WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Haruto

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◈ The Martial Alliance Rulebook Archives ◈

Chapter 45: Shadow of the Clan (1)

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Commissioner Baek noticed that I was about to say something. Perhaps he assumed it concerned Muun's condition, because he encouraged me not to be impatient.

"There's no need to rush. Muun has never trained professionally in tracking arts. Her condition may be somewhat unusual, but I'll catch her eventually. When the time comes, I'll be able to face the unknown demonic arts sower as well."

"...Sir."

When I first met Commissioner Baek, I told him about the demonic arts sower, an idea that was barely more than a fantasy, to escape his questioning.

I told him that the mysterious being who might have passed demonic arts to Soul-Piercing Demon Hand and Muun was the true enemy, and that he should use Muun as a clue to find them.

After that, however, the special physician had confirmed the demonic arts sower's identity.

A Heavenly-grade Anomaly. An incomprehensible being capable of shaking the entire martial world.

The Heavenly Demon.

If Commissioner Baek's pursuit ended with defeating Muun, that would be one thing. But if he encountered the Heavenly Demon, the result would be disastrous.

"I asked the Anomaly Records Office about the demonic arts sower."

"Did they answer?"

I nodded.

"They said it was something that could not yet be touched, a Heavenly-grade Anomaly."

I then explained the dangers of pursuing a Heavenly-grade Anomaly. Commissioner Baek listened carefully before adding a comment.

"You said the Peng Clan scion who was with you once encountered a Heavenly-grade Anomaly?"

"Yes. But it seemed different from ordinary Anomalies."

Though it was not stated clearly, the descriptions mainly conveyed the impression that it was not something one could fight. Perhaps it was something absurdly enormous, or something absurdly tiny, like a pathogen.

I thought of epidemics like influenza. I had experienced a worldwide illness once before arriving in this martial world...

The Anomaly beyond Hainan did not seem inclined to attack humans first, unlike other Anomalies, considering Peng Juhyeok had encountered it without injury. Yet that made it harder to properly judge the danger posed by the Heavenly Demon, another Heavenly-grade Anomaly.

Had there been a proper record of battle, it might have offered a clue to the Heavenly Demon's power as an Anomaly of the same rank. But neither the special physician nor Peng Juhyeok seemed to have considered fighting the Anomaly beyond Hainan.

Commissioner Baek fell into thought.

"A being that even the Anomaly Records Office, with its Director of the Records Office and the Alliance Leader's strength to draw upon, considers beyond its reach."

"...Is the Alliance Leader truly that strong?"

Commissioner Baek readily nodded.

"The Alliance Leader has been granted the right to attend court wearing a sword and shoes."

"Pardon?"

I did not remember exactly what it meant, but since it involved a sword, I assumed it meant the right to bear arms...

"It means the Alliance Leader may appear before the emperor with a sword at their side. Do you know why?"

Wow.

The Alliance Leader seemed to be treated as an even greater figure by the imperial court than I had imagined. The Alliance Leader could carry a weapon in the throne room.

"Why is that?"

"Because the danger does not diminish simply because the Alliance Leader is unarmed. Even without a sword, the Alliance Leader could break through the Imperial Guards' defensive line. The Eastern Depot granted that privilege, reasoning that they might as well preserve the imperial household's dignity."

"Uh..."

Something felt strange. The Eastern Depot was an imperial security force, but was it right for such an important privilege to be decided at its initiative rather than by the emperor's own will?

Perhaps he read my unease from my expression. Commissioner Baek gave a bitter smile.

"The emperor is not concerned with such... matters of the mortal world. The emperor is devoting all effort to sustaining the heavenly mandate of this Kingdom of Dun."

There seemed to be some grave matter known only to those within the imperial household. I did not pry further into something beyond my understanding and simply nodded.

"Enough of that. Let us return to the matter at hand. If even the Alliance Leader cannot deal with it for whatever reason, I would find it difficult to prevail even if I stepped forward to face it. I understand."

"Then..."

"Even so."

Commissioner Baek spoke calmly. His desire for revenge had gathered dust over many years, yet its edge had not dulled.

"If I give up on making my enemy pay the price in blood, how can I call myself a father?"

"...Sir."

No long reply followed. Still, I put every argument I could make into those words.

Commissioner Baek looked at me and chuckled.

"Don't worry. I don't intend to charge in driven by revenge alone."

He pointed at my chest, near the inner pocket containing the Heart-Succession Secret Book.

"That is what your Anomaly Records Office does, is it not? You challenge unknown Anomalies and bring back information so that anyone may return alive."

Commissioner Baek was speaking of a rulebook for a Heavenly-grade Anomaly.

"It would be fine even if I fell. If that becomes the foundation for someone else to defeat it, then it will surely be worthwhile."

I could no longer bring myself to stop him.

"...I'll ask the Office about Muun's situation. You can hear the answer next time we meet."

"I will. Stay well. Until next time."

Having quietly reaffirmed his extraordinary resolve in an ordinary tone, Commissioner Baek wished me well and departed.

* * *

"Phew..."

At last, the situation had been settled. Lamp-Extinguishing Executioner had gone far away, and the White Sword Squad members, who had been struck by disaster out of nowhere, decided that since things had come to this, they would begin marching at first light and reach Iron-Steel Mountain before the day ended.

The invisible shadow that had tightened around the procession was gone. Yet the fact remained that a mysterious lunatic had tried to kill their comrades for some bizarre reason.

The assassin had withdrawn, calling the mission a failure, but there was always the chance that they would return with a sword in hand. The wandering martial artists' instincts for survival immediately produced the most effective response.

They would seek the protection of the Murong Clan.

Just as the Embroidered Uniform Guard had suddenly appeared and driven off the mad member of an unorthodox sect, the White Sword Squad members now intended to avoid retaliation beneath the shadow of the wealthy Murong Clan.

The more I considered it, the more reasonable it seemed. Our mission was to transport supplies to Iron-Steel Mountain, so it did not defy the Martial Alliance's orders.

'Tch, though my Anomaly investigation is the problem.'

The White Sword Squad members could join the Murong Clan's punitive expedition against Iron-Steel Stronghold, work under the pretense of providing rear support, eat their fill, and return. My work, however, began only once I arrived at Iron-Steel Mountain.

If I could use the Heart-Succession Secret Book again, I could at least ask whether I should return... But its Divine Ability seemed to have run out. No answer came even when I wrote in blood.

I had two choices. I could tag along with the White Sword Squad, or continue carrying out my Anomaly investigation mission.

After some thought, I made my decision.

It would look bad if I returned having done absolutely nothing. Besides, I needed an Anomaly on which to test the Star-Absorbing Great Method, no, the Demon-Breaking Vajra Art.

'It isn't a reckless decision.'

There was a good chance Lamp-Extinguishing Executioner had completely withdrawn from this affair. Losing once was not itself the problem.

As an assassin, they could simply use Stealth Art and lie in wait again. But Lamp-Extinguishing Executioner's problem was not Commissioner Baek alone, but the roughly thousand members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard under his command.

Commissioner Baek had arrived by chance because the timing aligned while he was searching for Muun. There was every chance that other members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard were hiding throughout this area as part of the search.

No matter how skilled an assassin was, with the situation tangled like this, they would likely wash their hands of it and wait for another opportunity.

'More importantly, I probably wasn't Lamp-Extinguishing Executioner's real target.'

Hiring such a powerful expert could not be cheap. The benefit from killing someone, or the loss caused by letting them live, had to equal or exceed the cost before anyone would commission an assassination.

In that sense, I was an insignificant nobody not worth killing. Things would be different if they knew about the Anomaly Records Office.

But if Lamp-Extinguishing Executioner had known beforehand that I was a Records Officer, they would have moved to deal with the Heart-Succession Secret Book first. Since there had been no sign of that, my position was likely still well concealed.

Seeing smoke rise in the distance, it seemed we were nearing the Murong Clan's camp.

'Good. Once we arrive, I'll rest from the journey for a while...'

"Hey."

Jaksu's voice came from behind me.

"What is it?"

"Well... I hate to say this, but..."

I knew what Jaksu was about to ask.

Jaksu must have been wondering why the Embroidered Uniform Guard had suddenly appeared and driven off the murderous assailant.

Come to think of it, it was a fair question. I scratched near my temple.

'Since it concerns the Anomaly Records Office, I can't tell him everything. I'll alter it a little...'

"Could you meet Murong Sung for us?"

"...What?"

* * *

Jaksu's explanation went like this. The person originally meant to settle matters with the Murong Clan and continue the various negotiations had been Lamp-Extinguishing Executioner.

More precisely, the original supervisor whom Lamp-Extinguishing Executioner had killed.

But since that person was dead, they needed to send the next highest-ranking person to meet with the Murong Clan.

"Going by rank, you're still a better fit than the White Sword Squad Captain, since you came down from the Martial Alliance headquarters."

I never expected things to turn out like this. I ruffled my hair, then spoke after some thought.

"Then Captain Jaksu, inform the nearest Martial Alliance branch of the situation. I will stall for time until they send a proper representative."

I had intended to rest at the camp before setting out on the Anomaly investigation anyway, so it was not a bad arrangement.

Author's Note

2026/08/02

Murong Sung was originally responsible for the punitive expedition against Iron-Steel Stronghold, but I accidentally wrote Murong Hu due to mixing the name up in my head with Gongson Hu, the special physician's real name.

It has been corrected!

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