Chapter 367

Chapter 367
## Chapter 367. Invisible Torrent (7)

—

Reflecting upon my link to Geum-tae-jong during my former existence, it amounted to nothing more than a solitary, unreciprocated recollection, as was frequently the case.

I occasionally questioned whether such a thread could genuinely qualify as a true bond.

It arose simply because his name had caught my eye a single time on the casualty registry following the Blood Affair of Sichuan.

Yet, if one were to inquire whether a genuine connection had developed between us in this altered current reality, the answer remained negative.

We were, after all, merely distant acquaintances.

Consequently, to unearth any shared history with him, I had to dig deeply through the scattered remnants of my recollection.

The earliest memory took place when I cast my enrollment token onto the dirt by the main threshold of the academy.

I recalled the sight of Geum-tae-jong, who grumbled under his breath as he witnessed that display.

[What on earth is this? What is he putting on such a grand show for?]

The second instance occurred when I arrived at the welcoming gala draped in the formal robes that bore the stitched inscription ‘Valedictorian.’

[He is nothing short of an eyesore.]

The third was the image of him staring in my direction with smoldering, resentful eyes upon my return from Sichuan.

[Strutting around like he owns the place.]

The fourth took place when I dragged the academy disciples free from the Jegal Family’s enigmatic tactical array.

On that particular occasion, shifting from his usual demeanor, he drew close to me for the very first time and breathed a few quiet words.

[……You are going to get yourself killed shortly if you keep this up.]

The fifth memory was.

[I already warned you that a leader isn’t supposed to throw himself into the vanguard…….]

It was a moment more intimate than any that had preceded it.

That individual, who had never given me anything but a stern, unyielding countenance, offered a word to me while parting his lips into a smile for the first time.

[……I think I will rest for a brief moment. A man shouldn’t be too worn out if he intends to drink spirits.]

It marked the sole instance I ever witnessed him smile. The bitter reality that this grin accompanied his final moments was truly an absurd twist of fate.

“…….”

That was precisely why it remained beyond my comprehension.

To begin with, Geum-tae-jong and I had never shared a bond forged on meaningful camaraderie.

In fact, hadn’t he harbored an aversion toward me from the very start?

And yet.

[From this moment onward…… do not thrust yourself into the fray. The Unit Commander is far too vital an individual…….]

A person of that nature threw himself before a blade on my behalf.

The reality that he allowed a content smile to grace his lips as his life slipped away remained a paradox I could not unravel.

“……Therefore, our Il-hak-mun intends to utilize this occurrence as an ideal turning point……”

The declarations of the Sect Leader of the Il-hak-mun, who was prattling on regarding some agenda, failed to properly penetrate my focus.

Instead, my eyes kept drifting back to the visage of Geum-tae-seon, who remained there with a brooding expression, her lips puckered in a sullen pout.

“Young Hero Jin? Young Hero Jin?”

Song-ju-sang knit his brows together, perceiving that my mind was wandering elsewhere.

“Are you paying attention to what I am saying?”

His gaze was tilted upward at a sharp angle.

Because he was attempting to lock eyes with me while dipping his head low, the posture took on an unnatural, strained appearance.

It revealed that the deferential demeanor this individual was presenting was entirely superficial.

In my previous life, during this identical timeframe, the burgeoning prodigy Sin-seong-mu of the Il-hak-mun had crushed the Thousand Eyes Manor, vastly elevating their renown and seizing a position within the One Hundred and Eight Peaks.

The pretext for that conflict was the allegation that the Thousand Eyes Manor had been clandestinely engaging in dark sorcery.

In the days to come, the Il-hak-mun achieved such immense prestige and authority that an incident occurred near the Murim Alliance where an eccentric elder was beaten to death by a mob simply for speaking ill of the Il-hak-mun.

I observed Song-ju-sang, who remained in his slight bow.

It was highly probable he managed to guide the Il-hak-mun to such heights precisely because he possessed the cunning to escort a fallen pupil’s kin here himself, subtly demanding recompense and an accounting for the young man’s untimely demise.

“…….”

Sifting through the archives of my memory, I reevaluated the statements he had uttered. Following that, I offered a nod of assent.

“Naturally. I have explicitly detailed the contributions of the Il-hak-mun within the official account. Therefore, you may put your mind at ease.”

Only then did a bright look wash over Song-ju-sang’s features.

“That comes as a great comfort. Some might question the propriety of tallying battle accolades under these grim conditions, but regardless, for a passing to possess true significance……”

I intervened to halt his stream of words.

While I comprehended his motivations, it did not mean the loss of a human life could be treated as a bargaining chip.

“Sect Leader. Perhaps we might deliberate on this matter at a more appropriate hour?”

When I uttered this while shifting my gaze toward Geum-tae-jong’s relatives, he dipped his head in acknowledgment, pretending to take the hint.

If anything, he pressed onward with his speech as though this disruption suited his purposes perfectly.

“Tae-jong’s relatives have been stranded here for several weeks, unable to return to their estate on account of this affair. If their battlefield contributions go unacknowledged……”

My thoughts turned with worry toward Geum-tae-seon.

Could a young child truly comprehend the complex machinations of the world?

Even if the details eluded them now, a lingering, vague impression can fester into a deep psychological scar down the road.

I provided the exact response required to ensure he would hold his tongue.

“I grasp the situation. I shall personally submit a revised account, so let that be the end of your anxieties.”

“Ah! You have my gratitude. Only through this will I finally be capable of easing the family’s deep-seated sorrow.”

Song-ju-sang pivoted back toward the gathering of his sect members.

As they exchanged hushed murmurs, their frames trembled slightly, as if they were struggling to stifle their rising amusement.

The young girl still maintained an unhappy expression because her *Oppa* had failed to appear, while the mature man and woman standing behind her kept their gazes fixed firmly on the ground—whether out of sheer dread or simmering resentment, their countenances remained unreadable.

Ultimately, I found myself unable to ascertain if the goals of the Sect Leader of the Il-hak-mun mirrored the genuine wishes of that grieving family.

Without conscious thought, I squeezed both of my hands into tight fists.

“It appears I will fail to fulfill my vow to you.”

I stepped toward Geum-tae-seon and uttered the words, but the girl remained motionless, her eyes locked onto an empty space.

“I am truly sorry.”

Leaving those quiet words hanging in the air, I removed myself from the gathering.

The initial scouting contingent that had deployed to the Silent Forest made their return.

Clutched in their grasp were several implements that seemed to belong to the adversarial forces, alongside the bodily remains of a few academy disciples.

The mourning relatives, who had been residing within the quarters of the Murim Alliance for a succession of weeks, dissolved into loud lamentations upon encountering the physical evidence.

Those who had clung to a desperate, lingering thread of optimism were dealt a definitive verdict of demise the instant they verified the remains.

Yet, those who actually received the remains could be considered to be in a preferable state.

“My boy……! Was my child not recovered there?”

“Where has Beom-gwon gone!! Without a doubt, Beom-gwon marched alongside them!”

The vast majority of the grieving families were given no physical remains to take home.

“There were extensive indicators pointing to the application of Bone-Melting Powder (*Hwa-gol-san*).”

The grim reality concerning the Bone-Melting Powder was withheld from the households that could find no trace of their children, and those relatives anchored themselves to a fragile optimism once more, harboring the notion that their loved ones might be surviving in some remote corner.

Poised between the faction that received physical closure and the faction that received nothing, it was an impossible task to determine which group ought to be deemed fortunate.

Regardless, the memorial services were set in motion.

While the prospect of living survivors was maintained in their thoughts, they could not halt the burial rituals indefinitely, causing the ceremonies to move forward on the designated date.

The academy disciples donned their formal military attire several months ahead of schedule.

Though they were clad in the coveted ceremonial robes of the Murim Alliance officers which they had yearned for so deeply, not a single soul displayed an air of exhilaration.

The funeral proceeded with a mixture of caskets holding recovered forms and vacant boxes containing nothing at all, all arrayed across the sweeping expanse of the Great Training Ground of the Murim Alliance.

Even though the bulk of the surviving academy disciples had mended from their physical trauma, they allowed agonizing, deep sobs to escape their chests.

Those weeping sounds rapidly infected the gathered relatives and the fellow martial brothers of the connected organizations who stood watching the ceremony.

A memorial more magnificent than any in recent memory unfolded, and an immense sea of mourners traveling from every corner of the realm converged upon the Murim Alliance.

“On this day, we shall honor the memory of those who surrendered their existences for the tranquility of the Jianghu. Their passings shall serve as the lifeblood of our chronicle, exerting an eternal sway, and shall function as an unyielding cornerstone for the generation rising now and the generations yet unborn……”

The crowd unanimously lauded the fallen academy disciples as ‘heroes,’ yet not a single heart among the bereaved kindred found solace in those words.

They simply proved incapable of masking their agonizing grief at having the reality verified that they would never lay eyes upon them again.

With that, the memorial reached its termination.

The academy disciples who had perished within the Silent Forest were formally inscribed as individuals of exceptional merit for the Murim Alliance, long before the ink marking their official acceptance into the ranks of the Murim Alliance had even dried.

**368. Invisible Torrent (8)**

As though the initial oppressive air had evaporated alongside the rising fumes of the spirits, the academy disciples assembled within the walls of Song-hwa-gak commenced a raucous round of drinking.

As the hours slipped past, the revelry grew progressively more boisterous.

If a voice broke out into melody, the surrounding crowd joined the tune; if a jest was tossed into the air, others countered with their own retorts.

The drinking assembly stretched on far past my initial calculations.

I had assumed that after offering their respects and drowning in their shared sorrow, the entire group would retreat to their quarters with slumping shoulders, thoroughly drained by grief.

“Keuhahahaha! More spirits over here! Replenish the liquor! Fetch the premium selection!”

“I understand the Tae-eul-mun Merchant Group has been generating massive wealth as of late? Deliver every variety of delicacy they possess!”

As if they had deliberately selected this precise evening, these bastards began to gorge, feast, and drink like possessed individuals.

‘Confound it…….’

Furthermore, as the night deepened, the energy within the room grew even more turbulent.

The individuals who had initially seated themselves according to their specific sects or factions began to blend and socialize indiscriminately.

A warrior representing the 12th Peak Stars passed a goblet to a companion who belonged to the Righteous Way Society.

An individual allied with the White Way Society engaged in playful antics with the members of the 12th Peak Stars.

“Why are these individuals…… displaying such camaraderie?”

Because this display struck me as entirely bizarre, I shifted my gaze toward Eun-ho, who occupied the space directly beside me.

“We occasionally held gatherings partitioned by squads back during our tenure inside the academy.”

“Hm?”

What riddle was he spinning?

He offered an explanation that failed to register clearly in my mind.

Just as I prepared to press him further.

“5th Squad Leader!!”

Wi-rip-gun and Jong-chu-ak pinned both of Eun-ho’s flanks and hoisted his frame clear off the bench.

“Heh……! What business do you have lingering here when you bear the title of Squad Leader? This amounts to a complete abandonment of your post!! Every single one of your squad members is waiting on you!”

This…… what exactly was going on here?

“Move your feet, hurry up!”

“Let’s move!!”

Spurred by their clamorous prompts, Eun-ho, dangling helplessly in their grip, gave his head a helpless shake as if yielding to the inevitable.

“It appears I must take my leave. Pray do not overindulge, *Dae-sahyung*.”

“…….”

I was at a loss to discern whether he was being marched away against his will or if he secretly desired to join them…… regardless, Eun-ho departed.

Following that, Geum-pyo, Dong-ryong, Moyong-jae-hwa, and Eun-seol-ran likewise drifted away, leaving only a sparse few companions at my table.

Even so, the arrangement wasn’t entirely disagreeable.

“We can finally engage in a private, meaningful conversation between ourselves after an extended period.”

Since attempting to have nuanced discussions with Namgung-seon-hwa or Seong-mo-ran proved challenging when the younger ones were hovering about…….

“What led you to assume I would remain behind?”

……What was the meaning of this now?

Namgung-seon-hwa, who had always maintained a gentle and accommodating disposition, and who had consistently tolerated Dang-seo-hui’s abrasive conduct, was currently piercing me with a remarkably frigid stare.

“Um, have I committed some offense?”

The moment the inquiry left my mouth, Namgung-seon-hwa suddenly fell into a state of visible agitation.

“……It’s—it’s not precisely an act I could label an ‘offense’…… but I can hardly claim it isn’t one, either…….”

“If you clarify where my error lies, I shall endeavor to rectify it—”

“In any event, if you harbor the notion that I shall eternally remain stationed by *Gong-ja-nim’s* side, you are profoundly mistaken!! Do you comprehend?!”

Namgung-seon-hwa, whose features had abruptly locked back into an icy mask.

She surged to her feet with a sharp clatter of her chair and immediately marched off toward the section where the squad members calling for her were gathered.

My temples were beginning to throb in earnest by this point.

“*So-jeo* Seong…… could it be that I……”

“I find myself thoroughly disillusioned.”

“I beg your pardon? In regards to what?”

“…….”

Seong-mo-ran retreated from the table before she could even bring her thought to a close.

Even allowing for the fact that I was a man entirely inept at interpreting the emotional whims of women, was this behavior not veering into the realm of the absurd?

I pivoted my head to consult Sa-ryeon…….

“*Dae-sahyung*……. Have I not perpetually instructed you to comport yourself with proper decorum?”

“……I mean…… what decorum are you referring to.”

“There is a standard, simple as that.”

Even Sa-ryeon offered that cryptic parting shot, rising abruptly to abandon the table.

“No, what in the world is prompting this……”

Not a single soul remained who could offer me a straight answer.

Casting my eyes across the establishment, the academy disciples were clustered together according to their Sahwal Unit divisions.

Perhaps owing to the vast quantities of liquor they had downed, everyone’s voices had escalated significantly, ensuring that even without intending to eavesdrop, the contents of their arguments filled my ears.

I sought to discover what topic held them in such an intense grip.

……A fierce dispute was unfolding over whether “your squad leader is a complete blockhead” or “our squad leader is a complete blockhead.”

The tone of the debate was remarkably intense.

They appeared primed to unsheathe their blades at any second.

I really ought to intervene—

“Hold on…… hold on…… seeing as we cannot forge a resolution through this path regardless, hmm…… perfect! Let us simply declare that the Unit Commander is the true blockhead!”

Confound it, I was merely sitting here minding my own business.

One individual attempted to broker peace utilizing a completely illogical deduction.

Ordinarily, a fellow who voices such an idiotic remark out of nowhere is guaranteed to face a collective thrashing. Just as I was about to offer a silent prayer for the soul of that fool who completely misjudged the room…….

“Hooooo!!”

The brittle friction suddenly dissolved, and waves of enthusiastic accord rippled out from every corner.

“Splendid!”

“That fits perfectly!”

“That is an entirely accurate deduction!”

“Are you some sort of prodigy?!”

Blast it all, are you mocking me?

“…….”

A physical altercation even erupted among the patrons occupying the fifth level. The synchronized assault executed by the Wudang Sect, the Moyong Family, and the Juk-hyeon-bang was a veritable work of art.

Had the members of the 4th Squad, commanded by Gwak-su-san, been refining their group tactics even after arriving back from the Silent Forest?

‘It is deafening.’

Following the elevation of my core energy and the subsequent sharpening of my physical senses, I typically operated while dampening my perception to a degree, which prevented discomfort. However, on an evening like this where I had overindulged in liquor, that sensory filter failed to function correctly, allowing an assortment of noises to continuously bombard my mind.

‘Phew…….’

Because I could intercept not only the banter of the academy disciples but also the exchanges rising from the first and second tiers and the upper chambers, the interior felt increasingly suffocating.

Just as I resolved to slip out toward the rear courtyard of the tavern to draw some crisp air into my lungs, the academy disciples began targeting me with comments one after another.

“Unit Commander, where do you think you’re heading?”

“To step outside for some air.”

“Why, do you find our company lacking in amusement?”

“I stated I am stepping out for air, you simpleton.”

“What ‘air’ could you possibly require? Stroll over to this side. Join us for a round.”

In truth, it was a pathetic sight to be wandering out alone to seek air in such a pitiful fashion.

Just as I prepared to redirect my path toward them, acknowledging my inability to decline, the hushed murmur of a separate academy disciple reached my ears.

……It was an exceptionally loud tone for a supposed whisper.

“Hey! It becomes incredibly awkward if the Unit Commander joins the circle, so why are you trying to detain him! Just let him wander out……!”

“Ah, so that’s the reason you avoided inviting him?”

“Precisely! Is our primary adversary not our commanding officer!”

Confound it, I had been wondering why the space surrounding me remained uniquely deserted.

Was I actively being excluded?

For what reason?

I possess absolutely no behavioral deficiencies. Furthermore, I am funding their expensive libations with immense liberality.

No, where on earth could one locate a superior of this caliber? Besides, I am not even an official commanding officer in an actual military capacity to begin with. Damn it all.

Wishing to prevent the fellow who had initially extended the drinking invitation from landing in an awkward position among his peers, I gave my head a dismissive shake.

“Pay it no mind. I shall return after clearing my head, so mind your behavior while I am gone.”

“Hehehe. Enjoy your stroll. Once those fellows succumb a bit more to the liquor, they won’t possess the capacity to distinguish a superior from a common peer regardless.”

Leaving that fellow’s sly grin behind me, I directed my steps toward the outdoor grounds.

Song-hwa-gak earned its renown due to the sprawling garden stretching across the rear property, complementing the massive multi-tiered tavern structure.

Consuming spirits within the interior of Song-hwa-gak carried a steep price, but drinking within the specialized pavilions nestled amidst the foliage cost several times the rate of the indoor tables.

Even so, because the path tracing the perimeter of the reservoir sat at a comfortable remove from those structures, no one barred patrons from admiring the grounds while strolling through.

After navigating past several intoxicated individuals collapsing onto the turf, I penetrated into the deeper recesses of the greenery, where a serene environment finally manifested.

Observing the ornamental fish gliding through the water and the stellar canopy shimmering above, I felt the knots in my convoluted mind unraveling slightly.

Yet, I proved unable to clear it entirely.

Even with the distance separating us, every single pavilion was packed with inebriated voices.

“……Ah, you cannot perform such actions in this space……”

“……I have already concluded negotiations with the trading collective, meaning they will absolutely select our faction……”

“I shall exact my vengeance…… upon those who cast me aside……”

There existed a technique to purge the alcohol from my bloodstream and seal off my perception, but I resolved to simply tolerate the annoyance for now.

Seeing as my plan involved returning inside to consume further spirits regardless.

I amused myself by tallying the glittering stars above while attempting to grant minimal focus to the ambient noises, and then.

“*Mun-ju-nim*.”

A phrase I could not possibly disregard drifted into my hearing.

“I have received word that academy student Geum-tae-jong has been officially declared an individual of exceptional merit.”

The dialogue was originating from a structure situated in the most secluded, hidden pocket at the far edge of the garden.

Spontaneously, my eyes locked onto the pavilion.

Amidst the flickering, low candlelight, three or four figures draped in ostentatious garments were seated, while at the center, a man clad in a weathered, frayed martial outfit quietly drained a small cup of wine.

“I offer these words with due care, but accept my congratulations.”

At the remark delivered by the individual in the ornate long robe, the man in the threadbare uniform slowly swallowed his liquor, as if lingering on the flavor profile.

Presently, a faint smirk formed on the lips of the man as he rested his cup back on the wood.

“You have my thanks. I truly did not foresee events unfolding in this exact manner.”

In response to Song-ju-sang’s words, the companions ringed around him likewise allowed grins to touch their features.

“I understand the restitution package for the surviving relatives is being fixed at an exceptionally generous sum.”

“It is the natural result of the instructors demonstrating such an incompetent display.”

“The funds will be routed directly to the sect’s treasury, correct?”

Song-ju-sang paused to ponder for a brief interval while accepting a fresh pouring of wine, before sharply hoisting his chin.

“That lad Tae-jong viewed the Il-hak-mun as his genuine household. We similarly regarded that boy as our own flesh and blood. He will undoubtedly view us as far more of a family than his biological kin.”

The individuals in the elaborate robes traded loaded glances with one another.

“However, restitution…… how could such a thing take precedence? The matter of true consequence lies elsewhere. I trust you all will lend your collective influence when the selection for the One Hundred and Eight Peaks commences this season.”

“Hmm…… is the Cheon-mok-jang not remaining an obstacle in your path? It is common knowledge that the Cheon-mok-jang similarly covets a position within the One Hundred and Eight Peaks.”

“That complication will find its resolution shortly.”

“What do you imply by resolved?”

“A disciple bound to our organization has perished. Where within the current Murim can one locate a political leverage more potent than the heartbreak of an academy student’s grieving family?”

“Hehe, it is a classic case of *Sae-ong-ji-ma*.”

“Precisely. *Sae-ong-ji-ma*…… it is a blessing in disguise indeed, hahahaha!”

The dilapidated martial outfit stood out with bizarre clarity, drawing the eye far more than the glossy silk garments of his companions.

It was undoubtedly due to the fabric having lost all its original pigment from undergoing countless washings.

“Phew…… Jura.”

My chest, which had been simmering with heat until a moment prior, suddenly turned icy cold.

Would my inner turmoil be pacified if I charged across the grass this instant and rendered Song-ju-sang a physical invalid?

Or would I simply be handing him an additional political pretext to exploit?

A creature capable of weaponizing his own disciple’s demise would certainly possess no qualms about exploiting his own physical victimization.

I forcefully halted the cascade of thoughts flooding my brain.

What did any of it matter?

Even if I enacted some form of retribution, it would not bring Geum-tae-jong back to the land of the living.

Yet.

‘I cannot tolerate watching parasites who seek to profit off another’s demise living in luxury and gorging themselves, for the mere sight of it sours my stomach.’

*Bu-ung—*

My martial attire began to billow outward violently.

A sharp, concentrated vapor of alcohol bit at the edge of my nostrils.

Once the alcoholic impurities were completely expelled, my intellect returned to a state of absolute lucidity.

The liquor I had consumed had not gone to waste.

For it became clear I would have no further need for alcohol on this night.

I abandoned Song-hwa-gak exactly as I was and charted a straight course toward the headquarters of the Murim Alliance.

“……Ugh!”

Maeng-ju-won, who had drifted off to sleep slumped over his writing desk, bolted upright in a sudden panic.

Awakening to the realization that he had been unconscious until a moment prior, he frantically inspected the parchment sheets before him.

Terrified that the paperwork he had poured hours into generating might have been defaced by his own drool.

“Phew…… what a massive relief…….”

Not long after the crisis in Sichuan had drawn to a close, a fresh disaster had erupted within the Silent Forest, and the staff assigned to the Bureau of Myriad Wisdom were being systematically run into the dirt.

They had recently even apprehended personnel from the Thousand Eyes Pavilion who had abandoned their posts, declaring they could no longer endure the workload.

There was likewise an instance where they had to pacify a deserting operative who was throwing a tantrum, threatening to voice complaints to the Inspection Hall and the Execution Hall, by simply pointing out, ‘Would that action not simply generate an even greater mountain of labor for everyone?’

The conditions were pressing against the absolute threshold of human endurance.

The sole glimmer of optimism lay in the fact that the graduation ceremony for the Murim Academy was rapidly approaching.

And based on the assessments provided by Jegal-so-myeong, there were easily three or four candidates fully qualified to be recruited straight into the Bureau of Myriad Wisdom…….

This constituted the solitary beacon of hope and the primary motivation keeping the operatives of the Bureau of Myriad Wisdom glued to their desks.

“Jin-so-un can be deployed into active service without delay, and if I task Jin-so-un with overseeing the instruction of the remaining recruits……”

An involuntary chuckle slipped past his lips.

Just a bit further, just a fraction more endurance was required.

Then this grueling existence within the Bureau of Myriad Wisdom would ease to a manageable level.

Jin-so-un and his contemporaries would be worked to the bone, but…… well, is it not a common maxim that one should eagerly court adversity during their youth?

Conditioning his own mind with that rationale, he reached for the subsequent folder.

“Hm? What do we have here?”

Nestled within the stack of paperwork were two files he had no recollection of encountering previously.

The first was a blueprint detail outlining the restitution for the grieving relatives of the academy disciples who had fallen within the Silent Forest.

It featured a strategy to disburse the funds directly to the kin, citing the high hazard of embezzlement if the compensation allocated for the disciples was routed through their respective sects, with the entire execution protocol mapped out in a clean and brief framework.

Operating under this model, it appeared certain they could deliver the appropriate financial support to the disciples’ kin without involving the sects at all.

The second item was a piece of classified intelligence that had filtered up from the Thousand Eyes Pavilion.

It detailed that despite the Murim Alliance having already issued a strict prohibition against the practice of leveling false accusations of dark sorcery against rivals in relation to the events of the Silent Forest, a specific entity among the sects of the fallen academy disciples was actively attempting to orchestrate an incident.

“The Il-hak-mun, so it seems……”

Reflecting on it, the details eluded his exact recollection, but the Il-hak-mun had displayed highly questionable behavior during the outbreak of the Sichuan crisis as well.

He had assumed they had quieted down once the Alliance Leader’s Order was enacted at the critical moment…… yet here they were, attempting to stir the pot once more.

While scrutinizing the two folders, Maeng-ju-won tilted his head, struck by an elusive sense of lingering bewilderment.

“Setting the intelligence folder aside…… precisely when did this restitution blueprint arrive on my desk?”

In reality, because it mirrored a concept Maeng-ju-won had been mulling over for an extended duration, the structural layout commanded his attention instantly.

The core dilemma was that he possessed zero recollection of drafting such a document.

“Hmm……”

He scanned the text once more.

A diagnostic of the issue and its corresponding resolution constructed with flawless precision.

It was a document that fundamentally could not be authored by anyone lacking deep mastery of the bureaucratic operations of the Bureau of Myriad Wisdom.

Maeng-ju-won spent a long interval examining the pages down to the smallest detail.

“Ah!”

He released a muted gasp as comprehension suddenly dawned.

“I…… I was the individual who authored this.”

To think his subconscious could now generate such a flawless document even while lost in slumber.

Maeng-ju-won found himself marveling at his own administrative genius once again.

“I ought to authorize this immediately.”

He rapidly finalized the processing of both files by pressing the department chief’s definitive authorization matrix onto the parchment.

“*Sniff…… sniff*…… Still, which particular fool was consuming liquor during operating hours?”

Somehow, he wrinkled his nose at the delicate vapor of alcohol drifting through the workspace, though he quickly dismissed the matter from his mind.

“Well, this volume of labor is already impossible to conquer while operating in one’s sober mind. Perhaps I should likewise tackle this while enjoying a cup after such a long drought?”

There remained dozens of pending folders piled high on his desk, and those were similarly not a workload that could be neutralized without the assistance of some liquid courage.

By the time I concluded the rapid generation of the paperwork and made my exit after slipping inside the Bureau of Myriad Wisdom building.

The horizon was beginning to fracture with the first pale streaks of dawn.

Even with a multitude of stars still pinned to the vault, the sky where the morning was waking stirred a peculiar melancholy within me.

“To think a view of this nature would present itself at such a juncture.”

It was entirely possible that the measures I had just enacted were things Geum-tae-jong would not have desired.

Geum-tae-jong might truly have held the Il-hak-mun in the regard of a genuine family, and he might have favored the elevation of the Il-hak-mun above all else.

Yet.

*Grip—*

Muscular tension flooded my hands without my conscious consent.

The Sect Leader of the Il-hak-mun stripped Geum-tae-jong’s ultimate sacrifice of its weight.

Blinded by personal ambition, he discarded the fundamental honor of his pupil.

Regardless of how deeply Geum-tae-jong might have panted for the elevation of his organization, I could not simply turn a blind eye and let it pass unchallenged.

Even if an endless succession of casualties loomed ahead and a time arrived where the worth of a human existence felt insignificant, I refused to succumb to that cynicism so soon.

Because I had no right to succumb to it yet.

As I traversed the pathways winding between the alternative administrative halls after leaving the Bureau of Myriad Wisdom complex behind.

*Twitch—*

A small, huddled mass caught my attention on one flank of the training grounds.

Supposing it to be a stray animal, I closed the distance only to let out a soft, defeated breath.

“…….”

The shape belonged to Geum-tae-seon, curled tightly into a ball.

Her garments, which appeared even more heavily soiled than when I had encountered her days prior, had now seen their vibrant hues completely washed out.

Likely sensing a physical presence, Geum-tae-seon kneaded her eyelids and drifted awake.

“……Mister?”

“What is your reason for lingering out here?”

Amidst the grid of grime marking her face, the tracks of dried tears stood out with painful clarity.

“…….”

The young girl still maintained that identical sullen mask she had worn during our previous encounter.

“Mother told me I am forbidden from playing with *Oppa*. *Oppa* gave me his word that he would play with me……”

“…….”

“Everyone is wicked! Mother, Father, and even the Sect Leader mister! *Oppa* is—*Oppa* is someone who never breaks his word, but everyone keeps insisting *Oppa* won’t fulfill his vow……”

Did their hearts find it easier to brand him a deceptive soul rather than deliver the brutal reality of his passing?

Whatever narrative they spun, if it amounted to a recollection that time would eventually erode, they likely calculated it gentler to inflict a minor disappointment rather than a shattering sense of bereavement.

I extended a hand to softly smooth down the child’s hair.

“……I see.”

“Everyone is untrustworthy. Not a soul fulfills their vows! The warrior uncle is likewise wicked! You failed to honor your vow to recover *Oppa*.”

Yet, I was similarly backed into a corner, forced to adopt a cowardly path identical to theirs.

Even if a massive emotional trauma mends under the weight of passing seasons, the physical traces of the child’s scars will endure for a long age.

Furthermore, by a stroke of fortune, I carried the Hong-ga confections that Dang-seo-hui treasures within the folds of my tunic.

“Would you care to sample some treats?”

“……I refuse to touch them!”

A faint rumble sounded from the small torso that had swung away from me in a sharp huff.

“These possess an exceptional flavor. A certain…… youngster of my acquaintance is remarkably fond of them as well.”

“…….”

Geum-tae-seon, pausing to deliberate for a brief second, slowly oriented her frame back toward me and plucked the confections from my palm.

Following that, she commenced consuming the treats, mashing them between her teeth.

“Do they please your palate?”

“……No! They are quite dreadful.”

The child, who momentarily lowered the treats as if to display her defiance to me, was rapidly mastered by the sugary profile and shoved them into her mouth once more.

“Consume as many as you wish.”

“……Am I permitted to eat the entirety of them?”

“Indeed.”

“……Is that the absolute truth?”

“Yes.”

The young girl tore off a massive bite of the confections while preserving her unhappy frown throughout.

“You will honor this particular vow, correct?”

“……Yes.”

Traces of tears that had yet to completely evaporate clung to her cheeks.

Owing to the gradual ascent of the morning sun, those tear tracks capturing the light forced themselves into my perception with increasing vividness as the minutes ticked past.

I silently patted the head of Geum-tae-seon, who mumbled ‘one, two, three……’ repeatedly, as though attempting to lock the exact tally of the stacked confections into her mind.

“There is no necessity to calculate the amount.”

“……There are easily more than ten here, you know?”

“This *Oppa* may be deficient in various disciplines, but his capacity for recollection is flawless. Therefore, dine without anxiety.”

Geum-tae-seon gazed toward the ascending dawn with a slightly crimson tint spreading across her cheeks, as though she felt a touch self-conscious.

Perhaps for Tae-seon, the confections she consumed on this day and the heartbreak of this morning will slowly dissolve into the mist of the coming years.

Precisely as the elders desired, she will cast the dissolving recollections behind her and press forward in existence, unearthing fresh sources of delight.

Yes, that is undoubtedly the path she will tread.

Yet even so, it changes nothing.

“I shall hold the memory.”

The tally of the confections, the heartbreak of Geum-tae-seon, and the ultimate sacrifice of Geum-tae-jong.

I, who possess an intellect incapable of shedding a single impression, shall preserve the memory.

I shall safeguard both the sorrow of this dawn and the passings of the days gone by.

Even if these records press down upon my spirit and threaten to break me, just as they achieved in my prior existence.

Without relinquishing the fury and heartbreak born of this day.

While anchoring myself to every shred of today’s recollection and trauma, I shall without fail.

I shall without fail achieve my retribution.

“This particular vow…… I shall manifest it without fail.”

To the silent, unresponding Geum-tae-seon, I whispered the oath that time could never tarnish, over and over and over again.