Chapter: 782
Words spoken casually are swept away by the atmosphere and overflow.
There weren’t a few people around, and there were also some secret gazes pouring in.
It couldn’t be helped. It was the first day that the Holy King, who was already a talkative figure, was going to work.
Yeah, going to work.
Just thinking about it makes me feel bloated and irritated. If I had to pick the thing I hated the most in my past life, it would have definitely been in the top ten.
But here I was, doing just that.
Ah, I get mad just imagining it. Being here at this time with that kind of meaning.
Just that alone is enough to make me feel suffocated.
“You really are a shitty manager.”
The situation made everyone even angrier, and the words just kept coming.
Words spoken with that mindset have an instant impact.
“…uh….”
“Just now… What did the Holy King say to the Blue Dragon Lord?”
“Did I mishear that?”
It wasn’t a small sound, but the surroundings were so quiet that everyone heard it.
I just can’t believe it.
Who would have imagined that inside the Murim Alliance?
Who could have thought anyone would dare to curse at Ilcheonggeom, the one called the heart of the Eight Elements?
But what can I do?
“I’m already pissed. Why are we playing around from the first day?”
I don’t care about that kind of thing.
I tried my best to ignore nonsense like that. It’s a problem if it turns out like this from day one.
I’m talking about people who are being complete jerk-offs.
“The Holy King.”
The expression on Ilcheonggeom’s face that day was a masterpiece.
He looked like he couldn’t believe he had misheard, but at the same time, he was getting more and more irritated as he started to get it right.
“…What are you talking about now?”
“Why have you been asking me the same thing? Is your hearing that bad? What are you talking about? I heard you just fine. Or do you want me to say it again?”
After slightly nodding my head, I spat out the same voice as before.
“You really did a shitty job of managing your subordinates, Senior Ilcheonggeom.”
I didn’t forget to flash a smile while saying it.
“Now, can you hear me?”
“…”
After spitting out those words, any slight reaction that had been heard before disappeared.
Everyone seemed to be holding their breath in shock, staring at me.
Me too.
I waited for Ilcheonggeom to react right after I spoke.
That moment passed like a whoosh.
“Ha…”
I could hear a shallow breath.
It was the breath that Ilcheonggeom released.
But that wasn’t all.
Ssssssss…
“…Huh!”
Guh…!
An unknown energy spreads out, covering all directions.
An eerie sensation flowed through the surroundings.
Those who felt it had to hold back their breaths.
It felt heavy yet chilly. It radiated a refined aura that undeniably reflected mastery.
‘Hmm.’
Maybe it was because my senses were sharpened, but I felt it more vividly.
The source was Ilcheonggeom’s body. Naturally, he was the master of this energy.
Is this how much power he has without even holding a sword?
‘Strong.’
Not bad. That was my exact impression.
I focused my gaze and examined Ilcheonggeom closely, following the pulse of his energy.
In the Central Plains, there were three masters.
Beneath them were the ten renowned masters known as the Seven Iron Three Books.
And just below them were the hundred great masters.
In that sea of masters, where does Ilcheonggeom stand?
Reflecting on this, I recalled something I had heard in my past life.
‘The next generation’s top ten masters.’
Or maybe, someone on the brink of entering that ranks of top ten.
If I were to assess Ilcheonggeom’s position, it would evoke exactly that feeling.
He was right at the edge of being among the hundred masters, poised to ascend to the top ten one day.
While he might not yet be at the top level, he was certainly close enough.
I don’t dispute that evaluation.
It seemed that way to me too.
Ilcheonggeom was strong. If given enough time, he had the potential to rise into the ranks of the top ten masters.
Such a powerful presence emanating from him made everyone nearby cling to the walls and try to catch their breath.
“The Holy King.”
“Yes, Senior.”
“You seem to have forgotten where you are for a moment.”
Don’t you know where you’re standing?
Ilcheonggeom said this with a face that was utterly stiff.
“No, I know exactly.”
I just kept talking as though I didn’t give a damn.
“Isn’t this the Murim Alliance?”
Was my nonchalant response a problem?
Ilcheonggeom’s brows furrowed even deeper.
“…You know that and still act this way?”
His voice conveyed disbelief; in fact, that only delighted me.
“Why? What’s the problem? It’s not like I did anything I shouldn’t have.”
Ilcheonggeom was about to blurt out something at my brazen tone.
“The cause comes from this man here. It wasn’t me, after all.”
“What!?”
I grabbed the man next to me who had been at a loss and showed him to Ilcheonggeom.
From what I overheard, he seemed to be a deputy commander.
It looked like he was referred to as the deputy commander of the Blue Dragon Corps.
His level seemed about intermediate, getting close to peak competency.
With my grip on the back of his neck, I effortlessly lifted the man up.
His inability to move due to Ilcheonggeom’s presence allowed for this lift without resistance.
“Ughhhh…!”
The man, ashamed, managed to let out a self-deprecating moan, but I paid no mind.
For now, the priority was to present him to Ilcheonggeom.
“If only you hadn’t done such ridiculous things from the start, there wouldn’t be an issue, right?”
Ilcheonggeom’s brows twitched at that.
“I don’t understand what you’re talking about. What did I do?”
His immediate response was one of evasion.
‘He’s pretending not to grasp the situation.’
Ah, I see.
I fought back a laugh.
He certainly must have witnessed the skirmish that this man instigated against me.
Not just witnessed, it was probably this superior who ordered me to confront him.
Was it a unilateral decision of his? Quite possible. But.
‘Even at the level of a deputy commander, it’s not easy to act out without backing.’
This man held the title of deputy commander.
Above him was the grand commander, a significant designation, and not a trivial one. This automatically restricts his actions.
While someone at a lower rank might be oblivious to worldly matters, could a person of this status genuinely pick a fight with me?
That idea seemed absurd.
If he had someone on top of him, a deputy commander wouldn’t just act unilaterally.
If he did, it would be either with permission… or through.
‘Orders.’
A the order from superior must precede it.
Ah, of course, he might have done it unilaterally out of misplaced respect for Ilcheonggeom.
That was fine too.
But the end result wouldn’t change.
“Oh, so that’s how you see it? Fine then.”
I added with a chuckle.
“But it doesn’t really matter anyway…”
Whoosh-!
I tossed the man I was holding aside.
“Ugh!”
The man, helter-skelter, flew away and rolled over on the ground.
Only after witnessing that did clarity dawn on Ilcheonggeom’s expression.
His face hinted that he was moments away from reaching for his sword. Yet, he hadn’t done so yet.
Once he grabs it, that would be the end.
For Ilcheonggeom to draw his sword within the Alliance meant he was genuinely prepared to conclude this.
No one but Ilcheonggeom would fully comprehend the implications of that.
“If you’re going to verify facts, then let’s do it clearly. That’s what I’m saying. Do you need help understanding this?”
Crack.
Each sarcastic remark elicited more responses from him.
“Your Majesty. Do you truly wish to spill blood?”
“Eh? Blood? Why speak such terrifying words? This is all out of concern.”
With each passing moment, Ilcheonggeom’s hand inched upward.
It seemed like he was making moves to draw his sword.
‘Now’s my chance.’
As soon as I recognized it, I added my words.
“No, you never know—maybe I’ve gotten so heated from today’s work that I’ll quit outright.”
“…!”
“Why would I stick around in a job that’s like this from day one? Don’t you agree? If you don’t believe me, go see the scribe. I’m sure he’s around today. It should be easy to find him.”
Thanks to my brightly smiling demeanor, Ilcheonggeom failed to follow through on his impulses.
His hand, which hovered near the sword, halted. I could vividly read his emotions from his distorted expression.
‘Oh.’
I felt great.
I had been feeling down about actually coming to work, but thanks to this exchange, I suddenly felt much lighter.
‘So why was I so upset, right?’
I knew he was trying to gauge something by provoking me, but Ilcheonggeom had overlooked two crucial points.
One.
‘The Murim Alliance needs me.’
As I learned from my contract with Mukyeon, the Alliance desperately required my presence.
Which meant that if I declared my resignation, the biggest losses would come to the source of this mess.
‘If this situation arose, it likely stemmed from….’
This brings me to the second reason.
That being.
‘My personality is much more abrasive than expected.’
When bitten, I’d snatch off the ear of the one who dared, ready to stab anyone’s gut who poked me.
Ilcheonggeom likely had no idea.
Who would have guessed that merely picking a fight would lead to me tearing him into little pieces like this?
With expressions of shock, everyone around me was glued to my side.
Despite those gazes, my insides were calm.
‘Ignorance counts as innocence?’
So what of it?
‘Shouldn’t you have known better?’
This could happen.
I should’ve expected potential consequences from provoking me.
The inability to grasp this oversight was entirely their fault.
“…”
“…”
Silence ensued in the conversation.
Though no responses seemed forthcoming, a flicker of awareness was palpable.
Shhhhhh…
The energy that had been radiating around us slightly diminished.
Their expressions remained unchanged, but a realization seemed to dawn upon them.
‘If I poke that guy, he might actually quit for real.’
And.
‘If he were to leave, his standing could certainly be threatened.’
Even if Ilcheonggeom comes across as a jerk, he’s far from incompetent.
Had he been incompetent, he would have never secured the title of Blue Dragon Lord.
Such a person wouldn’t have slow thoughts either.
Then, what demeanor would Ilcheonggeom exhibit now?
With a sense of curiosity, I gazed at him with interest.
Crack.
A small, coarse sound slipped from his lips.
Swish.
The hand that was close to the sword fully retreated.
Then.
“…Perhaps our deputy commander…”
He seemed to be trying to swallow his pride and utter something to me.
I figured he might even express some sort of apology.
However, just then, I raised my hand to hold him back.
“Hahaha. Just a joke. Just a joke.”
“What?”
“The atmosphere is just too heavy. Honestly, I’m not that concerned. I’m not insane enough to quit over something like this, am I?”
“What the—!”
“Come on, to be honest, there wasn’t really any fight. I just took the words of our dear Blue Dragon Lord, who was expressing worry, a little too sensitively.”
With those words, not only did Ilcheonggeom’s face begin to sour, but also the deputy commander had an expression of utter disbelief.
What on earth is he spewing now? It would seem to resonate closely to their ears as nothing more than barking, wouldn’t it?
But hey, what can I do?
Thud.
I moved closer and placed my arm over Ilcheonggeom’s shoulder.
“Hey, this is crazy—!”
“What the…!?”
My unexpected action brought about a louder sound than before.
To their eyes, it probably looked ludicrous as the junior, who was decades younger, casually threw an arm around the shoulders of a senior like Ilcheonggeom.
In fact, it was as absurd as it sounds.
“Senior. Isn’t that right?”
Leaning closer to his face, I could read Ilcheonggeom’s expression in detail.
His face was flushed, nearly bursting at the seams.
Should I poke his cheek? Let’s see if he really pops.
Just as I was about to make a move out of curiosity.
“…So you really… want to die.”
The ferocity in his tone brimmed with danger, and he clearly reached for his sword.
No—he merely intended to.
Clank!
Amazed, he clamped down on the urge to draw the sword right away.
We were too close together.
What should have been a sharp drawing of the sword resulted in me holding firmly onto his wrist.
Crack-
I could feel his effort pushing, attempting to draw, but no matter how hard he struggled, the sword refused to budge.
“Senior.”
I leaned closer, whispering softly into his ear.
“Please calm down.”
Ilcheonggeom’s eyes widened.
Had he not thought I’d prevent him from drawing? Confusion flooded his gaze.
“I’m not the type to shy away from this kind of thing… If you ask, I can accommodate you. What’s so hard about it? Eliminating a few corpses isn’t that daunting, right?”
I lightly poked at his sense of pride and eased my grip.
Screeech-!
The sword’s hilt slipped slightly from its sheath.
Simultaneously, I could feel Ilcheonggeom drawing strength from our close proximity.
It looked as if he intended to unleash his energy upon me, causing harm.
“But, you know, given that people are watching, it’d be a bit problematic for you to keep this up. Especially considering the scribe’s, or the leader’s, potential sad gazes, wouldn’t it?”
I directed those words at the nefarious Ilcheonggeom brimming with intensity.
Boom!
Upon hearing that, Ilcheonggeom’s frame froze once again.
Seeing him, I couldn’t help but smile.
If he could endure this much provocation, he certainly has considerable patience.
If it had been me, I would have dispatched him a long time ago. Such a situation seems truly odd.
‘As expected.’
Predictably so.
‘Ilcheonggeom was the same even back then.’
I anticipated how long he’d hold back despite my taunting.
To be precise, it involved invoking the elder and strategist, and referencing status and gaze to provoke a reaction.
This was a valid line of reasoning.
‘This man harbors tremendous ambition for success.’
If you grasp his goals and beliefs concerning Ilcheonggeom, you might foresee things unfolding this way.
This was a straightforward trial to determine how much he could truly endure.
“Right? Senior.”
“…”
Even though I could hear the edges grinding, no advanced action followed.
Ilcheonggeom remained composed.
He was somehow containing his wrath while suppressing his emotions.
This was sufficient.
Internalizing that, I withdrew my hand from his shoulder and scanned the surroundings before adding:
“I apologize. Since we’re so familiar, I couldn’t help but joke around a bit. Hahaha.”
“…”
“…”
It was an excuse no one would believe, yet no one could aptly refute it either.
The only one with any chance of rebuttal was Ilcheonggeom. He was merely attentively gauging my words.
Even he, trembling, fell silent.
A stifling silence enveloped us, and it was Ilcheonggeom who eventually broke it.
Whoosh-!
Ilcheonggeom turned around, making his way towards the door.
His robe fluttered in response, the symbol of the Blue Dragon Lord dancing in the air.
The previously overwhelming energy dissipated completely, and as his back turned, Ilcheonggeom addressed me.
“Let’s call it a day… You should go. They’ll be waiting for you.”
He lowered his tail.
Both yielding and refraining from confrontation, what Ilcheonggeom exhibited was just that.
For a martial artist, he showed remarkable restraint.
So what now?
‘Should I dig a little deeper?’
I could prompt him for an apology using the deputy commander.
Or I could taunt him, questioning why he was running away before our conversation finished.
There were plenty of methods to needle him…
‘No.’
I inwardly shook my head.
There wasn’t any need for that at this moment.
“Let’s go.”
I followed after Ilcheonggeom, taking a step in his direction.
Along the way, I pondered the reason I refrained from instigating further.
It was quite simple.
‘It’s just too good to waste here.’
It would be a shame to explode in such a trivial setting.
On top of that.
‘I’m not quite ready yet.’
I still needed a bit more preparation to witness the unfolding spectacle that I desired.
And that’s precisely why.
While I paced alongside him, I turned my head and scanned the room.
The atmosphere of relief hanging in the air where no fight erupted. Nested within that ambiance was an outcomer.
“Hey.”
Flinch-! My sudden voice startled someone against the wall. Although he was trying to conceal himself, locating him was not too difficult.
I called out to him.
“I know you’re there.”
A voice steeped in conviction. As if to respond, a face peeked out from behind a pillar.
It belonged to a man who appeared to be past forty, handling the information department for the Murim Alliance.
The Blue Dragon Lord, Beomdong.
That was the identity of the figure who had been hiding.
Beomdong opened his eyes wide, clearly taken aback at being discovered.
With a deadpan expression, I continued.
“One favor, please.”
Ah, naturally, I further added.
“If you refuse, I’ll kill your daughter.”
That was a threat wrapped in the guise of a request.
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