ISS-Chapter 2

Chapter 2

I spoke looking at the letters that suddenly appeared before my eyes, and Lee Ryang asked.

‘What do you see?’

‘…Can you see this too?’

‘How could that be?’

Lee Ryang shook his head and continued.

‘It’s just that all those who purchased the manor showed the same reaction, so I guessed. I don’t see anything at all even when I hold the deed in my hands, so it’s strange.’

So that’s it.

I nodded with a feeling of general understanding. It’s not like there are no such cases.

Although I’ve never heard of a case of directly displaying text in the air to inform that it’s choosing an owner like this, there are plenty of things in this martial world like divine swords or demonic swords that choose their owners.

Right now, the Sword King of the Namgung Family’s sword Mujeong is said to be a famous sword that can cut through even iron normally, but if it’s not held by its owner, it can’t even cut tofu, and the Heavenly Demon’s Heukyeol is said to immediately cause Qi Deviation if the one holding it isn’t the Heavenly Demon.

‘Hmm. It seems to be a special manor.’

‘No matter how special a manor is, how special can it be? At best, it would recognize its owner and open and close doors by itself.’

‘That’s true too.’

‘Anyway, my role ends here. If by any chance you’re still alive after three days, please come find me then. If there are any items or personnel you need to obtain, I’ll arrange them at a cheap price.’

‘Understood. I’ll do that.’

‘I’ll be going now.’

I watched Lee Ryang bow his head and disappear into the distance, then slowly turned my head to look at the manor I bought.

‘So you choose your owner?’

There was a question about why the Red Energy that warns me of danger didn’t appear, but it seems to have been resolved. If it’s a manor that chooses its owner, doesn’t that mean it’s not dangerous at all as long as the owner’s qualifications are recognized!

‘I don’t know what I need to do to be recognized as qualified, but let’s get along well. Friend.’

Thunk!

After finishing speaking, I smoothly stroked the door, and with a creaking sound, the opened door poured out dust thickly.

…First, I should do some cleaning?

***

A moment later.

‘Phew.’

I wiped the sweat beading modestly on my forehead and looked around with a satisfied smile.

‘It’s somewhat organized now.’

Three shichen.

For three shichen, I proceeded with cleaning the manor. That’s because quite a lot of dust had accumulated since no one had lived here for a long time.

Since it was a very large manor, I couldn’t do all the annexes, but I finished cleaning all of the main building. Fortunately, since furniture hadn’t been brought in yet, there wasn’t much to clean.

‘What’s left is managing the garden and training halls.’

From what I saw, weeds were growing between the stones in the training hall gaps, so if I cut or pull those out and thin the stones, it will be concluded.

Well, I’ll do that tomorrow.

[The manor’s cleanliness has reached Grade 7!]

[This grade will be reflected in the assessment results.]

I stroked my chin at the content of the letters that appeared. The cleaning I did is reflected in the assessment results.

‘What exactly does the assessment assess in the first place?’

I understand it’s an assessment to become the manor’s owner. But the manor’s grade rises when I clean it, and it’s reflected in the assessment.

Normally, when assessing someone, it’s normal to assess their abilities or character. So this must also be part of assessing my character.

‘Ways to raise other grades.’

I crossed my arms and let out a contemplative sound. It will differ depending on what method the performance evaluation is made by.

I happened to have drinks with the Murim Alliance’s personnel manager when I was serving as Changcheon Corps Commander. And according to what he said, there are four criteria for personnel evaluation at the Murim Alliance.

‘Character, martial prowess, intelligence, and background.’

Of course, the manor wouldn’t look at background. So excluding background from the conditions, three remain.

‘Character, martial prowess, and intelligence…’

Even if character is passed over by looking at cleaning or self-management, I can’t even catch a hint of how the other two are assessed. If the period were several days or weeks, I could at least understand, but isn’t it just one day?

‘There’s only one way to complete the assessment in just one day.’

A test.

By my guess, tonight, some kind of test will come to me. And if I don’t pass that test, I’ll die instantly on the spot. If I pass, I’ll be recognized as the manor’s owner.

‘Testing both martial prowess and intelligence simultaneously, while looking from the outside like I’m not taking any test…’

I chuckled while imagining. Doesn’t the feeling somewhat come to me?

The answer has come out. Then all that’s left is waiting.

‘First, I should fill my stomach well.’

There’s nothing more exhausting than using your head on an empty stomach.

I got up from my seat and moved my steps toward the market.

***

Time passed to Jasi.

[The manor’s cleanliness has reached Grade 6!]

[This grade will be reflected in the assessment results.]

I confirmed the text that appeared with the brightly shining moon and wiped the sweat flowing on my forehead.

‘Is the rough arrangement finished?’

After eating, I focused on raising the manor’s cleanliness. For a full four shichen.

Actually, it’s natural. To receive even a slightly better assessment, I have no choice but to steadily work through what’s been revealed. Whatever it is, one goal at a time from what’s in front of you. That’s the attitude that must come first when solving any task.

‘It’s fortunate that it rose by one grade as a result.’

If I cleaned this hard and it didn’t rise by even one grade, that would have been hollow in its own way. But the grade rose, and one thing remains.

‘Now it’s time to take the test.’

I roughly threw the rag that had turned so black from wiping accumulated dust that its original form couldn’t be recognized into a wooden basin, then trudged inside to take out bedding and lay down. And soon, slowly flowing time.

‘…..’

If as expected, the test will come soon. And if I don’t get a passing score on that test, my heart will immediately stop. So I must steel my resolve now.

‘Someone said that even if you’re dragged into a tiger’s den, you’ll live if you keep your wits about you.’

As if.

If an ordinary person is dragged into a tiger’s den, they’re already dead the moment they’re dragged. Cats and tigers and such animals all bite their prey’s neck. So for an ordinary person to survive before being dragged by a tiger, there’s only one method.

Before being dragged into the tiger’s den, you have to ‘prepare’ by putting something extra around your neck.

‘Come.’

I pulled the blanket up to below my neck and slowly closed my eyes to calmly settle my mind. While recalling the meditation method I learned from a Daoist of Cheongseong.

And when about one gak had passed.

‘It has begun.’

With the feeling of electricity tingling through my eyelids, my vision instantly turned pure white.

The next moment, I was standing in a space laid with pure white marble.

[Beginning suitability assessment.]

‘This place is…’

I looked around and let out a contemplative sound. It was an alien place I was seeing for the first time in my life.

A pure white space with no visible end and my appearance standing in its center.

Even my clothes and sword are different from what I was originally wearing. If I had to compare, I should say they’re similar to what I wore when I was Changcheon Corps Commander.

‘I guessed from hearing that hearts suddenly stopped and people died, but.’

The test really is taken in a dream.

[Reviewing prerequisite tasks.]

[Manor’s cleanliness: Grade 6]

[Assessor’s reputation: Grade 3]

[Assessor’s character evaluation: Grade 2]

[Overall evaluation: Grade 4]

‘Ooh.’

I smiled with satisfaction and stroked my chin while looking at the content of the text appearing in succession.

‘Cleanliness aside, reputation is Grade 3? Evaluation is Grade 2…’

I have a rough feeling about why reputation rose. I set up quite a lot of confrontations with the upper management.

Probably quite a few people felt like a bothering tooth had fallen out the day I said I was retiring. But even considering that, the character evaluation being Grade 2 is unexpected. Was it big after all, the evaluation from the Changcheon Corps members?

‘It keeps appearing.’

I cleared my distracting thoughts and concentrated on the text continuing to appear before my eyes. Then the letters clearly taking shape.

[Confirmed assessor is a ‘martial artist.’]

[Confirmed assessor’s purpose is ‘establishing a sect.’]

[Confirmed overall evaluation Grade 4. Highest grade among past assessors. Adjusting test difficulty…]

‘Adjusting difficulty, so it lowers the difficulty according to evaluation?’

I smiled looking at the text. If it’s the highest grade among past assessors, that means there’s not much to verify.

Naturally, the difficulty of the test being conducted should go down to make sense. I truly thought so.

[Difficulty adjustment complete.]

[Raising difficulty by three levels from basic difficulty. Accordingly, rewards will greatly change.]

[Difficulty: Extreme ]

[Beginning test.]

[Test hall: Hall of Martial Prowess]

‘Hm?’

The next moment, at the Red Energy filling my vision, I reflexively rolled my body.

Ppippippippipping—!!!!!

‘Huhhhhh!’

Something flying at a speed I couldn’t even perceive pierced through where I was and flew straight through. Several even pierced through the hem of my robe and flew on.

I can be certain. The sound and impact came almost simultaneously. If it weren’t for my ‘intuition,’ I would have become a well-ventilated body by now.

Ziiiing!

The moment my senses rang the alarm again, I opened my eyes wide. This time, red energy enveloping the place where I am. If it’s this position?

‘Above!’

Kwaddeuddeuddeuk—!!!

The moment I dodged my body, again at the same speed, something fell and drilled holes all over the place where I was. Something so fast it’s hard to distinguish its form with the eyes.

But I’ve roughly gotten used to the speed. Is it because of my ‘intuition,’ I can roughly tell where it’s coming from too. Then there’s only one thing left.

‘Right. You’re going to test me?’

Good. I’ll receive it all. I’ll show you that just anyone can’t become the Corps Commander of the Murim Alliance’s Changcheon Corps!

Chwareureureuk!

I confirmed the Sword Qi extracted from the sword dyeing and covering the surroundings in a deep blue color, and tightly gripped the hand holding the sword hilt.

No matter how fast it is, if I can get used to it after seeing it a couple of times and know the path, I can receive it. I don’t know how long this test will continue, but it won’t continue for long.

‘Come!’

The moment I spoke, I confirmed red energy passing before me and swung my sword. And.

Ttadadadadadang—!!!!!

After exactly six impacts and six sword strikes exchanged.

I.

‘…..’

Looking at the six holes drilled in my sword blade.

‘I’m screwed.’

Ppabababababat—!!!

I hastily rolled on the floor.