Chapter 266

Chapter 266
## Chapter 266. A Face So Damned Missed (1)

—

The combatants who had been sent out to Sichuan finally made their way back.

The campaign had dragged on far beyond anyone’s initial calculations. For these martial artists, whose minds and bodies were thoroughly spent from an unceasing, grueling war of nerves against the Unorthodox Faction (Heuk-do), marching home at the onset of winter was a punishing ordeal. Yet, all that exhaustion evaporated the moment they stepped foot into Wuhan, the primary city of Hubei Province.

“Waaaaaaaah! Look, it’s the martial artists of the Moolim Alliance!”

“You have upheld the righteousness of the Jianghu!”

“Sirs! Please let me enlist in the Moolim Alliance as well!”

Beholding the massive throngs of citizens lining the paths from the very edge of the provincial capital just to catch a glimpse of the returning champions, the warriors—who had been trudging along with slouched shoulders under the weight of their gear—instantly squared their frames once more.

Young youngsters were distributing snacks. Young ladies were handing over handwritten notes. Even the local topers tried to thrust clay cups of liquor into the hands of the passing combatants. Endless streams of people lauded them for conquering the dark forces of the Blood Cult. The warriors, whose inner spirits had been gradually eroded by the brutal campaign, felt those hollow spaces instantly flood with an overwhelming wave of pride and validation instead.

The veterans, who had served the Moolim Alliance for years and survived numerous conflicts, guided the greenhorns experiencing their maiden war to bask in this grand reception with an unburdened heart.

“You clumsy fool, don’t freeze up, step forward and take the note!”

“Always accept whatever the little ones offer you. It makes for a wonderful keepsake they’ll cherish too.”

“Keep away from the spirits! We still have to deliver the concluding debriefing.”

The novices, who had yet to fully shake off the terrors and lingering trauma of their first real battlefield, followed the guidance of their elders with dazed, uncomprehending expressions. There were some who fumbled the notes only to have them plucked away by eager hands, and others who ended up completely plastered after mindlessly downing drinks from the persistent town drunks.

Watching their comrades stumble about brought bursts of mirth from the ranks. Whenever the amusement began to wane, they would poke fun at one another again, sharing lighthearted banter and chatting without pause. Their behavior was deliberately boisterous and lively—far more so than normal. It was as though they had never witnessed the horrors of a bloody conflict. Like individuals deliberately forcing their gaze toward a joyful spectacle to shut out a grim reality, they threw themselves entirely into enjoying the public’s adoration.

The Great Training Ground of the Moolim Alliance.

The battalions returning from Sichuan stood assembled in rigid formations. The senior elders of the Moolim Alliance occupied the raised dais, while the Moolim Alliance Leader himself stood front and center, carefully observing the countenances of the courageous Moolim Alliance fighters one by one. After a heavy silence, he slowly unleashed his internal energy into a resounding Lion’s Roar (Saja-hu).

[I realize full well that your grand deeds cannot be properly weighed by a simple expression of gratitude for your hard work.]

A powerful, resonant tone boomed across the expanse of the Great Training Ground, sounding so clear it was as if he were whispering directly into each man’s ear.

[The mere fact that you serve this Alliance and draw a monthly allowance does not mean we hold a claim over your mortality; thus, your willingness to fight this time is nothing less than grand. Some among you have sustained wounds that may never heal, and others were left behind forever in those treacherous regions. People often claim that human life is dictated by the heavens, but I hold that dragging divine will into a conflict kindled by mortal hands is nothing more than a cowardly evasion.]

Every survivor standing within the ranks had lost a companion along the way. The title of a legendary warrior is a frayed token of honor cemented upon the bones and spilled blood of fallen brethren. Recognizing this grim truth, their journey back in the wake of victory had carried a suffocating weight. The underlying reason they had laughed so boisterously at the townspeople’s welcome was to desperately grasp some form of personal justification.

[Because of this, your selflessness is deeply revered. Warfare never brings true gain to anyone, but it absolutely inflicts suffering upon someone. And that suffering invariably ravages the defenseless far more rapidly than it does the powerful.]

Just as the minds of the combatants were beginning to grow muddled with the grim recollections of slaughter and the fragile nature of mortality, the commanding declaration of Hyeok Mu-gang pierced through the air.

[Your triumph achieves far more than just validating your personal strength! Never forget that you have safeguarded the tranquility and security of every soul residing in the Jianghu, and indeed, every life existing under the heavens. With the utmost sincerity of my being, I offer my deepest respect to you who have journeyed back alive. I thank you for preserving the world.]

Hyeok Mu-gang dipped his upper body forward, pressing his fist to his palm in a formal Po-gwon. At this gesture, the fighters who had been staring at the earth raised their arms in unison, executing their own Po-gwon as they bowed and bellowed out a collective response.

“““Zon-myeong!”””

The combined roar erupted simultaneously, vibrating like an absolute thunderclap throughout the entire compound of the Moolim Alliance. A moment later, Hyeok Mu-gang righted himself, a gentle smirk gracing his features.

[I have arranged a grand feast for everyone this evening. May it serve as a sanctuary to banish the exhaustion of your travels.]

The second the Moolim Alliance Leader finished his proclamation, the exuberant cheers of the assembled host shook the sky.

“““Waaaaaaaah!”””

It was a cry born of genuine joy, entirely free of obligation.

“……Kindly quicken your pace a little.”

Answering the relentless prodding of the Man-tong-bu operative, Ju-won-Maeng thrust his bottom lip out in a massive, petulant pout.

“Did the words of the Alliance Leader completely elude you? I am a champion who has just returned from making a grand, noble sacrifice.”

“……I am well aware of that, sir.”

“Then do I not possess the absolute right to partake in the festivities today!”

The operative let out a long, weary exhalation.

“Do you honestly believe my own soul is at peace right now, keu-heok……!”

Ju-won-Maeng abruptly hooked his thick arm around the operative’s windpipe, throwing the man off balance and stirring up a scene.

“Therefore! Inform them! That you! Were unable to locate me! Deliver exactly that statement!”

“Keuaaaak……!”

The operative let out a choked yelp, frantically slapping at Ju-won-Maeng’s clamping forearm.

“Keok…… No, the Grand Military Counselor practically deduced, kek…… precisely where you would slink off to if you tried to dodge us, so how on earth am I supposed to feign, f-feign ignorance!”

“……Are you telling me you dread the Grand Military Counselor but hold no fear of me?”

“Keu-heok, naturally I am terrified of the Department Head as well…… but the Grand Military Counselor is, keu-eup……! Even you are frightened to death of him, are you not, Department Head!!”

“……”

Ju-won-Maeng tightened his grip even further. The operative let out a high-pitched squeak from the agonizing pressure, feeling as though his vertebrae were on the verge of snapping.

“St-stop, mercy!!!”

“……Unbelievable.”

Ultimately, Ju-won-Maeng released his captive and rubbed his temples with a frustrated sigh.

“Is the workload truly that overwhelming?”

“Cough, hack, hwoo…… It is enough to drive a sane man to lunacy.”

“Hah…… I figured it would turn out exactly like this.”

That was the precise reason he had purposefully lingered behind with the rear guard to oversee the final cleanup, hoping to delay his return. Unfortunately, upon receiving the icy, non-negotiable directive from the central Man-tong-bu to drag Ju-won-Maeng back immediately, the panicked Sichuan Branch Manager had practically shoved Ju-won-Maeng into the very first vanguard group. Consequently, he had been forced to labor without a break throughout the active campaign, during the post-war cleanup, and even along the return trail. He simply could not shake off his miserable existence as an administrative slave.

“We truly harbor nothing but remorse toward you, sir. We are fully aware that you, Department Head, were the most heavily burdened individual on the frontlines.”

The darkened rings beneath the speaking operative’s eyes caught his attention. That bruised look made it glaringly obvious that layers upon layers of sheer exhaustion had settled deep into his bones.

“However, the rest of us feel like we are ready to collapse into a grave right this second. It is twice as bad for the Grand Military Counselor; he is in an even worse state.”

“……”

“For this past month, none of us have managed to secure even a single sijin (two hours) of rest per night. The Grand Military Counselor himself has not stepped outside the threshold of the Man-tong-bu even once.”

The operative looked as though he might break down into tears at any second.

“I give you my oath that I will lobby for a massive sabbatical for you once this crisis settles! But as of this moment, if the Department Head is absent, we are utterly paralyzed when it comes to sorting out the records of the personnel left in Sichuan or organizing the rosters of those who just arrived back at the Moolim Alliance.”

Ju-won-Maeng exhaled a heavy, defeated breath.

“……Fine.”

“Pardon?”

“I said fine! Let us get moving!”

“I-I shall show you the way.”

The steps of the operative leading the charge wavered unsteadily. Just how much physical drainage had these people endured? At the very least, while he had been out on the bloody battlefields, he had strictly maintained his sleep schedule. It wasn’t out of a desire for comfort, either. It was simply because igniting a lamp inside a military tent past dusk would immediately convert it into a prime target for enemy scouts, forcing them to plunge themselves into darkness. Conversely, realizing that the home-front Man-tong-bu staff had slaved away continuously without any such natural boundaries made him feel rather childish for whining about wanting a day of recreation.

As they drew near the central compound where the Man-tong-bu headquarters was situated, the mood shifted drastically from the festive aura enveloping the Great Training Ground. While the training grounds radiated a festive, relaxed energy where everyone drank and cheered for the survivors, the perimeter of the central building was crawling with administrative scholars sprinting frantically back and forth, entirely oblivious to their rumpled, askew robes, as though an enemy invasion were underway.

The instant they crossed the threshold into the Man-tong-bu, the operative who had escorted Ju-won-Maeng bellowed at the top of his lungs.

“The Department Head has made his return!”

The reaction to his announcement was instantaneous and explosive.

“What?!”

“Oh, look!”

“The De-Department Head is here!”

Every single Man-tong-bu staff member froze mid-task and came stampeding toward Ju-won-Maeng. These were the very individuals he labored alongside daily, yet because he had never once received such a frantic, worshipful welcome, Ju-won-Maeng could only blink in stunned confusion. A few of the clerks even began weeping openly, as if a great miracle had occurred.

“Our profound thanks! Thank you so much, Department Head!”

“You have finally stepped back inside!”

“Praise be to the heavens and the ancestors!”

Could the relief of desperate parents discovering their lost child had survived a disaster possibly match this level of intensity? The entire Man-tong-bu dissolved into a chaotic display of weeping, and even Ju-won-Maeng, deeply touched that his subordinates regarded him with such desperate affection, felt a lump forming in his throat.

And yet…….

‘Wait. What is happening here?’

Peering through his misty eyes, why did the dark rings under the eyes of the clerk who had dragged him here suddenly seem a bit lighter than before?

“At last! I can finally walk out of this place!”

“It is over! I can actually go to my own bed and sleep!”

“Freedom at last!”

The clerks were embracing one another, shedding tears of pure relief. Before he could even process what was happening, they began scooping up their personal items one by one and filing out of the Man-tong-bu. Caught completely off guard by this abrupt shift in the environment, Ju-won-Maeng began to stutter.

“W-what in the world do you think you are doing right now?”

Grabbing the collar of the very operative who had guided him inside, he demanded answers.

“Sir! I am currently departing for my residence after completing my shift.”

……The clerk offered a radiant, dazzling smirk in reply. Ju-won-Maeng began to sense that he had been terribly misled.

“Departing for your residence? Didn’t you just insist that there was an insurmountable mountain of labor left to finish?”

“The Grand Military Counselor gave us his explicit word that the moment the Department Head crossed the threshold, the rest of the staff would be granted leave to return home.”

“……”

“With that said, I shall take my leave, sir!”

The clerk, whose apparent exhaustion had completely vanished in the blink of an eye, beamed joyfully and vanished through the doors of the Man-tong-bu without looking back for a fraction of a second. Ju-won-Maeng let out a hollow, incredulous chuckle at the sheer absurdity of his situation.

‘What an absolute bastardly trick…….’

Right at that precise moment, emerging from the deeper chambers, Jegal-so-myeong—the very man rumored to have practically taken up permanent residence within the walls of the Man-tong-bu without a single hour of leave—stepped out, looking immaculately groomed and perfectly refreshed.

“Ah, you have arrived.”

“……”

“Excellent. Begin reviewing the documents.”

Only at that exact moment did the cold reality dawn upon Ju-won-Maeng: he had been thoroughly hoodwinked. Those miserable Man-tong-bu subordinates had organized a collective plot to hand him over as a sacrificial offering to that monstrous taskmaster of a superior.

“Oh, before I forget!”

Jegal-so-myeong, who had been on the verge of stepping back into his personal study, turned around on his heel and gave Ju-won-Maeng a firm tap on the shoulder.

“Excellently executed. You truly live up to the title of a legendary Hogang.”

“……”

“Hmm? Whatever is the matter with your face?”

If one is deemed a Hogang, does that not translate to a complete idiot who willingly walks straight into the jaws of a predator? Ju-won-Maeng desperately wished to demand why he was being openly mocked when his blood was already boiling. However, the sheer volume of indignation choking his throat prevented him from forming words. Jegal-so-myeong, observing that silent fury, simply gave a satisfied nod as if deeply pleased.

“Ho-oh, are you so overwhelmed with emotion from receiving such high praise from me?”

……Exactly where, when, and in what manner had his life gone completely off the rails?

With only a solitary practical examination remaining at the absolute tail end of the school term, I made my way into the bustling commercial avenues of Wuhan alongside the companions of the Academy Representative Team. Part of my intention was to show some appreciation to the squad who had labored diligently during my absence, but on the flip side…….

“Do I truly possess the right to even swallow a single morsel of food?”

Seong Mo-ran, having recently glanced at her academic markings, had been moping around with hunched shoulders for days on end.

“Had I known my results would turn out this abysmal, I would have simply locked myself away in secluded training alongside Seon-hwa……”

Trudging right beside her, Geum-pyo-Lee kept his gaze cast down toward the dirt like a convicted felon.

“That is the absolute truth. I recall someone stating that any martial artist who pulls a ‘Mu’ grade is nothing more than a cowardly turtle hiding its head.”

“What?! Who dared utter that!”

The moment Seong Mo-ran snapped her head around with a murderous glare, Geum-pyo-Lee’s index finger subtly jerked in the direction of Eun-ho-Lee. Seong Mo-ran shifted her piercing gaze onto Eun-ho-Lee, who swallowed hard under her scrutiny, before she ultimately let out a defeated groan.

“He speaks the truth…… I am nothing but a turtle-head. I ought to just crawl back inside my shell and never emerge.”

The entire purpose of this little excursion into the fresh air was to lift the plummeting spirits of the dejected Seong Mo-ran and Geum-pyo-Lee. I did my absolute best to offer words of solace.

“Do not judge yourself so harshly, Sojeo Mo-ran. There is still an upcoming opportunity to completely reverse the scores.”

“……Sigh.”

Letting out a heavy breath at my attempt to comfort her, Seong Mo-ran fixed a blank, unblinking stare on my face.

“But tell me something.”

“Yes? What is it?”

“How is it that you, an individual who barely even bothered to show up for the standard lectures, managed to sweep straight ‘Gap’ evaluations across the board?”

Good heavens, it truly felt as though literal sparks might erupt from her pupils at any given second. I merely gave a casual shrug of my shoulders while facing Seong Mo-ran, who was practically leaking an aura of pure homicidal intent.

“……Well, I suppose it comes down to the fact that I executed my advanced preparation and reviews meticulously?”

In all honesty, the standard examinations administered by the Academy hold absolutely no real challenge for me. Setting aside the classified records of the Man-tong-bu, would it not be an absolute anomaly if someone like me, who has completely memorized every single manuscript and text housed within the Library of Myriad Books, managed to pull a subpar grade? Then again, it certainly felt like Sojeo Mo-ran’s expression was growing increasingly hostile……. Could I simply be imagining things?

Clearing my throat awkwardly, I averted my gaze to look down the pathway.

“Exactly, Sa-hyeong! There is still a golden opportunity to turn things around, is there not?”

Geum-pyo-Lee pressed me, his eyes gleaming with desperate hope. This spineless scamp, honestly. I immediately brought my knuckles down hard against the crown of his head and barked at him.

“You absolute turtle of a man! Don’t you dare mention to a single soul that you belong to the Tae-eul-mun from this day forward. I am practically dying of sheer humiliation here!”

“……”

Leaving behind a stunned Geum-pyo-Lee, who looked as though he had just been ruthlessly betrayed by his most trusted comrade, I continued down the avenue. Perhaps because the vibrant, buzzing energy of the merchant district was contagious, Seong Mo-ran’s stride gradually regained a bit of pep.

“There appears to be an exceptionally dense gathering of people out today compared to normal.”

“It most likely stems from the recent call for low-level warriors.”

“Low-level warriors?”

I gave a slow nod of confirmation.

“Word has it that the casualties sustained by the White Wolf Pavilion (Baek-rang-gak) and the Black Wolf Pavilion (Heuk-rang-gak) were by far the most severe throughout that entire Sichuan affair.”

“……”

While it is an inescapable reality for losses to occur during a violent conflict, the grim truth that the devastation fell disproportionately on a specific subset of people leaves a sour taste in one’s mouth.

“They have already put up official notices declaring that they are launching a massive recruitment drive to fill those vacancies immediately.”

And the stark realization that a fallen soldier’s legacy is so effortlessly swapped out for a fresh body injects a sense of profound melancholy, even when understanding that the system must endure. Only then did Seong Mo-ran offer a faint nod, finally comprehending the catalyst for the gathering crowd.

“So that is the reason why such a mass of people has assembled.”

“Indeed. Actively clamoring as though it were some coveted, glorious position.”

“Pardon?”

I quickly masked my grimace behind a casual expression.

“Just talking to myself.”

Around this precise period, the members of the So-jeong-dae—the specific unit to which I used to belong—would likely begin convening. Their ranks would be repeatedly hollowed out by tragedies and replenished through a succession of grim events, and only after a vast stretch of time would the exact iteration of the So-jeong-dae I remembered come to be. The exact nature of the hardships they would endure in the interim was already etched into my memory.

Back when I had first awakened into this second life, I had seriously debated whether I ought to step in and alter their fates. After all, those idiots of the So-jeong-dae spent practically every single evening spitting curses at their past selves for ever volunteering for the Moolim Alliance. Even so, I remain uncertain if interference is the proper path. Perhaps that uncertainty is precisely why I consciously attempt to avoid passing any final judgment on those fools.

‘……To think I would find myself reminiscing about those absolute morons.’

Whether it concerned the complications surrounding the Sa-heuk-ryeon or the looming threat of Ya-yul-geuk, those irritating countenances had been flashing through my mind with unusual frequency of late.

‘That accursed So-jeong-dae…….’

Unconsciously, a grin that was simultaneously heavy with sorrow and laced with profound nostalgia tugged at the corners of my mouth. Right at that second, Eun-ho-Lee’s sharp call snapped me right back to the present.

“Dae-sa-hyeong, they have informed me that a table has opened up.”

“Very well.”

Hearing the update from Eun-ho-Lee, who had gone ahead to find us a spot, I was just about to shift my weight to follow.

‘Wait?’

My entire frame instantly locked up as my eyes latched onto a deeply familiar profile cutting through the sea of bodies. A person I had once found utterly repulsive, infuriating, and contemptible. And yet, an individual to whom I could blindly pledge my life in battle, and who had stood by me as an anchor of mutual survival. There was no mistaking that specific face.

“Dae-Dae-sa-hyeong!”

Eun-ho-Lee’s distant voice calling out my title faded entirely into the background noise of the street.

‘Could it truly be…… Is it really him?!’

I immediately activated the Tae-eul Eight Myriad Divine Steps, slicing like a blade through the tightly packed mass of pedestrians. Only after aggressively weaving through a distance of roughly ten jang (approx. 30 meters) did I manage to reach out and clamp my hand onto the individual’s shoulder. Yes, that exact back that had so often served as a shield ahead of me, carelessly gambling his own survival on the front lines.

“……Ya-yul-jae!”

“Hmm?”

The man snapped his face around to look at me, and it was undeniably the exact Ya-yul-jae I remembered.