Her Grandfather on Her Mother’s Side
“S-sojin? Sojin, you say!?”
Master Raeji’s face, which had looked ready to die a moment ago, brightened in an instant as he broke into a radiant smile.
He was looking at me as if I were some kind of savior.
“Yes, Master. I came to fetch you because the time has come.”
There was something he wanted.
With his hands clasped behind his back, Master Raeji stared at me in silence, his gaze hot and intent.
…
Don’t look at me like that.
It’s uncomfortable.
“You said Sojin? I’ve never seen you before, but your name sounds familiar.”
Interested now, the other master slowly walked over, stroking his beard.
He was a middle-aged man with narrow, slanted eyes and a severe expression. From his clothing alone, it was obvious he was a master, but I couldn’t tell who he was.
“Sojin, you probably know already, but this is Master Wihong. And this here is my disciple, Cheon Sojin.”
Master Wihong… was he the chief master in charge of the first hall?
Vaguely, I could remember that much.
I politely cupped my fists and bowed.
“I am Cheon Sojin.”
“Mm… yes, yes, no need to be so formal. In any case, it’s a pleasure. If I’m reading this fellow’s brightened face correctly, are you his top disciple?”
Top disciple? What a horrifying thing to say.
I had no intention of being tied down to Jeongdo Academy.
If it came to that, I’d sooner throw myself in with the Demonic Cult or the Blood Cult.
But there was no need to reveal those thoughts, so I modestly shook my head.
“I’m only a lowly student. I’m not enlightened enough to take on the role of top disciple. I’m sure Master Raeji can find a far more capable disciple than me.”
“Hahaha! There’s no need for Sojin to be so humble. If you have the will, that’s enough. What do you say? Are you interested?”
The moment he heard my answer, Master Raeji smiled broadly and pulled a sheet of paper out of a document box.
…
You still hadn’t thrown that away?
He clearly knew I wouldn’t do it, so why was he even taking it out?
Just as I glanced at the paper, I caught the two masters exchanging looks and giving each other a small nod.
“Raeji, are you planning to send that boy on this mission? Even if we’re desperate, I don’t like the idea of using some nameless brat. Don’t we have anyone else?”
“Wihong, ‘brat’ is a bit much! I can’t let that slide. Are you insulting my disciple? That’s no different from insulting me!”
“That isn’t what I meant. I’m simply saying we should face reality. He’s an unknown nobody, isn’t he? I don’t know on what basis you expect me to entrust this to him.”
Well, well.
They glared at each other and launched into a sharp little war of nerves.
“No matter that he’s a master of the first hall, to dismiss a single martial artist so blatantly!”
“Can’t you recognize a friend’s sincere advice?”
“Sojin, you’re going to have to show your skill here. Let’s give that arrogant bastard a proper smack.”
“That would be fine too. If the boy truly has skill, I’ll apologize sincerely.”
At Wihong’s words, Master Raeji grew indignant as if it were his own business, clenching his lips hard.
A martial artist’s pride was worth more than gold.
When someone questioned your skill like this, the usual response was to settle it with an easy-to-understand method like a martial contest, or to prove oneself through results.
If they were sons of prominent noble clans, they’d probably either erupt in anger or start arguing back.
Master Raeji looked at me gravely and gave a small nod.
It was permission to speak.
And my answer, naturally, was…
“Master Wihong is right. I don’t know the details, but it seems like far too much of a burden for me to handle.”
“Yes, let’s make that Wihong bastard—? What did you just say?”
“What? …No, no, that’s not it. Wise decision, wise decision. Your disciple is awfully clever.”
They were so perfectly in sync, it almost looked like they’d rehearsed this more than once.
I absolutely wasn’t doing it.
They were even attacking a martial artist’s pride.
I couldn’t even imagine how many people they had worn down this way until now.
I could practically hear the screams of graduate students ringing in my ears.
Just from the way the two masters were already suffering over this, I could tell it was a troublesome matter. On top of that, with the students under them graduating, they were probably drowning in a chronic labor shortage. So it wasn’t strange that they’d come back to me for help.
This could go pretty easily if I play it right.
If I was lucky, I might even get sent somewhere perfect for refining a secret technique.
“Sojin—”
Before the master could even start speaking, I cut in a beat ahead.
“I’m sorry. This unworthy disciple, Sojin, lacks the ability to meet you face-to-face in good conscience. You seem very busy, so I’ll go pay my respects to the academy head first.”
The two masters looked at each other in open dismay.
“Hah… Sojin, why are you in such a hurry? Just wait a moment, will you?”
…
The tension on their faces was obvious. I guess this had gone far beyond their expectations.
Would there really be anyone who’d accept a mission after such blatant provocation, without even knowing what they were being asked to do or what they stood to gain?
“...So it failed after all, did it? That boy won’t bite on cheap tricks like this.”
“This is getting tiresome. He’s completely different from when we dealt with Cheongmyeong, huh. ...Raeji, aren’t your acting skills a little too crude?”
“What nonsense is that? Just wait a moment.”
The two of them spoke while casually setting up a barrier to block sound.
…
They were making me wait like this just to go see the academy head?
I had my suspicions, but since Master Raeji would be the one taking responsibility, I could stay relaxed.
About a quarter of an hour passed.
“I suppose I should go now.”
Master Wihong shook his head and walked toward the door.
“Give me a little more time. We didn’t expect them to show up so suddenly.”
“And you think I wanted it to be this way? I told you before, didn’t I? Pay attention to these things in advance.”
“I didn’t become a master at the academy just to curry favor with those people! I intend to raise the pillars of the martial world…”
“Of course I know that. But this is reality. You’re strangely old-fashioned about these things. In any case, I’ll try to buy us as much time as I can.”
“I’m counting on you, Wihong.”
Even at a glance, the conversation was deeply entangled with political concerns.
After confirming that he had left, Master Raeji let out a sigh and came over to me.
“Sojin, are you ready to meet the academy head?”
“Yes, sir. I changed into my best clothes before coming.”
“Good. ...And I’m sorry about just now. I made a pointless test of you.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m sure you had your reasons. Master, it’s about time for you to leave.”
But—
Master Raeji showed no sign of moving with his hands behind his back.
“Thank you. Ah! If only someone as capable as Cheongmyeong were still alive, none of this would have happened…”
As he sighed like that, his eyes were fixed on me.
…
So that’s how you’re playing it now?
“Ahh! Cheongmyeong! If only he were alive, he would have stepped up without hesitation…”
“I’ll be going first.”
As soon as I opened the door and started to step out, Master Raeji flinched and grabbed my arm.
“Heh heh, and you call yourself my disciple—you’d really leave this master behind?”
“I’ll explain it well to the academy head.”
“Huff… truly, there’s no convincing you?”
The master looked at me with pleading eyes.
A middle-aged man’s desperate gaze was deeply uncomfortable.
…
I stopped the foot I’d already lifted and stood there in silence.
As if I could leave at any moment, but was choosing not to.
Master Raeji, sensing my intent, opened his mouth as though he’d been waiting for it.
“Oh! Sojin, I’ll prepare twenty Gangjindan.”
Mid-grade elixir, huh…
Not bad, but not great either.
I took another step forward.
“Ah! More elixirs are always better. I’ll add twenty Oji Pills as well!”
Another step.
“A-and I’ll lift the mission restrictions.”
That was fine too, since it meant fewer bothersome problems.
…
If he was willing to grant special treatment, this really must be urgent.
After walking five more steps and extracting the elixirs, I slowly opened my mouth.
“Master, may I use Myeongokjeon?”
Master Raeji’s face stiffened at once.
“Sojin, that would be difficult. It’s a sort of privilege granted only to masters like me. It’s not a place students are allowed to use.”
“I’m asking precisely because I know that.”
“There’ll certainly be complaints that I’m favoring only certain students. You might become a target yourself.”
“I’m prepared for that.”
Even in the current situation, there probably weren’t a hundred students who could stand toe-to-toe with me.
Master Raeji stroked his chin, as if thinking it over.
“So you’re saying you want me to share the blame with you?”
“No, Master. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship. We both profit.”
Master Raeji stood with his hands behind his back, looking out the window.
“How strange. You seem full of righteous conviction, and yet at times you feel like some old veteran who’s been dragged through the mud for decades. Are you really the same child who just had his coming-of-age ceremony this year?”
“Don’t you know me well, Master? It’s thanks to you that I’ve grown this much.”
He let out a hearty laugh and finally turned back around.
“Very well. Since I took you in, I suppose I should accept this much. You have both substance and results, so I’ll trust you’ll do well with the mission and with your training.”
…This is actually working?
It was half coercion at best, yet Master Raeji approved far more readily than I’d expected.
“Leave it to me. I won’t disappoint your expectations, Master.”
“We’ll talk about the rest after we’ve met the academy head.”
*
*
*
After the greetings were done, I looked around.
The academy head’s room was more modest than I’d expected.
Just a desk and a bookshelf for work.
It was enough to show the man’s frugal character.
The dignified middle-aged man in red martial robes sat back down and said, “You seem too tense. Relax. This is only a formality.”
The academy head’s gentle eyes curved into a soft smile.
But—
“Sojin, calm yourself and ease your mind.”
I didn’t miss the sharp light hidden in those pupils.
Even though he must have been curious about the whereabouts of the purple jewel, he smiled and laughed as though nothing were amiss.
This isn’t an ordinary master.
So I really am being suspected?
The title of one of the Ten Great Experts of the world hadn’t been empty praise.
A master who, if fortunate, might even reach the Profound / Unrivaled realm.
Baekli Jijeong, the Red Shadow Hand Emperor and the maternal grandfather of Namgung Hye, and the owner of Jeongdo Academy.
He was observing me closely.
…
In any case, the purple jewel had already been absorbed into me and vanished.
There was no evidence, and there was one witness each.
No matter what he asked, I was the one with nothing to lose.
After studying me for a long while, the Red Shadow Hand Emperor finally spoke.
“Cheon Sojin. You.”
What is he planning to ask?
I could think of plenty of possibilities.
The whereabouts of the jewel?
The altar’s features?
The changes in my body?
…
…
It sounded like Master Raeji was more nervous than I was; I could hear him swallowing.
Gulp—
After pausing for a moment, the Red Shadow Hand Emperor smiled with satisfaction.
“What do you think of our Hye?”
…?
What the hell is he asking me now?