Neither Night Nor Day
"Investigator Somyeongseop. You're not yet permitted. Bring someone who can handle it."
A suffocating silence crushed the interrogation room. Just moments ago, the Mu-rim-meng investigator Somyeongseop had been hounding me like a rat in a trap. Now his face was as pale as a blank sheet of paper. Thick cold sweat trickled down his forehead, gathered at his chin, and plip—dropped to the floor.
My changed demeanor. No, the perfectly donned 'Black Curtain Absolute Persona' had left him utterly flustered and defenseless. He gulped hard, stealing glances at me. The cryptic metaphors I tossed out—seemingly disjointed yet oddly piercing—were clearly plunging him into profound confusion, a language from an unknown realm he couldn't grasp.
But what truly terrified him wasn't the words spilling from my mouth. It was the arrogant, absolute attitude I exuded, as if pitying his incompetence.
'This guy... isn't some lowly scholar.'
Somyeongseop's trembling pupils screamed it. In his heart, he must have desperately admitted the truth: the bizarre man before him was beyond his league.
"W-Wait... just a moment, please."
Somyeongseop shot up from his seat like he was fleeing, stammering as he bolted out the iron door.
I leaned deep into the backrest, exhaling a silent sigh of relief.
'Phew... first line of defense cleared.'
But my heart was still pounding like mad. Outwardly calm and indifferent, inside I was burning to a crisp.
Soon, the heavy iron door creaked open again. Kiiiiiik.
This time, he wasn't alone. Trailing Somyeongseop was a man with sharp, piercing eyes, ramrod posture, and a white-feather fan in hand.
The Mu-rim-meng's brain trust, overseeing intelligence and strategy. Lord of Cheoni-gak, elder of the Jegal family—the world's foremost intellects. Jegalmugeom.
'What the hell! I beat the tutorial mob, and now he drags in the final boss NPC?!'
But my facade remained the perfect shell of an arrogant overlord. I alternated glances between Somyeongseop and Jegalmugeom, then spoke in a slow, icy tone.
"Get out, you unqualified fool."
Expel the guest.
Somyeongseop's shoulders jerked at the insolent command—no ordinary murim man would dare hurl such madness at a Mu-rim-meng investigator. Yet relief, not rage, flickered across his face. Grateful to escape this stifling space, he bowed hastily and fled without a backward glance.
Bam.
The heavy door shut. Now, in this cramped, cold interrogation room, only Jegalmugeom and I remained.
Jegalmugeom pulled out the chair Somyeongseop had vacated and sat slowly. His signature razor-sharp gaze scanned me from head to toe, as if dissecting my soul to its depths—a horrifying scrutiny.
"Yeon Woon-ryong, was it?"
His voice was calm, but laced with an unmistakable edge.
"I am Jegalmugeom, lord of the Mu-rim-meng's Cheoni-gak."
I didn't even acknowledge his greeting. I merely stared blankly into space, tapping the desk rhythmically with my fingers. Tok, tok.
This was a battle of wills. If I spoke first or showed a hint of fluster, that monster of a mind would rip through my lies in an instant.
I rapidly cycled through my mental cards. I had to reveal just the tip of the iceberg.
"The Yodong incident was too contrived to call coincidence."
Jegalmugeom cast the first bait.
"A mere literature teacher gets kidnapped, and just then Hwangbo Daeryeok storms into the heart of Moyong Sega from distant Yodong and crushes Moyong Cheol?"
His eyes narrowed.
"You think that's chance?"
There it was—the core question of my prepared scenario.
A sinister smile curled my lips as I leaned slightly toward him.
"Pfft."
I let out a scoff.
"Is that all the wisdom and imagination of the Divine Strategist Jegal amounts to?"
Jegalmugeom's brow twitched faintly. I pressed on leisurely.
"How did Hwangbo Daeryeok arrive at Moyong Sega's core at that exact moment?"
I whispered low, like spinning an old tale.
"He waited for the wind... and raised the sails."
Clever, elegant bluff.
"The sun's shadow falls everywhere."
Sounds profound, but pure nonsense.
'My head's gonna explode!'
Inside, I was screaming. Bluffing in real-time against an elder of the Jegal family, famed for their wits.
Spew meaningless bullshit, but not too disjointed. Weave plausible connections so the smart ones fall for it themselves.
Instantly crafting tales, verifying logical flaws, preempting his counters—all computations racing at light speed in my brain.
Cheonpa Mugyeok Jiche. No martial talent, but a body shattering all limits, balanced to ruin. Without this insane physique, my brain would've overheated, nosebleeding into blackout.
Thankfully, my neurons spun at 1000% efficiency, weaving a flawless web of lies.
And this life-risking sophistry? It was landing surprisingly well. Jegalmugeom's composure cracked, deep turmoil and confusion crossing his face.
But it wasn't enough. Instinctively buying it, rationally he'd demand proof. I needed the wedge to etch 'Untouchable unknown monster' into his mind.
A colossal, fearsome existence no one knew. And luckily, I had a physical 'ace' ready.
"You don't believe me, it seems."
I murmured low, moving my right arm.
Ultra-fast acupuncture, vanishing in a blur—like the arm erased from existence.
In that instant, my right arm vanished into thin air. Or rather, appeared to, with horrific speed. It was back in place before he blinked.
"……!!"
Jegalmugeom, witnessing the feat, wore pure shock for the first time in his life. His lips quivered.
Spectrum Needle Blood Hand. Uiseon's signature technique. Performed by this enigmatic youth.
"What... are you?"
Jegalmugeom's voice shook for the first time.
"To my knowledge, Jo Myeong-hwan—the Uiseon and Yakseon—has no disciple."
He swallowed dryly.
"No blood kin, no children. And no martial aura to suggest a secret prodigy..."
His eyes swirled in mad confusion.
"Then... what are you?"
The world's top informant admitting ignorance in desperation.
I smirked arrogantly, as if expecting it. Then answered slowly, heavily.
"I am neither night nor day."
A bone-deep chuunibyou line implying neither dark underworld nor bright righteous sects.
"The choice is yours."
With that, I slammed up from my seat. Bang. The chair scraped harshly, but Jegalmugeom just stared blankly upward.
I turned, strolling leisurely toward the iron door.
Gripped the handle. Kiiik.
Even as the door half-opened, he gawked at my back in utter turmoil, judgment paralyzed.
As I stepped out, I paused as if struck by a sudden thought. Half-turned, glancing over my shoulder with a sneer.
"Curious?"
A mocking whisper slithered through my lips.
"If you're curious, use that vaunted Mu-rim-meng intel and find out yourself."
I narrowed my eyes coldly.
"But tread carefully. Keep bothering me like this... and I might just become the night."
Perfect threat. I flung the heavy door wide for a final parting shot.
"Oh, and if you ever need my help, just say the word."
I chuckled.
"Suckers... er, customers are always welcome."
Bam.
The Mu-rim-meng interrogation room's iron door shut decisively.
Stepping out, the scene before me was murderously tense.
"Sunsengnim!"
"Author-nim!"
The two fanatics—Hwangbo Suyeon and Seol Muyeong—waiting restlessly, lunged at the sight of me.
I flashed them a relaxed, reassuring smile.
"Let's go."
I led the way.
"Home."
At my serene words, their feral killing intent melted like snow. Like loyal hounds, they flanked me tightly, escorting.
Through the Mu-rim-meng corridors, out the main gate—no warrior or investigator barred our path.
Jegalmugeom had bought my bluff wholesale, opting to observe for now.
'I survived... thought I was toast for real.'
Escaping the Mu-rim-meng, strolling Nakyang's familiar streets, back to Cheongryong Mugwan—my heart raced wildly, but I maintained the overlord's stride.
Finally, my sole sanctuary: the shabby dorm.
"Tonight, I guard sunsengnim's door without a flicker!"
Seol Muyeong stood like a statue, declaring gravely.
"Are you nuts? Scram already?"
I rubbed my throbbing forehead, eyeing Hwangbo Suyeon.
"Suyeon. Take this lunatic away."
With cadets away for the exchange tournament, dorms had plenty of empty spots for one Seol Muyeong.
"But if even a speck threatens author-nim's jade body...!"
"Seol Muyeong."
I cut her off with a stern master's chill.
"I'm going in and locking the door. If I open it suddenly and see you here..."
I gritted my teeth, driving the wedge.
"Never show your face again. No next volume, no spoilers either."
The deadliest threat. Her face blanched, pupils dilating in horror. Led by Hwangbo Suyeon like a bereft refugee, she trudged off.
Finally, over.
Kiiik.
I entered my dark dorm room, no lamp lit. Locked and barred tight.
"Aaaahhh..."
Tension fled my legs; I collapsed flat. The dusty wooden floor felt lovably comforting.
Relief unleashed muscle screams, throbbing everywhere. From Mu-rim-meng mind-battle with Jegalmugeom to this safe haven—no second's slack. Who knew when their spies lurked?
Only here, alone in this cramped hovel, could I shed the heavy black curtain mask.
"Haa... insane, for real."
My humble suite after that ordeal. Staring blankly at the ceiling, ragged breaths.
But no time to lounge. I hauled myself up, staggered to my desk, plopped down.
In the dark, I gripped brush and inkstone.
I'd bluffed the Mu-rim-meng's brain. Now they'd watch me closely, alongside Danga Sangdan, Hwangbo Sega, and mystery foes—chessboard unfolding.
Since I'd started this mad black curtain act...
"Time to play the proper lunatic."
I slammed the brush onto fresh paper.
Until now, desperate lies to survive the chaos. But now? Time to draw my board on this vast murim sketchpad.
The ultimate scenario: thrill readers, deceive foes, sanctify myself.
Hundreds of plots swirled madly in my mind, coalescing.
Scritch, scritch.
In the silent room, only the sharp friction of my brush echoed.