Chapter 320

Chapter 320
## Chapter 320. Locus of Responsibility (3)

—

The Mantong-bu.
This was one of the three foundational bodies sharing control over the Murim League. While officially designated as a leadership branch representing a major pillar of the alliance, it functioned in practice as the primary hub for everyday administrative operations. Its duties spanned minor logistics, such as setting the shift schedules for the Murim League’s sentries, to high-level financial oversight, including allocating the yearly budget and external donations among the various bureaucratic divisions. Additionally, they oversaw the operational survival of the Murim League’s regional outposts. Given that the power to designate regional commanders was held directly by the Mantong-bu, it served as the ultimate locus for critical executive determinations.

Yet, despite the massive scale of this department, it functioned with a surprisingly small staff. When I originally committed the records of the Mantong-bu to memory, a particular thought had crossed my mind.
‘Do they require everyone in the Mantong-bu to practice a single handwriting style before they start?’
Because these files were produced by hand, a massive divergence in penmanship styles would make it difficult to quickly review and extract information down the line. Viewed in that light, it seemed like a perfectly logical assumption. As it turned out, it was entirely incorrect.
The real reason the penmanship across the Mantong-bu looked identical was simply that they extracted an immense amount of labor from a very limited pool of workers, pushing them to their absolute limits. To put it another way, because a minuscule group of scribes was forced to churn out that staggering mountain of paperwork, a natural uniformity emerged.
‘With that in mind, how does this individual manage to drop by the academy so frequently?’
I mused, observing Ju-won-Maeng who stood directly before me. I found myself wondering if Ju-won-Maeng also managed to carve out personal leisure by running his own subordinates into the ground.

“Are you completely devoid of tasks to attend to?”
“What a ridiculous question! I am overwhelmed with work every single day! It is precisely because my schedule is so frantic that I come to this place!”
I canted my head at a response that seemed entirely contradictory. At any rate, observing the dark circles beneath his eyes and his exhausted color, there was no denying that he was under immense pressure.
“As you noted outside just a moment ago, the personal quarters of the Academy Representative are considered private. If you continue to intrude like this without any prior notice…”
“Ah! If that is your concern, you may cast it aside. I have personally amended the internal codes. Now, when it comes to matters concerning the alliance, representatives of the Mantong-bu are granted access to any location.”
“…”
I failed to see how barging into the Academy Representative’s private residence qualified as an alliance matter. Ju-won-Maeng exhaled deeply and struck his chest with confidence.
“Am I not effectively the living embodiment of the Mantong-bu? Consequently, my personal endeavors are synonymous with the Mantong-bu’s operations, and the operations of the Mantong-bu are synonymous with the undertakings of the Murim League.”
Finding the logic too convoluted to bother unraveling, I simply chose to ignore it. It wasn’t as though this man showing up to spout absurdities was a novel event. At the very least, he wasn’t currently heavily intoxicated and begging me to preserve his life, which was an improvement.
‘Why would you even implore me to rescue you? Your life is hardly hanging in the balance.’
In my previous existence, the individual who met his end at the hands of Geum-hak-Je was So-myeong-Jegal. Even though they had been present in the exact same location, Ju-won-Maeng had managed to slip away with his life. Though he subsequently took sole control of the Mantong-bu before eventually being ousted by political rivals and forced into obscurity, the point remained that he did not fall in combat.

“…Setting that aside, what is the purpose of your visit this time?”
“Must I always possess a concrete justification to pay a visit?”
“…I have always known you to be precisely that sort of individual.”
Ju-won-Maeng’s posture visibly slumped.
“How cold… absolutely heartbreaking!”
“If you truly have no pressing matters to discuss, I must ask you to take your leave…”
“And here I was, prepared to share some vital intelligence concerning the future of the Jeondeung Sect, but I suppose it is of no consequence.”
“…It would be a pity to conclude our meeting so abruptly. Perhaps you would care for a cup of refreshing tea?”
“Tea? Do we truly possess the luxury of time to sit and drink tea?”
“It just so happens that I have an excellent vintage on hand.”
I retrieved the absolute cheapest, lowest-quality tea leaves available in my quarters and prepared a brew for Ju-won-Maeng. It was an item I had pushed to the back of the shelf and left untouched because the fragrance had been utterly atrocious upon my first try.
“Mmm… an exquisite bouquet.”
The scent was undeniably dreadful, yet Ju-won-Maeng maintained an incredibly pleased expression, leaving me to wonder what exactly he found so appealing about it.
“Fufu… this exact brand of relaxation… if you were to join us, I could experience this regularly, could I not?”
“What exactly are you implying?”
“Ah, pay it no mind, it is trivial.”
Ju-won-Maeng, his face wearing a cryptic grin, placed his ceramic cup back down.
“In the very near future, an official League Lord’s Decree is going to be broadcasted.”
With those words, his demeanor shifted, becoming notably grave.
“To state it plainly, it signifies that the Murim League will assume exclusive jurisdiction over the entire inquiry into the Golden Silk.”
“Has the situation escalated to such a critical degree?”
“Are you aware of the sheer volume of sects that are being completely wiped out in the span of a single day right now?”
“…”
“When we confront those bastards who slaughtered an entire organization and demand they present their justification, they simply act clueless, claiming they ‘wiped them out because they practiced demonic arts.’ The world is currently crawling with hypocrites of that caliber.”
An expression of pure disdain washed over Ju-won-Maeng’s features.
“It has reached a point where I find myself questioning if we must exhibit such brutality against fellow members of the White Way. The deeds they are perpetrating are far more savage and unprincipled than anything they displayed when they were hunting down the Black Way.”

They had no alternative but to employ tactics far more ruthless and unyielding than those used against the Black Way. When striking down someone who was completely blameless, one could not afford to leave even the slightest vulnerability for a retaliation. A sudden thought drifted into my mind.
‘Was the volume of blood spilled during the Sichuan Blood Incident simply insufficient?’
I couldn’t help but wonder if the torrent of blood meant to be unleashed during the Sichuan Blood Incident had merely altered its course and begun to saturate this path instead… It felt as though no matter how drastically I altered the timeline, I might remain entirely powerless to alter the fundamental human malice that craved slaughter.

“Did the council of Elders grant their approval?”
The moment a League Lord’s Decree was put into motion, it took effect without delay. But would the Elders truly sit idly by and permit it? It was tantamount to stripping away their inherent privileges. Ju-won-Maeng pinched his brows together slightly.
“To a certain degree… after all, everyone publicly concurs that allowing the current chaos to persist indefinitely poses an existential threat.”
He then clarified,
“Even so, there are factions who are deeply displeased by the rapid invocation of the League Lord’s Decree.”
“Meaning they have not yet had the opportunity to exploit the situation for their own benefit?”
Ju-won-Maeng’s countenance shifted into a highly complicated and delicate expression.
“You are… truly an enigmatic person.”
“What makes you say that?”
When I pressed for an explanation, he swiftly diverted the conversation to another topic.
“Indeed. They are filled with bitterness because they missed the chance to weaponize it.”
This particular paradigm within the Kangho was rooted in an unshakeable confidence in the Murim League. That deeply ingrained conviction—that the Murim League could never fall regardless of the foe—permitted them to treat an external threat as mere leverage for domestic political maneuvering. In the grand scheme of things, it was precisely this arrogance that would leave them entirely incapable of organizing a defense when a genuinely catastrophic peril finally arrived.

As I fell silent, contemplating this reality, Ju-won-Maeng offered a stern piece of advice.
“Therefore, you would do well to rein in your actions.”
“Huh? In regards to what?”
“I am referring to your habit of openly defying the teaching staff.”
“…Was the core issue not the fact that the entire roster of instructors was replaced after a mere year?”
“That… owing to that exact issue, the Chief Strategist has already completely upended the Education Bureau once. You can find some solace in that fact.”
“Upended it?”
“Were you truly unaware? A substantial number of officials were summarily dismissed from the Education Bureau during the purge.”
Hoho. This was exceptionally valuable intelligence. Ju-won-Maeng rubbed his chin thoughtfully and offered a heavy sigh.
“At any rate, the unified stance of both the Education Bureau and the Mantong-bu is that the instructors who have received their official placements cannot be stripped of their titles again.”
“To preserve appearances for the public?”
“They simply cannot be reassigned. Because the official administrative stamps have already been finalized on the paperwork for the incoming staff, even the Chief Strategist was forced to look the other way.”
Hmm, so that was the underlying reality.
“Viewed from that perspective, isn’t this actually an advantageous development for me?”
“…I fail to grasp how you could possibly define this as ‘advantageous.’ Regardless, you must remember that these newly arrived individuals hold the power to dictate your final graduation assessments. Should they choose to fail you out of spite, your personal record and the standing of your fellow sect disciples could end up completely ruined.”
Well, listening to this breakdown brought an entirely different perspective to my mind.
“…What precisely is the meaning behind that look on your face, which suggests you are plotting something highly unpalatable?”
“Eh? Whatever do you mean?”
When I feigned total ignorance, Ju-won-Maeng merely shook his head in resignation.
“In any case, cease your constant troublemaking. Particularly when you consider that both the Righteous Society and the White Way Society are keeping a razor-sharp eye on your every move. If you persist on this path…”
Suddenly, adopting an incredibly earnest demeanor, he clamped a firm hand onto my shoulder.
“It will create immense complications for your future integration into the Mantong-bu.”
“…”
Good grief, what on earth possesses him to believe that I have the slightest desire to join the Mantong-bu? I opened my mouth to correct him but promptly bit back my words. Recalling the absolute uproar that had ensued the last time I declared I had no intention of entering the Mantong-bu, I realized it was wiser not to invite unnecessary headaches. Yes, discretion was the better part of valor.
“Fufu…”
Taking my silence as implicit agreement, Ju-won-Maeng gave my shoulder a final, highly satisfied tap before making his exit.

A pair of days later, a formal summons arrived from the teaching staff. It appeared Ju-won-Maeng’s administrative caution had yielded results, even if that caution had only bought two days of peace. At any rate, given that this assembly included the presence of the Academy Chief himself, Won-pyeong-Buk, I had no choice but to attend.
“What do you think, would it be best if I accompanied you?”
“Jin-Gong-ja. Allow me to walk with you.”
Mo-ran-Seong, who appeared relatively unconcerned by the matter, and Seon-hwa-Namgung, whose face was a mask of intense anxiety, both stepped forward to volunteer, but I waved them off. I was hardly an infant. Did they honestly believe I would lose my nerve simply because a collection of instructors decided to mass against me?
“Heh! What are you implying? We are only offering because we are terrified that Jin-Gong-ja will instigate another catastrophe!”
What exactly do these individuals take me for? Where on this earth could one find a person as composed and logical as myself? …Granted, there are specific instances where I find it impossible to restrain myself, but those are universally situations where the opposing party has crossed an unpardonable line. There are moments when a man must refuse to capitulate, acting in accordance with the standards of a Great Man…
“You were actively planning to cause another scene just now, weren’t you…!”
I swiftly accelerated my pace, leaving the Representative’s office behind.

The confrontation was staged within the main briefing chamber of the Bureau of Academic Affairs. Won-pyeong-Buk occupied the head of the expansive conference table, while the instructors and senior martial masters were arrayed in a dense line along one side. The spectacle of them gathered together like a pack of wolves was quite a sight to behold.
“Where would you prefer I take my place?”
In response to my inquiry, the instructor seated squarely in the center offered a freezing reply.
“Sit wherever you please.”
“In that case…”
“…Just take the central seat. This entire dispute is strictly an internal matter to be settled between the Academy Representative and the teaching staff.”
Just as I made a move to seat myself in close proximity to Won-pyeong-Buk, the instructor in the middle growled out his petty correction. Honestly, he should have specified his preferences from the absolute beginning. The moment I took my seat, the collective gaze of the instructors locked onto me with a distinct, murderous intensity.
“…Adopt a proper posture.”
“Are you planning to continuously bicker over completely inconsequential details and squander our time? My schedule is tight.”
“…You arrogant, uncultivated whelp…”
“Oh? Academy Chief, this individual is hurling blatant insults at me.”
Won-pyeong-Buk let out a weary, subdued sigh.
“Both of you cease this immediately. Student So-un-Jin… remove your boots from the conference table, and Instructor Jin-ha-No, you certainly did not request this gathering merely to exchange petty vitriol, did you?”
“…”
The brief flash of tension dissolved back into a uneasy silence, and Instructor Jin-ha-No—the very same instructor whom I had thoroughly overwhelmed during our previous clash of internal energy—spoke up.
“You are undoubtedly fully aware of the gravity of the transgression you committed?”
“I haven’t the faintest idea?”
“You will first offer a public apolo—wait, what?”
Instructor Jin-ha-No cut himself off mid-phrase, his mouth opening and closing soundlessly like a stranded fish. I gently shook my head, adopting a perfectly blank, guiltless countenance.
“I genuinely do not know. No matter how deeply I reflect upon it, I cannot fathom what you mean.”
“…Launching a physical assault against a superior instructor is an offense that warrants the most severe disciplinary action…”
“That transpired because the instructor explicitly demanded that I demonstrate the extent of my martial capabilities, and I simply complied with his directive. Why is he now attempting to shift the blame onto me for an action that he initiated… no, an action that he directly commanded me to perform?”
I tilted my head in mock confusion, then struck my open palm with a fist as if a sudden realization had dawned on me.
“Ah! Is the root of the problem that I humiliated you by crushing your resistance so utterly?”
“…”
“But surely that cannot be construed as my failing, can it? Mind you, I am not claiming it is entirely the instructor’s fault either.”
Hearing my concluding remark, Jin-ha-No’s rigid expression appeared to relax ever so slightly. Why on earth are you relaxing already? I haven’t even reached the core of my statement yet.
“Was it not fundamentally the fault of the Cheongseong Sect for nurturing such an incompetent disciple?”
Bang!
The heavy wooden table shuddered violently, nearly splitting down the center.
“Do you possess an active desire for death! How dare you cast slurs upon my lineage!”
Grind.
Jin-ha-No clenched his jaw so violently it sounded as though his teeth might shatter. Tsk, if you possessed that degree of force, you ought to have channeled it into winning our internal energy confrontation. I instantly wiped the mock amusement from my features, leaning forward to deliver a low, icy whisper.
“Is it perfectly acceptable to mock the Tae-eul Sect, but completely off-limits to disrespect the Cheongseong Sect?”
“…”
“Whether one speaks of a premier, renowned entity like the Tae-eul Sect or a lesser, minor group like the Cheongseong Sect, the pride and devotion a disciple harbors for their home is identical. The individual who initiated this by insulting the opposing sect purely because he fancied himself the ‘superior’ force was none other than you, the instructor.”
The complexions of Jin-ha-No and the surrounding martial masters turned completely rigid.
“Furthermore, you have dragged me to this room under false pretenses when I have committed no infraction, attempting to coerce an apology out of me. Am I truly expected to bend the knee to such absolute nonsense?”

The moment the honor of the sect was explicitly leveraged against him, Jin-ha-No found himself entirely stripped of a rebuttal. Sensing the impasse, the instructor standing adjacent to him, who carried a remarkably pleasant and warm demeanor, intervened with a placating smile.
“Come now, let us lower our voices. We did not convene this assembly to tear one another apart, did we?”
He then placed a heavy, controlling hand onto Jin-ha-No’s shoulder, forcing him back into his chair.
“Maintain your composure. It appears that you, Jin-ha, merely exhibited an excess of professional zeal during the instructional period. That was undeniably an oversight on your part.”
“…”
What was this man’s designation again… he hailed from the exact same Cheongseong Sect… that Tak person… ah, right, Sun-tak-Kang! Sun-tak-Kang delivered a mild reprimand to Jin-ha-No before turning a remarkably benevolent, easygoing smile in my direction.
“Please show some understanding. Across generations, it has been a common practice for instructors and senior masters to deliberately pressure students to cultivate an atmosphere of profound discipline. It was a standard experience during our own formative years as well.”
Wow, he actually resorted to the classic “back in my day” routine.
“Regardless, it is undeniable that our colleague Jin-ha overstepped his bounds, and so I shall offer an apology on his behalf. Can we not simply classify this as a minor ‘miscalculation’? Ought a true martial artist not possess the magnanimity to dismiss such trifles? Haha! Am I right?”

He delivered these words with complete nonchalance, entirely disregarding the underlying humiliation of the victim. Why do these individuals consistently fail to view a situation from our perspective? They would easily grasp our feelings if they bothered to reflect for even a single second.
“Even so, completely independent of the underlying details, the reality that a senior instructor was subjected to a deeply embarrassing display before a pupil poses a significant hurdle for maintaining order in future lessons. Therefore, to salvage at least a modicum of instructional authority… what if we conclude this affair by having you offer a brief, public apology to Instructor No?”

But I had finally come to understand the truth. These people have absolutely no incentive to look at the world through our eyes. Because they operate under the absolute certainty that they will never find themselves occupying our position. They are entirely confident that they held the superior hand in the past, and will continue to hold the superior hand for all eternity. Consequently, they see no reason to care. Their strategy is merely to simulate an interest in our perspective, and then smoothly enforce their original agenda exactly as they intended. Precisely like this.
“Would it not be advantageous for every party involved to resolve this matter amicably, with you presenting a token public apology and our side graciously accepting it?”

They are fully aware of the facts. They know exactly how much grueling effort the powerless must expend to fight back against systemic bias. Thus, they deploy sweet words to placate them, pushing them to capitulate. Because they know that once a little time elapses, the entire issue will naturally fade into obscurity.
It was a pattern I had witnessed an infinite number of times throughout my previous life. Attempting to push back while bearing an immense, crushing weight. Naively putting faith in the adversary’s honeyed promises and backing down. I did it because I possessed no leverage. Because I was terrified. Because I desperately wanted to believe that a bleak, unyielding reality could be transformed if I just accepted their deceptions.
“This is precisely how true harmony is preserved. Do you not concur?”

But my present self was enlightened.
“I refuse.”
“…Huh?”
I was entirely aware of the pathetic nature of their corporate harmony. And I possessed absolute faith in my own strength.
“I stated that I decline. For what reason should I offer an apology when I am entirely devoid of guilt?”
These posturing moralists invariably expose their hideous true colors the exact instant an opponent refuses to dance to their tune. This man was no exception.
“…Are you truly prepared to endure the fallout of this choice? We are the ones who will be calculating the marks for you and your Saje until the day you graduate.”
“That sounds suspiciously like an open admission that our academic scores will fluctuate based entirely on the personal whims and malice of the instructor. Am I interpreting that accurately?”
“…”
“Your silence speaks volumes.”
Sun-tak-Kang let out a sharp, mocking scoff.
“They claim your title incorporates the specific character for ‘Thought’ (念)… yet, precisely as I suspected, your intellect is remarkably superficial. Do you honestly believe a single positive outcome will arise from maintaining such an adversarial posture against us?”
A condescending, arrogant glare fastened onto me.
“Ah, are you oblivious to this reality? Even after you transition to the Murim League in the future, the evaluations recorded by the staff here will follow you. Are you truly prepared to discard a brilliant, guaranteed future and watch it sink into a cesspool over a moment of pride?”

This was precisely why it was critical to strike them head-on. At the end of the day, these creatures will never truly comprehend an opponent’s position until they are forced to bleed from their own veins.
“What makes you so utterly certain that I am the only party who will sustain injuries?”
“Do you genuinely believe our side has anything of value to lose in this exchange?”
Because human beings, by their very design, only adopt caution when they feel their own lifeblood draining away.
“Fully half of the curriculum within this academy consists of practical application courses conducted alongside the instructors or senior masters. Within that framework, there are well over ten mandatory live duels.”
“…What?”
I relaxed completely, leaning back against the wooden chair as I directed my gaze toward Won-pyeong-Buk.
“Academy Chief. What is the standard protocol if an instructor happens to perish during a live duel conducted within an official academy course? Ah, perhaps I should clarify this first. Does a historical precedent for such an occurrence exist?”
“…Hey! So-un-Jin…!”
Won-pyeong-Buk was so profoundly rattled that his formal composure cracked entirely, and he dropped his honorifics on the spot. I pressed onward without a hint of hesitation.
“Hmm… then what is the procedure if an instructor meets with a highly catastrophic, debilitating accident? If they sustain an injury that permanently strips them of their martial capability, they would automatically be processed for immediate, honorable retirement, correct?”

Sun-tak-Kang, who had been grandstanding so confidently just moments prior, roared out in sheer disbelief.
“Have you completely lost your mind? Do you truly believe you could perpetrate such an abomination and survive…”
“What are you talking about? It would merely be a minor ‘miscalculation.'”
“…!”
You hypocrites were the ones who established the definition. You explicitly stated that it was nothing more than a minor “miscalculation.”
“Furthermore, based on your own logic, hasn’t my prospects and the future of every single disciple from the Tae-eul Sect already been tossed into a cesspool?”
“…”
“I find myself entirely unable to grasp why you operated under the delusion that the destruction would be entirely one-sided.”

But what can be done about it now? You bastards are hardly the only individuals capable of committing a minor “miscalculation.”
“Did my Saje and I truly strike you as the sort of docile personalities who would quietly sit back and absorb your abuse?”

The reality that the Education Bureau was physically incapable of deploying any replacement staff meant that, when the dust settled, these specific individuals were trapped into resolving the crisis themselves. Ju-won-Maeng had viewed their permanent placement as a source of immense dread, but I recognized it as the exact opposite. The reality that they could not be swapped out meant, in essence…
‘Is that not fundamentally an open invitation for me to corner these bastards and beat them within an inch of their lives?’

One could deduce as much simply by analyzing the reality that they were the party who desperately begged for this conference in the first place. Once they have thoroughly dragged their own reputations through the mud, they will never be able to conduct their duties with a shred of unearned dignity or authority again. That was undoubtedly the driving force behind their desperate demand for a public apology and nothing else. To put it succinctly, both their faction and my own are currently locked inside the exact same claustrophobic trap. And the entity that walks out alive from a claustrophobic trap is invariably the one weaponizing the most lethal venom.
“Or did your own sect instruct you to behave in this cowardly fashion?”
“…”
Even as I openly targeted their sect once more, absolute silence reigned across the table.
“Proceed. Execute whatever scheme you please. In fact, I am openly imploring you to do your worst.”
I let out a soft, mocking chuckle before delivering the final blow.
“That way, my conscience will be completely clear when I finally begin breaking the bones of the instructors.”

Within the eyes of the men who had previously stared down at me with nothing but unbridled arrogance, a profound, unmistakable terror was now taking root. This time, I inclined my head forward, projecting an aura of absolute, mocking reverence.
“I beg of you! Please ensure you follow through on your threats without fail. I am explicitly requesting this of you.”
Why do these people insist on forcing the hand of a perfectly amicable person?