Chapter: 324
The time when morning training was supposed to be over.
On one side of the hallway leading to each group, a crowd of students had gathered.
In the midst of a space filled with murmurs,
everyone’s heads were turned upwards.
That was why their gazes were drawn to the large wooden board there,
where names were inscribed in neat rows.
The reason those names were lined up like that was simple.
It had been two months since the transition to this place.
How each of the students had held up during that time was being revealed.
There, as a sort of report card showing whether the education and training provided by Shinryonggwan had gone well, lay that very board.
—“Did you see it well, Brother Chu?”
—“I’m screwed… it’s quicker to search from below than from above. I’m dead meat when I get home.”
—“I think I’m in the same boat… I might get kicked out of the Sega family when I go back.”
The mix of joy and despair was palpable there.
Faces stained with frustration and despair were present,
while others felt a sense of relief as they settled at the top.
It was something they would have to check a few more times in the future.
Since this was the first time experiencing such a thing, it would feel fresh.
Lacking experience in venturing outside the Central Plains,
the latecomers, being blood relatives of the Sega rather than sect members, especially noticed this.
Because they were seeing actual rankings set for the first time,
this might serve as a benchmark for realizing reality.
Everyone was talented and chosen, but
among them, geniuses always exist.
Thud.
The commotion fell silent with a single footstep.
—“Hey, hey!”
The students who had been looking up at the wooden board shifted their gazes in unison.
It was directed towards the figures walking this way.
Thud.
As the sound of footsteps approached their destination, the clustered students moved aside on their own.
“Thank you.”
The young man who noticed smiled and expressed his gratitude.
“…Divine One!”
The person making his way through the crowd was a well-known figure in Shinryonggwan.
With striking features and remarkable talent,
he was also the beloved only son of the current leader, renowned for his amiable nature.
Jang Seon-yeon—that was him, right there.
At this point, just two months into his stay,
the fact that most of the inspection team lingered around him was a mark of some sort.
Most agreed they were captivated by his character and talent.
Among the crowd, a student that seemed to be an inspector cautiously approached Jang Seon-yeon.
“Congratulations, Young Lord Jang.”
At the trembling commendation, Jang Seon-yeon’s gaze turned towards him.
The one who made eye contact flinched slightly,
and Jang Seon-yeon responded with a bright smile and a gesture of respect.
“Thank you.”
Others around couldn’t help but gasp in admiration at the sight.
The reason others congratulated Jang Seon-yeon like this was clear.
Two.
Jang Seon-yeon.
His name was inscribed at the very top of the board.
The meaning was as simple as it gets—
second among the hundreds of students.
That was a highly respected position.
It was said that he had garnered substantial scores in both practical and theoretical sections,
and no one debated that.
Most accepted that if it was Jang Seon-yeon, such achievement was expected.
Clearly, this showed that the perception of Jang Seon-yeon was favorable.
Not just the students, but the truth that this batch was brimming with extraordinary talent was known across the Central Plains.
The bloodlines of the Four Great Families,
as well as those born into eminent households just beneath them.
The scholars from the Gupaebang,
and in a place buzzing with the likes of the Six Dragons and Three Peaks,
coming in second was indeed a commendable feat.
Yet,
crunch.
Amidst the incessant congratulations flying about, Jang Seon-yeon found himself biting his teeth alone.
He labored to swallow the irritation bubbling within,
thinking ‘I feel like I’m going to be sick.’
The noisy, buzzing chatter of students merely became background noise.
Annoyance and the circumstances fused together, making him feel oddly queasy.
‘I wish everyone would just shut up.’
He thought, but kept the sentiment buried in his heart, not letting it escape through his mouth or show on his face.
After all the effort he’d put in,
there was no way he’d let anything destroy it due to trivial matters.
Jang Seon-yeon turned away from the noise and slowly began reading the names on the board from the bottom up.
Most of the names listed down there were unfamiliar to him.
It was only natural; those beneath him had skills so lacking that they barely registered in his memory.
‘…The Sleeping Dragon and the Sword Dragon are surprisingly low-ranked.’
Both companions were ranked lower than he had anticipated.
He’d heard that the majority of the Sleeping Dragons often snoozed through training or education.
As for the Sword Dragon, it was said he was quite weak in theoretical knowledge.
That explained their rankings.
There was an odd sensation looming over the rankings and the Shinryonggwan itself, which he didn’t find particularly significant.
When he thought about it, Jang Seon-yeon couldn’t help but click his tongue.
‘How comforting.’
These were geniuses without greed, after all.
Should he consider himself fortunate?
Or was he disturbed that they seemed to saunter through life without a care?
One couldn’t put such feelings into exact words.
‘That’s rather fortunate.’
That settled in his mind.
Yes, rather fortunate indeed.
Had they conspired to be rivals,
things might have gotten worse.
Jang Seon-yeon, wearing a smile that resembled a mask,
continued rolling his eyes.
‘Dokbong… as expected.’
Among the group, the weakest link, Dokbong,
held a pathetically low rank, just as Jang Seon-yeon had predicted.
He’d heard something about Dokbong last seen fooling around with some girl from a prominent family.
It didn’t merit a thought in his mind.
Dokbong was simply too weak to linger there.
Therefore, he chose to ignore him entirely.
‘And Seolbong…’
Seolbong, who hadn’t shown much prowess, surprisingly ranked higher than expected.
This was likely due to superior performance in theoretical aspects.
At least in that realm, he’d reached nearly the highest level among all the students.
‘Impressive.’
He’d always known Seolbong’s talent lay outside of martial arts,
but he never expected it to be this remarkable.
Though even with that said,
in the end, none of them ranked among the top achievers.
As he neared the end,
the board was filled with familiar names.
Among them, he noted:
‘The Sword Dancer is quite the surprise.’
The name Namgung Bi-ah appeared.
‘…Ugh.’
Seeing that confirmed made Jang Seon-yeon clench his fists in frustration.
Memories of their earlier encounter during the entrance exam came flooding back.
The recollection of defeat still sat poorly with him.
The image of her deftly channeling pulse energy with her fingertips without breaking a sweat haunted him.
‘Didn’t think she’d excel in theory too.’
While her theoretical score lagged behind Seolbong and his own,
it seemed her practical skills had elevated her score significantly.
He wasn’t fond of that fact.
The reminder that he lost against someone who once lost to him gnawed at him.
—“This is boring.”
Her flicked comments still nagged at his mind.
He shook his head, trying to banish his thoughts.
‘…Where is she?’
He raised his gaze in search of the name he cherished most.
By now, that was the name he wanted to see above all.
Knowing exactly where to look,
there was no need to strain himself to find it.
Three. Wisul-ah.
She was right below him on the list.
‘Seems she’s been putting in the effort.’
At first glance, she appeared to be lacking knowledge, almost idiotic.
Yet now, this seemingly naive figure had impressively filled the theoretical side of her training.
‘So it’s true… blood of the Sword Master, huh?’
Her martial arts talent hovered near monstrous levels.
Remembering even a single glimpse of her, one wouldn’t forget.
And her looks? Just as remarkable.
Jang Seon-yeon reflected more deeply.
‘That means I need to gather more strength.’
He had no intention of letting Wisul-ah slip away.
He recalled the promise he made to her.
Once he reached the top position, she would be his.
So even if she caught up closely towards the very end,
he firmly resolved that he’d never be surpassed.
By any means necessary.
‘…However.’
Thud.
In a moment that seemed to be flourishing,
Jang Seon-yeon recalled the last thorn in his side.
He clenched his fists immediately.
This was the issue currently swirling chaos within him.
It was the thought that had plagued him with unwarranted musings for years.
Finally, Jang Seon-yeon looked up.
He focused above the spot where his name was etched.
“…Hah.”
Seeing the name up there, he struggled to contain the emotions boiling inside him.
Why on earth was that guy written there?
Just the sight of it was dizzying.
—“This time, the top spot is…”
—“No matter what, it must be divine…”
—“What’s the deal with the practical…”
‘Shut up!’
As if prying into his tangled insides,
the surrounding voices grew louder.
He wanted to rip their mouths open.
Wouldn’t that silence the noise?
‘That can’t be….’
He was unable to do such a thing.
Not only couldn’t he undo the facade he had meticulously crafted,
but for the sake of the future, he needed to embellish more and endure.
While caught up in such thoughts, Jang Seon-yeon discreetly adjusted the corners of his lips.
“What’s with the commotion?”
A sharp, cold voice cut through the bedlam.
Thud.
Contrasting with Jang Seon-yeon’s orderly footsteps
was the annoying unsteady gait amplifying the irritation.
“…Hik!”
Noticing him, a fellow student flinched in surprise.
It was a far cry from how they reacted when Jang Seon-yeon first appeared.
The newly arrived figure made a face of discontent.
“Why are you acting like that, Woo-cheol? Any announcements today?”
“I heard there’s a presentation to be given. Isn’t that why everyone’s here?”
“Presentation?”
Behind the petite young man,
a giant of a man stepped forward to explain.
Paewool.
He was a latecomer in Jang Seon-yeon’s memory.
Then a handsome youth, chuckling with the group, interjected.
“Seems they’ve got rankings figured out.”
He was the Sleeping Dragon.
Even while Jang Seon-yeon made his approach, Jamryong remained utterly indifferent and responded with annoyance.
He now stood there with an entirely different expression.
“You really do the most unnecessary things. Can’t you just keep it simple?”
Hearing the Sleeping Dragon’s comment, another responded in a baffled tone.
Without losing momentum, he continued on.
As a youth with a fierce demeanor approached,
the students gathered swiftly made way.
Swallow.
In the distance, the sound of a dry gulp echoed.
‘…That guy.’
Jang Seon-yeon had to scowl at the sight.
From afar, the young man appeared to spot him too,
flashing a grin.
That particular smile was exceedingly unsettling.
Jang Seon-yeon knew it was outright mockery.
He found himself gritting his teeth once more.
“Long time no see?”
“…Pleasure to meet you, Young Lord Gu.”
Despite greeting him with a face that showed no warmth at all, Jang Seon-yeon accepted it.
Misery was mutual.
“I can tell you’re rotting just by looking at your expression.”
“I’m not sure what you’re implying.”
“Yeah, just keep pretending you don’t know.”
An empty retort left him without an answer.
Conversations with that guy felt as if they drained his very soul.
Such sheer malice, so blatantly aimed at him.
“Oh, brother.”
“What now?”
“You’re the first, you know.”
“Really?”
It could be because he was the greatest obstacle on his path.
One.
Gu Yangcheon.
Among all the students, he occupied the top rank.
He was the first place holder of the entrance exams,
and whether in good or bad light, he was the most renowned figure in Shinryonggwan.
‘…True Dragon.’
Jang Seon-yeon wished he could erase that figure entirely.
‘…Why?’
Questions loomed.
He’d known for a while that Wu Wei was outstanding.
How could it be possible not to notice after everything he’d faced at Yongbong Branch?
That guy was a monster.
As much as he loathed to admit it, he had to recognize the truth.
The true dragon was indeed monstrous.
He could admit that point, yet
‘He’s also excellent in theory?’
That was utterly ridiculous.
He never pictured him as someone who would put effort into that.
Gu Yangcheon’s theoretical score surpassed even Seolbong’s.
‘…How does that make sense?’
How could this be? Was there a covert agreement between the authorities and the instructors?
“Hey.”
“…!”
“Are you feeling particularly wronged?”
Jang Seon-yeon barely regained focus at Gu Yangcheon’s words, shifting his expression.
Seeing that made Gu Yangcheon chuckle.
“Try a bit harder next time. Not sure how many opportunities you might get.”
“…Young Lord Gu.”
“That’s simply because you don’t have enough appetite. Just eat more.”
His teasing kept jabbing at Jang Seon-yeon.
Despite everything, Gu Yangcheon seemed disinterested in rankings.
That irked him.
‘Are you implying it’s obvious?’
Getting to that height
implied it was just the norm?
Jang Seon-yeon wasn’t fond of that notion.
He toiled endlessly while keeping pace,
but that guy showcased his temperament and acted however he pleased.
And to add insult to the injury, he didn’t fret about other people’s opinions.
‘…’
As waves of complicated emotions washed over him,
he clenched his fists.
Brief envy fluttered through his thoughts.
The holy figureenvying that guy.
That simply couldn’t be.
“I must eliminate him.”
He absolutely needed him out of the way.
Before it was too late, blocking his progression.
Before this wall enlarged and sprawled impossibly larger.
He had to ensure it was done right.
Jang Seon-yeon’s gaze flicked over to one of Gu Yangcheon’s companions.
Amidst all the gazes gravitating toward him,
there was someone cowering behind the imposing frame of Paewool.
‘Cheol Ji-seon.’
The most pivotal piece in this puzzle,
someone who would become useful on his path forward.
Thinking about that, Jang Seon-yeon managed to suppress the current humiliation.
Gu Yangcheon’s sneering amusement
would soon morph into screams.
“Congratulations, Young Lord Gu.”
Aware of this, Jang Seon-yeon managed a smile now.
“Indeed, commendable as always.”
Gu Yangcheon appeared taken aback by Jang Seon-yeon’s congratulatory words.
“Honestly, it’s just nauseating… If I were in your shoes, I wouldn’t have been able to smile. And yet, here you are, grinning.”
“Haha, how could I be angry when there’s a reason to celebrate?”
“Staying any longer might genuinely ruin my appetite. Let’s move.”
After delivering that remark, Gu Yangcheon promptly turned away, clearly losing interest.
His companions followed suit without hesitation.
Not just Gu Yangcheon, but it seemed the others present weren’t interested at all.
Jang Seon-yeon needed to keep striving.
The slightest lapse in focus might unleash predatorial instincts at him.
He forced a smile while watching Gu Yangcheon’s back.
And he recalled.
“Wait for me.”
I’ll definitely make you kneel down before me.
He scratched his back as he moved toward the restaurant.
‘It’s so itchy I’m dying.’
The subtle prickling was intensely bothersome.
It seemed it wasn’t all roses having heightened senses.
Dealing with such trivial irritations too.
‘Hah.’
Seeing Jang Seon-yeon’s face was torture enough.
Encountering the aura radiated by that guy was exasperating beyond compare.
‘If he had lingered, I’d have lost my appetite for good.’
Nothing extinguishes one’s appetite more than being subjected to that guy’s presence.
While trudging along, Paewool spoke to him.
“Brother, you truly are amazing! First place!”
“That’s the third time already.”
The one noted was his name.
He didn’t comprehend why the excitement seemed to radiate more from him.
“Where did you even land?”
Paewool wore a thoughtful expression at the question.
“…I think it was somewhere in the middle. Not entirely sure. Didn’t pay that much attention.”
“You should have memorized your own score, you idiot….”
He recalled witnessing students writhing in agony from failing mere theoretical classes.
Thinking he’d rate somewhere around the middle felt accurately fitting.
The main prize, unexpectedly first place.
To be honest, he had no shock at all given how anticipated it was.
Worry did creep in,
because he’d treated the instructors horrifically.
He wondered if they might take points off for that.
Fortunately, they didn’t seem like the type to hold grudges.
‘Or perhaps they simply adjusted the scores down.’
He considered it, yet
the theoretical part on artificial beasts remained overwhelmingly sufficient.
How many monsters had he seen under the command of the Celestial Demon?
How many magic stones did he digest for bets?
It was only natural that he’d excel.
“Stop schmoozing, let’s eat. I’m starving.”
“They say meat’s on the menu today.”
“What’s it to you? Aren’t you supposed to be a sage?”
“What’s a sage? Is it food?”
“…Never mind. Just devour it all.”
It had become somewhat routine dealing with the Sleeping Dragon and his nonsense.
The real Sleeping Dragon kept popping up, despite the differing factions.
It seemed he intended to stick closely.
‘And then.’
Aside from the Sleeping Dragon,
he cast a glance at Cheol Ji-seon, who quietly lingered behind him.
—Will you continue being that way?
“…!”
I spoke with clarity.
Cheol Ji-seon’s shoulders jolted.
His discomfort was too blatantly obvious.
—You said you were fine.
I understood what was tearing at his thoughts.
So I had to give him that little nudge.
—Don’t think about it. Just follow what Jang says.
“Um…!”
“Yeah?”
Cheol Ji-seon unexpectedly blurted out.
He quickly sealed his lips.
“Sorry… I bit my tongue.”
“Are you alright?”
“Uh-huh.”
Seeing that elicited a sigh from me.
What should I do if he falters even under clear guidance?
—Did you know…?
I asked, and Cheol Ji-seon shook his head.
It meant he was clueless.
—If you avoid this, I might have to eliminate you.
“…!”
—You mentioned wanting to live.
His face blanched at the threatening undertone.
I didn’t want it to reach this critical point.
The way he was carrying on left me feeling quite frustrated.
—So let’s execute this well?
I smiled while saying it.
Cheol Ji-seon nodded repeatedly.
After scanning Jang Seon-yeon’s expression,
luckily, it looked like he wouldn’t mess things up.
Above all, how well Cheol Ji-seon performed mattered.
I sensed it from the sights of Jang Seon-yeon and the dire intent aimed at me earlier.
Time was running thin.
To be safe, I’d prepared alternate plans.
Now, it was just about waiting for that moment to arrive.
They were all pushing forth, operating smoothly as intended.
All I needed to wish for was….
Let there be no unexpected surprises.
That’s all that was left to hope for.
Thus, as days trickled by,
“Let’s initiate the practical training.”
The moment I had longed for had finally come.
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