Chair Snatched
After wrapping up matters with Ak Byeongbi and Ak Jupyeong, my plans for a leisurely rest day went up in smoke when my old senior brother grabbed me.
"Do you know what this is?"
He pulled out bottles of famed liquor he'd stashed away in the academy head's office to tempt me, leaving me no choice but to drink right there on the spot.
"Hoo... I didn't think I was this weak to booze. This stuff packs a punch. Ahem."
I had no idea how I'd made it back to the dorm last night, but when I opened my eyes, a raging thirst and pounding headache hit me like a hammer, chasing away any hope of more sleep. As I gulped down the honey water the head maid had warmed for me, I confessed the previous night's events. She let out a sigh, looking utterly disappointed in me.
"Even the finest liquors in the world turn into poison if you mix them like that."
"...Did I say anything about mixing them?"
"You listed every single one that your old senior brother served you."
"...".
How much did I drink yesterday, exactly?
"I thought martial artists could expel their drunkenness..."
A cold glare stabbed at me like a dagger.
"Why didn't you do that?"
But I wasn't about to back down.
"...It felt like a waste."
That's right. It was a waste. I don't drink often, but you can't pass up a chance at top-shelf liquor. Letting the authentic buzz of rare vintages just dissipate through internal energy? What a shame that would be.
The head maid shook her head at my shameless expression.
"At least wash your face first."
"Got it..."
Splash.
The washbasin she brought was filled with water so shockingly cold it snapped me right awake. This wasn't like her...
"...Didn't you always prepare lukewarm water for me?"
She replied without even meeting my eyes.
"I couldn't heat the morning water, so it's just cold. Make do."
"...".
Her, who had attended me flawlessly without a single slip-up, forgetting to heat water? Her gaze felt colder than the water itself—was that just my imagination?
I knew it was a lame excuse, but the atmosphere was so tense I didn't press the issue and just washed with the cold water.
"Eugh..."
After splashing my face with bone-chilling water, my head finally cleared a bit. Soon after, the head maid returned with a tray piled high with food.
"Breakfast. Eat it before it gets cold."
My stomach was still queasy, making it hard to stomach anything. As I opened my mouth to say so, she held out a bowl.
"Hot chicken broth. This'll settle your stomach."
"...".
The rich aroma rising from the steaming broth made me swallow hard despite myself. One sip eased the nausea, and suddenly the other dishes started looking appetizing. I managed to pick at them bit by bit, eating everything.
Standing by my side, the head maid moved the tastier side dishes closer as I ate well.
"I trust you won't binge like this again."
Her tone was frosty, but worry seeped through. Scolding with care—it felt like a mother dealing with a wayward child. Sensing that, I simply nodded.
"I'll be careful."
After finishing the meal, I changed into fresh clothes she'd brought.
The fight with the Ak family yesterday had cost me dearly in all sorts of ways. The more I thought about it, the madder I got.
'Gonna make them pay for the clothes too.'
I steeled my resolve and headed to the training grounds with the head maid.
"Heh..."
The situation was worse than I'd imagined. Not just the marble tiles on the training ground floor, but the small hill encircling it, and even the fence separating the top representative dorms from the main building—all destroyed. Even the head maid struggled to speak.
"...This has never happened since the academy was founded."
"...".
"To ruin the most historic spot in the Murim Academy like this."
Was that moisture in her eyes my imagination?
"Are... you blaming me?"
"...".
She whipped her head away at my question. No, the fault lay with that Ak Byeongbi bastard—why was I the one getting the cold shoulder?
"Ahem... Might as well fix it up nice while we're at it."
My optimistic take only sharpened her glare.
"Fix it? The costs won't be trivial—the academy won't approve easily."
Under her scary eyes, I averted my gaze and waved my hand dismissively.
"No need to worry about that. The Ak family agreed to cover everything."
"...".
I'm not the type to just take it lying down, after all. Her expression softened a bit at my confident stance.
"Someone from the Ak family will probably come this afternoon. Tell them about all the damage and demand full repairs—no holding back."
"That's a relief."
I nodded, then swept my gaze over the training ground floor.
Yeah, this won't do.
"Hmm... First off, restore the training ground floor to cheonggang stone like before."
Puzzlement crossed the head maid's face.
"Cheonggang stone? It was always marble here..."
I shook my head immediately.
"Ahem. You don't visit the training grounds often, do you?"
"Pardon...?"
"There was definitely cheonggang stone on the floor."
"...".
That look screamed "bullshit," but facts are facts. I met her eyes squarely.
"It's true."
She finally sighed softly.
"I'll pass that on."
"Oh, right!"
"What now...?"
"Didn't you say the servants' quarters were too cramped?"
"Yes?"
I glanced at the servants' building attached to one side of the annex. Built as a temporary structure, it was cramped and rundown compared to the main annex.
I racked my brain for more to squeeze out of them.
"Hmm, come to think of it, my bath feels small too. And you mentioned the kitchen's too cramped for everyone."
The head maid just blinked without responding. No helping it. I swung my hand, blasting the roof off the servants' building.
Crack!
There, no roof now.
"Wh-what are you...!"
"Oops! The roof's gone! What a mess... Must've been those Ak family goons stomping around yesterday."
"...".
I clutched my chin, feigning deep thought.
"It's clearly their fault anyway, so why not rebuild it fresh? Tell the Ak family rep."
She looked uneasy.
"...Will they really do everything we ask?"
Fair concern. But I had a nuclear option.
"Ah! If they balk, just say this."
"...?"
"Ak Jupyeong."
"What's that?"
"The name that turns impossible into possible."
I'll wring them dry. Heh heh.
After briefing the head maid on everything that needed fixing, I headed straight for the representative committee office.
Or tried to.
"Hm?"
Something was jammed in a corner of the ruined training grounds. It lay utterly still, like a corpse, furrowing my brow.
'No one died in yesterday's fight.'
As I approached, faint, ominous mutterings started up.
"Ak family... I'll kill them. Jin Sowoon... won't let you off. Leaving me behind like trash."
"...".
"Ak family... I'll kill them. Jin Sowoon... won't let you off. Leaving me behind like trash."
A familiar voice droned on like a chant. Sigh. Why was this guy still here?
"Ak family... I'll kill them. Jin Sowoon... won't let you off. Leaving me behind like trash."
Hearing my footsteps, the doll-like figure on the ground—unable to move—rolled its eyes wildly. Soon, its bloodshot gaze locked onto me.
"...What are you doing here?"
The doll was none other than Yaryul Geuk. He thrashed verbally with his immobile body.
"What am I doing? Who dumped me here and left...!!!"
"The Ak warriors didn't release you?"
"Crazy! Is that even worth asking...!"
His pressure points still sealed from last night, he'd spent the whole time cursing the Ak family in the training grounds. I'd completely forgotten about him. No wonder something felt off.
"Tch... Anyway, they sealed you and left you—that's all on the Ak family. Got it?"
I tried to soothe him, but...
His eyes bulged wide.
"Jin Sowoon! Don't you remember? You passed by here last night singing!!!"
Me? When?
"I... I was singing like that! You looked right at me and just kept going!"
"...".
His voice cracked with unexpected moisture, stirring memories from last night. Soon, yesterday's scene crystallized in my mind.
Right—I'd mocked Yaryul Geuk, pathetically sprawled on the training ground floor...
[How many evils lurk in the jianghu~♩♪]
[Guarding the world with just one sword~♪♩]
...and sauntered past singing. It hit me clear as day.
'Damn. Why'd I just walk by?'
Even I had to admit, that was kinda cold.
"The song was catchy, though, right?"
"Fuck, is that what you call it?!"
Watching him snarl like a wounded wildcat, I seriously debated releasing his pressure points right then.
#
"I'm done touching Ak Jupyeong from now on."
To ease his hurt a bit, I told him everything about the Ak family dealings. But it backfired, riling him up instead.
"Making dirty deals like that? I'm disappointed!"
Sulking Yaryul Geuk now glared at me with venomous eyes.
"You think I'll just sit back knowing you cut that deal?!"
"Of course not."
"Huh?"
He looked dumbfounded for a second. I grinned at him.
"And you shouldn't either."
Squatting in front of him, I continued.
"All I promised was that I wouldn't touch him anymore."
"S-so?"
"What do you mean 'so'?"
I patted his shoulder.
"I never promised anything about you messing with him."
"...!"
His expression twisted oddly—excitement? Rage? Hard to tell.
"Anyway, take it easy. You saw yesterday—the Ak family mobilized fast, ready to drag me to the Inspection Hall."
"...F-fuck! I'm not scared of that shit! Once I master the Yuyun Divine Art..."
"Yeah, yeah, not scared. But if the Inspection Hall comes for you, come to me. I'll handle it."
Yaryul Geuk didn't reply. What, was that a touched look?
After rolling his eyes for a while, he finally spoke.
"...Wh-why?"
"Why what?"
"Why help me!"
I chuckled and ruffled his bushy hair.
"When have I not helped you?"
"...!"
His face grew even stranger. That dumbstruck look reminded me a bit of his brother Yaryul Jae.
"Anyway, to master Yuyun Divine Art quick and get revenge on Ak Jupyeong, you can't waste time on petty grudges, right?"
"...".
His eyes softened as he eyed me.
"...Forget you ignoring me and singing past yesterday? That's what you're saying?"
Damn, kids like him are sharp. Feeling like we'd connected for the first time, I shouted.
"You actually get it!"
"...".
But Yaryul Geuk still stared back coldly.
#
True to his sly nature, the little punk lunged at me the moment I released his pressure points—promise be damned. I had no choice but to reseal his blood points. It was a light seal, but he passed out instantly. Looked like he hadn't slept a wink all night with the points sealed.
'Tough kid... Should be out cold. Cursing all night, huh.'
He'd probably sleep the day away.
'Not like he'd care about missing class anyway.'
With that, I headed to the representative committee office.
"Representative Jin."
I ran into Jang Ujae on the way, soon joined by Namgung Seonhwa, Seong Moran, Eunho, and Hong Saryeon.
"Your face looks like death."
Eunho, looking pale himself, sighed.
"I had to listen to Nam Hwaseong lament until dawn."
"Lament?"
"That he's not the liver guy."
Everyone chuckled at Eunho's words, but he stayed straight-faced.
"Big brother, do you have to tease him about being the liver? I'm scared he'll cling to me forever."
"Tch. If he keeps being annoying, just kick him away."
Eunho scratched his head at my harsh advice.
"Can I handle Nam Hwaseong alone? He's not that bad anyway."
These guys had gotten chummy quick. As we reached the representative exec building, Nam Hwaseong waited at the entrance.
"Liver guy! You're early."
"...".
Ignoring their grimaces, we tried to enter when...
"Hm?"
A group of academy students clustered by the roadside. Spotting me, they hurried over.
"Representative!"
They cupped their fists in greeting. Scanning them: some from Jeongdohoe, some Jang Ujae's friends, even a few from the 108 Peaks. Weird mix.
What was this combo?
I returned the greeting curiously, and the one who'd called me first smiled.
"We must've startled you by showing up like this."
"Nah, not really."
"Truth is, we wanted to set up a proper meeting to apologize for our past rudeness."
I tilted my head.
"Haven't we all acted like we didn't recognize you as rep?"
He scratched his head sheepishly, and the others coughed awkwardly or blushed. Looking closer, they were disciples from lay sects, powerless factions—ones who naturally had to watch their backs amid the stares.
"Everyone's got their circumstances. I get it."
It was always like that. The powerless get swept up, unable to resist. I had been too, in my past life. Because I had no choice—or thought I didn't.
But if these fragile folks mustered the courage for one step forward, they could spark real change. That's why their boldness pleased me.
Yet even my reassurance didn't lift their heads easily.
"We'll repay our past mistakes forever."
One lowered his voice.
"...But something weird happened, so we came."
"Weird?"
He nodded gravely.
"Yeah. They say a 'new representative executive committee' is hosting an event and told us to attend."
"New representative exec committee?"
The real reps were standing right here—what new committee?
Then, "The second semester's first academic schedule is complete!"
"Candidate list for the second event 'Distinguished Guest Invitation' is out."
"Off to Mantongbu for budget approval."
Noisy voices erupted nearby. We stared at them working like they owned the place—as if they were the real representative committee.
"What the...?"
"Who the hell...?"
Jang Ujae groaned, spotting their emblem.
"It's the Baekdohoe..."
"Baekdohoe?"
Why the sudden bullshit from those guys?