I was dumbfounded after hearing the story.

"... So you're saying."

Yayul Geuk has been chasing after Ak Jupyeong whenever he had a spare moment to unilaterally challenge him to a sparring match.

Even if Ak Jupyeong refused, he would start the sparring match anyway, tormenting the guy at all hours.

Wow, this is...

"Are you by any chance a crazy bastard?"

"... Eldest Senior Brother."

Oops, what I meant to keep as a thought slipped out of my mouth. But so what?

I patted Eunho on the shoulder and looked at Yayul Geuk again.

What are you going to do about it by glaring at me like that?

"Hey, you wanna fight? Lower your eyes while I'm still asking nicely..."

CRASH!

"Let's fight!!"

Look at that temper of his.

Yayul Geuk leaped to his feet, huffing and puffing.

Eunho sighed and struck the guy's paralysis acupoints.

"Fortunately or unfortunately, the academy hasn't said much yet."

Of course not. Since they would have seen my senior brother and Academy Director Buk Wonpyeong call the Third Hall Leader over and scold him, the guys below wouldn't dare step forward so easily.

"Furthermore, because the Third Hall Leader was away at the Underworld Alliance as the Delegation Head, it seems Ak Jupyeong spoke directly to his main family."

"And?"

"That's all I know."

"Hmm..."

I lightly kicked Yayul Geuk, who was collapsed on the floor.

"Hey, can't you just make up and get along for once?"

At that, instead of moving his immobilized body, Yayul Geuk growled and bared his sharp canines.

... What kind of wild animal is he.

"I cannot live under the same sky as that bastard!"

"..."

While I was sighing as I looked at the untamed guy.

"Tsk, tsk. If you act as you please, your life will be short."

Tang Seo-hee, who was sitting next to me drinking Seven-Color Flower tea, started picking up peanuts and tossing them at him one by one.

Um, excuse me, but that's not exactly something you should be saying...

"Gaaah! Do you want to die, you little shrimp!"

Hah... I'm getting dizzy, seriously.

Yayul Geuk glared at Tang Seo-hee with a face like a yaksha, but Tang Seo-hee merely continued tossing peanuts using his face as a target.

"You are even more of a little shrimp."

"Let's fight!"

Stop it. She's the White-Handed Divine Maiden, you idiot.

After letting out a small sigh, I asked again.

"Are you still unable to overcome it?"

"What?"

Yayul Geuk glared at me as if he wanted to kill me.

I looked straight into his eyes.

"Your fear. I'm asking if you can't overcome it."

Yayul Geuk's face stiffened.

Charging in while barking like a wildcat, even as he takes damage, is ultimately a desperate struggle not to be consumed by fear.

A fear that has accumulated over a long time is not something that can be overcome overnight.

Every day that begins with fear and a sense of helplessness is nothing but a continuous hell.

'Because me, that guy Yayul Jae, and the Minor Orthodox Unit... we all lived every day thrashing about.'

I can understand Yayul Geuk's feelings better than anyone.

He must just be desperately flailing around in the water that's risen to his neck, trying not to drown.

"..."

Yayul Geuk, who had been screeching like a wildcat, clamped his mouth shut.

"I... cannot forgive it."

"Yeah, after being tormented to that extent, it wouldn't be easy to forgive. Even s—"

"I cannot forgive myself for running away so helplessly."

"... Huh?"

Yayul Geuk's eyes were flushed bright red.

It seemed to be the result of him desperately straining to keep from shedding tears.

"After struggling so hard... to enter the academy, the fact that I helplessly let this opportunity slip away to the point where I couldn't even run away is something I simply cannot forgive...!"

DROP! DROP!

In the end, Yayul Geuk shed thick tears.

Although he didn't say it, the guy who carried his older brothers' sacrifices on his back seemed to be feeling a far greater sense of indebtedness and responsibility than I had anticipated.

"..."

Furthermore, thinking about how he had tried to give up on his own life at the end must have caused an even greater sense of helplessness to wash over him.

"I... I am so disgusted with myself."

Just as he said, he is incredibly ugly and disgusting.

Perhaps my own figure, unable to overcome my fear even while living a second life, overlaps with him, making him appear that way even more.

While I was momentarily lost in thought as I watched him clenching his teeth and trembling violently.

CLATTER.

Suddenly, Tang Seo-hee stood up from her seat, marched over near Yayul Geuk, and squatted down...

"...?"

... And stroked his head.

"Everyone has times like that. But there is no need to blame yourself for it."

Tang Seo-hee's words somehow seemed to sting a corner of my heart.

"Even if you are like that, you shouldn't hate yourself. You need to cherish and love yourself more."

At her subsequent words, the something that had stung my heart suddenly surged up my throat.

Did Tang Seo-hee have a side like that to her?

Right then.

"... Especially giving the Ak Clan an excuse is even more foolish."

In a flash, Tang Seo-hee smacked his head with the same hand she was using to stroke it.

"You are stupid."

... I knew it.

Having been hit by a surprise attack, Yayul Geuk's face turned back into a wildcat's.

"Who are you calling a fool! You're a bigger fool!"

"I am not. I have already proven myself as part of the Dragon-Phoenix Summit. Can you get into the Dragon-Phoenix Summit?"

"... Let's fight!"

Tang Seo-hee slapped the back of the head of Yayul Geuk, who was wriggling on the floor in excitement, one more time and returned to her seat.

I pressed down on my temples at the sound of their noisy voices and carved patience into my mind.

Eunho, sighing as expected, spoke to me.

"Since Yayul Geuk is now in the representative group, the Ak Clan will be careful even if they make a move."

"... Even so, we can't exactly keep a guy who doesn't do any work in the representative group."

I nudged Yayul Geuk with the tip of my foot.

"I will acknowledge fights through formal sparring requests, but I will not allow any other surprise attacks or foul play."

"What business is it of yours!"

I calmly added.

"That is exactly the limit of how far I can protect you. Do not look down on the Five Great Noble Clans. There is a clear reason why their potential has lasted for five hundred years."

I'd appreciate it if he could just understand after I've explained it to this extent.

However, he stopped moving and stared up at me blankly.

"Protect... me?"

Instead of answering, I kicked him once more with my foot and turned around.

What a troublesome guy.

Eunho, looking down at Yayul Geuk, asked me, seemingly puzzled.

"What are you planning to do?"

"I should talk to them first."

"... With Ak Jupyeong? Eldest Senior Brother is the one Ak Jupyeong hates even more than Yayul Geuk."

I gave Eunho a wry smile.

"Why would I talk to a small fry like him? I should talk to someone higher up than him."

"Pardon?"

I don't know the exact reason, but our relationship was good for a while.

I wonder if it'll go wrong because of this incident.

'... Still, it's better than that guy dying.'

The face of the guy who would be sad if Yayul Geuk died comes to mind.

I'd rather see that guy smirking and showing off his martial arts. I don't want to see him sunk in depression because his little brother died.

"Well, I'll have to try."

I once again looked at Yayul Geuk, who had become the target of Tang Seo-hee's peanuts.

He had an expression of someone who simply couldn't understand what on earth was going on.

Don't look at me like that. I don't understand myself either.

* * *

Ak Byeongbi tried his hardest to calm his emotions down.

Although he had been meeting the Chief Strategist frequently of late, meeting the head of the Mantong Bureau was still incredibly burdensome even for Ak Byeongbi, who held the position of the Inspection Pavilion's Third Hall Leader.

'Huu... A private meeting...'

He knew the intention behind why he had been called separately.

The intention was already clearly visible from the fact that he was appointed as the Delegation Head.

'It must definitely be related to Jin Sowoon.'

He knew it was intended for him to closely investigate the suspicious actions the boy had shown so far, and that he himself was the right person for the job.

But hadn't he already delivered his investigation results together with the delegation's report?

By speaking sufficiently about Jin Sowoon's contributions, he had expressed that the suspicion of him being an Underworld spy could be dropped, but the meticulous Zhuge Somyeong had clearly created this setting to hear the opinion directly from his own mouth.

'As expected, the Chief Strategist is truly the Chief Strategist...'

Making a mockery of the rumors that he took the position with the Zhuge Clan's backing, Zhuge Somyeong was currently managing the Murim Alliance brilliantly.

Through the mouths of his retired seniors from the Inspection Pavilion, hadn't they said that the Murim Alliance would have already been turned upside down several times over due to the influence of the powerful sects and families?

The fact that the current Murim Alliance Leader, Hyuk Mugang, was able to hold the Alliance Leader position for nearly twenty long years was largely thanks to the contributions of Zhuge Somyeong, who occupied the position of head of the Mantong Bureau during that same period.

Before long, the door opened, and Zhuge Somyeong walked in leisurely.

"I'm sorry for making a busy man wait."

Zhuge Somyeong, who entered the inner room, somehow had a smile on his lips.

"What kind of tea do you like?"

"I am fine with anything."

"Is that so? The Junshan Yinzhen that came in this time is quite good."

Seeing Zhuge Somyeong preparing the tea himself, Ak Byeongbi tried to spring to his feet.

"Ah, I will..."

"It is fine. Since I called a busy man out, it is only natural for me to do it."

Watching the Chief Strategist prepare the tea while humming a tune, Ak Byeongbi pulled his strings of tension tighter than ever before.

Showing a relaxed demeanor to make the other person let their guard down.

Because this was a method commonly used during interrogations in the Inspection Pavilion.

A moment later, two steaming teacups were placed in front of the two men.

"Go ahead and drink."

While Zhuge Somyeong slowly drank his tea and savored its aroma, Ak Byeongbi didn't even touch his.

Zhuge Somyeong, who had been leisurely observing him, set his teacup down.

"Why, do you not like the tea?"

"No."

"Then why are you not drinking?"

"..."

The two men's gazes met momentarily in the air.

Ak Byeongbi racked his brain to grasp Zhuge Somyeong's intentions.

He abruptly opened his mouth.

"... Jin Sowoon is not an Underworld spy."

"Hm?"

Zhuge Somyeong wore a look of surprise.

Ak Byeongbi clenched his fists tight.

The best way to overcome this kind of psychological trickery was to break through it head-on.

He stared at the Chief Strategist with unwavering eyes.

"While traveling to the Underworld Alliance with the delegation, I observed Jin Sowoon from the closest proximity without missing a single moment. He certainly possesses a disrespectful and delinquent demeanor, but to presuppose that his intentions lie with the Underworld because of that is no different from trampling on a promising sapling that will grow into a giant tree for the Orthodox Murim, in my opinion."

Zhuge Somyeong, who had been listening silently to Ak Byeongbi's words, tilted his head.

He had merely planned to hold a consultation ahead of the performance evaluations, yet unexpected words poured out from his mouth.

As if intrigued, Zhuge Somyeong stroked his teacup with his finger.

"Hmm... A tree that will become a giant tree... Do you truly think so?"

"I certainly believe there will be many hardships. He lacks both innate talent and a solid background."

Ak Byeongbi, who shook his head, soon caught his breath and spoke firmly.

"However, that child clearly possesses a vessel worthy of becoming a massive tree for the Orthodox Murim."

"Hmm...?"

Hearing Ak Byeongbi's words, Zhuge Somyeong briefly fell into thought.

The Third Hall Leader of the Inspection Pavilion was famous in both the Underworld Murim and the Orthodox Murim.

His uprightness rivaled a bamboo stalk, he remained unshaken by temptation, and he possessed no flaws.

While his devotion to his clan was strong, who among those active in the Murim Alliance wasn't like that?

Wasn't that why they struggled to enter the Murim Alliance by taking ridiculous exams like the standard exam or the academy exam?

In the end, what mattered was whether they could strike a good balance and become an asset to the Murim Alliance, or merely look out for their own interests like parasites.

That was why he purposely sent him as the Delegation Head this time.

Because he wanted to see how the man who violently hated and despised the Underworld would handle a transaction with them.

Because from the position of a Grand Hall Leader onward, the ability to see the bigger picture was needed more than the aptitude to handle the basic duties of the office.

Yet the first thing he blurted out in a meeting meant to evaluate such abilities was praise for Jin Sowoon.

Finding it both bizarre and amusing, he silently continued to listen.

"The greatest obstacle for someone with nothing attempting to rise in the world is not their flaws or past. It is usually the gaze of those who are jealous of them. Therefore, I believe that the Inspection Pavilion and the Disciplinary Pavilion must not become a twisted weapon for such people and shoot down a bird trying to fly high."

Zhuge Somyeong nodded.

"Of course, that is true. But what if matters concerning your own sect or family become involved? Could you maintain your cool even then?"

Words that pierced deeply into Ak Byeongbi's chest.

He calmly answered the words that picked at his past.

"I consider it shameful. If you tell me to take responsibility, I will do so as much as required."

"Tsk, tsk. It is fine. How many people in the Murim Alliance do you think do not pursue private interests to that extent? Do not even think about slinking away and dumping your work onto someone else."

Zhuge Somyeong, who had refreshed the atmosphere with a playful joke, continued.

"Anyway, are you saying that Jin Sowoon is not a spy and has no possibility of becoming one in the future?"

Ak Byeongbi immediately nodded his head.

"Jin Sowoon upholds the spirit of the Orthodox Murim more uprightly than anyone else and is a person who harbors no hesitation in practicing chivalry."

"Hmm..."

A momentary silence flowed.

"Hehehe."

In an instant, a laugh escaped Zhuge Somyeong's lips.

"It is a story I cannot believe came from the mouth of the Inspection Pavilion's Third Hall Leader."

At the laughter echoing through the inner room, Ak Byeongbi's face flushed red.

"Understood. I have learned everything I needed to know. You may head back now."

After Ak Byeongbi left, Zhuge Somyeong muttered as he sat alone.

"He turned someone who harbored a grudge against him into an ally. Is his vessel truly that large? Or did the upright bamboo turn into a reed?"

The smile never left Zhuge Somyeong's lips as he drank his tea.

* * *

Upon returning to the Third Hall of the Inspection Pavilion, Ak Byeongbi slumped into his seat in exhaustion and let out a long sigh.

"This is exhausting."

Just as he was thinking it would be easier to bring in and interrogate a hundred people suspected of being spies.

"Hall Leader. You have a guest."

"A guest?"

"Yes. It is Young Master Ak Jupyeong."

Ak Byeongbi tilted his head briefly before calling out.

"Send him in."

"Yes, sir."

A moment later.

Ak Jupyeong walked in, limping slightly on one foot.

"Uncle...!"

The moment he saw Ak Jupyeong's expression, which looked ready to burst into tears at any second, Ak Byeongbi's face stiffened.