Chapter 68

Chapter 68

What draws out the most primal fear in humans?

Some would say predators, others might say yokai. Perhaps someone else would say that fellow humans are the most frightening.

That’s not necessarily wrong. For them, these things are undoubtedly the most terrifying forms to each of them. To consider their answers wrong just because I’m not afraid of them would be far too narrow-minded.

However, then does a standardized correct answer exist to that question?

If there is a correct answer, what should it be?

“……It’s dark.”

Inside the Sword Tomb .

Having confirmed the surroundings where not a single ray of light entered, Namgung Hyeon raised his voice to check the personnel.

“Report by each squad. Is anyone missing?”

“Huh? I don’t think anyone from our squad is missing?”

“Immeasurable Buddha . Our squad is fine as well.”

“……No problems here.”

“No one missing. It’s not a situation where everyone got separated.”

The first event of the Grand Competition . The ‘Gate Breaking ‘ changes with each occurrence.

This is natural. The Grand Competition is held every year after all. Even Namgung Hyeon himself had participated in three Grand Competitions, hadn’t he?

Considering that the purpose of the Grand Competition is to evaluate how the academy trainees  respond to various situations, it’s better to avoid the same environment as last year. Especially since illusionary arts , while difficult to activate, can easily change the environment once activated, this aspect should be even more certain.

Therefore, the trainees must assess the situation given to them each time and devise the best move to reach the answer.

“First, let’s light some fires. Take out the fire strikers .”

As soon as Namgung Hyeon’s order fell, the Mujeong Hall trainees  took out the fire strikers they had been carrying and transferred the flame to the lanterns. Soon, the cavern began to slowly brighten.

“Should we confirm the current situation first? What was the knowledge we received in advance?”

“Well, this Sword Tomb appears to be the grave of someone called Absolute Sword , one of the Ten Heavens  who disappeared two hundred years ago.”

“Absolute Sword? Huh, that’s a name I’ve never heard before. Was there such an expert two hundred years ago?”

“There wasn’t. That’s just the setting. If we used actual people, sometimes descendants appear and complain… Anyway, we’re in a situation where we need to seize Absolute Sword’s secret manual  faster than anyone else before it falls into the hands of the Evil Path .”

“I see. So reaching the destination faster than anyone else is the objective.”

Namgung Hyeon nodded at Cheonggyeong’s summary and this time turned his gaze toward another Mujeong Hall trainee. Soon, the Mujeong Hall trainee timidly shrank under Namgung Hyeon’s gaze.

“Dang Seol, I’m counting on you to dismantle the mechanical formations . Can you do it?”

“M-mechanical formations I can handle… but?”

“There’s a high probability that illusionary formations  are mixed in too.”

“Then on my own I can’t…….”

“I’ll take care of dismantling the illusionary formations. I haven’t learned how to set them up, but I have knowledge up to dismantling them.”

“Good. Let’s start moving first. We’ll establish our strategy as we go.”

The Mujeong Hall trainees nodded in agreement with Namgung Hyeon’s words and began walking through the passage with Dang Seol and Cheonggyeong in the lead. And watching that scene, Namgung Hyeon fell into thought.

‘Those guys are weaker than us.’

Muryeon Hall  is weaker than Mujeong Hall.

This is an objective fact even excluding Namgung Hyeon’s subjective view. Didn’t Cheongryoo , who returned after training Muryeon Hall for a day, say the same thing?

The individual capabilities of Muryeon Hall members are bound to fall short of Mujeong Hall. So even if they devise a strategy, they won’t be thinking of breaking through head-on. They don’t have the capability for a frontal breakthrough. Then what will Muryeon Hall try to do?

It’s simple.

‘They’ll either ambush us right before the objective, or set traps beforehand. Either way, they’ll go with utilizing the environment.’

If capability is lacking, use the environment to make up for it. If you can’t use the environment, you’ll try to use the situation at least.

If you have wisdom, the weak gain the power to face the strong. Wasn’t what Cheongryoo emphasized also to never underestimate Muryeon Hall?

‘If they want to use tricks, they have to meet us first. But if we don’t meet them, that’s that.’

There’s no need to deliberately devise countermeasures. Because there’s no need.

Finish this gate before the opponent can employ their tricks. That’s enough. Whether it’s the speed of dismantling mechanisms or ambushes, he has the confidence to counter anything.

“Hmm.”

Having organized his thoughts, Namgung Hyeon shook his head and turned his gaze toward Dang Seol and Cheonggyeong who were dismantling the mechanisms. In any case, speed is life to execute this strategy, isn’t it?

They must break through quickly. Even if it puts some strain on Dang Seol and Cheonggyeong, increasing the speed would be right.

And.

“How’s the condition? Think we can pass through quickly?”

The moment Namgung Hyeon asked that question.

“That’s going to be difficult.”

Everyone turned their gaze at the familiar voice heard from up ahead.

From within the darkness.

“Because I won’t let that happen.”

Seonwoo Gang was walking out.

Wearing layers upon layers of various clothes.

About six days before the Grand Competition began.

“What do you think is needed to win in the Grand Competition?”

Oh Ryeong answered as if it were obvious to Baek Riyun’s question, who had gathered all the Muryeon Hall trainees in the training ground.

“Strength.”

“Oh, strength. That’s correct. Indeed, if you’re just stronger than the opponent, there’s no need to devise any particular strategy. But do you think you’re stronger than the Mujeong Hall trainees?”

“That’s…… no.”

“Right. Though it might change later, that’s the current state of power. Then let me rephrase the question. What do you think is needed for you to win in the Grand Competition?”

Everyone fell into brief contemplation at Baek Riyun’s question. And soon came the answers.

“Well, strategy, isn’t it?”

“Isn’t it the environment? We need an environment where the enemy can’t use their full strength but we can use our strength completely.”

“Correct.”

Baek Riyun smiled faintly, seeing Seonwoo Gang and Seomun Cheok answer quickly.

“Strategy is ultimately wisdom for the weak to defeat the strong. You are currently in the position of the weak compared to Mujeong Hall, and you can only defeat Mujeong Hall by using strategy. Unlike Mujeong Hall.”

“Yes.”

“But there’s a blind spot to this. Mujeong Hall knows this too. Once they enter the gate and confirm the gate’s environment, the Mujeong Hall children will also predict what strategy you’ll devise and prepare for it. Breaking through that barrier is never easy. So what should you do?”

“……I don’t know.”

“It’s simple. If you lack the factors that determine victory, just fill them in.”

Having finished speaking, Baek Riyun smiled faintly and raised his finger to point at the mountain of documents brought from Muryeon Hall’s library. Soon followed the declaration.

“We have no choice but to use tricks, don’t we?”

Gain the advantage. If force is impossible, use strategy; if strategy is also impossible, use something else.

“Memorize it. Because it will be on the test.”

And now we arrive at the present.

“You……!”

“Nice to see you, Namgung Hyeon.”

“……What’s with that getup?”

“Hmm? Oh, this.”

At Namgung Hyeon’s question, Seonwoo Gang smiled bitterly and removed the clothes that had become half rags from his body. But even after removing them, there were still clothes remaining.

After throwing off even Oh Ryeong’s clothes that he had worn last, Seonwoo Gang shrugged his stiff shoulders and answered nonchalantly.

“I was just breaking through some mechanisms for a bit.”

“……You’re saying you broke through with your body? Just wearing layers of clothes?”

“Yeah.”

“You’re not in your right mind.”

“I know.”

There was calculation involved. According to what Baek Riyun told him, there are certain limits to the illusions that illusionary arts can manifest after all.

Illusionary arts are originally about showing realistic illusions to the opponent with limited resources. At first glance, it seems like anything is possible, but in reality, it’s not.

Especially large-scale illusionary arts like this consume a lot of resources. With mechanical formations of various scales, a giant Sword Tomb, and all sorts of environments.

In this situation, the resources that can be allocated to mechanical formations are limited. Therefore, most mechanisms use deterrent means like poison rather than those with great physical force, as they’re more troublesome and efficient. So if Seonwoo Gang, whose internal energy  is profound, endures the poisoning and forcibly breaks through the path, that would work.

That’s how Baek Riyun drilled it into him.

“So, how did you get here so fast? Looks like your starting point was close. Finding the way must have taken quite some time too.”

“Testing is fine, but this starting point is actually quite far. By the way, Namgung Hyeon. Aren’t you curious about this?”

“About what?”

“Why I came here.”

Seonwoo Gang tilted his head with a faint smile. Then Namgung Hyeon answered bluntly at that sight.

“Is there a need to ask? You wouldn’t answer even if I asked anyway.”

“I might answer though?”

“Then I’ll just subdue you and ask.”

“I wonder. Is that possible?”

“More than enough.”

Seureurung—

Along with his words, Namgung Hyeon drew his sword and took a step forward. Seonwoo Gang had already deviated from expectations once. If time drags on in this situation, there’s no telling what variables he might prepare.

Even if he has some intention, it doesn’t matter. Just subdue Seonwoo Gang here and then quickly seize the secret manual. Since he’s already lost the initiative once, he just needs to hurry a bit more.

That’s probably what he’s thinking. However.

Ururureung!

“I don’t think that’s going to work.”

Will it really go as planned?

“……What are you doing?”

“What do you mean, it’s strategy. Strategy. Weren’t you expecting it?”

Seonwoo Gang shrugged his shoulders and grabbed a pillar of the Sword Tomb that was making rumbling sounds, grinning.

“Are you in your right mind? If you do that, you’ll all die too……!”

“What are you talking about? We won’t die. This is inside an illusionary formation . Everything that happens here is a lie once you open your eyes. We won’t die.”

“Do you think the judges will accept you trying to seize the secret manual while sacrificing your comrades!”

“What if we’re not sacrificing them?”

“……What?”

When Seonwoo Gang first heard this plan, he too thought Baek Riyun wasn’t in his right mind. It was the perfect situation to be disqualified after all.

No matter how much the Grand Competition doesn’t discriminate between means and methods, there are things that are taboo. Using comrades as sacrifices to carry out the mission.

That’s natural. If you become accustomed to using comrades as sacrifices from such practice exercises, when faced with difficult reality, there will definitely be those who quickly compromise. However.

—We must exploit the loophole.

Baek Riyun made it clear that this strategy wasn’t one that involved ‘sacrifice’ as collateral.

—Illusionary artists are human. And there are limits to human imagination. While they can draw gates that don’t exist, creating them is difficult. Do you know what this means?

—Don’t tell me.

—That’s right. The gate’s terrain is borrowed from what actually exists in the martial world . They visit it first for reconnaissance and create the gate based on that. While the positions of mechanisms may change, the terrain itself is the same. It’s a fact not well known except to illusionary artists.

—Of course, it’s not like there are only one or two martial artists’ tombs or places created to test martial artists that have appeared in the martial world. But aren’t the terrains of such places all recorded as data? Just memorize them.

—……Isn’t this cheating? Anyway, it’s deviating from the examiner’s intention.

—Just because you deviate from intention doesn’t mean it’s not the correct answer, does it? No matter which way you go, you just have to arrive at the destination. And I think this way.

He remembers what Baek Riyun said after a brief pause.

Surely.

“If you don’t know, you have to take the hit.”

Was it that?

“Stop right now! If you don’t……!”

“I think it’s already too late.”

Listening to the increasingly strong rumbling sound, Seonwoo Gang burst into a grin and drew his sword with lightning-fast hand movements, plunging it into the pillar. And.

“Stop─!!!”

The moment Namgung Hyeon roared and leaped.

“Well then.”

Seonwoo Gang’s sword glowed brightly with internal energy.

“Shall we change the stage a bit?”

The Sword Tomb collapsed.