what I hear, he was expelled from his family for his scoundrel ways and ended up getting elite status at the first gate."
These weren't whispers from the new examinees.
The new examinees, divided into groups of eighty on one side of the carpet I was walking on and eighty-one on the other, were technically not yet admitted. Afraid of getting in trouble, they stood frozen like statues.
"Oh, so he beat out Jeon Yeon-ji? Didn't they say even the second son of the Tang family, who took top spot last year, couldn't handle Jeon Yeon-ji?"
"Yes! Student Council President. Though they didn't actually cross swords—it was based on the entrance exam scores they prepared—so it's a bit ambiguous. But he got the nickname 'Top Scorer of the Term,' so doesn't that count as beating him?! And..."
"And what else?"
"Word is, the professors and enforcement team leaders ordered us to keep it quiet, so it's not confirmed."
"So what is it?"
"A few days ago, the disciplinary chief got intel from the enforcement team that low-level ghosts from the lower reaches had snuck into Dangan-gu. Apparently, that Eon Yong-un guy handled it with his friend Jeong Hyeon."
The people chatting like this were upperclassmen sitting in seats set up a bit away from the plaza where the new examinees stood.
- Black, gold, red, blue. The four-colored uniforms—the helpers from the entrance exam?
'Yes. They were assisting the professors and teaching assistants back then, but they're upperclassmen. Black uniforms are Hyangran Hall, gold is Yunguk Hall, red is Unmae Hall, and blue is Cheongjuk Hall.'
- But can these senior martial artists chatter like this in such a big crowd? I imagined something more solemn.
'I get it. From their perspective, it's like war has broken out. Though once the ceremony really starts, they'll probably shut up.'
In response to my words, Master tossed another question about his lingering doubt.
- War? And what was that about student council president earlier?
'Yes, specifically a recruitment war. Under the banner of Righteous Martial Academy students, they're all alumni, but inside, the dorms compete fiercely. Think of the student council president as the rep elected by each dorm's members.'
- Makes sense why the uniforms are different colors... Hmm. So they'll be fired up to recruit the best talents?
'Yes. Right after the ceremony, the upperclassmen will roll up their sleeves to snag the top prospects, and us newbies switching from candidates to freshmen in white uniforms will hustle to get into our dream dorms.'
And sure enough.
The seniors' chatter on both sides soon turned to the recruitment war.
"Top scorer Eon Yong-un and the three stones Jeong Hyeon. They blocked even the low-level ghosts from the lower reaches? Not just reported it—actually blocked them?"
"Yes. There are five elite scholarship students picked by the enforcement team, so technically three more. But that's the gist."
"Heh. Perfect fits for Unmae Hall. Hmm. But that Jeong Hyeon—isn't he the disgrace of the Wudang? The one who crippled his martial uncle?"
"Spot on."
"...The labels are so heavy it's intimidating. Anyway, we have to bring that Eon Yong-un to Unmae Hall no matter what."
"I'll do my best."
"Not 'best'—bring him, period!"
"But you know better than anyone, President, how fierce the competition gets for top scorers."
"Cheongjuk Hall's trash can't even compete, Yunguk Hall's focused on Jeon Yeon-ji—the prodigy successor to the spear hall and Jeon family's golden boy—and Hyangran Hall obsesses over bloodlines, so deciding on a guy expelled from his family would need approval all the way up to the dorm supervisor prof. If we move fast, it's basically ours uncontested! We have to snag him!"
"Oh, when you put it like that... Got it, President! We'll bring him for sure!"
Unmae Hall had the loudest voices, thanks to their rowdy types, but the other three dorms eyed me and the newbies, murmuring their own plans.
Glancing around as I walked, I saw the other new examinees' ears twitching at the seniors' words.
I got it.
Most late-generation hopefuls aiming for Righteous Martial Academy have a dream dorm in mind, and mid-to-low rankers fret about making the cut.
But I wasn't fazed.
'I get to choose.'
I was the top scorer.
Meaning I held the knife.
I could just relax, weigh the offers from each dorm's student council president against the original story's flow, and pick the best.
Truth be told, the real issue wasn't the seniors on the sides, but the complicated expression on Eon Jeong-ung's face in the VIP seats behind the platform... and the guy next to him gripping the chair arm like it might shatter...
Crack-!
...No, now it was a man who'd outright smashed the armrest, looking just like Professor Paeng Jae-hyuk.
Of course, calling it a problem was only thinking ahead post-ceremony.
For now, I had a job to do.
"Read this oath."
I took the silk scroll from Admissions Head Im Tae-ok and unfurled it.
The man I guessed was the Paeng family head, who looked ready to charge in, calmed his rage. The murmurs filling the hall fell silent in an instant.
Amid that quiet, I opened my mouth.
"Oath!"
Behind me, the 161 new examinees echoed my words.
"Oath!!"
I held my breath until the echo faded.
Then I scanned the text on the scroll.
Representing all new examinees in the oath, one slip of the tongue could make me a laughingstock.
"One. I pledge to obey the academy rules and treat teachers, peers, seniors, and juniors with respect."
"Two. I swear not to be swayed by demonic or evil paths, and never to wield a sword that betrays honor and righteousness."
"Three. I solemnly vow to uphold these promises, devoting my life to righting the chaotic world and saving its suffering people. New Examinee Representative: Eon Yong-un!"
But I recited the oath flawlessly from memory.
And behind my voice, the other new examinees chimed in.
"Peer! Jeong Hyeon!"
"Peer! Yin Xia Lian!"
"Peer... Jeon Yeon-ji."
My new examinee oath kicked things off.
Then came congratulatory speeches from the Martial Alliance Leader and other dignitaries.
Scholarship announcements followed, and finally, Chancellor Gyeong Hye-sa-tae's declaration of admission ended the Righteous Martial Academy's entrance ceremony for new students.
The 162 first-years, now officially freshmen after switching from candidate status, faced dorm assignments and course registrations next.
But admission to Righteous Martial Academy was as prestigious to today's martial artists as passing the imperial exams to scholars, so families and friends coming from afar to celebrate and catch up was the norm.
"Hey, folks! My daughter's a Righteous Martial Academy cadet now!"
"Your daughter only?! My son's one too!"
Today, the whole Dangan-gu area reveled accordingly.
Except for one place: the one-and-only Dangan's Finest Inn.
The mood there was different.
For good reason.
First, Wu So-reung had lost her only father and had no home, temple, or notable relatives.
Jeong Hyeon was similar.
He'd been an orphan from the start. Sure, he had Wudang as his sect, but most there saw him as a thorn in their side.
Of course, the sect leader and his direct master protected him, so no excommunication happened. He still had ties to Wudang because of that.
But the sect leader had to tend to all disciples, and his direct master was in secluded meditation, atoning for Jeong Hyeon's sins in his place, so he couldn't come.
Yin Xia Lian and Yin Ha-seong, the siblings, were a bit different.
The Southern Jiang Merchant King, Eun Se-pyeong, had attended the ceremony.
But he didn't spend much time with his kids.
To him, time was gold, and right now, schmoozing the other VIPs at the ceremony was more valuable than family time.
Last were the Eon trio.
Me, Eon Jeong-ung, and Eon Yong-myeong.
We had family there, and time together, but...
"......"
"......"
"......"
The vibe was awkward.
For me, family ties were all new. For the Eon father and son, I seemed like the sore thumb.
I could understand.
Technically, I was the disowned son and the father who'd done the disowning.
Anyway.
How long had this awkwardness dragged on?
I couldn't take the gloom and spoke up.
"By the way, I haven't introduced everyone. This is my father, the head of the Pearl Eon Family. And these guys... well, it's kinda like I picked them up along the way..."
"Bro! 'Picked up'?! These are all my little siblings! Why can't you say it?!"
Shame on you wherever you go, kid.
"The one I just mentioned. Yin Ha-seong. Second son of the Southern Jiang Merchant King, nicknamed Southern Jiang Divine Hero or whatever, but as you see, he doesn't live up to it."
"Pleased to meet you. Thanks to Yong-un bro, it's no exaggeration to say I was reborn. And we shared grilled eel tails and..."
"Short and sweet. And why bring up grilled eel tails?"
"Yin Ha-seong."
"N-Nice to meet you."
With that icebreaker.
The mood lightened, so I kept introducing.
"This is Yin Xia Lian. The sister of the guy I just introduced. Eldest child of the Southern Jiang Merchant King, holder of the Thousand Gold Smile nickname."
"Oh, the phoenix destined to rule the world's commerce from Huizhou, and it's you?"
"Embarrassed as I am, that's what they call me. I've long admired the Northern Region's Fierce Hero's name, but meeting you like this, I see the young master's boldness comes from you, Family Head."
"Hahaha. Southern Jiang's Golden Phoenix, they say, and you've got a silver tongue. Ah, I saw you took top in the civil exam for overall second place? Congrats."
"Compared to the young master's feats, it's nothing."
But Yin Xia Lian could've gone on all day if left alone.
"No need for that. I studied here too and know the civil exam's no joke. And after you left home, Yong-un seems to have been under your care—much appreciated."
"My apologies, but that's not true, Family Head. If anything, the young master saved my life. I owe him a debt I don't know how to repay..."
"...That's enough from you, Miss. What kind of merchant brags about debts?"
I cut in quick.
Then shoved Wu So-reung forward.
"This is Wu So-reung. Don't let appearances fool you—her lightness skill is top-tier, hard to match. She tuned mine up, and it's no exaggeration to say that's why I topped the exam."
"W-What are you saying, Eon bro?! No, Family Head! That's not true at all. I benefited from him."
"I-I see. Pleased to meet you, Wu young hero."
And finally, Jeong Hyeon.
"This is Jeong Hyeon. Wudang disciple, adopted by Tae Yeong-ja."
"Jeong Hyeon. Learning much from Young Hero Eon."
"Mm. I've heard of that nickname."
"...Ah, you have."
"Don't make that face. Others might not get it, but I see your actions as true heroism."
"Thank you."
After introducing my Eon "siblings," the mood warmed nicely, and right on cue, the innkeeper brought Yeo-ahong.
"No wonder the top scorer Eon turned out so fine—Northern Region's Fierce Hero Eon Jeong-ung is your father! I scrounged some Yeo-ahong—enjoy."
Pop-
"Ho. Proper aroma."
"Heh heh heh. If you like it, just leave a little signature on the wall over there when you go. 'Great stuff' or whatever."
In that relaxed vibe, drinks flowed between my Eon "siblings" and Eon blood kin(?).
How much time passed?
Yin Xia Lian slipped away first, not wanting to look disheveled, then the Eon "siblings" staggered off one by one.
Soon, only the three Eon blood kin remained at the table.
Looked like Eon blood ran thick with liquor tolerance.
Anyway, in that moment, Eon Jeong-ung spoke up.
"Hard to recall the last time just the three of us gathered like this."
"...Last time was when you were expelled from the Eon family estate, brother."
But Yong-myeong's needless remark tanked the mood again.
"......"
"......"
"......"
Should I fake being drunk and bail? As that thought crossed my mind.
Eon Jeong-ung turned to me.
"...So what the hell is all this?"
Hm.
Gotta answer this carefully...