Chapter 74
Why do I have to go alone with that guy! I want to go with the seniors! Or maybe I should just do it by myself!
Junior and I are the only two being sent on this request, and Blanser immediately shot up his neck veins in protest.
“Huh? Puberty, is it? Lately you’ve been arguing with everything we say. Not listening to a word?”
“Ughhh!”
Teraden’s eyes bulged comically, and Blanser dropped flat on the ground, throwing a full-blown tantrum.
“I want to go with the seniors!!”
“What the hell is this brat? Actually, it’s embarrassing. Why are you acting like this?”
“Haru-nim and Teraden-nim must have a reason for sending only us two. I’ll follow your orders.”
“Er… well, then I’ll do as you say.”
But when Junior accepted it without a single complaint, Blanser, who had been flailing his arms, secretly straightened up and bowed his stubborn will.
His cheeks were puffed out and his mouth hung open in protest, but he had no choice.
“Huh? Not shutting your mouth?”
“Kuaaaa!!”
*Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!*
Blanser, who had suddenly let out a strange cry of displeasure from Teraden’s nagging, stormed off first, shouting at the top of his lungs.
Teraden shook his head in displeasure, then turned his gaze toward Junior.
“Sigh, that kid… I wonder when he’ll finally grow up.”
“….”
“Alright, that one’s settled. Now next is Junior.”
“Yes, Teraden-nim.”
“It’s going to be tough. It’ll probably be brutally difficult. But endure it. As you said, there must be a reason we’re sending only the two of you.”
“…Understood.”
Teraden lightly patted Junior’s slumped shoulder.
“Junior.”
“Yes, Haru-nim.”
“Because you and Blanser have a strained relationship, there’ll be many difficulties ahead. You don’t have to force yourselves to solve the request at any cost. What matters most is that you both return safely.”
“Understood. We’ll come back to see you, Haru-nim. Please be careful too.”
Without the slightest hesitation, Junior turned his back and left our side.
“What did you say to the seniors?”
Blanser, who had left first, asked Junior.
He had noticed Junior glancing back at us and stopped, waiting for him to finish speaking.
“It has nothing to do with you.”
“Hey you! You can’t dodge the truth like this!”
Blanser leaned close to Junior’s ear and roared like a beast.
“…Shut up and follow me.”
“Hurry up and tell me!!”
Junior’s face hardened in indifference, and Blanser yelled so loudly his eardrums were about to burst.
“I’m already worried…”
“Whatever, they’ll figure it out themselves. We have to hurry, so let’s get ready too.”
* * *
A few days later.
Somewhere inside the empire, not far from the National Academy (Gukhak).
In a room that looked like a meeting hall, eight unusual figures were gathered, each radiating an air of authority.
They were busily sorting through a mountain of documents spread across the table.
“The 7 Danju. Or should I say 6 Danju now? Anyway, the applications that came from the National Academy end here.”
A man with clean hair and a patchy beard reminiscent of a bandit asked the others.
“Yes, 4th Danju Jeongmyeong.”
“More than I expected. Did something happen at the National Academy this year?”
One of the 6 Danju in the same seat answered.
“It’s likely from the aftereffects of the winning night a few months ago, where the 3rd-year students defeated the 1st and 2nd.”
“Oh? He defeated Hyeondo?”
4th Danju Jeongmyeong widened his eyes in disbelief at the news.
“Hyeondo wasn’t exactly a talent we were watching, but to defeat him…”
“We didn’t actually defeat him. We fought him until dawn and satisfied the victory conditions.”
“Even so, it’s impressive. But who exactly fought Hyeondo? Did he apply for this Danju Selection too?”
“Ah, it’s right here.”
“Oh, thank you. 6th Danju Cheongseol.”
A petite girl, who looked like a child, handed over the application forms of the successful applicants to Jeongmyeong while the other 6 Danju were busy analyzing documents.
“Oh! 1st Seat and 6th Seat, same family. Hmm? The son of the Amerk Duke too…? This Danju Selection is going to be fierce.”
Jeongmyeong, satisfied with the news, handed the documents back to Cheongseol.
“So that’s why the applications flooded in. Hot-blooded youths. Unfortunately, most of them didn’t pass.”
Sighing in disappointment, Jeongmyeong shifted his gaze to the corner where a pile of rejection forms was stacked.
Among them, a single sheet of paper caught Jeongmyeong’s eye.
“Hmm?”
“Why is that?”
“This person… who placed this application here?”
“I did.”
Unlike the others, a young man sitting in a wheeled chair calmly raised his hand.
“Do you know who this is?”
Jeongmyeong’s name field at the top of the application showed the crooked writing “Aaron Blanser.”
“Yes. Although he claims to be a disciple of a Grand Duke, he is actually a blood relative of the late Jindo Crow’s Duck.”
“6th Danju Ren Eper. How is it that you, who knows him, processed his application as a rejection?”
“Because he lacks the qualifications to be a Danju.”
“What? Why?”
Jeongmyeong’s eyebrow twitched.
“Because he lacks the basic qualities required of a Danju.”
“If that were the only reason, it would be a shame not to select him as Danju. But judging by his grades and conduct, he clearly lacks even basic common sense.”
One of the other 6 Danju chimed in.
“But after going through the Danju Selection, if he realizes his duties as a Danju, he will surely display a peerless determination.”
“Still no.”
However, Eper’s attitude showed no signs of moving.
“6th Danju Ren Eper.”
“Yes, 4th Danju Jeongmyeong.”
“I have always respected your opinions. This Danju Selection is entirely under the jurisdiction of the 6 Danju, so I won’t interfere much, but can’t you at least give this person a little more leeway?”
At Jeongmyeong’s persuasive words, Eper’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“The one called the Grand Duke of Fusion, who suddenly disappeared several years ago, is precisely the Grand Duke, Jindo Crow’s Duck. The 3rd and 4th Danju weren’t they the ones who dealt with all the incidents His Highness caused?”
“Hmph. Listen here, 6th Danju Ren Eper. Isn’t it our duty as Danju to assist the great Seven Pillars and the Grand Duke?”
“The 4th Danju is right. But that purpose is never for personal gain. And can someone who grew up without the bloodline of the Grand Duke truly understand the sincerity of these people who are struggling? He is the successor to the violent Jindo Crow’s Duck.”
“We can guide him slowly after the selection.”
“The Danju Selection is not a place to receive guidance, but one where we select those who are ready to sacrifice themselves for the continent.”
“6th Danju Ren Eper. I understand your intent, but as I listen, it seems unfair to 4th Danju Jeongmyeong. Stop it.”
In the heated atmosphere, one of the 6 Danju could no longer stay silent and stopped Eper.
“In that case, we shall decide on this person. What is your opinion? I am in favor, and 6th Danju Ren Eper is against.”
“I am in favor.”
“I agree.”
“Ren Eper 6 Danju’s words are wrong, so I am against.”
“Against.”
While the 6 Danju expressed their opinions one by one.
*Munch, gulp.*
“…What are you doing?”
One Danju, who had been engrossed in eating, asked with a dazed expression.
“…You’re abstaining. Three in favor, three against. One abstention. Finally, what is your opinion, 6th Danju Cheongseol?”
At Jeongmyeong’s question, every Danju’s gaze, including himself and Ren Eper, turned to the petite girl.
Cheongseol, who had been tapping the ends of her fingers, opened her mouth hesitantly.
“I think… it’s fine to vote in favor. If this person truly lacks the qualifications to be Danju, won’t he be eliminated during the selection?”
““…?””
Her unexpected answer made the bodies of everyone else twitch. They had overlooked the most important point.
“S-Sorry! Don’t look at me like that!”
“Uahaha! As expected of 6th Danju Cheongseol. You answer precisely. What do you think, 6th Danju Ren Eper? Do you agree with Cheongseol?”
“…Yes, I have no objection.”
“Good. There is no disagreement. The successful applicants from the National Academy now total eleven, including Aaron Blanser.”
* * *
Meanwhile.
*Tap, tap, tap.*
Sitting across from each other around a bonfire, Blanser and Junior simply stared at the roaring flames in silence.
It was awkward.
There was probably no more awkward relationship anywhere on the continent.
“These crazy bastards sent a request to the National Academy. Are they out of their minds?”
Blanser muttered with a vicious face completely different from when he was with Haru’s group.
Blanser and Junior. The request given by Haru was from the southernmost tip of the South Kingdom.
“It’s time to depart.”
“…Irritating.”
“Then from now on, go alone. I’ll return.”
“His Highness clearly said we two should solve the request.”
“….”
Despite Junior’s urging, Blanser remained rooted like a heavy stone.
Until yesterday, even when Haru and Teraden were mentioned, Blanser had grumbled but obediently followed. Now even that was impossible. His power was spent.
If this continued, Blanser would return to the National Academy, and the request would fail, disappointing Haru’s expectations.
“Hoo…”
Junior suddenly felt dizzy and pressed his hand to his forehead.
Blanser was one of his saviors, so he had been hiding his feelings.
Even if that weren’t the case, Junior hadn’t disliked Blanser, but Blanser felt differently toward him.
The recent incident in Okjeo, where Haru and Teraden had come to save him at great cost.
And the embarrassing behavior of someone he had recognized as an enemy. For all these reasons, Blanser still didn’t like Junior.
The way to earn the favor of such a person was surprisingly simple. Simply receive their true recognition.
What was needed for that was power. Overwhelming power to crush and imprint dominance.
‘Probably Haru-nim and Teraden-nim thought the same. It won’t be easy, but my task is to crush this guy and make him submit.’
*Crack! Crunch!*
Junior twisted his neck with a bone-cracking sound and pointed his finger at Blanser.
“You said it was two wins, one loss, one draw. Let’s even the record this time. Come on.”
“Kyahahaha!”
Even if the song “two wins, one loss, one draw” was sung, Blanser knew it well.
The previous win had never been fair or proper.
Junior had been in poor physical condition and mentally dominated.
After enduring the humiliation, the opportunity to determine who was stronger had come to him of its own accord. How could he be more excited?
“It’s fortunate we got bored. The best news I’ve heard in a while.”
“Develop.”
*Swish. Swish—!*
In the blink of an eye, jet-black armor covered Junior’s arms and both legs.
“One shijin.”
“…?”
“As you know, time is limited. Finish it within one shijin. Come.”
“Enough.”
*Fwoosh—!*
The ground under both their feet exploded with a wild roar.