Chapter 109
Chapter 109
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Translator: penny
Chapter Title: Lost Item (6)
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"Whew. It's heavy, huh."
Click. Clank.
Chu Un-hwi whistled as he looked at the heavy handcuffs locked around both his wrists.
"Can't you make them a bit looser? They're so tight my wrists hurt."
"……."
No matter how much he joked around, the stern martial artist from the Disciplinary Office silently fastened shackles around his ankles.
As his limbs suddenly grew heavy, he tucked in his chin like a walnut shell. Before long, the warrior stood up, having secured him without any gaps.
"All done. Follow the Disciplinary Office clerk."
Clank. Clank.
Every time he moved his legs, the heavy iron balls dragged along, making it quite a hassle.
"What is this? Treating me like a criminal already."
The silver lining was that these lunatics hadn't shackled Mok Yeon-seong separately.
'No need to restrain a skinny twig like him on sight.'
This was truly a fortunate decision.
'It kept my mind from twisting too much.'
Clank. Clank.
After dragging the iron balls for over an incense stick's time, they arrived at a small hall inside the Disciplinary Office.
Upon entering, quite a few people were already seated inside.
The first thing that caught the eye was the imposing large desk at the front and the stern-looking elderly Disciplinary Office clerks.
A quick glance.
Beside them were familiar faces.
'Those guys who broke the iron bars the other day.'
On the opposite side sat a few Silver Hall instructors and students glaring at him with eyes full of resentment.
Clank. Clank.
He slowly dragged the iron balls to the indicated seat. Then, the elderly Disciplinary Office clerk gravely opened his mouth.
"Then. Let us begin the inquiry."
What followed was a farce.
The first to step forward was an unfamiliar instructor.
"Claims of bullying in the righteous Silver Hall? Utter nonsense."
He went on at length about how attentively they monitored the students before sitting down.
The next ones were no different.
Things started feeling off around the fifth instructor.
"As the supervising instructor for Student So-yang, I have something to say."
He preached at length about how diligent the victims were.
"On the other hand, Student Mok Yeon-seong has some issues."
They were steering the narrative one-sidedly.
Then, unfamiliar students came forward, spouting so-called testimonies.
"Student Mok was always so gloomy in personality."
"He couldn't get along with people and often wandered on the fringes."
"There were times he reacted paranoid even to trivial matters."
The students' testimonies were consistent.
The last to step up was Instructor Gwak Jong-geun.
"Here are the investigation materials related to this incident. After inquiring with the students, we concluded there was no systematic bullying."
"Hmm. That makes sense."
Getting the desired reaction, the sycophants who had been watching cues sniffled.
"We truly had no idea."
"We joked around lightly at times, but we never thought he'd harbor grudges over it."
"We're sorry. We should have been more inclusive toward Student Mok."
"This is all our oversight."
As crocodile tears flowed, the eyes of the veteran experts on the opposite side sharpened.
"Tsk. Of course."
"No disciple of the main sect would commit such atrocities."
"So that guy assaulted the students for no good reason?"
"And not in a proper spar, but brawling like street thugs?"
"Defiling a martial artist's honor and resorting to violence."
Amid the heated clamor, the elderly clerk asked Chu Un-hwi.
"Do you have any rebuttals?"
"Maybe because those innocent brats bashed my head? My memory differs greatly."
"Mind your words. Quite undignified."
"Better than being conscienceless."
"Don't forget your attitude will factor into the disciplinary outcome."
"Wow. So strict."
Chu Un-hwi stood up, shooting death glares at the crocodile crew as he bantered.
Their startled flinches, avoiding his gaze, were a sight to behold.
"When these kids threatened their instructor and I smacked them a few times, they pull this stunt? Useless."
At his defiant attitude, Gwak Jong-geun, who had been biding his time, stepped forward.
"The temporary instructor's words have issues."
"Instructor Gwak."
"From the start, your claim that they threatened you is just your assertion."
"Plenty of eyes were watching. Were they all blind?"
"Ahem. Truly, the pot calling the kettle black."
At his signal, another figure emerged from the side.
In the oppressive atmosphere, the one who strode in confidently was a face Chu Un-hwi recognized.
"Heh heh heh. Temporary instructor. Didn't expect this when you kicked me out, huh?"
Not at all.
'No. I didn't even imagine it.'
His intense glaring suggested he had come fully prepared.
Gwak Jong-geun smiled softly, pleased by the sight.
"Eldest son of the Jinju Un Clan. Student Un Ho-seung."
At the mention of Jinju Un Clan's eldest son, curiosity flickered in the room's attention.
"He says he has testimony regarding this incident. Is that correct?"
Un Ho-seung nodded lightly, unfazed by the focused gazes and auras.
"Yes."
"You were the first to witness the fight. Can you explain the truth, staking your clan's honor?"
"I can."
Gwak Jong-geun stepped back with a nod, and the elderly clerk spoke again.
"At the time of the incident, Mok Yeon-seong wielded a weapon, lay in wait for innocent victims, and ambushed them cowardly."
"Yes."
"The reason for the ambush was delusional persecution complex. He meticulously prepared the incident thinking he was being bullied."
"And?"
"In trying to stop this, the temporary instructor misjudged and exercised undue violence."
The Disciplinary Office elder, summarizing, eyes gleaming, asked.
"Is all of this true?"
Un Ho-seung shouted boldly.
"Total bullshit."
He declared with contempt.
"I saw those fuckers' antics clearly."
He didn't stop there.
"Instructor Gwak. Sorry about this?"
"You even rigged the exam for me, but I can't keep the promise."
"This just doesn't sit right."
The room gaped and rose in shock.
"Student Un! What do you mean?!"
"Why? Aren't you handling the makeup exam with a Divine Martial Academy classmate?"
"Baseless slander."
"How would a mere student know the makeup exam instructor?"
"You!"
Instructor Gwak Jong-geun's face flushed crimson. He seemed desperate to silence him.
"Quite an intriguing tale."
Turning to the voice from the door, Instructor Gwak's face paled blue.
Jang Cheol-sim stood leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed.
That wasn't all.
"Can't just let this slide."
Recognizing the next voice's owner, Gwak Jong-geun slumped.
"D-Duggo the Great Hero…."
One of the absolute powerhouses shaking the current martial world, one of the Ten Great Swordsmen.
What brought such a figure to a minor disciplinary meeting?
Even the previously arrogant veterans turned ashen.
"D-Duggo the One-Eyed Sword God?"
"How is the Executor of Justice here…."
"My god. It's really him. Never dreamed of meeting you here."
The room swirled with shock.
Ignoring it entirely, the One-Eyed Sword God turned his sole eye toward Jang Cheol-sim.
"Senior instructor. You look like you have much to say."
"No worries, Duggo the Great Hero."
Jang Cheol-sim met the piercing gaze and swept his eyes around.
"I won't let a single one involved in this incident slip away."
A piercing audit swept through Silver Hall.
Bullying was an issue, but the real problem was the covert score manipulation among instructors.
Corruption in an academy that should be fair was a grave matter.
Above all, One-Eyed Sword God Duggo Ryul pointing it out escalated things.
The report reached Chief Supervisor White-Clothed Judge Seon In-hyeok, and reportedly, Hall Master Flame Light Blade Demon Ma Gil-sang flew into a rage upon hearing.
"I may have overrated the Divine Martial Academy."
Hearing that the corruption-hating "Living Justice" was deeply disappointed, the two tore the academy apart.
"Report even the smallest irregularities!"
"Leave no one involved in the corruption!"
The relentless audit continued daily, making Silver Hall, Gold Hall, and even Bronze Hall instructors tremble.
The era of massive overtime had dawned.
Regardless, one person was leisurely.
"Sorry for the trouble, Instructor Chu Un-hwi."
Clank.
Chu Un-hwi, fiddling with the chafed spots from the handcuffs, turned his head.
There, Mok Yeon-seong and Un Ho-seung, both looking flustered, were reuniting.
'Tall skinny twig and short sturdy kid.'
Such a mismatched pair made Chu Un-hwi chuckle.
"What brings you here?"
"Just dropping by while at it."
"What about the others?"
"Only the eldest son of Jinju Un Clan like me can deal with those narrow-minded big-name fossils."
So considerate.
Truly, what a change of heart in just days.
"Didn't expect the guy I chased off in a tantrum to defend me."
"Heh heh. Honestly, I thought 'annoying bastard, fuck off.'"
"Too bad. Almost succeeded."
"Just bad luck."
Un Ho-seung muttered dejectedly.
"But I didn't want to end up some half-criminal."
Had he kept those words to heart?
"Impressive. Though your head seems empty."
Despite his words, Chu Un-hwi was quite surprised.
To breach Gwak Jong-geun's cautious defenses and get summoned here showed clever maneuvering.
"Not regretting? Silver Hall's age limit is tight, I heard."
Silver Hall's rule: five years.
Fail to promote to Gold Hall within, and you're out.
'To prevent freeloading forever, or so?'
Un Ho-seung smacked his lips.
"Can't be helped. Still a year left even if I fail."
"Really cutting it close."
At the teasing, Un Ho-seung bowed his head gravely.
"So help me. Guide me to head into the martial world on my own."
Exposing his crown without hesitation, Chu Un-hwi replied.
"Don't worry, kid. Just don't cry that my guidance is harsh."
***
Five days later.
The day of the mock training makeup exam arrived. Once the venue was announced, Un Ho-seung pumped his fist.
"Yes! Habi Castle! Good start?"
Mid-level exam ground: Habi Castle.
A mock training ground perfectly recreating the back alleys.
So meticulously done that even the street stench lingered, but no one minded.
"The place Jegal the Young Hero mentioned."
"Five types of mock training here, right?"
"Most common is capturing the 'Iron Chain Union's Lustful Fiend.'"
"Don't let your guard down. New scenarios might be added."
"Scout the area first."
Dong dong dong dong.
At the drum's beat, they swiftly took positions.
While Dang-gan surveyed terrain.
"Excuse me. A question."
Un Ho-seung interrogated locals to grasp the situation.
"So, where exactly?"
Polite to passersby, aggressive to ruffians.
Adroitly piecing it together, they advanced into the mock training ground.
Then it was smooth sailing.
While other makeup groups floundered at the entrance, they infiltrated the evil faction's turf adeptly.
Even Chu Un-hwi was impressed by using Lim So-jeong as bait to lure the fiend.
'Pretty bold tactic.'
And the ensuing surprise.
Bam!
Un Ho-seung slammed the table and bellowed heroically.
"Villain making an innocent woman weep! Have no fear of heaven's wrath?!"
With diaphragmatic breathing for dramatic lines, the ensuing battle was flashy.
"To positions!"
Seamless teamwork constantly pressuring the instructor.
Bam!
"Ah. I surrender."
They even forced the instructor's concession.
"Hahaha! See? We did it!"
Watching their leaping joy, Chu Un-hwi commented briefly.
"Not bad for a kid."
The makeup exam ended.