The Martial Genius Who Remembers Everything Chapter 122

[ … words ]

***

The Academy student who asked the question, as well as the head instructor who had been chuckling, all had their faces stiffen.

“You, your joke is excessive.”

“How could I possibly joke in an atmosphere like this?”

I pointed to the members of the class. Every single one of them was exuding a hostile atmosphere.

“You mean it is not a joke?”

“I only say things I can take responsibility for.”

“Huh…”

While the head instructor was making an absurd expression, the Academy student who had asked the question came out to the training ground, snorting.

“Do you mean to say that I don’t even appear in the representative’s eyes?”

Jang Seok-do, a disciple of the Jongnam Sect.

He was a master of the Bungwang-geom (Splitting Light Sword) and a talent who would rise to the position of the future Pavilion Master of the White Tiger Pavilion.

“Do you think I am in a situation to have idle talk with someone?”

“Hmph! It could be that you think it is less embarrassing to lose to five people than to lose to one.”

Jang Seok-do drew his sword.

The head instructor looked at me and Jang Seok-do, then slowly descended below the training ground.

Jang Seok-do immediately unfolded the starting stance of the Bungwang-geom.

“Draw your sword.”

“Just come.”

“…”

Jang Seok-do’s face turned red.

Soon, killing intent appeared in his eyes, and he stepped on the Bukdu-cheon-gang-bo (Northern Dipper Heavenly River Steps) to close the distance and brought his sword down.

Bungwang-geom first style, Gae-chang-mang-wol (Opening the Window to Gaze at the Moon).

The sword held high toward the sky split into two and fell as if to cut off both arms.

I waited until the very last moment and used the Socheon-geom-beop (Small Heaven Sword Technique) to unfold the Pashae-sik (Crushing Style) of the Bungwang-geom.

Clang.

Rolling sound. Thud.

Jang Seok-do’s sword flew outside the training ground and made a loud noise.

Shhh-ring.

I deliberately put my sword into the scabbard slowly.

The atmosphere in the hall, which had been full of laughter, sank as if cold water had been poured on it, and Jang Seok-do’s face had turned white as if he had seen a ghost.

“Don’t you need four more people?”

I spoke looking at the head instructor, but the head instructor was still just alternating his gaze between Jang Seok-do’s sword and me with dazed eyes.

<><><>

The Black Flame Dragon Giving a Chance (2)If the atmosphere of the Murim Academy had been that after the regular exam ended, everyone would rebuild their friendships with each other, even though they had engaged in fierce competition regardless of their sects during the exam, the atmosphere of this class felt cold enough to feel like walking step by step on a frozen river.

Because it was natural for Academy students who had not yet become adults, not to mention those in the Murim Alliance, to count each other’s affiliations and engage in group behavior, it was customary for the other two factions to calculate their interests and cooperate or keep each other in check, regardless of who became the representative among the three factions commonly known as the Righteous Faction, the White Path Association, and the 12 Peak Stars.

In any case, because taking even one more position in the Yongbongjihoe, where one would be active for four years after completing the Academy, not only helped one’s career but also gave a lot of help to one’s own sect.

However, the three factions, which could not form a cooperative relationship due to the existence of me, were huddled together solely for the removal of the impurity that was me, and this situation was even affecting those who had taken the regular exam with me.

“You said you were dragged behind the building?”

At Dong-ryong’s words, Namgung Seon-hwa’s eyes blazed with anger.

“Just, who? Which bastard dared! Where are those guys now?”

“Ah, they are at the infirmary.”

“What?”

“Their arms were broken one by one.”

“…Didn’t you say you were dragged away by five people?”

“My brothers are three, aren’t they? And compared to the personnel we faced during the regular exam, well, five is…”

Watching Dong-ryong eat snacks as if it were nothing, Namgung Seon-hwa looked at Eun-ho with astonished eyes.

“You don’t have to worry. Because we fought after promising not to tell the head instructors…”

“No… that’s not what I meant right now…”

“As a disciple of the Taeeul Sect, receiving this kind of challenge was a common occurrence from Hefei.”

Eun-ho talked about the time he had fought with the martial arts school members located in Hefei in the past, but Namgung Seon-hwa did [N O V E L I G H T] not look relieved at all.

“Are you alright, Miss Namgung?”

At my question, Namgung Seon-hwa sighed softly.

“Well, would we be any different? We attend classes together, but they treat us like we don’t exist. Of course, there are no challenges like the Geum-Eun-Dong brothers.”

Fortunately, it seemed that Namgung Seon-hwa, Seong Mo-ran, and Moyong Jae-hwa were not being directly challenged, other than being ignored. In the first place, considering their backgrounds, they would not be able to treat them as easily as the Taeeul Sect.

Although such things happened frequently in the academic schedule, the instructors and head instructors did not seem to have any intention of interfering in the Academy students’ affairs at all.

No, rather, they seemed to be thinking similarly to the other Academy students.

“Jin Gong-ja, it is time to go to the appointment ceremony.”

“Let us go.”

<><><>

“…Hmm, do you really intend to accept it?”

The Academy representative appointment ceremony.

I, who had not fully organized the executive team, was attending the appointment ceremony leading some of the executives.

“Is there a problem?”

At the appointment ceremony where only the director of the Murim Academy, the administrators, and the head instructors had gathered, the director was repeating the same question over and over again.

“If you accept this, it will be truly difficult for you to assimilate into the Academy.”

“Even if I do not accept this, it does not seem like the current Academy students will acknowledge me.”

“…I am saying this because I have experience.”

I nodded because I also knew the story that the predecessor of the Samcheong-musang-geom (Three Pure Peerless Sword) had voluntarily given up the Academy representative position.

-Jaso-dan (Purple Essence Pill)

-Baekhyang-ok (White Fragrant Jade)

-Noeseong-bi (Thunderbolt Flying Dagger)

The Jaso-dan, a spiritual medicine of the Wudang Sect. The Baekhyang-ok, which emits a rare fragrance. Even the Noeseong-bi, a flying dagger that could cut metal like tofu.

They were treasures that could not be called trivial in any way.

“…Sigh, listen to me carefully. The work of a representative is not as easy as you think. There are thousands of documents that must be shared with the Mantong-bu…”

And my gaze was fixed between the treasures no matter what the director said.

Because one of the reasons I had to take the top spot unconditionally was right in front of my eyes.

“Do you understand? If a hole appears in your work right now, the entire academic schedule will become a mess. If it comes to that, even if we want to save you, we cannot save you.”

“I understand.”

“Huh? Then are you giving up?”

“I meant that I understand what you are worried about.”

The director’s brow furrowed tightly.

“A member of the Mantong-bu told me. They said that the current head of the Mantong-bu is creating a lot of work, holding a grudge against you. Can you handle all of those things?”

It seemed he was holding a grudge because I had rejected the proposal to help with the Mantong-bu’s work a few days ago.

“It does not matter.”

“…No, think about it a little more…”

Without waiting, I reached out and put the Jaso-dan into my mouth.

I had only chewed it a couple of times, but a pure fragrance wafted everywhere from inside my mouth.

“Ah…”

The director of the Murim Academy was staring blankly at my mouth with a painful expression as if his own flesh were being chewed.

“Yo, you eventually…”

“I will make good use of the rest as well.”

As I put the Noeseong-bi and Baekhyang-ok into my bosom and came out of the director’s office, everyone who had followed as executives also had blank expressions.

“Is it okay to just move on like this?”

At Namgung Seon-hwa’s words, I nodded as if to tell her not to worry.

“I have made up my mind to break through head-on. If so, there is no need to hesitate, right?”

Namgung Seon-hwa shook her head somehow.

“It is fortunate that there is a jewel among the treasures this time. If we sell that, we will earn quite a lot of money. Should we hire people with that?”

“What are you saying, this can never be sold.”

Baekhyang-ok.

It refers to white jade that flows fragrance as the name suggests, and it is a precious item produced only in places beyond Tianzhu where the colored-eyed people live. Because the production volume itself is not large and the number imported into the Central Plains is small, it is a jewel that high-ranking wives fight over to buy with money.

“…What are you going to do with the jewel?”

“There is something to make with this.”

The greatest effect of Baekhyang-ok is the effect of Pi-dok-pa-sa (Avoiding Poison and Destroying Evil). It can neutralize about a hundred poisons with even a small amount, and especially because it has the effect of preventing the mind from being swept away by evil spirits, it was an item that must be possessed when dealing with people of the Demonic Cult or the Evil Path.

“Dae-sahyeong…”

Eun-ho, who had been lost in deep thought next to me, had a face full of doubt.

“About what the director said earlier.”

“Do not keep it in your heart. Even if I step down from this position already, they would not like it.”

“No, no. That’s not it. Have you ever met the head of the Mantong-bu?”

At Eun-ho’s question, the three women who had been sullen looked at me at the same time.

“When I first entered the Academy, I visited the dormitory.”

“…So what did you talk about?”

“It was nothing special. He told me to help him with his work to learn the work of the Mantong-bu in advance.”

“!!”

“!!”

“!!”

The eyes of the three women and Eun-ho widened like rabbits.

Eun-ho’s voice began to tremble.

“Th, then why are you saying he is holding a grudge?”

“I don’t know that either. I just refused the work, that’s all.”

“What?!”

“Ji, Jin Gong-ja, what are you… right now…”

“Jin Gong-ja-nim, I heard you wrong, right? You refused the opportunity to enter the Mantong-bu?”

“Tell me it’s not true… Tell me it’s not true!”

It was I who was surprised by their reaction.

“Is the Mantong-bu that great?”

According to my memory, none of the past Academy representatives applied to the Mantong-bu.

“That’s because the Mantong-bu doesn’t accept them!”

“Ah… was that how it was?”

“Do you know how picky the General Military Advisor is when picking people? It is even evaluated by the public that if you do even a simple chore at the Mantong-bu, you can take the position of a general manager of a decent sect.”

“Was it like that?”

“Did you really not know?”

“Even if I had known, I would not have entered.”

“Why?”

“If I enter that place, I cannot be with my disciples, can I?”

“…”

“…”

“…”

“…”

I just spoke honestly, but the atmosphere became strange again.

It seems I am making people uncomfortable everywhere I go these days.

“Should I put it here?”

An administrator said, putting down a small A-frame carrier full of documents.

“…Wouldn’t it be better to put it on the desk? Still, these are Mantong-bu documents.”

When Namgung Seon-hwa spoke, the administrator shook his head.

“Ten more A-frame carriers like this will come. I don’t think it will be manageable if you stack them on the desk one by one. Is it okay?”

“…Just put it down there.”

As the administrator said, twelve more A-frame carriers full of documents came afterward.

Due to the work of the Academy representative team, there was not a single place to step in the executive office because of the documents piled up high.

Geum-pyo, Dong-ryong, and even Moyong Jae-hwa came saying they would help with the work, but since Namgung Seon-hwa was the only one among those currently on the executive team who had done this kind of administrative work, the only thing they could do was to stack the documents in the A-frame carriers like a tower on the desk.

“My, is this possible?”

The strange visitor who poked his head into the executive office was none other than Cheol Sun-jik of the 12 Peak Stars.

“What brings you here?”

Despite Namgung Seon-hwa’s sharp reaction, Cheol Sun-jik still had a smile full of his lips.

“I heard you started working, so I was worried if it was going well. Because if the representative team does not do their work properly, wouldn’t the damage go directly to the Academy students?”

“If you are that worried, why don’t you join the executive team?”

“Why should I do that? Anyway, the current representative will be fired soon, and the remaining ones will form a new representative team.”

“…If that is all you have to say, will you go back now? We have a lot of work to do anyway.”

“Can’t I observe?”

At Cheol Sun-jik’s face, which was smiling round and round, Namgung Seon-hwa clenched her fists.

“Let him look.”

“Yes?”

The person who spoke was none other than Jin So-un.

Jin So-un, who was looking at documents from the representative’s seat, said as if it were not a big deal.

“Well, didn’t you come because you wanted to see if the work was going well? You have to grasp the situation here and share information with others, don’t you? Isn’t that so?”

“…”

At Jin So-un’s words, Cheol Sun-jik’s face stiffened slightly.

“But Jin Gong-ja-nim. If this person is here…”

“Anyway, can’t the Academy students see the work of the representative team whenever they want? Just let him do as he pleases.”

“Okay.”

Namgung Seon-hwa said, glaring at Cheol Sun-jik.

“I don’t mind if you observe, but I won’t forgive you if you interfere with the work.”

“Yes, yes. I understand.”

Cheol Sun-jik, who had said so, sat relaxedly in one corner of the executive office.

“By any chance, is there no tea?”

“…Do you want to be shoved into a well?”

“I didn’t know Miss Namgung would say such extreme things.”

“If you experience it yourself, you will feel it more painfully.”

“Then I will just endure it.”

Namgung Seon-hwa sighed and looked around, but sighs came out first at the documents piled up like mountains.

To finish the process from starting with organizing to analyzing and deciding, the workload would be insufficient even if there were at least fifty people.

Moreover, Jin So-un, the representative, did not even know how to handle the work, and he had already started writing letters on the documents.

“…Eh?”

Namgung Seon-hwa approached Jin So-un, surprised.

“Jin Gong-ja-nim. You can’t just do these documents like that…”

Namgung Seon-hwa’s eyes, who were looking at the documents Jin So-un was writing, began to widen slowly.

“The person called the head of the Mantong-bu. He must be a very narrow-minded person. He sent the documents with all sorts of useless formalities.”

“…Jin Gong-ja-nim. How do you know this?”

Namgung Seon-hwa could not hide her surprise.

It was a document about a normal clothing plan, but handling it was by no means normal.

It is a tricky document that requires drawing up a budget to be paid to the Academy students according to the amount and establishing grounds for it to receive money from the Mantong-bu.

This kind of document is a budget plan that a person of the level of a vice-manager within the Namgung Clan would have to stay up all night for a week with twenty administrators.

However, Jin So-un wrote it down in one stroke, and he drew it up solidly to the extent that both the budget amount and the grounds for that amount felt perfect.

“Isn’t my father the manager of the outer hall of the Taeeul Sect?”

Jin So-un said so and began writing the next document.

“Wa, wait a minute.”

While Namgung Seon-hwa was hesitating, Jin So-un had already finished writing all the documents for the budget related to food expenses.

“…”

Cheol Sun-jik, who had been watching all of this situation from the side, slowly approached Namgung Seon-hwa and looked at the documents she was looking at.

And not long after, he opened his eyes wide.

“What is this…”

The document Jin So-un wrote was truly perfect without any surplus.

Work that should be done by bringing all the disciples who have handled administrative work in each sect after the executive team is fully equipped.

It is natural for the scale of the representative team to be composed of at least 100 people basically.

Jin So-un was handling that alone.

Since Cheol Sun-jik also had done administrative work in his sect, he knew very well how great this work was.

Jin So-un finished one more document as if it were not a big deal and stacked it aside, and Namgung Seon-hwa and Cheol Sun-jik were continuing to look at the documents, surprised again.

“What is so difficult about this that you call people?”

In fact, handling work was not difficult for Jin So-un from the beginning.

Since all the documents of the Mantong-bu were already in his head, the completed versions of the documents that went back and forth between the Mantong-bu and the Murim Academy at that time were also just remaining in his head.

And if you write by changing only the numbers to fit the current life from the memories of the previous life, the work is finished.

“Just… who are you…”

Cheol Sun-jik and Namgung Seon-hwa were looking at Jin So-un with eyes of disbelief.