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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Sweet, Sweet, Sweet Grand Elixir (1)
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Namgung Hwi was quite an unusual man among all the people I had met so far.
His name sounded vaguely familiar, so he was probably in the original story.
I didn't remember him since he was a male character.
One year older than me.
From a collateral branch of the Namgung family.
Strangely, no gallery ID.
His martial arts level was late first-rate, almost peak.
Judging by his background alone, he could be considered just one of the ordinary students of Baekhwa Academy.
However, the bizarre behavior he displayed at the Guksamussang Association made even me shake my head.
Mahjong rules are very complex, but there are a few that can be easily explained.
First. You can take tiles from other players.
But he never, ever took tiles from other players.
Second. You can declare 'Riichi' to signal a confirmed 'I'm going to kill you' initiation, but you can also attempt an assassination without declaring Riichi in a stealthy manner.
As soon as he completed a hand, he would unconditionally declare Riichi.
Thus, his nickname was born.
The Riichi Superman with a 100% Riichi rate.
At that bonehead play, which threw efficiency out the window.
Even I, who am generally mild-mannered and can't stand not giving advice, once subtly asked him why he played like that.
"The path of a king begins with refusing to bend, even if it means breaking."
It was such an outrageous statement that if there were a 'Bullshit Royal Studies' ranking, it would undoubtedly take first place.
That man was now sitting in front of me... No, damn it, that's a weird way to put it.
Anyway.
The man with an unyielding spirit was sitting before me, his face filled with an anxious expression, on the verge of breaking.
Zzzzz, snore──
"Those two have passed out from drink. You don't need to worry."
Namgung Hwi, who had been anxiously staring at Murong Taek and Unhak sprawled out like corpses, finally seemed to steel himself, filled with determination.
"Are you planning to enter the martial arts tournament?"
"Hmm? Not particularly."
A sudden wave of relief washed over his determined expression.
That's a face that shouldn't gamble.
"...Right. That's a relief, then..."
Namgung Hwi's hand subtly touched his chest.
I sensed something suspicious was afoot.
"No. On second thought, I should enter the martial arts tournament."
"...Must you?"
"Hmmm..."
Watching his expression change so quickly once again, I frowned.
Namgung Hwi couldn't meet my gaze directly.
This was the time to bring out Geum Sihyeon, number 3, Geum Sihyeon of loyalty and trust.
"Brother Namgung, ...no, Brother Hwi. Do you perhaps have something on your mind? Have you heard any strange stories, like someone telling you to give me a laxative, or to steal my sword, or to cut off my hand...?"
Laxative: cleared.
Sword thief: cleared.
Severed hand: bingo.
"I, I swear to heaven that I have no intention of participating in such a treacherous act! That's why I came to tell you. It's absolutely not fair and goes against the path of a king."
Goes against the path of a king, he says.
For such a stubborn, no, a straight-as-a-bamboo man, a direct approach would be better.
"It must be Instructor Namgung Baek, surely... His nature isn't usually like that. Perhaps he has some unavoidable circumstances."
"…!"
Suspicion turned into certainty.
It *is* Namgung Baek.
"Haa... Did you already know?"
Namgung Hwi sighed in exasperation.
Soon, it was time for his confession.
In summary.
The plan was to gather collateral branch martial artists who could be cut off at any time, entice them with elixirs,
then cut off my arm in the martial arts tournament, thus 'arm-cutting' and corrupting me.
"These are the elixirs I received."
I took the two wooden boxes Namgung Hwi offered and opened them.
One blue pill.
One gray pill.
"The blue one is an elixir, and the gray one is called a 'Burst Qi Pill' (爆氣丹), they said. To be consumed right before the match."
The Burst Qi Pill, fine.
"But why didn't you take the elixir? Its energy seems quite pure."
I looked at Namgung Hwi, wondering why he would so readily show both of these to me.
Namgung Hwi, his face back to its usual refreshed state as if he had cast off all his worries, grinned.
"If the process goes against righteousness, then it is not the path of a king."
It was a hearty, manly smile.
Namgung Hwi said he would try to find a way to stop the unrighteous conspiracy from within, and then he left.
The door closed, and a moment later.
The earth-shaking snoring that had been going on just moments ago abruptly stopped.
"Why didn't you just pretend you didn't hear it?"
"He's the noble person who will take our ill-tempered sister, so we couldn't do that."
"If one endures injustice when they see it, they are no Beggar Sect member."
At the trash talk from the petty Taek, which couldn't be ignored,
and the words of the beggar, who usually showed selective patience.
"Hahaha."
I couldn't help but laugh.
***
The next day.
"Haa..."
A sigh escaped me as soon as I woke up, an early bird.
The month had changed; it was already June.
May, which felt like a mid-term break, had finally ended, and the long final exam race from June to July had begun once again...!
Tears welled up at the thought of attending classes and training again.
I shouldn't let them.
I am a martial artist.
Training, good! Good! Good!
Martial arts, good! Good! Good!
"Beggar, Wolfie. Let's go."
"Alright."
"Woof!"
A round of intense running to inject tension into my relaxed body.
And a round of Qi circulation while Wolfie rested on my lap.
There were parts of me that were a little tired due to my lazy habit of sleeping in until noon, but it was time to adapt back to the life of a student.
Since there was only one morning class, Herbology and Toxicology, I first went to submit the martial arts tournament application.
I wondered if there was a need to stick my arm into that maw, knowing that the opponent was concocting a treacherous scheme, but.
Namgung Hwi's internal whistleblowing alone wouldn't resolve the matter.
This is a rule that applies not only in primitive, uncivilized, ancient Hell-China but also in primitive, uncivilized, modern Hell-Korea.
For those with power and authority, hiding their flaws is easier than Ruri wiggling her butt.
To definitively expose and deal with them.
I needed to step forward myself.
Yes.
"Only those prepared to be shot should shoot"—isn't there such a famous saying?
Steeling my resolve, I entered the main building.
Sister Seol was sitting at the reception desk.
"Ah, oh, Sihyeon. Hello?"
"Good morning. Did you get home well last night?"
"Hoho. Thanks to you, I got home just fine."
Another instructor at the next desk looked at Sister Seol with a shocked expression, but Sister Seol calmly used her Ice Princess manner of speaking.
As if.
There was even a solemn determination about her, as if she had decided something...
Nah, it must be my imagination.
She's probably just getting comfortable enough for her true nature to show.
"About the martial arts tournament, I think I'll participate after all."
"...?"
For a moment, the Ice Princess's soul left, and Sister Seol's soul returned to its place.
"But, a peak master against a first-rate low-level... something..."
"Ahem, hmm. That can happen."
Fortunately, Sister Seol understood my change of heart without much fuss.
Affection increased by 1.
"Ugh, but what do I do? Registration for the all-grade martial arts tournament has already closed, and only the first-year tournament is still open for registration."
"By any chance, which tournament did Yongtaek enter?"
Sister Seol avoided my gaze.
"...The first-year martial arts tournament."
As much as Yongtaek's conscience was rotten.
My own pangs of conscience also completely vanished.
"I'll register."
Even better.
The only first-year from the Namgung family was that idiot, Namgung Sang.
My background check showed that despite being from a collateral branch, he seemed to have some influence, and he'd guzzled a lot of elixirs, so his internal energy was supposedly immense.
However, his performance in basic swordsmanship classes showed he was nothing but a complete amateur.
The possibility of my arm being cut off by such a guy?
It's similar to the possibility of a Yonko losing an arm to a Sea King.
It means it approaches zero infinitely, unless I get dementia.
There's no way a peak master's protective qi could be pierced by a first-rate low-level martial artist.
"Mmm, right. If Sihyeon wants to do it, he should."
"Haha..."
With a gut feeling that I'd be devoured by the Ice Princess if I exchanged any more words, I hastily bowed and exited.
***
In front of the Medical Hall.
I encountered Lady Narang, whom I never tired of seeing, even after seeing her yesterday and again today.
"Hehe, Young Master Geum. Good morning!"
"Kyu-it! Kyu-it!"
"Lady Narang, good morning to you too. Did you get home well last night?"
"Yes! Yesterday was really fun!"
Perhaps it was thanks to the enjoyable time we spent together yesterday.
I felt pleased that the distance between Lady Narang and me had subtly closed.
I endured the boring Herbology and Toxicology class with the "Narang buff," and as soon as class ended, I went to find Dangmok.
"Ahem, what now... Th-this is...?"
As I handed him the wooden box I'd received from Namgung Hwi.
Dangmok's beady eyes evolved into tiny, sparrow-like eyes.
Then his mouth opened and closed.
The fact that it was a story that couldn't be expressed in words,
naturally meant it was closely related to the Changcheon Association.
"Is the elixir safe?"
"...It is."
"Then what about this 'Burst Qi Pill'?"
"──."
I see.
It probably contained Gu poison.
I had all the information I needed.
I'd take the elixir back to Namgung Hwi later, and if I asked Lord Saengsasindam to analyze just this 'Burst Qi Pill,' my research would progress a bit further.
Just as I was about to get a pass from Dangmok while I was there and go straight to meet Lord Saengsasindam.
*Buzzzzz──*
A text message arrived.
(WEB Message) [Baekhwa Academy] Academy Head Interview Notice
An interview with the Academy Head is scheduled for June 1st, mid-Yoo-si (Western standard time 18:00). Please arrive at the Academy Head's office on the 4th floor of the main building on time.]
"What?"
The nightmare of being accused of demonic arts last time flashed through my mind.
I hadn't even requested an interview in the first place.
I hadn't caused any particular trouble recently either.
...No way.
Surely, enjoying a banquet with Sister Seol and Brother Dak yesterday isn't the problem, is it?
There's no way an evil practice like the Kim Young-ran Act could exist in this primitive, ancient, uncivilized Central Plains.
Well, it's not like the guards came to drag me away like during the demonic arts incident, so it probably isn't a big problem.
Is it because I've been hanging out with people from the Demonic Cult so much lately?
Even in my heart, which should be without a single shred of shame when looking up at the sky, a slight sense of unease settled in.