Winter Trip - 4
Having heard the whole story, Chae Ryeon pondered it over for a while before asking.
"But I heard Scholar Mun avoids meeting with martial artists. However did you manage it?"
"Well, I have connections of my own, here and there."
"Hehe. I see. Still, the Demonic Cult could be involved in this..."
"That's merely speculation among ourselves."
Which happened to be true. Chae Ryeon mulled it over a moment longer, then turned her eyes to Hong Ryeon and Chae Jin.
"So what kind of support are you two planning to request from the Murim Alliance?"
"We're not planning on requesting any support at the moment. A Maek is something we can handle on our own."
"Even so, wouldn't it be wise to at least file a report?"
Why else would the saying report, consult, communicate exist?
Of course, neither Hong Ryeon nor Chae Jin was a martial artist who lived bound to the Murim Alliance, but this kind of work was always best done by helping one another. Better to avoid pointless friction.
"Understood. Then it'd be best to head over now and get it done."
If an inspector like Hong Ryeon and a senior combatant like Chae Jin filed the report, the higher-ups would see to the rest themselves. The two nodded, then said:
"In that case, since we're here anyway, why don't we stop by the Murim Alliance now?"
"That doesn't sound bad at all."
We headed straight for the Murim Alliance. Beside the government office at the heart of the city, an enormous wall rose into view. From within drifted the shouts of those training, mingled with the ring of weapon striking weapon.
"It really is impressive..."
As Sa Yun spoke, glancing this way and that, I nodded. In Cheonsang Myeongwol it had been nothing more than a set piece, but in the flesh it was genuinely striking.
"The Murim Alliance is impressive, sure, but Moon Lotus Pavilion is something else. Sa Yun, aren't you excited?"
"Uhh. I mean, I am..."
Chae Ryeon laughed and patted the back of the thoroughly tense Sa Yun.
And so we made our way to the Murim Alliance's grand entrance.
The Murim Alliance.
As Sa Yun gaped in awe at the gateway of the alliance forged by the gathered martial artists of the orthodox sects, the warriors standing guard stared back at us, unable to hide their astonishment.
"An inspector and a senior combatant... together..."
...Come to think of it, that would be surprising.
After all, whenever the two of them met, they usually ended up at each other's throats.
In any case, thanks to Hong Ryeon and Chae Jin, we passed inside without any real inspection.
"This is the Taemujeon, the Great Martial Hall — the first thing you see when you enter the Murim Alliance."
It was an immense plaza, and quite a few people were training there — alone, in pairs, or in groups.
"A place for exchanging martial arts. Nothing so grand as secret techniques, of course."
Warriors of different sects sparred and debated here, each honing their own art. At Chae Jin's running commentary, Sa Yun — visiting the Murim Alliance for the first time — nodded along. Perhaps finding it all rather wondrous, she looked this way and that before pointing off to one side.
"Innkeeper. Innkeeper."
"Hm?"
"There's someone over there practicing the Five Animal Frolics."
"Well, the Five Animal Frolics are hardly a harmful art."
"Hehe."
As Sa Yun giggled and murmured brightly to herself, we moved along at an unhurried pace. Sightseeing was all well and good, but we couldn't afford to forget our purpose.
"Let's stop by the Inspection Department first, then head over to the Combat Department."
Chae Jin nodded at her thoughtfully planned suggestion. And just as we arrived before the large building visible a short way past the Taemujeon—
"And here I thought you were on leave?"
A voice drifted down from a second-floor window. Leaping lightly from it came a white-haired old woman dressed in black martial robes — Chu Yeong, the Ghost Shadow Matron, Head of the Murim Alliance's Inspection Department.
Striking for her cold, sharp eyes, she swept her gaze over the lot of us before asking Hong Ryeon:
"What brings you?"
"We have a report to make."
Hong Ryeon reported the current situation at once, and Chu Yeong pondered briefly before tilting her head.
"Hmm. Scholar Mun's wife... So she managed to root that out, did she? Well done. There were already some bastards in the Law Enforcement Department itching to get their hands on anything involving Scholar Mun. I'll go tell them this case is ours."
After all, with Hong Ryeon involved, the Inspection Department stood to claim at least a sliver of the credit for this affair.
Having muttered this, she looked the group over. She'd crossed paths with Hyeon Hwi a few times before, so the two exchanged a simple nod of recognition; toward Sa Yun, she gave a wry little smile.
"The Sword Saint certainly has an eye for disciples. Pleasure to meet you. The name's Chu Yeong."
"Oh! Yes! I'm Sa Yun of the Hongseong Sect!"
"Yes, yes. A pleasure."
Beaming a warm, good-natured smile, she stroked Sa Yun's hair — then turned to me, puzzled.
"...And who might you be?"
"I'm called Yu Wol, of Seomhwachon."
"He's someone who has helped our Hongseong Sect a great deal."
"Ah, I see. A pleasure. I am Chu Yeong, Head of the Murim Alliance's Inspection Department."
And that was that. Having little interest in me, apparently, she exchanged a few more words with Hong Ryeon and disappeared back inside.
"Things seem to be working out more easily than I expected. If Chief Chu is willing to help, there shouldn't be any major problems."
"True enough. If we'd just gone ahead on our own, things might have gotten needlessly tangled. I never imagined the Law Enforcement Department had its eye on Scholar Mun's affairs."
"This is exactly why reporting and cooperating is the better path. Now then, Lady Chae."
"Follow me!"
Following Chae Jin, we came to a massive building on the eastern side of the Murim Alliance. Unlike the Inspection Department's offices, this place fairly bristled with open fighting spirit and killing intent.
"Oh my, look who it is!"
Walking toward us with broad smiles was a man and woman — a blue-haired man with a steady, earnest air, and a woman with strikingly narrow, slit eyes.
Seeing the pair, Chae Jin waved with a grin.
"Been well, Hyu Wan? Go Je?"
"We've been fine. But word was you'd been too busy to set foot in the Murim Alliance lately?"
"Haha. Well, about that..."
"Chae Jin! When did you get here!"
A voice like thunder. Striding out from the training grounds came a hulking man with a massive frame and the eyes of a tiger.
He strode over in great steps, looked us up and down, and growled:
"What's all this, then!"
"Hey, keep it down. You'll startle the kids."
Chae Jin's rebuke made him start. Then, catching sight of Chae Ryeon and Sa Yun, he began to fidget helplessly.
"S-Sorry about that."
I laughed at the sight of him.
Senior Combat Unit Leader of the Murim Alliance.
Han Su, the man known by the epithet Monstrous Strength, was no different from how he'd appeared in Cheonsang Myeongwol. For all his towering bulk and fearsome face, the man who got flustered around girls his daughter's age had always been hemming and hawing in the game.
And just like back then, the sight of Sa Yun and Chae Ryeon now had him startled and faintly stiff.
"I'm Han Su, Senior Combat Unit Leader of the Murim Alliance. These are—"
"Hyu Wan, senior combatant of the Murim Alliance. Go Je's husband."
"I'm Go Je, senior combatant of the Murim Alliance. Hyu Wan's wife."
We all returned their greetings in kind, and by the time my turn came around, Han Su, Hyu Wan, and Go Je looked puzzled. But that was all. No one pressed any further.
"So? What brings you here?"
"Ah, well..."
Chae Jin explained the circumstances, and Han Su, who had listened for a good long while, nodded.
"Alright."
"That's it?"
"You ever seen us take an interest in that sort of thing? If this business turns into a fight with Demonic Cultists, send for us. Well then. Until next time, everyone."
Han Su gave a light fist salute and whisked the two away, and Sa Yun tilted her head.
"I suppose those people just aren't interested in other people's business?"
"Haha... It's the nature of the unit."
Chae Jin smiled wryly.
Just as she said, the combatants were people with little interest in anything beyond fighting, plain and simple. But they were strong precisely because they were so single-minded — which was why they were always the ones dispatched as reinforcements whenever the Demonic Cult or demonic beasts had to be fought.
"Well, we've time to spare — shall we look around the Murim Alliance a while longer?"
We were on our way back out after touring the Alliance's many corners. I could feel several warriors' eyes on us.
"Kids from the Law Enforcement Department."
As if Chae Jin could have missed what I'd sensed. She said it with indifference, and Sa Yun — perhaps recalling the earlier conversation — asked Hong Ryeon:
"Eldest Senior Sister, is there some problem with the Law Enforcement Department?"
"It comes down to overlapping duties. The Head of the Law Enforcement Department and the Head of the Inspection Department have never gotten along, going back to the old days."
And on top of that, Hong Ryeon the inspector kept turning in one fine piece of work after another, which rubbed the Law Enforcement Department the wrong way.
None of this had ever come up in Cheonsang Myeongwol, so I couldn't help listening with fascination.
As we traded stories of one kind and another while making our rounds of the Murim Alliance, the sun began to sink before we knew it.
"Let's get going. If we catch the Maek today, we can move at a more leisurely pace starting tomorrow."
"Then we'd better do well today, hadn't we?"
Hong Ryeon flashed a grin, and Sa Yun pumped her fist.
"I would only be in the way while you capture the Maek, so I shall wait at the inn. Go, and do well."
"Huh? You wouldn't be in the way at all — come with us."
"That's right. I doubt that would happen, but someone might pick a quarrel with you over nothing."
"Besides, once the work is done, someone needs to be there to talk with Scholar Mun. From what I saw earlier, he seems to find it difficult to speak with us..."
Hong Ryeon, Hyeon Hwi, and Chae Jin each put in a word. And Sa Yun, too, was gazing at me, clearly hoping I'd come along.
"Then I'll keep to the rear, so don't worry about me — just do your best."
"If anything happens, I'll protect you."
Chae Jin smiled and took hold of my shoulder. Well, that's reassuring.
"Then I'll stick with Sa Yun."
When Chae Jin claimed the role of my guardian, Chae Ryeon headed over to Sa Yun's side.
Hong Ryeon regarded Chae Jin for a moment, then said evenly:
"...Keep him safe."
"Don't worry. It's me we're talking about — Chae Jin. Chae Jin."
Talking it over as we went, we arrived at Mun Ha-gong's estate.
Jang Goeng ushered us inside, and the moment we reached the inner courtyard where Mun Ha-gong awaited, Hong Ryeon said matter-of-factly:
"We must bring the madam out to the garden."
"...I leave her in your hands."
"And Scholar Mun, please withdraw to the back with the innkeeper. It could be dangerous."
Hong Ryeon's voice was calm.
Even so, Mun Ha-gong came toward me with a face full of worry, trembling as he looked at me.
"Please, don't worry."
Then the madam emerged into the garden. The moment she settled onto the chair set out there, Hong Ryeon, Hyeon Hwi, and Sa Yun arrayed themselves around her and raised their weapons.
And the instant crimson energy bloomed from the three of them—
—Kuuuung...!!
With a low, shuddering rumble, black energy surged up from behind the madam. Shrouded in that black haze, a monster revealed itself — grinning a smile that turned the stomach.
Its tail driven deep into the old woman's back, the creature tittered shrilly as it spread wide a gaping maw packed with needle-sharp teeth.
—Kyaaaaaah!!
And in that same instant—
that ferocious, murderous energy began to bore into the demonic beast parasitizing her dreams.