WeTried Translations

Translator: ZERO_SUGAR

Editor: Abstract

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Chapter 54: Ma Yeon-hwa (2)

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Ma Yeon-hwa (2)

Ma Yeon-hwa, known throughout the academy as one of the Four Blossoms of Heaven, was the object of no small admiration and envy. But she carried a few secrets no one else knew about. One of them was this hidden streak in her nature. Despite her fox-like features and prim, standoffish air, whenever someone teased her or gave her a hard time, she felt a strange thrill stirring somewhere deep in her chest. But who would dare treat her, ranked third among the third-years, so carelessly? If anything, people only ever handled her with excessive care. This feeling was one she hadn't tasted in a long while.

Whoosh, whoosh!

"Are you hungry?"

Mumu asked, waving his hand in front of her. At the question, she snapped out of it, having been gnawing on her pinky finger without realizing. She'd nearly let that hidden streak slip out without meaning to. Whatever leanings she carried inside her, she wasn't shameless enough to show them off openly inside the academy.

"N-no, it's nothing." "I thought you were hungry and trying to eat your finger, senior." "Ah... no, that's just, a habit..." "Okay. Then I'll get going. I'm really tired." "Wait a second!"

Ma Yeon-hwa couldn't just let Mumu walk off like that. But Mumu, looking thoroughly bothered, raised a hand in farewell and turned to leave. So Ma Yeon-hwa lunged for the black iron staff in his grip, trying to grab hold of him.

Thwack!

The instant she caught it,

'!?'

her hand couldn't bear the staff's weight, and it dropped straight to the ground, taking her arm down with it.

Thud!

Her hand ended up pinned right beneath the black iron staff.

'Wh-what is this?'

It happened so fast she didn't even have time to draw up her internal energy. The pain was sharp enough to punch the wind straight out of her lungs, and she blinked hard against it. But her face flushed red almost right away. The pain lasted only a moment.

'Ahh.'

If anything, she was starting to feel good.

"Huh? Are you okay?"

Mumu hurriedly lifted the black iron staff off her crushed palm.

'Hm?'

He'd asked if she was okay because she seemed to be in a lot of pain, but the corner of Ma Yeon-hwa's mouth had curled upward.

'......What is this?'

Mumu tilted his head. Catching his reaction, Ma Yeon-hwa quickly composed her expression and clutched her pinned hand, saying,

"You... what is that thing?"

She'd figured it must be light since he carried it in one hand. But the weight had been absurd.

"Ah! This?"

Mumu said casually, lifting the black iron staff up and down with one hand.

"It's a muscle training tool." "Muscle training?"

A black iron staff that weighed enough that even drawing up considerable Force of ki might not be enough to lift it, and he called it a muscle training tool? None of it made sense to her.

'What in the world is this kid?'

But that wasn't what mattered right now. She got to her feet and said,

"Your iron staff did this to my hand, and you won't even spare me a minute?"

Her palm was already starting to bruise dark blue. Mumu let out a sigh and said,

"Just a minute, right?" "Right."

In the end, Mumu followed her into an alley off the beaten path where no one would notice them.

"So what is it?"

At Mumu's question, Ma Yeon-hwa checked her surroundings for anyone listening before getting to the point.

"You... you got a star mark from Master Dan Baek-yeon, didn't you?" "Huh? How did you know that?"

Hae Ryang of the Hao clan had told him not to say anything to anyone, so he hadn't told a soul. And yet Ma Yeon-hwa already knew.

"I have my ways of finding out everything."

The one who'd fed her this information was a second-year cadet who assisted with managing the first floor of the Changcheon Martial Archive. Quite a few second-years admired her, and this cadet was one of them.

[Senior. This is genuinely top-tier information. There's a cadet who got a star mark from Master Dan Baek-yeon on his very first day.] [Really?] [That's him. He's being dragged off by the Vice-Master right now. Wonder what happened.] [That one?]

This was information she'd been waiting for all this time. Since her second year, she'd gathered five star marks total. She only needed three to gain access to the hidden third underground floor of the archive, but no matter how hard she tried, she'd never once managed to earn a star mark from the Academy Director, Master Meok Chong-un, or Master Dan Baek-yeon. More obsessed with collecting star marks than most other cadets, she couldn't afford to let this chance slip by.

"Hmm. I don't know." "Don't play dumb. A cadet assisting the archive's first-floor manager told me." "Ahh......"

So that was it. No wonder her knowing had seemed strange. If that was the source, playing dumb wasn't going to work.

'Rumors really do spread the moment even one unrelated person finds out.'

Mumu nodded, as if he'd learned something useful. Taking this as agreement, Ma Yeon-hwa pressed her palms together and spoke in a pleading tone.

"If you really got one, tell me how you did it." "What?" "You got a star mark from Master Dan Baek-yeon, right?" "Yeah, I mean, that's true." "Then tell me how you did it. I'm asking you, please."

Master Dan Baek-yeon was famous for withholding star marks even from top performers, so famous that not a single classmate or senior had ever managed to earn one from her. And yet Mumu had. To Ma Yeon-hwa, that felt like nothing short of hope itself.

"Please, just tell me."

At her plea, Mumu scratched his head. He didn't really mind telling her, but,

[You. Don't tell anyone else about this. Not everyone gets a chance this good.]

Mo Il-hwa had warned him firmly, over and over. Not to tell anyone, not even that he'd received a star mark, let alone how. She'd stressed again and again that doing so would be a real loss.

"Sorry. That's going to be a bit hard."

At Mumu's words, Ma Yeon-hwa bit down hard on her lip. She hadn't expected him to just hand it over easily. She'd come prepared for exactly this.

Shf!

Ma Yeon-hwa pulled a paper bundle out from inside her robe.

"Obviously I'm not asking you to tell me for free." "What's that?" "This is a jokbo." "A jokbo?"

Mumu tilted his head. The jokbo he knew of was a book recording a clan's lineage and bloodline. Why was she pulling one out in front of him?

"Well? Tempting, isn't it?"

Ma Yeon-hwa said with a sly grin. A jokbo from a third-year cadet ranked third was practically a treasure. Because it recorded, in detail, everything about every single exam she'd taken over her two years at the academy. Sure, exams didn't always follow the exact same format every time, but plenty of masters ran things the same way without fail, year after year. Seeing something like this would make any cadet's eyes light up.

"Not tempting at all? I figured this would seal it."

At her words, Mumu shook his head, a hint of something wistful in his eyes.

"Huh?" "That's kind of enviable. I wish I knew my own jokbo too."

'!?'

Ma Yeon-hwa's eyes went wide. What kind of reaction was that? She'd assumed his eyes would light up without question, but was this kid actually turning down her jokbo? She couldn't make sense of it, but growing impatient, she pressed on.

"It's right here. The jokbo. Just tell me how you did it and it's yours. Doesn't that tempt you?" "That's yours though, senior. You should treasure your jokbo." "......You."

For a moment, Ma Yeon-hwa was stunned. This was the first cadet she'd ever seen turn down a jokbo without a shred of greed. Third-year jokbo were treasures in every sense, and everyone fought tooth and nail to get their hands on one. And yet Mumu had refused without the slightest hesitation.

"You really don't need it?" "Nope." "Ha......"

'......What a big-hearted kid. To think someone like this is still enrolling as a cadet.'

An admiring sigh slipped out of her without her meaning it to. He hadn't coveted her jokbo, and he'd said his own jokbo, meaning his own family lineage, was something precious to him. Which meant,

'He's saying he'll tackle the exams on his own strength, without leaning on someone else's jokbo.'

It was a gentle refusal. She suddenly felt ashamed of herself. A first-year cadet, barely seventeen, showing this kind of unbending resolve.

'Ahh.'

Somehow, through this kid, she felt she understood exactly why the force of justice held dominance in the world today. People with the will to push straight through instead of hunting for shortcuts, that was exactly why so many masters had risen from their ranks.

'......Right. I'm trying to rebuild the main cult. I shouldn't be acting like this.'

Ma Yeon-hwa shook her head slowly. Using a jokbo to buy her way into a method for earning star marks, that was a shameful thing to do. It was only the start of her third year. She still had plenty of chances left.

'I'll break through head-on. Pushing this jokbo on him any further would just be an insult to who he is.'

Snap!

Ma Yeon-hwa bowed to Mumu with a formal, respectful fist-and-palm salute.

"I'm sorry. I let my hunger for star marks make me do something shameful." "Nah. That happens sometimes."

Mumu waved a hand casually. His completely unbothered attitude drew another quiet gasp of admiration from Ma Yeon-hwa. Not just an unbending will, but a generosity that let even someone else's faults slide right off him. It gave her a glimpse of just how far this one might go. Ma Yeon-hwa stared at Mumu, unblinking.

"What's wrong?" "Ah... nothing." "Then can I go now? I really am tired. Haaaah."

Mumu let out a wide yawn as he spoke. It should have looked like poor manners in front of a lady, but somehow it felt almost as if he were trying not to embarrass her further.

"You... what's your name?"

She suddenly found herself curious about the name she'd never bothered to learn. At that, Mumu answered with a bright grin.

"Mumu."

At that, Ma Yeon-hwa found herself whipping her head to the side without meaning to. What was this? Something felt strange. It was similar to that feeling she got whenever someone teased her or treated her carelessly. She felt like she needed to go somewhere and calm herself down.

"......See you around."

Fwip!

The words had barely left her mouth before Ma Yeon-hwa took off using her movement skill, fleeing as if she couldn't get away fast enough. She moved so quickly she shrank to a dot in an instant. Watching her go, Mumu frowned.

"What a strange senior."

Either way, he really needed to get back to the dorm and get some sleep. Drowsiness was creeping up on him fast. He was about to head out of the alley when someone with a bow slung across their back stepped into his path. It was Cho Na-yeon, the third-year ranked fifth, the one he'd seen at the special-grade training hall.

"Huh?"

Cho Na-yeon's eyes lit up with interest at the sight of him.

"It's you?" "Oh... you're the senior who shoots the bow."

At Mumu's words, Cho Na-yeon's pretty brow creased slightly before she spoke.

"You don't know my name?" "Nope, I don't." "Ah...... I'm Cho Na-yeon." "Okay. So why'd you block my way?"

He was really exhausted. All Mumu wanted was to get to bed and sleep. Sensing his obviously weary attitude, Cho Na-yeon felt a small pang of disappointment. She'd been holding onto her gratitude for that day, keeping it close to her heart.

'No. Something else matters more right now.'

Shaking her head slightly, she said,

"Did you tell Ma Yeon-hwa how to get a star mark from Master Dan Baek-yeon?"

Cho Na-yeon, ranked fifth among the third-years. She and Ma Yeon-hwa, ranked third, were rivals of equal standing. She'd fallen behind after the final exam of their second year, but their scores kept trading places back and forth, and she still watched Ma Yeon-hwa closely as a result. At Cho Na-yeon's question, Mumu asked, puzzled,

"Did you hear this from the seniors who help out at the archive too?" "......That's right."

Just as Mumu had guessed. She, too, ranked fifth and blessed with both looks and talent, had plenty of cadets who admired her. It was fair to say the third-years' popularity really came down to a two-way contest between her and Ma Yeon-hwa. Mumu clicked his tongue inwardly.

'These seniors sure talk a lot.'

He was exhausted enough as it was, and if people kept latching onto him like this, it was only going to wear him out more. Growing weary of it all, Mumu cut things off flatly.

"I didn't tell her anything. I'm not telling anyone, so can I go now?" "You really didn't tell her?"

Cho Na-yeon's eyes wavered slightly. Seeing Ma Yeon-hwa flee with her face flushed and using her movement skill, she'd assumed Ma Yeon-hwa had gotten the method out of him. But he hadn't told her?

"Right, I didn't tell her anything. I'm heading out now." "Wait a second." "I'm not telling."

At Mumu's attitude, clearly not even willing to listen, she said hurriedly,

"If you tell me how, I'll give you the two methods I used to earn my star marks, plus my jokbo."

She'd earned four star marks of her own. She offered this knowing that even if a first-year like Mumu learned it now, he wouldn't be able to attempt it himself for another year anyway. She figured an offer like this would be tempting enough. Mumu, who'd already started walking away, stopped in his tracks.

'Star marks... hm.'

Honestly, he'd already had plenty of his curiosity satisfied after dropping all the way down to the third underground floor of the archive. But he had gotten this black iron staff from the first underground floor. Which meant there might be something worth having on the second underground floor too.

'A trade should be fine, right?'

Mo Il-hwa and Hae Ryang had told him not to, but this wasn't a loss for him at all. She was offering two whole methods for earning star marks. With that, Mumu said,

"Sure. But I don't need the jokbo." "Huh? Really?"

She didn't need the jokbo? Cho Na-yeon couldn't hide her confusion.

"Right. Actually, the senior just now offered to give me her jokbo too, and I don't get why anyone would hand over their own clan's lineage record like that." "What?"

At Mumu's words, Cho Na-yeon's brow furrowed. Clan lineage record? Did this kid seriously think jokbo meant an actual family register?

"Did you turn it down because you didn't know a jokbo is slang for a collection of exam information gathered from past tests at the academy?" "Oh... really?"

At her words, Mumu's brow creased. That's what jokbo actually meant? Finding his clueless reaction hilarious, Cho Na-yeon burst out laughing, clutching her stomach. She'd thought he was a little strange, but she hadn't expected him to be this innocent.

"Ahahahaha. You're really... you're a really funny kid." "......I had no idea."

If he'd known, he might have made the trade after all. There was no way it could hurt to know exam information ahead of time. Mumu's whole goal was to graduate from Changcheon Martial Academy in the top three, just like Yu Jin-sung, and make a name for himself.

"So, want to trade information?"

At that, Mumu nodded.

"I wrote mine down ahead of time, so how about you just tell me yours out loud?"

Cho Na-yeon pulled out a bundle of paper she'd prepared, just like Ma Yeon-hwa had, and handed it to Mumu. Mumu took it and tucked it away inside his robe.

"So, will you tell me?"

Cho Na-yeon looked at Mumu with eyes full of anticipation. Her heart was pounding. If she got this method, she'd become the first among the third-years to earn a star mark from Master Dan Baek-yeon. Mumu spoke up without a hint of hesitation.

"You just show Master Dan Baek-yeon your body." "......What?"

Cho Na-yeon's face twisted in an instant.

Footnotes:

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