Chapter 216

Chapter 216: An Unexpected Grudge (1)

The training grounds stood completely deserted now that all the attendees had departed.

Dong Bongsu remained motionless in the center of the yard, staring up at the moon.

“Most formal ceremonies for launching a school are supposed to span three or four days… What made you so determined to compress everything into just one?”

He lowered his gaze, turning his head toward the origin of the words.

Having apparently just wrapped up the grueling chore of cleaning the premises, Jeon Rahwa was walking over, massaging her shoulder with a free hand.

“A single day suffices.”

“I suppose. The Hero’s Sect isn’t exactly an ancient, massive institution, and we didn’t have an overwhelming flood of external dignitaries showing up anyway, so I guess it works out fine.”

“Was the enlistment advertisement posted correctly?”

“Oh, right, that. It’s done. Given that the Hero’s Sect possesses such a tight grip over the current River Capital, and considering the prominent figures who showed up today, pulling together a roster of twenty disciples should be effortless.”

“What is the current tally of candidates?”

“Prepare to be amazed.”

“I do not startle over minor administrative details. Give me the count.”

Jeon Rahwa’s eyes grew wide as she thrust one hand forward, splaying her fingers out completely.

“This many!”

“Fifty?”

“Gosh, what kind of a grand leader dreams so small? It’s five hundred, five hundred!”

Five hundred.

‘A twenty-five to one selection rate, then?’

With a competitive pool of that size, he would likely be able to secure some highly capable prospects.

“Naturally, I’ve already weeded out roughly half the stack after evaluating their written profiles, meaning you only have to personally interview two hundred and fifteen candidates.”

She had managed to trim away half the group already?

“Excellent. You have put in significant effort.”

“Hmph. You always try to pay me off with mere compliments.”

He reached out his hand to give her hair a reassuring pat, but Jeon Rahwa pivoted quickly to evade him.

“Hey, I’ve told you to cut that out! Do you think I’m still a toddler? Seriously?!”

Even so, she was ultimately unable to slip past Dong Bongsu’s relentless hand.

“Ugh, now it’s completely ruined again. I literally just combed it.”

Dong Bongsu offered a subtle grin to Jeon Rahwa as she muttered complaints while smoothing out her disheveled locks, and then he spun around.

“You performed admirably.”

He began walking back toward his private quarters.

As his figure receded, Jeon Rahwa’s voice, sounding much brighter now, trailed after him.

“We are conducting evaluations for every single one of them tomorrow morning, so you absolutely must rise early. You haven’t forgotten, right?”

Dong Bongsu tossed a casual wave over his shoulder to signal his understanding and kept pacing toward his room.

Delivering the foundational address, welcoming the dignitaries, sharing a meal with Yo Han-myeong, holding a swift intelligence briefing with Bae Dal-pae, monitoring the young ones before they went to sleep, and everything in between.

He had flawlessly executed every single task required of a leader on the day an organization is established.

A massive portion of those duties had proceeded without a hitch because Jeon Rahwa had managed them so efficiently.

‘I was aware she was developing at a remarkable pace, but—.’

He had truly not anticipated her becoming this adept at management.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to label her a prodigy.

She possessed incredible aptitude, not merely for martial arts but also for logistical operations.

Even though she lacked practical combat exposure, she could already be classified as a prominent figure.

‘The moment has arrived to properly introduce her to genuine warfare.’

Creak, thud.

The door to his private quarters slid shut.

Dong Bongsu pressed his back against the wooden frame and rubbed his face with both palms.

The warm, approachable facade that had been carefully painted across his features dissolved away, piece by piece.

It wasn’t violently stripped off; rather, it simply evaporated into nothingness.

It was the type of look that could no longer be sustained once the necessity for it had dissolved.

After a few brief moments, nothing remained in the room but a completely expressionless individual.

Dong Bongsu took a seat on the edge of the mattress and began analyzing the data accumulated throughout the day.

The introductory address.

It had turned out remarkably well for a piece of improvisation.

The audience reactions landed precisely within his anticipated parameters.

‘Yan Bilyeong.’

Her clapping had lagged significantly behind the others.

Yet, it persisted the longest.

An individual driven by sentiment.

The type of character who, once her loyalty is secured, will commit herself unreservedly.

On the flip side, it also indicated that she would scrutinize him ruthlessly until that loyalty was earned.

As of right now, she fell squarely into the latter category.

‘Myo Jinheo.’

He had collapsed his hand fan.

An open fan meant he was evaluating; a closed fan meant he was making a definitive judgment.

Collapsing it signified that he had arrived at something resembling a final verdict.

The more analytical an individual is, the more resistant they are to altering their initial assessments.

Regardless of whether that judgment is favorable or antagonistic.

The youth, Yo Han-myeong, Bae Dal-pae.

Every element had shifted precisely according to the blueprint, just as projected.

Zero complications.

The rapid assessment concluded.

Dong Bongsu slowly blinked his eyes shut and then reopened them.

The idealistic young leader who had championed Righteousness and proclaimed a non-aligned course out on the training grounds today had vanished.

The figure who had pledged to safeguard virtue with an unwavering voice of certainty before thousands had completely dissolved the instant the portal shut.

All that remained was an isolated, unfeeling processing unit sorting through variables.

He resembled a quantum entity, shifting into ‘Kim Rae-won’ whenever an observer was present and returning to ‘Dong Bongsu’ when left alone.

Naturally, he could alter that presentation as effortlessly as turning over his hand whenever circumstances demanded it.

It was simply that, for the time being, maintaining this state offered far greater utility.

Dong Bongsu hauled himself onto the bedding and adopted a cross-legged meditative posture.

There was a particular matter he hadn’t reviewed in quite some time.

One event had triggered another, and a subsequent crisis had immediately chased the previous one, generating a cascading chain of incidents—so claiming he lacked the availability to inspect it would be half-true and half-false.

It wasn’t a strict lack of hours, but rather that it hadn’t taken top priority.

The core infrastructure operates independently.

Accrued benefits collect, attributes rise, and missions advance.

There was no practical requirement to inspect it at every turn.

‘Now that the grand inauguration has concluded.’

It served as an ideal window to examine the ledgers and analyze his development log.

Ding.

A translucent interface manifested in front of his vision.

──────

Hero Status

──────

Name: Kim Rae-won

Title: [None]

Class: Fallen Hero

▣ Hero Stats

◆ Hero History: 48

└ Current Rank: ★ (Rising Star)

◆ Fame: 32

◆ Infamy: 0

Dong Bongsu’s attention locked onto the Hero History metric.

When he initially pulled up this display back at the tavern, the value stood at 5.

In those days, he held the designation of Nameless (☆).

At present, he was a Rising Star (★).

And the remaining margin required to ascend to First-Rate (★★) was exactly.

‘2.’

The threshold was nearly within reach.

When an ecosystem undergoes violent transitions, the velocity of transformation must similarly accelerate if one wishes to endure.

Within the Jianghu, regardless of the heights of strength one attains, it is never truly sufficient.

An indication of impending development was invariably a welcome development.

The edges of his mouth twitched upward a fraction.

▣ Stats │ Health (HP) │ 350/350 │ Spirit (MP) │ 280/280 │ Stamina │ 320/320

Strength (STR): 10 [+5]

Agility (AGI): 12 [+5]

Intelligence (INT): 17 [+5]

Wisdom (WIS): 13 [+5]

Charisma (CHA): 8 [+5]

Luck (LUK): 6 [+5]

※ Remaining Points: 30

Dong Bongsu’s index finger twitched in the open air.

The compensation for every single action he had executed throughout the River Capital lay stored right there.

The suppression of the Iron God Gang, the total destruction of the Seven Star Immortal Society, the dismantling of the Bandit Alliance, the engagement with the Formation Tower’s Trigram Masters, the execution of the Patrol Sword Corps, and the completion of various assignments he had handled through both martial and material means over the preceding months.

The mechanism had undoubtedly allocated points for each individual feat, and they had quietly piled up to reach this specific total.

Should he utilize them now?

A passing deliberation.

‘Negative.’

The conclusion he had reached previously remained sound.

It was far wiser to preserve them rather than initiate an adjustment that wouldn’t fundamentally shift his current tier.

A pool of 30 was undeniably a massive leap forward compared to the meager 5 he initially possessed.

‘I shall allocate them when a highly critical scenario demands a massive, instantaneous surge.’

Moving down.

▣ Trust Relationship

◈ Jeon Rahwa

Trust: Highly Favorable

Relationship: Companion (Sub-Manager)

Status: [Trust], [Worry]

◈ Dongmun Mutoe

Trust: Oath (Subordinate)

Relationship: Subordinate

Status: [Curiosity], [Obedience]

◈ Yan Bilyeong

Trust: Slightly Favorable

Relationship: Staying Guest

Status: [Vigilance], [Interest]

◈ Myo Jinheo

Trust: Slightly Favorable

Relationship: Staying Guest

Status: [Observation], [Debt]

◈ Yo Han-myeong

Trust: Favorable

Relationship: Collaborator

Status: [Prudence], [Expectation]

◈ Bae Dal-pae

Trust: Highly Favorable

Relationship: Information Collaborator

Status: [Respect], [Loyalty]

◈ Hoae

Trust: Very Highly Favorable

Relationship: Family Member (Eldest)

Status: [Reliance], [Admiration]

The catalog that had once contained exclusively Jeon Rahwa.

‘My circle of retainers has expanded quite significantly.’

He evaluated the directory with absolute composure.

Seven individuals.

One bound follower, two with profound favorability, one with standard favorability, two with minor favorability, and one with absolute devotion.

His eyes lingered on the internal metrics for Yan Bilyeong and Myo Jinheo.

[Vigilance], [Interest].

[Observation], [Debt].

‘It appears further adjustments are required.’

Ample prospects would manifest in due time.

Given that they appeared to have resolved to remain on the grounds of the Hero’s Sect.

His attention shifted briefly to the [Curiosity], [Obedience] displayed beside Dongmun Mutoe.

That distinct, tugging sensation inherent to the 『Oath』 continued to point directly toward the north.

Even without consulting his mapping feature, he was fully aware that the man was currently stationed at the Formation Tower.

‘The strategic worth of the Hero’s Sect will only continue to climb.’

No response had returned since he dispatched the private communication—though that was entirely anticipated, given the nature of their transmission method.

As long as [Curiosity] maintained a clear dominance over [Obedience], Dongmun Mutoe would execute his assignments flawlessly, if not exceed expectations.

There was zero utility in monitoring him excessively, at least for the moment.

He momentarily deactivated the interface.

Quantities merely reveal a status.

They fail to convey the underlying nature of that status.

Dong Bongsu’s Super True Qi Field spontaneously deployed outward.

A physique completely devoid of pathways.

The distinct perception of an Acupointless Body, which circulated energy throughout his entire physical form rather than restricting it to traditional energetic channels.

The ambient currents of energy were pulled into his physical self as if drawn by a vacuum.

The energetic signature of the entire Hero’s Sect property was perceived as vividly as if it were resting directly in his palm.

Directly over by the training yard.

A subtle ripple of True Qi existed.

An individual was practicing.

At this hour of the night.

‘Could it be Yan Bilyeong?’

The geometric patterns of the Mountain Formation Division’s Trigram Master were carving delicate traces into the atmosphere.

The configurations of these energetic traces, captured by his Super True Qi Field, were not designed for offensive purposes.

A defensive barrier.

It appeared she maintained a routine of establishing a defensive radar web around her perimeter even during personal drills.

The characteristic routine of a combatant forged in real-world theaters of war.

‘Though she may be temperamental, her security habits are remarkably meticulous.’

He recorded an additional note into the data profile he had reviewed moments ago.

Delayed applause, extended applause, defensive barrier.

The profile of the woman known as Yan Bilyeong was progressively coming into sharp focus.

Shifting toward the visitor lodgings.

The ambient energy was entirely placid.

Either asleep or executing an excellent imitation of it.

There were zero indicators of active cultivation techniques, zero disruptions in the local True Qi.

The stillness of an individual manipulating internal energy and the stillness of a sleeping person possessed entirely unique characteristics.

What he detected currently aligned closely with the latter, though an individual of this caliber was likely capable of masking that variance.

‘If it is indeed Myo Jinheo…….’

The cadence of him collapsing and snapping open his hand fan replayed in his mind.

Unfurled indicated analysis; collapsed indicated a conclusion.

By this point, he would be sorting through his mental notes regarding everything witnessed today.

The inaugural address, the dimensions of the Hero’s Sect, the length of my stride, the orientation of my eyes, and even the rhythm of my respiration.

‘No matter his thoughts, he is undoubtedly analyzing them right now.’

Concerning the Hero’s Sect, and concerning ‘Kim Rae-won’.

Over by the youths’ residential area.

The energy was completely balanced.

It appeared Jeon Rahwa had already drifted off to sleep.

The soft respirations of the children were likewise perfectly rhythmic.

Hoae, alongside the remaining youth.

[Vigilance], [Interest].

[Observation], [Debt].

The phrases from the interface floated up in his mind.

Metrics and reality remained distinct entities.

Yet, the trajectory could be accurately deduced.

Chime.

He summoned the interface once more.

▣ Skill List

≪Owned Skills≫

• [Faith Arrow Lv.1]

• [Hero’s Aura Lv.1]

• [Shield of Faith Lv.2]

• [Faith Sight]

≪Unlockable Skills≫

• Faith Judgment Lv.1

└ Required History: 50 (48/50)

• Hero’s Blessing Lv.1

└ Required History: 50 (48/50)

Two unfamiliar designations had populated at the 50-point mark.

Faith Judgment.

Hero’s Blessing.

He was unable to deduce their precise utilities based solely on titles.

What specific outcomes, what activation parameters?

It had been precisely identical in the past.

He had only discovered the exact function of Hero’s Aura after formally unsealing it.

This occurred because Kim Rae-won’s cognitive records remained heavily compromised.

Like pigment bleeding across saturated parchment.

The fundamental shapes persisted, but the edges of the characters were blurred here and there, rendering them impossible to decipher with total precision.

Furthermore, because it had been recorded by a foreign hand, it resonated more like a chronicle he had to decipher via his own perspective, functioning closer to an approximation than a direct memory.

The sort of data where misinterpretation was practically inevitable, regardless of how intensely he attempted to retrieve it.

Regardless,

This metric as well was merely 2 units shy of a shift.

The moment his Hero History cleared the 50 mark, his tier would ascend to ★★ First-Rate, granting him access to lock in one of the pair of techniques.

Moving forward.

▣ Hero Rank

☆ Nameless (0~9)

★ Rising Star (10~49) ← Current

★★ First-Rate (50~99)

★★★ Hero (100~499)

★★★★ Legendary (500~999)

★★★★★ Mythical (1000+)

He skimmed down the tier directory.

His attention hovered briefly over ★★★ Hero.

The compensation allocated for completing the Salvation of Jeon Rahwa assignment was a massive History +100.

Concluding just that single objective would permit him to vault directly into the Hero classification.

However, the current tracker lingered at a mere 18%.

‘It is far too valuable a compensation to simply abandon without progress.’

Click.

He deactivated the Attribute Window and pulled up the Quest Window.

▣ Ongoing Quests

【Main】 The Salvation of Jeon Rahwa ├─ Progress: 18.18%

└─ Reward: History +100, Trust MAX

The Seven Star Immortal Society, which he deduced to be the third malicious destiny, had been completely neutralized.

Nonetheless, several malicious destinies still loomed on the horizon.

‘Jeon Rahwa…….’

He had deliberated on the matter extensively.

When ought I to resolve this?

Ultimately, he had been forced to deduce that leaving the situation untouched for the time being represented the optimal strategy.

There were simply too many pressing crises demanding immediate focus right now.

He deactivated the assignment ledger and checked his storage space.

Roughly thirty remains belonging to the Patrol Sword Corps, featuring the corpse of Commander Sang Gwanhwi.

This particular asset could prove remarkably advantageous.

From an informational standpoint, and a justifiable standpoint, it was destined to function as an incredibly potent leverage piece across all domains.

The Evil-Slaying Sword.

A 3% efficiency amplification when facing Demonic-class adversaries.

Unnecessary for the moment.

Though that condition could pivot dramatically if open hostilities commenced.

5 Spirit Root Stones.

Unactivated.

The exact window for their consumption was paramount.

The reasoning mirrored his strategy regarding the 30 attribute points.

Allow them to remain unspent until the optimal moment for their deployment presents itself.

Click.

He deactivated the storage interface.

With every digital layout retracted, the interior fell into complete shadow.

Dong Bongsu stared directly out through the glass pane without shutting his eyes.

Midnight.

The silver illumination of the moon fell uniformly across the territory of the Hero’s Sect.

The central yard, which had vibrated with immense crowds throughout the day, was now entirely silent, and soft glimmers seeped out from beneath the roofs of the visitor pavilion and the main training facility.

Dong Bongsu maintained the awareness of his Super True Qi Field strictly within the borders of the complex and was preparing to project his awareness into the surrounding territory.

No, he intended to.

‘……?!’

He detected an unnatural presence.

Ten separate signatures, to be exact.

And one among them was… immense.

It was an entity radiating internal energy so overwhelming that his Super True Qi Field rippled violently merely from processing its existence.

Thump—.

[Sudden Event]: Confrontation with the Heavenly Yin Sect

Along the journey to preserve the realm, animosities invariably pursue.

The built-up and intersecting animosities cascade downward without warning, mimicking a sudden downpour in the heat of summer.

Yet a champion must incorporate even these trials into his journey.

Whether you choose to cleave through it with your blade or settle it through dialogue, the path remains entirely yours to decide.

․ Conclude the situation involving the traveling party of the Heavenly Yin Sect.

├─ Progress: 0%

└─ Reward: Hero History +3, A tie with the Heavenly Yin Sect will be established