Responsibility (3)
Mantongbu. One of the three institutions that divide the power of the Murim Alliance. Though it's a command department bearing one pillar of the Alliance, in reality, it handles the most practical work.
From something as small as deciding how many hours to set for the Alliance's security shifts, to managing the annual budget and donations—how to operate them, and in what form to distribute them to each administrative office. It even manages the operations of the Alliance's branches. Considering that the authority to appoint branch heads lies with Mantongbu, it's actually the place that makes the most decisions.
Yet this bloated organization runs with surprisingly few people. When I first started cramming Mantongbu's documents into my head, I even had this doubt.
'Does Mantongbu... start with practicing to unify their handwriting?'
Since people write the documents by hand, if they came in all sorts of handwriting styles, it would be inefficient to extract information later. In that sense, it was a pretty decent deduction. Of course, it was completely wrong.
The reason Mantongbu's handwriting was so uniform was because they worked a tiny number of people to the bone. In other words, that massive volume was produced by an extremely small group, creating that sense of uniformity.
'But why can this guy come and go from the academy so freely?'
I thought as I looked at Maeng Ju-won in front of me. Maybe he was the type who secured his own time by grinding his subordinates down too.
"Aren't you busy?"
"What nonsense! I'm busy every day! That's exactly why I come here!"
I tilted my head at his incomprehensible words. His dark circles and poor complexion certainly suggested he was busy.
"As you said outside earlier, the academy representatives' dorm is private space. If you keep barging in without warning like this..."
"Ah! Don't worry about that. I changed the rules. For anything related to the Alliance, Mantongbu personnel can go anywhere."
"......"
No, why is coming to the academy representatives' dorm 'Alliance-related'?
Maeng Ju-won snorted and thumped his chest proudly.
"I'm basically Mantongbu, right? So my business is Mantongbu's business, and Mantongbu's business is the Murim Alliance's business."
It made no sense, so I just let it slide. This guy spouting nonsense here wasn't a one- or two-day thing. As long as he wasn't drunk and repeating "save me," it was something.
'Why's he asking me to save him in the first place? He's not even under threat of death.'
In his previous life, the one killed by Jegumhak's hand was Jegal Somyeong. Maeng Ju-won had barely survived in the same spot, later leading Mantongbu alone before being dragged down by others and retiring. But he hadn't died at another's hand.
"......Anyway, what brings you here this time?"
"Am I not allowed to visit without a reason?"
"......That's how I see you."
Maeng Ju-won's shoulders slumped.
"How hurtful... So hurtful!"
"If you have no business, then I'll be—"
"I was going to tell you about the future plans regarding Jeondeungmun, but oh well."
"......How about some tea before we part ways so regretfully?"
"Tea? Do you have time for tea?"
"I happen to have some good tea."
I pulled out the cheapest tea in my dorm and served it to Maeng Ju-won. The stuff I'd tasted once and never touched again because the aroma was so off.
"Mm... Nice aroma."
It was clearly foul-smelling, but a satisfied smile crept onto Maeng Ju-won's lips.
"Heh... This leisure... I can enjoy it if I come when you're here, right?"
"What do you mean?"
"Ah, nothing."
Maeng Ju-won, who had been smiling oddly, set down his teacup.
"A Mengju decree will be proclaimed soon."
His face turned somewhat serious.
"In simple terms, it means the investigation into Geumgong will be conducted solely by the Murim Alliance."
"Is the problem that serious?"
"Do you know how many sects disappear in a single day right now?"
"......"
"They tell the ones who turned a sect into a bloodbath to appoint a deputy, and they spew nonsense like 'it was so special we burned it.' There are tons of them like that."
Contempt flickered across Maeng Ju-won's face.
"It's to the point where I wonder if orthodox sects need to go this far against each other. They're committing even more brutal acts than when fighting the Black Path."
When fighting the Black Path, they'd have no choice but to show even crueler and more ruthless hands. Because when striking the innocent, you couldn't leave even a sliver of room for counterattack.
Suddenly, a thought struck me.
'Was the blood from the Sichuan Blood Massacre too little?'
Was the blood that should have flowed from the Sichuan Blood Massacre diverting its course here...? No matter how much I changed history, could I not change the human heart's thirst for blood...?
"Did the elders agree?"
Once the Mengju decree was invoked, it would be implemented immediately. But would the elders just watch?
It was tantamount to stripping them of their rights.
Maeng Ju-won furrowed his brow slightly.
"To some extent... Still, on the surface, they all agree that this state can't last long."
Then he added,
"However, some are dissatisfied that the Mengju decree was proclaimed too quickly."
"They haven't gotten their use out of it yet?"
Maeng Ju-won's expression turned subtly complex.
"You... are truly a wondrous existence."
"What do you mean?"
When I asked, he quickly changed the subject.
"Right. They're regretful they haven't gotten their use out of it yet."
This trend in the martial world stemmed from absolute trust in the Murim Alliance. The faith that no matter what enemy appeared, the Alliance wouldn't fall—that trust turned external enemies into political tools for internal power struggles. In the end, when a truly dangerous enemy emerged, they couldn't respond.
As I sank into thought, Maeng Ju-won warned,
"So you moderate yourself too."
"Huh? Moderate what?"
"I mean making enemies of the instructors."
"......From the start, isn't the problem that the instructors changed after just one year?"
"That... The total strategist already turned the Education Hall upside down over it. Take that as consolation."
"Turned it upside down?"
"You didn't know? How many got cut from the Education Hall this time."
Ho. Now this was useful info.
Maeng Ju-won stroked his chin and sighed.
"Anyway, the common opinion of the Education Hall and Mantongbu is that we can't replace the already appointed instructors again."
"Because of external perceptions?"
"We can't replace them. The appointment seals are already stamped on the new ones' documents, so even the total strategist had no choice but to approve it."
Hmm, I see.
"Then isn't that actually good?"
"......What about it is good? Anyway, keep in mind that these newcomers will decide the graduation evaluations. If they give bad evaluations, your scores and your sect juniors' could end up in the toilet."
Hmm, but hearing this made me think differently.
"......What does that dissatisfied look mean?"
"Huh? What look?"
I played innocent, and Maeng Ju-won shook his head.
"Anyway, stop causing incidents. Jeongdohoe and Baekdohoe are already keeping an eye on you. If you keep this up..."
Suddenly, he grabbed my shoulders firmly, as if about to say something crucial.
"It'll be hard for you to enter Mantongbu later."
"......"
Good grief, why does he think I'll enter Mantongbu?
I almost voiced my thoughts but stopped. Last time I said I wouldn't join Mantongbu, the fuss it caused...
Better not stir up trouble.
Yeah, right.
"Heh..."
Getting no reply, Maeng Ju-won patted my shoulder with a satisfied look and left.
# Two days later, contact came from the instructors. Maeng Ju-won's warning must have worked, at least a little. Barely two days, though.
Anyway, since even Academy Head Buk Wonpyeong was participating in this grand meeting, I had no choice but to meet them.
"How about you come with us?"
"Young Master Jin. I'll go with you."
Seong Moran, who seemed unworried, and Namgung Seonhwa, face full of concern, stepped forward, but I refused. What, did they think I was a kid?
Scared because the instructors came in a group?
"Goodness! What are you saying? We're worried you'll cause trouble!"
What did these people take me for? Where else was there someone as calm and rational as me?
......Well, sometimes I couldn't hold back, but that was only when the other side crossed the line. A true man has times he can't endure...
"You're thinking of causing trouble again...!"
I hurriedly left the representatives' office.
# The grand meeting was held in the Academic Affairs Division's conference room. Buk Wonpyeong sat at the end of the long table, with instructors and assistant instructors lined up on one side. Quite a sight, all gathered like a pack.
"Where should I sit?"
The instructor in the center answered curtly to my question.
"Anywhere."
"Then..."
"......Just sit in the middle. This matter is to be resolved between the academy representatives and instructors anyway."
When I tried to sit near Buk Wonpyeong, the center instructor grumbled softly. Well, say that from the start.
As I sat, the instructors glared murderously.
"......Sit straight."
"Are you going to keep nitpicking and waste time? I'm busy."
"......You rootless..."
"Huh? Academy Head, this guy's insulting me."
Buk Wonpyeong let out a small sigh.
"Both of you, stop. Academy student Jin Sowoon... feet off the table. Instructor No Jinha, you didn't come here just to curse, did you?"
"......"
The brief commotion subsided, and No Jinha—the instructor I'd smacked with internal energy—spoke.
"You know what you did, right?"
"No idea."
"You publicly apologized first... Huh?"
No Jinha trailed off, mouth flapping like a fish.
I put on an innocent face and slowly shook my head.
"No clue. Really, no matter how much I think, I don't know."
"......Attacking an instructor is subject to severe punishment..."
"That was because you told me to prove my skills, so I did. You picked the fight... No, you told me to, so why blame me?"
I tilted my head, then clapped my fist into my palm in realization.
"Ah! Is it because I beat you so pathetically?"
"......"
"But that's not my fault, right? Ah, not saying it's yours either."
At my last words, No Jinha's face seemed to soften a bit. Why relax already? I wasn't done.
"It's the Cheongsung faction's fault for raising such a stupid disciple."
Bam!
The table shook as if it might break.
"You really want to die! How dare you insult my sect!"
Grit. No Jinha ground his teeth as if his jaw might shatter.
Tsk, then you should've won the internal energy clash.
I wiped the playfulness from my face and murmured lowly.
"Cheongsung faction can't be insulted, but Tae-eul Gate can?"
"......"
"Whether a first-rate sect like Tae-eul Gate or a third-rate like Cheongsung faction, everyone cherishes their sect the same. You were the one who insulted the opponent's sect first, just because you're stronger."
No Jinha and the other instructors' faces hardened.
"And now you're pressuring me, who did nothing wrong, to apologize. Do I have to follow that nonsense?"
Bringing up sects, even No Jinha couldn't continue.
Then, the mild-mannered-looking instructor beside him smiled and spoke.
"Now, now, we're not here to kill each other."
He pressed No Jinha's shoulder firmly, seating him.
"Restrain yourself. Jinha, you got too zealous during class. That was definitely wrong."
"......"
What was that guy's name... Same Cheongsung faction... That Gang... Right, Gang Sun-tak!
Gang Sun-tak scolded No Jinha, then smiled amiably at me.
"Understand. Generations of instructors and assistants sometimes insult academy students on purpose to create a solemn atmosphere. It happened in our time too."
Oh, now 'our time' too.
"Anyway, Jinha here definitely crossed the line, so I'll apologize on his behalf. Just a small 'mistake,' right? A real man brushes these off boldly. Haha! Right?"
He spoke as if the other's feelings didn't matter, like it was no big deal. Why wouldn't they consider our side?
A moment's thought would reveal our hearts.
"Even so, no matter the circumstances, an instructor showing a humiliating sight to an academy student could be a problem for future education. So, to establish some teacher authority... how about ending it with you publicly apologizing to Instructor No?"
But now I knew. They had no need to consider our side.
They thought they'd never be in our position. They'd always been above before, and they'd always be above.
So, no need to care. Just pretend to listen and maintain the status quo as they intended.
Just like this.
"Wouldn't it be best for everyone if you publicly apologize and we accept it, resolving things smoothly?"
They knew. How much the weak had to struggle against injustice.
So they sweet-talked them into giving up. Time would pass, and things would quiet down anyway.
I'd experienced it countless times in my previous life. Bear the burden and respond. Believe their sweet words and give up. Because powerless. Because afraid. Because I wanted to believe even their lies could change the hopeless reality.
"This way, justice is served. Isn't it?"
But now I knew.
"No thanks."
"......Huh?"
Their idiotic 'justice.'
And I believed.
In my power.
"I said no. I did nothing wrong, so why apologize?"
These hypocrites revealed their true colors the moment the other didn't follow their script.
Just like now.
"......Can you handle the consequences? We'll evaluate you and your sect brothers until graduation."
"That sounds like scores could change based on your feelings. Right?"
"......"
"Not denying it."
Gang Sun-tak smirked.
"They say your nickname has the character for 'thought'... As expected, shallow thinking. You think antagonizing us benefits you?"
A gaze looking down on the opponent.
"Ah, you know this? Even after entering the Murim Alliance later, these people here will evaluate you. Want to flush your rosy future down the toilet?"
That's why you charge in. They won't consider the opponent's side unless it hurts them.
"Why assume only I'll suffer?"
"You think we'll lose something?"
Humans only get cautious when blood flows from their body.
"Half the academy classes are demonstration lessons with instructors or assistants. Over ten sparring sessions among them."
"......Huh?"
I leaned back leisurely and looked at Buk Wonpyeong.
"Academy Head. What happens if an instructor dies in an academy sparring match? Ah, first question: any precedents?"
"......Hey! Jin Sowoon..."
Buk Wonpyeong was so shocked he dropped honorifics for plain speech.
I ignored it and continued.
"Hm... Then what if an instructor suffers an unfortunate accident? If it's a permanent disability, natural retirement, right?"
Gang Sun-tak, who had been smug, yelled incredulously.
"Are you insane? After doing something like that..."
"What? Just a small 'mistake.'"
"......!"
You said it. Just a small 'mistake.'
"Besides, my future and Tae-eul Gate juniors' futures are already in the toilet."
"......"
"I can't understand why you think the damage only goes one way."
But what to do.
Only you guys aren't the ones who can make a small 'mistake.'
"Did we seem like the type to just take it lying down, me and my juniors?"
The Education Hall not sending new instructors anymore meant they had to handle it themselves.
Maeng Ju-won felt uneasy about them not being replaced, but I thought the opposite.
Them not being replaced meant...
'I can corner these bastards and beat them senseless, right?'
Just look at them requesting this meeting first. Having smeared shit on their own faces, they couldn't just cough and continue instructor life like nothing happened.
So they demanded a public apology from me, nothing else.
In short, they and I were both trapped in isolated pitfalls. Same boat.
And in an isolated pitfall, the one who survives is the one with stronger venom.
"Or did your sects teach you that?"
"......"
No more talk even mentioning sects.
"Do as you please. Please, I beg you."
I let out a light sneer and added,
"That way, I won't feel guilty when I make a move on you instructors."
Fear crept into the eyes that had been looking at me with contempt.
This time, I bowed my head sincerely.
"Please! Do it. I beg you."
So why keep poking the nice guy.