WeTried Translations
Translator: ZERO_SUGAR
Editor: Abstract
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
Chapter 83: Monster Academy Student (2)
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Early that morning, several two-hour periods ago.
The Heaven-Worship Ceremony, the imperial palace's annual event, was held over five full days. Today was its third day.
As one of the nation's largest annual events, it drew distinguished figures from every corner of the Central Plains. Changcheon Martial Academy was no exception.
The academy had sent its Academy Director, the Heavy Sword Great Hero Do Jeong-myeong, Administrative Officer Dong Ryang-u, who ranked directly below the Vice-Master, Wise Man Sword Meok Chong-un, the representative of the Six Stars of Heaven, and Ga Yu-hang, the first-year movement skill instructor.
Until yesterday, they had met with the Emperor and spent the annual event in a pleasant atmosphere among members of the imperial family and high-ranking officials.
Then an urgent report arrived that morning, and they could not hide their shock.
"We must return at once, Academy Director. Though one day remains in the annual event."
"I agree, Academy Director."
At the opinions of Administrative Officer Dong Ryang-u and Master Ga Yu-hang, Academy Director Do Jeong-myeong pressed his lips into a firm line.
The report was extremely serious.
Unidentified internal spies had set fire to the academy dormitories, nearly killing every cadet. Worse still, Hang Yeon, formerly one of the Ten Great Masters of the Force of Justice and the person in charge of the Changcheon Martial Archive, had been murdered, and the one arrested on suspicion of the crime was Vice-Master Dan Pil-hu.
‘...This is the worst possible outcome.’
Those matters were bad enough, but the true disaster was that the third disciple of the Eastern River Sword Sage, one of the Four Immortal Masters, had died in a martial match.
The opponent had been Hong Hye-ryeong, daughter of the Southern Blade Imperial Uncle, another of the Four Immortal Masters.
‘Ha...’
His head throbbed.
All of this had happened in a single night.
Each incident was grave enough to threaten Changcheon Martial Academy's very existence. He did not even know where to begin putting things in order.
"Academy Director."
"Master Meok."
"We must resolve this quickly, before word gets outside. The various martial clans and factions are a concern, but if the imperial palace and officialdom learn of it, this may become impossible to contain."
Meok Chong-un was right.
That was the larger problem.
Changcheon Martial Academy did not only have children from martial families. There were children of government officials as well.
‘The academy's hard-earned reputation could collapse in an instant.’
Even though the Southern Blade Imperial Uncle, who had close ties to the imperial family, was one of the founders, the imperial court might withdraw every privilege it had granted the academy.
That would be the better outcome. The imperial palace and officialdom might even try to interfere with the academy directly.
‘No.’
He could not allow that.
If that happened, he would have no face before the people who had trusted him with the position of Academy Director.
"I will speak with the Minister of Rites."
The chief organizer of the annual event was Minister of Rites Geum Jeong-sin.
He needed to ask for their understanding and return at once.
Just then, a group of officials rushed into the garden of the residence where they were staying.
The people of Changcheon Martial Academy, including the Academy Director, could not hide their bewilderment at their arrival.
"Why have you all come here?"
They were high-ranking officials: Minister of Rites Geum Jeong-sin, Minister of Justice Mo Yun, and Left Censor-in-Chief Seo In-gyeom, the head of the Censorate.
Changcheon Martial Academy's delegation could not hide its tension before these influential figures.
Then Minister of Justice Mo Yun demanded angrily,
"What is the meaning of this? Is it true that every academy dormitory building was set on fire last night?"
‘!?’
Academy Director Do Jeong-myeong and the others were left speechless.
They had received an urgent report about what happened last night, yet these people already knew.
‘...As expected.’
The imperial palace and officialdom's intelligence network went far beyond imagination.
They likely had spies planted inside the academy. No matter how thoroughly they screened people, the academy was simply too vast to identify every infiltrator sent in from outside.
"Is it true or not?"
"...It is true."
The Academy Director admitted the truth.
There was no point denying it when they already knew.
"How could something like this happen within the academy!"
Minister of Justice Mo Yun grew even angrier.
It was understandable. His cherished daughter, Mo Il-hwa, was at Changcheon Martial Academy.
And she was far from the only child of a government official there.
Master Ga Yu-hang cautiously said to him,
"Please calm yourself, Minister Mo. We have only just received the news as well. Fortunately, the situation was contained early, and we have been told that none of the cadets were injured."
"Do you call that an answer? What sort of internal system does the academy have for something like this to happen?"
"...We have no excuse."
The Academy Director could not raise his head.
This was clearly a failure on the academy's part.
Minister of Rites Geum Jeong-sin then spoke to him in a grave voice.
"Academy Director Do. As the annual event is underway, the Emperor has not yet received a report on this incident. But this is not something that can simply be overlooked."
The academy delegation's expressions darkened.
They had unintentionally given these men a reason to intervene.
Academy Director Do Jeong-myeong gave a respectful fist-and-palm salute.
"Please remain calm. Though an unfortunate incident occurred within the academy, we have captured the people responsible for the arson, and the cadets are safe. Therefore..."
"That is not the issue."
Left Censor-in-Chief Seo In-gyeom cut in.
The source of this information had likely been the head of the inspection agency himself.
"I heard that several academy masters were implicated among those who committed the arson."
"That is..."
"There were infiltrators within the academy who intended to slaughter every cadet, yet the academy did not notice even the slightest sign of this until now."
"..."
"If the academy lacks the ability to correct itself and resolve this matter, the imperial palace and officialdom, which support it, cannot simply stand by and watch."
"What are you saying?"
"If it cannot govern itself, then the authorities will have no choice but to take direct control."
Academy Director Do Jeong-myeong stared hard at him.
‘Seo In-gyeom.’
As expected, this man was the problem.
Since the academy's founding, he had argued that because the Southern Blade Imperial Uncle had secured partial state funding for it, a branch of the Censorate should be placed inside the academy to keep it under control.
There were those in officialdom who advocated controlling the martial world, and he was one of them.
They had given him an excuse, but they could not let him force the matter through.
"Left Censor-in-Chief. This academy and officialdom have maintained a deep bond through a long-standing agreement. As the Academy Director responsible for the academy, I have no excuse for what happened. If I fail to resolve this matter and am told to step down, then I will do so. But..."
"But?"
"If you intend to use this as a pretext to interfere directly with the academy and the martial world, then as a martial artist, I cannot stand by and allow it."
"What?"
The Academy Director's firm response made the atmosphere turn hostile in an instant.
Once the suggestion of having officialdom control the academy had been made, this was no longer a matter where either side could retreat.
"Your words sound as though you intend to oppose the authorities."
"I do not intend to oppose anyone. The academy's privileges and right to self-governance were bestowed by the late Emperor in recognition of the accomplishments of the Four Immortal Masters, the heroes of seventeen years ago. To violate them now is no different from trying to subjugate the academy and the next generation of chivalrous heroes it will raise."
At the mention of the late Emperor, Left Censor-in-Chief Seo In-gyeom's expression eased for a moment.
Even he could not carelessly touch imperial authority.
Minister of Rites Geum Jeong-sin stepped forward.
"Both of you make reasonable points. The special privileges granted to Changcheon Martial Academy were bestowed by the late Emperor, so they cannot be violated lightly. Yet this incident is also far too serious to simply overlook."
"Then what is the Minister of Rites' wise counsel?"
At Left Censor-in-Chief Seo In-gyeom's question, Minister of Rites Geum Jeong-sin stroked his beard and said,
"Then how about this?"
"What do you mean?"
"I heard that although the arson incident at the academy was contained early, it has not yet been determined who was behind it or why such a thing was done."
"...That is correct."
"Of course, the academy should conduct a thorough investigation itself. But how can an incident caused by internal infiltrators be entrusted to an internal investigation alone?"
Academy Director Do Jeong-myeong frowned and asked,
"What are you suggesting?"
"For a more certain investigation, outside auditing or investigative assistance is necessary."
"But that..."
"Let us be clear. Even the children of high officials nearly lost their lives. That alone gives officialdom ample grounds to take charge of the investigation."
"..."
"Left Censor-in-Chief. Select capable officials from the Censorate to conduct the investigation."
"I will do so."
* * *
This was why Academy Director Do Jeong-myeong had hurried back to the academy even more urgently.
Only by arriving before the investigators sent by the Censorate and swiftly resolving the situation themselves could they prevent officialdom from gaining a pretext to interfere with the academy.
Yet when he arrived, he heard the unbelievable news that the person behind it had confessed.
"Master Sa Mu-heo?"
What was even more astonishing was that the person who had forced the confession was Mumu, a new cadet who had not even learned Martial Arts.
The result was clearly good.
Two of the three incidents he had hoped to resolve had been handled at once.
But...
‘This makes no sense.’
Even he found this result hard to accept. How could the Censorate investigators accept it easily?
No matter how he looked at it, this child named Mumu could not defeat Sa Mu-heo.
Even if Mumu had been born with extraordinary physical strength, or trained his muscles to their utmost limit, there were limits to such things.
So how could Mumu say it so confidently?
"I beat him up."
"..."
Beat him up?
Did it make any sense that a master at the pinnacle of the Master level, someone like Sa Mu-heo, had simply allowed himself to be beaten up?
The investigators would never accept such an explanation.
Academy Director Do Jeong-myeong stared at Mumu before speaking.
"...I heard your muscles became much larger than they are now. Can you show me?"
Mumu scratched his head as if troubled by the request.
The Academy Director asked, puzzled,
"Why is that?"
"Ah... I captured the culprit to help the Vice-Master, but now I'm wondering whether I should really do this."
"Whether you should do this?"
"Academy Director, you're the highest-ranking person in the academy, right?"
"Yes. That is correct."
"Then I'll show you if you promise me one thing."
"A promise?"
What was this about?
Why was he suddenly being asked for a promise?
"Yes."
"What do you want me to promise?"
"The Vice-Master said I might get kicked out of the academy if I properly showed my strength."
"Kicked out of the academy?"
"Yes."
"Why would you be kicked out?"
"He said that whether I've learned Martial Arts or not, if I'm stronger than the academy masters, there isn't any reason for me to stay here."
The Academy Director's eyes narrowed at Mumu's words.
Depending on how one took it, it was an extremely arrogant thing to say. Mumu was claiming to be stronger than the academy masters.
But there was not the slightest trace of arrogance in the child's expression. If anything, he looked innocent.
‘Does this child mean it sincerely?’
Of course, if Mumu had truly subdued Sa Mu-heo with sheer strength, it would not be wrong.
Still, he could not understand it no matter how he looked at it.
"So you want me to promise that you will not be expelled from the academy?"
"Yes."
Academy Director Do Jeong-myeong looked Mumu over once more.
No matter how much he heightened his Ki sense, he could detect no trace that Mumu had hidden or suppressed Martial Arts.
Do Jeong-myeong studied him for a moment before letting out a faint breath.
"Hoo. Very well. As you said, if you are stronger than the academy masters, there would certainly be no reason to teach you here."
"I knew it."
"But this is an academy that teaches Martial Arts."
"..."
"Put another way, if your strength does not come from Martial Arts, then that cannot be a reason to send you out of the academy."
Mumu's face brightened.
"Right? Then there won't be a problem with me continuing to attend the academy?"
"If it is proven that your strength does not come from Martial Arts and is purely your own physical strength, I, the Academy Director, will guarantee it."
"Really?"
"Did I not just promise you?"
‘Of course, that is only if it can be proven.’
He did not voice that thought.
Though several masters had given testimony, none had directly witnessed Mumu fighting.
That was why he had no way of knowing whether Mumu's strength was real.
If Mumu could demonstrate the strength he had used to subdue Sa Mu-heo here, every question would be answered.
"Then I just need to show you?"
"No. You must also show me the extent of your strength."
"The extent of my strength?"
"Yes."
He needed to see it to judge whether Mumu had truly subdued Sa Mu-heo.
Mumu tilted his head, then said,
"If I heard correctly, are you asking me to show all my strength?"
"Yes. What is wrong with that?"
"Nothing is wrong with it."
"Then why are you hesitating?"
"...I've never used all my strength in my life, but I think if I do, the main building and everything around it might get completely destroyed."
"What?"
Academy Director Do Jeong-myeong found Mumu's words absurd.
Of course, even a Master-level master could make a building into a complete mess without much difficulty.
But this child spoke as though using his strength would turn the entire area into ruins.
‘This child is more full of bluster than he appears.’
Confidence was not a bad thing.
Too much of it was another matter.
Academy Director Do Jeong-myeong sighed, then smiled kindly.
"Do not worry. I will make sure that does not happen."
There was no need to deny Mumu's words.
All he needed to do was confirm whether Mumu possessed enough strength to subdue Sa Mu-heo.
"Really?"
"That is what I said."
Mumu looked at Academy Director Do Jeong-myeong with doubtful eyes for a moment, then said he understood and rolled up his sleeves.
The Academy Director saw the Ki-Restraining Bracelets and asked curiously,
"What are those?"
"They're artifacts that increase my weight and help me regulate my strength."
"Artifacts?"
"Yes. It's hard to control my strength if I'm not wearing them."
The Academy Director's expression turned strange at those words.
He had seen many artifacts, but were there even artifacts that sealed away strength?
Then Mumu turned the adjustment screw on one of the Ki-Restraining Bracelets.
-Krrrrrr!
As the number on the adjustment screw turned from eight to one in a single motion, the change came instantly.
-Crack! Creak!
The muscles in Mumu's right arm compressed. His veins bulged as though they would burst, then sank back down again.
His right arm turned bright red, and white vapor began to rise from it.
-Shhhhhhh!
‘What is this?’
Academy Director Do Jeong-myeong's eyes widened at the bizarre change.
It was as though he were witnessing every possible way muscles could develop.
The skin of Mumu's heated right arm gradually darkened until it finally turned black.
-Woooooong!
It was only one arm, yet the immense pressure it gave off made Academy Director Do Jeong-myeong frown.
No ki was flowing from it, so what was this strange pressure?
Mumu asked him,
"What should I do now?"
‘Ah!’
Mumu's question brought Do Jeong-myeong back to his senses. Pointing at himself, he said,
"Show me your strength."
"...Are you really sure?"
Do Jeong-myeong nodded.
This bizarre change was astonishing, but he was confident that he possessed the deepest internal energy of anyone in the academy.
Besides, the quickest way to gauge Mumu's strength was to test it himself.
Mumu looked at him worriedly, then stepped closer and lightly drew his thumb and middle finger together.
"What are you doing now?"
"Regulating my strength."
It was absurd.
Was Mumu preparing a finger flick while saying he was regulating his strength?
Against him, one of the Ten Great Masters of the Force of Justice?
"Are you making a fool of m..."
Before he could finish, Mumu flicked a finger toward Academy Director Do Jeong-myeong's chest.
That was the moment it happened.
-Flick!
-Kwaaaaaang!
The instant Mumu's finger touched him, Do Jeong-myeong was struck by terrifying destructive force that pierced through his body, even though he had protected himself with life energy.
For an instant, his mind went blank.
When he barely regained his senses, he found himself flying through the air, far away from the main building.
‘!?’
Footnotes:
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