Manhak Seogo (2)
After that, Singui ran a few more tests before telling me there was nothing more he could do for me. So I left the medical hall and started walking down the path.
"You won."
Singui called out to me as I departed.
"I really beat Third Brother?"
Just then, a Namgung Clan warrior passing by offered a greeting.
"Greetings to the Youngest Young Master."
I reflexively returned the bow.
"...Uh."
"Greetings to the Youngest Young Master."
"...Yeah."
After that, every person who passed by spotted me and bowed politely. They must have known who I was, but until just a month ago, hardly anyone had greeted me so directly. It was the same even before my regression.
It's nice getting these greetings... but...
This feels more uncomfortable than I expected.
"Greetings to the Youngest Young Master."
"Ah, uh-huh."
I couldn't just ignore them either.
Waking up to find myself living in a world different from the one I knew—it felt utterly alien. Was it really because I'd beaten Namgung So in that spar? And was it true that Third Brother had gone into secluded training for a full two years? These were mysteries I couldn't unravel yet.
I'd probably get clear answers soon enough, once I reached my destination. The people I trusted most in this world were waiting there.
A familiar signboard came into view.
[Youngest Young Master]
I never dreamed it'd take me a whole month to come back here. I shoved open the closed front gate.
Creeeak.
Familiar faces appeared.
"Oh my goodness gracious!"
"Y-Y-Y-Young Master!"
Thud!
"Sister! Get a grip! If you faint here, the mosquitoes will eat you alive!"
The only people I could truly trust. My maid sisters rushed toward me. Only now did it really sink in that I'd come home.
But strangely, everyone looked healthier than before. Had they been eating well while I was out?
The head maid was no exception, arriving a bit later with a brighter complexion.
After a brief reunion with the maid sisters and the head maid, I turned to her—she'd already regained her composure while the others were still buzzing with excitement.
"I really beat Namgung So in that spar? And he really went into secluded training?"
The head maid replied, "Yes. The patriarch announced it himself. Third Young Master acknowledged it personally."
"So it was all true..."
Just then, I sensed footsteps approaching from outside.
Retaliation? Third Brother's faction? Already?
I whipped my head around.
"You're back."
The tension drained from my body. In its place, anger surged.
I called out lowly to the figure approaching.
"Hey."
"Yes?"
The bastard replied with feigned innocence. That only pissed me off more.
Fine. A Namgung deputy strategist ought to keep a straight face like that! Excellent work!
So...
"Let's start with a beating."
"W-Wait a second! Why are you doing this to me out of nowhere? Violence is wrong—I was taught that."
"This isn't violence. It's justice. So a few hits won't hurt."
"I've never been hit by anyone in my life. Not even my master laid a hand on me."
"That's why you grew up such a rude punk. Don't worry. I'll beat the manners back into you today! Even Elder Namgung Ilro will approve."
"You're really gonna hit me?"
The guy turned to leave the hall. I told the maid sisters,
"Close the gate."
As they moved to shut it, he pleaded with them.
"Sisters, don't you know how much I've sacrificed for you all this time?!"
"Sorry, Deputy Strategist."
"We have our reasons too."
"I'll make something tasty next time as compensation."
He switched targets. "Youngest Young Master! I'm here today in my official capacity as the clan's deputy strategist."
"And?"
"I'm delivering a message from the patriarch."
"The patriarch... Father?"
"Yes!"
Come to think of it, there was a scroll tucked under his arm. I approached and held out my hand.
He handed it over with a relieved look.
"Phew. It's very important. Read it quick."
As I started to unroll it, I passed it to the head maid instead.
"Keep it safe."
"Yes."
I grabbed his collar. "Got more?"
"More of what?"
"Important stuff."
"Nope?"
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Come inside then."
"......"
A moment later, the two of us emerged from the room. His face was covered in bruises. Tears streamed endlessly from his eyes, and his mouth wouldn't stop moving.
"People... sniff. I said I was sorry... sniff. But you still beat me... sniff. I even snuck spirit pills from the patriarch for you all out of the goodness of my heart... sniff. And you don't even appreciate it... sniff."
No wonder the maid sisters and head maid looked healthier. My anger flared hotter.
"What? Sneaking stuff behind Father's back?"
I advanced, yelling. He quickly corrected himself.
"I-I told my master! So it's his responsibility. Nothing to do with you, Youngest Young Master."
"Haa..."
I couldn't figure out what was in this guy's head.
"Give me the scroll."
The head maid handed it over. I unrolled it and read the letter inside.
"What the hell is this?"
I asked Namgung Je-cheon, and he answered,
"Sniff. It's... sniff. That is... sniff."
"Damn it! Cut it out!"
"......"
"Say it straight. Or we're going back to the Room of Kindness and Consideration."
"That room has a name now? Sniff."
"Just named it. Stop crying and talk."
Namgung Je-cheon kept sobbing for a while until the maid sisters soothed him, finally calming down enough to continue.
"After you lost consciousness, Third Young Master conceded defeat. He said you drew out fifty percent of his internal energy."
Hm...
His final attack had indeed grown suddenly fiercer.
"The year-end evaluations continued, but no more passed. They fizzled out. After that incredible match, nothing else could measure up."
"Ahem."
I felt bad for the trainees. Should've gone last if I knew.
"As you know, Youngest Young Master, passing the evaluation brings perks. The biggest is access to Manhak Seogo. But there are restrictions."
The scroll said little.
[Manhak Seogo Access Pass – 3 Days]
That was why I'd grilled him.
"Manhak Seogo holds all sorts of martial arts manuals. It's rated below Cheonhak Seogo and Baekhak Seogo, but even so, it's called a treasure trove in the martial world."
Ten thousand techniques. Some worthless trash no one would learn for free, others once called absolute arts.
"Think of it as a repository of unverified martial knowledge. That's Manhak Seogo."
Even among the unverified, some were jaw-droppingly good. One came to mind immediately.
Having grasped the situation, I spoke up.
"So, I beat Namgung So in the evaluation, and my reward is three days' access to Manhak Seogo."
"Yes. But you can't split the three days. It's one entry, max stay three days inside."
"Simple enough!"
I shoved the pass back at Namgung Je-cheon.
"Take it back. I don't plan to go."
"Pardon?"
He looked shocked.
"You're passing up Manhak Seogo? Everyone wants in. It's a once-in-a-lifetime chance."
"I know."
"You know and still? Did you hit your head or something?"
His words grated. I ignored it and pressed on.
"That's why. You know my dream, right?"
"To live thin and long, cowering like a rat in a hole even if a cat prowls—never stretching out comfortably, living your whole life petty and in the dark! You said it yourself, Youngest Young Master."
Just like before, it sounded mocking. This punk.
He's sulking.
A grown man pouting over a few hits.
"I'm the type whose life's goal is living thin and long."
Manhak Seogo was a tiger's den. Going there was walking right in on my own two feet. And once in a tiger's den, you never come out.
A month ago, I'd unexpectedly met a tiger and nearly died! My chest still ached thinking about it. The culprit stood right in front of me. Anger boiled up again.
"I know what you want, Youngest Young Master."
His eyes turned unusually serious. Whenever he got that look, trouble followed. Should I drag him back to the Room of Kindness and Consideration? As I pondered, he continued.
"But things have changed. When night falls, the world sleeps in darkness. And darkness is perfect cover for those hiding from the world."
What nonsense was he spouting now? I decided to hear him out.
"So?"
"Before, no one cared if you cut ties with clan affairs and melted into the shadows like a dead rat. You were invisible. Even if seen, just a rat pup."
"Cut the rat metaphors from now on."
"Got it. Ahem!"
After a loud cough, he went on.
"But once you pierce the darkness and show yourself, you can never return to it. Light shining from the shadows stands out sharper, travels farther. You've made it impossible to hide anywhere the Namgung name holds sway. Your quiet days are over forever."
Namgung Je-cheon's lips curved up. He looked pleased.
"Rumors of you must have spread across the Central Plains during that month you were down. Dream of living thin and long? Everyone will recognize you now. Strangers will misunderstand you left and right."
Madness gleamed in his eyes.
"You wanted free of the Namgung name? Only one way: Enter the tiger's den and either kill every tiger inside... or become the tiger king. Pick one."
Our madman hadn't changed a bit while I was out. Of course. Consistency is key.
"Where do we start? Building power first? Heh. Don't worry. Who am I? I've planned everything for the past month. The Heaven-Sweeping Great Scheme! Just need to execute..."
I yanked his collar.
"W-Why there again?!"
"Seems your education's incomplete."
Yeah. I'd pieced it together. A situation where I couldn't hide even if I wanted to. No wonder the warriors bowed so deeply.
All my efforts so far... down the drain.
I'd half-expected it. Hearing it from him made it certain.
Yeah. Only one choice for me now. Maybe it was decided the moment I entered Namgung Sega.
This was Namgung territory, crawling with martial maniacs. To survive in this madhouse...
I had to learn martial arts like them.
Fine. If it's come to this, I'll learn properly. Let's see whose gut I punch a hole through!
But first things first.
"Perfect weather for beating someone. Right?"
"Sky's clear, not a speck of dust."
"Exactly. Beating someone till dust flies on a day like this? So satisfying."
"They say sudden changes kill people..."
Our madman had killer instincts. That's why he was deputy strategist!
"Don't worry. I've died once already."
I rolled up my sleeves.
"Madman. Let's go. To the Room of Kindness and Consideration."
At that, the madman lit up with panic and bolted.
Run all you want, bastard. This is still Namgung Sega.