WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Chen
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ The Martial Genius who Remembers Everything ◈
Chapter 122: The Black Flame Dragon Who Gives an Opportunity (2)
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The Academy student who had asked the question and the instructor who had been snickering both went stiff.
“You’re taking this joke too far.”
“Do you really think I could joke around in this atmosphere?”
I pointed at the rest of the class. Every one of them radiated hostility.
“You mean you’re serious?”
“I only say things I can take responsibility for.”
“Hah...”
While the instructor stared at me in disbelief, the Academy student who had asked the question strode into the training ground.
“Am I not even visible to you?”
Jang Seokdo, a disciple of the Mount Zhongnan Sect.
A master of the Light-Splitting Sword Art and a talent who would one day rise to become the Lord of White Tiger Pavilion.
“Does this look like a situation where I have time to exchange pointless words with someone?”
“Hmph! Maybe you think losing to five people would be less embarrassing than losing to one.”
Jang Seokdo drew their sword.
The instructor looked between us, then slowly stepped down from the training ground.
Jang Seokdo immediately assumed the opening stance of the Light-Splitting Sword Art.
“Draw your sword.”
“Just come at me.”
“...”
Jang Seokdo’s face turned red.
Killing intent soon filled their eyes. They used the Northern Dipper Celestial Steps to close the distance, then brought their sword down.
The first form of the Light-Splitting Sword Art, Open the Window and Gaze at the Moon.
The sword raised high overhead split into two, descending as though it would sever both my arms.
I waited until the very last instant, then used the Lesser Heaven Sword Art to execute the Shattering Form against the Light-Splitting Sword Art.
Clang.
Clatter. Thud.
Jang Seokdo’s sword flew out of the training ground with a loud crash.
Shing.
I deliberately sheathed my sword slowly.
The laughter that had filled the training ground died as though cold water had been thrown over it. Jang Seokdo’s face was white as though they had seen a ghost.
“Won’t you need four more?”
I addressed the instructor, but they could only stare blankly between Jang Seokdo’s sword and me.
#
During the regular examination, students competed fiercely regardless of sect. Once it ended, however, the usual atmosphere at the Martial Arts Academy was one of renewed camaraderie.
This year’s class was different. The air was so cold that it felt like taking one careful step after another across a river covered in thin ice.
Just as the Martial Alliance did, Academy students who had not even fully grown into adults formed groups based on their affiliations. Of the three factions known as the Orthodox Society, the White Path Society, and the Twelve Peak Alliance, whichever one produced the representative, the other two would normally cooperate or keep them in check according to their own interests.
After all, securing even one more position in the Dragon-Phoenix Association, where they would serve for four years after graduating from the Academy, would benefit both their careers and their sects.
Yet the three factions could not form cooperative ties because of my existence. They had united solely to remove the impurity that was me, and that situation was affecting even those who had taken the regular examination alongside me.
“They dragged you behind the building?”
At Dongryong’s words, Namgung Seonhwa’s eyes flared.
“Who was it? Which bastard dared? Where are they now?”
“Ah, they’re in the infirmary.”
“What?”
“Each of them had an arm broken.”
“...Didn’t you say five people dragged you away?”
“There are three of us brothers. Besides, compared to the people we faced during the regular examination, five people are...”
Namgung Seonhwa looked at Dongryong, who was eating candied fruit as if it were nothing, then turned an incredulous gaze toward Eunho.
“You don’t need to worry. We agreed not to tell the instructors before we fought...”
“No... That’s not what I mean...”
“As disciples of the Taeul Sect, we’ve been dragged into this kind of trouble since Hefei.”
Eunho told her about the times they had fought martial artists affiliated with martial arts schools in Hefei, but Namgung Seonhwa did not look reassured in the least.
“Are you all right, Lady Namgung?”
At my question, Namgung Seonhwa let out a small sigh.
“Well, we aren’t any different. We take classes together, but they act as if we don’t exist. At least we haven’t gotten into direct trouble like the Geum-Eun-Dong brothers.”
Fortunately, Namgung Seonhwa, Seong Moran, and Moyong Jaehwa seemed to suffer no more than being ignored. Considering their backgrounds, they could not be treated as lightly as the Taeul Sect.
Such incidents were common during the academic term, but the trainers and instructors showed no intention of interfering in student affairs.
No, they even seemed to share the same thoughts as the other Academy students.
“Young Master Jin, it’s time for the appointment ceremony.”
“Let’s go.”
#
“...Ahem, do you truly intend to accept it?”
It was the appointment ceremony for the Academy Representative.
Since the leadership had not been fully assembled, I had come with only a few officers.
“Is there a problem?”
At the ceremony, attended only by the Martial Arts Academy Head, administrative staff, and instructors, the Martial Arts Academy Head repeated the same question several times.
“If you accept this, it will become truly difficult for you to fit in at the Academy.”
“Even if I refuse it, do you think the Academy students will acknowledge me now?”
“...I say this from experience.”
I knew that the successor of the Three Pure Supreme Sword had once voluntarily given up the position of Academy Representative, so I nodded.
-Violet Mist Pellet
-Fragrant White Jade
-Thunderclap Flying Dagger
The Violet Mist Pellet, Wudang Sect’s spiritual medicine. The Fragrant White Jade, which emitted a rare scent. Even the Thunderclap Flying Dagger, a hidden projectile said to cut through metal as easily as tofu.
Not one of them could be called a trifling treasure.
“...Hoo, listen carefully. The representative’s work is not as simple as you think. There are thousands of documents to exchange with the Mantong Office...”
No matter what the Martial Arts Academy Head said, my attention remained on the treasures.
One of the reasons I had needed to become the top student was right before my eyes.
“Do you understand? If your work begins to fall behind, the entire academic schedule will be thrown into chaos. When that happens, even if we wish to help you, we won’t be able to.”
“I understand.”
“Hm? Then will you give it up?”
“I meant that I understand your concerns.”
The Martial Arts Academy Head’s brow furrowed deeply.
“A member of the Mantong Office told me something. They said the Head of the Mantong Office bears some grudge against you and is creating an enormous amount of work for you. Can you handle all of that as well?”
It seemed they had taken offense at my refusal of the offer to help with Mantong Office work a few days ago.
“It doesn’t matter.”
“...No, think this through properly...”
Without waiting any longer, I reached out and put the Violet Mist Pellet in my mouth.
I had only chewed it twice, yet a clear fragrance spread through my mouth.
“Ah...”
The Martial Arts Academy Head stared blankly at my mouth with an expression of anguish, as though I had bitten into their own flesh.
“Y-you finally...”
“I’ll make good use of the rest as well.”
After putting the Thunderclap Flying Dagger and the Fragrant White Jade into my robe, I left the Martial Arts Academy Head’s office. Even the officers who had accompanied me wore dazed expressions.
“Can we really settle things so easily?”
Namgung Seonhwa spoke, and I nodded as if to tell her not to worry.
“I’ve decided to break through head-on. If so, there’s no reason to hesitate.”
For some reason, Namgung Seonhwa shook her head.
“At least it’s fortunate that one of the treasures is a jewel. If we sell it, we could make quite a lot of money. Should we hire people with it?”
“What are you saying? We can never sell this.”
The Fragrant White Jade.
As its name implied, it was white jade that released a fragrance. It was a rare item produced only in the lands beyond Tianzhu, where foreign peoples lived. Since production was limited and only a small amount was imported into the Central Plains, the wives of high officials and nobles would compete to buy it with fistfuls of money.
“...What are you going to do with a jewel?”
“There’s something I intend to make with it.”
The Fragrant White Jade’s greatest effect was its ability to neutralize poison and repel evil. Even a small amount could counter hundreds of poisons, and it was especially effective at preventing one’s mind from being clouded by demonic influence. It was an item one had to carry when facing members of the Demonic Cult or heretical martial artists.
“Eldest Senior Brother...”
Eunho, who had been silently lost in thought beside us, looked deeply puzzled.
“What the Martial Arts Academy Head said earlier.”
“Don’t take it to heart. Even if I stepped down from this position, they would not be pleased.”
“No, no. That isn’t it. Have you met the Head of the Mantong Office?”
At Eunho’s question, the three women who had been looking downcast all turned to look at me.
“They visited my quarters not long after I entered the Academy.”
“...What did you discuss?”
“It was nothing much. They told me to learn Mantong Office work in advance and help with their work.”
“!!”
“!!”
“!!”
The three women and Eunho’s eyes widened like rabbits.
Eunho’s voice began to tremble.
“Th-then why do they bear a grudge against you?”
“I don’t know either. I only refused the work.”
“What?”
“Y-Young Master Jin, what are you...”
“Young Master Jin, I heard that wrong, didn’t I? You refused the opportunity to enter the Mantong Office?”
“Tell me that isn’t true... Tell me it isn’t true!”
I was the one surprised by their reactions.
“Is the Mantong Office really that impressive?”
According to my memories, none of the past Academy top students had applied to the Mantong Office.
“That’s because the Mantong Office doesn’t accept them!”
“Ah... Is that how it was?”
“The Grand Strategist is extremely particular when selecting people. The common view is that even doing menial work at the Mantong Office is enough to obtain a position as the chief administrator of a decent sect.”
“Is that how it was?”
“You really didn’t know?”
“Even if I had known, I would not have joined.”
“Why not?”
“If I entered there, I would not be able to stay with my junior brothers.”
“...”
“...”
“...”
“...”
I had only spoken honestly, yet the atmosphere grew strange again.
It seemed that wherever I went these days, I made people uncomfortable.
#
“Will it be all right if I leave them here?”
An administrator set down a small pack frame loaded with documents.
“...Wouldn’t it be better to place them on the desk? These are Mantong Office documents, after all.”
Namgung Seonhwa spoke, but the administrator shook their head.
“There will be at least ten more pack frames like this. If we stack them all on the desks, I don’t think you’ll be able to handle them. Is this all right?”
“...Just leave them there.”
Just as the administrator said, twelve more pack frames filled with documents arrived afterward.
The Academy Representative Corps’ office was already so packed with documents that there was nowhere to set foot.
Geumpyo, Dongryong, and Moyong Jaehwa had come to help. Yet Namgung Seonhwa was the only officer with experience handling documents like these, so all they could do was stack the documents from the pack frames onto the desks like towers.
“My, is this even possible?”
The unfamiliar visitor peeking into the office was none other than Cheol Sunjik of the Twelve Peak Alliance.
“What brings you here?”
Despite Namgung Seonhwa’s sharp response, Cheol Sunjik’s smile remained fixed on his lips.
“I heard you had begun your work, so I came to see whether things were proceeding well. If the representative corps cannot do its work properly, won’t the Academy students suffer the consequences?”
“If you’re that concerned, why don’t you join the leadership?”
“Why should I? The current representative will be dismissed soon enough, and the rest will form a new representative corps.”
“...If that’s all you came to say, would you please leave? We have plenty of work to do.”
“May I observe?”
Namgung Seonhwa clenched her fist at Cheol Sunjik’s smiling face.
“Let him watch.”
The one who spoke was Jin Sowoon.
Jin Sowoon, who had been reviewing documents from the representative’s seat, spoke as if it were nothing.
“Well, didn’t he come to see whether the work was proceeding well? He needs to assess the situation here and share information with the others. Isn’t that right?”
“...”
Cheol Sunjik’s expression stiffened slightly at Jin Sowoon’s words.
“But, Young Master Jin, if he stays here...”
“Academy students can inspect the representative corps’ work whenever they wish anyway. Let him do as he pleases.”
“All right.”
Namgung Seonhwa glared at Cheol Sunjik.
“I don’t mind you observing, but if you interfere with our work, I won’t forgive you.”
“Yes, yes. Understood.”
Having said that, Cheol Sunjik leisurely sat down in one corner of the office.
“Do you have any tea?”
“...Do you want to be thrown into a well?”
“I never expected Lady Namgung to say something so violent.”
“If you experience it yourself, you’ll feel it even more deeply.”
“Then I’ll refrain.”
Namgung Seonhwa sighed and looked around, only to sigh again at the mountain of documents.
It was a workload for which even fifty people would not be enough to organize, analyze, and make decisions on it all.
What was more, Jin Sowoon, the representative, had already begun writing on the documents despite not seeming to know how to process them.
“...What?”
Startled, Namgung Seonhwa hurried over to Jin Sowoon.
“Young Master Jin. You can’t just handle these documents however you like...”
Namgung Seonhwa’s eyes slowly widened as she looked over the document Jin Sowoon was writing.
“The Head of the Mantong Office must be a remarkably petty person. They sent these documents with every useless formality possible.”
“...Young Master Jin, how do you know this?”
Namgung Seonhwa could not hide her astonishment.
It was an ordinary document concerning a clothing plan, but processing it was anything but ordinary.
They had to prepare a budget to distribute among the Academy students according to the amount allocated, establish the basis for it, and obtain the money from the Mantong Office. It was a complicated document.
Even within the Namgung Clan, a person at the rank of deputy chief administrator would need twenty administrative staff and a full week without sleep to prepare such a budget.
Yet Jin Sowoon had drafted it in one fluid motion. Both the budget and the grounds supporting it were so solid that they seemed flawless.
“My father is the Outer Hall Lord of the Taeul Sect, is he not?”
Jin Sowoon said that, then began drafting the next document.
“W-wait.”
While Namgung Seonhwa hesitated, Jin Sowoon had already finished the budget proposal for provisions.
“...”
Cheol Sunjik, who had watched everything unfold beside them, slowly approached Namgung Seonhwa and looked over the document in her hands.
Before long, his eyes widened.
“What is this...”
The document Jin Sowoon had prepared was perfect, without a single unnecessary detail.
This was work that required a fully staffed leadership, with every disciple from each sect who had experience in administration brought in to handle it.
It was only natural for a representative corps to have at least one hundred members.
Yet Jin Sowoon was handling it alone.
Cheol Sunjik had also done administrative work at his sect, so he knew well how extraordinary this was.
Jin Sowoon finished another document as though it were nothing and placed it on the growing pile beside him. Namgung Seonhwa and Cheol Sunjik could only keep looking over the papers in shock.
“Why summon people for something this easy?”
In truth, processing administrative work had never been difficult for Jin Sowoon.
Every document from the Mantong Office was already in his head. The completed versions of every document exchanged between the Mantong Office and the Martial Arts Academy at this time were simply among the memories that remained in his mind.
All he had to do was adjust the figures slightly to fit this life, based on those memories from his previous life, and the work was finished.
“What in the world... are you...?”
Cheol Sunjik and Namgung Seonhwa stared at Jin Sowoon with disbelieving eyes.
Footnotes:
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