The Martial Genius Who Remembers Everything Novel - Chapter 122

Chapter 122
Chapter 122. The Black Flame Dragon Who Gives Opportunities (2)

The Academy student who had posed the question and the instructor who had been snickering both instantly froze.

“Young man, your jesting has gone too far.”

“Could I possibly crack jokes in this sort of atmosphere?”

I gestured toward the people gathered in the class. Every single one of them was radiating clear hostility.

“Are you implying it is not a joke?”

“I only utter things I can take responsibility for.”

“Huh…….”

While the instructor looked utterly dumbfounded, the Academy student who had asked the question stepped out onto the training ground, huffing with pure rage.

“Are you saying I do not even register in your sight, Representative?”

Jang Seok-do, a disciple of the Zhongnan Sect.

He was an expert in the Splitting Light Sword, and a talent who would rise to the position of White Tiger Pavilion Master in the future.

“Does this look like a situation where I can exchange idle chatter with someone?”

“Hmph! Or perhaps you believe losing to five people would be less humiliating than losing to one.”

Jang Seok-do unsheathed his blade.

The instructor glanced between Jang Seok-do and me, then slowly stepped down from the training ground.

Jang Seok-do soon assumed the opening stance of the Splitting Light Sword.

“Draw your sword.”

“Just come.”

“…….”

Jang Seok-do’s face turned bright red.

A moment later, lethal intent surged in his eyes. He lunged forward with the Northern Dipper Heavenly River Step, closed the gap, and struck down forcefully with his blade.

Splitting Light Sword, First Form: Opening the Window to Gaze at the Moon.

The sword raised high into the sky split into two tracks and descended as if to sever both arms.

I waited until the absolute last possible second, then utilized the Minor Heaven Sword Art to unleash the Shattering Form of the Splitting Light Sword.

Clang.

Clatter, clatter. Thud.

Jang Seok-do’s sword flew completely out of the training ground with a resounding din.

Shhhk.

I deliberately sheathed my sword in a slow, measured motion.

The laughter-filled atmosphere of the hall sank as if freezing water had been poured over it, and Jang Seok-do’s expression went deathly pale, like a man who had laid eyes on a specter.

“Do I not require four more people?”

I said it while looking directly at the instructor, but the instructor only stared blankly back and forth between Jang Seok-do’s sword and me.

If the usual atmosphere of Murim Academy had been one where students competed fiercely during the Regular Exam regardless of sect, then rebuilt their camaraderie once the Regular Exam ended, the atmosphere of this class was so frigid it felt as if one were taking each step across a river covered in thin ice.

Naturally, in the Murim Alliance, and even among Academy students who had not yet fully reached adulthood, people tended to move in factions while considering each other’s affiliations. Among the three groups commonly recognized as the Righteous Path Association, the Orthodox Path Association, and the Twelve Peak Citadels, no matter who became the representative, the other two forces would usually cooperate with or check that individual according to their mutual interests.

After all, once they completed the Academy, they would spend four years active in the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly. Securing even one more position there would not only boost their own careers but also provide massive leverage to their respective sects.

However, because of my presence, the three forces could not form a cooperative bond. Instead, they had united solely to purge the impurity known as me, and this situation was even impacting the people who had taken the Regular Exam alongside me.

“They dragged you behind the building?”

At Dong-ryong’s words, fire sparked in Namgung Seon-hwa’s eyes.

“Who did? What bastard dared to do such a thing?! Where are they right now?”

“Ah, they’re in the Physicians Pavilion.”

“What?”

“Each of them had one arm broken.”

“……Didn’t you say five people dragged you away?”

“My brothers and I are three people. And compared to the opponents we faced during the Regular Exam, well, five people are…… Balm to us.”

Dong-ryong chewed on candied fruit as though it was entirely trivial, and Namgung Seon-hwa looked at Eun-ho with an incredulous expression.

“You do not need to fret. We swore not to tell the instructors before we clashed, so…….”

“No…… That is not what I meant at all…….”

“As disciples of the Taeul Sect, being picked on like this has been a regular occurrence since Hefei.”

Eun-ho related to her the time they had brawled with the members of martial halls in Hefei, but Namgung Seon-hwa did not look reassured in the slightest.

“Are you all right, Lady Namgung?”

At my question, Namgung Seon-hwa let out a quiet sigh.

“Well, would it be any different for us? We attend classes together, and they insist on acting like we don’t exist. Of course, we haven’t gotten into physical altercations like the Gold-Silver-Copper Brothers.”

Fortunately, it seemed Namgung Seon-hwa, Seong Mo-ran, and Murong Jae-hwa were only being cold-shouldered and were not being directly assaulted. To begin with, given their lineage, no one could treat them as lightly as the Taeul Sect.

Such incidents were happening frequently during the academic schedule, but the instructors and drillmasters did not seem to have any intention of meddling in the students’ affairs.

No, rather, they appeared to harbor the exact same thoughts as the other Academy students.

“Young Master Jin, it is time to head to the appointment ceremony.”

“Let’s go.”

“……Hmm, do you truly plan to accept it?”

The Academy Representative appointment ceremony.

Since my executive staff had not been fully assembled, I had arrived at the ceremony with just some of the executives.

“Is there an issue?”

At the appointment ceremony, where only the head of Murim Academy, the administrative officers, and the instructors had assembled, the Academy Head was repeating the exact same question over and over.

“If you accept this, it truly will be tough for you to blend into the Academy.”

“I do not believe the Academy students will acknowledge me now even if I reject this.”

“……I say this because I possess experience.”

I knew the tale that the successor of the Three Pure Ones Peerless Sword had voluntarily relinquished the position of Academy Representative, so I simply nodded.

-Purple Firmament Pill

-White Fragrance Jade

-Thunderclap Flying Dagger

The Purple Firmament Pill, a spiritual medicine of Wudang. The White Fragrance Jade, which emitted a rare scent. And even the Thunderclap Flying Dagger, a throwing blade said to be capable of slicing through iron like bean curd.

Not a single one of them could be deemed insignificant.

“……Phew, listen carefully. The duties of a representative are not as straightforward as you think. The documents you must exchange with Mantongbu alone number in the thousands…….”

And no matter what the Academy Head muttered, my gaze was locked on the treasures.

One of the reasons I had absolutely needed to claim the top rank was sitting right in front of me.

“Do you comprehend? If even a single gap appears in your work, the entire academic schedule will plunge into chaos. When that time comes, even if we wish to bail you out, we will be unable to.”

“I understand.”

“Hm? Then are you stepping down?”

正式 “I meant that I understand what you are anxious about.”

The Academy Head’s brow furrowed intensely.

“One of Mantongbu’s department staff told me something. He mentioned the current Mantongbu Department Head seems to hold some grudge against you and is generating a staggering volume of work. Can you handle all of that as well?”

It appeared he had taken offense because I had declined the offer to assist with Mantongbu’s work a few days ago.

“It does not matter.”

“……No, ponder carefully for a moment…… shreds.”

Without waiting a second longer, I reached out, tossed the Purple Firmament Pill into my mouth, and gulped it down.

I had only chewed it two or three times, yet a vivid fragrance radiated from my mouth in every direction.

“Aaah…… shreds.”

The head of Murim Academy stared blankly at my mouth with a tormented expression, as if his own flesh were being gnawed on.

“In the end, you…….”

“I will make excellent use of the rest as well.”

When I placed the Thunderclap Flying Dagger and the White Fragrance Jade inside my robes and stepped out of the Academy Head’s office, the others who had accompanied me as executives all wore dazed expressions.

“Is it truly fine to just coast through it like this?”

At Namgung Seon-hwa’s words, I nodded as if telling her not to fret.

“I have resolved to smash through head-on. If so, there is no cause for hesitation.”

For some reason, Namgung Seon-hwa shook her head.

“At least it is a relief that there is a gem among this round of treasures. If you sell that, you will acquire quite a hefty sum of money. Should we hire staff with that?”

“What are you saying? This absolutely cannot be liquidated.”

White Fragrance Jade.

As its name implied, it referred to white jade that emitted a scent, and it was a rare item gathered only in the lands beyond Tianzhu, where the people of colored eyes resided. Because its production volume itself was quite sparse, only a small quantity was imported into the Central Plains, making it a jewel that the wives of high officials and nobles scrambled to purchase by shoving money into sellers’ palms.

“……What do you plan to do with a gemstone?”

“There is something specific I will forge with this.”

The greatest attribute of White Fragrance Jade was its capacity to ward off toxins and dispel malevolence. Even a small piece could neutralize around a hundred poisons, and in particular, it had the effect of keeping the mind from being overwhelmed by sinister energy. It was an item one absolutely had to possess when confronting members of the Demonic Cult or individuals of the Unorthodox Path.

“Eldest Senior Brother…….”

Beside me, Eun-ho, who had been deep in thought about something, had a face filled with inquiries.

“It is regarding what the Academy Head mentioned earlier.”

“Do not take it to heart. Even if I step down from this post now, they will not be pleased.”

“No, no. That is not it. Have you ever encountered the Mantongbu Department Head?”

At Eun-ho’s question, the three women who had been looking downcast all shifted their gaze to me at the exact same time.

“Not long after I entered the Academy, he paid a visit to my quarters.”

“……So what did you deliberate on?”

“Nothing major. He told me to assist with his work so I could master Mantongbu’s duties ahead of time.”

“!!”

正式 “!!”

“!!”

The three women’s and Eun-ho’s eyes went wide like startled rabbits.

Eun-ho’s voice began to vibrate.

“Th-Then why is he harboring a grudge?”

“I do not know that either. I merely declined the workload.”

“Pardon?”

“Y-Young Master Jin, what are you…….”

“Young Master Jin, I must have misheard, right? You rejected an opening to enter Mantongbu?”

“Please say that is not true…… Please say that is not true!”

The one who was bewildered by their reaction was me.

“Is Mantongbu truly that spectacular?”

According to my recollections, none of the past top Academy achievers had applied to Mantongbu.

“That is because Mantongbu does not accept them!”

正式 “Ah…… Is that what it was?”

“Do you know how meticulous the Grand Strategist is when picking people? They say that even if you only perform menial tasks in Mantongbu, you can secure a Chief Steward position in most prominent sects.”

“Is that so?”

“You truly did not know?”

“Even if I had known, I would not have entered.”

“Why not?”

“If I entered that place, I would be unable to stay alongside my junior brothers.”

“…….”

“…….”

“…….”

“…….”

I had merely spoken with absolute honesty, yet the atmosphere turned bizarre once again.

It seemed that wherever I went these days, I made people uncomfortable.

“May I position it here?”

An administrative officer said this as he set down a small wooden carrying frame overflowing with paperwork.

“……Wouldn’t it be better to arrange them on the desk? They are still Mantongbu documents.”

When Namgung Seon-hwa suggested that, the administrative officer shook his head.

“Ten more carrying frames like this will be arriving. If we pile them on the desk one by one, I doubt it will be manageable. Is that fine?”

“……Just set them down there.”

Just as the administrative officer had stated, twelve more carrying frames packed with files arrived afterward.

As tasks for the Academy Representative Delegation, the executive office was already so packed with stacked papers that there was not even a spot to place a foot.

Geum-pyo, Dong-ryong, and even Murong Jae-hwa stepped in to assist with the workload, but among those currently in the executive staff, the only person who had ever handled this sort of administrative paperwork was Namgung Seon-hwa. All the others could manage was to stack the documents from the carrying frames onto the desks like spires.

“Oh my, is this even feasible?”

The unfamiliar guest poking his head into the executive office was none other than Cheol Sun-jik of the Twelve Peak Citadels.

“What brings you here?”

Even at Namgung Seon-hwa’s biting reaction, Cheol Sun-jik’s face remained full of grins.

“I heard you had commenced your tasks, so I came because I was anxious whether it was proceeding correctly. After all, if the Representative Delegation fails to function properly, the fallout will land entirely on the Academy students, will it not?”

“If you are that anxious, why don’t you join the executive staff?”

“Why should I? The current representative will be removed shortly anyway, and the remaining individuals will form a brand new Representative Delegation among themselves.”

正式 “……If that is all you have to say, would you exit now? We already have a mountain of work to finish.”

正式 “May I watch?”

At Cheol Sun-jik’s beaming face, Namgung Seon-hwa balled her fist tightly.

“Let him observe.”

“Pardon?”

The one who spoke up was none other than Jin So-un.

While analyzing documents from the representative’s chair, Jin So-un spoke as if it were of no consequence.

“Well, did he not come because he wished to see whether the work was proceeding properly? He also needs to grasp the situation on this side and share intelligence with the others. Is that not correct?”

“…….”

At Jin So-un’s words, Cheol Sun-jik’s expression stiffened slightly.

“But Young Master Jin. If this person is present…….”

“In any case, Academy students can view the Representative Delegation’s work whenever they desire, can they not? Just let him do as he pleases.”

“Understood.”

Namgung Seon-hwa glared fiercely at Cheol Sun-jik and said,

“I do not care if you watch, but if you disrupt the work, I will not tolerate it.”

“Yes, yes. I understand perfectly.”

After uttering that, Cheol Sun-jik sat down comfortably in one corner of the executive office.

“Is there perhaps any tea available?”

“……Do you wish to be tossed into a well?”

“My, I did not know Lady Namgung would say something so ferocious.”

“If you undergo it yourself, you will feel it much more vividly.”

“Then I will simply endure.”

Namgung Seon-hwa sighed and scanned the room, but the mountain of paperwork only caused another sigh to escape first.

If they were to start with sorting, then conclude the processes of evaluation and final decision-making, it was a workload that would be insufficient even with at least fifty individuals.

Moreover, Jin So-un, the representative, had already begun writing on the forms without even knowing the proper method to process the work.

“……Eh?”

Namgung Seon-hwa was startled and drew near Jin So-un.

“Young Master Jin. These papers are not something you can just handle recklessly like…….”

Namgung Seon-hwa’s eyes slowly grew wide as she examined the file Jin So-un had been filling out.

“That person called the Mantongbu Department Head must be quite petty. He sent the files while including every single useless bureaucratic formality.”

“……Young Master Jin. How do you comprehend this?”

Namgung Seon-hwa could not conceal her astonishment.

It was a document regarding a standard apparel plan, but processing it was by no means standard.

It was a complex file that required him to draft a budget for what had to be allocated to the Academy students according to the funds, establish the justification for that budget, and secure the financing from Mantongbu.

Even within the Namgung Clan, this sort of document was a budget layout that a Deputy Chief Steward-level official would have to stay up all week alongside twenty administrative officers to draw up.

Yet Jin So-un drafted it in one single sweep, and the budget figure and the grounds for that figure were all so airtight that they felt flawless.

“My father is the Outer Hall Master of the Taeul Sect, is he not?”

Jin So-un said that, then began filling out the subsequent document.

“W-Wait just a moment.”

While Namgung Seon-hwa stood paralyzed, Jin So-un had already finished mapping out even the budget proposal related to food provisions.

“…….”

Cheol Sun-jik, who had been tracking this entire scenario from beside them, slowly drew closer to Namgung Seon-hwa and peered at the paper she was reading.

And before long, his eyes expanded.

“What on earth…….”

The document Jin So-un had prepared was, quite literally, flawless without a single redundant detail.

This was work that should have been executed only after the full executive staff was assembled and all the disciples who had managed administrative duties in each sect were brought in.

It was only natural for the Representative Delegation to be formed with a foundational scale of one hundred individuals.

Yet Jin So-un was managing it completely alone.

Because Cheol Sun-jik had also performed administrative tasks in his own sect, he knew very well just how extraordinary this was.

Jin So-un completed another file as if it were trivial and slid it aside, and the pattern of Namgung Seon-hwa and Cheol Sun-jik being utterly shocked and verifying the document repeated over and over.

“Why would I summon people over for something this basic?”

In reality, executing administrative work had never been a challenge for Jin So-un in the first place.

All of Mantongbu’s documents were already contained inside his head, so the finalized versions of the documents exchanged between Mantongbu and Murim Academy at this timeline also remained intact in his mind.

And if he simply adjusted the figures slightly in accordance with this lifetime and penned them down based on those recollections of his past life, the task was concluded.

“Just what…… are you exactly……?”

Cheol Sun-jik and Namgung Seon-hwa stared at Jin So-un with eyes that simply could not accept the reality of what they were witnessing.