Chapter 88

Chapter 88

Mujeong Hall  dormitory.

Teobuk. Teobuk.

Namgung Hyeon, who had been sitting cross-legged on the platform in front of the dormitory, quietly opened one eye at the sound and threw a question toward Paeng Jin coming down.

“How did it go?”

Words without subject or context.

“It didn’t work.”

However, Paeng Jin, who understood perfectly what he meant, shook his head and informed him of the situation. Because he already knew what was being discussed without needing to state the subject.

“The food placed in front is untouched. It seems he didn’t even touch it.”

“……Is that so.”

At Paeng Jin’s words informing him of their comrade’s condition, Namgung Hyeon let out a contemplative sound and turned his gaze upward. Toward the room where someone in seclusion would be.

‘Baek Risan…….’

Namgung Hyeon, who sighed, shook his head. Because it was obvious that thinking about it wouldn’t produce anything right now.

Two days had passed since this gate ended.

The atmosphere hadn’t been good even before, but Mujeong Hall’s current atmosphere had fallen to a level that could be called the worst. The reason, needless to say, was because they had been utterly defeated by Muryeon Hall.

It wasn’t that he hadn’t thought such a case might occur. In the first gate too, the Muryeongwando had shown strategy beyond imagination.

However, there’s a big difference between imagining something and that thing actually happening.

Overnight, the Muryeongwando became heroes, and they became the side that lost to the Muryeongwando. Even though they had done nothing, they had become like villains for standing against the Muryeongwando.

Of course, if it had only been to that extent, the atmosphere wouldn’t have fallen this much. The Mujeongwando were excellent, and Namgung Hyeon, who was like the leader of the Mujeongwando, was even more excellent.

No matter how excellent a showing the Muryeongwando displayed, that was only their performance up to now. The third gate, the consecutive victory battle, was a gate most advantageous to Mujeong Hall, wasn’t it?

The dropped morale could be recovered while fighting the consecutive victory battle. How many trials had there been during training? They couldn’t keep being dispirited by something of this level if they were to be called Mujeongwando.

With Baek Risan stopping eating and drinking, Namgung Hyeon couldn’t even attempt to prepare for the consecutive victory battle. And naturally so.

Because there was no one among the Mujeongwando who didn’t know what this Grand Competition meant to Baek Risan.

‘I didn’t know it would turn out like this.’

When he first met Baek Riyun, he had told him to destroy Mujeong Hall. Because he thought a catalyst was needed.

The current Baek Risan doesn’t enjoy martial arts. The reason Baek Risan learns martial arts is solely because that’s the only means to reach Baek Riyun.

He made that request to Baek Riyun because he found that too regrettable. He thought that if Baek Risan realized he couldn’t do anything to Baek Riyun through martial arts, Baek Risan would surely change.

What if his calculation was wrong?

What if defeat didn’t make Baek Risan grow, but completely broke him so he could never rise again?

‘I have to do something.’

It was none other than himself who asked Baek Riyun to thoroughly crush Mujeong Hall, so the responsibility would also be his.

Having finished his resolve, Namgung Hyeon uncrossed his legs and stood up. 

“I suppose I should have a talk. Paeng Jin. I’ll go upstairs and come back, so…….”

The moment Namgung Hyeon forced open his reluctant lips to speak to Paeng Jin.

“──That won’t be necessary.”

At the heavy voice, both Paeng Jin and Namgung Hyeon’s bodies froze simultaneously.

“Has Baek Risan still not come out?”

“……That’s correct.”

“I see.”

The man who heard Namgung Hyeon’s answer calmly looked around and gave instructions to Namgung Hyeon and Paeng Jin.

“The morale has dropped considerably.”

“……Yes.”

“Managing the squad members’ morale is also the squad leader’s role. Namgung Hyeon. Fulfill your role.”

“……I will correct it.”

“Paeng Jin, the same goes for you. If managing morale is the squad leader’s role, then maintaining skill level is the squad member’s role. Do you have time to be playing around like this?”

“N-no, sir!”

“It seems you know, which is fortunate. What are you doing?”

“Sir?”

“Hurry and go train.”

“……Understood!”

At the cold man’s words, Paeng Jin, with discipline snapping into place, flew toward the training ground as if fleeing. Namgung Hyeon, who had been following him with a sidelong glance, turned his gaze forward again. The man is still standing there, looking at him.

“……What business do you have with me?”

“The business isn’t with you. Namgung Hyeon. What room number is Baek Risan in?”

“Why are you asking that…….”

“Just answer the question.”

At the man’s cold gaze, Namgung Hyeon bit his lips tight and answered in a suppressed voice.

“Room……two hundred and three.”

“Room 203. Understood. I’ll take care of business.”

Having heard Namgung Hyeon’s answer, the man placed his foot on the stairs going up with a cold expression. And watching that, Namgung Hyeon spoke with difficulty.

“……Instructor!”

“What is it?”

“The failure of this gate…… is my responsibility as squad leader. If you’re going to pursue anyone, please pursue me, not Baek Risan.”

“Pursuit.”

At Namgung Hyeon’s appearance, speaking with firm determination, the man looked directly at Namgung Hyeon, then lowered the foot he had raised.

“A member’s mistake is everyone’s mistake. Since when did only the squad leader bear responsibility?”

“If you understand, do what you need to do.”

Watching the man, Cheongryoo , who flatly rejected his words and climbed the stairs.

“……Yes.”

The remaining Namgung Hyeon gritted his teeth.

—Waak! I lost!

—Hehe. I won!

Looking back, the young Baek Risan used to like it when Baek Riyun lost.

It wasn’t that she had the bad taste of enjoying watching her brother lose and feel frustrated. Though it’s awkward to say herself, in her childhood she had such a tender nature that she couldn’t stand not bringing ointment if she saw someone in pain.

The reason she liked seeing Baek Riyun lose was simple. Because Baek Riyun didn’t lose.

Whether it was sparring with peers or guidance sparring with famous masters, Baek Riyun never showed anything that could be called ‘defeat.’ The only time Baek Riyun lost was when he pretended to lose while going easy during play with her.

Even knowing he was losing on purpose, she liked watching it. Because Baek Riyun, who hated losing to anyone, readily admitted defeat only to her. Because even while acting awkwardly, he would lie down for her sake.

Now Baek Risan could no longer enjoy that.

—Victory belongs to Mujeong Hall!

Despite the same situation, not at all.

“……Ah.”

Inside the dark room.

Baek Risan, who had been sitting quietly hugging her knees, let out a cracked voice at the small sunlight entering through the window. Another day had already changed.

‘How many days…… has it been.’

She didn’t know how long she’d been like this. Her mind wasn’t leisurely enough to count such things.

She only knew it had been quite a while. Because her body, which hadn’t eaten anything for several days, was screaming.

‘He said he’d tell me the truth……’

If she won, he’d tell her the truth.

That was the condition Baek Riyun set. If Mujeong Hall achieved complete victory in the Grand Competition, he would tell her the truth.

She wanted to win. Because she wanted to know. Why Baek Riyun had abandoned her, why he had no choice but to turn his back on the family.

She wanted Baek Riyun to make excuses to her. That leaving her behind was due to unavoidable circumstances. That he didn’t abandon her simply because of his own feelings.

She thought it didn’t matter even if Baek Riyun didn’t want to tell her. The martial arts she’d trained were for that purpose. The martial arts she’d diligently cultivated to someday hear the truth.

—Wududeuk!

Despite giving it her all.

The moment that flag broke on that hill in this gate. The moment she was forced to ‘be victorious.’

Despite winning as desired, Baek Risan’s heart broke along with the flag.

After a moment of silence, Baek Risan looked at the sword beside her and lowered her head weakly. Her sword that she’d never neglected to maintain until now but hadn’t even touched these past few days.

‘It’s…… meaningless now.’

Everything went according to Baek Riyun’s intentions. It was all Baek Riyun’s deception tactics, and Baek Riyun had no will to win from the beginning.

The past years of honing martial arts to hear the truth from Baek Riyun were being denied. She thought she’d become strong to hear the truth from Baek Riyun. 

In the end, if it wasn’t truth earned by her own hands but truth spoon-fed by Baek Riyun.

Wasn’t she unchanged from her childhood self who whined to be allowed to win?

Eudeuk!

Grinding her teeth, Baek Risan clenched her fist tight and drew up her internal energy. Flames flickering in her grasp.

The white flames  that flowed up her arm in an instant aimed toward the sword.

“I don’t need something like this anymore……!”

The moment Baek Risan was about to strike down her sword with her hand.

Ttok ttok ttok!

“Are you inside?”

At the familiar voice, Baek Risan stopped her descending hand.

“Instructor…… Cheongryoo.”

“You’re awake.”

At the cold voice, Baek Risan forced herself to stand and positioned herself in front of the door. The door still locked.

“I heard you stopped eating and drinking. Have you eaten?”

“It seems you haven’t. The third gate is not far off. Don’t you know that managing your body is also part of being a military force member?”

“……I’m sorry.”

“Don’t do things you need to apologize for.”

At the cold voice coming through the door, Baek Risan weakly apologized and closed her mouth. Because she already knew she was causing trouble for her other comrades.

She knew. That originally this shouldn’t be happening.

If the defeated are crushed by a sense of defeat, the victors are crushed by pressure. Because inertia applies not only to defeat but also to victory.

The victor must remain a victor. Because a loser winning is different, but a victor winning is natural.

They must win to break even. That’s no exception for the Mujeongwando either. Though they all try not to show it, they’re probably receiving such expectations and giving their all to meet those expectations.

Yet she was holed up in her room stopping eating and drinking, using her circumstances as an excuse. A situation where she couldn’t make any excuses even if blamed for being selfish.

In her dismal feelings, Baek Risan lowered her head and remained silent. Because it wasn’t only her comrades who had the right to criticize her actions.

To defeat Baek Riyun.

That was the reason Cheongryoo became the instructor for this Grand Competition in the first place. He became Mujeong Hall’s instructor, even postponing his planned closed-door training.

She heard they were rivals even during their trainee days. Though Baek Riyun always won, apparently the difference was paper-thin.

Following someone else’s back, especially a comrade of the same generation, is one of the most painful and difficult things. As such, the expectations riding on this Grand Competition must have been great too.

“……Just give me a little more time, please.”

She had to return. Regardless of her feelings, there was work left to do. She had to take responsibility to the end, didn’t she?

Just a little, just a little more time and she could organize these emotions.

Having requested a bit of time, Baek Risan turned her back from the door. 

When Baek Risan was about to close her eyes and let herself go again.

“Don’t you hate Baek Riyun?”

Cheongryoo’s voice, containing a chilling coldness, pierced through the door and drove into Baek Risan’s ears.

“……What exactly do you do?”

“I asked if you don’t hate your brother.”

At Cheongryoo’s words, Baek Risan, whose breathing stopped, worked her mind to choose words to answer with. However, Cheongryoo’s words weren’t finished yet.

“If you hate him. If you want to get back at him by any means necessary…….”

After a brief pause, at Cheongryoo’s quietly spoken words, Baek Risan remained silent.

“Throw away your life up to now.”

A chill that made her toes cold was filling the floor.

“I’ll help you.”